Melba Brasserie at the Langham, Melbourne CBD

On arrival, I saw the variety of seafood, salads, desserts and the theme of readiness. Stone slabs and wooden panels set the tone of Melba's Brasserie. I settled on my chair at the top end of a long dining table, could not pace myself initially, but felt relaxed by my company (the Yeaps) at table and the friendly staff attending to us. Buffets can be tricky, often under appreciated for what they entail and the palate's overall satisfaction depends on the sequence of menu selections thoughtfully chosen.

At the Melba Brasserie, four things stood out, the oysters, Moreton Bay bugs, green lipped mussels and the carvery meats. The evening began on a easy note, not too noisy, as we were early, but as the place filled up on a Sunday evening and the autumn air played its colours outside, more diners messed up their tables even if they still looked elegant. Still, there was no sense of rush as they sensed out intentions to make the most of the lingering hours of the weekend!

Lobster, crab and Beijing duck were available - how yummy. How does one keep Beijing duck tender and moist for a buffet audience who can walk in at any time? I have a crave for Beijing duck in Melbourne's outer suburbs, like near Wartirna, and did not know what to expect of them from this end of town beside the Yarra River. Melba's has been brave in this respect and that evening came out rather okay with the duck. There were no complaints from me with their Japanese bar, not just tuna stuffed sashimi but also, unagi (eel), yellowtail, octopus, king fish and salmon choices, and those California maki rolls. And not to ignore the chocolate fountain and tandoori oven baked bread.

A ritual of any buffet is the unshelling of bright red prawns and the yummy devouring of the delicate flesh. Melba's provides the background, the diversity and the comfort. Consuming such prawns make all of us want to be weekend fishermen, decked out in our boats and hats, learning more of the tides, seasons and currents that deliver such heavenly delights. The freshness and aroma of the rivers and sea came to us as we dabbled our fingers with such prawns, cooked simply without fuss and close to the source they came from.

I finished up the evening , food wise, with small portions of cream brulee, rum baba and a choice of ice cream flavours. Coffee was pretty much taken without too much expectation or comparison from what the Melbourne city lanes could offer. After this dinner, we went for a stroll, with the air slight nippy as for March but also offering us an opportunity for some post digestion of our experience at Melba's.

Atmosphere: Families and good friends gathering all over.

Location: Good side of town.

Taste: Overall satisfaction, but do avoid some specific dishes.

People Engagement: A mature staff member assigned to our table took the effort to commence a dialogue with us, and this is much appreciated, considering the busy night for the restaurant.

Service: Friendly, efficient and without fuss.

Best Time to visit: Saturday evenings.

My Fav Dish Experienced: The Chocolate Melba layer cake. (with both custard and chocolate)

Would I Return?: Oh ya, baby.

Taste Baguette & Grill, Darling Quarter, Sydney CBD

Another business day, another of those precincts designed by the same people paid by the same developers off to milk the same formula? It looked like one of those joints in Melbourne's South Bank. It had the same lay out, perhaps the same frontage. The premises has the same opportunities and challenges. High tourist traffic, with the presence of a bunch (actually a few thousand in number) of resident twenty somethings with high discretionary cash flows, need to unwind after 7pm and with a refusal to go home to another cubicle (after spending ten hours in an office cubicle). The nearby ground space was turned into a kind of recreational adjunct to a gym, even if there was no proper gym outfit nearby so to speak. People were actually playing table tennis on stone tables, others were hanging on the grass and benches as if to escape the confines of their nearby high rise units. Hmnn, I recall Brisbane's South Bank. Rentals of outlets look suspiciously high, so there is obvious pressure to have high margins and high turnover in any business one operates around here.

My overall impressions of Taste, one of several outlets in the food street alley of Darling Quarter, are as follows.

Atmosphere: Commercial

Location: Touristy, Transient and Office

Taste: Below Expectations.

People Engagement: Okay if You Start the Conversation First, maybe the Staff are Too Tired.

Service: Minimal

Best Time To Visit: If You Happen to Pass by

My fav Dish Experienced: None

Would I Return?: Maybe not.

At Taste, I had smoked salmon below some rocket leaves and an omelette all sitting on surprisingly ordinary toasted bread. The place is not just for breakfast, it operates a licensed bar, has sit down arrangements inside and outdoors plus runs a take away counters for those coffees and take away baguettes/ rolls. Taste is open till late and opens early, looks like the literal burning of the candle at both ends. Below image, a profile of the day time crowd. Taste originated in the Surry Hills precinct of inner Sydney and there it offered a fusion of French-Vietnamese fare. The Darling Quarter branch also provides Vietnam-inspired interiors for its sit down restaurant. Oh yes, they served Campos blended coffee with my breakfast choice above.

Sambal Kampung, Little Bourke Street - Melbourne CBD

Sambal Kampung, or chili and shrimp condiment from the village, is run by a Chinese family previously from Sarawak, the portion of northern Borneo once ruled by White Rajahs (the Brookes), home land to various tribes and home of peppercorn plantations. I had arrived there, a small unassuming cafe like shop, on a suggestion from a Sydney family and with a hunger to try Melbourne's Malaysian food reputation. The thousands of students from Malaysia who had trudged through the grid-like streets of Melbourne since the fifties have indelibly left behind a culinary trail of street food, delicacies from the four main racial groups that reside in Malaysia and various styles of unique cooking traditions that may no longer exist in today's Malaysia.

The first thing I realised was that the roti prata they dished up was bigger in size and asked for a bargain price when compared with Sydney. The accompanying curry was even more wholesome than at Mamaks Chinatown Sydney CBD. Wow. The ambiance was informal, the customers were mostly ex-Malaysians and the food tasted a bit different to this ex-Penangite. The tables and chairs were brown, why all this jungle brown in most Malaysian outlets in Australia? However, the teh tarik (milky latte with a cinnamon bark twist) was authentic. On the other hand, the choices of desserts and drinks variety ala Malaysia was limited. Prices at the Sambal Kampung asked are reasonable, good for an office gathering or just to have a practical dinner after a long day at work in the CBD.

I gradually realised I was not the only one indulging in the comfort foods of my childhood. There were several students who felt at home, taking their bowl of curry laksa or plate of char koay teow, and tourists, who were not fully recovered from their amazement at the availability of such Malaysian food. There were also rarities like fried Hakka pork (Kiu Nyuk), Hakka being the "guest' wandering tribe in China driven to settle mostly in southern Chinese mainland provinces by historical events before many Hakkas formed part of the Chinese emigration to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia from the 18th century onwards. These Hakkas then created the now well known Hakka Chicken rice while settled in south-east Asia (just like "chop suey" was dished up in California and does not exist in China).

There is another Sambal Kampung outlet in nearby Edgewater Boulevarde in Melbourne's Maribyrnong and Wellington Parade in East Melbourne.

Taste: Worthwhile for selected dishes

Location: Chinatown vibes

People Engagement: Helpful and with no fuss

Service: Quick and friendly

Best Time to Visit: 2pm to 5pm

My Fav Dish Experienced: Roti prata with wholesome chicken curry

Would I Return? : Maybe, to try the sambal prawns, satay, rendang and the lobak rolls!

Glebe Village, Sydney CBD

Tucked away at the south side of Sydney CBD is the enclave of Glebe, all at once bohemian, buzzing, cosmopolitan and diverse. You have the choice of water views from Blackwattle and Rozelle Bays, shopping at the nearby and busy Broadway centre, quaint calmness in hidden lanes, Paddington styled terraces, non-mainstream bookshops, weekend markets, lifestyle produce and products, cafes, diverse dining options, bicycle friendly paths, music gigs, bricked roads, backpacker gathering holes, blue collar perspectives and student life. Beyond Glebe, within a five kilometre radius, you have access to other tribal places like Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Newtown; commerce in ethnic hubs like Spanish Liverpool Street, Italian Leichhardt, Chinatown and Thaitown; choices in public transport like trams, trains and water taxis; tourist centres like Darling Harbour and the Sydney Fish Markets; work offices down George Street; university lifestyles from Sydney, Notre Dame and UTS; and across Sydney's major bridge links to Balmain and the lower North Shore. Sydney's greyhound racing is held nearby at the Wentworth Park - I recall that as I had some of CPA examinations held on site at the Park.

Glebe is best explored by walking, cycling or scootering. It is a place where rewards await those brave enough and with sufficient time to go off the proverbial main road. You will find the reconstructed Szu Yap Temple amidst the brick walls and urbane trees on a lane adjoining the lower slopes of Glebe Point Road. Along the way, you notice several cafe-style and dining outlets, some expensive, some community-friendly, others best for brunch or to while the weekend away. There are hidden gems in heritage mansions like the Bidura, Lyndhurst and the Bellevue - the Bidura was the home of architect and Glebe personality Edmund Blackett. The place was a land grant to the chaplain of the British First Fleet, Reverend Richard Johnson, hence the name "Glebe", which means a plot of land belonging or yielding profit to an English parish church or an
ecclesiastical office.

Above, I stumbled upon a still delightful way of selling ice cream and cooling delights for a summer's like day. At the Saturday Glebe Markets, a young lady carried on non-chalantly in front of the yellow coloured box, waiting for the customers, in the middle of the maze of stalls, performers and displays. Across the main road, one can be taken aback by funky and unusual offerings like the signs on the bar below. In Glebe, I am reminded of aspects of Sydney's Newtown on my most recent trip there, but here we have a slightly different feel, its very own character I must say and perhaps in a more organised way.

Glebe is not just for the visitor. For residents, it may encapsulate the best of what Sydney has to offer, except for beaches and surf. The Toxteh, Nude at the YHA, Nag's Head and Friend in Hand

are popular watering holes, although catering to different demographics. The village atmosphere is illustrated by the Glebe Street Fair, held on the third Sunday of each November, and month long celebrations over crafted teapots and Shakespeare. Never mind that the skyscrapers of the Big Smoke are only a ten minute walk or bus ride away, people do know each other as if they are back in the Tamar Valley in Tassie or in Bundanoon in the NSW Southern Highlands. Hockey, dragon boat racing, dance sessions and stand-up comedy are part of the activity routine. Jubilee Park has a different view of the ANZAC Bridge for the non-motorist. Delis, bakeries and fruit/veg suppliers retain a refuge for those returning every work day from the corporate and street life of most Sydney city centre dwellers.

You can find Nepalese, Thai, Indian, modern Australian, Malaysian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Turkish, Lebanese and Vietnamese varieties of cuisine on offer in Glebe. Cafes like the Blackwattle Cafe, San Churro, the Cafe Bariloche, Saffo, Hernandez Coffee Dean, Badde Manors and the Clipper's Cafe provide various levels of ambiance, style and moods. I came across names like the Flying Fajista Sistas and Na Zdrowie.

The weekly Glebe markets are worth an exploration. There is a public-brave and presentable child who does modern dancing for you as part of his busking routine at the Glebe Point Road entrance. I found bamboo casings for IPhones (image above) and the most tasty and imaginative vegetarian salads (picture below).

In the scheme of the ordinary, and perhaps more manufactured artificiality, unique and crafted produce shall continue to be valued. Ingredients may be there a plenty, but in the end it is what you shape and present that counts. The human contribution of creativity and care makes it all worthwhile, and it is the thought that grows and blossoms that is significant.

The best representations of two cultures, the didgeridoo (above) and teapots (below) can be seen amidst the tightly packed stalls at the Glebe Markets.

Old and new, memories of yesterday and the routine of today, history and reality are all echoed in the images below and above. A question arises with the picture above - did the Busy Bee precede Wai Sing? Why was a paste-up job done for such a public display? A Spanish tapas business has now superseded Wai Sing at these premises, but cleverly decided not to tamper further with this wall. Below picture reminds me of a Saturday morning lifestyle, atypical of the Australian scene - family and mates will always be important, but when will the hard copy newspapers go and everyone is receiving the news on a mobile device instead?

Sandstone, brick, terracotta and multi-cantered windows do stand out in today's lifestyle. They remind us of a regimented past, which underlay the basis of today's freedoms, choice and thinking. They provide continuity, pride and curiosity to all who find increasing value in such materials and designs. Some may be of the view that they may not have suited the Sydney climate but was what the British settlers knew best and were comfortable with. The increasing multi-cultural nature of Australian society today has also emphasised harmony and use of local and indigenous, and this is all part of the maturing evolution of building culture.

The Valhalla, the Glebe Public School, Saint Scholistica's, the Wireless House in Foley Park and the Glebe Railway Viaduct are illustrative examples of the Glebe architectural heritage preserved and appreciated of colonial days.

Clipper Cafe, Glebe - Sydney

Is the ultimate choice of a regular cafe in its coffee, food or ambiance? I reckon it's the people, especially the first person to greet you and take your requests; the fellow customers, they way they dress up or down; and the extra touches people make you feel at home. It can be a busy morning, as when I was there on a Saturday, and yet the staff made me feel as if I was the only customer. My cappuccino (image above) came out as soon as they could, even if I knew there was a backlog of customer requests. I had the same person attend to me and my experience and this is much appreciated. He had an easy and genuine smile, even if he was busy, and the smile shone in his calm and bright eyes.

The internal decor makes a child stare in wonder and asks questions. Why is that bicycle hanging on the wall? Whose creative art pieces are being displayed? At times it feels like in a gingerbread cottage, at others like in a bohemian community. There are many twenty-somethings and choices for seating, from sofas to high chairs and pavement tables. The maritime theme can be felt. The weather forecast is lovingly drawn in chalk. Food and drinks are prepared behind a partition, and yet one with a window. If you look the other way, you can immerse in the street life that is Glebe, not far from the intersection with Broadway and Parramatta Roads. And yes, Ben & Jerry's ice cream in small tubs are also available from the cafe fridge.

Much thought had gone into creating my breakfast choice above. Savoury was complemented by the texture of bread, and a range of sensations was provided for taste, including those from a twist of the lemon slice, the green of asparagus and the fresh yolk of egg. My palate was taken both to the rich senses of the sea and the whiff of the farm.

The Clipper Cafe is open everyday from 6am to 6pm. My overall impressions of the Cafe are:

Atmosphere: Feels like home, cosmopolitan and yet as in a village

Taste: Above expectations

Location: Trendy and at the centre of the buzz

People Engagement: Superb, especially from the totally shaven-headed cool guy

Service: Welcoming and with a smile

Best Time To Visit: Early morning.

My Fav Dish Experienced: Salmon sitting on bed of Avocado Paste over toast, accompanied by asparagus spears and two poached eggs (picture above)

Would I Return?: Can't wait.