The Auction Rooms Cafe - North Melbourne

When Jentopia suggested we do Saturday morning breakfast at The Auction Rooms Cafe in Errol Street North Melbourne, I squealed with delight. Twitter told me the first scene in episode one of the latest season of Rush was filmed there. It's one of my favourite ever moments of Rush. (The scene is at the 1:34 mark of the video.)

The Auction Rooms Cafe is wonderfully rustic. Jen and I loved its ambiance. Sugar in positively antique tiny Heinz pea soup tins, flowers and drinking water in old long neck beer bottles (the only time I've ever drunk from a long neck beer bottle), pipes turned into lights hanging from the high ceilings, and amazing lead lighting features.

I'd loved to have captured the lead lighting clearer, but I was worried I was taking too many photos.

This is an artwork of colourful milk crates strung together, hanging with the slope of the roof in the courtyard.

Saturday morning was brilliantly sunny - it was nice to have the sun streaming in through the windows, providing us with delicious warmth.

The front counter is atop a baked goods cabinet – grainy breads, tarts and beautiful cupcakes. I fell in love with the flourless chocolate one with blue sparkly icing.

Though it's a bustling and uber trendy cafe, frequented by uber trendy customers (I need to rethink my striped hoodie and jeans arrangement for next time) the service is friendly and attentive. The male waiters are cute and unshaven, like they've just rolled in from playing a gig the night before. They wear a range of hats, jingly chains and bracelets, and I saw a kerchief tied to one waiter's wrist.

The menu combines breakfast and lunch and is available until 3.00 pm. It's a menu full of simple dishes – mostly eggs, stews, salads and sandwiches – made very interesting. Prices range from $6.50 to $19.50

Jen had the Opening Bid – toast with deep orange yolked free range eggs, field mushrooms, spinach, bacon and tomato. She said it was healthy and delicious.

I had the French toast. It was certainly the most unique French toast I've ever eaten. And quite possibly the best. It was made of beautiful fluffy bread stuffed with toasted coconut, drizzled with tamarind and maybe chilli sauce and served with vanilla crème fraiche, lime and coriander. It was sweet and zesty and rich all at once. Fantastic!

Jen said her coffee was so good it didn't need sugar.

My hot chocolate was great too – very chocolatey and no milk taste, though could have been hotter.

Jen and I had a great chat - about work and food and plans for new blog projects. I'm so glad I met her because of blogging.

We ate breakfast around 10.00 am, and despite me only having an election day sausage after bellydancing to see me through to 6.00 pm when filming finished and I was served dinner, it sustained me well.

Jen gave me a mix-tape CD, which unfortunately I'd left behind when paying yesterday. I called them to check if the CD was there, the staff said they had it at the counter, so this morning I went to collect it.

I couldn't resist another breakfast – so I got the Counter Bid – a vegetarian breaky with a side of smoked bacon. The Counter Bid contained the delicious poached eggs, buttery garlic mushrooms, roquette, pesto all served on a rosemary-parmesan baked polenta cake. This polenta was full of flavour, unlike so many bland and gluggy polenta dishes I've tried/cooked. Another awesome dish.

I think I've found my new favourite breakfast cafe. Can't wait to head back there soon.

Auction Rooms on Urbanspoon

My first YouTube appearance. Meeting the Rush cast.

Well, I'm holding my breath and posting me on You Tube. Reliving the experience of the Rush premiere. Hope you enjoy and have a laugh!

(Photo taken by Megan Burke)

So my first appearance on YouTube is a little ... ummm.... exuberant.

The lovely Hayley who came along to the Rush premiere last night was so kind to record all of our encounters with the boys from Rush.

In this video you will see Megan being sensible. And me not so. (Future employers - please note, I do not behave like this in the workplace - unless the Rush cast should be there!) I am usually quite calm.Though I was told today, I am always like a kid at Christmas.



I am so thankful I have great friends who appreciated my excitement! And recorded it. When the day comes that I become shy and reserved, I'll need this video.

Thank you :)

Good news Friday

I am exhausted! I have been sitting on the couch reading fashion mags and drinking moscato tonight. Nice.

Busy work day today and eventful night last night. Last night, I assisted someone who was very unwell before an ambulance arrived. It was at my first TV meeting.

Good news today, though. The guy from last night is well. And I received three parcels in the mail:

Some brooches by Lilipad Designs on Madeit

How cute are the pandas?!

My SIGNED Basement Birds CD

Haven't played it yet...but can't wait to do so!

A fantastic prize from the lovely Norwegian blogger Soul Princess

It's a postcard and book - the book is called The Glassblower of Murand. Can't wait to read it! Thank you!

Soul Princess does great YouTube videos, you should check them out. She is very sweet.

And today I also found out I was a lucky winner of the TV Week/Mix 101.1 FM competition to go to the premiere of season three of Rush on Monday night. There's a screening at the cinema! And the cast will be there!

You can't imagine how excited I am about this. In my entry I wrote that I want to meet Sam Johnson because I've been a fan of his for many years. Of course I'd love to meet Callan again, but it would make me so happy to meet Sam too. He has a gorgeous voice!

A couple of blogging friends are going too. Can't wait to see you Hayley and Jenna!

I really have to plan my outfit. I think I'm going to go girly. SO EXCITED!!!! I promise to post pictures on this blog! Squeeeee :)

Ron Mueck, my cooking, and obligatory shirtless pic of the Rush men

This blog entry contains photos of naked men. No really. It does.

This weekend was relaxing.

The days were rather productive considering the high levels of relaxation, and the so were the nights.

I've done a bit of study, a bit of tidying, a bit of cooking.

I have spent both Friday and Saturday nights multitasking – writing, drinking, talking to friends on the phone, eating and keeping a close eye on Sgt Brendan Joshua and Senior Sgt Lawson Blake. Someone has to.



Yesterday morning I met a lovely friend who used to work with me. We went to the National Gallery of Victoria to see the Ron Mueck exhibition and had an early lunch. We also went to a small craft market at the city library.

Ron Mueck was amazing. He is a hyper-realist sculptor who creates superbly realistic sculptures of people. They are so realistic and highly detailed you can see the folds of skin, the moisture of sweat, hair folicles and imprint of a palm on the face. The emotion in these sculptures made me curious. Each one tells a story. When I viewed the exhibition, I thought most of the characters, if you like, showed vulnerability, sadness and loneliness.

I did not take my camera, but I was surprised that security were allowing people to take photos of the exhibition.










Excuse my poor quality photos – they were taken with my iPhone. You can view better ones here on Flickr.

You can also listen to a podcasted interview about Ron Mueck on ABC radio.

One of the things I found interesting, and so did my friend, and we discussed this with a security guard, was the reaction by other visitors to the exhibition. It was like a separate exhibition. There were gasps and smiles and exclamations. A lot of children were there and were truly fascinated, not offended or scared. As one of the interviewees in the podcast says, at some gallery exhibitions, it's like being at wake, but at Ron Mueck's the atmosphere was so lively.

The sculptures look tactile, I imagined they'd feel just as realistic as they look. Visitors weren't allowed to touch the sculptures but there was a little box of a sample of a sculpture so we could get a feel for them. The sample was hard - fibreglass. Not soft and plump like skin.

Ron Mueck is brilliant.

I cooked a delicious vegetarian tart tonight. It has zucchini, cherry tomatoes, spring onions, asparagus, eggs and stinky taleggio cheese in it.







Here are a few photos of other meals I've cooked in the last week.



This is Mum's wonderful cooking. It's salmon with Asian dressing and greens. I had my salmon raw. This is the cooked version.

Lychee and moscato cocktail.

Frittata made with ham, peas, potato and cheese.
Roast duck red curry - the most delicious curry I've ever made.

Later I am going to do some more research about the ethics of researching online contributors, while watching the new series of Underbelly.

I've completed my article for DiVine. Back to work tomorrow. Life's good.

I love Rush.

It's Thursday night and I have just remembered that I cannot wait until Rush returns to TV.

I also remembered that I haven't told the world outside my Facebook and Twitter accounts and my 'real life' about my love for Rush. Ok then, it seems I may have told the world.

I love Rush.

It's filmed in Melbourne.

It has witty dialogue.

Hot boys in police uniforms.

Action scenes.

Rodger Corser.

Callan Mulvey, Callan Mulvey, CALLAN MULVEY!

What's not to like?

Here is how much I love Rush.
















I love Rush.

Please note:

The above pictures were taken at Southern Cross Station, the Channel 10 studios in Melbourne, and the Rush premiere at Hoyts Melbourne Central.

I had a Rush theme birthday party thingy. Friends came over and we watched Rush.

The above pictures were also taken in moments of extreme silliness and idol worship on my part. Even the ones where Callan Mulvey wasn't actually there in real life.

The end.