Mama Baba

Cute cafe culture
embraces nostalgic flavours

By George he's done it again! Calombaris and Made Establishment (the group behind Maha, Hellenic Republic  PM24, St Katherine's and The Press Club) bring you a taste of old world Greece (Cyprian) and Italian (Sicilian) in their latest venture, Mama Baba. 

The dining room, a former industrial space, is informal and inviting with little reference to Calombaris' heritage - the notable glass pasta room the exception. Staff are friendly and attentive and bring to the table some modern fun.

My favourite in his ever expanding culinary collection, Calombaris has returned to his old school charms with Mama Baba.

Eat: The dining menu is simple and digestible. With a feature glassed-in temperature-monitored cool room, pasta is the way to go. At the helm is chef Dominic Pipicelli who is the master of pasta.

Mama and baba know best with their very own selection of distinct dishes drawing on their cultural roots. From Mama's (pasta) side the Tortellini ($28) are morsels of prawn saganaki, fried chickpea, jamon, feta which are lovingly embraced in silky, handmade pasta. The recipe for this signature dish can be found here. Baba (pasta), Orecchiette ($29) is tenderly served with braised wagyu, peas, lemon, and pangrattato.

In the vain of many new restaurants hitting the scene, the wave of accessible food is gaining trend.  Can't decide? The Mama Baba menu ($55pp) eliminates any choice with four banquet style courses. The group menu is set, however does allow scope for seasonal produce.

Bread basket with butter

Tortellini with prawn saganaki, fried chickpea, jamon and feta

 



The Merrywell
Fun, yet daring with a twist

Sharing is caring at The Merrywell, with American duo Sammy De Marco and Grant MacPherson bringing their casual American cuisine to Melbourne's Crown Casino.

 



Paying homage to their American roots, this merry gastro pub is a tribute to cool burgers, old school faves re-invented and more.

Dishes are designed for sharing across two levels of expansive dining spaces. Upstairs, you'll find table service, sitting room style nooks and an outdoor balcony with city views. Downstairs, a burger bar serves up as the name suggests, burgers. This is real dude food!

Add a DJ on deck spinning tunes, good times are on tap at the Merrywell.

With Americanised fare gaining popularity in Melbourne, this pub is a destination for all things delicious - with flavours you will remember. Reserve your seat today!

Heading out west, check out The Merrywell Perth, the newest addition to the ever increasing plethora of restaurants at Crown Perth.

 

Eat: There are several menus on offer with the upstairs dinner menu sampled on this occasion.  Select from grazing plates (for 2 or more), salads, pub grub or something from the grill. The fish (rockling) and (skinny) chips with tartar sauce ($28) is beer battered and oven baked with love. The Angus pub burger with pork belly, egg and lemon aioli ($26), is more of an over sized open sandwich. Nevertheless it will take a mean feat to get your gob around it for the first bite. A side of Merrywell chips or french fries wouldn't go astray.

For the KAPOW factor, allow 40 minutes and go the caveman 1200g aged rib-eye, wet aged (for 2) served with crisp onion rings and house steak sauce ($99). The Fred Flintstone portion of meat is presented to you at the table, dinosaur bone and all, before being taken away for plating up. 

Fish & chips with tartar sauce
Photo: M.Elizabeth

 

Angus pub burger
Photo: M.Elizabeth

Drink: The novel 1-2 lt jugs of sangrias ($30-45) are something to been seen and tasted.

Acknowledgement: Thanks to M. Elizabeth for food styling and taking the foodie pics.
 

Hot Chilli Thai

Thai-ed and tested

A popular Thai restaurant on the Mount Alexander Road strip, Hot Chilli Thai consistently serves up favourites including panang and massaman curries ($15-20), tom yum ($19-22) and pad thai ($15-20). Thai-style stir fries are plentiful with seven options to choose from ($15-22).

I've been coming here for years. The dishes are generous, aromatic and phuket, adventurous as only Thai food can be. 

The traditional Thai decor is cheerful as are the staff.

The Moonee Valley area has exploded with new eating haunts in recent years. It's easy to be drawn to this place for the name alone as it is sure to excite any chilli nut. Well worth a visit.

Eat: The dine in menu is vast with your choice of 15 entrees, 23 mains and 7 desserts. First time diners, go for the roti bread with peanut sauce, pad puk with prawns (ask for cashews to be added, trust me) and the chicken panang curry. There's a takeaway menu and for locals residing within 3km, home delivery. Fancy BYO tipple, it's $2 corkage fee per person. 

Pad Puk with prawns and coconut rice (side)
Photo: S.Spasojevic

Pad Satay with chicken
Photo: S. Spasojevic

Acknowledgement: Thanks to S. Spasojevic for taking the foodie pics when my camera was out of action.

Mamasita

This Mexican taqueria is one hot babe

Opening its doors in 2010, the former site of The Recorded Music Salon has transformed into an authentic and modern Mexican taqueria. Ever since, there has been a buzz about Mamasita with the growing popularity in Mexican fare.

 

 

Located in the Mexican quarter of the Paris end of Collins Street, bee line for the door at number 11 where you will be greeted by a staff member, with clipboard in tow. This hot babe is a walk in. Find yourself 8-10 dining companions and you may qualify for a group sitting. The reservations policy is detailed (check it out the website). Otherwise be prepared to wait, anywhere from 30-90 minutes. Brace yourself as the staircase that leads to the first floor dining room is tight. Conversations and iPads are rife. Alternatively, arrive early, 4.30-5.30pm to avoid the queues or opt for lunch from midday-4.30pm. For the night owls, the kitchen closes at 2am on Friday and Saturdays and midnight most other nights.

Melbourne's food culture is changing and the casualisation of dining has taken a stronghold. Think Baby, Chin Chin, and Longrain. Fancy foods make way for share-style dishes. Authenticity of flavours juxtaposed with contemporary offerings has favourably shaped the rapidly growing interest of Mexican cuisine in our city.

Eat: No selfies here, the share-style menu is as stated, designed to share. Staff are on hand to guide you the Mexican way. A primero to start. Half a cob of the most succulent and mildly spicy corn ($4.90) awaits. A board of tostaditas ($16), four per serve, follows. The bite sized tortillas with crab meat are our favourite. If only they made them bigger! Don your sombrero and dig into the tacos ($5-7 each) and split a quesadila ($14-16 each). The postres (desserts) draw on that old Mexican staple, tequila. The flavoured ice-cream ($6-10 each) is presented in a cone and stand which makes it interesting if sharing. Give the sweet stuff a miss and focus on the bulk of the menu, you cant go wrong.

 

L-R: Mamasita Margarita, de Cangero (crab meat, avacado, cucumber, tamarind mayo & habanero),  Elotes callejeros ("street style" chargrilled corn, queso, chipotle mayo & lime) 

de Huitlacoche
Huitlacoche, queso criollo, mushrooms, corn, epazote, pico de gallo & queso fresco

Flautas dulces de calabaza
Bluecorn flautas, pumpkin mousse & praline

Helado de maiz
Sweetcorn icream cone, caramel, popcorn

Drink: Tequila is liquid gold here and Mamasita proudly promotes this noble spirit. For an education on their extensive range along with a preview of  their other drinks, check out the drinks menu.