Suzuki Night Markets

Thursday 13 January 2011, 4:28 PM
By The Team | Posted in Places

In Melbourne, there is absolutely nothing like chilling out in the late afternoon sun with your mates enjoying each others’ company. Now, add a few sangrias, some mouth-watering paella, a patrol of swing dancers plus one of Melbourne’s most soulful bands, and you have the crème de la crème of Wednesday after-work outings!

The old Vic Market takes on a completely different feel at night. The exotic and enticing aromas from the woks, pots and grills fill the sheds with temptation. The gentle hustle and bustle of the queues, people eying off each others’ plates for inspiration and our recent stint of steamy weather almost makes you feel as if you have arrived at a foreign destination.

But shuffling through the crowded throng with your shoulders hunched to your ears in order to squeeze through, guarding whatever tasty treat you’ve just acquired with your life is not for the faint hearted.

Yours truly, almost met such devastation when balancing two corn cob sticks (in all their buttery, salty glory) back to my spot. A foot out of place resulted in a spontaneous, new and improved MC Hammer dance, but in the end victory was mine! And by gosh were those corn cobs worth it!

The band this week was Electric Empire. I don’t know about you, but in the modern music world there aren’t too many musicians that can touch my soul. If you adore the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, George Benson and all the greats of that era, then I know for a fact you won’t be able to control your feet with these guys.  Funk like this comes too few and far between!

As the sun was setting over the shed Swing Patrol picked up the pace. With the whole crowd joining in there were ‘kick-lands’ and shimmy-turns’ going everywhere! It was great to see the new school crowd bustin’ out in that old school flavour. Those who were looking for a retail hit could browse through the numerous arts and craft stalls. All over there were friends eating, families chatting and children smiling.

Not a bad way to spend a school night huh?

The Suzuki Night Markets are on every Wednesday 5.30pm to 10pm until 2 March 2011. Pedestrian entry to Queen Victoria Market is from corner Queen and Therry Streets and Peel Street. Entry to this event is free.

The geeks are coming: National Science Week

Friday 6 August 2010, 4:30 PM
By The Team | Posted in Events

In recent years, Doctor Who discovered girls, our synchrotron started shining its revealing light and Melbourne’s bookish heart was internationally recognised. At the same time, a lot of us were making discoveries of our own: being a geek is cool – and knowing stuff is all right.

Let’s face it. Geeks know the important stuff. They can explain, without any loose ends, exactly how awake Leonardo Di Caprio was at the end of Inception. That’s important.

And while we’re debating the merits of Eric versus Bill, the Bombers versus the Tigers and jumpers versus jackets, geeks are busy trying to understand exactly where we came from, where we’re going – and why it even matters in the first place.

Good to know someone has these things covered, yes? And good to give something back, too.

National Science Week celebrates everything geek in the finest way possible: with loads of geek-friendly events.

On Friday 13 August, QV is putting on a Market of the Mind, an evening of scientific hi-jinks. Meet brain researchers and learn more about what’s going on inside your skull. Take on Museum Victoria’s finest minds and challenge the ways you see the world. Play mind games – that might or might not involve brain-eating zombies.

The Great Big Science Gig crew will perform from 8.30pm, and science-themed cocktails will be on offer at the bar. Our advice is to take it easy or you’ll forget everything you learned by morning! This event is free and for ages 18 and above.

On Sunday 15 August, it’s the Queen Victoria Market’s turn to give geeks some love, with its Living Science event. At Suga you can learn about the science of sugar with some of the city’s sweetest alchemists. For those with a more savoury bent, you can also learn about the science behind cheese making.

Eating these ’experiments’ is less scientific but is also an option.

The Melbourne Museum is putting on a special event showcasing scientific illustration on Saturday 14 August, while on Tuesday 10 August, the Three Degrees Bar Brewery at QV will host Science Centric 2010, for all who like to talk science shop: teachers, bloggers, illustrators and more. Geeks galore!

 Sounds like paradise to us!

City Science, part of National Science Week, starts on Friday 13 August.

In season: winter at the Queen Victoria Market

Friday 16 July 2010, 12:56 PM
By The Team | Posted in Places

With that frosty chill in the air, nothing is a comforting as a hearty soup or a slow-cooked dish with a good glass of red wine. Now that we’ve got you thinking about your dinner, it’s time to see what’s in season in at the Queen Victoria Market.  One of the market’s traders,  Joseph Manariti from Office Fresh, has kindly offered to share his tips on what’s fresh and fabulous this winter.

    

Winter is a great time to rug-up and head to the Queen Victoria Market for all your fruit and vegie needs. With the cooler weather you have an endless choice of vegetables. Pumpkins come in a wide range of varieties, including japanese, kent, butternut and gray. All the ingredients to make a heart-warming soup are in season: leeks, turnips, parsnips and swedes. All of these are in full supply and very well priced.

Winter is also a great time to try something new with a wide selection of gourmet potatoes including kipfler, knoffler and dutch creams. These will make your winter roasts extra special.

Fight those colds away with a full selection of citrus now available: look for South Australian and Mildura navel oranges, along with top quality Mildura mandarins. Full season apples are in full swing with most varieties at lower prices than what we see in the summer months. Some speciality fruit lines like kiwigold and passionfruit will add plenty of colour to your fruit salad.

Here’s a winter dish that I love. Rhurbarb and apples are both at their peak right now. This is a cosy dessert and it is easy to prepare, too.

Rhubarb and apple pie

Ingredients
30g unsalted butter
6 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, sliced
150g caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle
1 bunch rhubarb, washed, sliced
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbs milk
Thick cream or homemade custard to serve

Pastry
300g plain flour
150g unsalted butter, cubed
1 egg

Method

1. To make the pastry, place the flour and butter in a food processor and process until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg and 1 to 2 tablespoons chilled water. Process until the mixture comes together to form a smooth ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 180°C.
3. Melt the butter in a large frying pan. Add the apples and sugar and cook for 2 to 3 minutes over a low heat. Add the rhubarb and cinnamon and cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes until the fruit just starts to soften. Transfer into a 3 litre (6 cup capacity) pie dish and set aside to cool.
4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface and cut a 1½ cm-wide strip of pastry. Press it around the rim of the pie dish and brush with a little water. Cover with remaining pastry, and then trim the edges. (This method helps stop the pastry lid shrinking.) Pinch the pastry together to seal, brush with milk and scatter with the extra caster sugar.
5. Bake the pie for 35 to 40 minutes until the pastry is golden. Serve hot or warm with thick cream or custard. Serves six.