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April 15, 2011

Mail Exchange Hotel


I went to the Mail Exchange Hotel with my library group and had lunch there today. Today I wasn’t feeling hungry so I had the potato and leek soup ($8) and a panna cotta ($12). Online I have read that there was a $15.50 (one course), $19.50 (two courses) and about $21(three courses) lunch specials. I have also read that the place is really good.

I loved the decor about this place, its warm and inviting. I wish that there were no pokie machines here, as the pokie machines don’t really fit into the atmosphere of a nice fine dining place and entice people to gamble more than they should. That’s what I think this is.

I can’t see the bacon bits in this and this looks really green. I think that they put a lot of peas into this instead of leek.

Panna Cotta -$12

This is a panna cotta for those of you that don’t know it. Its an Italian dessert (like jelly, but solid), which is made out of milk, gelatin and cream. You’ll find this at many Italian fine dining places in Melbourne. Its really sweet. I liked the fruit compote that went with this.

Some other dishes on offer.

A latte ( which is a type of coffee in Melbourne)- $3.80

White and Dark Chocolate Mousse- $12 each
Fish and Chips -$22

Mail Exchange Hotel on Urbanspoon

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April 15, 2011

Groceries for a year


               How much will my grocery bill cost?
In the table below all the items are listed as well as the stores. You can see the total amount in the table below.
                              
item
coles (per week)
coles (per month)
coles (per year)
woolworths (per week)
woolworths (per month)
woolworths (per year)
market (weekly)#
market (monthly)
market (yearly)
flour
$5.44
$3.11
rice 10 kgs
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
$27.92
n/a
n/a
long life milk
n/a
n/a
$1.99
n/a
n/a
$1.99
fruits
$20
$80
$960
$17
$68
$816
$15
$60
$720
vegetables
$20
$80
$960
$25
$100
$1,200
$20
$80
$960
fresh milk
$4.39
$17.56
$210.72
$2.39
$9.56
$114.72
n/a
n/a
n/a
yoghurt
n/a
$5
$60
n/a
$3.90
$46.80
$10 a litre
$120
cheese
n/a
n/a
$14
n/a
$9.45
3 for $10
$120
meat
$20
$80
$960
$40
$160
$1,920
$20
$80
$960
soya sauce 1L bottle
n/a
n/a
$8.38
n/a
n/a
$8.27
n/a
n/a
$11.90
spice rack
n/a
n/a
$30
n/a
n/a
$30
n/a
n/a
$30
pasta
$3.36
$13.44
$161.28
$5
$20
$1,440
$7
$28
$336
noodles (box of 15-30 packets)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
$41
eggs
$4.79
$57.48
n/a
$6.19
$74.28
n/a
$6.95
$83.40
seafood
$30
$120
$1,440
n/a
$30
$360
$30
$120
$1,440
chocolate
n/a
$6
$72
n/a
$7
$84
n/a
$5.50
$66
canned tuna
n/a
$4
$48
$1.82
$7.28
$87.36
n/a
$4
$48
canned vegetables
$5
$20
$240
$7
$28
$336
n/a
$4
$48
canned fruit
n/a
$5.55
$66.60
n/a
$10
$120
n/a
n/a
n/a
juice
n/a
$4.50
$54
n/a
$3.79
$45.48
$5
$60
ice cream
n/a
$8
$24
n/a
$4.98
$14.94
n/a
n/a
n/a
pasta sauce
n/a
$6
$72
n/a
$5.90
$70.80
n/a
n/a
n/a
cooking oil
n/a
n/a
$11.62
n/a
$20
n/a
n/a
$20
bread
$4.50
$18
$216
$4.50
$18
$216
$3
$12
$144
tea (50 bags)
n/a
$3.90
$46.80
n/a
$4.52
$54.24
n/a
$4.10
$49.20
coffee
n/a
n/a
$15
n/a
n/a
$24.37
n/a
2 for $5
$60
sugar (4bags of 1 kg sugar)
n/a
n/a
$6.00
n/a
n/a
$9.40
n/a
$20
$240
baked beans
n/a
n/a
$2.82
n/a
n/a
$2.78
n/a
n/a
$3
toilet cleaner
n/a
n/a
$6.38
n/a
n/a
$5.58
n/a
n/a
$5.20
toilet paper
n/a
$3.85
$46.20
n/a
$8.00
$96.00
$8.90
35.6
$427.20
jam
n/a
n/a
$3.00
n/a
$3.89
$46.68
n/a
n/a
$4
honey
n/a
n/a
$14.16
n/a
n/a
$10.74
n/a
n/a
$4
cereal
n/a
$4.80
$57.60
n/a
$6
$72
n/a
$3.10
$37.20
tomato sauce
n/a
n/a
$2.00
n/a
n/a
$2
n/a
n/a
$3
sweet chilli sauce
n/a
n/a
$2.39
n/a
n/a
$3
n/a
n/a
$5.90
microwave meals
n/a
$15
$180
n/a
$12.87
$154.44
n/a
$10
$120
dried fruit
n/a
n/a
$5
n/a
n/a
$7.25
n/a
n/a
$4.95
paper towel
n/a
$2.50
$30
n/a
$4.07
$48.84
n/a
n/a
n/a
washing powder 1 kg
n/a
n/a
$7
n/a
n/a
$6.99
n/a
n/a
$8.95
total
$6,308.58
total
$7,591.23
total
$6,180.90

#= includes all the Melbourne markets. Prices are mostly the same for these.
n/a= not applicable
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April 15, 2011

Here’s a recipe for Mediterranean salad


Here’s a recipe for Mediterranean salad
Serves 1
Lebanese cucumber, sliced into circles
Celery, sliced
5 pitted olives (you can buy this at your local deli)
2 small pieces of salami
A handful of cherry roma tomatoes, halved
Fetta cheese, cubed (you can buy ready made cubed cheese at the deli)
Sundried tomatoes (you can also buy this at the deli)
3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Wash and cut all the vegetables. Mix everything in a bowl and serve. Enjoy!
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April 15, 2011

Chiba Japanese Restaurant


            This restaurant is situated in Moonee Ponds, about 10-15 mins away from RMIT Brunswick by bus. It is also within walking distance from the Moonee Ponds train station, so it also suits City Campus students.
            I have read really good reviews and had expected it to be a great place, but it wasn’t as good as I thought.  For Monday lunchtime there were heaps of people. I don’t know what all the fuss was about. Its also in the 100 best restaurants list in Victoria on Urbanspoon.com, but I didn’t find anything good to rave about. There was one lady who walked in to the restaurant with a tracksuit on. I really like to wear anything but a tracksuit to a restaurant. A tracksuit to me looks like you just got out of bed and couldn’t care less.
            The waitress wasn’t too bad. They were talking in Chinese behind closed doors: this suggested that the place is run by Chinese.
            This restaurant doesn’t do vegetarian dishes.
            I had the bento today which includes chicken, sashimi, rice, miso soup, salad, fried fish, fruits and tempura for $14. I didn’t really like the chicken; it felt a little bit rubbery. And the rice tasted like it was microwaved and had been out in the rice cooker for a while. Miso soup was a little bit salty but otherwise good. I loved all the tofu bits in it. I really liked the fish, sashimi, tempura, fruits and salad. The fish, sashimi and the fruits were really fresh. I loved the salad, but am not too sure about the dressing.

 here the rice was a bit overcooked

Here I had eaten part of the ice cream before I took a picture of this. I forgot that I needed a picture

The soy sauce

The miso soup (here you can’t see the tofu, but it is in there somewhere!)

            I also ordered green tea ice cream ($6), as I thought that I had to try it. Tried to just order one scoop, but the waitress told me it comes with two scoops. I really loved the ice cream….it was really divine. But I couldn’t finish it.
            I would visit again to try out their banquets and their sushis. But not for the chicken and rice. If they are in the list of 100 best restaurants in Melbourne list they need to lift their game. UPDATED: I also have read that several people in July did not like this restaurant.
NB: By the way the sister place “Chiba Sushi Bar” is much better. I really enjoyed their two handrolls and miso soup for $6.50. You got to pick out two rolls.

Chiba Japanese on Urbanspoon

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April 15, 2011

La Citta


La Citta on Urbanspoon

This place is in Degraves st, overlooking Flinders St station. I have read lots of good reviews about the place. The place was relatively quiet since it is still morning.
I ordered ricotta pancakes with bananas and they were light and fluffy, just the way that I liked them. They were $17.50 for a plate of three, but because I had the entertainment card I got $4.50 off the cost of the pancakes. Also my drink (Cranberry juice- $3.80) and ice cream ($1.50) were free.
The cranberry juice was nice and refreshing.
The service was a bit slow, but all in all I would come back here again. There is an $18.50 lunch deal, which includes wine and pasta, but I don’t drink wine. Students if you buy the Entertainment book for 2011/2012 you would get a 25% discount deal to use in La Citta. This means that if you spend $15 or more you would get your drink for free.
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April 15, 2011

Ensalada


The new Dining Hall Melbourne Central.
            This place is a sandwich bar; catering for the health conscious and they do offer some vegetarian meals. They are happy to have a few sandwich variations. You can make your own sandwiches too. You just choose the bread, filling and sauce (or not).
The lady who served me was really friendly. She had a good sense of humor.
I had a $10.90 breakfast deal of Turkish wrap with eggs and a hot chocolate. The hot chocolate and Turkish wrap was done really nicely. I think I’ll continue to come here.
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April 15, 2011

Cafenatics


Cafenatics on Urbanspoon

            I went to Cafenatics in QV this morning, upon seeing that it is a popular place. My guess was that the food and drinks are very good (like Melbourne style). Melbourne style coffee and food is the best in Australia. Melbourne is known as the food capital of Australia and if you are visiting Australia, you’d be silly not to visit Melbourne.
Anyways, enough about that. I had a soy hot chocolate and thin Mediterranean vegetable sandwich for $10.50 altogether. This café serves quite a few vegetarian meals as well as sandwiches and wraps (which is a great option for the health conscious like myself).
I really loved the Mediterranean sandwich.  The feta and vegetables really melted in my mouth. The wrap bread was just right, fresh and not too old and stale (like some of the other bad cafes that I have been to). I had to eat this by hand, as they did not provide me with a proper cutting knife, but a butter knife instead.
The soy hot chocolate was very chocolaty and sweet, just the way I liked it.
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