Classic Curry Company

Posted 07.02.10 // Author Leona (Lee) //


(LL & Mc) suggested we go for indian. It’s always a pleasure dining with them as they are true lovers of curry food and butter chicken – hell yeaaaa! After finding out the curry place I read about didn’t open on sundays, our iphones came into action and lead us to this random curry joint. When we got there, we realised it looked quite dodgy and half of us were half hearten on whether to eat there or not. Thank god for online reviews and a good rating (8.2 eatability) kept us sane.

I instantly noticed on the amount of motorbike jackets and takeaway containers piled up which meant they were big on the takeaway side of their business. Surprisingly food turned out to be quite nice! Not the best indian curry but not bad either and amazingly cheap! - (Cost us approximately $65? for 6 of us)

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_entry.jpg

Fish Curry (Mild) - Traditionally marinated fish pieces in assorted spices and cooked in a mild, creamy tomato based curry sauce

First thing I noticed when i scooped a piece of fish onto my plate, was the crispiness of the fish! (see photo). Definitely good especially with the spiciness. Would have loved it to be hotter cos I love chili.. but hey nobody can cater for everyone especially when chili lovers are a minority.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_fishcurry.jpg

Lamb or Chicken Saag - Lamb or Chicken Pieces cooked in smooth spinach sauce

Spinach curry was delicious and what I liked was the a tinge of spiciness. Definitely one of my favourites of the night and a popular on our table as it got polished off in no time! I think it would have been nicer if there were more lamb pieces in there. Apparently some of us missed out on having a taste.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_saag.jpg

Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken) - Tandoori pieces cooked in mild creamy sauce

To me butter chicken is butter chicken, I never eat enough of it to pull it apart amongst other restaurants. (Mc) Queen of butter chicken curry said its not the best butter chicken she’s tried but it was still good. Always a favourite of mine no matter what indian restaurant I go to! I just have to have butter chicken!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_butterchicken.jpg

Lamb / Chicken Biryani – Lamb pieces cooked in spiced rice with vegetables served with a small curry gravy dip

I notice every time I try biryani,  it always comes out looking different. There must be a billion different ways to style biryani. I loved this dish especially the small hot curry dip. If you cant handle the heat then i suggest  not smothering the curry sauce over the rice.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_biriyani.jpg

Tandoori Chicken - Freshly marinated chicken cooked in tandoor served with Garden Salad

My god these chicken pieces were huge!!! Eating one of these moist and tender pieces.. put me over the top – SOO FULL!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classicccurry_tandoori.jpg

Garlic Naan
If you love garlic then you’d love their bread. Shit load of garlic spread which was awesome!! Finger Licking good!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_garlicnaan.jpg

Basmati Rice
Indian rice! Taste totally different to the asian fluffy rice and much thinner.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classicurry_basmati.jpg

Mango Lassi
I was shocked to see mango lassi in a takeaway bottle! We thought it was super cool as it would be nice to take one home! Unfortunately I never drink lassi, it doesn’t seem to go well with my stomach :(

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_mangolassi.jpg

$65 for 6 people! – Holy smokes what a friggen bargain for decent food!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_carnish.jpg

Don’t Judge a book by its cover
Unfortunately if your looking to impress a girl, this isn’t a place you’d want to take him /her unless you want to get dumped. Interior isnt that great and from the outside it can make someone nervous. My point is, dont judge a book by its cover unless you’ve tried it. – We made tried it and we walked out extremely happy!!!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/classiccurry_restaurantjpg.jpg

Classic Curry Company
597 Elizabeth St (Cnr of Queensberry St)
Melbourne, VIC 3000
P: (03) 9329 4040

Franks Lebanese, Fairfield

Posted 05.02.10 // Author Leona (Lee) //


Franks had been on our agenda for some time and 4 of us lovely girls decided it to pay our dear friend a visit who lives a block away. For those who have never been to fairfield before and wondering where the hell it is…lets just say its between parramatta and cabramatta.

Unlike cabramatta with many vietnamese and other asian influences, Fairfield has a middle eastern / Arabic influence. Here you will find fresh baked Lebanese / Afghan / Turkish breads, delicatessens, continental cake stores, kebab and charcoal chicken shops.

Falafel - Chick Peas and a variety of appetising spices fried-in vegetable oil and topped with the Chef’s own Galic sauce and Parsley

By far the best friggen falafel i’ve had! Most falafels i’ve eaten are either too over fried, rock hard and dry. My god these were golden on the outside and the inside was perfect!!!! Seriously, I’ve been thinking about these falafels and I regret not ordering a take-away batch. I’ve told my sister who lives not far from the suburb of Fairfield to pop by and try it.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franks_falafel.jpg

Mixed Plate - Skewers of Shish Kebab, Kaftah and Shish Taouk and can be served with either Tabouli, Houmos, Baba Gannouj, Pickles, grilled Tomatoes and Onion or with Rice and Pickles

Everything was soft, tender and juicy. My ultimate favourite was the lamb kaftah! God I could just have a plate of all that lamb skewers.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franks_mixedplate.jpg

Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha Charcoal Chicken!
I’m sure everyones tried charcoal chicken sometime in their life, if you you haven’t and you’ve only been eating the roasted ones from woolies… i think its time to go experience chicken thats cooked over hot charcoal! – GOD I LOVEEEEEEEEEE CHARCOAL CHICKEN!!!

Personally I love charcoal chicken skin where its darker n more roasted;;

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franks_charcoalchicken.jpg

Fattoush Salad
AB and I were curious to try the fattoush salad since we’ve tried it at other lebanese joints. Because I had finished working out that morning, I just had to have some salad. I would have loved it if there were more crunchy bits but that’s just me being greedy cos I love crunchy textures! It’s a great salad that helps balance out the breads and the meats.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franks_fattoush.jpg

Tabouleh
I used to work with a lebanese chick  and she used to tell me how tabouleh has gotta be made FRESH and fresh Franks tabouleh was!.

I remember as a child I used to hate parsley, now as an adult, often you’ll see me buy tabouleh at eat it with poached chicken for lunch or make a chicken wrap out of it. I love it so much I sometimes eat it with white fluffy asian RICE on its own hahaha..

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franks_tabouleh.jpg

Houmous & Babba Gannouj
missed out on the baba! I didn’t think there was any baba so I was hoeing into the houmous! Thought something was missing! damnit!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franks_hoummous.jpg

Lebanese Bread Hellllll YEA!!!!!!!!!
If it wasnt for lebanese bread, there would be no way to scoop the houmous up unless i scooped it with my fingers.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franks_lebanesebread.jpg

Frank’s Restaurant
16 Smart Street
Fairfield,  NSW
P: (02) 9724 3000
W: http://www.frankslebanesefood.com.au

Via Volare, Fitzroy

Posted 27.01.10 // Author Leona (Lee) //


One of my favourite suburbs in melbourne is Fitzroy! For you Sydney siders that have never been to Fitzroy before, its similar to Newtown in terms of its culture. It had been a while since I last made an appearance on Brunswick St and it felt great to re-jot my memory.

Even though I don’t fit in with its bohemian, vintage and alternative culture.. I could spend hours wondering the streets looking at all its beautiful contemporary designs, quirky art, boutique fashion / clothing stores, cute dresses (a girl can never have too many), super cool people, vintage bicycles, fancy graffiti and cute terrace style houses.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_fitzroy.jpg

What I fall in love with every time, is the relaxed cafe lifestyle where eating a bowl of chips with an icy cold a beer in your hand is considered normal during breakfast or a big fry-up downed with a glass of red wine.

After touching down in melbourne, brunch was calling our belly’s to one of the busiest crowds @ volare cafe. Always a good sign when there are lots of people on a Friday morning.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_exterior.jpg

Table water served in used alcohol bottles.. OMG HOW COOL!
My first impression was.. Spirits for breakfast!! Show me some of that boozy LOVIN’!” If they served us table water in bacardi or vodka bottles I would have smelt it first to make sure I wasnt gonna pour straight alcohol into my glass LOL.

I thought this concept was super cool as no way in hell would a sydney cafe  serve-up water like this. Newtown maybe.. but for now they’re still on glassed bottles from the $2 hot stores.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_beverages_water.jpg

Beverages – Soy Coffees & Milkshakes
If your gonna come to melbourne you’ve just gotta have a god damn coffee! Its the coffee capital in terms of their European influence and the relaxed culture. This was my first real coffee in such a long time and god I missed having my soy cappuccinos every morning! SOo Good!

Photo Lyrics: Kelis – Milkshake

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_beverages_milkshake.jpg

Photo Lyrics: Bloc Party – Sunday

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_beverages_coffee.jpg

Blueberry Pancakes with vanilla ice-cream
(LL)
eyed the table behind us and immediately had his eyes set on their blueberry pancakes. When his pancakes arrived it looked so god damn friggen good and perfect! Pancakes were fluffy and the blueberry sauce smothered on the top made me want to steal his dish!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_pancakes.jpg

Calamari Salad with rocket and baked potatoes
I was up for something light even tho I was starving! When I first saw my dish I was thinking “OMG is that wedges in my salad??” Thank heavens it wasn’t.. it was cut potatoes which was really good!! It wasn’t fried it was baked in the oven! Dressing was delicious and the touch of the almond flakes made this hit the right notes!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_calamari.jpg

Satay Chicken with peanut sauce
(Mc) found the chicken skewers dry which was disappointing because they looked really good! As she was pulling the chicken off the skewer, I could see the chicken bits being stuck to the stick which was a shame. Would have been nice if it slid right off. Portion and presentation wise mouth watering!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_sataychicken.jpg

Chicken Focaccia
(M) found the chicken focaccia really good. Personally, I haven’t had focaccia bread in years.. its one of those breads people tend to forget about. Watching her eat.. I could see the sandwich was packed with chicken and the bread had the crunchy sound of golden bread MmMm toasted sandwich!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_chickenfocaccia.jpg

Wedges with sweet chilly and sourcream
(Mc) & (LL)
are lovers wedges and I don’t blame them.. what’s not to like about crunchy golden wedges?? If only  wedgies felt as good as wedges in your mouth haha LOL

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_wedgessourcream.jpg

Big Breakfast (one with salmon and the other with bacon)
Typical boys (B) & (J) ordered the predictable big breakfast. One with salmon and the other with bacon. I found the bread looking unique.. The white center had a spiral effect almost reminding me of layers of the soft inner bits of a crossiant. They ate it pretty quickly by polishing it before I finished my salad!

http://pigged-out.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/viavolare_bigbreakfast.jpg

Did i mention I want to move to melbourne?
One can only dream..

Via Volare
326 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065
P (03) 9416 3530