August 2014 - Page 2 of 2 - Adventure, baby!

Month: August 2014

Artisanal Chocolate & Exquisite Tea: MarieBelle Cacao Bar and Tea Parlor in SoHo, New York

August 18, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, SoHo / 0 comment

What started as a small collection of rare and delicate chocolates and confectionary in 2000 is now a thriving high-end chocolate bar, tea parlor and retail store. MarieBelle‘s creator, Maribel, grew up around cocoa fields in Honduras, which inspired in her a passion for chocolate. Maribel is both a chef and designer — each skill on display in her beautiful tea parlor and store — from the exquisite chocolate pieces on display in the store, to the rich European-inspired styling of the salon. With glittering crystal lights, antique furnishings and deep brown and gold panelling in the parlor, a trip to MarieBelle is a delight to all the senses.

Entering from the street, we walked through the retail store to the cafe in the back for a sit-down tea service. Friendly staff greeted our party, which included one rowdy toddler (bull, meet china shop!). Our waitperson clearly liked children, and made us feel extremely welcome despite our pint-sized companion constantly wriggling in and out of her fancy chair. Luckily, we came for quick treats (rather than a tea service), and there are few things that keep my toddler sitting still like an iced chocolate drink. Chocolate is the speciality here, and when ordering a hot or ice chocolate, you can choose from various chocolate flavors.

Since I have a mild palate, I went with the classic Ice Chocolate (you can also choose flavors like Aztec or Spicy, as seen in the photo below). Alec ordered a simple tea, which arrived in a beautiful silver tea set, and we ordered a madeline for E (her favorite treat) and a caramel crème brulee to share. As you would expect from a speciality tea and chocolate cafe, everything was delicious. The ice chocolate was not too sweet, and the crème brulee was a twist on the traditional kind, with a caramel base and crème on top. Before leaving the cafe, be sure to wander through the retail store and take home a few chocolates for later. While some of the MarieBelle chocolates are sold in speciality stores elsewhere, some of the creations are only available from the store in SoHo.

Last Bite: Bring little chocolate-lovers for an especially sweet outing.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal — bring an umbrella stroller or carrier.
Easy access: No. There are a few steep steps to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

MarieBelle
484 Broome St.
New York, NY
Phone: (212) 925 6999
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Thur 11am-7pm, Fri-Sun 11am-8pm
Get Directions

Pasta and Gelato at Bar Italia; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Leichhardt, Sydney

August 18, 2014 / Inner West, Leichhardt, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

It’s impossible to lunch in Leichhardt and NOT sample some great Italian cuisine, right? That’s what I thought. Not being locals, we didn’t know where to dine — lucky for us, friends who had recently moved into the area introduced us to Bar Italia, a classic Italian diner-style restaurant. Bar Italia is famous for being serving home-style pasta and delicious gelato in a no-frills environment. Order at the counter, pay in cash only, and look out for the sign that boasts “no skim, no soy, no light, just milk”.

Bar Italia opened on Norton St in 1952, and is still the same old-fashion eatery that helped introduce conservative Australians to Italian food and coffee culture. The menu rarely changes, serving the same simple, traditional and tasty Italian fare and mouth-watering gelato in flavours like tiramisu and pistachio that made them a favourite among the local community.

Our group ordered a variety of dishes, like the Canneloni with spinach and ricotta ($15.50) and the Bacon and Eggs with mushrooms and fried tomatoes on toast ($8). Little E enjoyed her own babyccino and toast, plus sampling my canneloni.

Our meals arrived quickly. After lunch, we had to try the gelato. E requested mango, while I tried the toblerone. For $3 each, we received a huge cone of gelato. I did actually request two kid-sized cones, so I’d love to see how big the full-sized ones were.

The gelato was everything it was promised to be. The mango was tart, the toberlone creamy with specks of what I think might have been nougat. Whatever it was, the gelato was absolutely delicious.

After lunch, we walked a block north to Pioneer’s Memorial Park for E to run off the gelato. The playground is a good size with a variety of fun elements, like a large sand area, a water feature and basket swing. Hours of fun.

Last bite: Traditional Italian cuisine in a family-friendly environment.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes – room for strollers.
Easy access: No. Two steps.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Bar Italia
171 Norton St,
Leichhardt
Phone: (02) 9560 9981
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 9:30am-11pm
Get Directions

Buckle Up: Car Seat Safety For Kids

August 11, 2014 / News, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

When you’re out and about in Sydney, chances are you’re going to be doing it in a car. Even though we whine about the traffic, it’s still the favoured transportation method of most people (hey, like us!).

After you have kids, everything that seemed simple suddenly required a new learning curve to get right with your baby. Jumping in the car when you have a baby suddenly means installing a car seat.

If you’re anything like me, this is a foreign and daunting task. I have absolutely no idea how to put our car seat in and out of the car, and, to be honest, my husband’s not entirely sure either. We follow the instruction manuals and do our best, but we end up buckling it in and then wiggling it around, wondering if we’d put it in there correctly.

And we’re certainly not alone! It turns out that two in three car seats are not used properly, putting children at risk every time they’re taken for a drive in the car. Scary, isn’t it? Aren’t you just wondering if your child is in one of these two our of three car seats? I certainly am, which is why I have been checking out the new Transport for NSW’s website, childcarseats.com.au for expert advice.

The site gives info such as: car seats that have been scientifically tested for crash safety and ease of use, and gives star ratings so you can pick the best car seat for your child based on their height, age and weight.

You can also get tips on how to fit and use car seats correctly, and helps you locate your closet authorised fitting station, so you can get expert help if you need it.

Some tips that I found particularly helpful:

1. Parents should regularly check their seat is correct for their child’s age and size. It sounds obvious, but 50% of parents are not using the correct seat for their child (exactly — off I go to double check our seat!).
2. Check the straps aren’t twisted. (I’m guilty of this one.) The harness straps should be straight and in flat contact with the child.
3. Height is the most important factor when choosing a car seat. The new Child Car Seats site helps you choose the right seat, prioritising a child’s height over age and weight.

You can get more information on what type of car seat your child needs for their height, age and size and tips on installing and checking car seats at childcarseats.com.au

Happy Birthday To Me! A kid-free weekend in the Hunter Valley

August 11, 2014 / Australia, Family, Hunter Valley, Sydney Life, Travel / 2 Comments

This year, there was only one thing I wanted for my birthday – a break. Mum and Dad very kindly agreed to watch Cheese for the weekend so Alec and I could have a few nights to relax. Our first kid-free weekend in three years!

We drove up to the Hunter Valley for the getaway. I booked us a room at the Spicers Vineyard Estate – a beautiful little retreat in Pokolbin. Our room was large, with a fireplace and spa. Our package included two breakfasts and a dinner in their restaurant, Botanica, and complimentary minibar.

The property is set in 25 acres of vineyard and bush, and we took a leisurely stroll around the boundary each evening at dusk. Which, by the way, is the perfect time to see the wild kangaroo families as they come out.

During our stay in the Hunter we dropped by the Pokolbin Chocolate And Jam Company, the Smelly Cheese Shop, two of the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company locations and two wineries: Tempus Two and Audrey Wilkinson.

I adore moscato, and chose these wineries based on their production of the sweet wine of my choice. The Audrey Wilkinson cellar door is a bit off the main track, but worth the extra drive. St up high on a hill, the view out over the wine country is spectacular.

Hunter Valley Muse Restaurant via akissgoodnight.co — Muse Restaurant

Since we were child-free, we indulged in a LOT of food, including two dinners out: Muse Restaurant on my birthday, and Restaurant Botanica the following night. Muse was the perfect restaurant for a fancy, special night out. It was like a fine dining establishment in the city. Delicious creative dishes (I had a kale risotto with winter vegetables), with a friendly, relaxed vibe.

Restaurant Botanica was more relaxed, and perfect for a Sunday night dinner. The food was simpler and perfectly prepared. After the previous day of rich, complicated food, the elegant and slightly more traditional fare at Botanica was exactly what our stomaches craved. Dessert was donuts and cinnamon ice cream. Absolutely a treat.

The last mention on our food extravaganza is Sabor In The Hunter, a dessert bar that popped up while we were away. For lunch (!) one day, Alec and I indulged in the Medley Tasting Plate, which included Opera slice, Mini Lemon Curd meringue in a sweet pastry, Strawberry mousse & mixed berry compote topped with Strawberry, Mini Gianduja layers and a caramelised nut triangle tart. Indulgence complete.

The really great thing about the weekend was being able to spend time with Alec and just take a breath. We talked more than we’ve talked in years, and had energy to focus on each other for the first time in what felt like forever.

Spicers Hunter Valley via akissgoodnight.co — In-room breakfast at Spicers

The three days/two nights was the longest I’ve spent away from Cheese so far. We called in regularly and spoke with her and my mum – she was absolutely happy and chirpy the whole time, running my parents off their feet while charming them simultaneously. When we arrived back home I felt like I had more energy to spend on her than I usually would, the break away really refreshing me.

So it was pretty much a perfect birthday.

Kid Heaven at The New Coogee Pavilion – Kid-Friendly Cafes In Sydney

August 6, 2014 / Coogee, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

I’ve never been to Coogee before — how is that even possible? I might not ever have visited this gorgeous suburb if I hadn’t badly wanted to check out the brand new fit out at the Coogee Pavilion. After an extensive renovation the lower floor has just reopened. And boy, was it ever worth the visit.
We dropped by at 10:45am not long after the new pavilion opened. When we visited, their breakfast menu was not yet being served, but they were already filled with curious locals milling around, buying a takeaway Will & Co coffee or a freshly pressed Love Juice. At 11am sharp the pavilion officially opened the rest of their venue, and tables filled quickly.

The pavilion is kind of like bar meets upscale food court meets restaurant meets giant games room. All in the one huge area. The restaurant section requires bookings several days in advance for the full menu. You can however drop in at any time and sit anywhere else — around the bar, in the lounge chairs, booths or near the game area. These areas all serve the bar menu (order and pay at the bar).

The restaurant has a kids’ menu, but the bar menu does not. It does however serve favourites you could share with kids like pizza, fish and chips and burgers. Simple, hearty food. The pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven in the centre of the pavillion, where kids can watch their pizza go from dough to being sliced. Pretty cool.

We found a booth near the games area. While we waited for our food, we checked out the huge amount of toys and games that were nearby. For toddlers, we found things like a Mr Potato head, blocks, a toddler-sized colouring table stocked with crayons and giant sheets of paper, a life-sized Connect Four and a Scrabble board with magnetic pieces mounted to the wall (yes, too old for them, but still plenty of entertainment sticking the giant magnetic tiles to the board and climbing up and down the ladder).

Older kids loved the ping pong and foosball tables, and we noticed adults taking boardgames like Trivial Pursuit back to their tables as they clearly settled in for the afternoon. Opening soon are an in-house theatrette and Rudy’s barbershop, where you can get a trim while you’re waiting for your meal to arrive. So entertainment was not a problem. It was more of a problem to get her back to our table to eat when food arrived. Next time we will forgo the table and instead sit in the couches right on the play area so E could play while we ate, without one of us having to trail her around.

We ordered a Margherita Pizza (San Marzano, Bufala, basil $20), Fries with Aioli ($9) and the Coogee Diner Burger (American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, burger sauce $18). My pizza arrived quickly and was delicious. I shared mine with Missy E and was a bit sad I couldn’t eat more. Delicious sauce, soft cheese and a slightly crispy base. Perfect. Sadly something happened to the rest of our order and the burger and fries didn’t arrive. After about 40 minutes of waiting, a staff member noticed we still had food outstanding and very quickly put through the order again.

The rest of the food arrived about 10 minutes later. So over an hour after we ordered it, but thankfully there was so much to entertain the kid that it didn’t matter. Alec described the burger as “American-style”, saying it was OK but her preferred Aussie-style burgers. The fries were smocking hot, crispy and cooked through. They were tasty and gone in seconds.

After eating our meals we kept playing until we dragged E out of there to the beach. I honestly thing she would have stayed all day if we’d let her.

Upper levels are currently undergoing extensive renovation. When they re-open over the coming months you can expect a rooftop bar and a fine-dining restaurant.

The Coogee Pavilion is smack on Coogee Beach, so if your kids need to play or you could use a walk after a big lunch, the gorgeous beach is at your disposal.

Last Bite: One of the most family-friendly eating venues in Sydney. Go before it’s as popular as The Grounds.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Coogee Pavillion
169 Dolphin Street,
Coogee NSW
Phone: (02) 9240 3000
Prices: $$$ Hours: (Ground floor)
Daily, 11am – late. Breakfast menu coming soon so times may change. Take away Love Juice and Will & Co Coffee available daily from 7:00am. Reservations required for seating in main dining area. Call 02 9240 3000.
Get Directions

What I Love, What I Miss: Adjusting To Life Back In Sydney

August 5, 2014 / Family, Sydney Life / 2 Comments

So we’ve been back in Sydney for about two months and are still struggling to find somewhere to live. Ugh. I forgot how long it takes to settle back after such a huge move. I’ve been enjoying a lot of little things that I’d either totally forgotten about, or never discovered before I left.

Gelato Messina
The best gelato I’ve ever tasted. I’ve eaten is almost every single day since being back. I’d eat it every day if their locations weren’t so far away. Bounty, choc chip and berry yoghurt are rocking my world.

Beaches
I wasn’t a beach person before I left Sydney. I have really fair skin and so have been a “sit in the shade” rather than “sit on the beach” type. Now I have a kid who is mad about playing in the sand, I have a new found love of beaches. Insanely gorgeous, plus hours of free entertainment. Just add sunscreen.

Mersey Valley Cheese
This has always been our favourite cheese. Being in the US however and surrounded by supremely average supermarket cheese, I have a new appreciation for just how awesome this cheese is. Crumbly and sharp – it’s hard not to polish off the whole block in one sitting.

Moscato
I love love sweet wine. Moscato has always been my wine of choice. I did find it in the US, but it wasn’t as common as here, and there wasn’t as much variety. Moscato here is amazingly good and also reasonably priced.

Thai food
I didn’t eat much Thai when I was in the US as whenever I did, it was pretty bad. The Thai in Sydney is so good – I think it’s the closer proximity to Asia, plus the large Thai population living here that contributes so the great food. Whatever the reason, I’m devouring curry puffs and pad see ew like they’re calorie-free.

Supermarket chocolate
Cadbury is awesome. There’s a giant bar of Snack and a packet of Carmel Crowns sitting in the fridge right now.

The sunshine
The weather here is just insane. I arrived back in time for winter (yay!) and it’s been warmer almost every day than it was for the entire of NYC spring.

Target
Target in Sydney is awesome! Super clean, big variety of quality products. Very different to the Brooklyn Target that I used to visit occasionally.

I’m also missing little things about NYC that I also didn’t even think about. The big things I miss are obvious, but the little things caught me by surprise.

Iced tea
Sydney doesn’t do iced tea. I’m so desperate for my daily fix that I’m steeping big jugs of black tea and chilling them every few days.

Bagels
How did I ever live without bagels pre-New York? It’s a mystery.

The subway
After the super fast and frequent NYC subway, my hatred of Sydney’s trains has only intensified. I don’t know what’s worse some days, the crazy traffic when I take to the roads, or the slow moving infrequent trains.

Amazon
Now I’m without my Amazon Prime free two-day shipping, I actually have to get in the car and drive to a shop to buy everything. Even stupid cables and boxes of nappies. I also miss Fresh Direct, Diapers.com and basically every other website that sent me the products I wanted with free shipping.

Cheaper prices
Ahhh the great Aussie price gouge. Buzzfeed has a really funny article about the great Aussie rip off. Paying more for things I only recently bought at a significant price difference is hard to take.

Ben & Jerry’s
While not my favourite brand of ice cream, B&J’s was my face supermarket brand. Now if I want a tub of Karamel Sutra I have to shell out $11 for the privilege.

Ample Hills
My favourite ice cream of all time. Australia doesn’t really do ice cream. It’s does phenomenal gelato and sorbet, but not ice cream. I am dying for one more scoop of Ooey Goey Buttercake and Sweet As Honey. Yuuuum.

Levain Bakery cookies
The best cookies I’ve ever eaten. So big and fat they were almost rock cakes. Big chunks of chocolate that melted in your mouth. Yes we have cookies here, but not like that!

The fast pace
I actually love the frenetic business that is the city. I thrive on over stimulation and love having a lot of colour, buildings and interesting people all around me. Back in Sydney I’m finding it hard to adjust to the slower pace and having personal space again.

Doormen
I had never had a doorman before my NYC apartment. Not only do I miss the community of my building, but I also miss the big-hearted doormen who became friends after seeing so much of them day in and out.

Vegan & Gluten-Free Fare: Sun In Bloom, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

August 4, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food, Park Slope / 0 comment

One of the best things about New York City is the amazing variety of food you can enjoy to meet any type of dietary requirements you might have. A good friend of mine has a gluten and dairy intolerance, so we regularly eat at cafes and restaurants where her dietary needs are met — and where she has more choice than a salad or eggs.

Sun In Bloom is a gluten-free, vegan & raw food kitchen, with locations in both Brooklyn and Tribeca. We visited their Park Slope cafe for brunch to see if their pancakes measure up when they’re made without delicious gluten. All three adults in our party ordered the Gluten-Free Pancakes with Spiced Germinated Walnuts & Side of Maple Syrup ($11.50), but we each chose different combinations of fruit toppings to go with it.

The pancakes were surprisingly still yummy even without gluten, and the fruit on top was fresh and sweet. We gave Missy E a side of Sprouted Wheat Toast and Sunflower Seed Butter to try, but it was too crunchy for her and so she preferred the pancakes and fruit. At prime brunch hour there was no wait for a table, but when we were leaving the cafe it was quickly filling to capacity. The wait on some of our items was a little longer that I would have liked, particularly since Missy E was being a whiny pain that day and we were desperate to eat and leave! We all enjoyed our brunch and will be back, particularly when entertaining people with special dietary requirements.

Last Bite: A healthy brunch option that caters to the special dietary requirements of vegan, raw-food-followers and gluten-intolerant diners.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Sun In Bloom
460 Bergen St,
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Prices: $
Phone: (718) 622 4303
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-9pm Sat & Sun 10am-5pm
Get Directions