just a glimpse: 02/07/11

Sydney - Various holiday shots

We actually had lots of things to do in Sydney - events and exhibitions to go to as well as having some quiet and relaxing time in the hotel. We spent the best part of four days relaxing and having fun arriving in Sydney on Friday 28 January and getting back home on Monday 31 January, 2011.

It was a great little holiday.

I didn't take many photos at all, and in fact, just took my little pocket camera so I didn't have to carry the big one around with me.

The following are some various shots I took:

The Bridge

Opera House

Angela!

Opera House

The Bridge

Outdoor gambling :(

Queen Victoria Building

Monorail

Aria, Sydney - 30 January 2011

Absolutely stunning was the only way to describe our meal at Aria on the 28 January. It was so good that before the night was over Peter was already suggesting that we might like to go back again before we headed home for Melbourne.

I must say I was a bit reluctant to do so - who knows, might find somewhere else wonderful to go, might spoil our first night if the second meal does not live up to expectations.

Throwing caution to the wind - after all, Peter was paying, we headed back there for our final dinner of our short holiday.

We made the right decision.

View from the steps of the restaurant

Peter enjoying his starter

Peter's entree: Spanner crab meat with toasted quinoa, summer peas, garlic chips and foie gras with a foam atop

Peter with his main course - roasted breast of duck with cherries, green almonds and a star anise and ginger sauce

A close up of Peter's duck

Angela's main: roasted lamb fillet with confit belly, eggplant puree, tomato and basil fondue and a black olive sauce

Angela enjoying her main course

Angela's confit of lamb - this almost made me cry it was so good

Our side of tomato salad with toasted sourdough, olives, cucumber and basil - this equally almost made me cry it was sooooo good!!!

Enjoying our dinner

Angela's dessert: Valhora chocolate (Manjari) tempered with salted peanuts, golden raisins and a vanilla icecream

Peter's dessert: Pavlova with black cherries, tonka bean cream and a pistachio sorbet

Would I eat here again? YES!

East Ocean Restaurant - 30 January 2011

The East Ocean Restaurant is one of our all time favourite places to enjoy Chinese food - except for anywhere in Hong Kong of course. The Yum Cha is so different from having a dinner meal that whilst in Sydney we just HAD to experience both again! So, the morning after having Peking Duck for dinner we headed back again for Yum Cha.

To our surprise the trolley service is no more!!! Can you believe it????? And, no real explanation as to why.

I somehow suspect its an Occupational Health and Safety Issue - pushing around those heavily laden trolleys amongst crowds of people is not possibly the safest of things to do, particularly the ones that are mobile cooking stations.... but... it was all part of the experience!!!

Familiar though were the crowds which were still there even though we arrived at 10.30am.

Ordering was simple with a little card with numbered photos, and then a slip of paper that you marked up, and making a choice was just as difficult as ever.

We picked our favourites and had a wonderful Yum Cha experience.

Rice noodle rolls with shrimp

Cold roast pork

Pippies in black bean sauce

Salt and Pepper Crab

Pippies in front - Crab at the back!

By now, having consumed all this, along with generous amounts of green tea, we were satisfied, but, something was missing. I went to have a look at the kitchen and the live fish tanks, and whilst I was terribly tempted to order a plate of the roast duck, it was these little fellas that I really craved, so we ordered one more dish, and here it is:

Salt and Pepper Whitebait

If you are ever in Sydney and in need of a delicious Chinese meal, I'd recommend this place!

Sydney Hermes - 29 January 2011

On arriving in Sydney we caught the train from the airport to town. Coming out of the underground station the first thing we saw was the Sydney Hermes shop! I am certain it was a sign that we were going to have a great holiday!

Fortunately for me Peter doesn't mind me visiting Hermes. We arrived around midday and were looked after by a very nice and friendly sales assistant who was more than happy for me to wander around and try anything and everything my heart desired. It certainly was a fun shopping trip.

We left the store after an hour or two of playing with their delightful items away with a sweet little orange H box!

I love the pop of the orange H box!

Inside contained the most beautiful ring!

Passerelle

I think it goes perfectly with my watch

After our visit, and later that evening as we passed by the store I took a few photos of the goodies in their windows. Not the best of photos, but I think you will get the idea!