[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] THOUGHTS ON: SPARKING THAT FIRE

[image by Imogen Cunningham]

I started my last term at college this week, and we were asked by one of our lecturers today to introduce ourselves, as many of them usually ask us to. Name, age, where from, what we hope to do in the future.  I gave my generic answer, and expressed my passion for the F&B industry and that I'd like to get involved here in Sydney.


During the day, I couldn't stop thinking of this photograph, which I reblogged not long ago on my tumblr. Everytime I see it, it speaks to me, gives me that breathless second.


I see grace and poise; it makes me want to be like them. I want to dance. I want to witness moments like this, shoot a moment like this, be able to call a work like this my own. I feel inspired; I feel hungry for growth, creativity; I feel there's so much to learn and see. And I realised the way I feel about this photo, all the things it triggers in me, I want people to feel the same about what I do, what I create too.


I want to appreciate people for who they are, what they do, what they expect; I want to listen, understand, and create something that both myself and others see parts of them in it, value it and think it is special, think it is what they want, lightens their day. I want people to start seeing more of the good and positive things in life through my work, I want them to feel good and positive about themselves when they see or experience my work, I want them to discover emotions they would've never expected, or rediscover long forgotten ones. I want my work to encourage and motivate others, in whatever way; I want them to feel some emotional attachment to it, appreciation and passion for it, and gratefulness for it, just because it takes their soul to a place where they know they want to be. And I hope to do the same for all the relationships I have in my life: I want to care, share, understand, appreciate, and motivate people to do the same.


I work hard, whatever I do. But for what? Well yes, to do what I want to do, to see what I want to see, to experience what I want to experience. It just happens that what I want to experience is what I feel about that photo; to listen to songs that make me want to cry, to attend classes of teachers so gifted and enthusiastic that they want to make you study more and harder, to be happy and thankful for what I am given and to strive for bigger and better things. So I want to do the same - give others that experience, whatever I do. And the most precious reward for that is to be thanked for it, be thought of for what I do and to inspire.

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] THE F&B DIARIES OF A MELBOURNE ADDICT

Let's be honest: there are so many restaurant reviews out there I don't think I need to be the 185638524th person to, say, take a photo of Bodega's fish fingers, list its price and rave about how good it is. My love for Melbourne's wining and dining scene, however, is unable to stop me from sharing some of my favourite destinations with you, especially as a non-local. Feel free to cross check with your trusted food blogger.



* Pope Joan [77-79 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East]
Go for: that brunch you don't deserve every day because it is too good
Expect: travelling a fair bit out of the city to be rewarded with breakfast heaven. The dishes are so beautifully prepared and plated and are definitely well-portioned too, to make sure you'll roll out the door completely happy - think smoked salmon, parsnip croquettes, red slaw and slow cooked egg (all in one dish, that is). If you seriously can't stand eggs for breakfast they have a range of sandwiches and cakes and other sweet dishes that looked fantastic as well. To me it was probably the most impressive breakfast/brunch ever, and the girls on the floor make sure you're looked after too!


* Hanoi Hannah [180 High Street, Prahran]
Go for: Viet street food, Prahran style
Expect: authentic Vietnamese (REAL spring rolls! Grilled beef in betel leaves! Veeeeery loooovely pho!) and fun spinoffs of some favourites in a very cute, Melbourian setting - rustic and funky and cosy, without forgetting that trademark Viet painting on the wall and the chilli sauce and cutlery holder on the table. Get the coconut lychee slushie too - oh em gee so refreshing! It kinda felt like I was eating at home again, only to walk around the corner back onto Chapel Street. Jackpot.


* The Woods Of Windsor [108 Chapel Street, Windsor]
Go for: hunting lodge meets anything elegant
Expect: a venue hard to describe but suitable for anyone that's after anything good really: a casual drink, a proper sit-down dinner, something before or after the main meal... Similar to Porteno in Sydney, it's one of those venues that you know you can come in for all sorts of occasions and have an amazing time, while things are still done properly and formally. The big shelf along one wall stocks a whisky-focused bar, as well as books, taxidermies, and all sorts of other beautiful things to look at. Comes with a matching "forresty" and "autumny" menu - had drinks and dessert and actually can't wait to be back to try more.


* Cumulus Inc. [45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne]
Go for: the good stuff, all day long
Expect: the sleek, clean-cut Melbourian type of venue with bangin' food - serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've been back every time I went to Melbs so that must say a lot, doesn't it? Exciting flavours and ingredients are prepared in a very honest style of cooking, and most of the menu is to share but can be cut down into single portions - well that's pretty much my kinda style of eating. Went back last to have breakfast and just couldn't get over their bloody tasty blood sausage and smoked tomato in the English breakfast. Don't miss the canelés at the little pastry and takeaway section on your way out!


* Portello Rosso [15 Warburton Lane, Melbourne]
Go for: Tapas that are, uhm, pretty crazy?
Expect: a menu the size of which you'd probably underestimate, and feeling like Julia Roberts in "Eat Pray Love" when she was eating up in Italy - I just felt so alive working my way through the dishes. I honestly don't remember everything we had - I'm sure you can order anything and you'll be perfectly fine. I guess you'll have fun at any tapas restaurant if the food is good, but as I've said that Eat-Pray-Love feeling hit me so hard that all I can say is just go already. The team was so so nice too I felt so bad not finishing my dinner (because I was so stuffed!).

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] THE PIG HOTEL, HAMPSHIRE UK

[All photos from The Pig Hotel]

What are you, a dream?

So I was browsing the web last night (as I do most nights) and found this amazing amazing amazing hotel on Kinfolk, or well, as they say, "restaurant with rooms". The restaurant sets its menu based on what's coming from the garden, which means that it could change several times during the day, and shit did you see what the place looks like? That rustic, comfy, elegant vibe is just soooo british. Let me put on my imaginary Burberry trench coat and Hunter boots and book my flight there already.

As you may know already, I'm a huge fan of boutique hotels (see my rave about The Public Chicago), and although it depends much on the location what you can do and provide with/at your establishment, this is the ultimate concept isn't it - small number of rooms, imperfectly beautiful and comfortable, providing only essential facilities but rockin' dining and entertainment. Oh when will this day come for me...

For more drooling over The Pig Hotel, click here!

Sorry for being absent for a while again, been busy busy busy at college, been at work too, but most of my free time I've been sleeping and doing nothing heaps because it's been on and off hot and cold. That must've kinda messed with my active/lazy switch - but I'm back again now! x

(Update: The Pig Hotel has extended, now running a second boutique hotel and opening a beach venue in 2013. Check their website www.thepighotel.com for the ultimate drool)

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] FRESH BREAD FOR DINNER

Stumbled upon this video on my tumblr dashboard, and I've fallen in love - with the whole concept really: "real", artisan food, great passion and fine skills, and wonderful aesthetics. Everything that requires such beautiful craftsmanship, whether food, drinks, or anything else, should be celebrated and enjoyed to the fullest. Not only is the whole world moving towards a healthier, more organic, more "home-made" life, but also do these amazing people - who are definitely gifted, but also are just as "familiar" as your mate or your neighbour - show that with enough passion, persistency and love for what you do, you can be successful too. I wanna become one of them.

Check out Tartine Bakery & Cafe (makes me wanna go to San Francisco!), and The Makers, which documents the daily life of wonderful craftsmen in Brooklyn, New York.

Sorry for the recent lack of personal posts and photos; I actually have been spending amazing times with amazing friends but keep forgetting my camera. Sad face.

x

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] BEGGING FOR SUMMER TO STAY

1- Jeffrey Campbell Gomez, as seen on Solestruck

2- Swedish Hasbeens Duck Toe Sandal, as seen on Asos

Oh please come to me. Although I've been having very healthy relationships with several pairs of flat leather shoes since last year (with the latest addition of Shubar's Harmony) and am barely wear heels anymore, these two pairs have been floating around my mind, and are my desperate cry trying to hold on to a very moody Sydney summer, while slowly making friends with the idea of autumn being just around the corner. I'm staying faithful to my love for brown shoes too (well, almost). The weather is rather asking for something like this though.

Been listening to a lot of Black Keys and just finished reading Boozehound by Jason Wilson, and am feeling quite cultured and even a little autumny. The book explores the stories behind a number of "rare, obscure and overrated" spirits; we've learned about the basics at college but I myself have never worked in a bar before, so it was really really interesting to get an idea of what's behind those liquors and even build some expectations of what they should taste like. The best thing about the book is that the author tells you little stories about his journeys and tastings rather than just bluntly explaining the spirits, and moreover he has a pretty cool sense of humour. Can't go wrong with a bit of fun in books.

Kinda feel like a drink now. Something a little autumny.

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] MONDAY EXCLUSIVE

I remember it was a very hot summer-like Monday night some time last year; I felt like I was stepping into an oven when I walked out of the house. Jah Bar is usually closed on Mondays, but Toby felt creative that night and asked me to join him there to take photos of a couple of cocktails for their Concrete Playground write-up. It was kinda strange to be at a restaurant on its day off; at the same time I've been so familiar with its business hour happenings already that it was nice to be able to freely walk around and see the place from different perspectives. So I grabbed the camera too when Toby took his breaks from it to make new drinks.

One of my most favourite venues in Manly - I don't remember ever not having a good time there. Besides its killer food and drinks (tapas, wines and classic cocktails with a twist), I personally like how it's quite hard to define what Jah Bar is. It's strangely appropriate for any occasion - nice, long dinners, afternoon backyard sangrias, late night wine and cocktails, or simply rocking up for a quick meal or nibbles on nights you prefer something fancier. It's formal enough to come in with family, loose enough to have a party dinner with a group of mates, and cosy, relaxed but also fun enough to swing by alone or with a friend for whatever you feel like having. Man, whatever it is, I think they're doing a fricken good job there.

Anyone enjoying a swim in Mantown and feeling like croquetas and an old fashioned (and maybe more), give me a shout. Not on Mondays though.

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] MOMENTS

1- Some businessman's briefcase, Young Street corner Bridge Street / 2- T's sunnies / 3- Muesli out of my favourite cup, or actually, after having it

For some reason these photos feel very quiet and calm, and remind me of how content I am with where I am and what I'm doing at this stage.

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR

So the big boss has left us for the city of angels, which I'm not happy about at all. We had a seriously fun farewell party for Martin at Customs House Bar last weekend though, although I'm quite sure that he didn't even get drunk. What happened to buying shots for the centre of the party?
Martin started work at the same time with myself, when I started working at the hotel for my internship. He is the most dedicated manager I've ever worked with - can you imagine living in Surry Hills and spending days off coming in to work? He has been so supportive with all matters during the year I've worked there, and I really really hope to work with him again one day; I honestly am going to miss you so much. I hope it's not gonna be as fun in LA so you come back to Sydney. Kidding.

It's been a while since I played with b&w. Never fails to look sharp.

x

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] SI SIGNORE WITH THE SOMBRERO

I know that Oscar has been waiting for these photos eagerly (and now maybe angrily too). This previous term we had to take this HOTS class - nothing hot about it really; it's this nerve-wrecking hotel simulation that we had to run as a group, and there were reports due every second week. As painful as it was, we made some new friends and (kind of) have a couple of fond memories, such as this awesome spontaneous burrito night we held after getting a distinction for one of our reports (which in the end got put down to a credit because we blew our capital expenditure budget). Our fierce South American team members Oscar and Andres were keen to teach us girls how to properly make, roll and eat burritos - that is, with shitloads of guacamole, beer and dancing. We even filmed a burrito rolling tutorial.

Can't deny Mexican food is hella fun, although I still don't get the difference between tacos, burritos and fajitas. But I know that I do love the guacamole haha. Grrrrracias signorrrres!

[SUITED UP AND BAREFOOT] BLT - BROWN LEATHER TEMPTATION

Urge Lucy brogues; Wittner Van peeptoes; Sportsgirl Marley mocassins; Shubar Bridie boots

Polly and I "set up" our shoes in the corridor (in two lines, which extend into the living room, and usually lose their shape a few days after arranging them neatly); recently I've been taking more and more pairs into my room, which is a sign that things are getting out of hand. I'll be revamping our crib this term break so I'll have to figure out what to do with our shoes. Probably give away a few pairs to start with.

So these pairs of brown leather shoes ended up in my room, and actually make nice decoration. Brown is one of my favourite colours and it's usually almost automatic that I choose brown over black, unless I have something specific in mind. They stand out, and have that sophisticated but unpolished look. Especially when a guy at college breaks the rule and wears brown shoes with his business attire - pretty cool.

Other current likes and inspirations:
* Chanel Jade nail polish
* Barrio Chino's pork belly + wasabi crema tacos
* My new inspiration tumblr that one last piece of cake - I couldn't resist the reblogging anymore; too many beautiful things floating around on the net.

Off to studying for Economics now - two more exams to go, wish me luck.