Jamie's Best Ever Christmas

It's starting to become super-cold here in the Australian countryside, so tonight I decided to cook a very apt Wintery dish. The recipe was from 'Jamie's Best Ever Christmas' TV series & turned out a treat (as Jamie's recipes always do!) Hope this series is released on DVD one day!

www.jamieoliver.com

Cakes for Christmas!

I'll be over in London in the lead-up to Christmas this year. On my holiday, I plan to visit the absolutely gorgeous 'Violet Cakes' & buy a truckload of their delectable treats to enjoy. Anyone who knows me well, knows my holidays always revolve around food. Forget monuments and landmarks, what excites me most when abroad, is paying homage to that countries culinary greatness! I'm really looking forward to my visit. Thanks to owner & pastry-chef extraordinaire Claire Ptak for the generous use of these lovely photos.

www.violetcakes.com

Melbourne spends 2.6 million on Christmas!

Today, Melbourne mayor Robert Doyle confirmed that The City of Melbourne would be upping their spend on Christmas decorations this year. Plans include "gift-wrapping" the town hall! Hopefully it'll look something like the Cartier building that I saw gift-wrapped in New York at Christmas a couple of years ago!

Santa's Naughty List

I guess Santa Claus isn't coming to town anytime soon, but I'm sure he's already busy compiling his naughty/nice list. Here are a few Christmas cards I found for sale on the 'Papier D'amour' website. They're by Kate Spade.

I love them.....

Christmas @ Easter?

My husband & I did a rather unconventional thing for our recent Easter holiday - we visited a Victorian ski field. Yes, the official snow season is a month away BUT Falls Creek did not disappoint! It's was crisp & Wintery and to that end Christmassy (in a European kind of way!)

Christmas Cookie Shop & The Royal Wedding

I posted on the awesome Eleni's NYC biscuit bakery in 2009. Here's a photo I took at their Chelsea store. (They also have a store on Madison Ave). Eleni's has just created some adorable cookies they're selling to commemorate Will & Kate's Royal Wedding. Too cute!

www.elenis.com

New York, New York

Being addicted not only to all things Christmas, but also to good food - Australian chef Shannon Bennett's latest travel guide on New York has got me excited. It covers all the best eateries the Big Apple has to offer. If his last guide book on Paris is anything to go by, he's sure to have another hit on his hands.

www.vuedemonde.com.au

Christmas Cooking Lessons

Most of Australia probably already knows about Pastry Chef extraordinaire Adriano Zumbo via his 2 Masterchef TV appearances. When I was in Sydney recently I (rather greedily) went to all 3 of his patisseries to try out some of his cakes. They were mind-blowingly good. I was stoked to read that Adriano's running a Christmas dessert lesson in Alexandria in Sydney. Cool.

Bookings - email: gourmetinstitute@acpmagazines.com.au

Very Early Christmas Present.....

It was with much excitement that I recently read supremely talented Australian stylist Sibella Court is about to release her new book 'A stylist's guide to NYC'. I snapped up her first book in a heartbeat so can't wait for this next instalment.

Sibella runs 'The Society Inc' in Paddington, Sydney - it's a treasure trove of striking wares from around the world for those of us who are obsessed with decorating & design. Really hoping my next lot of filming in Sydney co-incides with one of her workshop dates!

http://www.thesocietyinc.com.au

Christmas in London 1951

I do like this retro poster from London Transport that ran in December 1951 wishing it's patrons a happy festive season. I'm not sure whether our Australian Transport system thanks it's commuters each year, but it's a nice sentiment isn't it?

Christmas in La La Land - 2010

So.....I've had a few computer problems the past month so haven't been able to blog properly. So happy to be back online finally! I love the snowman outfit singer Katie Perry wore to the Jingle Ball concert in LA last Christmas (December 2010). So cute and quirky!

Christmas stickers

There's been a recent influx of overseas Christmas titles that have just hit Australian shelves. I saw these Christmas seals (effectively little Christmas stickers in the same shape & size as postal stamps) advertised in a December US publication. They've been produced & sold since 1907 with all proceeds going to a US charity.

www.christmasseals.org

Reindeer love

Another E-Bay find. I can't remember how much this adorable vintage candleholder sold for at auction, but remember thinking (in the words of Eliza Doolittle) 'Would'nt it be loverly?'

Taste of Christmas

Us lucky Melbournians have had the amazing 'Taste' food festival run here for the past 2 years. Hands down the best food festival I've visited, I was over the moon to discover London runs a Christmas version 'Taste of Christmas'. It's on from 2-4th Dec 2011. Last year's headline chef was Heston Blumenthal....need I say more?

www.tasteofchristmas.com

Live colourfully

Through-out the year, I'll be blogging about cool design discoveries. This latest Kate Spade ad ticks all the right boxes. Actress Bryce Dallas Howard features in it (she's plays Victoria in the latest 'Twilight' saga movies - don't ask me how I know that!)

www.katespade.com

Designer Nativity Scene

Living in Australia, I often receive overseas Christmas publications a month after Christmas! I got a copy of a UK Christmas magazine the other day and found this beautiful wooden Christmas nativity scene in it. It's based on artwork by NYC textile designer Alexandre Girard.

A month since Christmas...

Today is Australia Day & it's been a month since we celebrated Christmas. While we're celebrating with friends & a BBQ here at home today, our thoughts are still with those Australians that have lost everything because of the recent, devastating floods.

Rustic decorating

I'm off to Sydney soon for work & have been busy looking into shops & cafes to visit in my down-time. In the process, I found this lovely, rustic-looking Christmas decoration from the Woollahra (Sydney) store called 'Orson & Blake'.

www.orsonandblake.com.au

Cookie Exchange

I know it's January & Christmas is over, but I just came across this new book whilst looking at other food titles....

My husband & I have held our own personal 'cookie exchange' for a few years running. Each of us will make a few different types of festive biscuits on a weekend in December. We'll then enjoy the spoils afterwards & share the rest with people we know. I do like the idea of hosting something like this with a group of friends. It'd be a fun day...

NYC poster

Thanks to my buddy 'L2' for knowing exactly what puts a smile on my face! How cute is this poster link that she sent me?

allposters.com

The Hairy Bikers

I miss seeing these guys on TV. Si & Dave are madcap English chefs that travel the countryside cooking & generally being funny. This is their latest book.

www.hairybikers.com

Stuck for gift ideas?

I just visited the very beautiful 'Mud' store in Fitzroy, Victoria. Their flagship Melbourne store recently opened on Gertrude St. Australian-owned, 'Mud' creates amazing ceramics in all colours of the rainbow. Their items make beautiful gifts for friends & family - I was over the moon when I got four Mud pieces from friends & my husband last Christmas.

www.mudaustralia.com

Vintage Advent Calendar

I was tossing up whether to get this Advent Calendar before Christmas but decided against it, as my house is getting a bit too full of decorating props! How cute is it though? I love the vintage designs on it. It's one of the nicest advent calendars I've seen to date...

robertgordonaustralia.com

A designer new year

My very awesome web designer (for my business 'Little Kitchen') just send me the following wish for 2011. Love it...

www.sugarfreedesign.com.au

Festive Jewellery

I have my great buddy Lisa L to thank for introducing me to this cool Australian jewellery brand. She took me shopping towards the end of 2010 & we visited a store that sold 'Mafia Jewellery'. Oh, how I love the ice-skate chain!

www.mafiajewellery.com

New Years Resolution

I'm seriously hankering to go & snack at all the new foodie places I've discovered over the past year or so. So, in 2011 my resolution is to bite the bullet & go and visit some of the amazing new cafes Melbourne has to offer. While I'll need to book an International flight to sample this one, Cafe Vue recently opened up at the T2 International section at Melbourne airport. Soaring windows overlooking the runways, great food & awesome decor - a match made in heaven!

www.vuedemonde.com.au/cafe-vue.aspx

Greenery specialist

A brand new florist & giftshop has opened on Piper St in Kyneton, Victoria. 'Prunella' has instantly become my new favourite store. It has the most amazing vases, ornaments & blooms - I bought some holly from there a few days before Christmas in 2010 & it looked amazing on our table during the festive season.

The Nutcracker Ballet in 2011

In February 2011, Cinema Nova in Melbourne, Australia is screening 'The Nutcracker Ballet' as filmed in Russia's Bolshoi Theatre. The film runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Adult tickets are $23 each - a great alternative for those who can't afford to see the ballet in 'real life'.

www.cinemanova.com.au

Have a JOYful new year!

To get the new year off to a sweet start, I recently visited a drop-dead gorgeous cupcake store called 'Joy'. They currently have 2 Australian locations - Westfield Doncaster & Melbourne CBD. Their amazing flavour combinations, cute packaging & incredible interior design make for a super-awesome business.

joycupcakes.com.au