Mystery Parma - ???? 13/03/10

Ok I have NO idea where this Parma is from. I recalled having a Parma image on my phone which I took a while back but never reviewed, but cannot remember where this meal was purchased. Does this jog anyone's memory?

The Lounge - Melbourne CBD 7/5/2010

Let's get down to basics. All the main ingredients where here, and done great justice. This was a really good fillet, with perfect amounts of sauce, cheese and a thin slice of ham. The fillet may have been overcooked for some, but for me it had that pure white (not racist), slightly dry texture which i come to expect from a finely cooked piece of breast. This came close to earning the mantle of ParmaPerfection had it not been for two flaws: The first was the obvious "parma lying on a bed of chips" faux pax, also known as "what the hell is that doing on THERE??", and the second being the slightly odd use of heavy layers of pepper being used to season the chips. I was not sure if this was part of the Lounge "signature" or if the chips had been sent for post production to an inexperienced assistant whose level of competence was up to the "trying to work out what all the funny knobs on the stove are used for" level.

Thanks to Leemond for the use of his phonewithaflash, and for the pic.

Fillet 2
Cheese 2
Napoli 2
Ham 2
Chips 1
Bonus 0

Total 9/12
($18.90)

NCL Pride of America - approx 19° 43' N 155° 5' W 13/4/10

Nothing quite beats a Parma while out on the open ocean. The addition of spaghetti was momentarily upsetting, however it did not detract from the overall experience. Sadly, the fillet was not a prime breast fillet; this was far more scarring than the appearance of pasta.

Fillet 1
Cheese 1
Napoli 1
Ham 1
Chips 0
Bonus 1 point for being served in the middle of the ocean

Total 5/12
($15 US as part of a 3 course meal)

Big Mouth - St Kilda 12/2/10

Here we go, quality at last. All that was missing here was a larger serving of chips. Parma was slightly overcooked, but flavour was excellent. Ignore the premium pricing and check it out.

Fillet 2
Cheese 2
Napoli 2
Ham 2
Chips 1
Bonus 0

Total 9/12
($??)

Groove Train - Melbourne Central 5/2/2010

I once spoke highly of Groove Train and their meals. Then they started down the slippery slope from excellence to mediocrity, and now down into a mush of chicken, weird orange coloured napoli and a lack of ham (which you need to pay extra to get).

Fillet 0
Cheese 1
Napoli 1
Ham 0
Chips 1
Bonus 0

Total 3/12
($??)

Marine Hotel - Brighton 3/2/10

Decent Pub Parma, nothing special but it ticks all the right boxes.

Fillet 1.5
Cheese 1
Napoli 1
Ham 1
Chips 1
Bonus 0

Total 5.5/12
($??)

Commercial Hotel - Yarraville 29/1/10

Amazing value, and well flavoured. Soggy coating however, and a few more chips could not have hurt. Clientele were both fascinating and frightening, as with most things in the Deep West.

Fillet 2
Cheese 2
Napoli 2
Ham 2
Chips 1
Bonus 2 (Company, setting and value)

Total 11/12
($9)

Waterside Hotel - Melbourne 26/1/10

Soggy chips and a mishmash of a fillet.

Fillet 0
Cheese 1
Napoli 1
Ham 1
Chips 1
Bonus 0

Total 4/12
($16.50

Gertrude Hotel - Fitzroy 9/1/10

Not bad, decent amount of cheese. Fillet was rubbery and the chips only sent their sick and frail to represent the cause. Huge chunks of onion in the Napoli did not bode well.

Fillet 1
Cheese 1.5
Napoli 1
Ham 1
Chips 1
Bonus 0

Total 5.5/12
($??)

Pepperoni's - 18/12/09

What a shame. If this "restaurant" has not been so well lit I may have mistaken the crunch of burnt crumbs in my mouth for cockroach carapaces as I munched on this dry, flavourless chicken patty.

Fillet 0
Cheese 0
Napoli 0
Ham 0
Chips 1
Bonus 0

Total 1/12
($??)

Rocksalt - Brighton. 5/12/09

Bonus points for salad being in it's own bowl, and points for providing wedges instead of chips. No ham but copious amounts of cheese for people who might be that way inclined.

Fillet 2
Cheese 2
Napoli 2
Ham 0
Chips 2
Bonus + 1.5 for the wedges + salad in bowl

Total 9.5/12
($??)

Melbourne Lion Bar - Melbourne Central 3/12/09

Decent fillet, good flavour. Poor chip placement and woeful salad.

Fillet 1
Cheese 1
Napoli 1
Ham 1
Chips 1
Bonus 0

Total 5/12
($??)