on my plate - pintxos @ Naked for Satan

It might be an obvious statement, but tapas sure isn't the same in Melbourne as it is in Spain. Don't get me wrong, Portello Rosso, and from what I hear, the Mo Vidas offer quality food, but if you're looking for food that compares to Barcelona or Madrid, expect to pay a pretty penny for that privilege.

With Naked for Satan's weekday 80 cents per pintxo, at least I know now that I don't have to break the bank every time I get a hankering for some tapas. Maybe it was just the shock of food being that cheap, or the sheer amount of food that I kept piling onto my plate, but I forgot to take note of what exactly I was eating. I vaguely remember some tasty garlicky prawn pintxo and the croquettas. Did I like the jamon one more, or the second one? Then again, does it really matter when each bite costs 80 cents?

fancypants mac & cheese

I distinctly remember being ten years old and looking forward to Tuesday tennis lessons not for the tennis itself, but for the post-training visit to McDonalds. Needless to say, I was slightly, *ahem* heavy as a kid. Fast forward to now, and I find myself forgetting how exactly drive-through works as I head to Maccas for the first time in more than two years.

While their burgers just aren't as appealing to me as they used to, one bite of the piping hot fries reminded me why so many others in keep coming back. It reminded me of all the other guilty pleasures from childhood that I can't seem to quit, even after my tastes have changed.

Yu-u and yakitori

Despite talk about it having some of the best Japanese lunch sets in Melbourne, there's a lot of mystery that surrounds Yu-u. A quick google will find some Urbanspoon reviews and a couple blog posts about it, but don't expect to find an official website or any pictures of the food. Yu-u has earned the reputation of being one of Melbourne's best kept secrets, and judging by its nondescript entrance off in a side alley in the CBD and strict no photo-taking policy, it seems intent on keeping it that way.