Ups And Down Under: FOOD PARTY

This shall be one in the first of many "food chronicles" to come. Everywhere I look are amazing restaurants, fresh food and produce--a (sea)food lovers dream. I haven't had one bad thing yet but I'll keep you all posted. My first night out we went to a place called Dalmatino. Considering the name of it, and my day, I felt like I was living in a Brett Easton Ellis book. Especially the fact that there were "tall, blonde, and tan" people everywhere. I had veal in a garlic potato puree with mushrooms. And it. was. splendid.

The next morning, not only did I wake up to the most beautiful sky (and a view I am going to have to get used to) but my Dad took us to one of the best coffee houses in Melbourne called St. Alli Roasters. I don't know how he found it, but it was down a seemingly random alleyway with some great street art. The coffee was beautiful and beautiful tasting. I decided to try the syphon coffee which is a pretty cool process to watch: it looks like a science experiment. Bunson burners included. I also ate thee best breakfast I have had in a long, long time. A "Childhood Memory": fresh baked thick toast-ish bread with coffee cream, poached plums and cinnamon dukkah. I still don't know what "dukkah" is but it sure was tasty.

I've also been unpacking the boxes that finally came all the way from little Saratoga, California. It took awhile but we're finally finished. You know, a broken back and five hand-splitting glass cuts later. I've been eating a lot more than these pictures show but I didn't want to look like a total pig. Thank goodness there is a gym downstairs, right? More to come.