Bark in the Park® 2012

22 September 2012

10am-2pm

Princes Park

Royal Pde, Parkville 3052

PURINA® BARK IN THE PARK® is the social event of the year for dogs and their owners.

Visitors to the event, held in Princes Park, will enjoy complimentary:

* Dog washing courtesy of TOTALCARE®

* Grooming classes courtesy of PETLIFE®

* Pet training tips and behavioural advice from the PURINA® PetCare Advice Team

* RUFFS® agility course

* Food samples from the BENEFUL® range and PURINA® ONE™ range

* WAGWEAR® fashion parade

* Family photo shoots courtesy of SUPERCOAT®

Hosted by Steve Jacobs from Channel Nine’s Today Show, and with special appearances by Dr Lisa Chimes (from Bondi Vet) and celebrity animal behaviourist Dr. Joanne Righetti, the award-winning PURINA® BARK IN THE PARK® events across the country are expected to attract over 25,000 passionate pet owners and their dogs this year. 

Seddon Deadly Sins ~ Seddon

148 Victoria Street

Seddon 3011

(03) 9689 3092

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.

Yes, in the form of buttermilk pancakes with white chocolate, mascarpone, macadamia ganache and strawberries. My sweet tooth veritably satisfied!

We are guilty as sin of trying other pancake specials here as well.....the special below featured grilled pineapple and was like Tropical North Queensland on a plate! Divine! In a devilish kind of way!

For those more savoury inclined, the Eggs Florentine came with a few extras today. 

Is that sausage for me?!

This was a feature on the infamous specials board at Seddon Deadly Sins. I’m not sure of the last time I ordered off the real menu (which might I add,  the menus are contained within random covers of Golden Books).

Another form of sin ~ not blogging prior to now, about this breakfast ‘institution’ in the heart of Seddon. Some places you just want to keep to yourself you know? But we couldn’t keep this one under wraps any longer. We are prepared to share the love, and wait in future for one of the exclusive front tables, if it means other dog lovers on the Westside get their pooches out and about with them ;)

I love going out for brunch!

Just a few shops up you will find Dog Diversity. We quickly dropped in here to get some doggy treats. The girls had yoghurt and carob tarts so we all gorged on sweets together.

 For more information about Dog Diversity, please visit our post via the link below:

http://gypsyju.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/dog-diversity-seddon.html

Back to Seddon Deadly Sins, this café dares to be different. A memorable meal was on Mother’s Day this year. They served an ‘Elvis Breakfast’ with French toast, peanut butter, banana and I’m sure a trillion other elements which I have long forgotten. But I will never forget trying to finish that meal! It was huge! No wonder Elvis stacked it on!

Speaking of weight, the girls visited the vet on Monday and were given double thumbs up for their ‘weigh in’. How is it, that us humans pile on the weight over winter, yet the pugs have trimmed down?! Is that fair?! Truthfully, they were put on portion control and follow a strict diet away from the café treats. Their daily exercise has also kept them trim and terrific. It is really important we keep their weight down for health reasons. I am so proud of them looking so fit and healthy.

Today, we were all definitely Sinners. It was worth every calorie!

 

Chez Dré ~ South Melbourne

285~287 Coventry St

(Dog~friendly courtyard off Hotham St)

South Melbourne 3205

(03) 9690 2688

Chez Dré is a patisserie/boulangerie/café located in South Melbourne. The urban, industrial~ style décor perfectly compliments the delicate, sweet intricacies shelved on the main counter. We are referring to the array of single~size desserts developed by owner Andrea Riess, a laureate pastry chef who has previously worked in Michelin starred food establishments in France.

Perfect coffee!

We could ask ourselves over and over again, how it is, we have not visited Chez Dré before today? Within 24 hours of receiving a recommendation to visit, backed up by photographic evidence of the pasty, we piled the pugs into the car and were off to see if this place was as wonderful as we’d imagined.

Ma - How is it that we haven't been here before?

Our answer? Yes! Yes! Yes! A light drizzle of rain did not impact on our ability to enjoy our brunch alongside our pugs. The courtyard is well sheltered from the Melbourne elements with gas heaters blazing to provide extra warmth. We were extremely comfortable in our surrounds. 

The brunch menu runs all day (another win for Sunday- woo!) and the idea of having something light so we could fit in a sweet was quickly dispelled. Instead, we opted for what we wanted on the menu and decided to take- away a box of cakes. Diet queens beware, only head to Che Dre on a cheat day! There are so many temptations on offer from the pastry shelf to the highly exceptional all day brunch menu!

Oh! The joys of a Croque Madame ~ vegetarian style!

Field mushrooms, rocket pesto, Gruyere cheese and Bechamel sauce!

Oh! I can only imagine what is on top of that table! *sigh*.....

Maybe if I hold my tongue out something will magically drop on it!.....

Minute steak on house made focaccia consisted of a Goulburn Valley grass fed eye fillet with beetroot relish, sautéed onions, goats cheese, rocket and a fried egg.

Served with rustic potatoes (bacon was a side order)

check out the face in the background....

Reaction to food by pugs and humans alike..... ;)

In our box of take~ away cakes, we decided upon the French Vanilla Cheesecake with Mandarin, Hazelnut Chocolate Praline Crunch, Chocolate Baileys Fondant and the Salted Caramel Dome. A pre~ warning to scan the pastry shelves before ordering brunch in order to contemplate your selection over the duration of your visit to Chez Dré!

Another outstanding brunch trek to South Melbourne!

To the park we go.....'til next time! ;)

 

Auction Rooms ~ North Melbourne

103-107 Errol St

North Melbourne, 3051

(03)9326 7749

Let the sunshine in! The best thing about the Auction Rooms all year round is.....the coffee. The best thing about the Auction Rooms in winter, is the fact it's on the sunny side of the road! Warmth in winter! Hooray!

Choosing where the sun hits when you dine with your dogs is important this time of year!

We were also very lucky that we arrived in peak hour at the Auction Rooms, but everyone was waiting for a table inside. Sitting at a little table street side, surrounded by bench seats of hungry patrons awaiting their tables inside, we were served our stellar coffees in record time. 

Poppet on crowd control

Observations tell us though, if you were planning to visit here don't be deterred by the crowds swarming outside. Traffic moved really quickly and the dogs met a stream of people over our brunch who only had a short wait before being shown to their tables inside. 

coffeeeeee please!

The menu may require you 'googling' a few ingredients, but that is the beauty of such a simple, yet complex menu. Discovery.

We chose a sweet and savoury dish. The poached quince on brioche was to die for. 

Free range eggs with a beetroot relish was also, simply delightful.

The girls had a wonderful time, complete with lots of human interactions (including a little man on his first legs!) and a few toast droppings washed down with water from the dog bowl out the front. 

One thing for sure is, the sunshine truly made our morning. Head on over to the Auction Rooms in the colder months when you can appreciate the beautiful sunshine. The dogs will love you for it!