My ultimate comfort food

The last week has probably been my coldest in Melbourne so far. In light of this, I have found myself day-dreaming about big steaming bowls of pasta - my ultimate comfort food. Well, I will use any excuse to cook for friends on a Friday night! I wanted to cook something delicious but easy, so I decided on a simple spinach & ricotta tortellini with bacon, garlic, chilli, passata and spinach, and finished off with a good handful of fresh basil and a sprinkling of parmesan. One of my guests was actually a chef and was very impressed with my efforts, so I felt pretty happy with myself! This tortellini is my idea of the perfect comfort food for a cold and rainy night and the perfect company for swapping silly stories and plenty of wine! Sometimes absolutely nothing beats a home-cooked meal.

Cafe Qube

Station Street in Fairfield was the dinner destination last night. As a newcomer to the area, I was left guessing what type of cuisine Cafe Qube would have to offer. I was first to arrive and was seated by our lovely waitress at a cosy table by the fireplace. The red-brick walls and warm interiors exuded a welcoming vibe and I felt immediately relaxed. Once the other girls had arrived we barely exchanged hello's before cracking open a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc to wind down from a hectic Friday and help us relax just that little bit more!

Image courtesy of: www.cafeqube.com

I will be honest - on first impressions, Qube's dinner menu didn't blow my mind - it was very big (which I don't like because I'm so indecisive) and the options for Mains sounded relatively mediocre and unoriginal. However, not one quick to judge, I hoped for the best and chose a penne marinara with extra chilli to spice things up on a brisk Autumn evening. Z ordered a pesto cream agnolloti, V chose the lamb shanks and A decided on the Moroccan chicken. All our meals were absolutely massive portions and my pasta in particular was insanely huge, with virtually half a crab sticking out the side! The best part was - every meal was good. Really good. My penne marinara had just the right amount of napoli to coat the pasta without drowning it in overpowering tomato richness. The subtle olive oil and chilli flavours complemented the generous helping of crab, prawns, scallops and mussels tossed with perfectly al dente penne. What could be better than a seemingly lacklustre menu selection proving to be a refreshingly wonderful surprise? It was simple, classic, comfort food cooked well.


Qube is unpretentious and doesn't try to be anything it's not. Don't go there expecting to take your taste buds on a gastronomic adventure through uncharted territory, because you will be disappointed. Go there on a cold night with a big group of friends and an even bigger appetite and cosy up by the fire with a glass of vino and a hearty meal - there will be something sure to satisfy everyone's Friday night craving.

Cafe Qube Resaurant & Bar
127 Station Street
Fairfield
VIC
Ph: 9482 2226

Simple pleasures

I can't help writing a little post on my fantastic food-filled ANZAC Day long weekend. Spent some quality time with some of the extended family for a bit of hearty home-cooked comfort food. Unfortunately I was too caught up in all the celebrations to take a photo of the delicious slow cooked beef and vegetables courtesy of my gorgeous Auntie S... but I did however remember to take a photo of the most important part of any meal - dessert! And true to tradition, my Nanna brought out her famous cream-filled sponge cake topped with lashings of fresh cream and sliced banana. Of course in true Nanna-style, extra cream had to be to served with the daggy but irresistable classic. Who can argue with a giant piece of creamy, fluffy goodness? Yum.