Category Archives: prahran

HOT: Chez Olivier, 121 Greville St, Prahran

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I am an unabashed Francophile so I can’t quite believe that I’d never been to, let alone heard of, Chez Olivier till now. And Mon Dieu what have I been missing??

The door to Chez Olivier is small and unassuming but as soon as you walk in you’re transported to another time and place. (Cute) French waiters greet you cheerily ‘Bonjour!’ and seat you in the brassy front bar, the back room or upstairs (there’s also a little courtyard at the back but it’s a bit squishy for comfort). I opted for the front dining room so that I could admire the 100 green bottles, sitting on the wall, the vintage French posters and observe the animated chatter of patrons perched on stools by the window.

Water was brought to me quickly and as I was dining alone, the waiter gave me the day’s newspaper to peruse without any prompting. Full marks for that small, thoughtful gesture.

For lunch Chez Olivier offer a Menu Prix Fixe – two courses for $26, three courses for $30. You can also opt for the cheaper baguette + pomme frites lunch for $12, but if your time and budget extends to it I recommend treating yourself to a two/three course lunch.

The lunch menu provides a good selection of choices in Entrees, Mains and Desserts (unlike other places where you’re tied to maybe one or two choices). I decided on the Plat du Jour, a classic Duck a l’orange, sweetly fragranced and resting on a decadent creamy herb mash. No stringy dry meat to be found and I almost sighed audibly with pleasure. It wasn’t a huge serving but that’s the reason French women don’t get fat, non?

Plus it left room for my dessert, a freshly-baked chocolate fondant. A shallow ramekin moulding a thinly crusted gooey concoction and a scoop of vanilla bean ice-cream. Perfect, really perfect.

The food, service and ambiance at Chez Olivier plies to every French bistro stereotype, but that’s fine by me – if I can’t get to Paris, let Paris come to me.

Chez Olivier - Le Bistro on Urbanspoon

HOT: Babble Bar and Cafe, 4 Izett St, Prahran

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On outward appearances, Babble doesn’t appear to be the kind of place that would be my scene. The weatherboard corner-block cafe fronts onto gorgeous vistas of the Prahran Safeway carpark, the narrow outside bar seating is marred by practical but ugly beer mats and the wraparound wooden verandah attracts tanned boys in muscle Ts and lithe blonde nymphs called Jess.

However, a lesson learned is never judge a cafe by its outlook, as Babble was a HOT-worthy experience. Firstly, it’s actually not unpleasant to sit outside staring out at the carpark, as there’s ample opportunity to people-watch. Secondly, the service I experienced was uber-friendly –  at one stage I was being served from both sides simultaneously with one waitress taking my order while another waitress filled up my water glass. Thirdly, the lunch that I had was excellent.

Babble‘s menu is an extensive list of cafe favourites with a couple of specials of the day. I decided to try the Babble Pie served with salad and chips ($16.50) which on the day was beef and vegetable.

What came out was an enormous serving of tender cubed beef and veg slow-cooked in a ramekin and topped with the breathiest of puff pastries, a satisfying side of chunky chips with a sultana-studded tomato relish and for balance, some sprightly salad greens lightly dressed with simple olive oil. Babble‘s excellent rendition of a classic dish has encouraged me to return, beer mats or not.

For a breakfast view of Babble, check out Where’s the Beef?

Babble Bar and Café on Urbanspoon

HOT: Fritz Gelato, Stall 120, Prahran Market, Elizabeth St, South Yarra

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I’m not a hot-weather person. That’s the explanation I give when people ask me why I moved from sunny Queensland to drizzly Melbourne.

The one benefit of hot weather though is it gives me a good excuse to eat ice cream as a meal (although I eat quite a bit of ice cream in winter too…hmmm…). A and I met south of the river for a bit of a poke around on a very hot afternoon and decided that instead of a proper lunch we were going to have gelati instead. She recommended Fritz Gelato at Prahran Market as she was a regular client of their St Kilda store.

Fritz Gelato pride themselves on using fresh organic ingredients in their gelati and it seems that the high quality of their product is well-recognised. In the small cabinet at least half of the flavours had a sign saying ‘award-winning’, making it difficult to choose the two flavours of my small tub ($5).

In the end, I went for cinnamon donut and tiramisu. Both gelati were super-creamy, with the cinnamon spice very subtle compared to the espresso hit in the tiramisu. The pure flavours were definitely superior to the artificial flavouring you sometimes get in gelati and it lacked the aftertaste you often find with products made from powders. I particularly loved the tiramisu, mostly because you get actual savoiardi biscuits in it – it’s like one of those Singaporean ice-cream sandwiches you get with sliced white bread.

To read more about my search for the perfect gelato, click here.

Fritz Gelato on Urbanspoon

HOT Chat: Jacqui Vidal of Signed and Numbered

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Earlier this year I blogged about a piece of Melbourne artwork by Delicate Mayhem that RM and I commissioned for our wall and our wedding invitations.

I’m still on Delicate Mayhem‘s mailing list, so I was quite excited to discover that some works from this London artist are now stocked exclusively in Australia, right here in Melbourne. While you can’t buy our wonderful Melbourne picture, you can buy other works from Delicate Mayhem and other artists in a gallery space/shop in Prahran called Signed and Numbered.

This week’s HOT Chat is with Jacqui Vidal, the 28 year old owner of Signed and Numbered. Thanks Jacqui!

Jacqui, tell me a bit more about your background and how you came to start your business Signed and Numbered?

Everyone thinks I must have studied art history or be an artist myself but nothing could be further from the truth. Before I started Signed and Numbered I was an event manager and avid traveller. It was whilst I was in Paris that I stumbled across a little gallery that displayed photos in hard-backed sleeves that allowed customers to flick through the offerings. I fell in love with this hands on approach to art and when I settled down in my home town of Melbourne, I decided to open up a gallery that looked and felt a bit like a record store.

How you select the artworks you sell and where do you source them from?

We ask for exclusivity within Australia, so it was a matter of getting out there to art fairs, gallery openings, hopping online and picking up great publications like Wooden Toy and Semi-Permanent to source new artist to contact. We’re really happy with the line up, which includes the likes of Vexta, Twoone, Kareena Zerofos and Kelly Smith.

Where do you turn for art inspiration?

The laneways of Melbourne. The amount of great art that’s out there 24/7 for anyone and everyone to admire for free is a testament to Melbourne’s street art scene and the City of Melbourne for knowing enough about art to classify it as a public service rather than vandalism.

What has been the most challenging thing you’ve faced in starting up your own business? What advice would you give to a small business owner?

I think the saying ‘you’re your own worst enemy’ rings true for most of us. I’ve had many panic attacks and periods of self-doubt along the way but I’m glad I forged ahead and believed in myself. Confidence in self is the key to making thing happen!

What are your next plans for Signed and Numbered?

I’m currently developing a leasing proposition for local cafes and businesses. I’d love it if my local café had different artworks for me to look at every week.

Finally, where are your HOT places to visit or things to do in Melbourne?

The Astor Cinema (1 Chapel St, St Kilda +) – the best choc tops in the world – especially the arctic banana one.

Fawkner Park (65 Toorak Rd, South Yarra) – the best off lead dog park in Melbourne.

A Shop Called Milton (153 Greville St, Prahran ) and Urban Jungle (155 Greville Street, Prahran +) – unique home wares and accessories.

Sunday Morning Rotary Market in Camberwell (Station Street, Camberwell) – the best bargain finds as long as you don’t mind an early wake up call.

HOT Chat: Lee Elizabeth George of A Vintage Affair

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As you’ve probably worked out by now, I am a huge fan of afternoon tea. Really, what’s not to like? A meal in between ‘proper’ meals consisting of dainty cakes, pastries and sandwiches taken with sips of tea or champagne.

Afternoon tea is partly about ambience too and that’s where A Vintage Affair caught my eye. Today’s HOT Chat is with Melburnian Lee Elizabeth George who has just started a vintage crockery hire and events management business so that your next wedding, hen’s day, baby shower or photo shoot can be touched with some old world charm. Thanks Lee!

Lee, tell me a bit more about your background and how you came to start A Vintage Affair?

I developed a passion for all things vintage while living in London. My idea of a perfect break was to catch the train to Paris for the weekend and hunt through the little antique stores and flea markets in Rue Charlot. I would spend the length of the channel tunnel trip listing to Charles Aznavour albums on my iPod and arrive at Gare Du Nord completely transformed.

Then on one of those glorious weekends a handsome young man proposed with a vintage emerald cocktail ring. The next thing I knew we were married and I was back in Melbourne!

I managed to smuggle home a small collection of crockery and trinkets, which I was lending out to friends for hen’s days, weddings and High Tea parties. Then once I started to get requests from friends of friends, the idea for A Vintage Affair was born.

Now, no matter how big our collection gets, it still feels like I’m lending out my personal collection to friends as I hand pick every piece and each one has a set of memories from the day it was discovered.

Where do you source your vintage stock from – and where do you store it all??

When we first started out, having lots of vintage crockery was the perfect excuse to buy lots of vintage furniture to store it in! Then as we grew, we began storing our collection in antique French wine crates which we also use to deliver the crockery to our customers.

As for finding it, that’s half the fun. Regional Victoria, especially the Central Highlands, is an amazing patchwork of beautiful small towns, all dotted with quaint little antique stores and markets. My weekends are now mostly spent treasure hunting with my husband. We have so much fun driving around the countryside, listening to Charles Aznavour.

Where do you turn for vintage inspiration?

I’ve always loved things that are unique, with beautiful features that transcend whatever practical purpose they may have been designed for. Whether it’s a 1966 250 SL Mercedes (navy blue with white-wall tyres)…. or the interior of the Plaza ballroom, anything that embodies a beautiful attention to detail that is all too rare these days. Life is too short to be practical.

I am inspired by old world charm – when women had time to frock up in beautiful clothes, wear red lipstick just to feel good, spend days planning a dinner party and entertain friends often, drinking champagne from fine crystal.  I am inspired by being proud of your own style and making an effort to make everything you do beautiful.  I love intricate details and paying attention to the small details.

Most recently though, I have been hugely inspired by the incredible community of women running their own small businesses. To see the passion a baker puts into her exquisite cupcake flavours and intricate designs then to then turn that into a successful business is truly inspiring.  There are so many talented ladies producing beautiful work with such passion.

The internet is a constant source of inspiration for me and I am guilty of spending hours and hours scouring Australian and international sites for inspiration, seeing what beautiful and clever ideas event stylists, couture designers, bespoke stationers and caterers are producing , taking inspiration from colours, patterns and style.

What has been the most challenging thing you’ve faced in starting up your own business? What advice would you give to a small business owner?

No matter what you do, if you start your own business you will need to do a lot of hard work. That’s why it’s so important to love what you do – then it won’t feel like hard work.

So start by asking yourself what you love to do most. Then ask yourself how you can turn that into a profitable business. You’ll know you’ve found your true passion when you actually look forward to spending those extra hours working on it.

It is probably a great surprise to a lot of people that I managed to find a way to turn my passion for beautiful vintage pieces and buying hidden vintage treasures into a business.  I spent hours every day researching and developing the business which didn’t seem like work at all because I love every minute of it.

Once you have found your passion, if you can start out small with a business model that is scalable. Wherever possible, avoid the need for large amounts of up-front capital. There is no more certain way to take the fun out of your passion project than the pressure to make it to grow at an unrealistic rate just so you can pay your overheads. It’s much more fun to gradually scale up as you become more successful, enjoying every little step forward, constantly refining as you go.

What are your next plans for A Vintage Affair?

Our range is constantly growing and we are now catering for larger events and boutique weddings.  We are also refining the complete High Tea Experience, including beautiful bespoke invitations, catering, accessories, styling, beautiful cupcakes and of course the vintage crockery hire which is proving very popular for Hens Days and Baby Showers.

Most importantly, our expansion requires more stock so we will be able to justify a few European buying trips!

Where are your favourite places to visit or things to do in Melbourne, vintage-y or otherwise?

Madame Brussels (Level 3, 59-63 Bourke St Melbourne +‎) – for Pimms and lemonade on a summer evening

Siglo (Level 2, 161 Spring St, Melbourne +‎)  for a late night wine with rooftop vistas – you could definitely be in Europe with that view

The Max Hotel (32 Commercial Rd, Prahran +) – for a little taste of France.

Cavallero (300 Smith St, Collingwood +) and Min Lokal (422 George St, Fitzroy +) – for coffee, baked eggs and people watching.

Botanical Gardens (South Yarra)- for a springtime picnic and stroll

Brunswick Street, Gertrude St, Smith St – for a lazy afternoon exploring the shops and people watching.

HOT Chat: Markus Bohm of The Langham

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Markus chatting with Penny (Addictive & Consuming) and Sarah (Sarah Cooks)

You may remember a couple of weeks ago I was invited to The Langham to enjoy their chocolate indulgence high tea. Today’s your opportunity to find out more about the man behind the magic, Head Pastry Chef at The Langham, Markus Bohm. Thanks Markus!

Markus, tell me a bit more about your background and how you came to be the Head Pastry Chef at The Langham?

I was trained in Germany and worked as an apprentice in a pastry shop. From there, I went into hotels, leaving when I was 20 for Bermuda where I took up my first pastry chef position at the Castle Harbour Hotel (today this is the Marriott). I then spent ten years working as the Pastry Chef at the Plaza Hotel in New York, before moving to the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles – the best hotel in the world at that time.

I came to Australia eighteen years ago to open what was then the Sheraton Towers (now The Langham, Melbourne). I worked as a pastry chef there for three years, before leaving to open up the Le Cordon Bleu school in Melbourne.

Then, seven years ago, the Head Chef at The Langham called me and asked me to return to the hotel. I’ve been working here as the Head Pastry Chef ever since.

What do you consider to be your food philosophy?

My food philosophy would be using the freshest and best ingredients I can find. The ingredients in my desserts have to be good, and I particularly like dark, bittersweet chocolate.

What qualities do you believe a pastry chef has that are different to a regular chef?

I think that as a pastry chef, you have to be more creative and exact (for example at weighing out the ingredients) then a regular chef. You also have to be artistic and have an eye for beauty, and be able to draw. There is much more preparation involved when you are a pastry chef, and you need a lot of patience and even an understanding of chemistry.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your years as a chef? What advice would you give to someone who wants a career in the kitchen?

Aspiring pastry chefs would know that there are long hours involved and that they need to be committed. The starting pay isn’t very high either. But if they work hard and are committed, they can move forward in the kitchen and earn a higher pay. It is quite similar to ballet. The principal dancers get paid a lot while the rest of the corp don’t earn as much.

How would you describe the approach you’ve taken with the pastries and desserts at The Langham? What can customers expect to taste and see there?

The main approach for me is consistency. I’ve kept the popular favourites that guests are familiar with such as a crème brulee and crème caramel. But I’ve also introduced some unusual combinations such as chilli and chocolate and salt and chocolate, and I like to use avocado and goats cheese in my pastries and desserts. I think it is great for people who are adventurous with what they eat. They will be happy with the taste sensations!

Finally, you’re from Germany but now live in Melbourne. What HOT places and things do you love about your adopted home town?

One of my favourite places to visit in my downtime is Maris (15 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern +). I love going there for lunch. They do funky light food with Mediterranean, Morrocan and other influences, and they have a small wine list but it’s packed with excellent wines. They also make their bread fresh, and everything is prepared on site.

Another favourite of mine is David’s (4 Cecil St, Prahran). I love their Shanghai style dim sum, and they have an excellent tea menu there.

For more chats with interesting Melburnians, click here.

NOT: Terrace Bar & Bistro, Art Series The Cullen, 161 Commercial Road, Prahran

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The Cullen is a glamorous boutique hotel in Prahran which has been inspired by artist Adam Cullen, and it’s one of the series of Art Hotel popping up in Melbourne.

While a hotel is not an obvious location for dining out, a high-end boutique hotel does have a certain reputation for quality to uphold, and that extends to its food options. On one side of The Cullen is the heaving branch of CBD’s Hutong Dumpling, while the other side is flanked by the much quieter Terrace Bar & Bistro.

The Terrace Bar & Bistro offers middle-of-the-road Mod Oz/Mediterranean fare at mid-range prices. The extensive menu spans antipasti, pasta/risottos, pizza and mains and there’s nothing particularly unexpected or unusual about it.

The décor is also uncontroversial, featuring polished floors, screen printed lamp shades and an open kitchen. The vibe is informal, the service friendly, there’s nothing really to complain about.

So why the NOT? Well, because I thought it was all a bit yawn-worthy.

I had the antipasto plate ($18) with items selected by the chef. Normally it comes with cured meats or fish but feeling virtuous I asked for vegetarian items. Very pretty to look at, but no real taste sensations (and maybe that’s my own fault for discarding the meat and fish). Nice toasted ciabatta with drizzled with olive oil.

The mushroom risotto was liberally dotted with mushrooms and looked very hearty. D described it as ‘good’. I have no idea what was dotted on top but given how creamy it looked already I’m not sure whether another dollop of dairy was necessary to add richness.

L had a rib eye with red wine gravy ($35) but had to order sides separately, so she went for the huge mound of buttery mashed potato. Main course meats or fish that come with nothing are a personal pet peeve of mine, but I know it is very common practice.

The baby roast chicken looked the most appetising of the bunch but the meat was a little bit too dry and the plate was drenched with too much oil for J.

We shared an impressively large bowl of fries ($8) with tomato sauce and aioli which unfortunately consisted of mostly soggy chips. I hate soggy chips.

The Terrace Bar & Bistro was pleasant enough but left no real impression on me such that I would be hungering to return, telling you all about my amazing time there. I’m sure many others will disagree with me and tell me how great their pizzas are or their chocolate pudding or whatever, but it just drives a path that’s too safe for my personal preference. It’s arguable that my impression was coloured by the kind of dishes we ordered, but honestly our choices were very typical of the kind of food on offer generally. Just call me a food snob for that night! Meh.

Terrace Bar & Bistro on Urbanspoon

HOT: Shanghai Cultural Session, David’s Restaurant, 4 Cecil Place, Prahran

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What’s the best antidote for coldest day in Melbourne in 10 years? Why, bunkering down for dinner at David’s Restaurant in Prahran.

Thanks to David’s, RM and I, along with some other journos and the lucky winners of a Herald Sun competition, were invited to chat and dine with David Zhou, owner of David’s Restaurant and the Oriental Tea House, to celebrate the restaurant’s Winter Menu. Over several hours, we were treated to five delicious courses of traditional Shanghaiese dishes, a particular thrill since RM and I had only recently returned from eating very well in Shanghai and China generally.

First up, Double Boiled Chicken Soup. While my murky photo doesn’t do the soup justice, it was a very nourishing concoction of the kind my mum or grandmother would make, consisting of shredded chicken combined with wolfberries and bamboo shoots. Apparently it helps strengthen the immune system, an important side benefit for the onset of winter.

Second course was individual steamers of pork siu mai. I’m normally not a huge fan of siu mai as it can often come out as one solid meatball, but these were very nice morsels of juicy pork encased in a thin silken pastry.

Third course was a stir fry of shredded Peking duck meat with bean sprouts, shredded carrot and capsicum in sweet plum paste. This was the kind of tasty and hearty dish which was perfect with steamed rice. Though if I’d known what was coming up next I would’ve reduced my intake of rice.

The piece de resistance, Beggar’s Chicken. This dish is very hard to find in Chinese restaurants in Australia, as it’s time consuming and tricky to execute. The legend goes that a beggar stole a chicken. Chased by officials and with had no stove to cook it on, he wrapped it in leaves and mud and lit a slow underground fire. The fire caused the mud to form a tight clay crust and when the crust was cracked open, a tender aromatic bird was revealed. The beggar began to sell the dish to villagers and a Qing dynasty Emperor was so impressed with the dish that he ordered that Beggar’s Chicken be added to the list of dishes served at the Imperial Court.

These days, it’s a marinated chicken stuffed with a fragrant glutinous rice concoction of shrimp, pork shiitake mushrooms, ham, spring onion and carrot, all soaked in the juices from the chicken. The chicken is then wrapped in lotus leaves, bound and encased in a clay crust. This whole chicken (yes,  each person received a whole chicken!) was served with beautifully colourful stir-fried bok choy, broccoli, plump shiitake mushrooms and carrot, which unfortunately had to play second fiddle to that impressive bird. The dish was truly groan-worthy, both in taste and size.

Thanks to several pots of David’s specialty tea, we squeezed in the dessert, three fried wontons filled with banana and a smear of red bean paste, dusted with crushed black sesame sugar.

As expected from a one-hat restaurant, the meal was truly delicious. What made the night particularly memorable for me thought was the very interesting conversations with David Zhou. I found that he has a lovely restaurateur’s demeanour – he’s friendly and personable, quick to joke, remembers customers (one of our number had held his birthday party at David’s 10 years ago and David still remembered him!), is attentive to detail and infectiously enthusiastic about Chinese food and culture. In particular, he is extremely knowledgeable about Chinese tea. I was intrigued to hear him speak about the aromas and flavours of tea and the varieties of tea leaves in the same way most people are used to hearing sommeliers speak about the qualities of wine and grapes. If you’re after high quality tea, often with medicinal properties, then after that dinner I am convinced that Oriental Tea House is the place to source it.

The Jetsetting Parents are arriving for another eating fiesta in a few weeks, and I’ve already raved to them about this menu. It’ll be interesting to see whether they’re as impressed with the Beggar’s Chicken as RM and I were.

Thank you to David’s Restaurant for inviting me to the event.

David's on Urbanspoon

HOT Chat: Stef Dadon and Elise Kausman of Up & Comers Fashion Market

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We interrupt our usual blogging schedule today to bring you this week’s HOT Chat a couple of days early. That’s because Stef Dadon and Elise Kausman are launching the Up & Comers Fashion Market this Saturday 15 May, and of course you need to know about it now rather than on Sunday.

RMIT Graduate Stef and Melbourne University student Elise are vintage sellers and fashion lovers and the Up & Comers Fashion Market is their brainchild. They’ve gathered over 30 men’s and women’s clothing and accessories stalls at historic 19th century Art Deco theatre Ormond Hall from 11-5pm tomorrow. Ormond Hall is part of the Belgian Beer Cafe, which means that while you’re browsing the market you can enjoy drinks from the bar inside the hall, sample the full bar menu or grab something from the barbecue or waffle stand in the courtyard.

Stef and Elise have kindly taken the time out from their hectic schedules to answer a few questions for MEL: HOT OR NOT today. Thanks ladies!

Stef and Elise, tell me a bit more about your backgrounds and the Up & Comers Fashion Market?

S: I studied Professional Communication at RMIT, and just graduated last December. I was initially looking to start working with a PR firm or an event management company, but we came up with the concept for the market in January, and suddenly I found myself pretty busy. I’ve since been working almost full time on the market, but hopefully after the opening this week things will slow down a little.

E: At the moment I’m studying Biomedicine at Melbourne University. It can be a bit dry at times, so it’s been great to have the market as a creative outlet.

S: The Up & Comers Fashion Market is all about uniqueness and creativity. It’s a place where you know you can come and find something that you won’t see everyone else wearing.

E: We have found some really talented new designers. It’s also a fun place to go just to hang out with friends – the atmosphere is great and we’ve got live DJs, a bar and food stalls.

How did you select the stallholders and who are some of the designers we can expect to see at the first market?

E: We select stallholders based on their originality, imagination, the quality of their designs and whether they bring something new to the market. We source stallholders from all over Australia and have also received an exciting amount of applications. And by the way, we’re constantly looking for new designers…so if there’s anyone out there looking to kick-start their collection – let us know!

S: There are so many amazing designers that will be selling at the first market. A few names are Mina & Oli, Depths of the Never Never, Harvest Powell, …I’ll stop there before I give too much away.

What challenges have you faced getting the market up and running?

S: One of the biggest challenges we faced was getting people to believe that the market would be a success. In the beginning, designers were sceptical and it was difficult to persuade them to come on board, as all we really had was the general concept.

E: Deciding on a name took forever! We also had to try to find the perfect place – location, size, facilities and ambience are all so important. Personally, the hardest thing for me has been trying to balance organising the market, my sporting commitments and my ridiculous amount of uni work.

What advice would you give to someone starting their own business?

S: It’s always better to be overly professional. When you’re professional people take you more seriously. I’ve found this is so important – even in fashion!

E: If you don’t try, you’ll never know what you can achieve. Over a year ago, all we had was a bunch of ideas and a keen interest in the fashion world. Since then we’ve started up our own vintage label, LadyLikes, and are now launching what we think will be one of the best markets in Melbourne.

What people, places or things do you turn to for fashion inspiration?

S: I travel overseas quite a bit, and I love wandering the streets and having a look at what people are wearing in other parts of the world. I also love looking through my grandmother’s wardrobe – she never throws anything away and has so many incredible pieces from the 60s and 70s.

E: I draw a lot of my inspiration from vintage clothing. I spend hours upon hours in op shops and markets.

What are you wearing at the moment?

S: I have this crazy obsession with skulls at the moment, my most recent purchase is a gold skull ring that has literally been attached to my finger since I bought it. I also love anything that’s oversized, black or vintage.

E: I’m really into layering different pieces to create a more exciting look. My favourite item in my wardrobe right now is a pair of high waisted black, velvet shorts that I bought from a vintage store overseas.

Finally, what are your tips for what’s HOT in Melbourne?

S: One of the many things I love about Melbourne is that there are always new and exciting things to discover. There’s a comedy night on every Monday at The Local (184 Carlisle St, St Kilda +) that I’ve recently discovered and I’ve been going there quite a bit. Some of the comedians are just locals giving it a go, and then you can also see some pretty big names.

In terms of cafes, Batch Espresso (320 Carlisle Street, Balaclava +) is a major favourite (the avocado smash is delicious), I practically live at Nest Food and Drink (117 Wattletree Rd, Malvern +) where they make the BEST bagels and sandwiches, and Monk Bodhi Dharma (202 Carlisle St, Balaclava +) is a great hidden treasure (if you can find it).

E: I love going out for a quiet drink with friends – and Melbourne’s bars don’t disappoint. Madame Brussels in the city is great, and of course Belgian Beer Café on St Kilda Road!

The Up & Comers Fashion Market is on 11-5pm on Saturday 15 March, then every second Saturday of the month. Check it out at Ormond Hal, Belgian Beer Cafe, 557 St Kilda Rd, Prahran (enter via Moubray St). For stall enquiries, contact

HOT: Sunburnt Country, Melbourne International Comedy Festival

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I love having guests bloggers and today I’m handing over the hot seat to Gourmet Chick, a Melburnian currently living in London who still knows what’s hot and what’s not in Melbourne.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival starts soon on Wednesday 24 March until Sunday 18 April 2010, and if you’re a bit bamboozled by all the acts on offer, here’s Gourmet Chick‘s guest post on comedy cabaret show Sunburnt Country starring Rosa The Russian Beautician and Friends. Thanks Gourmet Chick!

She sings, dances and waxes.  She is Rosa the Russian Beautician played by Melbourne comedian Marney McQueen, who returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year with a new show, Sunburnt Country.  I caught a slightly different version of the show at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival last year (where it won rave reviews) and found myself laughing so hard that my laughter turned into those snorting laughs that are highly embarassing.  Luckily I was spared public humiliation by the fact that everyone around me was also snorting with laughter.  What more can you ask for from a comedy show?

SUNBURNT COUNTRY by Marney McQueen Melbourne International Comedy Festival Melbourne Hot or Not review

Sunburnt Country is a comedy cabaret show where McQueen plays several characters, the well established Rosa the Russian Beautician  (who has her own ) along with four new characters: Karen Barnes a border security guard at Melbourne Airport, Annabel Sarah Victoria Winters-Smythe of Armadale Galleries, Damo Greggs an Australian recently returned from a life changing Contiki tour around Europe with a stopover in Bali and Raelene Dreggs a Gold Coast mother who’s daughter Shana is in jail in Bali after being found with ecstasy in her rollerskates at Denpasar Airport.

SUNBURNT COUNTRY by Marney McQueen Melbourne International Comedy Festival Melbourne Hot or Not review

I can’t vouch for the new characters but I can say that on the strength of alone this is one Comedy festival show that is well worth seeing.  Never have you seen a woman make a leopard print catsuit and a mullet look so attractive.  I left the show with a sore stomach from laughing and still singing “Honour Your Bikini”, Rosa’s signature song, in my head.

Catch Gourmet Chick‘s guest post next week when she heads to Naked Japan in Albert Park. In the meantime, check out Gourmet Chick‘s fabulous blog about food in London and around the world (including Melbourne) and follow Gourmet Chick on Twitter .