A new Thai restaurant, The Thai on Chapel, opened on Chapel St in Windsor (next door to Fat Helen’s secondhand shop) last week. They make a dish I’ve never had before, fried bread with pandan custard, which is an entree but it could just as well be a dessert. I loved it.

I also had the caramelised pork with purple rice, which was most satisfying. The Windsor strip has seen lots of new developments in recent weeks, with new cafe School of 7 Bells serving outstanding coffee and Parlour diner making great burgers.

Colonel Tan’s further north in Prahran is only open for lunch on Fridays, and I enjoyed an excellent Penang lamb curry with eggplant salad and a side of roti there a couple of weeks ago. The food is also well regarded by The chomery and Popcorn and toast.

Finally, I had delicious venison sausages and mash at the Union hotel on Chapel St in Windsor. Also eaten (but not photographed) was a great chicken pide and side of Asian slaw and very good coffee at Inker7 on Inkerman St, St Kilda, and a good chorizo and chimmichurri roll and fantastic coffee at Senor BBQ on Carlisle St Balaclava.