The Churros Cafe

The Churros Cafe, located in Moonah's Island Markets, is an understated little gem. Great fresh churros (Spanish doughnuts - long ridged deep-fried cinnamon-dusted delights with thick chocolate dipping sauce for the mighty price of $4.00 a serve [take a friend!]), fresh authentic paella, and something called a cold caramel souffle...

...all served with a smile by the friendly Spanish tias...that's aunties to you!
I will be making regular outings to Churros to sample the various other eclairs and baked goodies, and to have a soul-food Spanish chat to the senoras.

Where: Island Markets, 54-56 Gormanston Rd, Moonah.

Island Markets

Island Markets in Moonah is an undercover market housing a small selection of stalls (naff crafty stuff, some overpriced flea market things, plants, eggs + honey, handmade chocolates) with a fruit/fish/meat section (the live fish in the tanks are a huge hit with the kids - both big and little!) and a fantastic liquidation outlet selling clothes, DVDs and books. I can't go in and leave without a new addition to the home library! There's also a manchester liquidation outlet which I haven't yet looked at.

The fruit and veg section usually has some great specials on a few things and always very competitive prices on everything else. There's also a cheese store by the carpark entrance (Wicked Cheese Co.) which does a mean chilli camembert!
A fun outing, some good shopping, books agogo... if only there was some lawn outside for the restless toddlers, you could make more of a day of it!

Where: 54-56 Gormanston Rd, Moonah (accessible from the Intercity Cycleway)
http://www.islandmarkets.com.au

Royal Hobart Showground Sunday market

The Sunday market at the showground is a bit of a mixed bag. There are several second-hand dealers charging their optimistic second-hand prices, a few drop-ins trying to clear the house of junk, and a fair whack of kitsch (the bad kind!), tat and crap, including the widest range of awful skull-art tees I've ever seen. I'm mesmerized every time by the lolly stall chock with sherbet bottles, White Knights and many other sugary concoctions. It brings out the 10-y.o. in me, and she begs in ever-increasing tones for two bucks to spend! Most of the stuff is overpriced, but if you hunt and don't have high expectations, you can find a bargain still. It's populated mostly by slightly scary northern suburbs types (of which I am now one!) and can be a bit of a freak show, but for an entertaining Sunday outing, a mere 10 minutes walk along the Intercity Cycleway from Glenorchy centre, I think it rates OK.

Just a word on dagwood dogs. I made a mistake, alright? The first bite was kind of delicious in a greasy, nostalgic way, but by the end I knew that baby done a bad bad thing.

Where: Howard Rd, Glenorchy


(I got a novel, kids book, two cars and a Fisher Price Xylophone for $8.50 total. Not a bad haul!)

2009 Tasmanian Circus Festival

How freakin' cool does this sound???

A circus festival in the north of the state, set over three days with circus bands, comedians, clowns, fire performances and freak shows in a 50-acre parkland with camping or day passes. Workshops in trapeze, tight wire, acrobatics, hula hooping and object manipulation led by professional performers, kids workshops, morning yoga for the campers and all with a minimal enviro footprint.

The 2009 Tasmanian Circus Festival - Carnival of Living Wonders takes place February 7-8-9 in the Lone Star Valley in the Panama Forest.

Go to their website for all details.

Tricycle Cafe Bar

The short and sweet of it:
Tricycle Cafe Bar is a cute little spot in the Salamanca Arts Centre, with great coffees (about $3.50 apiece) and a fantastic decor. Lush flocked wallpaper and cool old trikes hanging everywhere. Plenty of room to bring a pram, a few different areas to sit, both outdoors and in, and ample elbow room. Next time we have a breakfast budget, would love to come back and eat.

Where: Salamanca Arts Centre, 77 Salamanca Place, Hobart.

Tin Sunlight Soap sign

Hunter St, Hobart docks.

Red FJ Holden

Elizabeth St, Hobart.