To Photograph, or Not to Photograph, that is the question! (and a good one too)

I have decided that I don't think it is very respectful to photograph food when out dining. There have been many many occasions where I have lugged my camera along to restaurants with the idea that I would be taking photos of the food which I ate, to then blog about it. Just like all those other food bloggers. But I cannot for the life of me, do it. Here are my reasons.

1. My camera ( new and totally sexy) is HUGE! I cannot think of anything more cringe worthy than pulling out my larger than life camera just to take a photo of my perfectly cooked Lamb rump, that is nestled beside the most amazing Moussaka I have ever had, even though the dim lighting of the low ceilings is totally dreamy. Not only is it embarrassing for me, but also for the person sitting next to me, sinking into his Shiraz Viognier.

2. Now here is a little trade confession. I have to admit, while working ( not in my current occupation) as a waitress, seeing someone pull out a camera during their meal without fail causes plenty of sly comments from staff ( not to their faces, I mean that's just plain rude). Just as the customer pulls out their camera/Phone/photo taking object you can almost hear the groan from staff members, and if you listen closely you can almost hear the chef muttering under his breath.. " while your correcting your zoom, my beautifully cooked fillet of fish, delivered in perfect timing to your table is now passed that moment of utter perfection and bordering on over cooked, and slightly cold". So knowing that from the other side makes me a little self conscious.

Do you think I may be over reacting? Well I could be this is very true. But I can't help but feel like every time I walk into a restaurant, (and hey when I eat out, I make it worthwhile!) that I am walking into someones house, sitting down at their dining table and enjoying their company. If you were at a friends house, you could still take photos of their food, but.. you would ask first right? So wouldn't it be appropriate to ask your restaurant first too?

"My sister says"

On my only day off I managed to go to "My sister Says" cafe in Port Melbs, and it was so so beautiful. One of those cafe's  you walk into and think "I wish this was MINE!". The walls are covered in many shelves and cupboards with trinkets and jars and just loads of little things everywhere. Beakers used for water bottles, and little tin buckets for the cutlery. Gorgeous little cakes, and a delicious brekkie menu. Tea pots hang in the windows filled with yellow flowers and there is a huge intricate painting on the floor, which reminds me of Shaun Tan's sketches in "The Rabbits". Jar's line the Brekkie bar filled with spices, home made jams and granola.

I really miss my sister and my niece at the moment. Whether it is because of winter, I'm working (A LOT), we just booked flights for November so I know it is coming, or maybe it is just a phase of now, but if my sister came to Melbourne, I would have to take her to this cafe. It is just so cute and all things lovely. 

My photos I took with my stupid phone just don't so it justice, so you must check them out on this beautiful blog.... HERE

Love

Find them on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Sister-Says/120474961322582?sk=wall

Sweet Architextural with Burch and Purchese, Bompas and Parr

I have been like a child at Christmas waiting for this event, and I can honestly say it lived up to everything I was hoping for! I would just like to point out early that I had not realised how much champagne was going to be given out at this event, and well it just kept coming! I have noticed now all the photo's I took on the night are really not as good as I had hoped ( or thought) they would be... I blame the Champagne.

My very good friend Kirsten and I lined up to go through to the Gershwin room at The Espy. We were given our passes which came on bright pink cord, and followed on throughout the theme of the night. Dramatic. Pink. A giant fishbowl sat on the bench producing pink bubbles which we were given a spoon full. It tasted like bubble gum! When we walked through the curtains into the main room, we were offered champagne from four beautifully dressed ballerinas. As we wandered around the bar waitresses walked through topping up our glasses and handing out some beautiful nibbles. Cheese and Vegemite popcorn, Black swans ( choux pastry swans filled with fois gras and grape jelly), Gin and tonic marshmellow's and Cucumber and Celery jellies. The waitresses all had their hair teased so high with fake birds nestled into them, the food was served on petry dishes and some cakes served on cricket bats. We could not get enough! Infact we ate so much!
Darren Purchese created an "Instant Ice cream station" armed with a kitchen aid and liquid nitro, producing tiny cups of Violet crumble ice cream, and Mango Passionfruit. At the other end of the bar Sam Bompas was turning out Plum and Riesling jellies. This was my favourite!
The boys got up on stage, and with the help of Master Chefs Matt Preston invited everyone to come look at the sugar wonderland they had created behind the curtain. There were 2 tables presented by Bompas and Parr, covered in jellies the shape of famous Melbourne buildings, each one a different colour. Then up the stairs a buffet of pastry delights lay awaiting to be eaten, made by Burch and Purchese. It was honestly like walking into Wonka Land. Macarons,  mousse cakes, tiny chocolates that looked and tasted like coconuts. There were trails of pink dominos that tasted like  white chocolate and berries. Mini beehives made of perfectly torched meringue.  I loved the pile of "soil" that contained lumps of chocolate covered in the soil. Many different little pots and cups filled with layers of creme's and mousse, caramelised bananas, I could go on and on.
It was an incredible night, for our eyes and our taste buds. It was both arty and delicious! We were even lucky enough to talk to Sam Bompas and quiz him on all his jelly knowledge, he even gave us one of their jelly moulds! each!

It is hard to explain all of the amazing items we got to eat that night, so I have provided a couple of badly taken photos! The next day I had the biggest sugar hangover ever!

Kirsten and I in our glad rags

Celery and Cucumber Jelly

Mr Burch and Sam Bompas

Pretty Ballerina with flower pops  all different flavour's!

This lady had a table covered in jellies for a skirt, and walked gracefully around the bar.

Each jelly had specks of gold leaf

"Melbourne" jellies

The trail of sweets

my stash!

Awesome goodie bag, with a voucher for the Burch and Purchese Sweet studio and some delicious treats!

My "Shrine of Remembrance" Mould ( now blu tacked to my wall)

So I hope you can sort of understand what we were so lucky to experience the other night. It really was one of the best nights out I have ever had! Cannot wait till next year's Festival now!

La Belle Miette

Today I went on a big mission to the city. It doesn't happen as often as I would like and usually once I am there and I've walked for ages, used a few different types of public transport, I sometimes wonder why I bother. But places like "La Belle Miette" is usually why I bother! I heard about this new place ( only 4 weeks old) in the Epicure part of "The Age" newspaper ( my favourite thing about Tuesdays). A tiny little patisserie on Hardware Lane. Surrounded by busy cafe's that are full of men in suits and woman who work in rather crazy high heels, of which I'm still confused on how they do it! Right in the middle of it all is this tiny shop of cuteness! So French and so girly, with white clean walls, pretty packaging and little macaron towers on display. I walked straight in and bought every flavour, as I'd already decided it would be rediculous trying to choose!

flavours like: olive oil & vanilla, ginger & macadamia, Cherry Blossom & Sake

Beautiful packaging and a "flavours card"

On further wanderings of website, La Belle Miette means "beautiful crumb" or "beautiful small things". 

"Our logo and gift box design were hand drawn by Melbourne graphic artist Kano Hollamby. The charms that hang from the brocade tell a little macaron story – the almond blossom, the cocoa bean, the pied or “foot” (the ruffled edge around the base of the biscuit formed when heat causes it to lift from the baking sheet), and the egg, whisk and stopwatch evoke the Promethean contest between man and egg that is French patisserie."

source 

This very hot afternoon during my city macaron mission, I also went to another place that sells these treats.... which I find it to be... and dare I say it... like the "Mac Donald's" of macarons. I come across so many reviews of these macarons... and I shudder slightly at the thought...  I just don't understand it.  It is beautiful places like La Belle Miette that remind me of that time, long ago, when life had no responsibilities, and I was back packing through  Europe. Sitting in a park with my pack, a few days old clothing, greasy hair, and the best french patisserie's laid out in front of me for lunch. I think we did a "take a bite and pass it around" style of eating back then!

So for anyone in Melbourne I definately recommend getting down to this beautiful shop... I'm hoping my next visit will be with my mother.

Now this brings me to the fact that I have quite a few macarons waiting for me in the fridge, and I'm reluctant to share them with anyone, but am also meant to be going to Tepanyaki tonight! OH the pain......

Raspberry

http://labellemiette.com.au/mac/