Housekeeping, Cycle class. Toby's Estate, Bourke Street Bakery and 3-way at The Tilbury

The day started in an inconspicuous way - a proper tidy-up of the bedroom, dining room and lounge room, a spot of ironing - even the vacuum cleaner roared into life. One cycle class later, I drove up to Sydney Uni to meet lil sis WE at Toby's Estate on City Road. I had a ristretto with great floral/berry overtones and a sneaky piece of choc-a-block brownie. We then swung by Bourke Street Bakery for a baguette and an ah-mazing lemon tart, pulled into a great parking spot in the 'loo (an achievement in itself) and then watched episode 1 of season 3 Sons of Anarchy.







We had some chilled Chandon with lurpack topped baguette slices, walked off for (another) Queen Mary 2 viewing and then had a great meal at the Tilbury. Mummy WE, daddy WE and I had the pork three ways with matched red wine. Pork belly confit, then crisped in the oven, with pancetta wrapped scallop and pork loin - each was beautifully cooked. The plate included the cutest poached pear, a beautifully turned turnip and a smear of pureed cauliflower. The three red wines included a grenache, a French merlot and a temperanillo from the Clare. It was simply gorgeous. $33. A. Steal.

Bourke Street Bakery and Kenji Opera Bar

Oh, how I love the opportunity to sample the simplicity that Sydney has to offer. A simple baguette from Bourke Street Bakery is one of life's great pleasures. I also had one of their irresistable iced chocolates - the creamy chocolateness has to be tasted to be believed.

After an afternoon of alumni constitutional discussions at my old school, I then came back to the city for an evening of drinks and dinner at Opera Bar. If baguettes are the simplest expression of bread, then sushi and sashimi must be one of the world's greatest expressions of seafood. The Kenji sashimi and sushi are great examples of the amazing seafood available in our beautiful town. Still loving Opera Bar during these humid Sydney summer nights.

The Australian

Well it has to begin somewhere

After parking this blog quite some time ago - *slack* - I've decided to breathe some life into it and begin a record of my musings from the 'loo. Yesterday was great fun - I spent the day with Dr-to-be J and her very charming son S. I took some goodies: sausage rolls (lamb and harissa; beef, veal and olive) and tarts (rhubarb and almond, raspberry and chocolate, lemon) from the sublime Bourke Street Bakery.

Max Mannix: Mother and Child

I then caught up with some superior former colleagues at the place de jour - Duke Bistro. Oh my, did we consume some food! Scallops with lettuce, prawns with black mayo (I know, inconceivable!), braised octopus, rolls with radish and butter (divine!), grilled watermelon with herbs (a revelation!), veal pancakes, crumbed lamb belly and some super crispy chicken wingettes with sublime mayo and an amazing hot sauce. Go early, go often.