Neighbourhood: Banneton Bakery

Can I just put my hands in the air and kick my legs out to honour the awesome that is carbohydrates? Our neighbourhood somehow lies in the midst of a sensational array of fantastic eateries that are both luxurious and affordable. We spent our usual Wednesday date day all over the place, enjoying and absorbing the last of the gentle Spring temperatures before the heat storms into our midst. 

Banneton Bakery immediately proved itself as a hole in the wall destination for masterfully baked and epically delicious sweet and savoury goods. We'd planned a tasting visit for some time and now I've now been twice more as I sit writing this. Straight away, I'm going to suggest that you find a way to justify a visit to one of their three outlets near you*. While we sought their New Farm outlet (all products are baked on site in Woolloongabba) for an early afternoon breakfast it quickly became a breakfast-lunch-afternoon tea affair that not only compromised our dumpling date but our Very Serious Shopping Plans. Once we culled our order from six to three pastries we were able to settle in and really enjoy the beautifully petite space. In between switching one of the three Delicious magazines I'd snaffled once seated and sneaking photos of décor then food, Simon maintained a masterfully steady hold of his broadsheet and coffee, making Banneton a relaxing and inspiring nook. With our food on the table, however, we threw relaxation out the window and attempted an even split of our order of Apple Nougatine, Pear and Dark Chocolate Brioche, and an Almond Pretzel. Despite achieving this peacefully, we kept exclaiming how special the experience was and how dangerous having such a spot five minutes from our door. Needless to say, we managed to make our way back there the following Friday.

Banneton Bakery is a fantastic addition to our local food scene, and Brisbane as a whole. Our lovely friends, Kirk and Leanne (of LittleLam), informed us that Aria serves Bannetton bread. Additionally, their range of savoury products is friendly to those with more sensitive tummies or interested in a more traditional range of baked products. Our local Bannetton won us over with its special balance of food selection and the thoughtful input of both baristas. That, and the Almond Pretzel. With its lashings of praline, it was the ideal dipper for my cappuccino. 

*Outlet information here. Just you try not to run.   

Bus Magic

When I was little, one of my favourite books was Possum Magic. In between the glorious illustrations, vegemite as a feature, and the illustrations of vegemite, I was read and then read this book ad nauseum. That notion of magic doesn't haunt me, but I find myself wishing that magic was actually real. That there were unexplainable and fantastical elements in this world. That was, until the other night. Today I did an eight-hour shift and in a bizarre shift of kismet, caught the bus home because it was raining. When my bus pulled up, I was treated to the most exceptional surprise of my year thus far*: my 196 was completely decked out for Christmas. These photos really don't do it justice, but it was floor-to-seat-to-ceiling-to-window-to-bus-bell decorations, wreaths and fairy lights. In between sitting there with a goofy, open-mouthed grin and taking a million snaps, I realised that magic does exist. It exists in people, in all of us throughout this land and beyond our seas. It exists in the people that were kind enough to decorate this bus (all 20 of them, the bus driver told me) to spread joy, in the people that let you go ahead of them in line because put others ahead of themselves, in the people that want to learn and know about others so as to understand, and in the parents bringing up children and teaching them the true magic of caring about others. If we can believe in the magic in people, in humanity, that is when we will be a happy world. Right now, I am the happiest girl in the world. Oh, and when I got home to my love, he had picked me frangipanis, which were all over our house. 

*With the seven days remaining.. ;)

Sunshine Revival II

Today summer officially begins but those bright, effervescent slivers of change crept in long ago, almost blinding and at times, unbearably hot. A Queensland summer is challenging and at reliably bipolar. In between morning siestas and daydreaming of a cool change, there are surprise thunderstorms and the creamy revelation of frangipanis from once dehydrated, Alien-esque stumps. In one moment I am condemning the heat and in the next I am gleeful that I can walk home at 8pm underneath the light spatter of freed water sprinklers. Last week, my man sent me a picture of the gigantic mulberry he had scavenged from the bush in his mum's garden. Meanwhile my girlfriend's and I had been sitting in a courtyard, immobile except for the moments where we refilled our sangria mugs and took another handful of frozen raspberries. That is our summer and she deserves to be honoured with plans like this.

Rules Of Summer:

Watch the New Year's sunrise.

Swim in the dark sea.

Share hot chips and milkshakes in the park during Sunday twilights.

Enjoy late dinners on the deck by candlelight and citronella lamps.

Make green smoothies every morning.

See a movie by star and moonlight.

Travel to my family's beach house for a weekend.

Visit a coastal market every month.

Dance to our friend's band at The Fox.

Host a vinyl listening and whisky tasting party.

Draft goals for 2013 over gelato.

Capture these moments with a disposable camera.