Oscar's Law Rally Melbourne

These amazing photos below were taken by Erin McNulty. Erin offers custom pet photography that is unique, beautiful and timeless. We can definitely recommend her services to pet lovers wanting photographs of their furry children. Erin is also a generous heart, dedicating many hours of volunteer work to the rescue organisation 'Saffron on the Hill Dog Rescue Inc'. Please head on over to her webpage to see other galleries of her wonderful work and don't forget to like her Facebook page to keep updated on her new work! 

http://www.erinmcnulty.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/ErinMcNultyPetPhotographer

Oscar's Law Collars, Harness and Lead sets from the rally will be available online soon at www.thehill.org.au

Our darling Bob and Giggs from Saffron on the Hill Dog Rescue Inc.

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!

Footscray Milking Station

35 Bunbury St 

Footscray, 3011

03 90299240

Looking for a funky new dog~friendly cafe and deli in the West to try for brunch? Look no further.....

This place is buzzing on the word-of-mouth scene. We have driven past a few times with the pugs, though leaving our run too late for outside tables. On this particular day, we timed our brunch perfectly and seized an outside table with radiant warmth thanks to a well-positioned gas heater;)

Cute as a button on a chilly winter's morning ;)

The cafe is positioned on the junction of two wide, umbrageous streets. It feels local in every sense, yet it appears, crowds are flocking in from neighbouring suburbs (and no doubt foodies from all over town too) to make up their own mind about the newest kid on the Western 'burb block.

Super coffee. Nothing else really to say on the matter. Super. 

Ricotta Crepes

The crepes were insanely delectable. A lovely petite serve ~ savour every mouthful as the flavours are original and had us guessing every fork full;) Mint and maple married with ricotta, pecans and blueberries. Wow!

Baked Eggs

Take note of the begging paw......

Notice the hash brown with the baked eggs? Hash browns induce begging. Cute, sad, 'please just a little bit' eyes and the begging paw. Least they have doggy manners!

After brunch, we all cruised over to the park for a run. Check out the monster shadows!

muddy puddle paw planking. beat that ;)