Simon Food Favourites: Picnic

Showing posts with label Picnic. Show all posts

25 November 2012

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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15 January 2012

Sydney Food Bloggers Picnic, Centennial Park (14 Jan 2012)

Corner of Parkes and Hamilton Ave, Centennial Park NSW 2021 http://www.centennialparklands.com.au

#sydfbpicnic

For the love of food, let's eat!

Mother nature was thankfully very kind for the Sydney Food Bloggers Picnic organised by Chocolatesuze and Grab Your Fork providing a miraculous break from the wet weather. Having minimum cooking skills I resorted to bringing the one thing I knew I could do — making cocktails. With the kind donation by Steve Stammers (Weber Shandwick) and Cida Wen (William Grant & Sons) for 3 bottles of Hendrick's Gin and Charlotte Ferrand (Burson-Marsteller) for 3 bottles of Maker's Mark I was set to make two of my favourite drinks I discovered in 2011. The Simon Food Favourites Pop Up Bar was created with two small tables and served the Hendrick's Gin & Tonic with fresh cucumber and the Maker's Mark punch known as Samuels Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice (recipe below) which even the non-whisky fans admittedly enjoyed once they tried. I think the most inventive eat of the day goes to the Candy Bug (pictured above) made by Sara and Joshua from Belly Rumbles. Banana lollies, mint chews and jaffas have never looked so cool. It was a fun day to catchup with lots of bloggers and put faces to new ones I haven't met before. I hope everyone had a good time and I look forward to meeting you at the next meetup.

Other events enjoyed with Hendrick's Gin:

• Pop-Up Drop-In Surgery for Refined Courtship Clinic

• Adventurists Afternoon Tea with Jon Muir

Other events enjoyed with Maker's Mark:

• Rochefort Christmas Party

• Zoolander NYE 2011 Party

Simon Food Favourites Pop Up Bar

Hendrick's Gin & Tonic with fresh cucumber

Maker's Mark Samuels Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice punch

Samuels Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice recipe

1.75L Maker's Mark

300mls Lemon Juice

3L Ginger Beer

300mls Spicer Port Syrup*

3 Oranges - Sliced in thin wheel for garnish

5kg bag of ice

*Spiced Port Syrup

Peel of 6 lemons and 6 oranges

1 kg Castor Sugar

6 cracked cardamon pods, 1 cracked whole nutmeg, 6 colves, 6 star anise, 4 cinnamon quills

700mls Port (Your preferred choice)

Combine citrus peel, sugar & spices in an airtight container for 24 hours, shaking a few times throughout. Add the Port and leave for a further 12 hours, stirring well.

Strain the finished compounded syrup through cheese cloth, bottle and refrigerate.

Service – combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl, stir well and serve.