Sydney Food Bloggers Christmas Picnic, Centennial Park (24 Nov 2012)

Corner of Parkes and Hamilton Ave, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.centennialparklands.com.au
Twitter hashtag: #sydfbxmas2012

Food Bloggers in the park

Congratulations to Chocolatesuze and Grab Your Fork for organising the biggest gathering of food bloggers so far for their annual Sydney Food Bloggers Christmas Picnic in Centennial Park. Apparently 67 turned up from about 100 RSVPs. Sunny weather made for a pleasant day of meeting fellow food bloggers in person and sharing an abundance of savoury and sweet goodies. My award for the cutest treat goes to Kat from Gucci & Gyoza for her Oreo turkeys (picture above). Last year I did a pop up bar which was very popular so I decided to do pop up another one. I'm more confident with making cocktails than cooking and some social lubricant always helps to make an event more festive. This year I made a vitamin C infused Stoli O Main Squeeze with Stoli Ohranj, the classic Hendrick's Gin & Tonic and a refreshing Frangelico Hazelnut Fresca which proved very popular. I'll definitely have to source a large table for the next time so I have a bit more room to move. Steph (Raspberri Cupcakes) and Karen (Citrus & Candy) did a lovely Pimms & Lemonade. I might possibly steal this drink idea for next time. 

The $10 Kris Kringle was a lot of fun. Especially when you're allowed to steal someone else's gift that has already been opened. You had to make sure you remember what had already been opened in case you were keen to steal it off them when it was your turn to pick a present. I was 57 in turn and decide to go for an unopened gift. I ended up with a nice box of Lindt Mini Pralines which I was more than happy with and thankfully no one stole it from me. I look forward to the next picnic get together which will hopefully be blessed with good weather again. There's certainly no shortage of passionate food bloggers in Sydney and this event provides a perfect opportunity to come out from behind their screens and cameras and be proud of sharing their love of food.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: You get to meet lots of other food bloggers and put faces to names, Fun atmosphere, Fresh air and sunshine, Get to sample lots of other peoples cooking

CONS: Weather dependent due to being outdoors, If you drive you won't be able to enjoy the SFF Pop Up Bar as much, Lots of people makes for a very long Kris Kringle

MUST TRY: Discovering new cocktails to make for the next picnic

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Too cute

Super cute Oreo turkeys by Kat from Gucci & Gyoza 

I really enjoyed a piece of this Olive & Rosemary Schiaccita

I had one of the egg Vietnamese rolls which was very good

Food feasting

SFF Pop Up Bar — next time I hope to have a bigger table

Hazelnut Fresca: Frangelico and SKYY Vodka with ginger ale and lime juice

Hendrick's Gin & Tonic with slice of cucumber

Stoli O Main Squeeze: Stoli Ohranj with Orange Juice and topped with Soda

Thanks to Daniela Penno from Polkadot PR for the Stoli, Kalli Marshall from Trish Nicol Agency for the Frangelico and Jack Pollock and Cida Wen from William Grant & Sons for the Hendrick's Gin. Coles ended up being pretty good on price for all the mixers.

Pimms & lemonade by I believe Steph (Raspberri Cupcakes) and Karen (Citrus & Candy)

Chocolatesuze enjoying her Frangelico cocktail with signature painted fingernails

Kris Kringle time — spend limit was $10

These plates were very popular for stealing during the Kris Kringle

I'm pretty happy with my Lindt Mini Pralines Kris Kringle

Number 57 in turn for Kris Kringle

Cursed Cookies was another popular steal choice amongst the Kris Kringle

I would have been very happy with a bucket of Maltesers

Half food blogger, half DSLR

Chocolatesuze and me getting photobombed

We represent the red tshirt team

That's me in the red tshirt in case you didn't notice ;-)

There's always one clown not following the rules

Take away packs of Christmas shortbread biscuits by Sara and Josh (Bellyrumbles)

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The Carrington: Spanglish Weekend Breakfast Menu, Surry Hills (5 Aug 2012)

565 Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

http://the-carrington.com.au

Brekky with a side of booze

Thanks to Charlotte Lattin from Folke for inviting me as a guest to sample the new breakfast menu at The Carrington now available weekends between 9 am and 1 pm. There was a nice amount of natural light entering the dining area to make it feel like a café and less like a dark pub but for those still a bit under the weather I noticed a few quieter and darker spots that might suit. Décor was nice and cosy although the round tables were pretty small which aren’t particularly conducive to reading a newspaper or magazine. The Ibiza Muesli with poached apple, rhubarb & quince, organic yoghurt ($12) was a decent portion with a nice mix of ingredients. A nice touch of apple on top and the only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the chewy bits of dried apricot — smaller pieces or softer in texture would be my preference. The Big breakfast with eggs any style, bacon, tomato, chorizito, rosti & mushrooms ($20) was also a decent portion for those with an appetite to satisfy. Mushrooms were the star for me and the homemade chorizito although I would have loved an even spicier flavour in the chorizito. The rosti unfortunately lacked flavour and needed more crispy bits for my liking. If it was a potato hash liked they do at Baffi & Mo or even your basic hash brown like at Roadies Cafe the dish would have been a favourite.

The recommended Morcilla & Potato with fried duck egg ($16) had great tasting morcillo with a nice fried outer crunch. The duck egg was perhaps just slightly undercooked because some of the white was still translucent. A simpler fried egg on top would have worked a treat as well like on the empanada. The morcilla is definitely worth considering as a side to try. I would have loved to see some included on the Big Breakfast. The beans worked OK in the dish but I kept thinking beans aren’t really a morning thing. Perhaps asparagus could also work as an alternative? The Torrijas with grilled banana & churros icecream ($16) was a sight for those with hungry eyes. This dish was on a timer though as the yummy tasting ice cream melts very fast due to heat of the fried bread and banana. I think the bread might have needed to be cooked just a tad longer as the egg mix inside was still a bit runny in parts. The favourite dish of the day was the Empanada Rancheros with ham hock, beans, creamed corn & a fried egg ($14). A good combo of flavours with nice flakey pastry. A bit more spice in the chorizito would have been welcomed. I wasn’t 100% sure about the use of the coriander. It seemed to work quite well and I couldn’t think of an alternative green that was more Spanglish and less Asian.

Not only does the breakfast menu include the usual ‘soft’ drinks like juices and coffees but there was a ‘hard’ drinks menu for those who don’t mind drinking spirits before lunch. The Mocha ($3.50) could have had a more noticeable hit of chocolate in the mix but the mini churros on the side was a nice touch. Hochata is available as Straight ($6), Hochata Dirty ($7.50) or Horchata Filthy with Coffee & Kahlua ($12). My pick is the filthy version which will make your dirty taste like milk and straight version taste like water. The Bloody Mary ($15) had no shortage on chilli spice and the quirky presentation offered a mini antipasto on top. A longer cut of celery would have helped to make it a good stirrer. For a semi-healthy drink the Beetroot lemonade ($6) made with ginger beer and pineapple juice might do the trick. Nice flavours that also go well with some Hendrick’s Gin or even Tequila I’m told for those who like it a bit more wicked in the morning. The Mimosa ($10) had quite an alcoholic kick if you need a good ‘hair of the dog’ beverage at a reasonable price. I wished the nice tasting Sourside Down ($15) was a bit more generously filled and the La Spritz ($10) was certainly a refreshing option with noticeable alcohol to please.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Interesting breakfast menu, Booze available, Cosy decor, Decent amount of seating, Quiet tables near the centre bar if you're feeling a bit fragile

CONS: No large table space to spread a newspaper or read a magazine with ease, Not a fan of the table supports, Alcohol for breakfast isn't the healthiest way to start your day

MUST TRY: Horchata Filthy, Empanada Rancheros, Torrijas with grilled banana & churros icecream, Morcilla (as a side)
VERDICT: If you're looking for a breakfast that's a bit different or require a 'hair of the dog' fix then this weekend breakfast menu could hit the spot

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Ibiza Muesli with poached apple, rhubarb & quince, organic yoghurt ($12) - decent portion, good flavour, nice touch of apple on top

Big breakfast with eggs any style, bacon, tomato, chorizito, rosti & mushrooms ($20)

Nicely done poached egg

Great tasting mushroom that was seasoned well

Rosti was a bit of a let down — lacked a decent potato flavour and would have liked more crispy bits

Morcilla & Potato with fried duck egg ($16) — loved the morcilla in this dish
WORTH TRYING :-)

The duck egg seemed to be just slightly undercooked as some of the white was still a bit translucent — a simple fried egg on top would have worked as well

Torrijas with grilled banana & churros icecream ($16) — eat it quick as icecream melts fast
WORTH TRYING :-)

The centre of the torrijas seemed to be just a tad undercooked for my liking

Empanada Rancheros with ham hock, beans, creamed corn & a fried egg ($14)
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Nice flakey pastry and creamed corn goes well with the dish — I'm not a 100% sold on the coriander but made for a tasty dish

Would have loved the chorizito to be even a bit more spicy and hotter

Mocha ($3.50)

Horchata Straight ($6) - slight rice flavour, Horchata Dirty ($7.50)

Horchata Filthy with Coffee & Kahlua ($12)
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Bloody Mary - Vodka, Tomato Juice, pepper, Tabasco, Worchestershire + More ($15)

Beetroot lemonade ($6); Mimosa - kava, Grand Marnier, fresh orange ($10)

Sourside Down - Aperol, pomegranate, fresh lemon & cranberry tea ($15); La Spritz - fresh apple, mint, fennel, vodka & sparkling ($10)

Beetroot Lemonade with Hendrick's Gin if non-alcoholic doesn't do it for you

Drinks Menu — Go hard or go home!

Food Menu

Head Chef Jamie Thomas (left) in the kitchen

You'll have a whale of a time with enough booze in you

If you're still recovering from a big night and feeling a bit fragile then head to the more quiet and dimly lit area of the centre bar

A friendly bunch of customers celebrating a birthday — thanks for the slice of your homemade ginger & honey cake

Homemade ginger & honey cake — moist, not too sweet and just the right about of icing thoroughly enjoy

If you fear dead animals best watch out for this one

A few cushions around the window area would help to support the back

Not a fan of these table supports which get in the way for me

Perhaps be careful of this cocktail

A bit of a rest before the lunch menu

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