Mask of Zambrero

No sooner had the Sri Sri experiment in, youthfully presented, flavoursome fast food fallen flat on its face, than another popped up a few doors down. Zambrero is one of a bunch of fast food franchises currently riding the wave of enthusiasm for Mexican food.

If you're familiar with the likes of Salsas, Mad Mex and Guzman y Gomez in the CBD, then you'll already have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Although you may be surprised to learn that nationally Zambrero is actually the biggest of the bunch, with the Port Melbourne branch being part of a new expansion into Victoria.

It's certainly a welcome addition to the Bay Street dinner selection although for me their burritos, whilst satisfyingly chubby, need plenty of verde sauce in order to compete with the spicier flavours of their competitor's. However you can't knock their fresh and (if you use their web-site's calorie calculator) potentially healthy ingredients, nor their unique Plate 4 Plate commitment to donate a meal for every burrito purchased in their stores.

Gaps in the market?

The evolution of the imposing blue stone building at the end of Bay Street from coal depot to private gymasium seems rather representative of the evolution of Port Melbourne itself. Morley's depot was built in 1872 (the same year as the Royal Mail Hotel) and named after the first Mayor of Sandridge, one William Morley. Soon however it will open as the latest of Port Melbourne's gyms, operated by South Pacific Health Clubs (who also run the St Kilda sea baths). It joins Genesis Fitness, KX Pilates, Bodycare Pilates and a host of local personal trainers feeding the town's obsession with healthy and beauty.

Heading out to the shops on a weekday evening, it's easy to feel out of place not wearing compression leggings. It makes me think that someone's missing an opportunity to open a Lorna Jane or 2XU stockist here. And yet it does sit oddly with Bay Street's, and now Beach Street's, other obsession ... with pizza (although kudos to Crust Pizza for declaring the calorific content of their menu). Given the combination of disposable income and health interest, there's surely room for some more healthy eating-out options. The only one that really comes to mind is the legendary Hunky Dory, who surely sell much more rice than chips with their (mostly) grilled fish and, let's face it, do incredibly well for themselves as a result.

Fat?

This graffiti on the path alongside the tram tracks carries an intriguing message, especially in a suburb full of gyms. It's certainly effective as you cycle across it.

However it's a bit of a shame that the charity PETA, who are behind the vegetarian promotion (without, it has to be said, much in the way of support for the slimming suggestion) didn't use chalk or other degradable marking.

Health advice

Graffiti in Port Melbourne is almost exclusively of the low-skill tag piece variety which, given the high calibre of street art elsewhere in the city, is a shame. Personally I'm prepared to tolerate a little vandalism if it adds something constructive to the overall ambience of an area, which can't really be said of the scrawlings under the Graham Street overpass.

There is a stencil piece of Tony Abbot on the Beaconsfield Parade median which is at least topical, and the writing on the base of this telegraph pole on Stokes Street has a refreshingly witty edge.