American Smoked Delights

There's nothing better in this weather than to head to a smoke house and gorge oneself in meats, craft beers and cocktails.

Melbourne is increasing it's American BBQ restaurants and makes me very excited. I love the varieties of smokes that add different depths of flavour to a brisket, pork or even chicken.

Up in Smoke located in Footscray is a smoke house that shouldn't be missed. Delivering an amazement of meats that are tender, juicy and perfectly smoked.

Starting the day off with some Hot Wings with ranch dressing and accompanied by a fresh cocktail, was a great beginning to the day. Coated in smokey spices and enough to get your palate active as small hits of chilli dances on your taste buds, but held with restraint so that they don't burn your senses.

The Meat tray is probably the best option to select here, ensuring that you get a taste of everything they offer. Brisket, pulled pork and my favorite Jalapeno and cheese sausage. OMG!!!!

Served with pickles, milk buns and a choice of 2 sides, it's the perfect and ideal choice when your with other meat lovers.

The brisket is melt in your mouth and falls softly away making you just want to continue to eat more and more. The sausage is perfectly balanced with heat and light hints of cheese. One of the best sausages I've eaten. We chose to enjoy with a serving of chips and the apple fennel salad. These I think were the perfect option, a touch of freshness to cut through the rich meats and something fried is always a great option.

Dessert enticed us with a banana cream pie and the special dessert of Smoked chocolate almond brownie served with raspberry and peanut butter.

The Banana cream pie is the BOMB! A shortbread based filled with fresh banana and for texture bites of banana crisps finished with a light cream. Sensational and loved every bite.

The brownie was rich and intense, glad is was served with ice cream. The smoked chocolate was decadent and delicious, and made the dessert to be remembered and different to other smoke houses.

I can't wait to go again, and am very excited that they have a little retail shop on the side so I can top up my kitchen with delights.

Up in Smoke

28 Hopkins Street

Footscray

9689 8188

In the Glori(a)ous Kitchen

Above the dwellings of Swanston street nests a Lounge where Gloria's Kitchen sets up serving an American inspired menu. A perfect choice to match the bar beverage selection whilst you lounge around with friends and co-workers for Lunch, dinner, late or in between. Basically any time of day.

Start the Lounging with some Mac 'n' Cheese balls, looking like circular aranchini's but not. These crumbed golden balls are all about the mac and the cheese with bacon pieces and served with a spiced aioli. Any American food hunter wouldn't want to pass these up.

Sliders are the way to go but watch out, they are all above normal slider size and can become very overwhelming, rich and filling. All sliders served with a side of fries means you don't need to get that side of wedges or fries you usually do in most places. But I'd suggest maybe choose a salad to cut through the grease and the richness.

The Pulled pork Pig slider is as a duo with both over flowing with tender juicy pork and coleslaw in a soft whit bun. Simple but tasty, nothing to over powering and for those who are hesitant on rich American foods, this is a good choice. Settle down with a beer and this, and you are set for the evening.

The Philly-Steak Slider needs some preparing for. Steak pieces finished off with peppers and a rich melted cheese is to be a rich food fanatics dream. Unfortunately to rich for the likes of me, but flavoursome all the same. Having two of these bad boys would be a triumphant to get through on your own with the side of chips.

A special board is on display as you enter so make sure you check it out before you find a table, or ensure you double check it before you order at the bar. Today's special was the 'Pho Boy'.

Golden battered pieces of prawn and fish on a bed of lettuce in a soft white bun. Tasty yes but I question like I do with everyone taking on the Pho Boy, on how much batter and oil covers the fish itself. For me I'd just love to scratch the batter completely and have someone make the changes to grilling the fish to make for a less coronary experience.

The dining area is huge, with live music being played on some evening, which you can check out online for the line up. Sit on the outer decking for the fresh air option and gathering spots for that 5pm knock off drink with co-workers.

Service is friendly and food is served promptly with a smile. Atmosphere is relaxed and has a warm funky feel to it with vines over lighting and themes wall paper.

It's worth a check out in a group where you just need to unwind and arrange a social gathering.

Gloria Swanston's Kitchen

243 Swanston Street

Melbourne

9663 2916

Excuse me sir, may I have some S'more?

Like Oliver Twist I am finding myself taking an empty plate and asking for more, or was that S'more?

Unlike Oliver Twist though there wasn't a mean man screaming at me while others watched on and tremble. In actual fact it was a friendly and attentive waiter Tom who attended to my needs this evening.

Joes Bar located in St Kilda is Celebrating all things American this week with having Independence day on the 4th and Graham Cracker day on the 6th.

People may remember Joes as Greasy Joe's but not any more. In actual fact it's far from that we once remember. It's smooth and warm trimmings really uplift the feel to the restaurant, art work that influences the beach scene of St Kilda and chill out sessions from the Dj really set a casual yet elegant dining experience.

A genuine greeting at the door and an introduction the the regular menu and the Special weekly America themed menu is provided and explained. It was a pleasant surprise for our Waiter introduced himself by name to us. I remember the good old days where this used to happen everywhere  and by golly it felt good. It had a personal feel and made me realise when I went through my training how much more relaxing it was for a patron to know who to speak to during the night. I wish more places were like this.

To start the night off we chose to enjoy some pork scratchings of which was also accompanied by the restaurants complimentary chipotle popcorn. Hand in hand a great way to start, more so interesting the popcorn instead of bread. A much lighter healthier tastebud activator that's for sure as well as being norishly good.

Any good American would love mac 'n' cheese, and to be honest I don't actually think you just have to be American. I'm pretty confident that any given person love's their Mac 'n' Cheese. But have you had them as a croquette before? A crunchy golden coating around creamy cheesed macaroni is pretty tasty.

Something you may not know about the Mac 'n' Cheese is that Maccaroni was favourable in the 18th century in Paris with various sauces. Thomas Jefferson had encounted maccaroni in both Paris and Italy, drew a picture of the pasta and wrote a detailed letter about the process.

In 1793 he commissioned the American ambassador to travel to Paris to purchase a machine to make the pasta, however it was found to be unsuitable. Jefferson later chose to import both the maccaroni and cheese. In 1802 Jefferson chose to serve a maccaroni pie at a state dinner.

Gumbo is something I have read about but never had, so it was only a given that I gave it a shot. Filled with chicken, smokes sausage and prawns this hearty stew was quiet delish. Filles with okra, peppers and spices it was almost exactly how I imagined it to be from the recipes I've read. Another 18th Century dish finding it's way into the American evening, originating from Southeren Louisiana.

I would perhaps like a couple more prawns in there, only because I love them so much. But what a great dish, a great alternative to a soup and is a definite tummy filler for these wintery nights.

A towering Joes Fried Chicken Burger is a dislocating jaw event. With a spiced golden coated thick chicken breast, so juicy it melts in your mouth finished off with chipotle slaw and jalepeno pickles is screaming yum. To share it is a deconstruction procedure but alone you are facing a triumph of completion. Small hits of spices coat your taste buds and make them tingle in pleasure, but there is no stopping you devour this pleasurable burger.

Some old fashioned Buffalo wings don't go astray served with it's troditional fresh celery and a glorious Gorgonzola on the side. Luxurious spiced coating marinates the tender wings and turn into a finger licking event. The oil drips down your fingers as you nor through the wings making sure nothing is wasted. The Gorgonzola sauce soothes out those spices and adds another tasty dimension.

Now I came to Joes by their enticing advertising of some tasty S'mores. Circulating through the Tweets it drew me towards them as I do love a good S'more.  And to see that I venturing to Joes on Graham Cracker day, well hey theres no refusal to say yes to a S'more.

The Graham Cracker was created back in 1829 in New Jersey by Sylvester Graham. The original cracker was made with a graham flour of a combination of fine unbleached wheat flour, wheat bran and germ making a nutritional and flavoursome cracker. These crackers were brought together along with marshmallows and milk chocolate bars to make a simple tasty dessert called S'mores which originated in North America.

So A sweet combination of three glorious ingredients can only say one thing too you. YUM! Gooey marshmallow squished between a cracker and smothered in milk chocolate is nothing but indulgent naughty but scrumptious eating.

The last of our American eating was the Peanut butter and choc chip
 ice cream sandwich. Chocolate biscuit filled with a semi sweet peanut butter ice cream and chunky chocolate chips, drizzled with chocolate sauce. If theres one things America is branded for and thats their peanut butter and chocolate combinations. This was one moment where of peanut butter and chocolate goodness, and a perfect meal ender for those lovers of this fine combination.

Joes has ticked all the boxes for me and with out a doubt will be returning to them to get my hands on their regular menu. Service was impecable and was so happy to see that the standard was high and maintained through out the night.

I was impressed that although not having the night caps that I was looking for to go hand in hand with my dessert  that liquors were suggested with a taste to match their suggestion. I shake the hands of both our waiter and bar tender who can sell and promote such things.

We shall be seeing Joes again in no time.

Joes Bar and Dining Hall

64-66 Acland Street

St. Kilda

9525 3755

Not for Vegetarians

There is nothing more hearty than to enjoy some good steak or perhaps a burger on a miserable cold and wintry night, some good comfort food makes the bad weather seem so distant. With friends in tow we set off to find somewhere that can help us with the much needed cuisine.

Big Boy BBQ seemed to be a place where all our thoughts and dreams could come true, with anything from a burger (sandwich) to meat platters, it is a great fixture to accommodate the smallest to the largest appetite.

No reservations for tables under 6 it was a risk for the 3 of us, but we were more than happy to wait as we inhaled the smell of grilling meat smothered in spices, and watched the team produce platters of endless meat. The line to order was out the door, so it's clear signs it must be pretty good. A 20 minute wait for a table when arriving just before 7 isn't too bad as there is limited seating with approx 3-4 booths some bar seating and a larger table to accommodate groups more than 6. There is an upstairs area but I am unsure if this too is restaurant seating for bigger nights or perhaps for functions, but this area was closed when we were dining.

As we sat down and began reading the mouth watering menu, the question was raised whether someone had just finished watching "Man V's Food" as it menu shouted traditional American all time BBQ with it's Rubbed pork ribs to its Pulled pork and Beef Brisket sandwiches. Not that any of us could complain, we had been looking for a place like this for a long time that could actually deliver the authentic American BBQ.

Feeding 2 boys with mighty appetites and myself who also loves her food, it was guaranteed that we could have chosen tastes of everything and gone crazy but we held back......or did we????

The boys went for the Wings 'N' Ribs meat platter with a serve of regular wings and a 1/2 rack of ribs with an accompaniment of 2 sides of their choice (chips, onion stings, beef chili, coleslaw, potato salad or pickles).

Me well the decision was too hard, confusion set in and my world collided just like a kid in a milk bar trying to decide what their $1.00 could buy them from the lolly selection or trying to choose and ice- cream. Having to almost toss a coin to make my decision I was still uhming and ahhring, what happens if that one is better than the one I choose? Process of eliminations I worked out a strategy where I could get the best of both worlds. Why not combine the two? So I chose to start with the Carolina Sandwich where I enjoyed pulled pork with coleslaw and BBQ sauce and combined in with it some beetroot and pickles.


Moments later out comes the boys massive platters with buckets for bones, all we needed was a bib and the boys were set to get down and dirty, alas no bib provided but that never stops anyone when the smell is so mouth watering. A tower for a sandwich that couldn't fit in my mouth overflowing with pork and dripping in sauces I couldn't wait to get in and devour it.

Although the Carolina sandwich has a chili beside it on the menu of course we would presume it had heat to it. My first initial bit I felt no kick and with deflation's setting in it was soon to be destroyed. It's not in the bite where that spice hits you, without you knowing chili sweats begin and then your mouth booms with spices galore. It's the coleslaw that hides it's initial burst of flavour and leaves you with the ultimate surprise at the end. It allows you to enjoy every mouthful without having to reach for a dyeing need of a drink, which is always a positive.

The meat platters were said to be full of tender, fall of the bone ribs and giant wings which was even better. Smothered in it's Kansas rub of glaze for the chili wimps the flavours were intense and soaked into the meats giving it a vibrant flavour. It was pleasing to see that they served proper ribs full of meat rather than the stingy meatless ribs you get most of the time.

Almost bursting at the sides we sink back into the comfy booth seating contemplating a slice of peanut butter cream pie...... well we only live once don't we! Overloaded with peanut butter goodness (yes my thighs felt every mouthful) with a layer of chocolate ganache and chocolate tart shell it was almost eating a large Reese peanut buttercup. Wishing for a big glass of milk to accompany it, it was definitely and American delight to finish your American BBQ feast.

If you are out for an adventure of good BBQ meat or if your not able to fly to America any time soon, then travel to South Caulfield and feast away. It's a meaty delight that shouldn't be refused.