'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

"To Santa the bigest one is for rudolph
and pick the other carets and just pick
the two last ones for the best working reindeers.
the bigest is the one with no stalk."

Quinito, age 8

We figured Santa would enjoy a nice glass of red ,Stroopwafels and a chocolate covered German pretzel instead of the usual milk & cookies...I'm sure we got a big nod of approval from old St. Nick(wink! wink!).

The Batard Bastard

This artisan bread is said to be the inferior cousin of the baguette--hence the translation Batard=bastard...but don't let that turn you off! This crusty loaf is chewy on the inside with a fantastic mouthfeel and is wonderful for sandwiches. Long live the Bastard!

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Flowerpot Scones at the Wayzegoose Cafe

If your travels find you in Leura(on the way to the Blue Mountains in Sydney), don't forget to stop over at the Wayzegoose Cafe. This charming little place is often packed to the brim with people ready to dig into their Flowerpot Scones. Traditional english scones are baked(as you order) in adorable little terracotta pots and served with a huge dollop of clotted cream and jam on the side.

The Wayzegoose Cafe, Leura NSW

The Bee's Knees

This is my mom's favorite breakfast...sweet & creamy vanilla yogurt sprinkled with bee pollen. Bee pollen is an energy-boosting nutritional supplement, gathered from flowers and collected on bee's legs as they forage for nectar.
Known as one of nature's most complete foods, bee pollen has a wide range of health promoting nutrients - 18 amino acids, more than 12 vitamins, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes, 14 beneficial fatty acids, 11 carbohydrates and is even low in calories.

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Italian Scrambled Eggs

Soft, shimmery eggs are cooked with prosciutto, fresh tomatoes, parsley and served with lashings of Hollandaise on top of garlic infused toast. Now THAT'S how I like to start my mornings!

Harry's Cafe de Wheels

This Aussie icon has been around since 1945 and boasts a client list of famous political figures and celebrities(Russel Crowe also happens to live right around the corner). Brave the midnight queues and grab yourself a Tiger Pie--beef pie with mashed potatoes, gravy and mushy peas or a hotdog with creamy cheese, grilled onions and mushy peas. Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Wooloomooloo Bay, Sydney

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Caramels au Beurre Sale'

Ooooh la la! Smooth buttery caramels liberally sprinkled with sea salt--the French knew what they were doing when they created this decadent treat! The sea salt cuts through the sweetness of the caramels allowing you to eat more than you actually should!

Let them eat cake!

Marie Antoinette would have been proud!

This old world cake shop holds shelves groaning under the weight of numerous pastries, cookies and cakes. Standouts are the Italian Cannoli--a crispy fried pastry shaped in a tube and traditionally filled with sweetened ricotta cheese but are equally good filled with yellow custard and half-dipped in chocolate--and the Melting Moments which are 2 buttery shortbread cookies sandwiched together with a smooth vanilla filling. Yummmmy!

The Acland Cake Shop, Acland St., St. Kilda, Melbourne