Food

Melbourne Travel Tips from Rhiannon Taylor, Founder of Lifestyle Website In Bed With

Conversations with Locals

Having slept in an endless list of hotels all over the world, Rhiannon Taylor is the founder of the lifestyle website In Bed With, where she curates beautiful hotel stays from her travels. Her taste for charming hotels with a stylish twist has garnered her a strong following. The Melbourne-bred photographer reveals where to score a lovely pressed juice, her perfect itinerary to explore the city, and her one beauty advice to travellers heading to Australia’s all natural landscapes.

Photo: In Bed With

 

Where can we go to see your favourite view in Australia?

If you can get there, the top of King George Falls in The Kimberly, WA is my favourite view in the entire world. It’s a ridiculously tough climb and the height at the top makes your head spin, but it’s untouched wilderness at its best.

Photo: In Bed With

 

Name one hotel you fell in love with in Australia?

There’s a divine bed and breakfast called Drift House in Western Victoria, a region close to my heart. Individually designed rooms with open fires and bath tubs in a historic house is heaven. Don’t be fooled by the B&B category, it just won a Best Luxury Hotel award from Qantas.

Drift House in Victoria. Photo: In Bed With

 

Drift House in Victoria. Photo: In Bed With

 

What are some local dishes you feel travellers can’t leave Melbourne without trying?

Melbourne is so multicultural with its food that it’s easy to say a local dish could be a burger, taco or pizza. But I really rate the Vietnamese cuisine in Melbourne. It has some of the best pho and banh mi going round.

Where are your favourite restaurants or cafés in Melbourne?

I love Chin Chin for its modern take on Thai food: fresh and unique while still drawing on authentic flavours. I’m a regular at Jimmy Grants too. Their lamb souvlakis with mustard aioli and fall-apart meat are mouth watering!

What is a typical breakfast for you?

If I’m home, I make oats. Otherwise if I’m in a hotel I’m keen to see whether they make a good croissant. Most don’t, and it’s a big sign as to whether their cuisine is going to be any good. It’s a lot of pressure though, making a croissant like they do in France is hard!

Photo: In Bed With

 

Name your favourite spot for breakfast in Melbourne

East Elevation in Brunswick has incredible cafe/brunch food and also houses Monsieur Truffe chocolate – a great artisanal line of chocolate. Try the croque monsieur for a cheese indulgence and take home a bar of caramel specks milk chocolate!

Where are your favourite spots for juice in Melbourne?

Pressed Juices has spots all over town. They’re bottled and ready to go so if I want a refresher or something more filling I don’t have to wait.

As a local, where would you recommend travellers go to get the true Melbourne experience?

I have a soft spot for Fitzroy and Collingwood, I lived in that area for many years in my 20’s. There’s an eclectic mix of handmade goods, artisanal produce and cool eateries. I’d stop by at Mud Australia for some stunning handmade homewares and Zetta Florence for beautiful writing books and photo albums.

Then grab lunch at Huxtaburger for a real American style feed. Tire yourself out at the outlet stores on Brunswick street in the afternoon, followed by a refresher at Little Creatures brewery. My gals and I usually head to Naked for Satan for $1 pinxtos and you can watch the sun go down on the rooftop.

If you’re after something more romantic, dinner at Madame Sousou is quaintly French and intimate. It sums up Melbourne’s diverse culture.

Photo: In Bed With

 

What is the one beauty advice you would give to travellers heading to Australia?

I’m probably the worst person to talk to on this topic because I never heed my own advice. I recently went to the Maldives without sunscreen or sunglasses. Stupid right? But in all seriousness, if you’re visiting Australia bring sunscreen! My pick is Aethic Sovee – it’s the only sunscreen that is triple filtered and is eco compatible. You can snorkel without leaving a trail of product on the coral reef. It also smells amazing and goes on smooth.

Photo: In Bed With

 

WHERE TO EAT IN MELBOURNE


Chin Chin Restaurant
Where: 125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
For: Thai food

Jimmy Grants
Where: 113 St David Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 (and more)
For: Lamb Souvlakis

East Elevation
Where: 351 Lygon Street, Brunswick east 3057, Victoria
For: Breakfast

Pressed Juices
Where: Shop 2 / 15 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria. 3000
For: Something healthy

Huxtaburger
Where: 106 Smith Street, Collingwood, VIC 3066
For: An American meal

Little Creatures
Where: 222 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, VIC
For: A beer

Naked for Satan
Where: 285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065
For: Drinks
Madame Sousou
Where: 231 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, 3065 Victoria
For: A romantic meal

 

WHERE TO GO IN MELBOURNE


Mud Australia
Where: 181 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia, 3065
For: Porcelain

Zetta Florence
Where: 197 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, VIC 3065
For: Beautifully designed stationery

 

WHERE TO GO IN AUSTRALIA


King George Falls
Region: Western Australia
Where: King George River, Western Australia
For: Nature lovers

 

WHERE TO STAY IN AUSTRALIA


Drift House
Region: Victoria
Where: 98 Gipps St Port Fairy, Victoria Australia
For: A stylish and cosy stay

Paris Travel Tips from Alex, Youtube Chef of French Guy Cooking

Conversations with Locals

Alexis Gabriel is the man behind the Youtube channel French Guy Cooking, where he showcases his food hacks and cheat sheets to classic French recipes. The witty Parisian reveals where to find the ultimate croissant, his favourite view of the city (it’s not from the Eiffel Tower), and what “l’art de vivre” is to him. 

Photo: French Guy Cooking

What do you feel defines Parisian cuisine?

The Parisian cuisine has got to be associated with the restaurants. From a humble but decent café where you can have a sandwich at the counter, to a busy brasserie where you’ll get an entrecôte with french fries, then to a bistrot where you’ll be dining out of hearty modernised dishes, to finally a Michelin starred restaurant which will always remain a proud icon in our city.

What do you feel are the most common misconceptions about French food? 

People see French food as a posh, high-end and overcomplicated affair. And I believe it is not their fault but ours. Expensive ingredients, chef’s whites, the white table setting and expensive silverware can be appealing, but in my opinion it can be repulsive.

How is Parisian cuisine different from other parts of France?

Paris takes influences from all around the country, so you can taste many different and authentic French specialities in the city. But Paris also takes influences from all over the world. Being an international capital, this city sucks in all the latest food trends that can be found, be it from Asia, Africa or America.

Photo: French Guy Cooking

Which parts of Paris is the best for food?

I believe the East of Paris, especially the 11th arrondissement, produces the best food. This is not based on any kind of fact, but on something arbitrary – I was born there! (laughs)

What are some local food you feel travellers can’t leave Paris without trying?

Don’t leave without trying a baguette; go for a traditional baguette. Also, the jambon-beurre sandwich, which is the most classic Parisian sandwich you’ll find. If you feel adventurous, go for the raw steak tartare.

Pastrami and kalamata olives tapenade in traditional baguette. Photo: French Guy Cooking

Jambon-beurre sandwich. Photo: French Guy Cooking

French steak tartare. Photo: French Guy Cooking

What is a typical Parisian breakfast for you?

Croissant and coffee at the counter in a busy café.

Where are your favourite cafés in Paris for a good croissant?

When it comes to the almighty croissant, the best place would not be at a café, but at the most amazing boulangerie – Blé Sucré, located on 7 Rue Antoine Vollon.

Photo: French Guy Cooking

Where are your favourite restaurants or cafés in Paris?

I’ll give you three of my favorite foodie streets in Paris. They are the Rue des Martyrs, located in the 9th arrondissement. It is a beautiful foodie street with plenty of places to eat but mostly takeaway.

Rue Paul Bert, located in the 11th arrondissement where you can find a few of the finest Parisian bistrots. For an authentic French meal, I would visit Bistrot Paul Bert on Paul Bert street.

Rue du Cherche-Midi, in the 6th arrondissement, where you can find many foodie spots and great Italian food as well. Let’s stay open minded shall we?

What do you feel most travellers miss out on when they are visiting Paris?

Tourists – and I can’t blame them for that – prioritise the famous attractions such as the Notre Dame, the Eiffel tower and the Champs Elysées. These are all great and superb places, but from a foodie point of view they are definitely not. My advice is to take some time, walk off the beaten paths and you’ll find gems in the side alleys.

Wander and get lost in the alleys of the 10th and 11th arrondissements, instead of walking straight into the beautiful yet massive and overcrowded avenues of the 8th arrondissement.

Where can we go to see your favourite view in Paris? 

It can be a bit dark at night so I would prefer a day visit to le Parc de Belleville, where there’s one of the most beautiful views of Paris, and a café where you can enjoy l’art de vivre.

What do you mean by l’art de vivre? 

“L’art de vivre” is a French expression which literally translates into “the art of living”. It means to take the time to embrace life with your eyes, your ears and your mouth. Savour each and every moment, instead of wasting them.

What is on your travel bucket list?

They would be: getting cooking knives in Seki, Japan; visiting and eating in the 23 provinces of China; learning Persian in Teheran; jumping high with the Maasai in Kenya; cooking on an Asado in Argentina; walking sleepless on a bright night in Iceland.

WHERE TO EAT IN PARIS


Blé Sucré
Where: 7 Rue Antoine Vollon, 75012 Paris, France
For: Croissants

Bistrot Paul Bert
Where: 18 Rue Paul Bert, 75011 Paris, France
For: Authentic French food

WHERE TO GO IN PARIS


Le Parc de Belleville
Where: 20th Arrondissement, 75020 Paris, France
For: A panoramic view of Paris

The Eating Guide to Ålesund & Sogndal, Norway

Norway

In the wilderness of the Norwegian countryside, it’s important to get warmed up in the cold climate. One of my best memories in Norway is curling up with a warm bowl of fish soup after getting a little bit too freeze up from the cold. The fish soup is the quintessential Norwegian dish that everyone must try.

It was also in this country that I got the chance to try such a large variety of fish. Every time I scan the menu in a café or a restaurant, there would always be a fish name that sounds foreign to me. The pristine waters along the Norwegian coastline makes it a great environment for marine life. Fish are in an abundance there, particularly salmon and cod. Dive into the wonderful world of Norwegian cuisine filled with freshly caught seafood and buttery flavours.

Look forward to: Fish soup 

Lyst

Region: Ålesund
Where: Kongensgate 12, Ålesund
What: Fish
For: A classy dining experience

Lyst is an unexpected find, as most establishments are closed on Mondays in the sleepy town of Ålesund. Complete with classy table settings and a small vase of fresh flowers on every table, the price range is slightly above average but the ambience is worth every penny. Upon viewing the menu, I was thrilled to see a number of local Norwegian dishes. The food, as pictured above, is a grilled chicken with a fresh lemony aftertaste, and a bacalao stew with bread. Bacalao is a type of salted cod fish, and in this case, it’s cooked in a tomato base stew which is a classic local dish in Northern Norway.

Lyspunktet Café

Region: Ålesund
Where: Kipervikgata 1A, 6003 Ålesund, Norway
What: Homemade cakes and fish soup
For: A quiet café

Lyspunktet Café is a cosy café that boasts a mouthwatering selection of homemade cakes, sandwiches and soups. The café prides itself on cooking from scratch. There is a comprehensive coffee menu, with coffee beans sourced from Precious Bean Roasters. This is the place to go if you want to hide your nose in a book as you wile your time away in the quiet ambience, sipping a cup of coffee.

Caffe Prego

Region: Sogndal
Where: AMFI Sogningen Storsenter, Hovevegen 4 – 6, 6856, Norway
What: Grilled chicken with pasta
For: Norwegian styled pastas

After many days of eating fish, I needed a break from the routine. Caffe Prego was a great find for pastas, and located within a shopping centre. Most of the pastas are cooked with either a delicious cream or tomato sauce. The winner for me is the grilled chicken accompanied with a side of creamy pasta. If you’re going for dinner, you might want to head there early as the café closes early.