OYSTER FRENZY

The Driver and I absolutely adore oysters, so when I saw the ad for the Oyster Frenzy event at The Albert Park Hotel a couple of months ago, we purchased tickets immediately.

We'd been looking forward to it for weeks, and Thursday night was finally the night. The event promised an all-you-can-eat fresh oyster situation, in addition to beer, wine and champagne all included.

People, we were not disappointed. Oysters were lined up on the bar as far as the eye could see, with more being shucked every minute to keep up with the demand.

It was a little crowded, and there was a small queue from time to time, but that didn't stop us hoeing down. There were oysters from all around the country, from NSW, TAS and SA. My faves were the Bay of Fires oysters. Super salty and totally divine.

They were also serving some cute little canapés to break up the oyster madness. Little melba toasts with smoked salmon, tiny trays of french fries, and some bite-sized spicy lobster patties.

This cheesy garlic oyster was magnificent.

How many oysters does it take to go from starving to so full you need to lie down? We managed to consume   about 50 oysters each in a 90-minute period. Exhibit A (above) merely round one. Told you we loved oysters.

Some say oysters have an aphrodisiac effect....trust me when I say, as much as The Driver and I are very happy newlyweds, when you eat 50 you just want to lie down....and be very still. You have been warned.

YELP HIGH

The Driver was recently nominated as an "Elite" member of Yelp, which scored us an invite to the Yelp Party on Monday night at Strike Bowling, Melbourne Central.

The party had a high school theme (yes, dress up) which sadly, The Driver only informed me of the night before. I improvised with a print-out of the Gryffindor emblem (Harry Potter), which I stuck to a cardigan (disappointing, as I love a good dress up party). The Driver opted for his actual old school tie, an un-tucked shirt, pants, and Converse. So 90's!

It was quite a good arrangement, there were heaps of businesses from around the CBD that offered scrumptious food and beverage options throughout the night. Needless to say, we (as per usual) stuffed ourselves.

Delicious fish tacos and duck rolls from The Merrywell.

Cupcakes! Need I say more? These were amazing, from The Cupcake Queens.

The Windsor Deli handed out "cut lunches" in brown paper bags. Inside, a few lollies (one of which lead to a minor disaster, more on that later), and a wrapped sandwich. I had corned beef and cheese. Nice!

A couple of glasses of Giesen Pinot Noir? Don't mind if it do!

The most amazing foccacia's I have ever tasted (they make their own foccacia bread) from Fugazza. Couldn't stop eating them. I mean, they were filled with prosciutto and cheese, how could you stop?

The gorgeous Miss Fox salon were manning the "Sick Bay" applying their amazing paper lashes. Sadly I had worn my glasses to this event instead of contacts (school theme, and all) so couldn't get them (I luff falsies when I wear contacts, but falsies rub on my glasses, and that's really annoying)

We were very excited to have a boogie in the Silent Disco. We LUFF Silent Disco, having spent many hours, at many festivals dancing with our headphones on. They had set it up in the laser skirmish zone. This sign made me laugh.

This is when disaster struck. Whilst wondering through the skermish zone, The Driver happily munching on a Red Skin, he ran up to me and showed me a hard white pebble looking thing, that had come out of his mouth. Yes, you guessed it. Red Skin =1, tooth = 0.

It was 8.30pm by this stage, and The Driver was complaining that his tooth was hurting. Where does one find a dentist at this time of night? On a whim we went to the Royal Dental Hospital, only to be told we weren't poor enough to be there (you need a health care card). So after a bit of inter-web searching and a phone call, we ended up at a dental surgery in Clayton at 10pm, where The Driver proceeded to have not one but two fillings.

Several hundred dollars later, he was OK. Most expensive Red Skin ever.

BEE STING & BARGAINS

While the The Driver was away camping on Mt Terrible with friends (the irony, I know, I couldn't think of anything more terrible than camping!) I went out for dinner with E & K to the Albert Street Food & Wine Store in Brunswick.

Picked up K on the way to the restaurant. I may or may not have then been distracted by conversation, driven past a stopped tram, and then proceeded to get yelled at by the tram driver, through the tram speakers at the next stop. Something along the lines of "I hope you're proud of yourself." If that wasnt bad enough, there was also the innumerable stink-eyes from the passengers still in the tram, staring at me and shaking their heads. Oops!

Anyway, we eventually arrived safely at the restaurant. It was E's venue choice this time. She lives around the corner from this place, and had heard great things about it. 

She was not wrong. The food, service and ambiance were all sensational. Our table in the back corner was the perfect setting for our night of  non stop talking and laughs. We closed the restaurant!

We started with a large Charcuterie platter to share. Loved the sharpness of the pickled vegetables that accompanied 4 types of beautiful cured meats. That's K in the background wearing a gorgeous lace/hot pink top.

K ordered the trout, whilst E and I had trouble deciding between the same two dishes, so ordered both and shared. Attention vegetarians, and potentially also game haters - you probably should scroll past the next 2 pics

Macaroni with Rabbit, Chestnuts & Chervil - OMG, the rabbit was beyond tender, and yes, that is cheese holding that slice of macaroni heaven together.

Angus bavette, smoked onion, beets, horseradish. The sour cream really made that dish. You can never go wrong with dairy.

Controversially, we were also denied the "chips" seen on the table next door, and told they only come with their amazeballs rib eye dish for two. *Note to self. Take The Driver. Order the rib eye.

We couldn't resist the call of dessert. Also spotted on the table next door - Lemon Tart to start.

Then the "Million Dollar Bullet" (chocolate mousse, chocolate biscuits, and chocolate, with licorice ice cream on the side). I'm such a sucker for anything with biscuit in it. Make me a chocolate ripple cake, and I'm
 yours!

In other news, I popped into the Airflex store at Westfield Southland yesterday and found these down to $34.95 from $119.95. Yes, that's right, 70% off! I cant remember the last time Airflex discounted any of their classic range, so I snapped them up immediately - perfect for work. I only buy leather upper and lined shoes, and the colour of these is perfect cherry red fabulous.

Meanwhile, Mimco FINALLY announced a promo this week - up to 25% off (oh, how I despise paying full price for things and then seeing them discounted days later). Rushed in to grab the patent yellow leather Gabrielle flats I had been coveting for some time, however they turned out to be too small (size 41, Sasquatch foot here). However I did discover the Prospector ballet flat in orange, LOVE! Purchased in a heartbeat.

I actually purchased the Prospector flats from the Mimco store on High Street Armadale, which I had never been to. I must say, there are some great stores in that little stretch. Midas, Oroton, Mimco, Megan Park, de Cjuba, etc. I'll be back there soon.

Picked up 3 Gloweave business shirts for The Driver, for a total of $99 in their pop-up store opposite Mimco. Told you that little strip was good.

Baked some muffins this afternoon to take the to office. Tomorrow is the RSPCA cupcake day, so I'm asking my colleagues to donate $5 in exchange for a delicious muffin. The RSPCA is where our precious fur-kid Mr Heff came from.

These are carrot & walnut - a recipe I've been using since Year 8 Home Economics class.

These are raspberry & white chocolate - a recipe I've had since I was 15, from my friend A's mum. Made with sour cream as the liquid component. Added some choc bits on top for extra deliciousness.

Good news. The Driver arrived home safely from Mt Terrible this afternoon. Even better news. He brought me a Bee Sting Cake from the Beechworth Bakery. I die for custard. Look at it and all its custardy awesomeness. Yum.

TED & TACOS

The beginning of the week flew by with a few long days at the office for The Driver and I. Then, on Thursday night we were invited to attend the Ted Baker Spring Summer Collection Launch at The Woolshed.

Raced home from the office, changed glasses for contacts, applied copious amounts of additional mascara, touched up the red lippy, swapped midi heels for my fave Mary Portas for Clarks "La Wesley" patent pumps and we hopped on the train.

I'll have to admit, I was never one for public transport until we moved to a house waking distance from the train station. I then realised, there was no limit on the cocktails that could be consumed if neither The Driver nor I had to drive (and I didn't need to hold back out of sympathy for The Driver not drinking). Still holding on the dream of having an actual driver one day, then I'll ditch the PT quicker than the blink of an eye!

The usual assortment of the Melbourne Fash-Pack were in attendance, which made for superior people watching.

After an hour or so of wine and some scarce but delicious canapés, the show commenced. Introduced by Richard Nyon the milliner who had made hats to match the collection.

The main attraction of Ted Baker for The Driver and I has always been the accessories - and let me tell you, the list is long of things I am now coveting from this collection. Particularly an amazing black pony skin handbag with gold hardware, shaped a little bit like an oversized LV speedy. Desperately awaiting its arrival in store. Sadly was not quite fast enough to snap a photo when it was on the runway.

The Driver also fell in love with a gorgeous olive green retro style leather satchel - perfect for the office, we think.

Guy Grossi even made a fun cameo at the end of the parade - really hammed it up!

We were absolutely starving by the time the show finished, so grabbed our gift bag, and jumped into a cab up to our favourite restaurant of the moment, Señoritas.

Greeted like old friends by our two favourite managers, we proceeded to shove our faces with the best and most authentic Mexican fare Melbourne has to offer. Having honeymooned in Mexico late last year, we are now even more obsessed with the food, and seeking out really authentic stuff.

We sat at our favourite spot at the bar, and ordered our traditional aperitifs of choice at Senorita's - An Anejo Tequila Old Fashioned (for The Driver), and a jalapeno margarita for me.

Started with complimentary house made corn chips with a selection of Habanero sauces, and the new special  CHILES ES NOGADA - A delicious chilli stuffed with spiced pork mince, and smothered in walnut sauce with pomegranate pearls on top. This dish delivered 110% on one of my most beloved flavour combos - salty and sweet

Then a series of amazeballs taco's, Mexican Taqueria style...

PANUCHOS DE COCHINITA PIBIL (YUCATAN) - Traditional slow roasted pork on corn tortilla with refried black beans, pickled red onions & habanero salsa

SOPES DE LENGUA (MEXICO D.F) - Thick, handmade tortilla topped with ox tongue, pickled jalepeno, radish & fennel

TACOS MATTEO (PUERTO VALLARTA) - Grilled prawn taco with mexican rice, refried beans, tomato, avocado & chipotle mayo (my favourite)

TACOS JALAPEÑO (VERACRUZ) - Larger flour tortilla with tequila shrimp, mayo, cheese, pickled 

jalapeno, frijoles & shredded lettuce.

We topped off our Mexican feast with a night cap of Mezcal and Sangrita, then hopped on a train, and home to bed. Off to work on Friday!

REGIONAL RETRO

We had an unusually quiet weekend last weekend while The Driver (the husband, who has chosen his own screen name based on my aspiration to have a driver when we're wealthy and living in extravagance one day) was house-bound with a serious case of food poisoning (not from my cooking, I'll have you know). THIS weekend needed to be great!

Whilst I generally live and die for the city, I do quite enjoy the occasional sojourn to regional areas. This Sunday I had my sights set on Maryborough and the promise of vintage homewares and delicious fare at The Art of Elegance Vintage Fair at the Anglican Parish Hall.

My footwear of choice for this weekend country adventure? Hunter High Gloss Short Wellies all the way. Added my fave scarf of the moment from Witchery (love the neon yellow pom-poms) and we were on our way.

We deliberately had next to no breakfast to prepare for what can only be described as shoving our faces with hearty home-style food.

Exhibit A - the most amazing clam chowder from catering company Romantic Vineyard that was served with delicious garlic & gruyere melt toast (we scoffed 2 of these bowls each).

Exhibit B - Lizzie's baked delicacies. Can't describe the look of joy on The Driver's face when he bit into that mini meringue pav!

The fair itself was tiny, with only a handful of stalls, however as soon as I stepped foot into the main room, I spotted it. The most fabulously kitsch 1960's olive green vinyl footstool with little brass feet. In fabulous condition. You'll never believe how much this little piece of retro heaven was....$25! Yes, you read it right, twenty-five dollars!

The next item on our retrolicious agenda was attending a presentation at the Community Hub by the lovely Nicole Jenkins of Circa Vintage Clothing. Nicole presented a series of frocks and spoke about the history of fashion from the 1920's to 1970's. The Pilot is not much into fashion, but even he had to admit he enjoyed this (at least a little bit)!

Adjacent to the Community Hub is the Maryborough Train Station - a gorgeous old building, that's super quiet now but would have been a mad house back in the old Gold Rush days. The station also houses an antique centre, but not much to report on there peeps.... a bit touristy and overpriced, we thought.

Still wrapped about our little foot stool bargain.