My husband and I were frequent visitors to The Ugly Duck Out on a recent holiday on Tassie's East Coast. The restaurant/cafe is the ideal place for locavores - actually, the whole island is the ideal place for locavores. It's fun to read the TUDO menu and recognise the names of all the farms and wineries you have seen on your travels.

During our stay in Swansea, we had Sunday breakfast and a Friday dinner at TUDO, as well as dropping in occasionally for tea, coffee and ice-cream. All of our food was wonderful and we could taste the difference that extra-fresh ingredients make.

I would highly recommend TUDO if you are staying nearby.

My husband and I like to have a manicure every two weeks or so, and thought we'd try the Professionail Salon in Belconnen Mall. Unfortunately, our first visit will also be our last.

When we arrived, I explained quite clearly to the young woman on the front counter that we each wanted a manicure. We were shown to two chairs, side by side, and a manicurist started on my manicure. My husband and I weren't clear on whether my manicurist was going to give him a manicure next, or whether we should expect a second manicurist to serve him. After a while, my manicurist asked my husband whether he would like to wait in one of the pedicure chairs. When I explained, for the second time, that we both wanted a manicure, she retrieved the first young woman from the back room. She appeared to be very unwilling to give my husband a manicure, so it was a less than pleasant experience for everyone.

As well, my manicurist felt it necessary to point out the sun damage on the back of my hand. When I didn't respond, she repeated her action!

I wouldn't recommend this salon to anyone.

This is the ideal place for a pit-stop on the way to the snow. The staff are very friendly, and always serve the coffee with a little chocolate, which is a nice touch.

They also sell a small range of home-style jams and preserves.

We always plan our trips to and from the snow around lunch/brunch at The Lott, and we have never been disappointed.

All the bread is delicious and freshly baked, the service is friendly, there are plenty of papers to read - and if you're lucky you may be able to snag a spot by the open fire. The hearty breakfasts are particularly good.

The Lott also sells a small range of kitchenware, unusual cookbooks, and collectibles; the last time we visited I was tempted to pick up a few vintage American milk bottles.

We have been relying on Duncan's Plumbing Service for many years. They are always professional and courteous, and do an excellent job. If we have a two-man job (for example, drain clearing), they are happy to fix the odd leaky tap while they are here.

Highly recommended!

Tosolini's is good for a casual Italian meal, whether dining with a large or small group. The quality of both the food and service tends to be uneven; I have had some great meals there, but on other occasions the food has been a little disappointing.

The last time I visited Tosolini's, I booked lunch for two, but needed to change the booking to another day. When we arrived, the staff had no record of our booking. However, they fitted us in, and we had a very enjoyable and inexpensive meal.

We often visit the original Raw Sugar Cafe in the Canberra Centre, so when we saw that Raw Sugar had opened in a new location, we thought we should support them too.

When we visited recently for an early lunch, we were told that neither the blackboard specials, nor the offerings on the menu were available, because "there's none left". As it was barely noon, we found this very odd.

When we called in for breakfast this morning, we were told that the Organic Fruit & Nut Toast (a favourite at the original location) was unavailable. Not only that, but the waitress messed up my tea order.

Now we know why Raw Sugar 2 never seems to have many customers!

I was pleasantly surprised when I popped into this tiny cafe in the Canberra Centre. The service was excellent, the coffee was great, and my friand was fresh and delicious.

I also liked the cute signs about coffee dotted around. This is a great place for a quick pick-me-up!

The Hyatt is "the" place for a celebratory drink; the 1930s decor adds a touch of elegance, the service is prompt and professional, and the people-watching is excellent too.

I would also recommend the buffet-style breakfasts, famous for the omelette chef who will whip up a delicious dish while you wait.

Cream is one of those places which looks great as you pass by - everyone dining outside looks as though they're having a wonderful time.

Inside, however, was another story. The acoustics are poor; my husband and I had to practically shout at each other, despite being jammed into a very small table. The waitress brought my husband the wrong dish, and we had the feeling of being rushed to finish our meal and leave.

Overall, I can't understand why Cream is so popular.