Thursday 29 November 2012

Melbourne Central Fashion Show

You know what I love most about Melbourne? It's the fact that no matter where you look there's always something exciting going on. This was perfectly demonstrated when, on Wednesday night, I was casually walking through Melbourne Central and all of a sudden found myself walking through a set of black curtains, into a world of white, to watch a holligraphic fashion show. As you do.

The show in question was to celebrate the launch of the new Melbourne Central app, for iPhones and Androids. It offers users full availability to the Melbourne Central directory (so you don't have to stand at those big awkward screens looking like a tourist), including maps, store locator and it can even remind you where you parked your car. How convenient!

As soon as I walked through the curtains surrounding the show I felt as though I had fallen down the Rabbit's hole in Alice in Wonderland. Everything was white, with pretty garden chairs set up in front of the stage, waiters in suits baring trays of Verve champagne and freshly popped popcorn in cute pink boxes. The show itself was pretty cool. I won't lie, when I heard the term 'holographic fashion show' I had an image in my head of a group of people wearing 3D glasses squinting awkwardly at moving figures which may, or may not be, models. However I was most pleasantly surprised to find the show both unique and interesting. There were designers featured such as Karen Millen, Alannah Hill and Thurley and each piece was holographically enhanced with effects. At one point a model was on the stage with two copies of herself...and what could be better than three Karen Millen dresses at the same time instead of one!

It's this kind of random spontaneity that I love about Melbourne; a pop up fashion show here, a taco truck there...I think Melburnian's have a right to be the happiest people anywhere.










Tuesday 27 November 2012

Would You Like Meatballs With That?

So we've all heard of the term 'amazeballs', but what if I were to tell you that I've actually discovered some amazing balls (please don't stop reading...I promise this post isn't going to turn into the literary version if The Porn Identity, or anything). The newest American inspired food trend (after Mexican, burgers, hotdogs, BBQ meat and retro American-style diners) has hit our shores in the circular form of meatballs, and damn are these some good balls! Just the other night I set out to discover for myself the hype that has been created by one, The Meatball and Wine Bar, located on Melbourne's Flinders Lane. I have to say, though looking forward to it, I wasn't expecting anything fantastic...that's usually the case when it comes to balls. Meatballs that is.

My dining companion and I were greeted by exceptionally friendly staff, who informed us it would be around a 40 minute wait (ie. if you're in a rush then perhaps you need to sauce your balls elsewhere. SAUCE! GEDDIT?!), but I promise the wait is definitely worth it. The menu is simple (as well as appropriately witty) and broken up into a section with cured meats and mozzarella boards, a sliders and 'heroes' section (essentially your meatballs in burgers or a sub), and then there's my personal favorite the Balls and All option. This choice allows you to select your balls of either beef, pork, chicken, market fish or vegetable, then your sauce, perhaps tomato, pesto...or perhaps you'd prefer white sauce on your balls? (Sorry, couldn't resist). And to finish up you can select your base of beans, homemade pasta, creamy polenta or greens. My companion selected the special of spaghetti with veal, pork and beef balls in a delicious tomato sauce and I opted for the vege balls on beans with tomato sauce. And of course you couldn't have the Meatball and Wine bar without the Vino! We had some great wines by the glass, as well as good cider and beer.

The whole atmosphere of this place is relaxed and chilled out...in a way it reflects the ethos of the food. Simple flavors done well. So jump on the band wagon (ball wagon?) if you have a craving that only balls can satisfy, this is the place for you! And if your not satisfied you can always head down to St Kilda Road afterwards for satisfying balls...











Friday 23 November 2012

Where?House

An old dilapidated heritage building for the festival venue, cool pop up retro markets, music on trams and cheap tickets to rave parties. 'What is this amazing festival?', I hear you ask. Why, the Melbourne Music Festival if course!

Running from the 16th of November to the 25th of November, this ten day annual festival has taken over the city with a program of imaginative events dedicated to celebrating our city's world famous music scene. The center (or 'hub', if you will) of the festival is located in the somewhat crumbling heritage listed Argus Building (nicknamed 'Where?house' for the festival), on the corner of Elizabeth and LaTrobe street in Melbourne's CBD. The hub is open every day from 11am-8pm and features lunch and dinner service from some of Melbourne's most iconic food traders as well as hosting installations, interactive and immersive experiences. By night, the space has been the venue for performances from the likes of Safari, Raw Prawn, Radio Slave, PillowTalk, A13 and DJ Madd, as well as shows occurring at random pop up points throughout the city.

Last night I went to investigate what this Where?house was all about, and let me tell you, I don't think I've ever seen a cooler or more Melbourne-appropriate venue, like, ever. With it's bare and exposed walls, factory fit out and, er, lack of roof (I'm not even joking, this place is actually sans roof) it's almost like this place was built for it's party purpose. Hipsters eat your hearts out. The space was buzzing, with a rave party getting started on the ground floor, while upstairs (where there's no entry fee. winning!) people were chilling out, having a few beers and sampling dishes served from Touchè Hombre, Huxtaburger and I Love Pho. There's also a Retro Market set up in the corner, just in case after your sixth cider you decide it's a good idea to buy yourself an oversized fax fur coat. Hey, I almost did.

So run down and check it out my music loving Melbourne friends, there's only a few more chances to jump in on the action! Sip on some ciders, listen to some great beats, have a browse through the market stalls and raise the roof at a rave party. Well, metaphorically of course...











Thursday 22 November 2012

20 & 6, Don't Worry, It's Not A Math Question...It's Way Better

If you live in Melbourne, chances are you've been to at least one quirky and kinda hipster cafe...unless your some kind of coffee hating, non-brunch eating freak. In which case, get out of my city. So, the big question is, when we're so completely spoilt for choice in a place where good coffee runs as freely as hippies on a nudist beach, how do we find the ones that have really nailed it? The ones who've ticked all the boxes in terms of coffee, food, ambiance and adequately hipster staff. The unassuming little cafe, 20 & 6, tucked away on Queensberry Street in North Melbourne, has been on my radar for a while and definitely ticks all my boxes.

The first thing I love about 20 & 6 is the layout. It may be small but it's open and light, with cute (though quite random-an elephant?) little drawings on the walls. The second thing I love about this place is the coffee, served in powder blue cups which match the Marzocco machine. Of course it's not all just about good looks when it comes to the coffee here, the Proud Mary beans make certain of that! And the third thing that makes me want to camp outside this place in a sleeping bag every night (just to make sure I get a table of course) is the menu. It's not huge, but the dishes are so very well put together and awesomely presented. When I went we had the insanely good cold smoked salmon omelette with braised leeks, fennel salad and beetroot purée, as well as the delicious muesli with orange blossom yogurt and jammy fruit compote. There was even an orchid on the muesli. AN ORCHID!

That seems to be the thing about 20 & 6 that makes it so special. It's the attention to detail, the flower on your breakfast, the matching of the coffee cups with the machine, the perfect 60 degree latte. So, when you're out and about and you're looking for a great cafe, try out 20 & 6. I guarantee it'll convert any coffee hating, non-brunch eater. And if it doesn't...then seriously, leave now.












Wednesday 21 November 2012

Melbourne Music Festival Tram Session Jam

I had the weirdest dream the other night. Paul Kelly was serenading me on a tram and there was a conductor in a funny uniform, then I ended up in this crazy after party in a basement where there was this artist painting a mural and there were these great bands playing! It was so cool! Oh wait, that actually happened...

I do quite regularly have strange dreams (though they usually involve a topless Ryan Gosling on a sailing boat), however on Monday night I was lucky enough to experience the dream-like, though very real, 'Tram Sessions Mass Jam', occurring as part of the Melbourne Music Festival. The concept was simple really. Good vibes, good times and, of course, good music, all crammed into one little Melbourne tram. The evening began at the cafe Kinfolk, where guests were greeted by an array of beverages (served by some incredably talented volunteers, including yours truly) before the first act, Tiger and Me, performed in a Bourke Street Laneway. From there, they jumped on the delegated party tram and listened to the acoustic sounds of Bonjah as they cruised past Docklands and the Flagstaff Gardens. Luckily, my duties as a volunteer were relatively short lived, so we pulled a sneaky and boarded the tram with everyone else. This was a good move as who should hop on the tram at the next stop but Melbourne icon Paul Kelly, accompanied by nephew Daniel Kelly. Ever so cool, if not a little squished (we were on a tram after all), Paul launched into songs from the album Spring and Fall and we heard songs like, one of my personal favourites, Little Aches and Pains. To finish up as the tram rolled past Southern Cross Station, we were serenaded by the song From Little Things Big Things Grow, with Bonjah accompanying, and the whole tram singing along in the chorus. To be honest the whole experience was a bit surreal. To be on a tram, just ten feet from Paul Kelly...it was awesome, unbelievable and so very, very Melbourne all at once.

After hopping off the tram we all headed down to the basement of Donkey Wheel House, where there was an after party already in full swing. The huge, concrete space was the perfect location for the crowd to listen to bands like Mixed Melody, The Pearce Brothers and, once again, Bonjah. The whole vibe was one of a chilled out contentedness as the guests sipped on their Mountain Goat cidar and Steam Ale, watched a local artist create a piece before their very eyes, and listened to music, which quite frankly, rocked.

All in all it was a fantastic night, an experienced that encapsulated Melbourne to a tee. And you know what? I think I'd go for a real world Tram Sessions Party over a dream about Ryan Gosling any day.









Monday 19 November 2012

The Day I Got Hoodwinked By Some Glass Doors And Found Myself In Zimmermann...

We've all been there haven't we? When your walking down a street in good old Melbourne town, perfectly content and minding your own business, when suddenly out if nowhere, BAM! You see the shiny doors doors of a high end boutique glimmering innocently at you in the sunlight. 'Come in, you can trust us', they seem to say, 'We promise we won't make you buy anything'. LIES AND SLANDER I TELL YOU!! Before you know it you'll be walking through those sneaky, sneaky doors, that are surrounded by beautiful shop windows with wonderfully dressed, though very plastic looking, mannequins and you've as good as sold your soul. You're beyond all help.

This happened to me just the other day as I was, quite harmlessly, making my way through GPO, when suddenly the doors of Zimmermann beckoned me with their innocent little smile...well, not so much smile, but you get me. 'Maybe just one peek in?', I thought to myself. 'What harm could it do, really?' A rookie mistake if ever I've made one. So filled with the pretty pastels, florals and patterns of the Spring Summer collection was the shop, I had to stop myself from buying everything. I was especially taken with the Lotus Lace Back Drape Dress, the Lotus Silk One Shoulder Dress and the Lotus Tiger Strapless Dress. I was so taken, in fact, that the shop assistant asked me politely to stop smelling the dresses.

Anyway! If you have some dosh to spend, unlike yours truly, then what better way to spend it than on a beautiful Summer dress that you'll probably wear to death. Just remember my fellow shoppers, Rule Number One: Never listen to those shiny doors and enter a ridonkulously expensive shop if you can't afford it and Rule Number Two: If rule number one was ignored, well, I can't help you with that one...because ill probably be in the corner smelling the dresses.


Lotus Lace Back Drape Dress The Lotus Lace Back Drape Dress
 
Lotus Tiger Strapless Dress
 
The Lotus Tiger Strapless Dress


The Lotus Silk One Shoulder Dress
 
 

Friday 16 November 2012

On a High After a Colour Injection From Emily Green

I don't know about you guys, but I am most certainly feeling a little grey due to our rather lackluster Melbourne Spring weather. But then I discovered Melbourne based designer Emily Green, who makes jewellery more colourful and feel good than episodes of The Care Bears and My Little Pony put together! Not that I would know how colorful either of these shows are. As I don't watch them....yes.

I digress! All of Emily Green's pieces are lovingly designed and carefully created in Melbourne's CBD and you can expect the highest of quality. The accessories explore bold colours and chaotic geometric shapes as well as softer water colour tones and more organic styles, so there really is something for everyone. One if my very favorite things about discovering a cool Melbourne based designer is seeing how this city inspires their work, for example Emily Green reflects the aesthetics of the inner North within her own, and how it varies from one designer to the next.

I know this is Melbourne and we're all 'black this, and black that', but really, we all need a bit of colour in our lives and that's why I love this assorted 18 bead necklace. It's fun, bright and best of all completely unique. Yup, each one is strung with a different array of coloured beads, making them entirely individual.




Another one of my favourite pieces from this Oh So Vibrant designer is the water colour silk scarves that are so perfectly delicate I wish I could just cocoon myself up in one and relish in it's softness. Or, alternately, you could just be normal and wear it around your neck! Both are good choices really. With it's pretty splotches of pastel colours you really can wear it with anything.




So, if you feel like you need a little something to brighten your life (and a kitten isn't readily available), then check out some Emily Green accessories. I garentee nothing will put a bigger smile on your face...except maybe back to back episodes of My Little Pony.

Thursday 15 November 2012

Scintillating Scintilant

Awesome designs? Check. Great location? You bet. And free flowing wine? Tick. Well, not so much a tick, more a sort of squiggle after five or six glasses, but you get the idea.  Once again the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) students of RMIT University have rocked their pieces in the end of year fashion show. When I found out about the show to be presented by the second and third year students (otherwise known as the group CaliCo.), I scooped up tickets faster than you can say, 'why yes, I would love a years supply of free chocolate ice cream', and I was most definitely impressed by what I saw.


The night was split into two shows, Scintillant (which I attended) and Atramentous, with both occurring in the basement of Bourke Street's heritage listed building Donkey Wheel House. The basement was the perfect location for the show, with the dark, factory-like interior matching the clothes coming down the runway perfectly. The models too were well matched to the surroundings as well as the designs they flaunted, with their hair up in a statement top knot on the front of their heads and eye make up that was red, almost a  little disconcerting, yet still maintained a sense if earthiness.



 Of course I knew that some of my own special dressing would be required for the evening. Something a little different and edgy, but nothing...you know, weird. So I chose my silver River Island skirt with a cheeky slit (though not half as cheeky as some of the models'), my favourite new goats hair clutch by Back Stage, a little red vintage jacket I aquired on Smith Street and to top it off a chunky black statement necklace. The whole outfit worked perfectly and I felt right at home in my basement surroundings. 



And now, to the most important aspect of the night! The student's fashion. These were the kind of clothes that make you turn your head, look twice and, not only question certain rules of fashion, but make you wonder whether there are any rules at all. If I could sum up the designs that I saw last night in one word (though trust me, I could probably write a thesis), it would be 'edgy'. There was lots of draping, slits, cuts and zips in the most unexpected places and there was androgyny in so many of the designs that the lines between masculine and feminine were, not only blurred, but no longer existed. It's like the audience had been taken down some kind of dark and twisted rabbit hole and landed hard on their backsides in a parallel universe where men were women and the models looked about ready to take a bite out of you. Honestly, these are the sorts of clothes that could change your whole perception of fashion. I found some pieces to be almost toeing the line of controversial, with faint suggestions of the burqa, as well as some showing experimentation in the area of clothing with S and M tendencies.








 The dictionary describes the word 'scintillating' as brilliantly clever, witty or animated, and this fashion show was exactly that. The whole show was captivating and intriguing from start to finish and by golly, if these students aren't brilliantly clever, then I don't know who is!



Monday 12 November 2012

Full On Fur

From what you've seen so far, you can probably tell that I'm a little obsessed with anything that's big (I don't care what people say, size does matter), bold or statement. So when I saw this goats hair and leather clutch by Back Stage, featured in pictures on Raww Blog, I knew it had to be mine. I love accessories that are interesting and make an outfit something special and this bag certainly makes no apologies for itself. In fact, it seems to scream 'I'M A BIG FLUFFY CLUTCH, WHAT OF IT?!' *insert slightly gangster voice here* (yeah, I often give my wardrobe items personalities. Problem?). I wasn't even put off when my brother described it as an 'Emo Elmo'...not that I usually take heed of his fashion advice because he has the sartorial sense of someone who lives in a bin. Anyway, I cannot wait to work this Not So Little clutch into my wardrobe repertoire, it'll take some guts to wear, but I'm sure I can handle a goat or two.

Saturday 10 November 2012

Vue From The Top

When people imagine what it would be like to ascend to heaven, they usually imagine a whole lot of bright gold light and an old guy with a beard and loin cloth. But as I watched the shiny doors of Vue De Monde's private lift slide open, I knew that I had found my heaven...55 floors above the city. Now, for those of you who know me personally, you'll know that i'm not a particularly 'gushy' type of person, (unless cute Asian babies are involved, but I can't really be blamed for that one) however, I may need to ask for forgiveness as I feel like I'll be gushing so much in this post you'll think a fire hydrant exploded in your house. I suppose the short version of the story is that I have been waiting to eat at Shannon Bennett's restaurant, Vue De Monde, ever scince I read about it's move (it was originally located in Carlton) to Melbourne's iconic Rialto building in 2011. Shannon Bennett is one of the world's most acclaimed chefs and his Vue De Monde has been awarded an unprecedented 19/20 in the Melbourne Good Food Guide and been repeatedly named Australia's restaurant of the year. After my dinning experience, I can see why.

My dining companion and I began our night in Vue De Monde's Lui Bar, situated just next to the restaurant. The atmosphere was fantastic with dim lights, old world couches and a view of Melbourne's lights spread out and shimmering before us. I realised that even the drinks here were a cut above your typical mustard (that's not to say that there was mustard in my cocktail...that would be gross) when I watched the cool as a cucumber bar tender pour ammoretto scented dry ice over my champagne, gin and muddled mandarine cocktail. From here we were escorted by a particularly friendly waitress into the dinning room, which is surely a sight to behold, and it is immediately apparent that no expense has been spared in the design. Dotted around the room are kangaroo hide covered tables paired with leather and kangaroo fur covered chairs, specially designed lights, the most extensive open view kitchen I have ever seen and, of course, that view. I really could go on forever, but as you probably want to be finished reading by Christmas, I shall spare you the super long descriptions.






We were escorted to, in our opinion, the table with the best view (though I bet everone says that) and there we were greeted by course upon course of the best food I have ever tasted. But actually, no joke. Each dish was superior to anything I had ever eaten and had a complexity that I never knew could exist within one mouthful. We began with some appetisers, my favourites being a salt cured wallaby carpaccio with herb emulsion and a delicate wild garlic flower and the absolutely mind blowing smoked eel wrapped in a crunchy white chocolate coating topped with black caviar. Oh yes. So wrong, but I promise you, so very very right. As the night progressed, it became clear that Shannon Bennet was not afraid to push the boundaries of his food and allow the diner to enjoy flavour combinations that one could never even contemplate. It's like he's a food wizard (a Dumbledore of sorts, if you will) who can balance taste and texture like no one else. The whole idea seems to be to completely immerse the guest in their dining experience, whether that be through taste touch sight or smell...or perhaps all of the above.

A dish (perhaps one of my very favourites of the whole evening) that you could describe as almost interactive, was the roasted marron tail with tarragon butter, a crunchy marron 'sandwhich' and marron powder. We recieved none of that specially sourced French silver cutlery for this dish and instead were instructed to eat with our hands. The flavours of the dish were so impeccably matched, with nothing over-powering the perfectly cooked and buttery marron tail. Another dish that required a bit of work on our part was a delicate little palate cleanser (warning: the palate clensers are not actually classified as part of the ten course degustation, nor are the appetizers at the beginning of the meal nor the petite fours after dessert. I therefore urge you to consume your food with caution and, for god's sake, do not fill up on bread). Dry ice was poured over fine micro-herbs which we then had to crush with a pestle (or the mortar...I can never remember which is which), before it was topped with a cooling cucumber sorbet. The overall effect was soothing as well as impressive in terms of the performance that was required of the dish.

Our first course of spanner crab with kohlrabi, avacado mousse and beach herbs


The incredible marron tail

This could be said about quite a few of the other dishes, and may I say that our absolutely incredible waiter for the evening performed spectacularly. He was so amazing that by the end of the night my companion and I were arguing over which of us was going to have his babies. I maintain that it shall be me. A dish that was exceptionally memorable was the 'Melbourne Onion Soup' which was  brought to our table in an old school coffee siphon. We watched the rich looking liquid that had been cooking for 48 hours be sucked into the top compartment of the siphon before being poured over our bowls containing roast onions, croutons and a rich cream. Let me tell you, this was no ordinary onion soup. I was left baffled and wondering how so much flavour could be imparted into a liquid that, on the surface, seemed so simple. Another dish that allowed us to see the level of dedication, not only in the food, but also in the service of the oh so attentive wait staff, was the roast pigeon with artichoke, mushrooms and parsley puree. Here, our waiter brought out a glass cloche, billowing with smoke, from which he decanted the tiny little legs of the pigeon which he announced had been smoked with hay. For those who would wrinkle their nose at the idea of eating the 'rats of the sky', I urge you to reconsider. This dish was awesome. It was so earthy and the best way I can describe it is of tasting like a forest...but, you know, less dirty and stuff. And then....oh, and then there was the beef cheek accompanied by beef tender loin. So taken was my partner with this dish that I was worried I would have to perform some kind of resuscitation, which would not have gone well (given I didn't even know how to spell resuscitation and just had to google it). Placed before us was a dish with shavings of beetroot, a gorgeous creamy pear puree, grated braised beetroot (grated over our plates at the table, of course!) and a large spoonful of the most incredible beef cheek. Of. My. Life. So tender and soft was this meat it actually made my knees go weak. The tender loin, which was cooked impeccably, was seared on a mini grill in front of us and then placed upon our plates by our diligent waiter. All in all, after this dish I could have died a happy blogger.

The 'Melbourne Onion Soup'


A 'gift dish' from Shannon Bennett of barramundi glazed in smoked bone marrow, prawn, herbs and wild garlic foam

Our selection of French cheeses with accompaniments

But perhaps not, at least, before we sampled our desserts (thats right, plural. Because the 8 dishes, including the cheese course and our special extra dish we recieved from Shannon as a 'gift', we had eaten before this were not enough). We began the sweet aspect of the meal with a classic combination of 'beer and nuts', though obviously, I had never had beer or nuts such as these before. In a small shot glass was a sweet passion fruit and liquorice liquid which was partnered by a tiny little ball of coconut sorbet rolled in toasted shavings of coconut. Then it was on to our first dessert. If any dish could represent the incredible presentation that all of Vue's dishes possess, it would be this dessert. A dish made up of textures of mandarine (sorbet, gel and cooked mandarine segments),textures of violets (flowers, meringues and powder), biscuit crumble and a vanilla snow, was not only perfectly balanced, light and delicious but was also almost too pretty to eat. Almost. And finally was the light as air, soft as cloud chocolate souffle, topped
with chocolate mousse and then finished with a drizzling of vanilla-touched creme anglaise. Basically delicious clouds from heaven in a mouthful. What topped off the evening (if it was possible for the night to get even more incredible) was the private tour we recieved from our waiter, of the kitchen, function room and cellar. It was pretty amazeballs...just sayin'.

Beautiful dessert of textured manderine and violets

The light as air chocolate souffle

Even the word 'perfection' doesn't seem to do justice to the entire dining experience offered to the guests at Vue De Monde. From the moment you step into the lobby of the Rialto building to the second you're escorted back down again after your meal by a waiter, who then offers you gift bags filled with goodies for breakfast the next morning, you feel as though you've seen the very best that hospitality has to offer. Shannon Bennett really does take your dining experience to a whole new level (no pun intended) and seems to have thought of everything. The whole evening is tailored around the comfort and happiness of his guests. Of course this type of experience comes with a price tag...but as you sit in those specially made leather chairs, eating off engraved vintage silver cutlery whilst being served French cheeses from a specially crafted trolly by Australia's most expert wait staff and survey the whole of Melbourne gleaming before you, this ceases to matter. After my night at Vue De Monde, I know what the Vue from heaven looks like.