This should have been published last month, but, well … June happened.
Anyways, without any further palaver, here’s what we ate on our anniversary weekend in Melbourne – all the way back at the beginning of May.
South Melbourne Markets and things you queue for …
Okay, let me preface this by saying I don’t queue – not even for food. Grant, however, is made of sterner stuff and queued for the croissants that people like Yottam Ottolenghi and Nigella Lawson have rated as the best in the world.
Even though he was there 30 minutes before the shop opened they were sold out of traditional croissants, but the lemon curd cruffin and han and cheese croissant he brought back to our hotel room were very good.
Melbourne is one of those cities where food trends start – it’s also a place where people don’t seem to mind a queue – and they certainly don’t seem to mind queueing for cult pastry like Lune (city store and Fitzroy flagship store) or Agathe at South Melbourne Markets.
Because so many people were queueing for pastries, the queue for the Burrata bar was short – yes, shoving burrata into focaccia is a thing. Grant and I shared one, but it was massive and, honestly, not something I’d queue for.
Also shared at South Melbourne markets – baklava, cannoli and the ubiquitous South Melbourne dimmie (dim sim) which also usually has queues.
Not Posh Nosh
One thing we always look forward to when visiting Melbourne is Asian food – while we have some great Vietnamese places up here now, we can’t get good dumplings or Chinese BBQ, so indulge in both when in the city.
Another fave is pasta at the Cellar Bar at the top end of Bourke St. It’s a tradition that we sit outside in the cold under the heaters and eat pasta (or risotto or minestrone) and drink red wine at least once during every visit.
Posher Nosh
On Saturday night, we met friends for dinner at Ombra for cicchetti—essentially Italian tapas. I’ve eaten here before, so I made sure to order the baccala toasties and the Nduja & Potato Crocchette. The sardines were also excellent, but while the cured kingfish and prosciutto with mustardy carrots were tasty, Grant and I were a tad disappointed—and left hungry.
Posh Nosh
For our anniversary dinner we splurged at Farmer’s Daughters. A paddock-to-plate restaurant with as much as possible sourced from the Gippsland region of Victoria, I’d wanted to bring Grant here since trying it last year with my friend Heather. He wasn’t disappointed.
Linking up with Min from Write of the Middle for Wednesday Whimsy and Donna from Retirement Reflections and her co-host Deb The Widow Badass Blog in their #whatsonyourplateblogchallenge.
And Anyways... 
Oh my! All the food looks so good.
It really was.
We will be in Melbourne in November so I’m printing out your post for reference. Sounds wonderful.
There are so many options!
I love reading your foodie posts Jo, it takes me right there and I didn’t even have to queue!!
Plus I took the calorie hit for you.
Hi, Jo – I never mind waiting in a queue – if it is something worth waiting for. Richard, on the other hand, is definining not a happy-to-wait kinda guy! Your food pics look amazing and made me sooooo hungry – even though I just had a full dinner.
Thank you for joining us for #whatsonyourplateblogchallenge!
Yeah and nah … I don’t do the waiting thing well.
All looks fabulous – Melbourne is such a great foodie city.
so many options, so little time …
I would probably not do a 30 min que for take out but if someone else was going to do it and I was going to benefit — sure!! All the food looks posh but that last meal of pasture to plate looks so good! I am glad you had a fabulous time.
Thanks Bernie…
I’ve walked past that Lune queue. The first time, I couldn’t get near the window and had to google it to see what the fuss was about. You really can’t go past a visit to the South Melbourne markets. I love you food photos as usually. They had me drooling.
It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? The queue, that is …
Oh my gosh – the food!! And your photos! And I’m reading this at dinner time! What’s that noise? Oh it’s my tummy growling. Melbourne is divine for food isn’t it? Yum and that lemon curd croissant – OMG! I haven’t been to Melbourne since before Covid in 2019 and boy do I miss it. I love Melbourne so much. It makes me feel good. I love its vibe. I must get there again soon! Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy – enjoy the rest of the week and have a fantabulous weekend! xo
Ooops …. soz not soz.
The Hot and Sour soup now has me craving Asian food!!
Looking at the pics has made me crave it too – in fact, I’m making it tonight!
As usual, the photos and descriptions on your WOYP post have blown me away!
So glad you were able to join us, Jo! Thanks 💕
Deb
Thanks for virtually joining me on a foodie stroll around Melbourne.
It all looks delicious, Jo! While, I don’t mind waiting a bit in a sit-down restaurant, I don’t queue for food either. My husband doesn’t wait for food under any circumstance…so queuing is out for us.
I’m not great at the whole waiting thing. I’ll do it to travel, but once I’m on that plane and the departure time arrives, it’s like, let’s get this show on the road already.
What a fabulous foodie weekend to celebrate your anniversary Jo. It’s 10am and I’m ready to eat any or all of the food you’ve highlighted in our post. I’m not someone to wait in line either so it definitely has to be out of this world for me to stand there and wait. x
Definitely “not a queue” person here..which is why places like airports bother me…the inevitable queue.
As always a post full of food pictures which are so beautifully taken makes me hungry too…and yet I am such a simple food eater. Not adventurous at all.
So glad you and Grant enjoyed your anniversary!
Off to have the top half* of a muffin break muffin and a coffee now. *bottom half comes home for freezer for another time!
Denyse x
Now I’m absolutely starving and craving everything in this post. Sadly, I have to make dinner which will be a sad attempt at chicken sweet and sour – hey hum! Not sure I would be up for all that queuing for food though.
Oooh some good tips. I don’t know South Melbourne Markets. Off to google. We’ll be back for Kusama at the end of the year…so will be good to have some new places…Melboure is a great food destination….so much better than Sydney, dare I say it. #WBOYP
I’m the least foodie person I know, but I still enjoy seeing all your food pics. I assume it’s because you know how to take a good photo and the food is also delicious – so win/win. That being said, I’d NEVER queue (even for 5 mins) for a croissant – that’s just nuts!
wow all food looks yummy. I come from Bali. Melbourne is my dream destination
Melbourne markets and restaurants are the best. Loved the photos – now I’m hungry! 🤣
Everything looks delicious but I know you won’t be surprised when I tell you that those dumplings had me drooling! Happy Belated Anniversary!