Chinese Chilli-Plum Chicken Stir-fry

Approximately 1400 kilojoules per serve
(Kilojoule count reached using Australian Government ‘Healthy Active’ Kilojoule Calculator)

Preparation time: 15 mins

Ingredients (serves 2):

• 2 tbs oriental sweet plum sauce
• 80g unsalted roasted cashews
• 1 chicken breast fillet, thinly sliced
• 2 tbs sweet chilli sauce
• 1 tsp peanut oil
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 50g baby corn, halved lengthway
• 70g green beans
• 1 cup plain white rice
• ½ red capsicum cut into thin strips
• 1 small bunch asparagus (approx 4/5), halved crossway

Method

1. Heat half the oil in a pan over high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry, for 2-3 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a plate.

2. Heat the remaining oil in the pan over high heat. Add the corn, asparagus, beans, capsicum and garlic and stir-fry, for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are just tender.

3. Add the cooked chicken back into the pan and add the sweet chilli and plum sauce. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes.

4. Add the rice to a pot of boiling water and cook for 7-8 minutes or until soft. Serve rice in bowls and top with stir-fry.

Restaurant Review: Boxunch

Location: QV, Cnr Lonsdale Street and Swanston Street, Melbourne

Cuisine: Chinese

Reviewer: Huong Tran

Food	4/5
Service	4/5
Ambiance/atmosphere	3.5/5
Value for money	4.5/5

If you don’t have much free time between classes but still want a healthy tasty lunch, Boxunch seems to be a right place for you with delicious food, decent price and quick service. It will cost you from $7 to $12 for a main course. However, Boxunch is quite crowed during lunch time so you may see a long queue of people and sometimes you need to look around to find an available table.
Boxunch also participated in the Green light, eat right program of The City of Melbourne and Nutrition Australia. The food outlet has been through a rigorous accreditation system of Nutrition Australia to improve the healthiness of its menu.
Located in QV Food court, Boxunch is easy to recognize with a red-box logo and a traffic light color coded system as symbol of the Green light, eat right program.

Italian Microwave Veggie Risotto

Approximately 1400 kilojoules per serve

(Kilojoule count reached using Australian Government ‘Healthy Active’ Kilojoule Calculator)

Preparation time: 30 mins

Ingredients (Serves 2):

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
• ½ finely chopped brown onion
• 1 small crushed garlic clove
• ¾ cup aborio rice
• 20g baby spinach
• 1 tomato
• ½ cup frozen peas
• 150g butternut pumpkin, deseeded and chopped (small pieces)
• 1 small bunch asparagus (approx 4-5), cut into thirds

Method

1. Combine onion, oil and garlic in a large microwave-safe bowl. Place paper towel over the top of bowl and Microwave on high for 2 minutes or until soft. Add pumpkin, mix, and Microwave (uncovered) on high for another 3 minutes.

2. Stir rice into the mixture. Microwave (uncovered) on high for 1 minute. Add 1 cup of stock. Stir again and cover with a lid or double layer of plastic cling-wrap. Microwave for 6 minutes on high, followed by 6 minutes on medium.

3. Add asparagus and remaining 1/2 cup stock. Cover and microwave on medium for 5 minutes.

4. Quickly stir in peas and tomato. Cover and microwave on medium for 2 minutes. Stir and microwave on high for a further 2 minutes. Stand for 5 minutes.

5. Stir in spinach and season with salt and pepper to serve.

Restaurant Review: + 39 Pizzeria and Degustation

Location: 362 Little Bourke Street

Cuisine: Italian

Reviewer: Samantha Capol

Food	4/5
Wine list (may not be applicable)	3/5
Coffee (may not be applicable)	4/5
Service	4/5
Ambiance/atmosphere	3/5
Value for money	3/5

If you are looking for one of the best pizza’s in Melbourne, look no further than
+39 Pizzeria and Degustation. There is no wood-fire oven but their pizza’s
are definitely up to a good Italian Standard. It is also the right place to taste
true Italian products such as Cured Meats, Cheeses and Wine. However, the
prices are a bit high. A main would cost between $15-$25, but it is well worth
it.

Located on Little Bourke Street, just passed Elisabeth towards Queen, +39
Pizzeria and Degustation is surrounded by many little restaurants and bars.
However, with +39, be sure to book a table to avoid being disappointed as
they are always full!

If you are looking for Italian Food, Drinks and Desert +39 is definitely the
place to go to.

Avocado and Chicken Mexican Tortillas

Approximately 1400 kilojoules per serve
(Kilojoule count reached using Australian Government ‘Healthy Active’ Kilojoule Calculator)

Preparation time: 20 mins

Ingredients (Serves 2):

• 200g chicken breast fillet
• ¼ mashed ripe avocado
• 60g drained and rinsed corn kernels
• 1 teas fresh coriander
• 200g drained diced tomatoes
• 4 small burrito wraps
• 1 deseeded, finely chopped baby red chilli
• Finely chopped lettuce

Method

1. Place the chicken in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer (uncovered) for 11-12 minutes, until just cooked through. Remove chicken and blot with paper towel. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool. Shred chicken with a folk.

2. Combine the tomato, corn, chilli and coriander in large bowl. Microwave all four burrito wraps on a plate for 1 minute to soften.

3. Spread half of each wrap with avocado and divide the chicken between them evenly. Top with lettuce and corn salsa. Fold to serve.

Restaurant Review: Mexicali Rose

Cuisine: Mexican

Location: 101-103 Swan Street Richmond

Reviewer: Laura McLachlan

Food	4/5
Wine list (may not be applicable)	3/5
Coffee (may not be applicable)	3/5
Service	4/5
Ambiance/atmosphere	3.5/5
Value for money	4/5

Difficult to get a park but definitely worth it! Make sure you book to secure a table and avoid getting turned back at the door.

Located in Richmond, Mexicali Rose is close to everything and great to start a night out with friends on the weekend or for a mid-week bite to eat.

Cuisine is typical Mexican but so much more than just nachos and tacos. It is extremely tasty and the menu offers a vast array of south-of-the border authentic Mexican dishes. The banquet (for more than 2 people) is great value for money but best to have an empty stomach before you start.

A standard meal will cost you around $20 and vegetarian options are divine. If you like tequila you are in for a treat with the beverage list including more than ten varieties to choose from. Atmosphere and decor is simple but effective and the service is great with authentic Hispanic wait staff.

If you love burritos you will love Mexicali Rose.

Aussie Rissoles

Approximately 1200 kilojoules per serve
(Kilojoule count reached using Australian Government ‘Healthy Active’ Kilojoule Calculator)

Preparation time: 15 mins

Ingredients (serves 2):

• 200g beef mince
• ½ finely diced small brown onion
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 2 tbs tomato sauce
• 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ cup chopped continental parsley
• 2 slice of cheese
• 2 bread rolls
• Sliced tomato
• Lettuce
• Beetroot
• Tomato salsa

Method

1. Mix sauces, garlic, mince, onion, parsley, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Shape mixture into four rissoles.

2. Cook in greased frying over medium-high heat, for 3 to 5 minutes each side or until almost cooked through. Place cheese on top of each rissole and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese starts to melt.

3. Serve rissoles in buns with tomato slices, beetroot, lettuce and salsa.

Restaurant Review: Boheme Cafe Bar

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Location: 368 Bridge Road, Richmond

Reviewer: Brooke Lacey

Food	4/5
Wine list (may not be applicable)	3/5
Coffee (may not be applicable)	4/5
Service	2/5
Ambiance/atmosphere	5/5
Value for money	4/5

On a busy Saturday night, with the footy finals fever beginning to sweep through Melbourne this was the perfect place for a casual meal. Boheme is ideal for younger groups of people, with plenty of room to spread out. With the plasma above the bar showing the muted coverage of ‘The G’, the sound of laughter and warm lighting makes for a great atmosphere. The flash of flames coming the kitchen ensures a lively feel and the fantastic paintings of Melbourne life on the walls help Boheme capture the essence of the Melburnian life.

Contradicting this then was the service which was at points a fraction lazy. A wine was forgotten (as were we towards the evening’s close) and upon ordering we copped a “third time lucky” attitude, as if to reprimand our tardiness.

All mains sit appropriately around the $20 mark, but are generously served. And though a companion accurately pointed out there were very few vegetarian options, all were satisfied with their meal. The pizzas are of the hearty thick-based, gourmet kind and were very much to our liking. My order of the salt and pepper calamari was enjoyable. But it was actually the exceptionally tasty, golden chips that saved my meal, as the calamari itself was just a touch flowery.

But all-in-all, a very enjoyable evening.

Find out more about Boheme at their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter!

Zucchini and Leek Pasta

Brooke from the BITES team joins Ashley in the kitchen as he shows us how to make a quick and simple recipe anyone can make at home, even busy students!