Mango season has arrived

It's mango season!

Mangos are not local to the Sydney region- but are grown further north

These are from the Northern Territory

At the moment they are in supermarkets and fruit shops everywhere.

Yesterday I bought 4 for $5 at the fruit stand near Wynyard Station in the city.

I have cut this one for breakfast- and the juice is running all over my hands and down my chin.

Summer is on its way!

Old Paris

I know I am not alone in the world in thinking of Paris as one of my favourite cities.

The Eugene Atget  exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW is a fascinating pictorial of Old Paris - during a time it was going through a major transformation.

EE and I  saw over 200 original prints - mainly capturing the streets, old shops and buildings  in late 19th and early 20th century before the work of Haussmann's 19th century modernisation program.

 Very evocative images, mostly without a person in sight

 It is hard to imagine the gracious boulevards of Paris that we see today

but this is just as beautiful 

I love that these photos have captured a period of time forever.

Really worth a visit - but be quick it closes soon.

Spring in Sydney

It's Saturday

 The sun is shining

and all around me these blooms are in full splendour.

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are.

Bondi to Bronte

One of the most beautiful and famous walks in Sydney is the Bondi to Bronte coastwalk

From whichever end you start you walk along a path close to the edge of the ocean cliffs and with a panoramic view the length of the walk.

JR and I started this morning at Bondi and we agreed that we must have a swim next time at Bondi Icebergs. It got its name from the dedicated  people who swim year round , right through the winter months.

Doesn't this look tempting today?

We came across this surprising vision

Yes, we do have kangaroos in Sydney

and realised that Sculpture by the Sea was due to open tomorrow

Some of the installations that we saw 

A bamboo windfarm complete with wind sound effect

Mosaic pillars under ledges

Red hot chilli - on the rocks

Tidal foam created from plastic knives and forks- amazing

Fishing rods bent by their catch

We luckily got a head start and beat the crowds to see the sculptures, but this walk is a must do in Sydney at any time.

Doing lunch

Looking at the crowd today, in Sydney plenty of men and women find the time to do lunch.

I just find it hard to fit in with work.

When I can do it - I really enjoy it.

Friends BdR & JS and I headed to Pendolino, an Italian restaurant in the Strand Arcade, one of Sydney's oldest and most beautiful shopping centres.

Strand Arcade

It was a very dimly lit, intimate space. 

We started with this variety of bread - olive, walnut and white with three different oils. The Sanguinella was my favourite 

The special "lets do lunch" meal

was handmade sweet pea ravioli with gorgonzola cream and burnt butter

 A delicate pasta, fresh pea filling and creamy sauce - decadent!

We shared two desserts 

A nougat,  Ligurian honey and almond milk semifreddo with candied almond and crostoli

And a vanilla bean and goat curd bavarese with a textured strawberry salad

BdR has been known to take her holidays in October - just to go to as many Crave Sydney International Food Festival events as she can.

JS loves the pasta and ambience of Pendolino.

A great choice for lunch or dinner.  I'd go back again.

Good Food

I am really loving the new Good Food pullout in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Haven't been sure about the recent revamp from Good Living - but I was salivating this morning over breakfast looking at the recipes this week.

In season here now we could and should be eating asparagus, broad beans, podded peas, snow peas, zucchini and zucchini flowers, spinach - most of which has been on my plate in the last couple of weeks.

 I am also ahead of the recipes this week as I cooked myself a chook last Saturday night (and am eating leftovers this week)

I decided then as I ate this favourite meal of mine alone that roast chicken is best eaten with the one you love (or people you love).

My taste buds are going to be tempted at lunch today.  I am off to another Crave Sydney lunch  at Pendolino.

Really and truly, I am not one of those ladies who lunch!

Only in October.

Back in the City

I can't believe it is now four weeks since I arrived back to my city life.

For some reason I have found it a hard slog to get back into my blog. I try to think of something to write about and I come up with a blank.  Writer's block??

 I have been feeling that my farmlife had much more fodder for posting than my citylife.

Everyday on the farm there is something uniquely rural related that emerges and provides an image and the potential to wax lyrical.    

I also have more time. Time, to ponder the meaning of life and my place in it.

Back in Sydney I am more preoccupied with work naturally,  but I also find my days have more routine and less opportunity for the type of blog material I hope is interesting for you.

I thought it might help stimulate my creative juices if I look back at some of what I have done in the last four weeks.

I celebrated my birthday long distance with beautiful flowers from Mark 

and with good friends that night at the Rocks Vintage Dinner.

This is a great night of food and wine under the lampshade and stars in the historic Rocks area of Sydney. Very special.

Have been eating plenty of spring vegetables including these fresh peas and broad beans I made into a puree to go with lamb cutlets for dinner with my sister A and nephew L. We had a good night! And another the next with some more of the family.

Have been making some of my farmlife no knead bread at least once a week. Also tested a part wholemeal version which was delicious

Ate at Balla at The Star. The new Steve Manfredi restaurant.

 The Crave Sydney International Food Festival is on in October and the program of events includes "Lets do Lunch" at restaurants all over Sydney.

Their offer was two courses and a glass of wine for $38

Fish and a rich tomato, olive and caper sauce

Chocolate Crunch

I hadn't been to the Star Casino since its renovation and reopening and it is an absolute improvement on the old one. Not that I am a fan of Casinos - but the hotel, retail and dining looks very Sydney 5 star.

A special Sunday lunch in Bowral with W and P.

W's excellent pea tart went well with my zucchini ribbon salad, with mint and feta.

It was also tulip time in the Southern Highlands and it was blooming.

Set up my office at home. Adjusting to that - and really enjoying it.

Started a new project and also ramped up planning for the Australian Tourism Awards.

Lots of walking, reading, and catching up with friends for coffee, breakfast and dinner.

Not a bad life.  Is it worth reading about I wonder?