Rose scented delight

I came across Abla’s Patisserie at the Prahran Market today. I have now discovered what a Rose Damask is! I thought I was choosing the healthier option until some cream and pistachios was wedged in to the middle of the delicate pastry – mmmm. The photo says it all.

Rose Damask including rose water syrup and turkish delight

Happiness – what’s that?

Happiness is something that has been explored through the ages and has been getting an increase in media coverage lately.  A couple of documentaries have caught my eye recently.

The Happy Movie

The Economics of Happiness

And in this weeks Age an article on Happiness – the commercialisation of something so practical and straightforward is disconcerting.

Less than 24 hours

Well, its my last proper day in London, and of course I have come down with a cold. That didn’t stop me from taking advantage of a great toptable offer at Joel Robuchon’s L’Atelier with my friend Steph. Two courses plus afternoon tea for 35 pounds – fabulous. Despite the building works next door, on entering, we stepped in to a serene environment. Even the chefs almost seemed to be whispering to each other in french.

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I’ve put in a special request to fire up the charchoal bbq one more time before I leave – so it will be a lovely slow cooked whole chicken stuffed with thyme, lemon, butter and garlic tonight. I’m also going to try millionaires shortbread and the Fru brand of puddings (lemon cheescake). The final challenge will be to make the most of some cheese we bought in Devon which we will devour with oatcakes and hopefully some riesling I bought on the Rhine during my Germany leg.

I have had a truly wonderful time and definitely made the most of my nine weeks. Thanks to Lauren, the Buena Vista team, Sarah, Cam, Noudjem, Steph, Albert, Alcala and Damarys for making this one of the most fun trips I’ve ever had. Thank you also to the new friends I made on this trip that made it more special.

Soon I will be back to reality – but more posts to come once I’m back in Oz to cover some of the other highlights of my trip. There has been lots of dancing, eating and hanging about. Meanwhile, I’m dosing up on lemon and manuka honey and whatever drugs I can get my hands on! Let’s hope I sleep all the way on the plane.

Taking time out to “smell the roses”

Actually, I took time out during my busy dancing/commuting schedule to “watch the horses” in Hemel Hempstead. I had noticed a lush field, chestnut trees in flower and a group of magnificent horses grazing every time I went there. It turned out to be a public area where people could also walk and take their dogs with them too. I also spotted a couple of canal boats. As I couldn’t face another mad dash to a train – I chose to walk through the paddock, take a breath and watch.

It’s nice to remind yourself that you can slow down and take time to observe what is around you.

On the back of a tractor

Yes, believe it not this is the END of the night at River Cottage, not the beginning. I think Steph, Albert and I fared pretty well. This is us on the back of a tractor heading up the farm driveway back to our car.

Spent this weekend in Devon – really lovely english countryside. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much green – you just don’t see that back in drought stricken Melbourne. I especially love the verges full of bluebells and primroses as you drive along. Food with a side-order of shopping was the key focus for the trip. Kicked off with a meal at a local gastropub, the Wheelwright, only a few metres away from our b&b. I couldn’t help but try the fish pie – there is nothing like smoked haddock, cod and salmon for homey-comfort food. I also had the orange and sticky honey steamed pudding with home-made runny custard to wrap up with some wonderfully luscious dessert wine.

Other highlights included fish and chips at Lyme-Regis with a nice hot cup of tea, visiting the cheese shop at the Town Mill at Lyme-Regis, and a top notch breakfast with the usual suspects as well as some non-traditional fare such as poached rhubarb and strawberries, lemon and honey smoothie or perhaps some cheesy herb cornbread.

One bizarre food observation – on more than one occasion food such as pork pies, pasties and sausage rolls were only served cold.

I will post more photos shortly to give you more of an idea – and will attempt another video montage.

See you in a bit

Pia

Laduree macaroons rock

Mmmmm

The Jewish Museum, Berlin

I visited the Jewish Museum when I was in Berlin – specifically the new building designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. This was one of the first buildings in Berlin designed after re-unification. The entire museum covers two millennia of jewish history. I only found out after the fact, that the original jewish museum in Berlin was built in 1933 but was shut down during the nazi regime in 1938.

The museum  sits on land that was both East and West Berlin before the Berlin Wall fell. The Museum itself, consisting of about 15,000 square meters, is a twisted zig-zag and is accessible only via an underground passage from the Berlin Museum’s baroque wing. Its shape is reminiscent of a warped Star of David.  A “Void,” an empty space about 20 m tall, slices linearly through the entire building.  An irregular matrix of windows cuts in all orientations across the building’s facade.

A second underground tunnel connects the Museum proper to the The Garden of Exile, whose foundation is tilted. The Garden’s oleaster trees grow out of reach, atop 49 tall pillars.

The final underground tunnel leads from the Museum to the Holocaust Tower, a 24 m tall empty silo. The bare concrete Tower is neither heated nor cooled, and its only light comes from a small slit in its roof.

All three of the underground tunnels, or “axes,” intersect and may represent the connection between the three realities of Jewish life in Germany, as symbolized by each of the three spaces: Continuity with German history, Emigration from Germany, and the Holocaust.

You could easily spend a whole day there and not get through the full range of exhibitions. It was incredibly thorough and informative. The nature of the design of the modern building was very effective in conveying the significance of the exhibitions and the Holocaust.

n:b thanks to wikipedia for some of this information.

Explanation of the architecture behind the Jewish Museum

Inside the Holocaust Tower

Axis of the Holocaust

The Garden of Exile

The Garden of Exile

interior shot

explanation of the Void

jewish wedding ring information

jewish wedding rings 17/18th century

Some of the highlights in Berlin

A tourists view of Berlin

I’ve finally had time to upload a few more photos from my trip. Here are some from Berlin.

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The cuban affair

Had a lovely night out on Tuesday at Floridita’s. They got together 5 London based cuban bands to play on the night. The aim was to showcase the island’s musical heritage from the pre-revolutionary Danzon and Cha cha cha played in Havana’s Cabarets, to the ancient Changui and Son of African, typically associated with the eastern provinces. Between one of the sets some rumba was also played. A really lovely night, and despite the lack of dance space I managed to have several fabulous dances!

The bands included:

• Cuba Strings – Led by Gabriel Fonseca; this string duet offers unique interpretations of Classic Cuban themes.
• The Sugar Kings  - Led by Flavio Correa; representing the golden age of Cuban music through Danzon, Chachacha and Boleros.
• Tumbao Tivoli – Led by Leo Duany; the soul of Santiago de Cuba and its African roots, masters of traditional Son Montuno and Changui.
• Son Mas – Led by Oscar Vazquez Romero; a vibrant quintet with a fresh and modern Cuban sound.
• Son De Cuba – Led by Gabriel Fonseca; a 6 piece band with the charisma of an orchestra, performing the hottest Salsa and Timba.

Check out some of the video I took.

The Sugar Kings

Tumbao Tivoli

Osbanis and Anneta

This couple are really beautiful together – just delightful teachers. I was particularly impressed when Osbanis played the clave sang the congas and danced son timing all at the same time.

Osbanis Tejeda Fajardo was born in Havana, Cuba. He comes from a family of natural talent that taught him the best way to learn was by listening and watching. He Graduated a professor of Cuban percussion from the Fernando Guanches Academy, where he later worked with several Cuban musicians and taught percussion to children and adults.

He developed dance when he arrived in the UK, where the important thing to him was to feel everything you see, in music and dance. For that reason he says ‘dance is to play and music is to live, so live to play’.

Anneta  Kepka, 2008 IDO World Ladies Salsa Shines Champion and 2006 UK Salsa Champion, began her dancing career in Poland with Ballroom Dance. Over the years she has studied various forms of dance, in order to create her own unique style. She has put most emphasis on Latin dances. Dancing is for her an everlasting passion. She now lives in London. Her current dance partner is Osbanis Tejeda, with whom she teaches and performs at congresses around the world.

I’ve seen them perform twice now – my better video was from Chichester – so enjoy.

Update: sorry had to remove video – Osbanis wasn’t happy about it.