Innocent Bystander
Give into temptation! If you're peckish while in Healesville you should definitely visit Innocent Bystander. One of the first things you notice is that that the whole place has the comforting and friendly smell of freshly baked bread. Not overpoweringly so, but their bakery is definitely a core feature and it is evident in the air! Accordingly, we thought we'd start with and order of the fresh baguette with salumi and chose the Spanish cured pork leg from the many options. As we didn't have a ... Continue Reading
Steavenson Falls
The Steavenson Falls Reserve is a truly beautiful spot which is easy to access on a day trip from Melbourne. Gum trees, Beech trees and ferns soak in the spray as the water crashes down eighty-four metres into the picturesque Steavenson River valley below. The lush forest in this area is regenerating valiantly from the horrific fires of 2009, but the ghostly skeletons that were once trees still stand eerily like little white matchsticks on the hills in the distance - a lasting reminder of that ... Continue Reading
Senses Restaurant
Senses Restaurant, Templestowe, is a little treasure only a few minutes up the road. We happened to go there during a gorgeous sunset on one of the first warm days of spring so we took the opportunity to sit outside while we enjoyed our drinks and meals. First up we had the saganaki to share - but forgot to snap you a picture of that! This has happened with saganaki before! In any case it was very yummy. I ordered the garlic prawns... how very unlike me. ;) The prawns in question were ... Continue Reading
Sahara Moroccan Restaurant
Don't blink! It is too easy to walk straight past the inconspicuous magic door that leads upwards to (much) deliciousness high above Swanston Street in Melbourne! Sahara's Moroccan and Northern African cuisine is served amongst gorgeous tapestries, mirrors, stained-glass and lanterns on three levels. Overlooking the State Library, it feels tucked away but is really at the centre of everything at the same time. We only went to 'the kitchen' this time but look forward to trying out 'the bar' and ... Continue Reading
Fairfield Park Boathouse
Fairfield Park Boathouse is an iconic location where you can enjoy delicious meals and Devonshire Teas whilst revelling in the riverside atmosphere amongst the gum trees and the friendly ducks. We went there for a pre-wedding photoshoot for a gorgeous couple who will be tying the knot under our appreciative lenses next April. There was no way we were going to miss the opportunity to have some yummy tucker while on location. In fact... we went twice. Breakfast first - next the photoshoot - then ... Continue Reading
Maroush Lebanese Restaurant, Eltham
If she wants Thai and he wants Italian it can pay to 'split the difference' and go for Lebanese! It is a great midpoint between Asian spiciness and European heartiness. We were thrilled to bits with the delicious spread that Maroush Lebanese Restaurant served up to us in Eltham. The flavours popped, the herbs were fresh, and the seafood and meat were juicy. I ordered the Maroush Prawns. They were absolutely a 10/10 and I don't say that lightly! They were so aromatic and flavoursome. ... Continue Reading
Warran Glen Garden Centre & Cafe
Warran Glen's cafe is in a beautiful garden setting near the flowing Yarra River in Warrandyte. Tucked away amongst the tall gums, one could be forgiven for driving straight past! The smell of spring-just-around-the-corner was in the air when we took Ben's mum out for brunch on a brisk but pleasant Friday morning. . Scouring the brunch menu had Ben and his mother extremely tempted, but I was running just a little late. Gayle and Ben made sure they thoroughly sampled the coffee while ... Continue Reading
Top Paddock
Richmond, only a few minutes from Melbourne's CBD, is home to many places that will tickle your tastebuds. Top Paddock is amongst the cream of the crop - and they know it! They don't take bookings and are incredibly popular so you need to be prepared to wait. We waited for 45 minutes. Rather than physically standing in a line you can go and laze on the grass just across the side-street. Luckily the door-guy has a loud voice, you just need to ensure that you don't fall asleep in the sunshine... ... Continue Reading
Three Red Stripes, Doncaster
Whenever I eat Vietnamese food I always find the experience super fresh and super zingy. You can usually fill-up without feeling heavy... and if you do happen to feel like you're about to burst it is probably the delicious soup and healthy twists of lettuce and other greens that are filling you up! I have been so excited to find Phò (pronunced "Fur"!) popping up all around Melbourne recently. The meal we enjoyed at Three Red Stripes certianly impressed us. Phò is a type of Vietnamese ... Continue Reading
Barmah Park Cafe and Cellar Door
Sometimes you should just go for a drive and set aside time for a really, really good feed! Heading home from a Paws The Moment job on the Mornington Peninsula, we decided to visit a winery for a spot of lunch and a drink. We were so delighted with Barmah Park Cafe and Cellar Door! Utterly delicious!
He ate:
Slow roasted pork belly on a potato and celeriac puree with steamed greens, drizzled in an apple balsamic jus. She ate:
Quite a bit of his meal.
And also...
Smoked salmon ... Continue Reading
Three Monkeys Place
Three Monkeys Place in Doncaster serves scrumptious and healthy brekkies in a beautifully light and airy atmosphere. We went there for Ben's birthday with some friends and were delighted with the whole experience.
Among the dishes on our table there was...
"Wild Shroom" - a beautiful mushroom mix on grilled sourdough with feta, avocado, pickled onion and fresh rocket. "Sweet Monkey" - pancake-like roti with fresh mixed berries and banana, raspberry compote, mascarpone, maple syrup ... Continue Reading
Ionio Greek Restaurant
Ionio is a tasty Greek restaurant within Doncaster Westfield, up on the top floor near the cinemas. It can really hit the spot when you want lunch or dinner before a movie (or before the last leg of a major shopping mission). The dishes are hearty, tasty and arrive quickly. The views out over the distant city skyline are great, too, perfect to take in with the cold beverage of your choice. Just the right location to relax for a while in the middle of an otherwise hectic day! Saganaki. ... Continue Reading
Mörk Chocolate Brew House
Mörk's Brew House is an unmissbale new concept store and cafe in North Melbourne. It is ALL ABOUT the Chocolate - particularly the hot chocolate. The quality is unparalleled, the prices are unbelievable and the staff are knowledgable and passionate about all things cacao. 'Mörk' means 'dark' in Swedish and this company has been supplying Melbourne cafes for several years but made the leap this year and opened their own specialty store in the building of an old bakery. We arrived at a miracu... Continue Reading
Sydney Dance Company – Frame of Mind
Contemporary dance rejects the idea of rules and continually reinvents itself, pushing boundaries and testing limits. It can be such an exciting and enlivening art form and it always leaves me wanting more dance in my life. So - I was thrilled to be invited to a preview performance of Sydney Dance Company's 'Frame of Mind' at Southbank Theatre. They are a leading contemporary dance company on the world stage, with sixteen truly exceptional dancers. In the past they have collaborated with Toni ... Continue Reading
Zonzo Restaurant & Train Trak Winery
Zonzo, nestled in the Yarra Valley, is an award winning winery-restaurant and wedding venue. We decided to head there for lunch before photographing a wedding, and we were so glad that we did! We had such a lovely afternoon. We'd heard about Zonzo's wood-fired oven from a lot of people so we knew that the pizza was going to be special, but the other dishes really took us by surprise. We shared two mains for a more than reasonable $24 and $29 respectively: "Gnocchi al burro e salvia" - ... Continue Reading
T2 AUTUMN EDITION TEA WORKSHOP
Tea is one of those delightful things in life that can be as complex or as simple as you require. The humble tea-bag is up there with sliced bread as one of the 'best things' ever invented for those of us after a quick-fix. On the other hand, putting time and care into a careful, intricate brew or even a traditional tea ceremony can manifestly add to the richness of our visceral human experience. Tea can also be responsive to our needs. It can warm us in winter, cool us in summer, calm us at ... Continue Reading
Weekend Getaway at Wilson’s Prom
Why Wilson's Prom?
Wilson's Prom is only 2 or 3 hours from Melbourne but it feels like another world. We arrived after dark and were blown away by the number of roos, wallabies and wombats we saw grazing along the side of the road in the few km between the entry to the Wilson's Promontory proper and the Tidal River camp... perhaps 20 of each at the very least! Fortunately, there is decadent mobile reception our gorgeous friends were able to guide us to the camp site we were sharing with them. ... Continue Reading
Apple Watch Delivery Day
I wasn't expecting a package today. The dog barked twice before I realised that our door bell was ringing - at the opposite end of the house. I raced up the stairs and hurtled along the corridor to see the receding silhouette of a yellow high-vis vest through the opaque glass. The door was dead locked. I hammered on it and yelled "WAIT! COME BACK! I NEED TO GET MY KEYS!" Two more steps and the delivery guy would have been in his car and I wouldn't have heard from them again until Monday. (I'm ... Continue Reading
Apple Watch Time!
Regrettably for my ego, in retrospect I wasn't alone in dreaming of a smart-watch as a kid. Same goes for 3D goggles, jet-packs and human-to-animal translation software - virtually no ideas are new ideas! It can be a bit of a shock for little ones when it first dawns on them that even their most weird and wonderful imaginings have already passed through the mind of somebody else... it's just a matter of probability and statistics. (I, for instance, "invented" the chaise-longue at the tender age ... Continue Reading
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing has stood the test of time and proven itself to be one of those stories that never gets old. Sure, it was partly the undeniable chemistry between Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze that got us all a bit giggly (have you seen their screentest??) but with any cast it ticks a lot of boxes. There's simply a raft of themes that so many of us connect with - it's just too easy to like! Coming of age. First love. Secrets, betrayal and confessions. Accusation and exoneration. It's all ... Continue Reading