For an unemployed girl, I sure got around this week. I ate my way in and around Melbourne city at some of our coolest places and I can assure you that the kilo’s lost during fashion week have been found – and then some.

I kicked things off on Tuesday at the Lindt Café on Collins Street, and then followed up at personal favourite Mamasita.

On Wednesday at Chadstone Shopping Centre, we ate at Capital Kitchen. Twice.

Come Thursday I headed to St Ali in South Melbourne, a place regaled for its coffee but more recently accepting accolades for its cooking.

Friday saw me sitting in Café Vue for a lunch box, then coffee at the Sensory lab, cocktails at the Kitten Club and dinner on Hardware Lane.

I travelled all the way to Airey’s Inlet for gourmet pizza at local hotspot Truffles on Saturday.

Then I ruined a week of decadent eating with Nando’s on Sunday. (Food fail)

My extended family are a bit – ok, a lot – foodie. My uncle is a chef and runs a café and restaurant with my aunt. My cousin is a dessert chef. My cousin-in-law is a head chef, recently nominated for young chef of the year (he is REALLY good).

I can make toasted cheese sandwiches (involving making 2 slices of toast, then putting cheese between them), microwave rice and a cup of coffee, but with such awesome restaurants around Melbourne (and such clever relo’s), why on earth would I learn more?

As you know, I’m unemployed right now, so these places don’t cost the earth but they will make you feel like you are eating with millionaires, such is the quality. Try somewhere new this week!

Image One: St Ali
Image Two: Cafe Vue