Cheap Food Slut

Jul 11

Minang Nasi Padang: Pelham St (off Swanston St), Carlton

So if you’re wondering what Indonesian food tastes like, Minang can give you an example. This is ridiculously good food for only $6.50! A full plate of rice, two selections of meat and one vegetable dish - omg, I know right, it’s incredible.

Minang is an ethnic group in around West Sumatra in Indonesia. The staple food in that area is usually rice, with a fried dish and most importantly, anything with coconut milk and chili. Minang or Padang people love their spices, which is why they’ve got lots of curry-based meat dishes that are quite spicy, but still delicious of course. So make sure you try one of the ‘Kare’ (curry).

They’ve got quite a few of things you can select from the ban marie, lots of meat and vegetable dishes, so no worries for you vegos out there, you can still cheapfoodslut this place. I’ve noticed a lot of people asks for ‘The Eggplant’, it’s quite popular, but I haven’t tried it yet. However, I managed to snag this lovely baby octopus in chili sauce - something I’ve never seen here before (since I visit Minang quite frequently now haha), it’s probably because it was the weekend? More customers = more awesome dishes? Who knows. The other dishes are the chicken curry and a ‘Perkedel’ (potato fritter) - I’m not too big on vegetables, as you all have noticed.

My $6.50 was very well spent. Sorry for the picture quality btw. The rice, may I just say, is seriously the best rice I’ve tasted in Melbourne. Oh uh, I’m serious. I can’t describe it in detail but as it travelled into my mouth, it just felt perfect. The baby octopus was nice and well cooked, but just a tad spicy for me (mind you even though I am Balinese, my tolerance for chili is quite embarrassingly a negative). Chicken was tender, juicy and awesomely seasoned, the curry sauce is yummy and mixes very well with the rice. Lastly, the potato fritter. Everyone should really try it. It’s quite crispy on the outside and the mashed potato just kinda melts, carrying all this awesome garlicy-infused-flavorbang into your system. Wow, what the fuck did I just write!

Anyways. Come here. Eat some food. Drink unlimited water (yeah it’s free here and you can do whatever you want with it) and be a cheap Indonesian for a day.

Jun 17

The Cupcake Bakery: Corner of Flinders Lane & Elizabeth St, Melbourne CBD

Oh God, I know I don’t usually post or even enjoy baked goods (as I am a devoted carnivore) but this one is too cute to dismiss! I’m sure you people have seen these little shops around - there are two other locations, Melbourne Central and Collins St.

They are $3.50 each, snacky but awesome with that afternoon coffee. I am a greedy girl but surprisingly, I can never finish a whole cupcake from this place (I eat them later on of course!), weird huh. It’s quite filling I suppose. The frosting is the yummiest bit, my favorite is choc peppermint and sometimes they’re too beautiful to be eaten.

I bought my mum a box of these cuties for her birthday and she was in tears (haha, exaggerating as always) but yeah they do gift wrapping and discounts for bulk buys, yay for that! (I’m guessing you cupcake abusers are yaying as well hmm?)

It’s a good hangout for you sugar chasers or just someone who wants something sweet to accompany their lonely lattes, awww…

Jun 17

Crossways: 123 Swanston St, Melbourne CBD

All you can eat for $5 sounds like a perfect home for cheapfoodsluts like myself. But does the food taste good? Well, if you love healthy vegetable curries with generous amounts of rice, topped with pappadums AND sweet, warm custardy explosions in the form of fruity ‘halava’ (aka. heaven, but that’s just my saying) - then… COME HERE! (plus, free flow of lassi, orange drinks and water are also available - just slutty perfect!)

Finding this gem would be a struggle for you kids who aren’t city hangers. But don’t fret! You can always google em! The way I remembered is that it’s the stairs next to Hi-Fi, across from the town hall - done.

So the curries and halavas are different everyday (a full menu list will be on the board or you can check their website here). I’ve only ever tried the chickpea subji, it’s amazing but I’m sure the rest of the collection will be worthy as well! As for halavas I think I’m already hooked on the cherry one. OM NOM NOM NOM!

Remember to bring your student card or concession card to maximise your slutting (if the kind servers genuinely do not think you resemble a typical student/health card owner/cheapfoodslut) or prepare to pay $6.50 instead (ooh $1.50 extra, ooh la la!)

Last but not least, I recommend you guys sit upstairs, there are more seats and a set of comfy sofas with an awesome shelf filled with Indian and Hindu-themed books. Also, I absolutely love the photos of the random Hindu gods hanging on the walls in Crossways, I always try and pick which one they are. So far I can recognize Krishna and Shiva but.. err.. okay back to food, so yeah, cheap cheap cheap yummy food for $5, Mondays through Saturdays, lunchtime until 2.30 pm!