Brunch Spots

I haven't done a blog post on brunch spots for a while so here is one just in time for this weekend. As it is going to be a rainy one, it could give you something to do! 

Gypsey & Musquito

Gypsey & Musquito was named The Age Cheap Eats best Melbourne breakfast so naturally I had to try it to compare my thoughts! It is named after two Australian Explorers and the fit out is very Australian, we also went on the Australia Day holiday. Australiana all round! In keeping with the theme I ordered the camel sausage with baked beans. It tasted like every other sausage, so maybe all sausages have camel in it?! The service was very lacklustre and unfortunately by the time I got my meal my dining companions were nearly finished eating theirs. I probably wouldn't return, although I did see two Richmond players eating there....! 

Friends of Mine

This Richmond cafe is the 'it' breakfast spot. Having to wait for tables and of course wearing your running gear with make up on and straightened hair is the norm. Aside from this the breakfast was delicious. We sat in the rear courtyard which had a really nice atmosphere, I'm not sure I would want to sit inside as it was really noisy. The chilli scrambled eggs were great as were the coffee and the service. 

My Legendary Girlfriend

After a hard run around The Tan & Lawson Grove being closed, a friend and I ended up at My Legendary Girlfriend. From the outside it doesn't look as busy compared to the other cafés on Domain Road but it was bustling inside. Great decor and an extensive and varied breakfast menu were the highlights. The only thing that could do with a little work is the service. I had the special; corn & zucchini fritters whilst my friend had the Banana bread. Both were very good & worth returning for. 

Fun Summer Activities

 Sand Sculpting

On a lovely sunny day a visit to the Sand Sculptures in Frankston is worth it even though it is a bit of hike! The theme this year was 'Under the Sea' and sand sculptors from around the world came and crafted their visions. It is quite impressive that these sculptors were made out of sand albeit a brick layers sand. It is $12.50 for adults to get it. I feel it is worth the spend and day trip. 

Innocent Bystander

As my love for wine continues I headed out to Healsville for a pizza and moscato at The Innocent Bystander. It acts as their cellar door on the main street in Healsville. Although losing the views that a cellar door has on a vineyard, Innocent Bystander was still busy with a great atmosphere. We ordered 3 different pizzas, the mushroom and truffle oil was incredible washed down with their exceptional moscato.

NGV Southbank

On a perfect Melbourne day there is no better way to be a tourist  in your own city then to wander along the Yarra river at Southbank. We started at the National Gallery of Victoria to see the Ballet & Fashion exhibition (it's free!)which was short and co-hosted by Vogue & The Australian Ballet. The exhibition featured collaborations between designers such as Colette Dinnigan & Yves Saint Laurent with different ballet productions. We then finished up at The Boat Builders Yard in the newish area called South Wharf Promenade. A sunny day meant that this was great not only for tanning, but also people watching and of course having a wine with friends! 

Cheap Eats

Meatball Wine Bar

After not being able to find a park at the Queen Vic night market we had to look for an alternative for dinner. I was ravenous and the Meatball Wine Bar delivered. The menu is very simple: choose your balls, choose your sauce & if you want, something for them to sit on. I had beef, red sauce and market vegetable (broccoli) and my companion had chicken, red sauce & pasta. Both were delicious, served quickly and only $18!

Babu barBurger with Balls

Not wanting to spend a packet on dinner we headed to Babu - a new burger place on Chapel St. It is certainly a new way to choose a burger: you chose your size of pattie (150, 250 or 330 grams), how it is cooked medium, medium well or well done and which burger toppings you want with it. As the options were endless I let the menu do the talking and chose one Babu had already come up with. It was delicious: great pattie, caramelised onion, beetroot & swiss cheese with the usual lettuce and tomato. For only $14. we also tried their freshly homemade apple cider which I will definitely be going back for. If you didn't want to head into the city Babu also has a meatball option very similar to Meatball Wine Bar. 

Yo Chi

A great place for dessert, Yo Chi in Balaclava is a self serve frozen yoghurt haven. As the cost is all based on weight you can have as little, or as much as you like. Choose your fro-yo flavour, mix with fresh fruit and other toppings and pay. I had coconut frozen yogurt, passionfruit, raspberry coulis and crumble all for around $6. 

Golden Globes 2013

Awards season is upon us! I love this time of the year, if only to discuss what people are wearing & what they look like as I know I may never get a chance to dress up like that wearing designer labels. But one can dream... and judge! Girls a great TV show did well, as did Homelands. My list of movies to watch before the oscar's is ever growing. 

There were so many 'best dresses' it was hard to choose. Emily Blunt in Michael Kors, Nicole Ritchie in Naeem Khan, Nicole Kidman in Alexander McQueen & Jessica Alba in Oscar de la Renta were my favourites. 

Emily Blunt

Nicole Ritchie

Nicole Kidman

Jessica Alba

Disappointments of the night were definitely Sienna Miller who look like she had rolled in an English garden and forgotten to put on make up and Jennifer Lopez who's dress look liked doily paper mache stuck to her. 

Sienna Miller

Jennifer Lopez

Yarrawonga

Most people associate Yarrawonga with the lake & skiing.  As we had done our skiing in Echuca, we left this to the professionals at the Ski Club. Who we unfortunately missed seeing! 

Besides the wineries we also visited The Byramine Homestead, home to Elizabeth Hume. Sister in law to Hamilton Hume. The homestead is furnished with period furniture and interestingly was built around 1 central room so you could watch for bushrangers, scary!Got some great instagram shots. The weather was so perfect up there you hardly need it though! 

Photo Cred: Leah Ferguson

The Homestead

Windmill in front garden

Cooks sleeping quarters, separate to the main home

We also visited Nosh Deli, which seemed the place to be for coffee and breakfast & The 'Cri' or Criterion hotel, which has a great deck over looking the lake & out in the sun. Perfect for summer drinks. I had a few too many champagnes to remember to take a photo. However we did get one at the RSL club which made it into the Yarra Chronicle! 

Rutherglen Wine Region

Sorry for the lack of posts, I have been off enjoying the summer break! As you will be able to tell by my up-coming blog posts.

Photo Cred: Leah Ferguson

I have decided that wineries are one of my favourite places in the world. They are so green & the promise of happiness in joy out of those little grapes! Over 2 days we sampled some wines from Victoria's Rutherglen region. It is so close to Yarrawonga, only a 30-40 minute drive, who knew?! On the drive home to Melbourne we also stopped by Brown Brothers in Milewa. More on that below. 

1st Stop Chambers Rosewood Winery

As you can tell by the sign at our first stop at Chambers Cellar door, Rutherglen wineries are mainly family owned, with friendly people who would never dream of charging for their tastings...I am looking at you Mornington Peninsula. Charmbers is run by a lovely old man, with every different type of wine! Picked up some bargains here. 

Campbells Winery

Beautiful winery, lovely cellar door and a with a very informative lady walking us through the wines, this place was a stand out. Quality wines my favourites being the Tempranillo which I had never heard of before, an Italian grape and Bobbie Burns Shiraz with lots of flavour & body. A family owned business, yet another reason to buy wine from here!

Anderson Winery

I was told that if I like sparkling wine then Anderson was the place to visit. It didn't disappoint, another family owned & run business we walked in to see them taking the yeast out of the sparking bottles, méthode traditionelle! A beautiful dry sparkling, perfect for any occasion. 

Morris Wines

Morris Winery vines where probably the most beautiful that I saw. This picture doesn't do it justice! Known for their introduction of Durif into Australia & their fortified wines, Morris wines are quite popular. Durif, another grape I learnt, is a very full bodied wine, a step up from Shiraz. This is not for everybody, but definitely worth a try. 

Brown Brothers

Last but by no means least is Brown Brothers in Milewa. What an experience this was, I urge everybody to get here if they get the chance. As they have 5 different wineries in different regions of Victoria Brown Brothers do a lot of different wines and at the cellar door you can taste unreleased wines that they are trialling. I know I have mentioned it a lot, but I think it is importatant, they are another family owned & run business. I think this is great as it means the wine you are buying and drinking is directly going back into Australia. My wine of the trip was tried here a 2003 Durif, like a meal in a glass as my sister said! 

****As you can see, I also love instagram. Follow me at: EllyJFerguson