One of Melbourne’s biggest draw cards is its markets. From quirky design stalls to tables laden with gourmet delights. I adore them, more specifically I adore the South Melbourne Market, possibly the most beautiful and unique in Australia. It is no surprise to see TV crews running through the aisles in hot pursuit of ‘Block’ contestants searching for something to give their room reveal the ‘edge’ Melbourne is famed for. Similarly, I will usually be found scouring through vintage posters and artwork, admiring the work of graphic designers from generations past.

I am lucky enough to live on the 96 tram line from St Kilda beach to Brunswick. The markets are only 5 stops away. A traditional market visit will usually start in the fruit section with a fresh drinking coconut, macheteed (not a real word) right in front of me. It’s all very bizarre traipsing amongst the stalls with a festive island holiday beverage, but somehow it just seems fitting. Drink in hand, I mosey over to The SoMe design sector which is full of interesting jewellery, clothing, home wares, magazines and books… the mothership to Jo land.

If I am with a bunch of friends, I will usually take the opportunity to lunch at Paco Y Lola, a Mexican street food eatery which has the best blonde sangria I have ever tasted. You can buy it by the jug or as a single glass and it goes down beautifully with a chicken burrito. Other favourite menu picks include the chicken and fig salad and or the cumin roasted cauliflower with almonds and pomegranate seeds. It is a party for your mouth!

The actual market building is surrounded by quaint little streets filled with cute Melbourne-esque cafes, bakeries, restaurants and interior design stores. A few of them are wifi enabled which is great for me to take my iPad along, catch up on emails, do some research, write a blog post, all whilst chowing down on a delicious pastry.

My partner Remy, has a penchant for the deli section of the markets, the cheese room specifically. He is French and used to eating the kind of potent cheese that is unavailable for export to Australia due to excessive bacterial content (bless him). However they do have a variety of imports that my very Australian palate can handle. I have a few favourites including ‘Mature Aged Gouda’- so flavoursome and crystal ridden; Comte and Cantal – Specific to villages in the South of France and lastly the smoothly flavoured Swiss Gruyere cause you can’t bypass quality.

The South Melbourne markets have an impressive collection of indoor and outdoor greenery. I am a huge fan of succulents in all shapes and sizes. There is a smorgasbord to choose from. I’m obsessed with the Fiddle Fig Ficus plant which you will find in abundance. In my opinion throwing one of these beauties into a living room with a simple white pot can transform the space into a chic fresh and liveable area.

All in all, I 100% recommend visiting the South Melbourne Market. You will thank me for the recommendation!

I mentioned in a previous post that I lived above a bakery. It actually gets better than that. I live on Fitzroy St, St Kilda. The area is riddled with fabulous little eateries and chic boutiques. Being in a relationship with a Frenchman has opened my eyes (and increased my waist line) to the wonder that is the Boulangerie. After our trip to Paris I was convinced that Australia’s bakeries were sub par until we moved to Fitzroy St, Melbourne. The French invasion has been a welcome one!

My idea of a starting the perfect weekend includes a quick stroll to the local bakery, picking out a selection of favourites then firing up the Nespresso machine and venturing forth onto the balcony with a tray of treats, a good design mag and Remy (with his latest fleabitten issue of the Economist… Sidebar: I sometimes think the only thing economical about the Economist is its paper quality).

I’m a sucker for good branding, so a huge shout out goes to Baker D Chirico. Their branding is a perfect encapsulation of French whimsy. The packaging is lined with old time sketches of fashionable women wearing a multitude of different bread shaped hats. Whoever thought wearing a loaf of sour dough on your head could be the height of chic?! But its adorable. Any bakery with such branding wit gets my approval regardless of baking skill which, luckily for them, is also of superior quality.

My favourite Chirico pastry is their Cannelle. Soaked in rum, these delightful little cakes are soft on the inside with a chewy crust that is the perfect accompaniment to a frothy coffee.

Remy loves Cacao‘s box of eclairs. I struggle to eat more than one but I do like to look at them. The box assortment is like a Marie Antoinette worthy piece of art. Let them eat… Eclairs.