Cheap Eats 2002

For - cool cafes, world food and day tripping that won't break the bank The Age has ruthlessly scoured Victoria's city and country eateries to complete the Cheap Eats 2002, which was launched on Monday, 6 May.

Ousting venues that have gone up in price, lagged in service or just don't cut it anymore, The Age Cheap Eats 2002 features 420 of the best cafes, hotels, bars and food stores, including 150 making their delectable debut.

Based on two courses for two people for less than $50, The Age Cheap Eats 2002 rates each venue with a three-star system and reveals the best $10 CBD lunches, dishes worth travelling for, outdoor eating, after midnight meals, breakfasts, places to take a group, cafes in obscure locations and bar snakes.

Editor of The Age Cheap Eats 2002, Roslyn Grundy says the 16th edition of the guide "lets you tailor your eating experience according to price, location, cuisine, dietary requirements, mood and even BYO status".

Want to find out the latest neighbourhood hot spot for a long lingering breakfast or feel like venturing across town for a meal with friends? The Age Cheap Eats 2002 is broken into geographical regions, complemented by maps.

"To help you plan your day trip, in addition to reviews of the best eating places in each country region, we suggest the top attractions such as bush walks, wineries, produce markets, museums and berry farrms," says Roslyn.

The Age Cheap Eats 2002 offers a rundown on international cusine. Find out the core ingrediants, top dishes, how to order, etiquette and other titbits like: did you know Australia has about 10 percents of the world's Thai resturants outside Thailand?

The Age Cheap Eats 2002 also features interviews with Melbourne celebrities such as Rove McManus, Tracy Bartram and Claudia Karvab to reveal which dishes have them drooling, where they like to hang out solo, their favorite takeaway spot and where they go for a quick bite before a show.

Also enjoying star status in the guide are the winners of the The Age Cheap Eats Awards 2002, who are saluted for keeping their prices low and standards high in all categories of:

Spot of the Year

Country Spot of the Year

Hall of Fame Award

Best Bright Idea

Best Baristas

Best Bar

Best communal Table

Best Reason to Set the Alarm

Best Pizza

Best Bowl of Noodles

Best Yum Cha

Best Chilli Hit

"When armed with The Age Cheap Eats 2002, you can become more knowledgeable and selective about restaurants and food, so dinning out can be a more frequent, yet affordable indulgence," adds Roslyn.

The Age Cheap Eats 2002, Published by The Age, edited by Roslyn Grundy RRP: $19.95