Cupping it in Campos Coffee

Campos Coffee is a specialty coffee shop in Carlton. It is a short walk from Melbourne University and a short tram ride from RMIT University.  Here they sell lots of coffee and coffee equipment but not much food.
They have a cupping room that is opened to the public on Friday morning at 10am, but you have to book and pay $20 for the cupping session. You also get a bag of coffee.

Today the place was busy at 10am when I came along. Here I ordered toast ($5.00) and their specialty cold drip coffee ($4.50). I also ordered a biscotti ($1.50)

I loved the sourdough toast. And I loved the jam that went with it. Heavenly!!! Yay!!!

The cold drip coffee had hints of plum in it and it was not bitter at all. Very nice and refreshing for a warm summer's day. 

It seems that a few bloggers reviewed the place. The Age really enjoyed their visit here as it was raved about in their cafe guide.I think I might go back just for their classes and see if Bryan and Ashley might like to join me.

China Red

China red is a new restaurant in the Chinatown district. Here it was raved about by many of the food bloggers on Urbanspoon.
Here service is non existent, you order by the touch screen, but they do have an option of calling for help when needed. All the images of the food is up on the screen. But they are not much help for someone that is gluten free. Luckily I'm not. I can eat anything and everything.
I went in when they have the happy special of $8.80 for a meal and drink. It runs from 2pm-5pm weekdays.
My meal was huge! Better to share between two people. I had the char kuey teow and a soya bean drink. The Soya bean drink was just ok, but the Char Kuey teow was great. There was heaps of wok hei to it! And I loved the rice noodles.
The next time I went back just to try their dumplings and the pulled pork bread. I didn't really like the pulled pork thing- it had way too much pulled pork, but loved all the other dumplings.
It seems that Eat and Be Merry also enjoyed the food there and the open kitchen! I have to admit I enjoyed the kitchen as well, but did not enjoy the stairs the second time round. They should have a lift for those that can't walk the huge flight of stairs!

Gloria Jeans at Melbourne CBD

Today I was feeling a little tired and in need of some coffee. So what did I see on my way to work? A Gloria Jeans actual coffee house.
In there is huge, warm and cozy and they have a few posters and feedback about their coffee. Loved the little cute poster about their coffee

I ordered a Piccolo and a mixed berry cheesecake for the price of $6. They did have a $6 combo with cake and coffee. With every purchase of $5 and over you can get a copy of "The Age" for free. The cheesecake tasted like it was store bought. The base was a bit too soft and it was cookie crumbly like it should be. I loved the jelly on top, but not too sure about the fruits inside. They look great, but that is where it ends.
Except for the messy artwork up the top, the piccolo was just alright. It came in a small cute cup.
The service was pretty much non existent. It was like that of a fast food court. It was run by Asians. There was only one toilet and it was a disabled one. CRAP!!! There should be more.

Eat at Orient Express

I know that I said that I'll never go there again.
But you know what! A new one has just opened in Docklands and I heard that this one is much better than the one at Crown.

Just a cute jar- with this you take it to the waitstaff and you ask them for the ice cream

My salad which was fresh

But not many people raved about it or found it. I think they think that seeing as the old one was really bad, this one will be just as bad.
It is a yum cha, hot and cold as well as a sushi train. You just pick what you want and you can also order as well. 
The lighting and decor is much better than the one at crown.

But to prove you wrong, this was much better than the one at Crown. The service was much more attentative, where as the one at Crown the wait staff left you alone to decide and you couldn't order anything off the train.

The prices are still the same as Crown; from $2.80 for white plates to $7 for the black plates. Its $4 per steamer basket.
Unlike the one at Crown they have more desserts and dishes on offer. I had the chance to try the Green tea ice cream and it was heavenly.
Some of the other food bloggers should give this a go even if this is hidden away in Harbour town. Seriously! And guess what they have a 25% discount voucher in the Entertainment book, but I went alone so couldn't use it.