Simon Food Favourites: Wedding Reception

06 December 2009

Renate and Toby Wedding Reception: MCA, The Rocks, Sydney (6 Nov 2009)

Wedding: Illoura Reserve, Peacock Point, Balmain East NSW 2041
Reception: 140 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.mca.com.au

Fantastic views of the Harbour

Cloudy skies thankfully held tight for the wedding ceremony located at the beautiful Illoura Reserve in Balmain East. As guests waited for the arrival of the bride, the Peterson House Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2005 remained on standby chilling on ice awaiting the ensuing celebration. Guests were then provided available ferry transport from Balmain Wharf to Circular Quay where upon they made their way to the spectacular harbour views of the Level 6 Circular Quay Terrace at the MCA. A great spot to appreciate two of Sydney's most notable landmarks of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House as the sunset came to night.

Drinks and canapés were on offer as guests arrived which included a very refreshing Lychee, Ginger and Vodka Cocktail. The tasty Mini Taco filled with lime and chilli marinated scallops and guacamole was very yummy. Freshly barbecued skewers followed of chicken, kingfish and beef with my favourite being the grilled king prawns marinated in lime and lemongrass with nam jim dressing — I love my seafood! For those still hungry later in the night came individual servings of Lamb Tagine with Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables and Grilled Fish with Shallot Dumplings. Although I was making sure to keep enough stomach space available for the amazing and delicious looking Baby Tiramisu Wedding Cake for dessert which hit the sugar spot.

While dining and photographing the BBQ food on the terrace I bumped into the same chef who was working the previous week at the John Boston Premium Lager Launch in the Royal Botanic Gardens — I soon learnt Belinda Franks Catering looks after the catering for both of these venues amongst many others.

The wedding

The reception

The cake

The food

Lychee, ginger and vodka cocktail

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Mini taco filled with lime and chilli marinated scallops and guacamole

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Brioche with roast tomato and red wine butter

Peking duck in mandarin pancakes with cucumber, shallot and hoi sin sauce

Truffled mushroom pithiviers

Organic chicken with garlic and pepper with roast chilli dressing

Kingfish fillet with fresh lemon and olive oil

Grilled king prawns marinated in lime and lemongrass with nam jim dressing

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Angus beef medallion wrapped in prosciutto with caramelised onions

Lamb tagine with roasted mediterranean vegetables and fragrant cous cous

Steamed reef fish with ginger and shallot dumplings in a mushroom broth

Italian meringue lemon curd tarts with honey glaze and gold leaf

Baby tiramisu

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Terrace BBQ

In the kitchen

Wedding location

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Reception location

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05 December 2009

Sarina and Jordan Wedding Reception: Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club, Bellevue Hill (1 Nov 2009)

Wedding: The Arthur McElhone Reserve, Elizabeth Bay NSW 2011

Reception: O'Sullivan Road, Bellevue Hill, NSW 2023
http://www.eastsrugbyclub.rugbynet.com.au

An English garden tea party

So who has been to a wedding involving soft fluffy white bunnies, a vintage London double decker bus, soft serve ice creams, doilies, Pimms, mushy peas and scones all in one day? I have :-)

The wedding ceremony was at the tranquil harbour view gardens of The Arthur McElhone Reserve which was also very popular with local sunbathers who needed to be politely vacated from the reserved spot for the cute little white bunnies which marked out the wedding aisle. After the beautiful ceremony many of the guests boarded a vintage London double decker bus to transfer them to the reception. At the reception all the guests were greeted with a soft serve ice cream van in the parking lot to tempt them with refreshing and yummy ice creams of their choice — I loved my Choc Nut!

The wedding reception was decked out with spring garden colours of green, pink and white through abundant paper doilies, roses and ribbons. Guests started with refreshing glasses of Pimms with dry ginger ale, lemon and cucumber which went down very easily — I lost count of how many of these I enjoyed. Dainty white bread salmon sandwiches, grilled prawns and pork belly canapés were served along with the more traditional English themed Yorkshire pudding, fish and chips, Cornish pasties and pies with mushy peas. For dessert the freshly creamed sponge wedding cake went down a treat along with the tasting dessert platter of jam rolls, lemon sorbet, fresh strawberries and scones with cream and jam. Plenty of seasonal fruit salad followed with traditional minced fruit pies to finish off my stomach that rolled out the door back home. It was a wonderful day with perfect weather that I thoroughly enjoyed in supporting two of the most caring and down-to-earth friends I have the pleasure in knowing.

The wedding