Urban dweller

Urban by Target opened on Chapel Street last weekend. Nice identity work by Canyon in St Kilda.
Target Fashion Melbourne
09/09/2011

Brotherhood books

Sometimes I wonder if I need a cane in addition to my glasses? Apparently this bookstore has been open for 15 months and can be found right around the corner from where I lived for over 20 years. The Brotherhood of St Lawrence had a backlog of books in their donations warehouse and spotted a niche opportunity. They own the building so closed down the general 'op shop' offer and re-opened with a specialised concept and v. cool fit out to shift their second hand books. Prices range from $1 to $7 with a sprinkling of rare books at more relevant prices. If you can't make it to 215 Glenferrie Rd Malvern then you can buy on-line (we all know Op Shops are hip and they have reinvented themselves in recent years but this one takes the category to another level).  DEA Interiors did the design ... and what a nice job they've made of it (love the central tree structure). The super nice lady behind the counter on Saturday was so helpful and seriously passionate about her product. Vote with your feet, or mouse, and support this fab social enterprise. It's right next door to Grill'd.

 
Design Other Melbourne
07/08/2011

Cheap & cheerful

I did a quick scout along Victoria Street on Saturday morning to check out Daiso, the Japanese concept where everything is $2.80 (known in Japan as the 100Yen store). I found the aisles were very narrow (probably not if you're Japanese) and the fit out is what you would expect with such a price point positioning, but I couldn't help think that with a liiiiittle bit of tweeking to the design and format they could produce a much better store experience without diluting their value positioning, and lift their average sale  ... which on a sample of 3 seemed quite significant to me (the lady ahead of me spent $54, the lady next to me spent $52 and I spent $53). I picked up some great little treats for the short people's Christmas stockings. The 'almost alessi' rabbit soap holder would be a hit in any kids bathroom, the v. cute mini paper clips came in a pack of 8 for $2.80 (that works out to be $0.35c each versus $1.40 each for the 'same' thing at Kikki-K) and those cute spotty jars will be fab for home made biscuit pressies in a few months time. If anyone knows their average sale value here in Australia then I'd appreciate you letting me know.  I went to Dasio at The Hive, 313 Victoria St Richmond (terrible signage, I almost walked out thinking the store wasn't in the building ... you have to go up the escalator to find them). They are also at Westfield Doncaster, and from what I hear are doing very well there (actually if you are going in search of that rabbit soap holder I'd go to Westfield as there are loads of other fab shops at Doncaster and the sushi bar in the food court is one of my faves ... Shige the sushi chef used to head up Kenzan and has been in the kitchen at Koko at Crown ... but I digress).

Hot tamale

My gorgeous foodie friend Gilly J was over from Perth quite some months ago now.  A girly goss and great lunch at the Newmarket was all the go given it had just opened .. but then I got busy and forgot I'd taken some spy snaps (which I have just found filed in a folder I would never have thought to look in had I been looking for them). Whilst it's no longer 'new' and has had plenty of press I almost passed on posting these pics but then I thought why not... the chilies, garlic and artichoke installation is unexpected, the lunch was a smokey Latino inspired love fest of flavours with great plate presentation, the service was happy, the indoor-outdoor dining feel was perfect for fine weather dining back in February and Six Degrees has delivered another pub design that punches well above its weight. From the same stable as the Royal Saxon in Richmond, the Middle Park and Albert Park Hotels... if you haven't been then you should get out more.

Tell tale tiles

Have the loo's on the cafe laneway level of Melbourne Central always looked like this? If so, I hate being the last one in the know! Love the dramatic B&W city scape story telling.

Honestly it’s good

If you know Padre at South Melbourne Market and The Brunswick East Project then you won't be surprised that their third cafe is also good and honest. These really nice lads are slaying city suits in the coffee aisles with their two mint coloured machines (Slayers FTNITK ... err that would be ...For Those Not In The Know). The League of Honest Coffee, 8 Exploration Lane Melbourne, is just around the corner from Miss Chu ... oh and BTW... the bottom 3 pics are from Broadsheet given most of my snaps were horrible.

Think Tank

Bill Makris's new fish and chippery in Carlton is a stylish take on the traditional Aussie F&C shop (typically run by Greek families in the 70's and 80s). A modern Mykonos palette of white and Agean blue has become a bright beacon on the corner of Lygon St and Argyle Square. Some serious design thought has gone into Tank. Find it at 149 Lygon St Carlton.

Design Food Melbourne
04/07/2011

I’ve got 2 words for you

Chin Chin. OMG OMG. Fab Fab. Go Go.

Pics above via Chin Chin's facebook site (James Braund Photography).

Dinner was soooo damn good I went back for lunch the next day, and I've still got 2 words for you ...

Love it. Love it. Love it.

Chris Lucas. Foodie Legend. Seriously good. Chin Chin. 125 Flinders Lane Melbourne.

Chin Chin Food Melbourne
01/07/2011

Designer dining

Melbourne Central's new dining hall has served up delicious graphics as an entry entree, some mouthwatering mosaics for the main and  a sprinkling of moooi if you'd like to take a moment to relax after you've eaten.

Oooh Miss Chu how fabulous are u?!

Possibly the most divine, best value vegetarian dish I've had in a long time... a marinated medley of mushrooms, tofu, vermicelli and crunchy greens was my first taste of Miss Chu's newbie in Melbourne. The food savvy are voting with their feet if the queue out the door and down Exhibition Street last Friday was any indication. In fact it was so yummy I popped back for a late lunch on Monday and took a few happy snaps for you all.  I first reported on this kooky concept that hails from Sydney in my pre-blog days (newsletter #12).  This tuck shop is an absolute treat (go early or late to get a seat or you'll be ordering take away). 297 Exhibition Street Melbourne. And one more thing .. can anyone tell me if Tom met Jane for that beer?

Miss Chu Food Melbourne
08/04/2011