A Gastronomical Voyage in Melbourne: Lifestyle

Wedding Season 2007

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:37:40 GMT

Our weekends recently seem to be filled with activities to do with other people’s weddings. Apart from celebrations, it’s always nice to catch up with old friends and getting to know new people at these events. But one of my pet grieves is be preached at at church ceremonies… The Ministers always have a way of sneaking in a sermon or two.

The Wedding Season started off in February for us this year, with a lime and white themed modern wedding at Zinc – Federation Square. Then M went off to Singapore for the second wedding of the couple and came back with a cold…Since then there has been three engagements announced, including my sister’s.

Saturday late afternoon, the season continued with a cocktail making course at The Botanical as part of a girlfriend’s Hen’s Night. With loose guidance and written instructions, we made Bellinis, Cosmopolitans, and Mojitos. Practice makes perfect.. lucky we had canapés! It was a lot of fun, and I would recommend it for any girls’ get-together.

While we praised the oysters to our instructor, we were informed that The Botanical has an annual event called the Oyster Frenzy during Oyster Season in May. I had a look at The Botanical’s website and it’s on 28^th May this year. You pay a cover charge of $65 and it’s all you can drink for three hours and all you can eat oysters from 6:30 to 9:30pm in the Main Bar area. There is only 200 tickets… so get your hands on them quick!

The weekend ended with a warm and emotional ceremony for another couple at St John’s Church in Heidelberg followed by a Teal & Damask Rose wedding at The Dining Room, Flemington Race Course. As part of a trio, they had Persian pink fairy floss on a spoon of violet crumble ice cream for dessert. That was soo delicious, I think I will go and get some!

In between the ceremony and the reception, we conveniently popped into Leo’s to do our groceries. Don’t get to go to Leo’s very often because of their locations (Kew and Heidelberg), so every time we do it’s a treat.

I’m really excited about this week’s wedding. It’s going to be in the Dandenong Ranges… Something out of the ordinary.

A Fortnight in the Life of...

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 04:04:33 GMT

This is not a restaurant review, unfortunately I haven’t really gone out to eat anything remarkable and/or new lately. Too much going on at the moment.. getting my health and fitness back into gear…

I came across the Dr Joshi 21 days Detox program in either the Elle or Cosmopolitan magazine, and decided that it was time to detox my body after the excessive indulgence during the Christmas and New Year Break. I thought I had better detox before the onslaught of the Chinese New Year festivities. I was 10 days into the program until last Friday when I gave up and had a sip of red wine, followed by a bottle of Domaine Chandon shared with friends by the pool on Sunday. The alcohol just went straight to my head and I suffered during Sunday dinner at The Tea House. I give up!

Saturday night we had a wonderful home made meal at M’s parents place, where we had Peking Duck, Steamed Ginger Lobster on Egg Noodles, and Abalone with Chinese broccoli. However, I didn’t eat much of it because I wasn’t that hungry. I’ve been taking this Chinese Herb capsules called “Zhen De Shou” to help me lose 5kg – 8kg… The capsules makes your mouth very dry, your mind very active even at night in the first week, lessen your hunger and sometimes you can feel your heart beat faster. So I don’t take it when I’m planning to do hardcore aerobics, like Body Combat.

My colleague recommended it to me as it was working for her and her friend. I’ve lost 2kg so far after 10 days. I don’t know if it is purely due to that or because of the detox that I started, or because of the aerobic exercise that I have started at leas twice a week. Probably a combination of all the above.

So I’ve been very careful with my eating habits lately…. Watching what I eat.. I’ve cut down on the red meats, wheat, gluten and dairy intake. It’s not too bad I’m not craving anything, except for koko black.

Weather in Melbourne has been extremely hot as well.. which makes me so tired that I don’t want to eat or move. The aerobics has also made me really tired at night and grumpy as well. Don’t be alarmed though, I am eating! Yesterday, with my cousin down from Adelaide and Dad down from Hong Kong, we had another Chinese New Year family “celebration” at eZard. I forgot that Teage eZard was in Hong Kong, otherwise I would have suggested something else. I was disappointed with my wagyu… but everyone else seemed to like their meals.

Before the meal, we wanted to order a white wine to go with our dishes, when I came across a list of Chablis wines on the wine list. Now this is not the first time that I have come across this type of wine. Strangely enough, it was through a Youtube video of Gackt (a Japanese Singer) on a Japanese TV show that I first came across it. Apparently, it is a variety of Chardonnay produced in the town of Chablis in France. Tempted to try it but at more than $50, and being not familiar with the texture and taste of this wine, I decided to have a bottle of a French Chenin Blanc instead. It was a nice light drop.

This Friday, we’re going to Westlake Chinese Restaurant in the city to have its $539 10 course Chinese New Year Banquet with a bunch of friends. We went for a simple dinner last Tuesday and thought the food was not so good… although yum-cha is always good there. Well hope dinner will be good!

Wilson's Dilemma

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 03:31:10 GMT

Where in Melbourne is there wonton noodle soup like the ones you eat in dodgy little cafes in Hong Kong???

Look forward to any suggestions.

Dromana Weekend

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:23:41 GMT

Weekend away in Country Victoria is always great. This time, we went to
Dromana for the first time, staying at our friend's holiday home 15
minutes from the clear waters.

After cherry picking in Red Hill, we went to Red Hill Cheese for goat
and cow cheese tasting. (I bought some cheese for my Christmas Potluck
party this weekend). From $5 you can get a cheese sample of about 8
different Red Hill cheeses. Interesting enough, most of us ended up
liking the stronger flavoured goat cheeses.

After the lovely savouries, we went to have proper lunch at Montalto
Vineyard and Olive Grove... Unfortunately for us the restaurant was
fully booked, so we settled for the beautiful Piazza and Garden Cafe in
the hot summer sun. Their menu is very interesting and simple. The
camembert and caramelised onion tarts were just melt in your mouth
magnificent. M said that the calzone was not bad as well... Such a lazy
afternoon.... drinking beer and eating a feast!

Their wine is not bad too. I bought two of the 2006 Montalto Pinot Noir,
and one of the 2005 Pennon Hill "Late Harvest" Riesling sticky.

Judging by their website, the Restaurant should definitely be worth a
try!

Montalto Vineyard &
Olive Grove

33 Shoreham Road
Red Hill South
Victoria 3937
Australia
Melways Ref 256 B2

Phone +61 3 5989 8412
Fax +61 3 5989 8417

Good Weekend

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:56:45 GMT

I had a really lovely weekend doing various girlie things when M was
away in Sydney for golf. Earlier in our relationship, I've struggled a
bit to keep myself happily occupied while he played golf on the
weekends, but I think I've got the hang of it now.

My colleague took me to the Peonies of Romswood up in Kerrie, north of
Melbourne. We got there about 11am and were greeted by fields of white,
rosy, electric pink coloured peonies. Apparently the red peonies had
bloomed already and we were just there at the right time to see the
rest. After strolling around the fields taken photos, we sat down under
the pine trees for a little seminar about peonies.

I was adamant that I would get some peonies potted for my balcony even
though I was told that they are not as hardy as pot plants :P I will try
my best.

After the peonies, we went up to the Memorial Cross at Mt Macedon for a
light lunch. Although it was cloudy you get a sense that the view would
be spectacular. I had their seasonal vegetable and pea soup with Turkish
bread. Flavoursome but a little bit on the salty side.

After that we strolled to the Memorial Cross to have a look. J couldn't
believe that I had never been there before. ;)

Heading back home, we stopped by a Winery / Garden store to pick up some
ceramic pots for the peonies. I forgot that I needed soil - doop!

Saturday night had a Farewell / Housewarming BBQ down in Hawthorn East
and got entertained by people playing twisters.. Hilarious. At the BBQ,
my favourite the Cajun chicken.. hmm got to have that for my BBQ!

Sunday, got into the city to do some shopping, then headed off to
Westlake Chinese Restaurant for some yum cha with Yuki. I was a bit late
so she had to queue up for us :P After that we did more shopping and
went in search of Sake Bar Kura. Unfortunately it wasn't opened so we
headed off to Transport Hote, Fed Square for some delicious and
inexpensive pub dinner. $34 bought us two Asahi draft, deep-fried beer
battered calamari salad and pesto baked salmon steak with sweet potato
and steamed cauliflower and broccoli. We finished everything!! And sat
chatting while the sun set on the Yarra.

OH yeah before that we visited the Yann Arthus-Bertrand's "Earth from
Above" exhibition - so moving! I wanted to get the book but it was pass
7pm and the store was closed.. Have to go there tonight to get a copy...