South of the border.....

My current favourite flavours are Mexican and Melbourne (often us Melbournians are referred to as Mexicans by our Northern neighbors) has now some great authentic Mexican restaurants dotted across the city.

This week I wanted to try Paco's Tacos for lunch to see how good their $6 tacos were. I wasn't disappointed.
http://pacostacos.com.au/

Located right next to Movida Aqui. The design is set up like a big Taco truck, similar to the style which is now big in the USA and some parts of Melbourne and Sydney the 'pop up restaurant.' Fortunately the weather was sunny and warmish! As we sat inside the big yellow cage like setting with a heater nearby to take the chill away.

Menu options for the tacos were pork, beef, chicken, duck, prawns, beans all served with coriander, cabbage and spring onion and delicious sauces. I wanted to try the fish taco to compare to the fantastic ones I have had in the USA. It was a very tasty taco. Fresh fish lightly crumbed and fried then served with a crunchy slaw type salad and chipotle mayo.. Served in a little basket with a wedge of lime to squeeze over the top. The tortillas were corn and made fresh that day.

The service was friendly and very fast, great if your in a hurry on want lunch on the go, given they are right in the heart of the business district this is a great option.  I will definately go back to try other tacos.

Of course all inspiration for my up coming Mexican dinner....









This week a couple of job opportunities came up, one in Sydney and one in Brisbane... in this current market it is very tempting to think seriously about moving interstate, or even to the USA (lots of HR head roles in California at the moment) for a role.

Of course it would have to be the right role and company. There are always positives and negatives to consider in making a move. The weather and lifestyle is a big positive for a Brisbane role.

For me it would be another relocation away from family and friends, and having been back for just over 3 years it doesn't seem like a good option to seriously consider.

So I have put that on the back burner for now. An option to reconsider if I am still looking in the New Year I guess.

So South of the Border I will stay for now...

What is your favourite flavours for food that you crave right now?
And what would you recommend to try? I am open to lunches!

Narelle


Written by Narelle Beurle. To read more - go to: http://firstpour.blogspot.com/

Hitting the Street...

The last two weeks I have been back out there hitting the streets meeting up with my contacts, recruitment agencies and some of my Spotless colleagues to keep the camaraderie up. Oh and of course interviewing for a couple of roles.  I am sure as many of you would know its a full-time job focusing on getting a new job and their are the ups and downs that you feel from day to day or week to week as you await that next phone call or email.

It is a challenge to stay positive and upbeat which of course is helped along by the great warm weather last week, and earlier this week, and of course my friends and family keeping in touch and supporting me. Thank you.  :))

One of the benefits of not working means I can focus back on food, cooking and eating leisurely lunches and dinner. Visiting markets, buying produce, expermenting and cooking for myself and friends or just eating great food someone else has cooked, I get such pleasure from it.

This week by chance after attending the launch of the International Women in Technology Melbourne Chapter event my friend Carole and I decided we needed a bite to eat. We settled on Movida Aqui which is right in the heart of the business district at 500 Bourke Street.

Movida Acqui is part of the Movida group owned by Frank Camorra and somewhere I'd been wanting to go for a while.  Spanish inspired with great authentic interesting menu choices. Having been to the 2 sister restaurants I knew the food and services would not disappoint.

We started with a share plate of Truffled chorizo sausage and Salchicon (spanish salami) with guindillas (picked green chillies).  The truffled sausage was delicious wrapped around the guindillas  which didn't have had heat at all.  We then followed with thinly sliced wagyu beef, with potato crisps black and picked garlic.  The black garlic was fermented with an amazing taste a little like a jelly lolly. Definately have to learn how to make that!

Our second main dish was prawns with chorizo cooked in cider, another great tasting plate, and the final selection was a house made catalan pork and pepper sausage with chickpeas and mocilla with a delicious herb pesto, of course all accompanied with a glass of Spanish Tempranillo.

As we enjoyed our share plates, the waiter served dessert to the next table.  Carole and I both looked at the dishes, then at each other and said "we have to have those". The woman on the next table later shared that the desserts were not to be missed.  So of course we had to order them, despite already feeling full. I figured my previous months of dieting and back to the gym to loose a few kgs, which had worked to plan, was worth breaking for this meal.

Some of my friends have tasted my version of one of these desserts... Churros with hot chocolate.
Yes friends its on the menu again for the Mexican dinner in a few weeks!!!
The churros were light, crunchy and with a small amount of chew, coated in sugar and cinamon and of course great dipped into the chocolate. The Spanish have Churros for breafast so I'm told.

The second dessert was a chocolate ganache fondant with lemon scented ice cream, with nougat and hazelnuts.  The soft gooey centre of the fondant was warm and very chocolately!  smiles all around as we polished it all off. Apologies for only having this one photo, the light was very dimm and the photos really didn't look great.

 

 

 

If you haven't yet been to Movida Aqui, I highly recommend it.

Written by Narelle Beurle. To read more - go to: http://firstpour.blogspot.com/

SECOND HELPINGS!

Second Helpings I hear you say.... of what?
Well. For those of my blog fans.... (friends and family) I am back blogging again.

After my 195 days back in the corporate world, its time again to stop, reflect, reset and move forward.
If I haven't yet caught up with you, I am no longer at Spotless.  New equity owners took over 2 weeks ago and chopped most of HR including my role.

My new blog is titled Words - to sit and think about. 

For those foodies and coffee connoisseurs amongst you, don't be too disappointed, I will also continue to find new cafe's and interesting ingredients to taste. Perhaps I should have titled it...words to think and eat over, if that even makes sense. 

Of course if you'd rather opt out of receiving the blogs, please let me know.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

Looking back on the last 9 months what did I learn and achieve.  Quite a bit from my perspective.
Here are 3 of my highlights....

1. I learnt that after 11 years in one company it is easy to step into another organisation and build a network and credibility. You have to put the work in, go out of your way to meet the key leaders, do site visits, learn the business, ask lots of questions to figure out 'what do people do around here'. AND of course figure out how your role adds value to that.  It was a great reminder that the 'first 90 days' is essential to your success. (Great Book too "The First 90 Days" Watkins). I highly recommend this book when you change job, both internal move or external.
2. From a HR perspective I learnt heeps about talent acquisition and what's happening in the market place, what are the leading companies doing to source top people proactively.  Knowledge that I am now taking with me, ready to apply where I end up next.
3. Executive coaching and 360 degree assessment tool.  I also invested in my personal development (some Spotless supported) to complete a Level 1 Executive Coaching Certification.  Great learning, excellent tools to use and something to add onto my CV.  I also did a certification on a relatively new leadership assessment tool Leadership Versatility Index (LVI). The LVI is focused on strengths based leadership and ensuring that as a leader you don't overdo or underdo (sic!) what you lead and how you lead.  Happy to share more if you're interested.  I am also happy to complete an assessment for anyone, and spend time on the debrief and coaching.  This is an area that I will look to do some 'consulting' in the coming weeks if no new role comes along.

So all in all. Learnt a lot. Feel like I was able to add much more to my CV in this 9 months perhaps that the last 2+ at HP.  So definately worth while, despite how it all ended up.

My question for you....

What have you learnt so far this year?  and how have you developed your skills to add onto your CV?

Til next time.

Narelle



















+

Written by Narelle Beurle. To read more - go to: http://firstpour.blogspot.com/