Insights: Orla Mundy prepares to serve fans with another helping of her on-line opinions.
Kim Waters
A GEELONG nine-year-old blogger is creating a stir in Melbourne’s restaurant industry with her reviews of some of the city’s best venues.
Orla Mundy’s blog, The Big V, has surprised leading restaurateurs with observations like “the power of richness blasted into my tastebuds” and “a sweet, squishy and soft delight with crumbly vegetable stuffing”.
While most grade three students prefer spaghetti bolognaise or fast food, the chirpy Newtown blogger listed vegetable soups and vegetarian curry as her favourite foods.
“I’ve been blogging for about a year or so,” Orla said. “Mum and dad explained all about blogging to me at dinner one night and I was really into it.
“It’s all about being a vegetarian and reviewing restaurants and popular events.”
Orla said her blog had received attention from family, friends, restaurateurs and “random people” in cyberspace.
“Some people have gone to the restaurants I’ve suggested and I’ve had a lot of positive feedback.”
One of Orla’s fan posted on her blogsite: “This is the best website I’ve ever seen, bookmarked”.
Another said: “Orla, you are incredible! Your blog will now officially be my bible to live and dine by”.
Many readers expressed amazement at Orla’s maturity and taste for “interesting” cuisine.
“Just found your blog and as a year three teacher I have to say that you are an amazing young girl, what a gift,” a reader wrote.
Melbourne restaurants were equally generous in their praise of Orla’s quirky reviews.
Japanese-inspired restaurant Colonel Tan’s said: “We love your blog”.
Carlton’s Bande A Part Pizza Bar wrote: “Thank you for your wonderful pizza poem, it brought a smile to our faces”.
Orla was humble about the praise, saying she never expected so much attention.
“I never realised it would be as big as this.”
“It’s just a hobby for me and I love to do it but maybe one day it will be a career.”
Littered with quirky terms like “fantasmagorical” and cosmopolitan dishes such as “potato pizza with truffle oil”, the blog also reviewed popular Melbourne events and provided detailed updates on Orla’s pet chickens, Molly and Chicko.
“I usually do a blog entry every week or so but whenever I see a cool thing around Geelong or Melbourne I put it up there straight away,” she said.
