Dog-Friendly: Alfresco - Duchess of Spotswood

We came by a month or so ago with Angus, hoping to get a seating outside. There were just too many people waiting, and so we left for elsewhere.

Last Saturday, we decided to try our luck again, but without Angus. We were seated in 15 minutes, despite the constant stream of people waiting.

I did think that the menu alone was enough to give you coronary heart disease, but we had to experience it for ourselves.

We shared between us two, the Idle Tongues:Idle Tongues -
braised ox tongue w/ semolina puree and sourdough bread

as well as the fabulous, Duchess of Pork ( I must admit, I was half-expecting Fergie to be served :X )

Duchess of Pork -
pork belly w/ crumbed poached eggs, rich truffle sauce and sourdough bread

Lovely place, and would love to go again, but we might let the cholesterol ease down for a while first!

Duchess of Spotswood
87 Hudsons Rd
Spotswood
 

FOOD-OUT: Roule Galette French Creperie

After dinner with a very dear friend of mine last Friday, we (friend, the Husband, and I) found ourselves at Roule Galette - a delightful little joint that served crepes - both sweet and savoury.

I really liked how this place is set up - it's tucked into a very quiet alley and the staff all speak French - the Husband remarked that it felt like we were in Paris itself (or what we perceive as Paris, as neither of us have been there).

As we were greedy piggies and we WERE after dessert, we ordered a sweet crepe each.

I had the Lucie crepe (ice-cream, almonds, braised apple):-

The Husband opted for the Anne So (lots of vanilla ice-cream, hot chocolate sauce, flaked almonds):-

As much as we loved the Lucie and Anne-So crepes and would gladly, happily, greedily eat them again, the piece de resistance was, in my opinion, the caramel with salted butter, topped with a scoop of ice-cream.

Gawd, I'm drooling just thinking about it!!

Roule Galette French Creperie
Scott Alley, 241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
http://roulegalette.com.au/ 

Dog-Friendly: Macedon Regional Park

We must endeavour to go there again and give it another shot.

We decided to go up Mount Macedon with Angus yesterday, but it turned out to be a bad decision. The weather was forecasted to be cloudy in Melbourne, but we didn't factor in the likelihood that it'd be colder up in Mount Macedon.

Well, it wasn't JUST colder, it was raining too! And misty.

Bah.

Major Mitchell's Lookout point - look out to where?!

Mount Macedon is home to the Memorial Cross, Victoria's most significant war memorial only second to the Shrine of Remembrance:


I reckon if it wasn't wet or too cold, it would be quite lovely to walk.

Oh well, maybe next time!

**Note to self, though - Top of the Ranges Tearooms does not appear to have an alfresco area if you're bringing pooch along, so bring a picnic along next time!

Macedon Regional Park

Dog-Friendly: Alfresco - Social Roasting Company, Flemington

Have been here many a-times for brunch, but it was the first time we've brought Angus. They have about 4 tables on the wide sidewalk, and there was ample space. Some places have tables crammed on the narrow sidewalk, and it can be really quite cumbersome to have dogs around, but this was fine - Angus seemed comfy, and wasn't being pesky to others!

They usually have the most amazing sweet muffins ever, but we were certainly after something way more substantial:


It wasn't an easy choice, as they have an awesome massive brekkie/lunch menu:


What I love about this place, apart from the great food, is their social conscience - in addition to aiming to provide work to the long-term unemployed, they also try to reduce their carbon footprint by delivering their roasted beans (coffee bean roaster seen below!) by bicycle.


Awesome food, good coffee, and wonderful conscience - what is there not to love? Plus, your furry friend is welcomed too!

Social Roasting Company
307 Racecourse Road, Flemington, VIC
Cash Only
Monday-Friday, 7am-3.30pm; Sat & Sun, 8am-4pm

Paraprosdokians

Here is the definition:
"Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation". For example "Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

19. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

20. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

21. I used to be indecisive Now I'm not so sure.

22. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

24. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

25 Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

26. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.

29. I always take life with a grain of salt. Plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.

30. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.