I’ve experienced two different things in this fair city I so proudly call home over the last week that are completely out of the realm of what I usually blog about, but I just had to share with you all. Because that’s the point of a blog right, sharing my life with you all?! Ahem.
Firstly, I was asked if I’d like to go along and see Genevieve Bailey’s debut feature length documentary ‘I AM ELEVEN.’ The documentary focuses on a series of eleven-year-olds from 15 countries, each speaking in their own words and revealing the private obsessions and public concerns that animate their lives.
It was so beautifully done and held my every attention from beginning to end. Sharing their experiences on everything from love to climate change and war, watching these young people share their earnest opinions made me laugh and cry. I was heartbroken listening to some of their stories about school yard bullying but equally uplifted watching orphans in India build a new home, or Goh from Thailand frolic with baby elephants in the river.
This film has been entirely funded and propped up by the film makers themselves so get behind this local Melbourne outfit and I guarentee you will love it.
Another amazing experience that came my way recently was when I was invited via Twitter to dine at Cerberus Beach House. I’d had lunch there a few weeks before and tweeted about how much I’d loved it so they said, ‘Why don’t you come on back for a Sunday night dinner?’
The staff, the ambiance, the food, the music: I’m just not really sure where to begin! In fact talking of beginning, I wondered for a while whether I wanted to even blog about this or whether to keep it to myself as a hidden gem.
Firstly every Sunday they play host to live accoustic music and we arrived to find Josh Roydhouse playing what could have been the songbook of my childhood: John Denver, Cat Stevens, Don McLean and Harry Nilsson. He was soulful, sensitive and provided the perfect backdrop to the intimate dining room.
But onto the food! We started with slow roasted Otway pork shoulder with shoestring crackling, spiced apricot chutney and crispy sage leaf jus. It was delicious and I could have licked the plate clean if it was a socially acceptable thing to do.
The Gardener had crispy skin Cone Bay barramundi on a warm salad of braised baby vegetables with a caper and herb salsa and I had free range Lillydale chicken braised with cider , bacon and porcini mushrooms, roasted Dutch cream potatoes and leek fondue. I had food envy as soon as I saw his vegetables with were so fresh they almost jumped off the plate. If you are interested you can view the menu here.
Then it was on to dessert and I had profiteroles with bano ffee crumble and milk chocolate anglaise. If you are salivating right now then you aren’t far off how I felt when it was put down in front of me.
Amazing.
I loved that the owner Jamie was on hand to talk us through our meals and help us with dessert choice, and I love that the produce is locally sourced and seasonal. It’s got a great local vibe, it’s not fussy and the food is amazing. It’s most definitely a Melbourne gem and well worth the trip down Beach Rd for a meal and a glass of wine….or three.
Lady loves you!
