Public holiday Monday

Public holiday Monday, I love you. Especially after the frantic week last week and before the doubly frantic work week (three days) ahead.

I had a sleep in, did some washing, talked to the lovely Luscious Llama on the phone in preparation for my Sydney trip on Friday, packed some lunches...

...and generally rested. I completed two draft articles and another two are in preparation.
 
This weekend, Future Music Festival + Top Gear Live have been on in my suburb. I could hear them both - lots of doof doof and revving engines. I don't care for either but I do love living in the entertainment capital of suburbia.

I went to Fraus for brunch. And ordered the usual classic hot chocolate...

 

And I had a new crepe (well, one I haven't eaten before):

Ham, eggs, cheese and bechamel. Oh how I love eating bechamel.

Over brunch, I fielded childrens' stares with polite yet tired smiles, and browsed Yen magazine, featuring a musical favourite, Julia Stone.

I was pleased to see the gorgeous artwork of Bec Winnel in Yen. I went to school with her.

I also cooked a pie for last night's dinner, and the week ahead. It's going to be busy, I tell you!

It's an easy pie, with a chicken breast and half a pack of frozen vegies.

Aussie stirfry is pretty boring. Carrots, corn, beans, maybe squash, cauliflower and capsicum. No bean or bamboo shoots.

I chopped a leek instead of an onion, plus a fat clove of garlic.

Softened them in olive oil.

Chopped a sad looking squash from Mum's garden.

And used kitchen scissors to cut the chicken. Kitchen scissors are the best invention ever.

All of the ingredients went on the stove to cook for about 30 minutes on low heat. I seasoned them with vegeta stock powder.

Nope, didn't make my own pastry. Nor is it low fat. It's a pie of convenience.

I let the filling cool slightly before putting it on the pastry.

And brushed the top with melted butter, baked for 30 minutes.

 Delicious!

While having dinner, I flicked between the evil antics of Paul Robinson on Neighbours... (he's kind of sexy in an arrogant old man way)

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Remember the sexy/evil relationship between Paul and Izzy? Those were the days.

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And this street showdown between Susan and Izzy.

 

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...and the where are they now? special on A Country Practice on Channel 9.

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They don't make TV shows like they used to.

Have a great week!

Power shopping with Sydney Shop Girl

I met the wonderful Sydney Shop Girl (SSG) today! She was in Melbourne and we spent four hours together. I can confirm she is every bit as nice and beautiful in person as she is on her blog.

We crammed a lot in. But unfortunately we didn't get a photo of us together :(

First stop after I picked her up from her hotel was Fraus Crepery and Chocolat in North Melbourne. I take all visitors there.

SSG and I ordered the obligatory hot chocolates. She had tiramisu and I had the classic (I never deviate).

There was major food envy on my part when we ordered different brunches. While I had a delicious crepe called Salmon and Goat (a crepe topped with salmon and eggs and filled with avocado and goats cheese) SSG had an oozy, melty three cheese crepe with a side salad of roquette, muscatels and walnuts. Both were delicious but I seriously wanted to eat all of hers!

Salmon and goat crepe

My hot choc and SSG's three cheese crepe with salad

We chatted. It was so wonderful to have got on so well after 'meeting' via blogging earlier this year. She is very wise. And stylish.

The next stop was two boutique stores on Victoria Street - Kids in Berlin and Call Me Madam. I love these stores because they stock local designer jewellery and clothing which is high quality and relatively unique. SSG loved these stores for the same reason - she found some beautiful necklaces there that were so different to chain store buys.

There were two things I saw and fell in love with, and had to buy. As I once said to my Mum in a store, 'my life will change when I buy these things'. I bought a Dick and Dora brooch set - catching butterflies - and a Lavallier porcelain bangle. I love the floral detail on the bangle and have since seen a brooch in the same print which I may just have to buy!

Dick and Dora brooch set. It's adorable!

Lavallier bangle, worn on my left arm.
For its true beauty (and mine too!) you need to see it in real life.

After shopping up a weather warning in Victoria Street, we headed to a mall where we power shopped for one hour. I found a nightie to wear as a dress come the warmer weather (fingers crossed I'm brave enough to do so!) and a necklace at Sussan, and a pair of foldable ballet flats and a clutch bag from Target to take to a ball I'm going to in two weeks time.

The nightie-dress. I loved the print!

My clutch - stylish AND big enough to hold everything I need!
Who would have thought it's from Target?!

Ballet flats. Can I just wear these all night at the ball!?!

Last stop was Wild Jam in Flemington which is the sister store of Call Me Madam. I love buying cards and gifts at Wild Jam. SSG stocked up on chunky necklaces and I bought two cards.

Cards - I recently bought a friend the rainbow girl card,
and when I gave it to her, she was wearing the same colours as rainbow girl!

The retail therapy and time with SSG was definitely what I needed - I feel 200% happier than yesterday. SSG imparted some wisdom. Retail therapy puts things in perspective.

Sydney Shop Girl certainly lived up to her moniker - she has endurance to shop - and I am very happy she agrees that a Melbourne shopping experience exceeds a Sydney one! It was so much fun meeting her.

Sunday comfort food

My cold symptoms I mentioned last night have worsened into a sore head, shivering, tiredness, sniffles and chesty cough.

Time to make some chicken soup. I'm so tired that I considered buying a tin of soup to get me through. I had second thoughts about the tinned soup, I don't know what's in it.


I fried five chicken wings in garlic, hot olive oil, lime juice and two chillis. Once part of the chicken skin was brown and crispy, I added the chicken stock and let simmer for about half an hour. Then I added the vegies. They are only frozen vegies, but sickly times call for convenience vegies.

I have eaten two cups of the soup and it was delicious. So flavoursome. And beats tinned soup. I can feel it working on my cold already.

And hows this for resourcefulness! The leftover bolognaise from the bolognaise pie earlier in the week needed to be eaten.

I didn't feel like eating it in its original form, and didn't want to waste it, so I added a glass of water, a tin of mixed beans and two chillis, and I now have a hearty soup.

I ate it for a late lunch.

Earlier today my friend S and I had brunch at Fraus.

Here I am.


The waitress told me that she loved my blog entry about Fraus, especially the picture of the rainbow in the cup of hot chocolate.

S had poached fruit on crepes with marscapone.

I had a duck curry galette. It had lychees.

We both had mugs of hot chocolate.

I bought this.

It is white chocolate with strawberries.

We then went to the North Melbourne Market. It had heaps of stalls and S and I agreed that we will return in August, cashed up, ready to buy lots of goodies. I loved the skirts, felt scarves and knitted hats.

How cute is the packaging!

And of course, we adored the jewellery. Here is my purchase.

It is by a designer called Oh Deer. I love the detail of the painting. Here it is close up.

Aside from feeling yucky because of the cold, it was a nice day. It was lovely to catch up with S, we've been friends for 11 years and though we don't see each other frequently, every time we do catch up, it's like we've never been apart. Though we always take the piss out of each other, she's such a supportive and kind friend. She's newly engaged and it was very exciting seeing the ring and talking wedding plans. Congratulations S and C :)

Brunch at Fraus Crepes and Chocolat

Today I had brunch with a friend at Fraus Crepes and Chocolat (345 Victoria Street North Melbourne).

My friend is Adrienne, today was the first time we've met in person. She gave me the gorgeous necklace for my Vogue Forum Kris Kringle last year. It is by Wiyomu. I adore the necklace and wear it a lot.


It was great to meet Adrienne - she is really nice and we hit it off straight away. I look forward to catching up with her when she is in Melbourne again, or I am in her state.

Here we are at Kids in Berlin.


Fraus has just reopened after a month of renovations. I missed it when it was closed. I have always loved Fraus, but after its makeover, it looks so elegant! So grown up! It now also stocks a large range of chocolate

For those not familiar, the highlight of Fraus is the hot chocolates - thick like custard and an array of flavours. I have tried imitations, but none compare to Fraus in North Melbourne. Others have been weak and watery. Fraus is rich and delicious.

The staff at Fraus let me take photos and blog about my time there today.

Adrienne and I both had the classic hot chocolate. I actually always have this because I am not good at making a decision from a large menu. Other flavours include raspberry, stawberry, tiramisu, hazelnut, white chocolate and many more.

You can see the rainbow of the feature wall reflecting in this hot chocolate.


The food at Fraus is delicious. There is a great breakfast menu featuring crepes with fruit or traditional hot breakfast type toppings - my favourite is the salmon hollondaise, some savoury galettes for meals later in the day - I will remember the roast duck curry inspired galette for my next trip, and a plethora of dessert crepes.

Adrienne had the crepe topped with seasonal fruits, marscapone and pistachio crumble.

She enjoyed it. Apologies for the dimly lit picture - no flash that time.

I had the same crepe as Adrienne, but with berries instead.

It's not often I choose the sweet crepe, but I enjoyed this one. I think I'd like it with some maple syrup over the top too.

As I mentioned, the cafe has undergone a makeover. The atmosphere is really beautiful. It reminds me of a bar now.

There are big communal tables with bench seats. The counter is glamourous. The service is still fantastic. The menu is also fantastic, but has gone more glamourous.

This is where the hot chocolate is churned. It's made in a slushie machine. I want one in my kitchen.

This is the feature wall. It's filled with Fraus chocolate mix that you can buy and make at home. I love the colours and the abbreviation of the flavours. 'Strwbry'. 'Rspbry'.

Here are gourmet chocolates in the counter.

And here is a wall of chocolate filled with things - nuts, berries, citrus. I want.

I love the way these berries look in the white chocolate.


I recommend Fraus Crepes and Chocolat if you are after a decadent brunch. You will be really pleased you ate there!