Month: January 2018

Websters Market and Café, 61 Webster Street, Ballarat

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Websters Market and Cafe, 61 Webster Street, Ballarat

local cafe reviewI’ve been here a few times now and tried various things on the menu.  During summer one lunchtime a friend and I shared a divine roast cauliflower salad with some sort of sauce that had me licking the plate, and the lamb and lentils, which was also nice, but forgetful, compared with the cauliflower.  What a shame it hasn’t been on the menu since.

My breakfast choices vary between the Seasonal Greens Bowl (greens, quinoa, almonds, halloumi, avocado, poached egg) and the Mushrooms and Kale (again, with some sort of plate-lickingly-delicious sauce that’s not quite sopped up by the corn bread).  The cacao chilli hit the spot on a cold winter morning.

 

But….one morning an unrestrained dog came into the café and sniffed around the patrons.  Bad enough, but the barista then captured the dog by the collar and took him outside.  Barista, dog and owner seemed to know each other, but from a hygiene perspective, having a dog in a café is NOT ON.  Do what you like with pets in your own home, but keep them out of public food places.  I watched the barista come back in and go straight into making a coffee.  No hand-washing or wiping took place.  When I paid I mentioned that I was concerned at his lack of hygiene after touching the dog, and without missing a beat, he said he’d used the anti-bacterial solution before he made the coffee.  I was so stunned by his immediate, and incorrect reply (after all, I had been facing him and watching carefully), that I let it go, and haven’t been back.  I miss the mushroom and kale dish, but can’t quite bring myself to venture back just yet into what now seems to me to be an unclean venue.

Visit Websters Market and Cafe’s website at webstersmarketandcafe.com

Harvest Café, 256 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

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Harvest Cafe, 256 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

Ventured in for breakfast one morning, on the recommendation of the tourist info centre, and was delighted with the outdoor courtyard.  I can’t remember what I ate because I was completely distracted by a well known TV personality coming in for a coffee.  He asked me if I’d finished with the newspaper, and I probably muttered something unintelligible as I passed it to him.  I then tried not to stare as he proceeded to have a coffee and chat with his partner, and discussed forthcoming work with his agent on the phone.  I wanted to go over to him after and say how much I admired his work and how lovely it was to see him in person, but he was no doubt wanting some anonymity and quiet time and I didn’t want to intrude.  But my little brush with fame has kept me going to this day.  Ahhh – the joys of celebrity.

Visit Harvest Cafe’s website at yarravalleyharvest.com.au

Between a Wolf and a Dog, Georgia Blain

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between a wold and a dog blainSummary:  Explores the life of a mother and her two grown daughters over the course of a day, with flashbacks to explain how they reached the point they’re at.

Thoughts:  Thank you to one of my fellow book club colleagues who mentioned a few years ago that Georgia Blain was her favourite author.  This stuck in my mind, so when I saw the book on the library shelf recently, I picked it up, purely on her recommendation.  I’m now going to read all Georgia’s other books.  Her writing is simple, but beautiful.  Her characters are real, to the point where, despite the brevity of the book, I came to know them and care about them.  Not necessarily like them, but I was disappointed when the book ended.  I wanted more.  Definitely the sign of a great writer.check price and availability here

Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude Get A Life, Maureen McCarthy

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queen cat carmel and st judeSummary:  Three girls from the same small town find themselves sharing a house during the first year of their Uni studies.

Thoughts:  Beautifully written.  Apparently an Australian classic which has been made into an ABC mini-series (avoid, unless you like retro TV).  I’d never heard of it, but loved it.  The writing was simple and elegant, the story believable, the relationship between the three girls interesting, and overall a lovely read.  I’m definitely going to read her other novels, even though they seem to be mostly Young Adult.check book price here

A Great Reckoning, Louise Penny

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a great reckoning louise pennySummary:  A professor murdered in a police training academy, and old map found hidden in an old house, are the two events related?  The Chief Inspector encourages four young cadets to solve both mysteries.

Thoughts:  I wish I hadn’t started with Book 12 of the Armand Gamache series.  I like to begin at Book 1 and work my way through.  I picked this up because it looked interesting, and I was hooked very quickly.  It works as a stand-alone but I’ll now work my way through the series from the beginning.  Intriguing murder-mystery in an exotic setting (like the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo, but with a more stable protagonist).check price and availability here

A Passionate Life, Ita Buttrose

Michael Soos Book Review Articles

a passionate life ita buttroseSummary:  Autobiography of Ita’s life and career to 2012, including her involvement with charitable organisations and community groups, her personal life, and her well-known rise through the journalism ranks to become the first woman to edit a major Australian metropolitan newspaper.

Thoughts:  Ita has had a very successful and public life.  Much of the book discusses the lesser known aspects of her career, and sets the record straight on rumours.  She is someone I respect and admire, for her amazing career, many ‘firsts’ and keeping her dignity during difficult times.  She is to be commended for her efforts in paving the way for women in journalism, and for her involvement with health and well-being organisations.  Her writing is engaging, her views are insightful, and her story enjoyable and inspiring.check book price here

The New Mrs Clifton, Elizabeth Buchan

Michael Soos Book Review Articles

the new mrs clifton buchanSummary:  At the end of the Second World War, Gus returns home to his two sisters with a new wife.  A German wife.  Which shocks his sisters, his best friend, and his fiancé.  Something is not right with the marriage though, and the story is told from the perspective of all those involved.  The book begins with the discovery of a body fifty years later, and culminates with why and how the violent death took place.

Thoughts:  This is not a murder mystery but a look at how prejudice and emotions affect people.  How these characters interact with each other, and why they behave the way they do, makes for an interesting read.  Possibly not quite realistic, but unless we were there at the time we can’t judge.  Apart from the death, things are all tied up nicely at the end.  Unfortunate, but understandable from the author’s perspective, who probably wanted to end on a positive note.  A good read, nevertheless.check price and availability here

Forgotten, Nicole Trope

Michael Soos Book Review Articles

nicole trope forgottenSummary:  A busy and distracted mother leaves her baby in the car for a few minutes while she rushes into a shop for milk.  The baby is kidnapped.  The story is then told from various perspectives including the mother, the detective, and the kidnapper.

Thoughts:  Believable, not gripping, but interesting enough to keep me reading whilst on a cruise.  Short chapters meant I could dip in and out around other ship-board activities.  She writes well, and having the story set in Australia makes it nicely relevant.  Predictable happy ending, but otherwise, well worth reading.check book price here

Barwon Orange, 60 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads

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Barwon Orange, 60 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Headscafe reviews

Staying in Ocean Grove for a long weekend, I headed over to Barwon Heads for a look around.  After walking up and down both sides of the street and looking at various eateries and menus, I went back to Barwon Orange for their zucchini and sweet potato fritters.  It was a glorious winter day so I sat outside in their front courtyard, browsed through the newspapers, people-watched, and savoured the lovely fritters with sour cream.  I ended up getting a slice of their cake to take away, which I had later that evening, and it was divine.  The next day I appeared again for brunch and enjoyed a lovely pot of unusually flavoured herbal tea, recommended by the lovely waitress.

Visit Barwon Orange’s website at barwonorange.com.au

Brown Grain, 212 Sturt Street, Ballarat

Michael Soos Cafe Review Articles ,
cafe reviews
Brown Grain, 212 Sturt Street, Ballaratcafe reviews

This is the place I crave, and need to come back to every few weeks.  There’s something about the food, the staff, the vibe.  I’ve tried various things on the menu, but keep coming back to my favourite two – the laksa for a cosy winter lunch, and the pumpkin curry, which I eat like a soup, without rice.  Consistently divine, always delicious, and having been to Bangkok it’s a nice reminder of the glorious food and smells I experienced there.

Visit Brown Grain’s website at browngrain.com.au