EAT: The Ivy Bar, Sydney

“…When you tell a Brit there’s a rooftop pool with a cocktail bar attached to it…you can guarantee attendance …”

Locate me: The Ivy is tucked down the alley of 330 George Street, 
2 minutes from Martin Place Station.
Arrive before 10 and avoid the $20 charge

You can choose between two entrances. Which ever one you choose, you’re going to be blown away.

Stairway One…

Leads you to the Main Bar. The space is huge and caters to any manner of taste:

The big sofa’s to chill out on

The dance floor

The outside/inside courts

Eat some Thai or simply take a seat on one of the balconies

You can relax or move in a variety of comforts. Yah, it’s cool, but it’s also very corporate. If you go between 7 and 9  the atmosphere is buzzing. The suits are looking good and the evening has that happy Friday feeling. Past 10 it takes on a club vibe and a different style of dressed attitude to accompany the scene.

I prefer the early hours when the nights just kicking off, whatever your mood or taste – come and have a look. Dress a little nice, too, its that kind of place.

Stairway Two…

You’re now in the pool.

Need I say more?

More you say? There’s a regular happy hour kicking off at 5-7pm.

For further details please see: http://merivale.com.au/ivy
READ ON: Cocktail bar Sydney (australia123business.wordpress.com)

PRODUCT: A GIFT FOR HER ON THE ROAD?

“Its a light weight treasure when you’re far from home”

For those with family or friends on the road, you may be wondering what kind of gift to post. You need to consider something that’ll be light for them to carry around and a gift that has thought in it – preferably something useful, too! 

As my 25^th birthday presented itself I found a little package with all these buzz words. Here’s a little inspiration to make someone’s day (year!) when on the road.

The Body Shop: Luxury Travel Gifts For Her

Body Butter

Perfume

Perfume

 Shower Gel

 A Letter

Never underestimate that old fashioned way of getting in touch. It’s a light weight treasure when you’re far from home.

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GAME: Letting it Slip…

As a rule, noting down those things people say that make you smile can prove completely brilliant, especially when you look back a little while later!

Here’s a list of quotes from Gran Canaria that make me cry with laughter. Have a smile, have a good read…

“We’ll be landing in…oh Las Palmas, nearly forgot where we were going then!”

- Pilot on Easy Jet 20 minutes before landing.

Rob:

“I call it a Rob-Special with ham and a bit of cheese.”

Me:

“You mean a ham and cheese sandwich?” 

Vicky:

“Don’t deny it; everyone’s had a bit of dirt”

Mentor:

“There’s a lot of agua de viva”

- Our first warning of jelly fish, the life of the sea.

Katie:

“I feel really privileged”

- In response to the Internet Café at 2 euros for 100 minutes, just around the corner.

Justine:

“But what if they’re really hungry?”

- In conversation to those fish eating your feet.

Justine:

“You bring the saucepan, I’ll provide the heat”

- On making coffee, it turned out.

Rob:

“You know they should really give instructions for warming up noowtella. 2 minutes in the microwave just isn’t good – trust me. “

- A very serious thought from Rob on heating up Nutella, which he pronounces noowtella. Is it the Irish roots?

Justine:

“Will you sit down!”

- Many a tragic story from Justine for our entertainment, which will never be told on this blog…

Kat:

“I have so much happiness in my cheeks”

- How to explain puffy cheeks.

Katie:

“Sometimes I dream about sleeping, I love sleeping”

Justine:

“You gotta die of something; it may as well be deep fried mushrooms”

- After a good meal out with tapas.

Laura:

“Have you read the hungry cater-pillar backwards so it looks anorexic?”

 

EAT: ONE DOLLAR FOOD SHOP IN SYDNEY

This has been a hot topic over the last few months, aside from everything else that’s expensive in Sydney, food shopping is an important one. Why? By the end of it all you have to eat and no amount of thrifty budgeting will excuse this fact.

You can be a little more smart about it though, as long as you know where to go. Here are a few areas I have sussed out to make my weekly shop for lunch, dinner and snacks a little more friendly to my dear old friend: bank account.

The weekly shop starts on Sunday in preparation for whats to come.

Ever Safe… Coles: Bulky Bits

For bulk items: jars, milk, bread, meat. Go to Coles, find one near you whether its on your lunch break or going home from work – pop in and grab the bits you need. Only use a basket – remember you have to carry this stuff home. Take a backpack, too. Heavy loading sucks. I’ve found the other stores are samey but more pricey. Frankton is near me and their range isn’t as good or as nicely priced!

Slightly in love with… Paddy’s Market: Fruit & Veg

Utterly in love with this place. The market is stuffed with colour and that super fresh feel. Don’t get me wrong, there are some bruised, yucky sections but the place is so massive just keep walking round until you find the quality you want. It won’t take long.

They tend to do deals of: 3 bags of veg for $5. You can grab courgettes, mushrooms, carrots, peppers, corn on the cob, green beans….This is better earlier in the day as its fresher.

At the end of the day stop in -  the market is flogging everything, screaming: “ONEEEEEEE DOLLLAARRRRRR!” the crowds are massive, the old women ram you with their buggies and the experience is hectic and I LOVED IT!

There’s also this incredible herb and spice section, I sigh every time I see it. There’s something you shouldn’t admit! Colour -  colour – colour. Its just authentic and a bit more exciting than buying a jar. More practical? Probably not.

Any other recommendations very welcome!

Also Read Up On…

What I do in Sydney? (meganchiew.wordpress.com)

Courgette, Sundried Tomato and Feta Cheese Muffins (storminakteacup.wordpress.com)

Recipe: Chorizo Cauliflower Rice (citytosticks.com)

GAME: The things you notice far far away

It has come to be that the further I  go from home the more I notice those nick-knacks I actually really adore; things I had no idea to appreciate. One of the best things about travel is to get out of your ordinary comfort zone and take a look from the outside, ’cause you might just find your missing what’s right in front of you.

Here are a few pieces I miss from the UK, things I never really cared about in fact! Do you miss any bizarre things from home?

1. Castles

I stayed with an Australian farmer who is now approaching his 70′s and he has never seen or been in a castle. This is on his wish list. How strange to hear, as my family holidays often evolved around old haggled history and what a luxury this experience is (surprised me I can tell you!).

2. Cobbled Streets

This is a strange one, but there is something about the uneven, rocky road that gives so much character to a place. Here in Sydney its all plain tarmac and easy walks. Oh to be stuck in the stones again!

3. Snow

Although I would wish for this treat just for one day, there have been endless photo’s of snowball fights and mayhem in the UK and I do secretly wish to be with my family making a snowman. But then I look at the warm, blue skies here and its a sort of flip-sided wish!

EAT: Flying Fajita Sistas, Sydney

Situated in Sydney’s bohemian suburb, Glebe, this hot Mexican joint came recommended:

Flying Fajita Sistas.

Grubs up!

The food was scrumptious.

 If you do visit may I recommend ordering the Chingachunga (spelling?) or fajitas. The fajitas though aren’t big man size portions, so all those with BIG appetites be warned. 

Prices are around $22 – $30

BYO or have a jug of Sangria for $15+ (they make white wine Sangria as well!)

Service? 

The staff were attentive, polite, excellent. The girls were also wearing these frumpy dresses…  is this because its hot in there? Who knows why all their female staff should wear these hideous uniforms, but that’s irrelevant. I suppose. Majorly disappointing note – the food took an hour to arrive after ordering.

Lets talk about decor, ambiance…

Basic and comfortable – there were crosses hanging at every available space, but then again Mexico is a religious country so that kind of makes sense and kind-of creeped me out. There’s a bookcase of spicy sauces, better known as the Wall of Pain that you must try at your peril, I suppose its one way to shake up an evening. If you care to accept the challenge.

Full Rating?

5 / 10

Its a little expensive for the portion sizes and the food took a decade to arrive. The place was full, so they must be doing something right. Also note: you can’t split the bill, so make sure someone can pay the full blow and pay them back.

Also read on…

• The History of the Mouth-Watering Fajita (hotpechugas.wordpress.com)
• Low Cost Dinner Ideas (everydayfamily.com)
• Mexico Lindo-translation – Pretty Mexico, Beautiful Mexico, the choice is yours. (smallchickbigdeals.com)

Take Me There: Five Things To Love About Sydney

One

Men in suits wear sunshades. Very sexy, they often have a swagger, too.

Two

I’ve found many a mini lizard in the bathroom, weird and wonderful!

Three

Everyone wears flip-flops, even the suits

Four

You’re always no less than 40 minutes from a clear blue ocean and sandy beach

FIVE

Sushi for Sydney-siders is what a pork pie is to the Brits: something for the every day man, filling, financially viable and delicious

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EAT: #8 Cooking on the road

KEY LIME PIE, MY FAVOURITE DESERT!

This is number #8 on my list of things to accomplish while in the middle of nowhere – get creative cooking. As a way of earning my keep on the farm it has become customary to cook for the family, which began as a fun idea that soon transformed into pressure for timing and quality. Deciding what to cook every night is also coming on tedious, but as you will see from the snaps below, the result can be more rewarding. sometimes.

The catch phrase “it’ll just take 20 minutes” has become an ongoing joke after the first two weeks seemed to drag out to a good 2 hours -  and there’s 2 of us! How did this happen?

After understanding where all the equipment and ingredients stood and how the oven and grill functions (and sometimes does not) the 20 minute tag line has become more realistic and the enjoyment of producing something new is actually pretty exciting.

Here are a few pieces of evidence of culinary delights that have been sweated, baked and pruned over the last month:

Feta and Spinach Parcels 

It’s actually easy and looks rather good as a presentation piece (though this picture does them zero justice). Give them a go!

 

Pavlova/Meringue

Topped with fruits and double cream. On occasion sorbet, too.

Pizza

We made the dough! Mushroom, pepper, pepperoni, cheese and tomato pizza, baby!

How to Define Britishness? Peanut Butter and Muesli, say the Spaniards.

If you were to define Britishness your first thoughts may well lead to associations of food: fish and chips; roast dinners; Yorkshire puddings; Wensleydale cheese, crackers – all washed down with a good brew. Who could blame you? Food is a great representative of how a country lives: of style (comfort) and of climate (tepid) … but what about the others, what do they think of us Brits?

If I was to move to Spain and desperately needed some British grub I need not look any further than the local supermarket. I walked past the pigs bare thighs, the dishes of paella, the tubs of olives and there, right in the corner, stood a section dedicated to ‘Inglaterra’ and if you had any questions about what the Spanish thought was truly British, here is a snapshot answer that is just brilliant and dare I say spot on:

  

Dig in to South America’s Empanadas

This image from Sazon made me smile so much: Dig in!

 I first tasted this South American delight in Argentina, Salta. The hostel was fairly quiet but they still catered for those lonely travellers who couldn’t be arsed to cook, which introduced a meal of empanadas for a bit of Argentine Peso. While the gentleman cooked dinner we sipped red wine, enjoying the ease of the night, understanding that worlds aren’t so far apart when it comes to wining and dining.

What the British know as a Cornish pasty, South America has their own take on this moon shaped pastry, stuffed with pretty much anything and everything: mince, cheese, vegetables, egg, potatoes, fish, pork… South America creates what we might better associate as the pizza pocket, or calzone, and they are a real treat!

Name it!

You may like to know the name empanada comes from
the verb “empanar” which means “to wrap and coat in bread”
Scrumptious!

Empanadas are a total delight as a mid-day snack or you can bulk these out with salad and deep glass of red for a larger meal starting from 5 Argentine Peso.

Fancy baking your own?

The Hairy Bikers take on Beef Empanadas published by the BBC

Cook with Argentina at Try2Cook with this meaty parcel

 Food Network offer a more peculiar slant, stuffing banana into these empanadas

Also see…

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