Latest Articles

Monsieur Truffe is a chocolate shop slash cafe on the Collingwood side of Smith St near the lovely Wabi Sabi Salon. They do a simple French breakfast of coffee or hot chocolate and plain or chocolate croissants, which are divine. The coffee is was average when I was there but once they get a new barista and the business gets settled (they have been open about 3 months) I am sure it will improve....Read Full Article»

This is a review of the wonderful new Turkish restaurant Gigibaba on Smith St in Collingwood, with a few tangential diversions. Chef Ismail Tosun previously ran the Eminem restaurant in the inner Perth suburb of Leederville; if any comparison is possible between the cultural desert of Perth and the oasis of Melbourne, then Leederville is the closest thing to Fitzroy in Perth....Read Full Article»

I worked in Carlton for 3 years and used to know it well, but that was nearly 3 years ago. Despite its wealth and style, I get the impression that Carlton has lost some of its cool. Compared to Fitzroy and Brunswick, where bloggers document the street art and review every new cafe within days of them opening, Carlton is significantly underblogged although there is much to write about and review....Read Full Article»

The Johnston St Spanish Fiesta celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008. The fiesta on the weekend of 15-16 November was incredibly busy, with thousands of people filling Johnston St on both days. During the day it was so packed you could barely move. On Saturday night the music pulsed loudly and could be heard from blocks away, though I had no problem with it....Read Full Article»

Current chef at The Commoner Zoe Roy is featured in a new video (above) produced by the excellent food industry site ieatidrinkiwork. Her confidence is in contrast to the more apprehensive or shy manner of previous chef Matt Donnelly, who features in a previous episode of the series (below).

Beyond their individual styles on camera, the significant difference is that Roy speaks from a position of surety - since the video with Donnelly was shot The Commoner has become a hit with diners and is the most reviewed restuarant in Fitzroy. I"ve enjoyed breakfast and dinner there and owner Jo Corrigan was featured earlier this year at Breakfast Out.

Saturday, 15 November
1 pm
Federation Square
More information...Read Full Article»

I used to love World Wide Wash on Brunswick St. Over time it changed, removing the washing machines in 2006 so that it was no longer a laundromat internet cafe. Then it lost the computers so it was no longer an internet cafe, though now with wifi most cafes can be internet cafes. Then came a change of name to The Wick in 2008. The interior has been repainted and is now darker and more sombre. The only point of continuity is the location and that it makes crepes.

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The somewhat shabby but mostly enjoyable Smith St is changing rapidly. Earlier this year the sign in the image below was erected to demarcate the block south of Gertrude St as a fashion and art precinct. More recently, many premises on the block north of Gertrude St have closed, changed tenants or undergone significant alterations.

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The owners and residents of flats behind the Mirrors lounge bar at 388 Brunswick St Fitzroy are very concerned about construction work currently being carried out at the rear of the premises (photo taken on Wednesday 29 October 2008). It appears that the venue is building a beer garden at the rear of the block. According to my enquiries and those of other neighbours, Mirrors does not have a building permit or authorisation for these works....Read Full Article»

The Portugese custard tarts available at Casa Iberica on Johnston St are considered the best in Melbourne (at least according to The Culinary Club and Totally Addicted to Taste). As I have not yet tasted every tart in Melbourne, I cannot comment except to say they are wonderful. On a recent Saturday while walking past on the way to the city my girlfriend suddenly said that we must go in and get some, even though we had only had breakfast about and hour ago. I dared not disagree....Read Full Article»