Good Food - Dani Valent

Dani Valent

Food writer and restaurant reviewer

The Town Mouse

Slow-cooked pork jowl with carrot kimchi.

The most exciting new restaurants are those that balance a spry freshness with a settled feeling.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun May 19 00:00:00 EST 2013

Station Street Trading Co

If there's ever a place to seek autumnal arcadia, this loved local will do.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Mon May 13 09:07:02 EST 2013

Jacques Reymond

Timeless: Like all of the dishes at Jacques Reymond, the King George whiting epitomises flavour, not fashion.

Jacques Reymond's longevity is impressive, but perhaps an even bigger wonder is that its 60-year-old namesake is still evolving.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun May 05 00:00:00 EST 2013

BangPop

BangPop's pork neck with chilli dipping sauce.

The food at this playful South Wharf eatery is nothing revolutionary, but spicier and more frisky than some of Melbourne's dumbed-down Thai.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 EST 2013

Candied Bakery

Candied bakery donuts

This bright, airy bakery is a neat mix of new and nostalgic.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Apr 21 08:00:00 EST 2013

Fonda

Wallet-friendly fish tacos.

The heaving Richmond cantina has been joined (upstaged?) by a precocious little sister in where-it's-at Windsor.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 EST 2013

Bar di Stasio

Bar di Stasio and its artily unfinished masonry.

The arty Bar di Stasio is the new holding pen and hangout next door to love-it-or-hate-it institution Cafe di Stasio.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Apr 07 00:00:00 EST 2013

Gladioli

Gladioli's crisp fried smoked eel.

Gladioli is a chef's restaurant, and it feels like it: the dining room is simple and comfortable, the service is friendly and well drilled, but the excitement is on the plate.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sat Mar 30 00:00:00 EST 2013

Trocadero

Story by: Dani Valent
Photo: Ken Irwin KEN 13th March 2013 The Sunday Age. M m
Mag, The Serve
Trocadero ,Upper Riverside Terrace, Hamer Hall
The dish; Onion Risotto

The best thing about Trocadero is that it's there at all, serving drinks and food at a jaunty clip to Arts Centre visitors and Southbank browsers.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 EST 2013

Entice

Inclusive: Entice's allergy-aware menu includes paprika chicken over a baby spinach salad.

Entice is one restaurant that has responded to today's phobic diners with an inclusive and allergy-aware menu.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 EST 2013

Woodlands Hotel

Boudin noir with tomatoes and chilli.

I can't honestly say I liked the decor at Woodlands but I was amazed and sometimes flummoxed by it.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Tue Mar 12 09:13:14 EST 2013

Top Paddock

Top Paddock takes food seriously, as evidenced by the kingfish with chilli-fried egg, avocado, salsa and corn tortilla.

Top Paddock rockets into the top echelon of the Melbourne cafe scene because it takes food as seriously as any hatted restaurant.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Mar 03 00:00:00 EST 2013

Brooks

Brooks leans on French tradition to produce unusual combinations, such as pork, seaweed and squid.

Basement restaurant Brooks emanates a tingling feeling of potential.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2013

St Ali North

Roasted nectarine on brioche with bacon ice-cream.

If you were putting a cafe in a time capsule to show the future what Melbourne 2013 was like, you might as well stuff in St Ali North

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Mon Feb 18 12:08:33 EST 2013

Belle's Diner

Big flavours, such as those on the New York deli plate, are the stars of Belle's Diner.

It's clear that Belle's is gesturing towards American tropes both real and imaginary rather than trying to import an experience from overseas.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 EST 2013

Cafe Amalia

Pear and rocket salad.

The small, sweet Cafe Amalia operates with the French culinary priorities of doing things correctly.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 2013

Commander + chef

HIGHER FEES APPLY. 

British chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White.

Infamous for his volatility and tantrums, chef Marco Pierre White can also whip up the charm.

Food News | Dani Valent | Sat Jan 26 04:00:01 EST 2013

Hands-on food

Berkshire producers goods.

Melbourne’s best cafes are going further and further in their quest for quality – from smoking their own bacon to brewing vinegar on site.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Thu Jan 24 20:38:47 EST 2013

Dainty Sichuan

Dried chilli.

Dainty Sichuan, a South Yarra Chinese restaurant with a cult following, has just opened a very welcome second branch in Chinatown.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Mon Jan 21 10:02:02 EST 2013

Captain Baxter

Captain Baxter's snapper in banana leaf.

Captain Baxter is a huge, handsome, beachfront hang-out in ship-shape for summer drinking and eating.

Eat Out | Dani Valent | Sun Jan 13 00:00:00 EST 2013