Australia through Brazilian eyes
What a nice time I’m having in Melbourne! One of the things I like most about travelling is that you get to enjoy all the novelties of a new destination whilst at the same time appreciating the things that your home location does better. Of course, whether we’re talking about coffee, beaches or weather, ‘better’ is a subjective term…
One thing has become apparent over the last week – if I were to move to Melbourne I would have to go on a strict diet or buy a whole new set of clothes – great food is everywhere! Street markets, supermarkets and restaurants all seem to be stuffed full of tempting treats and high quality produce. And like the proverbial kid in a sweet shop, I’ve been overindulging in everything from delicious wines and beers to oysters, cheese and other assorted goodies. Wanna see? OK then, here you go:
My breakfast few days: Eggs Benedict – English muffins, ham, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Delicious!
We recently paid the Tarrawarra Estate vineyard a visit for some wine tasting.
As well as a great brunches and wine, Melbourne has impressed me with lots of delicious seafood – take a look:
Scallops with morcilla (Spanish blood sausage) and salsa from Innocent Bystander in Healesville. Recommended!
There is a big South-east Asian population in Melbourne – if you’re into Thai or Vietnamese food, you’re in for a treat! I spotted these Blue Swimmer Crabs in a Vietnamese fishmonger.
At $12 for a dozen, delicious rock oysters have been on the Le Mesurier menu twice in 10 days!
This must be the biggest crab I’ve ever seen. Appropriately named King Crab. A monster!
OK, so you get the picture – I’ve been enjoying all this delicious food and wine, much of which is either unavailable or much more expensive in Rio.
Moving away from food for a moment, I reckon Australians could give Brazilians a run for their money when it comes to sports obsession. Last Saturday was the AFL Grand Final so Mrs Eat Rio and I spent the day boozing with the locals.
Guess who won the free beer raffle (sorteio)?
OK, before you think that this is all one big Melbourne tourist board advert, I’ll show you a snap from our visit to St Kilda, one of Melbourne’s city beaches. We had a lovely day and I liked St Kilda heaps, but I have to say it isn’t quite up to the Ipanema standard.
OK, so we didn’t catch it on a clear sunny day, but as beaches go, I’d say that Ipanema edges it.
Now we have just a couple of days left before we fly back to Brazil. When I find time I’ll show you some real beaches that we saw along the Great Ocean Road. Normal service to be resumed shortly!
Lots of selenium & zink on the menu ! AU. is on my list !
The seafood in Melbourne is amazing! I ate so many delicious oysters and scallops :D Definitely gets the Eat Rio recommendation!
Those oysters look amazing. From the pictures and the narrative you´ve presented thus far I think I´d rather live in Australia than Brazil. Plus I hear they welcome qualified immigrants. Humm, I wonder if gorgeousness is a qualification (If so I´m in). Perhaps I should submit my blog as well, just in case intellectual depth is also a requirement.
Now that beach doesn´t look very good; but then again the ocean has always been overrated as a body of water – lakes are much cooler. Plus less beach culture equals less flip-flops and hippies (not that I´m intolerant) .
Enjoy your stay.
Oh, and tell the Aussies they may have me as a new residente soon, and have your blog to thank for it (I can see complimentary oysters being passed around after the announcement: you´re welcome).
Ha ha, still waiting for those complimentary oysters to appear though I’ve probably had my yearly quota in the last 2 weeks.
Not sure whether we can compare to Ipanema, as I’ve never been to Brazil, but there are many better Australian beaches than St Kilda ;) Further north in Brisbane or NSW is where you want to go for that.
Ha ha! I suspected as much Helen! :D I’ve heard very good things about the beaches up the East coast. I think it’s great that Australia is so massive but it does make it difficult to see everything. Really I need to come visit for a year and travel around properly. One day maybe…
The seafood looks fantastic and the wine looks divine. Easy to see why your clothes wouldn´t fit, I had a similar experience visiting my sister in Sydney.
For me i can see now why Aussies say Melbourne is the “Foodie Capital Of Australia”. When we went in 2010 i was surprised to see so many Brazilians in Bondi Beach in Sydney. I was told the Brazilians gravitate to Sydney for beaches and work.
Did you find, see or hear any Brazilians in Melbourne?
Hey Chris – I saw very little evidence of Brazilians in Melbourne. I would love to check out Sydney on my next trip – maybe that’s where all the Brazilians are hiding!