Had a fantastic time in Melbourne - so fantastic. Reall fantastic. Did I say it was fantastic? Except for dinner at Vue De Monde. Four million dollars or thereabouts later it was a HUGE dissapointment. I reviewed it on eatability, but hey haven't published it yet. Funnily they have published the other Melbourne dining reviews I did at the same time. So I cut and pasted it here:

"We had a table of eight and were all excited about dining here. I have personally fawned over the VdM website for a long time and had recommended this restaurant as an anticipated highlight of a gastronomic tour of Melbourne. How wrong could I be?

We had the Gastronomes Menu as we wanted to experience the very best and because it featured my favourite ingredients foie gras and truffles. The only dish I enjoyed was the pain perdu accompagne de foie gras. This was a playful version of French toast and well balanced.

All the other dishes were bland and or offensive to my palate and also to those of my dining companions. The worst offenders were the gnocchi aux champignons and the cheese course of 'whipped brie with quail egg and truffle'. The gnocchi was visually unattractive and had a gruesome mouth feel and taste. It gained the moniker of 'poo on a plate' from our displeased table.

The aforementioned fromage was stomach churning on its immediate placement in my mouth. I love these ingredients, however this missed the mark on so many levels. Please leave the brie alone Mr Bennett. If anyone has actually enjoyed this course please enlighten me as to how and why?

I am not a fan of souffle and the VdM's offering did nothing to shift my loathing of this dessert. However a chocolate version I had a day later at another restaurant has made me a possible convert.

Another niggling issue was the bullying sommelier, some of our party wanted to choose single bottles of wine and were hurriedly bossed to choose the matching wine course. Which was the only saving grace of our night really. We enjoyed the wines immensely. Did you know something of things to come Mr Sommelier?

I noticed that 95% of the other tables did not touch their petits-fours and when ours arrived and were sampled, the mystery was solved. In a word 'wrong'.

Our Party had an enjoyable evening regardless as we embraced the farcical 'foodie' comedy of errors that played out.

I wouldn't advise people not to dine at VdM's as you should experience this place for yourself. I just wouldn't venture that way again and waste the stomach space for myself personally.

Overall our group enjoyed our cones of chips from Lord of the Fries much more."

My absolute favourite food blogger has done a smashing review on Perama!

Not bad for a Marrickville sunset:

 

Perama is closed for two weeks holidays *yay*. A food extravaganza awaits. This week we are heading to Pendolino's ,  Ouzo 88,  and the heading down for a child-free long weekend to Melbourne. Having dinner at  Matteo's ,    Vue De Monde,    The Press Club & George's new place The Hellenic.   Also am spending the day at my favourite spot for an all day rejuvenation *bliss*.

Will miss my gals though. 

I really am amazed at how completely different two children from the same environment can be.

Mia was such a quiet and cautious toddler (she still is actually). I could go about my daily business knowing that she would not get up to any mischief. Mia would sit with an activity for an age or entertain herself. Aaahhhhh it was bliss.

Ruby on the other hand lives for the thrills in life. I've blogged before about how boisterous she is and how completely without fear she seems to be most of the time.

Last Friday we ended our normally quiet and relaxing day with an ambulance ride and a trip to emergency.  Good Lord I could do with a stiff drink just thinking about it again.

I was finishing off housework and putting away groceries when Ruby said she wanted to sit at the dining table and draw (which she had done a millon times before). As I put away her favourite rice crackers she asked me for one.  I headed over to her with said crackers and as I approached her she got impatient and tried to climb off the chair.  Except in her haste she fell headfirst onto our terracotta tiled floor. Ruby broke the fall with her head.

I was right there and just wasn't able to catch her in time. I vomit in my mouth a little everytime I picture it in my head.

As she clutched her head and screamed I tried to put something cold onto her forhead, but she wouldn't let me. I have never seen such a large protuberance come from someone's head. I panicked a little, as I'm the worst in these types of situations. I raced off in the car with the plan to head to my G.P to see if she thought I should take her into the hospital. However at the end of my street there was a parked ambulance and I stopped and asked them to have a look at her.

The ambulance officers were dressed in protective clothing as they had been called out on a suspected Swine Flu case. They were so very helpful and kind to both Ruby and I and called another ambulance as they were concered for her.  I really wanted them to say, just take her to your G.P.  Ruby was being very quiet and a little lethargic but as soon as we got into the ambulance she was back to her usual thrill seeking antics. Screaming with joy and bossing the ambulance officer around.

We ended up staying for five hours at R.P.A for observations, and Ruby impressed everyone with her enormous 'egg'.  Ruby was so well behaved and charmed everyone with her cheekiness. The staff at R.P.A were so fantastic. I am so thankful our stay was short, and am in awe of parents who have little ones in hospital for more serious situations.  (Kudos to you my lovely Therese)

It tooke me days to get over the fright it gave me. You know she asked to sit at the table to draw the next morning and screeched and carried on when I said no. I will have to bring back the little table and chairs for her, the ones I packed away because she wanted to stage dive from them. I really wish she would get her kicks from drawing all over the table instead. I'm sure she would find a way to get banged up doing that as well though.

Ruby is now sporting two black eyes as well - which took me by surprise:

Mia: "Mum I think I have Swine flu."

Me: "What, how do you know about Swine flu?"

Mia: "I read about it on the poster at the hospital. It said that the symptoms are a bad cough (cue dramatic cough *cough cough*) and a runny nose (cue disgusting sniffle). I have both of them."

Me: "I'm sure you just have a regular cold, don't worry."

Mia: "No it's definately the Swine flu. I definately have the Swine flu." (Cue rolling of eyes)

Will alert the authorities immediately.

Soccer training befoire the Swine flu hit:

 

Whenever the camera is pointed at her, this is the smile along with "Cheeeeeeze":

The MLC annual Father and Daughters dance was held tonight. Mia didn't get to go last year as she was unwell, and wouldn't you know it she was sick this time as well. I kept her home from school today and she perked up enough to attend.

Now Dave couldn't take her as he can't get away from the restaurant. Luckily we have made good friends with one of Mia's school chums and so Tery was very happy to take Mia along with his sweet daughter Hannah. This years theme was In the Jungle:

 

The harsh reality of the hunt and kill:

 

 
 

 

and one of the girls with Papu:

T-Mobile Mom to Mom Quiz.

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My style was the 'Quick Wit'.