Australia's Biggest Morning Tea

Monday 19th May

A sick day, last night I was very ill, migraine, stomach ache, throwing up I hate that feeling when you know it's going to happen but not know exactly when. The dr says this is the result of drinking before noon (I had like a couple sips..) and consuming way too much sugar.

The goods news is that I got an invitation (not through the blog, I'll always tell you when that happens) to the opening night at the St Kilda Film Festival, which I wasn't chosen to work at (yes they choose volunteers) which is totally cool as I'm working an other festival right after it. This also means we won't be going to the shopping festival at Melbourne Central, (well we'll just do a quick stop at the Body Shop).

The dr (my BIL) predicted my death will be caused by sugar, as we're doing morning tea (more social than food fortunately) tomorrow as well as a baking masterclass! I thought we were just invited to eat stuff, compare and write about it. We tend to read the briefing notes closer to the event then as soon as we get it. :P For that later event I'm delighted to say it was through the blog. :)






Tuesday

A long day, with so much work I don't think I slept last night! We met someone new on the train! She works at the new ramen place in China Town, and is a make-up artist. And I was doing my make-up on the train.






With the Australia's biggest morning tea event happening this week, as a fundraiser for the Cancer Council we had a morning tea, with cupcakes, rum-less balls and cookies (homemade but looked amazing and all so uniformed I thought they were store bought by White Wings). We did meet someone new, another hobby photographer.

Also came across the school magazine where three of my pictures are featured, the cheesecake picture was taken in the wrong format hence the tiny picture. But I love that picture!

Saw mrs IT (who's great at what she does) who looked completely different, I recognized her voice but not her, and you think I would cause her signature prop is a walking stick. She looks amazing, so different when she makes an effort (presentations week, though she's marking not presenting). We think she was slightly just slightly offended by how different she looked from her normal causual look. 

Also saw mr IT (not related to mrs IT, they're just both in IT), tried to leave a cupcake on his desk w/o him seeing me, but he had great hearing and heard me. Though I probably would have tripped over something on my way out. :P Mini discussion about careers and things due. He's so nice, and one of those rare people who always stops to say hi and chat.  

To the library! Some work was done, but mainly napping. I'm highly sensitive to light like a vampire, sunglasses to me look like normal lighting. Got help going through my career report, where I used 1,200/600 words for one section. Thought I was fine but it turns out I was struggling to read the question, fortunately Frankie was a great help. :) 

Saw mr events on the way out (to sign some stuff) he was wearing the same blue shirt as last week (his signature shirt) I'm certain it's clean though. Someone left him a note saying hi and something else with a smiley face in pencil on a corner ripped out of a notebook. Wasn't me but he thought it was. :P I carry around mini sticky notes in the shapes of stars and apples. And I don't rip, I cut. 



To the city! Where the real adventure begins. Stopped by Lovisa and found a lovely tiara, might be perfect for the gown. But at $25 we're going to look on ebay. 






Wednesday

I had ever intention of getting to class today, I remember seeing the clock a bit after 10am. And suddenly it was 5pm! In the mail we got tickets for the opening night of the St Kilda Film Festival, won a competition an additional surprise was tickets the invite only after party!



Online we won a dvd and 3 months worth of bathroom products, and a cool wooden necklace and silver glitter earrings. The first by skill, the later by chance. But I don't count winnings till they arrive, as we're still waiting on AH (April) and Head & Shoulders (Jan/Feb).



Thursday





Another day that failed, I failed to go to shopping in the morning, have lunch at Huxtaburger and get to class. :( The day started with dinner at Mad Mex, soft tacos with slightly burnt chicken and tacos that tasted floury. For $10 that was one $$ snack. Better to get tacos or the nakid burrito.









Friday

The final report for Friday's subject is due! Don't think I contributed enough... Late to class as the bus was very late so I thought I missed it, walked to the tram and the bus zooms by. Tram leaves 10mins+ later.

In between (as I got there early) we finally stopped by 'Duchess' they're another 'Imagination'  like store that sells overpriced  women's clothing, accessories. Oh and toys lots of them, those cute anime merchandise, character slippers and dvds in asian languages I can't identify. They're closing down at this location and have $1.50 earrings, 50c dvds (per disk) I saw Toroto, cute glass bottles and cheap flimsy clothing, all for summer. 




There's huge boxes of bag attachment sized toys, and a strawberry backpack for $5 (that fits nothing), lot of Japanese-sy stuff. I found some 'My Neighbour Toroto' plushies! Lots of dust motes, something I thought was a tooth XD with a butt (Toroto's smallest white follower) and a couple Torotos. Also found three fruit cute little coin purses for your toddler. We love the apple and strawberry, but not orange. Everything in the box was $1 each.


Fast forward to after class, crashed at the library for a bit, felt very sick like I was going to throw up. Took a nap, then went back to the city, dinner for one at Sea Salt, as I was craving fish. 






Saturday

"A reputation for Moral Fortitude is essential for any decent Family. Accordingly, the Master and Mistress should ensure chaperones are always present in meetings of all adult unmarried members of the opposite sex. Failure to adhere to this would reflect very poorly on yourself and the entire Household." - Manor House




When (and if) I grow up and have my own place I'm going to buy butter and full cream milk! Doesn't that sounds amazing? It's because we don't buy those things, and everything is low/no-fat or not bought at all. We tried freezer cooking once, I ended up eating b'fast burritos (salsa, hash brown, sausages in a wrap) for a week. Never again will we cook in bulk, because unlike normal people who do freezer cooking who have it like once a week for five weeks, it well just doesn't happen. 



Toroto is a a spirit of the forest,  a mixture of several animals: tanukis (the Japanese version of raccoons), cats (the pointed ears and the facial expressions), and owls (the chevron markings on their chests and the "ooo"-ing sound they make with their ocarinas at night).






Sunday



Today I wanted to go the craft market, and yesterday it was the 'One Fine Day' wedding expo, neither happened. I also wanted to see le beau but he and his friends were going to a BBQ event. The good news is that I finished the second last report on behaviour analysis!




Was going to cover an event at a nightclub but was too tired, that and it was pretty complicated. They charge for cloaking - this is on top of entry. And there's a chance they wouldn't let me in, even if I'm just there to cover the event and not really participate, more observing. We passed out in a coma from the past week.



Made 'Whoopie Pies' which ideally is a cupcake but with the frosting in the middle. Very easy to make. The sponge was amazing, I haven't had sponge cake for a while. The filling with egg white based, and was gross. Looks like meringue before you bake it in colour. Ideally I would have used a plain pipe for the sponge to get perfect circles (also draw them on the underside) and pipe the filling too - if I wasn't going to roll it in sprinkles. I enjoyed making them. :) 

Sunday 18th May



This week's adventure was meant to be working an at event with lots of cute dogs! That didn't happen as le beau went for me, his phone died so he didn't get many pictures. :( Would have really liked to go to that event but I had a surprise come up earlier in the week. An invitation to tea! I rarely get invited anywhere (probably because I'm the first to rsvp and found the event myself). :P Felicia won the tickets but couldn't go as she (and everyone else I know, and I) was working at Million Paws event. And that's how we found ourselves going to the a 'Craftlicious High Tea' in Mentone on this Sunday morning. 



It was on the veranda/porch at St Augustine's Anglican Church, which I'm so glad I looked up google maps street view as we were heading towards the bigger one down the road, till I saw this one. A red church, with green doors. Perfect for some pictures. 

Down the side there was a chalkboard sign and on arrive we were offered pink champagne - I love bubbles! Garnished with half a strawberry. For a special touch I would have dipped the empty flute's rim into water and then into cotton candy sugar. ;)




Lizzy Ann welcomed us and showed us to our seats, at tables of eight. I'm not really into communal tables and talking to strangers, but everyone was nice, especially the two ladies on my right. :) Ok that's not true, one woman did her best to make me feel unwelcome (she didn't say anything to me, it's just the way she looked at me), but I just ignored her. It was a lovely setting, a Sunday brunch/lunch/afternoon on the porch, with a tiny bit of wind and the sun was shinning. And there was only one bug (a fly) present over the entire event. I don't remember the last I was outside for this long, unless you count working at events, though last time it was muddy so not so pleasant. 

The lovely staff were introduced, Lizzy Ann herself would be running the event, being the crafty one along with Melina of Regnier Cakes, the pastry chef (she makes all things sweet)! As well as the gentleman whose name I forgot (sorry!) who makes coffee for those non-tea drinkers like me. A question/comment: I would have thought that the woman behind Regnier Cakes would have been Regina? 

We're missing a place setting (the only fault of this event) so Emily gave me one of her plates (plate or saucer I forget), though I went to the kitchen and asked for a plain white one - better for focusing on the food. Didn't ask for a teacup as I don't like tea, even if it does smell like chocolate. 


A table of sweet & savory delights, pink lemonade , fruit infused water and crafting! What a great way to spend a Sunday. :) But I do feel as though we're missing centerpiece, not a cake though. The scones were the centerpiece, but I feel as though it should have gotten more attention. The table was set out very well balanced in size and colour. I would have liked to have fake grass on the table - all over.








I forgot to try the fruit infused water as I love the pink lemonade, I mean how often are you offer pink lemonade? But Emily liked it, the pink lemonade was light, refreshingly and fizzy. I love how they were served, in milk bottles with polka dot paper straws that magically neither disintegrated or tasted like paper. 




Savories consisted of a range of wholegrain(white with seeds) finger sandwiches, of which the roast chicken was the best. There was smoked salmon, roast chicken (this one was amazing!), cheese & salad and ham & mustard.

I did feel as though we were missing the classic cucumber sandwiches and fruit salad (though I've never seen this at a high/afternoon tea) but it would have been nice to have some healthy options.




Tea - Not sure where the this came from, but T2 in Chrysanthemum and Osmanthus $6.50 for a pack of two (though I swear when I bought it last year it was a lot cheaper...). This one smelt like chocolate and vanilla, almost tempted to try it, but I didn't feel like asking for a teacup. Le beau normally does that for me, I miss him. Interestingly I'm very different when I'm with him compared to when I'm at work.



Sandwiches - Yes that is ham, no I didn't eat it. I found it on the smoked salmon platter. I gave smoked salmon another go, but I don't like it. To me it tastes uncooked. It's me, not the sandwhich in this case. Roast chicken was amazing though! One of the best sandwiches I've ever had (Jas's lamb & beetroot relish was amazing too), if only I could buy it at a cafe in the city. Think I had about three of those. Emily meanwhile ate a sandwich (4 fingers) and nothing else, with her either tiny appetite or desire to be small. 





At every tea there should be scones, and on this occasion we had two. A cheese and chives was dry and a bit salty to my liking. I would have liked to have this with sour cream. The plain scones were perfect though, accompanied with a dollop of freshly whipped soft cream and raspberry jam.

To eat these twist them open (so you get two halves) and butter them (optional) spread jam and add cream on top. Don't like Emily spread it on top of entire scone and chomp down. Unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention to see how she'd consume it. :P Though she's never been to high tea or any tea before so it's ok not to know on your first time. The scones were at room temperature, as it was a buffet setting. Tastes fine though at home I'd heat it a little in the oven. Also add raisins (but not everyone likes them).


By now you're wondering of I did anything other than eat (I know Emily was wondering that), and the answer to that is yes. Lizzy went around to each table and showed us how to make three things, with a background as an P-12 art teacher for 15 years she was a good teacher (unlike the passive unorganized last month). The first was origami cranes, because they're a classic (and something I struggle with). The coloured side of the crane is on the outside of the first fold.



When completed we got to put these in a lovely glass bubble to take home. I love these glass bubbles! Very popular at weddings, add a single flower or tealight candle. With fishing line string they seem to float! There's a place on ebay that's got them in a set at a great price. But in-stores they must be expensive. 



Next we made pompoms in between sips of pink lemonade, I made mine too big, whoops. I do like how it's different, using a variety of fibers. With a glue gun (I want one of these, but don't use a whole stick of glue, or use more than just a dot to justify it) we put hot glue on a nice clean stick and stuck that into the pompom and then added a felt left (which later at home I'd decorate).









With a slight breeze and pompom trimming we got fibers everywhere. Including on the petite fours. I was going to get three for the picture though there as four in the series. The sticky date was very sweet as expected and amazing. I also liked the lemon meringue, the caramel topped with mousse tart could be improved by using salted caramel (from Caramelicious). And the chocolate bite was nice, but not my style - nothing wrong with it though. I'm just not a chocolate cake person, unless it's very light and spongie.






In between dessert courses, we attempted to make a simple-looking wish bracelet using a fishermen's knot. This was challenging and didn't happen for us. You can buy the same bracelet on ebay, the knots are so you can slide the string to fit any size wrist.










The last course (it was self serve by the way) was going to be things in a jar, though the sticky date was super sweet and hence I wasn't feeling up to eating both jars. And as Emily isn't jas she won't eat what I didn't for a review, that and she barely ate anything other than four ribbon sandwiches and a scone. 

There were two jars, milk chocolate mousse and a cheesecake - which was amazing! The highlight of the buffet (well the sweet section anyway, that chicken sandwhich was amazing, if Mel had a cafe in the city I'd totally buy it). It was much lighter than the no-bake one I made (though really that was made just for pictures, for a project). I do hope Mel makes this one again for the next event. 




We had a great time, as Lizzy said they over-catered which is a good thing (the Unleash Creative event totally under-catered in terms of sweets) as there seemed to be at least one and more of everything for everyone, though the women at this event didn't seem to be into food as much as at unleash. 

Organization was great, especially as this is the first event in a series of collaboration with Lizzy Ann Studio (link) and Regnier Cakes. There was time for everyone to complete all three activities and take home finished products. 

Prices, an important factor when deciding to go to an event or not. For this event (further events may have different prices?) tickets for adults were $80 (ok it says $79, but I studied marketing and it's the opposite effect on me, where a 9 makes something look bigger). Tickets for kids under 15 are cheaper and your toddler 3 and under is free (obviously they need you to be there too). Considering that the Windsor buffet is $75 I think it's pretty expensive, but you do get to make things. But still I would say it's too expensive, and I would have put the value at $40-50. With a concession price of $40. Applying price to the target market (your audience) which seems to be mothers and grandmothers and perhaps young professionals (30+) and the geographical location the pricing was alright. I am not the target audience (20-something student, not particularly on a student budget, though tries not too spend too much) though do think it was a bit $$$. 



The next two events (picture above, click to enlarge as always) sound just as fun as this one, a theme, food ad crafting. On August 10th, well you can read the picture above. :P But the 'Under the Stars' theme sounds amazing! I'd love to go to that, if I can (pretty sure that's almost right before exams, and October has a lot of events I'll be working at). By now you're wondering how do I get into these craft events, and as they're in a few months time you'll have to follow it on fb to find out. ;)



Mentone Station, a short walk from the church. A unique looking cafe that I'll be back to try, in June (I have holidays) after I get their menu. Interesting name (OUAT!). We were very lucky and the train came within minutes on that Sunday.







Emily's pompom was small and neat, she didn't like it though so I kept it. I love how these two pompoms standing in a bottle could symbolize us. In personality, zest and size. She's petite by the way, apparently I am too (don't think so) but only because I'm short though don't qualify for the dress size. This is not the final version, I'm going to jazz up the leaves.

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