I talk too much my mouth hurts

from here

I'm going to be catching up with my sister in Canada. We haven't seen each other in almost a year, so hopefully there will be non-stop chat and laughter. Just a few things we could be getting up to in Toronto..

It's Good Friday and everything is closed. 

Industry Beans is one of the handful of places open to brunch goers in Melbourne, and despite the suddenly sullen weather, we had to get there. Oh, boy, weren't we glad. The warehouse inspired interior was spacious, full, friendly and warm. Did you know it is shortlisted for the 2014 Australian Interior Design Awards? We were a large group of seven, so we had to wait a bit, but soon a table space was cleared up for us. 

I finished my crispy beans and quinoa salad (bottom left) so quickly, it was so good. Salmon souffle, eggs and relish, avocado smash with herb & citrus cured salmon. The salmon was lovely, full of flavours with each chew. 

Industry Beans knows their coffee. Pourover - smooth and subtle. 

Industry Beans, open all Easter weekend long. 

Industry Beans

Unit 3 Cnr Fitzroy & Rose St

Fitzroy, VIC 3056

Despite it being a Sunday, Brunswick Flour Mill was packed and busy. By the time my meal order arrived, I'd pretty much ordered my latte and probably could have finished a second, too, if I hadn't been taking my time. However, the service is friendly enough, and my vegetarian order of sweet potato and lentil burger with spinach, sweet chili aioli and sliced beetroot, with a basket of polenta eggplant chips, was amazing. Amazing. I am going to get myself a mini fryer so I can make my own eggplant fries. Anything with sweet potato and aioli and beetroot reminds me of home - New Zealand - so this was perfect. Another Sydney Road pass for me.

Brunswick Flour Mill

341 Sydney Road, 

Brunswick, VIC 3056

Intended to get a take away, but I had to stay, and glad I did. This hidden cafe had been on my list since my first weeks in Melbourne more than half a year ago. Nice ambiance, friendly staff, smooth coffee, but most of all, the breakfast bagel was a total surprise and I fell in love. A little pricey, but there is a magic chutney on the bottom I was amazed by. By far the best breakfast I had had in a long time!

The Little Mule

19 Somerset Place

Melbourne VIC 3000

Back from a three night business trip to Sydney. As a home office worker, it is always good to catch up and interact with colleagues as much as possible. To be honest, I'd been a little under the weather lately. Would have preferred to curl up in bed early at nights, despite the nightmares. Perhaps the timing could have been better, but then again, there is no better timing than the present, right?

The last day was surfing day. There is nothing like a morning surf for hangover cures and lifting up moods. It was my first time and I had a blast. Plenty of winds and waves, the board was so heavy and it was tricky to get it to the right angle of the upcoming waves, but I soon got the hang of it. Should the chance arise, I would definitely go again. 

After a few hours of surfing and a lovely barbie lunch of sausage sizzles and gourmet salad, I went straight to the airport, with sand still down my back, in between my toes, my hair, and in my ears, too. 

Bearing plenty of bruises from the trip, from the late nights out as well as the equally rough surf, I was incredibly glad to be back home. Exhausted from all the events of the week, some rest is in order for me. Hopefully some sleep will take back the dark circles starting to take place under my eyes...zzz

One fine day, boats on calm waters. It was a lovely day to stroll down the St Kilda pier. 

There was a school of little baby fish, it was incredible, I'd never seen anything like it before!

Walking along the beach on barefoot, the water was so cold..

I'd love to live near the beach...

Lovely filling Italian lunch, with pizza, panini, gnocchi and duck pasta. Miam! Let's go back...

Birds, skyline, black swans, rowers, river. Sunset. Beautiful, Melbourne. End of Summer. 

I've been craving tacos. My housemates know how much I love tacos and have been trying to take me to a taco truck for months. This one time I actually managed to track one down, was when I was without my wallet. Unfortunate, I thought.

Then I finally managed to try some Taco Truck Dos' tacos, a week later. Lamb and prawns, with nacho chips. The fillings are alright, but the taco breads were frail and falling apart, unable to hold its fillings. Lamb over prawns, and I thought you couldn't go wrong with prawns, ever. Nachos are fried, and they are surprisingly the star of the whole dish, because guacamole isn't guacamole as much as just a heap of mashed avocado. 

I'd go back. For the chips, only.

Taco Truck

Check website for current locations

Spacious rooms in pale blue, grand paintings, small paintings, sculptures and porcelains, furniture and decorative arts. National Gallery of Victoria is a huge building of many things to feast your eyes on. Mum could have spent the whole day here, she was absorbing everything in intensely. There are two buildings, one for international arts and another for aboriginal arts - my next stop. 

Alto Hotel on Bourke Street, just across from Southern Cross Train Station, is a four star boutique hotel. The close location to the airport transfer bus made Alto an easy choice when deciding on an accommodation for my parents who came to visit me recently. The staff are friendly and efficient, the rooms are small but clean, modern, and well equipped. Take advantage of the complimentary gym and massage rooms, and the common library/sitting room, pictured above. Satisfied with Alto, my parents really liked it!

Stepping out of the wrong side of Armadale train station, I found many delightful shops. On the right side, is Coin Laundry Cafe, just across the road. It's a white corner building, with a blue door.

Limited seating options, so if you are wanting to dine in, beware that you may have a wait a while. The kitchen is tiny and the staff are busy but friendly, joking with the customers (probably regulars).

Figs like the ones in our backyard. Perhaps we should create a mini tabletop piece likewise?

I had come a bit too early for lunch, so had to choose from the breakfast menu. The hollandaise sauce tasted overwhelmingly of vinegar, but the rest was okay. The portions are tiny for its price, but it was a good size for me. 

Taking advantage of the late morning day to sketch down some ideas. 

Coin Laundry Cafe

61 Armadale St

Armadale, VIC 3143

Lovely, simple, but a little special, after-dinner dessert:

Merci bien A pour les photos et le dessert ! 

We used to have an exchange box, in the form of an old fridge, in our neighbourhood. It had a chalk for messages, and inside were an array of items from food to books to clothes to games...

It's gone now. We think it was the hard rubbish collectors who took it by mistake, but... we are still sad about our missing little community exchange point!

from here

Lovely lit interior, although the surrounding area seems to be in full construction mode at the moment. Girlfriends come to chat over brunch, couples come to spend time together finally after the long work week, and even well dressed lads hang out at the tables, taking their time in the late morning. Hence, not just a place for the girls! 

The service was friendly, though the place was too busy for the quickest service. Double macchiato came in a lovely mint cup and saucer, and was not too bitter. Scrambled eggs on toast with extra heirloom tomatoes was a little on the cooled off side when delivered, but the portion was so filling that I struggled to finish. 

Two Birds One Stone

12 Claremont Street

South Yarra, VIC 3141