Bloggles

30.05.10 – Sydney Fish Markets

We finally made it! After planning to have lunch at the Sydney Fish Markets but never remembering when the time came around to decide where to go and what to do. I was a bit disappointed, though, because we didn’t see any of the action that you would expect down at the fish markets. The place was tiny and filled with retail shops. Whhhheeeeereee oh wheeeeeere were the real markets, yo? Where people scream prices at each other and haggle?! And fresh seafood is thrown all over the place?! Maybe we were in the wrong area… or maybe a few hours too late!

Looks a bit like he stole it, doesn’t it? lol.

Lobster mornay platter. Can’t remember what was on there. I think oysters – kilpatrick and mornay, octopus, prawns, calamari and chips. The abalone and scallop were extra.

This is where we ate – The Fish Market Cafe.

ZOMG! ALASKAN KING CRAB… legs!

The (_I_)head is an avid fan of The Deadliest Catch and was excited to see what the men of the show put their lives at risk to bring back. They were huuuuuuuuge! Crab legs bigger than my head!

Chocolate dipped strawberries. I am a sucker for these! You should’ve seen my eyes roll into the back of my head when I was indulgently devouring a strawberry kebab at the Royal Easter Show. SO. GOOD. I didn’t go to the Easter Show this day but I fondly think back to it when chocolate dipped strawberries come to mind :Q___

Big birds! (Seagulls for comparison)

It would be cool to see one of these with their beaks full like in the cartoons! These pelicans are lucky they’re hanging around the fish markets! Can’t say the same for their mates in the Gulf of Mexico at the moment, though. Poor bastards

14.03.10 – Taste Festival 2010

Yummmmmmmm! I was looking forward to this event for some time and was glad when it finally rolled around. We attended the extended lunch time session on the last day which worked out well for us as the rainy weather from the days prior had cleared up. We made sure we were there ready to be let in at noon which was great because it was quite a bit more crowded by the time we left at 2 – 2:30pm. I don’t have snaps of all the things we ate (oh lawd, there was just too much excitement!) but we did manage to exercise a bit of restraint to capture a few pictures

Sydney rock oysters with Vietnamese dressing, crispy shallot and baby coriander – Assiette

Saddle of Suckling Pig with Garden Peas and Smoked Bacon Jus – Restaurant Balzac
I  have never been so willing to eat peas in my life… I think this might have had something to do with  the Smoked Bacon Jus that they were swimming around in

Chilled Vichyssoise, Salmon Caviar, Hawkesbury River Oyster Beignet – Berowra Waters Inn
Yummm! I love anything creamy (huge veloute fan, here!) so this creamy foam was an instant hit with me. I had no idea what vichyssoise or a beignet was but I knew I had to have this when I saw it floating around. I have always wanted to head to Berowra Waters and this just confirmed it.

Organic Grass Fed Wagyu Beef Burger – Plan B
Now, you’re probably wondering why I am posting this blurry, unfocused photo. It is because, my friends, this is how it appears in my memory. Quite frankly it wasn’t that special but maybe I’m being harsh in my judgement because…

… of the freaking HAIR I found sticking out of the pattie! I wanted to get a shot of this but David compulsively yanked it out before I got the chance. Needless to say, I was pretty turned off which is a shame because we have always wanted to eat at Becasse/Plan B. You sort of have higher standards for restaurants of this calibre. I’m sure though, that this was just a one off…

The outdoor dining and entertainment area

I spotted a pirate! Arrrr!

I  have to make a mention of the following dishes I didn’t document because they were damned good!

• Waygu Beef Daube with Paris Mash (Guillaume at Bennelong). Mmmm, didn’t even need a knife because the meat fell apart with just the prod of my spork!
• Vanilla panna cotta with lavendar honey and fresh pomegranate aka the booby pannacotta (Jonah’s at Whale Beach). Awesome. The combo of flavours was fantastic! I can’t even describe it.

We had a few ‘Crowns’ (festival currency) left so I decided to buy a cocktail with it. Man, I forget what it was – rum of some sort with pomegranate and lime but BOY did it pack a punch. I couldn’t finish it. The few sips I had, I’m pretty sure, would have burnt away my stomach lining if I hadn’t just eaten so much food throughout the day, haha.

10.04.10 – Anniversary Dinner – Guillaume at Bennelong

The (_I_)head and I went out to a fancy dinner to celebrate our 4th anniversary. Note the donning of ‘cheesey’ (i.e. BAWLER) accessories, lol. We had to make sure we ‘fit in’, so we spruced up our outfits with little details, (although this did not help as much as we expected because we soon discovered that we needed a few years on us if we were to truly blend in ). Dinner started at 8:30 and we weren’t out of there until 10:30pm. I was sooo knackered! It was quite a contrast from the bustle of the Royal Easter Show, where we had spent the day earlier.

Check out the cool architecture in the background! I can’t say I have dined anywhere like this before. I guess there isn’t any other place quite like the Sydney Opera House! It was really nice, despite being initially seated at one of the less desirable tables at the back.. on the side. But that’s ok, we were moved to the front where we could admire the beautiful view after some of the other diners left.

ze menu!

Our Amuse Bouche. I think it was foie gras and gingerbread off the top of my head.
I can handle foie gras in small amounts but I think this was just too much.

I made the rookie mistake of filling up on the bread ): There was a selection of three varieties and of course, I had to make sure I had tried all of them while I was there!

YELLOWFIN TUNA basil infused with soy and mustard seed vinaigrette

ROYALE OF ASPARAGUS with spanner crab and truffle
This was amazing! I hadn’t ever tasted anything like it before. I guess this is where the dollars go. I’ve found that with fine dining, you also pay for the innovation, not just the ingredients. I can’t think of anywhere else I could get a Royale of Asparagus if I felt like it. God forbid I ever get a craving for something like this, lol.

MORETON BAY BUGS steamed and served with Sterling caviar and cauliflower veloute
Again with the innovation and creativity. From reading the menu, I did not expect the dish to come out the way it did. Oops, I could have gotten a better picture, it just looks like custard in this shot

BLUE EYE TREVALLA roasted on an étuve of baby Autumn vegetables

GRIMAUD DUCK roasted breast with braised endive, leg confit croquette, sweet potato and foie gras puree with a fig jus

DEBONED RIB EYE OF TAJIMA WAGYU BEEF (500 day grain fed, F1 marble grade 9+) with a tombé of field mushrooms, baby spinach, confit of shallot, merlot sauce. Paris mash on the side.
Delicioussss! The merlot sauce added such a complexity to the dish. I wish I had more room at this stage for another dollop of smooth, creamy, paris mash. *Sigh* By now it was about 10 o’clock and I was just absolutely knackered from spending the day at the Easter Show. I have to admit, I struggled through this despite how lovely it was. I wish it came out before the duck!

SOUP OF SEASONAL FRUIT with lime marshmallows and mango sorbet

SELECTION OF BERRIES with lemon verbena cream, meringue and a trio of raspberries

Mmm, nomz!

22.01.10 – Big Day Out

We battled it out with the heat to attend our first music festival together. While it wasn’t mine, it was a first for all the boys and for Nghi (but she isn’t really a stranger to these events). Glad we made it this time after our failed attempt last year. Muse was awesome and so was Calvin Harris (for the 10 mintues of his set that we actually endured the boiler Room for. It was just way too stuffy in there). I was surprised at how many fans Dizzee Rascal actually has. Wow, he packed out that stadium like a mother fucker. Here’s some proof that we went Grape Tropical Sno snow cones saved my life!

It was so hottttt. We spent alot of time trying to stay cool in the shade during the day.

Nghi and TN. You know, chillin’.

Paul Tang a.k.a Dumpster Boy!

Why, hello there! Nghi and I could spot the boys assuming their positions in the mosh while we chilled out in the grand stand.

Chilling out in said grand stand. More like sweating it out, actaully. SO. FOCKING. HOT.

The crowd getting ready to see Dizeee Rascal perform. Wow, it sure filled up!

Here we are waiting for Muse to come on. Powderfinger’s set seemed to last aaaaaaggges. LOL @ seedy Will & TN.

Yes, we were sitting amongst all that rubbish. And again, LOL @ bad ass Will.

Our first sweaty, dirty festival together. I was shiny with a slick of sweat all day. Groossssss. You don’t know how satisfying it was to shower that night. OHHHHH LAWWWD! CLEANLINESS!

09.01.09 – Annual Camping trip at Tuncurry – Day 1

Christmas came around and it went away and we suddenly found ourselves in January which meant it was time for our annual camping trip! These little escapades started with our trip to The Entrance last year and it seems to be turning into a tradition of sorts. It was nice to kick back and relax but only after putting in the hard yards of setting up. We had to relocate because it wasn’t long before some locals approached us to tell us we were in the middle of a flooding cause way. Oops. Good thing we moved though, because our first site was plagued by mozzies and it ended up raining on our last day! That would have been interesting. Anyway, here are the first round of photos.

Rob with the Tang Mobiles all packed with our gear. Thank you Mr & Mrs Tang! Please don’t hesitate to go on holidays again, hehe.

Setting up at our first site

Ahh, Westcoast. What camping trip would be complete without a white wine cooler with fruit flavours?

I have a hideous case of out-of-control baby hair at the moment. Had to cover it up with Thien’s hat.

This is what happens after enough bottles of Westcoast, haha.

… and eventually this!

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHEHEHHEHEHEHE.  Snail trail, anyone?

Springing into action to seize the opportunity~!

It seems no nail polish can save these Cambodian feet…