Make a Night (Heron) of it

If there was a year to do it, it was this one.

I was turning 35 and I had to have a birthday party. Not ‘birthday drinks’, but a Birthday Party.

I discovered the quaint little bar, The Night Heron, with a mate a few months ago. A local had told me that it was brand new and he had stumbled upon it by accident and had been sipping amber liquid there a few nights a week since. It had a beer garden. My buddy and I had to try it. We did and they played Holst’s The Planets for me on request.

I loved this bar instantly.

 

The inner west seems to have had a spike in tiny bars of late. I’m a sucker for the classics: The Yarra Lounge, The Reverence, Seddon Wine Store; but I’m always up for trying somewhere new. Especially if it has the pre-requisites that I so love: beer garden, tinnies and a most excellent playlist that includes everything from Toto to Technotronic to Sinatra and a bit of Wilson Phillips for those special moments.

I returned to The Night Heron only a few weeks ago. I had it in my sparkly mind that this was the place to hold such an eventful birthday party. Upon returning I discovered a former work colleague of mine behind the bar. An artist by day and bar owner by night, I knew my party was going to be in good hands with Ross Taylor at the helm.

Before I even approached him with all my party-esque questions, Ross explained that there were some radical food options nearby that could deliver tucker to my hungry little guests as they guzzled frothies in the beer garden.

Burger Business sits right next door and offers a quality beef-n-bun option with sensational chippage in old school packaging. A sure stomach liner if you are planning a big night.

A couple of doors down is Addis Abeba, a very well recommended Ethiopian eatery who will also deliver to the bar, making these last of the summer nights an absolute pleasure.

When the Birthday Party arrived, I was equipped with knowledge. I had booked the beer garden and had made a dress fit for the occasion out of a Ken Done curtain. I was ready and so was this fine little bar.

The beats were pumping and my pals came rolling in – some of them even crossed town to the ‘westside’ to experience this little place I’d been raving about. They ate burgers, they drank Footscray lager, they stayed all the way to the 1am curfew and best of all, they cheered when a superb choc-mint 90s themed birthday cake came out topped with sparklers and candles and my favourite mixed cassette tape, just for me.

It was an excellent Birthday Party. One that I won’t forget. What made it sublime was the gorgeous Night Heron and it’s oh-so-Footscray appeal that provided me and my bestest of mates with the bestest of times.

My highlights? The Night Heron lager is rad as is the Castlemaine Celtic Red Ale on tap. The staff are fun and friendly, there’s a different dj mixing vinyl most weekends, the beer garden is easy and oh so very appealing on a warm night and it feels like you’re in your hood. Which you are. This should become your new local (if it isn’t already).

I’m going to go back. You should join me!

The Night Heron is located at 228 Nicholson Street, Footscray. Discover its cool activities at www.facebook.com/thenightheronbar

Pics courtesy of The Night Heron. This article first appeared in the April issue of The Westsider.

Life is better with cheddar

It's Alfie's birthday today.

Birthday's in our household are a bit spesh. There's always cake, a little present and something fun to do that day.

Today Alfie woke us just after 5am. This has been a pattern for the last ten days (and counting - I'm shitting myself about daylight savings).

He opened his presents and played with them while I cooked brekky.

I asked him what he wanted to take for lunch to the zoo and he told me: "cheese and crackers". His favourite (who doesn't love cheese?)

So while he slept I filled the house with the savoury, spicy smell of cheese as I made Rhonda Hetzel's Cheese Crackers. For those who haven't heard of Rhonda, you need to read her blog or invest in her books. This woman knows ALL THE THINGS about making a home. Plus she lives in Maleny, Queensland, where I was born, so she has the best knowledge drawn from hippy roots.

I reckon these are going to be a hit once he wakes up. I think they're also going to taste pretty fucking delicious with our pumpkin soup this evening (thanks be to one rad neighbour who had an out of control pumpkin vine this season).

Super easy. Even my kid could make these.

Give 'em a go! You will never eat Cheds again.

Easy Cheese Crackers / or Zoo Crackers
Rhonda Hetzel

125g grated cheddar cheese
125g grated parmesan
80g butter at room temp
1 cup plain flour
2 tablespoons or so of iced water

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees.
Mix cheese, butter and flour in a food processor.
Add enough water to bring the dough together - like a shortbread dough.
Ball up and wrap in glad wrap and pop in fridge. Leave for around 30 mins.
Roll the dough thinly and cut into shapes. I used Reggie's whiskey glass, but you can use whatever you like.
Place on baking tray and make a couple of fork holes in each bikkie. I added black sesame seeds to mine to make them look like I've tried hard.
Bake for 10 mins. Check at this point and see how golden the biscuits are. If they are golden, bring them out. If not, leave for another minute or so. Keep checking, these babies cook fast.

Whack them on a rack to cool. Serve with dip-o-choice.

Perfect zoo crackers,

Enjoy!