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Mother's Day and North Point Cafe

Yesterday, Herself and Miss Eagle did their Mother's Day ritual and visited the North Point Cafe. The North Point Cafe across from the beach at the end of North Road in Brighton is a puppy friendly place.

As can be seen from the picture pile above, there were all manner of canine friends at North Point. Of course, we had our FootFoot - a miniature Fox Terrier - with us. Herself is leashing him. We asked to sit at the back of the paved outdoor area. Behind this is a lawn area and then an area of dirt with lots of gnarled, seaside trees where dogs are leashed. Nice silver bowls are available and jugs of water to fill them. Our seating backed on to the lawn area, so when we had finished eating Herself got FootFoot and he was able to be with us. All very civilised for him and for us. One of the wonderful things about taking a dog to North Point is that it is always a great conversation starter. So, as usual, we were soon in conversation with a woman at the next table who had brought the beautiful Sebastian. (See post above) If you are not a dog lover, it might be best to sit inside - but North Point can get crowded so beggars can't always be choosers. A mother and daughter couple came and sat next to us. All the dogs were well behaved except for a Red Setter who barked quite frequently. The mother and daughter left. So if you find babies in restaurants a bit much - you might also find the pooches at the Point are not for you either. We began with Pink Champagne. Herself selected the Smoke Salmon Stack which she thoroughly enjoyed. Miss Eagle's Vegetarian Ciabatta looked a little overwhelmed by the greenery but it was quite delicious.

For afters, it was Blueberry Cheesecake for Herself and a Lemon/Lime Pie for Miss E.

Then a Mocha for Miss E and a Cappuccino for Herself.

We highly recommend the pooch friendly North Point Cafe. We enjoyed our meal and the ambiance. We'll see you again next year, North Point, if not before.

Prices:

• Pink Champagne (2) $12.00
• Vegetarian Ciabatta $12.50
• Smoked Salmon Stack $15.50
• Cheesecake $ 6.50
• Tart $ 6.50
• Mocha $ 3.50
• Cappuccino $ 3.00
• TOTAL $59.50

North Point Cafe, 2b North Road, Brighton Phone: 9596 9196

Mother's Day, Rose and the Cupcake Tower

Miss Eagle hopes that everyone who cares for kids had a beaut day to-day.

Miss Eagle's present from Herself was a Cupcake Tower. Miss Eagle has been dreaming of this since first finding such a thing existed on Woofnanny's blog. A few weeks ago one was advertised in a catalogue. "No", Herself said. "Wait", she said, "until there is a shabby chic one." Miss Eagle agreed.

Then, last Thursday, Miss Eagle spotted THE shabby chic Cupcake Tower in the General Trader at Knox City. The result? Miss Eagle received one as her Mother's Day pressie.

The picture above is of Herself's decoration of the Tower complete with silicone patty pans in a variety of colours. The Cup/Fairy Cakes are still to come - but they are expected to hit the oven this week.

While photographing the tower, Rose turned up to turn it into a Feline Foto Shoot.

Gung hay fat choi!

Food at work is back in the forefront this week. Miss Eagle teamed up with Sau, a Vietnamese colleague, to turn on a celebratory lunch for Vietnamese/Chinese New Year which begins this weekend.

This table was filled with fruit, Chinese mementos, and New Year Cakes.

Red, the traditional colour of luck, was dominant in decoration and in food. Red and green is the traditional colour for food so that placed watermelon top of the list. Strawberries and raspberries accompanied the fruit platter.

Towards the rear at the right is a box full of lucky money envelopes. Now, we couldn't afford money for everyone so every pretty red envelope carried New Year sweets.

Sau has quite a reputation in our department for good food. And she did it again. She gave us Beef Salad and Pork and Vegetable Wraps with Plum Sauce. Here is a vegetarian version of Vietnamese Wraps.

As can be seen, the food was presented in a setting which was Chinese themed for New Year in colours of red and gold. Chinese lanterns hung from the ceiling and red and gold scrolls with New Year wishes for business hung on the windows of the boss's office.

Sau had an opportunity to share some of the customs of the Vietnamese people at New Year with her colleagues. This gave her great pleasure because sometimes conversation centres around her food and cooking skills. This time she was able to share something of how she and her family celebrate this most important occasion on the Vietnamese and Chinese calendar. This year is the Year of the Boar or the Year of the Pig, in particular the Year of the Fire Boar. In China, the Boar ( 豬 ) is associated with fertility and virility. To bear children in the Year of the Pig is considered very fortunate, for they will be happy and honest.

Box Hill, in the leafy eastern suburbs of Melbourne, is home to a significant Chinese community and to-morrow Box Hill will be celebrating from early afternoon to the early hours of Sunday morning. Check out what is planned here.

歲歲平安

Everlasting Peace Year After Year