Little Ramen Bar, Melbourne.

Ever since my first visit to Japan in March last year, Ramen and Gyoza rest inarguably at the pinnacle of my food pyramid, especially when it comes to a guaranteed hangover cure. Greasy, check. Hot, check. Salty, check. Comforting, check... see? This food group ticks boxes for days.

Little Ramen Bar is an easy call; date nights, friend-y outings, lunch with me, myself and I (this is how one justifies ordering for three). Location is supreme, the menu is simple, and it's intimate - seating maybe twenty-eight at a time - but the line goes fast so don't be discouraged. It's hard for patrons not to roll out the door once they've slurped up a bowl of miso that size.

#1

Date with a now ex. PM, so dinner. The place is a hive of activity, and even though the line is at least ten deep, we aren't waiting long. The waitress (those girls... just, yes.) has taken our order outside so, post-edamame (枝豆), things start arriving at our table with almost alarming speed once we're sat. I do the spicy Miso (sometimes I throw in more chilli oil, medium isn't too hectic here), with an added egg. We share a plate of Gyoza and we. are. done. Reasonable pricing means 'who pays on date night' awkwardness is somewhat alleviated. 

#2

Lunch with a bestie. The lunch rush is fine. I'm always done within 40 mins and I go all the time. We're not in such a hurry today, so take TLC time with our amalgamations. Gold star mention to the Gyozas... peppery, pan-fried parcels of pork dipped in soy, vinegar and chilli oil... Isa can't finish her broth, but I put away all but the chilli seeds in the bottom of my bowl. This place is 100% consistently good and a no-brainer, and I've never seen such enormous serves of Edemame.

On Perfumery.

pər-fyo͞o′mə-rē
noun
noun: perfumery

1. the action or business of producing or selling perfumes.

   "an oil used in perfumery"

   • a shop that sells perfumes.

     plural noun: perfumeries

     "a department store perfumery"

At some turn along my extended (and, I hope, mildly entertaining) blogging path, I apparently stumbled across the golden gem that is 'beginning any article you're not certain how to start with a blatantly copy-and-pasted definition section from Google define'. So that was mandatory, you do understand.

Before we begin - I'm no expert in fragrances, yet. I just recently landed a job in a department store as a 2IC who sells it. I've been there a month now and have worked out that it's pretty amusing listening to myself describe molecules to my customers and get the sale, without sounding like an utter omelette or dropping expletives in the process. Some of the descriptives out there would blow your mind, which is something I obviously hope to do in the near future.

So, in the name of personal development, I've decided to include the act of reviewing perfumes within this, my newest project, in order to expand my general knowledge of perfumery, vocab (in particular, adjectives and other descriptives), and the history and interesties behind your favourite, Saturday 'he's getting lucky tonight' eau de cologne that are important too. 

Lol. Enjoy, cunts.