A June Trip to Brisbane

 A chance to escape Tassie winter for the warmer sub-tropical climes of Brisbane. Yes Please!

One of my best friends was getting married and there was no way in the world I wouldn't be there for it.

It's difficult for Gudge and I to travel interstate together, we have our cat son who needs care and love and we don't have a huge network of friends down here. We thought we'd reach out to our friends back in Queensland to see if anyone would like to come down for a holiday and house and cat-sit and we found a taker! Percy cat was nervous at first but settled in well, we received photo and video updates and we could relax, and enjoy a trip to our old home and spend time with our nearest and dearest.

We were incredibly blessed in that Gudgies' sister was abroad and kindly allowed us to stay at her house for our 5 days in Brisbane. This was perfect for us. We had our own space, didn't feel like we were imposing on anyone, it was fab.

We arrived on the Thursday on a fantastic flight with Virgin (Economy X, worth ever cent). We got to the house, picked up some groceries and settled in.

The next day I had promised the bride to be that I would assist with the bridal bouquets. I have never created a bouquet before, but I love plants and flowers. How did I do?

Inspo pic | Bouquet I made

That night, the supper club of old was reunited. Carly, Anna and I used to love catching up for wonderful meals in Brisbane when I lived there and were absolutely generous in their offer to take me out for a special birthday dinner.

Carly, with her finger on the pulse chose the restaurant Central for our dinner. Modern Chinese in Brisbane's CBD.

Straight away the entrance is dramatic.

Drapes, hanging Peking Duck, concrete and a staircase down...

photo courtesy of broadsheet.com.au

Inside felt like being transported to the trendiest restaurant in New York, like we would be seated next to the cast of Sex and the City, but not intimidatingly so. It just felt fresh and cool and very, very 'the place to be'... but not in a wanky way.

We hadn't seen each other in years so the three of us were so keen to catch up, voiding all responsibilities of, you know opening the drinks menu to select a wine. The waiters and service was absolutely incredible, possibly the best I've had. From being asked 'still or sparkling water?' and having it poured from the other side the moment we told them. It was like that all night. The girls had subtly wished me a happy birthday and I was brought a gratis birthday cocktail. The service was 11 out of 10 all night.

It was suggested that rather than the banquet menu which we were leaning toward that we select the share plates we were drawn to, so we went that way.

menu shot courtesy of Central Restaurant and Bar

It was a beautiful looking menu. We started with the scallops. Fresh, perfectly cooked with wonderful flavours. To drink, following my Lychee and Champagne cocktail, we shared a bottle of French Beaujolais wine.

We followed this with the Peking Duck Potsticker. Gosh they were just so pretty. Also very tasty.

I was very much looking forward to the prawn and crab spring roll. I love spring rolls in general, and I can happily say this was one of the best spring rolls I have ever tried.

two pics because it was my favourite

Following this, the XO Chicken San Choi Bao

Another item I was particularly looking forward to was the Crispy Eggplant. It was texturally wonderful but I thought the vinegar dressing to be a little much. I had a piece with no dressing and it was wonderful.

To round out our savoury dishes, we had the Black Angus Stirfry and Fried Rice which was also excellent, but the potato addition to this was a real unexpected highlight.

We were recommended the mango pudding for a light dessert to share and it rounded out the meal perfectly.

This was one of the loveliest and enjoyable dining experiences I've had in some time. I have no doubt my company was a big part of that (thank you Anna and Carly), but to our wonderful, funny servers, thank you, you really made it for us. To Central Restaurant, you absolutely nailed it.

Thank you also to Brisbane for your 50c train fares. Amazing!

The following day was the wedding.

We had some running around to do in the a.m. and treated ourselves to our favourite fast food.

The wedding of my glorious friend Hailey, to her partner Rob was just lovely. Warm, small, very romantic. We were treated to grazing tables, pizza, and as much prosecco as I could handle (which isn't all that much these days). We both had a wonderful time and I feel so lucky to have Hailey in my life and that she wanted us there on such a special day.

Sunday we had planned a little, casual get together in the afternoon and a walk around Roma Street parklands in the morning. I've always loved Roma Street parklands. The parklands turn 25 this year and I remember the opening and always enjoyed visiting when I lived in Brisbane and spent quite a lot of time there when I lived in Spring Hill.

It has matured beautifully and I loved being there and eyeing off plants that I can't grow back in our cool-temperate garden back home.

We enjoyed our afternoon at Sea Legs Brewery and caught up with a wonderful group of people. Also- great Frickles, Perogis and Loaded Fries!

Monday we went to DFO (Outlet shopping) before a final catch up with Hails where she treated me to a fantastic steak at Bracken Ridge Tavern. Steak 9.5/10, chips 10/10. Thank you so much for the birthday meal, Hails!

Growing up in Brisbane, Bracken Ridge was on the outskirts, Brisbane is growing and changing so much and the renovation here is testament of how much the boondock suburbs are now desirable places to live. Crazy to me that hasn't lived in Brisbane for 8 years now.

photo courtesy of urbanlist.com.au

As if she hadn't done enough for me. the new bride drove us to the airport at 5.45am. Brisbane Airport decided fire alarms would be a soothing soundtrack for our morning, but that aside, we aced our exit-row-to-ourselves hack again and loved getting home.

Our favourite Cheese and Chocolate Makers, Coal River Farm have opened a second Cafe in the upgraded Hobart airport, and for the price of a couple of microwaved Jetstar toasties we decided to have some Poached Free-range Eggs with Halloumi, and Mixed Berry and Chocolate Waffles. We were very happy with our choice.

A great 'Welcome Home'!

Finally, some birthday treats on arrival home.

Eating Tokyo

Tokyo was the last stop on our amazing trip. We had around 5 days in this incredible city with a population of 37 million. It was beautiful, vibrant, MASSIVE, quirky. I can absolutely understand the reason Tokyo has become such a bucket list spot.

I think you could spend 3 months in Tokyo and not see all that you wanted to.  We certainly saw some amazing things, albeit briefly. And unfortunately Tokyo is when after being on the go, that exhaustion caught up and I inevitably got sick. That aside, I forged though and still have incredible memories.

Shinjuku Gyoen is the Central Park of Tokyo and was one of my must sees! It was very close to our hotel and I ended up going twice. 

It was an incredible garden and was a little piece of calm in the middle of the city.

I couldn't resist when I saw this adorable food truck.

It was not cheap at AUD 13 but my goodness it was delicious. A really tasty hot dog on a perfect bread roll with pickled veg which are produced in the garden itself. Very fresh, very delicious and the vendor was really lovely and friendly. 

On our other visit, I stopped in at Tsubura, a cafe in the gardens. They offered a small selection of bentos, sweets, hot and cold drinks and I had a gyodon and home made lemonade slushy while dad had a latte. 

Really sweet presentation, and a nice morning tea. Around AUD25 for the bento, drink and coffee.

A month before we departed I had the most stressful time acquiring tickets to the Ghibli Museum. Logging on at 10am on the dot as told to, I was put into a queue where I was 4099th in line. Tickets are only $10 per person, but are very limited and very coveted. The museum was tiny but very lovely, and absolutely worth the trouble. We wouldn't have journeyed out to Mitaka if we hadn't had tickets and wouldn't have discovered the beautiful Inokashira Park, which was utterly Ghibli in itself. (photography is not allowed inside the museum)

While at the park we stopped for a beer at Italian Restaurant Isentai and decided to share one of the woodfired pizzas. It was beautiful as well as incredibly tasty.

This was the house special and had a base of mascarpone and fresh cream and was topped with prosciutto, rocket, honey and edible flowers.

On one of our last days, I was feeling particularly poorly, but I said to dad I wanted to venture out but I didn't want to do any of the thinking or planning, I just wanted to be lead around. Bless him he did such a wonderful job. 

He knew I wanted to see some seaside and he knew I found the subway and metro incredibly stressful, so se booked us tickets on the open top bus (we had previously open top bussed and ADORED it) and chose the route that would take us portside to Odaiba. 

It was a beautiful out-of-the-way spot that we assume is where Tokyoites spend their weekends and holidays. It was a perfect day and the beach was speakling blue and clean as anything and no hussle and bustle.

We stopped in at a cafe, Sea Side Cafe Solaris that had a decidedly Hawaiian feeling to it for coffee, I also had a cream cheese pretzel which has that perfect sweet and salty combo going on.

We wandered around the area for an hour or two before hopping on the bus back to Ginza. We drove past the Tsukiji Market which resembled a heaving mass of bodies and took a raincheck before finding a bite to eat at the cutest restaurant we'd passed, Il Barocco.

We were lucky to get a seat as it was getting towards the end of lunch time on a Saturday. Inside felt like a traditional Italian Trattoria, not a tourist in sight and smells of deliciousness thick in the air.

I started with a blood orange mimosa and dad a beer with our garlic prawns and house made focaccia (to dip). They were INCREDIBLE.

Our other entree was slow cooked pork shoulder served with mushrooms which was also gorgeous.

Mains were spaghetti marinara and pizza el fungi.

The pizza was very nice, but the star was the spagetti. It had perfect flavour that was in no way overbearing. The seafood was fresh and cooked perfectly and these two actually complimented each other perfectly.

And this place we chose at least partially for the outside of the restaurant.

Cheap and cheerful Chinese! My sweet and sour pork was perfect and I could have eaten two or maybe even three serves. 

Check out dad's plate, actually it was the size of a platter! With fried rice that dad said was superb, fried chicken and gyoza.

This is the final of the Japan series. I feel so lucky to have been invited to join my father on this trip of a lifetime. My dad is the perfect travel partner. I admire his calm in stressful situations, his never-ending youthful adventurousness and his open and empathetic understanding of those around him.

Love you, Papa.