Eating and Drinking Guide to Melbourne

Last week a package arrived in the mail. Now, since I usually get stuff sent to my office and this package arrived at home, I was curious. Who had my address? What had I bought? (I do this a lot, buying stuff online and forgetting about it!) Opening the package, I was surprised and delighted to see the Hardie Grant Eating and Drinking Guide to Melbourne.

You might wonder why I was so thrilled to receive this book? Well, it’s because I helped write it. For real. My name is inside the cover and everything. Ok, so it’s a few pages in. And there are a dozen other names. But it doesn’t matter. My name is there. In black and white.

But I’m guessing you want to know about the book. It’s pretty awesome (and I’m not just saying that because I contributed.) It is. 700 bars, restaurants and cheap and cheerful spots to eat at in Melbourne. 700!! And they are broken down into areas and type. With an index. And maps!!

I wrote some of the ones around South Melbourne, Albert Park and Toorak but the book covers everything – SOBO and NOBO (Melbourne goes all NY on us!) which is South of Bourke St and North of Bourke St, Inner North, South, East and West, AND Outer North, South, East and West. Phew!

It will take you 12 months to get through all 700 places in the book, and you will need to go out a minimum of twice a week to get through them all before next year’s edition comes out. I suggest you get started tomorrow.

You can pick up the book from all good book stores (I have ALWAYS wanted to say that!) from September 1, or I have a few up my sleeve to give away. I’ll even sign them for you. (Seriously) (No, really, I won’t. Promise).

All you have to do is comment here (with your email address!) and tell me your favourite spot to eat or drink around Melbourne and why. I promise to try them all. I’ll pick the winners out of a hat on September 2. Good Luck!

The Hardie Grant Eating and Drinking Guide to Melbourne RRP $29.95
(None of the proceeds go to me – or the other contributors – we are 100% independent!)
PS Sydney has a shiny new guide too – look for it in Sydney.
PPS The Eating and Drinking Guide to Melbourne (and Sydney) has a facebook page! Share your spoils and tell others what you thought!
PPPS There is an iPhone App too!!