Last weekend Rod and I had two nights away. On our own, no kids. It was fabulous. Where did we choose to go for our getaway? Fabulous Melbourne. As luck would have it we were there for the beginning of the Melbourne Food and Wine festival. Not that Melbourne needs a festival, you'll get great food and wine there any time of year.
I lived in Melbourne for a year when I was in my 20's but didn't take full advantage of it's fabulousness. This is unfortunate, but I'm making up for it by visiting regularly. As well as eating, drinking, shopping, tramming, Fitzroy-ing, St Kilda-ing.... etc... I also get to see my sister when in Melbourne which is just the icing on the cake.
When in Melbourne I like to stay here, The Hatton Hotel...
...a grand old lady of South Yarra, with a tram stop on the footpath and the botanical gardens at the end of the street.
We had a room with a view...
...over terrace courtyards.
We walked through the city's allyways and arcades...
... and came to an edible garden. This garden was planted and featured as part of the food festival. It was beautiful.
Nasturtiums.... I heart nasturtiums...
Heirloom tomatoes. The colours, the smell, the shapes, the sizes!
And who would you expect to see sitting in the middle of such a display?
Stephanie Alexander, of course, complete with leaves on fork. Not a very flattering photo, sorry Stephanie, but it was the best we could do without looking like we were taking a photo of you... paparazzi we are not.
