A Pub with Sassiness, Sake & Grill. No Parma on this menu

A casual Japanese styled pub located in Collingwood is casual but yet stylish and is delivering some very succulent tapas styled dishes that leaves for an enjoyable evening with friends and family or a quaint evening for any couple.

Pabu Grill and Sake sets our evening with a warm welcome. A narrow dining front area leads to a quiet day lit room sectioned room. Mellow but up beat tunes set for a relaxed atmosphere not so loud that you can't have a conversation but not so quiet where you could almost hear the crickets.

Our waiter was friendly and inviting, allowing us to browse the large menu, but also giving a description on how the dishes are arranged and offering suggestions if we were stuck.

This evening is about freshness, crisp flavours married perfectly to enhance your palate which leaves you wanting more.

To begin the Buta Gyoza and Pabu Famous Watori Kari Maki. The gyoza was filled with a succulent, juicy pork inside a soft dumpling coating with a golden crisp base served with a spiced ponzu sauce. Now you know that I always have Gyoza and theres a reason why....... there awesome! There little gems of pleasure and I have to say that the flavours in this gyoza were well balanced and what was great was that they didn't fall apart like most do. You could enjoy each bite with out the pork dropping out or the dumpling break into pieces. Perfect and one of the best I think I have to say.

The Watori Kari maki sushi roll was filled with soft shell crab, avocado and cucumber with a scattered coating of toasted sesame and finished with a flying fish roe and mayo. Fresh and soft flavours combined to make for a delicate pleasure. Everything in this roll is supposed to be there, there is nothing out of place here. Crab is highlighted through each piece perfectly and freshened with the hints of avocado and cucumber with bursts of roe.

To follow was some Renkon chips and the Gyu Tataki. Renkon chips are a delightful pub dish if you are downing those sake's or beer's. Golden crisp lotus root chips are addictive and tasty.

The Gyu Tataki of seared porterhouse beef coated in toasted sesame, spring onion and red ginger nestled in wasabi mayo and a garlic, ginger and citrus sauce packed a punch of flavours. Slight hints of spice wakened the taste buds but not so much that it over loaded the taste from the beef. A well balanced flavoured dish fresh and vibrant ginger added a depth of flavour to the meat and balanced out the strong garlic notes in the sauce.

A dish that won my heart was the glorious Unagi Kabayaki. Normally when I order eel I receive about 4 - 6 small slices of which you have to battle the rest of the family for. Here, theres no problem about sharing. This large fillet of perfect mouth watering grilled eel is glazed with a sweet sauce and coated with sesame. It's tender and falls apart, the flavour is outstanding and this dish a lone is what's going to make me return. Unbelievable.

The Takayaki of Octopus pancake balls served with a Japanese mayo, spring onions, sesame and red ginger finished off with shredded bonito were tasty morsels. Soft pancakes delivered a octopus flavour and balanced with the sweet mayo and fresh ginger and spring onion. They were firmer than the ones I've had at other places which I liked a lot more. It was a much better texture and I think it helped hold the flavours it was delivering.

The last couple of dishes were also a highlight of our night and are a must have along with the Unagi when dining here.

First is the Yaki Buta. Pan fried juicy fall apart pork belly coated delicately in a light soy and served on a bed of herb soy tossed mixed salad and finished with fried leeks. All I can do is drool like Homer Simpson right now as I remember such succulence. Truly amazing flavours bought through the pork and fresh salad.

The other was the Piri Kara Maguro Maki. Fresh tuna rolls with fresh cucumber, avocado, seaweed and flying fish roe finished with what I found out was a special hot sauce that no one will ever know apart from the Chef and owner. Amazing is all i can say. Delightful bursts of fresh flavours and pops of heat from the tiniest drop of red sauce. Almost looking Christmassy when it arrives, it's looks are decieving. I was not expecting such boldness from this dish, it blew me out of the water and really bought amazement and a smile to my face when eating.

A finishing plate of Dessert Moriawase was the only way to conclude our evening. A dessert selection platter with green tea ice cream, black sesame ice cream, lemon and Japanese citrus ice cream and also a Cherry blossom and kuromame rice cake. A refreshing plate to finish with a friend if you're about to burst at the seams.
My favourite was the cherry blossom rice cake and the black sesame ice cream. But everything on this plate was a delight and was a great sampler of everything.

The night was filled with amazing flavours and the menu delivered everything that you would expect from a Izakaya. The host and owner Koha Ngugen has truly put his heart and soul into Pabu and is destined to continue delivering the very best Japanese styled tapas with beautiful refreshing sake, cocktails and beers to make for the perfect social evening.

We will be returning with friends in tow next time maybe to test out the set menu with matching sake to make for an even more fun filled evening.

It's moden, sassy and best of all enjoyable. What more could you ask for?

Pabu Grill & Sake

190 Smith Street

Collingwood

9419 6141

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well

Tucked away off  busy Lygon street sits a restaurant that has made it's home for 30 years. A long red walk way takes you to a large full dining room bustling with enjoyment as diners catch up with family and friends.

The room is loud as sound bounces from the wooden floors, although trying to stay cool in the sweltering heat it is almost hard to concentrate on your own table for enjoyment. Daiquiri's and beers ordered we are greatful to be near a window that has a slight breeze to get us settled.

Tonight we catch up with some dear friends who have continued to come to Shakahari for some time and we were pleased to come along for a fun night out and enjoy some great food.

When good food is involved it brings everyone closer and together you can relax, unwind and enjoy your evening, and thankfully tonight it has delivered.

Shakahari specialises in your Vegetarian cuisine, and I'm actually pleased to be getting out more to some Vegetarian restaurants. As much as I do love my meat at times I want a big bowl of vegies or lentils. There are some amazing natural flavours in grains fruit and vegies and I think a lot of us forget how flavoursome and delicious they are.

Entrees this evening was a hard decision within itself. The tables favourite of the evening would have to be the Kerabu. Here they combine a salad of fresh green lentils, watercress, slices of fennel, beetroot, walnuts and goji berries all coated blissfully with a wasabi chilli onion dressing and crisp kale.

A table of four was blown away in amazement with the flavours, and all I want now is this dish. I will dream many dreams about this one dish. For a hot summers night it could be that dish you could enjoy when you're not too hungry or can't decide cause it's just so hot. A perfect balance of flavours.

Next we enjoy the famous Avocado Magic. There own signature dish of avocado wedges and red capsicum rolled in thin slices of eggplant which is coated in a light tempura batter and served golden with a coriander and sesame puree. Similar to a spring roll but more delicate in flavours. Nothing is overpowering and the puree although coriander based (not my favourite of flavours) it actually enhanced the magic of the rolls.

The Scent of Green Papaya was very light and summery with it's green papaya mixed with a selection of shredded raw vegetables, roasted cashews, tempeh (a type of soybean cake) finished off with fresh herbs and a mild chilli and tamarind sauce. For me this dish although light and refreshing it was quiet sour possibly from the tamarind. The cashews unfortunately weren't toasted enough to bring out their natural oils to enhance and cut through the sauce. If they were tit would have bought a perfect complexity in flavours.

Something I was impressed with tonight, was trying soy cheese for the first time. It just tasted like Parmesan and was actually more delicious than I had imagined. An impressive Italian styled Linguine Amore made with gluten free pasta was tossed with a basil almond pesto, seasonal greens of asparagus and kale finished with shredded soy cheese, fresh basil and almonds. Strong flavours but well balanced this was a beautiful simplistic dish.

Croquettes Cassava are a pleasant dish. Light crunchy discs of cassava, yam, roasted macadamias and black quinoa were soft in flavours but with the accompaniment of the lemongrass capsicum sauce the flavour is enhanced adding depth to the dish. Mind you if you are sharing this friend be the first one to start the dish. The issue I had was that the lemongrass and capsicum sauce was so good my adorable husband ate most of it, leaving me less to enjoy with my 2 croquettes, and he wasn't even sorry. Our friends said the same thing when we were eating this dish that you could eat buckets of this sauce it's that good.

Tha Laksa Hebat was tasty with Udon noodles, spinach, mushrooms and bean sprouts were coated in a  soft ginger flower and lemon grass broth with hints of spice and coconut. It is a hearty and filling dish, may not have been the best option in the sweltering heat but it was calling to me to try it. It was a nice dish overall, perhaps a little bit more balance of spice could have enhanced the flavours slightly but it was enjoyable.

The Red curry looks like a winner of a dish. Indian mixed vegetables in a spicy red mix of tumeric, spices and curry leaves. Served with tumeric rice, cucumber pickle chuteny, yellow split pea dhal and papadams. Kicks of spice and seeing the excitement on our friends face was clear signs that perhaps this should have been the dish to order. Wholesome and flavoursome, and if you have an appetite this would be the perfect dish for you.

Desserts were an interesting side to the evening, I've never really looked into desserts made from tofu, so tonight was going to be the first time. Living on the edge, taking a risk giving it a whirl. The verdict, different.

 I went for the Tofu Caramel. A tofu dessert similar to a panna cotta coated in a golden caramel sauce and pistachios. The dessert was very wet, the tofu panna cotta was not as set as I imagined and I had actually pictured in my mind something completely as to how I read it. Never the less it was an unusual balance of flavours and you do need the caramel sweetness to cut through the tofu flavour.

The Chocolate yoghurt cheesecake, was seriously rich and am glad I only had a few bites. The intense Belgian Callebaut chocolate was intense. the side of strawberry mint raita was an unusual mix but worked pretty well and cut through that chocolate. A very dense dessert and if you are on boarder line full, perhaps go for something lighter

The final dessert on our table was the Pulut Mango. A warm dessert of red rice and goji berries which is cooked in a pandan flavoured coconut cream finished with caramelised mango. Similar to eating warm porridge. Soft in flavours and continues to make you think you are eating a breakfast but it's subtle sweetness was actually very pleasant to end you evening.

All of us had an enjoyable evening, and it's a great idea to book your table later in the evening rather than early as the dining area does get very loud. They do have a courtyard that is a little quieter. If it's a hot night you will have to soak up that heat as no air con is available, just coolers which at times made it uncomfortable to enjoy your evening to 100%.

The food is magnificent and was pleased to enjoy the combinations of natural flavours. We would certainly return back to work our way through the rest of the menu.

Shakahari Vegetarian

203 Faraday st

Carlton

9347 3848

Oozie Chocolate chip Cookies

Ingredients:
150g Butter, room temperature                                   1 1/2 cup Self raising flour
150g Brown sugar                                                               2 tbsp Cocoa powder
1 Egg                                                                                         50g Dark Chocolate bits
1 tsp Vanilla                                                                           60g white chocolate, chopped
60g Caramel whirls (buds(, chopped                          15 assorted Lindt balls

Method:

 Preheat oven to 180c and line baking tray with baking paper.

Cream butter and sugar until pale, add egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.

Sift flour and cocoa powder and add to mix.

beat until well combined and dough is formed.

Chop chocolate and add to mix

using hands mix through chocolate pieces evenly.

In your hand make a ball with mixture. make a well in the centre.

Place Lindt ball into the centre.

Cover with mixture by rolling dough around evenly.

Place ball's of cookie on the baking tray, approximately 4 -5  per tray.

Bake in oven for 20 minutes.

Cool on tray for 5 minutes then transfer onto wire rack.

makes 15 large cookies.

Beauty & the Beast

Burgers, Burgers, Burgers. There's no doubt that we all love them. Juicy beef patties layered with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, slices of melted cheese and an overdose of sauce between two buns.

Grab a simple burger or take to a tower where you need to dislocate your jaw to get it in your mouth. Either way burgers are always full of flavour and a crowd pleaser.

I ventures to an uptempo burger joint in Brunswick East with some friends to only return a few days later with Hubby in tow. Clear signs that these burgers are good, don't you think?

The B.East showers you in stylish burgers with even better names. Choices are to hard to choose I must admit and I will one day go there enough to work my way through the menu.

My first visit enticed me to go for 'The Filthy', a mustard fried beef pattie, sliced vintage cheese, smother of the Beast chilli paste, pickled onions, cos and a fiery jalapeno mayo to finish.

A slight heat wave hits you on your first bite, but so amazing in bold flavours their is no way that your taste buds will stop you from devouring this fine burger.

On the second time round it was the 'Pork'. juicy 12 hour slow cooked pork shoulder pulled into the soft brioche bun with hints of crispy pork crackling, cos and a sweet green apple and cinnamon sauce. Hello Sunday roast!

The tower if you choose to take the battle and possible end results could be either someone to roll you out the door or even a call to an ambulance is their very own 'The Beast'. Brioche bun overloaded with triple beef pattie, triple bacon to be smothered in chilli cheese sauce, lettuce, pickled onions and tomato. The name says it all.

A true battle to those who concour such a monstrosity. You can even go one further with this burger and get your name on the wall of fame if you devour it in 3 minutes.

Sides of American styles fried pickles with ranch dressing, Poutine chips, Onion rings and more are there to accompany those tasty mouth watering, juicy burgers.

Pumping D.J music makes for a social gathering, grab a table outside if you wish for a quieter evening. Beers, cocktails, burgers and music make your Friday or Saturdays perfect.

If you're not entertained enough mid week, why not involve yourself and friends in their Trivia nights on Tuesdays. Test your brains, eat a luscious burger and settle back with a beer in hand. Can't get any better could it?

I'm looking forward to my many more visits to the B.East. The question is do I take on the 'Easy' beef, Dayelsford maple smoked bacon, free range egg and crushed green tomato or the 'Kiev' crumbed chicken stuffed with brie and tarragon fondue finished with lettuce, tomato and a mustard mayo?

Don't panic Vegetarian friends. They have burgers for you too that sound just as amazing as the rest. The 'Coburger' took my eye with field mushrooms, walnuts and goat's cheese.

It's certainly one of the best Burger joints on the out skirts of town and worth the drive to get there if you're on the other side.

The B.East

80 Lygon Street

Brunswick East

9036 1456