Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts

13 September 2012

Local Treats

Italy is know for its pizza and pasta, England for its bangers ‘n’ mash, America for the Apple Pie, France for their pastries well now its Australia’s time to shine and showoff out national treasures.


Moreton Bay Mud Crabs

Queensland is renowned for its beautiful beaches and known as the Sunshine State. A local delicacy from the Moreton Bay region is about to be discovered the Moreton Bay Mud Crabs.  

They inhabit tropical to warm temperate waters which is mostly along the eastern coast. They are quite easy to catch though tying them up is the most important so they don’t escape. They are best enjoyed fresh just simply boiled until the shell turns red with a little lemon. However, there are amply recipes to enjoy these local treat.

Due to such high demand for the Moreton Bay mud crabs it is required in Queensland to hold a permit when holding female crabs.


Morton Bay Mud Crab, Queensland
Morton Bay Mud Crab, Queensland


Harry’s Café de Wheels.

If you want an authentic Australian pie and you are in Sydney then there is no better place than at Harry’s Café de Wheels. Their signature pie is the ‘tiger’ which is a stack consisting of a chunk beef pie, mash, mushy peas and gravy.  They are perfect for anytime time of the day where for lunch or a midnight snack these pies definitely will not disappoint.

With a long history initiating from the man himself Harry Edwards his amazing business idea has lasted the test of time. Now classified as a ‘quintessential Sydney icon’ in December 2004 by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and is included on its register. It has received the thumbs up from multiple celebrities who visited over the years including Frank Sinatra, Sir Richard Branson and Elton John.

'Tiger'  signature pie at Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Sydney
'Tiger'  signature pie at Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Sydney

Original spot of Harry's Cafe de Wheels at Woolloomooloo, Sydney
Original spot of Harry's Cafe de Wheels at Woolloomooloo, Sydney


Melbourne Coffee

Melbourne is known for its small alley ways covered in graffiti, boutique shops, food, arts and culture. Coffee is also one to add to the list as their signature drinks with the aroma filling the streets. It hosts annual exhibitions and competitions all in the art of coffee including Detpak Australian Barista Championships and Melbourne International Coffee Expo. Coffee art is a must and some of the most talented and internationally recognised artists are located right in Melbourne. 

Coffee is imbedded everywhere in the cities culture with guided tours showcasing the best places, explaining the history and brewing process. It intiated on Bourke Hill when the Melbournians were challenged to develop “cupping skills” inciting the craze of coffee.

For the Melbourne weather which has a mind of its own, there is no better comforter than a freshly brewed coffee. With 400 street cafes, there is definitely one which will fit your tastebuds in a heartening atmosphere.  



Amazing coffee art, Melbourne
Amazing coffee art, Melbourne



Barossa Valley

The Barossa Valley region is located in South Australia and is a landmark region known as Australia’s most famous wine region. Home to internationally regarded wine writers, judges, retailer, consumers and producers as well as 5-star food and dining.

This region is the longest unbroken lineage of winemaking and grape-growing families with some entering their seventh generation. In a response to the pressure from the European wine industry to develop an internationally recognised system and name the Barossa Valley was born.  It has 160 years of European cultural traditions embedded into the methodology and production it has been labelled as an old New World wine region.

Over time it has developed its own unique varietal style, the Barossa Shiraz. Including their most expensive and sought after embodiments, Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace. 



Barossa Valley Region vineyards, South Australia
Barossa Valley Region vineyards, South Australia



Little Creature Beer

Australians are perceived as a laid back country with a stubby in one hand and a pie in the other. There are heaps of established beer brand in Australia and around the world but now there is a new one Little Creatures which is taking Australia by storm. Located in Western Australia, Fremantle this locally brewed beer is certainly one to try. There signature beers are the Pale Ale and Bright Ale which is their take on purely Australian style ale.

Developed by a group of friends who have a love for great beer and it was a life long dream to develop a beer which they wanted to drink, a hop driven pale ale. Inspiration was taken from pilgrimages through the US and turned into reality of establishing a brewery.

Little Creatures Brewery’s are open everyday except Christmas and happily give customers a tour of the building, the whole production process with of course some essential taste testing.  There is a restaurant onsite to enjoy your ale with some local food.



Little Creatures Brewery at Fremantle, Western Australia
Little Creatures Brewery at Fremantle, Western Australia





Crocodile Meat

For a taste of unique Australian cuisine which is very popular and now even catching on overseas is crocodile meat. It is a succulent white meat with a texture of fish but a taste similar to chicken. There are so many delicious recipes and ways to try this unique meat to suit your tastebuds. Native to the Northern Territory,  this something that you have to try when visitng.

It is a great source of nutrients as it is high in protein and best when cooked in the same manner as lean pork or chicken. 



Crocodile Skewers, Northern Territory
Crocodile Skewers, Northern Territory



Tasmania Salmon

Tasmania is truly a seafood lover’s haven place. There are multiple competitions and exhibitions for enthusiast to showcase and try Tasmania’s foods including the Hobart Fine Food Awards. Surrounded by ocean it produces the high quality Tasmania Salmon. Rich in omega-3 and countless other health benefits this delicacy is one healthy local treat.

It can be served raw, slightly salted, smoked and of course cooked to your taste.  It is used highly in sushi and other Asian cuisine. There is the option of both saltwater or seawater depends on preference. Another delicacy is the Tasmanian caviar which highly regarded around the world. 



Tasmanian Salmon, Tasmania
Tasmanian Salmon, Tasmania



9 March 2012

Melbourne Fashion Festival


Melbourne Fashion Festival March 8 to 15. 2012.
By David Reyne

Melbourne is set to prove once again that it is the fashion capital of Australia. I realise such a statement is likely to put Sydney’s fashion followers noses’ out of joint but, get over it. Besides, they’ve got the world’s most beautiful harbour. And better weather… well, sometimes.

From the 8th to the 15th of March, the Melbourne Fashion Festival will transform the city’s infamous Docklands precinct into an utterly glamorous destination.  

The Fashion Festival itself never fails to jolt the nation’s grooviest into an excited frenzy. Whether it’s the sight of all those alluring catwalk angels strutting like newborn mules, the sizzling creations of the design elite, the often chaotic concoctions worn by the hysterical in attendance, or the cocktail fuelled, doof-doof powered after parties, the Melbourne Fashion Festival can always be relied upon to create an unforgettable spectacle.


And Melbourne, as always, rises to the occasion. Visitors might like to take advantage of the best coffee in the country, throw back a few silky lattes and stay awake for the duration of the festival. 

But, if coffee seems to pump too many amps to your already frazzled nerve ends, soothe them by turning left down any city lane where you’ll find impossibly hip bars hidden away in candle-lit bolt holes. 


As for Docklands, well, Melbournians remain undecided. Edgy, angular apartment buildings vie for space with the colour crazed facades of numerous corporate headquarters while, at their feet, row upon row of sleek yachts and polished cruisers are fringed by freeway ramps, container ship commotion and big city shadows. It’s well worth a ponderous look.

No-one should ever need an excuse to visit Melbourne but if your life requires an injection of style, stoke and stimulation, Melbourne Fashion Festival week could be the mainline hit you need.

10 February 2012

Melbourne: What you need to know

The City
In Melbourne there is a multitude of laneways just begging for exploration. Discover trendy bars and cafes, plus exciting street art. In the more refined arcades you can browse through couture boutiques, discover new designers and spend up big at vintage stores. After hitting the shops kick back with a coffee at one of the many cafes in Degraves Street, the cobbled bluestone laneway from Flinders Street to Flinders Lane. 

Melbourne Laneway
Sport
Melbourne has a calendar packed full of sporting events. The Australian Open Tennis Tournament kicks off the year with 2 weeks of heart pumping tennis action in January; March brings the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Albert Park (just east of the city); winter offers AFL games each week at the MCG or Etihad Stadium in the redeveloped Docklands and the year caps off with Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival. Sunlover Holidays enjoys a great tradition of offering packages to the Melbourne Cup each year. Choose from entry with reserved seating to marquee packages including lunch and drinks. 

Melbourne Cup Carnival
Shopping
The city centre offers QV, Queen Victoria Market and the GPO with a offer a range of shopping options from budget to designer. Treasures are to be found in the laneways and alleyways, so don’t be scared to lose your way, as you might stumble across a gem. The best way to navigate the city is by the free city circle tram. On the fringe of the city centre is Bridge Road in Richmond, home to many high street factory outlets; Gertrude Street in Fitzroy offer eclectic clothing labels and Chapel Street in South Yarra and Prahran offers boutiques, designers and high street stores. Don’t miss Topshop, the first of the famous British fashion chain stores to open in Australia. There are also several large shopping malls offering the chain clothing stores and department stores in the suburbs of the city. To learn from those in the know, take a shopping tour of the best spots in the city. 

Tram outside of Flinders Station
Music
There is a thriving live music scene in Melbourne. Inner city hipsters enjoy intimate venues in down city laneways or above a corner pub in streets such as Brunswick in Fitzroy. East of the city rock, folk and indie bands can be found playing in the trendy suburbs of St Kilda, Windsor and Prahran. Chapel Street in particular is well known for nightclubs, bars and restaurants that fill the streets each Friday and Saturday night.

Comedy
Continuing with the trend of enjoying live entertainment comes Melbourne Comedy festival. Each year in March and April comedians from around the world take to Melbourne to enjoy one of the largest comedy festivals in the world.  If you can’t get to the city in autumn, you can still enjoy comedy all year in the smaller venues such as Comedy at Spleen.

Melbourne
Art
Spend an afternoon strolling through the halls of the National Gallery of Victoria’s international collection or the Victorian Arts Centre. For outdoor art fused with architecture walk through Federation Square. If you prefer discovering new art then head to the laneways to find street art and small galleries offering local artists. 


Dining
Food and wine is a passion in this city. Visit Lygon Street in Carlton for great Italian fare, Lonsdale Street in the city for Greek food or Little Bourke Street in Chinatown for Asian dishes. Travel in March and you can be a part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Over 250 events are open to the public, including markets at Southbank, Federation Square and the Docklands. There are master chef classes, cooking displays, wine tastings, degustation dining events, five course brunches, international cuisine evenings and chocolate making classes.