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Bossy Boots, Brighton

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27 September 2015

MELBOURNE | Bossy Boots Brighton is a cafe that presents a simple proposition to those who visit. Trends are not the concern of owners Ben Forehan and Rachael Browne couldn’t care less what Broadsheet, the Urban List or Good Food are telling people what they “need” to be eating in a given year. The focus at Bossy Boots rather is simple home style Italian cafe food. The type of food that will stand the test of time. Eggs, toast, cereal, pasta, salads, sandwiches, cakes and coffee are the kinds of things that you’ll find at Bossy Boots – food that you’ve been able to find on cafe menus for years and will continue to find on cafe menus in years to come. We were invited to come in and sample some of the offerings on the menu and were keen to head down to a part of Melbourne we don’t usually focus to see what the food was like.

Walking into Bossy Boots, in its “away from the action of Church Street” location on Bay Street in Brighton, you immediately see this home style “local’s cafe” philosophy in action. The interior is simple and homely (wallpaper, paintings and all), and the inside and outside are packed full of families and individuals who clearly come here often.

Coffee ($3.80)

Coffee uses beans from Coffee Supreme and is perfectly acceptable. There isn’t a range of interesting blends and beans on offer but the house blend is smooth, tasty and fitting for the locale. We were pleased with our flat white and skinny cappuccino.

Juices + Smoothies ($8.50)

A range of freshly squeezed juices and smoothies are offered at Bossy Boots. We ordered the “Zinger Juice” (Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Carrot & Ginger) and “The Hulk” (Celery, Apple, Pear, Spinach, Cucumber and a squeeze of lime) . The Zinger Juice was the highlight out of the 2 and had really balanced flavours. The Hulk was nice but needed a bit more zing to it – perhaps a bit more lime.

Cannelloni of the Day Served With Tossed Garden Salad ($19.50)

A rotating cannelloni of the day is on the menu and when we were told that the day’s offering was spinach and ricotta we couldn’t resist. This really hit the spot. Nothing fancy, just a really decent sized serving of cannelloni. It was densely packed with filling, the pasta was perfectly cooked at the simple tomato sauce and cheese atop it was well proportioned. The salad was simple and tasty too. No-nonsense, home-style cannelloni.

Toasted Sourdough with Fresh Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers & Meredith Goats Cheese ($15.00)

This simple option from the breakfast menu is the kind of thing that we like to eat for breakfast when at home and it didn’t disappoint. Just like the cannelloni, it was an example of something really simple done well. Fresh, quality ingredients are what something like this is all about and it delivered.

Lemon Tart ($9.50)

We were quite full as the servings at Bossy Boots are quite generous but couldn’t leave without trying the famous French-style lemon tart. The tart is baked and the pastry is very thin, as the focus is on the filling. The filing is everything you could want in a lemon tart – wobbly, not overly sweet with just the right level of citrus tang. As with everything else that we tried, it was an example of something simple being done right.

Don’t get me wrong, we love the new stuff that can be found on menus in the trendy cafes around Melbourne but we’re equally fans of good old fashioned home cooking and classic cafe menu options done well. Bossy Boots delivers on the latter with tasty food, top quality ingredients and friendly, attentive service – an unpretentious spot that’s great for locals and those passing through Brighton.

Bossy Boots

106 Bay Street
Brighton
Victoria 3186
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9596 6825
E-mail: n/a
Website: http://www.bossyboots.com.au/

Open
Mon – Fri: 7:00am to 6:00pm
Sat: 7:30am to 4:00pm
Sun: 8:00am to 3:00pm

Prahran Market Cheese Festival Is Back

Paul

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26 September 2015

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MELBOURNE | Prahran Market is hosting its annual Cheese Festival on Saturday October 24, and shoppers expect to be treated to an exciting day of skilful cooking demonstrations, free tastings, cheese themed pop-up eateries, a cheese wheeling race, live music and more.

With many delicious cheese varieties available from the on-site providores, including Calendar Cheese, Red Cow Cheese and King Island Dairy, shoppers will have the opportunity to soak up the vibrant Market atmosphere while matching their favourite cheese with a glass of wine from the Chapel St Cellars Bar.

The Cheesy Pop-Up Market in Market Square will feature a selection of cheese delights, including Milk the Cow’s fondue, Meatmaiden’s legendary lobster Mac n Cheese and A25 Pizzeria’s signature Margherita pizza.

Cheesemonger Anthony Femia will be in the Blanco Kitchen alongside Alice in Frames for a special cheese edition of Edible Adventures, and visitors should make sure they visit the Market’s Deli Hall for special offers and promotions available throughout the day, including the chance to win a ‘cheese’ cake valued at $300 by Naheda’s Choice.

“The annual Prahran Market Cheese Festival is the perfect time to experiment with the taste, smell and texture of different cheeses and their many accompaniments. We have a number of traders all offering something a little different and unusual.” says General Manager Christopher Young.

Prahran Market Cheese Festival/h4>
When: Sat 24 October, 10:00am to 3:00pm

Entry: Free

Where: Prahran Market. 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra, VIC 3121

The Craft Beer Co Clerkenwell: Review

Paul

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25 September 2015

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LONDON | The Craft Beer Co Clerkenwell is a place that I discovered on my most recent visit to London and to say that I was expecting good things is an understatement. Located on Leather Lane, it’s not the kind of place that one just stumbles upon however those who walk through its doors are well and truly rewarded. With 37 beers on tap and over 300 bottles, the range on offer for lovers of craft beer is rather fantastic.

The tap beers are a mixture of cask ales and keg conditioned beers and while the tap list is predominantly UK focused, there are also a number of beers from all over the world. The space itself very much feels like a pub, which makes sense as The Craft Beer Co occupies the building that used to house the Clockhouse pub. It’s been cleaned up, but not to the extent that things feel over-done. We are big fans of places that tidy up what needs to be tidied while retaining those elements that make a venue what it is from an atmosphere point of view.

Back to the beers though, and what makes The Craft Beer Co stand out from the London craft beer crowd is that the owners deal directly with the brewers whose beers they wish to stock. There’s no middle-man here, and as a result you can often find beers on tap that you simply won’t find elsewhere. My tipples of choice on the day in question were the Triptych No.7 by Wiper And True and the Soundwave IPA by Siren Craft Brew, which really benefited from being on the hand pump versus its usual bottled state.

The Craft Beer Co is obviously all about the beer, but if you’re feeling peckish there are a few different flavoured pork cracklings available along with crisps and nuts. Let’s be honest though, you’re coming here to drink not to eat.

For those who are really into their craft beer and want to take their passion to the next level, The Craft Beer Co also hosts a range of ad-hoc beer launches, brewer events and tap take-overs. I used to work around the corner from Leather Lane, and often frequented the narrow passageway during lunch for its variety of options. The Craft Beer Co didn’t exist at the time, but if it did I can only imagine that my lunches would have been longer. A must visit venue for anyone with a keen interest in craft beer in the capital.

The Craft Beer Co

82 Leather Lane
London EC1N 7TR
United Kingdom

Telephone: 020 7404 7049
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://thecraftbeerco.com/

Open
Mon – Sat: 12:00pm to 11:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm to 10:30pm

S02E12 – Season 2, Episode 12

Chris

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24 September 2015

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PODCAST | In episode twelve, the final episode of this season, Paul goes to Melbourne’s south and tries a Russian beer; Chris and Jeff go through Melbourne’s north on a brewery tour; and regular guest Ben goes further north to Sydney and finds himself drinking a growler of one of Chris’ favourite beers. We also talk about the beers that helped us make it through winter and celebrate what surprised us on our way to spring.

And to top it all off we drink one beer from a wine glass and another beer from a fancy-looking, and very expensive bottle, because both seemed like a very good idea at the time.

Featured beers: 2015 Clout Stout by Nail Brewing and Imperial Smoked Porter by Blackman’s Brewery.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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They Say She’s Different: Review

Chris

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24 September 2015

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They Say She’s Different, performed at Gasworks in Albert Park for the Melbourne Fringe Festival, tells the largely unknown story of funk and blues legend Betty Davis during the 60s and 70s. The show plays Tuesday 22 September to Saturday 26 September 2015.

Presented as part concert, part documentary, They Say She’s Different works as a kind of live rock concert film being played out for the audience with songs interspersed with both pre-recorded film and on-stage performances depicting the artist’s life. The use of differing styles, interludes and camera angles throughout from director Kenneth Moraleda deftly reflect the different eras and moods of the lead character and work well to encompass the immersive documentary style. This is accompanied by a very strong band lead by musical director and bass player Tony Kopa, who keeps the band focussed heavily on the rhythm section with Thommy Mann on drums, with ample support from Phil Ceberano on guitar and Glen Reither on keys and saxophone.

As with a show of this type, the singing from both the lead, Cecilia Low as Betty Davis, and vocalist Eliza Wolfgramm, is clear and tenacious, tackling the difficult source material with the right power and gravity. Low, who is also the show’s creator, writer, and producer, shines as the funk musician giving both real depth and a very healthy dose of funk to her performance.

Stepping back from this, the show made clever use of the venue with the band warming up and jamming as we walked in, and a host of characters in full 60s dress milling around the stalls and at the front of the stage. While the set was minimalist, depicting a stage that would be common in a small club, the combination of this with the pre-recorded cinematic from cinematographer Cameron Zayec, provided an immersive atmosphere before and during the show.

Unfortunately there were occasions where the vocal mix wasn’t quite right in our performance, leaving it difficult to hear the lyrics clearly when the band was in full flight. While this wasn’t a detraction from the overall show, it did at times prove challenging.

They Say She’s Different takes on a difficult and largely unknown story and it delivers it in a bold and interesting way that is well-beyond the traditional biographical style. The band is tight, the direction innovative, and the Low’s performance as Betty Davis is a convincing and at times heart-wrenching portrayal of one of funk and rock’s shining lights.

Photo courtesy of They Say She’s Different.

They Say She’s Different

Tuesday 22 September to Saturday 26 September 2015

The Big House at Gasworks
21 Graham Street
Albert Park

Doors open 7:30pm, show begins at 7:45pm
60 minutes, no interval

Cheap Tuesday: $25.00
Full: $35.00
Concession: $28:00

Purchase tickets at: http://www.gasworks.org.au/event/they-say-shes-different/

Neighbourhood Wine, Fitzroy North

Jeff

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23 September 2015

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MELBOURNE | Located above the original Woodstock pizza restaurant, Neighbourhood Wine Fitzroy North is a Modern Australian restaurant that first opened back in early 2013. We’ve visited Neighbourhood Wine several times since it’s opened and in that time it’s become somewhat of a local favourite. When Jeff’s birthday rolled around this year and we were looking for a place to book a group dinner, the choice was easy.

Neighbourhood Wine replaced what was, according to urban myth, an illicit gambling hall. Whether myth or not Neighbourhood Wine definitely has the feel of a cozy and private place, secluded from the outside world. The prevalence of wood, the presence of a fireplace and also a snooker table all contribute to creating an environment where one would happily settle in for anything from a few evening drinks to an extended dinner.

The venue consists of a main dining area with well-spaced tables and simple fittings that creates a casual and comfortable vibe. Stuffy fine dining this is not. There are also two large side areas that can be reserved for large groups.

The drinks list, as one would expect, is predominantly focussed on wine, the selection of which was as impressive as we had expected, consisting of both Australian and international tipples across the major styles as well as a reasonable selection of local craft beers. To complement the wine list the staff were very knowledgeable and were extremely helpful in describing the wines on the list and making good suggestions regarding wines that would suit each of our tastes.

The food menu rotates seasonally and focuses on relatively simple, modern food. Ala carte options are available, and a 4 course chef’s choice menu plus a glass of wine is available on weekends for $45.00. For large groups, such as the one that we had on this occasion, a chef’s choice menu also applies for $65 a head (below we quote the prices as they appear on the menu if ordered individually).

Cured Meat Selection ($10.00/30g Portion)

To whet our appetites the staff first brought out a cured meat plate which consisted of felino, csabai and hot sopressa. This was a nice, light way to start the meal and the prevalence of local providers of great produce was clearly evident in the quality of the meats which had excellent flavour and were cut to just the right thickness to ensure that we were not filled up before the mains.

Salad of Apple, Fennel & Pomegranate With Mint & Hazelnut Dressing ($16.00)

Accompanying the cured meats was a salad of apple, fennel and pomegranate – this classic combination of flavours was refreshing and helped to clear the palate.

Pan-roasted Bass Groper With Cannelini Beans, Beet Leaves & Fried Bread ($30.00)

The first of the shared main dishes was a pan fried groper, served with cannelini beans and fried bread (no, that is not chorizo in the photo below!). Consistent with the entrees, the fish was cooked well with the flesh still firm without being dry and a nice level of char on the outside. The beans had good flavour and helped to fill out the dish. The only criticism we would make was that the mains took quite a while to come out (it had been an hour since the start of our meal) – we suspect that this was due to the size of our group but given that we had booked in advance and accepted that we would be receiving the set menu we had expected more timely service.

Grass-fed Cape Grim Bavette Steak (250g), Fat Chips & Salad, Shallot & Red Wine Butter ($32.00)

The next course that came out was the bavette steak, which is a staple on the Neighbourhood Wine menu. This was the highlight of the meal for us – the beef was cooked perfectly medium rare, the meat was tender and flavoursome, and it was sliced in a way that made sharing easy. Accompanying the steak were fat chips which were nice and crispy while remaining relatively light rather than being overly oily.

Orange, Dark Chocolate & Almond Cake With Chocolate Ice Cream ($12.00)

For dessert we started with an dark chocolate and almond cake which was served with chocolate ice cream. The cake was on the dry side but this was more than compensated for by the orange which was served on the side and also the ice cream which was smooth and tasted great.

Poached Pear Crumble With Apple & Chestnut Liqueur Ice Cream ($12.00)

The second dessert was a poached pear crumble and was our pick of the 2 desserts. The crumble was served warm which was perfect on a cold winter’s night. The topping was noticeably ‘crumbly’ and had not been made soggy by the fruit underneath and the ice cream was again smooth and had flavours which combined well with the rest of the dish. Jeff is not a dessert person but he said that he would definitely order this again.

After dinner we wandered around the venue and noticed the extensive vinyl and spirits collection. We think that this would be a great place to head to after work to chill out with friends over a few drinks.

Neighbourhood Wine once again delivered an excellent meal with friendly, helpful service on our most recent visit. The only criticism that we would make was that for a large group the service was quite slow – it took almost three hours for our meal service to be completed and given that an advance booking was made and a set menu was delivered we expected dinner to be served more expediently. This said on our previous visits with smaller groups the service has been excellent so we do not think that this is a systemic issue and would highly recommend Neighbourhood wine as a place for lunch or dinner with a small group, or even just a few glasses of wine of an evening. We will certainly be back soon.

Neighbourhood Wine

1 Reid Street
Fitzroy North
Victoria 3068
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9486 8306
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.neighbourhoodwine.com/

Open
Mon – Sun: 12:00pm to 12:00am

The Finders Keepers Markets Are Back For Spring/Summer 2015

Chris

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22 September 2015

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The Finders Keepers Markets Are Back For Spring/Summer 2015

AUSTRALIA | Spring is finally here, and what better way to celebrate it than with a design market, specifically, the 2015 return of the Finders Keepers Spring Summer Markets.

If you’ve only ever seen a Finders Keepers event roll by on your Facebook feed, here’s the lowdown. Founded in Sydney 2008, Finders Keepers has since spread to Brisbane and Melbourne, growing to become one of the foremost markets for Australian independent creators and makers. What this means for you is an opportunity to pick up some great and unique creations ranging from clothes to homewares to artwork to everything in between, directly from its maker.

Finders Keepers is no ordinary market. While we are certain it will offer a wide range of amazing craft, it also has all the hallmarks of a festival with food trucks (because what event could be without them?), bands, and bars taking up residence at each venue throughout the country. As the Melbourne markets are at the Royal Exhibition Building, a venue that has previously hosted events such as famed beer festival the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular, we have no doubt Finders Keepers has the right venue for a festival.

The organisers are still locking down the line-up for this year’s Spring Summer Markets, but you can keep an eye on their blog for future announcements. Of note, there are ATMs on site, but as the queues can be quite long the organisers recommend bringing cash where possible.

Here at The City Lane we’re very big fans of the local art and design scene and Finders Keepers is one of the best ways to support it. Whatever city you find yourself in, we suggest you mark this event in your calendar. We’ve even given you the links to the Facebook events (below) if you want to show off to your friends.

Finders Keepers Spring Summer Market

Cost: $2 for adults, kids under 12 free

Melbourne:
Royal Exhibition Building
9 Nicholson Street
Carlton, Victoria 3053

Friday 2 October: 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Saturday 3 October: 10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday 4 October: 10:00am to 4:00pm

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1475397849422291/

Brisbane:
Old Museum
480 Gregory Terrace
Bowen Hills, Queensland 4006

Saturday 7th November: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Sunday 8th November: 10:00am to 4:00pm

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1638678876380021/

Sydney:
Australian Technology Park
Locomotive Street
Eveleigh, New South Wales 2015

Friday 11th December: 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Saturday 12th December: 10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday 13th December: 10:00am to 4:00pm

Facebook event: TBC

Tippling Club: Review

Paul

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21 September 2015

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SINGAPORE | Tippling Club Singapore has been around for a few years now, although its only been at its current location since late 2013. This is one of those restaurants that’s received so many accolades over the years that it finds itself by default on the list of many a diner looking to sample the best of what Singapore has to offer.

It’s one of those restaurants that’s firmly at the forefront of the worldwide trend of shedding the stuffy and pretentious image associated with fine dining. The degustation menu is certainly priced at the top end of the market, and the food that is served is most certainly fine dining, however there are fun twists and turns involved, the staff are professional but not stuffy and the atmosphere is that of an upmarket bar – silk tablecloths, suits and ties are well and truly banished at Tippling Club. In fact, if you don’t want to have a full degustation meal, there are a range of bar snacks available that can be eaten in the restaurant’s bar section.

The food that is served up by part owner/head chef Ryan Clift is best described as modern gastronomy. Fine dining technique and precision with creative elements and a style that happily bounds between European, Asian and a whole lot more. As long as the produce is fresh and of the highest quality and the flavours work well together, there are no rules. Clift clearly has a passion for what he does – I was seated at the open kitchen and had a few chats with Clift about the restaurant and the food scene in general and I was struck by how into it all he was, given that it was way back in 2008 when Tippling Club opened. Some chef may have become bored after this time but I suppose the change of venue and the constantly changing menu means that Clift’s creative juices are constantly able to flow.

When I visited, the new menu had just launched, and featured a lot of Japanese influences. Not Japanese food as such, but flavours and techniques that anyone who has eaten food in Japan would recognise. Clift told me that one of the reasons he loves cooking in Sinagpore is because of the variety of Asian ingredients that can be sourced fresh in Japan. The Sinagpore base allows him to do things he wouldn’t be able to do in Australia (Clift was once the head chef at Melbourne’s Vue De Monde) or his birthplace of England.

Tippling Club isn’t just about the food and along with the as to be expected excellent wine list, there’s a real focus on cocktails. The drinks pairing for the degustations (diners can choose between the 6 course “classic” or 12 course “gourmand”) actually contain a combination of cocktails and wine. As with the food, the focus is on quality ingredients and interesting, but never unnecessary, touches. I decided to go for the 6 course “classic” degustation (S$160++) but as you can see, the snacks that come out before the courses begin are numerous, and you end up eating a lot more than 6 things. Instead of the drinks pairing, I chose 2 cocktails from the menu.

Fig Sidecar

The Fig Sidecar contained fig infused cognac, citrus and orange glass. A bit sweet, a bit spicy and a lot delicious.

Pablo

I ordered the Pablo halfway through my meal and the combination of cachaca, grape, lillet blanc and passion fruit was a beautiful way to clean my palate before moving on to the heavier dishes of the night.

Curry Mousse

The snacks kicked off with a curry mousse and coriander tempura. This snack was extremely delicate, and tasted just like a curry but was texturally completely different. It really set the scene for what was to come throughout the night. A nice touch was that different dishes were brought out and explained by different members of the kitchen – I loved that the people actually involved in making the dishes were explaining what they were all about.

Beef Tendon

This beef tendon was dried and served as a light cracker, with a topping that was meant to invoke a Margherita pizza. A novel idea that can only be understood when you put it into your mouth and realise that you’re eating pizza, but you’re not and… wonderful.

Charred Peppers

Snack number 3 was one of the most visually striking dishes of the night and is one of Clift’s signature snacks. Smoked red peppers charred to the extent that they were completely black on the outside, yet still soft and moist on the inside along with a soy and wasabi dipping sauce. How does Clift do it? Well actually the peppers aren’t charred black at all, rather they are lightly coated in a squid ink tempura batter. Looks can be deceiving! The kind of thing one could nibble on all night with a brilliantly unexpected textural contrast.

Fish With Mirin & Nori Cracker

A simple dish topped with salmon roe. Delicious.

Chorizo & Tomato Sandwich

Well it’s not a sandwich in any traditional sense of the word, but it’s rather delicious that’s for certain. Having the chorizo and tomato come out in gel form was totally unexpected.

Wild Mushroom Maki

This wild mushroom maki came with a vessel containing herb oil that is injected into the maki before eating. Despite its appearance, this was actually one of the more simple dishes of the night.

Gazpacho

It might not be alcoholic, but this shot hit all of the high notes, with the basil olive oil that was poured in at the bench mixing with the concentrated soup to form a tomato lava-lamp like concoction of deliciousness.

Eel

So after all of the snacks, it was finally time to move onto the first of the 6 courses. The eel with charred shallot and mustard ice cream continued the trend set by the snacks of being utterly delicious. The mustard ice cream had a very soft texture to it and was much more creamy than any standard ice cream. The Japanese influences in both the mustard and the eel really shone through here, with everything coming together nicely.

Scallops

The scallops were served with parsley root and a purple garlic soup. The thin pasta sheet atop the soup added a very interesting textural element to the dish, which was really all about highlighting the freshness of the scallops.

Rockling & Smoked Ox Tongue

This was one of my highlights of the night. I’ve never thought to have fish and ox tongue together yet somehow this combination worked wonderfully. The folded ox tongue was served atop the rockling, alternating with a classic flavour pairing, beetroot. In true Tippling Club style the beetroot was bay baked, and there was also a horseradish and beetroot distillation.

Roast Pigeon A’La Tallyrand

This dish was the most rustic of the lot, but also the heaviest. There was a generous amount of roast pigeon served with cep mushroom puree, truffle macaroni and jus peragadine (a truffle infused sauce). It was very tasty but if I had any criticism of the menu it would be that this is quite a heavy dish, and it was a struggle to fit it all in at the end of the meal.

Textured Milk

The textured milk consisted of dehydrated milk “meringue” and rhubarb along with wood sorrel, coconut milk tapioca and frozen yoghurt. There was a lot going on in this dish and everything worked well either individually or combined. A real “mix it the way you want” type dessert where each bite is as simple or as complicated as you want it to be, especially on the textural side.

Petit Fours

No fine dining degustation is complete of course, without petit fours and somehow I managed to squeeze these in too. I cannot recall what each of them were but I can guarantee that each and every one was finished in full.

There’s a reason why Tippling Club has been around since 2008 and it’s obvious. Ryan Clift is clearly passionate about what he does, and throughout the night I saw him walking up to diners whenever he could find a spare moment to chat to diners. The food and drinks are excellent, fun and inventive and the space is casual. The whole operation is very professional, yet there’s not pretension to speak of. Some say that fine dining is dead, but that’s not correct at all. Tippling Club proves that fine dining is alive and well – it just looks nothing like it used to.

Tippling Club

38 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088461

Telephone: 6475 2217
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.tipplingclub.com/

Open
Mon – Fri: 12:00pm to 3:00pm; 6:00pm to late
Sat: 6:00pm to late

The Ancient Persian Wrestling Clubs Of Iran

Paul

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20 September 2015

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YAZD | Before the Islamic Republic, before Islam in Iran, there was Varzesh-e-Bastani, the literal translation of which is “ancient sport”. This ancient Persian wrestling in on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and is an aspect of Persian culture that survives to this day, a source of national pride. Varzesh-e-Bastani is a curious thing for a westerner to see as there’s no real equivalent to it in the western world. There’s the most obvious similarities to wrestling, but there are also similarities to martial arts, gymnastics, callisthenics and even yoga. Oh and there’s also those giant ancient weapons.

Unlike western wrestling, which is combat focused, Varzesh-e-Bastani is concerned with the promotion of inner and outer strength, with practitioners embodying traits such as kindness and humility, and being seen as protectors of the community. Various elements of Persian history including Zooastrianism, Mithraism, Islam and Sufism have influenced the development of Varzesh-e-Bastani over the centuries and today, practitioners from any social strata or religious background can be found.

Students are instructed in ethical and chivalrous values under the supervision of a Pīshkesvat (champion) and those who master the art may acquire the rank of Pahlevanī (hero), which provides them with a certain rank and authority in the community. From the beginning to the end, the important link with the community is continually emphasised.

Varzesh-e-Bastani takes place in a domed building called a Zoorkhane (“home of strength”), with an octagonal sunken arena and spectator seats surrounding the arena.

There are around 500 Zoorkhanes in Iran today, and the Saheb A Zaman Club in Yazd is one of these. The club is located inside an old ab anbar (water reservoir) dating back to around 1580.

The Saheb A Zaman Club is open to foreign visitors (both men and women) and the full ceremony which lasts about 1 hour can be witnessed. It begins with the Morshed (master) leading the Pahlevani ritual, performing epic and Gnostic poems and beating out time on a zarb (goblet drum). The poems convey ethical and social teachings and constitute part of Zoorkhanei literature.

At times, it’s almost as if the participants are dancing. During the solo portions of the ceremony, a range of rituals are performed using wooden clubs (mil), metal shields (sang), and bow-shaped iron weights (kabbadeh or kaman). Sufi whirling and juggling also perform part of the ceremony. The athletes movements are in sync with the drum beats of the morshed.

The ceremony climaxes with the core of combat practice, a form of submission-grappling called koshti pahlevani and then it’s over, the participants clear the arena, and spectators leave, and the Zoorkhane is set up for the next ceremony. A unique insight into a fascinating piece of Persian culture, and well worth experiencing.

Pinot Palooza Returns To Melbourne

Chris

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19 September 2015

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AUSTRALIA | Never considered wine to be the touring kind? Pinot Palooza is here to change that for you.

Returning to Melbourne in 2015 is Pinot Palooza, an all Pinot wine festival. This day-long event, held around Australia (Perth and Adelaide were in August. Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane will be in October) aims to bring 150 of the best Pinots the Southern Hemisphere has to offer. With so many Pinots on hand, We’re predicting Sideways-style antics to dominate proceedings.

The festival comes from the people behind Game of Rhones, which leads us to think your pallet will be in very good hands. On offer at this year’s event include wine from wineries such as Bay of Fires, Two Paddocks, and Pegasus Bay, and you’ll even be able to vote on your favourite for the day.

There will also be a selection of food available from local culinary luminaries, with Melbourne’s show featuring Jack Horner, Burn City Smokers, and the always dependable Huxtaburger setting up for the event. And if for some reason you need a break from drinking wine, Sample beer will be on hand for your hop-based needs.

Tickets come as a standard pass for $60 (includes entry and a Riedel ‘Heart to Heart’ Pinot Noir take-away glass), and a VIP pass for $95 (includes entry, a glass, a tour from a sommelier, and a food voucher). Of special note, there’s no tokens here, so you can try everything, but for your own health, you probably shouldn’t. There’s also a back stage pass and a master class available for the Pinot-obsessed, but you’ll have to check out the website for details on those.

The Pinot Palooza is a welcome addition to the Australia’s drinking calendar. Tickets are on sale now.

Pinot Palooza

General Admission: $60.00. Includes glass and all the samples you would like
VIP Pass: $95.00 Gives you all of the above, plus a food voucher, sommelier tour, and more.

Sydney:
When: Monday 5 October (public holiday), 1:00pm to 6:00pm
Where: Carriage Works, Blacksmith’s Workshop. 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh

Melbourne:
Saturday 10 October, 1:00pm to 6:00pm
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Bay 3 & 4. 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf

Brisbane:
Sunday 11 October, 1:00pm to 6:00pm
Light Space. 30 Light Street, Fortitude Valley

THE CITY LANEEAT & TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

THE CITY LANEEAT & TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

Coffee ($3.80)

Juices + Smoothies ($8.50)

Cannelloni of the Day Served With Tossed Garden Salad ($19.50)

Toasted Sourdough with Fresh Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers & Meredith Goats Cheese ($15.00)

Lemon Tart ($9.50)

Bossy Boots

Prahran Market Cheese Festival/h4> When: Sat 24 October, 10:00am to 3:00pm Entry: Free Where: Prahran Market. 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra, VIC 3121

The Craft Beer Co

They Say She’s Different

Cured Meat Selection ($10.00/30g Portion)

Salad of Apple, Fennel & Pomegranate With Mint & Hazelnut Dressing ($16.00)

Pan-roasted Bass Groper With Cannelini Beans, Beet Leaves & Fried Bread ($30.00)

Grass-fed Cape Grim Bavette Steak (250g), Fat Chips & Salad, Shallot & Red Wine Butter ($32.00)

Orange, Dark Chocolate & Almond Cake With Chocolate Ice Cream ($12.00)

Poached Pear Crumble With Apple & Chestnut Liqueur Ice Cream ($12.00)

Neighbourhood Wine

Finders Keepers Spring Summer Market

Fig Sidecar

Pablo

Curry Mousse

Beef Tendon

Charred Peppers

Fish With Mirin & Nori Cracker

Chorizo & Tomato Sandwich

Wild Mushroom Maki

Gazpacho

Eel

Scallops

Rockling & Smoked Ox Tongue

Roast Pigeon A’La Tallyrand

Textured Milk

Petit Fours

Tippling Club

Pinot Palooza

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Prahran Market Cheese Festival/h4>
When: Sat 24 October, 10:00am to 3:00pm

Entry: Free

Where: Prahran Market. 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra, VIC 3121