New Hot Spot

The Patch Lounge in Coolangatta is opening in a matter of weeks now, and I personally cannot wait!

Most people I know don't venture out much anymore due to lack of places to go. Yeah yeah there are the usual night spots in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach but I'm talking about somewhere  I WANT to spend the whole night at, somewhere I can share a meal with friends and enjoy a glass or two of wine, a place that supports live music, fashion and the arts...this my friends is where The Patch Lounge comes in!

On a recent trip to the Big Apple I frequented a great little wine-bar in the East Village, it had such a warm and cosy vibe that made me want to go back again and again. The Patch Lounge is going to be that place.

Expect a warm, Moroccan feel with an eclectic mix of furniture that brings the place together, a stage to hold a band and a smaller stage for an acoustic set or comedy act. The Patch Lounge is going to be our very own creative hub music, fashion, art all in one.

Mark Friday the 13th August on your calendars, you won't want to miss the launch party, featuring Funk/Jazz band G.A.S, artist Joy French, She J Sheila, plus a few surprise acts on the night.

Hope to see you there

One for the chocolate lovers!

I try not to make a habit of eating dessert, (excluding tonight, my mum has whipped up her famous apple and passionfruit dish for a family dinner) simply because I'm a lover of everything appley, chocolaty, puddingish...you get the idea, too much dessert = you know!

However...

I cannot resist this warm chocolaty treat. It is perfect for winter with a dollop of classic vanilla ice cream or a splash of double cream (I like ice cream as it melts over the top mmm). Now I admit that I have personally never made this myself but I have peered over Tim's shoulder eagerly awaiting to get my hands on it, and (no offence to Tim) it is bloody simple!

Chocolate Risotto 

What you'll need:

2 1/4 cups skim milk (cos we're watching our waistlines of course)
1 vanilla bean split (you can just add a splash of vanilla essence if you can't be bothered spending $10 on a vanilla bean)
1 tbsp cocoa
1/4 caster sugar
20g butter
2/3 cup arborio rice
60g dark/milk or white chocolate grated (the choice is yours) and you can use more or less
I C E - C R E A M

What to do:

~Heat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (160 fan)
~Put milk, vanilla, cocoa and sugar in a saucepan and heat until just below boiling point, stir until sugar dissolves
~Meanwhile, melt your butter in an ovenproof saucepan (med-high heat). Add the rice and cook for 2 minutes stir it a few times.
~Stir the milk mixture into the rice, cover with a lid or some foil and cook in the over for 25-30 minutes or until it resembles a classic risotto
~Remove from the oven, divide into bowls and sprinkle with as much or as little chocolate as you wish topped with a scoop of ice-cream

This recipe is for 2 people but they are huge serves and it is filling so you could easily serve this up to four people or just double it to cook for a group.

Now I have to add that you should be super careful with the saucepan when you remove it from the oven as Tim has burnt his hand on 3 occasions (in the same night)

I really hope you give this one a try, it looks impressive and most people haven't had this before and it really is that simple...Enjoy!

Oneway Project

Living on the GC doesn't always leave you with very much to do on the weekend. Luckily for us Gold Coasters the last month and right through until the end of June we have had the Surfers Paradise Festival bringing us live music, food festivals, fashion, film and this weekend the Oneway Project.

The Oneway Project was buzzing with locals all keen to get out and see what all the noise was about. With live music at both ends of the festivals and fashion stalls scattered throughout, it was hard to choose where to look first. My pick was the graffiti wall that was whited out for local and international artists to create their masterpieces. Berlin artist Mymo was the headliner, she gave us a bit of colour and her quirky 'Monsters' that she is famous for (Adidas love her monsters so much that she has collaborated with them on more than one occasion). Mymo must have been enjoying our sunny weather as she said at home in Berlin her work is usually a lot darker, we must have bought out the best in her.

Although I didn't eat at the event there was a few local restaurants to choose from. With ample seating and chillout areas to rest the legs, the event seemed to be a success. I thought the caravan art galleries were a great idea and don't get me started on the skateboard deck artwork. There was so much talent on display. You missed out if you didn't get a chance to check out the Oneway Project!

I fed the people

Well I have found a new blog to follow. It is titled "Feed The People" and you can find it at www.foodbyjessica.com.au

I have browsed through Jessicas' posts and have come across some really great recipes. On Sunday night I attempted for the first time the Pumpkin Gnocchi. I will say that the recipe was easy enough to follow, I probably just need to practice :)

So for the foodies out there I think you may find this one interesting!

Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Benefit

Quite possibly my favourite of all Red Carpet events of the year. It is the event where the attendees are more adventurous in their attire. Chaired by Anna Wintour, this years benefit is celebrating the American Women: Fashioning a National Identity.

I was lucky enough to see the 2009 "Model As Muse" exhibition at The Met last year and would highly recommend going along if you happen to be in NYC.

Here are a few of my favourites from last nights event.

So here we have Alexa Chung and Phillip Lim wearing 3.1 Phillip Lim, Blake Lively in Marchesa, Zoe Saldana and Diane Kruger accompanied by Francisco Costa, wearing Calvin Klein, Camilla Belle and Jason Wu in Jason Wu, Carey Mulligan cute as a button in Miu Miu, Chanel Iman in Michael Kors, Chloe Sevigny (a personal fave) wears Proenza Schouler, with Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez, Coco Rocha in Zac Posen, Dree Hemingway wearing Calvin Klein Collection, Emma Watson in none other than Burberry with designer Christopher Bailey. I popped in Sienna Miller and Jude Law as I secretly love them as a couple, Sienna is wearing Emilio Pucci. Maggie Gyllenhaal in Louis Viutton, Sean Lennon accompanied by Sascha Pivovarova and Kemp Muhl, all dressed in Marni, SJP wearing Halston, Tom Ford in Tom Ford (duh!) and finally Zoe Kazan, in Peter Som, with the designer.

So those were a few of my favourites, I just had to add a few of the worst.

Ralph Lauren and Ricky look a little tacky, K-Stew looks awkward as per usual and don't get me wrong I love Grace Coddignton, but come on...she is a famed stylist after all, I am sure she could have pulled something a little more inspired from the fashion closet for the fashion event of the year!

A few things that caught my eye

I was creeping about on style.com when I came across this pic of Kate Bosworth and Chloe Sevigney hosting a party. Kate's outfit looks amazing and Chloe always impresses...aahh those legs!

Someone else whose outfits always catch my eye is Aussie model Jess Hart. She can look red carpet pretty or effortlessly pulls off a vintage Tee, love her!

So I got a little carried away, I'm sure you can see why.

Will I ever learn

I just counted over 15 handbags and more than 30 pairs of shoes in my wardrobe which in relation to many other women (and men) is not that many. What concerns me however is the fact that I lug around the same boring bag every day of the week and wear 4 pairs of shoes (runners, thongs, work shoes, gladiator sandals) very uninspiring.

How depressing it is that I go and and buy these beautiful things for them to just sit there and look pretty, always choosing the sensible options instead....OK, I have to get ready to go out now and I am going to pick out a new handbag and different shoes.