Flower Power

Well I've been known to travel far and wide for a good feed and this weekend led me to Silvan in the Yarra Ranges. I visited the Tesselaar Tulip Festival, on their Food, Wine & Jazz weekend and enjoyed complimentary wine tasting, taste testing some local produce from the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges and a muddy walk through the colourful rows of tulips in the ever unpredictable Victorian weather of rain, then sunshine, then rain, then wait for it... sunshine again!

There were gorgeous floral displays of tulips all around, unique pieces of artwork and jazz tunes playing providing fun for all ages. With children chiming bells through the gardens, wine lovers making the most of their complimentary wine tasting and food lovers (like myself) tasting all the delicious treats.

We started our journey with a walk around the festival admiring the vibrant tulip farm in awe of the spring colours, giggling at all the muddy shoes around and taking in the fresh open air. After our walk through the beautiful floral farm, it was time to taste the delicious foods on offer - including the use of our complimentary wine tasting tokens! We enjoyed some great wine tasting from vineyards of the Yarra Valley and sampled some caramalised almonds and delicious marinated mushrooms. For lunch we decided on spinach and cheese filled Gozleme, a delicious Turkish treat and for dessert we couldn't go past the Dutch Poffertjes with lemon and icing sugar! Yum, yum and yum!

Before the day was up, I couldn't leave this vibrant festival empty handed - tasting some local homemade chutneys and jams I decided on the nectarine, red capsicum and chilli chutney along with the peach and passion fruit jam. Sound tasty don't they? Well yes, these delicious flavour combinations really are great (not sure how long they'll last at home!) There is also a tulip picking station where you can walk through and hand pick your own tulips to take home and enjoy. A chose a variety of the colours and they are starting to blossom beautifully. They are actually sitting in front of me and I can't help but look at them constantly, hoping that they'll open a little more every time I look!

This gorgeous Spring festival is running until October 9th, with next weekend being Irish Weekend! I certainly recommend heading over to find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - but may I suggest to leave your high heels at home and bring along your gumboots, to make the most of your exploring through the farm!

High Tea Success!

In a follow up to my High Tea for Habitat.. I am please to say it was a great success!! With many helping hands, I managed to host a tea party with white table cloths covered in soft toned flowers, tea light candles and decorative birdcages to complete the serene look of a Sunday high tea.

None of my guests came empty handed which was unexpected and I am very appreciative of. With all of their extra touches, our goodies table was overflowing with special tea party treats that kept our tummies very satisfied. Some of our delicious commodities included home-made sausage rolls, cherry ripe slice, lime friands, Minnie Mouse cupcakes and mini pecan tarts (...just to name a few!) As guests arrived in accordance to the dress code (just for a bit of added fun) with ladies in their pearls and gentlemen in their bow ties, it was time to enjoy...

My running slideshow of photos from Habitat for Humanity Australia and Disney classic tunes completed the ambiance of a positive tea party feel, whilst showing recognition of the wonderful things that the organisation does and where the generous donations from my guests were going. I held a raffle which really got everyone involved and my very talented cousin sang for us as a special treat, which was a lovely surprise.

By the end of the day our donations jar was nice and full and we had raised a total of $672 for the organisation which I am very proud of. I am very thankful to the generosity of my guests for their donations and for the delicious treats they brought along to make this day the success that it was! I was so pleased with how the day turned out and couldn't have done it without the many helping hands that contributed to organising the day... so a BIG thank you to you all!!!

It's still not too late to host a High Tea for Habitat of your own with one last weekend in September remaining. So get your baking hat on and some happy tunes playing (Disney classics in my case) and get your loved ones together to support a great cause!

High Tea for Habitat

Habitat for Humanity Australia is an organisation raising money for families and communities in need across the Asia-Pacific region. They work on building homes and shelter for families in need and are now running High Tea for Habitat during the month of September to continue raising money for these communities. High Tea for Habitat is where you can register to host a high tea with family, friends and work colleagues to raise money and donate to this worthy cause.

I am hosting a high tea this month with my family and friends and am really looking forward to it. Not only do we have a reason to put on our Sunday best and eat delicious treats - but it is also to raise money and make a difference! When I registered for this great cause, I received a pack to get me started full of great ideas for my high tea, tips on raising money and even some samples from their supporters! 

I've been trying to brainstorm some fun ideas for the high tea and decided why not have all guests dress for the occasion too - in our Sunday best with a touch of pearls for the ladies and gentleman in their bow ties. I will also be holding a raffle on the day with this money all being donated and fun tea party related prizes! If anyone has some ideas for the prizes I'd love to hear your input.

If you have a free weekend this month, register to host a high tea yourself and support those communities less fortunate than us. If you don't have the opportunity to host one yourself or attend one this month but still want to get involved, feel free to make a donation below:

http://www.habitat.org.au/greenolivemelbourneshightea

I'm really excited to get involved and hope I have inspired some of you to get involved also!

Watch this space in the next couple of weeks to get a peek at how my high tea went. If you're hosting one, I'd love to hear how it went also! 

If you're already hosting one, happy baking!! 

Making new friends

First weekend of spring… check.

Sun shining to remind us that winter is officially over… check.

What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than to take a drive to Richmond and enjoy a lovely brunch at Friends of Mine. On this perfectly sunny Sunday, their bright yellow awnings were projecting a positive ambiance to the street. All fun things come in yellow – like the sun, daisies, pineapples… even Mr. Happy and SpongeBob Squarepants – and along with this, the bright colour that draws your eyes to this adorable corner café! 

There’s a great feeling when you walk into this café too – with their great selection of furniture and décor to fit in perfectly with their many surrounding furniture stores in its Swan Street location. The entrance boasts shelves of grocer goods and a glass cabinet display of baked treats, including macarons and freshly made baguettes, and hanging above is a shining chandelier.

The menu has quite a selection, starting from a light breakfast to larger plates for lunch, and of course dessert! I can never resist an all day breakfast menu and had to go for some poached eggs, trying the Friends of Mine take on ‘Eggs Benedict’ with a side of roasted tomatoes - delish! 

 What I enjoyed most about this dining experience was the extra little touches that made the experience unique – like serving OJ in a jar, the array of lighting fixtures and the ‘old school’ school desks and chairs!

I definitely recommend checking this place out. It certainly made for a great Father’s Day outing for brunch and then some furniture shopping in the stores nearby. What’s also great to hear is that this place also takes bookings for functions at night and… they hold a high tea on the last Sunday of every month! Definitely looking forward to checking that one out! 

                    

Steak night

Well I must admit… I was never normally one to choose steak from the menu when dining out, but one visit to The Station Hotel a few years back may have swayed me. I have now visited this relaxed pub on quite a regular basis of the late, introducing more and more friends on each visit, with the promise of tender steak and quality produce. 

Visitors pile in for a taste of what seems to be the talk of the Footscray community, so be sure to make a booking as tables fill up fast! If the dining area does fill up however, there’s always plenty of options with the bar and courtyard areas available for a casual dining experience.  With so much choice, it can sometimes be hard deciding on which cut to go with, but I assure you no disappointment shall be found. As for the sides, I can’t go past the simple green beans or heirloom carrots (but portions are fit for a king and I can never seem to get through everything). Also be sure to ask for a serving of Bearnaise on the side! 

“Only steak?” I hear you say… well no! The Station Hotel’s menu sports quite the variety, but I can’t help to boast about their steak selection. It has certainly opened my eyes to a new perspective on ordering a good ol’ steak and with The Age reviewing this place as one of the top 5 eateries for a fine steak, there’s no surprise why! This local hot spot is shedding some light on Melbourne’s inner western region and has taken pub style dining to a new level.

Before I send you off drooling there’s just one more thing I’d like to draw your attention to when you do visit… the wine list!! Enough said… you will see.  

Winter night market

The Queen Victoria Market truly is an interesting place. With the bustle of shoppers trying to grab the freshest pick of the morning’s produce or that perfect bargain from the General Merchandise Stalls – there really is something for everyone. On Wednesday nights during the summer months the Suzuki Night Market takes form, offering an array of delicious treats from cultures all around the world and a display of creative pieces from local designers.

During the winter months when the wind felt too cold and the night life not so vibrant, I would always count down the nights until the Suzuki Night Market would take form once again – not to mention longing for that warm summer’s heat. But it seems like my wait is now over! On Wednesday, August 8^th, The Queen Victoria Market launched Luna 1878, their winter night market that will take place every Wednesday night through the month of August. Again displaying their many cultural Hawker Style Food Stalls, art and craft stores and live entertainment – but this time keeping out of the cold, huddling around the warm fire places set up which make you forget just for one night, how much we are longing for that warm summer’s weather.

With so much choice for food, our tactic plan was to try a small serving from different food stalls so that our tastebuds could travel around the world in one night. All the food stalls provided warm-hearty treats that would keep you cosy during the warm winter night. Some of these delicious treats included tasty meatballs, Spanish beef stew, roasted chestnuts, Texas style barbecued ribs, Polish dumplings and not to mention hot and spicy mulled wine, which definitely speaks for itself!

 

 

And to finish off the night you ask? A Colombian style caramel served in miniature wafer cones. The perfect little touch to finish off the food tastings for the night.

Once you have finished exploring the food stalls, be sure to check out the designer stalls filled with creative arts and crafts, clothing, jewellery and much more, where you can grab an individual piece to take home.

But the night is still not done here!

Luna 1878 has its own bar, supplying drinks to compliment your choice of food or to sip on while watching the live entertainment.

Be sure to take part in Luna 1878’s first year in the Queen Victoria Market’s night scene. You can catch this great event every Wednesday night until 10pm throughout August – so make sure you head down and shake out of your winter hibernation!  

All wrapped up

Another weakness of mine would have to be dumplings. There’s just something about those delicately packed parcels that burst with flavour as you take your first bite! I think ginger is the key ingredient here. It leaves a refreshing trail of flavour in your mouth that keeps you wanting more. So, on a midweek drive through Carlton trying to find a quick bite to eat, there is no surprise that the bright red logo of M.A’s Dumpling Den caught my eye. I normally order a variety of dumplings in the one seating to share around and enjoy the different flavour combinations, as most dumpling eateries I go to provide generous portions at great prices (and M. A’s Dumpling Den was no different). On this particular occasion, we saw fried lamb dumplings on the menu and thought we’d try something different from our usual pork and prawn or vegetarian combinations… and I’m sure glad we did! I’m not usually a fan of fried dumplings, I prefer the steamed variety myself, but these fried lamb dumplings were done really well – only lightly pan fried so they still kept their soft texture. I was very impressed and so glad we took a chance on something you wouldn’t normally see on your regular dumpling menu. It helped complete what was a great meal to get through Wednesday – ‘hump day’ of the week.    

Hutong Dumpling Bar is another great dumpling eatery that I’ve dined at. Located in Chinatown, this dumpling bar offers that authentic Chinese taste offering dumplings holding flavoursome broth that burst with flavour. The pricing here is slightly dearer to its surrounding dumpling eateries in Chinatown but the difference being that its atmosphere holds a point of difference from the others. Here you can enjoy a more intimate experience with a little extra touch on your regular casual dining. The dish to try here is boiled dumplings with stuffed spinach. A Northern Chinese inspired dish with a great green colour that brings excitement to your plate. If you’re planning a night out to Hutong Dumpling Bar, be sure to make a booking as, well… they actually take them so no need to line up and they usually get quite busy, so be sure you don’t miss out.

Another great dumpling place I must recommend in Melbourne’s Chinatown, is the well known Shanghai Village Dumpling. If you live in Melbourne and love dumplings, you’ll know this place – and if you don’t, I certainly recommend checking it out because it will be the first of many visits to come. This fairly spacious eatery is a family friendly venue with two levels of seating and ticks all the boxes for hunting down that authentic taste. One dish I must recommend is the crispy pumpkin cakes. Even though they’re not dumplings, they’re definitely worth trying as an entrée. These crispy cakes with a sweet pumpkin filling are the perfect start to your dumpling feast that awaits. I’ll admit, Shanghai Village Dumpling is not your flashy fine dining setting but for that authentic taste from the Asian cuisine of any sort, I believe this is certainly the way to go – fast and friendly service, generous portions with affordable prices and most importantly, great tasting dishes.

Another key in searching for a great dumpling place – if it’s good, it’s always busy! So don’t let the line up at the door put you off, take it as an enticement that this place must be worth trying.