The Australia Times

Grand Opening of Miss Ping’s Thai Eatery

30 August 202219 May 2018 by Connie Lambeth

Miss Ping’s Thai Eatery – Doncaster, Melbourne

Review by Sumaiya Rizvi – instagram.com/melbourne_blog

Photos by Jim Lee

The grand opening of Miss Ping’s Thai Eatery was aptly themed: a ‘Night in Bangkok’, evoking memories of vibrant night markets, and street vendors serving up aromatic cuisine full of flavour.

We were soon into the fun of the launch at this new Doncaster eatery, where music beats greeted our arrival along with table tennis players inviting us to a game of ‘ping pong’! It was hard to resist the dance floor, with all eyes on a Thai performer in exuberant headdress further adding to the lively atmosphere of the event. Meanwhile a generous sprinkling of celebrities didn’t go unnoticed, including several from the ‘Married at First Sight’ TV Reality Show.

Meeting the owner and brainchild of Miss Ping’s, Winnie Chiang, soon led to the sharing of a few trade secrets followed by a cooking demonstration which included her signature dipping sauce. “Good food, need not be spoken about, only eaten. Thai food, for lovers of more than food,” said ‘Miss Ping’, resonating with many Thai food fans that night.

Sampling dishes from the extensive menu, we were soon dining on dumplings, chicken skewers in peanut sauce, stir fried noodles, signature fried rice, charcoal jumbo prawns, green curry chicken, and fish cakes. Those much loved Thai flavours with a beautiful balance of flavours and spices soon gave the tastebuds a workout and had us yearning for more – especially the crowd favourites on the night – charcoal jumbo prawns and green curry!

Apart from the amazing food, with many dishes offering a contemporary twist on traditional favourites, Miss Ping’s also boasts a bar with a great selection of wines, beers, ciders and cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic choices like mocktails and tropical juices. Then there’s the Thai Refreshing Coolers, such as Thai Tea Float and Lychee Tea. A food and drinks menu sure to be a real crowd pleaser.

Miss Ping’s is open for both lunch and dinner, and conveniently located within Westfeld Doncaster’s premier restaurant and cafe precinct. The ambience of this eatery makes it an ideal setting for a date night, or for a group of friends or family looking for something special.

For more information check out their website or facebook page, and follow them on instagram. Feel free to share your food journey with us: instagram.com/tatgourmetmag if you step into Miss Ping’s Thai Eatery!

MISS PING’S THAI EATERY

619 Doncaster Road

Doncaster Vic 3108

(03) 8590 7567

misspings.com.au

facebook.com/misspingsthaieatery/

instagram.com/misspingsthaieatery

Melbourne writer for The Australia Times - Sumaiya Rizvi & partner (@melbourneblog) — Melbourne writer for The Australia Times – Sumaiya Rizvi & partner (@melbourneblog)

**Sumaiya was a guest of Helen Reizer HRPR

The fabulous team at Miss Ping's Thai Eatery — The fabulous team at Miss Ping’s Thai Eatery

Connie Lambeth

The Australia Times News

Editor GOURMET – Food/Wine/Events

theaustraliatimes.com/news

literallyconnie@bigpond.com

connie.lambeth@theaustraliatimes.com.au

MORE FABULOUS PICS FROM MISS PING’S LAUNCH – (photographer: Jim Lee)

‘LUCKY AND MUCKY’ BOOK LAUNCH AT THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL

3 September 202218 May 2018 by Connie Lambeth

‘Lucky and Mucky’ Book Launch – Melbourne Review by Sumaiya Rizvi – instagram.com/melbourne_blog Images Courtesy of Helen Reizer HRPR Elsternwick’s Classic Cinema was the setting for the recent launch of Nicole Ben-Simon’s beautifully written book Lucky and Mucky, an event held as part of the International Children’s Film Festival (ICFF). First time author Ms. Ben-Simon was … Read more

Barkly Street’s Newest Member – Saint Evie

20 August 202210 May 2018 by Connie Lambeth

Review of Saint Evie Cocktail Bar & Restaurant – St Kilda – Melbourne

Words by Celeste Iuliano/Images Courtesy of Eugene Canty

How do you find Saint Evie? Weave through the side streets and onto Barkly, retracing the steps of a St. Kilda legend back to where it all began.

It’s been a short wait, but Saint Evie is finally open for business! Located on the ground floor of the Crest on Barkly Hotel, this lively space is offering brunch by day and bar by night in one of Melbourne’s most vibrant suburbs.

The name Saint Evie pays homage to a local legend, Evie – a young girl with a generous heart. Back when the hotel was known as the Beverly Crest, Evie would regularly appear at the kitchen entrance after dinner service to collect the leftovers and deliver them to the homeless. While she moved away without saying goodbye, her generous spirit has made its mark.

Inspired by this story, the menu at Saint Evie is designed to be shared. Among the star dishes on the modern Australian/Asian menu are the slow-cooked pork belly baos and melt-in-your-mouth pulled beef short rib croquettes. Seafood lovers are also spoilt for choice between the fresh oysters, salmon blini, and strikingly presented black and white sesame prawns.

As darkness falls (or it’s simply time for a toast), the signature cocktail is at the ready. Aptly named The Saint, it’s made with a refreshing mix of vodka, ruby grapefruit, fresh ginger, and lime juice sugar syrup.

With a cosy courtyard just off the main dining area, Saint Evie is the perfect venue for friends to chill out on a sunny weekend or linger on into the night.

Saint Evie

47 Barkly Street, St Kilda

saintevie.com.au

*Celeste was a guest of Helen Reizer HRPR

**Additional Information – Saint Evie

“Saint Evie warmly welcomes you to join us for our all-day brunch menu and by night to come and sample some finely prepared, Asian-inspired cuisine designed to share. Kick back with a crafty cocktail or indulge in a wine from our extensive list, all in a comfortable and ambient space bathed in pink neon.

Stop by some time, your table is waiting”.

Connie Lambeth

The Australia Times News

Editor GOURMET – Food/Wine/Events

theaustraliatimes.com/news

literallyconnie@bigpond.com

connie.lambeth@theaustraliatimes.com.au

More fun pics from the Saint Evie Launch!

REVIEW OF BAROQ HOUSE – MELBOURNE AFTER WORK

3 September 20224 May 2018 by Connie Lambeth

BAROQ HOUSE – MELOURNE ‘Baroq House is a 17th Century themed luxurious three level mansion located in a leafy cobbled city laneway; undoubtedly one of the most glamorous and exclusive venues in Melbourne. Combining great music, impeccable service and a first class menu, this venue is where contemporary sophistication meets the glamour of the old … Read more

‘TOMMY’ SET TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILMS OF 2018

22 October 20229 April 2018 by Connie Lambeth

Last month’s viewing of the film TOMMY proved to be a powerful experience for guests attending the screening in St Kilda.

Read on for information on this film, plus photos of guests attending the evening.

Mr Tim Wilson MP with Co-producer of TOMMY - Darren Mort — Mr Tim Wilson MP with Co-Producer of TOMMY – Darren Mort

New film TOMMY is set to be one of the most important Australian short films of 2018.

Today, family violence is a huge global problem all over the world, especially for children. As a result of Australia’s 260 daily divorce cases, threats involving children in family violence have increased by 76% in the past three years. In Victoria alone, two category one children (dead or almost dead) are reported to the Department of Human Services (DHHS) every day. The immense psychological impact of this on our children and young people is massively underrepresented.

Producers Darren Mort (Barrister) and Karen Hodgkins (film maker) co-founded the To Be Loved Network because they saw that young people in the community needed a much stronger and much louder voice. As a group of legal, medical and political experts who deal firsthand with cases of family violence and child neglect, Darren & Karen are in a unique position to help effect lasting change in this area.

Co-Producers of TOMMY - Darren Mort & Karen Hodgkins — Co-Producers of TOMMY –
Darren Mort & Karen Hodgkins

Through the medium of film they are able to communicate powerful messages about the importance of treating our children properly: what people can do better, how people can recognise and adopt proper priorities, and how adults can help kids who are too afraid to speak out.

9 year old actor Ari Newman plays 8 year old TOMMY — 9 year old actor
Ari Newman plays 8 year old TOMMY

The To Be Loved Network has already resonated in a huge way: Degree of Separation, their debut film about family violence was accepted into 24 international film festivals and won 7 international film awards last year, including Best Foreign Film at the Hollywood Now Film Festival. It has since been picked up by a Hollywood Film Distributor.

With an equally powerful message, script, and team on board, To Be Loved Network intend to take TOMMY down a similar path.

TOMMY is more than just a film – it is a crucial project with an important message behind it: that our children are our most precious gifts, and they must be cared for properly.

TOMMY: A synopsis

An eight-year-old boy.

A drug-fuelled domesticity.

A world split in two.

TOMMY is a 30-minute film depicting the world of an eight-year-old boy who is navigating his parent’s fiery separation.

TOMMY loves his parents. But his parents fall out of love with each other when Tommy’s father SAM becomes addicted to drugs.

Things get messy at home, as Tommy’s Mum ALLY runs away to find solace in the arms of a new companion, NICOLE.

NICOLE also has a child: SUMMER, 11 years old, who finds TOMMY more than a little curious – in the emotional storm of the separation, TOMMY has no-one to talk to about his feelings, only his imaginary friend TIGER TERRY, a great listener who supports TOMMY by transporting him to imaginary places.

SAM, meanwhile, enters drug rehab and falls in love with LUCY, another inpatient. SAM jumps the hoops and becomes drug free, despite LUCY’s attempts to lure him back down a path of addiction.

Amidst the war of separation, SAM and ALLY fail to prioritise their son’s best interests – they use TOMMY like fodder to advance their own battle objectives.

In the end they come close to destroying the one precious gift that they both created, as TOMMY’s world falls deeper and deeper into dissociation and despair.