The morning of New Years Eve dawned cool and slightly misty, low 20s, hardly what you could call Sydney summer weather...but perfect for me
We made it to brekky at the Tree Hops restaurant near reception but the Bilby residents didn't quite make it Misty morning and we're locking up the lodge to go have our "Hot country breakfast" at Tree Hops restaurant
My selection from the small cold buffet. Swiss muesli with yoghurt, stewed prunes and fresh fruit for me...and a glass of orange and pineapple juice mixed together, toast and butter for later...nope, didn't get any Vegemite, altho the rest did. I don't mind it, but I doubt I'd ever crave Vegemite on buttered toast like some people
Hot breakfast from a selection of 3. This is bacon, eggs, sausage, tomato and mushrooms...a nice big fry up. The other two selections were pancakes with strawberries and maple syrup or a cheese omelette
We headed back to Rocky Road after brekky to wait for the rest...and feed any yard visitors with our leftover toast
A different wallaby from the previous day..smaller one, but hungry. He polished off 2 slices of toast on his own right in our backyard
At Bilby, Ray made his onw breakfast and had another visitor share brekky right on the patio
Jess was smart...she came over to ours to fix herself brekky
We headed off to Hunter Valley after everyone gathered...time for wine and cheese tasting and buying *rubs hands in glee*
Off to Hunter Valley and the wineries
We headed out late elevnish...a cool drive cos the sky was overcast (not very Sydney summer weather apparently but I wasn't complaining ). Two cars to fit 8 of us....and Jon mildly hungover driving
Traffic light conference...wineries first or food for Jon?
We stopped at a smaller one first...Wombat crossing. We weren't impressed cos there was a $4 tasting fee per person...not done apparently
But still...can take a photo, next to a lemon tree (too bad none of the lemons were ripe and yellow yet)
Then we did take pity on Jon and headed to the Gardens for some food..lunch for us, breakfast for him.
Waiting for food, so we snap pics
Chicken Schnitzel burger..salad on the side and a bowl of fries came after
Dig in...Jenny has the beef rissoles burger (good she said), Jon, scrambled eggs with two massively thick slices of toast and Jess, a Caesar salad (very yummy with lot's of anchovies...I had a taste too )
Food done, we had a bit of a walk around the little shops there
Giraffes, elephants and other knick knacks in the window
And this! How could we not go in for a look (and taste). Everything chocolate, including chocolate dessert pasta for sale, as well as sauces, nuts and freshly made fudge....so good
Fudge loot....a little taster pack with 6 different flavours as well as two full sizes cookies and cream and another type I can't remember
Then off to our next stop..Tempus Two for wine tasting and a visit to the Smelly Cheese shop
Tempus Two grounds
Walk into the Pavilion, past the fountain and the different restaurants to the wine tasting room
Copper labels for wines specially from Tempus Two
Wine tasting done...and we head to foodie heaven, the Smelly Cheese shop, right next door
Jase and Ray getting excited about blue cheese...really yums, and they got some for our cheeseboard later that night
Jess's actual chilli crab was much better, but we did end up getting an absolutely marvelous boozy duck pate, a few more types of cheese, crackers and some olives for starters and nibblies later in the night
Next was the McGuigan cellars...I liked this one..lovely wines...we each ended up getting some...Mine was a sparkling Chardonnay, since it was New Years, Jess and Jon got some sparkling Shiraz and another bottle to open after the "soon to be conceived" baby is born
Gag Specialty labels for the wine
Next up was Tulloch, but it was closed....Jess and I did go traipsing into the vineyard to get pics (and a taste ) of the grapes on the vine
So gorgeous no?
Last stop before heading back (we were all getting tired and it was close to 4 p.m, closing time for most of the wineries) was Warraroong Estate, where Ray and Jenn bought wine to take home
And the rest of us just goofed off
Resident dog... can't remember his name, but he has the best dogs life....Loads of open space to run around in..toys, a pond and regular visitors for pats and to play with
Guilda, Jenn, Ray and Jase tasting more wine
Jon's odd photo taking pose
And the result
All from Jon's camera. Nice no?
Green grapes for white wine at Warraroong...these I didn't taste
Ok, we're ready to head back to Eagle Reach... lot's of prep for NYE dinner...and Feisty the Crab and Co needed to be put to sleep in the freezer
Oh yeah, Wally came to the front door for a visit when we got back...teatime bread for him, courtesy of Jase
NYE- Girls in the kitchen, Feisty the Crab and party time
NYE dinner menu was - Chilli Crab@ Feisty and Friends - Salted Egg prawns - Thai beef salad - Green Salad - Fried mantou to mop up the delicious sauce - Potato fritatta (in case there weren't enough carbs for the hungry boys)
with Jess and me in the kitchen
and tortillas, guacamole, salsa and a wonderful cheeseboard by Guilda and Jenn
of course there was much wine, Gold Label whiskey and beer flowing all around as well
An amazing and delicous dinner
Jess cleaning, dismembering and chopping up Fiesty and friendswhile Jenn preps the cheeseboard and feeds us boozy duck pate and crackers
Ze prawns, halfway thru the cooking process
Tony comes around to see how things are going...not ready yet
After years and years of clubbing, partying and generally going wild for New Years ( well ok, not every year, but a lot of years since I started clubbing ), I've found myself looking for different, more chill out things to do the last couple of years. It just doesn't seem worth it to head to a crowded club and party like mad for new years, with loads of people you don't know very well
Quieter but no less enjoyable new years spent with closer friends and people you love seem to mean more when you usher in the new year and all the hope and promise it has.
Last year was a case in point...one of the best new years I've had in a long time...and quite unexpectedly, too, since I thought it'd be a slightly lonely one.
First, seafood dinner with Mum and someone dear to my heart, more food (special mention goes to the tray of yummy meatballs Yen made), drinks and lovely friends at Ching and Tze Yong's after, followed by the fireworks show on their balcony, accompanied by bubbly and a lot of laughter..and whiskey, cuddles and long conversations til dawn with someone wonderful after....
That was last year and I hadn't really thought about this new years with all the crazy year end work this new job (well, not new anymore I guess..it's just about a full year now).
Looking at all that's changed in 2009...I finally decided that this year should be different..should be about me being brave(r?) and just doing things I feel are right instead of analysing, overthinking and overworrying...so I bit the bullet and just went ahead...and here's hoping it bodes well for 2010
I headed out of Malaysia for New Years (which I don't normally do, for fear of missing something). It's a trip I've been thinking about and considering for months (yes, on top of all the crazy workload)
So far its been good, seeing and spending time with old friends and just slowing down the crazy pace I set myself at work and with life in KL. Just 2 days after stepping into Oz, I already felt myself unwinding, detaching and just going with the flow (and sleeping at 11 and waking up at 7...maybe its the time diff, but that's not right cos KL is 3 hours behind )
I have lot's of pics and stuff to write but let's just stick to New Years for now. It's been split into parts so I can load in the photos without it being super long..
Jess (we've been friends since college, which is something like 15 plus years) organised a trip away from Sydney City for us, for new years since no one really wanted to do the crazy party scene, with all the booze and other stuff involved
She booked us into Eagle Reach Wilderness Resort, which is in the upper Hunter Valley, about 3 hours drive from Sydney. It's pretty much lodges nestled in hilly Aussie bush with all the amenities you need while still being really close to nature. Totally gorgeous with breathtaking views. 8 of us headed up, so she booked 2 lodges within walking distance and we stayed for 4 days, from 30 Dec to 2 Jan. Each lodge had a fully equipped kitchen and the quintessential Aussie barbie. Pics from Day 1 here
On the highway out of Sydney in Jess and Jon's new car
Jess riding shotgun. I swear she looks the same now as she did in college
Tony and I got the backseat
After a quick Mackers stop along the highway, (which was quite different from KL btw. I had either a Mighty or Great Angus which is an angus beef burger topped with onion relish, some mixed greens I think and a lovely rasher of piggy bacon ), we were off....
We stopped first at Maitland, a town near Eagle Reach to get groceries from the Woolies there...fresh veg, bread, eggs, milk, cheese, crackers chips, drinks and everything else we needed for the 4 days, plus a couple of fishing rods and a pair of sneakers for Jon from the KMart nearby
And a little later, we stopped at Paterson, a smaller town/suburb at the local butcher (reco from Jase) to pick up all our meat for the barbie
Yes, it's really called Friendly Grocer and Butcher. We got loads of sausages, chicken wings, lamb ribs, lamb chops and steaks
We're getting closer to Eagle Reach.. houses were giving way to fields and meadows
Almost there, entrance at the bottom of the hill
Roos and Wallabies everywhere as we drove up to the reception to check in
We're here
Welcome bubbly for everyone
We look a little road weary...but happy
Tony doesn't drink champagne so he topped up my glass with his..super full as you can see
From reception to car park...pics while we wait for the smokers to finish up
Jess at Bilby Lodge..opening the midget door
Gorgeous view of the valley below
Jon chilling out on the Bilby patio after the long drive
Half were in Bilby and the rest of us were in the Rocky Road Lodge..named cos of the gravel driveway lined with beautiful, I'm not sure what they are called purple and white flowers
Rocky Road Lodge inside, and the HQ kitchen for the next 4 days
Back patio opens to the garden
And the most beautiful view
Barbie and more of the view..so wonderful, and lovely fresh, crisp, clean air
All of us, sans Jon chilling on a patio, can't remember which lodge it was. L-R Jenn, Ray, Tony, Gilda, Me, Jess and Jason
Jon trying to photograph a visiting wallaby
They're mostly quite tame and come up to you looking for food. Think we named this one Wally..he had a ripped ear so we knew it was him when he came back the next day
Rooms and attached bathrooms
Then on to dinner prep. What else but a barbie for the first night there . The girls put together the cheese board starter and the sides of salads and rosemary potatoes while Ray had barbie duties
Ray and Gilda
Smells wonderful. We had teriyaki soy marinated chicken wings and lamb chops with lemon and thyme the first night. Chicken wings marinated by the butcher and the lamb by Jess, with fresh herbs from her mother in law's garden
The spread, halfway thru..we were too hungry to snap pics before. Anyway, it was the lamb and chicken plus a greek salad, the rosemary potatoes and a little tub of store bought potato salad from Woolies, washed down with wine or beer..sooo satisfying
Chill out, snap pics, yak and drink after dinner
And the hot tub too (or spa tub..whatever you call it). There is one on most of the lodges..the water only gets to 34 degrees or so, but it's quite fun
Jess went in first
Followed by the rest of the girls, and Ray
The guys decided to stay with the whiskey and just watch us clowning around. L-R Jon, Jase and Tony
A lovely first night...tomorrow, Hunter Valley wineries and NYE celebrations
Christmas is all about food...and drinks and spending time with friends and family. While its been busier then usual for me this year end, Christmas celebrations are a must, including my annual tradition of home cooked Christmas Eve dinner with the family and a big, home cooked gathering of my nearest and dearest...and of course the tradition of dinner and pressies at darling Jason's house ( where I get my first proper turkey dinner of the year usually, cos I'm too tired to eat the one I cook myself )
This year, there were a couple more food escapades since a) I was working til Christmas Eve and b) I now work in the heart if KL City.
Here you go, my epicurean escapades over Christmas in pictures
Pre Christmas dinner with Kok Peng
Was at KLCC...think it was on the 23rd of Dec. A meet up, catch up and pick up last bits and pieces from Cold Storage session
Strangely enough, I was craving tom yam soup, so KP bought me dinner at Chakri Palace in KLCC ( afer we had a tea time snack at half 6, of pretzels and sausage rolls from Aunty Anne's )
A white Christmas tree in a thai restaurant
What to eat?
Two types of tomyam...one with coconut milk and seafood, the other clear, with chicken..both medium spicy
Yam Woon Sen...my favourite glass noodle and seafood salad. We had this with a serve of pineapple fried rice
Mango sticky rice dessert, KP's craving
We also each had a variation of red rubies (water chestnuts coated in jelly like red starch). Mine was served in a young coconut with coconut flesh and jackfruit. KP's in a bowl with fresh mango chunks..both good
We left stuffed to the gills, courtesy of 3 desserts
Christmas Eve Lunch
Was with Eddy, Sue Mue, Azura and Jeysie..a little treat since we were all working. We headed to TGIF at Pavilion, which I find not as good as the other brances but it was close by
Azura's BBQ beef ribs
Eddy's steak with fries and green beans with oven roasted tomatoes
My half and half JD beef ribs and fried shrimp, with buttered garlic broc
Sue Mue's grilled garlic lamb cutlets
Jeysie had the 3 for all...
Good lunch, little bit of last minute shopping, a few hours of work and we all headed home for the long Christmas weekend
Christmas Eve@ Home
Since it was just the 3 of us ( Mum, Ad and Me), we decided to keep Christmas Eve dinner simple (and easier on me, cos the next day was a super cookfest)
We had
Shrimp and avocado cocktail with ebikko (flying fish roe from the sashimi section of the supermarket)...which I love adding to this combo cos it adds a little extra dimension to both the taste and texture
Warm potato salad with green beans and onions, dressed with balsamic vineagar, wholegrain mustard, olive oil and a touch of sugar and salt
And a smoked ham we picked up when we went shopping for the frozen turkey
Adrian slicing the smoked ham for dinner..it was good I tell ya
Mmmm...ready for dinner
Not forgetting the wine. I got a nice Gerwutztraminer...light and semi sweet, cos Mum doesn't like dry wines, or anything too heavy
Christmas Day@ Home
Involved a full day in the kitchen for me, cookign for 20....nearest and dearest friends, plus spouses, kids and maids nowadays.
Tiring but oh so satisfying as usual. I love people enjoying my food
The gobbler, resting just out of the oven. 4.5 kgs this year
The spread, Salad, chicken pot pie, pork, apple and sage stuffing, the turkey and gravy, cranberry sauce, roats pork with apples, more warm potato salad, roast potatoes, tuna pasta with broc and cherry tomatoes, plus a cheeseboard and crudites with smoked salmon dip that I didn't snap a pic of
The music center...laptop plus speakers
My tree
Love Christmas, love my friends and Mummy too
Boxing Day@ Jase's
Another tradition...made better this year cos it's Jase's first in his new apartment. I dont' know how he did it cos he only moved in 3 weeks ago...but amazing as usual
The living room with the ever gorgeous retro silver tree
Kitchen and foyer
Nook from the kitchen to the dining
Lighting candles on the two makeshift dining tables
Ceiling decor at the dining area
Jase's sanctum
Altar
Guest room/ my room when I wanna stay over
Jase and me, sans flash to aviod shiny face
Mulled wine, a Jason Christmas special
Cheese platter arranged by moi
Yummy, creamy mushroom and olive pasta sauce
Ze turkey and stuffing...
My plate...I went for seconds
One more shot of the gorgeous tree
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas...now we wait for the the new year and hope for many more blessings and good things to come
Phoebe and Pohgs birthday@ Press Room & 21 Terrace -18 & 19 December 2009
Wonderful long weekend and wonderful birthday celebrations for my 2 girls...The girly circle has expanded over the years to include either plus ones or additional friends...but the core of it is still to mark special occasions together
Happy Birthday babes...Glad you guys liked the pressies. Hugs
Dinner @ Press Room A smaller group before the party session at 21. Press Room is the newest restaurant in BSC and right next to La Bod on the ground floor.
Food was so so...teething pains perhaps, service was the same..understaffed but not terrible. Will give it a month or two before I try it again.
Price wise, similar to 21 Kitchen and Bar in Changkat (am told the Terrace in BSC is slightly more expensive) so mains start at RM30 or so and starters from RM15 or 18 upwards
what to order?
Birthday Girl No. 2 Pohgs and Rach
L-R Me, Pohgs and Rach
Pohgs and her high school friend..sorry, forgot his name
Me, Birthday Girl No. 1 Phoebe and Sagar
Rach and Uncle Su
Starter platter; smoked salmon and blinis, oven dried tomato bruschetta, mushrooms stuffed with duck rilettes and wagyu carpaccio
Another starter, king prawn something or other
Foie Gras with oven roasted parsnips
Escargot and crayfish salad
Pohgs and her dinner. She had the duck confit
Phoebe and Me..happy cos we have food
Sagar and his roast spring chicken
Sue Mue had the braised wagyu beef cheek with some kinda risotto. Nice, full bodied and good...but kinda overfilling by the time you're almost done
Pohgs friend had the vegetarian option. Basil and asparagus risotto with a drizzle of balsamic. Not bad but I prefer the one from 21 Kitchen and Bar (the KL one)...then again, I'm biased, cos I love that particular risotto from 21
Phoebe and Eddy both had the lamb cutlet. Big portion...
Mine was pan fried duckling breast with more of the oven roasted parsnips. Not bad...but again, a bit rich and too much towards the end. Maybe cos we had starters....
Drinks @ 21 Terrace
The lift leading to this is just outside Chilis and goes directlyto the 3rd floor. It opens to the entrance of 21 and further inside I spied a water feature and House and Co. ( which warrants exploring another day )
Birthday cake in a bowl and shared around. My hand looks wierd holding the bowl
My first Grey Christmas party. Different from the Saatchi ones...Maybe cos it's my first year and its a different place with different people or I'm just over all this sort of thing (right..... )
It wasn't too bad, except that there was a food wipe-out and no refills by 9 p.m ...meaning i had a couple of bites someone fed me, swiped directly from the baine maries and that's it..think it was 3 bites of rice with leftover curry, a bit of some odd pasta and a strangely sweet baked potatoe wedge.
On the positive...I won an iPod nano in the lucky draw (to replace the one nicked from my n place)...
Pics here
We each have a t-shirt with this printed on the front. Baby tee for girls, regular for guys..black, but of course. This I like and would wear ( it's a little snug around the boobies tho...oh well, I shouldn't complain right? )
Secret Santa soddof...random with no names. Just pick one
Designers plus
L-R Darian, Veronica, Surya and Charlene
L-R Zain...more hip hop then rock, Azura and Irene
Rockstars!
L-R Mii Shuen, Ray and Veronica rock on!
Ashton surrounded by girls, as usual
Emo rockstar Eric, the Account Manager of the Year...and with Ashton and Jeysie
With his "other" boss Lina
Elaine and Sagar
Me with Daryl the DiGi Client and ex-party buddy from waay back
Buddy and EuJin..the real rockstar who didn't look rockstar at all that night
L-R Sagar, Daryl, MamaLing and Darry
L-R Leslie, Charu, Lina and Kesh
A Great start to the year end ...One last pic before the end of this post:
Faizal from DiGi @ the Naga Christmas do the next day. Showing some love to the balloons that kept flocking to him from the ceiling...I kid you not
