SUPERNORMAL - Chef Andrew McConnell's new restaurant in Melbourne

180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne - ph (03) 9650 8688

Supernormal is Chef Andrew McConnell's newest Asian inspired restaurant.

Readers of this blog will know that we are fans of Andrew McConnell's food and have tried all his other restaurants Builder's Arms, Moon Under Water and Cutler and Co before. I love it that each of his restaurants offers a quite distinct dining experience, but they all share the same trendy-yet-relaxed vibe about them.

I like Supernormal's sleek, slightly quirky Japanese design and the open plan space. Supernormal is super trendy, yet you still feel like a guest coming for a special meal at someone's house.

We tried Supernormal's set menu in this visit. At $65 a head for 7 courses including dessert, I thought this was great value.

TUNA, AVOCADO, SALTBUSH & KOMBU

BEST BAKERIES IN MELBOURNE - My top 5 favourite places

B R E A D

There is nothing like the smell of fresh bread and the taste of warm bread with a dash of butter.

Good sourdough bread is an artform. It takes lots of time and effort to make, and you can definitely taste the difference between artisan and commercial bread.

Best sourdough bakeries in Melbourne

I'm a bread aficionado and people always ask where I get my loaves from. Here is shortlist of my favourite (it was hard to choose!) bakeries in and around Melbourne.

DENIS THE MENACE CAFE

106/108 Chestnut St, Cremorne - (03) 9428 8010

As with many of the best restaurants in Melbourne, Denis the Menace is a hidden gem tucked away in a narrow Cremone laneway.

It's unlikely you would ever 'just happen to be passing by' this really cool cafe; you need to know where you are going and make an effort to get there. And when you do, the reward is a spacious, brightly lit and welcoming cafe serving excellent food and coffee. Worth the effort.

Cumquat trees inside Denis the Menace cafe

THE STAR HOTEL - RELAUNCH EVENT

160 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
Tel: 03 9682 6288

On Thursday night, we were invited to the relaunch party of The Star Hotel.  This venue has been transformed into a trendy space where the lines between inside and outside have been slightly blurred.

LOVE AND DYSFUNCTION

103 Grey St, St Kilda - (03) 9077 0421
www.loveanddysfunction.com

Tucked away at the quite end of Grey St, Love&Dysfunction is a new addition to St Kilda's bar scene.

Champagne cocktail

SARDI CAFE

111 Church St, Hawthorn - ph: (03) 9818 6140

Sardi Cafe has become a bit of a local favourite lately, and you can see my first review here.

I drive past it frequently on my way to work and more and more have been stopping for a take away coffee (and the eventual muffin indulgence).

Loose leaf chai latte