12 Days in Hobart - December 2023

Where shall I start?  How about Rob’s the British Butchers (would be a good starting point).  Going into this shop kind of transported me back to the UK … shop filled with all kinds of British goodies and I went there to pick up some pork pies/scotch eggs/gammon etc to take over to Hobart.

Robs British Store

Cured Meats

Pork Pies 

It is never long enough when you are on holiday but this time round it was even worse/shorter because I was down with Covid and even passed it on to MB.

Mine

THE CHANCELLOR HOTEL

Hotel behind me

View from Suite

MB pointing out Mures

Mures circled in red

Luckily before we were infected with COVID we had a 3D2N stay at the Grand Chancellor Hotel in downtown Hobart facing the harbour/waterfront. The stay was excellent .. our executive suite had some of the best views of the water front and the suite was big enough for us to drive MBs “putt putt” between the two rooms!

Lounge area

Dinner from Hotel Restaurant

MB’s dream is to move into the GCH when he strikes the Tattslotto!?! This short stay trip was just a “taste tester” of what life could be if and when he strikes it rich!  

Location is excellent as it’s close to shops and restaurants and handy to the Royal Hobart Hospital which is a stone’s throw away!

After we checked out and went back to Lady Clarke Village, we just isolated ourselves but kept busy by making scallop pies, Xmas mince pies, and just messing around in the kitchen, watched telly or was just trying to sleep off our COVID!!!

 

Scallop pie in the making

Our homemade Scallop Pies

Xmas Mince Pies

8 dozens

I tested negative on Saturday so I Ubered down to Salamanca Market.  Mandatory stop at Blue Eye Restaurant to have oysters and some pasta before walking the 2 rows of market stalls.  Best stall this time for me was the stall selling the “scallop sticks”!  After the market, I made my way to Mures to get some more oysters and seafood for our dinner.

Stalls in Salamanca

$15 scallop sticks

Blue Eye Restaurant trio of 

oysters

Scallops/Seafood Pasta

We mostly stayed local and only ventured down to the Plaza and just spent a lot of quality time with MB.

Village surrounds

Roses & Mandarins from Gary’s

I throughly enjoyed the fresh crisp Tasmanian air, the simple things in life like the sun rise or sun set but the sky seems to be so much more prettier and intense compared to Wheelers Hill.

Sunrise top / Sunset bottom

Cherries are in season and managed to try some yummy ones but missed out on getting size 30mm which is about  7-10 days away!  

28mm

The 2kilo box from Cherry Hut I lugged back to Melbourne only lasted 2 days because I was eating them sparingly!! 

It was great to see MB again and we did as much as COVID permitted… tyvm for a great time and I will be back!!!

Melbourne Cup Hightea 2023

Let’s Do HighTea at Home

 

What a brilliant idea! Let’s have High Tea at home to usher n celebrate the Melbourne Cup this year!

Becky made all da fancy sandwiches but no egg??? I love my EGG … so last minute I made some and they got totally smashed!!! 

Smoked Salmon

Cucumber Chicken

Pesto Ham

Spinach Dip

Humble egg on left

Salmon Lettuce

3 breads (multigrain/white/wmeal)

High Tea was not hard to put together and it turned out to be a pretty good spread even if I say so myself and in the comfort of our own home.  

Salmon/Caviar Cucumber thingies

Date Scones

Scone with cream

Blackberries/strawberries/Blueberries

Procuitto pear balsamic glaze parcels

Eva’s lemon slice on right

I reckon we killed Langham’s High Tea for freshness n our sandwiches were way more tasty and fancier.  For what they are charging nowadays, especially when the kids have to pay nearly full price it was cheaper to cater for ourselves at home! Lola’s date scones were next level not to mention her Black Forest scones:) 

Eva as White Princess

Simon as Princess Belle

Eva changed into Princess Ariel

Girls got dressed up and us ladies donned  on our fascinators and there was bubbles served… so we were all set for da races!

Cheers

We watched the race live on telly, but did not bet on any horses.  Just as well we did not rush to the Book Makers or we would have been kicked in our teeth/mouths!!! Better stuffed with sweet treats and washed down with bubbles!

Girls and their winners

It was a fun afternoon at home and everyone enjoyed ourselves, so looks like we will be having more High Teas at home in future!