Alpha Ouzeri

We’ve always breezed past this restaurant on our way to Vegie Bar or Bimbos.  Maybe we were intimidated by the ambience and chalked it up as one of those out of the realm of our humble budget. But Thursday night we saw the tables out on the side walk and it seemed a lot friendlier than usual. We checked out the menu and decided the prices seem fair.

And boy were we glad we finally decided to try it! Aside from the famous Souvlaki King, I haven’t really tried any other Greek food in Melbourne. The fare we ordered reminded me so much of food in Kazahkstan, skewered meat with a distinct flavour. Servings are huge! We ordered the mixed meat platter with salad for one ($26.50) and we couldn’t finish it between us. The bread and 4 dips were delicious as well ($11.50) and again there were so much of it. So for food that was more than enough for a hungry couple, a glass of wine for me and a bottle of beer for the boy, we paid a little less than $50. Not bad at all!

Best thing was the service was superb! Even if we were the only ones dining outside, we never felt like we always had to catch the waiter’s attention. Food was served quickly. The man who waited on us was such a lively and funny character and there is nothing better than getting excellent food for a fair price with a healthy serving of friendliness and good humour.

Alpha Ouzeri 342 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

how a day turns around..

because I woke up on the wrong the side of the bed.. and i was snippy at him when he was getting ready for work.. and I was in a rather foul mood.. and nothing seems to be going as planned that morning.. and I just wanted to throw a temper tantrum..

he ran from his work to pick me up from my flat so we could each have these:

Madame Sousou 321 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

* * *

and then after work he brought me to watch Last Tuesday Society – Plagiarism Edition

Yah Yah’s 99-101 Smith Street, Collingwood

where I found myself able to smile, laugh like a maniac & clap & hoot for the brilliant people on stage. Of course it helped my mood that wine is involved and talking to marvellous, talented people after the show was a great way to end what could have been a real crap day.

Good thing my man knows how to cheer me up

Gastronomic Delights on Brunswick Street

Jack and I love eating out (or maybe we just hate eating at home.. could it have anything to do with my non existent culinary skills?). Some nights we have full intentions of cooking something for dinner and then get too lazy so we invent a reason to eat out..

Lucky for us there are a myraid of places to choose from 3 flights of stairs down from where we lie prostrate prodding each other to get up and make a half decent meal. But these choices could be overwhelming. I mean there are just so many to choose from on Brunswick Street alone!

Jack’s decision process on choosing a restaurant? shaking his iphone so Urban Spoon could suggest a place..

Me? I fast type it to my two favourite (and my most trusted) review blogs in Melbourne: fitzroyalty and mel: hot or not and let their previous experiences or mouth watering photos make a decision for me.

I don’t do reviews very well. I will limit myself to one line per establishment but I did take really bad photos that you can salivate over. If you want a proper review of any establishment featured below, click on either of the links provided above and it is likely they’ve already given their 2 cents about it.

Akari

177 Brunswick Street

~ good old japanes food done really well~

Mixed Tempura, Wafu Salad, Yakitori

Red Rice

193 Brunswick Street

~Incredible food we couldn’t stop raving about!~

King Prawns, Salmon Spring Rolls, Calamari & Red Rice

Monties, Smith St

Jack’s morning off, the sun shining and my intense craving for pancake brought us to Smith Street via our less trodden streets of Fitzroy.

• A block of flats (at least we think they’re flats) that Jack thought is very reminiscent of Europe on Kerr Street (i think?)
• My chocolate pancake smothered (yes SMOTHERED) in Vanilla icecream
• Jack’s Big Brekky
• and the fine establishment where we had them

beer at bimbos

A quiet night was on our agenda that Sunday night: a simple Sunday dinner, a movie in bed and an early night in. But it was not to be. We were on our way back from shopping from (the newly refurbished Fitzroy) Coles when we got a message from Pete.

Heya Fitzroy dwellers. Either of you guys up for a drink/bite to eat? If so let me know. I’m headed past in about 40mins. Hope you’re both playing nice

Jack and I looked at each other, and said “meeeeh. why not.” So Pete was told to drop by our flat to suffer through my mediocre cooking skills and then we’ll skip out for a few pints. Hella, the flatmate, came home just in time when the dishes were washed and the boys were just about finished with the beers they dug out of the fridge.

So off the four of us trouped downstairs to the freezing Brunswick Street. We let the one Kew dweller decide where to go and he chose Bimbos as he claims he hasn’t been there since 2007.

And there we . . .

busy in the city

Friday is my free day and on this particular one, it was Jack’s too. So we went out to the city to do some things we’ve been meaning to do for some time..

Like …

Go to the music store on Bourke Street to buy Jack’s drum sticks

And then have coffee and some yum lunch at a laneway in Flinder’s Lane

Neighbourhood Watch

Sunday, 2 August

Sundays are made for sleeping in; long, lazy brunch and idle talk. And so we did just that.

Living where I do, we are alway spoiled for choice and I am ashamed to say we haven’t really been exploiting the variety available to us.  We have made it a point then, not to go to a cafe or restaurant that we have already tried, until we have given at least half of the other establishments in this charmed suburb of ours a chance.

Why, it was only last week when we realised that there is a whole area we have yet to explore. So instead of turning right towards Johnston Street, we veered left to get to Gertrude.

And there we were confronted with brunch heaven. We decided to walk the length of Gertrude Street from Brunswick to Smith before deciding on where to eat and this exploration lead us to Arcadia.

Arcadia 193 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

The place was packed but had a fast turn over and in no time we were led to a table out in the small courtyard. There is no table service, orders are placed at the counter so while Jack and I deliberated over what to eat, next table’s meal arrived and we looked at it wistfully. We knew what we are getting! Who needs menus when you can stalk other diner’s food instead?

The food was fantastic! Service friendly. And for two of those plates in the photo + 2 lattes = $40.50 the price was ok.

back from our sunday stroll

Thanks Gertrude Street, so far you haven’t disappointed us.

gone to gertrude

I met up with Jack over our lunch breaks at Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. The boy got himself a Crumpler backpack as a belated birthday gift and I went to give him advice on what to get. Reckon he made the right choice going by the smile on his face.

I was late to meet up with him, so I was huffing and puffing my way through Gertrude Street, but the vibe and charm of the place did not escape me. Pretty and unique shops, beguiling cafes and intriguing restaurants line the street.

I’ve lived in Fitzroy for four months now but I have never really explored that part of our small suburb just yet. Jack and I are determined to check it out soon. Such a shame that I live in such close proximity to it but have not even been down there til today.

Not being familiar with the fine establishments on Gertrude St., we went to one of the first cafes that we came across which happened to be here

238 Gertrude St., Fitzroy

What a lucky find! We shared these

Pork Barbeque Ribs and Green Leaf Salad

all the while muttering, “this is sooo good” and “ooh yum”.

An exploration of Gertrude Street is imminent and a definite second visit to this fantastic cafe!

not quite Vila Harbour but we missed you nonetheless Yarra…

Back in Melbourne after a 3 week holiday in Vanuatu to visit family and friends there. Jack was there for a week and got back to Melbourne 3 days before me.

I arrived in Melbourne an hour before midnight of the 19th. Just in time to herald Jack’s birthday with him.

We had a lie in, watched Bruno at Village Cinema in Crown and then had a quiet coffee and cake at Automatic.

I missed good Melbourne coffee

Went home to freshen up to meet his friends for drinks at The Little Creatures Dining Hall across from my flat.

a little more tanned than before

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITCHY POO..

I STILL OWE YOU.

YOUR BIRTHDAY WEEK IS NOT OVER.

xox

There’s an empty chair here. we guard it closely.

Hello from sunny Port Vila!I haven’t really been up to much. Still finding my feet in this sandy place.

However,  I did manage to

• help mum move from our lovely house with this view

view from Villa 5 of Sea Side Villas

to an apartment at The Melanesian Resort with this view

from Unit 28 of The Melanesian

• Be my obnoxious local self exploiting resort facilities without paying a single Vatu while bonding with my brother

Rex & Tusker @ Le Lagon

• Catch up with beloved old friends and hear the gossip about the colourful characters in this city

Will & Poli, Rusty for lunch at La Tentacion

• and even out my tan

Le Lagon

I hope i had more exciting news.. but alas.. the island makes me lazy.

But he’s coming on Wednesdays and adventures will be had then!!

I

WE CANNOT FRIGGIN WAIT!!!

Ale Tata! Lukim yu!

(that’s Ok bye! See you! in Bislama)