Social Experiment: #shootmylunch to commemorate 11.11.11, Hyde Park Sydney (11 Nov 2011)

Twitter hashtag: #shootmylunch

11 lunches unite for the 11.11.11

A big thank you to everyone that managed to find the time to visit me in Hyde Park between 12 noon til 1 pm today to have their photograph taken with their lunch. Your photo is now recorded as part of the Simon Food Favourites social experiment for the special day of 11 November 2011. I hope to do something similar next year on the 12 December 2012 aka 12.12.12 at 12 noon — I wonder if I'll get 12 people for it too. Mark in your diaries now. My lunch today was from Boom Banana which I think make a pretty good chicken schnitzel sandwich. Morning tea was from Caffé Due Mondi at around 11.11 am just to add a few more special elevens to my day. It was certainly an eventful day for me which now comes to an end as I blog post this at 11.11 pm. You can never have too many Legs Elevens in your life.

First shot of the day at 11.11 am with my Raisin Toast & Hot Chocolate ($5) from Caffé Due Mondi

Location arrival 12 noon

Location waiting shots

First arrivals for #shootmylunch arrive with Boom Banana and Rolls on Oxford sandwiches

Chanel (left) from CatsLoveCooking with friends arrive as second wave with Iku and Gomez & Guzman

Dolly from Cupcakiedolly arrives with a pork roll from Hunter Connection

Richard Elliot from Richard Elliot's Blog arrives with his home cooked pasta

Don't forget the 11 November is Remembrance Day

Two friendly randoms enjoying their fruit juices from Chifley Plaza — thanks for making the total number of people 11 for the 11.11.11 — Legends!

A few lunch closeups

Location

Above the central stairs entrance on Park Street into Hyde Park facing North

Chifley Plaza: VIP Shopping Night, Sydney (2 June 2010)

2 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.chifleyplaza.com.au

Japanese night in

So did anyone end up going to the VIP Shopping Night at Chifley Plaza?

It was quite similar in concept to the Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Night with free flowing drinks for guests as they arrived sponsored by Kemeny's. It's quite a strange feeling walking into a shop, especially a fancy one, with a glass in hand but the shop assistants didn't seem to mind. I was keen to try the Azuma canapés but the trays of food were few and far between so you had to be on your toes to find it at times — especially when crowds flocked like seagulls when it arrived down the escalators from the restaurant above. The sushi options were quite nice but I thought the salad was a bit awkward to eat while standing with a glass of bubbles and rather uninteresting as a canapé — it made me think of Homer's dancing song ‘You Don't Make Friends With Salad’. The fried canapés served on a stick looked promising but arrived mostly cold which was a shame — I guess you can't ask too much when it's free although it doesn't give me the best impression of what Azuma is capable of providing as a fine dining restaurant.

The band entertainment by Slide McBride was great and sang a few familiar and classic songs to the shoppers passing by. Caffé Due Mondi were serving complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate which was welcomed because they make a great hot chocolate. Akira Isogawa was in attendance at his free fashion exhibition upstairs in the Japan Foundation which continues until 25 June 2010.

Other events at Chifley Plaza:

• 1 Dec 2010 - VIP Shopping Night - Promotion

• 2 June 2010 - VIP Shopping Night

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free drinks and canapes, Akira Isogawa fashion exhibition, friendly service staff

CONS: Smallish trays of food went quickly with hungry crowds turning into a flock of seagulls

MUST SEE: Akira Fashion Exhibition

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Drinks sponsored by Kemeny's

Bubbles — Charles Vienot Brut Supreme

Knappstein Shillings 2008 Clare Classic White

Azuma canapes

Vegetarian sushi canapé

I think this was a tempura prawn style

Sushi roll style canapés — scallop and salmon

Salad with soba noodles — you don't make friends with salad ;-)

Three of a kind — fried canapés of pumpkin, chicken and octopus.

Octopus filling

Pumpkin filling

Crowds on the lookout for canapé food

Akira fashion exhibition

Entertainment

Slide McBride band

Caffé Due Mondi

Hot chocolate

Manicure

Complimentary manicures

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Caffé Due Mondi: Hot chocolate and raisin toast, Chifley Plaza, Sydney (4 Feb 2010)

Shop F6, Upper Ground, Chifley Plaza

Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.caffeduemondi.com.au

Fast service, good hot chocolates

Ever since Bacco opened downstairs in Chifley Plaza I think Caffé Due Mondi has had some stiff competition in the coffee and cake trade. Also I remember they had a really young friendly guy on service who remembered the names of most of the regular patrons and what they ordered and since his departure I think they struggled a bit but this year they seem to be getting busier so they must be doing something right. Their prices are decent, food is good quality and service is efficient. There's a few no fuss quality pre-made sandwiches to choose in the window display and I think I've tried them all — my favourite is the Chicken Schnitzel on Turkish Bread followed by the classic Ham and Salad when I don't have much time for lunch. For a quick breakfast pick me up I love their thick sliced raisin toast ($2.20) and hot chocolate ($2.50) which doesn't need any sugar — I think they use a chocolate syrup which makes them great.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Quick service; Decent coffees, hot chocolate, raisin toast and reasonably priced quality pre-made sandwiches

CONS: Peak times can get busy for ordering

MUST TRY: Buttered raisin toast, Hot chocolate

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Buttered Raisin Toast $2.20 and Hot Chocolate $2.50

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

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