2009 April | MEL: HOT OR NOT

HOT: Ezard, Adelphi Hotel, 187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

April 29, 2009 ⋅ One comment

It seems that the GFC really has hit the fine dining scene in Melbourne, as even two-hatted Ezard is offering a discount voucher in the Entertainment Book this year. Not one to pass up an opportunity to get a discount on very good food, I suggested that we take RM’s uncle Ian out to dinner [...]

NOT: Fernwood Women’s Fitness Clubs, 475 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

April 28, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

I know that it’s very ungrateful of me to NOT a gym where I’m getting free membership, but this blog is all written in the spirit of honest criticism. The Flinders Lane branch of Fernwood feels small and dingy, and I think it’s because there are no windows except the narrow frontage. They have all [...]

HOT: The Audition, Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton 3053

April 26, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

While in London, I really gained an appreciation for the opera – so I was excited to hear that Cinema Nova were screening The Audition, a behind-the-scenes documentary about New York’s Met Opera auditions. The story follows a group of hopeful young opera singers as they prepare for the grand final – a chance to [...]

HOT: Shark Fin House, 131 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

April 26, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Trust me – the best yum cha in Melbourne is from Shark Fin House. Don’t get it confused with Shark Fin Inn, also on Little Bourke – they’re in the same group of restaurants, but House is superior. You’ll be able to work out which is which, as House always has a line of eager [...]

NOT: Little Cupcakes, Shop 7 Degraves St, Melbourne

April 24, 2009 ⋅ 5 comments

Aww – I feel dastardly giving cute candy-striped Little Cupcakes a NOT. But really, it’s only because their red velvet cupcake ($4) didn’t compare favourably to the red velvet cupcake from London’s Hummingbird Bakery. The cream cheese icing and the flavours were right, but it was just a bit too crumbly for my taste. Perhaps [...]

HOT: Alain de Botton and Michael Leuning, RMIT, Storey Hall, Swanston St, Melbourne

April 23, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

My book club buddy Jane has a keen crush on the author Alain de Botton, but I’d never really understood what it was about his big bald forehead and boring jumpers that she found so attractive. Well, now I have to agree with her – if nothing else the man is delightful to listen to. [...]

HOT: Stellini, 6-8 Howey Place, Melbourne

April 23, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Dear Mum I think I’ve just found my wedding dress! Five minutes after entering ever-reliable dress shop Stellini, the decision was made. Every time I’ve needed a special occasion dress I’ve popped into Stellini ‘just for a look’ and come out with something wonderful, in exactly my size. And this dress? Well, it’s white and [...]

HOT: Koko Black, Shop 4 Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke St, Melbourne

April 23, 2009 ⋅ One comment

In need of a chocolate boost, I ducked into the artisan chocolatier Koko Black and discovered that they’ve developed a product which taps into a lucrative market – students. I remember that as a uni student, I would regularly take a Fruit ‘n’ Nut into lectures, as it helped me to stay awake under a [...]

HOT: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Classic Cinema, 9 Gordon St, Elsternwick 3185

April 22, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

It’s not often that I’d say that a film adaptation is better than the book, but to my surprise that was the case for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I really didn’t like the book, mostly because I thought the protaganist Bruno was rather annoying and frustratingly dim about what his Nazi commandant father [...]

HOT: Phillippa’s Breads, 1030 High St, Armadale

April 22, 2009 ⋅ One comment

Philippa Grogan is the doyenne of her eponymous artisanal bakeries in Melbourne, and her breads and pastries are right at home in chi-chi Armadale. Although I really did fancy one of her expensive cakes for lunch, I opted instead for a pasty ($7.50) as I was starving and in need of carbs. It was an [...]