Travel, treaties & tunes
10. Fleet Foxes – Shore
9. Hayley Williams – Petals for Armor
8. Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?
7. Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
6. The Killers – Imploding the Mirage
5. Phoebe Brigers – Punisher
4. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
3. Kingswood – Juveniles
2. Gordi – Our Two Skins
1. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
10. Elbow – Giants of All Sizes
9. Little May – Blame My Body
8. Self Esteem – Compliments Please
7. Montaigne – Complex
6. Skyscraper Stan – Golden Boy Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
5. The Head and the Heart – Living Mirage
4. Silversun Pickups – Widow’s Weeds
3. Bon Iver – i,i
2. Andrew Bird – My Finest Work
1. Maggie Rogers – Heard It In A Past Life
10. First Aid Kid – Ruins
9. MØ – Forever Neverland
8. Robyn – Honey
7. Lykki Li – so sad so sexy
6. Matt Corby – Rainbow Valley
5. John Butler Trio – Home
4. Kimbra – Primal Heart
3. Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer
2. Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
1. Middle Kids – Lost Friends
This is my attempt to not repeat a dinner for the entirety of 2018! I’ll update this post to keep track of progress, share recipes and highlight my recommendations.
1 January: Fish taco bowl (quinoa, white fish cooked in spices, any toppings and sauce you’d put on a taco)
2/1: Barley salad with marmalade dressing. I didn’t have any leftover Christmas ham, so made a vego option with roasted pumpkin instead.
3/1: Vegetarian Bun (Vietnamese rice noodle salad).
4/1: Pappardelle with roast tomato pesto (chop and roast any tomatoes for 45 minutes, blend with parmesan, almonds and olive oil), mushrooms, balsamic red onion and ricotta.
5/1: Okra sweet and sour curry. I didn’t have fish, so bulked this out with extra veges – capsicum, broccoli, carrot – and added a hard boiled egg to each serve.
6/1: BBQ chicken chipolatas with rice vinegar slaw (shredded red cabbage, carrot, nashi pear, coriander, corn kernels, dollop of dijon mustard and rice wine vinegar to taste)
7/1: Mango glazed pumpkin, with crispy chick peas, paneer and cauliflower. I added the cauliflower in to bulk it out and served it with cashew rice.
8/1: Zucchini slice with roasted carrots.
9/1: Chicken drumsticks and mixed potato salad with pickled onion dressing.
10/1: Spaghetti with lentil bolognese.
11/1: Char siu eggplant on rice. Based on a pork recipe, this one has gone vego with eggplant instead and bulked out with extra broccoli and other veg.
12/1: Coconut and lime salmon with mango salad.
13/1: Grilled corn and quinoa salad
14/1: Chorizo and sweet potato salad
15/1: Spicy soy chicken
16/1: Teriyaki udon noodles
17/1: Kiwi, lime and chilli fish
18/1: Calamari, orange and hummus
19/1: Roast tomato pesto pasta (roast 8 – 10 tomatoes until they begin to char, cool then blitz with almonds, parmesan and olive oil)
20/1: 7 hour lamb and Cypriot grain salad
21/1: Pacos Tacos
22/1: Thai pork and basil
23/1: Chargrill vegetables, pearl cous cous and haloumi
24/1: Falafel and black rice tabbouleh
25/1: Tofu satay noodles
26/1: BRAT (bacon, rocket, avocado, tomato)
27/1: BBQ
28/1: Paprika chicken and salad
29/1: Ricotta pasta
30/1: Turkish zucchini and haloumi bake
31/1: Gazi (Greek feast)
1 February: Sesame chicken with cashew rice
2/2: Lemon butter garlic salmon
3/2: Cauliflower burgers
4/2: Warm lentil and paneer salad
5/2: Pineapple and tamarind pork
6/2: Hanoi style eggs
7/2: Wild rice, haloumi and grilled peach salad
8/2: Singapore noodles
9/2: Kangaroo steaks and crispy onions (adaption from this recipe)
10/2: Pulled pork udon noodles
11/2: Pumpkin and edamame cous cous
12/2: Vietnamese take out
13/2: Wild mushroom tortellini
14/2: Middle Eastern pearl cous cous
15/2: Cauliflower, chick pea and coconut curry
16/2: Salmon with miso soba
17/2: Flammkutchen
18/2: Crispy cabbage salad with haloumi
19/2: Holy Bowly with smokey tahini sauce (this one is really good)
20/2: Cavatelli pasta with octopus
21/2: X’ian style cold noodles
22/2: Spicy turmeric fish
23/2: Italian lentils with pork and chilli sausage
24/2: Stuffed mushrooms
25/2: Grilled capsicum, spicy cous cous & crispy haloumi
26/2: Orange and broccoli quinoa
27/2: Cayenne chicken on brown rice
28/2: Summer pumpkin dahl
1 March: Chilli, zucchini and lemon spaghetti
2/3: Crepes (Breizoz French Creperie)
3/3: Birthday noodle bar
4/3: Gourmet snags and various salads
5/3: Italian feast (Riserva)
6/3: Lentils and mushrooms
7/3: Roast vegetable quiche
8/3: Antipasto bowls
9/3: Zucchini pitas
10/3: Salmon and coconut wraps
11/3: Hotdogs
12/3: Quinoa vegetable fritters
13/3: Vegetarian Pad See Ew
14/3: Greek noodle salad
15/3: Japanese lamb meatballs with miso glazed pumpkin
16/3: Pea, mozzarella and mint pasta
17/3: Flake and chips
18/3: Pesto chicken kiev
19/3: Nothern Thai chicken and noodle curry
20/3: Summer greens tomato and basil frittata
21/3: Broccoli, green chilli and smoked almond spaghetti
22/3: Middle Eastern zucchini rice with soft boiled egg
23/3: Chicken salsa tacos
24/3: Chicken meatloaf
25/3: Curry leaf prawns
26/3: Baked suco gnocchi
27/3: Lamb and coriander kofta
28/3: Japanese noodle and vegetable bowls
29/3: Orecchiette, lentils and kale
30/3: White fish with spice crunch
31/3: Beef cheek pizza (Pizza Religion)
1 April: Roast pork (Easter lunch)
2/4: Corn fritters and poached eggs
3/4: Grilled roo with macadamia salad
4/4: French mushroom tagliatelle
5/4: Roast pumpkin and cauliflower quiche
6/4: Pad Thai
7/4: Massaman curry
8/4: Spinach and ricotta rolls with tzatziki
9/4: Orecchiette with Italian sausage
10/4: Cauli-bitsy bowl
11/4: Coconut chicken wai wai
12/4: Pumpkin and grain salad
13/4: Korean fried rice
14/4: +39
15/4: Roast beef
16/4: Chicken, cabbage and egg noodle stir fry
17/4: Eggplant and ricotta
18/4: Roo and six veg
19/4: Pork and egg dan dan
20/4: Dumplings
21/4: Mushroom and goat’s cheese tart
22/4: Honey popped tofu
23/4: Spinach and ricotta cannelloni
24/4: Mushroom omelette
25/4: Spicy pork, refried beans and quinoa
26/4: Hummus bros. with veges
27/4: Indian spuds on flatbread
28/4: Honey glazed pumpkin and enoki on brown rice
29/4: Sticky ginger roast chicken
30/4: Pulled pork ramen
1 May: Farro and veges
2/5: Spicy dahl with tomatoes and naan
3/5: Sausage, lentils, pear and rocket
4/5: Vegetarian lasagne
5/5: Haloumi tacos, with avocado, tomato and mango
6/5: Spicy chorizo enchiladas
7/5: Tofu and mushroom poke bowl
8/5: Vietnamese pulled pork rice noodles
9/5: Israeli chicken and cardamom rice
10/5: Pumpkin pesto orecchiette
11/5: Riversdale Thai
12/5: Cheese board, meat and olives
13/5: Mango pumpkin, cauliflower and coconut rice
14/5: Crispy tofu laksa
15/5: Eggplant agrodolce
16/5: Farro with chicken and loads of greens
17/5: Roo with mash, kale, carrots and zucchini
18/5: Bolognese pie
19/5: Healesville pub
20/5: Pumpkin soup with roast cauliflower
21/5: Roo rendang
22/5: Mushroom and baked polenta bowls
23/5: Tagliatelle with chorizo, pumpkin and tomato ragu
24/5: Chicken, broccoli and cashew stir fry
25/5: Mushroom and potato pizza
26/5: Okonomiyaki
27/5: Carrot soup with chorizo cornbread
28/5: Oven roasted meatballs
29/5: Egg noodles with Asian greens and egg
30/5: Roasted gnocchi and vegetable bake
31/5: Lentil lasagne
1 June: Mac & cheese
2/6: Cocktails… (no dinner)
3/6: Breakfast burritos
4/6: Chicken, fennel and rice soup
5/6: Crunchy quinoa, pumpkin, cauliflower, feta and nuts
6/6: Chilli con roo
7/6: Butter chicken
8/6: Garlic eggplant soba noodles
9/6: Bao and dumplings (Box Hill)
10/6: Baked chicken and Middle Eastern pilaf
11/6: Thai pumpkin curry soup
12/6: Coconut and chilli poached chicken
13/6: Creamy artichoke gnocchi (blue cheese)
14/6: Roo with cauliflower and cannellini beans mash
15/6: Char sui pork on egg noodles with egg
16/6 – 23/7: Canada
24 July: Quinoa with roast and fresh veges
25/7: Orecchiette with crummy eggplant, tomatoes and ricotta
26/7: Spiced chicken and roasted peppers with hummus and veges
27/7: Pork shoulder with pear, fennel and potato salad
28/7: Eggwhite omelette with goat’s cheese
29/7: Potato and leek soup
30/7: Soba noodles with tofu and greens
31/7: Eggplant and capsicum casserole with polenta
1 August: Roo meatballs
2/8: Baked spinach gnocchi with veges
3/8: Eggplant parmas with sweet potato chips
4/8: Pumpkin and artichoke quiche
5/8: Cauliflower soup with lentils, haloumi and sprouts
6/8: Greek chicken, lemon and potatoes
7/8: Asian omelette and rice noodles
8/8: Mexican tofu, black rice and beans
9/8: Roo pies & green bean salad
10/8: Gypsy eggs
11/8: Salami pizza
12/8: Carrot and lentil soup
13/8: Malaysian chicken laksa
14/8: Mushroom, blue cheese and pear spaghetti
15/8: Okonomi-bowl (no pancake)
16/8: Chermoula with roasted orange veges
17/8: Pad Grapow
18/8: Lamb larb
19/8: Pumpkin and parsnip soup with prawns
20/8: Ten veg bowl
21/8: Mushroom and paneer curry
22/8: Lamb biryani
23/8: Freekeh and beets
24/8: Avocado, smashed edamame and sprouts with poached egg
25/8: Mimis
26/8: Chicken and tomatoes with garlic bread
27/8: Pad see ew with tofu
28/8: Pulled pork burgers with fennel slaw and potatoes
29/8: Eggplant katsundi
30/8: Pumpkin and pomegranate cous cous
31/8: Rigatoni with artichoke, lemon and peas
1 September: Mexican bowls
2/9: Spring greens minestrone
3/9: Sticky lemongrass chicken
4/9: Mushroom and pumpkin risotto
5/9: Bangers and mash
6/9: Mujadarra with lamb and yogurt
7/9: Egg noodles and eggs two ways
8/9: Lamburgers
9/9: Lemon roast chook
10/9: Mexican soup with capsicum, tomatoes and beans
11/9: Hummus, grains and greens with egg
12/9: Spinach, garlic and pesto gnocchi
13/9: Carrot tart and fennel salad
14/9: Snags, pumpkin and cous cous
15/9: Sweet potato pancake
16/9: Harira
17/9: Thai green curry with chicken
18/9: Pork ball vermicelli
19/9: Miso eggplant soba
20/9: Roo, smashed peas, pumpkin and asparagus
21/9: Black bean jacked up nachos
22/9: Korean feast
23/9: Indian vege and chick pea bowls with crispy curry leaves
24/9: Mixed lentil dahl with cucumber and peas
25/9: Tofu and mushroom katsu
26/9: Chicken rice paper rolls
27/9: Broccoli and anchovy spaghetti with lemon breadcrumbs
28/9: Bridge Road Brewers
29/9: Press Room – tapas
30/9: Indian in Benalla
1 October: Ricotta, broccoli and pea risotto
2/10: Tuscan bean soup
3/10: Rioja chicken with saffron rice
4/10: Pumpkin, spinach, ricotta and lentil lasagne
5/10: Fish burrito (Fonda)
6/10: Pulled pork tacos
7/10: Creamy mushroom medley pasta
8/10: Apricot lamb
9/10: Legume salad with haloumi and potato
10/10: Sundried tomato pesto rolled chicken with pancetta
11/10: Chilli bean pork and eggplant
12/10: Lemongrass chicken and roti (Penang Coffee House)
13/10: Smashed avo and eggs
14/10: Stuffed Indian tomatoes with naan and paneer
15/10: Snags and caramelised potato and onion
16/10: Fesenjan
17/10: Stroganoff pasta bake
18/10: Meatballs and risoni
19/10: Green shakshuka
20/10: Haloumi, fried beans and guoc
21/10: Tandoori pumpkin, chick peas and cauliflower
22/10: Walnut chicken and chips
23/10: Lemon spaghetti with roo mince
24/10: Fried pumpkin gnocchi
25/10: Gooey eggplant and capsicum stir fry
26/10: Green curry rice with salmon
27/10: Buttermilk chicken burger (Burger Burger)
28/10: Eggplant flatbreads
29/10: Ricotta, spinach and pumpkin rotolo
30/10: Lemon, garlic and herb chicken with potatoes and greens
31/10: Spinach pesto fried gnocchi with artichokes
1 November: Lamb and coriander balls with lentils, beetroot, tomatoes, zuc and tzatziki
2/11: Tapas at Theatre Place
3/11: Smoked salmon, green veg and pearl cous cous
4/11: Feta and bacon frittata with cucumber salad
5/11: Charred drumsticks with carrot noodle salad
6/11: Zucchini and bean rolls in tomato ragu
7/11: Roo chow mein
8/11: Chicken skewers
9/11: Almond crumbed pork with slaw
10/11: Pad mee
11/11: Grilled cheese with mushrooms
12/11: Hoisin chicken
13/11: Spicy prawn, spinach and mushroom egg noodles
14/11: Salmon Buddha bowls
15/11: Black bean pork and noodles
16/11: Beer and vodka battered ling and chips
17/11: Meze – fried sesame feta and friends
18/11: Sweet potato noodles bowl
19/11: Haloumi bowls with quinoa
20/11: Baked taco pull apart
21/11: Prawn dumpling noodle bowl
22/11: Meatball and rigatoni bake
23/11: Pork ball subs (banh mi)
24/11: Bibimbap (at Queenscliff MF)
25/11: Pearl cous cous with edamame, beets and feta
26/11: Roast chicken thighs w sage, rosemary potatoes and tomatoes
27/11: Lamb and hummus
28/11: Salmon, pumpkin and ginger soba noodles
29/11: Tamarind pulled pork rolls
30/11: Carrot and cashew pasta
1 December: Cypriot salad with haloumi
2/12: Dahl with eggplant, peas, asparagus, spinach and snow peas
3/12: Orecchiette with pumpkin, tomatoes, zucchini, capers and artichoke
4/12: Cous cous with potato, sweet potato, cauli, avo, celery and tahini mayo
5/12: Quinoa with corn, lentils, red cabbage, cap, red onion and snow peas
6/12: Party pies
7/12: Cheesy vego burritos
8/12: Chinese five spice noodles with bok choy, carrot, spring onions, broc
9/12: Soba noodles with pumpkin, carrot, raddish, snap peas and miso dressing
10/12: Lamb and almond kofta
11/12: Chicken, chorizo and chips
12/12: BBQ pork + various salads
13/12: Zuc and polenta slice with broc pesto
14/12: Xmas party
15/12: White bean korma with brown rice and haloumi
16/12: Tuna nicoise
17/12: Quinoa, mozzarella, avo and tomatoes
18/12: Indian pilaf with pumpkin, chick peas and paneer
19/12: Chicken singapore noodles
20/12: Cheesy lamb patties on eggplant and roast carrots
21/12: Gingerboy (AVRMBC)
22/12: Friendmas (HB Cheesus)
23/12: Christmas ham sambos
24/12:
25/12:
26/12:
27/12:
28/12:
29/12:
30/12:
31/12:
And all of that produces a word map of 2018’s foods that looks a little like this:
This is an overview of some spots around Victoria that I’ve visited, hiked and explored recently. I hope it provides some inspiration to get outdoors and enjoy the parks and trails available!
Click the images for more info and photos
Where is it? Gippsland, take the M1 out to Traralgon and head south to Balook. Traralgon-Balook Road is a prime country driving! – just over 2 hours from Melbourne
Distance: 6 km
Time: Approx. 1.5 hours
Most recent visit: 4 January 2018
Difficulty: Easy
Cool features: The ferny view from Corrigan Suspension Bridge is cool. While the bridge is very popular, the Forest Track is super quiet, so is a very peaceful walk.
Map and track info: https://www.trailhiking.com.au/tarra-bulga-scenic-circuit/ (includes an extension to the Cherry Track)
Notes: There are a couple of nearby waterfalls you can cruise to – Cyathea Falls are pretty and at the end of a short walk featuring some incredible Myrtle Beech trees, while Tarra Falls are by the side of the road and have very poor visibility.
Where is it? Take the Monash from Melbourne to the South Gippy – about 45 minutes
Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Most recent visit: 31 December 2017
Difficulty: Easy
Cool features: The feature desert landscape as you enter, the abundance of birds, and the array of colours.
Map and track info: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/visit-cranbourne/attractions/australian-garden
Notes: Where are all the bandicoots at? In the scrub areas to the left as you enter, there are plenty to be found, but be patient and polite! They probably won’t invite you in for a cuppa if you’re stomping on by. On one visit we saw heaps of the little guys (bandi-cute!), but on the last visit we only spotted one. Keep your slippery senses about you, too – there’s plenty of snakes in the neighborhood!
Where is it? About half way to Bendigo, straight up the Calder – just over an hour from Melbourne
Distance: 18.8 km
Time: 6 hours
Most recent visit: 29 December 2017
Difficulty: Moderate, but the beginning is really steep!
Cool features: The wildlife and changes in forest and landscape as you progress through the walk.
Map and track info: https://www.trailhiking.com.au/macedon-ranges-walking-trail/
Notes: Use the map to navigate the track and don’t be deterred by the beginning of the hike – once you turn onto the track from Douglas Rd, there’s an elevation gain of nearly 400m in about 1 km, so it’s pretty dastardly if you’re not prepared. After that, the walk levels out and becomes a pleasant day’s work.
^ Hanging Rock looks very small from up here (Camel’s Hump) ^
Where is it? West Victoria, about 3 hours drive from Melbourne
Distance: 9.7 km (circuit)
Time: Approx. 3 – 3.5 hours
Most recent visit: 28 November 2017
Difficulty: Mostly easy with very steep climb at MacKenzie Falls
Cool features: MacKenzie Falls are way better seen in person – they are huge! Fish Falls aren’t as grandiose, but they are way quieter (there’s no carpark like there is at Mac), so arguably nicer to hang out at. Walking through the gorge is beautiful and the changes to the surrounding rock faces on approach to MacKenzie Falls are really impressive.
Map and track info: https://www.trailhiking.com.au/mackenzie-falls-circuit/
Notes: We completed this as a return trip – Zumstein’s Picnice Area to MacKenzie Falls via Fish Falls – instead of a circuit, which took about 2.5 hrs including a break for lunch.
Where is it? West Victoria, about 3 hours drive from Melbourne
Distance: 10 km (circuit)
Time: Approx. 4 hours
Most recent visit: 27 November 2017
Difficulty: Moderate (there are steps assisting most of the steepest sections)
Cool features: Silent Street, the Grand Canyon and the view from the top (obviously)
Map and track info: https://www.trailhiking.com.au/pinnacle-track-circuit/
Notes: The THA page I’ve linked above gives an interesting direction… Let’s just say to go clockwise on the trail seemed a whole lot harder. We did the circuit in the opposite direction, heading toward Venus Baths first and continuing from there. What an incredible trek it is! And take the canyon route… You’ll thank me later.
liamtracey 