This is an occasional look at places I've visited, menus I've picked up along the way, markets, vineyards, foodie haunts, whatever takes my fancy. And some will have nothing to do with food at all.

Beechworth, Northeast Victoria
We head north for a couple of days in historic Beechworth

On board the Queen Victoria
The Cunard Line's Queen Victoria visits Melbourne on its maiden world cruise. I go on board and suffer a little vacation envy.

Dinner by Andoni Luis Aduriz
Hailed as the future of Spanish gastronomy, Aduriz brings the flavours of his two Michelin star restaurant, Mugaritz, to Melbourne for a spectacular dinner.

Masters of the Mediterranean
Five Mediterranean chefs delight Melbourne diners with their fare

The World's Longest Lunch
The 2007 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival kicks off with a very long lunch - 1500 people sit at tables circling the field at the Telstra Dome.

The Age Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock 2007
It hardly seems a year since we last attended this popular picnic an hour north of Melboune

St Valentine's Day
The Spouse takes me out for a surprise dinner

To market, to market
Getting your goods to market or bringing home the bacon can test human ingenuity.

Lunch with Gordon Ramsay in Melbourne
A friend and I join a predominantly female crowd of around 250 for lunch with Chef Gordon Ramsay. And he signs my copy of his Sunday Lunch book with an inscription that includes the famous F word.

Cruising the Yarra
It's a Sunday afternoon so we decide to go cruising up Melbourne's Yarra River

International Chefs' Day 2006
Melbourne chefs celebrate their day with an "old school" versus "new school" culinary challenge. And ice sculptor Kevin Starrow demonstrates his skill.

A Taste of Slow at the Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
We venture into the old convent grounds and find a veritable feast of goodies waiting for everyone.

Dinner with Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver
We throw dietary caution to the wind and join the founders of London's St John restaurant for A Taste of Slow

An evening with multiple Michelin star luminary, Alain Ducasse
Vittoria Coffee hosts an evening for some of Australia's top chefs. I'm there with my camera next to my plate.

I go to the footy
One of the things you must do when you shift to Melbourne is take an interest in Aussie rules football. I spend Saturday night at the footy.

Quilters' paradise
We discover a patchworker quilters' shop masquerading as an eating establishment - or is that vice versa?

Farmers market at Gasworks Park, Albert Park
I notice there's a monthly farmers' market a few blocks from home so I go to check out the produce.

Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland
We take a mid-winter break from chilly Melbourne and enjoy 27C temperatures and find plenty to do on the tourist trail.

Daylesford and Shepherd's Flat
Spa country beckons - we visit a lavender farm and meet the talented artist-in-residence.

The Epicure Birthday Bash
Epicure, the food and wine section of The Age in Melbourne, celebrates its 20th anniversary with a stunning menu presented by six acclaimed chefs.

Tarrington Vineyards Wine Dinner
James comes home flaunting the menu for a very interesting dinner he attended before ending his stay in Hamilton.

Anzac weekend in West Victoria and Coonawarra
Our son James is currently stationed at a hospital in Hamilton, West Victoria. We visit him and take in some of the vineyards over the border in South Australia before returning to Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road..

Grand Prix 2006
We are invited to attend the Grand Prix at Albert Park - and the Grand Prix Ball.

Gala Dinner
The organising committee for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi hosts a glittering gala dinner in Melbourne's Town Hall. The menu was an interesting fusion.

The Victorian Producers Market
The plaza at the Melbourne Museum is one of the Commonwealth Games Livesites with a big screen showing the latest action. Timing was perfect for a local food producers market.

The magic behind the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony
HRH Prince Edward opens the exciting Spirit of the Games exhibition at Melbourne Museum in Carlton Gardens.

Lunch with Her Majesty
We lunch with Queen Elizabeth - along with 1200 other guests!

The Moomba Parade
I've read about it many times. Now I get to watch it.

Taste for Living Festival, Gasworks Park, Port Melbourne
Just a few blocks from home we enjoy a community festival of wine, food and music.

The Age Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock
We pack the camera and head off towards Mt Macedon for a feast of food and wine.

Bacchus Marsh
Home to one of the best elm avenues in the world.

Nagambie
This time we sample wares from a boutique vineyard and from one of Victoria's pioneer wineries.

Waitangi Day dinner
We celebrate New Zealand's national day.