The Spud Bar, Garema Place, City

The Spud Spot in Garema Place City, has plenty of potential for a quick casual lunch or dinner in the warmer weather when it’s nice to sit outside.

Offering large, very sharable serves of either white or sweet potato (or half and half) with a range of fresh and tasty toppings for $10-$13, it’s great value.

Choose between a suggested combination on the menu, or design your own from the hot and cold toppings available.

If you are wanting a lighter touch to your meal, choose more fresh ingredients and skip the hot options.

The vegetarian options also look very inviting.

Pulled Pork $12.90 – tender pulled pork with baby spinach, shredded cabbage, corn, peas and spring onions with light sour cream.

Half serves are also available ( at around $6.50 for one of the basic three options, with additional toppings for $1-$3) but these are limited and it’s better to share one with a friend if you can, or ask for a box and take some with you.

Closed Sundays, it also closes early, Monday to Wednesday.

Also good inspiration for easy quick meals at home….

Super quick and easy ‘light’ meal

It doesn’t get much quicker and easier than this stove top variation of baked eggs.

Served with a slice of good toast it makes a great breakfast/brunch/lunch or even evening meal. Perfect for eating light.

Mix a teaspoon or paprika (preferably smoky paprika) into jar of pasta sauce. Add a tin of diced tomatoes if you like, and stir.
When this is hot, carefully break eggs into the hot sauce and let them ‘poach’ until they are just as you like them.

Flavours of India, Woden – trying a few more dishes

Warm and cozy in the cold weather, with an attractive décor, Flavours of India is a great pick in the Woden CBD for a weekday lunch.

Sharing a couple of dishes, breads and rice works well, without being too filling. One of each between every two people works well (dishes are big enough for up to six to share, but double up when you need to).

Corkage is $8 per BYO bottle of wine and this can transform a routine lunch into a special event.

A 25% discount is offered for the Canberra Entertainment Book which makes it great value.

The Kadhai Lamb (Gosht) $17.95 is tender and lovely, a top pick.

The Kulcha Paneer with Onion and Marsala is a must have $4.50.

The Biryanis – e.g. the Chicken Biriyani for $19.95 is well sized and tasty, but can be fairly oily, so good to get some plain rice too.

Koko Black, Canberra Centre – a great way to finish the evening

Calling in at Koko Black for coffee is the perfect way to finish dinner. The coffee is great and a cappuccino ($3.90) comes with just the little bit of chocolate that would lovely when really don’t want dessert but something a little sweet would be lovely.

Hot chocolate $6.50

Flat white $3.90

More serious chocolate….

….and desserts $10:50, if you decide you do want some after all

Food lovers’ guide to Rankins Rd, Kensington, Victoria

The wide tree-lined Rankins Road in Kensington is a perfect spot to base some fun, relaxed food-themed exploring close by.

Blessed by a bundle of friendly and interesting eateries on it’s door step, it also has easy access to the culturally diverse and bountiful Footscray Fresh Food Markets and the never-ending choice close in the city.

Two cute, dog-friendly (outside) cafes sit at the corner of Macauley Road…

Cafe on Rankins…

…and Luncheonette…

open 8:00-3:30pm Saturday and Sunday, 7:30am-3:30pm Tuesday to Friday…

and serving breakfast and lunch.

Duck under the railway line through the walkway and you’ll come to the amazing The Premises on Bel Air Street..

…and across Macauley Road, the Joseph Swan Cafe.

If you need more ideas, hop on the train to the City Circle and head to one of the arcades, like The Block Arcade between Little Collins and Collins Streets and Elizabeth and Swanson Streets. The Block Arcade is home to the Haig Chocolate shop, Hopetoun Tea Rooms and the Gewurzhaus Spice House and the narrow walkway buzzes with diners and coffee drinkers enjoying the outdoor tables.

Joseph Swan Deli, Macauley Rd, Kensington, Vic

The Joseph Swan Deli is a new addition to the Macauley Road eateries and an interesting little nook to explore.

Staff are extremely welcoming and accommodating. The feel is casual and relaxed and indeed the deli is aiming to become a community hub for locals. To help this along, it offers filtered coffee for $2.50 with free refills, to go with the blackboard breakfast and lunch specials that include a homemade pie, soup and roll as well as a range of gourmet sandwiches.

The community feel is also reflected in the wooden sculpture wall made from local builds and representing the diversity in the community.

The sweet treats and breads also look delicious and there’s both communal and outdoor seating.

A new venture well worth supporting.
Open Monday to Friday 8-6pm, Saturday 8-5pm and Sunday 8-4pm.

The Premises, Bellair Street, Kensington, Vic

It’s hard not to keep heading back to The Premises with entrances on both Macauley and Bellair.
It has a great décor and atmosphere…..

… friendly service, excellent coffee …

…and an enticing menu and changing specials board.

The sandwiches are especially good, particularly Nana Kath’s Salad Sandwich $14.

The Slow Roasted Pulled Pork $19.50 is open and good to share between two if an extra slice of bread is ordered ($2 extra).

(I’ve also heard the Hot salt Beef Roll $16 is good too).

Breakfast has amazing creations like the Pumpkin Pie French Toast $17.50

…but also an interesting twist on poached eggs in the Bel Air Eggs $18.50

…and some good Poached free range eggs with excellent grain toast for eating light $10.50.

There’s also a cabinet of well-priced sweet treats including a very morish chocolate brownie $4.

Open Monday to Friday 7am-4:40pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm.

Footscray Fresh Food Markets, Victoria

If you are staying west of the city in Melbourne, it’s well worth heading to Footscray to explore the fresh food market.

The market particularly reflects the style of the local Vietnamese population but it’s a favourite across a range of cultures. It’s a whole sense experience – colours, tastes, smells.