Demie's All-Day 20th Celebration: High Tea at ARIA, The Langham

So after brunch, we stopped by Iryan's place for a while since we had some time to chill before heading out for high tea. Up till when we walked through the doors, Demie had no clue where we were going for high tea.

When we walked along the river, and into the doors of The Langham, well she went a little berserk. Apparently she's always wanted to try out the high tea there. *pats self on the back for good judgement*

I've never been in a hotel in Melbourne. In fact, I haven't been in any hotel for a long time. The last time was probably for a buffet back in KL Hilton as far as I remember.

When you speak of The Langham, it's nearly synonymous with ARIA Bar. The only reason why I know of ARIA is because I watch a lot of MasterChef, and it's Matt Moran's restaurant.

ARIA Bar & Lounge

The Langham, 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank

18 0064 1107
http://www.melbarestaurant.com.au/index.php/aria/

I've never had high tea before. All I expected was some tea in pretty tea pots, and those three-tier towers   that the food's served on.

I was pretty excited. There was a group of classy ladies and a baby next to us, and it automatically made me feel a little classier. It's a good thing we kinda dressed up for the occasion.

Cute. How do people stir without clanking the sides? They must've been expected to have really stable hands back then..

We ordered the Tiffin Chocolate Indulgence Afternoon Tea, $54/person.

So pretty! 

It doesn't look like much at all (there was one more plate of two items), but even though our brunch earlier was very light, this really filled us up. I was full up till dinner time!

Valrhona Grand Cru chocolate torte with edible gold leaf

Weiss Brazilian chocolate roulade with mango and blueberries

Callebaut strawberry chocolate crème brûlée tart 

Chocovic chocolate and Armagnac truffle

The chocolate torte was rich, but it was really good. You could tell it was high quality chocolate. We couldn't detect what was in the roulade, but it was soft and light. Demie thought the crème brûlée was too sweet, but I really liked it! The truffle was crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside.

Jamón Serrano with Manchego sandwich

Smoked Salmon and avocado sandwich

Cucumber and cress sandwich 

Chicken and chives sandwiches

Crayfish profiterole

I really liked the jamón sandwich: the block of cheese was a nice touch. You can never go wrong with a Smoked salmon and avocado sandwich. The cucumber & cress and chicken & chives sandwiches could've used a bit more filling to it- there was too much bread. The crayfish profiterole was something very different: I've never had a savoury profiterole before.

Puff pastry bouchee of mushroom with truffle oil

Leek and onion quiche

The puff pastry was really light, and of course, the truffle oil gave it a whole new depth of flavour. The quiche was tasty, but it was really dry.

Scones with fruit jam, butter and clotted cream

The best thing on the tray. Their scones were awesome! Soft, had just the right amount of raisins and icing sugar. The clotted cream went really well with it, and the fruit jam was REALLY good. Loved it.

I can't get over how pretty it was. I felt so girly, having high tea and all. It's too bad it was too hot for coffee, tea or hot chocolate (our drinks options that came with the high tea). 

The best part about it is that while it's pretty, the surroundings weren't OVERLY pretty so if guys were to go, they wouldn't feel overly awkward.

The baby girl at the next table was so, so cute. Apparently she likes getting her photo taken, and I have plenty of her photos. I think her name is Addison. So, so, so so so sososososososo cute. And I don't even like kids!!!

So that about sums up our first experience having high-tea at the Langham. It was a girl afternoon, really, having dainty little food to pick at, gossiping, etc like what girls do (i think).

Food: 8

Coffee: N/A

Ambience: 8

Value: 6 (considering other high-tea prices I've seen so far)

Staff: 7.5

Do you guys like the new blog header? Sieu Minn didn't like the macarons, so I decided to get my visualized header from a few weeks ago photographed and put up ASAP. ;)

read the next post for Demie's bday dinner!
may.

Oldies

For the people who don't follow me on instagram and for the people who actually give a damn about what i've been eating and where.

my jar of cafés, my The Age Good Café Guide that my jar is largely based on, my trusty Sharpie and Sesame Street pen, and my Star Wars Moleskine where i record my personal reviews of the cafés i've been to. :)

St. Ali
12-18 Yarra Place,  South Melbourne VIC 
http://stali.com.au/au/
[ tram 1, stop 20 (Kings Way/Sturt Street) ]

We sat outside and that's when i came up with the idea of going somewhere new every weekend. No idea where the idea came from, but it's definitely keeping me happy (and my wallet empty) this semester. Gives me something to look forward to at the end of the week, y'know?

Hermanos Rodrigues Breakfast Sandwich- Chorizo from Casa Iberica with fried egg, roquette, paprika spiced semi hard cheese named mahon and lemon aioli on sourdough.

Smokey and The Bandit "In the House"- Victorian rainbow trout fillet on Israeli couscous with roasted Spanish onions, "house" semi dried tomatoes and "house" smoked eggplant.

LE MIEL at la lune
330 Cardigan Street, Carlton VIC
http://www.lemiel.com.au/
[ tram 1/8, stop 111 (Swanston St/Elgin St) ]

I guess in a way, this was pretty significant cause this is where Jason and i went for lunch on our 1-year anniversary. The choice was pretty random, but we chose it mainly cause it got good reviews on urbanspoon and cause it was just down the road from uni (he had class).

Potato hash with pork belly, three mix mushroom and a well done poached egg.

Beef ragu with cannelloni beans, rocket salad, meridith feta and poached egg.

Affogato Espresso Bar
29, Hardware Lane, Melbourne VIC 
http://www.affogato.com.au/


Another random choice. The staff there were really friendly and helpful, although the food took a long time to arrive. Their limited menu might be the reason why I probably wouldn't think of going back there again, unless i'm hungry while picking up macarons from La Belle Miette which is just across the road.

Smoked Salmon Special - scrambled (or poached) eggs with smoked salmon on toast and spinach.

Morning Start - bacon, toast, avocado, garlic mushroom, hash brown and spinach.

Soul Soup Café
55 Cardigan Street, Carlton VIC 
http://www.soulsoup.com.au/


Jason's favourite place to go to. It's about 5 minutes away from where we live, and this place has the best soups ever. It's kind of a family-run business, probably on the bottom floor of their house in Carlton. Love the couple who owns the place; they even gave me a free 3oz helping of a soup that i really liked on my 4th visit there!

They have 2-3 different kinds of soup every weekday served with woodfire bread.

Chez Dré
287, Coventry Street, South Melbourne VIC
http://chezdre.com.au/
[ tram 96, stop 127 (South Melbourne Station/Light rail) ]


One of the best cafés i've been to in Melbourne so far. The name's pretty famous for good reason: service was excellent (we had a French waiter with the quirkiest attitude) and the food was great too. Too bad we didnt try their Fererro Roché cake..

Cheese and corn soufflé with marinated smoked salmon and fresh corn and avocado salsa.

Grand petit dejeuner: little big lunch.

Green Refectory
115, Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC
[ tram 19, stop 20 (Barkly Square/Sydney Road) ]


Everyone who follows me on instagram might've noticed that i've been to this café 6 times in 6 weeks. I made it a point to bring nearly every visitor i've had there.. Or i'd just hop on the number 19 tram and get off at stop 20 after class.

Green's big breakfast

Breakfast burrito

Salmon quiche

Breakfast trifle

Vanilla slice

Mars bar cake

Twenty & Six Espresso
594, Queensberry Street, North Melbourne VIC
http://www.twentyandsix.com.au/
[ tram 57, stop 13 (Curzon St/Queensberry St) ]


Sure, we had to wait about 30 minutes on a Sunday morning in the cold but i was determined to try out a new place instead of going to Auction Rooms (which probably would've had a longer waiting time actually..) which was just down the road. The wait was pretty worth it though.

The Hunter: balsamic and port roasted portobello mushrooms, spicy Spanish chorizo on sourdough with crème fraiche and black truffle oil.

Organic Balinese black sticky rice with banana, fresh mango, salted coconut cream, palm sugar and passion fruit pulp.

Manchester Press
8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne VIC
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Manchester-Press/171807409566156?rf=196023050422681


Probably the easiest choice if you live in the city since it actually is in the city. I think i've been here about 10 times in the past year and it's probably the first Melbourne-style café i've been to in Melbourne. While most people would order the smoked salmon bagel, i'd say try the fruit and nut bagel. It's my personal favourite, and you'd never have the chance to be disappointed with poverty amounts of salmon (happened to Jason once..).

Smoked salmon bagel

Fruit and nut bagel with berries mascarpone - DOESN'T IT LOOK AMAZING!?

Sally's Kitchen
296, Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC
http://www.sallyskitchen.com.au/
[ tram 24/30/35, stop 8 (Exhibition St/La Trobe St) ]


The one time i didnt check for a café's opening time would be on our 13th month anniversary, wanted to go to 65 degrees but it was closed. Sally's Kitchen was a few steps away we definitely didnt walk away disappointed (though i would've preferred to try their lunch menu which isn't available on Saturdays). Slightly on the pricier side compared to other café i've been to though.. Or maybe i'm just a cheapo.

Porridge and honey sultana compote and vanilla bean compote.

Truffled scrambled eggs with pork and fennel sausages.

De Clieu
187, Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3000
http://sevenseeds.com.au/seeds/de-clieu/ 
[ tram 86, stop 14 (Napier St/ Gertrude St) ]


I was pretty disappointed with the trout but i got over it. Again, it was the issue with price more than with taste.. Their pork belly was excellent but what really made me forgive them was the quality of the soy latté i was served. Honestly one of the best i've tasted in Melbourne!

Ocean trout Gravadlax with salsa verde, horseradish crème, picked cucumber and ciabatta.

Sweet roasted Berkshire pork neck with fried egg, spring onion roti and barbecue sauce. SO GOOD. MUST TRY.

LuxBite
38, Toorak Road, South Yarra VIC
http://www.luxbite.com.au/
[ tram 8, stop 28 (Punt Road/Toorak Road) or train to South Yarra station]


I LOVE macarons. have i ever mentioned that i ate 56 macarons in 21 days when i first discovered them? What made me love this place more was that it actually had a lunch menu as well! And their savoury food was as good as their macarons. (what's cooler is that Iryan's housemate's friend is the chef! asdfghjkl)

Pandan chicken burger

Open pork belly sandwich - you HAVE to order this.

Endless Love - rose, lychee and raspberry macaron (that's my idea of heaven)

Pretty big selection of macarons there. 
I'd say try the orange jaffa, peanut butter and jelly, and ribena and lemonade. Actually, try everything.

65 Degrees
309, Exhibition Street Melbourne VIC
http://www.65degreescafe.com/

[ tram 24/30/35, stop 8 (Exhibition St/La Trobe St) ]

I didn't notice much about the place when i first went there with Demie.. my second visit made me discover that there is an extremely good latté art barista there (his/her trophies were all over the shelves behind the counter). I must say i'm pretty annoyed with the place though, i went there twice at about 2pm and their kitchen was closed. Sigh.. maybe they just sell out that fast eh?

Chorizo, spinach and capsicum risotto.

Pumpkin scone

Proud Mary
172 Oxford Street, Collingwood, VIC
http://www.proudmarycoffee.com.au/
[ tram 86, stop 18 (Hodgson Street/Smith Street) ]


Went there for lunch with Megan, Maxine and Jason. It was a Thursday mid-morning and the place was packed to the brim. The Age Good Café Guide did state that it was the best food café around.. and based on the meal i had there, i wouldn't have much to say to disagree.

Ricotta hot cakes with caramelised mandarin, dark chocolate fudge, whipped mascarpone and hazelnuts.
'It's like it's marinated in sunshine..!'- Maxine

Miss Jackson

2/19 Grey Street, St Kilda VIC

http://www.missjackson.com.au/

[ tram 3a /16 /96, stop 133 (Cantebury Road/Fitzroy Street) ] 

One that really came out at random from the jar. I think it was the owner who greeted and seated us.. and I'd give them 9/10 for service hands down. He was just so friendly and appreciative and all that jazz.. Their wasabi crab cakes were a little on the pricier side but they were REALLY good. And they also served me the best soy latté i've had so far.

Wasabi crab cakes with watercress, pea and grapefruit salad.

Potato and leek hash with smashed green peas, smoked trout and poached egg.

Hobba
428 Malvern Road, Prahran VIC
http://hobba.com.au/
[ tram 72, stop 3 (Francis St/Malvern Road) ]


Another café we had to wait for.. do yourself a favour and wait about 10 minutes after 12pm for them to update their 'specials' board if you're after the lunch menu. They updated their ' Lunch Specials' board after our waitress walked away.. imagine my face when i saw 'osso bucco ragout', which was going for the same price as my Kinkawooka mussels =p. But the taste of the mussells really did make up for it.. the broth that came with it was excellent with the bread that was served with it. 

Kinkawooka mussels with harissa, yogurt and crusty bread.

Hobba breakfast- slow cooked eggs, mushrooms, roasted tomato, bacon, sausage and tomato chutney.

So those are some of the places i've been to over the last two months or less. Of course, everything up there wasn't eaten by me.. If i had a taste i'd post it up. Do leave comments whatsoever! I decided against leaving a chatbox here cause the previous one had loads of virus-like spams on em.. 

does anyone have any idea how to completely wipe out your tweets from twitter? seriously!

may.