Hey Bambini

Spotlight On :: "Much Loved" :: Castlemaine

2012-01-30T06:00:00.001+11:00

{Much Loved}

This week Miss Mel shares with us her recent day trip to Castlemaine with the family. Mel stumbled upon a gorgeous children’s boutique that caters for families and she also visited a sweet local café with homemade treats and kids activities. Sounds like it was a really fun day. Most jealous indeed! Happy reading! x

On a recent trip to Castlemaine I was lucky enough to stumble across the magical ‘Much Loved’. This beautiful store, selling kids new and pre-loved clothes, shoes, accessories and toys, is located on one of the main streets in Castlemaine.

Just six weeks young in its new location, the store is run by Kelly Bell, mother to a lovely little boy, who has a passion for fashion and children. The beautiful space is a haven for gorgeous kids clothes with activities to keep the kidlets occupied while you shop.

A cubby house, comfy couch for breast feeding mummas, toys galore and the beautiful old dog, Bella, will keep the little ones entertained while you (too easily) spend some money! Plenty of room to manoeuvre prams also takes the stress out of shopping with little ones in tow.

Not content with the quality of kids clothing available in Castlemaine, Kelly decided to start her own business, stocking a wide range of designer fashion. She hopes to expand the range to include more organic fabrics and is on a mission to clothe the kids of Castlemaine and beyond with good quality basics.

‘Much Loved’ is a pleasure to visit, with its bright colours, neatly organised clothes and shoes, cute and quirky toys and accessories. It is definitely the place to visit in Castlemaine. Kelly plans to open an online store soon, so that all the Melbourne mums can stock up on goodies without the drive.

The Hey Bambini Dining Tip while in Castlemaine.....

{Jen's Cafe}

If you’re in need of a quick coffee and bite to eat after all that shopping, then Jen’s Place down the road (85 Mostyn Street) is a good place to stop. With a stack of books, toys, pencils and paper, there is enough to keep the little ones quiet while you re-fuel. The menu is short and simple, but has tasty breakfast and lunch options for young and old. While there isn’t specifically a kids menu, kidlets are likely to find something tempting anyway. There are no other Hey Bambini features, so it’s really just a quick place to visit. The inside is quite small, so there isn’t much room for prams, but there is plenty of room on the wide footpath to park. Outdoor tables are nice if you need a bit of fresh air and sunshine.

21 Hot Chocolate Flavours in Werribee

2012-01-19T12:30:00.004+11:00

Mel has been at in again, searching the suburbs for cool kid-friendly cafes. Here is her latest adventure, which saw her out in Werribee. She just happen to stumble across a fun place that's serves 21 varieties of Gourmet Hot Chocolate for the little ones and Mum too. Enjoy!

If you LOVE gourmet hot chocolate and yummy treats from Phillippa’s Bakery, then Jaffa Espresso Bar is the place to go!

This small café on Werribee’s main street only has a few of the Hey Bambini features, so is better suited to those with small babies still in the pram, or well behaved little ones who are happy to sit still for a short time.

The bright and colourful room has plenty of room for prams and a variety of tables and chairs or couches to sit at. There are also a couple of tables out on the footpath, under umbrellas, but being on a VERY busy road, it’s not the safest place for wandering toddlers.

The kids menu really is just a drinks list of babycinos, kiddie milkshakes, hot chocolate or iced chocolate. For eats, there is a display case and counter full of yummy treats. Little Miss loved her mini chocolate caramel tart and my savoury muffin with homemade relish was delish.

Due to a limited kitchen, the menu is just what is on display – freshly made foccacias, soup, muffins, cakes, tarts and biscuits. All the bread and a lot of the cakes and biscuits are from Phillippa’s, so you know they’ll be tasty.

The coffee is good, but the specialty of the café is the 21 flavours of hot chocolate. I was in heaven! Whether you like a bit of chilli with your chocolate, orange and cinnamon or mint, your tastebuds will be delighted. The Fraus ‘Seriously Rich’ range of hot chocolates are produced in the European style, blending ‘the most precious and aromatic cacao, with a variety of natural products to create a drinking chocolate regarded amongst the worlds finest!’. Other amazing flavours in the range include vanilla, caramel, white chocolate with hazelnut, meringue, coconut and nougat. Yummo!

Lining the walls of Jaffa are quirky artworks with a coffee or chocolate theme, which are all for sale. Coffee, tea and chocolate gift packs are also available. Great for last minute gifts or as a treat for yourself. You can also pick up the Fraus hot chocolate powder to make your own decadent indulgence at home.

There are no activities for the kids, so you might need to take your own pencils and paper or books to entertain the kidlets. Also, there is no toilet on-site and so no facilities to change the little ones.

Crafty Crush :: Crochet Heart

2012-01-16T06:11:00.000+11:00

It’s no secret that l’m a crochet junkie and l adore pouring over different patterns and pieces on the internet. Here is a cute little find, which also comes with a FREE pattern, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Road Test :: Toosh Coosh Kids Support Seat

2012-01-11T06:30:00.002+11:00

Another family summer holiday down and another milestone for Mr 3 to mark off, yep he can use his cutlery like a super star, drink from a big boy cup without a lid and yes he is sitting at the table with the grownups all thanks to our new Toosh Coosh.

Mr 3 has been dining at his own little mini table and chairs for some time now, but as he is growing, his bed time is getting later along with his meal times and he wants to join in on Mamma and Dadda’s nightly conversation. We were using cushions to boost him up until we got our hands (or bottoms) on a Toosh Coosh. Unlike the slippery fabric cushions the Toosh Coosh is a soft portable booster seat which makes little bottoms comfortable at meal times and is suitable to fit any style of dining table and chair.

Let me just explain exactly what a Toosh Coosh is. Apart from its very cute name the Toosh Coosh is a kid’s support booster seat. It’s proudly Australian made (yippy!), environmentally friendly and best of all easy to clean after meal times. It’s made from a soft rubbery material which is not only light but can be easily transported from venue to venue. Whether that be from your place to grandmas or to a trendy local café or restaurant the Toosh Coosh can come everywhere with you thanks its light weight design and convenient travel bag.

The Toosh Coosh holds Mr 3 firmly in his seat so he is not up on his knees in the chair leaning all over the table or falling off unstable cushions. Meal times have become fun and easy and if he makes a mess the Toosh Coosh is quickly cleaned with a damp cloth. Mr 3 enjoyed using it so much at meal times he insisted it come down to the beach house as well, hey this seat gets around!

If you like supporting Australian business and Australian made products (which is a rarity these days) pop a Toosh Coosh on your list to make meal times fun and easy.

Cook Book Crush :: One for the Kids

2012-01-09T05:59:00.001+11:00

I am loving the look of these super cute cook books for kids which l spotted over at LMNOP a few weeks back. The perfect thing to cue school holiday boredom!

Hello 2012!

2012-01-05T08:50:00.003+11:00

Well all good things must come to an end. And it is with regret to announce my family summer holiday is OVER! Boo Hoo! Loads of hours were spent at the beach, eating good food, reading, drinking wine and of course catching up with family and friends.

I must say l really enjoy the festive season but am also glad to see the back of it so we can just get on with the rest of the year!

It’s going to be a big year for the Hey Bambini family personally and professionally. We have a few “life” hurdles to jump and clear and we also still want to provide foodie families with quality online café reviews and news. {Deep Breath!}

So here’s to a FANTASTIC 2012, l hope it will also be a ripper year for you too.

P.S Is it time for another holiday? When is the next long weekend??

Five for Friday :: 5 Christmas Holiday Activities

2011-12-23T06:18:00.000+11:00

{Image}

Hello again Friday. It’s a bit sad today – yes it’s the last 5 for Friday for us. Well the last one for the year anyway! And like everyone else we have been running around like crazy to get ready for Christmas day and of course our beach holiday. So to celebrate the summer holidays here are five things that we will be doing that may inspire you to do the same. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year.

Visiting some Family Friendly Café's

Checking out the Little Melbourne Summer Holiday Guide

Drinking Champagne

Hitting the Beach

Taking a trip to the Cinema

Warren Glen Nursery Cafe :: Revisited

2011-12-19T09:49:00.004+11:00

I love surprises and what an AMAZING surprise the Warren Glen Nursery café was. Set in a lush garden centre on the outskirts of the Yarra Valley, this was a haven of all things beautiful.

Firstly, this is a nursery, with a massive range of all sorts of plants and garden paraphernalia. Wandering around with the kids was a great learning experience. Little Miss was keen to point out the coloured flowers, ‘waterfalls’ (fountains) and smell the herbs, all whilst pushing around the Little Man in his pram.

The gift shop at the entrance is full of beautiful clothes, toys, Christmas decorations, hand made cards and other gift ideas. I must head back without the kids one day to have a proper look. Note to self – kids and fragile, breakable items don’t mix!

The café itself is located at the back of the garden centre, across the creek and up the hill. Overexcited kids, mums with prams and anyone unsteady on their feet should take care with the steep slope.

There are four main areas to the café, with plenty of room to move a pram around. The first room is long and narrow with only a few tables opposite the counter, so not much room to sit with little ones. Running along this room is the wide balcony with beautiful views of the garden centre and surrounding countryside. The largest area is in a marquee to the back. This is undercover and protected from the elements by plastic blinds. For the kids, the main attraction is the train playground, in the other outdoor area. Here the tables are widely spaced with big market umbrellas to provide shade.

Little Miss was in her element with the train. It’s made to look like Thomas, with the engine and carriage perfect for running through and playing on. On the day I visited, six or seven eager kids were all bustling to have a go!

Kids amused. Check. Now on to the food. The menu has plenty to offer the kids and parents. There are kids options for breakfast and lunch, with a special lunch pack even including food to feed the ducks. Kiddie favourites of pikelets, eggs on toast, hot dogs, pizzas and mini burgers are likely to be winners.

Adult options include eggs anyway with extras, French toast, roasted field mushrooms and daily specials. The lunch menu gets a bit more fancy with frittata, smoked salmon quiche, gourmet focaccia and a selection of yummy tapas dishes.

The cake display case is truly to die for! My pear and walnut friand, served with cream and a caramel sauce was divine.

For those with a gluten intolerance, there are plenty of gluten free options on the regular menu and in the sweets department.

Aside from the wonderful food and beautiful setting, there are high chairs aplenty and a change table in the toilets adjoining the café.

What a fantastic place to go for some quiet time in a lovely environment.

** Big thanks to Mel for the cheeky re-visit to Warren Glen Nursery Cafe. For more details on this fab little spot pop on over to our website for our review.**

Five for Friday :: Christmas Kitchen Tunes

2011-12-16T11:35:00.004+11:00

Happy Friday All!

Christmas is very much around the corner and we have been busy getting all our Christmas baking done. To get us in the mood it’s always fun to throw on a few cheery Christmas tunes. Daggy but true!

Here are Five of our favourite Christmas Carols that get our Christmas kitchen rocking.

Have a great weekend all.

Must Have Been Old Santa Claus – Harry Connick Jnr

It’s Beginning to look like Christmas – Dean Martin

Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Jackson 5

I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus – Amy Winehouse

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland

Road Test :: JO Tracks by Sweet Georgie Pie

2011-12-14T08:04:00.006+11:00

Well it’s definitely the silly season at our place. There is not a morsel of food in the fridge because we have been hopping around from christmas party to christmas party. Yes the pants are starting to get a little tight and the kids are being loaded up with cheap plastic toys like there’s no tomorrow. I must say though with all this running around, the kids are holding up a treat. We’ve endured some long car rides, extended meals at relative’s homes and dined out at a handful of cafes and restaurants. Of course l have to plan ahead with the entertainment department with Mr 3. As much as he likes hanging out with the adults and putting on a show he does get a little bored thus resulting in me needing to find things for him to do. That’s where the wonderful JO Tracks by Sweet Georgie Pie come into the picture.

Mr 3 being a young boy is obsessed with cars and trucks, as all young fellas are and the best way l’ve found that keeps him busy is by pulling out the JO Tracks from the nappy bag. JOT who? Well let me enlighten you. Basically the JO Tracks is a light weight portable play mat which folds out to a super cool racing track, it even comes with mini garages to store the cars. The track has pictures of colourful roundabouts, a petrol station, car parks and even a toy store! The imagination certainly gets a work out here. It’s been a god-send to pull out and it’s had a few runs at various cafes, a 70th birthday and a Christmas function. Mr 3 loves it and always brings different cars along to play with. It can be propped up on a table or used on the ground but the best thing is that is fits right into the nappy bag - actually it’s about the same weight and size of a medium nappy. I guess my favourite feature is that being made from plastic makes it easy to clean and neatly folds away into any size nappy bag, making it instant entertainment. We’ve really enjoyed road-testing the JO Tracks, well Mr 3 especially, l’ve enjoyed the peace and quiet it’s given me, I’ve even been about to finish a coffee and a sandwich without being interrupted, now that’s priceless!

Gingerbread Village :: Melbourne Town Hall

2011-12-12T10:05:00.004+11:00

A guest post from our favourite Brunswick Foodie Mumma - Mel.....

Looking for somewhere a bit different to take the kids to before Christmas? LOVE gingerbread? Then Melbourne Town Hall has just the thing for you.

Epicure Catering have created a gingerbread village, complete with replicas of some of Melbourne’s icons, like the MCG, Arts Centre and Flinders Street Station.

Little Miss, the Little Man and I made a trip into the city and followed our noses to the sweet, sweet smell of gingerbread.

Entry is free, but donations to the Starlight Foundation can be made. If you do make a donation, the kids can hang a gingerbread man cutout on one of the Christmas trees with their name on it. Apparently it took two months to create the village, so given the amount of effort taken and the great work the Starlight Foundation do for sick kids and their families, a donation was the least I could give.

The room with the display is actually only quite small, but the detail in the creations is amazing! Little people made out of marzipan sell bread, fruit and vegetables from market stalls, children skate on a frozen lake and wait for the train at the station. Cricket players in their whites are even playing on the MCG!

As well as looking at the wonderful creations, you can buy some gingerbread to take home. Little Miss DEVOURED her beautiful gingerbread man and I couldn’t resist a small decorated heart to enjoy at home.

I wouldn’t make a special trip in to the city just to see the village, but if you happen to be there with the kids anyway, visiting the Myer windows and Father Christmas, then it’s well worth a stop in.

The village is open from 11am to 6pm daily, up until Christmas Eve.

The Farm Cafe :: Brunch Deal

2011-12-07T09:30:00.001+11:00

What gift do you buy for the person who has everything? May l make a cheeky suggestion?? How about a wonderful brunch at Melbourne’s only city farm?

Christmas has come a wee bit early at Hey Bambini and we've teamed up with The Farm Cafe and Collingwood Children's Farm to bring you an amazing experience which includes a day's entry to the farm and a delicious selection from the farm's cafe menu valid for 12 months.

The farm cafe is one of Melbourne's most iconic cafes, serving delicious breakfasts, lunches and all things in between. After you have stuffed yourselves silly with delicious food, take the kids for a leisurely stroll around The Farm grounds to visit all the cute animals. From cows to sheep and chooks and ducks there is a fury or feathered friend for everyone to check out.

So here is the deal….

For the small price of $55 which is the special Hey Bambini price (RRP::$66) you can get:

**Family Entry to the Farm ($16 Value for 4 People) AND…
** A $50 Food Voucher to use in The Farm Café – DELISH!

Activity Highlights
See all the farm animals - including cow milking from 10am - 4pm daily
Delicious Food
Perfect for the whole family
On the banks of the Yarra River

What's included
Choice of food from the farm cafe's delicious menu valued at up to $50
A family pass to the farm (valid for 2 adults, 2 children)

Just use the special "Hey Bambini Coupon Button" on our HOMEPAGE & quote '11OFF' at checkout.

How easy is that! It’s the perfect for Christmas Gift for the Family that has everything.

Enjoy! x

**Please note: This experience is valid for two adults. Two children may also attend if accompanied by two adults. This experience voucher is valid for 12 months from date of purchase.**

Festive Family Favourite :: Summer Pudding

2011-12-05T13:25:00.001+11:00

Summer Pudding for me is a new family favourite and l had no idea it even existed until l met my husband.

Our first big family Christmas together his mum served Summer Pudding for dessert, which l had never even heard of let along tried. Well l was in heaven as soon as that sweet pudding hit my mouth. Covered with fresh thick cream this is the easiest and healthiest (kind of!) festive pudding to serve at Christmas time.

Go on give it a whirl, you’ll be hooked! Enjoy!

Summer Pudding :: Serves 6

1kg mixed fresh berries
50 ml water
175 g caster sugar
8 or so stale slices good white bread, thinly sliced

1. Combine three-quarters of the berries with the sugar and water in a small saucepan and gently heat until sugar has dissolved. Remove and add more sugar if too tart. Add almost all of the remaining berries and strain the fruit, keeping all the juices.

2. Remove the crusts from the bread, and cut a piece to fit the base of a one-litre pudding basin or bowl. Cut the remaining slices into triangles or rectangles to cover the sides of the bowl. Now that you've assembled the shell, take each cut slice, dip it lightly into the reserved juices, and return it to its position in the bowl.

3. Add the berries, and some of their juices, and top with a final layer of bread, cutting to fit. Press lightly until the juices rise to the top, covering the bread. Place a saucer on top, weight it with a can, and refrigerate overnight. Refrigerate the remaining juices as well.

4. To unmould, ease a knife between pudding and bowl, place a serving plate on top and invert. Spoon the reserved juices on top and arrange the reserved berries on top. Serve with crème fraiche, pouring cream or yoghurt.

Five for Friday :: Classic Christmas Movies

2011-12-02T08:02:00.003+11:00

Happy Friday! We usually do FIVE cafes with a theme each Friday (as you know) but seems Christmas is just around the corner l thought we'd get a bit festive and run with some Christmas themes. So here are FIVE all time classic Christmas Films (that we LOVE) to watch to get you in the festive mood.

Babes in Toyland

It's a Wonderful Life

Love Actually

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

Mickey's Christmas Carol

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T06:30:00.000+11:00

Five for Friday :: Country Roads Take Me Home

2011-11-25T07:30:00.008+11:00

Happy Friday once again. How was your week? Our week was chaotic as always with work, play dates, shopping and of course the odd café or two thrown into the mix. So all l’ve been thinking about this week is getting out of the house and getting out of town to get some FRESH country air into the lungs, l need to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. So with that inspiration in mind here are FIVE great Out of Town Family Friendly cafes that have good food and make a great day trip destination. Have a great weekend and snuggle the ones you love.

Caldermeade Farm & Cafe

Farm Animals - Fresh Milkshakes - Change Table - Kids Menu

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Cafe

Fresh Strawberries to Pick - Change Table - Kids Menu

Cafe Moby

High Chair - Playground - Babycinos

Courthouse Hotel

Playground - High Chairs - Kids Menu

Royal Mail Hotel

Gourmet Kids Menu - High Chair - Change Table

**Note ** All the Out of Town Cafes have been PERSONALLY Tried and Tested by the Hey Bambini Family. We just don't talk about eating out in the countryside - we do it! xx

La Belle Miette

2011-11-23T07:30:00.002+11:00

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Do you swoon at the thought of macaron’s?

I know l do and l had the opportunity to pop into La Belle Miette after the David Jones Christmas Concert with Mr 3 a few weeks back. It’s in Hardware Lane and only a short walk from the Bourke St Mall. I thought it was a fair compromise, he got to see Peppa Peg and l got to pig-out on sweet French delights. Fair? – yeah l though so too.

La Belle Miette (which means the “beautiful crumb” or, more literally, “beautiful small thing”) is a small French patisserie specialising in macaron’s. It’s a very quaint shop and if you’ve been lucky enough to visit France it’s just like stepping inside a Parisian boutique. The visual merchandising is just beautiful, very eye catching and tastefully done, and of course the glass cabinets are filled with dozens of macaron’s.

Unfortunately l didn’t get to spend as much time as l would have liked pouring over the different flavours of macaron’s, you see Mr 3 had it in his head we were going out for Cup Cakes (yes he is slightly obsessed, but l only have myself to blame really!) So l got the hurry along from him, but the photos are as good as l had hoped. (l borrowed some instead! See below.)

I guess the reason why l’m sharing my experience is because it’s a great little destination shop to pop into if you happen to be in the city this festive season. They do boxes of macaron’s for $15 which gets you 6 of the loveliest things you’ve ever tasted. I thought they would make the PERFECT gift for someone who has everything or even given as an office or mother’s group Kris-Kringle, as the box they come in is very sweet and looks impressive when given.

Hopefully we are going to pop back in for a cheeky macaron soon – maybe l’ll get Mr 3 a cupcake first, just to tide him over while l drool over the macarons.

Enjoy!

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Boathouse Cafe :: Re-visited

2011-11-21T08:02:00.007+11:00

One of our guest writers, the lovely Mel had the chance to re-visit one of our all time favourites a few weeks ago - The Boathouse Cafe in Moonee Ponds.

Let's she how she went....

A perennial favourite with mums and bubs, The Boathouse at Moonee Ponds is still a great place to go. With a sprawling inside room and covered deck, there is plenty of room for prams, whether you want a full lunch or just coffee and cake.

We dropped in this week for a cheeky family lunch, after a last minute invitation. The playground out the front is the major draw card for kids, especially when the weather is nice. Little Miss was disappointed that she might not get to play, given the forecast for thunderstorms, but Melbourne being Melbourne delivered a warm sunny day!

The menu is a step above regular cafe fare, and prices reflect this. For a light lunch, you can’t go past the crispy, thin crust pizza. Topped with marinated artichoke, olives, basil pesto, ricotta and rocket, mine was a winner.

The kids menu has a good selection for the little ones, including pizza, pasta, chicken and chips and a mini burger. There is also a kids dessert menu. Ice cream sundae, anyone?

While the food might be tempting, keeping your little one in the highchairs provided long enough to eat, when the playground is calling, can be a challenge! Maybe a takeaway coffee and muffin is the way to go, especially when your little one is as active as mine.

The change table is still located in the disabled toilet out the back, so it’s accessible from the cafe or the park.

Thanks for sharing Mel, sounded like fun. Oh and here is a cheeky Hey Bambini dining tip for the Boathouse Cafe - BOOKINGS MOST ESSENTIAL!

Enjoy.