The Best East Eats: Highlights around Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia (B)

foodie cravings knows no geographical boundaries, so here a few of the standouts from my recent trip to Melbourne. Hopefully they might be of use the next time you head east!

A snug kitchen minutes from the beach in this quiet town, I probably would’ve missed it without a friend’s local knowledge. Lit by the glow of a wood-fired pizza oven, the relaxed interior would be a welcoming refuge on one of Victoria’s colder days. But we opted for takeaway to make the most of the sea views, and thankfully the pizza proved just as good as the scenery. The lemon and garlic prawn pizza popped with fresh flavour thanks to citrus, chilli and feta, but the “pork ‘n pear” was a minor marvel. The combination of cheese, kaiserfleisch, garlic and sticky pear balsamic was equally distinctive and delicious, leaving us all saluting The Captain.

Apparently one normally needs to commit to queue at this chic café, where French/Spanish influences make for a varied and appetising menu. The question of morcilla sausage or lobster is just one of the dilemmas presented by the extensive breakfast selection. Luckily, while you’re deciding you can spectate on a particularly trendy clientele; I couldn’t tell if one table was a genuine “creatives” business meeting, or some sort of postmodern performance art satirising the concept. Luckily, I was distracted as soon as the food arrived. Roasted mushrooms, “truffled ricotta” and walnut bread made for a lovely blend of earthy flavour, while the baked eggs – mixed with pine nuts, brie and asparagus – tasted similarly luxurious. The cakes and pastries also looked excellent, so even if you do have to be patient, I’d say this spot is well worth the wait. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).