paris-to-provence

With the tragedy in Paris still on our minds we can embrace a little of France and its usual joie de vivre here at Como House and Gardens this Friday, Saturday and Sunday when the grounds will become a French pop-up village. There will be food and wine from all the regions of France and live entertainment.

Source: paris-to-provence Meatsmith Porterhouse

Meatsmith, Andrew McConnell’s new butchery venture on Smith Street, Collingwood is a beautiful, spacious shop that serves carefully butchered and aged meat. There is a sort of reverence to the products it sells, a feeling you get when you walk in reminiscent of a cathedral and which I hadn’t felt since the days of Discurio music store in McKillop Street or Kay Craddock’s bookstore. But there’s no need to be intimidated by all this, go in and by guided by the friendly staff. If it is aged beef and rib eye steak with the whole rib (about 3 times the usual length) you long for then this is definitely the place for you. I opted for a more modest porterhouse steak which was wrapped in thick waxed paper with an elegant black seal. I am happy to report that none of the meat trays here are covered in plastic wrap like most butchers. Meatsmith goes with the European model of presenting meat that is well hung, dry, sweet smelling and pleasant to the touch, rather than meat wet with blood that becomes slimey and starts to smell under plastic. Meatsmith has a great selection of poultry and game. You can get pasture raised chicken, farmed, jumbo-sized pieces of rabbit, quail and guinea fowl. It is still early days but soon butcher, Troy Wheeler, will be producing a variety of smallgoods. This is the place to buy meat from local Victorian producers.

My steak by the way was perfection; flavoursome and tender but still with a little texture. I’ll be going back for more. Check Meatsmith facebook for special products.

Bizzarri Dolci Handmade Biscuits

With Christmas just around the corner it is time to start planning those Christmas hampers. Whether it is for family, friends or business associates, hampers filled with quality, locally made, sweet and savory biscuits are a great way to spread the cheer. Bizzarri Dolci at 1395 Malvern Road, Malvern have a large array of individual packets of biscuits and gift boxes and you can order on line.

Source: Bizzarri Dolci Handmade Biscuits | SHOP HAMPERS & GIFTS

The Source Bulk Foods

The Source is a nationwide bulk food business specialising in grains, flours, nuts, dried fruits, pulses, superfoods, honey, confectionery and personal and household cleaning liquids. Flour milling and nut butter extraction are also available. Don’t expect the grungy, university wholefoods look, there’s not a wooden fruit box in sight. The stores follow the now ubiquitous minimalist fit-out with white walls and blond wood. Stores can be found in Commercial Road, Prahran, opposite the Prahran Market, Sydney Road Brunswick, Burke Road, Camberwell and just four months ago a new store opened at 202 Smith Street, Collingwood. The shopping system is self serve; you fill paper bags with the amount you want, write the item code on the bag and take it to the counter for weighing and payment. Online shopping is also an option.

Baker D. Chirico in South Yarra The smell of baked goods is wafting down Domain Road.

Baker D. Chirico (kee–ree-kaw) has opened a pop-up opposite the Royal Botanical Gardens on Domain Road in South Yarra with a view to establish a bakery there by 2017. Perfect location for picking up a breakfast pastry or afternoon tea in the gardens.

Source: Baker D. Chirico Pops Up in South Yarra – Broadsheet