Southern Comfort - Eating My Way Around Melbourne in 36 hours

Australians are more than a little parochial about our cities. I’m from Sydney, and as such I am bred to have a fierce dislike of all things Melbourne – namely AFL. Think of Sydney as Los Angeles and Melbourne as New York. It’s a Sydneysider’s God given right to slag of the Melburnians. And of course we have the better coffee. A good explanation can be found here – Australia’s Greatest Rivalry

But I have a secret – I quite like Melbourne. I enjoy the couple of days I spend there each year as Qatar Airways flight direct there from Doha, I use it as my jet lag buffer before heading to Sydney.

One of the first places I head to is Coda which is located in a laneway close to Grand Hyatt Melbourne where I usually stay.

Coda’s executive chef Adam D’Silva offers up an east west fusion – think Vietnam meets France meets Mod Oz.

The spring rolls are a must order for me – pork, taro and nuoc mam
dipping sauce served Ha Noi style wrapped in a lettuce leaf – every mouthful an explosion of flavor.

I also deviated this visit and tried something a little more hearty – 12 hour beef ribs with radish kimchi – the meat literally falling apart.

For a bit of color and texture, I also tried the Calamari, green papaya and cucumber salad, with nahm jim, peanuts and crispy anchovies which was a riot of color and sweet and savory notes.

My other landmark meal in Melbourne this visit was at Cumulus a busy and welcoming restaurant in Flinders Lane. My partners in crime for this visit were my Melbourne friends James and Lingam who are worthy culinary guides.

It was a mild winter’s day so we opted for the Whole roast lamb shoulder to share. You had me at LAMB.