Summer in the city and its raining!

I had a few hours to spare whilst Darby was gallivanting with his great aunty at the museum... and again I couldn't decide where to go! This no car thing is starting to grate on my nerves! Normally I would be able to jump in and go wherever I like... but without it I'm feeling lost and anchored to the West ! I call Laura to see if she wants a coffee and she also has the luxury of a car, but she has been struck down with my cold and doesn't want to get out of bed (don't blame her).

 So I decide my best option  is to go into the city again, I had so much fun last time, why not do it again.....Although this time the weather (scattered showers) and the lack of umbrella is not working  in my favour!



Its trademark!Chairs in the roof!



I get off at Melbourne Central and get out my handy MCR app on my phone! The closest place to me is Brother Baba Budan  (BBB)  http://brotherbababudan.com.au/ in Little Bourke St . I have been here once this year on my challenge and still think it was the best coffee i have had (in a takeaway). It is 3 beans and that definition is a coffee that leaves you thinking about it for weeks and the that was certainly the case  so I cant wait to taste a sip  sitting at the window and watching the masters of coffee do their thing! 

My Coffee Art

Its a very intimate cafe, with no more than 15 seats to sit down. I sit my self down at a vacant seat at the communal table and order my coffee. Its an all girl show working today and it must be mandatory to have tattoo's as the two on the coffee machine have some  striking arm art!  

My coffee arrives quickly and I ponder it for awhile as it looks soo pretty, as soon as I put my spoon in the  milky pretty design on top is going to go! Oh well all for the sake of the taste! And it is a top notch coffee... one of the best you will get in Melbourne or anywhere for that matter (that's saying something!) Its velvety smooth and the soy milk's nuttiness  seems to enhance the flavours of the espresso! Not really anything else to say! Its a 10 out of 10 in my books. Perfecto!

 Ill be trying to come back here as quickly as I can... or over to its Mother ship Seven Seeds (and a friend told me last week they have opened another store in Fitzroy De Clieu, so I will have to get there soon!)

I'm calling the Panel Beaters soon as I  get home! I want my car back!!! 

Until next time xx



New Years Resolution!

Like most people I always make New Years Resolutions, most of the time they are to Lose Weight , Get fitter, spend less money , save more money, plan a trip etc etc etc etc
But after a tumultuous year.... one of the hardest of my life, I have decided to be kind to myself.. Yes I will try and lose weight and et al but this year I want to do something I can actually achieve, feel proud of and learn more about myself as I go.  This New Years Resolution sounds silly, but I think it has lots of  potential to be great and its already giving me some purpose (The buzz word for Resilient people) ... so here we go!
I took some inspiration from the a cute little movie 'Julie and Julia', but making my way through an exquisite cook book was a) going to be expensive, b) probably would not help with losing weight c) I wouldn't really be leaving my house.....

So instead I am going to go to all the places (plus more) in the Melbourne 2011 Coffee Review http://www.melbournecoffeereview.com/ -  all 100 of them to try their coffee and if it gets too easy I will seek out more places to go! I have downloaded the application and have started already!
So in  trying to practice what I preach from a Health Promotion and Psychology point of view (what I do everyday at work) I thought a SMARTER goal was more achievable for me. 
 S  - Specific goal- drink coffee from the 100 best places in Melbourne 
 M - Measurable - I will become a coffee expert, go to new places and may meet some handsome barrista's or two
 A-  Achievable - Anything is achievable when you are buzzing on caffeine
 R-  Realistic - well I love coffee to start with, so it should be easy
 T - Time Based - 12 months should be easy - 11 months to go
 E - Exciting - what is NOT exciting about drinking great coffee most days of the year
 R - Recorded - That's what this blog is for! No cheating here!
As I go along I will give my own description of the experience and of course the most important part - the coffee. I plan to make some excursions from the West to the North, East and South all in the name of my resolution!
So here we go...........
Straight up I better clear up how I take my coffee - Soy Cappuccino (with 2 equal .. I know I'm trying to quit..), but I am open to trying lots of different beans, milks and styles... see its already liberating!


A month into 2011 and I have already been to 11 places (plus a couple of extras that I think should be on the list)
- Cafenatics (near my work so very easy!)
- Eclipse ( just discovered and also near work .. so I don't have to try too hard either)
- Brother Baba Budan - stopped on the way back from a meeting - understand why it gets 3 beans! It was amazing... will be making another trip back there before February is gone
- Di Bella Coffee Roasting - another yummy coffee experience... near my sisters and was feeling a little hungover so need to go back again! Food was delish too
- The Corner Shop - Home Territory ... love the way they use Real Choc on top....mmmmmm
- Le Chien - Well this has been my place for coffee for sooo long, six years I have been going here and probably for a long time to come, I love the familiarity, I know the staff and I love how the place makes me feel. Reminds me of good times (and some sad). It helped me get through last year with a smile on my face.
- Pope Joan - Need to come back here again, the coffee and food were gorgeous, but I had a grumpy and squealing Darby with me so the 'experience' could have been better, service was lovely, they wrapped up the uneaten fruit toast in foil so I could make a quick exit! Bless! Ill be back again, I wish it was here when I lived in Glenlyon Rd... would have been my place to go.
- Duchess of Spotswood. - A new find and very close to home... need to come back again to try the food.. Coffee was yummy, using Bonsoi milk makes a difference... just have to watch I don't get a thyroid problem! Will be back.
- I shouldnt Forget Seven Seeds... which took me on a wild goose chase to find, but was completely worth it. I have been looking forward to this experience for so long I hoped it didn't let me down as my expectations were very high. Thank goodness it didn't. The coffee was so delicate but intense and strong at the same time (now I sound like a coffee snob!) I will be back here no doubt... 3 beans from me as well
Until next time ......