It’s been almost two years since I went to Sokyo. In November 2012 I attended an event at the venue where Al Pacino was the guest of honour. That was a cocktail party so I wasn’t able to sit down and dine and experience the brilliance that is Chase Kojima, head chef of Sokyo. Chase […]
Archives for August 2014
Blacksmith, Mona Vale – Cafe, Restaurant and Cocktail Bar
August 27, 2014 By 31 Comments
A few weeks ago I was meeting a friend of mine for lunch in Mona Vale. We had an Asian noodle bar in mind but as Lou was walking through Pittwater Place she noticed Blacksmith. And with its bold fit-out, it certainly makes a statement. Considering it used to be a shoe shop, this is […]
Barilla Gluten-Free Pasta
August 26, 2014 By 32 Comments
There are a few people in my family who are gluten-free and one of their biggest complaints is that finding a decent gluten-free pasta is difficult and costly. Since removing gluten from their diets, they say the food item they miss most is bread but enjoying a decent pasta dish is a very close second. […]
1st Clifton Gardens Sea Scouts 70th Birthday
August 25, 2014 By 27 Comments
After many, many days of heavy downpours and what seemed like non-stop rain, we woke on Sunday morning to clear blue skies. It was such a pleasant surprise. And the blue skies were so welcome because Alfie’s sea scout group was celebrating its 70th birthday. The first meeting of the Group was in a private […]
The 11-Mile Store
August 21, 2014 By 45 Comments
We have a little piece of real estate on Sydney’s Northern Beaches where once upon a time we planned on extending and modifying the original ugly eye-sore and building our dream home. For so, so, many reasons, it wasn’t to be and so when a few months ago our tenants said they were moving out, […]
Going to Court and Lunching in the Planning Room
August 19, 2014 By 43 Comments
Today’s been one of those days. Archie’s been summoned to Court and Alfie’s been sent to the Planning Room. I wouldn’t mind if my boys paced themselves through their dramas but they want me living on the edge and so when a storm hits, it’s more like a hurricane where I am in the middle […]
Balmoral Mudgee Wine and Food Fair, 2014
August 18, 2014 By 28 Comments
A favourite community event in my calendar is the Mudgee Wine and Food Fair. Mudgee is one of the top wine producing regions in New South Wales and about a three and a half hour drive north west of Sydney. The month-long festival has been running since the 1970’s and this year it opens on […]
Fred Segal Mauro Cafe, Los Angeles
August 17, 2014 By 28 Comments
When I had my unexpected and last minute trip to the USA, I had a 24-hour stopover on the way home in LA. Em asked me what I would like to do on my one-day stopover and I couldn’t think of how I could fit LA into 12 hours so we threw our hands up […]
Otto Pizzeria, New York
August 16, 2014 By 30 Comments
When my trip to New York was definite, Em said, ‘On the night you arrive, just go across the road from the apartment and you’ll find a great Italian where you can get a quick pizza or pasta’. Well Arabella and I went across the street from the apartment and didn’t find it and assumed […]
Candied Popcorn
August 13, 2014 By 35 Comments
This post is sponsored by Queen. I’m quite sure that the very first time I ate popcorn, it was the multi-coloured candied variety. I just assumed that was what popcorn was and had no idea most commonly it was eaten in its natural colour, seasoned with butter and salt. Country fairgrounds with their ferris wheels, […]
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