Brigadeiro's Guide to Melbourne (Shopping/Fashion & Food)

This is not a 'guide' per se, as I am by no means an expert on either, but I am often asked where my favourite places to shop and eat in Melbourne are, so instead of repeatedly emailing the same 'favourites list', I thought I would create a blog post I could refer to and update from time to time (most headings will lead you to a website when clicked on):

AUSTRALIAN FASHION DESIGNER STORES

Willow

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St. (Ground Flr), MELBOURNE CBD,

OR 582 Malvern Rd., HAWKSBURN

www.willowltd.com

Akira

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St. (First Flr), MELBOURNE CBD



www.akira.com.au

Scanlan & Theodore

1061 High Street, ARMADALE

Little Collins St., MELBOURNE CBD

566 Chapel St., SOUTH YARRA


www.scanlantheodore.com.au

Kirrily Johnston

1033 High St., ARMADALE



www.kirrilyjohnston.com.au

Zambesi (New Zealand)

167 Flinders lane, MELBOURNE CBD

This store also stocks Martin Margiela and other brilliant NZ and International designer labels.



www.zambesi.co.nz

Alpha60

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St. (Ground Flr), MELBOURNE CBD

201 Flinders Ln., MELBOURNE CBD

230 Chapel St., PRAHRAN

179 Brunswick St., FITZROY


www.fashionising.com

Belinda

(Australian designer labels inc.: Lover, Willow, Michelle Jank, Yeojin Bae)

584 Malvern Rd, HAWKSBURN

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St., (1st Flr), MELBOURNE CBD

Empire Rose

586 Malvern Rd., HAWSKBURN

Although I am not sure this store is still there?


INTERNATIONAL FASHION DESIGNER STORES

Cose Ipanema

(labels inc: Dries Van Noten, Comme des Garcons)

113 Collins St., MELBOURNE CBD

Belinda

(International & Australian designer labels inc.: Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, Stella McCartney, Ann Demeulemeester, Lover, Willow, Michelle Jank, etc.)

584 Malvern Road, HAWKSBURN

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St., (1st Flr), MELBOURNE CBD

Marais

314 Little Collins St. (1st Flr, Royal Arcade)

(labels inc: Givenchy, YSL, Sophie Wauchob, Anne Valerie Hash, Preen, Alexander McQueen - all my favourites)

Cactus Jam International

14 Albert Coates Ln, MELBOURNE CBD

(labels inc: Matthew Williamson, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Chloe, Stella McCartney, Vanessa Bruno)

Christine

181 Flinders Ln, MELBOURNE CBD

(accessories labels: Lanvin, Tom Binns, Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs)

Assin

138 Little Collins St (basement), MELBOURNE CBD

126 Gertrude St., FITZROY

(labels inc. Ann Demeulemeester, Comme des Garcons, Rick Owens)


Also:

For Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Miss Louise (accessories labels inc. Chloe, Balenciaga, Giuseppe Zanotti) - you can find them all on Collins St.

Melbourne GPO: I love this building, as it is a refurbished beautiful 150 year old building, that used to be Melbourne's main Post Office. Other stores of interest are: Acne, Fat, Fleur Wood, Gorman, Camper (shoes), Mandarina Duck, Lisa Ho (her last collection SS'10 was so beautiful, hopefully next collection is just as good), Zimmermann and Sass & Bide.

Australia's main department stores: David Jones and Myers can both be found on Bourke St., and both stock Australian & International designers.

Chapel Street, South Yarra/Prahran: is a long street that has many fashion stores, and eateries/cafes, this is a favourite haunt for many, as well as Greville St (off Chapel St) for little boutiques.

Bridge Rd, Richmond: this is the strip for those who like to go to 'outlet stores', I must admit I have not been here since the 1990's.


FAVOURITE PLACES TO...



MoVida: 1 Hosier Ln, MELBOURNE CBD
My favourite place in Melbourne, as you can probably tell from the many times I have been there, great modern tapas place for dinner, almost impossible to book for a table, but you can eat at the tapas bar.

Cumulus Inc: 45 Flinders Ln, MELBOURNE CBD
Fabulous for breakfast (I love their little baked goods), lunch or dinner

Yu-U: 137 Flinders Ln, MELBOURNE CBD
Great Japanese place for set-lunches or dinner

Don Don's: 321 Swanston St, MELBOURNE CBD
Tiny Japanese place for students, with cheap & quick (I live for their sushi dons!)

St Ali (for coffee/breakfast): 12-14 Yarra Place, STH MELBOURNE

Europa Cake Shop: 81 Acland St., ST KILDA
There are many 'cafes' with European desserts on this street, but this is my favourite for their 'almond croissants' and 'chocolate & plum liquor tarts'.

Shark Fin House: 131 Little Bourke St., MELBOURNE CBD
My favourite place for Yum Cha.


Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any recommendations of your own!

xx
CC

Byron Bay - happy memories always!

I love Byron Bay. I only have fond memories of the place, and it all started in:

2007

I had always planned to go to Brazil for my honeymoon, but when my job at the time would not allow me to take any unpaid leave (I had to beg for 3 days, and was told I was lucky I to be awarded those 3 days off after my wedding - unpaid leave was not awarded unless under 'special circumstances' - call me crazy, but I thought getting married fell under that category). Anyways...since we only had 3 days, we decided to go to Byron Bay. It was my first time there, and although it was the Hinterland (ie. the rainforest/mountainous region) and not Byron Bay itself...it was a perfect place to relax:





2008

One year later my little sister was visiting from London, and hoping for some beach & sunshine. We decided to go to Byron Bay, unfortunately there was a lot of rain, but we did manage to soak a few rays of sunshine, and had a ball.


At my favourite beach in Byron Bay - Watego's - it is the same beach we return to every year

At my favourite Japanese restaurant in Byron - Kinoko
wearing: Topshop maxi dress & Rosa Cha bikini

PS. IndiaFrancis (aka Demanding Anon), it was during this trip that I went to Bangalow (that you recommended I visit), love that cute little town! (It was where I found the dress I wore in this post.)

2008

In the middle of the year, hubby & I decided to return to Byron Bay to escape the cold winter and celebrate my birthday. We stayed in a cute place overlooking the river, and it was absolutely beautiful & relaxing:




The best gelati in town...I have it everytime I come to Byron Bay, and this last trip, had it 4 times!

2009

We returned to Byron Bay when hubby needed to take a break from his studies last year. Sadly, we forgot our camera!

2010

Some things have changed since I first came to Byron Bay: upgraded cameras, gained a lot of weight (boo hoo!), but most importantly: added a new member to our family!






Wearing: hat I purchased at a chemist/pharmacy in Byron Bay
Tiffany & Co aviator sunglasses
Dress: purchased in Phuket, Thailand 3 years ago
Bikini: Jets by Jessika Allen (purchased at Byron Bay 2 years ago)

We only ate out for dinner once, at Cyprus Tree, a Cypriate restaurant we have dined at twice before. It is a lovely place...I was quite sad to find that my favourite Italian restaurant, Pasquale, had closed down since last year.


Pasta with meatballs, fetta & tomato

Klefthico - slow roasted goat with potatoes

Haloumi - yum!

Dolmades

Chargrilled calamari

One thing remains the same: Byron Bay is the 'go-to' place for sun, fun and relaxation...

Sydney Day 4 - Raise the Red Lantern

After watching several cooking shows with Luke Nguyen cooking in the streets/boats/unusual locations in Vietnam, I have been dying to dine at his restaurant 'Red Lantern'. It is just a stone's throw away from my sister's place, so it was the perfect place to catch up with a friend for lunch:


Compliments from the chef...

Goi cuon - prawn rice paper rolls at Red Lantern

Muc Ruong Moi - lightly battered chilli salted squid

Goi Du Du - green papaya, tiger prawns & Berkshire pork salad

Goi vit - roast duck & banana blossom salad with pickled vegetables & Vietnamese herbs

Panfried tofu with lemongrass, in tomato, chilli & black pepper sauce - as my friend 'A' dubbed it...tofu a la Parmagiana

Bo Luc Lac - cubed pastured fed black Angus sirloin tossed in a flaming wok with garlic, sesame & black pepper

Chim Cut - twice cooked quail stuffed with Kurubota pork served with salad of fennel in citrus & soy dressing

Love my friend's satchel!

Spotted this cute doggy as we walked from 'Red Lantern' to our 'dessert' location...

Although my friend was stopped for photos at least 3 times within that one block (and not just by schoolgirls)...My sister, hubby & I chuckled a little each time, or when the schoolgirls yelled out from across the street: "We love you 'A'"!

Three guesses as to where I suggested we go for dessert...Yep, Bourke Street Bakery. How I love that it is so close to my sister's place (and Red Lantern)! I had the chocolate tart (pictured in the window) and yet another chocolate & rasberry mousse tart...My sister is coming to visit me this Friday, wonder if I should ask her to bring me some tarts?