Putting pen to paper

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Call me old-fashioned but I love to receive mail. Not email but snail mail that arrives directly into my letterbox. I almost get a little bit of a thrill when amongst all of the boring bills, I spot an envelope that does not have a clear plastic window of computer generated letters but instead a beautifully penned scrawl or scribble of my name and address.

So it shouldn’t surprise you that I am one of those organised types to have a collection, pile, stash – whatever you want to call it – of stationary-on-the-go for the birthdays, thank-you and numerous celebratory moments in life and let’s not forget for those just-because times. Because just as I love to receive snail mail, of course I love to send it too. I admit that I have never been a fan of Hallmark penguin cartoon cards but much prefer black and white photos, quirky quotes, matte colours, prints of old French advertising posters and individual designs. The final touch is the feel of good quality stock between my fingers.

It helps that my sister Michelle sells Phoenix cards so my pile of stationary stock is never too low but other loves include frequent Saturday visits to Papier D’Amour and Paper Couture, sometimes to buy but more often to browse. This year when my man and I were organising our wedding invites, I fell in love with the look of Mr Boddington, a bespoke design house based in New York. And just recently I was introduced to Zed and Bee – celebrations on paper. An Aussie design house led by two girls I went to school with and I immediately loved their use of colour and texture. To finish off this adoration to stationary, I leave you with Shutterfly. They made our wedding thank-you cards of which I have just finished writing each of the personal notes to our guests.

And so to the letterbox tomorrow I go hoping to receive a nice looking envelope of some sort…please.

Rewind 23 years

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Rewind 23 years and I was a bite-sized 6-year old on my first overseas adventure in the heart of bright-lights-big-city Tokyo with my standard regulation Cathay Pacific yellow backpack. Food was a love, even back then although in 1986 I was honestly more amazed that Ronald McDonald had an identical Japanese cousin who said konichi-wa instead of Hello!

One of my most vivid memories however on that trip concerns the equation of sushi and technology. One night, Dad decided to take my entire family to eat at a small sushi studio somewhere in Tokyo. Interest was waning at the thought of rice and seaweed but it quickly peaked when I noticed that in front of each person was an Atari-looking pad of buttons with lots of colourful and creative photos of the mere sushi. I don’t remember if it was me or one of my sister’s who started the button pushing but before we could blink an eye our “button choice” of sushi was being brought out by a waiter and placed in front of us and from then on a button frenzy began. To this day, Dad still says it was the most expensive meal our family has ever eaten and looking back now I can only imagine what the bill would have totalled to in Yen for 7 hungry mouths more focused on the novelty of button-pushing than focusing on what we were eating.

Flash-forward 23 years and I found myself in Tokyoria at World Square, Sydney in front of a flat screen, with four of my girlfriends pre SATC 2. We were hoping for a quick Japanese meal before heading across to the cinema and we were definitely not disappointed. After working out how to order, food quickly appeared just as it had many years ago in Tokyo. At the touch of a button, miso soup and agedashi tofu was before us and feeling a bit hungrier than we thought extra food was tapped, ordered and almost magically appeared before our eyes.

Tokyoria’s food was a tad on the pricier side but for $30 each between the 5 of us (after several dishes to share including dessert and drinks), the dinner definitely hit the spot. It might be 23 years later that Sydney finally caught up but it was well worth the wait and in hindsight what a privilleged little 6 year old I was, to get to peer into the future!

Tokyoria @ Upper level 644 George Street Sydney 2000

I love potatoes; Friday Mash included

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The statement “I love potatoes” came up in a discussion over Wednesday night-dinner and it wasn’t even me who spoke those three words, although I emphatically agree. The statement was said with an infinite amount of gusto and it was clear that there was a deep-seated passion behind it. Roger told me that his standout ways to eat potatoes were gratin style baked with cream and cheese, roasted new potatoes and good old-fashioned chips. The discussion rolled on and all four of us ended up pitching in as we excitedly spoke best ways and bad ways to eat the basic spud. Was a pontiac better than a desiree to roast and what’s the best way to get some crisp?

As the winter chills made their entry in Sydney this week I cooked a traditional Shepherd’s Pie with a piled heap of mash on top and revelled in the comfort and satisfied feeling one gets when eating the humble potato. And not just a winter staple but an all season food, I recall chowing down a jacket potato cooked over campfire at Cooma last year, soaking up the creamy sauce of a gratin my sister cooked for me and I unashamedly admit that I am the aunty who takes a chip off my nephew’s plate if his meal arrives before mine!

So I put it to you; how do you eat your potatoes? And have you tasted a bit of Friday Mash as this is not just some Friday pub special but top nosh mash in my books.

I love my dumplings fresh with a part vinegar and soy sauce on the side

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It was during a hurried Tuesday lunch special that I tried the two-week old Bamboo on Reservoir Street, Surry Hills. Notified by my friend Maz to try it out given it is literally a local and I do walk past it everyday on my way to work, it seemed a no brainer. And then there is my number one love of dumplings which gets me everytime. I love my dumplings steaming hot, fresh and not gluggy. A tell-tale sign of their prior steaming is when they arrive in a steamed round box and when the lid is taken off, it’s such a lovely surprise. I love to dip my dumpling lightly into a combination of soy sauce and vinegar so it’s not doused but enriched by the salt and tartiness of the sauces. More often than not, I usually then burn the insides of my mouth in a rush to eat my dumpling due to the spurting soup trapped inside. But it is so worth it.

Back to Bamboo; tucked away at the back of a corner pub it is decorated in a rustic old-Beijing fashion with different coloured wooden bird cages hanging from the ceiling and a lone push bike. Signs inform the eater that Bamboo believes “everyone has nice dumplings” and there is an assortment of shared tables pre-set with plates and chopsticks and local workers are starting to crowd the place as more people swing by to try the new kid on the block.

Bamboo is not a no-Go but only go there if you need a quick bite and dumplings don’t rate high on your list of food loves. Unfortunately for me, it was borderline gweilo, the Northern Chinese (where xiaolongbao dumplings hail from) flavours were not distinct enough and I think the sauce that the dumplings and grilled salmon came with was simply soy. And when you’re stacking this place up against Din Tai Fung which is a ten minute walk away, it doesn’t come close even in the price factor. I think I could have done better to go to Ho’s Dim Sim Kitchen on Pitt Street, buy my own dumplings, heat them up and eat them. It was worth trying but next…?

Bamboo @ Corner of Commonwealth and Reservoir Streets, Surry Hills Sydney 2010

Ho’s Dim Sim Kitchen @ 429A Pitt Street, Sydney 2000

In Tasmania – a RED home away from home

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The other day someone asked me what my highlight was after my recent honeymoon in Tasmania. Some people might say Cradle Mountain or Wineglass Bay and I guess the Bay of Fires would get quite a bit of recognition given its World Heritage status.

For me there were a couple such as cruising around Tassie in the hired Audi Cabriolet Convertible; top down, hair blowing. Another highlight was the fresh and high quality of food. Top of the list however was staying at Red Feather Inn, located in Hadspen which is 15 minutes drive outside of Launceston.

I had discovered Red Feather Inn through one of my google searches and immediately fell in love with the cute details throughout the website and had trouble deciding on which room to eventually book. I got terribly excited from reading about their cooking classes and was disheartened to find that the dates of their classes didn’t match with the dates I would be there. Nevertheless I looked forward to discovering what Red Feather Inn was like in reality.

Slightly perturbed that the location Hadspen was not coming up in the Audi’s navigation system, my man and I soon found it not too far from Perth and off a main highway. Driving through the quiet town, the inn came into view by its corner sandstone cottage and recognisable red duck on the sign. From the first step we took at Red Feather Inn, my man and I were entranced and in awe of no stone unturned and no detail left unchecked.

Jess and Lydia met us at the door and Lydia introduced herself as the owner. Surrounding us were beautiful pieces of furniture and art collected over the years by Lydia that I secretly wished I owned myself, fresh apples and the smell of something in the oven and the whole place literally felt like I had come home. And not just any home mind you, but a home of utmost creature comforts like a bottle of chilled champagne waiting in the room for us honeymooners and Molton Brown bubble bath which I definitely soaked in. The second night’s highlight was a home-cooked meal made by Jess’ husband Lee. Sat around the central table with another house guest, the three of us were spoiled with home made papardelle with fresh rabbit ragu, a warm and oozing chocolate fondant pud and copious amounts of red wine.

We left Red Feather Inn thinking two immediate thoughts. Wow and when will we be back? Me thinks quite soon!

Red Feather Inn @ 42 Main Street, Hadspen Tasmania 7290

next stop is hanging on your wall

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I was visiting a friend’s place over a year ago and the first thing I noticed about his home were the incredibly high ceilings, given its history as an old girls convent. Close to the front door was a long stretch of floor to ceiling wall and hanging on it was an old black and white bus scroll. It was just the right place for this artwork as there was enough room to go through all of the destinations whilst highlighing the height and openness of the place. I thought to myself, when had bus rolls become trendy and befitting for a wall in someone’s home? All I could come up with or come back to moreover was the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

After picturing my friend breaking into a bus depot, hijacking a 190 Palm Beach-destination bus and cheekily pulling out the scroll, I enquired where he had got it from and learnt of the store Home Furniture On Consignment (HFOC). My friend explained that the store stocked and sold previously loved and second-hand quality furniture and these were available to purchase in-store (Sydney or Melbourne) or online at quite affordable prices. Hopping online I saw more bus scrolls, wingback chairs, ornate antique mirrors, butchers blocks, Persian rugs and a whole assortment of other collected goodies. I have yet to buy something from HFOC but love the concept that there is somewhere central to go in order to give a second-hand piece of furniture, more often than not a branded or collector’s item or someone else’s trash – a new home.

Not long after seeing the bus scroll hanging in my friend’s home, I came across an exhibition in the middle of Bondi Westfield by Print Dolls. Taking inspiration from the original bus and tram scrolls, these were instead printed on canvas and seemingly easier to hang up. I immediately loved the boldness of the typography and the sentiment and nostalgia they created from a list of bus or tram destinations. Never would I have believed as I sat on the 263 bus heading into the city that something so simple as a bus scroll could become a collectors item but who am I to question what people treasure?

leave Thailand and go down the Corridor

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Newtown used to be a lunchtime haunt for me as I used to wander up King Street after morning classes at Sydney Uni. Back then lunch was more often at the Green Iguana and then time would pass and I would end up with cheap cocktails at Kuletos. Years later, the Green Iguana has been replaced by a Mexican restaurant, Kuletos still stands strong and Newtown has become Thailand without needing a passport to get there. On Thursday night, I must have walked past five restaurants in a row that were Thai, not counting the three opposite across the road and ones further down King Street. Not only is there restaurant after restaurant but also a large Javanese furniture shop where I am sure you could even buy a knick knack and give it to your mum as a souvenir of your recent travels. Outside of Thailand, Australia has been a massive support to the fragrant and colourful food that we have come to know as Thai and it’s my guess that most people would now know what Pad Thai is as much as they would know what Spag Bol is.

With no desire to go to Phuket last week for dinner, I instead found myself in Corridor – a new pocket rocket bar which has moved into Newtown. Off the back of a recommendation from Bridgie, Corridor turned out to be a two level, more on the tiny side wine bar that also served finger food and more substantial meals, if required. Far removed from the cheapness of Kuletos and sticky carpets of the Marlborough, Corridor was a welcome surprise and similar to a wine bar you might find in Melbourne’s laneways, Surry Hills or Darlinghurst. Wines were mid-range in price therefore leaving behind the student feel you come across in many other Newtown haunts and dinner was tasty with a mix of both pub-style food and tapas-style food available to order.

Corridor was a bit of a gladiator-sandal for me. Trendy, hip, begging to be seen yet comfortable. Go to Corridor with friends. Sit upstairs on the Terrace or what feels like your loungeroom with big armchairs and a busy street view. Leave your suitcase at home, drink and eat local. Jetstar will have cheap flights again next week.

Corridor @ 153A King Street Newtown, Sydney NSW 2042

no-Go #1

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I would hate to be a Travel Agent. Sure, you would get good perks with discounted flights and accommodation but having to sell travel when the internet has become the best friend of most would be a hard-sell. However despite the advanced growth of the internet over the last five years, an element of risk still remains when you book online. Photos can make a bedroom look huge and taken at the correct angle and in the right light, can make a dark room seem bright. Some hotels now have video links and they are better but there will always be a percentage that is the unknown factor.

For my recent honeymoon, I completely booked its entirety solely online. The hire car was booked through vroomvroomvroom, flights done through QANTAS and all accommodation was thoroughly researched, compared and booked online through their specific websites. Sites like Trip Advisor help somewhat to guide your decision but ultimately biting the bullet is a solo activity.

no-Go # 1 is the Piermont Retreat, Tasman Hwy. Swansea TAS. 7190

With the route decided that my man and I would fly into Hobart, spend some time exploring the capital before heading up the East coast and Freycinet peninsular and finally inland and flying home out of Launceston, I searched for a “special” place for the mid component of the honeymoon. Piermont met the requirements for its highly rated restaurant which I noted we would need to eat at and I liked the sound of “ecologically sustainable luxury” as per the website description of the overall retreat which was situated steps away from the Freycinet coast. There were enough photos to match the descriptive language and they even had a “honeymoon spa” package. Booked and paid for. In the comments section on the online reservation I recall writing that the reason for our Tasmanian trip was due to our honeymoon and we look forward to the experience ahead at Piermont Retreat.

Service or more to the point; Customer Service is an important factor to me. Whether you are on a weekend-away, staying at a backpackers, in a 2-star or 5-star – customer service is an essential for me. On our honeymoon, my man and I were already on cloud 9 and any extras we received were icing on the cake.

Arriving into reception at Piermont Retreat, I was met by a man who I assumed was one of the owners. No hello, no welcome to Piermont, no “how’s your honeymoon been so far?”. I appreciate everyone has bad days but this first impression was gruff, rude and inappropriate. After a mini-dispute over how many nights were booked and paid for, despite by print-out in hand, I was given a set of keys, a site map for the retreat and sent on my less-than-merry way.

I have a good photographic memory and considering how much time I spent researching and comparing places to stay in Tasmania; the room I saw after I turned the key and opened the door was not the photo I remembered. Bare minimum was reality.

Changing our initial plans, we left Piermont Retreat after only the one night to leave behind the only disappointment on our honeymoon. Rude service or rather a lack of, coupled with not getting what we paid for or what was advertised online left my man and I with a bad taste in our mouths.

Thank god for Hotel Islington and Red Feather Inn to make up for it in the Tasmanian accommodation stakes as overall, our honeymoon is an amazing memory, not to be discoloured by one night.

My treasured constant, courtesy of Koukii

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After my beautiful heartfelt proposal that I received from my man in Venice last August, I became conscious that not long after I was consistently looking at the hands (mainly the left) of women I passed. Some were friends, some were strangers I walked past on the street but I couldn’t help but notice and take in what they were wearing as a sign of marriage or engagement. Most of these women had a ring on their left hand (due to the historic Roman tradition that the vein in the third finger on the left hand leads directly to the heart) but then some also wore a ring on the right hand. Some were plain gold or silver bands, some were eternity style with diamonds or other gem stones going the whole way around the band and some were quite ornate with engraved inscriptions or symbols. Some women wore their engagement ring with the wedding band and others just wore the one ring. Ultimately this all contributed to the research I was undertaking in order to choose what I would wear and what would have the most significance with me.

The ring that my man chose and proposed with is a unique Jan Logan piece. A white gold princess cluster bordered by a pave setting best describes it however unlike a lot of other rings I have seen, the setting sits flush against my finger. At the time of purchase, Jan advised my man that for a wedding band the options were to cut into the engagement ring for a wedding band to sit alongside or for the wedding band to be worn alone. Both of these options did not sit well with me as post many hand observations; I concluded that I never wanted to take my engagement ring off however I also did not want to cut into it either so at that stage, the solution had not yet presented itself.

Enter Adina Jozsef also known as Koukii Designs.

As a bride to be last August; it was extremely easy to get caught up in the wedding whirlwind that is in itself a juggernaut of an industry. It only takes one bridal magazine to sweep you up and be bombarded with everything and anything to do with weddings and for most weddings, a checklist of tasks arises for you to tick off before the big day. There’s finding the venue, sourcing the dress, flowers, photographer, rings…the list can go on for lengths. I was incredibly blessed to be able to go to close friends for both my photos (Nat Swainston) and rings (Adina Jozsef). Both parts are extremely important to get right as after the day has breezed by the photos colour your memories and the rings are the constant following the vows.

Working with Adina on our wedding rings made finding the solution a memorable journey. Adina has been making jewelery since she was 8 years old and this passion has continued well past this young age. Her creations and designs are unique show-stoppers and her love for what she does is extremely evident. Each detail is executed with care and precision and with each piece, a little part of Adina is engraved and embedded inside. Adina not only did the wedding rings for my man and I, but also designed the gifts I gave to my bridesmaids and flower girls on the day.

My wedding rings are the only thing that I don’t leave home without. I might forget to wear my watch one day or leave my phone behind but my rings are a treasured constant in my life and a beautiful reminder of the commitment that my man and I made to each other on April 10.

Thank you Adina.

March macaron madness – a memory for now

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If you just happen to be reading this in Paris, head to Place de la Madeleine and make a beeline for Laduree. Hmmm limone et chocolat. However, if in Sydney forget about Zumbo in Balmain as the best macarons are at Baroque; the new French bistro in The Rocks, Sydney. Here, don’t just salivate over salty caramel but buy a dozen and all your Christmases will have come in March.