MFWF - Pt 2 - A potter, a chef, and winemaker - mm

Following on from my last post - The event at Shelley Pantons Studio was just a delight, a mix of locals and foodies, with Shelley getting on the wheel herself, see just some of the snaps I took on the night!

Well done to all!

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival - PT 1

March Madness is certainly upon us, and Melbourne always manages to cram the best of all tastes into this month... mmmm :) Food, Wine, Fashion, Footy, Comedy and Fast cars to mention but a few!

It was with great pleasure this year that I made time to participate in the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2011

Part 1 Monday 7th March 2011 - was a lovely intimate dinner for 25 or so in the "hidden" ShelleyPanton Studio in Middle Park.

With Matt Wilkinson of Pope Joan and Mac Forbes of the Yarra Valley, Shelley put on a fabulous evening showcasing the local artisans ideology of entertaining...

A feast was prepared, the table ware was made for the event, and the wine had arrived just days before! ( Mac had made some in Austria, and customs had just let it in the country in time!)

The tables were artworks in themselves, and pictures, olives, and table settings were cut fresh the day before!

More photos to come!

MELBURN - Bikes, coffee, prizes and a laneway - get ready!

You know I have a soft spot for Cafe Liason, the peace and quiet of this leafy laneway -

BUT it will not be so quiet at the end of this month, as a group of enthusiastic (and possibly fanatic) Melbourne Bike riders aim to make the BIKESHARE bikes a little more sexy... and enjoy our favourite coffee... but perhaps more importantly, get as many of the Blue Bikes ( 500) in a small laneway at the top end of the city... Join in, grab a blue Bike, your biggest smile, maybe some lycra?? and definitely a helmet and enjoy a LONG lunch hour... prizes and more to be won...

FOR MARCH 31st 2011 - see info above for this facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156762307712240 or read more here: http://www.fyxomatosis.com/

Could you be an award winner?

This morning I attended the Melbourne Awards Launch Breakfast, and was humbled to be around so many passionate people. Passionate about Melbourne! I sat next to John Bertrand - an inspiring man in so many ways, and his enthusiasm for all that he does is infectious - well it seems to be in the few hours since!

I won such an award back in 2008, and am so proud of the idea that I have personally contributed to the profile of Melbourne - locally, nationally and globally - the real Melbourne, the people of Melbourne that make it tick.. and their story's -past and present!

SO if you you know anyone, or think that you are up for the accolade and amazing alumni - follow this link...I know I have a few thoughts myself, and will fill you in soon... Melbourne inspires me - how about you? -

Visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/melbourneawards to download an entry form or call 9658 9348.

BROADSHEET CAFE is coming!! to MELBOURNE CITY

We are avid supporters of Broadsheet, and love seeing their take on the things we love about Melbourne... so as a direct report of Caroline Clements Broadsheet article today join with us, and probably too many others, as they open a little gem of this years Melbourne food and wine festival!

There will be much more said by others, but this is the Schedule of the Cafe operators starting NEXT week!!

Broadsheet Cafe Operator Schedule: Fri 4 - Seven Seeds Sat 5 - Five Senses Sun 6 - Dead Man Espresso Mon 7 - Market Lane Tue 8 - The Premises Wed 9 - Seven Seeds Thu 10 - Proud Mary Fri 11 - Proud Mary Sat 12 - Dead Man Espresso Sun 13 - Coffee Collaboration Mon 14 - Market Lane The Broadsheet Cafe will run from March 4-14 at 24 Crossley Street, Melbourne. melbournefoodandwine.com.au

Melbourne is 175years young

August 30, is known to insiders as Melbourne Day, 1835 was the year our home town was founded, as a boat sailed up the Yarra River, and this site was chosen upon to start a village.. little did they know what we would become!!

The Melbourne City Council of today has chosen to celebrate this milestone, by celebrating August! 2010 is  175th year of the city, 150th year of the Melbourne Cup, 100th birthday of our beloved Flinders Street Station, and 20th August is the 150th Anniversary of the fateful Bourke and Wills departure from Royal Park to find a northern coast line.

Next week is the start of the mayhem... good mayhem!! First mark for us is the Melbourne Day debate

That Melbourne is still the Foodies Capital - what would you bring to the debate!?
Indulge in the Melbourne we are so lucky to call home!

Happy Birthday!

Blek, Fish, Ned, and the Roo...

Its never clear as to who knows who, or even how the collective of artists come to be in Hosier lane at the Same time.. but when Internationally renowned creatives work alongside our local heros... you surely can only smile... no matter the context..