Gourmet Dining without Gourmet Prices in Melbourne
August 29, 2011
Melbourne is renowned for its thriving café culture and restaurant scene. Out of all the Australian cities, it is the one that foodies tend to flock to the most. This is only natural considering what a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities Melbourne is – those from Greece, China, Italy, Thailand, Spain, Vietnam and the Middle East have all set up home here and many have opened restaurants offering delicious, authentic cuisine from their homelands. The good news for those on a budget is that you can eat very well in the foodie capital of Australia without spending a fortune. Wherever your Melbourne accommodation may be, you’ll find a plethora of inexpensive gems nearby.
Cellar Bar at Grossi Florentino
Run by one of Australia’s top celebrity chefs and possibly the best Italian restaurant in Melbourne, Grossi Florentino has an ingenious concept – fine dining on the top floor, a bistro on the ground floor and, next to that, a casual enoteca called the Cellar Bar. It is in the latter that you can sample this top chef’s food at dirt cheap prices. Antipasto, simple pasta dishes and scrumptious deserts can all be washed down with a glass of house red or a strong Italian coffee.
Pho Dzung
This Vietnamese restaurant on Russell Street in Melbourne’s CBD is renowned throughout the city for its pho, a traditional rice noodle soup with beef or chicken and topped with Thai basil, chilli, lemongrass and beansprouts – all for just AUD 7. Also good (and similarly cheap) are the rice paper spring rolls and vermicelli noodle salads. The décor is simple – laminated tables and fold-out chairs – but the food is excellent and incredibly fresh.
Victoria Market
The largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere, Queen Victoria Market first opened in 1878 and today offers a range of local culinary delights. As well as the many stalls selling fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, and deli products, the centre of the market houses the food hall which is a great place for breakfast, lunch, or a post-shop snack. Vendors from around the world offer upmarket international cuisine created from local ingredients at wallet-friendly prices. On Wednesday evenings in the summer there is a night market with food stalls, bars and live music.
Stalactites
This family-owned Greek restaurant has been in operation for over 30 years and is much-beloved by Melbournians. Famous for its homemade spanakopita, saganaki and loaded souvlaki straight from the spit, it also offers a huge selection of freshly made dips, light, thin and crispy pita breads and some fantastic seafood.
Lentil As Anything
Great name, fantastic food, and an even better price. In fact, the bill is completely up to you – you pay what you think the meal was worth, anonymously. Offering organic vegan and vegetarian cuisine from three outlets in St. Kilda, Abbotsford and Footscray, its philosophy allows punters to ‘be part of a unique financial model that is centred on the values of trust, generosity and respect that gives people the opportunity to eat out and be social regardless of their financial situation.’
5 RTW Planning Tips
August 29, 2011
It can be thrilling, exciting, enriching and life-changing, but a round-the-world trip can also be daunting. Take some of the worry out of it by preparing as much as you can, but most of all just relax, take it all in and get ready for the trip of a lifetime!
Travel insurance is essential
Absolutely anything could happen whilst abroad for a long period of time. In fact, anything could happen over a weekend. Because of this, travel insurance is essential. Bags get lost, flights are delayed, money gets stolen, and stomach upsets are almost inevitable, so it is essential that you buy comprehensive international travel insurance from a reputable provider. Remember, if you’re planning to undertake any extreme sports (including skiing and watersports) you must inform the insurance company or you may not be covered.
Vaccinations may be a requirement of entry
Quite apart from the fact that you may avoid picking up a potentially lethal disease, some countries require all foreigners to have had certain vaccinations – and to have proof. Bolivia, for example, requires that all visitors to the country have been vaccinated against yellow fever. Always travel with an International Certificate of Vaccination, available from travel clinics, signed and stamped by a doctor. Also bear in mind that some vaccinations involve a number of injections over a period of weeks or even months.
Packing involves a lot of forethought
Thinking of leaving your packing until the last minute? If you want to find yourself on a trek in the Himalayas with only a couple of jumpers and a thin waterproof, then do so. A round-the-world trip necessitates a lot of planning when it comes to what to pack into your one backpack. For example, the only way to pack for every conceivable season, from snow in the Andes to tropical heat on a Thai beach, is to pack mix-and-match clothing that you can easily layer. Ensure you think about local customs and comfort too – for example, if you’re a woman travelling in Thailand you need to pack something to cover your shoulders and legs for temple visits that will also keep you cool.
Research local customs
You may be visiting dozens of countries across several continents but before entering each one it is important to read up on its social mores to avoid, at best, committing a cultural faux pas, and, at worst, getting yourself into real trouble. Is it considered morally wrong for a couple to hold hands or kiss in public? Do women have to cover their hair? Should you remove your shoes before entering someone’s home? It is also prudent to learn a few basic words in the local language.
Don’t over-plan
It’s certainly a good idea to have a rough itinerary and researching the countries you are planning to visit so you are aware of the etiquette, customs and even whether you really want to go there or not, is fairly essential. However, over-planning a round-the-world trip rather misses the point. This is an adventure into the unknown, a trip on which anything can happen, where exciting opportunities will present themselves and you don’t want to miss out because you have a rigid schedule to keep to. Explore, discover and never regret not doing something!