Melbourne Asian Noodle Night Market 2013

My 'fear-of-missing-out' (FOMO) led me to the city last night to experience just for myself how good the Melbourne Noodle Night Market actually is. This event has seen a lot of popularity in Sydney, and for the first time it ventured down to Melbourne, the self-confessed "food capital". And boy am I glad it did! 

The two week long event, is run based on the Asian hawker-style markets, with more than 25 different stalls serving up all things Asian. Yum! Some of Melbourne's favourite eateries, including Longrain, Izakaya Den, Mamak and my personal favourite Chin Chin, have been (and will continue to until Sunday 30th November) serving up some of your favourite Asian dishes. Anything from dim sims, dumplings, banh mi, pho, chicken skewers, pork sliders and even dessert; its all here under one roof... well not really a roof. All here, in the one garden. That's Alexandra Garden. 

Please excuse what will be quite a long post, as my experience at the noodle night markets was that good, I just had to do a blog post about the environment and of course the food. Cause food makes the world go around, doesn't it?
If you're thinking of seeing what the hype is all about, or you just want to grab a quick feed whilst in the city, do yourself a favour and get there before 7pm. The lines for each stall when I arrived were already long, and as night fell, they only got longer. 

The first stall I attacked was naturally Longrain. I had heard such good reviews about this restaurant and was dying to give it a go. Naturally the line was quite long, but it moved quite steadily which was assuring for my hungry hungry belly. It must have known it was in for a treat, because when I got close to the front it rumbled as if to say "feed me now". 
There were three dishes on offer at Longrain, and while it was a very tough decision (as it always is) I opted for the Hot and sour salad of pork, glass noodles, mint and coriander (pictured above). 
Full of anticipation, and salivation I dug deep and wide, trying to put as much on my fork as was humanly possible. The dish was as its name suggests, hot and sour. Spicy and full of acidic punch. It was a refreshing cold dish, and a good way to escape the heat of Melbourne weather. The glass noodles were coked well, tossed through with bean shoots, mint, coriander and the usual suspects of chilli, and a hint of garlic. While my friend thoroughly enjoyed it (she is still raving about it today) I wasn't quite sure whether it was my hunger or the fact that I had a severe case of FOMO that made me continue eating. I found it overpowered with acidity, and the large mint leaves were a bit of a put off for me, as I am not the biggest fan of mint. If however, you are a lover of a fresh, 'vietnamese-esque', sour salad then this is the dish for you. For me, it was a bit of a hit and a miss. 

(Top to Bottom: Nama Udon Noodles with Wagyu Beef; Hihou Dog; Den Fried Chicken) 

My next order of business was Japanese. Onwards to Izakaya Den. 

They had three options on their menu, and not wanting to miss out, we ordered one of each. 

The Nama Udon Noodles with Wagyu Beef was sold as being 'handmade' noodles. I love anything that's handmade, it seems to taste rustic to me and there is something about that word plastered on a menu that draws me in. Unfortunately this dish was lacklustre. The noodles itself were delicious, though I still have my doubts whether they were authentically handmade. But this is pretty much where my love for this dish ends. The broth was quite bland, and lacked depth in flavour. The beef was slightly chewy, as if it had been overcooked. I'll give them points for presentation but even that is clutching at straws. 

What the previous dish lacked, it made up in abundance with the Den Fried Chicken. This is a dish I had wanted to try, not just for its great reviews by others, but by its appearance. The deep fried chicken was piled high, topped off with a generous dollop of Kewpie mayonnaise as well as a wedge of lemon to garnish. I also topped it off with Tonkatsu sauce to give it that extra sweetness. It was delicious, to say the least. Each chicken piece, was juicy and succulent on the inside, yet golden crunchy on the outside. The mayonnaise added the creaminess to the dish, while the tonkatsu sauce cut through the richness of the mayo, adding a sweet, yet sour kick. Just amazing, thinking about it makes me salivate. 

Last but not least was the eastern version of a hot dog, the Hihou Dog. I cannot exactly pinpoint what type of sausage it was, but like Asian sausages, it was slightly sweet, which was accompanied by a hot dog roll that was savoury yet had an added sweetness you would not normally find in western breads. This was truly your typical Asian dish. While the dog itself was quite 'sweet', it played with my mind as I am used to a savoury sausage and bread with sauce combination. The sweetness would have been too much had it not been for the pile of what seemed to be cabbage piled on top to cut through the sweetness to remind my brain that I was eating a savoury dish, and not a dessert. 

If those dishes weren't enough to make you salivate, let me introduce you to the Pork Slider by my favourite restaurant Chin Chin. I arrived at the Chin Chin stall with a full belly, and could not pass by an opportunity to eat food from this amazing establishment. As I was quite full, and needed to save space for dessert I opted for one of their smaller dishes, the Pork Slider. I had been told to try this as it was absolutely amazing. And it did not disappoint, one bit! Imagine slow cooked pork, so soft it flaked apart at the slightest touch and melted in your mouth, topped with sirirach sauce (chilli sauce) and a burnt chilli mayo wedged between two buns that had been slightly toasted so it was crunchy yet soft. Of course the usual suspects were also there, a 'slaw' of cabbage, carrot and cucumber, which added a refreshing touch to the slider. It was de-li-cious! I would have happily gone back for seconds, and thirds had it not been for my highly anticipated dessert which required some stomach space. 

(Left to Right: 'Singapore Sling' including coconut gelato, coconut lime brownie, kaya; 'Monkey Balls' including coconut/peanut gelato, fresh fried donuts, jackfruit creme pattisiere, toasted coconut; 'En-Thai-Sing' including pandan coconut sorbet, sticky rice, fresh mango, salted coconut cream)  

When it comes to gelato, Gelato Messina is the new kid on the block, and it is making heads turn. It has certainly made my head turn after what my tastebuds experienced last night. 

At the night markets, the Messina stall had on offer sundaes as well as the gelato/sorbet sold separately  Whenever sundaes are an option it is too hard to say no, and given that each one sounded better than the next I was hard pressed to refuse. This stall had by far the longest line, and wait but the end was the reward in itself. 

Luckily I had my two friends with me so I was able to sample a few of the sundaes on offer. In one word, orgasmic. The Singapore Sling was deliciously smooth, in particular the kaya which I was told is a palm sugar caramel that had been flavoured with pandan. It was so good I could have eaten a whole tub of the Kaya alone. My own Monkey Balls was also another winner amongst us. The coconut/peanut gelato was smooth and soft. The toasted coconut had been toasted perfectly and some sugar had been added to make them clump together into balls that melted apart in your mouth. The creme pattisiere of jackfruit looked suspiciously like condensed milk at first, but eaten in isolation, you get the hint of jacfruit lingering in your mouth. I would have liked a bit more injection of jackfruit but its all minor complaints. The donut was golden and crunchy and dense on the inside. It had a nice soft coat of sugar which injected me with even more sugar. 

My favourite sundae probably had to be the En-Thai-Sing (get the play on words yet?), this was solely because it wasn't as sweet as the others. The pandan coconut sorbet was ah-mazing; smooth coconut sorbet with a dash of pandan flavouring, just enough to linger in your mouth after consumption. The addition of the sticky rice was a winner in my eyes, as it tore through the richness and creaminess of the sorbet and its accompaniments. Mango is a winner in my eyes regardless, so that was a nice refreshing addition. 

Overall Gelato Messina lived up to its hype. In hindsight I just wish I hadn't stuffed my face before it otherwise I would have not only enjoyed the sundae more (I really struggled to finish, but finish I did) as well as probably fit more of it in. 

If you're a lover of Asian food, this market is the place for you. It has everything that you could possibly want, and all made by some of the top Asian restaurants in Melbourne. 

While the crowds may be a bit of a turn off for some, please, please push through and your tastebuds will not be disappointed. This market is the perfect avenue for Melbourne to show off, and demonstrate why we really are the self-proclaimed "food capital". 

Cambodian Travel Diary

"Sues-day" (literally meaning hello) 
As a lover of history, when I think of Cambodia, I immediately think of Angkor Wat. It has been on my 'bucket list' of things in the world I need to see, and on my last trip to South East Asia, I finally got a chance to cross it off. 

My story begins with a few days spent in Vietnam and opting for a new method of travel. This meant crossing the Vietnam-Cambodia border by bus. A cheap, yet arduous trip the destination is completely worth the sore bums and tired legs. Unfortunately for this traveller, the bus broke down en route and myself and the passengers were left stranded in a small town that was suffering from a complete black out. This must sound like the trip from hell, but if you persevere like I did, the ending completely makes up for the beginning. 
After being stranded in the middle of a highway, the passengers of the first bus were crammed onto the next bus to pass, which was a stressful experience complete with personal sickness and tears from yours truly. 
Let me tell you I was very glad to reach Phnom Penh and our hotel. 

Like all south-east Asian cities, the capital Phnom Penh was a bustling city with the roads completely stagnating with thousands of motorcycles, and cars trying to get their way through any possible gap in the road. If you look past the chaos on the roads, it is a wonderful city, and the Cambodians are of a generous and kind sort. As a first time traveller to Cambodia, I did not know what to expect, and I relied on my travel sense that has gotten me through all my other travels around South-East Asia. 
A tip for would-be travellers is to organise currency exchange before arriving. The currency in use here is the USD, with their local currency being used for transactions below $1USD. Finding a currency exchange is easy enough; go to any shop you see selling phones. They must not make much in terms of sales because every single one supplements their income by acting as a currency exchange. They check the rates on their phones, and on the stock exchange channel and then type out your balance on a calculator. It is as simple as 1, 2, 3. 

My journey through Cambodia started in its capital Phnom Penh. I found this city quite overwhelming. Maybe it was because of the upcoming elections which meant that there was an influx of supporters riding around the streets in their thousands, or just that it was raining on a number of occasions. But I found this city quite flat. 

After visiting the Tuol Seng Genocide Museum, which is a must see for travellers wanting to understand Cambodia's bloody history (as well as the Killing Fields a few hours out of the city centre), I found that there was not much to see. Other than the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh is your typical capital city. There is a lot of culture to see, thats for sure, but the expanse of the city itself, overwhelmed by the number of tourists as well as the traffic was not a winner in my eyes. 

But never fear, what Phnom Penh lacks, Siem Reap makes up for it bucketfuls.

As I travelled on a mini-van, with a few fellow Australians onboard which was enough to make me miss home slightly, I was full of anticipation for what was to come. Siem Reap is a small town in comparison to Phnom Penh, and is almost completely reliant on tourists visiting its claim to fame Angkor Wat. And this tourist, came here just to do that. See Angkor Wat (at sunrise, to my boyfriends belligerent pleas) and tick it off my bucket list. This was my opportunity to do so.

  

WHERE TO STAY/ I stayed at the Bopha Pollen hotel, which is a small boutique hotel. It comes complete with a pool, which was a nice escape from the stifling heat. This hotel was good value and was conveniently located within a 10 minute walking distance to the main part of town. Other upper-market places to stay would be Royal Crown Hotel & Spa or Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa

THINGS TO DO/ When you come to Siem Reap it is to see one thing. The Temples of Angkor Wat. Each morning thousands of tourists (including myself and begrudgingly my boyfriend) wake up before dawn to make the morning pilgrimage to the temple to watch the sunset. The journey to the site was made via tuk tuk (the local mode of transport); it's pitch black with the only light shining from the headlights of the tuk tuk itself and the weather is refreshingly cool easing the journey. This is a must see when you're here. Go at sunrise, it's busy, but the eerie calm atmosphere, the anticipation and the beauty itself, is a magical experience that cannot be replicated anywhere. And on the plus side, after watching the sunrise, you can get breakfast right next to the temple and admire it from afar before entering. 
Visitors to Angkor Wat are meant to dress modestly, ie. wear pants and cover your shoulders. Not all tourists adhere to this dress code, but it is polite to do so if you're planning a trip here. Spare yourself half a day to explore not only Angkor Wat but the entire Angkor Archaeological Site, you will not be disappointed. Do yourself a favour and organize a half day/full day tour complete with a guide who will guide you through the park itself and explain the significance of every nook and cranny (as well as help you take your photos!). 
For those seeking relaxation rather than exploration, there is an abundance of activities, including shopping (squeal) as well as taking a boat tour of the Floating Village- this in itself takes several hours. Other places to visit include: the Angkor mini golf (a source of fierce competition between myself and my boyfriend), the Crocodile farms where you can feed them fish, live chickens and live ducks, as well as even orphanages for that extra humbling, and philanthropic touch. 
At night, the streets of Siem Reap come alive with a night market, and music blasting from the bars and restaurants so this is definitely a source of attraction for all tourists after the sunset. 

EATING/ There is an abundance of eateries in the main part of town. Anything from your hamburger, to your pasta, to your curry, and even the seafood barbecue.. it's all here. And it is cheap. 
If you're headed out for dinner, give one of the seafood barbecue restaurants a go. You will know which one they are; theres a king's ransom of freshly caught seafood displayed outside to entice customers, and if that's not enough, the smells wafting from the hot coal BBQ is enough to make you salivate. 
Any good meal is not complete without dessert, and I would recommend getting a banana, chocolate crepe from the stalls that sell it on the street at night. In my pictures above, you will see just one example. I purchased one from this boy, every night I was in Siem Reap and on the plus side, it was dirt cheap ($1USD) so naturally I had to buy it.. right?

The captivating thing about travelling through Cambodia, was how humbling the experience was. Like most South East Asian countries, Cambodia does not have a lot in terms of infrastructure, money etc, and this is evident at the makeshift homes built on the sides of the highway. But money does not mean everything, and the Cambodian's are proving just why. They are some of the nicest people that you will encounter, and they are always keen to share their life stories if you are willing to listen. Overall Cambodia is a beautiful country, rich in history and culture, and this traveller would gladly return again soon. 
A tip I could give is to try not give money or buy trinkets off the kids selling them on the street. Like a swarm of bees, if you buy something from one child, they all descend upon you and you'll find it hard to escape their pleas and even grabs. 

Hoi An Travel Diary

My lack of blog posts about travel has provided me with an opportune time to take a trip down memory lane and vicariously relive my latest and most recent trip to South East Asia. #throwback
For a university student, South East Asia, is not only a beautiful way to dip your toes in the pool of travelling, but its appeal has to be its affordability. It is dirt cheap and my Australian dollar is sure to go far every time. The combination of these two things- affordability and the culture, brings me back time and time again. 
[And I have nearly conquered every country of South East Asia which I am damned proud and happy about]

Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the name Hoi An, literally translates to "peaceful meeting place". On my first trip to Vietnam, I did not have the time to visit, and on my second visit, I was damned sure I was not going to miss it. 

The city itself is small in comparison to its sister cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty. As a lover of all things historic, I was dying to see the 'old town' that has been so beautifully preserved. And it did not disappoint. 

The buildings were small and quaint, reminiscent of my own Chinese heritage. As if on cue, suspended above the streets were the typical chinese lanters, of all sizes and colours. At night, these were magical, supplementing the soft light emitting from the shop fronts, restaurants and street lighting. 

Travelling on foot, the streets seemed packed with like-minded tourists wanting to bask in the atmosphere. 

There aren't many 'night-markets' open at night, but most shops and restaurants continue trading late at night hoping to sell some items to the large number of tourists. 

If you walk a little past the hustle and bustle of the 'old-town' you will find yourself at the river. It is dark, with the only lighting provided for by the restaurants, and shops situated in this primo position along the river. It is a must to see this at night, as it is truly magical. 

Along the river, you will also find little children and the elderly selling little candles placed in cardboard boxes. Spare some loose change (costing the equivalent of $2AUD or less) and purchase one of these candles. The aim of this is to make a wish and place your purchased candle on the river, to drift away. This may sound cheesy to others, but it is an inexpensive way to help the kids/elderly make a quick buck, as often they spend hours on the street trying to make some extra money. 

WHERE TO STAY/ Despite it being a smaller city, there is an abundance of choice when it comes to accommodation. I stayed at the Vaia Boutique Hotel, which is a quaint, family-owned hotel located in central Hoi An. With the old town and river in close proximity (about a 15 minute walk) and the beach within riding distance, it was a perfect and affordable choice. The staff were friendly and very helpful, especially when I contracted a sickness (completely unrelated to my stay at the hotel). And the rooms were spacious, clean, and modern; and with cable TV, to tie down those nights when I could not sleep. 

If you want to be located closer to the beach, perhaps try the popular Sunrise Hoi An Beach Resort or the Golden Sand Resort & Spa. 

THING'S TO DO/ My favourite day was spent renting a motorbike and riding to the little-known beach of An Bang. Located in the opposite direction of popular Cua Dai Beach, this beach is perfect. It is not as populated, so you are guaranteed to have a relaxing visit without the bustle of a thousand tourists descending into the ocean. It's also perfect for those photo opportunities where you don't want anyone photobombing your holiday snap!! 

Other attractions include, visiting Cua Dai Beach which is heavily populated past 5pm when all the locals (and their families) descend into the ocean for a nice refreshing dip post-work. Being a smaller city, to get around is easy- rent yourself a bike (most hotels will have some on offer for guests) or hire one from one of the may vendors on the streets. It is a cheap and wonderful way to discover everything that Hoi An has to offer. 

A tip for you budding travellers, Ha Noi is the place for tailoring. Suits, dresses, pants, shirts, they do it all. If you're looking for that next suit, visit Yaly Couture; my boyfriend made his suit and three business shirts done here and they finished it within 2 business days, and the quality was impeccable. 

EATING/ I am a big believer in the saying "when in Rome, do as the Roman's do" and I have adapted this ethos into all my travels. What does this mean? When it comes to food, I stay away from the western classics such as the burger, pasta, sandwich etc. So the places I would eat are located on the very streets themselves. I wouldn't recommend this to all travellers, as I know most people are worried about bacteria, food handling and so forth. But for this iron belly, I always try to eat on the streets wherever and whenever I can. It is the best way to get a taste of everything Ha Noi has to offer. 

For those concerned souls cringing at the thought of having to eat food on the streets, fear not there are many places to eat in Hoi An. In fact a number of the shops in the old town, and along the riverside are restaurants! Yay for food. I cannot remember names of specific places to eat, but take a stroll along the river and there is a restaurant to suit anyone's appetite. 

For those who have been to Ha Noi you will know of the beauty and magic I speak of. Ha Noi is just a wonderful place to visit in Vietnam, nay it is a MUST travel destination for all travelling to Vietnam. It is a small city full of cultural significance. It has been preserved for a reason, and go travel here to find out just why. 

Tigerlily

I have recently returned from my 5 hour long shopping expedition (that's right 5 hours...) to Chadstone the Fashion Capital. Not only am I known to 'live' there, one of my favourite events just so happened to be on! Chadstone VIP night. This night only comes around 4 times a year (once for each season) and this was my last chance to sneak in a (not-so-quick) shop, trying to snap up a bargain. 

I had every intention to get prepared and capitalise on the savings by doing my christmas shopping. In fact I did purchase some gifts for relatives and friends, which helped alleviate my angst about spending so much. 
But of course, no shopping trip is complete without grabbing a few goodies for myself. Although I will note that I felt quite reserved in my spendature this time around. 

This post is purely about my favourite purchase of the night...

The Tigerlily Aaniya Dress. I found this gem in a surf shop and it was literally love at first sight. Imagine the archetypical beach scene, two lovers on opposite ends of the beach, running towards each other, embracing each other in a tender moment. That was exactly what happened! I kid you not...
I saw the dress from afar, attracted by its elegant simplicity, walked steadily towards it, and inching closer and closer my attraction grew, and when I stood in front of it, I knew it was love.  
Pathetic as it sounds, I have a very serious relationship with my clothes. 

This dress, is as my friend would say, the "perfect summer dress"! 
The brand is Tigerlily so for those who have heard or know of it, you know you're set for all things summer and for the beach itself. While I am usually attracted to the bohemia/floral patterns of the brand, this dress was something different. 
It was simple; it has stripes [TICK] and is in an ink/white colour (#monochrome trending) [TICK]. What can I say, it just ticked all the right boxes for me. 

To describe the dress itself: it is a trapeze style dress, that features a loose cut and V-neck front and back. It is made from a French cotton which is a very breathable, and comfortable material for those balmy summer nights here in Australia. It is loose, but not too loose to make you feel like you're wearing a paperbag. 
It is more fitted, complementing the body shape of its wearer perfectly. The way in which it is slightly fitted will complement most body shapes and while stripes have been known to be unflattering for certain body shapes, this dress buries that faux pas. 
And what I absolutely love about it, is that it can transition effortlessly between day and night. Dress it down with a pair of cute sandals, or even thongs, or dress it up with clogs or heels and voila you're ready for a night out! 
[Although it is not a dress you would wear to a formal occasion]


A. Perfect. Summer. Dress. is all that I can say about this Tigerlily beauty and I for one will be regularly outfit-repeating with it. 

For those wishing to purchase this dress, or others from the Tigerlily range visit their website here. 

Summer Essentials

With summer fast approaching, I thought I would take this opportunity to do a post about MY summer essentials. 
Like the shopaholic and avid reader that I am, I am always on the lookout for the latest trends, and items dominating this summer season. I have stumbled across a few summer 'must-haves' and thought I would share it with you all. 

Triangl Swimwear

If you're searching for the perfect pair of bikinis, then look no further than this Australian based company. You can thank me later! 
I have no clue where the triangl swimwear craze for summer came from, but I am so glad that it did. There is a wide variety of swimwear options available here, and the pieces take what is a classic triangle shape to the next level. 

I have never been one to purchase triangle bathers, and I have always opted for the strapless version as I find that it suits my body shape better. But in turning over a new leaf, I am glad that I chose the Penny Wanderlust bikini (shown below). The bikini's came yesterday and describing them as amazing is doing them an injustice. 

What's better than amazing? Amaze-balls? [I'll just go shoot myself now for using that word, heck its not even a word. As you can see I am a stickler for the perversion of the english language!] 

The bathers are made from a neoprene material, which is great as neoprene is so in this season. The top is described as a 'bra-kini', so it makes a transition to the triangle shape quite easy for someone like me. The top is made in optic, with a white mesh overlay with black stitching and contrast binding. A direct contrast, providing that needed pop of colour, the hipster bikini bottom is also made of neoprene with zig-zag stitching.  Absolute perfection. 

And for those who still cringe at the thought of triangle bathers, never fear the good people at Triangl Swimwear only recently brought out a bandeau style bathers (pictured above). These are cute, and have a quirky and funky addition of an exposed zip at the front. Judging by my instant affection towards these bathers, it is only a matter of time before I purchase myself another pair. 
As I always say, you can never have too much of a good thing. 

St Tropez: Gradual Tan Moisturiser & Tan Optimizer

I know there are so many self-tanner's on the market, but since discovering St Tropez I have never looked back. The products are quite pricey in comparison to others, but quality is everything when you're trying to self-tan. And St Tropez prides itself on being a "luxury brand" providing its users with a tan worthy of any European summer. So don't flake out and get something cheap and risk looking like an oompa loompa or an incorrect shade of orange, try St Tropez out and you will not be disappointed. 

When I tell people I use tan optimizer, they always laugh. Laugh all you want I say, because it has helped me protect and prolong my sun-kissed, tanned skin. And I lurrveeee a good tan for 365 days of the year. 
The 'Tan Optimiser' is described as a 'body butter' and is normally used after applying a self-tan. I however have never been one to use fake tan, so I merely use this product as a moisturizer after a long time exposed to the sun. It is a great rich moisturiser, made up of a combination of body butter and natural oils that leaves your skin feeling as smooth as a 'baby's bottom', ensuring that you keep that skin glow for longer. 

The 'Gradual Tan' is the only self-tan like product I have ever used on my skin. Again it is sold as an 'everyday body moisturiser' and I opted for the medium/dark tone as it best suits my skin complexion. This product is the perfect balance of moisturiser mixed with a "touch of bronze." It is infused with aloe vera so will leave your skin feeling smoother while building up a gradual tan. On the plus side, it has an amazing smell that will force you to smell yourself time and time again. 
[A tip I could give you would be to make sure that you wash your hands after using the gradual tan. I made the mistake of not wiping/washing my hands after applying it and found that over time, my palms were going a brown/orange tinge.] 

For the full St Tropez collection, as well as more information about their products click here. 

Do not forget to make sure that you apply sunscreen to your body as well, when exposing it to the sun. Slip, slop, slap they say! These products cannot be substituted for sunscreen, so do future self and your skin a favour and put on that sunscreen. 

Espradilles

These shoes have historical beginnings as nothing more than peasant shoes, and are usually made from a canvas material. Peasant shoes no more though, espradilles are one of the it-shoes at the moment and have been taken from its humble canvas beginnings to its more mature and sophisticated leather cousin. And this blogger is in love. We've all seen those Chanel Espradilles. They're beautiful, yet ridiculously priced. Never fear, Seed Heritage have produced a worthy replica of those highly-sought after shoes. 

These espradilles shown above, are made of leather with exposed stitching on the sides. It is described as: "leather upper/leather lined with jute rubber sole." They're no Chanel, but they will do! 

These shoes, or the like are perfect for summer. It can be worn with a cute pair or shorts, pants or even a summer dress. And they are so comfortable you will want to wear them 24/7; rain, hail or shine! 

For those wanting to snap up these espradilles from Seed, look here. They're called the Ava  Leather Espradilles, and have recently been re-stocked. So be quick before they're all gone (again!). 

Mimco Pouch

These are not exclusive to summer, but a signature Mimco Pouch is a necessary accessory to have all year round. The wonderful people at Mimco have me hooked. Just look at my collection of pouches- I have them all, from big, to small, from black, to red, to green, and from matte leather, to shiny leather. 

To say that I have an obsession is putting it lightly. 

These pouches act as a perfect coin purse, or even a small clutch when needed. 

Mimco have recently brought out larger versions of their signature pouches, and I have already capitalised on this and brought myself one to play as a makeshift clutch for my nights out. 

The quality of the leather is also noteworthy. I have had my smaller pouches for several years now, and with the correct protection and care, it still looks the same as the day I first brought it. 

Visit the Mimco website here and browse the entire collection. They can be pricey but again quality is everything. 

|BEST CAFE IN MELBOURNE?| Coin Laundry

Let me introduce you to Coin Laundry! 

This little gem is tucked away in the quiet, leafy streets of Armadale, located conveniently right next to the station. Like it's name suggests the building was once a Coin Laundry, turned into what I believe is one of the best cafe's in all of Melbourne. Thats right; I said it. If you're a Melbournian or have visited our great city, you will know of our cafe lifestyle and our claim as being a melting pot of culture and cuisines (among a number of other things; #sport). So it's a fairly big call, but it is one that I will make nonetheless. 

Coin Laundry is a bustling cafe, always bursting with patrons wishing to get a seat. So a tip is to try go earlier rather than later; so wake up that little bit earlier and get down to snap up a sought-after seat here. If you do find yourself in line, make sure that you see one of the waiters and put your name on a waiting list. I made the mistake of standing in line and awkwardly waited for a long time before knowing that there was even a list! But never fear, while you wait there is an side section with a few wooden stools and the waiters are more than happy to serve you coffee while you wait. 

Onto the food! The food here is of generous abundance. Coin Laundry has an extensive list of breakfast options, lunch options, and specials that change regularly. 
Despite the vast array on offer here, I always gravitate towards the same dish time and time again. 'The Coin Laundry Breakfast'. 

NOTE: in the picture above I chose to add mushrooms to the breakfast, another favourite addition of mine. 

It is the perfect marriage of ingredients on the one plate; a combination I have not been able to find elsewhere in my numerous food expeditions. Smashed avocado, roma tomatoes, bacon, beetroot relish, spinach and poached eggs with a generous slice of toast. Could it get any better? For this blogger, no, it cannot. 
This dish is my all time favourite combination. It is generously big, and often I cannot finish it, but the combination of ingredients is just too good to pass up each time. It is a simple concept, similar to a 'big breakfast', but it is a concept done right, time and time again. 
The bacon is twisted and pierced onto skewers (perhaps for presentation sake) but while the skewers are often burnt, the bacon maintains its crunch around its edges, and its firm chewy saltiness in the centre. The smashed avocado smooth and slightly salty, contrasted beautifully with the sweet relish of finely diced beetroot. The tomatoes are grilled slightly, yet are soft but manage to maintain their shape, falling like an avalanche when cut. And the eggs poached to perfection with the oozing yolk impressing each time. Like I have said (to all that will hear me), this dish is simple, but it is when simple dishes are done to this quality that I am really impressed. 

And don't get me started on the coffee here. Every time I have been to Coin Laundry I always order the LARGE coffee (skinny flat white is my poison of choice for those of you wondering) and boy is it huge. The coffee is just how I like it; strong, bold, fragrant and rich in flavour and in size. I will admit that I can get lost in the thousands of coffee types on offer- different types of beans, types of roasts etc- I get so confused. But I can tell when coffee is done right and when its done wrong. Here at Coin Laundry the coffee, in all its enormity, is done right. 

The quality of the food here, and the attentiveness of its staff make Coin Laundry a buzzing establishment in Armadale. If you come on a weekend for breakfast or lunch expect to have a wait for a table. The wait is worth it! And the number of dishes on offer, each sounding more delicious than the next, is sure to make you want to go back for more. 
I am glad that Coin Laundry is no longer a place for locals to do their washing and laundry. And judging by the number of people that go through the doors, and the popularity of the food, the cafe is surely here to stay. 


Coin Laundry
61 Armadale Street
Armadale

[RECIPE] Death by... Nutella

#domesticgoddess Nigella Lawson has done it again. 

To cure my boredom I decided to do a little procrasti-baking on the weekend. And I am very glad that I did, although in hindsight, my waistline is regretting it now. 
Here is the recipe for a Nutella Cake.... that's right, a nutella cake. Stop salivating, and go and make this cake. It is hands down one of the best things I have baked all year (and I bake a LOT). 

Nutella Cake ala Nigella Lawson

(Recipe serves approx. 8) 

Ingredients

for the cake

6 large eggs (separated)

1 pinch of salt

125 grams unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)

400 grams Nutella (1 whole jar) 

1 tbs Baileys liqueur (or any liqueur you have handy or alternatively water)

100 grams ground hazelnuts

100 grams melted dark chocolate

for the icing

125 ml double cream

1tbs Baileys liqueur

125 grams of dark chocolate

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4/350ºF. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites and salt until stiff but not dry. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and Nutella together, and then add the Baileys (or whatever you're using), egg yolks and ground hazelnuts
2. Fold in the cooled, melted chocolate, then lighten the mixture with a large dollop of egg white, which you can beat in as roughly as you want, before gently folding the rest of them in a third at a time.
3. Pour into a 23cm/9 inch round greased and lined springform tin and cook for 40 minutes or until the cake's beginning to come away at the sides, then let cool on a rack.
4. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the cream, liqueur or water and chopped chocolate, and heat gently. Once the chocolate's melted, take the pan off the heat and whisk until it reaches the right consistency to ice the top of the cake. Unmould the cooled cake carefully, leaving it on the base as it will be too difficult to get such a damp cake off in one piece.
5. Ice the top with the chocolate icing. 

To decorate the cake I used fresh strawberries placed on top, as well as broken up kit-kat to line the edge. These are optional, but the cake can be decorated to however you desire. 

[Another shortcut to this cake, is to purchase pre-made icing (Betty Crocker has a delicious one on offer). This decreases the mess that needs to be cleaned up and is hassle free!] 

It is an amazingly dense, moist cake with soft undertones of chocolate hazelnut flavour. Like all flourless cakes, it is not fluffy and light so don't be expecting that when you make this. 

When I made this cake, I left the middle slightly gooey as I prefer my cakes to have that slight ooze to them when I am eating it. But as per the instructions, a tip to know if the cake it cooked is to pierce the centre and if the knife comes out clean that its spot on. 

• And make sure that when you're making this cake have someone who loves to lick the beaters and/or spoons handy. This is something I have never done in all my time baking, so lucky I had some willing volunteers to do so. Waste not!