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Quay Restaurant: 6th Anniversary Dinner

January 4, 2016 / CBD, Circular Quay, Family, Love, Sydney, Sydney Food / 5 Comments

For our 6th wedding anniversary, Alec and I dined at Quay Restaurant – Australia’s most awarded restaurant, and one of two Australian restaurants on the prestigious S. Pellegrino World’s Top 50 List. The menu, created by chef Peter Gilmore, is modern Australian with Japanese and Chinese influence.

Starters (same for both menus)

Goats curd with frozen sorrel and green tea.

Salad of summer squash, sheep’s milk feta, lemon jam, young almonds

Regular Tasting Menu

Raw smoked Blackmore wagyu,
horseradish soured cream,
fermented rye crisps,
raw funghi

Southern uni, koshihikari rice,
salted yolk, maw, sweet prawn,
caterpillar mushrooms, umami broth

Slow cooked abalone,
smoked confit pig jowl,
fermented shiitake chawanmushi,
bamboo, koji cultured grains

Crayfish, XO sauce, organic radishes

Roast masterstock duck,
scorched pickled cucumber,
sorrel, iceplant, agretti, karkalla

Vegetarian Tasting Menu

Eggplant tartare, horseradish soured cream,
fermented rye crisps, raw funghi

Green asparagus congee, egg yolk emulsion

Fermented shiitake chawanmushi,
hen of the woods mushrooms, bamboo,
koji cultured grains

Silken tofu, XO sauce, organic radishes

Stone pot organic green rice, mountain spinach,
spring cabbage stems, seaweed

Optional cheese course $25
Ours was an amazing swiss cheese cut into a flower shape, on top of a bed of grains and quince.

Desserts – same for both menus.

Snow Egg

Cream, honey, almonds,
muscovado, oloroso caramel, prune

Coffee, Tea and Quay Petits Fours

The staff surprised us with an adorable bonus cupcake to celebrate our anniversary.

The view! Doesn’t get any better than this.

Gorgeous cocktails with a stunning outlook.

Even my bag was well taken care of with a Quay branded purse holder.

We had such a wonderful evening at Quay. From the kind, thoughtful and efficient staff, to the amazingly created food and the snow egg dessert that was well and truly the best dessert either of us has ever tasted, Quay went above and beyond to deliver a dining experience that we will never forget. What a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary.

Quay Tasting Menu is $235 pp 8 course degustation

Quay Restaurant
3, Overseas Passenger Terminal, George St & Argyle Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Reservations
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Snow day!

February 10, 2013 / Family, Kids, Love, New York Life / 0 comment

Blizzard Nemo (ha!) hit New York yesterday. It was pretty crazy being out in it – like icicles prickling my face. Today the blizzard had passed and the city was covered in a glorious foot of snow. Yay! We head over to Fort Greene park to give Eloise her first real taste of snow. She really loved it – she couldn’t get enough of sitting on the ground and trying to grab it in her little mits.

Happy Father’s Day Alec!

June 17, 2012 / Family, Love, New York Life / 0 comment

We had a low key first proper father’s day for Alec this year, spending it with some friends who were in town.

We’d had an epically bad night the evening before (we ended up in the local ER at 4am when Eloise wouldn’t feed for over 12 hours – and found a leaf wedged in her upper palate) but luckily had planned a really chilled out day as per Alec’s favourite things to do.

After Eloise had a massive midday nap, we had lunch at Landmarc at Columbus Circle. It was, as per the reviews I had read, solid food. Nothing fancy or special, but decent, tasty food. What I really liked the most was how baby friendly they were. Amazing how things change!

Lunch with Daddy!

We then took a stroll through Central Park. It was too late in the day to sit down and relax on the grass unfortunately, but it was still beautiful to just take a walk.

Our little family!

We also dropped by FAO Schwarz. Eloise loves dogs now – real life ones as well as stuffed ones.

“I want THIS ONE!”

Eloise is so blessed to have such a wonderful father as Alec. Happy father’s day my love! We both love you so very much.

Welcome Eloise Elizabeth Thomas

August 20, 2011 / Family, Kids, Love, New York Life, USA / 0 comment

A big welcome to our beautiful little lady, Eloise Elizabeth Thomas.

Born at Mt Sinai hospital, Manhattan, New York, at 8:44pm on Saturday, August 20, 2011.

Weight 7 pounds, 2 ounces. 19 inches long.

We love you little girl!

Alec’s Birthday – Washington DC

April 5, 2011 / Love, Travel, washington dc / 0 comment

We celebrated Alec’s birthday this year with a weekend trip to Washington DC for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The weather was sadly gray-er than originally forecast, but we still had a fantastic two days exploring the nation’s capitol.

First up was the National Air and Space Museum, where we saw cool things like the lunar landing modules, the first airplane, moon rock. We also checked out the American History Museum where I was delighted to see the original ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, and Julia Child’s kitchen.

We spent sunday wandering around the cherry blossoms and war memorials. The blossoms were in amazing abundance everywhere!

Happy birthday husband!!

Air and Space Museum

Cherry blossoms

Bye Alec!

January 25, 2011 / Love, New York Life / 0 comment

It’s official, he’s gone! I saw Alec off at the airport yesterday morning after our great weekend in Melbourne. Now the count down is on until I can join him. It’s currently really cold in NY – about -15, the coldest day they’ve had in 6 years. By contrast it’s 32 degrees in Sydney, with 40 forecast for tomorrow. Rug up, husband!

My husband is a Xoogler

January 15, 2011 / Love, Sydney Life / 1 Comment

We’ve had a huge few weeks. Alec was offered a job in a start-up in New York. We’ve decided to make the big move and give it our best shot! I’m so excited and terrified at the same time.

Alec’s last day was Friday. There’s no turning back now!

This weekend is packing and moving weekend. It is not fun. I’m hot and sticky and tired and over it. After tonight, I will be officially homeless for a few weeks while I try to transfer with work and wrap things up here before moving over to join Alec. At least I’m going to a house of some dear and generous friends of ours with air con and a pool tomorrow – cannot wait! Luxury!

The last bunch standing at Alec’s farewell drinks, held at Gallon in Pyrmont.

First Wedding Anniversary

January 3, 2011 / Family, Love / 0 comment

I can’t believe our first anniversary came around so fast! After an extremely long drive home back from Byron, we were in the mood for some low key celebrating. Alec surprised me by booking lunch at the Gunners’ Barracks – where our wedding had been held exactly one year previously. It was so lovely to be back and just let the good memories of our wedding day come back to us while we ate a delicious lunch.

Alec had been thoughtful enough to ask for a table on the balcony with a view, however the weather turned grey and rainy (just like on our wedding day!) so we moved inside where it was warmer.

Happy first wedding anniversary my husband! I love you more and more every day 🙂

Watson’s Bay Sunset

December 18, 2010 / Love, Sydney Life / 0 comment

A gorgeous evening in Watson’s Bay

Our 6-Month-versary in Parramatta Park

July 7, 2010 / Love, Sydney Food / 1 Comment

The past six months have flown. I can’t believe we’ve been married for half a year already. Amazing.

We wanted to do something a bit fun for the occasion, so I booked lunch at Lachlan’s Restaurant in Parramatta Park since we had promised to drop by the Winterfest afterwards to see Daniel’s group, the Orion Consort, perform.

Lachlan’s is smack bang in the middle of Parramatta Park. The building was once Lachlan Macquarie’s old government house. It has been resorted and turned into a restaurant. Thankfully, the old world charm remains.