Designed & Made market

The Designed & Made Market, run by the Furniture Designers Association, ran through the day in the IXL external courtyard today. I thought it was going to be quite a bit larger for some reason, and whilst most of the fare was fashionable and interesting, I was disappointed to see the old Huon Pine spice mills making an appearance. The courtyard itself seemed more space than the number of stalls required, so it felt rather windswept and short on people both times we ducked in. I wonder about the wisdom of a market in a spot that is otherwise very quiet on a Sunday. Having said that, it still gladdens the heart to see designers and makers out and about with contemporary work.

Mothers' Market

The Mothers' Market is a collective of creative, skilled and motivated Tassie mums who who wanted an outlet for sharing their wares. This weekend's market was held in the St Georges Church Hall in Cromwell St, Battery Point. An utterly gorgeous venue, the hall was a perfect setting for a delight of a market. Well- stocked, but not uncomfortably jam-packed, there was the usual fare of bags, baked goods, kids clothes, prints, fabric buttons, stuffed toys, cards, Christmas decorations and jewellery. Lots of the imagery that is very in-vogue at the moment: silhouettes of deer and bare trees and bold animals, leaves and retro prints. But all extremely pleasing to look at and touch and imagine owning. (Or indeed buy if you had any spare spondoolies!)
I had the delightful surprise of running into a very old school friend, and the performance piece de resistance had to be the woman who made and served excellent coffees one-handed with a baby on her hip! The essence of the Mothers' Market!

Next market is supposedly March next year. Watch this space for details. Perhaps I will be part of it!

Disclaimer:

It should be noted that this blog comes to you from a three-quarter income, three-person household, hence while I would love to tell you about all the fabulous high-end restaurants and classy B&Bs, I will mostly be posting about cheap or free places, activities and events.

As soon as I win Lotto I will gladly bring you the good stuff on the money-is-no-object side of island life!

Hana Sushi & Noodles

Hana Sushi and Noodle bar in Glenorchy caught my eye the first day I wandered around my new shopping district. An extensive menu of sushi, sashimi and other cold Japanese snacks as well as a hot menu ranging from Cantonese to Malaysian, it all looked really fresh and tempting. We had a sushi lunch pack for $7.50, consisting of sushi, sashimi, California rolls and that sweet egg omelette stuff (sorry!) and a huuuuge plate of Malaysian Fried Kei Tiew ($9.50) to share between two. Both were very good (although I'm wondering if there was MSG in the noodles judging by my thirst throughout the afternoon...pity) and great value. One serve of the noodles alone would have still been too much for two.
As a lunch spot or somewhere to collect a hearty and tasty take-away, I'd recommend it. (Just be wary if you are particularly MSG-sensitive. I can't promise they don't use it.)

Where: Shop 8, Glenorchy Plaza, 350-360 Main Rd.

Kawasemi Japanese Tea House

I'm far from the first to blog about Kawasemi Japanese Tea House in Main Rd, Moonah, but according to the rules of this blog, it must go on the list.

We'd heard various raves about it for quality and value, so on my birthday we "splashed out" ($45 for three of us!!) on lunch there. The Bento Box, at $15, was a huge feed of excellent fresh sushi, tempura, miso, sashimi and other nibblies I don't know the Japanese names for. I also tried for the first time a truly excellent green tea, Genmaicha if I remember correctly, which consists of a mix of green tea and toasted rice grains, resulting in a gorgeous nutty sweetness that took away the faint bitterness I don't usually love about green tea proper. Delish! There was also a complimentary starter of a spicy noodle salad which took the edge off the appetite and allowed me to savour the Bento Box instead of rushing in like a hog at a trough.

Tucked away in Dickenson's Arcade, off Main Rd, this little restaurant is a great find for the budget-conscious yet discerning!

Where: 109 Main Rd, Moonah.

The mountain.

Mount Wellington dominates the Hobart skyline, from pretty much any vantage point you choose. Its magnificent blue humped back cuts a crisp edge to the sky, and from a profile view, either from my place in the northern suburbs or directly over the other side down Kingston way it resembles the proud, shaggy shoulder of a bison or mammoth. It's a focal point for all Hobartians. The weather rolls in over its back or blows in from the river and shrouds it in mist, hazy wet clouds and sheets of rain.

I didn't realise until I was once again living at its foot, how much I had missed having a mountain nearby and always within sight. It's an ever-present reminder of the grandeur and agelessness of nature. It's made of ancient stuff, and you can still die up there without trying too hard. It's rock, tree, earth, water, ice, snow (sometimes even on Christmas Day!), fire, fur, blood, life and death. It's a late-sleeping woman who has pulled the sheets up around herself, and we nestle our stilted and stepped homes in the low tangle and rumples below.

Jackman & McRoss

(Photo: Pork & apple sausage roll and chorizo and gruyere pastry roll, both with spicy homemade chutney)

We love Jackman & McRoss.

Great coffee, great food, great ambiance!

Jackman & McRoss is a little gem of a cafe and bakery, one of which is found in Battery Point, the part of Hobart so cute you just have to pinch its cheeks and chuck it under the chin! A short walk from Salamanca Market, this bright, airy and pram-friendly cafe (an important consideration for us these days!) has excellent fare (we've tried a couple of the pies) and very good coffee. We sat there rhapsodising over our food and decided it rivalled the very best cafes we've patronised in Melbourne. Its decor is stylish yet understated, the vibe is relaxed and comfortable and the prices are about average for cafes of this ilk. We've also sampled various sweet pastries, filled rolls and savoury tarts, and everything has been unfailingly excellent! This is definitely going to be our Hobart coffee house!

Where: 57-59 Hampton Rd, Battery Point; 4 Victoria St, Hobart; 32 Cross St, New Town