September is always a busy, fun month for us, but this year might just put the rest in the shade. A lot of it has to do with the sheer number of birthdays there are in September, but it also sees the last shreds of winter fall away.
And this month, we’ve got all of that as well as wine explorations, posh dinners, relos visiting and even an overseas flop-and-drop holiday – something Christina and I rarely get to do.
Here’s to month nine!
Cheers – Jim & Christina xx
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Family in town
With the vast majority of my family living in the northern hemisphere, I always get pretty excited when I hear one of the clan is in town.
So when I got a text from my cousin Ian saying he was in Sydney and wanted to catch up, I was thrilled. It turns out he’s here for the Sydney Marathon, which takes place every year at the end of August.
This afternoon, we’re catching up for a beer and a feed. He casually mentions that he has to see his girlfriend off at the airport first. Why isn’t he flying with her all the way back to the UK? Simple. It turns out they moved to Darwin about 18 months ago!
I’ve had family in the country this whole time and I never knew about it!
Ian and I haven’t seen each other in almost 20 years, but it doesn’t take long to catch up on things. As it turns out, we still get on pretty well!
By the way, he did quite well on his marathon: 3hrs 1min. He’s upset he didn’t get across the line in under three hours, but as one of my very wise friends pointed out to him, he should’ve run a bit faster!
A Fine Wine Fest at Woolloomooloo
Today, I’m at the Ovolo in Woolloomooloo looking out over Garden Island and Sydney’s beautiful harbour. But I’m not here for the views nor for military recon. Today is a special trade tasting of the House of Fine Wines’ impressive portfolio.
Filling an entire event room, row upon row of tables are laid out with wines from all the different producers under the one banner.
There are plenty of household names here including Bollinger Champagne House, McWilliams, Tahbilk and Villa Maria, but there are also some very interesting smaller producers too.
I’m here with my fabulous friend Amy, who’s agreed to keep me company (and out of as much trouble as possible) while Christina’s busy with other appointments.
We try as many of the wines around the room as we can, with some real standouts at Sanguine Estate’s excellent medium-bodied reds, Chalk Hill’s crisp Chardonnay and Dreissigacker Winery’s profound range of Rieslings.
We also really enjoy the wine and the fun company of Soul Growers, who make superb wines from grapes sourced from across the Barossa.
We also hear from Andrew Calabria, the Sales & Marketing Director of Calabria Family Wine Group, which recently brought the House of Fine Wine’s portfolio into the fold.
Andrew shares some fascinating insights with us about the industry and about Calabria Family Wines too.
“What data is telling us right now is white wines, lighter style reds are definitely working,” Andrew tells us. “Pinot Noir is still hugely successful in terms of reds, where we can see some of the heavier, old-fashioned Australian reds are definitely coming off.”
He also has something to say about younger people and disagrees with the assumption that they’re not drinking as much as older generations:
“I think the wine world does a really poor job in the way we talk to consumers… I don’t agree with this whole ‘younger people aren’t drinking wine’. I think younger people are just intimidated by wine.”
He has a point. 20-year-olds with less wine knowledge feel uncomfortable when “a guy comes over with a little badge wearing a suite and he’s talking about soil and wine-making.”
Calabria Family Wines are aiming to break down those barriers while still bringing high-quality wine to the initiated.
Wine And Art with Yalumba at Sydney Contemporary
This afternoon, we’re at the Carriageworks for the annual Sydney Contemporary. Known as Australia’s premier art fair, this showcase of contemporary and modern art houses stalls for over 100 galleries and more than 500 artists is the perfect place for art lovers and collectors.
It’s so interesting to see so much art of all different styles in one place from both budding and established artists. It’s also amazing people-watching here. I have to admit, some of the art is a bit over my head. ‘Orange Monochrome’ by John Nixon doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s felt on cardboard on wood and is 10.4cm x 10.2cm x 4.7cm.
I wish I could tell you more.
But it’s not just the art we’re here for; as one of the primary sponsors of Sydney Contemporary, Yalumba Wine Family is the house pour at the bar here.
The winery is supporting emerging artists through Sydney Contemporary’s Futures sector, where they have transformed the labels of Yalumba’s Signature Cabernet and Shiraz magnums. These wines are available to purchase as collector items and money goes towards supporting the artist and their work.
As we enjoy a glass or two of Yalumba, we’re guided around some of the galleries and their art by the esteemed Oliver Watts. An awarded artist himself – as well as an art historian and curator – Oliver has incredible depth of knowledge and perspective around the works that we see here today. We’re very lucky to have had his company.
Birthday Week For Jeanette
Christina’s mum’s birthday is in early September, so we’re taking her out to catch up with some friends. First off, some of her oldest friends have come to have lunch with her in St Ives. It’s been so long since I’ve seen these lovely ladies, so it’s much of a treat for me as it is Jeanette!
Ana, Jacqui – who lives in Queensland now – and Mara have been friends with Jeanette for decades. It’s great to see them all together again.
We also have lunch with one of Jeanette’s newer friends, but ironically probably the oldest. Norma is incredibly impressive, especially at the age of 103! We’ve brought round a bite to eat, but she’s already laid the table and has put out tea and biscuits for us.
We also go back to Christina’s sister’s place so she can give Jeanette a quick haircut. Mary was a hairdresser in a former life and still does her mum’s hair every now and again.
Mixed feelings about Mr Wong’s
This evening, Christina and I are out for dinner at Mr Wong’s to celebrate our 26th year of being together! Quite the milestone.
We haven’t been to Mr Wong’s in ages, but the food is still as good as ever it was. However, we end up feeling a bit rushed, which isn’t what you really want when you’re paying quite a bit of money for a meal. We’ve barely finished ordering when the dishes start arriving.
We leave feeling full, but also a bit like we’ve just hurried through a mid-week office lunch rather than the romantic meal we were hoping for.
Wine For Curry
This evening, we’re in North Strathfield at Abhi’s Indian Restaurant for a very interesting prospect; we’re checking out a new wine that’s soon to come on the market that’s been specially crafted to pair with Indian food.
This is Sari Wines and is part of the genius of Fourth Wave Wines, who are known for their clever concepts around wine understanding.
I’m usually more of a beer drinker when it comes to curry, but these wines are actually perfect with the food – carefully chosen varietals that go with different styles of curry, spice and richness.
The core Sari wines are Blanc de Noir sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Viognier, Pinot Noir and GSM.
The menu tonight, brought to us by the amazing catering of the Modern Desi Co, works so well with the wines, which in turn work perfectly with the food.
The spread is incredible, with 10 different dishes showing the best of the wine pairings. We start with bubbles and work our way through the bottles and the menu!
Click this drop-down to see more about the wines and the food they were paired with:
Sari Wines and Curry Pairings
- Sari Blanc de Noir – works as an aperitif, and with fried starters, chaat and lighter dishes. Food > Palak Patta Chaat spinach leaves in crispy lentil batter topped with yoghurt, Rose Kulfi dessert
- Sari Sauvignon Blanc – goes with fresh herbs and green chilli, seafood and lighter curries. Food > Chatpata salt and pepper fried squid
- Sari Rosé – a broader middle-ground wine; good for tandoori and milder curries. Food > Tikka Nimbuda tandoor-roasted chicken thigh marinated in yoghurt
- Sari Viognier – for richer, aromatic curries and creamier sauces. Food > Hariyali Chops tandoori lamb cutlets in a green masala, Kadhai Paneer cheese with capsicum, Goa Fish Curry Humpy Doo barramundi with spices and freshly ground coconut
- Sari Pinot Noir – perfect for tandoori and richer meat dishes without the weight of a big Shiraz. Food > Ennai Kathrikai baby eggplant in a rich cashew, peanut and coconut sauce, Chicken Makhni tandoori chicken in a creamy tomato sauce
- Sari GSM – the wine for lamb, goat or beef dishes, and more intensely spiced, richer curries. Food > Patiala Goat Curry slow-cooked in a thick sauce and richly spiced
The Road South
Christina and I are hitting the road today. It feels like ages since our last road trip, so we’re excited with this one; we’re driving down to the Mornington Peninsula for a wedding!
We get as far as the town of Yass before needing a stop. We find the town’s main street clad in the most beautiful cherry blossoms. If it weren’t for the classic Aussie colonial architecture, we could be amongst the sakura of Japan.
We pop into Clementine Bakery for a couple of tasty pies, but the sausage roll we also pick up is the absolute stand-out here.
How’s The Serenity
We decide not to do the drive down to the Mornington in one go and Christina finds a real gem to stop off at.
This is the town of Bonnie Doon, put on the map and into legend by the classic film The Castle. The pub here – the Bonnie Doon Hotel – is actually wonderful and we’re right on time for happy hour: $4 middies!
We stick around until it’s time for dinner then smash one of the house burgers each. Excellent food, beautiful surroundings and friendly locals – it doesn’t get much better!
The motel attached to the Bonnie Doon Hotel is just as excellent – especially for the price. Usually, the basic standard for old-school motels is it’s clean and you don’t feel like you’re about to get murdered.
These guys have done way better than that.
The place has recently been decorated, the bed is new and very comfortable, the bathroom has been very thoughtfully renovated and all in all, this is a great place to spend the night. There’s even a pool!
Since we’re in Bonnie Doon, it’d be rude not to go and check out the holiday house in The Castle. Yes, it’s real, yes, it’s here and yes, you can even rent it out! There are some amazing callbacks to the movie.
Two lances hanging in the window, a punchbag in the tree and even a kennel for Coco in the garden.
Sure enough, how’s the serenity!
From Bonnie Doon, it’s only a couple of hours further to the Mornington Peninsula. We’re too early to check into our AirBnB, so Christina finds us a lunch spot. This is the very enjoyable Moon Dog Brewery, right on the beach at Frankston.
We grab a tasting paddle each and find a spot in the sun on the deck of the brewery’s beach club veranda. The brews are very serviceable and the burgers really hit the spot.
Wedding Bells in the Mornington
Ding dong! It’s wedding time! We’re very excited to see our wonderful friend Jess say her vows and at such a beautiful venue. This is Dromana Estate winery, a stunning spot on the peninsula and the perfect place for such a celebration.
We’ve known Jess and her hilarious bridesmaids for a million years – since she was 17 in fact. It’s so good to see her so happy.
After the formalities, which hit all the targets, it’s inside for dinner. Food and wine flow freely, and speeches and dancing take up the rest of our bandwidth leaving our hearts, souls and stomachs very full indeed.
Congratulations to Jess and Pete. It was an honour to share your special day with you.
While we’re here, Christina and I decide to explore the seaside of the Mornington a bit. This really is a beautiful part of Australia.
The last time we were here was for a wedding in 2020 – just before Covid hit – and we checked out a few Mornington Peninsula wineries. Before that, Christina used to come here all the time with her family, but that was when she was little. It’s a long way to come from Sydney, but very much worth it.
One More Stop Before Home
We end up hitting the road later than we were hoping, so we decide not to push it too much and stop somewhere for the night.
The sun just about sets as we pull into our parking spot at a random motel in Albury, just over the NSW border. Funnily enough, the last time we were here was for a wedding as well, but that was just this March and we had already checked out the food options.
I had a feeling the Indian Tandoori Restaurant on the town’s main street was good. It’s pleasing to be proven right!
There’s Something About Mary (it’s her birthday)
Today is my lovely sister-in-law Mary’s 60th birthday! I still can’t quite get my head around the idea – especially considering how good she looks – but there you go.
We’re with her to celebrate this evening at the beautiful Bathers’ Pavilion at Balmoral for dinner. The food and service is just outstanding.
Christina and I share a chicken parfait to start, she goes for the slow-cooked lamb ragu pasta and I have the mussels in a creamy white wine sauce, but the food aside, it’s an evening to remember.
Happy birthday, Mary!
Birthday Fun in Fiji
Welcome to Fiji! I haven’t been back here in 25 years! And back then, I certainly wasn’t staying in digs like this.
We’re at the Waitui Beach Club – the adults-only side of Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island. It takes quite a long time for us to check in – mostly because reception has to go through all the things that come with our room. Free minibar that’s restocked every day, breakfast on the beach, happy hour every hour from 11am to 5pm… it’s pretty lush.
We make it to the beach in time to enjoy the 5pm drinks and snacks just as the sun dips into the sea. What a welcome!
For this trip, there are six of us: Christina and myself, her sister and birthday girl Mary, our brother-in-law David, and their friends Leanne (who Mary has known since kindergarten) and Leanne’s husband Murray, who they’ve all known since high school!
It’s a very merry gathering and we spend most of our time here lounging by the pool, swimming in the pool or drinking.
It’s the first time Christina and I have tried this kind of holiday. I think if we were here alone, we’d be out and about every day, but because of the excellent company (and all the free drinks!), we’re happy to stick by the pool.
SUP, SPa Treatments & Fine-Dining
Of course, there’s always something to do here. Christina discovers that, as well as all the complimentary F&B package, we have access to the hotel’s standup paddle boards and kayaks.
Meanwhile, I catch up with my mate Frenchie, who happens to be on holiday here at the same time just next door in the Hilton.
You might remember Frenchie from his excellent write-up on the Three Capes in Tasmania that he did for us.
The food here at the Sofitel has been amazing. Perfect little macchiato, superb, sumptuous dinners at the many restaurants at the resort (this was my squid ink house-made linguini with flambe seafood and a lobster sauce) or fresh coconuts on demand.
In fact, the coconut here is a breakfast option – where you can have it topped up with local rum!
Christina and I also get a cheeky treatment in at the Sofitel Spa. The amazing Tropical Trio is 90 minutes of bliss starting with a half-hour top-to-tail sugar scrub, a 30-minute back massage and then a 30-minute refresher facial treatment.
This also comes with a plate of petit fours and a glass of bubbly at the end. We both leave the spa feeling like our bodies have been swapped for jelly. Thank you, Shoma and Matilda for making us feel so relaxed.
It’s definitely worth booking at the adults-only section though. No matter how much you love kids, this little corner of peace is luxury – especially if you compare it to the craziness of the general population!
The Sofitel Fiji is also in the process of expanding with the brand new Vatu Talei complex opening at the end of 2027.
Beyond the Sofitel
We do escape the wonderful confines of the resort eventually – though we miss the comfort and happy hours immediately!
Christina and Mary once lived in Fiji when their dad worked here back in the ’80s. We head to the town of Lautoka, where the family lived, to see if we can find their old house. Leanne also visited Mary, so she has memories of this place too.
Initially, we can’t find the house and give up, instead heading into town to explore the markets, which Mary and Leanne remember well. Christina was just a baby then.
Lautoka Markets are amazing. Enormous and full of all kinds of unusual fruit and veg. Everything is so fresh and enormous here – that’s ginger Christina’s holding up!
We walk around the town a bit more, and then by a stroke of good luck, we find someone who remembers the house and points us in the direction of Coral Sea Drive. Back in the van, we head over to the suburb of Simla and there it is!
We also head to Mary’s old school and have a look around. She says nothing much has changed – it must be quite the experience to trip down memory lane like that.
We also head south to Natandola and to the Intercontinental. Murray, who’s been to Fiji about a thousand times, has stayed here and knows it as the best beach in the area. The water is so clear and so blue, it’s almost hard to look at.
You can buy day passes at the Intercon for about FD$130 per person, which gives you access to the facilities and also can be used for your food and drinks bill at the end of the day.
Christina, Mary and I enjoy some time by the pool, while David, Murray and Leanne go exploring – ending up on a three-hour hike through mangroves, rocks and caves, mistake a banded sea krait for a rope and getting stung by something. It’s an epic effort, bearing in mind none of them has any shoes on, no one’s got even a T-shirt and they didn’t take any water.
Murray very impressively orders two beers as soon as he’s back, the first of which disappears like he tipped it!
All too soon, we’re having our last dinner. The staff at the Sofitel Fiji Waitui Beach Club have made this trip so much more memorable for us and deserve all the praise.
We’re back in the minivan heading for the airport amidst the busy Nadi traffic of smoky bumbling cars and trucks overloaded with sugar cane.
We come in to land just as the sun is setting not only on Sydney but on our holiday as well.
Happy birthday once again, Mary. We hope you had as good a time as we all did!
Cheers – Jim & Christina xx
There’s Always a Bit More!
If you enjoyed this Flavour of The Month, here are the last few previous months you can catch up on!