Last week was pretty food heavy, so we were intending to have a slightly ‘lighter’ week this week, but things often don’t happen the way you plan them!
My good intentions are doomed from the start really, as I’ve agreed to take up an eating challenge on Saturday. Let’s just say the ‘steaks’ are high.
This pic is a little out of the running order chronologically, but it’s such a classic Sydney look I had to use it for the title image. It’s amazing – you can even see a couple of stars in the sky.
Enjoy!
Leading on from our post about how to use Venice’s vaporetto system – the public ferries there – we thought we’d share our favourite place in Venice with you.
This is a pic from our time in the beautiful hidden secret of Burano. Every house is painted a different colour and has been for centuries. It used to be a way to mark the borders of people’s properties. These days it makes for a very pretty walk. Highly recommended if you ever go to Venice. Which is also highly recommended!
I just can’t keep away from the spicy beef laksa from Mr Happy Chef in the Hunter Connection food court. It’s a big meal for a lunchtime, but well worth the effort and consequent belly pain!
Today I met up with my mate David, hubby to the lovely Sam from TheAnnoyedThyroid.com , which was great. It’s nice to be able to share something as good as a spectacular laksa… hmmm. That has a nice ring to it. Spectacular laksa.
We’ve finally found a rug we like that isn’t going to cost us more than our rent. Thanks to Freedom’s excellent sales recently, we’ve got a replacement for the old rug that was here and looking very sad. This is the Moroccan Boxes rug and we’re pretty happy with how it fits in.
This pic also gave us a good opportunity to show off our pride and joy – the bar! We’ll be popping up a couple more pics of our place in the next few weeks, so watch this space!
I’ve made my favourite Indian side dish today – tandoori onion bhaji. Crispy, tender, spicy and delicious – these little fellas are so addictive. I’m always tempted just to go into my favourite curry house and order a load of them instead of any mains!
Here’s our recipe for these tasty onion bhaji. They’re pretty easy to make, gluten free and vegan!
How’s this lunch pic? However good you might think the photo is, the food itself is better. Without wanting to sound like Dr Evil, it’s a million, babillion times better.
What you’re looking at here, dear friends, is smoked salmon, baby spinach, roasted tomato and watercress. It’s all perched on a beautiful potato rosti throne and crowned with a tiny poached egg. To finish it off (and me!), there’s a drizzle of what I take is a capsicum mayo sauce and the most delicious fig jam.
Where am I for this wonderment on a plate? The very understated Cook & Archie’s Espresso Bar in Surry Hills. They don’t have a website or even a Facebook page as far as I can tell, yet this mastermind of food is worth hunting them down.
They’re on Buckingham Street just off Elizabeth close to Central Station’s Devonshire St exit.
Mrs Romance and I are here with the delightful Sara-May from MakeUpUtopia.com, who’s brought along her little baby boy. What a little cutie – especially because he’s decided to not puke on me! Hurrah!
Tonight, Mrs R and I are out on a date night. It was a last-minute decision really, but they’re often the most enjoyable. We head down to Circular Quay and grab a glass of wine at Opera Bar. It’s pretty quiet tonight (because it’s not Friday!), the moon and stars are out and there’s a heater right behind us, so we’re warm.
I’m not the biggest advocate of Opera Bar as it’s usually packed, food and drinks are pricey and it’s usually chock full of city slickers in suits. I do understand why it’s a popular venue though, and why Mrs Romance loves this spot too. You’re in front of the Sydney Opera House, over-looking one of the most famous areas of water in the world, staring at the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
After our drinks, we go to the Dendy cinema at Circular Quay, which is hidden away from the crowd (I must have walked past it a hundred times and never seen it) and seemingly it hasn’t changed in the last 30 years.
It’s so cute inside, and you can take drinks in that you’ve bought at the bar, which is also the ticket office! The pre-film ads are all so funny – local businesses or random products you don’t see advertised anywhere else. It really is a step back in time.
The retro feel of the Dendy is perfect though, because we’ve come to see The Grand Budapest Hotel, which is very quirky, set in the ’30s and is directed by Wes Anderson. Mrs R points out that Anderson’s movies are all very symmetrical and she’s absolutely right. If you watch the film, look out for it. It’s blown my mind. And you should watch the film cos it’s bloody good!
Our popcorn and glass of red has filled us up about halfway, so we decide not to go for a massive dinner. Instead we go up the other end of town to Sea Bay for Chinese dumplings.
We only get the pork and veggie steamed dumplings and the deep fried chilli pork but it’s more than enough for the two of us and we waddle out stuffed. Sea Bay is a bit of a Sydney institution, and if haven’t been before, go there! It’s a no-frills Chinese kitchen style place with fast service and very loud patrons, but the food is unquestionable.
Here’s to Friday! And Friday Drinks this week are in anticipation of Cinco de Mayo celebrations coming up: the Mexican Bloody Mary is a beer-based cocktail with a shot of mezcal in it for good measure. Here’s our version of the ‘Michelada’ and it’s great!
Mrs Romance is gearing up for something big on Hair Romance, I think. She’s even used one of our photos from our wedding day to get the point across!
If you want to help her out by telling her about your dream wedding hair and make-up is, she’d be very grateful. Head over to HairRomance.com to answer a few questions on a questionnaire/survey she’s set up. All answers are anonymous, none are obligatory and they’re all valid! Thank you so much for your help! 🙂
Today I’m on a food challenge! I get to eat this monster: a 1.8kg, 7cm thick rib steak. It’s called the Tomahawk and is… substantial. It’s available at The Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay.
It’s taken me just under an hour to eat the whole thing, but I had to cease halfway through the potatoes. This upset me a little. They were roasted in duck fat and were really really good. I didn’t bother with the beans.
It’s another spectacular but chilly day in Sydney today. I roll out of bed still with half a cow in my belly from yesterday’s steak marathon and we go for a very pleasant walk through the city.
On our way to the Art Gallery of NSW, Mrs R and I stop at the Frazer Memorial Fountain. It’s got quite a history and has been moved two times before (once from York Street to Hyde Park, then again to the edge of College Street from Hyde Park when the Pool of Reflection was installed), and has a beautiful view of the city.
In the Gallery of New South Wales, we have a look round the photography section where I find this. Budget Burials by Glenn Sloggett – a stretch Kingswood with ‘cheaper & deeper’ on the windows. That’s how I want to go! Anyway, Angry Bastard rose up inside me and made me ‘gram this pic. I might have to buy a print of this!
After our walk, we decided we’ve earned a treat. What better treat is there than cheese? I’ll give you a hint – it’s cheese and wine! It’s also May the 4th – International Star Wars Day – so it’s only right we should watch Luke Skywalker and co do their thing.
Mrs R is very patient. She let me watch the whole film! May the Fourth be with her! 🙂
How was your week? What’s the biggest steak you’ve ever eaten? Which Star Wars character are you? Tell us all about it in the comments!
Sonia from Sonia Styling
Woo hoo, the Kidspot cheeseboard made it into this week’s pics! I said to Mr Styling this morning that we had the perfect weekend in my books: a bit of housework, a bit of reno’s, a bit of going out and a bit of relaxing. Oh and selling stuff on Gumtree!
Mr Romance
Ha ha! Yes, the cheeseboard made it – but that’s the only time I’m afraid, Sonia. It turned yellow from the cheese and the knife was virtually impossible to clean. It made a very satisfying sound as it went down the garbage chute though!
Your weekend sounds very good. A little bit of everything, which sounds like not too much of anything. The perfect ratio! More of that, thanks very much!
Jx
Sara-May
Heh, he may not have puked on you, but you sure copped a lot of drool!
Mr Romance
Ha ha! I did feel a bit like Tom Hanks in Turner and Hooch at one point! But I soon discovered the right angle to tilt him at which reduced droolage as much as possible! Loved meeting him though, Sara-May. And always a pleasure to catch up with you of course!
Jx