So much on the go!  Lots of great things coming up at Freestyle Escape it's hard to know where to begin!  This also coincides with our once a year accommodation special of stay 3, pay for 2!

Listed below are our upcoming experiences.  Cooking Experiences include: an unforgettable life experience, apron, cowboy hat, lunch, vino, hands on cooking class.
For bookings and enquiries, please call (07) 3262 3077.

Coming soon...

Come and Play with Clay......Di Cannon

Unwind and relax as Sculptress Di Cannon, our resident Artist, guides you in creating your masterpiece!

Sunday, 19th June 2011 or  or Saturday, 9th July 2011

Cost: $180 per person

 A French Affair with Matthew Kemp

Join Matthew Kemp from Sydney's Restaurant Balzac and TV show Ready, Steady, Cook for an English-French food affair.

Monday 20th June 2011 - $250 per person

  Old Fashioned Jams, Relishes and Chutneys
Learn to make the old classics with local jam guru Jamie Milverton and take home your goodies at the end of the day.

Sunday 10th July 2011 - $180 per person

 

 

Draw, Paint, Eat with Terry Bouton

Start the day with Yoga and a healthy breakfast then join artist Terry Bouton and try your hand at drawing or painting. Includes materials and a gourmet lunch with tasty morsels from Black Pearl.

Sunday 17th July 2011 - $220 per person

Richard Cotton

Come and get excited by Artisan Breadmaker Richard Cotton!  Learn about sourdough starters and the history of bread.  "It doesn't get any better than this hot bread straight from the oven with a slab of organic butter and a yummy gourmet toppings and a vino or two!

Sunday, 13th August 2011 - $200 per person

Adam D'Sylva

It’s no accident that Adam D’Sylva has become one of the most talked about chefs in town. As part owner and head chef of Melbourne’s hottest bar and restaurant, Coda, Adam has built himself an enviable culinary reputation. More info.

Saturday 13th August 2011 - $250 per person

Prelude to a Portait with Kate French (TBA) phone 32623077

$180 per person

A scuptural study of facial features (eye, mouth, ear). Includes a gourmet lunch.


Private Bookings

We do also offer Private Tailor-made experiences. So if you have a group of friends and have your own agenda in mind, let us know and we'll work in to create an expereince you'll not forget!


 

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT FREESTYLE.

Book Club at Freestyle Tout West End:  Freestyle has a fun and informal book club where we indulge in a dinner with recipes from the book (however, on this occasion Palvinder one of our chefs at West End, is going to cook up some of his family favourites) and a glass of vino.  For more info check out http://www.freestyletout.com.au/

June's book is 'The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga - an Indian novel where Microsoft call centre workers tread the same pavement as beggars.

The next Book Club is on 1st June, 2011 Wednesday from 6.30pm @ $30pp.

Bookings and pre-payment contact 3262 3077


View the artistic works of Mark Robinson, exhibiting at Emporium till June.

Freestyle Tout & West End Traders Trading For Charity!!

Trading for Charity!!!   This is exactly what Freestyle Tout (West End) along with our trading neighbours ( Viet Hoa, Tsuru Sushi, Thai Aroy, Orexi Cafe, Sawadee Ka, Bombay Dhaba and Suburban Cafe) will be doing on 26th May, 2011.  We will be supporting the annual Cancel Council's 'Australia's Biggest Morning Tea' campaign.

Hosting our very own 'Biggest and Longest Morning Tea', each venue will be serving up tastes of cultures from around the world.  Experience the flavours of Thai, Korean, Spanish, Indian, Chines, Greek and Mod Oz!  Our trading support is coming out in force to support this much loved charity xox.

Having a cup of tea has never felt so good!!! :)

Contact 3262 3077 to book your morning tea experience with us
Long Table costs $25.00 per person
Some stores will also be open serving their traditional morning tea including beverages; cost from $8.95

Freestyle Tout will also be offering our 'Wicked Desserts' - $25.00 ( glass of bubbles, dessert & coffee).

Freestyle Escape

As most of you would already know, we don't just specialise in satisfying your dessert cravings.  We also dabble in enhancing culinary and lifestyle experiences!  Through Freestyle Escape, we offer a destination to relax and unwind, and also an opportunity to put on your 'chef's' hat.

This month at Freestyle Escape we have some wonderful cooking and lifestyle experiences on offer for all to enjoy!  We suggest that you reserve your spot quick... because these classes are ever so popular!

May 21st - Kate French
A sculptural study on facial features ( eye, mouth , ear ) and enjoy a gourmet lunch.
$180 per person
Contact: 3262 3077 for bookings to this class
www.freestyleescape.com.au

May 22nd - Eat, Play Clay Class
$180 per person
Start the day with Yoga and a healthy breakfast, then explore clay with sculptor Kate French.  Includes a gourmet lunch, with tasty morsels from Black Pearl
Contact Zohra: 3257 2144 for bookings to this class
www.blackpearl.com.au

Freestyle Tout Team

It has been quite a busy month for the Team at Freestyle Tout. Not only have we bounced back from the floods, but we have also been busy dishing up our deluxe desserts for our loyal and new patrons xo.

Easter saw us hopping about like mad bunnies! That's how excited we were!, we were ready for the eagerness of our lovely patrons to experience the Freestyle Tout treatment over the Easter holidays; desserts, desserts and more desserts.

With Mother's Day fast approaching, we thought what better way to celebrate this day by creating a 'decadent, devilish dessert breakfast!

Mother's Day 8th May, 2011
Pain de'epice with maple butter, banana and candied walnuts
French Toast with berries compote and lemon creme fraiche
Waffles with grand marnier chocolate sauce and vanilla bean ice cream
Bircher Muesli parfait layered with fruit and yoghurt
Including Glass of bubbles or juice, Breakfast and coffee
$26.00 per person
Bookings are essential - from 8am Mother's Day
Freestyle Tout Emporium 3252 0214
Freestyle West End 3255 3288


We hope all Mother's have a lovely Mother's Day this weekend! and we look forward to seeing you at Freestyle Tout :)

P.S. Keep checking for information on our Biggest Morning Tea event!!!! supporting the cancer council.

West End Freestyle

Freestyle in West end

Freestyle is very much back up and trading
special thanks Val- Head Chef,Echo-Pastry Chef,Palvinder-Dessert Chef and Andrew,Graham and Kenny on the Floor and the rest of our amazing Team
Now Dear Reader we just need you to spread the word ...
please like us on Facebook and tell all your friends, we look forward to seeing you soon!


Val our Head Chef


Graham many thanks for getting us back up and running before going to Melbourne
we shall all miss you !


Palvinder whipping up desserts


Hot Fudge walnut brownie


Tart Tartin



Tart Tartin


Inside Freestyle West End




Pizza


Melon Salad


Little bit if Queensland


Kate French Sculpture


Calamari Salad


Bananoffee Pie

many thanks to John for taking pics
John Reyment (M.Photog)
Managing Director
Reyment Photographics Pty Ltd
"A Day in the Life" Images
2010 Epson AIPP Queensland Documentary Photographer of the Year

Phone: 07 3397 6552
Fax: 07 3397 6557
Website: www.reymentphoto.com.au
Blog: www.reymentphoto.com.au/blog
Email: john@reymentphoto.com.au
Website: www.adayinthelifeimages.com
Email: service@adayinthelifeimages.com

Freestyle Happenings for April and May 2011.

Book Club at Freestyle Tout West End
Freestyle tout has a Fun informal bookclub where we indulge in a dinner with recipes from the book and a glass of vino... or two. For more info check out www.freestyletout.com.au


April's book is Tarte Tatin by Susan Loomis, an adventure into creating a cookery school in rural France. May's book is Music, Food and Love by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow, a memoir of the Chinese cultural revolution.
April: Wednesday 6th, from 6.30pm at Freestyle Tout West End.
May: Wednesday 4th from 6.30pm at Freestyle Tout West End. Bookings and pre-payment on 32623077

Freestyle Artists
Harriet Valckx-Jakins
Exhibiting at West End in April
Kirsty Newman (below)
Exhibiting at Emporium in April


School Groups at Freestyle Tout
Freestyle Tout is available for educationals for groups of students. Students will get a tour of the kitchen and restaurant, have a Q & A with staff and sample one of our desserts with a softdrink for $15pp.



Having your birthday soon?
Why not have your birthday party at Freestyle Tout after school. Or for the big kids try our Wicked Dessert experience, from 10 - 12pm or 3 - 5pm daily. Call 3262 3077 for a function kit.

Freestyle Escape Cooking Classes
Come and experience the Good Life where local and interstate chefs whip up wonderful culinary experiences… For more information check out www.freestyleescape.com.au or call 3262 3077.



Upcoming guest chefs include Matthew Kemp, Jamie Milverton, Adam D’Sylva and Will and Claire Wood.

Follow Martin on twitter @dessertboy!

Checking out the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

On this occasion we stayed at one of Melbourne's most recent additions for accommodation Citadines apartments at 131 Bourke Street.
It was fabbo staying somewhere new and so close to all the great food outlets and shops we wanted to case out.
The bonus was a tram stop just out front, perfect to get to Southbank or St Kilda
and the vigorous traditional Thai massage (heaven) at 159 Bourke St (almost next to apartment)



my favourites...

Bar Lourinha www.barlourinha.com.au
Great for tapas and drinks with friends.

Cumulus Inc www.cumulusinc.com.au
45 Flinders Lane
We always frequent this wonderful establishment when we are in Melbourne as its perfect for brekki, lunch, arvo drinks with snacks and dinner
May i suggest for brekki try the Pain d'epice with maple butter and candied walnuts mmmmmmm yummo
Or later in the day soft shell crab or Foie Gras parfait with a nice glass of Crawford River Rose....delish!


Longrain www.longrain.com.au
44 Little Bourke Street
Must-trys are: Gin Sin, Red Dragon or Ping Pong cocktail
Prawn and/or Trout Betel Leaf, Eggnet Salad or Red Peanut Curry with beef. Whenever we are in Melbourne or Sydney, Longrain is always a must-do.


Zak Pelaccio with Longrain executive chef Martin Boetz
For Zak's Melbourne Food and Wine Festival dinner check out the QLD FBI blog

Il Bacaro Cucina e Bar www.ilbacaro.com.au
168-170 Little Collins Street
This small restaurant is well worth the visit if you love simple, beautiful Italian food. Wait staff are so knowledgable, efficient and service was awesome on this occasion.

Cutler & Co www.cutlerandco.com.au
55-57 Gertrude Street Fitroy
I have always wanted to try this restaurant as it's chef Andrew McConnell's latest venture. He also owns my fav Cumulus Inc and this time around we were lucky enough to get a table. I was blown away first with customer service from telephone reservation through to staff on the floor. Our waitress was extremely knowledgable, efficient and friendly.
Now cutting to the chase, lets talk about the food... WOW, we tried 3 varieties of Oysters - Petit Clair, Clair de Lune and Label Rouge, so fresh, so good!! Beef Tartare and Cured Kingfish were sublime as was the Heirloom Tomato Salad.
My dining companions had the 1.1 kg dry aged Rib-eye to share, (perfectly cooked) Lamb Saddle with eggplant,purlane and spiced carrots and Suckling Pig with boudin noir, plum and kohlrabi also were eaten with gusto and smiles all round.
Desserts were tricky with amazing presentation, seeing is believing, I cannot talk them up enough - Lychee Sorbet with raspberry,rose and pistachio, Violet Icecream with chocolate ganache, sourcherry and clove meringue and Sesame Sponge with apricot sorbet, yoghurt and thyme butter cream were sampled.
I loved the feel of this restaurant, Melbourne is blessed with funky old buildings. Fit out, food and ambience was great.

Pizza Anyone?
We googled best pizza and i Carusi II came up so one of our evenings we jumped on the tram out front Citadines apartment and went to St Kilda. Getting off at the final stop we hung a right on foot and the restaurant was on the next block. The venue was packed and we were shown to cute little bar upstairs with Italian wines and cocktails. Mine was a mint based liquer with lemoncello etc - nice, unusual, unique. must say they have awesome staff... all Italian and gorgeous girls. We had antipasti and then came downstairs when our table was ready. The room ambiance was quirky with tall ceiling, wooden stairs and floor, white table cloths and tables were crammed in making me think about complaint I received about Freestyle at Rosalie a long time ago where customer was most unhappy sitting at long wooden table and said she wasn't that intimate with her own family let alone strangers so with a glass of wine I had a smirk thinking of days gone by (incidently Miss Kenmore, that table is at Freestyle Escape, most happy with all and sundry sitting at her)
Was it the best Pizza??? Mmm with Vespa and Beccofino here in brisbane, I am probably little bias as to who has the best pizza :)
But, dear reader, the ambiance and experience was worth it.....
231 Barkly Street St Kilda
www.icarusiii.com.au

Oriental Tea House www.orientalteahouse.com.au
one of 3 venues
455 Chapel Street South Yarra

Beautiful baking, bread and sweet treats.



While I'm sure you'll discover Haigh's, Koko Black, Lindt and Ganache under your own steam, may I suggest the Chocolate Walking Tours www.chocoholictours.com.au

Phillippa's www.phillipas.com.au
We happened to be in Armidale so took a peek at Phillipa's.

Europa Cake Shop www.europacakeshop.com
81 Acland Street St Kilda

To find out where other foodies hot favourites are, check out the travel pages on QLD FBI.

Can't wait now for the Noosa Food and Wine Festival! www.noosafoodandwine.com.au

Freestyle at West End Central reopens

Freestyle Tout West End Central Reopening!
After 7 long weeks out of action, Freestyle Tout West End Central will reopen with a bang TONIGHT (Friday Feb 25) at 6pm!

We wish to extend a BIG thank-you to everyone who has shown their support during this time. We are lucky enough to be a part of a great community. Check out the West End Central facebook page for information and upcoming events.

www.freestyletout.com.au

Freestyle Artists
Harriet Valckx-Jakins will be exhibiting at Freestyle Tout Emporium in March while Jane Burton (below) exhibits at Freestyle Tout West End Central.



Book Club
Book club on Wednesday March 2nd will be back to its home at Freestyle Tout West End Central. To book and prepay, please call 3262 3077.
This month's book is Girl by Sea by Penelope Green, a tale of love, life and food on an Italian island with delicious recipes to match.



Freestyle Escape
Brewbakers' artisan breadmaker Richard Cotton is hosting a History of Bread class at Freestyle Escape on Monday March 14. Learn the basics of bread baking and how to make starters and sourdough. A great class for all skill levels. The class runs from 9.30am-4.30pm and includes an unforgettable life experience, an apron, cowboy hat and lunch for $180 per person.



For bookings and enquiries please call 3262 3077 or for other classes check out our website.

West End Central Week 7 Saga continues..

West End Central update
yes we got power on on fri afternoon,only to be told we cant trade till firebrigade clears and signs us off,
5 restaurant go hell for leather to get all prep done and stock delivered in readiness for possible tues opening
but alas that was not to be
On Monday night as you are all aware we had a doozy of a storm,and unfortunately for us our car park had sewerage enter again and our newly fixed switch board got wet
so dear reader we are back to square one!
we the traders are frustrated,devasted and gutted and so so worried.
how long are we going to have to wait this time...

West End Central - can you help us??

Dear Reader,
On this occassion it is hard for me to write this blog:
I am one of a great bunch of incredibly proud restaurateurs of West End Central
at 220 Melbourne Street in West End consisting of Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Greek, Spanish, Modern Australian, Dessert and soon Sushi.

As most of you are aware six weeks ago most of our tenancies went under water in the flood. What you might not realise is we have still not regained power and still remain closed and with that comes the stress of bank loans, mortgages, hardship of starting up all over again with no cashflow, along with the immense worry for our incredibly lovely, loyal staff who we are unable to supply work or an income (this is probably most upsetting as our staff are like family).

Unfortunately we do not have very sympathetic landlords or active Body Corporate/building managers and Government assistance for most small businesses affected by the floods have amounted to nothing.
Most of us still havent heard back from our insurance companies and grant applications and fear for the worse.

Unfortunately for most small businesses cashflow is paramount and in our case 6 weeks with no trade has crippled our businesses and we now have no cash reserves (and banks won't extend overdrafts).

So we seek your help...

Can you assist with:
- cleaning (heavy duty) our carpark; six weeks on it still stinks and looks like it did when the flood waters first receeded.
- helping repair roof leaks and repair consequent ceiling plaster damage.
- supplying paint or help with painting; as our building looks the worse for wear.
- re-gasing airconditioners and refrigerators.
- donating planter boxes and/or plants that will make us pretty again.
- legal advice for our insurance claims and our tenancy agreements and body corporate issues.

- are you a publication and can you help supply editorial or advertising.
- are you a Graphic Designer or Printer that can help supply promotional material.
- are you in PR and willing to adopt us and give us an identity.
- can you become our facebook friend and facebook us to all your friends as we individually re-open. Click here for West End Central facebook page.
-can your club adopt us for functions/events.
-are you a Uni student or Tafe student that can adopt us to become your special meeting place.

If our situation wasn't so dire we would not ask and we all thank you for your support.

If you can assist us please email us info@freestyletout.com.au or phone Martin on 07 3262 3077

Many thanks Dan Nancarrow from Brisbane Times re this article http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/six-weeks-in-the-dark-20110218-1azf3.html

Jams, Relishes and Chutneys Class with Jamie Milverton

The Jams, Relishes and Chutneys class with Jamie Milverton was a hit. Guests made Gourmet Tomato Relish, Caramelised Red Onion Jam, Pineapple, Lime and Ginger Marmalade, Davidson Plum and Pear Chutney, Rhubarb and Fig Jam and Strawberry and Lillipilli Jam. Not only was this fun but it was an informative session with Jamie sharing lots of ideas and tricks of the trade.


Jamie Milverton, jam guru


Preparing the tomatoes for the Tomato Relish


Tomato Relish time


Ploughman's lunch with our fresh tomato relish




Strawberry and Lillipilli Jam


Pouring into the jars


Jamie explaining how to make the Rhubarb and Fig Jam


Preparation for the Rhubarb and Fig Jam


Jamie and Martin with the jams, relishes and chutneys

I cant wait for our next class which is bread making with Richard Cotton from Brewbakers...Yummo! www.freestyleescape.com.au/experience