Playing in your own backyard...

I had a great weekend, how about you?

I spent the weekend with 2 of my lovely daughters playing in my backyard that is the NSW Southern Highlands.

Let me explain.....

When we moved here we joined the local slow food group in an effort to meet like minded people and enjoy good food and conversation. Unfortunately our local group disbanded due to no-one wanting to take over the running of the group ( I expect people are too busy or too scared!)  but the couple who were the leading lights went on to start their own business...

food path, so this weekend we spent Saturday taking on 2 of their tours.

The first one was at a local truffle farm that now has the honour of growing the largest truffle ever found in Australia  Yelverton Truffles. Which is just down the road from Glenquarry Goddess.  And I might just put it down here , that a trufferie is on the cards here to!  You just might have to wait a few year for us to be productive.

Favorite youngest  daughter  with "Jet" the wonder dog

here we are a the entrance to the Trufferie 

A side note here, my husband's Irish Ancestors family pile is called Yelverton, so isn't that a bit of serendipity?

Then we went on to Bousaada winery vineyard and mead makers, check out the beautiful building, designed for sustainability and the climate, I can highly recommend Alistair and Michele,  the hosts for a very welcoming, relaxing and informative experience.

Bousaada Winery front entrance

Our final stop was at Eling Forest winery and cafe I can recommend the winery tour and our guide was Mark,one of  4 full time wine makers they have here. It is a great tour with lots of tastings, if you get my drift.... :-)

and tomorrow I'll let you know what we did today!

so come back to play in my backyard tomorrow,,,,,,, please???

Not a Snow White Christmas!

midday christmas eve..

Weather report:

Weather for New York, NY

32°F | °C

Sat

Sun

Mon

Tue

Clear

Wind: N at 4 mph

Humidity: 54%

41°

31°

49°

34°

43°

32°

47°

36°

:-(

we all slept in today ( except for Verity who was up early to go and grab some bargains) I blame it on the 50+ blocks we walked yesterday.

Today preps are in full swing for the BIG DAY. My sister Michelle and her family have arrived and are ensconced in their penthouse down town and I believe a visit to FAO is underway as I write for her 9 year old twins, what a great Christmas trip for them!

A visit to the wonderful 2 storey supermarket to get out last minute supplies and then some cooking

Lunch menu for tomorrow:

Nibbles first

Grilled lobster tails with garlic butter

Roast free range chickens

Roasted Pork Loin with Juniper berry ( if I can find them) gravy

Assorted roast vegetables

the girls are doing desert  (Verity tells me she is still researching  her contribution) and Ingrid is going a pumpkin pie. all very USA.

And the boys are in charge of the drinks so I hope a few quality champers will be provided  (vince?)

So we're off to have our very own Merry Christmas! Hope your day is wonderful too!

Travel day 1 - 2

Had a most excellent flight in Qantas premium economy (just hope they read this and give us another upgrade for the return journey!

Arrived in LA to a torrential weather system, rain and snow on the mountain areas! Just like what we had left behind in NSW. I think I can see some snow on the mountains from our hotel room.

Despite our best intentions and I am blaming the weather we spent most of our first day sleeping! But went out and braved the elements  the eventually found a wonderful restaurant outside the LA public library called Pinot Noir ( trust us to find a place named after a wine!) anyway it was FAB.

 I had french onion soup and then a delightful free range rotisserie chicken with the most wonderful frites which had this very subtle garlic flavour. Vince has a dugeness crab cake with cauliflower fondue and s small salad on top of a sliced granny smith apple, very visually appealing and delicious. The service was extremely professional and the sommelier recommended a very fine Napa Valley Pinot Gris.

Came home and indulged myself with watching crappy american TV, that is a whole future blog in itself. Today we are doing the downtown area and looking a some very interesting buildings.
thanks for reading!