On this particular night (Wednesday night) I was turned down at Red Lantern because I didn’t have a booking. Fair enough, ever since it’s been mentioned on Masterchef I can understand why this resturant would be so popular. Never mind – just a little further down the road I came across Cafe Mint where no booking was required, and staff instantly greeted me with a welcoming smile.

The interior of Cafe Mint is warm, intimate and cozy, with wooden, earthy furnishings and glowing ceiling lights that hang low over the table, creating a personal space between myself and the food I was about to eat.

Between myself and my friend, we ordered quite a few entrees, including:

- honey beetroot with goat’s curd and caramelized walnuts
- chicken and olive meatballs with spicy tomato sauce
- hummus with chickpeas
- eggplant dip
- stuffed squid

Though I’m familiar with the flavours of middle eastern dishes having eaten countless meals in my lifetime, the contrast of flavours in these entree dishes was exciting and new. Honey beetroot? A decadent sweetness I hadn’t tasted before, with each slice of beetroot as thin and delicate as paper. The candied walnuts added crunchy texture and it was a welcome relief to enjoy beetroot without the usual pouring of oils and over-peppery rocket.

The eggplant dip had a deep smoky flavour and although I haven’t visited Turkey or Morocco it evoked a feeling of what it might be like to travel there.

The chicken and olive meatballs was very spicy which contrasted well with the other entrees.

The stuffed squid was so tender and velvety smooth (note to self – I must learn how to cook seafood like this!)

And the hummus dip tasted familiar and yummy just like a hummus dip made at home.

For the main, I shared a saffron and lemon chicken with a pistachio jus. Sounds fancy? Well if you like chicken, especially chicken cooked to absolute tenderness, then I highly recommend this dish. The chicken was unbelievably soft and yet perfectly cooked through, with smoky, Moroccon flavours sitting in the bed of cous cous beneath it. We easily finished off this dish and couldn’t wait for dessert.

For dessert, we shared a chocolate and apricot tart, with honey yoghurt on the side. The chocolate tart had a soft, fruity texture, and the honey yoghurt complimented it perfectly.

For drinks I ordered a Turkish apple tea infused with cinnamon. The tea tasted like hot apple juice, which was surprisingly refreshing given I had a bit of a cold and was getting a little bored with hot lemon drinks (note to self  - I want to know where I can buy Turkish apple tea!) It was served in a beautiful Turkish glass, and again I had the sensation that I could be in Turkey right now, sipping on fresh, locally made tea.

I didn’t know what to expect when I set out to dine in Surry Hills that night, but for entire time I was in the restaurant, I had the pleasure of feeling like I had been transported to an exotic destination, fulfilling every fantastic culinary desire.

Cafe Mint is located at 579 Crown Street Surry Hills Sydney. My meal for two people (including wine) came to $112.

+ Cafe Mint website

I’ve learned over time that the best way to stretch for the splits is to minimise the amount of pain and discomfort and choose stretches that 1) stretch all parts of the leg, not just the inner thighs and 2) feel relaxing for the body. Below are the set of stretches I came up with which helped me achieve a reasonably good left AND right split within about 2 months. I say “reasonably” because some purists will want to rightly argue that a proper split is one where both hips are square – but let’s face it – even getting down to the ground is a huge achievement in itself and will allow you to incorporate many of the more demanding moves in pole which require a nice line. So if you are curious to read on about what stretches I do, here are my tips for practicing the splits.

1. Be gentle
This is perhaps the most important tip to avoid injury when practicing the splits. Never push yourself to the point of agony – it will make it harder for your body to learn to enjoy the sensation of being in a split. The stretches should feel like a stretch – not an agonising strain. You don’t need to hold the stretches forever – just a minute per stretch for each leg is plenty. Also be very, very careful when coming out of the split – a sudden jerk reaction can pull a muscle and push back your progress for months.

2. Breathe
Some people advocate holding a stretch for more than 10 minutes but for me it is always more effective to breathe deeply for a full minute and then release the stretch. Breathing teaches your body to relax and enjoy the stretch – rather than teaching it to hold a strain for what feels like an eternity.

3. Be consistent
A little bit of stretching each day goes a long way to achieving your splits, rather than a big session once a week. When I first started practicing my stretches I did them every morning and night for about 15 minutes each session. 

4. Be inventive
The stretches I use work well for me but you may easily come up with other ideas for stretches. The idea is to stretch every part of your leg and body that feels tight or restrictive, including ankles, heels, knees, and butt muscles. All of these muscles work together when you are doing a split, so it pays off to stretch all of them.

5. Use simple props and vices
I use simple props when warming up for the splits like a wall, a chair, and a cardboard box.  You can experiment with props you have around the house like the edge of a bed. Also applying ointments like Vicks Vapour rub can help to relax the leg muscles – just don’t apply too much in your inner thighs or you will end up with a burning sensation!

Now for the stretches!

1. Basic warm ups
Before you begin stretching the splits, do some basic warm up stretches for about 5 minutes. Basic warm ups I do include downward dog, walking downward dog and leaning forward over my toes, with my hands reaching to the ground. I also bend one knee and reach over with my hand to hold the opposite leg. I hold each stretch for about 15-20 seconds while breathing deeply.

lean forward, touch the ground with your hands

lean forwards, use opposite arm to hold on each leg.

lean forwards, bend one knee, and cross your arms over to hold your legs.

downward dog

walking downward dog (come up on your toes and bend each knee alternately)

stand on the edge of a low ledge

roll down and touch your toes, while keeping your legs straight

as you develop more flexibility, reach past your toes

Then point your toes and apply gentle pressure to the front of your ankle. Hold for about 20 seconds while breathing deeply. Repeat on the other side.

lift one knee, lean forwards, and apply gentle pressure to the outside of your knee

come up on your toes and apply gentle pressure to the front of your ankle

place your knee right up against the wall, and make a 90-degree angle with the other leg. Push your hips forward.

straighten one leg and lean your body over it.

place one foot against the wall, and the other leg up against the wall. Use your hands to push away from the floor to get your hips towards the wall.

you can also practice this stretch with a chair, which helps develop back flexibility.

place one foot on a box and reach behind you to hold your ankle with the opposite hand. Push your hips and chest forwards.

sit on the mat with the front leg in a 90 degree angle and the other leg straight behind.

use your hands to really push away from the wall.

place your foot on a chair

lean forwards and use the chair leg to pull yourself down

aim to get your hand flat on the ground while keeping the standing leg straight

ernest hill wine label

Back in my modeling days around November 2009 I was asked by Ernest Hill Wines if I would kindly attend their end of year Christmas function dressed as the goddess Aphrodite. Well, I’m not sure if I look anything like a Greek goddess, but seeing at though the event was being held at the Art Gallery of NSW, I said sure, I’d be happy to entertain their crowd for the evening.

I was greeted by Jason who had a bandage around his head to protect a badly injured ear (he was channeling his inner Van Gogh, you see). He explained that the idea he had in mind was for me to pose as the goddess Aphrodite with lush, cascading grapes falling from my hand while members of the Ernest Hill Wine club drew and painted my image.

The winning picture would then be transfered onto the label of a special edition of Ernest Hill Wine. As part of my payment we agreed I would receive two bottles of this edition.

The crowd that night were very enthusiastic and came up with lots of interesting pictures. It was difficult to choose a winner! In the end I chose a full length sketch of Aphrodite with a big bottle of Ernest Hill Wine in the foreground; a fitting image for a wine label, I think.

My thanks goes to Jason for inviting me to the event and for being a such a lovely person to work with. The wine bottles arrived in pristine condition and I can’t wait to try them out next time I have an occasion to celebrate.

Links:

+ Ernest Hill Wine website
+ Pictures from the event

From my experience, the groups I’ve worked with are very friendly and welcoming of new faces; just remember your manners if it’s the first time you’ll be turning up to a session (ie try not to chit chat while the model is posing and don’t take photos of the model unless he/she gives you express permission  to do that. If they say no, never pressure the model to change their mind; respect their decision and their privacy).

Below is the A-Z of Sydney suburbs where you will find life drawing classes or sessions; wherever you live you’ll be sure to find something running near you!

Alexandria
+ City East Community College

Bankstown
+ Bankstown Art Society

Baulkham Hills
+ Sydney Art School

Bondi
+ Bondi Road Art School
+ City East Community College

Brookvale
+ TAFE

Chippendale
+ University of Sydney (Tin Sheds Gallery)

Clovelly
+ Creativity Unlimited

Coogee
+ Coogee Bay Hotel (Artnight)

City CBD
+ Arthouse Hotel
+ Art Gallery of NSW
+ East Sydney Academy of Art (run by Tony Johansen)
+ WEA Sydney

Circular Quay/The Rocks
+ The Julian Ashton Art School

Darlinghurst
+ Figure It In (run by model Sarina)
+ Tap Gallery

Epping
+ Hornsby Art Society

Enmore
+ TAFE (Design & Technology Centre)

Erskineville
+ Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School

George’s Heights (near Mosman)
+ Julian Ashton Art School
+ Nafisa Naomi (2010 Archibald Packing Prize winner)

Gladesville
+ Jody Pawley Sculpture Studio & Gallery

Glebe
+ Friend in Hand Hotel

Gordon
+ Gordon Sketch Club (run by Kuringai Art Society; ask for Rowena Monty)

Gymea
+ Hazlehurst Regional Gallery & Art Centre
+ TAFE

Hornsby
+ Hornsby/Kuringai Community College
+ TAFE

Jannali
+ St George & Sutherland Community College

Kogarah
+ St George Art Society
+ TAFE

Lane Cove
+ Centrehouse Community Arts & Leisure Centre

Leichhardt
+ Art Est. Art School

Liverpool
+ Liverpool Art Society

Manly
+ Artichoke Gallery Café
+ Manly Art Gallery

Marrickville
+ Marrickville Sketch Club

Marsfield
+ Macquarie Community College

Meadowbank
+ TAFE

Mosman
+ Mosman Community College
+ Northshore School of Art

Narrabeen
+ Tramshed (run by Pina Bartolo)

Naremburn
+ Ingrid Morley Sculpture Studio

Newtown
+ Art on King Studios
+ King Street Studio
+ Sando Hotel

Northbridge
+ Northbridge School of Visual Arts

North Sydney
+ North Sydney Community Centre (run by Pina Bartolo)
+ Royal Art Society (Lavender Bay)

Oately
+ Oateley 101 Society of Artists

Paddington
+ College of Fine Arts
+ National Art School
+ Friends of the National Art School

Parramatta
+ Parramatta Artists Studios
+ Parramatta Art Society

Pennant Hills
+ Pennant Hills Sketch Club

Penshurst
+ St George Creative Arts & Crafts Centre

Roseberry
+ Cartel Artists

Roseville
+ Kuringai Art Centre & Gallery

Rozelle
+ Sydney Community College
+ University of Sydney (Sydney College of the Arts)

Ryde
+ Willandra Art Society

St Peters
+ Royal Art Society (held at Alpha House; ask Heather Beales for details)

Surry Hills
+ Brett Whiteley Studio

Ultimo
+ TAFE

Willoughby
+ Workshop Arts Centre

If you know of other life drawing classes or sketch clubs running in Sydney, or would like to comment on the above venues, please post below!