art and food…yes please

Posted on July 12, 2011 by cityhippyfarmgirl

entrance

I don’t think I had any expectations of MONA (Museum of Old and New Art- Hobart). I had heard it was good. Had also been told of a couple of particular pieces on display, but other than that I didn’t really know what to expect, besides knowing that I did want to go there.

Driving in, vineyards line the drive way up. Guinea fowl, chooks and ducks roam the carpark. I think anywhere that has that as a welcome, along with striking architecture and a tennis court in front of the subtle entrance, immediately has my attention and I wanted in.

Little Monkey had timed a nap in his pram perfectly and the iphone used for orientating yourself with the artworks suited the tech savvy Monkey Boy. The gadget distracted him enough away from any adults only pieces and it was quicker to ask him to find the information I needed, than from Mr Chocolate.

This place is awesome. No other word for it. If you go to Hobart, make sure you head over for a couple of hours. It ooozes with funk, intrigue, thought and a bucket load of awesomeness….and it’s free. I loved our afternoon here.

falling water drops forming words

30 people singing Madonna songs in unison...brilliant!

Now food in Tasmania is a big factor. If you like being out doors, being active and like your tucker a whole lot- it really is heaven. This time around we weren’t dining out in fancy places that had two types of wine glasses set up. Not all. If they had kid sized milkshakes excellent. Drawing paper and colourful pens…even better. Fast and tasty, yes please.

A few of the stand outs for me were, (and you don’t have to have kiddo’s to enjoy them).

The Red Velvet Lounge, Cygnet. This place is really appealing as soon as you walk in. My eyes moving straight to the stacked (still warm) sourdoughs and brimming cake counter, (why fight it?) Steve the owner also blogs from The view from my Porch. This is where I got to have lunch with the lovely Kate from Vegetable Vagabond.

Global Kitchen, Moonah. Three cooks from India, South Korea and Ethiopia, all offering different dishes. A tasting plate that left me gasping for air and The Monkeys skipping out with a chocolate chip biscuit gripped in their little monkey hands.

Machine Laundry Cafe, Hobart. This place was recommended to us 7 years ago. We dutifully seek it out and the Fat Boy Roti was remembered for ever more by Mr Chocolate. Back again, and it was a given that we would see if it was all still there. It was, and definitely worth the wait to get in. Part laundry, part cafe. It’s got retro seating, a line up of people outside and a menu that doesn’t disappoint. It was certainly worth the seven year wait to come back.

: roti filled with scrambled eggs

bacon and parmesan pancakes

he got really slow at the end of that one...

So, with my muddy shoes stacked up, my scarf draped over the back of the chair. I lean back contentedly, give my belly a happy pat and say very enthusiastically…that, was a lovely holiday.

See you again Tasmania.

* Apologies to any subscribers who got the delightfully titled 4252 post- sometimes my brain pauses…pressing publish without a title was one of those moments.

31 thoughts on “art and food…yes please”

Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide on July 12, 2011 at 2:01 pm said:

Bacon. And. Parmesan. Pancakes. Oh…. Great pictures.

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:12 pm said:
  
  They were deeelicious.
  
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Provincial Homemaker on July 12, 2011 at 2:13 pm said:

Hmm, I wonder if we could schedule a Tasi visit some time soon. Im drooling.

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:13 pm said:
  
  I think you should 🙂
  
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Kari @ bite-sized thoughts on July 12, 2011 at 2:56 pm said:

I loved MONA too – I had high hopes but they were exceeded. So amazing. And the free bit blew us away! We came home and googled the owner to try and figure out how it was financed (answer: he’s very rich, and generous). Apparently they’re going to start charging non-Tasmanians though, so we went at a good time!

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:14 pm said:
  
  I had heard that too, that they were going to start charging… Saying that I would happily pay to go there.
  
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Joanna @ Zeb Bakes on July 12, 2011 at 4:48 pm said:

Lovely holiday pics, art and food, food and art, a little stroll, a little food, ahhhh…. what on earth could be more relaxing? Thanks for sharing 🙂

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:14 pm said:
  
  Not much else I would say.
  
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Kate on July 12, 2011 at 8:45 pm said:

Great to meet you cityhippyfarmgirl and your delightful family and friend. I definitely will check out the Global Kitchen when next in Moonah…. thanks!

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:15 pm said:
  
  Lovely to meet you Kate! Global Kitchen was a good one, I think you would like it.
  
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heidi on July 12, 2011 at 10:39 pm said:

I feel like I just took a small holiday with you! I love the willful intention- Art and Food and blog friends to meet!
I usually don’t plan- just go and see what there is to see- allowing serendipity to guide me along. sometimes it is fantastic- often it is rather sporadic and I come away wondering what I missed.
I agree with Joanna- lovely, lovely- thanks for sharing!

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:16 pm said:
  
  I usually plan a lot for any trips away. This one was much more, ahh, lets just see what happens…
  
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rachel @ tea with lucy on July 12, 2011 at 10:58 pm said:

ok you have well and truly whet my appetite. for good food and tassie. i’m going to start planning my next holiday now…

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:18 pm said:
  
  I think you should Rachel
  
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drfugawe on July 13, 2011 at 3:40 am said:

Thanks for the peek at Tasmania – how I’d love to visit – maybe some day.

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:18 pm said:
  
  You would love it in a heartbeat Doc.
  
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ecoMILF on July 13, 2011 at 6:39 am said:

This is the number one place I want to visit in Australia. THanks for sharing your adventures. xo m.

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:19 pm said:
  
  Next holiday ecomilf?
  
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Amanda on July 13, 2011 at 9:53 am said:

What a fab spot – that one goes on my list for sure. And the place that sells those bacon and parmesan pancakes…

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:20 pm said:
  
  Machine. I LOVED that place.
  
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Susan on July 13, 2011 at 4:28 pm said:

You are inspiring me to make a journey to Tasmania! Not to mention you are making me incredibly homesick. I love your blog, just brilliant! xxx

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:23 pm said:
  
  Thanks Susan 🙂 Come on home girl.
  
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gina on July 13, 2011 at 6:50 pm said:

lovely great posts from such a beautiful place Brydie! happiness lives everywhere, in heart of nature, in heart of all human beings!
thx for sharing it all with us! to me tasmania seems so far away from greece, yet a dream place to visit some day! pls promise you upload in near future y-o-u-r version of these awesome breakfast recipes aka roti filled with scrambled eggs and bacon and parmesan pancakes..have a nice time! 🙂

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- cityhippyfarmgirl on July 13, 2011 at 8:25 pm said:
  
  Oooo, I hadn’t thought of making my version of those dishes…will ponder…
  
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A Bloke Who Can Cook on July 14, 2011 at 12:38 am said:

Thanks for some hat-tips for what to look for in the south of the state. I’ve only been to Hobart maybe 1/2 dozen times (Tasmanians have a funny attitude to distance: we’ll travel interstate rather than go from one side of the island to the other), and everything south of Oatlands is pretty much an undiscovered country.

If you ever come back, make sure to come up north, so I can direct you to my favourite haunts. 🙂

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Christine on July 14, 2011 at 8:46 am said:

Wonderful! MONA sounds amazing..falling words with water? Unbelievable. I’d love to go to Tassie sometime…via boat!

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Margot on July 14, 2011 at 10:39 pm said:

So delicious! What a lovely trip! If I ever make it down there I will be sure to chec some of these places out 🙂

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Wendy on July 15, 2011 at 6:32 am said:

Great trip away – felt like a proper adventure. I loved MONA and you know my take on the dinner I had there and the lovely produce dotted like twinkling stars all over the place. There will most certainly be return trip(s). Thanks for sharing the love.

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Richard Elliot on July 15, 2011 at 1:21 pm said:

I didn’t make it to MONA when I was in Tasmania back in Feb and I am kicking myself for it. My sister is visiting in September and I’m going to make sure she heads there.

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Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on July 15, 2011 at 11:49 pm said:

MONA was such a highlight of my Tasmanian visit! It is such an incredible space to visit! I can’t wait to put up my story 🙂

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Johanna GGG on July 16, 2011 at 1:40 pm said:

Sounds like a lovely holiday – we had a similarly lovely time in the machine laundry cafe – great food and hip waiters – wish we had gone to MONA – will have to save that for next time.

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