02_01_2011 – Sydney beaches

On our trip to Sydney we had visits to Bondi, Coogee, Manly, Palm Beach (Summer Bay), Whale Beach, North Narrabeen and Cronulla.

Everywhere was so busy, don’t know how Sydney-siders do it.

31_12_2010 – We got ENGAGED!!!

After a beautiful dinner at Rockpool (see earlier post) and the biggest fireworks show in the Southern Hemisphere, I got down on one knee in the park and asked Kiri – the love of my life – to marry me.

She said yes

31_12_2010 – Sydney NYE….. Rockpool Bar & Grill

Tonight we had booked dinner at Rockpool Bar and Grill.  We knew Sydney was going to be super busy because of this special occasion (nye) so we went into Star City early in the hope of at least knowing we could get a cab and would be in the CBD so if we had to walk we were at least very close.

There was party spirit everywhere, as you can tell by Kiri’s hat.  We got a cab quite easily from Star City but as soon as we crossed from Darling Harbour into the CBD the traffic went to a standstill and the traffic blocks were in full swing.  We got out of the cab and walked up an eerie main street of Sydney with no cars.

When we got to Rockpool, it was not as busy as I expected – but we were there relatively early: 7pm.  We were seated quickly and some sparkling water appear in seconds.  As Kiri and I had checked the menu quite regularly in the preceding days, most of it came as no surprise…. Except one dish.

We ordered Neil’s signature “Four Raw Tastes of the Sea” and WA marron salad with avocado, cucumber, almonds and citrus dressing.  The marron salad was so good we couldn’t believe it.

For mains we started with John Dory on the charcoal grill.  The fish was served with a micro herb salad and aioli.  The fish was cooked to perfection.

For the main “main”, we had the Cape Grim rib.  Rockpool dry ages their beef and then cooks it over the charcoal.  The beef arrives to your table sliced but together.  Condiments are offered also (bernaise, house barbecue sauce, horseradish, etc…).  Needless to say the beef was cooked professionally.

For sides we had the famous “Mac n Cheese” and wood-fired broccolini.  We ordered too much for the two of us but gorged as much as we could.  The meal was insanely good.

For dessert Kiri ordered the crème caramel which was absolutely delicious.  Service all night was outstanding.  The sommeliers were very accommodating and extremely knowledgeable (please try the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier if you ever get a chance).

Read on ….

30_12_2010 – Spice Temple

Dinner at Spice Temple was amazing.  After much agonising we ordered the banquet.

Everything was great and the value is astonishing.  If you are in Sydney, Spice Temple is a no-brainer.

Sept 22 and 23 2009 – Guild of Master Sommeliers, Sydney

Held at (nowhere less than) The Hilton, we rocked up at 8am Tuesday morning for the first tasting session of many to come. We were informed that we were responsible for tasting, explaining, predicting and concluding where the wine was from, what vintage it was, the varietal and the quality…. Needless to say, that was not an easy task considering the room full of wine professionals.

First up, 2 whites and 2 reds – the format that would continue throughout. The first wine was quite obviously a chardonnay in the Chablis style, however, the boss called that it was a Sancerre from Loire Valley (a Sauvignon Blanc). After being challenged and looking back at the notes, it was called a Chablis and people moved on. The first wine to to be tasted by the public was a NZ (Marlborough) Sauvignon Blanc and the participants had no problem identifying the wine. The next reds were a bit of a challenge but most people described the wine appropriately.

Over the course of time, we sampled the following:

• Viognier
• Pinot Gris
• Pinot Noir
• Bordeaux
• Malbec
• Burgundy
• Chateauneuf du-papes
• Zinfandel (Zin)
• Shiraz
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Sangiovese (Chianti Classico)
• Tempranillo (Rioja)
• Albarino
• many more….

After all the tastings we were subjected to an examination. I just passed and walked away with a Level 1 certificate.

I had a few good nights in Sydney but I will tell that story in another blog entry…

Greg

22_09_09 – Rockpool Bar, Spice Temple, Sydney

I met up with one of my friends, having just finished a snow season in Jindabyne, he was on his way back to either the Sunshine Coast or Perth. Jarmin took my old job at Hans Oversnow driving the snow cats for the ’09 season.

We had a late lunch at Lowenbrau Beer House near the rocks because we had a late dinner res at Neil Perry’s Spice Temple. We got suited up and headed into Rockpool Bar and Grill for a few drinks beforehand. We ordered a few glasses of white wine off the Bar’s very well balanced and excellent looking wine-by-the-glass list. This place is also well known for its massive and award-winningly good wine list.

Whilst having a sip of my ’07 Vouvray, Neil Perry walked into the bar area and came over to say hi. I had a quick chat with him before he was called back to the kitchen.

Downstairs, a few minutes later, we checked into Spice Temple.  The interior is really amazing.  After a struggle trying to pick something from the menu, we decided the best thing was to go with the banquet.

• Cabbage and radish pickle
• Cucumber with smashed garlic
• Silken tofu and preserved egg with soy chilli dressing
• Shredded lamb shoulder with salt chilli
• Fried squid with five spice and dark chilli paste
• Fish drowned in heaven facing chillies and Sichuan peppercorns (Leatherjacket Sichuan style)
• Three shot chicken (beer, chilli oil, soy)
• Stir-fried David Blackmore’s wagyu brisket with baby eggplants and chilli
• Broccolini with oyster sauce
• Steamed rice
• Orange granita

And it was all only $69/person!!!

It was excellent, highly recommended.

Sun 12_04_09 – Yum Cha, Marigold & Tapas, CBD streetstyle

Arriving at Marigold – a Sydney yum cha institution – at about 1030am we were seated straight in to a table on the 5^th floor.  Half an hour later there was a 20min wait to get into the elevator, let alone get a table.

 

Marigold runs a pretty tight ship, staff know what they’re doing and the food just keeps rolling around.  We ordered all the classics plus a few new tasters and drunk a heap of chinese tea – a good reason to go to yum cha in the first place.  Speaking of reasonable, it worked out about $22/person.

 

The girls went shopping in the Paddy’s Market area.  We had some bad news with the fact that our favourite bar – The Covent Hotel – was closed for renovations.  After walking around dazed and confused for a bit, we decided to head to the Powerhouse Museum to check out the travelling Star Wars exhibit. 

 

After having our photo taken with Chewbacca and Yoda, we found a bar in Dixon St named Golden Palace Hotel.  We waited there til the girls were finished and headed up towards Kent St and found a bustling Spanish precinct along Liverpool St.  We had some tapas alfresco and the girls enjoyed some sangria.

 

A nice sunset walk along Darling Harbour and we were back at the casino and pretty spent.

Sat 11_04_09 – AJC Derby Day, Royal Randwick

We arrived at Royal Randwick at approximately 11am, in time for the first race at 11.50.  There was, as usual, a lot of people in attendance and we had to queue up for tickets.  The betting ring was really busy even when we first arrived, so we placed a quick bet on the first and scouted out a position to set up for the day.

 

After not much luck finding a place, we headed over to the Octagonal Bar.  Clif and Jade went to the 5^th floor of the QEII stand and hit the jackpot.  Before heading up, Angie and I ran into Caloundra trainer Mick Mair who was there with his star sprinter Swiss Ace.  Mick had flown down that morning for the race and was heading off straight after the race on a 6pm flight.

 

The fifth floor must be a pretty well kept secret.  It was quite hot and muggy on course, but the air-con was perfect up there.  Drink lines were reasonable and you could get a bet on without lining up for ages.  On top of all that, there was an excellent view of the track.

 

I made two big each way bets.  Placing a good each way bet (dividend $5.00 or higher) means that if you don’t win but get second or third you get your money back.  But if you win, you get your money back plus the winnings.  Guess what?  Both of my bets got fourth.  =$0

 

The AJC Derby: Roman Emperor, Harris Tweed, Predatory Pricer (Sousa, my bet)

The Galaxy:  Nicconi, Danleigh, Gold Trail (Swiss Ace, my bet)

 

We caught the courtesy bus back to central station.  In Sydney the public transport for big events has always been really good in my experience.  Walking off the track and straight into a free bus sounds good to me.

 

That night we had dinner at Star City’s Lotus Pond.  Highlights were the Peking Duck promotion, where all diners were served a duck pancake, san choi bau and a duck broth as a complimentary starter.  The Hot and Sour Soup was also very good.  My XO Chilli Squid was a bit tough but every one else’s was fine.  On the way out we saw Jim Cassidy leaving at the same time.  He must have been celebrating his Group 1 win that day aboard Bart Cummings trained Roman Emperor in the Australia Derby.

 

How cool did Bart Cummings look during his interview after the Derby?

Fri 10_04_09a – Recuperation

To say all enjoyed a quiet day is probably an understatement.  Room service for lunch (afternoon lunch) says enough.

Thu 9_04_09 – Sydney, Trance Energy

Arrived about 3pm after a delayed flight from Brisbane and were lucky enough to jump straight into a cab to Star City – our accommodation for the stay.  Kiri and I had some time to spare, as Clif and Jade were on a later flight.  Clif was on the same flight as my sister and he scammed a lift in with them.  In the meantime we got used to the casino, read: played pokies and ordered some drinks. Had a quick dinner at Sushi Star which was quite forgettable and went back to the room.

 

The accommodation at Star City is really good, it’s expensive but it’s good.  The rooms are really well appointed and our particular floor was finished with a really nice wood and brown colour.  In-room internet is still bloody expensive – something I’ve never really understood compared with other countries.

 

Off to trance energy at about 11.45pm, the cab we were in got a clear run through the city straight to the Hordern Pavillion.  The main room is quite huge and there was a good sound quality to go with the impressive lighting.  The bars were quite easy to deal with and the drinks were standard festival price ($9 = can).

 

Judge Jules – the main act we were there to see – was starting at 2am.  Before him we caught Marco V and Sander van Doorn (both from Holland).  SVD was convincingly better than Marco V and he set the scene well for Jules.  Jules played a very standard, well executed festival trance set.  The crowd was really going bananas.  He played an old favourite of mine that has been mashed-up with a more recent trance tune, the resultant tune is called Cherry Whip.  You could probably look it up on youtube if you’re interested.

 

Called a cab at about 3.40am and it arrived about 10 minutes later amazingly.  Back to the casino for a few games and a bit of a carry-on…