Justinian says *

According to the Law of logic, 
there is only such thing as a glass of wine 
- or none, as the case may be.

MOst Smile *

Tea and sweets can bring a smile to anything

Liquid heaven *

"Wine can of their wits the wise beguile,

make the sage frolic, and the serious smile."

- Homer, Odyssey

Thankfully some things do get better in time, 
for everything else there's a bottle of wine.

To everything that is old;

old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines.

Treasures indeed that are ol' mighty fine.

Joe Black *

"Acelera Comigo! 

(In God we Trust... all others pay Cash!)"

J and B hit the streets for our regular brunch date. Luckily, to meet Joe Black is only a ten minute walk from Sydney CBD. This delightful hole-in-the-wall cafe has an "alternative" interior decor that matches perfectly with the laid back vibe. 

The menu was entertaining to read, albeit offering only a limited selection. It includes: Pilate pancakes (you'll need Pilates after these chocolate covered bad ass mo foes); Bacon and egg brecky sambo (it's French for sandwich); and TRAGIC MAGIC mushrooms and hummus on rye. Delish!

stormin' norman

cherry tomato mix with spanish onion, avocado and a poached egg.. Or a bigger version 2 eggs more stuff

(healthy goodness, our pre-celebrations for cinco de mayo!)

chilli (on the willy) beef burger. comes without fries

(wholesome hearty burger with house-made beef patty. be prepared to get your fingers dirty, but it is definitely worth it!)

We bid farewell to the judges and commonwealth law reports...

then line up through the ages,

following the aroma of Joe Black's coffee

and cheekily take a part of Joe Black with us!

J & B

Joe Black

27 Commonwealth Street

Surry Hills NSW 2010

Trieste & Napoli *

"Inspiration drawn from two coffees emblematic 

of the cities of Trieste and Naples 

in homage to Italy's diverse coffee culture."

Like true artists, the experts at Nespresso have developed 16 Grand Crus with distinctly different aromatic profiles. And recently, there are 2 new limited editions: Trieste and Napoli. What I like about these little gems is that each capsule is completely protected from air to ensure the ground coffee remains fresh over time.

Every once in a while I miss J... and his Nespresso machine. My preference is Arpeggio, the purple capsule with a strong character and intense body enhanced by cocoa notes. The fruity malted profile is characteristic of South/Central American Arabicas. However this time I was invited to try Napoli which has a more subtle aroma. What's more - J's brother, KS, kindly offered me a green tea Kitkat to accompany my coffee! 

Bambini *

It is simple to fall in love... with the glamours of life

to wine, dine & indulge in all things fine.

But why is so difficult to find someone - 
that one person, who you can share all these experiences with.
And savour little luxuries, together.
Maybe it's just me, or
maybe they are just around the corner and
I will encounter them soon, hopefully...

Ceretto 'Bernardina' Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC

Piedmont, ITA

Bambini Trust

185 Castlereagh Street

Sydney NSW 2000

+ 61 9262 7200

Where is jumbo? *

Sometimes bigger is better,

unless of course, 

it isn't available ~

(Ps. thanks J for letting me steal your pic!)

GPO Cheese & Wine Room *

"the best news for fromage fanatics

since the invention of the cow"

- smh 06'

Escape to the dungeons underneath Martin Place,
where you are held captive for top-secret knowledge about this city.
Guilty until proven innocent,
that is, for the select few who have discovered the treasure
of superb food & wine, in the depths of the usual so-so.
As punishment for your crimes, be served:
blue cheese fondue and two glasses of Ciao Vino Sangiovese IGT, Tuscany, Italy 09'

the fragrant & creamy blue fondue

this blue fondue brings together two timeless cheeses,

the delicate yet full flavour of Italian Gorgonzola Dolce

and the creaminess of French Secret de Scey

GPO Cheese and Wine Room

1 Martin Place

Sydney NSW 2000

+61 2 9229 7701

The Westin - Mad Hatter's Tea Party *

"The Mad Hatter is having afternoon tea.

We welcome you to share in his glee.

A curious menu, under our clock chime

From noon to 6 daily, so do be on time."

One of the most memorable parts of Alice's adventure in wonderland. Perhaps the expression "Mad as a Hatter" stems from the tendency of professional Hatters in the 18th and 19th centuries who develop dementia from exposure to mercury during the production of felt. These unfortunate workers were perceived at the time as insane. And if you're wondering what the 10/6 on the Mad Hatter's Hat means, it is thought to be a price tag for ten shillings sixpence. If only high tea cost the same amount in modern times!

To celebrate my mother's birthday, we indulged in her favourite past time - scones! Of course, the lovely surrounds in The Westin and slightly mad theme made our tea party that much more memorable.

Happy birthday mum!

chocolate mudcake and blueberry macaroon

Freshly baked scones, homemade strawberry/raspberry conserves & cream

The Westin

No. 1 Martin Place

Sydney NSW 2000

+61 2 8223 1111

Laduree *

Endless lines surround this petite green island, 
whether it be at the front ordering sweet delicacies to take home 
or waiting at the back to be seated for high tea. 

The Marie-Antoinette

delicious china teas mixed with essential oils of subtle citrus fruit, rose and jasmine flowers flavour, scattered with small pieces of dried fruits & honey

Les Macaroons

rose, pistachio, black currant violet, coffee

(signature sweets all the way from Paris 

which are actually frozen during their shipment to Sydney!)

R & I extremely content after our indulgent afternoon

Mum was pleasantly surprised to find these waiting for her when she arrived home!

Laduree

Level 3, Sydney Westfield

100 Market Street

Sydney NSW 2000

(02) 9231 0491

La Rosa *

To ease into Friday night drinks we wandered upstairs into our first destination. The Strand Arcade welcomed us with its resounding sense of grandeur, Victorian tradition and golden glows. La Rosa features a purpose designed interior profiling new modernity as well as being an ecclesiastic Italianate space. Nino Zoccali has strategically positioned Pendolino on the opposite end of the floor, so now there is a catch 22: delicious italian v delicious italian?

egger ramer DOC - pinot bianco / alto adige

(lovely & floral with hints of pear on the nose, whilst the palate is broad with a balanced round character & nice acidity)

silvio grasso DOC - barbera d'alba / piemonte

(hints of cinnamon with abundant fruit perfume on the nose. The palate is somewhat savoury & juicy at the same time with a nice long dry finish)

salsicce montenuovo calabrese

100% finely ground cured pork sausage 

made with sangiovese red wine, capsicum puree & calabrian spices

great accompaniments from every angle:

calabrese had a great firm bite with layers of flavours to explore,

while the pickled vegetables & olives gave a sour contrast to the savoury & spice

celebrating Christmas in November!

La Rosa

Shop 133, Level 2 The Strand Arcade

193 Pitt Street

Sydney NSW 2000

(02) 9223 1674

Jacob's Creek *

When asked whether I prefer Red or White, my answer is usually "both!"

In terms of Reds, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz are on the top of my list due to pronounced black fruit notes of cherry and plum. For New World regions such as Australia, cabernet is often blended with shiraz to balance the harsh tannins in youthful wines. 

A light drink before boarding my flight back to SYD.

Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet Vintage 2010

Hudsons Coffee *

Quick lunch before returning to Sydney.
Gourmet sandwiches on offer included the classic Turkey, Reuben & Ploughman. 
Coffee was surprisingly decent!

reuben sandwich

shaved silverside, dryslaw, lettuce, swiss cheese on toasted dark rye

(solid effort to make this classic)

Hudsons Coffee

Canberra Airport ACT 2609

+61 2 6262 8953

Black by City Espresso *

"Featuring a 'light box' designed by architects from Building Studio.

With a slick fitout, smooth black finishes & timber cladding,

this project is a great example of clever design.

Not to mention an ergonomic layout that generates fantastic coffee!"

Spiro was headhunted by Qantas to run this new concept store, who in turn sought the services of Gina Di Brita from Numero Uno. Being a professional barista slash coffee coffee consultant, Gina designed an intense espresso blend providing strength for commuters to endure their upcoming flights.

My first pitt stop for the day before embarking on a short business trip to Canberra. I was pleasantly surprised to find a new cafe at the Qantas domestic terminal, which was almost like a lounge before the lounge!

soy latte + roast pumpkin, feta & spinach savoury muffin

(enjoyed the strong caffeine hit.

savoury muffin was superb & reminded me of a frittata)

cappuccino + espresso macaroon

(mum described the macaroon as a very hard biscuit, so enough said.

looks good but not very fresh)

Qantas Domestic Terminal

Sydney Airport

241 O'Riordan Street

Mascot NSW 2020

0407 911 546

Botanic Garden Restaurant *

"An enchanting picturesque venue

offering open-air dining in exquisite natural surrounds. 

Its original 19th Century facade is paired with

sleek modern interiors, wide wisteria-draped verandahs 

and spectacular leafy harbour views."

Ideal setting for a special work function since the restaurant offered an understated elegance in lush surrounds. Guess I didn't mind working on a Sunday for once! Taking a leisurely stroll in the Royal Botanic Garden was a quaint way to end a busy weekend. The menu displayed a fresh interpretation on modern Australian cuisine, matched with professional friendly service. Being the designated driver I did not drink at the Halloween party last night, so I welcomed this opportunity to enjoy a few glasses of wine!

sourdough bread, evo & dukkah

(dukkah is an Egyptian mix of nuts, seeds, herbs & spices blended finely. addictive and kept me guessing as to what was in the recipe!)

baby spinach, beetroot & goats cheese salad

(literally three ingredients tossed together.

could be enhanced by a walnut dressing or lemon juice & olive oil)

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yealands Estate

(exuberant fruity profile of gooseberries, green pear & asparagus)

duck confit

white bean & toulouse sausage cassoulet

(standard duck. white beans seemed from the can, sausage were diced & quite bland)

roast lamb rump

caponata, lemon cous cous, basil & olives

chocolate marquise

pistachio anglaise

orange & cardamom brulee

biscotti

(pretty presentation reflecting the sunshine on a plate)

espresso panna cotta

frangelico syrup

 

blue cheese, grapes, lavosh and chutney

(chutney of cooked raisins complemented the blue cheese well)

Michelton 'blackwood park' botrytis Reisling

(spectacular when paired with my cheese platter)

Botanic Garden Restaurant

Mrs Macquarie Road

Sydney NSW 2000

+61 9241 2419