When the Rain Stops Falling is intricate, clever and thought-provoking. Trying to describe it is like trying to capture  floating mist, but in a bland nutshell you could say that it’s a story about four generations of a family. Although it’s not clear until partway through that the characters are actually linked to each other, as there are numerous characters (both male and female) called Gabriel and characters from other periods silently wander in and out of the action happening at a particular point in time. But it’s not a frustrating, confusing mess – rather, the intriguing mesh of storylines and timeframes really engages your attention, and the layers that are peeled away are enlightening and sometimes shocking.

The main theme of the play is about how the past informs our present and how we must understand our past in order to move forward to the future. This is emphasised by the repetition of dialogue by all the characters as the action skips back and forth in time, from 1950s London to 2039 in Alice Springs. The theatrical staging is also repetitive as everyone drinks fish soup (the significance of fish is apparent later), gazes out the same window and uses the same furniture.

The other theme of the play is about the search for the absent. This drives the emotional impetus as we discover that the characters are missing and looking for lost fathers, husbands, sons and lovers.  The ending, which gathers together all the characters and objects from the past, is particularly beautiful and powerful.

I can’t really say much more about the play without drawing a diagram setting out every single character and every single storyline and how everything is mapped out. My advice – go and see When the Rain Stops Falling for yourself before it closes on 22 November. You’ll be pondering and teasing out the stories from your head for days afterwards.

To read other reviews from the Sydney Morning Herald click here and Australian Stage Online click here.

• When the Rain Stops Falling, QPAC Playhouse, cnr Melbourne and Grey Street, South Brisbane

Today we have a guest post from Jetsetting Mum, making a trip to the Valley to try Flamingo Cafe.

Tucked in an alley on the short Winn Street is the shop-front and the alfresco section of Flamingo Cafe. As the name implies, the place is bold and colourful, full of character. There is no free parking on site or nearby (only metre-parking on McLachlan Street), yet there is no shortage of patrons who manages to find their way there.

The reason for this is simple—good and well-priced food.

I found out that one of the owners of Flamingo Cafe used to operate the small and funky yet extremely busy Yoyomama on Methyr Road. Jettsetting Dad and I liked to go there until there was a change of ownership, then the business declined and eventually folded….

Now back to Flamingo Cafe. It is again small and funky and true to its name, the inside and outside walls have cute cartoon flamingos and palm trees drawn on them. The all-day menu offers a list of interesting, uncommon dishes which can make decisions difficult.

JD and I decided to share two bread dishes. The Rayner’s Ham Apple Coleslaw Spinach Swiss cheese on Rye ($10.00) arrived on a small timber chop-board lined with a white sandwich bag, a  presentation which I found quite creative. Between the toasted rye were thick pieces of ham, slightly crunchy red cabbage coleslaw (I didn’t seem to detect any apple), melted cheese and a generous lashing of wholegrain mustard resulting in a good blend of sweetness and saltiness in taste.

The Labna Avocado Tomato Lemon salt Pepper Toast Topper ($8.50) was a winner. Labna is a smooth creamy yogurt cheese (a low fat alternative to cream cheese). The combination of the ingredients on the toast is absolutely gorgeous in terms of colours, freshness and texture. The basil leaves were so fresh as if they were just picked from the garden. The thick slice of multigrain bread smelled toasty and tasted delicious. Where did they get this bread from?

Despite being quite full, we were tempted to try the home-made Vanilla Slice ($6.50) for dessert. Much to my liking, it was served warm with a big scoop of double cream on the side. The Slice was unremarkable in appearance but definitely remarkable in flavour and texture. It was creamy and smooth without being overly rich. The double cream simply added extra decadence to the enjoyment (calories count had been thrown out of the window on this occasion).

While Flamingo Cafe may be quirky and unconventional in its set-up, it is certainly serious in its quality and preparation of food. Highly recommended!

• Flamingo Cafe, 5B Winn Street, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3252 7557

Coffee Culture is well and truly alive in New Farm and its neighbouring suburbs, if the abundance of coffee shops is of any indication. Amidst this strong competition, Cibo Espresso (New Farm) is doing a vibrant coffee business indeed.

At the centre of the Merthyr Village is an open space not unlike a miniature “piazza”, part of which is enclosed to become the al-fresco section of Cibo. The piazza is always bustling with people and activities. There is no better way to sip your tea or coffee under the cherry red, all-weather umbrellas and watch the world go by. However, if you desire some peace and quiet, there are indoor tables and banquettes. For laptop users, the free wi-fi is a real bonus.

The espresso machine hardly stops at Cibo, starting from seven o’clock in the morning before the rest of the Village wakes up. Undoubtedly, its coffee is consistently excellent (Jetsetting Dad can attest to that). Service is by ordering at the counter, you wait for your name to be called when your drink is ready for pick-up. The system seems to work well. If you happen to be a regular, the friendly staff even remember your name.

Besides beverages, some snacks and light meals are on offer as well. The glass food cabinet displays a range of Italian pastries, cakes and biscuits for the sweet-toothed. We like the ricotta cannoli, in particular. There are also fresh salad, filled pannini, focacce, brioche, etc. One of our favourites is the tuna wrap which makes a satisfying lunch.  The gelati with its variety of flavours are a real treat in the warmer days, too.

Cibo Espresso is a franchised business originating in Adelaide. Its philosophy is to provide traditional Italian food in Australia, in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Their shop in New Farm is doing just that, with friendliness and a smile.

• Cibo Espresso (New Farm), 4/85 Methyr Road, New Farm, +61 7 3358 4359

Jetsetting Dad and I have been going to Vue Lounge for years, occasionally when we were still living on the other side of the city and regularly now that we are locals. There must be good reasons that we keep returning.

Vue Lounge is a busy cafe in the Methyr Village (inside Coles complex) serving good coffee and a wide range of light as well as substantial meals. Its atmosphere is relaxed and casual, its service friendly and quick-paced and its food excellent. Come mealtime and it is always bustling with diners, very often spilling out to the tables on the walkway outside. In between these busy hours, the place is frequented by locals dropping in for a drink to read their newspapers and magazines leisurely or meeting up with some pals for a chat.

Breakfast is a “big” thing at Vue Lounge. It’s “big” on its menu—you’ll need 21 mornings to try each item listed on it, and that’s before you create your own combinations or add on the extras from the long list of accompaniments. It’s “big” on patronage, especially on the weekends, you’ll be lucky to find a table if you come too late. Another “big” is the serving size which is always generous.

On this morning of our visit, I ordered field mushrooms w/haloumi, wilted spinach, pesto and pistachio &walnut sourdough ($13.90). The field mushrooms came plump and juicy, the 2 slices of haloumi were grilled/pan-fried until slightly golden on both sides. The sourdough bread was so good that I had to ask the waitress where they got it from.

JD ordered his usual favourite which is poached eggs with roasted tomato, beetroot relish, aioli and toasted corn bread ($13.50). The 2 eggs arrived soft and runny, as requested. The roasted Roma tomato was juicy and the beetroot relish gave a hint of sweetness and colour to the whole dish.

To finish off, I ordered a hot chocolate ($3.40), requesting “very hot” (I do it whenever I place my order these days, in every eatery, after drinking quite a lot of the disgustingly tepid “hot” chocolate). It didn’t disappoint this time, the chocolate was frothy and hot and the sweetness spot-on.  A top mark goes to the barista. JD ordered his cappuccino ($3.40). It’s thumbs up, as usual.

Vue Lounge also offers an extensive lunch menu, everything from sandwiches and wraps to pizza and pasta to salads. There is a $12 pizza and pasta offer from Tuesday to Saturday, starting from 3pm. A few more substantial dishes are also on the menu in the evening. It is licensed.

With such good food and good price, little wonder that Vue Lounge is so popular with the locals and the non-locals alike.

• Vue Lounge, 83 Methyr Road, New Farm, +61 7 3358 6511

I have never written an advertorial on the blog, but in this instance I am going to make an exception.

Why? Because CycleStyle is my business :–)

That’s right – while you’ve all been reading about my eating, drinking and shopping exploits, I’ve been establishing a little business on the side and I think it’s pretty HOT.

CycleStyle is an online store with stylish clothing and accessories for the urban cyclist. Basically people just like me! I don’t own a car, I ride a bike everywhere and I want to look good on and off the bike. Whether I’m going to work, the shops or the movies I don’t want to dress up in unflattering, flourescent cycle gear – no one needs to see my bum encased in lycra!

And don’t worry, I won’t be constantly bombarding you all with CycleStyle stuff – this isn’t what BNE: HOT OR NOT is about. Occasionally if there’s something spectacular I think you should know about then I’ll post something here. Otherwise you can keep up to date with CycleStyle news via the CycleStyle blog, CycleStyle on Facebook or via twitter.

I’m just starting out so and learning the ropes as I go – so please feel free to send me any feedback/suggestions/comments to  joyce@cyclestyle.com.au.

Over and out!

From tomorrow until 1 August the Gallery of Modern Art will be holding Australia’s largest ever exhibition  of Mueck’s realistic portrayals of creased, flabby, veiny and hairy people of all ages, genders and conditions – and one very large trussed chicken. Some of the sleeping subjects were so real I fully expected them to be breathing softly.

Mueck’s method of enlarging or shrinking the proportions of his subjects makes them unnverving, poignant, humorous and puzzling.

I think his large works were more striking for me, as the size amplified the people’s often wary, frightened, isolated and quizzical expressions. The small works turned the people into dolls and it was easier to feel detached from their emotions – though others may disagree.

I actually found it more interesting to observe other people’s reactions to the artworks rather than the sculptures themselves. In particular, parents seem to have a penchant for posing their frightened kids next to the giant bloodied baby or the huge hairy naked man. A far cry from Disneyland, Dad.

I was also bemused by this girl who squatted, transfixed by a dangling chicken’s head. ‘Stay there love, let me take a photo of you with the big chicken.’

To read more reviews of the exhibition, check out Art Blart.

This review originally published on our sister blog, MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne when the exhibition was showing at the National Gallery of Victoria.

As for the disproportionate numbers of HOTs over NOTs, as we said before the reason for that is because we choose where we go, we don’t get paid to write reviews and we pay our own way. So of course it’s less likely that we’ll be heading to places and events that we suspect will be a waste of our time and money. It seems that we are not disappointed often enough :–)

Happy reading!

On my latest count, in the suburbs of Fortitude Valley and New Farm, there are five Indian eateries along Brunswick Street alone (the 3 to 4 km strip from Ann Street to the New Farm Park), then there’s one on Methyr Road, plus another one on James Street. No sooner had Mehfil Indian Restaurant closed its door than Rangla Punjab opened theirs on the same site. Just a little overwhelming!

I must admit that I have only poor knowledge of the geography of the Indian subcontinent. So when I saw the name “Punjab”, I took it that the cuisine would be a little different. However, a look at the extensive menu showed that the dishes on offer are predominantly the usual fare found in other Indian eateries. So JD and I pored over the menu searching for something “Punjabi”.

Our first choice was Amritsari Goat, mild (prepared on the bone, a tasty and traditional rural Punjab dish $16.00) as we don’t get to eat goat often. The sauce was spicy enough, albeit a little oily, and the goat meat was tender and came off the bone easily. As a matter of fact, it tasted even better after we had drained off the oil and ate the leftovers the next day.

Punjab Dal, mild ($13.00) was a creamy and flavoursome mashed red lentil curry. The Tandoori Chicken (full $15.00) was a little bland, though the meat was tender and juicy without being overcooked as happens commonly. Both curries came with a tub of cooked saffron basmati rice.

Overall, Rangla Punjab is a place to go for some decent Indian food of good value. It provides home delivery for $5.00 and good news for the locals is that delivery is free in New Farm.  There are other Rangla Punjab restaurants in McDowall, Newmarket and Taigum.

• Rangla Punjab Indian Restaurant, 938 Brunswick Street, New Farm +61 7 3254 4888

Despite not being their target market, I enjoyed my Hot Mama beef burger with salad, harissa and tzatiki. The beef patty was a bit overcooked for my taste, thus lacking juiciness, but still the quality of the meat was evident. At the time of ordering I was given the choice of hot or burn ya face off hot….and I can confirm that the latter is really very hot in a masochistic kind of way. RM similarly enjoyed his Zen Hen chicken burger with satay sauce, although I’m not sure whether he realised there was herb mayo in it (he has a deathly fear of mayonnaise). We also shared a small portion of chips, which were properly fried and sprinkled with herbs. Eating with our hands, letting the juices run down our fingers, basking in the Sunday sun – it was the perfect weekend carbo-loading lunch.

For more burger options in the area, try Burger Urge.

Grill’d, 421 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3252 5822 (also Bulimba, Garden City Mt Gravatt, South Bank, Chermside, Rosalie, Ascot)

In general SONO is not cheap – it’s a restaurant for expensive and refined Japanese fine dining. However, if you can make it on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, you can partake in the good value $25 lunch menu. A large tray is brought out to you with much ceremony, and it contains several slices of salmon sashimi or prawn avocado sushi, a dish of garden salad dressed with a sharp vinaigrette, a bowl of soothing and rich miso soup, steamed rice and your choice of one of the five main courses – chicken teriyaki, mini wagyu sukiyaki, simmered pork belly, salmon teriyaki and assorted tempura.  My pork belly was soft and juicy, RM’s tempura was pretty good although a little on the heavy side, but I think the best option was W and D’s  mini wagyu sukiyaki, which came served in an earthenware hotpot steaming with slices of beef, a rectangle of tofu and various vegetables.

You can’t get much better than $25 for a filling meal in lovely surroundings. Note that SONO has a sister restaurant in the city on Queen Street Mall but the $25 lunch menu is not available there.

• SONO Restaurant Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules St, Hamilton +61 7 3268 6655

Jocelyn’s Provisions is evidence of how a small business providing great products can build such strong brand loyalty that it draws customers in again and again, despite steady price rises.

My relationship with Jocelyn’s Provisions goes back a long way. I first encountered their beautiful wares in the early days of the Powerhouse Farmers Markets – in particular, I lusted after their chocolate and black poppy seed brioche loaf, a deliciously indulgent dark chocolate and butter treat which only cost around $6. I would buy a loaf at every opportunity, even when the prices started creeping up past the $10 mark.

Since then, Jocelyn’s Provisions have become so successful that they’ve given up their market stall and now concentrate on keeping the hoards at bay in their delightfully fragrant store at Centro on James. Sadly, I’m not sure they produce the labour-intensive chocolate and black poppy seed brioche loaf any more as they now focus on just cakes and pastries. Over the years all of the products I’ve tried have been delicious and for that they get a HOT. Up until now my love for my Jocelyn’s Provisions has been unconditional, but now my HOT is tempered by a little gripe about the prices.

Yes yes, I know they are artisanal bakers, not a supermarket. But I regularly haunt artisanal bakeries and in my view sometimes Jocelyn’s Provisions are really over-stretching the loyalty of their customers with their prices. I’ve never heard of any place selling a muffin or friand for $5.50 each, or a single melting moment biscuit for $4.20. Fortunately, they still produce their best value item, the mini bar cakes ($8.50) which can easily feed 4-6 people with a nice cup of tea.

I visit Jocelyn’s Provisions every few months, and every time I experience a little jolt with the climbing prices. I’ll be interested to see whether their customers ever get squeezed to breaking point. I for one will not be buying another fruit-filled, but ultimately nothing special, over-priced muffin from them again. I’m sticking with their caramel and pear bar cake.

Jocelyn’s Provisions, Centro On James, Shop 8 Cnr James & Doggett Sts, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3852 3799

Sage on Ann is another fairly new restaurant in Brisbane CBD. Business took Jetsetting Dad and I again to the city centre and we decided to try this new place after reading a couple of good reviews from the local papers and The Courier Mail.

Just for a change I’m going to do this review in a reverse order and comment on the dessert before the main meals.

Before me in the cold cabinet were three cakes—a chocolate cake, an orange and poppy seed cake and a Spanish cheesecake. They were single-layered without any decorations; honestly, they looked rather boring. The cheesecake, in particular, looked a little crumbly.  Well, the word “Spanish” suggested something different from the common cheesecake so we decided to give it a try. Now my new motto is: “Don’t judge a cake by its appearance”.  The cheesecake was simply fantastic – light, with a “melt-in-your–mouth” texture, and just the right dose of cheesy flavour and sweetness. When I commented on how good the cake was, one of the friendly staff told me that all of their food was made on the premises and they’re trying to offer “something different”.

Their savoury menu does offer something different, including cheese and macaroni (very retro); salad nicoise with fresh seared salmon; roasted pork belly on Vietnamese salad; and German bratwurst in a roll with a choice of condiments which come in small jars brought to the diner’s table. Freshly made sandwiches and wraps are also offered.

Now rewind back to our main meals. We were placing our order at the counter, still undecided, when we saw a tray of steak pies being lifted out, piping hot, from the kitchen oven. They looked huge and totally irresistible in their individual ceramic dishes. So that decided that. Our pie arrived promptly at our table topped with mushy green peas. The puff pastry was light and crispy and the filling was hot with tender beef, chunks of vegetables and plenty of gravy. For $8.90 it made a very satisfying lunch dish.

We also shared a plate of wild mushroom risotto ($13.5). I must admit that I’m a diehard risotto fan. Despite numerous disappointments, I’m always in search of a good risotto. Now I think I’ve found one. Our risotto was perfectly cooked, smooth and creamy, yet al dente without being too crunchy. The stock was flavoursome without being overly cheesy or buttery. The finely cut spring onions added a refreshing dimension to the flavour. It is definitely a dish worth returning for.

Always a discerning coffee drinker, Jetsetting Dad gave a thumbs up for his cappuccino ($3.35).

Our only complaint was about the ventilation in the kitchen. Apparently, it needs an upgrade. On the day of our visit, the air-con wasn’t working too efficiently and the greasy kitchen odour which wafted from the semi-open kitchen to the dining area was a bit overwhelming. Other than that, it was a very pleasant lunch.

For other great lunch options in the CBD, try Top Sushi, Boulevard St Michel and Vapiano.

• Sage on Ann, 140 Ann St, Brisbane +61 7 3221 4471

Deep in the archives for both BNE: HOT OR NOT and MEL: HOT OR NOT you will find reviews and promotions for the skincare brand Aesop, as our founder Jetsetting Joyce has located nirvana with this range of skin, hair and body products.

Following our recent promotion of the Aesop range, we were kindly invited to visit the Adelaide Street store to sample the fine goods and friendly service that Aesop has to offer.

Now I’m one of the most uneducated girls I know when it comes to skin and body products and if it weren’t for my good friend and beauty therapist Princess, I’d still be committing the ultimate skin care sin of washing my face with everyday body soap and moisturizing with sorbolene cream!  So when I step into stores that ooze sophistication when it comes to skin care, I’m always a little unnerved and intimidated that they’ll treat me with contempt.  Not the case with Aesop.

The store manager Alison was very accommodating to my naïve ways when it comes to looking after my skin.  She took the time to ask me about my normal cleansing routine (without judging me) and didn’t show any glimpses of going the hard sell.  As I described my lifestyle at a high level and what’s important to me as far as maintaining healthy skin goes, she gradually lined up a range of products that we could play with.

I should mention at this point that the Aesop store is uniquely set out as one long large work bench, with a couple of industrial sized sinks and funky taps where the staff can perform hand treatments for customers to sample the products.  In the middle of the work bench is a perfect display of the product range and promotional packages – whoever does their marketing is a clever little so and so.

I felt very spoilt and pampered as Alison went through the range of products, from face cleansers and exfoliants, to toners, serums and moisturizers.  I was running out of patches of skin to test them on, but it didn’t matter.  The aroma of the products was instantly relaxing and not overbearing in any way.  The fresh scent of citrus and indefinable (to my uncultured nose) herb and plant extracts was divine and I couldn’t wait to take a stash home and pamper myself some more.

Lucky for me, I was fresh out of facial cleanser and moisturizer so Alison didn’t have to try too hard to make a sale.  For myself, I walked away with the fabulous face cleanser (200ml, $47), the camellia nut facial hydrating cream (60ml, $43) and the rind aromatique body balm (120ml, $33).  I purchased the Rosetti gift pack ($95) for my Mum consisting of the resurrection aromatique hand wash and hand balm, the rejuvenate aromatique body balm, rosehip seed lip cream and coriander seed soap slab citrus body balm.  Personally I think we’re both glowing!

Knowing I was only a couple of weeks from walking down the aisle, Alison was kind enough to also throw in samples of parsley seed exfoliant and anti-oxidant serum plus several packs of deliciously gooey vitamin C infused gel face mask.

Since its inception in 1987, the Aesop philosophy maintains that every product is made with the same attention to detail that they believe should be applied to life at large, taking into consideration the needs of the consumer’s skin, the elements of their environment, and the constraints on their time.  They advocate the use of their products as part of a balanced lifestyle and this is evident through their marketing, store management and of course their delicious products.

(All photographs thanks to Aesop and Michael Warnock)

• Aesop, Shop GL35 Adelaide St, Queens Plaza, Brisbane +61 7 3229 1337

I am partial to Thai massage and it’s always on my “must-do” list every time I visit Thailand or transit through. Therefore, I could hardly contain my excitement when Northern Style Thai Massage Spa opened its doors a short while ago. That means I can have a Thai massage any time I want to without having to go to Thailand.

I would describe Thai massage as an “active” massage as the recipient has to work with the therapist to get the benefits. It involves continuous deep tissue rubbing and pressing, body stretching and joint manipulation. No oil is used. So there is no way you can lie down and sleep through it like a normal relaxation massage.

In order to find out if their massage techniques are “authentic’ Thai, I phoned to book for a one-hour appointment (normally $80, opening special $69). The spa is located on a quiet and leafy strip of Lamington Street. The inside area is quite small. There are three treatment rooms closed by sliding doors together with a waiting area. The simple decor and the soft lighting gives a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere. A glass of cold water is offered to the waiting clients and then a hot cup of lemongrass tea is offered after the massage.

I was led into a massage room with 2 mats on the floor and was given a clean set of pyjamas to change into. The therapist then softly walked in. She told me to lie stomach down and put my head on the big soft pillow. Next she wrapped my foot with a hot towel and start massaging them by acupressure, blissful…..

For the whole hour, the therapist worked on my tense muscles, pulled and stretched my limbs and torso, it was like having a massage as well as a good stretch exercise. At the end of it, I felt so much “lighter”. That’s what a Thai massage should be like.

Northern Style Thai Massage Spa also offers a range of other treatments as well. It’s worth paying them a visit for a good Thai experience.

• Northern Style Thai Massage Spa, Shop 6, 27 Lamington St, New Farm

Is it possible for a pizza to be healthy and tasty?

Gourmet pizza makers Crust have started selling a range of pizzas called ‘Healthier choice‘. It’s not just a meaningless euphemism for ‘vegetarian’ or ‘fewer toppings’ – the freshly made pizzas have literally been given the National Heart Foundation tick of approval, which means that they meet the Tick‘s strict standards for serving size, saturated fat, salt and vegetable/fibre content.

What it translates to is a medium sized pizza fit for one, with a wholemeal base and a balance of ingredients which are still delicious but won’t leave you burping up fat and grease into the wee hours. I’ll certainly be heading back to try out the rest of the Healthier choice range.

Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar, Shop 2/20 Racecourse Rd, Hamilton +61 7 3268 7922

One of RM’s favourite food discoveries in BNE is CJ’s Pasta, the fresh pasta purveyors located at Centro on James. I’m not exaggerating, every time we visit Brisbane he starts agitating about having their pasta for dinner, specifically their specialty ravioli.

On our most recent visit, we tried the grilled prawn with chilli jam and shallot ravioli ($28/kg) with the Thai yellow curry, corn and pumpkin sauce ($10). This produced four generous serves of perfectly crinkled pasta parcels encasing a solidly packed filling of tender prawn meat – you won’t find your shirt front squirted with pasta water when you bite into these babies. The chunky coconut cream-based sauce continued the fusion flavour theme, and for those who like heat it benefits from a bit of freshly chopped chilli.

CJ’s Pasta is not the cheapest fresh pasta around, but it’s about as far removed from the flacid  Latino Fresh as apples are to zebras. I think it’s well worth the extra money to pay for such quality.

CJ’s Pasta, Centro on James II, Shop 7, 31 James St, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3257 3321

The first foray of Tom Ford, uber-fashion designer, into film is an intense and elegiac work about the nature of love, loneliness, repression and the small poignant moments in life. In A Single Man Firth plays an English professor living in Los Angeles who is trying to cope with the death of Jim, his partner of sixteen years. Jim’s family were not going to tell George of the death and did not permit him to attend the funeral, and George’s inability to publicly mourn his terrible broken heart leads him to decide to kill himself.

Based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel of the same name, the story starts from as the morning alarm goes off in his immaculate designer home, which provides no joy or comfort. We then watch as George gets his affairs in order before his planned suicide that evening. He says goodbye to his flighty friend Charley (played to perfection by Julianne Moore with a rich and indolent English accent), withdraws his insurance papers from his safety deposit box, makes an effort to compliment his secretary and housekeeper and lays out instructions as to what he will wear in his coffin.

These activities are all shadowed by a bleached-out shade of grey and his brief encounters with various people over the course of the day, including his intense student Kenny Potter (Nicholas Hoult of Skins fame), the pretty child next door and a Spanish gigolo are the only events that bring colour, literally, to his life.

Tom Ford’s background as a fashion designer particularly suited this film I thought because it is all about the nuances of details. Besides the distinctive use or lack of colour to mark sadness and light, Ford seemed particularly fond of extreme close-ups – of eyes, mouths, hands, cigarette ends. I guess all the little details that become distinct and noteworthy when you know you’re about to die.

[Spoiler alert] Not having read the book I didn’t know how the film would conclude but for some reason I didn’t expect the ending – I guess I was hoping that new love might relieve George from his grief and loneliness. As it was I came out of the cinema hugging RM tightly and being grateful that I was not alone.

• Avenue Q, Playhouse, QPAC, Southbank

“Oh no” I thought as I bit into my choc top and the blood splattered on screen, “It’s going to be two hours of grim prison violence”. Fortunately, Jacques Audiard’s film is more than that – it’s a fascinating study into the ability of an entrepreneurial spirit to find opportunities everywhere, even inside prison walls.

Malik el Djebena (Tahar Rahim) is a 19-year old of North African origin who is chosen by Cesar Luciani (Niels Arestrup), the head honcho of the prison’s reigning Corsican mafia, to kill a another prisoner who is going to testifying against the mob. In fear of retribution, Malik commits the murder, and as a result is rewarded with Luciani’s favour by becoming a lackey for the Corsican gang with special privileges.

While in prison the illiterate Malik not only learns to read French but secretly teaches himself Corsican to learn about the workings of the prison mafia. When Luciani arranges periods of leave for Malik so that he can conduct various criminal missions and meetings, Malik takes the opportunity to do some work on the side by setting up a drugs business with his friend on the outside.

While pretty much all of the characters are unsavoury criminals, in Malik Audiard has given us an anti-hero who I found myself admiring for his ambition, mental toughness and street-smart intelligence. That, combined with the realistic performances and intriguing relationships between the main characters, makes The Prophet a compelling film.

The Prophet (Un prophete)

Mark, tell me a bit more about your background and how you came to become a professional photographer?

My interest in photography probably started when I was about 5, when my older sister said her dream in life was to become a photographer.  Soon came Christmas and she received a red plastic 35mm camera as a present.  With that camera, still unable to grab the concept, I apparently took my first photograph by pointing it at the ground and snapping someone’s shoe.

Since then, whether it is through art, music or design, I’ve always been involved in creating something.  After high school, I made an odd decision to pursue studies in IT, and soon enough landed a job writing software and letting my creativity fade away.  By my 2^nd year, I could feel the weight of the corporate world crushing my soul and I realised it definitely wasn’t for me.  I started looking for an escape and a change.  That change came through turning my love of photography into a sustainable business.

So I quit my job and I haven’t looked back!

How would you describe your photographic style?

I have a diverse range of styles that I like to shoot in, but I really like to push a ‘candid’ or ‘natural’ approach when working with people.  To me, photography is a projection of who a person really is, rather than how they want to be perceived.  I love to work outdoors or on site with someone in their own environment, capturing a comfortable natural portrait and telling a story.

Your current project is simply called BNE. What is it about?

The BNE project was initially designed to capture the portraits and tell the stories of those that sparked my own interest and inspiration.  During the first exhibit of the images in a café, I realised that connections could be drawn between each of the subjects in the series.

I was fascinated by this visual illustration of ‘six degrees of separation’, witnessed by the residents of Brisbane almost far too often, and decided to let the project evolve and develop into something more ambitious.  Rather than just focusing on capturing portraits of my own personal inspirations, I asked each of my subjects to select the people who spurred them to greater creativity, allowing for the inclusion of not only those that inspired myself, but others too.

Through the BNE project I hope to combine a strong visual style with inspirational content and a message that we are all human and we are all connected.

Have you faced any challenges getting the project off the ground?

As the direction of the shoot moves towards people I don’t know directly, reflecting their character in a photo becomes a real challenge.  I don’t want to just shoot a portrait in a space and claim it’s full of meaning; I want to tell a story about the person.  As hard as this can be initially, I enjoy the process of meeting someone new and learning about what they love and what drives them.  I find this challenge to be one of the greatest things about the project.

What are your next plans for BNE?

I want BNE to be more than just a photographic series.  Although the photographic part of the project is still in progress, I intend on incorporating another passion of mine into the project. Through the use of social media and digital storytelling, I hope to experiment with the combination of photography, audio and video to form short six minute “digital stories”.

Each “story” will include a key set of interview questions revolving around the themes of “inspiration” and “being human”.  Video and audio documenting the life or passions of the individual will also help illustrate each piece. The project will continue for 6 rounds or “degrees” focussing on creating 2 portraits for each subject as well as the digital story to accompany it.  I’m currently researching ways to exhibit the series as an interactive exhibition, both on and offline.

What other future projects or ideas have you got in mind?

I always have a few projects going at any point in time! I recently started a new project called VonVintage.  Put simply, it stands for Vintage on Vintage, which is exactly how I intend to shoot it: Vintage content, shot on a Vintage camera.  Through its use in preservation and storytelling, photography can be a powerful tool.  Coupled with an artistic approach, I hope VonVintage can help bring back some value to beautiful vintage design, film photography and the keepsakes of the past.

I currently have a collection of Von Vintage photography shot by both myself and others on a blog at: www.vonvintage.com/scrapbook .

Where do you turn for art and photography inspiration?

Apart from the people of the BNE project, the internet is probably my biggest source of inspiration.  It’s nerdy, but true.  Websites like flickr, ffffound, vimeo and even twitter, with the ability to connect and learn from photographers all around the world, makes it an unlimited source of inspiration for me.

Finally, what is your tip for what’s HOT in Brisbane?

I love going to breakfast at the Cottage Garden Nursery (999 Stanley St, East Brisbane +61 7 3891 7999).  I recommend the French toast!

On entry, the colourful mountain range of gelati flavours in Gelatissimo provides a visual feast. Unfortunately, the product from this national chain is not really up to scratch.

Nocciola is one of the few words I can say in Italian (along with ‘gelati’) and I’ve never been disappointed with hazelnut gelato. Unfortunately, Gelatissimo’s version is about as bland as gelato can get – the mere hint of hazelnut and utterly forgettable. Hoping to find a redeeming flavour, I asked for a tub of caramelised fig. This had the opposite effect on my taste buds, as it contained a massive hit of teeth-aching sugar, which then petered out into a non-descript creamy nothingness. Frankly, wasted calories.

Gelatissimo, Shop 3 The Pavillion, Cnr Albert & Queen Streets, Brisbane

The Suitcase Royale are a trio of rag ‘n’ bone musicians whose style I would term ‘Louisiana swampy blues’ and their theatrical performances combine their song-writing skills with comedy, slapstick, shadow images and puppetry. The Ballad of Backbone Joe was a dime novel mystery about a boxing match, a dodgy abattoir owner, a girl in a red dress with a sexy voice and a private eye in disguise. The action was all around a single set which served to represent a boxing ring, a dingy hotel room, a lonely bridge and the outback.

The group’s junkyard aesthetic didn’t translate to a ramshackle performance – it was clear that that production had been well-rehearsed, although their ability to improvise when things went wrong were probably the funniest moments in the show. One woman in front room cackled hysterically for the whole hour!

• The Ballad of Backbone Joe, World Theatre Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington St, New Farm

Today’s guest post comes from the Jetsetting Parents, this time sampling the new casual cafe/restaurant Coco Bella Espresso in New Farm.

This eatery site in New Farm has seen quite a few changes of ownership over the last several years, from the “founder” East-West to New Farm Bistro, Bacchus, then The Hutch to the newly-opened Coco Bella. One can’t help wondering—it’s in a good location in the midst of a fairly affluent neighbourhood, is something amiss??

Coco Bella Expresso seems determined to change this around. First of all, the whole place has been smartened up, both indoors and outdoors, to give it a stylish and airy feel. The name Coco Bella sounds contemporary and catchy, too. Now, can the food and service match up?  That’s what Jetsetting Dad and I decided to find out one weekend evening.

We were promptly greeted and seated as we stepped into the cafe. Glasses of water were offered immediately with a drinking straw for the lady, a small touch well-appreciated.  I’m glad to point out that such good service was consistent throughout the evening.

The two page menu is fairly simple with light lunch and tapas on one page and entree and main courses on the other. The food is basically Italian but some Asian fusion dishes are available as well. On the weekend of our visit , two specials were on offer.

For entree, JD and I ordered grilled calamari stuffed with salmon, herb, roasted breadcrumbs on rocket, avocado and salsa ($16.50). The calamari was grilled whole and cut into 3 pieces. It was quite a generous serve, best to be shared. Despite its size, the calamari was tender and easy to cut; the stuffing soft and moist. While the bed of rocket, avo and salsa tasted good, personally I would prefer to leave out the avo pieces as I found the soft texture of an over-ripened avo just didn’t go well with the quite similar texture of the stuffing.

For the main course, I chose house-made ricotta gnocchi with buttered tomato sauce ($19.50). It is a simple dish but the trickiest part is to get the texture of the gnocchi right. I’ve eaten mushy ones, stodgy ones, grainy ones, dry ones…before. Fortunately for me this time, the gnocchi was spot-on. The butter tomato sauce topped with ricotta cheese (instead of the usual parmasean) was well- balanced with a subtle hint of butter. (Note: I’d requested reduced quantity of butter.)

JD ordered Moroccan lamb with chickpeas and lentils, rocket salad and yogurt. ($24.50) The spicy lamb pieces were flavoursome and moist. Although they were crumbed and deep-fried, they didn’t look or taste greasy at all. The chickpeas and lentils were nice and creamy. The coriander and mint in the rocket salad gave a refreshing taste to the dish.

There were also a good range of house-made desserts in the cabinet. One of the waiting staff took the trouble to explain each item to us. In the end, we decided to give them a miss while making a mental note to come back for them next time.

With good, well-priced food and excellent service, I think Coco Bella hits the right notes.

• Coco Bella Expresso, Cnr Lamington and Welsby Streets, New Farm +61 7 3254 4426

If you’re a fan of Lonely Planet too, now you have the chance to have a say about their work.

Basically, Lonely Planet is looking to increase its Travellers’ Pulse panelist pool. The panel is a discussion forum where Lonely Planet engages travellers to listen to what they have to say about travel – where to go, how to plan, and other creative travel ideas.

Joining the panel is free and if you’re accepted to be a panelist, you will receive a free Lonely Planet 2010 calendar as a welcome gift. Not only will you get to talk about travel, but Lonely Planet regularly run promotions exclusively for panelists where you can win prizes such as Lonely Planet products and Amazon gift cards.

If you’d like to join this panel (numbers are limited) all you need to do is click the link below and take a short survey to register. Lonely Planet will look at the responses and depending on your age, travel experience and country of residence you might be selected!  The type of people needed on the panel changes from time to time, so if you aren’t suitable for the panel this time you might still be contacted to participate in the future. Applications close 28 February 2010.

https://www.travellerspulse.com/R.aspx?a=56&Source=BLOG

(Note that I’m not on the Lonely Planet Traveller’s Pulse panel – though I’ve put in an application as I think it’s such a cool thing to be involved in.)

I’m not even going to bother with the puns about ‘buzzing Buzz‘ or ‘lots of buzz about Buzz‘ – you’ve probably heard them all already.

So let me just say that bright and cheery Buzz (love the red and white stripey awnings) served up one of the most satisfying and delicious breakfasts that I’ve had in a while.

I’m a bit of a going-out-for-breakfast sceptic so it’s got to be pretty special to capture my attention. Buzz didn’t start off well with the confusing service (something about the chef being unable to mentally psych himself up for the lunch menu, could I please come back and order my portion of the table’s bill in 10 minutes) but the excellent food won me over.

First of all, a Di Bella cappucino ($3.50) which received a 8/10 rating from the coffee drinker. Then came a pair of berry hotcakes – crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside – served with grilled mango cheek, maple syrup and (bleh) commercial vanilla ice cream ($13.50); eggs benedict with the smoked salmon gingerly dipping its feet in some gooey hollandaise; and my fabulous French Toast ($13.50), unusually served with the ricotta sandwiched between thick slices of fried bread, artfully arranged in a pool of maple syrup and topped with lots of crunchy almond slivers for texture. It was definitely one of the better versions of French toast I’ve had in a while and for that alone it’s worth returning to Buzz – just look at that picture!

For another breakfast option right next door, try Depot Emporium.

Buzz Bistro, Shop 22, Emporium, 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3252 0511

Rest assured that your feedback is not disappearing into the ether! As a result of your suggestions, here are some things that I am planning to improve or implement in 2010.

• You like the restaurant/bar reviews. I’ll be introducing additional refined categories (maybe coffee? sushi?) so that you just don’t get a dump of restaurants when you click on ‘Restaurants and Cafes’.

• Ah, the eternal problem of the binary HOT or NOT rating system. I’ve had many suggestions to introduce a ‘lukewarm’ tag but I think I will continue to resist a graduated rating. I’ve started to be stricter with the rating. Basically, it boils down to ‘would I recommend this to my friends?’ – if not, because it’s not bad but not that great, then it gets a NOT.  Time and money are precious and I don’t want to be recommending you to places that are just meh.

• I hadn’t realised that my links to Google Maps were defaulting to Google Maps UK (I bought my laptop in the UK) and that was causing problems. So from now on, Google Maps Australia links only! I’ve also created a specific BNE: HOT OR NOT Google Map pinpointing all the places reviewed on the blog and will be publishing it soon. I’m just working through a backlog of posts.

• You like links to other blog posts about the same/thing place so you can get a few different opinions. Given that some of you found BNE: HOT OR NOT via other blogs, it’s only fair that I return the favour and take you other sites you might enjoy. I’ll also be updating the BNE HOT Reads shortly.

Finally, congratulations to the winner of the Aesop Jet Set kit, drawn out from the Kitchenaid – Kyliept. Kylie, please email your postal address to jetsettingjoyce@gmail.com to claim your prize!

In colour theory, red is the colour that’s supposed to stimulate the appetite. So it makes sense that Miss India has chosen to deck out its chain of ‘instant Indian takeaway’ stores in bright swathes of red and yellow – and if that’s not enough, the long bain marie counter of vibrant curry hues will definitely stimulate your tastebuds.

Their takeaway pamphlet boasts “We have been told many times that we have Brisbane’s best butter chicken’. As the health-conscious Jetsetting Parents are wary of anything declaring openly that it contains butter, we decided to sample some other dishes – a chicken vindaloo, lamb rogan josh, chickpea and potato curry and tandoori chicken pieces, accompanied by rotis ($1.95) and an extra large steamed saffron rice ($3). The serving size system is pretty easy – small curries cost $9.95, large $12.95 and extra-large $18.95.

Unfortunately, the colourful visual feast didn’t translate into equally stimulating flavours. The seasoning was all over the place – the vindaloo was way too salty, the rogan josh was ok and the chickpea and potato curry was bland. In addition, the rogan josh contained unappetising lumps of overcooked meat and the chickpeas were mostly undercooked. On the chilli heat scale, even the vindaloo veered towards the conservative.

On the plus side, the roti was well-risen and not oily and the tandoori chicken was juicy and well-seasoned. Maybe it has to do with the fact that these items are cooked in public – in the front window of the store is a stainless steel table for rolling out dough and a sturdy tandoori oven.

Basically, Miss India serves up convenient, passable Indian takeaway. It’s not terrible – but given the number of Indian restaurants/takeaways in the vicinity of its New Farm store, I can’t say that I’d particularly recommend it.

If you’re looking for other takeaway in the area, try Thai Charms.

Miss India New Farm, 620 Brunswick St, New Farm +61 7 3358 1532 (also Ashgrove, Aspley, Carindale, Coorparoo, Daisy Hill, Eagle Junction, Greenslopes, Kelvin Grove, Morningside and Stafford Heights)

The Jetsetting Parents are pretty fussy with their sushi, but they can’t stop raving about LR Sushi at QueensPlaza. Apparently Brisbane office workers have also pegged it as a popular lunch spot. Eat Drink Brisbane also gave it a rave review.

Why? LR Sushi produce nori rolls with a difference. The high demand means a fast turnover of stock, and the large selection of rolls are mostly priced at an amazing $2 for the standard fillings. Most importantly, each roll is huge by normal standards, with the contents of each roll obviously fresh and the filling is not weighed down by gluggy, or worse, warm sushi rice.

My three rolls containing salmon and avocado, seaweed and tofu and teriyaki chicken made a filling and cheap lunch and if I worked in the city, I could imagine LR being my local lunch stop too.

For other sushi options in the city, try Top Sushi.

LR Sushi, QueensPlaza, Ground Level, Adelaide St, Brisbane +61 421 656 006 (also Felix Street, Brisbane)

Just a little reminder that the BNE: HOT OR NOT 2010 Reader Survey closes tomorrow (Sunday) at 5pm. As part of my New Years resolutions I wanted to really make an effort to improve the site so it is more useful and enjoyable for you all. I’d really appreciate your feedback so please take 2 minutes to complete an 8-question reader survey here.

As a thank you, if you enter your email address you will go into the draw for the lovely Jet Set kit from Aesop, my favourite skincare brand (RRP $34.90).  Thanks so much for the feedback, and good luck!

Up in the Air

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizing gun-for-hire who flies around the country firing employees for bosses who are too cowardly to do the dirty work themselves. He’s a smooth operator, full of pretend concern and oft-repeated platitudes but with just the right amount of emotional distance to move in, do his job, and move out. He loves his work, mainly because it allows him stay on the road with no responsibilities and no emotional ties, with all of his life’s necessities neatly packed in his carry-on luggage. (There’s a funny scene where he talks about how to pick the fastest line when going through x-ray security – so true!).

His life is about to be turned upside down though when his boss hires Natalie (Anna Kendrick), a keen and perky young graduate who suggests that business costs could be reduced if the terminations are done via video-conference. With his lifestyle threatened, Bingham takes Natalie ‘on tour’ to show her what it’s really like to fire someone.

In another strand of the story, one night in yet another random hotel bar he meets Alex  (Vera Farmiga), a sexy and intelligent business woman who also seems to enjoy living life as a constant traveller and shares his fascination with collecting frequent flyer miles and loyalty cards. They have a brief affair and then begin to meet up in various cities. Slowly Ryan realises that she has gotten under his skin and that maybe hisitinerant lifestyle has its drawbacks.

Suave bachelor George Clooney is the perfect actor for the character of Bingham. Our gossip-mag knowledge of the poster boy for commitment phobia means that Clooney can convince us that someone wouldn’t be able to see the advantages in marriage or having a home and loves living a transient lifestyle. He has great chemistry with VeraFarmiga and Anna Kendrick and the writing from Jason Reitman (director of Juno and writer of Thank You For Smoking) is sharp and witty.

It’s not all beer and skittles though. Notice that the timeframes in the movie (such as at the conference the characters crash) are dated 2010 even though the movie was made in 2009, a device which keeps the film’s themes contemporary. While you’re laughing, Up in the Air also highlights that real people suffer when they lose their jobs.  Some of the footage you see are interviews with people who’ve been terminated. So their pain, disappointment, anger and humiliation are real, and it’s sobering to be reminded that for many people losing their job is the worse thing that’s ever happened to them.

Up in the Air is sophisticated, humorous and relevant and I really enjoyed it. I’m predicting it’ll win some major awards.

I have some double passes to see Up in the Air – if you’d like to go, please send an email to jetsettingjoyce@gmail.com with your postal address to go into the draw. Good luck!