On a cloudy autumn day, three girls got together for lunch at St Jude's, Fitzroy. One had gone to QV Market in the morning for just-in barramundi and Rhode Island eggs. The second had gone to Collingwood Children's Farm for basil and fresh almonds ("and the atmosphere - I just wanted to be there!"). The last was energetic from a morning caffeine hit - Vittoria Gold Blend, ground more finely for a stronger dose of espresso in a standard serve - and a parmesan & prosciutto croissant at that little cafe in a hidden corner of Abbotsford Convent devoted to the Geelong Cats footy team (Hawks fans, you have been warned).
Abbotsford Convent
A little cafe in 3th floor of the convent
Lovely Latte
Parmesan&Prosciutto croissant
Spring Bay mussels in white wine, winter vegetarian soup and lamb shoulder pie. Two glasses of 2007 tempranillo from Spain ("not a bad drop"). Jug of tap water to share (bottled water is so passe people, it's all about cutting down on your carbon footprint). The lamb pie had to be returned due to a, uh, shall we call it a "kitchen issue". While the girls waited for the (free) second pie to be served ("much much better with more sauce and crispy pastry- this is definitely worth the wait" was the final verdict), the girls got to talking about food blogs. The breakfast blog, the coffee blog, the dessert blog, all the restaurant blogs around the place. That second serve of salad that had come with the pie got passed around to be dipped into the homemade barbecue sauce (shock horror, radicchio was great with it)
St.Jude's Cellars' menu
Spring mussels in white wine
Winter soup
Lamp shoulder pieYet the girls had so much to share with the world (or their friends at the very least). The obsession with wines to the point of travelling routes evolving around vineyards. The
happy and not so happy dining experiences. The outcomes of blending single origin coffee beans at home into an office-friendly plunger blend.
The verdict on St Jude's: a dinner trip would be worthwhile, the day menu having piqued interest and the assortment of wines being wonderfully diverse (if not even more pricey than in most restaurants).
Then the girls parted ways for the weekend.
One went home to continue her research assignment about that dastardly snail that fell into a soda bottle in a milk bar and kick-started a whole new spectrum in common law (proving that dining experiences can change the world).
The second went to Books For Cooks on Gertrude Street so that she could have a first-hand look at the cookbooks she had spied from magazines and newspapers. One can never have too many sources for inspiration in culinary adventures and experiments. Then she went to Monsieur Truffle for an iced chocolate (chocolate with milk and ice cubes - not as luxuriant as Koko Black's iced chocolate, what a pity) while dreaming of owning a business like Books For Cooks.
The last went with the second to check out new books at Books For Cooks, bought cheeses at Simon Johnson's on St David's Street from a mildly over-enthusiastic staff member and bought a croissant with her hot chocolate at Monsieur Truffle. Then she went home, had a scotch fillet with roast vegetables sweet corn and blue cheese sauce, and started up the blog that the three girls had discussed over lunch.
We dedicate this to all we know, who love food and drink, who know eating is more than about nutrition and drinking more than quenching physical thirst, who make pastry from scratch on marble boards and ask farmers about the breed and welfare of their animals.
We promise to bring our honest opinions and reviews, maybe sometimes a joke or photo. Terribly indulgent we know, imagining people will be interested in what we think about places and food and drink. Yet we do think we actually have something to share.
At the very least, once it's on the blog you won't hear it in conversation (too much). Saves lots of people from being bored silly. We think of our friends always :P
*Viva La Gastronomique*
happy and not so happy dining experiences. The outcomes of blending single origin coffee beans at home into an office-friendly plunger blend.
The verdict on St Jude's: a dinner trip would be worthwhile, the day menu having piqued interest and the assortment of wines being wonderfully diverse (if not even more pricey than in most restaurants).
Then the girls parted ways for the weekend.
One went home to continue her research assignment about that dastardly snail that fell into a soda bottle in a milk bar and kick-started a whole new spectrum in common law (proving that dining experiences can change the world).
The second went to Books For Cooks on Gertrude Street so that she could have a first-hand look at the cookbooks she had spied from magazines and newspapers. One can never have too many sources for inspiration in culinary adventures and experiments. Then she went to Monsieur Truffle for an iced chocolate (chocolate with milk and ice cubes - not as luxuriant as Koko Black's iced chocolate, what a pity) while dreaming of owning a business like Books For Cooks.
The last went with the second to check out new books at Books For Cooks, bought cheeses at Simon Johnson's on St David's Street from a mildly over-enthusiastic staff member and bought a croissant with her hot chocolate at Monsieur Truffle. Then she went home, had a scotch fillet with roast vegetables sweet corn and blue cheese sauce, and started up the blog that the three girls had discussed over lunch.
We dedicate this to all we know, who love food and drink, who know eating is more than about nutrition and drinking more than quenching physical thirst, who make pastry from scratch on marble boards and ask farmers about the breed and welfare of their animals.
We promise to bring our honest opinions and reviews, maybe sometimes a joke or photo. Terribly indulgent we know, imagining people will be interested in what we think about places and food and drink. Yet we do think we actually have something to share.
At the very least, once it's on the blog you won't hear it in conversation (too much). Saves lots of people from being bored silly. We think of our friends always :P
*Viva La Gastronomique*
good that you girls do this blog, so i can experience Melbourne life while I am here :)
ReplyDeleteAnother thing, i think i can guess who is who in your article, LOL.