Adventure, baby!

Sydney

Valentine’s Day

I don’t usually care much for Valentine’s Day, but falling on Saturday this year provided the opportunity for me and Alec to spend some quality time together.

We started in Bondi, hoping to go to the bagel store Glick’s. However, Glick’s is closed during the day on Saturdays, so we wandered up the road to this quirky cafe instead for a huge brekkie.

Three Steps Cafe, Bondi. Home of the all-day breakfast as well as a host of other treats.

Extensive menu, including about 20 types of breakfasts.

Very quirky interior. Loved the Greek people serving us – they were so friendly and fast!

No menus at the table – instead the menu was printed on huge posters on the walls.


My vegetarian breakfast – including hot chocolate – was a bargain at $9.90.

Alec manfully tackles his giant breakfast.

This was all I could eat!


We then drove down to Bondi Beach even though it was cold and wet. Turned out to be a great idea, as the weather kept all the tourists away – score! I’ve never seen the beach so empty.

Unrecognisable without the hoards of tourists.


Stormy weather made for a moodier beach scene.



Since outdoors was not looking positive for the day, we set off for the Museum of Sydney to see an exhibition called Tails of the City – the story of pets in Sydney. I’ve never been to the museum before – I didn’t even know where it was! It’s a nice little museum on the site of the first Australian parliament house.

On the travelator at the Domain car park.


A trip to that part of town isn’t complete without stopping at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. I always get the same thing – the chocolate milkshake – so opted for the ice chocolate instead ($7). It was exactly the same as the milkshake though, which would have disappointing if I didn’t love the shake so much 🙂

Yuuuuum!

Alec and his ice coffee. Sluuuurp!

We shared the Passion dessert – it was fruity and perfect! ($12)

Alec pulling faces. He enjoyed himself, I swear!

Booty from the cafe – the loose Lindt balls were free because we spent over $30. Score!! We selected flavours we hadn’t tried before like raspberry, peanut butter and cookies and cream.


Three Steps Cafe,
113 Bondi Road,
Bondi

Lindt Cafe
53 Martin Place
(Cnr Phillip Street), Sydney
tel (02) 8257 1600

Vicini Pizza @ Annandale

After viewing some houses in the area, we stopped in at Vicini to get a feel for the area and try some pizza.

The sign out the front said it was rated highly in the Sydney Good Food Guide, so we had to try it out.

Show me the food!

A la carte menu – we stuck to the pizza however.


We ordered a pizza each after seeing a pizza on the table next to us. It turned out however it was a children’s sized pizza, and when ours came out we were pleasantly surprised at how huge they were!


My Margherita, tomato, bocconcini and basil. Soooo delicious! Hand-rolled dough, the perfect amount of cheese, a little bite of heaven! At $19 it was a little on the pricey side, but tasted so good it was worth it.

Alec’s Sandro Special: salami, ricotta, rocket, truss tomato, chilli ($22).


Vicini
37 Booth Street,
Annandale, NSW.
Ph: (02) 9660 6600

Tues-Thurs 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 9:30pm
Fri 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat 9am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun 9am – 3pm

Narrabeen & Counter Burgers

On this beyond hot day, Alec and I took a trip to Narrabeen to cool off.






Afterward we meet Matt and Lisa for dinner at Counter Burger, Crows Nest.







We ended the night at Matt and Lisa’s place watching Scrubs.


Max Brenner Chocolate Cafe

After watching Gran Torrino at Bondi Junction on Australia Day with Alec, Jan and Uncle, we stopped in at the Max Brenner Chocolate Cafe.

I had a hot chocolate with waffle balls (delightfully sweet and milky with crunchy waffle balls) in a Hug Mug, and shared strawberries and chocolate with Alec. All I can say is yum, yum, yum!


How cute are the Hug Mugs? I bought a pair to take home with me so we can enjoy hot chocolate in them next winter.

So many lovely chocolatey things!

See, chocolate is good for you! Max Brenner says so 🙂

Canberra – Day 2

It’s off to the National Art Gallery to see the Degas exhibition. It was definitely worth the long drive down! We joined a tour group and learned a great many things about my favourite artist.

Following the art gallery we took a walk around the Old Parliament House Gardens and had a look at the hundreds of roses that are planted there.


A visit to our nation’s capital isn’t complete without a trip to Parliament House. We had a quick look around, walked over the top, and stopped for lunch. We hadn’t intended to stop there at all, but I’m glad we did as I found it really interesting.


Last stop in the Berra before our journey home was at Koko Black, a chocolate cafe recommended to me by a work friend. It’s a Melbourne company and has yet to open in Sydney. I was a bit of a glutton and ordered way too much, but I wanted to try a few things.


I wasn’t disappointed that’s for sure! The ice chocolate I had was amazing and filled with two different types of ice-cream. Alec’s ice coffee was also great, and the ice-cream martini we shared was absolutely fantastic.


Piggy!


I can’t remember the full name of this, but it was a delicious caramel ice-cream made on the premises with coconut and chocolate and possibly something else.

Gone in 60 seconds!

Lots more chocolate!


After Koko Black we slowly drove back to Sydney … after an immensely enjoyable Canberra mini-break.

The Counter, Crows Nest: A Final Farewell for Beverly

Pics from one last lunch with Beverly and Lisa before Beverly takes off to Shanghai. We had to check out a new place at Crows Nest, The Counter – custom burgers.

Lots to chose from!


’50s style diner.

Sweet potato and onion rings.

Most awesome shakes ever!



Fries with cheese – a bit oily and could do with more cheese.

Lisa’s burger.

My vege burger – dissected.



Beverly’s burger.

My final Tokidoki bag! I got it for a great price on eBay.


Adriano Zumbo – The Wonder Years

Back again for more food! This time Lisa and Matt came with us, as did Buffy and Kahlua.

We decided finally to order proper food at the Chocolat Cafe, and it was fabulous!

Buffy drove us there. She is an excellent driver.

Ricotta pancakes. Yuuum!

Matt and multiple quiches.

My bircher muesli. Awesome!

Lisa ordered the Paris.

A little cuddle from Dad.

Buffers loves the attention.

They make awesome coffee.

Hulk hug!


I am trying one new dessert each time we visit. This time it was The Wonder Years.

It arrived in a kidney dish!
Interactive dessert!

Molten chocolate! Yuuum!

Khacha Thai and Catch-up

Beverly and Chris arrived home from Singapore this morning, so we met up for ferret handing over and lunch at Khacha Thai in Crows Nest. It was also the last time that we would all be able to get together until Bev and Chris’ wedding in August – I’m going to miss you guys!

Khacha Thai is a great little place with very large portions, making it a good value place to eat.
Soft-shell crab I think. The boys loved it.
Mixed stir-fry vegetables with soy bean sauce.

Prawn something.

The boys looking grim.

Aww.

Lastly, vegetarian Pad Thai.

Finally, today I got my new watch, which is my birthmas present from Alec. I lost my previous one when I fell over somehow, and I have been watch-less ever since! I love love love my new Tag, particularly the pink mother of pearl face. So pretty!
Close-up!

Khacha Thai

308a Pacific Highway
Crows Nest
Ph: (o2) 9966 8444