How to: Get off Jury Duty

I was recently reminded of this hilarious 30 Rock ep because my friend L. has been called up for jury duty!

I know, I never thought it actually happened to real people! So anyway, to get out of it I suggested she take a tip from Liz Lemon and dress as Princess Leia.

But apparently when you go it's best to look smart - they don't want people who actually understand the logistics of the case to be on the jury!

Have you had to do jury duty before? What was it like?

Recipe: Moroccan Feast

Lime Yogurt Cake with Rosewater and Pistachios: Click the links below for delicious, tried and tested moroccan recipes from the feast last weekend.

As promised, my recipes from the Moroccan feast I threw for my Mum's birthday last Sunday...

The nine guests there were very lovely about the food, so I can only guess that these recipes are winners!!

We started with dips and bread; I made a really unusual Turkish dip called 'Muhammara' - it got the best reviews.

Then we had a Moroccan Lamb Tagine, recipe from French chef Trish Deseine... it worked so well and doing it the day before (as suggested) really allowed me to be free to chat and have fun. Also leaving it over night; the flavours intensely developed and the lamb soothingly fell apart in everyone's mouths.

Finally dessert (as pictured above) was a Lime Yogurt Cake with Rosewater and Pistachios, it went down very well... but a tip: make 2 batches of the "Syrup" it's nice to have it on hand when finally serving the cake.

So that was the successful feast - if you're looking for an easy meal to cook for 10 or so people - this is it.

What meals have you been enjoying lately?

Choose-day: Tea and Reading Day

Well the time between that last post and this one lapsed incredibly quickly!

Over the weekend I was busy preparing a birthday feast for 10 family and friends in celebration of my Mum's b'day; recipes, images and details in next post!

But for now, I'm going to refill my cup of tea and catch up on some reading:

The Selby: Cool kitchen, "Anne, Aimee & Nathan's home in Darlinghurst, Sydney."

• "Kumar" in the Whitehouse?
• An adorable NYTimes love story. This line melted my heart: “Every night I would take the feelings inside of me and try to bounce them off a star,” he said, “hoping that energy would reach her, and maybe somehow she would know that I was thinking about her.”
• The tale of an NY phantom bread-maker.
• Style deconstructed by fashion blogger (and The Sartorialist's girlfriend) Garance Doré.
  

Did anything exciting happen over your weekend?

Bruno Called Our Prime Minister Hot

Yep, it's true... he said so on national TV!

What do you think?

Let's Change the Tune.

I've been buying some actual CD's lately and let me tell you I feel like a martyr.

Not only that, I forgot the joy in actually opening up a CD case and popping a beautifully covered CD in - instead of a burnt one labelled carelessly "Annie's Hits of November", if I even get around to labelling it!

So what I've been listening to lately?

Madeleine Peyroux's Bare Bones.

Amy Whinehouse's Frank.

Both are great artists. I once went to Peyroux's concert 2 years back and was by at least 3 decades the youngest person there! But I loved it anyway... so I'm an gran in a young girl's skin!

(P. bought me the great Amy Whinehouse one, after I made one comment about wanting to buy one of her albums! He's a sneaky Mr!)

What's your old lady confession? Love knitting? Or prefer a cup of tea and a biscuit instead of a hard night of Kate-Moss-worthy clubbing?

Talking About Eating...

I'm currently updating my appallingly neglected blog at a great cafe in my area called, "Desmond and Molly Jones" - yes, very wittingly named after the Beatles song "Ob la di, Ob la da".

The atmosphere is worth $4.50, the price of their large flat white coffee alone. The proprietress, whom I realised I know through other past connections has the absolutely best laugh ever! And the atmosphere in the cafe is like sitting in someone's living room, enjoying their conversation.

And the food, well it goes with the homemade theme too. Wholesome and delicious... I'm definitely willing myself to try their absolutely generous looking homemade choc chip cookie.

Anyway if you ever end up in Bris the address is: 615 Stanley St, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102.

There's parking 'round the back :-)

Tell me 'bout your 'fave local haunt...

The Pleasure of Eating

Ever since reading Mireille Guiliano's book, "French Women Don't Get Fat", I've been semi-adopting her theory, of eating good quality, full fat food but in small portions.

However living in Aus, it's quite hard to adopt this Gauloise theory; portions come huge and for the most part, Aus' food proprieters celebrate that their product has 0.2% fat (eg. 0.2% flavour).

Anyway I'm bringing this up again because over the past 2 weekends I've been in Sydney and Melbourne and overall celebrating food.

I hate it that in today's world we're made to feel guilty for drinking a full fat cappucino and indulging in that chocolate chip cookie - as long as you don't have the whole packet - that slice of pleasure is absolutely justified in my view.

This article I read confirms this food for pleasure theory.

What is the merit in starving yourself of life - you may be hit by a bus tomorrow and what will you treasure more?

Image from La Tartine Gourmande.

That lovely creme brulee morcel you shared over laughs and great conversation with friends, or your ribs protruding from your emaciated body - rivalling your breasts in size?

Eat, laugh, enjoy - stop counting calories and just eat in moderation.

I'm reminded of the under-lying theme in the film "Amelie"; she finds pleasure in all the small things in life... cracking the top of a creme brulee and skimming stones over a small river that runs through paris.

What's your view on dieting and food? Would love to know.

Where to Eat in Melbourne # 1

Well, have been home since Sunday after a lovely week of shopping and eating in Melbourne.. busting to share with you all my favourite dining spots - but our internet has been down... it just recommenced today!

So voila my list of the best/funkiest restaurants for breakky and dinner in Melbourne.

I've lost the source of this image, so let me know if it's yours. It's lovely.

Great Breakfast Joints:

- Cumulus Inc :
- Location: 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD.
- Food/Atmos: Great "modern Australian"* food, laid back atmosphere, great quality ingredients, fairly reasonably priced.

- Journal:
- Location: Next to the city library, Ground 253-265 Flinders Lane Melbourne CBD.
- Food/Atmos: Hidden cafe with fabulous coffee - you must try the avocado and lemon on toast.

- Degraves Cafe:
- Location: Down a laneway off Collins St, 23 - 25 Degraves St, Melbourne CBD.
- Food/Atmos: A bit of an institution, laid back, funky tatooed staff and warming, comfortable breakfast.

- Von Haus: (photo above from TummyRumbles)
- Location: 1a Crossley Street, Melbourne CBD.
- Food/Atmos: Feels like a lovely secret, hidden down an alley-way, it feels as if you're walking into someones home! Although a little stiff in the AM, it rocks on at night ('till 11pm) - a great tipple spot. Great wines, cheeses, coffee and breakkys.

Delicious and Laid Back Dinner:

- Vue de Monde
- Location: Normanby Chambers, 430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne CBD.
- Food/Atmos: Absolute food theatre! Degustation only restaurant, worth the extra $$ for the delicious menu. Sort of Mod Aus* style (french-y). Simply the: Best. Meal. Of. My. Life! (The truffle risotto is impressive as was the smoked trout). And the sommelier was completely spot on with his wine pairings. Amazing, worth the splurge.

- Seamstress
- Location: 113 Lonsdale St, Melbourne CBD.
- Food/Atmos: Mod Asian. Delicious, very modern/funky atmosphere. A great experience. Has a few levels for different types of dining. Try their "Cocktail du Jour".

- Cumulus Inc. (Again!)
- Location: See above.
- Food/Atmos: Changes from chilled cafe at breakfast, to fairly sleek yet unpretentious dining spot for dinner. Lovely dishes which are advised to be shared... Mod Aus* style, again!

- Grossi Florentin0
- Location: 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD.
- Food/Atmos: Absolutely amazing service, an old fashioned kind I had never experienced before. Feels very "family" too, like many Italian restaurants. Delicious comfort food.


Anyway for those who live in Aus and those who don't, I hope you get around to tasting these hand-picked/tried and tested restaurant faves in Melbourne.

Share with me some of your favourite restaurants...


*"Modern Australian": is sort of a modern, simplified evolution of French food and simple Anglo food.

P.S. The best breakky was chez our hotel: PJ dress code, strange interstate newspapers soaked up and many teas consumed...

Melbourne Gastronomy

"The kitchen is a country in which there are always discoveries to be made,"

Grimod de la Reyniere, 1758-1838.

Von Haus cafe - Crossley Street, Melbourne.

I've made many discoveries whilst down here in Melbourne. It's been lovely... I shall share some experiences and great food addresses with you when I'm home.

How has your week been? Anything planned for the weekend?

On another note; I'm continuing to watch the news from Iran with a heavy heart yearning for honesty and truth.

And So it Goes On...

Right to left: Ahmandinejad and Moussavi.

I know I said that I'd lag with posts because I am going away; but am at the airport now and felt compelled to speak; just read the news that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected as president of Iran.

It's saddening news for the many Irani's who were stirred and inspired by Obama and his offering of "Change" last year and who were excited at the hope of a new President, Mir Hussein Moussavi.

NYTIMES: Consequently riots have broken out.

My heart goes out to those whose hopes were quashed...

What do you think this outcome will have on Iran? Continued mal-relations with Western countries?

TV With the Lights Off

"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight?"
- Al Boliska.

A still from the film "Woman of the Year" with Katherine Hepburn.

A bizarre notion to ponder; TV without lights... surely it would've happened with Edison or without... we'll never know.

Anyway as uni wraps up; I'm off to Melbourne for the week with my Mum to buy up some warm winter clothes for my sejour in France.

Am really looking forward to venturing back to the delectable, delightful and absolutely freezing city - it's culinary delights outweigh any chills!

What are you all up to this weekend, and the coming week?

The Road a-Head

Found on fffound.

Somehow this image resonated with me today, I'm not sure why because as far as I know a road is not being paved through my head ...

But I suppose with my exchange to France approaching fast, I am faced with not really a turn in direction but an open road with many possibilities.

Will keep you posted...

Obama: He's Just So Cool

I spotted this pic on the Huffpost and had to post it for you.

Taken on his recent trip to France... isn't Obama just the epitome of the phrase, "Cool, Calm and Collected"?

The Feeling of the Past in My Present

If I could bottle this feeling, I would.

I just finished reading a sort of memoir book my Grandma wrote for my brother, sister and me.

It was so lovely to have such insight into her life; her past adventures, and I now cannot wait to visit her in England (where she lives) while I’m away studying in France. (I haven’t seen her since she came to Aus for Christmas 2007/2008).

Rugged up and reading: Having a cold is a great excuse to rug-up and read.

When I got to the final page of the book, which she has lovingly filled with interesting anecdotes, photos and thoughts; I was filled with a humbling sense of family pride, love and hope for the future.

It’s strange, and this is probably one of the most deep “thought-tracking-like” posts I’ve submitted. But I just wanted to share my sort of excitement and happiness with you.

To explain, the book is one that was bought at one of those gift stores. There are approximately 150 pages in it, each page features a different question to be answered.

Granny answered all in-depth with her memories and photos. And I feel so touched that she went to so much effort with it over last year.

This book is now definitely one of my most-treasured possessions (although it’s not just mine); it’s one of those “save in-case of a fire” items.

It’s priceless, thoughtful, nostalgic, insightful, loving, touching and... my number one favourite book of all time.

What's your "save in-case of fire" item? Something nostalgic? Expensive? Irreplaceable?

Randoms at a Wedding Reception

I know this is a lazy post, but this is such a lovely concept. Improv Everywhere recently staged an spur of the moment reception for a couple who got married at City Hall in NYC.



It's a heart-warming video - a real pick-me-up for anyone who's lost a little faith in the world...

Found on Joanna Goddard's lovely blog.