Checkout the BHP Billiton Ramble. This great charity event is on Sunday, 9th Oct 2011 and is a fun thing to do with family and friends. What a great way to see most of the iconic or historical attractions in Perth on a Sunday and at the same time helping a worthy charity cause, https://www.rotaryramble.com/page/beneficiaries
One of my favourite places to visit for all things Italian is Enoteca Sileno in Carlton North.
Enoteca Sileno was founded in 1953 and quickly established a reputation in Australia as an importer of fine Italian food and wine.
Since then the business has grown and diversified and it now has a retail showroom and restaurant where you can sample traditional regional foods and wine. ``Our respect for authentic artisan production, focus on regional specialties and commitment to excellent quality are our assurance to our customers that they will get nothing but the best at Enoteca Sileno and Enoteca Vino Bar,’’ says John Portelli, the proprietor.
I especially enjoy attending Enoteca’s cooking classes held on the upper level.
The cooking teachers are always interesting and approachable and the most recent cooking class by Tony Chiodo was very entertaining.
There was plenty of conversation and tasting while Tony cooked his cucina naturale – primavera.
Next. author of the cookbook Crave, Maureen McKeon will conduct a chocolate affair that promises to be a wickedly seductive cooking class.
She will showcase festive sweets such as chocolate nougat studded with green pistachios, homemade panforte and a bacio semifreddo.
Saturday, November 15 at Enoteca Sileno’s cooking school from 10am to 1pm. Price: $90.
Phone to book or visit Enoteca’s website for more details The class will be assisted by Adelina Pulford, the Enoteca Vino Bar pastry chef.
The shop is also fully stocked with Italian Christmasgoodies so bring your shopping bag along!
The next time you are enjoying a meal in a restaurant or café, spare a thought for the homeless.
From November 10 to December 24, 2008, try to visit eateries that have partnered with StreetSmart and make a small donation to help the homeless.
StreetSmart Australia was established in 2003 to support and strengthen smaller, grassroots community organisations helping the homeless, frustrated by the lack of action and support from Government
For the six weeks in the lead-up to Christmas, StreetSmart partners with restaurants to ask diners to make a small donation to StreetSmart on their bill. Every table is asked to add $2 or more to their bill (less than the price of a coffee).
It’s a simple idea that adds up to a big impact on the lives of people who are homeless.
So when you are planning a night out, book at a StreetSmart participating restaurant and encourage your fellow diners to dig deep and leave a donation on your bill.
Participating restaurants and cafes in Victoria include Agrodolce at Forest Hill, Pettavel Winery and Restaurant in Waurn Ponds, Arintji and Chocolate Buddha at Federation Square, Melbourne, Libertine in North Melbourne, Livbait at Docklands, Lord Cardigan in Albert Park, Khe Sanh Asian in Springvale South, La Petanque at Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula and Windows on the Bay in Mordialloc, among many others.
I have attended many plays by The Melbourne Theatre Company, the oldest professional theatre company in Australia.
Founded in 1953, the company is a semi-autonomous department of the University of Melbourne.
Producing up to twelve plays in a subscription season, it is not only Victoria’s major theatre company and one of the major performing arts companies in Australia, but one of the largest theatre companies in the English-speaking world.
In 2009, the MTC Theatre, the Company’s new performance home, opens on Southbank Boulevard in the heart of Melbourne’s cultural precinct.
I am eagerly looking forward to attending many performances in the new 500-seat Sumner Theatre.
There is also the 150-seat Lawler Studio, which will allow the Company to develop edgier works with new writers.
With the Company continuing to stage works at the Victorian Arts Centre’s Playhouse and Fairfax Studio, the Melbourne Theatre Company now has access to the widest range of venue sizes to suit any play it produces.
The Hypocrite, MTC’s last play for 2008 is on from 8 November to 13 December and tickets for the 2009 season are now on sale.
The first play will be Don Juan in Soho, from 4 January to 23 February.
The National Gallery of Victoria has been displaying art works for the enjoyment of the community since 1861.
In the mid1990s, the gallery acknowledged that its St Kilda Road building could no longer successfully meet the demands of its growing collection and extensive exhibitions schedule.
The Victorian State Government agreed to an extensive redevelopment of the site, and also contributed towards the funding of a second NGV building at Federation Square.
Visitors now have two wonderful NGV buildings dedicated to bringing art and people together.
The magnificent Art Deco exhibition has just ended, but currently exhibiting is No standing only dancing: Photographs by Rennie Ellis.
A major exhibition featuring the work of renowned Australian photographer Rennie Ellis (1940-2003) opened at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, on 31 October 2008.
No standing only dancing: Photographs by Rennie Ellisexplores Ellis’s remarkable vision of the world through candid documentary images of contemporary Australian society.
The exhibition runs from 31 October 2008 to 22 February 2009.
This site introduced me to the inaugural City Romp in Melbourne. I registered at the last minute and wasn’t really sure what to expect, besides knowing that all funds were going to the Burnett Institute to aid medical research.
For someone who travels by public transport about twice a year, I jumped on the tram six times in one day, walked until my feet were sore and visited areas of Melbourne I hadn’t seen before, such as the bowling centre at Melbourne Central and King’s Domain.
It was a fun way to get some exercise on the weekend.
Note: This is a new and exciting event for Melburnians or visitors to our wondeful Melbourne. Checkout www.cityromp.comand see how the teams visited 50+ places of interest in Melbourne on Sunday, 14th October 2007 and at the same time have fun in the City Romp using your mobile phone and SMS the correct answers. A must for the family and friends!
I missed the Sunday 19th Oct 2008 Melbourne City Romp and heard it was a fantastic bigger and more exciting event!
Nazaaray country retreat is a vineyard and bed and breakfast, a place to visit to soothe the soul, drink in the tranquil views, as well as delicious award-winning boutique wines.
Winemaker extraordinaire Paramdeep Ghumann is the only winemaker in Australia who wears a turban and his passion is creating fabulous wines.
``The word `Nazaaray’ means beautiful visions, sometimes the sort that you see after enjoying a few glasses of our wine!’’ quipped the irrepressible Paramdeep.
The Good Food and Wine Show is all about tantalising recipes, new taste experiences, exquisite wines and cooking demonstrations – all the ingredients for a fantastic day out.
Work up an appetite while sampling the best Australian produce and impress your guests at your next dinner party with the creations you learnt from the experts!
This year’s show is just over and it was full of exciting new events.
I especially enjoyed the after-dark session which had a sophisticated vibe.
Crown entertainment complex is full of fascinating restaurants, including the exquisite Nobu, recognised worldwide for its innovative modern Japanese cuisine.
Owned by chefNobu Matsuhisa and his business partners actor Robert De Niro, producer Meir Teper and managing partner Richie Notar, Nobu is a visual and culinary delight that should be experienced by everyone,
Bistro Guillaume is owned by Guillaume Brahimi, the award-winning chef and proprietor of Guillaume at Bennelong in the iconic Sydney Opera House. With the promise of exquisitely crafted cuisine which is delicious to the palate, in a stylish and contemporary setting that is pleasing to the eye, diners are sure to leave Bistro Guillaume feeling content, nourished and Guillaume, happy
Newly opened, Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons has been inspired by a vision of a third millennium Roman-style trattoria (usually an inexpensive or informal restaurant or cafe specialising in Italian dishes), to illustrate a contemporary idea of Rome within the heart of Melbourne
My other favourite restaurants at Crown include Number 8, the Brasserie by Philippe Mouchel, Breezes, Koko, Silks, JJ’s Bar and Grill and Waterfront.
And while you’re there, check out the designer boutiques and stores, theatre and entertainment options.
La Luna Bistro’s website is user-friendly and fun to read. Drool over chef/owner Adrian Richardson’s creations in the menu section and try to decide between grilled bull boar sausage with potato aioli and crisp garlic for brunch or five-meat bolognaisewith organic Nicola potato gnocchi and shaved, truffled pecorino.
For lunch or dinner there’s crackling-wrapped roll of roast pork with Tuscan style cabbage, roast duck,garlic green beans and cherry jus and much more.
Read Adrian’s page or attend his cooking class and learn to cook like him!
The Australian Artist & Talent Register is a free database and noticeboard especially designed to help aspiring and accomplished artists, actors, dancers, musicians, models and fashion designers to showcase their talents and gain local, national and international exposure.
I like its beautiful masthead and surprise, surprise. You can read my latest review from the Melbourne theatre world.
CEO of Amanti Gourmet Coffee Bernard Goston is driven by a passion to sell the best coffee and he developed Amanti in 1991.
I met Bernard before the company became the big operation that it is today and recall how he made me a double cappuccino with French vanilla froth on top and hazelnut Frangelico below.
My favourite Amanti coffee is the Colombian organic coffee, mmm, smooth and aromatic.
Amanti also makes teas, drinking chocolate and syrups and if you operate a café or restaurant, they will show you how to serve the most wonderful coffee.
My favourite arthouse cinema in the heart of Lygon St, Carlton, Cinema Nova is where I go to escape and be entertained when the weather is too hot, too cold or when I just need to chill out.
The seats are luxuriously comfortable, I adore the deep purple colour scheme and there is plenty of leg room, even in the smallest of the 11 cinemas.
Before or after the movies, check out the shops and cafes in Lygon Court where the Nova is, or visit Borders and browse through the books and CDs.
Before you know it, it’s time to buy a coffee and a tasty morsel from Kelvin at Gloria Jeans and head upstairs to the movies.
Buy a Privilege Card and watch a movie for only $11.
