Oliver's on James Street

If you are hunting for a hearty, delicious italian meal in the heart of Northbridge, then Oliver's on James Street is the place to eat. It's located next to Cinema Paradiso and has both indoors and outdoors dining.

The restaurant provides a large selection of meals to choose from, so it can cater to anyone's taste including the fussy eaters or the weight watchers.

We dined with a group of 10, and with most of us opting for a three course meal with a bottle of wine to boot the bill came down to a surprisingly $40 each (this is of course after 2 entertainment discount cards - even if not used it would have been fairly priced).

To top of the price, the service was attentive, friendly and was so patient with us, especially seeing as some of us arrived at different times so our meals weren't ordered as soon as we got there, but they were still very patient and lovely. In fact, I must admit, although our waitress lacked a bit of confidence when it came to knowing her "specials" - which she actually knew but was always like "i'll double check for you", she was just the sweetest and was just so cute in all her mannerism.

Of course, nothing is as important as the food itself, and I must say it was delicious.

The entree consisted of:

The fried brie - which was delicious, although I think fried camembert is a lot better. 

The garlic bread is homemade with love. It smelt so delicous and was probably one of the best garlic bread I have ever had. Although the addition of sprouts was a little odd.

As for general bread with balasmic vinegar? well, it's an italian restarant so it was done well. 

The mains were cooked with love and attention to flavours.

The chilli crab pasta has the right amount of bite from the chilli without the chilli over-powering, or without the whole dish being too bland. Although, again, the addition of sprouts as garnish was just plain weird - they probably bought too much!

The tapas for two looked boutiful and delicious. The two that got the tapas plate to share was content and loved every bit of their meal! 

The pizzas looked so appetizing and they didn't skimp out on the toppings.

The pork belly, it was tender, although it was said that the crackling wasn't the best.

The dukkah lamb was juicy and tender and the cous cous on the side was just laced with the right amount and mix of spices and herbs. It also came with a side of mixed steamed vegetables which perfectly balanced all the spices in my dish.

The fillet steak with prawns according to bf was tender, and juicy with a great sauce.

The desserts were house-made and were pretty fantastic, although not necessary mind-blowing.

The sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce was almost as good as the one at Melbourne Supper club. It was moist and the butterscotch was a nice sweet touch (although it wasn't as smooth as it could have been).

The cheesecake was apprently delicious although she said it probably paled in comparison to the other desserts. 

The creme brulee was delicous, not too sweet and the caramelisation at the top was done to perfection.

The carrot cake was moist and yummy. It was also a massive slice of carrot cake, very generous!

The tiramisu on the other hand paled, still delicious but I still think Ciao Italia is the best. 

The apple crumble dessert was delicious, it was nice and warm and homely. The ice-cream on the top and the cream on the side were the perfection addition to what was already a yummy dessert. It's definitely the perfect dessert for the colder months.

Overall, Oliver's on James Street, is a must go to in Northbridge, especially for Italian food in Northbridge. It outshines all the other ones on the strip and it's value for money, with big serves, good service and wonderfully cooked meals all with a very lovely casual atmosphere, perfect for that catch up you been meaning to do. You couldn't really ask for more.

fear

"The only thing we have to fear is fear it'self - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
---- FDR - First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933

I couldn't agree more. 

It is fear that's keeping me to choosing either path. Stopping me from taking a risk and stepping other either paths and sticking with it. I am too scared to jump into both unknowns.

Instead, here I am walking a tight rope in the middle. 
It's proving to be a harder job. 

I must choose which way and stick to it no matter what obstacles are in store.

365 days later..

well to be precise that was 4 days ago.

We went out for dinnner at Silver Spoon Restaurant

This was after a very rushed but essential trip to Country Road to get him a coat

and a jacket.

It was all done in 30minutes.

We made it to the restaurant only 3-4 minutes late.

He also bought me flowers.

He wanted roses but his florist near his house didn't have any.

Small florist tends not too.

But I don't mind. 

It was the thought that counted, especially seeing as he doesn't see the point

or understand

the need to buy flowers.

He thinks what's the point when it's going to die anyway.

So getting flowers is a big deal.

As for anniversary gifts?
Our presents to each other was the professional couple photo we took together earlier in the year.

It's now 369 days.

Heres to another 365 days!

xoxo

Milkd Maylands ...

I was in Maylands the other weekend, well, I should say I passed through but luckily for me I had an excuse to stop by and try one of their many new cafes that have popped up. One in particular I wanted to try was Mrs. S. It's a tiny little cafe with quirky misfits interior designing, with cute storybook menus and of course the thing that is taking over little corner deli to open cafes.

Unfortunately, Mrs. S was full and had a 10minute wait and although the food served looked soooooo damn good, bf and I were starving, (it was 2pm and both of us haven't had breakfast, let alone have lunch, and after spending the morning getting new phones and debating about getting bf a Tag watch we were rather desperate for food before we spent any more money on anything else) so the 10 minute wait was too much. So the failings of Mrs. S to get us a seat meant we headed to Milkd, which was just down the street, 2 minutes walk.

Milkd was essentially empty. This was once a bustling cafe and with competition completely and utterly empty. Talk about squeezing the competition out!

 Anyway, I ended up with latte, which was made very nicely, and ordered myself a healthy toasted museli with yogurt and fruits, along with a side of scrambled eggs, as I had a major craving for eggs, (originally wanted poached, but according to staff they don't make poached eggs anymore - which really does not make sense to me!). Bf ordered a bottle of coke (it comes in the glass bottles of course!) and the big breakfast with toasted bread, chirozo, mushrooms, eggs, bacon, fetta cheese and rocket.

I have to say the toasted muesli with a side of milk was just delicious! I am so glad the milk wasn't in there because the museli by itself with the yogurt drizzled with honey was just right! Exactly what I was looking for;  refreshing, healthy, yet the creamy-ness of the yogurt and the crunchy-ness of the muesli, just satisfied all my bad cravings of something greasy and bad. The scrambled eggs that I had on the side, on the other hand, needed more salt and for scrambled eggs it wasn't the most brilliant. (I've had better scrambled eggs - if that was even possible??!).

Bf's breakfast according to him was good, I had a bit and I must say the chirozos were a bit dry and hard, and I thought it lacked the flavour of a chirozo, if you know what I mean, in other plain words, it had no flavour whatsoever. Whether the rest of the plate was like that was hard to say. All I know is that, usually big breakfastas tend to look appetizing, thisone just didn't look all that nice. Truth be told I think my toasted muesli was a lot better!

I'm not sure what Milkd in Maylands was like in its prime, but at this point in time, it's pretty average, I would go back for the toasted muesli and possibly for the coffee, but I don't know if I would want anything else, because visually the big breakfast wasn't that great and the menu (whether it's lunch or breakfast) isn't extensive. Having said that though, if you just want to chill out, read a book/do some work with decent coffee around then Milkd in Maylands is probably a good location to do just that as it's very quite, just don't expect any warm ambience.

Melbourne.. 2011.. Day Three.. Easter Sunday..

I got up early-ish despite sleeping at 3am the night before to go to Easter Sunday mass. There is one church that I always go to when I'm in Melbourne - St. Francis, which is on the corner of Lonsdale and Elizabeth street in the heart of the city. Perfect really.

After mass the boys whom I've been sharing the apartment with were all awake and having breakfast, so with my lovely coffee in hand and waiting for the boys to freshen up aka fix their hair the billion-th time they were ready and we headed out to do a quick bit of Easter Sunday trading in the city. I must say re-vamp of Myers looks brilliant and I can't wait until all of it is complete. Now David Jones have to finish their re-vamp and both will be billion times better than ones in Perth, definitely more choice and more brands. We spent most of our time in Centeral shopping mall, which from the last time I was there also had new stores moved in. All I can say is I was very restrained from doing much shopping.  I did get bf a really nice shirt from alpha60 at the GPO store.

Afterwards, we dumped our bags and headed towards Movida (the original one) but it was closed (DAMN Easter weekend!) but we found the other side of Melbourne - the artsy side - the graffiti art side to be exact. It was just interesting watching them re-do the side walls of Movida and the graffiti are a real piece of art. It definitely makes the alley ways a little less intimidating to explore.

We ended up eating lunch at aijisen noodles - it has turned to Sh*ts. Either that or Perth is having better noodle houses. It's probably a bit of both.

After stuffing our faces and shopping some more it was time for us to meet up with the rest of the group and hunt for an early dinner spot, which ended up being this German place - JC and CR were sooo excited because apprently this was the same place as one of the many places they ate in Germany. ALL i have to say is it is probably one of the better German food I've had, in fact it's probably the best German food I've had! and OMG the servings are absolutely ridiculously enormous! Just look at the photos! All I can say is thank GOD I shared!

After our dinner and general rowdy-ness (tables were staring at us as we were laughing and shouting cheers and possibly screaming..) and of course arm wrestling with CR we had to rush to the other side of town to catch Stephen K Amos, who by the way had me in stitches! I was a little upset that I didn't get a chance to take a photo with him because we were rushing to get to Mark Watson, who was rather smart with his humour. I got a chance to take a photo with Mr. Watson and bought his book, Eleven, which is surprisingly a good read. If Stephen K Amos or Mark Watson is ever in Perth definitely go and see them, especially Amos!

After the show we headed back to our apartments to freshen up before heading out, only to discover (and remember) that bars in Melbourne close at 12 to 1230am.

V and me at Cookie

  

JM, LK and CR chilling at one of the last bars we headed to..

I headed back around 1am and stayed up with the boys talking about the meaning of life and what nots, which ended up with all of us going to bed at 5am. We realised the next day that we probably should have stayed up for the ANZAC dawn service - it was only another hour or so more (then I could have said I've gone to a dawn service on ANZAC, another thing experienced!).

Either way, day three ended rather well.

Architecture in Helsinki

Gigs on a Sunday night never made sense to me.

It's a tiring and trialing effort to convince yourself it's worth it and that you won't feel too bad the next day at work. This however doesn't work when you had a pretty full weekend, already lost sleep, and had a long seminar the day of the gig, which by the way started at 8am.

All I can say is I was a little apprehensive about going. However Architecture in Helsinki and the support band whom i cant remember who they were (but i rather liked their music and am contemplating buying it), were great performers.

The support band however looked like they were 15-16 year olds and the female drummer really did look young. I just couldn't help think about what they parents said about being in a band and making it etc. And that perhaps they maybe underaged to be at the Capitol. Other than those rather parental like thoughts their music was good, indie rock, and my ears didn't bleed. A little awkward and shy about speaking to the audience - I couldn't understand anything they said because they were mumbling.. Other than that it was good.

see aren't they soooo young??

Architecture in Helsinki didn't perform for as long as I thought they might, in fact they came on rather late almost at 10pm and finished an hour and a half later. However they were fantastic; lots of crowd interaction and actually got everyone dancing and tripping out to their electric and over synthesized music.

Despite my tired state I thoroughly enjoyed them and in a way a little disappointed my cousin made us stand upstairs of the Capitol rather than being at the front of the stage. At the same time I was glad I got a birdseye view as watching people trip out is rather hilarious! And I guess it was also good for my tired and delirious state not being in the middle of the crowds.

As for the after effects of a Sunday night gig and earlier than usual work times I'm rather exhausted and can't wait until after my Saturday overtime shift to sleep in before having to start all over again. Sigh.