Bistro Moncur + Logan Wines

The gorgeous Hannah & Peter Logan hosted a fantastic night at The Terrace at Bistro Moncur. We were treated to Logan's amazing wines with each of our five courses (smoked salmon / chicken boudin blanc, confit duck, cheese, blancmange) which were an absolute pleasure to drink. And to top it all off, I won this gorgeous cookbook written by a brilliant chef with stunning handwriting!

Mad Hatter High Tea - Part II

'Mad Hatters' / tiny hats in glass domes / champagne + cupcakes / Queen of Hearts / chefs cooking eggs / jelly, hats + cakes / icy water / cupcakes / clocks / white & gold china + jelly

Mad Hatter High Tea - Part I

I recently attended The Country Trader's 'Mad Hatters High Tea' in their gorgeous showroom. With baby rabbits and ducklings in hay filled armoires, goats in their courtyard, piglets and sheep roaming about, chefs making scrambled eggs on demand, troughs of jewel-coloured jellies, icy zinc buckets of mineral water and flutes of Moet. The theme ran through the dress of the guests, the cupcakes, the roaming characters, the towering cakes and the playing cards that littered the floor.

Taste of Sydney

Sydney tasters & love cake w/cinnamon cream (Flying Fish)

Fig & lemon baklava (Civic Dining) & Flower display (Longrain)

The most fabulous of Sydney's restaurants showed off their talents in the stunning weather during Taste of Sydney in Centennial Park. The calibre of restaurants was first class and their menus were inspiring...to think they can produce these meals from the back of a tent in the scorching heat. According to my eating team of friends, the Sri Lankan Snapper curry with basmati rice and coconut sambal (Flying Fish) and Eton Mess with summer berries (Becasse) were highlights.

I handed over my crowns for:

1. Yamba prawns, peanuts, lime, ginger, roasted coconut, chilli and caramel on betel leaves (Sailors Thai);
2. Slow Cooked Petuna Ocean Trout, Cauliflower Puree, Kalamata Olive Tapenade (Berowra Waters Inn); and
3. Fig & Lemon Baklava (Civic Dining)

All of which were truly stunning taste sensations.

World's Longest Lunch - Melbourne

On a beautiful sunny day along the banks of the Yarra we dined under the shade of Southbank's trees for the Italian themed World's Longest Lunch. As one of 1200 people on the 400m table, the organisers did a fantastic job providing a constant flow of wine and food.

To start: Champagne, mini barrels with Convent Bakery bread, jars of roasted peppers in olive oil, marinated artichokes and tomato and mozzarella salad greeted us on arrival.

Entree: Prosciutto and melon with roasted asparagus, zucchini, pumpkin and rocket

Main: Beef with mushrooms and broccolini

Dessert: Mini cakes sandwiched with cream and topped with an amaretto cookie and espresso for all

Gourmet Traveller Readers Dinner - Spice Temple

MENU:
cabbage and radish pickle

cucumber with smashed garlic

steamed shredded chicken with garlic and spring onion oil

shredded lamb shoulder with salted chilli

lamb and fennel seed dumplings

steamed blue eye trevalla fillet, Hunan style

w/ salted red chilli and pickled green chilli

tea smoked chicken

beef in fire water

chinese brocolli w/ house mafde oyster sauce

mango mouse and sesame nougatine

A wonderful night was had at last night's Gourmet Traveller Reader Dinner in the belly of the city at the newly opened Spice Temple. Cocktails accompanied the delicious words we were served to start then fine wines followed throughout the night. Neil Perry spoke with stunning eloquence of his experience of China and his offerings at Spice Temple - it reminded me to use more words like 'wonderful', 'nuance', 'vim', 'harmony' and 'Xinjiang' - OK maybe not the last one.

The service was fantastic, the flavours were fresh, sometimes fierce but always original. Highly recommend and eagerly awaiting Rockpool Bar & Grill's opening upstairs.