northcote
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bliss
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Harriet would like to welcome you to our third issue with festive greetings and a general roar of excitement for the arrival of summer. Hip-Hip-Hooray! Due to the constant bombardment of economic doom and gloom, we’ve chosen a theme that’s dear to our hearts but not our wallets: family. It’s the season when our thoughts turn to Christmas, which for many is a joyful holiday, but for others can mean a difficult emotional or financial time. What a great opportunity to remember that family doesn’t just mean a mum and dad with two kids and a golden retriever. Family are the people who love, support and nurture you, who go out of their way to help you – they most definitely don’t ask you afterwards if you’d like to pay on cheque, savings or credit. It’s also a perfect time for the great outdoors: picnics in the park, bike rides along the creek, swimming at the pool, or a leisurely drink in a beergarden. As the roadworks finally draw to a close, High Street is shaking off the dust and fluro jackets, ready to start summer in earnest. It’s been hard for local businesses to compete with jackhammers and fenced off footpaths, so spare a thought for them if you’re in the mood to part with some hard earned dollars.
Once again a big thanks to the Westgarth and Northcote traders, all our contributors and co-conspirators – without your continued support we’d still be some ideas on a computer screen. Have fun this silly season. Take care of yourselves and each other. Love Harriet xxx
publisher Severe Studio
contact us info@whoisharriet.com.au Ph: 8677 7706
graphic design Tamara Coles
photography Yandell Walton
editorial contributors Tahnee Moore Anna Pilkington Carrie Webster Alex Edward Amy-Jo Jory Brad Stephensen Laurel Mackenzie Hoolio Jones Andi Coventon Arika Waulu Eva Podsiadlowski Carolina Cabanossi Tanya Rao Michelle Wright Stephanie Riddel Juliet Jefferys
issue 3 contents regular
feature
09 LOCAL WORD Anna Pilkington
06 Cover Story Family: boundary pushers
14 LOCAL WORD JUNIOR Alex Edward 18 NEW ON HIGH M.T.O. Industry St Dots East India Company Allegro Soes
10 Eternal sunshine of the spotless insides 12 High Street Christmas 16 Midsumma 20 Merri Christmas
23 REVIEW Gringo Vibes
31 Apricots and apron strings
25 FASHION BY 5 Our backyard
34 In good health
32 REVIEW The Vegie Kitchen 41 HIGH ST HISTORY Take the canoli 42 ON THE STREET 44 GIMME GIMME And so is was giftmas
47 Backyard bliss
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words: TAHNEE MOORE
family: boundary pushers If we were sitting down at the Penny Farthing having a latte and discussing what family meant today – what would we say? The liberal thinking friend might say we are all family. The satiric soul might say the entire notion of family is a crock. The soy-drinking diplomat might concur that it’s the people who are nearest and dearest to us.
Your greedy capitalist brother may have taught you that money can destroy happiness. Your young child may teach you to stop, slow down, and admire the convoys of ants or the value of being frank. The family Christmas gathering that you’ve been dreading may leave you with insight that spurs you forth into the New Year.
The Oxford dictionary tells us that family is “all the descendants of a common ancestor.” This is of course true, but in these modern times the meaning of family extends beyond family trees and common roots: Nuclear, rainbow, same sex, different sex, no sex, three kids, four cats. Without blinking an eye kids can be heard explaining that ‘mum has a career,’ that ‘the other mum stays at home’, and ‘Dad’s a musician and Elsie the dog is the emotional caretaker’. The Oxfordian view on family has evolved into a joyful bohemian rainforest, yet the meaning and purpose of family remains firmly planted.
Family is a vehicle that teaches us to move forward. Sometimes the intentions of a loved one may seem like a mirage on the road. Other times it is a straight stretch of highway, clear, beautiful and tree-lined. Inevitably through all the crashes, happy Sunday drives and total write-offs the purpose becomes apparent. The emotional journey we take with family is teaching us something profound: Who we are and where we are going in life. We take something from each experience because they involve us and touch us more deeply than interactions with our acquaintances and colleagues.
Families are here to teach us the life-creating lessons: How to live your life. How not to live your life. How to love. How not to love. The results of this University de Familia are usually only apparent in hindsight. In the midst of these grand-scheme ‘exams’ many tearful students might scream, “THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR!”
The commitment to our tribe is a soulful bond, so deep and so strong that you are never able to “hop off the bus.” And if you do try to distance yourself from the crazy clan, chances are the physical and emotional connections will yank hard, eventually making the resolution less painful than the aversion. The miraculous and inexplicable bonds that bind us to family anchor us to deep revelations. There’s a beautiful story I heard of a local grandfather who learnt to accept his daughter’s new same-sex relationship from his 4-year-old grandson. One day after a terse exchange with his daughter the grandfather took his grandson to the park. “Poppa,” he said, “don’t be grumpy, Mumma laughs more with Annie than she did with dad.”
It’s a common experience that the crossing of these boundaries by folks and siblings is not always pleasant. But ask yourself who would you be if you were never challenged? Your greatest virtues may have been learnt from the most undesirable encounters. Your over-opinionated, one-eyed mother may have taught you to value the opinions of others.
COVER STORY
We do not choose our family for a good reason. If we did, we’d have a bunch of people who mostly agreed with us, rarely challenged us, and understood our dreams wholeheartedly. Many of us Northcotians consider our friends, housemates, and colleagues or even neighbours our family. It’s a beautiful boundary that’s crossed when an amigo becomes a bro. It could even be said that friends who cross the border and become family are as sacred as family who cross the border and become your friends. The journey to that intimate point in your relationship is as important as the destination. Once that sacred state-line has been crossed make no mistake that further boundaries will be pushed. On a 4-day trip/ enforced captivity session to Queensland a mother and a daughter with nothing much in common found that both their hearts
belonged to country music. Belting out “Islands in the Stream” up the Newall Hwy, their differences were lost in a song. Where were they heading? Why a cousin’s wedding of course. Many romantic quotes and Disney movies will try to imply that the true meaning of family involves matching polo shirts, respect, and serene quality time. It is as if you should ignore the undesirable past, and extract your truth from the idealistic, sunny memories. What hogwash. The real purpose lies in the trials, amusing challenges and hideous conflicts. The romance, the jubilation. Loving each other and remaining connected despite it all. Such blasted and precarious journeys with familial boundary pushers are necessary, as it is from these families that we shape and create our own. 7
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LOCAL WORD words: ANNA PILKINGTON
choosing schools As the 2011 academic year draws to a close schools are opening their doors, enticing you with engaging curriculum, amazing examples of student work and a plethora of extra curricular activities in an effort to include your child in their 2012 enrolments. In our Northern community we are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting a school for your child. Some of the best curriculum programs in Victoria are run at our local Secondary and Primary schools not to mention the diverse range of education available. There are Government and Catholic schools who will no doubt be moving into a new stage of curriculum inline with the achievement standards of the Australian National Curriculum, Co-ed, single sexed, private, selective entry and all the other programs that are out there for you to choose. So how do you choose the right school for your child? I have been teaching Secondary school both here and abroad for more than a decade and often get asked this very question. My answer is always the same and it starts with the individual. The first stage is to go for a stroll in All Nations Park with your son or daughter or a coffee and cake at the Aquarium cafe and have a conversation with them about their likes and dislikes with respect to school. At this point your child may reveal that they have it all sorted and they are going to go and colour the world like Banksy or be an auto mechanic like their Mum. Through talking to the staff at their school they have already worked out which educational institute is best for them and hand you an enrolment form. Amazing!
Like most of us at that age the reality is your child probably does not have a solid pathway mapped out just yet so we move into stage 2. Using the list of likes and dislikes as a guide, jump on the Internet and start checking out School websites. Does the school offer programs or activities that matches their likes? Short list a couple of potential Schools and organise to take your child on a tour, meet the Principal and even talk to some of the students so they can get a feel for what a typical school day is like. Having said all of this you could also visit the My Schools website but just between you and me you have more chance of getting useful information from reading the ingredients list on your toothpaste.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS INSIDES Body Cleanse Tea
With calendula, red clover, figwort, dandelion, spearmint and more, this delightful blend from the gurus at Highland Herbs in Tassie supports cleansing through the kidneys and lymphatics for glowing skin and a spring in your step.
Green is Good!
Add some liquid chlorophyll to your water bottle or slip some chlorella & barley grass powder into a fruit smoothie. These super greens cool, cleanse and alkalise the digestive system, blood and body tissues.
Liver Loving Herbs
Planning on spending some quality time in the beer garden this summer? Give your liver a break with St Mary’s Thistle and Schisandra. These herbs support your detox reactions while protecting your liver’s tissues from the ensuing abuse of the silly season.
Fruit Pedallers is a one-stop shop for your healthy lifestyle, with friendly naturopaths always on hand to guide and advise. Come and share in our passion for good food and good health, feel well again!
Quality organic produce at unbeatable prices Health products Wellness clinic Naturopathy Homoeopathy Massage Blood screening 103 High Street Northcote t:9489 5824 10
HIGH STREET CHRISTMAS
words: CARRIE WEBSTER As we hurtle through the rest of the year, Christmas and New Year jingle jangling on the horizon, it can be difficult to stifle an audible groan. What can and should be a fun filled holiday often becomes a tangle of conflict and consumer guilt. On one hand we’re told that if we really love someone we’ll buy them the newest, bestest piece of technology: on the other our appetite for disposable consumer goods is killing us – and rapidly. We eat and drink far more than we need to at end of year parties, as barbecues, work functions and Christmas/New Year events begin to merge into one long all-you-can-eat buffet of food and booze. After weeks of fretting and guzzling, it’s easy to feel lethargic and filled with self-loathing, especially if you idly begin to think about how much all those last minute photo frames and vases for your aunty/ colleague/lollypop lady cost, both you and the world. Add a cup of credit card debt, a pinch of organisational warfare (“I told you NO ham this year”), and a sprinkle of RSI (Repetitive Socialising Injury), and you have the recipe for a festive freakout. And that’s before you remember the horrible ceramic dog you got as a kris kringle… But don’t panic! We just need to change our focus and work smarter, not harder. By making informed choices we can have our Christmas cake, and eat it. Despite commercial hijacking by the usual suspects, sharing gifts is essentially an act of generosity. It feels good to give, to let someone know they are appreciated. You can show seasonal spirit and save
money by making a cake, putting a succulent cutting in an old teapot, or picking a bunch of flowers. Preparing a basket with fresh gingham-topped jams and pickles might be a stretch, but a tin of homemade choc-chip biscuits is more exciting than a bland mug or ‘humorous’ fridge magnet.
kits with edible plants, dance and music lessons, or beautiful handmade toys. You see? And these are just the tip of the iceberg. Relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy the season in moderation. Eat, drink and be merry, but not so much that you feel and look like a bloated toad. Remember to punctuate the gluttony with a walk, swim or cycle, and beat the hype by making your own gifts or choosing ones that minimise consumer waste.
If you’re in the market for something more substantial, seriously consider your local options first. Although it’s convenient to point, click and wait for online purchases to be delivered to your door, it’s far better for the health of both you and Happy holidays! your neighbourhood to take a stroll to the shops. By buying locally you contribute to the businesses that make your shopping strip an interesting and vibrant place, keep your dollars flowing within the immediate community, and help employ a friend or neighbour. Transportation is minimised, and more of the taxes collected are reinvested in the area. Even better if you buy something made locally: you directly support a local artist, and it’s far more likely that the materials used have been sourced nearby, supporting other businesses and reducing freight again. Because the manufacturer or business owner operates in the community, you can ask questions directly about whether something has been ethically made or sustainably sourced. If you want to tread really lightly and bypass the manufacturing cycle, try something secondhand: antique bits and pieces, retro homewares, vintage clothing and accessories, and upcycled furniture are all easy to find walking around High Street. Avoid plastic fantastic or more sedentary screen related objects when shopping for kids: consider gardening
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r o i n u j
LOCAL WORD
words: ALEX EDWARD - 12 YEARS OLD My name is Alex Edward and I’ve been part of Flag Youth Theatre since it began this year. I started doing the workshops because I wanted to learn about performing and making shows and that’s exactly what we do at Flag. Each term we learn a different style of performance and work towards a showing at the end of the Term. We have a Master class session each Term where Naomi brings in a specialist for the style that we’re working on. These have been great and I’ve learnt a lot. Last Term we made a show for the Northcote Kids Festival called ‘Meet Me at Mizaru’s’. I really enjoyed being part of the making of the show and it was really fun performing to an audience of strangers. I like the way Naomi teaches us. She makes the workshops fun. I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people and making some great friends. I think coming to Flag has made me more confident and it has definitely made me realize I want to make and perform in more shows. For more information visit www.flagyouththeatre.com
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words: AMY-JO JORY
midsumma Hey and check out Girls Do Gertrude, inspired by Gertrude Stein. Bringing together the talent of over 40 of Australia’s top designers, performers and musicians, this all-female extravaganza will unfold over seven days, racing against the clock.
Midsumma is all set to spray its glittering goodness across Northcote early 2012, and we can hardly contain ourselves. As if dragged by a big juicy colour magnet, thousands of performers, artists, writers, and sports people are drawn close to this festival’s sequinned bosom – from interstate and overseas.
Or kick-back. Pack your crew into the family wagon with a flask and some rainbow cake, and head to the free My BIG GAY Family projection event. Like Harriet, this event thinks about family in the expanded sense. Hot.
Buckle up kids and please, don’t let your icy pole drip on the seat. This, friends, is Melbourne’s premiere queer arts and cultural event. Having long cultivated a well-earned rep, arty times and excellence have been happening since the mid 80’s, and Midsumma is deservedly revered as a creative and inclusive community celebration. Yep. Rad.
Really though, big hair, babe’n Goths, and beauty queens aside – let’s not forget what Midsumma is all about. As a vibrant affirmation of sexual freedom and equality, Midsumma is a queer festival that works to cultivate a community that accepts diversity, one that celebrates good times, come on.
So, if you’re looking for ways to entertain yourself during these delicious sticky summer months, perhaps Ladyboner (Lisa-Skye’s one night only show) is just the thing. Drenched in stories of apparently ruined family dinners, music, and ladyboners across all genders, this self-confessed ‘tubby Goth man-child’ is set to discuss pleasure in all its forms in early February. 16
Northcote Town Hall has something for everyone, including a not-to-be-missed all male beauty pageant from award winning theatre company SHooSH. Power to the people, as this hilarious exposé of ice-cold beauty queen talent will leave the audience to decide who is crowned Miss Glamouresse.
Gertrude Stein was onto something big when she pointed out that: “You look ridiculous if you dance You look ridiculous if you don’t dance So you might as well dance.”
So have a dance, have a laugh, and get yourself a long glass of Midsumma this season. Phew.
FOR mORE iNFORmATiON ABOuT ThE miDsummA FEsTivAL AND TO BOOk TiCkETs, hEAD TO miDsummA.ORG.Au
Girls Do Gertrude! A Midsumma Premier Event Northcote Town Hall 24—29 January
MidsuMMA gETs HoTTEr THis suMMEr
midsumma 2012 15 Jan to 5 Feb PRINCIPAL PARTNERS
LADYBONER Bar Nancy 1 February MAJOR PARTNERS
MEDIA PARTNERS
The Crowd Northcote Town Hall 17—22, 24—29, 31 January, 1—5 February
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words: BRAD STEPHENSEN
M.T.O. Industry After the few-too-many yummy dinners I’ve had this year, there’s something very appealing about a made-to-order pair of jeans. Even more appealing is the sense of orginal-70’s-denim-loving style with which Emma Gallagher and Sean Jeffrey from M.T.O. Industry measure and make them. From jeans to chambray shirts to tote bags to denim neck accessories, there a sense of refinement and originality that no doubt comes from Emma’s background in Fine Arts and Sean’s years spent hanging out at the renowned Wonganui School of Fine Arts in New Zealand. With their two cute kids growing up hanging out on the cutting table, this is one beautiful rocked-out family doing what they love and bringing something really special to the growing retail space on High Street. 539 High Street, Northcote Ph: 9482 9171
St Dots “Don’t be scared, it’s not an art installation. It’s just fruit and vegetables”, says Sarah Curwen-Walker from St Dots. She is gorgeous as she sits perched on a stool behind a table in the middle of the store amassed with a display of fruit and vegetables that would make even Carmen Miranda’s eyes bulge. Coming from a background in hospitality, Sarah hand selects every item (organic or otherwise) and offers them at extremely reasonable prices. Her love of all-things-yummy is evident in her chosen array of the freshest seasonal produce you’ll find, not to mention the jars of delicious jams and chutneys she makes herself. As she tells me about the amazing Christmas Hampers she’s planning, I’m counting my relatives. 234 High Street, Northcote Ph: 9489 8479 18
East India Company I could easily drink tea and talk to owner of the newly-opened East India, Wendy Donald, about her love of Middle-Eastern tribal art, all day long. Surrounded by Uzbeki tribal carpets and Kashmiri hand-loomed throws, she excitedly tells me how the shop was born when she ‘accidentally’ purchased a significant number of silk and wool rugs, in the heat of the moment. Needing somewhere to put them all, she opened the shop. This is a far cry from being any old overpriced Armadale rug shop. Beautiful Japanese ceramics, an exquisite selection of teas and an artfully chosen array of gorgeous nicky-nacky things, makes this the ultimate giftware store. With most items under $100, dollars this is my brand new favourite woops-I-forgot-your birthday retailer. 277 High Street, Northcote Ph: 9943 1651
Allegro Shoes There’s something that I looove about small family owned and run businesses, involving a few generations of the same family. It is shops like these that give shopping strips like High Street its quintessential Northside feel. The quietly-spoken Michael from Allegro tells me about growing up with the sounds and smells of his father making and repairing shoes. From a little cottage shoe making business, to a space at the Victoria Markets, to their first retail space in Brunswick, Allegro brings its deliberated selection of foot apparel to High Street. Michael’s selection of shoes is a tasteful mix of European rustic ye-olde style boots with handcrafted leather finishings, and cute little numbers from Asia. Sure to be every Northcotian shoe lover’s must. 246 High Street, Northcote Ph: 9380 9669
NEW ON HIGH
words: LAUREL MACKENZIE
Merri Christmas
I was eleven. Our Christmas tree seemed to reach almost to the ceiling, presents swelled underneath – and the most exciting two streamer festooned bicycles were propped in front of it! In front of the bikes sat two of Grandma’s handmade dolls, one each for my seven year-old sister and me. With pale yellow wool for hair, my sister’s had brown glass eyes, and mine blue (I named her Arella, I still have her). We took our new bicycles to a local car-park (where, five years later, Dad taught me to drive) and practiced riding in circles, balancing, braking and changing gears; my horse-mad sister alternately whinnying and gently talking her bicycle around the more difficult bits. Technically the lesson wasn’t necessary, but for Dad it was a ritual that mattered – and his job to impart this skill to us. Years later I would ride from Kew to Abbotsford – that magic cruise down Studley Park Road that Helen Garner describes in her seminal Monkey Grip: one of the secret joys of Melbourne. Another is the Merri Creek bike path. In spring the path floods, and you
soar through the deep puddles flinging up mud (or get off and walk when it’s really bad). In one place the path literally rolls up on itself – an irresistible visual joke from a planner with an artistic bent? You ride past Ceres, past the Russian Orthodox church whose minaret makes me feel like I might be in India, past the velodrome where serious bike riders train, through a chorus of birdsong, the sound and smell of the creek, and a canopy of trees overhead that refresh a city-dwelling soul. The other day I was on the phone with Richard Ayling, the designer at Allegro Bicycles (www.allegrobikes.com.au). Richard used to race bicycles in the early 1970’s, he managed bike teams in the 1990’s, and in 2001 set up his own business located in an old turn-of the century bakery in Northcote. He describes it as “a nice old building,“ in “a nice little eclectic area.” In an age of commoditisation and careless workmanship, Richard’s ethos speaks of an interweaving of aesthetics and sustainability. From the low carbon
footprint (all parts are sourced from Tai Chung, incurring less than 250 kilometres in travel; in an industry where it’s easy to unthinkingly source parts from ten thousand kilometres away), to functionality – he describes his bikes as “good urban commuting bicycles,” though in the next breath mentions that his bikes are frequently used as props in the fashion industry! He also designs his bikes specifically to hold racks, so that panniers and baby trailers can be easily attached for more versatility. I am longing to see the bikes in person, but Richard tells me that the converted bakery in Northcote is a warehouse, not a retail store. Happily, he adds, “you bring the cake or biscuits, we’ll supply a cup of tea and be happy to show you around!” I’m sure I’ve got Grandma’s Christmas shortbread recipe around here somewhere…
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REVIEW words: HOOLIO JONES
GRINGO VIBES
One of my first jobs was in a Mexican restaurant and it almost ruined my appreciation of Mexican food. So listen to me when I say that I loved my meal at Gringo Vibes. Passionately. I wanted to start a long and intimate relationship with my chicken quesadilla but alas there was no time because the tortilla was so good and the combination of jack cheese and chicken was so delicious that I had to cram it into my face like it was the last one on earth. I had a slower more casual approach to my veggie taco but then my passion was reignited by the beef version. And then I met the nachos. With the chips that are made in house, those ones that are thick and crispy and unlike any chip you’ve had before with the added bonus of them being different colours because some are made with blue corn, those chips with olives and guacamole and that magnificent freshly made salsa. I’ve got to stop. The memory is too much. I am heart broken that I am not sitting there now eating a quesadilla. The food is prepared with care and each ingredient is given equal respect, it’s true, you can taste the love. The menu, not overly complicated and by no means long is a collection of Mexican staples prepared with fresh ingredients by someone who knows what they are doing. It has a more authentic feel that is missing in the more commercial Mexican restaurants and this sets is apart and makes it that little bit more special. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options and you know what else is amazing about it, in case that wasn’t enough? The prices are fantastic. Gringo Vibes is located at 489 High St Northcote 23
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STOCKISTS M.T.O. Industry: 539 High St. Obus: 285 High St. Leonard St: 205 High St. LUPA: crn High & Westgarth Sts. Alegro Shoes: 146 High St. Hummingbird 60: 44 High St. I Dream A Highway: 259 High St. Dorothy & Evelyn: 226 High St. Madame Farquah: 96 High St. Know Your Product: 1 Tmmins St. Small Dreams: 255 High St. Big Dreams: 269 High St.
our backyard
Summer fashion shoot produced by Severe Studio PHOTOGRAPHY Yandell Walton ASSISTANT Arika Waulu STYLISTS Eva Podsiadowski & Severe Studio HAIR & MAKE UP Andi Coventon
Emma & Sean from M.T.O Industry and their kids Oni and Izzy: All wear jeans from M.T.O Industry, Apache T from Leonard St, Stripy tank, Daffy Duck tank, Chambray shirt, Blacklisted Belts wristband and Dell Stewart neon necklaces from M.T.O Industry, Heebie Jeebies kite from Small Dreams, Space Hopper from Big Dreams
Davina from LUPA, Raymond from Black Finch and their kids Orlando and Juno: Apple Catcher dress, Masai necklace and Matt basket from Leonard St, Western Shirt from I Dream a Highway, Salvage denim jeans from M.T.O. Industry, Sunday Morning velvet skirt from LUPA, sunnies from Dorothy & Evelyn, Munster Pants from Hummingbird 60, Nu By Neo Wedges from Allegro Shoes, Handmade wool rugs, Bento box and Chinese umbrella from East India
Sjada, Doris the dog and kids Elijah and Coco: 50’s style dress from Madame Farquah, Fairy Girls dress, Little Heros outfit, Cluckskafer metal rake & Crocodile Creek playball from Small Dreams, Vintage picnic set, glasses and jug & Garden mags from Know Your Product, Re-bound Books diary from I Dream a Highway
Anne, Harmony and Janet the dog: Pink Stitch jumpsuit from Hummingbird 60, Peacock Parade silk scarf from Catherine Manuell Design, vintage dress from Dorothy & Evelyn, Elke bracelets, Sollis collar necklace and leather belt from Obus, Nu By Neo wedges from Allegro Shoes, Necklace from LUPA, fresh produce from ST Dots
Bianca and kids Hunter and Mila: Hamb t-shirt, Munster shorts and Missie Munster jumpsuit from Hummingbird 60, Temps Perch skirt and Stella Blanche tank from LUPA, House Of Baulch bead necklace from Obus, Personal Shell bag from Catherine Manuell Design, Ko-Fashion shoes from Allegro Shoes, Crocodile Creek playball from Small Dreams
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words: CAROLINA CABANOSSI
apricots & apron strings Julie Jansen began a passionate affair with food when she was just a girl growing up on her grandparents’ stone fruit orchard in rural Victoria. After apprenticing herself at her mother’s apron strings, she spread her wings and flew out into the big wide world, landing a job at renowned Books For Cooks in London. Here she grew up fast, meeting and cooking with inspiring fellow foodies such as Nigella Lawson and Donna Hay. Since returning to Melbourne it’s been full steam ahead, working as a recipe writer and food stylist for magazines and cooking programs, operating successful café and catering businesses with her husband, and more recently serving their damn fine coffee and infamous muffins at The East Brunswick Project and The League of Honest Coffee. Apricots and Apron Strings is a selection of her favourite recipes from a life lived for the love of great homemade food.
The recipes reflect her journey, giving country classics an urban twist (thai chicken sausage rolls!), and are perfect for a shared table at home or a picnic in the park. Some things, though, shouldn’t be messed with, and the baking section, filled with nostalgic favourites like passionfruit sponge and yo-yo biscuits, will melt the hardest of health fanatic hearts. Buy book online from www.apricotsandapronstrings.com.au
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REVIEW
lettuce delight words: TANYA RAO people were not being educated about food and how it can prevent illness in the first place. She explains softly that your diet should include a balance of all five elements, earth, fire, water, wood and metal, a philosophy that sprung from Chinese medicine. “Fire gives you energy, red foods like capsicum and goji berries.” The nine dish banquet is an elemental rainbow of sweet, powdery apple and soy milk, crispy crumbed wheat meat and a glossy hot pot dotted with goji berries.
Sisters Rosalie and Elaine Chung blend art, food, yin and yang at Northcote’s The Veggie Kitchen. On a vast highway, next to an empty dirt lot and a convenience store is a white billboard heralding an ‘intention of love’.And inside the hexagon window is a golden world of forbidden rice, seafood-flavoured mushrooms, and a strawberry cake so soft, the texture of clouds. Inspired by their mum’s Taiwanese recipes, Rosalie Chung and her sister Elaine began Veggie Kitchen, St Georges Rd’s most magical and delicious secret. A nurse for ten years, Rosalie felt that sick people were being treated with medicine, but healthy 32
The sisters even make their own tofu, soaking soybeans overnight, grinding them into milk and cooking them with calcium sulphate until it coagulates. Rosalie stays away from supermarket soymilks because they contain additives like sunflower oil and flavourings to make them taste more like milk. Their mother came up with ‘Lettuce Delight’, crunchy prawny shards of mushroom in a lettuce leaf, after leaving some enoki mushrooms in the fridge too long. “She was going to throw them out, but decided to fry them up, and discovered that they tasted like seafood!” Elaine sings when she cooks, serving her happiness to Taiwanese and Chinese families with gurgling babies and stray bespectacled Northcote hipsters. A tad off the beaten High St track, the food is full of surprises (the rice is purple!) and will nourish your body and imagination. Spread the love. Veggie Kitchen, 159 St Georges Rd Northcote
The importance we place on health and well-being sometimes gets lost in our busy lives. However, anyone who has had times when they have been sick or injured, realises that our health is indeed our greatest wealth. We have all heard about the issues connected with our modern lifestyle. Our nation is growing fatter each year, diabetes rates are skyrocketing and our society is suffering under the weight of it all. I believe a much more holistic and individualist approach is needed if we have any chance to turn these shocking statistics around. One size does not fit all! Now, a variety of boutique style health and fitness businesses are flourishing as they cater to the needs and individuality of the Northcote community. Small businesses that are passionate about their modality and have carved out their niche and found success. Their clients are happy too! My particular passion is educating women about using their pelvic floor. Incontinence affects around 50% of women aged 50 years and under, regardless of whether they have had children. Recent studies published by Australian Continence Foundation found that incontinence was one of the biggest reasons why women (in particular) stopped exercising. Yet an understanding of how to engage this important muscle, coupled with regular training is known to improve the majority of issues, and quickly. Health and well-being is not only dependent on being physically active and eating well, but also 34
in good health words: MICHELLE WRIGHT caring for our mental health. Issues such as anxiety, motivation, depression, social skills, self esteem and relationship difficulties have a profound effect on the health and wellbeing of our society. Holistic and alternative health solutions have found their place in the community because they are both trusted and needed. Again, it is the passion to provide care for others that motivates many to set up these unique businesses. A great example of this is Engage 1 on 1, who are a team of specialist psychologists in High Street, dedicated to helping young people gain new skills
and practical strategies to engage with life. Engage 1 on 1 also dedicate time and services to help kids across Melbourne, including those around the Inner North, at no cost to parents or to the school. As well as community services in school, the psychology team at Engage 1 on 1 is running innovative holiday programs in January 2012 to help young people engage their confidence and optimism in the year ahead. The holiday programs are unique to Engage 1 on 1 and a first for Northcote. Check out www.mishfit.com.au/blog
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Mary Michalopoulos Podiatrist
Mary has over fifteen years of experience as a podiatrist and a visit to her can prevent problems through by early diagnosis and treatment. Your feet may need a check up if you are: over 50, participate in regular sporting activities, have diabetes, arthritis or a circulatory condition or are on your feet all day at work. 247 High Street, Northcote Ph: 9489 8299
Northcote Natural Therapies
We believe good health comes from what is in and around you. Our retail section stocks BPA free products, organic skincare, makeup, teas, essential oils, cotton toys, bamboo disposable/reuseable nappies, wipes, baby products, palm oil free soaps, cleaning products, hand made soy candles and much more! NNT look at travel miles, company ethics, ingredient list etc before purchasing a products to ensure all items are local and ethical.. Mention this ad for 25% off* storewide, *conditions apply. Ph: 9481 1166 northcotenaturaltherapies.com
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in good health
Mishfit - personal training
Exercise specialists for pregnant and post-natal women Mishfit provides a range of services. mishfit mothers is a group personal training program designed for pregnant and postnatal women. There is a free trial and babies and toddlers are welcome. Power plate training as well as one on one training packages are also available. www.mishfit.com.au Ph: 1300 647 4348 www.facebook.com/mishfit info@mishfit.com.au
Yoga Jivana
Yoga Jivana offer Iyengar yoga classes for the most Basic Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced students, Private Yoga, Pranayama, Specialised Yoga Workshops and Yoga for Children and Teens. A place to experience quality Iyengar Yoga instruction in a welcoming atmosphere to feel energised, revitalised & relaxed. 2-b Elm Street, Northcote Ph: 9481 1087 yogajivana.com.au
Aegis Natural Therapies
Gaby Harris has been in practice for over 12 years, lecturing at Southern School of Natural Therapies for the last 7 years. She specialises in treating digestive complaints using herbal liquids, homeopathic medicines, nutritional supplements, dietary and lifestyle advice. Health rebates and gift vouchers available. 21 Gordon Grove, Northcote M: 0409 358 905 aegisnaturaltherapies.com.au
Track
AI Alloy frame carbon forks single-speed
Allegro Bikes Designed in Northcote, Allegro Bikes are conceived to meet the unique needs of commuting, touring and casual cyclists across Melbourne, Australia and Germany. For the latest on bits and pieces we are curently working on and all our useful cycling products find us online: allegrobikes.com.au
allegrobikes.wordpress.com/
W3
Butted Steel shimano 3 speed hub gear
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words: STEPHANIE RIDDEL
HIGH ST HISTORY
take the canoli When I go somewhere I like to know where I am, and that it’s different to the place I was before that. It helps me avoid getting lost. Ever tried meeting someone in a shopping centre? “I’m outside Footlocker…I can see a McDonalds.” It’s stupid. In a sea of gentrified corporate chain sameness it’s easy to drown in primary colour blocked numbness and forget where you are. Which is why small shops – with personalised signage and signature styles – are cool. I reserve a special place for The Family Business. How do they do it? No one would want to visit a shop run by my family. Who wants to endure gritted teeth, casual dissing, bickering and nit picking that grinds until someone snaps? Customers don’t usually want to get pissed and sing songs while choosing glassware. I asked three Northcote family businesses what sets them apart. All agreed; personalised service and attention to detail.
Takis & Kathy’s – 455 High Street Zoe, the daughter of Takis and Kathy, lives the legacy of her parents; the art of ceremony. Since 1971 people have been coming for guidance on how to stamp their special occasions with exquisite style. In fact many of Zoe’s customers were christened in gowns sourced and made by her mother. Finnigans Cycles – 507 High Street The Finnigans have been in the business of bikes for over 100 years. Richard Finnigan’s greatgrandfather, a free settler from Ireland, established The Malvern Star in 1903. The walls of his shop are adorned with black and white photos from a different age and trace the history of this family’s long love affair with bikes. Expertise guaranteed. P & S Drapes – 228 High Street “One of the best things about a family business is the flexibility it affords you in terms of your family. Everyone looks after each other,” says Bill Gifotsidis. First established in 1975, Bill says his mother had an eye for design. Though officially retired, she still spends time in the workshop sewing pieces together. But she’s getting better at not changing the displays and moving things around. 41
ON THE STREET
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Practise
shopping
before
you leave!
114 High St Northcote 9486 5849 www.elpatiospanish.com *also at 2/152 Lt Lonsdale St 9650 6032 S
urses co
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Excel
for all
nish pa
words: HOOLIO JONES
...and so it was Giftmas As much as I enjoy it, Christmas gives me the conniptions. I love seeing my family, I love eating too much, I love lying around on a hot summers day but I can’t stand it how suddenly we are whipped into this frenzy of consumerism. And how wasteful we can be. Think of all the resources that are used and how much of it ends up in the rubbish. We are often tempted to drown our loved ones in gifts because that’s what the neighbours are doing but as they say, the only time we should look at our neighbours plate is when we are making sure that they have enough. Our position as a decadent society is a precarious one. This Christmas I urge you to consider what money you are spending and where you’re spending it. Do it locally. Do it for the right reasons. Do it because you are thinking further ahead than just Christmas morning. And do it with care, respect and with love.
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Dear High Street Pavement, come back. Sometimes when I’m doing stuff I miss you because you’re not there, I think ‘Didn’t this used to be easier?’ When all these roadworks have finished it will be amazing, but waiting it out is proving tougher than I anticipated. 44
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KYP has a magnificent collection of vintage ephemera, from lighting to furniture. It is all authentic and original and better quality than a lot of things that you would by now, new. You can tell this because it works today and is not in a rubbish tip somewhere.
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What I love most about recycled furniture is the recycled part. Furniture should be built to last, I mean, that’s its job right? To be there and to hold stuff? Recycled furniture is great because it’s been holding things for years so you know it’s got to be pretty good at it.
GIMME GIMME
STOCKISTS 1 Know Your Product Ph 9486 1116 4
I love Summer because it means reading outside, stretched out on the grass somewhere, the wind rustling the leaves in the trees, birdsongs, nostalgia. That blissful hour or two of silence punctuated by the clink of ice in a glass and sighs of contentment.
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People always say that children are our future, and in a way they sure are, but only if they are equipped with the right tools and education. I work in retail and the amount of people I serve that can’t do simple math scares me.
When I was younger I used to sit down and draw for hours. Now there is Facebook and if I didn’t type I’d forget what my fingers were for. Art supplies aren’t just a present they are an opportunity, an opportunity to do something different that comes from within.
2 Recycled Lane Ph 0430 042 778 3 Small Dreams Ph 9486 4688 4 The Book Grocer Ph 9482 7480 5 Art Stretchers Ph 9486 4446 6 Catherine Manuell Ph 9481 8034
ENTER TO WIN! WIN this luggage from Catherine Manuell worth $299. To enter: find us on facebook ‘Harriet of Northcote, like us and post to our wall in 50 words or less the reason why you want this amazing luggage. Our favourite response wins, so be creative! No facebook? Email your entry to: info@whoisharriet.com.au. Entries close January 31st 2012, winners drawn next day.
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Whenever I see people walking around with luggage I like to make up stories about them based on whatever they happen to be toting at the time. If I saw you with this I would probably say that you were an actor/model who has their own clothing line and just got back from Milan where you were changing the face of fashion as we know it, when in reality you could be someone who smuggles animals across state lines and whom specializes in the discrete transportation of live rats. Luggage, it makes a statement. 45
words: JULIET JEFFERYS
backyard bliss Recently we have witnessed the wondrous Melbourne weather changing from glorious to grotesque and back again, in a manner seemingly a little overdone for even its notorious reputation. In spite of those guessing what to wear and deciding if an umbrella able to withstand gale force winds is a required accessory, the rain continued to offer local gardens and their planty inhabitants the ideal opportunity for some serious growth. This pattern looks set to continue in the coming summer months. Walking around Northcote it is clear that gardening is already a very popular past time. The abundance and variety of much loved gardens, both ornamental and edible, is a true joy to behold. It is especially inspiring to see the many ways these special spaces are created regardless of actual room available. From the classic railway sleeper garden bed, to a salvaged bath-tub pond complete with water lilies or a copper kettle sprouting a bounty of basil, it’s possible for everyone to have a little patch of green. What better time to get amongst it?
Involving family and friends is also a fun, low cost and healthy way to spend time together, and sharing the results is even more rewarding if the results happen to be a delicious harvest. Everybody knows how much better home grown produce tastes and this is only heightened by the personal satisfaction of having nurtured each bud through flower, to fruit and then table. The time is ripe for planting. With patience results will come later in the season, but herbs are one example of garden goodness performing well right now. Use them to prepare delicious condiments such as salsa verde or pesto, and yields may be maximised and enjoyment prolonged. By blending or finely chopping herbs, adding oil of choice and flavour combinations, possibilities can be tailored to your tastes and garden. Favourites such as basil, parsley and mint combine well with capers, anchovies, pepper and garlic, or for a zesty alternative try mixing coriander, Vietnamese mint and Thai basil with ginger, chilli and lime. Crushed nuts can also be added to provide tasty texture. Whilst great for barbeques and summer salads such home made goodies also make perfect additions to any festive hamper or spread. Why not give gardening a go this summer, for more tips, advice and of course all your planting needs visit the friendly helpful team at Northcote Nursey, 85 South Crescent, Northcote, Ph: 9482 2997. 47