I’ve been doing so much!!! Mad March!

They don’t call it Mad March for nothing! I’ve been doing SO much and it’s only the middle of the month. I was in Adelaide for the Fringe, in the Mountains visiting the gorgeous Dinner Plain and soon to come is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Here’s some pics and some descriptions of things I’ve been doing:

-       Working at Future Music Festival in Adelaide-

Watching the Live Podcast of Eddie Ifft at the Rhino Room at Adelaide Festival

-       Enjoying the amazing Darkness and Light show, 3 nights over the week in Adelaide

Wonderful MC Richard McKenzie at Darkness and Light

-       Visting my darlings Naomi and sharon who I met on the Machu Picchu trek in October

-       Catching up with Shane Insane in Adelaide who I met at the snow last year

-       Checking out the beautiful Dinner Plain after the fires threatened the area for almost 4 weeks, looks amazing now

-       Dinner with wonderful friends from Perth who I haven’t seen for 12 years! Still the same

-       Worked with Mt Buller promoting the fast approaching Ski Season

-       My darling friends wedding

-       Watching the Magic of Anthony DeMasi in Revealed.

And I’m missing out on a whole bunch of other wonderful meals , friend and things to see and do that I’ve been getting up to.

You don’t have to travel to have amazing adventures. I was lucky to get to visit friends, work and see great entertainment interstate, but I also make the most of every day of living here in Melbourne.

Live your life like a traveller – wherever you are, explore, see new things, meet new people and smile every day!!

 NOTE: Since writing this I’ve done even more!!

• Melbourne International Comedy Festival – 7 days, 3 shows a night!
• Sri Lanka for a wedding  - elephant orphanage and more

Travel in 2013 so far

Travel is a part of my life, it’s part of my work and it’s my passion. Travel is just something I do – this is after all “The Adventures of the Traveller Em”. Incorporating travel into everything I do and living life like a traveller, that’s what I’m all about .

 

So 2013 is of course no exception to my travelling rule – with loads of unexpected trips and travel already occurring. Here is some of the travel that I have ticked off already.

-       Road trip to Adelaide in January for 4 days to drive a friend to visit friends and subsequently visit friends as well

Adelaide- City of churches

-       Sydney – fleeting visit and sadly for a funeral, great to be with family and friends at this time.

-       Wendouree, Ballarat for work with the CFA (Country Fire Authority) great to see darling friend Emily

-       Townsville and Magnetic Island to see my friend Matt in the Army. Also got to see my good friend Cat who was there by chance at the same time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-       Dinner Plain – Alpine Region of Victoria for a weekend to see how it’s thriving after the threat of fires, perfect start to Autumn

-       Adelaide for the Adelaide Fringe Festival- working and a chance to catch up with friends. The best time to be in Adelaide.

 

 

Anthony Demasi – Comedian and Magician performing in Rundle Mall, Adelaide Fringe Festival

Sydney, Sri Lanka, Melbournes Great Ocean Road, Darwin, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs and possibly more to come….. AND THAT IS BEFORE JULY!

Goodbye dear Rory

What are your plans this Easter?

What will you do this Easter long weekend?

Are you in Melbourne or Victoria?

 

Why not head to one of my favourite places in Victoria, Dinner Plain. This beautiful suburb perched on the top of the Alpine Region has a quaint little village, friendly locals and Loads of Activities for Easter.

Read more about how they are coming back from the recent Summer Fire Threats and Rising in the spirit of Easter!

 

Rise to the High Country, it’s Easter!

Dinner Plain, Victoria: The Victorian Alps and surrounding communities have been feeling the heat over the last month with the Harrietville/Alpine fires threatening the region.  Rest assured that activities for the Easter weekend, from 29^th -31^st March 2013, are going full steam ahead, offering visitors to the region a weekend full of festivities and family fun!

After more than 30,000 HA of bush land being burnt, the communities of Harrietville, Dinner Plain, Mt Hotham, Swifts Creek and Omeo are looking forward to rising from the ashes. Although a worrying time, the worst is over, it’s business as usual.  In Dinner Plain the skies are blue and the air is clean and we’re excited for the planned Easter events, not only to raise our spirits but to provide a fun filled weekend for visitors to our village.

“We have stayed strong as a community and we are pleased to be hosting this wonderful family weekend” says Elaine Burridge, Dinner Plain resident.

The Easter weekend’s events include the annual inaugural Geebung Polo match.  Atop of the Polo match is an array of family and children’s activities across Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.  Other activities you can expect to see over the weekend include:  North East Produce Exposure (featuring local wines, beer and local food produce), face painting, treasure hunts, geo cache, movie night, blue light disco, car boot sale, CFA fundraisers, there will even be a visit from Easter Bunny during our massive Easter Egg hunt on Sunday morning…. the list goes on. Our surrounding townships are also hosting the Swifts Creek Picnic Races and Omeo Rodeo.

“The Easter Weekend is a favorite here at Dinner Plain and we are thrilled to be hosting this event again in 2013 – it shows how our communities can work together, reunite and rise above adversity”, says Peter McKenna, Dinner Plain Advisory Committee.

This Easter, Dinner Plain is throwing out a big THANK YOU to the CFA, with funds raised from many of the activities over the weekend being donated to the CFA.

It’s Easter so it’s time for clean air, mountains and big open skies, so break out the RM Williams, it’s time to get your Polo on! All things family, fun and Easter!

For more information on the Easter Events and Geebung Polo, visit:

http://www.visitdinnerplain.com.au/Pages/Events___Activities.aspx, you can also join our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Dinner.Plain?fref=ts .

 

Celebrity Footy Match Raises $7000 For Omeo Hospital and Motor Neurone Disease

Amazing to take part in the Peter Canning Cup 2012 last Friday 27th March in Omeo Victoria. This was a fantastic event for the community of the Alpine region and I was so honoured to be a part of it.

See below the press release with antics from the evening.

Media Release 30 July 2012

 

Celebrity Footy Match Raises $7000 For Omeo Hospital and Motor Neurone Disease

 

Dinner Plain/ Hotham, Victoria:  Celebrity AFL Match, The Peter Canning Cup, was played on Friday 27^th July 2012 and raised more than $7000 for Motor Neurone Disease and the Omeo Hospital. The cup was reclaimed by the Dinner Plain/ Hotham Demons at the Charity football match in Omeo, Victoria on Friday night.  The young guns were coached to glory by AFL Legends Robert Flower, Wayne Walsh, Stephen Powell and Guy Rigoni who were more than happy to show their support for this great community event.

 

This was the second year of The Peter Canning Cup which is in honour of Peter Canning, a legend of Dinner Plain and the snow area surrounds. Peter’s good heart and fun spirit have not been shadowed by the Motor Neurone Disease he now lives with day to day. The funds will go to Omeo Hospital in order to support those living with Motor Neurone Disease and their families and friends who care for them.

The Celebrity coaches were wrapped to be part of this great event. Wayne Walsh, a now veteran of the Peter Canning Cup with two years of attendance, was proud to see the young guys giving it there all. “This is a fantastic event for football and for a very important cause, Motor Neurone Disease.”

It was Robert Flowers first year at the cup and he jumped right in as head coach of the Dinner Plain/ Hotham Demons. Guy Rigoni was a great supporting coach for the boys and gave a pep talk over the ground speakers after each quarter. “Kick it long and kick it hard boys. Keep it simple and remember we’re doing this for the Peter Canning Cup.” Guy said to get the guys revved up and ready for the big match. Ultimately their wisdom, experience and passion led the boys to victory and to reclaim the cup from the Omeo side.

There were many antics on the night. The inaugural girls netball match was played on the footy field due to slippery conditions on the actual courts. The Dinner Plain/ Hotham girls took it out – despite half the crowd running on the field/ court to help out the Omeo team. One of the gutsy girls even decided to shamelessly but bravely streak for the cause. Raising $500, Claire the Streaker as she’s now known, ran the race of her life across the middle of the AFL match.

Claire The Streaker at The Peter Canning Cup

Peter McKenna of the Dinner Plain Advisory Committee and Dinner Plain Residence and Business Operators Society says: “The Peter Canning Cup for a cause that means so much to the people of Omeo, Swifts Creek, Dinner Plain, Hotham and the Alpine Region.” He is thrilled by the support of the local communities, the Celebrity AFL coaches who gave their time so generously and all the participants.

Big thanks to Boags who sponsored the beer tent which raised a lot of funds on the night. Also Patties Pies of Bairnsdale whose provision of free pies and sausage rolls kept the crowds cheering all night. We’ve raised more than $7000 and the total is rising with sales of DVD’s to come and donations still rolling in.

 

For more information on The Peter Canning Cup and video footage from the great event please contact Emma Lovell on contact details below. You can also see images at www.int-m.net/canningcup.

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For further information, images or an interview please contact:

Emma Lovell

Lovelly Communications

P: 0413 955 970

E: emma_lovelly@hotmail.com

W: http://www.facebook.com/lovellycommunications

or

Peter McKenna –  0412 065 826

For video footage contact;

Mark Stephens – 03 5759 3205

 

About Omeo Hospital and Motor Neurone Disease

• Motor Neurone Disease (MND), known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in many parts of the world is a progressive neurological disease.
• MND affects approximately 1400 people in Australia and thousands more - their carers, families and friends - live daily with its impact.
• For more information about Motor Neurone Disease visit: http://www.mndaust.asn.au/
• Omeo District Health is located in the Victorian High country, 430km North East of Melbourne on the Great Alpine Road.
• Omeo District Health provides a large range of community and Home Based Services such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Counselling, Youth Work, Health Promotion, Dietetics and Speech Pathology, Adult Planned Activity Group (PAG), District Nursing, Maternal & Child Health, Diabetic Counselling and Community Dental Services.
•  http://www.gha.net.au/odh/

About our Celebrity AFL stars:

ROBERT FLOWER;

Birth 5 August 1955 (age 56), Melbourne

Debut: 9 June 1973, Melbourne v.

Geelong, at Melbourne Cricket Ground

Team: Melbourne (1973–87) , 272 games 315 goals
Career Highlights: Melbourne best and fairest 1977, Club Captain 1981–87, Victorian Captain, Victorian Team of the Century

WAYNE WALSH;

Birth 7 May 1946 (aged 66),

Debut Richmond(1968,1972-1975,1977-1978), 91 Games, 30 Goals,

South Melbourne(1969-1971), 63 Games, 5 Goals

Career Highlights; Richmond Best and Fairest 1973,74, Richmond Premiership Coach 1980-1982 and many more

STEPHEN POWELL;

Birth 7 September 1976 (aged 36),

Debut Western Bulldogs 1997,
Melbourne 1999,

St Kilda 2002

Career Highlights; 3rd Trevor Barker Awards 2003

GUY RIGONI;

Birth 27 July 1974 (aged 38),

Debut Melbourne 2005

Career Highlights; 100th Game in 2005

Cilantro is fine dining

Cilantro is most commonly known as a herb, the spanish name for corriander. However, Cilantro is for me now the definition of fine dining after an incredible dinner at the fabulous Cilantro restaurant in Dinner Plain, Victoria. A stunning menu and exceptional service has put this restaurant amongst one of my best holiday dining experiences. Mediterranean in flavour and Australian in hospitality- Que bueno es Cilantro!

I had heard that Cilantro was a must when visiting in Dinner Plain and as we wanted the true weekend break and snow experience, a night out enjoying a good meal was on the cards. What we got – was above and beyond expectations.

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Walk through the red curtains into a warm light of overhead chandaliers and a fireplace radiating through the room. The charming host and manager, Josh, greets his guests in a way that makes you feel as if you’ve been friends for years. Escorted to our table and quickly presented with one of the most important things, the wine list. I flipped straight to the cocktails and chose from the many delicious concoctions.The Ranga: Cointreau, Stones Ginger Wine, Pernod, spiced sugar syrup, dry ginger, lime, tarragon – was divine! We were given a constant flow of the best tasting tap water in Australia (fresh from the mountain springs) and it was time to view the menu.

My suggestion when browsing the menu is to listen to your experienced waiter. We were overwhelmed by the delicious delicacies listed before us and we were yet to hear the specials. Of the 4 specials that were then suggested to us we took 3 and followed with 2 more selections.The menu is made to share and it is encouraged that you enjoy the dining experience together. This is my favourite way to eat and it certainly brought the 3 at my table together.

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First to come out were the Oysters with lemon sorbet,  a match made in heaven. A rainbow of flavour was created in my mouth and I was transported to a summer evening with the freshness of the oysters and lemons. I loved the creativty of this dish. And this was only number 1.

Tasmanian Pacific oysters with dolin vermouth jelly & preserved lemon sorbet

We were quickly presented with the special, Charcoaled Prawns. Forgive me for not remembering the full description – I was sold at Jumbo Prawns. There was nothing left on the plate as the entire prawn could be devoured.

Hot chorizo, made in the restaurant, presented on potato foam. Another special and it did not disappoint. So much flavour packed into this dish.

Chargrilled baby octopus salad came out next and was a flavour fusion – this was another one that was sold to us at first mention and on there being only a few left for the evening.

Octopus

The ultimate and pivotal point of the meal, the arrival of the 14 hour slow cooked beef cheeks. We could smell this dish from the kitchen and eagerly anticipated its presence at the table. We admired, we enjoyed, we were wowed! This was the dish of the night and a must when visiting Cilantro.

Beef cheek slow cooked for 14 hours in bay leaf, pedro ximenez, cumin & currants with manchego potato mash & fresh horseradish

This was the end of our first order and it was certainly not enough. We had major food envy of the diners next to us enjoying many more specialties and quickly asked for help in choosing our next dishes. We followed with the Half baby chicken, stuffed with pine mushrooms, served with corn puree, spanish radish & pancetta crisps – oh my goodness! This was perfect to share and just an incredible melt in your mouth moment.

Half baby chicken, stuffed with pine mushrooms, served with corn puree, spanish radish & pancetta crisps

After seeing the couple next to us oder the Croquettas of smoked eel & leek with lemon and harrisa sauce, we had to have them. I love croquettas after having them made by a peruvian mother of a friend – I didn’t think they got much better. Fine dining croquettas are just delicious – and I’d usually not be a fan of eel, but now I’ll be paying attention.

Croquettas of smoked eel & leek with lemon and harrisa sauce

A few more cocktails for me including the surprise cocktail of mango and passionfruit caprioska, a fresh end to the meal.

Mango & Passionfruit: Capiaroska Finlandia Vodka, Mohala Mango liquor, passionfruit, lime, sugar

We couldn’t however resist the gourmet desserts on offer, again seeing them on the table next to us and smelling the rich chocolate waft over sealed the deal. Chocolate ganache pudding with prune & armagnac ice cream & brandy snap. We shared this between three of us and if anything could come between friends, this would! We had to refrain from licking the plate and were absolutely satisfied with this conclusion to the meal.

Chocolate ganache pudding with prune & armagnac ice cream & brandy snap

Cilantro is an intimate, warm and lively restaurant situated in the charming village of Dinner Plain in Victorias Snow fields. 15 minutes down the hill from Mt Hotham is the picturesque and friendly village with a comforting atmosphere.

My compliments sincerely go to the chef, Tim Griffiths, who is  a true master. The food combinations he has created using quality Australian priduce to make a delicious mediterranean flavour and experience is art. My only complaint Tim, I could only enjoy so many things on that menu in one night. This means of course – I will be back.

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You can rest assured you will be well taken care of by the delightful Josh who will ensure that you not only eat the most delicious dishes in the country, but that you truly enjoy yourself. Attention to detail, genuine care for guests and some phenomenal cocktails from the master cocktail maker. This team is unbeatable.

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I’m thrilled to say I will be back to Mt Hotham for a ski trip in 2 short weekends time and we have already made our reservation for Saturday night when the incredible Jimmy Campbell from Movida Restaurant in Melbourne joins this stellar cast.

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I won’t be giving a rating in stars or a number out of ten, I don’t think these measures will do this place justice. Instead I leave you with two quotes from my fellow diners:

“I am actually wowed – and I’m fussy when it comes to fine dining.”

“This was actually the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. I’m so excited to come back to the snow in two weeks and I’m not sure if i’m more excited for the snow or the food!!”

Hasta luego Cilantro.

(Until next time.)

To learn more about Cilantro or make a booking, Contact:

CONTACT INFORMATION: 
Jodi & Tim
Big Muster Drive, Dinner Plain VIC 3898
PO Box 24, Dinner Plain VIC 3898
T: (03) 5159 6799
E: info@cilantro.com.au
W: http://www.cilantro.com.au 

 

Click HERE to view a map

The Canning Cup 2012

Thrilled to share with you a great event for a wonderful cause up at Mt Hotham this year. The Canning Cup is an annual Football game held at Omeo to raise money for the research of Motor Neurone disease and the Omeo Hospital.

Check out details on Facebook or below.

For all those who love the snow, this is a weekend not to be missed.

Friday, 27 July 2012

15:30

• The Canning Cup will have its much anticipated return on Friday the 27th of July! This year will be bigger and better than last years event with an evening of comedy on & off the field, fundraising, past footy greats, live music, (not so) light refreshments and a bunch of ”has beens” chasing a ball around a freezing omeo football ground. This event is for a cause that means so much to the people of Omeo, Hotham and Dinner Plain. We are raising as much as we can collectively give for the research of Motor Neurone disease and the Omeo Hospital. Although the girls did a great job running lots of drinks and supporting the team last year, WE WANT YOU! If you are interested in playing in the 1st netball match between the Omeo Netball Team and the Mountin’ Women, contact Lauren Anstey {Netball player manager}. Boys, I know it was hard going down by a few points last year, but with a game and a few extra kgs under the belt, we’ll win back the cup! I have a feeling that we could probably have 2nds this year but because we should all be in the 2nds, not everyone will get a start. An extensive bench is a must for a match of this significance. If you’re interested in playing contact Josh Thomas {DPs Ricky Nixon- Football player manager} A player registration fee of $50 {which is entirely donated to the cause} will get you a seat on the bus, your jumper or bib for the evening, a spot on the team, a dvd of last years match and the cherished medal for your trophy cabinet. DVDs are will also be available for purchase at the match. Anyone that feels like getting involved with sponsorship, donations or promotion of this event will be greatly appreciated. Remember this is an evening of fun, games, comedy, community spirit and it doesn’t matter who wins… As long as we win! https://www.facebook.com/events/167076516751732/