Dark Chocolate Pudding w/ Salted Caramel Pistachios

Cooler months equal comfort food. And more often than not the thought of comfort food leads itself to chocolate. In this case, chocolate pudding. The folks at The Artful Desperado have a delicious take on this with their Mayan Dark Chocolate Pudding which is topped with candied, salted pistachios.

Visit their blog for the complete recipe, and get baking!

Jock's Ice Cream

Whether it's Coconut and Lime which tickles your fancy, or their infamous gooey Hockey Pockey (vanilla swirled with honeycomb and toffee), Jock's Ice Creamery has enough flavours to hit the spot. This Albert Park Gem is home to some of the most delicious ice-cream flavours in town, with enough Americana concoctions to rival Ben & Jerry's.

Crowd favourites include award winning Chocolate (pictured above), which has a really smooth moosey taste. Whilst I opted for this delicious flavour my friend went for the Obamarama which was a yummy fusion of peanut butter and jelly (pictured below). You will also be hard pressed to find anything that measures up to their Gingerbread or Cinnamon flavours, which are ideally consumed around Christmas time for the full seasonal experience.

And rejoice, for they also sell takeaway containers! Which is great news for me seeing as I'd admit to  ice cream making up 80% of my diet.

Taking full advantage of the sunny spring day that Melbourne was having I whipped out my newly purchased black pom pom sandals by The Workshop Shoes (handmade in Greece), which I purchased when in Santorini last month. Love a little pom pom action. 

83 Victoria Avenue Albert Park, Melbourne

*Photographed by THE AFFAIR*

with love. 

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Breakfast Time at Tall Timber

Tucked just away from Chapel Street, Prahran's Tall Timber is an ideal retreat for any coffee adoring, runny yoke-poached egg enthusiast. Think Coin Laundry's Commercial Road residing younger sister. 

This morning was a drizzly blur of miserable English-esque weather, the kind of weather that calls cozyness and a nice warm beverage. Winter has most definitely hit Melbourne. 

Savoury or sweet. The usual breakfast dilemma hit- although this time we strayed from the usual porridge and granola concoctions for a more savoury hit. In this world there are those types of people who go for the bircher and those who venture for the big breakfast's, and we found ourselves craving some good ol' eggs.

The cured salmon gravlax with poached eggs, smashed peas, beetroot relish and house made baguette croutons was enough to satisfy all cravings, perfectly scrumptious. On the other hand, the pumpkin on bread worked to compliment the creamy, rich poached egg perfectly, dotted with goats cheese and a sprinkle of seeds. 

The whitewashed interior of the cafe is draped with an assortment of hanging Australian bush-like flora and jared bits and bobs. It's the epitome of cozy, and it's communal table is separated straight down the middle by faded blue shrubs, working with the muted palette. 

Perfectly simple, and bloody delicious. 

66 Commercial Road Prahran, Melbourne
Click through to view more photographs,

with love.

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Mid Week Slump, And Other News...

Needless to say, we've both been quite busy the past few weeks. Utterly consumed by the mundane working life and never ending uni assignments.

And here comes that dreaded mid-week slump, oh the perils of cramming all of ones classes into one dreaded Wednesday. Not to mention the rain and typically Melbourne bipolar weather.

In other news...

The whirlwind which was vamff just passed and mbfw is currently unfolding, (sorry for the crazy lingo but thats Melbourne and Sydney fashion weeks for our global readers.)

We have also witnessed the opening of h&m in Melbourne's historic GPO building (yes, we sadly waved goodbye to our beloved ACNE). In the spirit of new stores, also make sure to check out the glorious A.P.C store in Melbourne's QV. And typically, the first thing we did was put our names on the waiting list for that godsend of a half-moon bag.

Our favourite gem of a Mexican restaurant- Fonda has also just opened up a mammoth ester restaurant in Flinders Lane. We presume that this one will be without the soul crushing 30 min wait of its Windsor counterpart. Do stop by for some delicioso pork quesadilla's and chicken burrito's, and don't skip on the tequila!

Also keep your eyes peeled for a very exciting collaborations in the coming weeks!



Featuring...

First Image: Pressed Juice, Aesop hand cream, country road homewares candle

Second Image: T by Alexander Wang "Viscose Blend Waffle Seedstitch Crewneck Pullover in Heather Grey" & "Robust French Terry Sweatshirt with Mesh in White", both purchased from Incu

Third Image: Bassike, ACNE and Zara mules.

with love, Natalie.

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Cravings

Because we're craving some super crispy, fatty fries,

with love.

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An Ode to Cocktails

[Blueberry Basil Vodka Gimlet, Unknown & Pomegranate & Ginger Spritzer]

Whip us up a Vanilla Vodka Chai...and we will love you forever

We thought that it was high time we expressed our unwavering affection for cocktails. As of late we have been especially adventurous with our cocktail purchasing, having ordered the infamous Bloody Mary of Yellow Bird Cafe in Windsor, to Miss Chu's "Jimmy Hendrix" fruit infused concoction.

Alcohol can be vicious in taste, and its just that much better to indulge in something which also adheres to your sweet-loving taste buds. Tasty and refreshing, just sifting through photos of delicious looking cocktails is making us salivate.

Warning: they are hardly season-appropriote, but we shall let that one slip, just this once.

[Peach & Raspberry Gin Fizz & Vanilla Vodka Chai]

with love.

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Eating Pretty

...Because your favourite place to wine and dine says more about you than you think...

Featuring "Tannat" and "Habit" eateries,

with love.

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Inspiration

"We work in the dark - we do what we can - we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art."

- Henry James, The Middle Years

with love.

Juice detox Recipes

Before we know it, summer will be around the corner which means it’s time to start getting bikini ready. We have found a great way to help shed those few extra winter pounds is by juicing fresh fruit and vegetables. Not only is juicing amazing for your health and weight-loss, it is also great for your skin complexion and especially helps you get back on track after a big night out. Juicing is also perfect for those who lead busy lifestyles, as it allows you to obtain the recommended amount of nutrients/vitamins in one quick glass. We recommend having juice that contains fruit in the morning and vegetable juice at night – due to the amounts of sugar fruit contains.

You can juice basically any fruits and vegetables, however these are a few which we personally recommend:

Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Watermelon, Carrot, Celery, Ginger, Beetroot, Cucumber (not as bad if you peel the skin), Spinach, Kale.

Juice Recipes:

a. Ingredients: 3-5 Carrots, 2-3 celery sticks, 1 knob ginger, 1-2 beetroot (always peeled), top up with organic apple juice and some ice

b. Ingredients: 3 oranges, 3-4 carrots, 3 apples, 1-2 limes

c. Ingredients: 3 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 small pineapple, 1 Lebanese cucumber – helps clear sore throats

d. Ingredients: 2 oranges, peeled, 1 lemon, peeled, 1 lime, peeled, 1 ruby red grapefruit, peeled – morning cleanser

e. Ingredients: 1 golden delicious apple, 1 small handful spinach, 1 pear, 1 lime, 1 stalk celery,
¼ medium cucumber, ice cubes.

We hope you enjoy some of these recipes!

with love.

Inspiration

“What was beauty unless you intended to use it, like a hammer, or a key? It was just something for other people to use and admire, or envy, despise. To nail their dreams onto like a picture hanger on a blank wall. And so many girls saying, use me, dream me.”

- Janet Fitch, White Oleander

with love.

Guilty Pleasure

Like many, we are both lovers of good food - Here are some of our current food addictions

* Avocado on sourdough bread, sprinkled with goats cheese *

* Zucchini pasta, topped with a light creamy dressing *

* Pancakes with nutella & banana *

These definitely are our simple, guilty pleasures.

with love.

Life [Through our Phones]

*Calvin Klein black maxi dress * lazy mornings in bed * black tea and rice pudding * potted plants

*Breakfast * Emma & Tom's Greenpower Juice * Strawberries * Mimco pouch

(All Photographs taken/edited by THE AFFAIR)

with love.