America - Rochester

Our whole US trip that happened in June and July this year, was pretty much because Brad was presenting at a conference in Rochester, upstate New York. It was the first conference he's presented at! When I walked him to the conference centre in the middle of town and watched him pick up his pass for the conference, I just couldn't be prouder. 

So I made him take a cheesy picture. Love, right?

Since he was occupied with the conference for the few days, I had some time to myself to explore the city. 

Rochester's a pretty small city, with a very intriguing dynamic. The birthplace of Kodak, the city used to be quite wealthy, with lots of industry, reflected in the beautiful old buildings and architecture that one may spot through the city. If you walk a bit further out to where the museums are, the whole stretch is lined with gorgeous mansions, surrounded with huge gardens. 

However, with the decline of Kodak and Xerox, two companies which really kept the economy going in Rochester, the city has developed a bit of an odd character. Still very nice, but a little bit odd at times. 

And although the city is small, I still managed to fill in a couple of days quite nicely!

Brad and I stayed in the East Avenue Inn and Suites, which is a basic but very comfortable hotel. It's a short 15 minute walk from the heart of the city and a couple of minutes away from the stretch of museums. I walked everywhere while I was here, although I was pretty tired by the end of it!

The main attraction for me in Rochester was the George Eastman House. This was the house (or actually mansion) that the founder of Kodak built for himself and his mother (and all their servants) and is now the world's oldest museum dedicated to photography. 

Although you have to pay to have entry, it's worth hanging around and waiting for one of the tours to take you around, as you end up learning so much about the history of how Kodak started, and hence the birth of the general consumer camera. Not to mention also the history of the man, George Eastman, who had a most fascinating life, but was also incredibly gracious and kind. Although he never married, he often gave very generous donations to the local universities (the most notable being a $625,00 donation (equivalent to $17.5 million in todays terms) to the Rochester Institute of Technology) and other philanthropic causes. He was also one of the first to implement health insurance and securities for his employees back in the 1880's. 

But other than that, the house is just heartbreakingly beautiful, and the love and care that has gone into restoring it is just amazing to keep all the details, from the inside to out. The gardens are also simply gorgeous, lush and green with gentle sprays of soft spring colours. 

I also loved the public library, which felt so grand, and full of little details. The stained glass styled ceiling, art deco lights suspended from the ceilings, rich and shiny wood and the gold elevator doors with sculpted Grecian heads decorating it. I felt a bit silly taking pictures all over, but I couldn't help it!

I indulged in a bit of shopping, I found the cutest little store called Peppermint, a local designer in Rochester, who also stocks the store with other goodies from around the country. Colourful, affordable, and totally chic, it was hard not to buy everything. 

Also this cute little guy followed me around in the store, and even came into the changing room to chew on his treat as I tried things on. After not being with Chai for a couple of weeks, it was awful nice to have some animal company!

Food-wise, Rochester was pretty modest on options. I was pleased however to find the Owl House. Housed in what looks like a residential property, The Owl House offers up American food, with a focus on keeping it local and offering a healthy variety of options for vegetarians, vegans and gluten free. 

I've forgotten what I had, but I did have gluten free bread and it did make me happy. Alongside with the housemade potato chips. Yum.

I made a bit of a trek out to Voula's Greek Sweets and picked up a sticky and sweet treat. (If you haven't guessed yet, I have indeed lost my notes) It was just gorgeous, and with a display window filled with tempting goodness, as well as changing brunch options, worth swinging by to check out!

The Orange Glory Cafe is a tiny little space next to the cinema, doing hearty but homely food. I loved the eggplant and chickpea burger, which I had on a salad instead of having it with bread, with gooey moreish cheese. They also do rocking cookies, the delicious chewy American style choc chip sort, the size of your face, for only a couple bucks. 

Their mugs also totally made my day awesome. 

Most importantly though, for dinner on our first night, we went to Dinosaur Barbecue and got our 'AMERICA' on with some big ass ribs. With the biggest jug of beer I'd ever seen. And mac n' cheese. And chips. And a rock band with 40 year old men, who got couples wearing ballroom dancing shoes rocking it out on the dance floor. Although initially intimidating, it ended up being a really fun night. 

And the ribs were finger-licking good! 

Would I be back to Rochester? Probably not, I don't think there's anything more there that I would want to see to make a separate trip for. However, it was what I needed at that point of the trip, to have a couple of days to just breathe after the crazy schedules we made for ourselves travelling up the west coast. To just be able to sit at our hotel window, that just over looked green, and more green, and had bunnies hopping past and sip on some tea (I'm still baffled that hotels in America give you coffee machines, not kettles). 

Boney

Before I met Brad, I had never attended any of the live music venues to watch a 'gig' and listen to music. Although I guess in return, I don't know if Brad ever visited high end Chinese restaurants or had done a degustation before he met me! Just wonderful how we can expand each other's horizons from not having a whole lot (on the surface) in common right? 

When Brad was still playing in a band, we would often find ourselves at Pony, either for his band, or a friend's band, which was super cute on the outside, as the windows were lined with horse and pony toys…just in case you didn't know where you standing in front of, but inside was dark, grungy…and let's be real here, it was a little nasty. In the live music, late night, floors a little sticky, kind of way. It suited the scene and had it's own…charm. Yes, I think that word is appropriate.

So after a few years of deafening nights, too many ciders and sitting out on Little Collins while friends had a smoke at 1am, it was a little surprising to hear that they were changing the venue. 

Now run by the team behind Cookie, the Toff in Town and Revolver Upstairs, Pony got changed to Boney (which I thought was a cute nod to it's predecessor) and still features live music, but also serves a fresh and exciting menu for lunch and dinner downstairs as well, which used to just be a bar.

I meet up with the lovely Miss Em again, making sure we do catch up a little more regularly after our last jaunt at Rumi. 

Upon arriving, I'm amazed what they've done with the space. From dark and grungy pub, the team seem to have almost excavated the room and found Fred Flintstone style cavernous stone booths underneath it all. The layout though has stayed much the same, cleaner, but with a bit of an edgy and kitschy side (hello disco balls!) 

I also love the lights on the walls that look like eclipses, providing gentle ambient light (that's not very photography friendly though). 

A modestly sized menu makes it a challenge to order, as always, as we want to order everything! There's plenty of nibbles on the menu, and a couple of bigger dishes for those with bellies needing a filling. I'm mildly bummed out that we're not in for lunch, as the lunch time special menu of eggplant and lamb moussaka on Monday sounded kind of amazing.

We start out instead with Jalapeno donuts, served with a maple butter and avocado and corn salsa on the side. The best way to eat these, is to make a pocket in the middle of the doughnut, slather it up with sweet butter and fill it up with the salsa. The delightfully fluffy doughnuts with all the goodness wedged in, makes for a terrific mouthful with each bite. A touch of heat from the jalapenos that pop up now and again, cooled off with the salsa and sweetened up with the lush butter. 

Spinach and fetta nudi's (actually spelt gnudi, it's a type of gnocchi made from ricotta cheese), with roasted beetroot and walnuts and chard is light and refreshing. I love the combination of the spinach with the fetta, we're surprised to find it warm, making it comforting, but not heavy either. Mixing it up and using chard was lovely too.

The fried buttermilk chicken is a modest serve, served with a side of harissa and preserved lemon mayo, but for two girls (and a bunch of other dishes) it was more than enough! Although not the sexiest looking fried chicken, the batter was light and crisp, revealing a moist and juicy chicken underneath. Whilst not the absolute best fried chicken in Melbourne, it's still definitely very very good. 

And lastly, I elope with the cauliflower and almond gratin on the side. Comfort food to the core. Soft and tender cauliflower, with a generous lashing of cheese and cream melted over the top. Really…what's not to love? If no one was watching it's the kind of dish I would come in and order just on my own…

I don't know about you guys, but I always feel like a girls night out is never complete without dessert, so we ordered the 'Pistachio'd Pav' with stone fruit compote and cardamon cream. Although I don't usually go for fruity desserts as much, this was a great way to end the night on a light and refreshing note. The meringue was crunchy on the outside, and delightfully chewy on the inside with good pistachio presence. 

All in all, Em and I were pleased with the meal, and at $40 a piece, including our glass of wine, we found it to be a very reasonably priced meal in the city. We couldn't even finish all the food! I also enjoy that not too much was done to the place and that it still retains a similar vibe to previously, it's just been given a little hipster polish.

I've also heard from friends that the bands Boney are getting in are also pretty good stuff so far, so it'll be interesting to see what the Boney era has in store in the long run…at least any deafening nights had at Boney may now be potentially preluded by delicious jalapeno doughnuts… 

Boney

68 Little Collins Street

Melbourne

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Unwrapping Roll'd

Disclosure: I was invited to have a chat and some lunch with Bao from Roll'd by Harvey PR

There's really something special about being part of a family that's connected to and obsessed with a rich food culture. It's taken a while for me, but I've come to be quite passionate about Malaysian food and as such, take much joy in sharing that culture with friends who may ask about it. Or maybe just Brad, who I drag with me from hawker centre to hawker centre while we're in Malaysia. Such a good boyfriend. 

The founders from Roll'd have taken that joy of sharing and educating others to a whole new level, and boomed onto the Melbourne scene with their fresh, upbeat and colourful take on Vietnamese food, opening 6 stores within 14 months of beginning. Not to mention with plans to be opening many more in the near future.

In all honesty, when I first heard of Roll'd, I didn't think too much of it. Rice paper rolls have been floating around for a while now and my initial impressions of the brand was that some hipster was trying to make it the new cool thing, like what Mamasita did with tacos, since no one really seems to have tried yet. 

However, as I've always said, I love being proved wrong about these things. (Also I really should stop making assumptions as mine are never very good.)

So on a Tuesday afternoon, I met with Bao, one of the founders, at their bright and colourful store in Brunswick on Sydney Road, to find out a little more history and dig a little deeper than the media releases would give me. With a smile and a hearty laugh, Bao was only more than happy to oblige as I slid onto the table next to the display shelf of spices and ingredients. 

I think the thing that surprised me the most about Roll'd, was to learn how family oriented it was. Founded by Bao, one of his cousins and one of his primary school friends, the concept was hatched over dinner with their wives, as they threw around prospective business ideas. Since their mum's already catered for large family functions, with the rice paper rolls always being a hit, they pondered over whether they could take what they did, and adapt it, to keep the local Vietnamese flavours but also make it inviting to the local palate and see if people would buy it!

They also felt that it was important to focus on providing something healthy, an alternative to sushi if you would.  

So from there, it was a 2 year process of tasting sessions (sounds like fun work to me) and figuring out how to make the concept work, before branding and launching. 

I love the fact that the mothers are now so involved with the business, Bao's mother's pho recipe being the one used in the business, and also being in charge of doing the prep work, and making all the sauces required offsite (which includes one of the key ones...the fish sauce!), which are then sent to the respective outlets by his Dad who acts as delivery man. His aunt's classic pork banh mi recipe is also used at Roll'd, which at the end of the day, since they are home loved recipes, means the food simple, fresh and healthy (three words which you'll read a lot of in this post!).

Even the pictures around us in the Brunswick store are actually old black and white photos of their families, which was just so gorgeous and endearing, I felt like I'm being let into the family. 

As Bao tells me the family background and involvement, I sink my teeth into the huge array of food he's ordered…the proof is in the pudding after all! Safe to say, I was quite impressed.

I thought that the cup of pho was just so fun and practical, if you wanted a little snack or just wanted to be able to try more on the menu! Stuffed with crunchy beanshoots, and a myriad of lively green herbs, I enjoyed the rich flavour of the broth and couldn't help but rather rudely slurp it all up!

I also found the iced tea very refreshing, no sugar added here, so it's a real thirst quencher for me!

The Roll'd Soldiers (which is what they call their rice paper rolls) were also a treat. I find that most places that do rice paper rolls have a lot more rice noodles in them and not so much protein, but at Roll'd, it was definitely a much nicer balance.

Also, top tip, the sauces are awesome and the little containers are designed so that you pour the sauce down the length of the roll instead of dipping them in (they're too small to do that). This is to ensure you get sauce in every bite of the roll you take, and believe me, you don't want to miss out! The protein in the rolls were absolutely bursting with flavour and so juicy, I had liquid streaming down my hands, which equated to finger licking goodness after (I really am such a terrible guest)!

As I continued on with the chicken salad, which came with these rather addictive prawn crackers, I continued to ask Bao what the mission of Roll'd was, and what factors he thought were contributing to their success.

It's clear that Bao is incredibly passionate about his cuisine heritage, and is keen to share that with the rest of Australia and educate about Vietnamese culture. Despite the rather flashy and cheery branding, if you do look at the menu, they keep it very true to Vietnamese cuisine ("No peking duck" he says), with a lot of the items that would be quite easy to get if you were back in Vietnam. 

Although there are many options to choose from on the menu already, Bao lets me in on that they're testing out a Banh Xeo and are looking to possibly cap it off with some rice dishes and skewers in the near future, which will all continue to stay as close to the traditional tastes and flavours of Vietnam as possible.

Along with the authenticity, the focus on fresh, fast and value for money offering (you could quite easily come in a few times a week without hurting the wallet really), it's actually quite obvious to see why they're doing so well. Transparency is also important to Bao, who points out the front display visuals, and the fact that you can see the food being made for you and the environment it's being made in (after all, who wants to see a bain-marie of sad looking grated carrots in a dirty kitchen before they eat), which again emphasises the freshness of their ingredients. 

It's not all easy though, as they do have to keep a close eye on quality, and make sure their operation processes are tight and consistent. I'm honestly surprised to see that they've managed to do this in a relatively short time period, as I have seen some brands who have tried expanding much earlier than they were ready to, without a clear vision, or clear plans in place…and well, that's a whole other conversation. I also found it intriguing that out of the three founders, only one of them actually had experience in the hospitality industry (the other two being a banker and a physio therapist!), but Bao credits this a strength, as the different perspectives allowed them to pick and choose other businesses to model Roll'd on, that they may not have considered otherwise.

Roll'd has already expanding out of the state and into Brisbane, with a Canberra location due to pop up soon…and who else knows where!

Along with their rapid success though, I'm glad to hear that they are giving back and have been sponsoring charities back in Vietnam, most recently focussing on an orphanage there. Bao does admit, it's not a side of the company they're pushing yet into the public eye, but something he hopes to share more in the near future. 

My hour with Bao finishes far too quickly, and I leave with an admiration for the genuine passion and care behind the business and a BBQ Chicken 'Mr Bun Mee' (a Banh Mi if you couldn't quite figure it out) home for dinner to share with Brad. Even hours later after it being made, I greedily salivate over how juicy, saucy and moist the chicken is, which is elevated with the freshness of the coriander and carrot, and a friendly kick or two of chilli. Hot hot hot baby! 

Roll'd

Visit the website for locations

DineSmart - Dine Out, Help Out

So it's kind of crazy that Christmas is creeping around the corner, and I'm still trying to get through a blog backlog that stretches out to July. Yikes. 

Fortunately my family and friends aren't completely crazy about gifts and going overboard with that whole 'ho-ho-ho' thing, so my Christmas shopping expeditions are usually pretty laid back and for me, it's more a time to catch up with friends and spend some time with them, reflecting on the year, usually over some good food. What are you guys like during the silly season? Do you guys find you eat out more during this time of year?

From now until the end of the year is also when StreetSmart's DineSmart program kicks into gear, meaning you can enjoy a great meal out (like many of us will), but also give back to the community and help out those who may be doing it tougher through Christmas.

It's super simple, as part of the DineSmart program, partnering restaurants ask guests to simply add a small donation to their bill at the end of their meal, which can be as small as $2.

Not even the price of a  coffee.

What does your money go towards? A whole range of projects to support homeless refugees and charities, from helping to provide food and shelter, to critical services and emergency aid, to projects that promote social inclusion and sustainable change for people who are homeless. 

After all, we all ought to have someone warm to sleep, food to eat and some genuine social interaction don't we?

100% of the funds raised go towards homeless organisations. Last years efforts helped to fund 99 grassroots projects, and maybe this year, with everyone's help, we can enable StreetSmart to help so much more.

It's really so simple to be a part of, and it does make a difference. 

I know I'll definitely have my eye on the DineSmart website over the next month and booking dinner dates with friends at the partnering restaurants. With a variety of partners such as Longrain, Crabapple Kitchen, Bay City Burrito, Chin Chin and many more, you're bound to find a restaurant on the list that everyone you're heading out with will be happy to visit.

And it's not just in Melbourne, but also in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland, so don't forget to share this great initiative with your inter-state friends as well!

I've always loved the idea of DineSmart (and the other initiatives that StreetSmart run through the year), but just been a bit disorganised and forget to pop it up on my blog! So now that I've done it (and I know you're reading it if you've gotten here), be sure to visit the DineSmart website to check out the restaurant partners, or see how else you can help out. 

DineSmart Website

Complete list of partner restaurants