Me & Mrs Jones, Kingston – a quick look at lunch

Me & Mrs Jones on the corner of Giles and Kennedy streets is one of my favourite spots for lunch. It is helpfully open 7 days for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I particularly like that is serves breakfast until 2:30 on weekends as plenty of breakfast options are also suitable for lunch. (10% surcharge Sundays & public holidays).

It has a good atmosphere that projects style and class and professional, efficient service.

Prices are standard Canberra prices and corkage is $5.50 per person (bottles of wine start at $39), If you have the Canberra Entertainment Book, it generously offers a complimentary main meal.

If you are eating ‘light’ Vodka Cured Salmon is a good option with interesting flavours.

Vodka cured salmon $22 with bavarian rye crisps, lemon fennel jam, baby capers, shaved tuscan onion, fresh ricotta and watercress

But I particularly like the option to order breakfast until 2:30 on Saturdays as plenty of breakfast options are also suitable for a’ light’ lunch.

Smashing persian $16 smashed avocado, persian feta, soy linseed toast and poached eggs

Or construct your own dish by adding some sides to your style of eggs with sourdough toast

two free range eggs cooked how you like on toast $12

with any of the following: baked garlic mushrooms, confit tomatoes, chat potatoes $2

or: bacon, sausages, smoked salmon, avocado, baby spinach, white bean cassoulet, grilled haloumi $3

Boneyard Burrito at Sweet Bones, Braddon – good for sharing

At $14, the Boneyard Burrito is great value. It is a generous serving and a good choice for sharing between two.

It combines sweet potato, kale, white beans, sour cream, chipotle pecan pesto, queso, brown rice and fajita mix.

A vegan dish (as all are at Sweet Bones) it has well chosen, tasty flavours and textures. The side of corn chips with salsa, in a lovely texture and visual addition.

Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

CLOSED Monday

Tuesday – Saturday 8:00am-3:00pm

Sunday 9:00am-3:00pm

Lonsdale St Traders 27 Lonsdale StBraddon, ACT 02612

Saffron Kulfi at Umaid Bhawan Palace – Jodhpur

Umaid Bhawan Palace, just outside Jodhpur, is the current home of the royal family and very impressive.

It offers some very glamorous, but expensive, accommodation and dining…. but even if that’s not what you want, it’s well worth a visit.

While you aren’t able to go inside the residence or the hotel part of the property, for just $1, you can visit the lovely grounds and get a good feel of the art deco palace from the very good museum.

Don’t miss the delicious kesar (saffron) kulfi (ice-cream) near the entrance. It’s a lovely treat in the shade of the gardens.

There’s also a vintage car collection near the entrance, that adds to the heritage ambiance.

A good stop to combine with a visit to local villages and the Jaswant Thada Temple.

Breakfast when travelling – a great time to try Indian specialties

Dal and Pakwan Baked yogurt, idli

Breakfast in India, when travelling, is a great opportunity to try a wide range of regional and national specialities. Often a buffet selection of a range of Indian dishes is offered so it’s easy to try a little of lots of things. If breakfast is a la carte, usually there are one of two Indian breakfast options included. And it’s even worth trying the same dish several times as each cook has their own style.

Marsala Dosa Baked yogurt and more

Pao Keema Dal Makarni and Pakwan

Dal Chakori Poha

Poha, Puri and Sambhal, Indian sweets Marsala Dosa

Chakori, Mirchi Pakora, Samosa Poha

Goan Pao bread Besan ka cheela

Medu Wada, Aloo Bonda ,Goan breads Vegetable Xacuti, Butter Pao , Aloo Pakoda, Upma, Poori bhaji, Sambhar and coconut chutney

Aloo Paratha

Jaswant Thada Temple and Rao Jodha Desert Park – Jodhpur

Just 1km from Jodhpur city is the peaceful Jaswant Thada Temple and Rao Desert Park.

Great to include, along with Umaid Bhawan Palace in a village tour.

It’s a real treat to be the only one there, so arrive at 9am when it opens.

It’s also possible to organise free early morning guided walks in the park with a naturalist.

Call +91 951271000

Visit a Bishnoi family and enjoying a traditional village lunch – Jodhpur

A great way to see rural Rajathani life is to take one of the many trips being offered, to the villages close to Jodhpur and have lunch with a local family.

Chai with a Bishnoi family, may well involve sharing amal, an opium preparation to welcome guests.

Watching lunch being prepared and then sharing it with a local family is lovely.

There’s also an opportunity to see and buy woven rugs, dhurries in the village of Salawas.

And it’s a sad account of the tragedy involving the death of 363 Bishnoi villagers who sacrificed themselves to protect their sacred Khejri trees at the memorial at Khejadali village.

Omelette Shop, Jodhpur – a must do

The Omelette Shop is a must do stop for street food in Jodhpur. So popular, it goes through 1000-1500 eggs a day.

Not only is it incredibly great value, at less than $1 for what is really two omelette sandwiches, but this 30 year old family run business is a real treat to visit.

Easy to find at the entrance to Sardar Market (with the clock tower in the middle), surrounded by a tuk tuk stand, the marsala cheese omelettes are highly recommended.

Gypsy Dining Rooms – Best Thali spot in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Gypsy Dining Rooms, is my top pick in Jodhpur, Rajasthan for a great traditional Rajasthani thali (a range of interesting flavours served on a large tray/plate). Waistcoated waiters buzz around refilling all the thali components, each assigned different dishes to deliver to eager diners.

Clearly it’s a very popular spot with locals.

Dishes and accompaniments included: yogurt and chickpea curry, dal bati churma, desert vegetable from the kesari tree, paneer, dal, paratha, millet roti, chapati, spinach dish, zucchini dish, special bread from Gujarat, sweets, chutneys.

Not just a great opportunity to try a wide range of traditional vegetarian foods, but a whole dining experience to more than rival the famous Maharaja Rajasthani Thali at LMB Restaurant in Jaipur. Highly recommended.

Gol Gappa (Delhi Street Snack)

I love this post from Sanjana who shares a love of fine eating and India. What a lovely thought, to be able to recreate Pani Puri!

The Alasi Chef

Happy Belated Father’s Day and a Happy Birthday (10/9) to my DH Sudhir. This post is dedicated to him. He’s a bit shy so asked not to reveal too much about him so I will try to keep it short and simple.

Let me start with a little bit about my DH. He is a typical Delhite..you know with his crude sense of humour and very loud vocals. Thankfully he doesn’t dress like one especially in winter. What I mean to say is that Delhi happens to have a a very unique winter look. Everywhere you turn you see men and I mean lots of men, young and old wearing sleeveless jumpers. They are seen in all different colors and fabrics worn over kurta pyjamas, business shirts, t-shirts, tailored pants and jeans. My favourite ensemble happens to be the chequered/stripey shirt under a sleeveless shimmery acrylic jumper..saksyyy!

Image courtesy –

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Mishri Lal Hotel, Jodhpur – great fun for Makhaniya Lassi and Mawa Kachori

Another absolutely essential snack stop spot in Jodphur is the Mishri Lal Hotel, easy to find at the southern gate entrance of Sardar Market (with the clock tower in the middle).

It is immensely popular with locals, particularly for it’s rich delicious Makaniya lassi (about 50 cents) made from saffron, yogurt and whipped butter cream, but equally friendly and helpful to tourists.

It is also a good spot to try another famous Jodhpur snack Mawa Kachori as well as Pede and Rabdi (a dessert made from milk curds, cardamon and sugar that reminded me of cheesecake).