The Fourth Village

I’d been looking forward to today since the lunch was organised a few weeks ago.  Today I finally had the opportunity to meet for the first time, Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.  The blogging world has ‘connected’ us and we arranged to physically meet for lunch at The Fourth Village in Mosman.

Beautiful fresh flowers for sale at Fourth Village

The Fourth Village runs between Vista Street and Myaghah Road in Mosman and is a deli/produce shop set out market-style down the Vista Street end and a licensed restaurant and bar down the Myahgah Road end.


A crammed and packed deli

The chilling cheese room

Beautifully arranged fresh produce

I was standing in the designated spot waiting to be allocated to a table when behind me I felt the presence of others and turned around to see a woman standing there and I immediately knew she had to be Celia.  Although we had never met we greeted each other like we were long lost friends with hugs and kisses.

Looking down to the bar area

We were shown to our table and I immediately found out Celia is not only wonderful but incredibly generous.  She had with her a bag that she gave me as a gift and it contained freshly laid eggs from her suburban ‘farm’…

And perennial leeks from her garden for me to plant in my absent-but-about-to-be-created garden, a bag of Fair Trade dark callebaut chocolate and some homemade dark chocolates containing slithered almonds tossed in icing sugar and Kirsch then roasted, coated in dark chocolate and formed into clusters.   And they’re now all gone!

Celia’s dark chocolate clusters

We sat down at a table and three times the waiter asked us if we were ready to order but each time we had to tell the heavily accented Itailian we still hadn’t looked at the menu because we just had so much to talk about we’d forgotten about our hunger.  Eventually we got around to ordering and Celia had the shoestring calamari and zucchini fritti with aioli that was presented on a wooden board …

And sadly, I couldn’t tell you what Celia thought of this dish because we were so busy talking about our lives we forgot to talk about the food.  I can tell you that she did eat everything on that wooden board.

I ordered the Roast Pork Belly on music paper bread with marinated apple and mixed salad…

Porchetta

And I had never had music paper bread before!  The porchetta was wonderful and full of the flavour of fennel seeds and it was beautifully complimented with slices of marinated apple.  Unlike Celia, I at least managed to leave one tiny salad leaf on my plate.

We read through the dessert menu and although there were interesting and tempting options like Zuppa Inglese, Tiramisu and a Cheese Plate, we both chose sorbets where you could have two flavours for $7.00.  Celia had Raspberry and Blood Orange…

While I had Raspberry and Mango and again, we left nothing for anyone hungry in the kitchen.

The two hours I spent with Celia went by all too quickly.  We both agreed we must do it all again and very soon.  Celia is my first blogging acquaintance to become not only a virtual friend but now a ‘real’ friend.  This is a bonus that I never expected when I ventured into the blogging world.

If you don’t know Celia, do take the time to check out her wonderful blog that showcases her amazing cooking skills and her efforts to live sustainably in an inner-city suburb of Sydney.  Celia created a wonderful series on her blog, ‘In My Kitchen’ that many other bloggers have enjoyed participating in including me, Lorraine from Not Quite Nigella and Claire from Claire K Creations.  It’s a really fun post to do and Celia invites you to participate, just link your post back to her blog.

Thanks Celia for a really lovely day xx

Have you ever arranged to meet up with a virtual friend?

The Fourth Village is open for breakfast and lunch  seven days a week and dinner, Wednesday through Saturday.  The providore is open seven days a week.

Address:  5A Vista Street, Mosman

Ph:  9960 7168

Want to keep in touch?  Join the fun on the Hotly Spiced facebook page!

Comments

  1. What a great looking shop! I could spend hours in there!

  2. The sorbet looks so cool and inviting — perfect for a middle-aged gal like me who is usually feeling a little warm, if you know what I mean.  How wonderful for you to have gotten together with Celia.

  3. Isn’t it interesting how this blogging world works and how we become so connected? I haven’t met any virtual blogger friends yet, but hope to eventually.

    What a lovely place where you two met and the food was presented in such an artful manner.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes Audrey, it is wonderful food. I would eat there everyday if I could! I hope you get the chance to meet some bloggers one day. If I ever find myself in Minnesota…

  4. What a wonderful story, Charlie. I am so happy you met Celia (whom I just started following) and really got one well. I would be interested to know if the eggs were as spectacular as they looked; golden orange yolks and wonderful light whites! It’s one thing I have told my hubby that we WILL STOP for farm fresh eggs on the way to the cottage this summer.
    That store looks amazing, I could probably be ‘lost’ in there for hours and come out with an incredible bill and bag of goods! Sigh.
    You asked if I have met any blogging friends, and sadly I have not, but I am hoping to meet up with Charles at Five Euro Foods when we go to Paris this fall.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      I wish you could have joined us Eva. One day I might find myself in Canada and I would love to lunch with you. xx

  5. Magnolia Verandah says:

    How wonderful is this! I was only thinking the other day how friendly this blogging thing is, even though I haven’t met anyone yet – its a bit like having an on-line pen pal! Your meals looked delicious, what a great spot. 

  6. Niasunset says:

    Yes, I have met too… with three beautiful friends in different times… This meeting should be so nice, I wished to be there too 🙂 I know dear Celia, she is so nice as you dear Charlie, you are both such a beautiful blogger and blogger friend. I am so glad to hear your meeting, but next time let me know I WANT to fly there 🙂 Thank you, with my love, nia 

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Thanks Nia, and if I’m ever in Turkey, I would love to spend some time with you. No plans as yet but you never know! xx

  7. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book says:

    How cool that you and Celia could meet in person.  I can imagine that the 2 hours must have whizzed by!  What fun!
    🙂 Mandy

  8. Garden Correspondent says:

    That’s so exciting! I think it was quite brave of you to meet up and make a real friend out of a virtual one, and obviously it was worth doing.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes, it was very worthwhile. We just had so much to talk about! The only thing that ended the lunch was the fact I had to pick up my son from school. And I was late! xx

  9. Isn’t the blogging world incredible?  And I am hoping some of you will make it to the magical San Miguel de Allende, my home, so I can show you some of the best of Mexico!

    Love the look of that pork belly, but have never even heard of music paper before.  Am going to Google it now.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes, really incredible. I would so love to visit Mexico. And I would be so honoured and thrilled to have you show me around. I don’t have any plans as yet but now that I have a sister living in LA, the possibility is becoming more real. I’ll let you know! xx

  10. Sounds like you guys had a great time. What a great story, great food and great times 🙂

  11. Choc Chip Uru says:

    This is too exciting! It must have been fantastic to meet another blogger in person 😀
    Virtual friends becoming literal = awesome!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes, it was great. Such a fun thing to do. I’m going to try and do these things more often xx

  12. ChgoJohn says:

    As enjoyable as your lunch was, I bet the two of you could have spent another hour or two browsing that shop together and had an equally good time.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes we could have. Shame you couldn’t have joined us. It’s very Italian. Even all the waiters are heavily accented Italians. And the food is amazing. When next you’re in Sydney! xx

  13. Charlie darling, it was a fabulous afternoon! Thanks for suggesting Fourth Village, what a place! And that calamari dish was enormous, although to be fair, I do think I left a little bit of mayo on my plate.. 😉

    Look forward to doing it again soon! xxx

  14. Hi,
    Sounds like a wonderful day, and how great to meet with another fellow blogger, that is just fantastic. 😀
    The food looks delicious, all in all I would say a very successful day. 🙂

  15. Bitsandbreadcrumbs says:

    How cool is that, to meet a virtual friend and become reality friends…I love it! I could wallow in that cheese room at Fourth Village. And if the sorbet was a good as the colors were pretty, it must have been amazing. Looks like a tasty, as well as a wonderful time.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      The sorbet was really refreshing and so delicious and I spent a bit of time in the cheese room but it’s FREEZING in there xx

  16. How fun and your lunches and desserts looked fabulous!!

  17.  Great to hear that you two had a wonderful time!  I’ve met several bloggers before on separate occasion.  I also didn’t expect to meet someone from internet – like online dating!  I’ve been fan of her series In My Kitchen (not as a participant but as a reader) and I must pay a visit her blog this time to say hello. 🙂

    • hotlyspiced says:

      I’ve never done on-line dating but yes, I think it’s similar in that you’re in a restaurant looking around for this person that you hope you recognise.

  18. All that sherbet looks delicious and refreshing!

  19. How great that you got to meet an online friend!!! And that you guys hit it off so well!!!

  20. kelsa2010 says:

    Sounds like you had a wonderful lunch.

  21. How nice virtual friend can physically meet up and what a wonderful lunch you had too 🙂

  22. Barbara at winos and foodies says:

    I have met quite a few of my blog friends . It is always a fun experience. The Fourth Village looks great. I will add it to my list when I visit Sydney next.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes Barbara, do visit. They specialise in wood-fired pizzas so if you’re a pizza fan it’s a great place to be. Other than the restaurant though are the great treats you can take away with you xx

  23. InTolerant Chef says:

    Oh what a lovely afternoon! I wish I’d been there too, Celia is so sweet and friendly and I’d love to meet you both in ‘real’ life!

  24. I want the cheese room, I mean like in my house!!! I am loving the deli, it seriously looks amazing….and packed full of happy treats:-) Hugs, Terra

  25. Oh, what a lovely day 🙂 I’m glad you were able to meet – it sounds like you get on far too well to have your interactions restrained to online form! Hopefully you can have many more such lunches in the future.

  26. It sounded like such a great day! I would love to meet bloggers, but haven’t had the chance yet, sounds like fun 🙂

  27. What a great occasion and wonderful looking venue (on my list to visit too now).  Can you let us know where those eggs end up?

  28. JasmyneTea says:

    Sounds fun! I haven’t had the chance to meet anyone yet, I’m always too busy for the meetups, but hopefully I’ll make it one day!

  29. I’ve not only met up with virtual friends, but have met them for the first time by staying at their places. Many of my dearest friends now are friends I’ve met through blogging, and invariably the ones I meet instantly soar into my heart even more than I’d anticipated. This life of ours can be wonderful, as you clearly experienced with Celia 🙂

  30. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    Celia is an absolute darling as I’m sure you are too Charlie! I’ve met with her too and she has become a dear friend 🙂 What a fun day!

  31. Lovely , how very exciting… I would like to meet you both one day and I also really want to visit Victoria in Mexico. What an incredible trip that would be!     

  32. Deeps NaughtyCurry says:

    what a fabulous time u guys had, its really nice that u got to meet a fellow blogger face to face, must have been thrilling 🙂 music paper bread never heard of it sounds wonderful!

  33. yellowsunset100 says:

    Ooo Blackboard signs!:)

  34. That’s so lovely you go to meet 🙂 Those dark chocolate clusters look to die for!

  35. Karen (Back Road Journal) says:

    What a fun time the two of you must have had. It sounds like the Fourth Village was the perfect place to meet. I’m sure I would leave with bags full of goodies.

  36. Dear Charlie,

    I think making real friends is a big bonus from blogging. Looks like you had a great time and that pork belly looks huge!

  37. Rachel - Executive Beader says:

    What a wonderful experience. You are so fortunate. I want a cheese room like that!

  38. Justasmidgen says:

    Is it ok to say I’m jealous! Green with envy.. I would have loved to have joined you two! Thank you for including us visually.. it made my day!!

  39. I love meeting up with bloggers 🙂 I met up with some Melbourne bloggers last week it was so much fun ~ and i was fortunate to meet some in HK too hehe it’s amazing the blogging world how it connects everyone! I would love to try out this place it looks lovely and OMG the cheese!
    I’ve been meaning to participate in the ‘In My Kitchen’ series, however, I haven’t had the chance yet 🙂

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Now you have your new apartment and once you finish that $2.00 challenge, give it a go. It’s a fun post to do xx

Trackbacks

  1. […] that was given to me by Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.  She gave it to me when we met for lunch a few weeks ago.  It is dark, fair trade 54% callubaut chocolate and has been perfect for this […]

  2. […] gathering dust, before he finally did the right thing and brought it home for me.  It comes from Fourth Village Providore and their website says they are ‘an award winning family owned food market and restaurant […]

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