Best of Melbourne: things to do and see

I had a great week in Melbourne, a good city to visit, albeit the weather is always a gamble. But we were lucky, not too hot or wet, and even managed to see the Australia Day celebrations. 

I have already posted about the Victoria National Gallery here, definitely worth a visit, while we were there there was the wonderful Warhol-Weiwei exhibition. 

And here were some more of Best of Melbourne things to do and see: 

Australian Open

Tennis! Great to spend one day at the Australian Open and see some tennis stars in the flesh!

Punt tour in the ornamental lake of the Royal Botanic Gardens 

With Punt Tours Melbourne: this was really lovely, takes you away from the tourist hordes and takes you back in time to a romantic Melbourne, like the one from Miss Fisher's Murders

And after punting on the lake time for scones and cream!

Walking around 

We did a bit of shopping, but not much really, the best thing for me was to walk around the city and see the old and new buildings. I like the old traditional houses more, very charming. 

For a full city view you'll need to go on top of the Eureka Tower (Melbourne's tallest building) since the city is too flat to get a panorama shot anywhere else.

Melbourne Zoo

This is a must if you have kids, but even if you don't. My favourite animal in the in whole world is the Platypus, so I was happy to finally see one in the flesh (in fact I went back to see it three times!). The photo is from the sign outside the tank though, it was swimming around happily and I didn't want to disturb it with a flash.

A trip outside Melbourne to see the animals in the wild

If you have time and car pop out of the city and you will find Australian kangaroos jumping around. 

The kangaroos were cool, but the highlight of the trip was to spot a baby echidna! So cute!

The Italian bit…

I will talk more about this in the next post (veggie guide to Melbourne), since the most important thing here, after the Italian Museum and various Italian associations that you may visit if you are Italian, is the food.  So at this stage I will leave you with some images that will probably lure you to visit the big Italian cafe Brunetti in Lygon St.

Photos  by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Fresh pasta with ricotta

Too hot to cook but I still feel like pasta, so the solution is fresh pasta, which doesn't take long to cook, just a couple of minutes boiling instead of 10-11 minutes. You can make your own fresh pasta (there is a recipe here) or if you are in Auckland you can go to Pasta & Cuore and bring home some really yummy super fresh pasta, made daily! And for sauce? Too hot to make a sauce too, but fresh pasta doesn't need much if it is good: top with some ricotta, cubed or crumbled, salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil and fresh basil leaves. If the ingredients are good you don't need many, nor big amounts.  Simple is best!

Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Andy Warhol - Ai Weiwei exhibition at the NGV

Ai Weiwei, Dropping the Han Dynasty Urn, 1995. The original work was in photos, this is the lego version

This is one of the best exhibition I have seen recently, I love Andy Warhol's work, and WeiWei too, so much of his work is about pots and everyday object, but also flowers, places, people, politics… and a full spectrum of media. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Melbourne, the exhibition is on until 24 April 2016.

Ai Weiwei, an installation from the Forever Bicycles series, composed from almost 1500 bicycles

Ai Weiwei, Grapes, 2011

Ai Weiwei, Blossom 2015,  a large bed of thousands of delicate, intricately designed white porcelain flowers

Ai Weiwei, Caonima Balloon Bird Balloon, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

Andy Warhol, Silver Liz (Ferus Type), 1963

Andy Warhol, Absolut Vodka, 1985

Andy Warhol, Flowers, 1970

Andy Warhol,  Mao, 1972

Andy Warhol, Dollar Sign, 1981

Andy Warhol, Self-portrait, 1986

Photos  by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Vegan chocolate and coconut cream puddings with edible flowers

1 can coconut cream

1 l oragnic soy milk (I use Vitasoy, either Original, Milky or Calci Plus)

4 tbsp raw sugar

2 heap tbsp cocoa (the better the cocoa the better the flavour, so don't go for cheap baking cocoa, but for 'hot chocolate' quality)

2 tbsp cornflour

Natural Vanilla essence 

1 tbsp icing sugar

Edible flowers to decorate

Place the can of coconut cream in the fridge (possibly one day ahead). Dissolve the dried ingredients with a little soy milk to make a paste, then add the rest of the milk and mix well. Put on the stove on low and, always stirring, bring to simmering point. Make sure that you stir well, especially around the borders and bottom of the pot, so that the pudding has a smooth consistency. As soon as it start thickening turn the element off, add the vanilla essence (if using) and keep stirring until it has cooled down a bit. Divide into 8 dessert ramekins or small bowls and refrigerate. When the pudding is set open the can of coconut cream and scoop out the cream top, leaving the water at the bottom of the can (this can be added to other dishes, like curry or rice. Whip the coconut cream with a drop of vanilla essence and the icing sugar. Top the chocolate puddings with the whipped coconut cream.

And now for the flower decorations: choose only organic flowers, here we have borage, rose petals, violets, diantus petals (small carnations), calendula petals (pot marigold). Wash the flowers and petals with water, I let mine soak for white a while and shake them gently to make sure that there are no insects (this is a Vegan dish after all!). A few flowers or petals will suffice, as they are only decorations, although to be eaten. Refrigerate again so that the coconut cream set, and then serve.

Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©

A vegetarian meal from the garden and beautiful Waitakere (and tui)

I made a dinner for 4 for the garden: fried zucchini flowers (recipe here), 

borage bread cutlets (recipe here), fried sage (just fried the sage leaves 

with the leftover oil from the zucchini and borage fritters), fresh salad leaves, 

boiled new potatoes and carrots with herbs sauce 

(just mixed feta with basil and parsley). It was delicious, 

and such a satisfaction to grown my own dinner!                                                                                                               And now, And And now some photos from the Waitakere Ranges, where I live, 

and of a New Zealand native bird, the tui, eating nectar from flax flowers.

Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Gusto at the Grand in Auckland

For a night out in Auckland city and a good Italian Restaurant I would definitely recommend Gusto at the Grand in Federal Street. The head chef is the famous and talented Sean Connolly, the food is delicious, the portions generous and the service, lead by Edward Hurrell, is efficient, professional and friendly. Sometimes restaurants in hotels get mixed reviews, as some diners (and critics) are very interested in the look, furniture and atmosphere of the place. Me, I don't give a toss if the food is a real experience, like in this case. 

In fact i like to add that since I like to travel and these days I don't travel as much as I would like to, going to hotels to eat feel a bit like being away and makes a night out even more special! Also, I have to say that sadly the service in many New Zealand restaurants and cafes is so poor that is embarrassing, and when I go to the city centre and I need a coffee I try to go to some hotels just because I know that the staff there is really nice, coming from hospitality business schools, professionals!

But back to Gusto, and to why we liked it. To start I can say that I would have been happy even just with the antipasto: a caprese salad, Parmigiano Reggiano with olives and breadsticks, and focaccia bread, simply because it was all really 'Italian', even if only the Parmigiano and olives came from Italy and the rest was produced or made locally. The 'spirit' of the place is Italian, i.e. the ingredients are top quality, and they are combined, prepared and cooked in a way that feels respectful to that quality. 

The first courses were our mains (since we don't eat meat) and I really liked my choice: the Sardinian ravioli with potato, mint, pecorino, and sage butter, while Peter's choice (and favourite) was the Orgy of mushrooms and buffalo ricotta gnocchi. I also had the gnocchi when I dined and Gusto last month to meet Antonio Carluccio, and they tasted even better than the first time, so light and delicate, quite different from anything I have ever eaten before. BTW, Carluccio is a friend of Sean and very complimentary about the British chef, saying that he really understood what Italian food is all about!

Mmmh, I am still thinking about the Sardinian ravioli… but on to dessert! I was really full, but I heard so much about Sean's nutella bombolini that I had to try them! They come seven (7!) in a bowl, and the lovely Italian waitress (from Veneto) told me that she would put in a bag what I couldn't eat. I had one, nice and warm, and the remaining 6 I took home for the kids for breakfast, and they were very very grateful (they send their compliments Sean!). Peter had the panna cotta with rhubarb and strawberries, unusual the presentation in a deep plate, but probably twice the amount of panna cotta that you get in any other restaurant I have been! And it was delicious too.

So compliments to the chefs and staff, we will be back!

Gusto at the Grand

90 Federal St, Auckland, 1010

09-363 7030

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©