The Melbourne Central Community Garden

The Level 2 walkway in Melbourne Central has been transformed. Like an oasis in sea of shops, there is a garden with deck chairs, soft light and a peaceful atmosphere. It almost seems to invite people to come in, put their feet up and relax.

The Melbourne Central Community Garden

However, on closer inspection, the area is more than just a rest zone to help people regain energy (in order to keep on shopping...). It is the CBD’s very own community garden.

The walkway was converted into a “living kitchen” as part of “The Magic of Growth” program, in partnership with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. Like an urban greenhouse, seasonal herbs and vegetables are grown and visitors are encouraged to help themselves to produce. 

Herbs in the Melbourne Central Community Garden

It’s a novel and creative use of a redundant urban space that reminds me of the High Line park in New York. I think it’s great to see nature reclaiming some space back from all the concrete and city buildings…

Review: Little Feat

Little Feat is the latest venture to jump onboard the macaron bandwagon. Last month, they launched their partnership with Guava Bean Espresso Bar on Russell St in Melbourne’s CBD, where the handmade macarons are exclusively sold.

Pretty packaging from Little Feat

They celebrated their union by giving away free macarons for three days at the end of November, one per person per day and limited to the Blue Currant and Tim Tam Tease flavours. I, of course, unashamedly took advantage of this generosity and ventured down each day, work colleges in tow. 

Little Feat's Blue Currant macaron

The first flavour I tried was the Blue Currant, which is described as “fine mouth watering black currant with a blueberry pearl”. I have to say that it was quite delicious. The texture of the macaron was quite dense - slightly crunchy outside with a heavy, chewy inside. It was almost at the point of being a little too chewy but I kinda like my macarons like that so I’m not complaining. The flavour of the ganache was really nice, very fruity and not too sweet.

Little Feat's Tim Tam Tease macaron

The Tim Tam Tease definitely captures the tim tam flavour. It too had a dense texture and while the taste was spot on, it didn’t have the same kick as the Blue Currant one.

I’ve yet to try their Caramel Craving macaron (their version of Salted Caramel) but I promise I will try it in the New Year and update this post with my thoughts.

However, if you like a chewy, fruit flavoured macaron, Little Feat is the place for you.

Address: 114 Russell St, Melboure
Hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 6pm
           Sat: 10am - 4pm

***Update 07/01/12*** I tried the Caramel Craving from Little Feat the other day. Same chewy texture with a salty caramel taste, but again.... No kick to it. Slightly underwhelming.

Review: Laksa Bar

I’ve returned home tonight from another visit to Laksa Bar.

Opening in early November, this Malaysian restaurant offers delicious, authentic food. Laksa dishes are obviously their speciality (eight types in total) but they also do rice and noodle dishes.

The laksa was thick and tasty. You get to choose whether you would like mild, spicy or extra spicy and what type of meat you would like. You even get a bib to protect yourself while you slurp up the soup! However both times we ordered it, the temperature of the soup was a little bit too cool, but otherwise it is very good.

House curry laksa with chicken

The other dishes are delicious too. I’ve tried both the Nasi Lemak Goreng Pattaya and Mee Goreng Mamak and they have a real home-made taste about them, not too oily or salty.

Nasi Lemak Goreng Pattaya

Mee Goreng Mamak

The service is really friendly and helpful – the staff seat you and then you order at the counter when you have decided. The prices are reasonable and the serving sizes are also quite generous so you definitely won’t leave hungry!

So if you are in the city and craving a great laksa or some mee goreng, you should certainly give Laksa Bar a go.

Address: 108 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Hours: Mon - Fri: 11am-10pm
           Sat - Sun: 5pm-10pm
 

Review: Foo Fighters – AAMI Park 02/12/2011

As the sun set on a beautiful clear summer night, Melbourne was treated to an amazing performance by none other than the incredible Foo Fighters.

The 30,000 strong crowd filed in early to check out support act (and good friends of the Foo Fighters) Tenacious D. Jack Black and Kyle Gass rocked it out with some new songs like “Death Star” and one that they had to abandon half way through because Jack Black couldn’t remember the words… But it was their old favourites “Tribute” and “F**k her gently” that started the first of many sing-alongs throughout the night. 

“We supply the lightning, the Foos bring the thunder!” declared Jack Black and he wasn’t wrong. Right on cue, the lights dimmed and chords of “All my life” boomed out and the Foo Fighters got the party started.

The show was part of their Wasting Light world tour and the Foo Fighters played songs from their brilliant new album. Dave Grohl introduced “These days” as the next single and the best song he has ever written. He hinted that its video clip was going to be filmed during the Australian leg of the tour by teasing the crowd with “you might see some of your pretty faces on MTV soon”.

Dave Grohl was in fine form throughout the show, running all over the stage and the massive walkway that extended out deep into the crowd like a little kid who had drunk a little too much red cordial. “I hope none of you have work tomorrow because we've got a lot of things we've got to do”, he promised early in the show.

And they did not disappoint. The Foo Fighters whipped the crowd into a frenzy that lasted all night. "This one goes out to all the old Foo Fighters fans," Dave Grohl said as he launched into “Breakout”, which had everyone singing along so loudly they almost drowned out the band.

When Dave Grohl announced that it was bassist Nate Mendel's birthday, the crowd broke into an impromptu chorus of "Happy Birthday". Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly in sync (or in tune). "What the f**k was that?" was Dave Grohl's reaction. "Were you guys singing 'Happy Birthday'? Because what it sounded more like was 'HEERGGGH GHHGHGERRR BBBBEEEERGHDEEERGH'," he said, mocking our efforts.

After a playing a show filled with 16 years worth of rocking hits that prove why they are, and always will be, one of the greatest bands ever, we got down to the business end of the evening. While everyone was waiting for the encore, Dave Grohl appeared on the big screen on night cam and began negotiating how many more songs they would play. The offer of just one song elicited a loud BOO and drummer Taylor Hawkins joined in on the fun, bringing the number up to five songs.

Dave Grohl then ran up walkway onto a raised podium and started an acoustic version of “Wheels”. “We'll play as many songs as we can until they tell us to stop”, Dave Grohl told an adoring crowd. There was a slight interruption by a person who managed to jump the barrier into the floor area from where Dave Grohl referred to as the “shitty seats”. He was pulled up on stage when the crowd expressed their disapproval when security dragged him away.

After almost three hours, the show was finished with “Everlong” – a perfect ending to a perfect night.

Setlist:
All My Life
Rope
The Pretender
My Hero
Learn To Fly
White Limo
Arlandria
Breakout
Cold Day In The Sun
Stacked Actors
Walk
Monkey Wrench
These Days
This Is A Call
In The Flesh (Pink Floyd cover)
Best Of You

Encore:
Wheels
Times Like These
Generator
Tie Your Mother Down (Queen cover)
Everlong