The Pub, The Pie and The Tapas

Traveling for me always means new foods, either whole new ingredients or just different ways to prepare certain things or put other things together. Oddly, Australia, like Canada, is such a melting pot that there are few things I have found to be typically Australian. We are also traveling in the city, two major cities, which are as multicultural as they get, so Thai, Sushi, Nepalese, you name it, it is likely represented here in culinary form. Yesterday on the free tram, the statistic stated was of Melbourne's 3000 restaurants, 70 cultures are represented. So, in other words, it is a cool place to eat.
On Tuesday night, Angie and I headed to the Crown Casino to a pub upstairs. We were both tired after long days, so figured a burger and a pint would be a great thing. They had hard cider on tap, much to my joy, and I ordered Angie a glass of sparkling wine while we waited for our table.
When our table was called, we were told we had to go up to the bar to order. Hmmm. Not the sit down and chill idea we had in mind, but OK. Wait, it gets better. Not only do you have to stand in line to give the staff there your order, you also have to pay at the same time! Angie manages the main course, and I go up to order dessert. Oh yes, you guessed it, it gets better. When I finally get up to the bar to order, I tell her I want two teas and an apple crisp. She looks at me and asks: Any food? (I refrained from asking her if she had a hearing problem.) When I got back to our table, I asked Angie why anybody would actually go there for dinner unless it was an accident! Not recommended.
Last night, I picked a Spanish Tapas bar for dinner - Modiva. The tour book said it was THE Melbourne experience! I figured we could share some small items and chat about our day. We get there and are told we can get a table around 8:15. We go and wander the spray painted alley way, circle back to Flinder's Station, walk through Federation Square and then back again. After a few moments of waiting, we are seated and Angie is ready to order 5 courses - all dessert. The waiter laughs, and give us menus. Angie suggests we take a picture of the menu, because there is nothing on it she actually wants to order! Poor sister - the thought of air cured tuna, beef cheek and guinea hen makes her sigh in dismay. We get her over the first hurdle as she orders the squid, which arrives on a plate coated in its own ink, 1 piece about the size of half my thumb, and it is stuffed, too (I am sure by some 4 year old Filipino child). The flavor is great, and my sister starts to loosen up and get adventurous. To be clear, though, she tells me there is no way she would ever go back there. Personally, I was considering the cook book. I would highly recommend it.
Today for a late lunch after the Zoo, we were looking for something to tie us over until the banquet tonight. One Australian trend that we saw but never tried in Sydney was pie - small, individual meat pies of various flavors, served with mashed potatoes on top, mushy peas and gravy. Sound gross? Well, today we indulged at a place called Pie Face, a chain of pie providers. It was certainly tasty, unfortunately for me, I am still tasting it, 3 hours later! They had veggie flavored ones, Thai Curry, and various beef options. They also have little baby dessert pies and soups. $10 gets you a meat pie and a dessert tart (lemon for me, apple for Angie). I would do it again, for sure!
Tonight is the Geek Banquet and then tomorrow night we are still deciding where to eat. Saturday will be the Penguin Tour, so no dinner required then, and then home on Sunday! So soon!