I’LL HAVE TO EXTEND MY TRIP…
My obsession with France now encompasses Italy! I wandered down the groovy and affordable Gertrude Street, so characteristic of surrounding Fitzroy, and analysed 2 Italian venues; Fatto-a-Mano and Basta, and French crêperie Breizoz. Of course I LOVED the crêperie! I said ‘merci’ to a French waiter whose response was cheers!! OOPS! I guess it reflects the fusion of Breizoz. The waiter explained ‘Breiz’ is local slang for Brittany, and Oz=Australia, therefore including local Oz-tralians while still identifying as French. The menu is written in French, with additions of familiar ingredients (e.g. vegemite). My friend Meribah described this as Hamada, the bringing together of familiar and unfamiliar and serving them together.
Anyway, NEW DEVELOPMENT: Italian food=WOW! The loud, fast-paced bakery Fatto-a-Mano was consistent with my preconceived ideas. But Basta demonstrated the beautiful simplicity and transparency that is characteristic of Italian cuisine. The name Basta (or ‘enough’), perfectly encompasses the restaurants’ essence; its’ humble yet exquisite dishes are made with just ‘enough’ crucial ingredients to be simple yet extraordinary. The co-owner spoke so passionately about her food, it was comparable to the sentiment of my Dad’s crazy Italian friend, Signor Grossi. The importance of shared food experiences really resonated with me, making me feel at home, although that’s not surprising as home’s only 10mins away! Mum and I often shop along Gertrude so I’m familiar with the retail shops, but I’ve never been into so many food venues! Now I have a new perspective of Gertrude, and know the importance of experiencing food!
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