Wonderfully Pretty

Wonderfully Pretty is a vintage & handmade market at 29th Apartment on Fitzroy St in St Kilda held the 2nd Monday night of each month
I'll be here for the September and October markets, 10th September and 8th October

If you're in the area pop in and say 'Hi' grab a cocktail and do a spot of shopping

See You in Hell

Tonight we dine in hell, well, Hell of the North anyway

Last year, what was a beer bar, Lambs Go Bar, was renovated to reopen as Hell of the North.  Also the name of the bike race in the north of France from Paris to Roubaix, named for the difficult roads it travels, this bistro/bar has been named for the difficulties faced working on a heritage listed building.

The owners also run the Rose St Market.  Whilst I had a stall there for a period last year jokes were thrown around that in keeping with the tradition of the previous name, Lambs Go Bar, the new bar should carry a name like Pirates Go Arg…  It seems they didn't think so :)

I met my three lovely friends I used to work with for a really fantastic dinner.

Spiced Cider to start although it was a tough choice between that or the buttered rum… next time!

The food is all based around sharing, and has a European style.

We shared a charcuterie plate to start with chicken liver parfait, mixed meats, pork terrin, and so much onion Jam, I LOVE onion jam!

For mains we had slow braised Ox cheek with Celeriac puree, Cassoulet and Mushroom Gnocchi with sides of Potato Dauphin and Brussel sprouts in honey and almonds.  The meat was rich and amazing, the gnocchi was like soft little pillows of potato - just what home made gnocchi should be!  I make it all the time as my grandma did so its a dish I find I am frequently disappointed with, but definitely not this time!

The food is rich so very filling, but even when feeling close to bursting it was so good I could always squeeze in a little more and as always, definitely desert!

We shared a caramel mousse with quince and sorbet and shortbread crumble.  

We had no problem finishing it!

I love this place!

Branches scatter the room with little birds sitting amongst them and they have an intimate function room and smoking area - everything has been thought of

I can't wait to walk thru the yellow door again for a night in Hell

A top hat is always somewhat extraordinary, of course!

Bring back top hats I say!
I went to the Espy last Friday to see a friends band, The Happy Endings play their last gig in Melbourne before their tour around some of Easton Europe, enjoy the sunshine boys
Following this was Dirt River Radio, with the most perfectly polished quiff I have seen in a long time!  There was a great crowd with a lot of foot tapping and a bit of a sing along

Dirt River Radio and the perfectly polished quiff

The Hellhounds, rock'n the espy with a top hat

Last on for the night was the Hellhounds with their style of Retro Blues Rock, and the most amazingest top hat!
I love to see hats being worn and worn well, but its been a while since I've seen a top hat out and about.  And this was done with extraordinary style.  The band were fantastic too, I'm not usually a big dancer, normally preferring to remain around the edges unless a large crowd is in attendance to blend amongst… I did however find myself displaying more than just a slight shake of my behind
Needless to say I bought their album from itunes the next day and have been enjoying it daily since.

We also had to pop our heads into the beautiful Gershwin room to check out the Bon Jovi tribute band.
Hilarious!
No offence to you Bon Jovi fans, we toned down our giggling after a few threatening looks from the die hard followers in front of the stage :)

One of the Radio Mexico cacti

Also making this icy winter weather warm and cosy, and I do mean icy ( I have learned my lesson about not wearing gloves while ridding around at 5.30 in the morning, the chilblains on my fingers are still going down! ouch!) is the new restaurant on Carlisle St, Radio Mexico.
Next door to the Galleon this little Mexican place is packed any night of the week.  Inside is warm and cosy but if you can only get a possi outside there's an open fire and blankets to snuggle under, rather romantic.
The taco's are a winner at $6 each, my favourites are the slow cooked pork and bean and the spicy pumpkin.  They come out of their own little taco truck like kitchen so the wait isn't long and you can order them as you go.
My friend Lib swears by the pork belly and the traditional style nachos are delicious!
Whilst coffee isn't yet available the spicy hot chocolate is a must, the thick, chocolaty goodness is well worth the $10 price tag.
I will be making many more visits thats for sure!

FRESAs

Don't forget to wear your gloves!!!

Goodbye 20's, Hello 30's

On Sunday I closed the door on the decade that was my 20's and stepped thru to start my 30's
My dirty 30's so I keep being told…

To celebrate I had dinner and drinks with my nearest and dearest at the Gem in Collingwood

Amazing pub food!

Thankyou to my lovely friends for making it such a fantastic night!  Was so nice to share the occasion with you all

           

Mussels

    

Saganaki and Buttermilk Chicken

Fish n Chips

Wagu Cheeseburger with onion rings and fries

As the night winds up

If you find yourself north of the river I cannot recommend the Gem highly enough for a meal.  If going on a night with a band get there early as it can get pretty packed.


Sunday my sister and her boyfriend made me an amazing birthday lunch, including a most delicious caramelised shallot tart tartan, ragu and her famous checkerboard cake

Birthday Roses

Desert selection

And what is a birthday without presents!
Thanks Mum and Dad for yet another pair of fabulous brogues

Ye Olde Yelza

Yelza Bar was a very cozy, homely little bar on Gertrude St I frequented quite often in my early 20's, all those years ago it now seems!
It had the most amazing courtyard filled with bamboo and other such tropical plants, and the front bar was scattered with vintage armchairs, elaborate gold mirrors and the most fantastic flocked wallpaper that was lick-able, not that I ever tried it….. ok maybe once after many bottles of stout!

Tonight I went back for the beautifully lovely Mollie, for her leap year Birthday!  A big celebration as Mollie is born on the 29th of Feb so can only really celebrate every leap year and this year is a leap year… not that that stopes anyone!

Yelza is now called Sentido Funf;  And whilst the wallpaper and vintage furniture are gone, it's still a very eclectic, cute little place to head to for a few drinks or to dance the night away in the now undercover courtyard and bar.

Nothing else left for the night but to crawl into bed with a wee dram of the most amazingest whisky in the world - Ardbeg of course, and post a few pictures for you:  

Happy Leap Year Birthday Mollie

Tropicalish plants still there, it was dark, you'll have to go see for yourself

Lights, lamps

and more lights

Front bar

You know I'm quite partial to a peacock

Mmmmmm….. Ardbeg!!!

The City Tiler

For my very good friend Rachel's birthday we went to one of the most romantic bars in Melbourne; The City Tiler.  If you zone out from the Australian accents of the patrons around you, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you were in a little bar somewhere in Seville
The City Tiler is located in the old 1860's courthouse on Bay St in Port Melbourne.  It's a tile shop selling hand made italian tiles by day, by night it's a heavily spanish influenced wine/jazz bar.

The food is mainly share plates and really delicious genuine home cooking with a little spanish Nonna running dishes out from the kitchen and stopping to have a laugh with everyone along the way.
And they have the most amazingly beautiful coffee machine I have ever seen!
In summer the courtyard is lovely with long share tables under the palm trees.
I highly recommend checking this place out, the attention to detail is really admirable, you can see that this is a labour of love for the owners, that they really care about the food they are serving you and that you are happy and having a good time
Rachel thankyou for a wonderful night!

Pascal and Rachel

The extremely impressive bull's head above the entrance

Heaps and heaps of candle light!