Brunswick Street, Fitzroy can be hot on summer days.  But even the hot pavements don’t keep us away.   We still flock there to meet, drink coffee, eat, shop and so on.  I often browse  in the weekends and when I wish for a cool breeze or just time out from the hurly-burly of the street I head to the Fitzroy Nursery on the corner of  Brunswick Street and Leicester Street .

This is favourite Melbourne Place of mine to relax, unwind, cool down and drift.   I love the atmosphere, the sound of running water and all the large leafy plants.    I have mentioned these gardens in a previous post here .

On  a  recent visit I was introduced to some new and different metal sculptures.  As I listened to the sound of trickling water and stood under the shade of some large, leafy shrubs and trees I admired these iron sculptured animals.

Grant the Goat

Blind Mouse

The metal animals seen in my previous post are made from recycled corrugated iron and created in New Zealand.  They have moved to new homes and these have taken their place.

This is Clara the Cow leading the bunch along Brunswick Street

They are made in Vietnam from recycled and scrap  metal.  I understand that they are made in a community workshop with the money going back into the community.  Check them out – you can do this by walking past.  They are so creative.  I can’t decided whether the colours are the original colours painted on the metal or whether there has been a bit of touch up.  If you look carefully you can see parts of old brand names.  I’m fascinated by their eyes.  I have been trying to work out what those metal circles were used for in their previous life.  Someone may know.

Where:-
Fitzroy Nursery – Artist’s Gardens
390 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy

Opening hours:-
9.00am to 5.30pm weeksdays
9.30am to 5.30pm Weekends and Public Holidays

They change their hours slightly in the winter – may be worth checking.

Phone 9417 3272

Getting there:-
Tram 112

Related posts:

1. Fitzroy Nursery – Garden Oasis in Fitzroy
2. Cooks’ Cottage set in the Fitzroy Gardens takes you back to the 18th century.
3. Guilfoyle’s Volcano in the Royal Botanical Gardens – look into the crater.

I need to give you an up-date on  my post about the Wayside Inn Hotel on the corner of Ferrars Street and City Road, South Melbourne.

I wrote of the good meal we had and that we would be back for more of the same.

Friends turned up to the Wayside Inn Hotel for dinner last week to find it was all over.  No dinner and a few staff hanging around not knowing what to do but not serving dinner.  They said that they thought the premise had been sold and their jobs, like dinner were a thing of the past.

Does anyone know?

The cook could be worth following.

They have changed their phone number too.  It is now 9682 1544 – courtesy of Telstra.

If you know anything do  comment.

Related posts:

1. The Wayside Inn Hotel South Melbourne – good eating – with a new cook and new management.
2. Cricket Club Hotel South Melbourne – ideal eating on a cold night
3. Lunch at Hotel Nest – Albert Park

It is mind boggling to think how many watering holes were needed to supply liquor to our forefathers.

The Wayside Inn Hotel has recently come under new management with a new cook.  They describe their food as having a  ‘Rustic Italian’ influence.  The meal we had on a recent Thursday evening bore this out.
We arrived straight from work on a cold wet evening at around 6pm.  They have a flexible finish time for happy hour and our glasses of a house Margaret River Merlot were still the Happy Hour price of $4.00 –  exceptional value at $4.00

On Thursday they serve a $15.00 steak  and it came with Caponata a Sicilian vegetable stew.  This was delicious.  The Caponata has a sort of sweet/sour taste ( nothing like a serving of Chinese sweet and sour sauce).  It was a subtle but unique taste to me and it went perfectly with my steak that was cooked to perfection.

The menu is small and I believe it changes. For desert there is no menu.  There is one choice.  On that Thursday it was Panna Cotta with caramelized figs and syrup.  Perhaps it is always Panna Cotta.  As Pana Cottas go this was up with the best.  I’d go back for the Pana Cotta and coffee.

The interior is smart with a hard edge.  The heaters warmed it, the nosh and the wine were good – not a bad way to spend time on a winter evening.

There is a beautiful garden room that makes me think even more of summer.

The bar is cosy with a fire in one corner and comfortable couches around it.  You can also eat in the bar.
The staff were wonderful and the cook popped out to discuss the Caponate with us.  I was surprised at how few people were there that night.  However I’m told that Karaoke Night on Friday draws crowds. It begins at 9.00pm.  Karaoke isn’t my thing but I will be back for the food.  I can see that the garden bar will be a good place for idling away time on  a warm evening.

The web site www.waysidehotel.com.au gives a menu but it differed from the own we saw.  I like the idea of the menu being flexible  and depending on the cook.

The Wayside Inn Hotel
446 City Rd
South Melbourne VIC 3205
Phone (03) 9682 9119

Opening hours:-
12.00  noon until late.

Getting there:-

Trams:-
Tram 112 from the CBD goes along Clarendon Street.
Get off at the corner of Market and Clarendon Street and wander along Market street until it joins City Road.  The Wayside Hotel is on the corner of City Road and Ferrars Street.
Tram 96 (light rail) Get off at the South Melbourne Station and walk along Ferrars Street to City Road.

Car:-
There is parking in Ferrars Street

Related posts:

1. The Wayside Inn Hotel South Melbourne – an up-date
2. Cricket Club Hotel South Melbourne – ideal eating on a cold night
3. Red Star Cafe right opposite The South Melbourne Market, Clarendon Street

As a by-product of local advertising I found myself there on a cold winter night because a friend reads the back of her super market dockets.  A deal gave two meals for the price of one.  She suggested we “give it a go”.  In view of the wintery weather a pub meal seemed like a good idea.

The Cricket club hotel has been in operation at the Albert Park end of the Clarenden Street since 1870. I’m told it is the nearest pub to Albert Park but I haven’t checked this out. It has had many face-lifts since 1870 and I understand that the most recent was in 2007.
The two for one meal is obviously trying to drum up custom.  This could mean anything and we prepared ourselves for hot food on a cold night but without any great expectations of quality.

We arrived at 6pm and found our way through two bars, one with a large TV screen and the other with a charming nook for a bit of time out.

We were first in the dining room and they turned on the heat and settled us by the fire.

There is small menu of standard fare.  M ordered corned beef and I had a chicken parmigiana.

Chicken parmigiana

Corned beef

This food was excellent M said it was the best corned beef she had.  I said the same about my parmigiana.  It was delicious.  Not as big as some servings are but quality.

This part of the meal was so good it was a pity the choice of wines by the glass was so limited.  I had a glass of Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2007.  The 2008 is on sale for $10.00 in my local bottle shop.

The desserts weren’t of the same standard as the main course.  A sticky date pudding was okay but the rhubarb and pear crumble served in a ramekin lacked the crumble.  The thin oat mixture on the top was soft and lacking flavour. I look for a crisp crumble that has a rocky road surface.

The dining room filled and warmed up.  The service was friendly and attentive.  I was grateful for having a friend who reads the back of the super market dockets and suggested she kept reading them.  We will back.  We may give the dessert a miss but the main course even at the full price is good value.  Prices are the usual pub prices.

Where:-
The Cricket Club Hotel
435 Clarendon Street
South Melbourne
Phone 9690 5941

Opening Hours:-
The dining room is open every day
Lunch 12.00 to 3.00
Dinner 5.30 to 9.00

Getting There:-
Tram no 112 travels along Clarendon Street and turns into Albert Road.
Get off at the stop before Albert Road
Stop no. 130
Tram no 1. Get off at the corner of Clarendon and Park Streets.
Continue walking along Clarendon Street towards Albert Park the Cricket Club Hotel is on you left.

Related posts:

1. The Wayside Inn Hotel South Melbourne – good eating – with a new cook and new management.
2. The Wayside Inn Hotel South Melbourne – an up-date
3. Lunch at Hotel Nest – Albert Park

The cafe is long and narrow with a courtyard at the rear.  The red chairs are for outside, only.  Inside is cool and more sophisticated with a polished concrete floor and dark wooden tables and chairs.  The tables come in various sizes including a long communal table.

One wall is covered in posters advertising up-coming events and happenings, there is their organic coffee for sale and there are plenty of papers and magazines to read. It is a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.

Breakfast is served all day.   We ordered one breakfast and two lunches.

The Nasi Goering looked good, the egg was perfectly done, the flavour everything it should be. $15.50

The beef hamburger had plenty of bacon and the egg just right but the beef was a little over cooked and on the dry side.  It  came with a side serving of caramelized onions and tomato sauce. $16.90

English muffin, bacon, egg and tomatoes was a  breakfast special  for $8.00 and was good value for the price.

There were fruit muffins available and cakes for afternoon coffee – the milk in the flat white coffee was silky but I like mine a little stronger, however you can’t please everyone and I didn’t ask for strong.  If you like it strong that would be the way to go.

Service was friendly and attentive with the waitress saying ‘enjoy’ when she delivered the food.  I found that rather endearing.  The Red Star Cafe, on the corner of Ward Street and Coventry Street, is a great place to sit and  view the action around the South Melbourne Market.

The Red Star Cafe opening hours:-
Mondays CLOSED
Tuesday to Thursday 8.00am to 4.00pm
Friday to Sunday 7.30am to 5.00pm
They serve organic fair trade coffee

Getting There:-
Tram:
96 (Light Rail) from Bourke Street, and get off at the South Melbourne stop. The market is about 2 minutes away.
112 Tram from Collins Street, get off on the corner of Clarendon and York Street.
Driving:
Melway:       Map 1C Ref E11
There is parking on top of the South Melbourne Market and some parking in the neighbouring street ( alot of street parking is Permit only, so watch out for that)

Related posts:

1. Gas Eateries and Supply Cafe – South Melbourne
2. Prahran Market Square, Mojito Cafe and Bar for Sunday Brunch/Lunch
3. A touch of France on Park Street, South Melbourne

It’s where to go to eat or sip a coffee and read the paper.  There are singles, couples, friends and groups doing that all day.

The café  serves Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food although I believe the general theme is Spanish.   When we arrived about 12.30 on a Saturday, the place was packed.  We hung around getting in the way of everyone while we waited for a table.

Large communal table and display case of tapas style meals.

This hanging around gives a chance to study the large display cabinet that runs along one wall.  We decided there and then what we were going to eat and a waitress took our order.  As soon as we were seated our order was whisked to the kitchen.  The service was casual and very attentive if that isn’t a contradiction.

“No smoking. Gas” said the notice opposite us as we slid into our seats at one end of the long table.  This was a bit disconcerting but the gas actually stands for Gastronomy.  It could just as well stand for gas as in ‘talk’ because the atmosphere is so conducive to that.

Meatballs and yogurt

Zucchini, feta cheese and herbs.

Coffee was great and if you only want a caffeine hit – this is a good place.  Just ignore the food on display– once you start eying it you’ll want to eat.
One of the surprising things about Gas is that although it is often crowded  the noise level is bearable – you can talk and hear without any effort which is often not the case in crowded cafes and restaurant.

There are tables  out on the pavement and bar-seating in the window  but most of the seating is at high communal tables with stools.

Gas Eatery and Supplies is for day-time, only. It opens a 8am and is great for breakfast – all sorts of delights – but it starts winding down about five and is closed at six.  The take-home-meals are delicious but of course you need to be there before 6pm.

Gas Eatery and Supplies
253 Coventry Street,
South Melbourne, VIC, 3205

Phone 9690 0217 for further information
Tram 112 from Collins Street in the CBD  goes along Clarendon Street.

Get off at Bank and Clarendon Streets and walk back a block for Coventry Street.

Coventry Street also has an interesting collection of shops for browsing in.

Related posts:

1. Red Star Cafe right opposite The South Melbourne Market, Clarendon Street
2. A touch of France on Park Street, South Melbourne
3. Cricket Club Hotel South Melbourne – ideal eating on a cold night

Brunswick Street on a busy Saturday afternoon and  you’re shopping until you drop.

Give yourself a break – feed your soul for a moment?  Duck into the Fitzroy Nursery – The Artists Gardens at 390 Brunswick Street.

Listen to the fountains playing, gaze at the lush plants, take in the garden art and find a spot to linger. It’s a haven from the vibrant life on the street and the art is fun.

The garden art on display is sourced locally but some comes from further a field. The animal sculptures are from New Zealand.  They’re made of all-weather re-cycled corrugated iron.

If you come from the land of The Long White Cloud you may want to add one of these to your household.  They all have their own unique personality and there is nothing like a touch of nostalgia for corrugated iron.

Fitzroy Nursery is at 390 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.  Take the no 112 Tram from the CBD.

If you are coming from St Kilda stay on the 96 tram and get off along Nicholson Street at Rose Street and wander along Rose Street to Brunswick Street.

Related posts:

1. Fitzroy Nursery – Artist’s Gardens on Brunswick Street. Fitzroy
2. The Garden of Eden in Albert Park
3. Alister Clark Rose Garden St Kilda Botanical Gardens – they have names, now