The perfect Melbourne morning

I've been in Melbourne for a few days before heading overseas (I'm currently writing this from the airport, so freeeeaking excited). Many judge Melbourne on its 'arctic' weather but there's a charm to this place that you just can't fault! 

Friday morning was one of those 'god I really miss this place' moments. Having moved to the Gold Coast just over two years ago, I feel that I have really made the sunny town my home, but everytime I visit the city that I was born and bred there's something that tells me I'll be back here one day. 

My boyfriend and I woke up on Friday to a sunny (but oh so crisp) morning. With the Italian holiday of 3 weeks fastly approaching we thought it would be responsible for us to head to 'The Tan' for a little trot (for non-Melbournites it is a well known track around South Yarra's Botanical Gardens).

Having taken in some of the beautiful gardens and conquered the dreaded vertical footpath of Anderson St, we decided we'd continue on our way to Top Paddock. Yes we were 'those guys' in their leggings out for breaky.

We both ordered Top Paddock's controversial avocado on toast, I had mine with the most amazing green tomatoes. There's been a bit of banter around the dish as some diners don't like the 'DIY' feel of a $16 breakfast. 

I don't mind it for two reasons: 

1) So many places these days you order avo with your breakfast and you are receive a salsa of mushed up brown looking avocado full of red onion, leaving you with no mates for the rest of the day due to your terrible breath.

2) The Barham avocados they use are soooo bloody delicious! With your first pissed off bite they are laughing back at you for judging the dish. 

We finished off the meal with a tarty grapefruit juice, and moved our little legs back to the car before the winds hit!! 

NB: Anyone who has been to Top Paddock and has frother over the avocados as much as I do, you are able to enjoy them in your own abode and even better have them delivered to your front door. Barham avocados do subscriptions! Best delivery of my month, when 12 avocados of different 'ripeness' arrive. Check it out at www.barhamavocados.com.au.

I want my baby back, baby back, baby back, baby back ribs.

Holy moly!

What a find! (Vegetarians, look away now).

Yesterday morning my boyfriend and I were informed of one of the greatest treasures on the Gold Coast, the BBQ butcher.

To many it seems like an ordinary (extremely tasty) butcher, but for those that know of the smoker out the back it is something special. (A kind of business in the front, party out the back situation).

Greg and Costa own the Burleigh Heads' butcher and have combined their BBQing knowledge from some time in the US and in Australia to deliver some of the best meat I have ever tasted.

Order the meat already cooked for dinner (just need to whack it in the oven) or invite the gents to come and heat up your next party. There are so many delicious options: pulled pork, American styled pork and beef ribs, smokey roasted chicken, the list goes on.

We ordered the American styled pork ribs with their signature rub and special sauce. The serving we got was huge, and only 25 or so dollars, this should have fed far more than two people but we got a bit excited!

Can you blame us:

We had ours with pickled cucumber and fennel and a cabbage salad. Makes it healthy right? 

I am a little worried that I have discovered this place. Drooling just thinking about it.

Check them out at www.thebbqbutcher.com.au

Sophie xx

The not-so-naughty (but still kind of) Apple and Rhubarb Crumble

Last night I headed to a friend's house to celebrate one of our girlfriend's birthdays.

Not being much of a dessert-queen and with exams quickly approaching, I thought what better way to procrastinate then challenge myself to a bake-off. 

I looked up heaps of recipes on 'healthy' apple crumbles and fruit stewing and kinda chucked them all together to create my own apple and rhubarb crumble.

Ingredients:

...for the stewed fruit

6x granny smith apples
4x rhubarb stalks
1x tablespoon of honey
1x tablespoon of brown sugar
1x cup of water
1x vanilla bean
3x cinnamon sticks

...for the crumble

The amount of crumble you need is totally dependent on what dish you are putting it in! My dish was pretty wide but shallow so I needed a fair bit of crumble to cover it. Just make the crumble in this ratio, and make more if it doesn't cover nicely!

1 cup oats
1/2 cup of almond flakes
2x teaspoon of honey
2x tablespoon of coconut oil
1x tablespoon of ground cinnamon

How to get it did: 

Peel the apples, core them and chop them and the rhubarb into rough pieces. 

Add them to a saucepan and add the rest of the 'stewed fruit ingredients'. Allow this to simmer on medium heat for 40 minutes to an hour. Keep an eye on it, you are watching for the fruit to soften right up, but don't boil! 

While that's going on, mix in a bowl the 'crumble ingredients'. At this stage you will get a feel for how many times you need to multiple the crumble mix (I did two lots). 

When the fruit is stewed to perfection, transfer it to a baking dish and make sure you pull out the cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean while you are at it. If you've made a bit too much fruit as I did, pop it in the fridge for your porridge or oats in the morning! 

I am aware that this looks in no way appetising, have a little faith! 

Cover the fruit evenly in your crumble mix.

Then whack it in the oven on 160° for about 30 or so minutes. 

Once the crumble is cooked serve it with whatever you wish. We added some berries and roasted walnut Gundowring icecream (see I said it was still a bit naughty). 

Simples. 

Sophie xx