Breakfast with Italians in Melbourne - Eat Ate by Guy Mirabella
on Nov 15, 2009 in Italy Cookbooks I love the fact that I can have what would reasonably be described as a surfeit of cookbooks and yet there are still new wonderful cooks and chefs to discover. In this instance, it is a cook called Guy Mirabella, who runs a cafe just an hour to the s...

Australiana to sit on
on Nov 12, 2009 in Melbourne Bars Design and Decor Australia has a noble heritage of kitsch. This runs in a long line from giant objects (mostly in Queensland - what is it about Queenslanders and their large food objects?):To tea towels:(Image: melb-opshopping.blogspot.com)To Dame Edna Everage. Bu...

Forget them not
on Nov 10, 2009 in Life matters Today is Remembrance Day. 91 years since the end of the Great War. 70 years since the beginning of World War 2. 75 years since the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne was completed. Suffer dishonour and disgrace but never resort to arms. Be bullied, b...

Spice World
on Nov 8, 2009 in Magical places Elizabeth David Bali Cookbooks Nigella Lawson I have been rereading Elizabeth David's eccentric little tome 'Spices Salt and Aromatics in the English kitchen'. It is a short book, which reviews spices in the English kitchen, their use for preserves and pickles, the Indian influence in England an...

To Russia with love
on Nov 3, 2009 in Craft Russia History I have just bought these three little dolls for my daughter. They are made by the very talented Lisa Tilse (check out The Red Thread).They remind me of babushka dolls, and Daisy looks just like a little Red Riding Hood. Everywhere I look at the momen...

Melbourne Cup Special
on Nov 1, 2009 in Holidays and celebrations Opinionated Happy Day before Melbourne Cup day to you all. The above photo is an accurate representation of the remains of a day out racing at Flemington. Champagne, prawns and strawberries. Chicken sandwiches and very sore feet. The top photo epitomises the ele...

Tracing the Wall Flower
on Oct 29, 2009 in Design and Decor Fabric and Patterns Are you the kind of person who always picks out the most expensive fabric, pair of jeans, earrings, wine, shoes, chair, rug or painting even before you know the price? I am that person. This could be characterised as either innate good taste, or su...

Restaurant Inspiration - Mr Wolf and Tree Wallpaper
on Oct 27, 2009 in Wallpaper Karen Martini Melbourne restaurants Fabric and Patterns Today - Mr Wolf, a pizza restaurant in Inkerman Street St Kilda. But so much more than just a pizza joint. It welcomes children and casts no frowny looks towards crumbs on the ground. And believe me, with little children, that attitude is worth its w...

Serendipity and Raw Fish
on Oct 25, 2009 in Cookbooks Home entrances The other day a lovely surprise was delivered to me through the front door:From Kristine, whom I have actually known since university and noticed from my cookbook rants on this blog that I love to cook and so generously gave me this signed copy of Te...

Paintings in the Kitchen
on Oct 22, 2009 in Kitchens Design and Decor Art By kitchen art I don't mean the scribbles we stick on the fridge, or our daughter's latest take on Sleeping Beauty's puffed sleeves and pouty lips but real art. When I was little my parents had a huge oil canvas hanging over our kitchen dining table.