November started with Cup Day. We had a mega-relaxing at home, with a breakfast of ricotta pancakes with stewed apples...

Ricotta pancakes with stewed apples

... a cheese and charcuterie platter for lunch...

Cheese and charcuterie platter, mimosas

...and a home-delievered halal snack pack for dinner!

Halal snack packs

This month, I rediscovered the magic of microwaved baked potatoes. I used to make these all the time when I was a kid, and forgot how easy and quick they are. (Google the method!) Now I'm eating as an accompaniment to everything. I like them best with butter, cheese, sour cream and chives.

Bolognese sauce, baked potatoes

Steak, mushroom sauce, mashed potato, baked potato, broccolini

Now, I do understand that this post looks like an endless parade of unhealthy, indulgent food, but I swear I do keep it balanced! (Most of the time). For weekday lunches, I'm super into brown rice bowls - brown rice and a selection of different vegetables, plus some protein. (Here's one I made for dinner, with several containers also filled for the rest of the week). #mealprep!

Brown rice bowl

One weekend, my dad texted me saying that him and Mum were having lunch at Beatrix (688 Queensberry Street. North Melbourne 3051), and I asked him if he could bring me back a slice of the Vitty and the peach and polenta pie (yes, I stalk Nat's amazing Instagram page and knew what was on on the menu that day). Well, Nat generously snuck an an extra slice of the lemon coconut shagg cake too, and my dad also gave me some of his salted caramel cheesecake with a brûléed top. Amazing!

Beatrix Cakes!

One Friday night, we were too lazy to cook, so tried out Boy & Co (224 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern VIC 3144) for eminently instagrammable loaded fries, popcorn chicken, and milkshakes. These guys do a roaring trade in Uber Eats orders, but I think it's nicer to eat fried food fresh if you can.

Fried-Food Feast at Boy & Co

We had a movie night with some girlfriends one night (Reefer Madness, in preparation for us seeing Reefer Madness the musical at Chapel Off Chapel). We did DIY nachos! Followed by Iron Chef Shellie's choc chip cookies with potato chips inside!

DIY Nachos, champagne, cheese

Potato chip chocolate chip cookies

One weekend, we took my parents to Bawa Cafe (248 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122) for brunch. My mum can highly recommend the sweet potato and kale okonomiyaki with poached eggs, chorizo, kewpie and white miso slaw. (So good!) I had the rosti with slow-braised pork, poached eggs and herb hollandaise, and I loved it!

Potato rösti, slow braised pork, poached eggs & herb hollandaise - $19

This month, for some reason, I had a really strong craving for kimchi. After a few days of serious kimchi obsession, my craving was finally satiated with lunch at Donwoori (276 Victoria St, North Melbourne VIC 3051). Kimchi stew! With more kimchi on the side! Kimchi squared!

Kimchi stew at Donwoori

We also had a great lunch with the lovely MyFoodTrail family - we brought the sushi and champagne, they supplied the cheese, charcuterie and dessert. Deliciousness all around!

Lunch at April & Laik's

One weeknight, we did an impromptu Swan Street dinner with our friend Emma - Belles Hot Chicken and Gelato Messina. Mega indulgence!

Belles Hot Chicken

Messina

Y'all must know by now that my current fave Vietnamese place is Pho Nom, in Emporium (because the food is awesome, but also because because Jerry the owner is bad ass!) However, the other day we were in Tooronga Stockland and decided to have lunch at Roll'd. I had the bun (vermicelli noodle salad) with pork spring rolls, and was seriously impressed. The spring rolls were so crispy and flavoursome. I went back the next week for more!

Bun with pork spring rolls at Roll'd

Boom boom, November Unblogged Files done! Plans for December - frantically trying to wrap everything up at work before the Christmas break, end-of-year celebrations, a little travel, and of course, CHRISTMAS! Woop woop! Let's do this thing.