Backstage *

Eyes set on my career goal,
cameras poised read to capture the moment,
everyone is watching, waiting for her to turn around.
When she returns
she will be a new person, backed with experience and renewed vigour.

I am relocating to another city in two days!
A new job, a new apartment & a new city to explore culinary adventures awaits...

Rudd - iculous *

Federal Australian politics has done it again. And again, I am vexed. I continue to have little faith or respect for our current politicians. We have changed Prime Minister more often than I have changed my car, my house, or even my coffee machine for that matter. Ridiculous.

ALP
A few simple facts.
In 2007, you vote for Kevin and got Julia.
In 2010, you vote for Julia and got Kevin.
If you vote for the Labor Party in 2013, who knows who you will end up with?

D&G Mens SS14*

"Inspired by Sicilian mythology: 

Creativity and tailoring are the cornerstones of the collection,

where the fantastical, triumphs in the prints 

of antique gods such as those of Zeus and Apollo, 

and sandals recall those worn by the gods of the tradition."

                                    - D&G Mens Spring Summer 2014

Perhaps divine intervention is necessary to save D&G from recent legal controversies. Embroiled in a fashionable disaster was one thing that is rarely associated with D&G. On 20 June 2013, Italian fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were found guilty by a Milan court for failing to declare €1bn in income. The pair face a suspended sentence of 1 year 8 months in jail and a hefty fine, but of course, their lawyers have already indicated they will be lodging an appeal. In any event, let the army of immaculately dressed Italian men, in perfectly tailored suits, march against D&G's taxing concerns.

Armani 5.06 *

In a celebration of the beauty adorning the eternal city, Giorgio Armani staged yet another magnificent event: One Night Only Roma at Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana. Per chance, it happens to coincide with the launch of Armani's Eccentrico exhibition in Rome as well as a new store along Via Condotti.

Predicting the future *

One month, one week and one too many days
until I leave Sydney.
A new life, a new job and a new city
towards an exciting adventure.

Friends, family and loved ones - I will indeed miss;
but then again, you are more than welcome to visit me in the happy abyss!

Times of great change, three chimes forward...

Met Gala 2013 *

Since 1948, an annual ball is held in NYC to celebrate the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute. Considered to be one of the most exclusive red carpet events in the fashion world, it was undoubtedly a "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" affair on 6 May 2013. The exhibition incorporates 100 designs from fashion archives to document the presence of punk on the runway since the times of the Sex Pistols, Blondie and Vivienne Westwood, as well as recognising its ongoing influence today.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Giles Deacon

headpiece: Philip Treacy

(single & fabulous SATC)

Blake Lively

Gucci

(xoxo gossip girl)

Anne Hathaway

Valentino

(devil wears prada, but not on this occasion)

Anna Wintour

Chanel

(when you organise the event, who cares about the theme? apparently Wintour claims pink is the colour of punk)

Jennifer Lopez

Michael Kors

(no longer jenny from the block)

Kate Beckinsale

Alberta Ferretti

(from underworld to serendipity)

Nina Dobrev

Monique Lhuillier

(lady of the night, so says the vampire diary anyway)

Poor millionaires *

Zimbabwe is the Land of plenty, well of money anyways. Even though the people barely have any. How can this be? With an annual inflation rate of 231,000,000% it is no wonder nothing seems makes sense. The financial authorities are forced to print increasingly larger denominations of currency so that people do not have to push trolleys of cash to pay for basic necessities.

Where 10 million is equivalent to US$10

and 100 billion is simply a piece of paper... 

(enough to buy 3 eggs, literally)

what is wrong with this picture?

Two Queens *

Still sorely missed,
one of the great fashion minds of our times.
Accompanied by one of the great fashionistas of our times.
Caught in the moment, draped in scottish tartans,
strong black accents and a magical omnipresent beauty.

Met Gala 2006

Alexander McQueen & Sarah Jessica Parker

Nothing in the room *

The Paradox of our Age

We have bigger houses but smaller families.
More conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees, but less sense.
More knowledge, but less judgment.
More experts, but more problems.
More medicines, but less healthiness.
We've been all the way to the moon and back
but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.
We built more computers to hold more information 
to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication.
We have become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods but slow digestion.
Tall man but short character.
Steep profits but shallow relationships.

It's a time when there is much in the window
but nothing in the room.

...

May I ask one question Dalai Lama:
"Why?"

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

Halloween 2012 *

There is no rest for the wicked, 

especially when darkness is upon us. 

Thank you Kev for being a crazy host 

and organising a haunted gathering at his residence.

An eventful night of weird & wacky happenings indeed...

murdered victim, nurse, school girl

preparing for the worst, hoping for the best

maid, maverick (top gun), nurse, ryan gosling (drive)

team up to ward away evil

female victims

panda vanishes while a psycho watches them from behind

panda

bearing pizza rather than eating bamboo. now that is weird!

murdered victim, nurse

sad to choose between 'trick or treat'

murdered victim, panda & death uncovered

school girl, maid

school girl, nurse

shot with espresso Patrón

painting out to be a strangely colourful night thusfar

murdered victim meats Death

we salute you good bye for now, to be continued...

when I arrived home, I discovered a butcher knife in my car.

how freaky!