4.08.2010

Eat Me






I like magazines and I like food. So I love this new magazine called Condiment. Such a great name, hey? The magazine celebrates creative people and their relationship to food – I should totally be on the cover. Inside you'll find a tribute to potato chips (oh yeah), a levitating fruit photo essay and a cute story about clam gathering in New Zealand. I've got to say, Condiment reminds me of the magazine Swallow. I haven't seen an issue in a while but their first was pretty freakin' awesome – hardcover and all.

PS check out Condiment's launch party this April 10th at The Commons, Darlinghurst Sydney. I'm expecting heaps of delicious treats. Yes, heaps.

Coffee Talk








AUSTRALIA'S NEXT TOP CAPPUCCINO

Sleeping is for jerks. And there is nothing like a good cappuccino, right? I would safety say that Adrian and I went to close to 120 cafés around Sydney and Melbourne in search for Australia's Next Top Cappuccino (ANTC). We clearly need the energy to watch toned surfers and read magazines on the beach. But most importantly we require that extra zip for shopping and eating – life in Oz is so exhausting.

During our caffeine fuelled journey, we've narrowed it down to 7 finalists. Fear not my coffee lovin' friends, I have the ANTC list stronger than a kick to the gut by an unruly kangaroo. And here it goes...

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1. Arguably the best coffee in Melbourne head to Degraves Espresso Bar. I ordered an orange poppyseed cake that was so moist and delicious it was my When Harry Met Sally moment. Oooooh baby.

2. For a not too shabby cappuccino in St. Kilda try Il Fornaio. Although Adrian felt it was heavy on the milk, I didn't mind it's mellow taste. For an even better cap try Miss Jackson around the corner. This place rules and the food is yummers too.

3. Oh love is in the air at the Bourke Street Bakery, Sydney. Come for the cappuccino but develop a giant crush on their pastries and breads. I sampled a blushing rhubarb tart and ended up proposing (to the tart of course).

4. Jed's Food Store in beautiful Bondi Beach makes one hell of a breakfast. The coffee is decent, but on the weak side. I recommend devouring something off the Caribbean-Mexican inspired menu and chill the F out. Why? Because there is an even better café around the corner for your caffeine fix (check out #7).

5. Bonjourno! Ah, yes we're in Italy again. Where else can I order a plate of spaghetti with my cappuccino? Pellegrini's Espresso Bar, Melbourne of course. OHMYGOD it's one freakin' strong brew with real fluffy foam. But even better is their watermelon granita. To. Die. For.

6. St. Ali in South Melbourne makes a devine brunch and a good cup of joe. Plus their caps are all fancy pants with elaborate designs with chocolate sprinkles. What's super cool is they roast the beans in the restaurant. I think they might consider themselves the saint of coffee. They mean business and even use an artisanal espresso machine from Seattle called The Slayer – I'm not one to argue.

7. Our favourite cappuccino in Sydney belongs to the charming Gertrude and Alice. Strong and straight to the point their java has that bold caramel flavour we're looking for. I actually experienced a caffeine overdose here so it's got to be good. Right? Wowza.

Stereolab



Check out the Beatbox Kitchen, the ghetto blaster meals on wheels complete with a tape deck service window. I spent a few days chasing this small piece of awesome through the streets of Melbourne. You have to rap your order and do the worm if you want extra cheese but it's worth it for a tasty Raph burger with stereo sauce or juicy chicken schnitzel wrap. Holla!

To find where the beatbox is next, follow it on Twitter.

Get Your Hair Did






Today is not a bad hair day. Enjoy some Flickr Friday photos from Istanbul's Eylul Aslan. And while you're at it, check out her tumblr too – lots of eye candy and more beautiful coifs.

4.02.2010

Pens and Ponies




ILLUSTRATOR OF THE DAY JANE REISEGER

Fun stuff from Melbourne based illustrator Jane Reiseger – the girl who had a pony named Frisco, grew up on near apple orchards and loves fine uni ball pens. Jane is everywhere. I've noticed her handiwork in a few choice establishments around both Sydney and Melbourne. When you're hot, you're hot.

3.31.2010

White Trash




I have a confession to make. Often at the end of the day I get really lazy and throw my clothes on the floor. Yes there is a big ol' messy pile of dirty clothes in my bedroom at all times. But now I can safely say it's fashionable to wear trashy dirty clothes. We can all let out a collective sign of relief. Ahhh.... Thank you Aurel Schmidt for creating these amazing T-shirts. Now I can wear cigarette butts and half eaten donuts with pride. Remember those awesome tuxedo and the bikini body T-shrits you can pick up at any tacky souvenir shop? I'd say these are the updated version except you won't find them anywhere except the ever chic Opening Ceremony.

3.29.2010

O-Check Me Out






All aboard for awesome town – the land where even the stationery is wicked cute like the Korean designed O-Check notebooks, pencils, stamps and other paper treasures. I found a gaggle of O-Check products in an adorable store close to the Prahran Market yesterday. Jackpot! Somehow they're enticing me to send a message in a bottle and spend the day writing dreamy postcards to my peeps back home. What is it about fancy pants stationery that makes me so damn happy?