Afternoon Tea Diaries - Red at Oxi Tea Rooms

I first heard about Oxi Tea Room in Melbourne maybe a year ago on Instagram, and I knew that I wanted to visit. It was just a case of making happen, and finally we did a couple of weeks ago. I will say that this was more than just an afternoon tea, it was a whole experience, and a bit different from any afternoon tea I have ever experienced.

From the minute we stepped through the day it was clear that the vibe was very calm and that service is a key part of the experience. This is no crowded tea room where you struggle for room to use your cutlery and can hear every conversation that your neighbours are having. There were some intimate booths, some tables set in large windows and an upstairs area which we didn't get to see, so it is a larger venue than it felt to us on the day.

After getting settled at the table, we were invited to choose the tea that we wanted to have. There were more than 30 different types of tea which we were invited to smell to make our choice. There options vary from Taiwanese oolong tea, to Kenyan tea and South African rooibos tea. 

The tea that you selected was then brewed two ways. The first cup of tea was brewed using a traditional Chinese brewing method and then the second cup was brewed using a futuristic machine called a teapresso. Think coffee machine but especially made for tea. 

We were very surprised to see a small bag of potatoes on the table. I've never seen that before. It did make me smile that there was a sign to say please don't take the potatoes. I wouldn't have thought that was necessary. It all became clearer when the first course came out. They were a Potato and Leek Soup Beignet and Potato and Cheese Bread  and they looked exactly like potatoes.

We were then invited to do a personality test to determine what order we should eat the 9 different morsels that were available. It really was just a couple of questions and then you were directed to follow a circle, a triangle or a square as you worked your way through the accompanying menu. My husband and I both got different results so after the first item which was fried chicken, pickled beetroot and tandoori ketchup, we then were eating different items for the rest. These varying paths made it a really interesting interactive conversation as we tried to work out which was our next item. 

This particular menu is called Red, and as you might guess, everything on the platter was predominantly red. Even the platter itself was red and it all looked absolutely gorgeous when it came to the table. Everything is just beautifully crafted and presented as well. Here are just a few close ups 

My favourite items were the tomato macaron, the pomegranate and crab, and the grape and chocolate cake. The flavour in that little tomato was so intense. 

The tea room doesn't only do the afternoon tea that we had. There is also an a la carte menu which is inspired by the art of the Bauhaus movement. I am not really sure why I did this, but I had pre-ordered some bread and a Circle which is strawberry, vanilla and pesto flavours. We didn't really need it, but it was so pretty and really tasty. I was surprised when the bread came out after the afternoon tea.

Every detail at Oxi Tea Room is considered from the tea cups, the bases of which are very sculptural in form to the cutlery which is all designed to be able to sit on the plates securely.  This experience is on the pricey end of the afternoon tea range but it was well worth it especially when we added the extras. My understanding is that the theme changes every now and again and I can see us going to Oxi Tea Room again when it does.

Weekly meals

Saturday - Baked beans on toast
Sunday - Swedish Meatballs and mashed potatoes
Monday - Hong Kong Style Rice Hot Pot
Tuesday - Bacon, mushroom and zucchini pasta
Wednesday -Spicy Pork and Bean Noodles
Thursday - Away
Friday - Away

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page

Away with the Fairies by Kerry Greenwood

Following the news a few weeks ago that Australian author Kerry Greenwood had passed away, I had a quick look at my spreadsheet where I record all my books read and realised that it had been more than 15 years since I read an instalment in her Phryne Fisher series. I had just finished listening to a very long audiobook. I therefore decided to listen to the next book, the 11th book in the series, as it would be a complete change of pace and a relatively quick listen.

When the Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher is called in my her friend Detective Inspector Jack Robinson to visit the scene of an unexpected death, her real qualifications are just that she is a woman. Jack wants her to take a look around the very pink room, filled with fairies and the like, and see if anything seems amiss. However, once the autopsy results come in, it changes into a murder investigation.

The victim, Miss Lavender, wasn't particularly liked either in the apartment complex she lived in or where she worked. She was someone who liked to know everyone's business and wasn't afraid to use it against them if it is suited her.  It turns out that there was some crossover as some of the people who lived in the complex also worked at the ladies magazine as writers. The only thing to be done is for Phryne to start working at the magazine to see what she could find out. Yes, Miss Fisher got a job! Shocking!

The murder investigation is not the only thing that Phryne has going on. Her Chinese lover Lin Chung has gone missing after going to Hong Kong on a business trip and Phryne is worried enough to reach out to his family who disapprove of her. When she receives a gruesome package, she knows that it is time to swing into action, regardless of the danger she might face, especially given that it begins to look like she might be going up against pirates.

One of the things I loved about revisiting this series is the fact that it is set in 1920s Melbourne and the book is sprinkled liberally with mentions of roads and suburbs that I am very familiar with. Of course, they look very different now than they would have done but I could trace Phryne's movements on a map quite easily if I wanted to!

I was also able to easily reacquaint myself with all of the characters from the detective, to Phyrne's adopted daughters and not to forget Dot, Phryne's right hand woman.

The previous book I had listened to had been narrated by Richard Armitage, which is my idea of aural bliss, and it did take me a bit to get used to the narration in this book. By the end though I was enjoying the performance. It didn't take me long to get back into Phryne's world. It certainly didn't feel like 15 years, and I would like to think it won't be 15 years before I read the next one in the series. Who knows what mischief Phryne will get up to in the next book!

I am sharing this review with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host here.

Rating 4/5

Blog Tour: One Summer in Italy by Victoria Springfield

 

Three people are connected to a Venice at a single place and time which has left them with lasting impacts on their lives. When they all have to go back to Venice, will it be a chance for healing and forgiveness, or cause their lives to implode....again.

Natalie was once a presenter on a children's TV show, but these days she is happier behind the camera working as a freelancer in TV production. A job is a job, and so when she is offered a last minute role to present a high end house swap series called Luxe Life Swap, she accepts even though it means going back to Venice. The last time she was there, on a school trip, her life was changed when something happened and she also lost her best friend.

Cate and Phil are the wealthy homeowners who are swapping their lives to go and spend time living in a Venetian palazzo. Cate first laid eyes on Phil on that same school trip, when she was still known as Cathy. They got together four years later at university, and together have built a successful life together. But both Cate and Phil have some secrets about what happened on that first trip to Venice that they haven't told each other, even after all these years.

Phil was happy to do the house swap, but ever since he found out that they are going to Venice he has been acting strangely, to the point that he is finding it difficult to get on the plane. Cate is not sure what is going on, but she does need to find out.

It is quite a shock for Cate and Natalie when they realise that they are going to be forced into spending some time together. Even the glorious sites of Venice can only help so much. It is only as some truths of what really happened come out that there is any hope of reconciliation, but along the way there may well be some collateral damage.

This is the third Victoria Springfield book I have read. The first two were set on the islands of Procida and Ischia. This time the setting is Venice. The canals of Venice come alive in the pages of this book. It's not only the touristy places that we visit, but also little known areas off the track. Along the way, we get to hear about some of the crafts and trades that are being lost in Venice as they are replaced with cheap tourist knock-offs and as the locals are priced out of living in the famous city. 

I have been to Venice once a very long time ago and I would love to go again. This book is first and foremost about the lost friendship, the secrets and starting over, but it is also about the place. Within it's pages there is also a request of visitors to the city. Come, see the sights, marvel at the glass blowing, the lace, the carnival masks and more, but please support the genuine makers and the people who live in the city.

I visited the the islands of Murano and Burano and where I had a very fish forward lunch on one of them. We also visited a glassblowers, and I bought these glass lollies that I have carried around with me for the thirty years since. They were probably the least expensive thing that you could buy, but I have enjoyed getting them back down off the shelf and looking at them again! I do have some kind of paperweight as well, but these are the things that bring me joy when I look at them!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

About the Book

One Summer in Italy

A return to Venice. A friendship rekindled. A time for romance.

Natalie’s landed the opportunity of a lifetime hosting television show 'Luxe Life Swap', but she’s dreading going back to Venice, scene of the school trip that changed her life. The beauty of the floating city and handsome watch restorer Eraldo begin to win her over, however. But then glamorous contestant Cate arrives, the girl who was once plain, ordinary Cathy – the ex-best friend Natalie blames for the night that wrecked her life.

Cate’s swapping The Old Vicarage for two weeks in a Venetian palazzo, hoping she might pluck up the courage to go on the quest she’s been putting off for more than twenty years. Forced to spend time with Natalie, Cate hopes to rebuild their friendship – until Natalie makes a shocking accusation against Cate’s husband. Cate needs to find out the truth but how can she expect Phil to be honest when she’s keeping secrets of her own?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/SummerinItaly

About the Author  –

Victoria Springfield writes contemporary ‘wish you were here’ evocative women’s fiction set in Italy. Her feel-good books follow unforgettable characters of all ages as they deal with love, loss, friendship and family secrets. Readers can feel the sunshine!

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @VictoriaSpringfieldAuthor
Twitter: @VictoriaSwrites
Instagram: @victoriaswrites
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/VictoriaSpringfieldNews
Bookbub profile: @VictoriaSWrites

Blog Tour: The Cornish Cottage by the Sea by Kim Nash

 

After really enjoying all the books in Kim Nash's Cornish Cove series, there was no way I was going to miss her latest book, which is the first in a new series. We are still in Cornwall, but this time it is in a village called Sandpiper Shore.

When Jo Jenkins inherits a cottage by the sea from her ex-husband's aunt, she is most surprised, especially seeing as she hasn't seen Aunt June for many years. Jo's divorce from Michael has left her battered and bruised in more ways than one. Her two daughters don't mean to take her their dad's side, but they expect her to just be around to be at their beck and call like she was as a stay at home mum. She was cleaned out financially but somehow he was still able to keep their expensive holiday home in Spain where he now lives with Jo's ex-best friend, Claudia.. Jo also feels like she doesn't have many true friends any more. 

With her beloved mum's encouragement, Jo decides that she will do the unthinkable. She is going to move into the cottage in Cornwall, sight unseen. She does second guess herself a bit when she arrives. It is not the picture perfect cottage that she fell desperately in love with all those years ago. It is falling apart, it is full of stuff that she will need to sort through, and the outbuildings all need a lot of work too. What it does still have is an amazing beachfront location and a ton of potential. 

The sheer amount of work and money needed to do it is overwhelming though. Fortunately, Jo meets handyman Seamus, apparently the hottest single man in the village, who is willing to help out with ideas and costing estimates, and more if she will let him. Jo also meets two woman who she instantly bonds with, Emma and Michelle, and soon she is building a new life for herself, much to Michael's disgust. 

The part of this book that really resonated with me was the conversations about what it means to be lonely, and how hard it is to get out of that space. Whilst I have my lovely husband, I do find myself struggling with friendships and some family members at the moment. Everyone is so busy so it feels like unless I organise something then I won't see people and I feel invisible, which is how Jo felt with her family too. I admire how Jo, along with her new friends, proactively did something to make new friends, and also to reach out to other lonely people in the community as well. 

There were a couple of things in this book which had me stop and pause. One was a twist that was a bit too coincidental, and a bit of miscommunication but otherwise this was a good read,. I also am not sure I get the cottage. I get that it is bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. It is also described as being in a resort but having outbuildings large enough to convert into accommodation. Maybe my idea of what a resort is is a bit different to how they are in Cornwall. Oh well, it's a minor thing. Regardless, I look forward to reading the next books in the series!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

About the book

The Cornish Cottage by the Sea

A new start by the sea…

For Jo Jenkins, life has always been about putting others first. But with her children grown and her ex-husband as rotten as ever, she knows it’s time to put herself at the heart of the story. So, when she inherits a beautiful beachside cottage in Cornwall, she grabs the chance to start over.

The crumbling old cottage needs a little love, but so does Jo. And with the help of her new friends – a kind-hearted jeweller, a no-nonsense businesswoman, and a local Jack of all trades with a past of his own – Jo begins to rebuild more than just bricks and mortar.

But tucked away inside the cottage is a secret that could change everything. As the waves roll in and the sea air clears her mind, Jo must decide if she’s ready to let go of the past. Will she finally learn to embrace the life she truly deserves?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/CornishCottage

About the Author

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, romantic, feel-good fiction, having wanted to write books since she was a little girl. She works as both Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture. She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni. When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog and reading, as well as running a book club in Staffordshire and organising local and national reader/author events.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.nash.10
Twitter https://twitter.com/KimTheBookworm
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kim_the_bookworm/
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/KimNashNews
Bookbub profile: Kim Nash Books - BookBub

Top Ten Tuesday: Change is good....and somewhat inevitable

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Ways in Which My Blogging/Review Style Has Changed Over Time (submitted by Susan @ Bloggin’ ’bout Books)

It's hard to believe but my blog is 20 years old later this year. It is fair to say that things have changed a lot over the years. Here are some things that have changed, and some that haven't changed.

Ten things that have changed!

• I started my blog back when online forums were still a thing. They are still around now, but nowhere near as popular. In fact, my first ever book review on my blog points to a historical fiction forum. I also met quite a few people in the Oprah's book club forum, some of whom went on to start blogs. A couple of those are still around, but not many. There are so many great bloggers who are no longer around :-(

• I used to read only paper books. I got my first e-reader in 2010 (it was a red Sony Touch). Even though I loved it, I didn't read that much on it. I got a Kindle maybe 5 years ago and now I read probably 80-90% of my books on it.

• For a while there I tried to review every book I read, but that contributed to a bit of blogger burnout for a while because I always felt behind and pressure to catch up. My goals for this year are to review anything I commit to as part of a blog tour, anything by Aussie authors and any historical fiction I review. Anything more than that is a bonus!

• I have flirted with different formats for reviews over the years. Some with the synopsis included. Some without, some times with links to other reviews of the same book. 

• I used to use Google Reader and I still miss it even though it was discontinued back in 2013. I used to try and visit every blog in there and leave comments in order to build relationships. I have a different one now but I don't often look at it. Now I try to visit people who are participating in the things I am participating in, like Top Ten Tuesday for example. I do find that the blogging community is different than it used to be, and I feel on the edge of things a bit now.

• I am so old that there was no such thing no such thing as Bookstagram or Tik Tok when I started. Oh, and the internet was dial up!

• I used to use the library a lot more than I do now. The library system I was part of allowed you to have 60 books checked out at a time, and up to 20 books on request, and I was constantly juggling return dates and renewals. I have gone back to the library a little bit over the last few months but I can't see myself ever getting back to that level of borrowing. Way too stressful, especially when you add in other commitments. I even hosted a weekly event called Library Loot for a number of years! That event is still going, hosted at The Captive Reader and Real Life Reading.

• My blog template has changed several time over the years. I mostly love this one, although it does have a couple of issues I would love to be able to fix. One day.

• These days I host Weekend Cooking where you can share any kind of foodie post with other food and book lovers. Book reviews, movie reviews, recipes, you name it! There's not as many people participating in it anymore, but I always have more ideas for Weekend Cooking than I have Saturdays to post them on, so I will continue with it for a while. I also host the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge here.

• Sometimes I look back on my blog and find posts that make me so proud of what I have posted in the past. Other times, there were so many rubbish posts that make me think what I was I thinking. These days I pretty much have a set routine of posts. Monday is my This Week post, Tuesday is Top Ten Tuesday, Saturday is Weekend Cooking, Sunday is one of several posts, and then if I fill in the gaps with reviews I do, and if I don't, I don't!

Two things that haven't changed

• I still wonder about how to create engagement and think I should be better at this blogging thing by now!

• I still love books, talking about books, and blogging.

I will be very interested to see other people's posts on this topic!

This Week

Melbourne Writers Festival

Over the weekend I attended Melbourne Writers Festival. I always try to make sure that I attend something at the festival, and this time I was able to attend three events.

On Saturday, we attended an In Conversation with Anita Heiss which was facilitated by Shelley Ware. This was a wide ranging conversation from being a method writer to the inclusion of indigenous people in Australian stories to the plight of children in the current situation. Heiss' latest book, which was originally an Audible original, is called Red Dust Running and features an Indigenous cowboy so both of the presenters were dressed up in jeans, boots and cowboy hats. I have met Anita Heiss before and she is always engaging too listen too, very funny, and yet covering important topics!

On Sunday, I attended two sessions. The first was too hear Japanese author Asako Yuzuki who was interviewed by cookbook author and TV host Alice Zaslavsky. The conversation covered topics from food, the roles and expectations of women in modern Japanese society, and so much more. Like last year when we saw Toshikazu Kawaguchi in conversation, this was a translater assisted session, and she did an amazing job. There was a lady behind us who spoke Japanese relatively well and at the end of the session she was gushing about how well the translator did!

The final session was Australian author Jane Harper In Conversation with Irish author Marian Keyes. Keyes got a rapturous welcome from the moment that she walked on stage and she kept the audience engaged from the outset. I am pretty sure Harper could have asked just one question and just let Marian Keyes talk for the whole hour. One of the highlights of the conversation included the news that there is a TV series being made of the Walsh sisters books which has been sold to an Australian streaming service. It is going to be shown in Ireland later this year so hopefully we won't have to wait too long for it here! The audience laughed and clapped all the way through the hour and there was a real buzz in the room. I am so glad to have had the chance to hear her talk live. Now I wish I had time to go back and re-read all the Walsh sisters books!

I have some other photos from the two days on my Bookstagram account - Intrepidreaderandbaker.

While the festival doesn't feel the same as it did a few years ago when it was over two weekends, it was heavily promoted as a city event and there was a real buzz in the host locations, it is an event that really fills my cup. And the bonus is we get to visit some iconic Melbourne locations as well. One if the Capitol Theatre which usually isn't open to the public. This place is gorgeous! And the ceiling - amazing art deco style!

I'm reading

I mentioned last week that I was reading The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson as it is the current selection for Cook the Books. I finished that book this week, and I know what I am going to cook for the cooking part of the equation. Now I just need to find the time to make it, hopefully this week. 

I also finished The House At River's Edge by Rachel Burton, which I reviewed here.

The other book that I had to read last week as I had committed to a review date was Booked for Summer by Kathryn Freeman. I reviewed that book here. 

Even though I have two books to review this week that I haven't started yet, I started reading An Italian Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack. I really like this author's books and so far this is a good one too. 

I also started The Madamoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester. I went and heard her speak a couple of weeks ago and the story that she told about the main character in this book was fascinating. This is one of the two book club books that we will be talking about at the Rachael Johns Readers Retreat this coming weekend. I think that there is every chance that I might be reading the other book on the plane on the way over to Perth!

I'm watching


We are very lucky here as there are often film festivals which bring movies to the big screen that I would otherwise never hear about. The German Film Festival is currently on, and one of the two movies that I really wanted to see was the book to screen adaptation of the Door to Door Bookstore. I read the book last year and liked it. I was a bit surprised to see that it had been made into a very family friendly movie and I thought it a sweet movie. There was almost a cartoonish feel to it from some of the costumes to the sets and more. It also shared the magic of books and story, about the importance of found family and the impact of grief. 

On Saturday night my husband and I went to see Thunderbolts, the latest Marvel movie, and it was really good! Definitely felt like a return to form. 

We also watched a new Netflix documentary called Pangolin: Kulu's Journey. Before watching this show I had no idea what a pangolin even looked like. It is made by the same people who made My Octopus Teacher and once again it is a really nicely made documentary. 

Here's the trailer:

Life

Not much more to add here really

Posts from the last week



Top Ten Tuesday: Authors Attending the Rachael Johns Readers Retreat

Blog Tour: One More Day of Us by Shari Low

Blog Tour: The House at River's Edge by Rachel Burton

Blog Tour: Booked for Summer by Kathryn Freeman

Weekend Cooking: The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe by Catherine Greer

Sunday Salon: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge - April stats






I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? hosted by Book Date and Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz

Sunday Salon: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge - April stats

 Every month I share some of the statistics related to the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I try very hard to visit every post which has been linked (time permitting) and I find it interesting to see what are the books that people are reading and reviewing! I often end up adding a couple of books to my never ending TBR list.

In terms of the books read in March , there were 61 reviews linked up for the challenge, shared by 19 participants. There were 54 individual titles reviewed, written by 52 different authors. There were 6 reviewers who reviewed 5 or more books each. Thank you to everyone who shared their links whether it be 6 or just 1.

So which books were reviewed more than once in April ? There were actually two books that were reviewed three times each, and then a further 3 books that were reviewed twice!

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry was reviewed by Jenia at Story for Dessert, Barbara at Stray Thoughts and at Laura's Reviews. Interestingly, there was also a short audio story called which was also written by this author, although this time the name it was published under was just Patti Callahan which Barbara also posted about!

The other book reviewed three times was Nancy Bilyeau's new book The Versailles Formula which was reviewed three times by Laura at Reading Books Again, Helen at She Reads Novels and by Davida at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews.

The books that were reviewed twice were A Slash of Emerald by Patrice McDonough reviewed by Kim and Bev at My Reader's Block, Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall which was reviewed by Cathy from What Cathy Read Next and at Laura's Reviews. The third book was The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie which was reviewed by Shellie from Shellie Loves Books and Laura from Laura's Reviews.

There was also another Patrice McDonough book reviewed by Kim which was Murder by Lamplight.

Kerry Greenwood was the other author who was reviewed more than once this month with Bev at My Reader's Block reading both Blood and Circuses and The Castlemaine Murders. I also read a Kerry Greenwood book this month, but the review won't be up until next week...probably!

In other news, the shortlist for the Sir Walter Fiction Prize for Historical Fiction was announced in April, and they shared a cool video announcement

The shortlisted books are:


The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
The Mare by Angharad Hampshire
The Book of Days by Francesca Kay
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

I know that we have a couple of participants in the challenge who are reading the nominated books. Have you read any of these?

I wonder what books will be featured next month!

If you love historical fiction and reading challenges, it isn't too late to join us! All the details can be found in the sign up post.

I am sharing this with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz