Fritz Gelato ~ St Kilda

11A Fitzroy St

St Kilda 3182

FRITZ GELATO specialises in organic Italian style ice cream, sorbets and frozen yoghurts. They pride ourselves on using the best fresh quality ingredients, eliminating the need for artificial flavours and colours. 

Gypsy walking (& socialising!) down Fitzroy St

It is not uncommon to see queues a mile long on Fitzroy St. For the Prince Bandroom, various wine bars and pubs. But we are sure the longest queue will be outside FRITZ this summer!

Gypsy loves a good urban stroll down Fitzroy St. It is always buzzing with an eclectic mix of people. FRITZ can be the drawcard on a barmy night in Melbourne. What is there not to love about a summer stroll topped off with the smoothest, yummiest gelato on the south side?! 

What flavour have you got tonight?

The award winning Caramelised Fig & Roasted Almonds ice-cream is clearly our favourite flavour, though Gypsy isn't fussy ~ she will happily clean our cups after we have finished ~ no matter the flavour! Thank goodness we combine this visit with exercise!

Make sure you allow yourself the indulgence of one of Fritz's original & unique ice-cream flavours. It is officially summer so what are you waiting for?! ;-)

These flavour photos courtesy of www.fritzgelato.com

Check out their webpage for all Melbourne locations! http://www.fritzgelato.com

Gingerbread Village by Epicure

City Gallery
Ground 110 Swanston Street 

Melbourne 3000

Did you say Gingerbread?! YUM!

Looking for a fun filled activity for the kids this December? Then look no further than the magical Gingerbread Village by EPICURE. Built entirely out of gingerbread, see if you can spot iconic Melbourne landmarks and the gingerbread chefs getting up to mischief! With activities and plenty of treats for the kids, the Gingerbread Village is sure to add smiles to your festive season.

Photo courtesy of Epicure Events

EPICURE will be showing video footage of the masterpiece that took 2 months for their talented chefs to create. Watch as the village grows and takes shape from blank canvas to the finished version you see at the exhibition. 

Photo courtesy of Epicure Events

EPICURE’s pastry chefs will be whipping up tasty creations which can be purchased at the exhibition. Looking for unique Christmas gifts? Then why not purchase gingerbread men or love hearts, macarons or even chocolate coated nuts? Or be a chef for a day! Pick up a ‘make your own’ gingerbread houses and gingerbread trees.

This Christmas EPICURE are supporting the Starlight Children’s Foundation with all donations received at the exhibition going towards the Starlight Wish Granting program, granting once-in-a-lifetime wishes for seriously ill children. If you’d like to make a donation, collection tins will be available at the exhibition. All donors will receive a cardboard gingerbread man which will be placed on the Christmas tree. Epicure's aim is to have the Christmas tree full of gingerbread men by the 24th December. 

Gypsy loves to blog about talented people doing charitable things. Go Epicure!

For more photos of Epicure's Event, check out the album link on Gypsy's Facebook Page ;-)

http://www.facebook.com/gypsyju

Foo Fighters!

The Foo Fighters have arrived in Australia for stadium shows,
 and this Friday and Saturday will play AAMI Park! Woo!

Gypsy, being the coolest one-eyed pugX there is, must blog the arrival of the coolest rock band she knows. Welcome FOO!


Knowing their sense of humour, we have created this video with equal parts sarcasm, humour and fun. These are the qualities, that enhance the brilliant music the Foo Fighters create. If you haven't seen their documentary 'Back and Forth' then definitely make a point of watching it. What an amazing insight to who they are, the journey of the band and their extended 'Foo Family'. 
Dave's daughter makes the cutest cameo ;-)


Speaking of cameos ;-)

Thanks to JibJab for their awesome holiday videos!
Check them out & make your own!
http://sendables.jibjab.com/


Gypsy is ridiculously excited. The new album has basically been on repeat since release!

Running times:

AAMI Park, Melbourne
Doors: 4pm (GA field tix)
            4.30pm (Res Seat tix)
Local Opener: 6pm - 6.15pm
F**ked Up: 6.25pm - 6.55pm
Tenacious D: 7.10pm - 7.55pm
Foo Fighters: 8.20 - 10.50pm

Limited tickets are still available for their second show. 

www.ticketmaster.com.au

http://www.frontiertouring.com/foofighters

Suzuki Night Market

 

Queen Victoria Market

Cnr Elizabeth Street and Victoria Street

Melbourne 3000

(03) 9320 5822

The Suzuki Night Market is a summer tradition. It attracts over 200 stall holders and blends together beautifully a mix of locally-made jewellery & clothing, hawker style food, bars and live music.

Make sure you  swing on over to the buzz of these markets one Wednesday before February 29, 2012 (excluding 28/12). The market runs from 5:30pm-10:00pm at the Queen Victoria Market.

Live music always sets the vibe of the market. Gypsy is very excited about next week's line up. Ganga Giri, Noriko Tadano and George Kamikawa and La Mauvaise Reputation are all playing. The later sound particularly enchanting, their sound described as  joyous and infections, the rhythms that will make you dance, and the melodies are plucked out of the heart of old Europe. The repertoire is performed in French, staying true to the beautiful French music of the 20s, 30s & 40s.

http://www.qvm.com.au/snm/snm_home.aspx

* NOTE dogs are not allowed at the Night Markets. Gypsy has attended the normal Queen Victoria Markets in the past, as there is a pet store in the centre ~ but the Night Markets are a different set up - with security and licensed areas etc. 

STONZ ~ Essendon

 200 Buckley St

Essendon VIC 3040

Despite being on a busy road, Stonz maintains a beautiful, relaxed vibe. The first thing your eyes gravitate to is the delightful cakes and slices they have on display. Gypsy is a seasoned sweet tooth with the eye for a good morning or afternoon tea.

Today though, we are having a quick brunch and opt for something we don't see often on breakfast menus.

Pharaoh's breakfast was packed with middle eastern flavours, a combination of beans, fried eggs and spices on a flat bread. 

Stonz pride themselves on good coffee & we regularly grab a coffee-on-the-run from here ;-)

There are tables available curb-side for you and your dog, though these are for smoking patrons so that is something you will have to consider. 

Hellenic Republic ~ Brunswick East

434 LYGON STREET 
BRUNSWICK EAST 3057

Gypsy can only dream about Hellenic Republic, but to make things dog~ friendly, we decided to visit the Greek Taverna in Brunswick East to inspire us to cook from George Calombaris' recipe book 'Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart'. That way, we are motivated to try new dishes at home and Gypsy definitely gets her own tasting plate.

As quoted from their webpage 'This is a busy and bustling restaurant, it is noisy and brash and very Greek'. This is an authentic statement! There was constant movement and credit must be paid to the brilliant floor staff who were literally 'running' from table to table to ensure each patron received a personalised service.

Now to the food.....!
Our photos should speak for themselves ;-)

Tyri saganaki 
- Kefalograviera with peppered figs-
(The Tzatziki in the background definitely deserves a mention. It was superb!)



Grilled Octopus
 - very tender and a table favourite -



Kalamboki 
- sweet corn, spiced butter, smoked almonds, kefalograviera -



Avros 
-white anchovies with roast capsicum, tomato, garlic toast -

Kipriaki Salata Dimitriakon 

- Cypriot salad of grains, pulses and nuts -

Melitzana Papoutsakia 

- baked eggplant, yoghurt, garlic, chilli -

Arni sto fourno 

- slow roasted shoulder of lamb, garlic, oregano -

Loukoumathes 

- Hellenic donuts, local honey, walnuts, cinnamon -

Hellenic mess 

- rose water meringue, orange blossom jelly, vanilla crema, strawberry ouzo sauce -

Gypsy will await her home delights. 

Be inspired! Go and check out Hellenic Republic for yourself ;-)

www.hellenicrepublic.com.au

Dog Diversity ~ Seddon

 

142 Victoria St

Seddon 3011

http://dogdiversity.com.au/

We are drawn like magnets into Dog Diversity every time we are in Seddon. Gypsy loves this store & we buy her carob treats here, amongst other things on impulse! Dog Diversity offers the latest in stylish dog and cat products & provides their clients with up-to-date clips and accessories. It started out exclusively as a dog grooming business, but has since expanded into a retail store & training centre for dog grooming.

 

Like most puppies, Gypsy ripped her first bed to shreds, so we invested in an iron bed from here, which try as she might, can't destroy!

 

We splashed out & bought her a toy for her 10 month birthday which she has to knock about to get her treats out. Upon recommendation from a friend, we originally filled an empty plastic bottle. But now she is mastering that, it was time for an upgrade. 

The Bob-A-Lot has differing levels of challenge & keeps her occupied for much longer.

How do you occupy your pet when you are at work? Gypsy is a very smart dog & requires lots of stimulus throughout the day. Though she is partial to extended naps too! 

Check out Gypsy's cool Fuzzyard Space Invaders leash. Also bought at Dog Diversity. We might see you soon there ;-)