Three years in Sydney

Monday marked three years since we moved to Sydney. Like is so often the case with these sorts of anniversaries, it seems like just yesterday, but at the same time so long ago. I remember so clearly getting into the hire car at the airport and thinking that if Jamie wasn't with me I'd turn around and get back on a plane. I remember walking back to the hotel after work down George St and being amazed how many people were still out on the street at seven pm. I remember everything being foreign and overwhelming and a little bit intimidating. And I so didn't want it to be - I wanted to be a cool and collected city girl who totally knew what she was doing. Slowly though, things have become familiar - I know my Pitts from my Parks, I've eaten at so many of those restaurants that I only knew as vague concepts in magazines, I've set up a home with and married the lovely man who moved across the country just because I wanted to, and I can bust it down a crowded footpath leaving the meeker, less willing to elbow, in my wake.

I'm not taking it all for granted though.  There are still moments that I like to just sit back and take in. Today, I was in a cab going home, and approaching the city at dusk - there were dark stormy skies and the buildings were all lit up, and it was gorgeous. It was one of those moments that if it was a movie, it would be in slow motion. I still love seeing the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Walking through the top of Hyde Park through an arch of really old trees always makes me happy. The familiarity of walking down our street while so many others flock in to take part in Surry Hills always makes me smug. I feel like we are creating our own routines and habits, and lots of lovely memories we can look back on one day, and it's a really, really nice feeling.  Sydney has really got me, and I hope it's something that continues for a long time.

A sign from the heavens.

It was with much joy I read that international fashion brand Zara is coming to town.  I've got a few Zara bits and pieces from various travels, and everything is great.  And reasonable too which is important.  If fact, yesterday, before I read the news that Zara is coming to town, I was devestated by some other Zara related news.  I was wearing my really cute Zara white tuxedo shirt, which I picked up in Jakarta last year, and had an unfortunate incident with the steps that lead up to court.  Felled, and down on all fours, I felt something tearing.  Yep, my shirt.  Groan.  You know those items of clothing you really love and feel great in every time you wear time, and almost avoid wearing becuase you don't want to ruin?  Yeah this was one of them.  The damage:

I was a bit devo, but I took it as a sign from above that the Zara gods are coming to town to replace my shirt.
BTW - I think you'll all be pleased to know that I checked that my handbag and boots were ok before checking the flesh on my hands and knees for damage.  Luckily it was minimal on all counts.

La truffe

Em and I went to the Pyrmont farmers market last weekend.  And I bought a truffle!  My first, very exciting. 10 grams.  Grown in NSW.  I put it with eggs for 24 hours so they inhaled all the truffeley goodness.  Then with some risotto rice for another 24 hours.

And then the dish I had in mind when I bought the truffle, based on an amazing dish we had at Buon Ricardo in Paddington a while ago.  Truffled egg pasta.  Fresh pasta, cream and truffle, topped with a fried truffle egg.  In theory it should be amazing, and it wasn't bad, but nowhere close to Buon Ricardo's.

Shower that baby!

We had a baby shower for Em a couple of weekends ago, which was really fun and pretty.  We spent a few hours sitting outside in the sun, eating and drinking tea and bubbles.  Drew and Liam were in town, and Drew and I were on food catering duties. 

Those who know Drew and I may be surprised that we work fantastically together, even in confined spaces.  The natural synergy even lends itself to dividing us into savoury and sweet.  We shopped on Friday (with a quick stopover for Dank St chicken sandies and bubbles), and did some of our stuff Friday afternoon, and then after dinner at Mah Jong Room (yum!) it was up early to finish off our treats.  Even for us, I think we outdid ourselves.  This is how everything looked before we messed it up.  Em's friend Ash was on design patrol - hence things looking so pretty.  If I was left in charge it would not have looked nearly so lovely.

Drew's white chocolate and mango bunny slice.  The blog has tuned the picture on its side, and lord knows I don't know how to change it, but they are in the shapes of bunny heads! 

The most delicious chicken sandies.  Based on a Parsons recipe, remembered very well by Drew.  I think these were my fav of the day.

Onion tart (Stephanie Alexander recipe).  I've done this one a few times now, and I think her portions of egg to cream are a bit out because it takes FOREVER to set, but who cares, it's so tasty.

The lovely baby mama, with hilarious baby double chocolate cupcakes.  Bunny is getting bigger and bigger, and it's so lovely to see.  I even felt her kick the other day!

A close up of the baby cupcakes in case you didn't get the baby reference.  Might I also add these cupcakes have been injected - literally injected - with vanialla sugar syrup.

And finally, Bourke Street Bakery pork and fennel sausage rolls.  So delicious.