borsch vodka & tears

Guest User June 13, 2013

“First is drunk for health. Second for pleasure. Third for Tears. Fourth for madness.”

— An old Polish proverb

Channel your inner vodka swigging gypsy at this old world Polish bar and eatery. Borsch Vodka and Tears is a bohemian enclave, tucked away on Chapel Street, where you will discover over 100 vodkas from all reaches of the Eastern Bloc. This inviting but moody dimly lit bar, offers a mix of Polish and Russian peasant style food and vodka everything. From infused concoctions to elaborate cocktails and shots served in dainty little glasses, you can dance with the green fairy on absinthe or even have a pot of warm vodka tea. If you are looking for somewhere a little offbeat in Melbourne then Borsch Vodka and Tears is for you.

kopytka
panfried polish gnocchi served with a wild mushroom ragout

zakuski
selection of gypsy ham, csabai, kransky, russian salad, roast capsicum, beetroot, polish dill cucumbers, pickled mushrooms, goats cheese and a basket of rye bread

rustic Italian eats

Guest User May 12, 2013

Mangiare e felicita; eating is happiness. This is a belief that most certainly resonates with me and that La Svolta lives by. Tucked away on Cecil Place in Prahran this authentic Italian trattoria is warm and friendly serving up traditional fare from all corners of 'The Boot'.

This pizzeria is favoured by our friends at Totem Onelove and was the perfect haven for a Stereosonic team dinner. The wonderful thing about dining in such astute company is knowing that no one is shy to eat and the ordering of many dishes to share is encouraged. The table was laden with crispy calamari, tasting plates brimming with cuts of cured meats and cheese, pizzas, pastas, more pastas, risotto and sides drowned with generous offerings of wine. This is teaming building at its best.

With each bite of happiness you know in your heart that the recipe was created by a Nonna somewhere. You can imagine a child clutching at legs, every inch of the kitchen bench top floured, each piece of pasta lovingly shaped whilst a big pot of passata bubbles away on the stove. If only all Italian dining experiences, outside of the home, were this humble, delicious and true.

La Svolta
3-5 Cecil Place
Prahran VIC
Ph: 03 9510 3001

Woods of Windsor

Guest User May 12, 2013

I felt as though I stepped back into 1920s Melbourne chancing upon an illegal whiskey bar. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Chapel Street, The Woods of Windsor is sophisticated and charming and definitely worth a look. Beautifully furnished with decadent dark wood and dotted with nods to yesteryear with stunning attention to detail. Taxidermy animals peer at you from the shelves of the well stocked bar as you peruse the cocktail menu. The Woods is a culmination of good food and wine with an astounding whiskey collection.

Vodka, lemon, smoked hay syrup, bitters, bunnahabhain float
The Lewis Medlock

The leading character to the 1972 American thriller 'Deliverance' whose Southern American adventure took a sour twist.

Zucchini Flowers goats cheese, beetroot, pine nuts

Forest Mushroom Tart  spiced yoghurt, chestnut puree, watercress

Hay Smoked Kingfish dashi dressing, picked celery, native finger limes

Pig Trotter Fritters onion marmalade, soft quail egg

Martin Millers, lemon, apricot, edlerflower, tonic
Wellington's Quaff

A twist on the classic gin and tonic. The delicate citrus floral notes celebrate the late great British Statesman's victory at Vittoria in 1813.

Peanut Butter Bar raspberry sorbet, salted peanut caramel

Triple Chocolate Slice banana ice cream, shaved white chocolate

The Woods of Windsor
108 Chapel Street
Windsor, Melbourne VIC

Parlour Diner

Guest User May 6, 2013

Amidst the clutter of eats jammed along Chapel Street there is a humble American-style diner that my friends at Totem Onelove regularly frequent. The Parlour Diner gives all the right nods to the US without going overboard.

We shared Pale Ale Onion Rings and Parlour Curly Fries which were hastily dunked into the mustard with chipotle sauce. A nice little pitstop in our Stereosonic summit. It is too hard to sit in the boardroom with a rumbling stomach. So instead we sat at the pretty blues tables in Windsor chatting about the Splendour lineup, whilst playing on our phones waiting to tuck into our burgers. `

I must say I was a little devastated that they were out of the dressed lobster and shrimp ‘Po Boy’ with slaw and chimichurri salsa. But all was forgiven when I sunk my teeth into my Asian Pork Slider with Asian Slaw smothered in chipotle sauce. Yum! I love this place.