Perched on the balcony of the cafe, at the edge of Paddington’s steep and winding La Trobe Tce, it was hard to keep track of my brekky date’s conversation, as I continued to lose myself to the view over the leafy suburbs of Rosalie and Milton.  Such a pleasant distraction…

The Hamptons Home Living breakfast menu created an even bigger distraction for me however and it was lucky I’d done some online research prior to arriving; I had at least formed some sort of short list before I’d even sat down.

My creamy cappuccino gave me the focus and kick I needed to make a decision, and finally I was confident the smoked bacon and corn fritters, tomato relish, salsa verde, poached egg and jamon ($17) would float my proverbial boat.

A little on the pricier side of what I usually like to pay for breakfast, I was so delighted to see the dish arrive with ample portions of fritters, salsa and (so much) jamon.  The egg was poached with perfection, the fritters were full of flavour (not doughy) and the jamon was fresh, tasty and as mentioned, plentiful!

RD had to endure grunts of pleasure from my side of the table however he was having a love affair of his own with the Hamptons full breakfast; double smoked bacon, eggs, rosti, Portobello mushrooms, Roma tomatoes and leavain sourdough ($22).

The mushrooms were a standout – so buttery and lightly salted, also a very generous serve.  The rosti was crispy on the outside with soft potatoey goodness inside and the bacon had good crispy factor, while the scrambled eggs were bright and fluffy.

Other eye catching choices on my short list were the baked eggs, chorizo, slow cooked tomato, Yarra Valley Persian fetta and sourdough ($16) and smashed avocado, sourdough, Yarra Valley Persian fetta and rocket ($14).

After digesting the food and a bit more of the view, we headed inside to check out the home wares side of things at Hamptons Home Living.  The front of the store is packed with a range of home wares including French inspired trinkets, hand creams, lounge furniture, throws and cushions…the list goes on.

The Hamptons Home Living store has a very friendly, cosy feel to it; the staff are lovely and patient, on this occasion reflecting the serenity and peace of the view they get to admire all day long….jealous much?

• Hamptons Home Living – 180 La Trobe Terrace, Paddington +61 7 3367 2002

Swiss food, like its people, is largely influenced by its neighbouring countries with the exception of course, of fondue which the Swiss can credit themselves for.   The menu at Des Alpes mostly takes on German and French style cuisine combined with traditional Swiss flavours and at the helm of the kitchen is a chef who can pump out a variety of eye fillet steaks at a rate of knots, always seemingly cooked to the customer’s specifications.

On our recent visit to Des Alpes we thought it would be remiss to not indulge in some fondue action, so for an entree the four of us shared a Swiss cheese fondue ($10.50pp).  The hot pot of melted Swiss cheese prepared with garlic, white wine and kirsch (brandy) was so rich, but so, so more-ish.

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something fun and child-like about being able to stab pieces of bread with a skewer and swish it around in a gooey pit of cheese….

We also shared a small pot of the escargot, out of the shell served with mushroom sauce and a pastry top ($12.50).  I’m not a huge fan of snails, but at the same time I don’t dislike them; I guess the most noteworthy thing about the Des Alpes snails is that they weren’t overpowered with garlic, which was a nice change.

After practically licking the pot of cheese clean it was always going to be a struggle with mains – a word of warning, go easy on the fondue, and make sure you wash it down with white wine or Coke to help with digestion.

I decided to have the Zurich geschnetzeltes ($26.50); sliced veal in mushroom cream sauce served with Swiss rosti potatoes and salad.  The veal was tender and the mushroom sauce full of flavour and thankfully not too salty.  The rosti potatoes were like a little piece of hash brown heaven!

MM had the prime eye fillet steak with homemade Bernaise sauce ($27.50) also served with rosti potatoes.  The tender steak fillet was cooked medium rare as requested and the Bernaise was delicious.

PM, although with much deliberation, opted for the eye fillet steak Chasseur with sautéed bacon, mushrooms and shallot ($27.50).

CM tried his luck with the eye fillet steak Provencal with tomatoes, herbs and garlic butter ($27.50).

Again, the steaks were both cooked to perfection and the subtle addition of traditional sauce/toppings makes each dish slightly different but equally delightful.

Somehow we managed to squeeze in dessert.  CM & PM shared the parfait flambé Grand Marnier ($12.50).  The home made orange and Grand-Marnier ice cream was chocolate coated and flambé with cognac – another novelty dish for the evening – what is it about flames and food that makes an evening so exciting?!

MM and I shared a serving of the creamy profiteroles ($8.50) drizzled in smooth chocolate sauce.

The Des Alpes experience was yet another exercise in over indulgence, which of course we thoroughly enjoyed.  The staff are friendly and you can tell they are considered an extension of the owners’ family as there is such a warm and caring vibe about this restaurant.  The meals, whilst not the prettiest, are honest and home made with love.

Des Alpes is open for dinner Tuesday to Sunday and lunch Friday to Sunday.  On market days they are open for breakfast and lunch.

• Des Alpes Swiss Restaurant – 47 Blackwood St, Mitchelton +61 7 3355 9627

Stones Corner reeks of social potential and those of us with a soft spot are waiting with bated breath for things to go pop.  Last Sunday was the first of many market days to come, with Jan Powers vowing to return and hitch her market cart outside the famous Stones Corner pub on the second and fourth Sundays of every month.

So how did the first market day stack up?  Well I’m 110% committed to the Stones Corner revival cause and to see the strip packed with stalls and people jostling for space was fantastic – so yeah, I reckon the first market day stacked up ok and I can’t wait for the next one.

I guess as far as markets go, it’s fairly standard and on par with the other Jan Powers farmer markets around Brisbane. 

There were plenty of fruit and veg stores that were on the cheaper side of well priced and the produce looked good.  There were a range of food and beverage stalls oozing personality and all sorts of mouth watering smells. 

There are plenty of stalls to tickle your home wares fancy as well as a range of flower stalls to choose from.

Aside from the markets, there are some new cafes in the area at which you can rest your weary feet over a coffee or brekky and also some boutique clothing stores that are well worth a look.    

The next Stones Corner market day is Sunday 25^th September. 

• Jan Powers Farmers Markets – Logan Rd, Stones Corner.

Although MM would have been quite happy to settle with his large popcorn and frozen coke for dinner, I was after something a little more nourishing.  Seeing as we’d already tried the sushi joint and pizzeria on previous visits, we stopped in at FAB fish and burger grill to see what was on offer.  As soon as I spotted the tight-arse Tuesday specials board, I was sold.  Every burger on the menu was available for under 10 bucks.

In similar fashion to the nouveau burger places such as Grill’d or Burger Urge, the menu at FAB fish and burger grill has a good selection of funky sounding compilations that differ from your every day chicken, beef, fish or vego burgers with salad.    The addition of tangy, Asian-influenced sauces and all kinds of spreads makes for an interesting menu and flavours that you probably hadn’t thought of combining on a burger before.

True to style, MM chose the Royale (normally $12.95) with prime beef, lettuce, tomato, bacon, egg and FAB relish.  Upon recommendation from our friendly waitress, I went for something slightly more exotic – the Bangkok Heat (normally $13.95) with a Thai fish patty, Asian greens, tomato, chilli jam and aioli.  On the side we shared a bowl of chips with aioli ($6).

Both burgers (which arrived promptly) were really well constructed, with minimal oozing and leaking of meat, spreads or salad.  The patties were fairly generous in size and full of flavour under a doughy, fresh white bun.

To be honest, I didn’t think these burgers would touch the sides – MM and I both have pretty big appetites after all, and they just looked a little too fancy and dainty to do any damage to our hunger.  Boy was I wrong.  Only three-quarters through and before we’d even hopped into the chips, we were contemplating top-button relief.

I gave up with a few mouthfuls left, totally satisfied with my menu choice and enjoying the chilli hit.  MM soldiered on with his Royale experience and on his second wind he moved onto demolishing the chips with consummate ease.

We wound things up pretty quickly in order to get to our movie, but FAB fish and burger grill isn’t only for those in a hurry.  They are licensed, so you can settle in for a few drinks and enjoy people watching in the alfresco area.  There is a range of alternative menu choices for those who don’t want their fish in a bun – but if you are in need of a quick and tasty feed it will certainly do the job.

• FAB fish and burger grill – The Barracks, Petrie Tce, Brisbane +67 1 3367 8088

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!

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

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

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

Over a soy latte Alex chatted to me about fashion, living eco-conscious and being a business-owner with a young toddler.

Alex, how did Eco Fashionista come about?

Eco Fashionista was launched almost a year to the day my son Max was born. Max’s arrival (and the huge sense of responsibility that arrived with him) was the catalyst for me to make a bigger commitment to being “green” – and, ever the keen shopper and fashionista, I realised the “greening” needed to extend to my wardrobe!

As I began to explore whether there was such a thing as “designer eco fashion”, I became so excited about the amazing labels I was unearthing – many of which weren’t available in Australia and in the one shopping destination. If I was going to seek out these chic pieces for myself, then why not share the love and let others in on my discoveries? I believe most people want to be eco-conscious about their lifestyle, but they also don’t want to give up the things that matter – such as style, quality and individuality. And that’s where Eco Fashionista comes in….

With so many fashion designers out there, how do you select the stock for Eco Fashionista?

A lot of brand research lies behind Eco Fashionista’s collection and the designers must demonstrate serious design and eco credentials.  How they achieve their “eco fashion” mission differs – from using organic, sustainable or vintage fabrics,  eco-friendly production, making small quantities to order or by hand and ensuring fair work conditions. We have given ”eco attributes” to each piece in our collection with these symbols.

Where do you turn for eco-fashion inspiration?

I’ve always devoured fashion magazines, and it’s wonderful to see titles like Vogue, Madison and Marie Claire now turning out green glamour and eco chic issues. I also read the stylish Australian eco fashion magazine Peppermint, and inspiring eco fashion blogs -  Eco Stiletto and Green Lashes and Fashion just to name two. For high-end designers with a conscience, it’s hard to go past Philip Lim (who launched his “Go Green Go” line in 2008) and Stella McCartney.

What advice would you give to someone starting their own business?

Three words have guided me over the last few months  – patience, perseverance and perspective. Having a clear vision of your business and its direction is essential, but equally important is the flexibility to adapt to the challenges that will be inevitably thrown at you. I’ve also had to learn that sometimes I am not the best person for the job! You need to concentrate your energies on your strengths, and in areas where you lack experience or skills – delegate or outsource if /where you can.

What are you wearing at the moment?

I’m wearing one variation of my “home with Max” uniform - Good Society jeans, Sublet Courtney top and  Beyond Skin Tilly floral ballet flats. It’s all about comfortable style these days.

I do love to dress up when I get the chance though! My fiancé and I have a rare dinner date tonight, and I’m looking forward to wearing my Minna Maria vintage print dress, accessorised with a pendant from fair trade jeweller Fifi Bijoux and Ashley Watson’s super-soft recycled leather oriole clutch.

Eco Fashionista’s first Brisbane trunk show will be held at Red Sea Gallery, New Farm, on Thursday 26 November 5-8pm in conjunction with the award-winning New Farm day spa Outshine. Even better, 10% of the profits from all sales through Outshine and Eco Fashionista on the night will go to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

If you’d like to attend the free event, RSVP at info@ecofashionista.com.au and just mention that BNE: HOT OR NOT sent you.

Check out the review and pictures from Eco Fashionista’s recent trunk show in Melbourne here.

• Nutrition Warehouse, 530 Logan Road, Greenslopes +61 7 3394 1945‎ and 5/2958 Logan Rd, Underwood +61 7  3341 2533‎ and 

And Jetsetting Joyce? She is going to IKEA. I’ve officially checked out of Life.

Being unemployed means that this is my third trip to IKEA in a week – but only because I wanted to lay the groundwork for RM’s visit so he wouldn’t have to deal with my in-depth specification, colour, style and price analyses. By my third visit I could just say ‘what do you think of that’ ‘NO’ ‘and that?’ ‘NO’ ‘what about this?’ ‘YES’. It made for a remarkably argument-free furniture shopping first date.

IKEA does have some cheap, good stuff if you’re setting up home. Like the Malm headboard, the Norden gateleg table, Solsta sofabed, Expedit TV unit, Lamplig chopping board and Idealisk colander. Unfortunately, it seems that everyone else wants to set up their home to look just like ours, as almost 50% of what we liked wasn’t available by the time we got to the self-service section. Humph. Guess it’ll be a fourth trip to IKEA then.