Sweet Peas and Green Tea

Those tomatoes down there? Apart from the dinner I made tonight (roasted butterflied chicken with cardamom and yogurt, moroccan carrots and buttery couscous), those tomatoes are almost the only thing I’ve eaten at home in the last few weeks. I’d offer to hand in my food blogger credentials immediately if it wasn’t for the fact that the tomatoes are so darn beautiful and they came straight from our balcony garden. So did all those herbs. Bam! It’s such a little thing but it makes me happy.

This past Friday I finished up at the job I’ve been at since I finished university. I have nine (!!) weeks off before I start a graduate program. Finishing up is bittersweet. I will miss my co-workers terribly. I’m also sentimental and stupidly resistent to change. At the same time, I’m ready for something new. I want to throw myself into the long hours that are part of the corporate life package deal and I can’t wait to meet lots of new people and return to old faces.

I thought the first week post-work would be tough (I know, I’m crazy) – too much spare time to think and all that – but it was pretty dreamy in the end. From now on my cure for the blues will include the following …

Pear and maple cordial vodka concoctions at Darlie Laudromatic (this is the best small bar I’ve stumbled upon in ages – cool, quirky, no pretense and no crowds).

Fu Manchu with wonderful friends.

Gelato Messina (don’t ask how many times I visited. It was significantly more than one. The Mincing Tart – brandy custard gelato with fruit mince tart – was very special).

Skyfall (LOVED it!)

Fratelli Fresh Bridge Street (my friend Ash (*waves*) recommended a dish of proscuitto di parma and pickled watermelon rind. Sounds appetizing hey? My mind was blown. It was a salty, savory, sweet, candied spectacular).

Bondi beach with my mum (and my very first Equipment shirt).

Lunch at Bar H. Seriously, add this place to your must-eat list. I ate at Bar H for the first time a couple of years ago and loved it but it’s definitely in the special occasion category. Thankfully, the Little H lunch menu is an absolute steal. We ordered with abandon and paid just $21 each for a really special lunch (don’t leave Lucy!).

Young and Dumb

Coffee at Three Blue Ducks

Brunch at Reuben Hills (I bloody love this place. One day soon I will stop visiting and start telling you about it).

Booking an impromptu trip to Japan with a friend (!!!!!!!!!).

Looking at the list I feel a bit ill. No wonder, given how much I’ve been eating out. My poor hips, not to mention my bank account. It was worth it though. If this week, has been anything to go by, it’s going to be a fantastic summer (and 2013)! (If you have any Japan travel tips, send them my way).

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. I’ll be back as soon as I can drag myself away from the shortbread/trifle/christmas cake/brandy truffles. Xox