I regularly attend the Asiana Cooking classes. This is in an effort to become somewhat of a domestic goddess and be able to cook without the aid of a can or jar. So far my attempts without the backup support of two highly trained professionals have proven that I will probably never master the art.

We have now developed quite a cool routine of:

• Purchasing cheap wine
• Watching the cooking demo
• Racing each other to see who can finish first
• Compare our variations on the recipe (burnt bits, raw bits, extra bits, hot bits etc)
• Eat and drink waaay too much
• Head to the Hawthorn Lounge to partake in some marshmallows by the fire and a NEW development is Car playing (I have proven to be quite the card shark last night)
• New development 2. Is leaving the Hawthorn Lounge with the intent on going home, but instead winding up at another bar

But that is beside the point. The point is actually that both cooking class and the Hawthorn Lounge are what Seth Godin would call Purple Cows.

I have always wanted to open a bar because I think they are kind of done wrong. There is never anything unique about them, which is why down Wellingtons main drag, they open up and shut down with such frightening regularity and generally you don’t even notice a new bar in the place of the old one. They are same same.

The Hawthorn Lounge Changes this. It’s like stepping back into the early 1900’s, the bar tenders wear cute waistcoats, they have a big open fire and like 4 leather couches and card tables. You grab a yummy cocktail and a pack (or three) of cards and make yourself at home… Then dash to the fire every few minutes to roast some more free marshmallows. It’s so soothing and cosy and hidden away. Despite the fact it is kind of out of the way, the place is always jam packed (but comfortably packed because they don’t add more seating so you kinda just have to leave when you arrive and it’s full).

Most people I know bemoan the fact the only thing to DO in winter is go to a bar and drink away the dismal weather sorrows. Cooking class provides a cool other option. For $35 you get your food prepared for you, dishes done and a place to learn something new (like for example, if you go to a restaurant with us that offers Roti now, you’ll here ‘Oh my goodness, they are charging for this, I KNOW how to MAKE IT’ in loud obnoxious voices). It’s kind of quirky and a cool activity (I got tickets for Brooke and Ben for their engagement present). They are so popular that the classes fill up about 5 minutes after they are posted.

It’s cool to see such innovation on mundane themes.

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