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Boat O’Craigo

February 14, 2021

I have driven past this winery in the Yarra Valley, always on my way to or from another winery, and I must admit, every time I have driven by I have thought about the [...]

Leaf & Vine

January 16, 2021

What I thought was a treat for locals turns out to have regular diners coming from far and wide. Leaf & Vine in the suburbs of Ringwood is a little café with food and [...]

Graziers Grill House

January 2, 2021

New years eve is a special occasion and after the horrendous 2020 we have all suffered through, it seemed more important than ever to celebrate the coming of 2021 in style. [...]

Merricks General Wine Store

December 17, 2020

An icon on the Morning Peninsula since the 1920s, Merricks General Wine Store has gone quietly from strength to strength. It’s a wine store, a restaurant, a café, an art [...]

Martha’s Table

December 17, 2020

I have made it my mission to spend even more time travelling throughout and discovering Victoria. While the Mornington Peninsula is fairly well known to me, there is still [...]

Taxi Kitchen

January 21, 2020

I have tended to avoid the heart of Melbourne for quite a few years now and have focused my attentions on restaurants, venues and travel in the outer regions of the city. I [...]

Celebrated Chef and menu at Yu Kitchen

October 15, 2019

In a move that has set Melburnians’ tastebuds aflutter, fine Chinese cuisine hotspot, Yu Kitchen, has just announced a spruce-up in time for spring, with a new menu and [...]

Coya

October 1, 2019

Food fusion has become a real art in Australia but it’s not as easy as throwing miso soup on the same plate as spaghetti bolognaise. To stand out from the crowd, when it [...]

A guide to Dips and Spreads

August 13, 2019

Cold weather in Australia has caused many of us to be in ‘hibernation’ mode. For me it has meant snuggling by the heater watching old movies all while being wrapped up in [...]

Red Hot & Smokin!

August 12, 2019

It’s absolutely no secret – I LOVE AMERICA. I love the people, the scenery, the lifestyles and, just as important, I love the food. We have had the American style ‘fast [...]

To pineapple or not

June 19, 2019

The war on pineapple pizza is real. Staunch supporters of this delicious fruit on a savoury pizza say that there is nothing better, but those opposed are adamant that it most [...]

Wellness range makes life easy

May 16, 2019

Coles is making it easier for customers to choose healthier options with the new Wellness Road range of health foods, as more than 40 per cent of Australians say they want to [...]

Best burgers in town

April 18, 2019

Set back from the busy highway, The Oven Twist restaurant in Ringwood might be a little out of view for a discerning diner. If you are looking for somewhere in the Ringwood [...]

Tastebud detectives unite

March 1, 2019

I received a personal letter from Mr P – otherwise known as – Mr Pringles! While I understand that this information is only for the ‘select few’ I couldn’t help [...]

Olive & Sinclair

February 12, 2019

Nashville was on our agenda for our most recent trip to the USA. In a way you could call us ‘explorers’, we love the touristy things, but we love exploring small town [...]

Best service wins over

February 6, 2019

I’ve recently been tasked with the job of creating a cheese wheel cake for a wedding. For those who don’t know, a cheese wheel cake quite often replaces a traditional [...]

New slamsational Tim Tams

February 3, 2019

Monday 4 February 2019, Sydney, NSW – Australia’s number one chocolate biscuit, the Tim Tam, has gotten a whole lot tastier. Arnott’s new Tim Tam Slams are an [...]

Australian Heritage

January 28, 2019

Having just celebrated Australia Day my mind is full of how fortunate Australians truly are. I don’t think there is one food item that we can’t grow or raise on our [...]

Cellar door like no other

January 24, 2019

Tucked away down a side street in leafy Healesville is a very unobtrusive restaurant known as Graceburn Wine room. I am fairly local to the area and I had no idea it was [...]

Indian delight

October 27, 2018

I love a small family business that doesn’t try to be anything but what they are. In this case, I am talking about Indian Lounge, a small restaurant in the outer eastern [...]

Maldon’s Kangaroo Hotel is pure gold

October 17, 2018

In a tiny Victorian town, where time has stood still, is a delightful old Aussie pub, appropriately named The Kangaroo Hotel. The hotel is situated on the main street of [...]

The art of alcohol

July 10, 2018

It’s dark, moody and it’s hidden behind an unidentified door in one of Melbourne’s laneways. Eau de Vie is one of Melbourne speakeasy style establishments where [...]

Chin Chin

July 10, 2018

I’m very late catching on to the Chin Chin phenomenon in Melbourne, and when I say ‘phenomenon’ I mean that people queue for hours in peak times to dine at this Asian [...]

Butter IS better

June 30, 2018

Butter is a dairy product containing up to 80 per cent butterfat which is solid when chilled and at room temperature, in some regions, and liquid when warmed. It is made by [...]

Trentham and beyond

June 30, 2018

Discovering long forgotten parts of Victoria is one of my passions and for me, there is nothing like being the passenger in a comfortable car visiting towns that I [...]

Not all heroes wear capes

June 4, 2018

There’s a new set of heroes in town and they aren’t the typical cape-wearing kind. These heroes wear aprons, are the sweetest kind – they’re the first Australian [...]

Free Gradi – Grazie

June 4, 2018

What’s better than pizza? Free pizza! And that’s exactly what 400 Gradi is offering this coming long weekend.  As well as celebrating the Queen’s birthday, Monday [...]

Good things come in small pots

June 1, 2018

Patak’s has become a well-known brand name as more and more Australians cook Indian cuisine at home. Patak’s already extensive range of Indian products, including paste [...]

Sweet tooth dreamin’

June 1, 2018

After the successful launch of Milk N Sugar last year, the artisan dessert-only food festival is back bigger and better this year at Sydney’s Vivid Festival.   Taking [...]

Johnny cooks for Syria

May 30, 2018

Johnny Di Francesco’s 400 Gradi restaurant has thrown its support behind #CookForSyria campaign, creating a delicious Syrian inspired pizza. Available throughout June, 400 [...]

Miss Ping’s

May 25, 2018

  The other night I had the pleasure of tasting Thai delicacies at Miss Ping’s, a new Thai eatery in Doncaster. Launched late March, this enticing venture has been created [...]

Zonzo Estate

April 23, 2018

Only 90km east of Melbourne is the stunning Yarra Valley. I have always considered myself lucky as this magnificent wine growing region is very close to my doorstep and I [...]

The Aussie Evolution of Chinese Food

April 18, 2018

When I was growing up I had never heard of Chinese food. Yes, there were Chinese restaurants around (I think) but my father’s dislike/allergy to things like onions and [...]

BBQ Beer & B.S.

November 6, 2017

Cricket and barbecues = an Australian summer, so who better to serve up a collection of his most wanted barbecue recipes. Aussie through and through, Mervyn Gregory [...]

More than you bargain for in Hastings

October 25, 2017

Surrounded by farmland, the town of Hastings is one of the ‘gateways’ to the lower part of the Mornington Peninsula, one of Victoria’s great tourist destinations. Most [...]

Curd & Crust

October 12, 2017

As an avid cook and host of many dinner parties I am constantly on the lookout for new recipes and tastes. When a new cookbook was recently sent to me for review, I was quite [...]

Food of Naples

October 5, 2017

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Johnny Di Francesco and his chain of restaurants. I have attended the opening of most of his ventures, participated in one of his [...]

Belly ache?

October 4, 2017

It seems to be a bit of a catch phrase these days – ‘Oh, I’m gluten intolerant’, but in reality, there a lot of people who think they are unable to eat gluten because [...]

How to cook the perfect ribs

October 2, 2017

Having just returned from a trip to America, BBQ and ribs are foremost in my mind when I am thinking of delicious USA cuisine. Tender, juicy meat, full of smoky flavours [...]

The Big Marn’s Barbeque Cookbook

August 25, 2017

I had heard the name, but really didn’t know much more than that. I am a Melbournian, we (I) don’t get much into Rugby League, but as I found out, you don’t need to be [...]

Margarita por favor

June 28, 2017

I will be the first to admit that I am not much of a drinker – there are times when as little as half a glass of wine can have me suddenly becoming the life of the party OR [...]

Bake Your Cake & Eat It Too

June 21, 2017

I have vivid memories of visiting each of my grandmothers on fairly regular occasion. One of my grandmothers always served up a huge plate of home-made scones. Of course [...]

My pizza addiction

June 7, 2017

I guess it’s no secret that I am addicted to 400 Gradi’s famous Margherita Pizza, so it is with great pleasure I am letting prodijee readers in on a little not so secret, [...]

An Australian first

June 1, 2017

Health-centric consumers are always on the lookout for a more nutritious alternative to cooking oil, and CocoEarth is determined to quench this need with the launch of [...]

From the Garden

April 13, 2017

If you have ever tried your hand at growing fruit and vegetables at home, you will know the sense of achievement and excitement when you see that plant develop into something [...]

Balls galore!

February 24, 2017

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Tella Balls Dessert Bar turns one next week and to celebrate, the guys behind the over-the-top Nutella-inspired dessert-eria is giving away free Tella [...]

Australia’s most expensive pizza

February 3, 2017

Recognised annually on the 9th February, it’s the perfect excuse to tuck into a pizza… or even the most expensive pizza in Australia. To celebrate his favourite occasion, [...]

Veggie Mama

January 12, 2017

It is without doubt that fruit and vegetables are good for us – even better when they are in their natural state – raw. I have vivid memories from my childhood, [...]

New Shanghai dining sensation

December 16, 2016

Adding to an already impressive list of restaurants, New Shanghai has just opened their latest dining location at the Dining Level, Chadstone Shopping Centre. The restaurant [...]

Best meatballs in the world?

December 15, 2016

I thought I had tried the best meatballs in the world when I visited New York. Just off Broadway is a family restaurant, Carmines, that serves the most amazing meatballs – [...]

Smoky goodness

November 25, 2016

Last night the PRODIJEE team was invited to attend the launch of new menu specials at Meatworks Co in South Melbourne, it was also a new venue for me. Located at 28 Ross [...]

Not just another grain

November 24, 2016

With over 30 years’ experience as a cooking demonstrator and recipe developer, Rena Patten, adds to her impressive list of publications with Quinoa: Flakes, Flour & [...]

Beauty from Within

November 21, 2016

As we have always been told, beauty is more than skin-deep; it comes from within. According to The Beauty Chef it comes from the gut, to be precise. Carla Oates, author and [...]

We are what we eat

November 11, 2016

Dare I say it? I think I have just found my newest favourite cook book! Our busy lifestyles these days make it difficult to prepare a wholesome and healthy meal for yourself, [...]

Melbourne’s Pizza Trap

November 9, 2016

Johnny Di Francesco has become a well-known and respected name during the last few years with the opening of his hugely successful restaurants known under the banner [...]

Barbecue the Brazilian way

November 7, 2016

The front cover of Braza will have barbecue lovers excited to delve further into this book, succulent looking charred pork – delicious! Braza is an authentic Brazilian [...]

It’s in the stars for Australians

October 21, 2016

More Australians are choosing healthier packaged foods, thanks to the Health Star Rating (HSR) system, according to new campaign evaluation research released today. Assistant [...]

ENCHANTING LIFE

October 18, 2016

Chill those bottles and pop those corks, it’s getting to the party time of the year! It’s the time where we celebrate horse races, Christmas, the dawning of a new year. [...]

Taste of gold

October 10, 2016

In Australia, the last 50 or so years has seen a massive change in the way we eat. When you think of the simple take-away options years ago being mainly fish and chips, [...]

Like sausage?

October 6, 2016

Sausage lovers will get more than they bargained for at Munich Brauhaus and Bavarian Bier Café on Saturday 15th October, when the ultimate sausage eating competitions get [...]

Gastronomic tour of the world

October 5, 2016

With gastronomic tourism booming it’s easy to believe that food is one of the key ways in which we experience a place when travelling. Lonely Planet has now scoured the [...]

Bad chef has heart of gold

September 29, 2016

This October, Red Cross is aiming to set a new record of well over 35,000 Australians taking part in the annual Red Cross Big Cake Bake. “Last year we saw tens of thousands [...]

A BBQ feast as big as Texas

September 5, 2016

You may not recognise the name, but you would most definitely recognise the slow Texan drawl of Robert Louis Murphy from his stint on My Kitchen Rules. In 2015 Robert, and [...]

Indulge in supreme decadence

August 28, 2016

Matthew, Sarah and Brendan Aouad are siblings running a family business making the world a happier place one decadent shake at a time. With experience from every facet of a [...]

Jocks, socks or cheese?

August 25, 2016

It’s less than two weeks until we celebrate our Dads on their ‘official’ day, have you figured out what you are doing? Our Dads come in all shapes and sizes and their [...]

Johnny B Good.

August 18, 2016

If you remember, or know of, the old Chuck Berry song Johnny B. Goode, you will know it was about someone who played the guitar really well. A couple of the lines in the song [...]

For the sophisticated drinker

July 29, 2016

The alluring and complex taste of Italy’s finest liqueur, Amaro Montenegro, is becoming one the hottest and most mixed liqueurs in the Australian bar industry. [...]

In a flap about wings

July 26, 2016

Who doesn’t love the occasional chicken wing – OR – plateful of chicken wings? Roasted, grilled, barbequed, crumbed, marinated, fried – however they are cooked, the [...]

BFree and Gluten Free

July 26, 2016

Breakfast, lunch or dinner, our food options are huge. Whether you cook it, dial for it, drive for it, sit down to eat it or eat it on the run, there is always something [...]

China says cheers to a beaut Aussie beer

July 9, 2016

Hawthorn Brewing Company has signed a Chinese distribution deal, resulting in its Pale Ale now being available across five provinces in Southern China. The first container is [...]

Wholesome Food for Busy Parents

June 7, 2016

Modern life is fast paced and busy, making being a parent all the more challenging. Feeding children healthy food can seem time consuming and difficult. When my children were [...]

Fit for a Princess

May 7, 2016

It was with great pleasure that I accepted an invitation to attend the relaunch of Amaro Montenegro – WOW – what a fun night! Firstly, the invitation stated that the [...]

More than a trifecta for Johnny

April 21, 2016

Zero Gradi Melbourne, Australia: After numerous pizzerias, Italian restaurants, world award winning pizzas, a cicchetti and now a gelataria – Zero Gradi – you would [...]

Time to catch up with gadgets

April 13, 2016

I am often late to catch on to new trends in the market. I have seen many ‘greatest thing on the market’ come and go so I am hesitant to invest hard earned dollars into [...]

Just a burger

April 11, 2016

Who hasn’t been to a Huxtaburger restaurant? Me! Well, I hadn’t been until last Friday and I am not sure I would return. Firstly, let me say that the Eastland outdoor [...]

It needs to be a WOW product

April 8, 2016

This week, Domino’s is launching an exclusive range the Victorian market suitably named the ‘Melbourne Range’ with new taste-bud tantalizing pizzas on the menu. [...]

+39 Pizzeria set to open doors in Toorak

March 23, 2016

One of Melbourne’s favourite Italian restaurants, +39 Pizzeria, will be bringing their famed restaurant Southside, launching in the heart of Melbourne’s prestigious [...]

Work in or near the heart of Melbourne?

March 22, 2016

Lunch time can become really humdrum when you have limited time. You tend to leave your office, go to the usual coffee shop downstairs, rush down your food, then back to [...]

Australia is going bananas!

March 18, 2016

Over five million bananas are consumed every day in Australia, so it’s no surprise that they are Australia’s number one selling supermarket product, outselling every [...]

Movida brings true Mexican to the East

March 13, 2016

by Carol Sheridan. Eastland is still to inspire me and my regular supermarket visits rarely having me venturing into the new and ‘wonderful’ area. The centre is big and [...]

A celebration of cheese and cider

March 9, 2016

by Carol Sheridan. Proudly part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2016, Fromage a Trois Cheese & Cider Festival once again filled the picturesque grounds of [...]

Great Grub – Meat Me

March 8, 2016

These days, when it comes to food, we hear about blending flavours, mixing and matching fruits with vegetables, which wine goes with which meat or fish, which meat or fish [...]

From a common ancestor

February 28, 2016

by Carol Sheridan. Melbourne, Australia: I had heard of Chapel Street’s Kin restaurant but so far hadn’t found the time to venture there to give it a try. So, I was quite [...]

Eat, drink and be merry

February 26, 2016

Melbourne, Australia: Do you know you beestings from your brine? Can you tell a fromage from a farmer’s cheese? Are you well-rehearsed at sniffing out the difference [...]

A perfect beer for Summer

February 1, 2016

Melbourne, Australia: Highly-regarded craft brewer, Hawthorn Brewing, has released its latest Summer thirst quencher, Summer Witbier. The new brew is the second release from [...]

Love is in the air

February 1, 2016

Melbourne, Australia: Love will literally be in the air this Valentine’s Day as couples flock to Melbourne’s Eureka Skydeck to celebrate the year’s most romantic day. [...]

Escape from the gastronomic wilderness

January 29, 2016

Diabetes is a serious complex condition which can affect the entire body. The disease requires daily self-care and if complications develop, it can have a significant impact [...]

The not-so-secret secret

January 11, 2016

Probably all of us have heard of the ‘war’ between north and south of the border – that’s north and south of the Murray River! Which is the best state? Victoria? New [...]

It’s not all about Christmas!

December 22, 2015

We have a massive build up to Christmas day, planning for weeks or months on end, shopping, cooking, wrapping gifts, and then it is all over. The big day has been and gone in [...]

The Duck flies again

December 11, 2015

Melbourne, Australia: Prahran’s historic Flying Duck Hotel takes flight again – with new owners, a new look and a coveted new chef Javier Perez Gonzalez who is creating [...]

Is this the world’s most expensive tart?

December 4, 2015

London, UK: Baker to the stars, Georgia Green, has developed what could well be the world’s most expensive Christmas tart – the Rudolph The Ruby-Nosed Reindeer Tart. At [...]

Time poor foodies – help is here!

December 2, 2015

Sydney, Australia: I’m a foodie, I love to eat it, I love to cook it and I love to plan it. But these days, my hectic lifestyle makes it difficult for me to find time to do [...]

The Skinny on Cheese

December 1, 2015

Melbourne, Australia: Most of us don’t need to be sold on the pure joy of eating cheese, nor do we doubt the power of the perfect cheese platter when entertaining friends [...]

300 kilos of FREE LINDOR BALLS

November 23, 2015

That amazing little ball of chocolate – bite through the smooth chocolate and into an even smoother and almost gooey filling – yummmmm ‘Tis the season where we start to [...]

Gluten and dairy free eating with flavour

November 23, 2015

When you, someone in your house or even a friend have a food allergy or intolerance, preparing tasty food can be very difficult. Gluten, Dairy, Soya, Nut Free Cooking is [...]

Passion ignites tastebuds

November 19, 2015

Italian cooking is about love and passion. Every ingredient is grown, picked and purchased with love. Every action to create a meal is done with heartfelt care – whether [...]

Sydney set for night of nights

November 11, 2015

Sydney, Australia: NYE Party At The House will be Sydney’s hottest ticket this year, with food by Matt Moran’s ARIA Catering and music by dynamic duo L’Tric, set [...]

Heart Attack Grill

November 10, 2015

Americans have the reputation for obesity and while my experience is that Americans are no more obese than the average Aussie, America certainly caters for those wanting to [...]

Masters masterclass

November 5, 2015

Vino Paradiso is one of Australia’s greatest wine festivals with 32 Australian wine regions, 80 wineries, and 1,000+ wines, all at one spectacular location. Vino Paradiso [...]

Bellissimo!

November 2, 2015

by Carol Sheridan. Gradi’s menu showcases the food of Naples and passionately maintains the focus on what has made the name Gradi famous – giving all diners the [...]

Hail the mighty Caesar

October 30, 2015

I don’t need any excuse to make a delicious Caesar salad, but if I had to come up with a reason, I think I would have to say that it’s a perfect meal to have in the [...]

Break the fast

October 20, 2015

Many people skip breakfast due to their busy lives and a lack of time in the mornings. According to experts, breakfast is integral for both mental and physical health, and in [...]

Il est de retour – yes, it’s back !

October 13, 2015

So Frenchy So Chic in the Park 2016 returns for the fifth year in Melbourne and third in Sydney once again offering a summer French escape of music, food and friends [...]

A good cause is brewing

October 4, 2015

Melbourne, Australia: AFL football legend, David Neitz has partnered with Beer DeLuxe to produce a refreshing pale ale that is all about goodness. Brewmanity has been built [...]

Vino Paradiso rocks Sydney

October 4, 2015

Sydney, Australia: Following a successful inaugural year, Vino Paradiso will this year relocate to The Rocks, an iconic venue framed by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the [...]

Hunter Valley Shiraz in a Class of its Own

August 27, 2015

Hunter Valley, Australia: On the back of a standout 2014 vintage for Shiraz and another terrific vintage for Semillon in 2015, last Friday’s Hunter Valley Wine Show was the [...]

Festival of Real Food

August 25, 2015

Sunshine Coast, Australia: Supported by the Queensland Government, the fifth annual Sunshine Coast Real Food Festival is expecting 10,000 visitors through the gate over the [...]

Congratulations and Bon Apetit

August 19, 2015

Red Spice Road The Inaugural People’s Choice Awards reflects Victoria’s diverse tastes and has resulted in Melbourne’s local favourite, Red Spice Road, [...]

Can’t stand the heat?

August 7, 2015

Finally, a hot sauce created for taste rather than heat – Cholula Hot Sauce gives you all the flavour without burning your tongue off. Don’t get me wrong, there is [...]

Liquid Gold

July 7, 2015

Mention the words ‘apple pie’ and you will have people salivating and licking their lips. Those two simple words conjure up feelings of homemade comfort and memories of [...]

Sweet and bitey

July 5, 2015

Sweet Balsamic Reduction Vinegar of Modena, Italy, with a rich culinary history, is an essential part of any kitchen. Over time this vinegar forms a distinct taste as it [...]

In the raw

June 30, 2015

  by Sarah French Its no big secret that fruits and vegetables are good for you and its even less of a secret that eating right makes you look and feel better. But what [...]

Fine food, wine and a beach view

June 22, 2015

By John Anthony.   WINED BY: Baddaginnie Run of the Strathbogie Ranges in Northern Victoria www.baddaginnierun.net.au DINED BY: Cerberus Beach House, Boat Shed 212, Half [...]