I spend so much time gallivanting from place to place outside of Australia and my home patch, that I rarely get the opportunity to explore, really explore my own neighbourhood. So with that objective in mind and with a curious and inquiring mind and aiming to look at my world through a different lens, I present to you a first glimpse of...da hood!
A short stroll from my front door brings you first to Little Captain, a charming and quaintly unpretentious establishment that has great coffee and an el fresco dining area that is both rustic and ample in what it has to offer...a delightful outdoor setting and oversight of the park and playground next door for those with sprats in tow. The perfect combination...the children play in the park...the adults enjoy a moment's respite.
A mere hundred or so meters away from Little Captain and under the our very own image of the Lady of St Kilda, is the justifiably and hugely popular Las Chicas. Always busy with locals and tourists alike but consistently good, Las Chicas is packed to the gills on most days and all day...so much so that I will only go there mid-morning and early in the week when the crowds are tame and a tad more neighbourly! However, for those unjaded by the weekend throngs, it is certainly worth a look in.
Cafés and neighbourhood sailing ships aside, one really can not and most certainly should not go past the sticky treats that my good friend SVP is able to produce, seemingly at the drop of a hat, when one calls. It never ceases to amaze me that people I know, have these sort of culinary treasures and pleasures on hand just on the off chance that someone may call. Not so surprising however, but definitely pleasing, is that people I know are able to produce a sticky tipple to accompany said sticky feasts and SVP is no exception. A quick rummage in the cupboard and SVP has produced a more than acceptable Paul Jaboulet, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2009... full, velvety and intense. Marvellous!!
