Travel

We slept in on our second day in Melbourne so we decided to just have coffee to give us the good wake up that we deserved on a holiday.  Our feet led us to David Jones because I read about a coffee concept store called “Sensory Lab” that can be found inside their store.
Sensory Lab (Melbourne, Australia)

The moment we arrived, I knew we were going to have a very interesting (if not unforgettable) experience.  

Sensory Lab (Melbourne, Australia)

We were greeted by servers dressed in lab coats—how cool was that?  And the interiors of the cafe?  Very lab-like!  I felt like I had been transported back to 3rd-year high school attending Chemistry class.
Sensory Lab (Melbourne, Australia)

They served us water in a laboratory bottle.

Sensory Lab (Melbourne, Australia)

Their sugar in brown small bottles.

Sensory Lab (Melbourne, Australia)

Their menus in clipboards.

Sensory Lab (Melbourne, Australia)

Very science geeky, aye?

They have a comprehensive list of coffee blends and single-origin beans and offer four types of brewing one of which is the siphon method.  The siphon method is an intensive way of brewing coffee with the use of a coffee syphon or vac pot.  Thru this method, it preserves the taste of the beans and minimizes the bitterness.

Sensory Lab (Melbourne, Australia)

They recommended the Tanzania blend to us and when they served our coffee, they advised us to wait two minutes before we drink them.  It is also recommended not to add milk or sugar to truly appreciate the flavour of coffee. 

Sensory Lab (Melbourne, Australia)


The Tanzania siphoned coffee had an aggressive sour taste.  One thing I learned about coffee during my time at the Sensory Lab was that coffee beans are the seeds of a cherry-like fruit, hence, it is but normal for coffee to be sour.
 
For the first time, we were able to experience tasting pure coffee and I loved it! 
 
Sensory Lab
David Jones, 297 Little Collins St,
Melbourne VIC 3000

Phone: (03) 9643 2222

We were given gift certificates to use at Oriental Spa six months ago for a photography gig we did for a friend.  Since we had 3 days off from work this weekend (today being a public holiday in celebration of Labour Day in NSW), we booked an appointment for our Aromatherapy Massage on Saturday.

Oriental Spa is located in Chatswood, a suburb in the north shore of Sydney.  I’ve been here a few times but only to have lunch or shop but have never really explored the place.  There’s a certain homey-and-cool vibe about Chatswood.  They have quite a busy CBD for a Saturday morning with lots of cafes and shops bustling with people. 

Good thing we booked our appointment with Oriental Spa early as the moment we stepped out of Chatswood train station, we found out that there’s a lot of things we can do while we’re here.

But first, we had to be in Zen mode at Oriental Spa.  I missed having spas, it’s been ages since I’ve had a massage. 

Oriental Spa

The statue of Quan Yin can be seen as soon you enter the lobby of Oriental Spa.  She is the goddess of compassion, mercy and healing. 

DOriental Spa

The staff welcomed us with Ginger and Lemon Tea.
Oriental Spa

I love little details.

Oriental Spa

This was outside our room.

Oriental Spa

We had the Aromatherapy Massage.  For one hour, our body were treated with long stroke massage techniques combined with aromatherapy oils.  It was soothing and relaxing to the body.  We totally enjoyed it.

Oriental Spa

After our massage, we went straight to Westfield Chatswood and had lunch at Soban The Grill. 

Soban

Soban The Grill is a Korean restaurant that specializes in skewers and fresh-from-the-grill dishes.  There’s another Soban restaurant in Level 6 of Westfield Chatswood that serve traditional Korean dishes.

The Husband taking a photo of me…

Soban

..while I take a photo of the restaurant.

Soban

They served garlic bread while we waited for our food.

Soban

The Husband’s Pork Skewers with rice, green salad and mashed potatoes.  Mild barbeque flavor of the pork, not as tasty as it looked.  But their mashed potato tasted great.  We wanted more of it.

Soban

My Chicken Cordon Bleu with rice and green salad.  Chicken was crispy outside but tender inside.  I loved that they used asparagus and sundried tomato as fillings for the chicken.

Soban

The next time we visit, maybe we’ll try the other Soban on Level 6.

Too full from lunch, we went around Westfield for a bit then moved on to Chatswood Chase (the other mall a few blocks away) and checked out the Apple Store there. 

Before we went home, we had dessert at Hello Happy, a Korean cafe and bakeshop.  We got intrigued by the name of the cafe (it sounded very positive!) and we wanted to try an authentic Korean cake.

Hello Happy

Hello Happy

Fresh and packed breads available for customers wanting to take home their products.

Hello Happy

Their cakes looked yummy.

Hello Happy

Little cakes for just one serve.
Hello Happy

Hello Happy

Hello Happy

We just had hot chocolate drinks and a slice of their Strawberry cake.

Hello Happy

Hello Happy

It was delicious.  It’s the kind of cake that I want: light, not too sweet and the icing not too overwhelming.

We decided to buy a Mocha Roll to bring to a party we attended that night.  The guests loved it too! 

Mocha Roll from Hello Happy

Mocha Roll from Hello Happy

A reminder from Hello Happy…
Hello Happy

…and just because I love almost everything Korean….
Hello Happy

Saturday was such a great day and exploring a new suburb is so much fun.  Because of this experience, we plan of going to suburbs that will catch our fancy once in a while. 


Oriental Spa – http://orientalspa.com.au

Soban Korean Restaurant – http://www.soban.com.au/

Hello Happy – http://www.hellohappy.com.au/
Chatswood branch: 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067
Strathfield branch: 22 The Boulevarde, Strathfield NSW

This was the first food store I saw the moment we walked out of our hotel in Melbourne.  When I saw the photograph of Churros, I knew that this would be the first dessert we will have on our trip.  I’ve never been more glad to have picked where we stayed at—truly a blessing, location-wise and food-wise.

As we walked out of la citta, I almost skipped with glee with the thought that in a few minutes I will finally have a taste of Churros as I haven’t eaten them in a long while.  I was that excited!

Spanish Doughnuts is a small food store along Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.  This is more of a take-away shop with only two tables on the sidewalk available for those wanting to sit down and savour their Churros while people and cars pass by.

Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)


Their window display will show you a range of their Churros:

Original Churros –  Fresh golden brown outside with a delicate, light and fluffy centre. Rolled in traditional cinnamon sugar or icing sugar.

Bombon Churros – A designer Churro encased in a delicate shell of white, milk or dark chocolate for the ultimate Chocolate Churro experience.

Savoury Churros – Churro filled with savoury cream cheese, sundried tomatoes, peanut butter or cheesybite vegemite filling

Hot Jam Churros – Churro filled with melt-in-your-mouth-fillings such as custard, chocolate, caramel, and strawberry.

Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)

You don’t want a Churro?  They also have Cones with creamy fillings.

Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)

While we were there, they served a box of their savoury Churros to passersby.  It was hot and crunchy.  I liked it!

Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)

Caught on cam!  The Husband’s good timing captured me getting my second piece hehe.  It was that good.  I enjoyed my free savoury Churros while I chatted with the Spanish Doughnuts staff (they were so friendly).
Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)

We ordered a 3-pack Original Churros with Milk Chocolate Dipping for and two pieces of Bombons: one was the Nuts Gourmet Bombon filled with caramel and Triple Chocolate Bombon (not sure about the name–we forgot already). 

The moment the Bombons were handed to us, the Husband started eating the Nuts Gourmet Bombon right away (no time to photograph!).  It was delicious.  With my Husband being a chocoholic, it was gone even before we went back to the hotel.  As he was about to start on the Chocolate Bombon, I told him to save it until we’re back at the hotel.  The moment I took a of photo of it, it was quickly gone (such a chocolate fiend this Husband of mine! hehe).  The Bombons were a lovely dessert but could be too sweet for someone like me who doesn’t like sweet stuff all the time.

Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)

The 3-pack Churros were perfect.  It was freshly-cooked when handed over to me so it was crunchy.  Their milk chocolate dip was a winner for me as well.  Not too sweet, just the right partner to their Churros. 

Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)

Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)


I would have bought their Original Churros everyday while we were there but I had to control my Churros and milk chocolate dipping intake.  I made sure though that I bought another 3-pack on our last night and savoured it to the last bite.


Spanish Doughnuts

 
Flinders Street Station
Open 24 hours a day
Shop 2, Flinders Street Station
Cnr Flinders and Swanston Sts
Opposite Federation Square
Melbourne VIC 3000

 

Elizabeth Street Store
Open 7am-10pm
Elizabeth Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Ph: (03) 9654 5577

The newest restaurant in Degraves Street was where we had our first meal in the city of Melbourne.  Its cozy ambiance and familiar European menu (we were craving for pasta!) charmed us as we eased ourselves slowly into our short getaway.  An hour after arrival at the airport and checking in of our hotel, we wanted something friendly, relaxed and delicious for lunch.  la citta did not disappoint.

la citta (Melbourne, Australia)


I love their chandelier–dainty, pretty and pinkish red!

la citta (Melbourne, Australia)

As if we were fated to eat here, la citta offers lunch special everyday.  A bowl of pasta and a glass of wine for only AUD$18.50.  They had two kinds of pasta to choose from so my Husband and I tried both.

la citta (Melbourne, Australia)

They have a whole range of wines but my Husband and I just had a glass of white.  It was a great way to celebrate being in Melbourne once again.  “Cheers to being here!”, was what we said when our drinks arrived.

la citta (Melbourne, Australia)

We had heavy breakfast that morning so we weren’t really hungry yet.  We didn’t order any entrees anymore as I would like some room for dessert later.

I had the Fusili in Mussels, Tomato, Garlic and Chili.  Mussels were exquisitely cooked and tasted fresh. 

la citta (Melbourne, Australia)

The Husband had the simpler dish, Linguini in Tomato, Garlic and Chili.  This had big chunks of garlic which I like.

Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)


Both dishes were good.  The pasta were perfectly cooked and flavourful and not too hot (there was chili). I liked the portion of their serving–European indeed!–just enough to keep you full and satisfied.

A Wife’s Charmed Life visited la citta as an anonymous guest on 15 September 2010.

la citta
11 Degraves St
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Ph:
(03) 9014 8824
Fax:
(03) 9014 8825
Email:
lacitta@lacitta.net.au

Up next, find out about Melbourne’s most delicious Churros.
Australian Centre for the Moving Image presents “Tim Burton: The Exhibition”, an outstanding international exhibition in Australia under the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces banner.
Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

Until October 2010, ACMI hosts a unique exhibition direct from The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.  An Australian exclusive, Tim Burton: The Exhibition is a landmark exhibition charting Tim Burton’s creative vision and process from his earliest work to the spectacular Alice in Wonderland. {source}
Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

The exhibition is currently being held at Federation Square, Melbourne.  Open daily from 10am-6pm with special late night viewing on Thursdays until 10pm

Outside Federation Square…

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

Near the entrance (inside Federation Square), you’ll see the Bat Mobile from the movie “Batman”.

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

There are no taking of photographs inside the exhibition venue, the staff are very strict and roam around to make sure that no one is taking photographs.

The exhibition was fascinating.  I learned so many things about Tim Burton and his work, plus I got to somehow see his “human side” as they showed some of his letters written to friends and people he’s worked with.  For example, I saw a letter he wrote to Johnny Depp asking if a certain dialogue for “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory” is appropriate enough to be added to the movie’s script. 

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

Tim Burton is a gifted artist.  He draws, paints, photographs.  He is a story teller and a poet.  He is a writer and a director.  His creations are uncanny, unique and creatively captivating.  This exhibition showed how Tim Burton started out in his career, how he develops a story, the story behind the films he’s made and his unpublished works.

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

He also created maquettes from his film and non-film projects.
Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

One of my favorite films was of his, Edward Scissorhands.  When we entered the exhibition, we heard the magical music from the film and saw the costume of Edward Scissorhands.  I swear, I almost brought out my camera to take a photo of it.  *sigh*  It felt surreal to see it.

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

His latest film, “Alice in Wonderland” was a fabulous part of the exhibition as we saw the costumes used by the lead characters of the movie.  The three dresses worn by Alice in the movie were all there.  I wanted to feel the fabric of all Alice’s dresses but touching the exhibits weren’t allowed too.  I’m truly fascinated seeing the costumes from his movies. 

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

Each film he made was featured in the exhibition, even the old ones like Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Batman, Batman Returns, Planet of the Apes, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

One of his creations I love the most were his poems: funny, straightforward, easy to read and sometimes poignant. 

Viewing and being engrossed with his collection took us more than an hour and a half.  If you were to visit, I suggest you allot at least two hours to truly appreciate his work.   We left at nearly closing time spending about 15 minutes at the ACMI Store (can be found inside Federation Square) where you can buy a range of Burton Merchandise.

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)

My Husband and I bought the the Tim Burton The Exhibition Catalogue (AUD$24.95) and a few pieces of his artworks produced in postcards.

Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)


Featuring over 70 pages of informative essays, glorious full-colour images and a chronology of Burton’s career, this publication was the perfect complement to our exhibition experience. 
Tim Burton The Exhibition (Melbourne, Australia)


If you’re ever in Melbourne, catch this very special exhibition.  I highly recommend this to art and film enthusiasts and to anyone who loves his films.

Tim Burton: The Exhibition

Federation Square
Thursday 24 June – Sunday 10 October 2010
 

Open daily 10am-6pm. 
Special late night Thursdays until 10pm
Open until midnight on 7-9 October!
 

Full $19 Concession $14 ACMI Members $13
Child $10 (5-15 years) Family $55 (2 adults, 3 children)