Melbourne Places

Cranbourne – Royal Botanical Gardens – unique Australian Garden

Melbourne — Sat, 18 May 2013 07:10:21 +0000

Entrance Royal Botanical Gardens Cranbourne

There are two parts to the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens.

1. They contain one of Victoria’s most precious areas of native bushland. This area is full of tracks so that you can shoulder your day pack and experience the atmosphere of walking in an area of native bushland. This extensive area is home to a number native animals and also some rear plant species; animals like Koala, wallabies and enchidnas.

2. The stunning Australian Garden that show cases Australian Plants and trees.

Red Sand Garden – depicting Desert Heart of Australia

The Australian Garden is made of of numerous blocks all showing a different example of Australian trees and flowers.

For example; Stringybark Garden and Water-Saving Garden. The plants are all named so if one takes your fancy you can jot down the name and try for it at your local nursery. One of our group did this and has now given her home garden a new look and of course a memory of a Day at the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens

The gardens at Cranbourne are a great way to sample our native flora. The Australia Garden is accessible to all ages, with plenty for kids to do. The playground and lookout is worth a visit with kids. In the warm weather the water features, waterfalls etc adds to the charm of the place. There is a water area for children.

Maps are available at the entrance but it is easy to find you way around.

The cafe near the visitors centre severs good food including wine. The view is good from the windows and the table decorations are in keeping with gardens. This was ours.

Getting There:-
By car:- The Monash Freeway (M1) and then turn off at the South Gippsland Freeway (M420). Signs will be for Cranbourne and Phillip Island. Stay on the M420 until you to the town of Cranbourne where you will see signed for the Botanical Gardens.

Train:- Cranbourne Station – there is no bus link to the Gardens but taxis are available at Cranbourne Station for the 7 kilometre trip estimate cost $12 – $15

Entry:- to the Garden is free of charge.

Open:-
9am – 5pm, daily
Closed:-
Christmas Day and
Days of Total Fire Ban

Bistro Guillaume Southbank and The Graham Port Melbourne

Melbourne — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:24:43 +0000

During the wine and food festival the Express Lunch promotion was a good way to check out a top restaurant at a reasonable price. $40 with a glass of Australian wine.

Our first booking was at Bristo Guillaume in the Crown Entertainment Complex, with its wonderful location on Southbank and its striking entrance way.

We were seated at an inside window table which considering the heat outside was ideal. Service was exceptional, friendly and relaxed but at the same time professional.

The moment the menu appeared the battery in my camera sighed and closed down – so no photos of these interesting dishes. This was the express menu.

•   Entree 1 – in-house smoked salmon with toasted brioche and dill cream
•   Entree 2 – steak tartare with pommes gaufrettes
•   Main 1 – seared barramundi on a bed of pea puree, tarragon butter and pommes allumettes
•   Main 2 – Plat du Jour

For your information these are the Plat du Jour
Monday – Braised rabbit in white wine and mustard seed
Tuesday – Bourdin blanc with truffle, confit of potatoes and frisée salad
Wednesday – Duck Parmentie
Thursday – Coq au Vi
Friday – Bouillabaisse
Saturday – Beef daube
Sunday – Rack of lamb on a bed of ratatouille, tapenade and zucchini flower

Steak Tartare was my choice. I was disappointed that it wasn’t mixed at the table as it was the last time I had it. However the flavour was good if just slightly on the bland side for my taste. The salmon which is smoked in house was pronounced delicious. Our group all chose the plate d’jour. This being Thursday it was Coq au Vin.

I wished we had gone on Friday. Bouillabaisse is something I love. However the coq au vin was tender with a delicate flavour. It took us back to a time when it featured regularly on all self respecting menus. The wine was good and the whole deal seemed a bargain at the price. I would return for the regular menu.

Our second experience, at The Graham in Port Melbourne, was not so successful. Their Express menu offered entree, main and dessert giving a choice of two of these courses and a glass of wine.

I like the architecture of this grey pub that sits on the corner of Graham and Esplanade West and has been turned into a Gastro Pub so I jumped at the chance to try it.

The outside suggests elegance and it is elegant inside – relaxing elegance. Our waiter was pleasant, professional and showed us to our table.

This was the menu.

Entree Potsticker of the day with sesame soy dressing
0r
Hickory smoked salmon, cured tomato, macadamia crumble
Mains Masterstock chicken with hot and sour dressing
or
Pan fried salmon with fennel and hazelnut mayonnaise
Dessert Lemon pannacotta, peach and strawberry
or
Raspberry souffle with pistachio sesame ice cream

The dumplings with Wagu Beef (potsticker) were pleasant and three made a nice sized entree.

The salmon which we all ordered didn’t come with any vegetables so we ordered a carrot and bean mixture with cashew nuts from the main menu.

The salmon was delicious. It was impossible to fault the flavour with the artichokes but size had no resemblance to what I would consider a main course. It was like an entree. This was disappointing.

Raspberry souffle with pistachio sesame ice-cream that a couple in our group had instead of an entree was pronounced good.

Had we dined at the Graham first we may not have seen the lack but compared with the Bristo Guillaume’s meal it felt pared back.

My chardonnay was very drinkable and just the right temperature. No one asked if I wanted another glass and as it was lunch I probably didn’t, but had they asked me I would have said yes. The atmosphere there is very conducive to sitting back, sipping a chilled glass of wine and relaxing for an hour or so.

Where:-
Bistro Guillaume
Crown Entertainment Complex/8 Whiteman St,
Southbank VIC 3006

Phone:(03) 9292 4751

Hours:
Every day 12:00pm – 11:00 pm

The Graham
97 Graham St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207

Phone:(03) 9676 2566

Hours:
Lunch Every day 12:00pm – 11:00 pm
Dinner Every day 6.00 – 10.00pm

Timor Leste, a view and taste of Timor East on Carlisle Street, East St Kilda

Melbourne — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 05:49:22 +0000

Get the flavour of East Timor at the Gallery in the St Kilda Town Hall – enter from Carlisle Street. The gallery is opposite the cashier in the foyer. You can check out the gallery when you pay for parking permits, rates or other council fees, or just pop in and take a look.

The current exhibition ‘Kitchen Talks: the food and culture of Timor Leste ( East Timor)’ celebrates the culture of East Timor by featuring photographs of traditional food, recipes and local Timorese cooks.

There are several reasons to visit this exhibition. The first are the stunning photos of the food of East Timor and the local cooks who cook it. As a blogger I am always snapping away at food so food photos interest me. Some of these are stunning.

My apologies to Jorge de Araujo who took the originals. These pale in comparison.

The other reason to visit is the recipes and the information on Timorese food. For example eating paw paw flowers and how to prepare them.

A brief story of these cooks’ backgrounds and journeys to a life in Australia are interesting too. None of them have had the same experiences!

The photos of these people, mostly women are in black and white. The black and white is a clever contrast to the bright food. They are stunning. We don’t see enough black and white photos.

The photos, which I haven’t done justice to, are the work of Jorge de Araujo. (check him out). Carmelita Gomes has done the research and written up the stories and visited the kitchens of these cooks.

The exhibition opens a door to Timorese culture and food. It left me wanting to walk through and know more.

The exhibition ends on 17 the of April with a Festival dinner on April 12th.

For enquiries regarding the dinner and any other information call 9209 6777.

It is worth catching these photos if it is only for the photographer’s skills with food.

Where:-
The Gallery,
St Kilda Town Hall
99A Carlisile Street (opposite the library)

When:-
March 20th to April 17th.

Opening hours:-
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm

Getting there:-
Trams 16, 3, from the CBD and 78 from Richmond

Kay Craddock – Antiquarian Book Seller

Melbourne — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:59:54 +0000

Books – old, new, first editions, read once and passed to another reader – there is a charm in these old books.

As a student I wandered the corridors of the University Library, stroking and gazing at all the books. I loved being amongst them. Many were old and had worn covers suggesting a line of people had browsed the pages before me. I read so much in that library. It is where I met all the Russian writers who had had no part in my schooling.

I had a similar feeling when I browsed Kay Craddock – Antiquarian Bookseller on Collins Street, in Melbourne’s CBD. The nice thing about this shop is that it is a basement shop. You wander down the stairs and you are in a world of pre-loved books.

You are also in a world of owls. They are Kay Craddock’s alter ego or special love? I thought if I had such a shop I would go for wombats. They are nocturnal and would fit well into this basement space.

Browse, check out, and follow your memories. I saw this book by Ceil Roberts. My Grandmother read him. My mother scorned him. I have never read him. I looked at my photo and felt sad I hadn’t bought the book. I sometimes need to be taken back to my grandmother’s kitchen. For a moment I was there and I wondered why I didn’t read his books all those years ago?

If you are golf fan what delight to read through suggestions to improve your game from some early golfers. Do we know so much more now?

Kay Craddock – Antiquarian Book Seller is a fascinating place to explore, especially if you have an affinity to owls. You will be operating in friendly vibes.

Leave the shop and walk few steps down the hill and you can immerse yourself in recent publications at Reader’s Feast Bookstore at 162 Collins Street. You can check them out here.

Where:-
Kay Craddock – Antiquarian Bookseller
156 Collins Street
Melbourne CBD.

Phone: 9654 8506

Opening times:-
Sunday   Closed
Monday   10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday   10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday   10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday   10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday   10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday   10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Web site: http://www.kaycraddock.com/

Mirror Mirror Gallery – Mirrors on Hoddle Street, Melbourne

Melbourne — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 05:27:39 +0000

Mirrors! A bit of magic on grey, busy Hoddle Street. Step away from the noise and the dust and into the wonderland of the Mirror Mirror Gallery.

Try this when you want time-out, are curious or want to check out a mirror for your home. See if your mood changes when you step through the door? Do you become entranced by images and reflections?

I have lived in Melbourne for a number of years and driven along Hoddle Street countless times yet I have only just found this store – Emporium is a better word.

I walked around and wanted to be a child again – that time when I believed that I could find wonderland if only I stepped through the right door.

Mirror Mirror is one of those doors. It is a place of not only mirrors but fascinating objects from other places. Take a look at this …..

As you drive along Hoddle Street you can catch a glimpse of the footpath display.

Mirror Mirror Gallery gives you their thoughts about mirrors.

Where:-
Mirror Mirror Gallery
172 Hoddle Street,
Collingwood

Open Times:-
Wed-Sat 10am-5:30pm Sun 11am-5pm.

Phone:-
Tel: (03) 9417 1100

Getting there:-
Parking in Hoddle Street and behind the Gallery from Studley Street

Train:-
The South Morang Line or Hurstbridge Line to Victoria Park Station

Web Site:-
www.mirror-mirror.com.au

Nautical Restaurant, 3 Station Pier, Port Melbourne, Locals Night

Melbourne — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:19:55 +0000

On a recent Monday the beach from Elwood to Port Melbourne was crowded, the roads were hot and the temperature was 37 degrees . And if the waiter was to believed, 50 degrees inside the section of the Nautical Restaurant at 3 Station Pier that is alongside the water at Port Melbourne. The area was closed.

We arrived there for Locals’ Day where the value is exceptional and we were told our desired spot near the water wasn’t open.

“It’s 50 degrees in there. We had to close it. There is no way we can keep it cool.” This meant we had to sit in the middle of the large restaurant space. To some extent this negates going to dine on the water. But who could complain we were all finding it hard to cope with the heat.

3 Station Pier, or as the place seems to be called now, Nautical Restaurant has locals’ night on Monday and Tuesday when they sever a special locals’ menu. All dishes are 16.50 and include a glass of house wine.

This is the menu:-
Roast Pumpkin, Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne
Layers of fresh pasta, Roast Butternut Pumpkin, Baby Spinach and Nutmeg spiced
Ricotta Cheese. Topped with Napoli Sauce and Béchamel. Served with a Garden
Salad..

Homemade Chunky Beef N Burgundy Pie
Chunks of Tender slow cooked Beef, Onion, Carrot, Thyme, Rosemary and Red Wine Jus.Topped with a Golden Crust Pastry and Served with Beer Battered
Bad Boy Fries.

Chicken Parmigiana
Free Range Chicken Breast, Coated in Corn Crumbs, Parmesan and Herbs. Shallow
fried in Olive oil to golden brown. Topped with Napoli Sauce and Tasty Cheese.
Served with Garden Salad.

Fish & Chips
Snapper fillets in a Tempura Batter, Served with Rosemary Salted Bad Boy Fries
and our Homemade Tartare Sauce.

Our group has been twice so between us we have tried the full menu.

All is great. The only criticism is that the pastry on the pie was limp. (and I don’t have a photo of this) This is a common complaint from dinners. Crisp golden pastry appears to be something that is difficult to achieve in a restaurant kitchen.

The included wine is very drinkable and the service has been excellent on any night that we have been there. We will be back. I am hoping that the area by the water is open next time. Half the joy of being in such a wonderful location is to sit by the water.

When we sat in the centre of the restaurant there was some quirk of mirrors and I was able to watch the vehicles being loaded onto the Spirit of Tasmania.

However I turned and twisted I was unable to actually view them in reality. The whole event had to be watched in the mirror. I wondered if it could be nice moment in a crime novel.

Where:- 3 Station Pier
3 Waterfront Place
Port Melbourne

Phone 9646 6299

Locals Day:- Monday and Tuesday
Open:- 7 days a week, lunch, dinner and late.

You can check their full menu on their web site
http://www.3stationpier.com/

The CBD – Flinders Lane and a little magic

Melbourne — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:28 +0000

There’s magic in Melbourne. I found some in Melbourne’s CBD on Friday. The temperature was in the late 20s. Flinders Lane was partially closed for road works, and one side of Queen Street where they intersect was closed.

Flinders Lane was full of people, trucks, delivery vans, cars and roadworks. We worked our way around workmen holding ‘go’ and ‘stop’ signs. One road worker sneered at someone who came along towing a smallish yacht, “It’s a nice day so I thought I take my yacht for a drive around the city,” he announced. The length of this conveyance held up more traffic. There was noise, grinding engines, dust, jack hammers and loud voices.

I looked up and saw a beautiful window box on an upper window in Queen Street. I caused more congestion by stopping to stare.

It was magic thrown into the mayhem of Flinders Lane on a Friday lunch hour. It lifted of the mood.

Where:-
The corner of Flinders Lane and Queen Street
Melbourne CBD

Thomas Demand Photographic exhibition at the NGV

Melbourne — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:50:23 +0000

Thomas Demand is a conceptual artist where photography is an essential part of the end product. The photograph is then mounted on Plexiglass.

I got to see Thomas Demand’s exhibition, which is now showing at the National Gallery of Victoria, because the price was included in the ticket for Jeff Wall’s Photographs at the Ian Potter Gallery (see here). I knew nothing of Thomas Demand but eagerly went along with a friend.

As a conceptual artist he makes models and then photographs them.

Mostly his models are made from paper and cardboard.

Seventeen of these photographs are on display at the NGV, including a colour video with sound of furniture in a cafe on a ship being tossed about at sea.

If you go to the exhibition grab a ‘programme’ as you enter. This is an A3 sheet of paper folded to A5 size. The outside is blank not even Thomas Demand’s name is on it, so it is easy to miss as you go in. We did.

Here you get information on Demand’s thinking when he created the original models. Without this background some of the reasoning behind the effort put into creating the models can be unclear. And the models do represent an effort. They are meticulously finished and look, at first glance, to be a photograph of the real thing. “Control Room” is a good example of this.

“Bullion” is explained thus, “gold and paper have been inextricably linked since paper money was first produced.” The gold bars are made from paper and look like a stack of gold bullion.

On reading about Demand I found that he destroys all these model after he has photographed them. This seems a pity and I wondered with some, that appear so successful, he has the heart to smash them. But I guess they have served their purpose.

One of my favourites is ‘Clearing’. To construct 270,000 individual leaves were cut out of paper and other materials. It is a striking photograph that draws the viewer into its world.

These linked exhibitions, Jeff Wall at the Ian Potter Gallery and Thomas Demand at the NGV are good value at the price and well worth seeing.

What:-
Thomas Demand Photographs

Cost: $15.00 – students and pensioners $12.00
With the purchase of your ticket you get free entry to see Jeff Wall’s photographs at the Ian Potter Gallery in Federation Square.

Where:-
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda Road
Melbourne
Phone:- 8620 2222

Times:-
Until March 17th 2013
Gallery open Wednesday to Monday 10.00am to 5.00pm
CLOSED ON TUESDAY

Salvos Op Shop, Chapel Street, Windsor

Melbourne — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:35:07 +0000

Glamour isn’t the usual feeling you get when you walk into an op shop.

Yet, glamour and style is a vibe you get as you walk through the wide uncluttered doorway of the Salvos new op-shop in Chapel Street, Windsor. The display is all about style, well as much style as you can have in an op shop which from necessity has clutter. Most of the clutter here is in the back, so not immediately visible. The polished concrete floors give a touch of uber-cool!

Last year the Salvos moved from a more cluttered and tradition style of space on the other side of Chapel Street. This new, bigger area has given them chance to spread out and to make browsing easier. The clothes are well organized. The specials and the discount days are still there.

On Saturday when I was there all yellow ticked items were half price and if you bought two books you got a third one of a similar price free.

There are displays of music, including vinyl. On Saturday Bing Crosby crooned from the speakers – very relaxing while we sorted through the racks. He was probably for sale. Most of the music is.

I love the way they display the ties – almost like a bunch of flowers.

One wall is covered with photos giving a visual look at The Salvation Army in their early years in Australia. This is fascinating and I noticed several people studying it while I was there.

Where:-
The Salvation Army Store
111 – 115 Chapel Street,
Windsor, Victoria

Phone: (03) 9529 4542

Opening Hours:-
Mon – Fri 10am – 7pm
Sat 10am – 6pm
Sunday CLOSED.

Getting there:-
Train: Sandingham Line to Windsor
Tram: Trams 78 and 79 run the full length of Chapel Street between St Kilda and Richmond. If you are coming from the CBD by tram you need a tram number 8 or 6 or 72. These trams intersect with Chapel Street.

Jeff Wall’s photographic exhibition at the Ian Potter Gallery.

Melbourne — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:00:03 +0000

I went to this exhibition because photographs make up so much of our every day. We snap everything. A table we might buy, the cafe we’re in, the food we’re eating, our latest nail polish effect, our cat doing something silly and so on. We send these quick pics to our friends and family with a click of a button. We can also take a picture, enhance it and add effects with Photo Shop. It is wonderful how technology has advance! I wanted to see what else could be done with a photograph.

Photographer, Jeff Wall, has been described in the publicity blurb as ‘one of the most influential and outstanding contemporary photographers working today,’ he has also been described as a ‘photographic artist’.

Here are some of the photos that are on display at the Ian Potter Gallery courtesy of Google.
There is no photography allowed in the exhibition.

Most of these photos are presented as huge transparencies in a light box and this makes them wonderful. Once you have seen these you will never feel quite the same about a photograph on paper again.

There is such realism that you believe you are actually part of the scene.

Sudden Gust of Wind (after Hokusai) 1993. – Hokusai is Japanese artist.

This one is an example. It is enormous. Walk towards it, then take another step and you believe that you can step into it and join the people and feel the wind dragging at your clothes.

The paper flying about looks as if you could pluck it from them air. I loved it and thought I would buy a postcard to remember it. There is an A5 size reproduction but the effect isn’t the same without the light box. The photo is also on the brochure.

When you are there have a look at the hands of the figure in the bottom left.

The nails are beautifully painted with red polish. There is no face but the clothing makes the figure appear masculine.

Jeff Ward also like gunge – a sort of underside of life. This photo gives an example. Every detail, every line of dirt in the soap, is clear.

What:-
Jeff Wall photographs

Where:-
Ian Potter Gallery in Federation Square.
Cost: $15.00 – students and pensioners $12.00
With the purchase of your ticket you get a free entry to see Thomas Demand’s Exhibition at the NGV in St Kilda Road. He is a sculptor and photographer.

Time:-
Until March 17th 2013
Tuesday – Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm
Closed Monday