Green tea ice cream, curry puffs and hand washing delicates
We go high, we go low, and Great Northern Originals are still delicious.
Hello, it’s great to
see you again.
Editor – Phoebe Tully
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Annie may bet your bottom dollar she’ll see sun tomorrow, but for the past week, I wouldn’t.
After a week of almost-constant rain, I am soaking up some glorious sunshine and a 27C day. It finally is starting to feel like spring – six weeks delayed – with mornings hitting 20C and the hope (and slight disappointment) switching out your wardrobe brings.
Each year I like to make a little ceremony out of putting away my warmest woollens and bringing out my softest silks. I pour a glass of wine, and start to sort through six month’s worth of delayed maintenance – hems that need fixing, moth holes that have appeared, jumpers that need depilling. And then I open up my box of spring/summer clothes and start to swap things out.
A box full of your own clothes is something of a time capsule. A dress that seemed so flattering last year is now, obviously, an entirely wrong cut for your body. The memories brought back by a scarf you were gifted when finishing up a job. And with a pending move, there’s the logistics of clothes no longer being practical for different climates and lifestyles.
A box of clothes captures where you were just six months ago. I can’t wait to see where life is when it’s time for the cashmere again.
Scream for (green) ice cream.
I have a strong recollection of enjoying a perfectly round scoop of vibrant matcha ice cream at a little Japanese restaurant in Potts Point, but my friend insists it was in fact black sesame ice cream. Funny how our minds can change memories, even when they seem so certain.
As the weather warms, my mind has wandered to ice cream – preferably vibrant green ice cream made with just a few ingredients. You can buy matcha ice cream from the store, but I don’t think it’s ever as good.
As with everything simple, the quality of the ingredients matters here, especially the matcha. “Matcha” refers specifically to the finely ground powder of shade-grown tea leaves (meaning the leaves never encounter direct sunlight, which makes them a darker green). You’ll notice in your searches that there are three levels of matcha: ceremonial, premium and culinary grade. For the purpose of making ice cream, culinary grade is perfectly fine, even though yes, I did say that quality matters.
Some sources of good-quality matcha:
This Kenko Tea matcha ($) is non-GMO, gluten- and dairy-free, and tested for heavy metals, pesticide, and radiation exposure
This organic matcha ($) from Happy Matcha is organically grown in Uji, Kyoto and then imported directly to Australia
T2’s Hojicha ($) is a roasted green tea that is light on caffeine; Hojicha doesn’t have the same richness in colour or antioxidants, but is an evening-friendly alternative and delicious in its own way
Put a knot it in.
I’m not on TikTok, but if I was, I think I’d use it exclusively to watch women tie silk scarves in clever new ways. If that sounds strange, watch this and then come back to me.
To be utterly cliché about the whole situation, a silk scarf just has so many uses. Around your neck, of course, but also tied to a handbag/basket, around your wrist, as a belt, as a shawl, in your hair… it’s an essential item and spring feels like the perfect time to add a new one to the collection.
Some scarf designs I think are beautiful for spring:
This list couldn’t exist without a striped version ($$$), and this cream and black one from Le Scarf is dreamy. This classic, original version ($$$) is beautiful too.
This Etsy store has a huge range of mulberry silk scarves (mulberry being considered the best quality silk on the market) at a really accessible price point. Perfect for Christmas presents. This one ($) is very pretty, as is this one ($).
We also can’t ignore Hermés silk scarves, the cult favourite. Vestiaire Collective always has a good selection of both modern and vintage options, including this stunner ($$$$).
This vintage store has 80 scarves listed currently! I love this one ($).
Question: now it’s back to silks, lace and other delicate fabrics, what’s the best way to hand wash these items? Can I use the hand wash setting on my washing machine (please say yes)?
No.
Well, of course you can. Just please don’t tell me about it.
Beautiful fabrics such as silk, lace and cashmere should be bought with a long-term relationship in mind. You’ve gotta look after it like you want it to still be around in 10 years, because it could be.
If you own a lot of delicate fabrics, a steamer will become your best friend for getting out any wrinkles or creases, as well as just freshening up garments after light wear. Otherwise place a cloth or piece of baking paper between your iron and your delicates.
To hand wash delicate fabrics, make sure you do colours and darks separately and ensure you use a detergent suitable for the fabric type, such as this guy ($). Don’t just whack in some Napisan and hope for the best. And absolutely no bleach.
So let’s pretend you’re going to do this perfectly. You’ll place your garment in cold water with a delicates detergent. You’ll leave it to soak for no more than five minutes, and then you’ll swish it slowly and gently. Drain the tub, and rinse your garment with fresh water.
Extra points at this stage for using a fabric conditioner ($) to help keep the garment’s hydrated feel. Again, rinse well in cold water.
Ball the garment together to remove any excess moisture, but please don’t wring it out. Then lay it flat and roll it in a towel to absorb any lingering moisture. Lay it out flat to dry. Steam if needed.
Do | Take yourself on an op-shop hop to gather enough tea light vessels to light up your whole balcony/verandah/patio. Look for little glasses, small dishes, votive holders – anything you can place a simple tea light candle into.
MAKE | a platter of curry puffs with crisp, flaky pastry, then grab a six pack of boujie beer (or unboujie beer, that’s great too) and settle in for an easy, breezy movie night.
READ | I Capture The Castle – Dodie Smith
WATCH | In the Mood For Love (2000)
LISTEN | Saint Cloud – Waxahatchee