Dahon Gourmet Tea Lounge
Ask any Filipino person in Melbourne where you can get good Filipino food in Melbourne and they will either tell you no where, somewhere on the other side of town, or their kitchen (or Mother’s kitchen).
The newest place in town that has Filipino influenced food is the proud project of Cherrie and her brother Ed. Dahon Gourmet Tea Lounge, is located within just a few steps from the South Melbourne market and offers a delicious range of teas (hot and ice blends), as well as delicious options for breakfast, lunch and morning or afternoon tea.
With a range of ice blends, my favourite would have to be the mango and passionfruit tea, with passionfruit pulp and fresh kiwi. Refreshing and full of flavour, I tip these will be a huge hit come summer time.
There is also a range of hot teas, with the impressive bloom tea, which has lovely flavours, and looks very pretty.
I hadn’t tried Filipino food till a few months ago when Cherrie and Adrian hosted a Filipino feast, which included an amazing array of flavours and dishes I had been missing out on all my life. If you haven’t had Filipino food before, don’t let the sound of an exotic new cuisine scare you off trying Dahon, you’ll love it and be back for more in no time!
Whilst the food is not ‘in your face Filipino’, it offers something for everyone. It is also open 7 days a week, so you have no excuse not to get down there and try the amazing food and teas.
My absolute favourite dish was the BBQ pork baguette, with a close runner up the prawn baguette.
BBQ Pork Baguette
Chargrilled Filipino bbq pork served with pickled green papaya.
Prawn Baguette
Succulent prawns, pickled green papaya with slices of cucumber and pickled mayonnaise.
Spice Crumbed Chicken Baguette
Crunchy chicken tenderloins in a spiced crumb coating, roasted vegetables with lashing of cucumber yoghurt.
They even have an all day breakfast baguette, which Hamsley is dying to try!
Pancit (Filipino Noodles)
Rice vermicelli noodles, sautéed with pork and a combination of vegetables.
Lumpia
Filipino spring rolls filled with pork and vegetables. Served with pickled green papaya and a soy sauce and vinegar dipping sauce.
Potato chips and sweet potato chips.
Grilled Pork Skewers
Theses are also very addictive, must… have… more!!!
We also got a taste of some items that aren’t on the menu yet, but will hopefully be on there soon! They are some of my favourite dishes too!
Lumpiang Shanghai
Java Rice with Grilled Adobo Chicken
With a Filipino pastry chef on board, you can get anything from light fluffy cupcakes (try the hummingbird or chai… amazing!) to calamansi meringue tarts, and Cherrie’s own leche flan. The leche flan is like a crème caramel, and it just gorgeous!
Leche Flan = awesomeness!
Cherrie and Ed have a great team working for them, and aren’t afraid to tell you all about the teas or the food. Make sure you pop in and try it out, and say hi to the gang. And if you like it, don’t forget to tell your friends and family 😀
For more information, head to: http://www.facebook.com/DahonTeaLounge
Iron Chef Shellie attended the opening of Dahon Gourmet Tea Lounge thanks to Cherrie and Ed at Dahon.
Cherrie
Photos looking amazing, as always. Thanks for the great post
Iron Chef Shellie
Thanks Cherrie 🙂 Can’t wait to come down soon for more delicious food and teas!
Mez
Pancit is my favourite… when I was in kinder my contribution for the Kinder Cookbook was: Pancit. Hhahahahaaa
Must go to this place soon, with my dad in tow!
Iron Chef Shellie
nawwww that is adorable!! <3
Hannah
Pickled papaya, leche flan and sweet potato chips?! Go Cherrie! I’m in! 😀
penny aka jeroxie
I think Cherrie is tired of seeing my face at Dahon 😛
leaf (the indolent cook)
Ah… I heard about Dahon via Twitter. Looks good! Must make the trip sometime.
Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice
Ohhhh pancit + lumpia.
Such fond memories of my fr!iend’s mom’s cooking.
Had a fab time at Cherrie’s lovely Dahon Tea a few weekends ago. Must get back there soon! Great photos, too.
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
wow, this looks incredible! Great work Cherrie!! I am so keen to get more familiar with Filipino food 🙂
Heidi xo
Michelle chin
ooh this place looks like a must go!
Winston
this post had me at “BBQ Pork Baguette”. everything looks great! i love authentic oriental cuisines. gotta try!
April@MyFoodTrail
Such great photos and you managed to get photos of all the food! I was too slow I think… so many missing pictures 🙁 I am so in love with the BBQ pork baguette, such great flavour.
Vee @ Munching (in) Melbourne
Oh yum, those pork skewers look ah-ma-zing!! And I’ve never thought to ask where to get the best Filipino food in Melbourne but I guess I don’t have to now 😉
Edward Puzon
thank you so much for the review! the pictures look great, you’ve captured the essence of what Dahon is all about. casual, great food and great friends!
Nic@diningwithastud
The baguettes look so delish! Fancy baguettes 🙂 Iv got a bit of a thing for that pineapple and coconut tea. YUM!
carolineadobo
Congratulations to Cherrie and Ed on the opening of Dahon Tea. I’m glad that Filipino cuisine is finally represented in Melbourne, woohoo! Your great-looking pictures makes me wish I can just hop on a plane so I can eat their food and sip their teas.
Adrian (Food Rehab)
Love the bbq pork skewers! Addicted.
Michelle
Looks delicious! I’m particularly interested in the baguettes — far more Vietnamese than Filipino but a great way to present them. 🙂 I grew up eating Filipino food and am SO happy to see that we’re beginning to see it outside of home now. Home is still the best place to eat it, though 😉
Ria
Hey Shellie,
You are spot on! I get asked ALL THE TIME!!!
This is brilliant! Will be sharing with all my friends 😉
Thank you
x