sunday lunch

On sunday we took a trip down to Mandurah to have lunch with a family friend. Ivan is the Executive Chef at M on the Point, the outpost for the Subiaco Hotel in Mandurah. We were so lucky to be treated to one of Ivan's lunches, it was incredible.

We started with sardines on toast, and chatter. Followed by a truly decadent crab mousse with lobster bisque for the entree.

We then had duck a l' orange with creamy  dauphinoise   potatoes and a gorgeous fresh rocket salad. 

What was so nice, was that we sat around for hours chatting about Ivan's amazing european adventures and food  that we love. There was no reason to hurry. I think that we spend so much  time being 'busy' and 'hurried' that we forget to enjoy the simple pleasures  of life, like food and good friends.

Then before we could even think about what we wanted next, Ivan brought out dessert, the most decadent lemon posset with a crisp shortbread and strawberries on the side. Finished off with coffee it was the most perfect end to a beautiful lunch. 

It was a lovely afternoon and a perfect way to spend a Sunday.  Thank you Ivan for your hospitality and all the time and effort that you put into creating such a gastronomic delight. Cant wait for the next time!

the absentee blogger

 it has been a while since i have posted anything on my blog. Today i have been looking back over my favourite blogs and what they have been up to. There have been some amazing christmas posts and some really gorgeous NY ones.

I posted back in early December about how excited i was about the thanksgiving that we were hosting that night and have been MIA ever since. Well to fill you in we had 16 people for thanksgiving.   Dad set the table beautifully and mum and i prepared the food. 

We had a great night drank some beautiful champagne and wine. Enjoyed stories about the year, so far and chatted about what we had planned for the festive season. 


I think back to having thanksgiving in Minnesota in 2008. My room mate kindly invited me home to celebrate with her family, I had a great time. We got up early and prepared the turkey with her mum. I set the table for her family, which was so much fun. Then our friend Adam joined us as he was in Minnesota working on the vote counting for the election that had just happened. 


Although we are not American and I understand the roots of thanksgiving. I think that it is such a perfect opportunity to get together with people that you love and show them that you are thankful for their support, kind words, love and friendship. Plus everyone loves to eat and its such a wonderful thing to cook for others.

happy thanksgiving

We are doing thanksgiving tomorrow night, i know that thanksgiving was over a week ago, but we were all working and we wanted to be able to get into it and be relaxed. 

I'm very excited to post my photos from the night. Here a few from around the www that have inspired me.

 

I love these blue plates by Iittala, they are so whimsical and so perfect for a decadent party. They stock these in Table Culture in Subiaco. I think that I may have to check these out for my next dinner adventure.

Have a great weekend. xx

images courtesy of luster (top) and cup of jo.

a few things a girl cant be without

camera

phone

killer pose

colour

adornments

elegance and style

images courtesy of jak & jill.

paris

I feel like Diane Keaton in 'something's gotta give' except for the whole divorced thing. I have been reading French books and listening to French music. I think i might have to find a French restaurant to visit? 


A friend of mine is off home to France for the christmas. He's visiting his family who live a few miles out of St Tropez and catching up with his friends in Paris. 

Suffice to say I'm deadly jealous. Christmas in paris would have such a divine feel. So i have been getting my paris fix from around the web. I must say this is what i love about the www. You can feel like you have been to another country without having to leave the comfort of your home. 

Via The Satorialist I have my outfits picked out.. We are just ignoring that its cold, this is a dream and you never feel the cold in dreams. 

here i am taking a breather after a long walk. ha

I know what i want to see, courtesy of this is glamourous 

beautiful interiors in fabulous houses

naturally

i think that I would also like to get lost in the back-streets and wind up at an amazing cafe, where I can spend hours drinking coffee and eating sweeties with champagne. Of course writing home to all my loved ones just to let them know that I'm getting by..

I would love to go to a party like this, courtesy of the cherry blossom girl

and i would say that would be enough for me.. maybe a trip to the Louvre and then home.. i don't know about you but I'm all tuckered out thinking about it. 

really.. I'm done for the weekend.. i promise

I have been craving a dense chocolate experience for a few days now. Then i stumbled across this recipe for chocolate mousse cake on david lebovitz's blog.

I will be taking a trip to the farmers market tomorrow to get all the ingredients for this beauty.. 

Let you know how it turns out!!

i have not been very creative..

it seems that everyone else around the world has been very busy being very creative and inspired. I cant say that i have been inspired to do anything this week other than moan about the heat. However life goes on, and others seem to be doing so with such aplomb. 


Today on Jak & Jill, they posted about their adventures at the Lanvin x H& M 'haute couture' fashion show. 

Amazing. I think i'm in love. Perth fashion week cant really compete. 


And yesterday my mum sent me this great link to a NY Times blog written by Maira Kalman about American democracy, which appeared on the last Friday of each month in 2009. Maira has just recently published a book about america and her interests. 

On her blog, Maira talks about the issues that Americans are facing. I thought it was fascinating. I especially loved the way that she tells her stories. Throughout her blog she is reflecting on George Washington's 'the pursuit of happiness'. Here is a snippet... You can read the complete blog, through this link “And the Pursuit of Happiness,” 

Well that's all for tonight folks.  Happy Weekend!! I hope that it is a good one, full of adventures and fun!!

above image courtesy of luster.

tuesday tunes

Some Tuesday inspiration..  

Cliffs Along The Sea from Christian Hansen on Vimeo.

a weekend away from the city

Over the weekend, some friends and I packed up sticks and escaped down south. 

We didn't really have any major plans. We just wanted to check out a few wineries and enjoy the beaches.  

Saturday started with a quick trip to the general store in our pyjamas, to get some sour cream. I was making banana and sour cream pancakes from Ina Garten's everyday cooking. They were the most unusual pancakes I have ever had. I think they needed maple syrup, but alas we had none. 

We then started out on our first adventure for the weekend. First stop Laurence Winery, second stop Cullen, on to Pierro and then to Vasse Felix, where we had the best time in the cellar and I left with far too much wine. 

We had a lunch booking at Voyager Estate, where we sat outside under the grapevines, next to the stunning rose gardens. 

Saturday night was a scream, I cooked a mexican feast and we then decided to indulge in some parlour games. 

Parlour games were great and we all retired very full, very merry and woke up very under the weather. 

We headed down to the beach in and attempt to wash away our troubles and catch some sun, the morning was beautiful, over cast like most of the weekend but there was a gentle warmth peeking through the clouds. 

As the morning wore on, things got a little brighter, literally and metaphorically. We headed back up the beach to the house and prepared to return to Perth, back to reality. 

On the way back, we decided to stop off at one last winery, Watershed. Considered one of the best winery/restaurants in Margaret River we were eager to indulge. 

After Watershed, we hit the road and headed back to Perth. We plugged in the iTrip and partied our way back to town.

Thank you all for a wonderful weekend. Thank you Daisy for organising it and Michael for letting us invade your beach house.