Back from Down Under to the Equator

The excitement of going home was doubled by being on board an SQ double-decker plane. I chose the upper deck just for the fun of it.















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Discovery Australia F & C: Lessons learnt from Innocent Bystander & Giant Steps

Every business will tell you they try to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Innocent Bystander/Giant Steps Winery has probably done that. Even their website deserves a shout out for their consistent branding - fun, funky, free-spirited but at the same time, deadly serious about the science of making good food and good wine.

http://www.innocentbystander.com.au/

Reminds me of the philosophy that you really gotta enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy! And be unashamed to talk about what you enjoy doing. Talk about it in the menu, talk about it in the displays, let the uniqueness of the space do the talking.

The bistro is situated right in front of the cellar, separated just by glass. How cool is that?

They roast their own coffee.

The loft above the restaurant creates standing space for people to 'cheer the house on'. Oh yes, there is a live band playing.

A nice kitchen to work in.

I can't say more about the bakery. I just regret I can't buy some back home.

Back to basics menu, with a brief introduction of the company. Neat!

Just brekky but more than the ordinary.

Their artisan bakery is totally not marketing gimmicks. This is the best almond croissant I have ever eaten in my whole life. It redefines what a croissant is, particularly if what we are familiar with are what we take out from Delifrance joints.

Good food & good wine. I can see the connection. It takes passion & great ideas to run an outfit like this.

Discovery Australia F & C: The Remaining Food Page

We ate at a popular Italian restaurant in Ballarat, known as Michaelangelo. The walls were adorned with his sketches and portraits. In the middle of the dining hall was a huge fireplace. Above it, a scroll of menu hung.

The bar counter was an assortment of bottles & possibly all sorts of alcohol one can find. Yummy desserts in the display-fridge.

Fred admiring the wall murals.

When the food arrived, we just got immersed into another world of colours and flavours. My very cheesy risotto & his more palettable seafood linguine.

This was our chorizo sausage wrapped in pita bread at Queen Victoria's Market.

And we wandered into this Chinese restaurant with a huge signage on 'Peking Duck' at Melbourne Chinatown. It was quite a pleasant treat except we couldn't figure out why the duck skin wasn't as crispy as we thought all roasted Peking ducks ought to be.

Discovery Australia F & C: A Warm Invite with a Touch of Class

After 2 days in the city, we were getting a little restless. Seriously, the itch to get out of the concrete jungle was quite strong. So when we hit the road again, it was like the floodgates opened and we felt our adrenaline rush again. As we drove towards Yarra Valley, we felt free and happy. Checked into our little motel run by a teenager (was she on school vacation?) & off we went, upon her recommendation, to the finest wineries in Victoria.
Domaine Chardon was one we spent most time at & where we had absolutely free sampling of wine.

The sprawling, open grounds of the winery stood like a warm invitation. After wine sampling, we lingered on, sipped our mocha and cappucino & soaked in the ambience, knowing fully well we wouldn't find a place like this back home.