DisneyFirefly
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
Those displays are so gorgeous! I love the shot of all the buildings lit up.
It's a Quick Trip for Sydney Vivid 2015; It's All about Food Porn on Day 3 #46, 07/05
- Thread starter PrincessInOz
- Start date
dgbg100106
Missing the Tag Fiary
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2008
Very pretty indeed, I love how bright and cheerful it all seems to be.
Lovely pictures
Lovely pictures
Mum from oz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2010
I can also rely on your trip reports to be full of awesome photography and food pics! I love the bridge shots.
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
Thanks Bret. Heading to this side of Sydney to see the Bridge all lit up was one of the aims of this trip.
They had a few more lukewarm projections along that walk between the shopping centre and the concourse. I wasn't impressed with them. But...it was the first time for Chatswood. Maybe they will improve on displays next time.
Michelin (yes, the tyre company) stars started as a European system. It was started in France....for the car drivers as they were driving through France. The guide was meant to provide the drivers with view of where good places were to stop along the way. One star was very good, Two stars was well worth the detour and Three stars was plan your drive specifically to go eat.
It's still a big thing to be awarded a Michelin star in Europe and I think they've handed them out in the US as well. But as you say, there are different systems in America to help the diner work out best places to go eat.
These days, I tend to pull up an assortment of TripAdviser, Zagat, Yelp etc.
The displays are gorgeous...and Sydney looks great with that harbour.
I didn't take them all. Along that Circular Quay area, there were about 150 illuminations. We didn't stop at every one and some of them were just not photo-worthy.
Thanks, Brandi.
Thank you! 
Hope you and the family are all well.
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
Day 3. Food, Food, Food....Nothing BUT Food
It was our last full day in Sydney and with all the late nights and walking, we all woke up decidedly seedy this morning. 2 nights of Vivid was starting to take it's toll on us and our friends!
It took us a while to figure out the agenda for the day. When asked what we all wanted to do today, none of the adults could string together a coherent response. Suffice to say, it was just as well we had decided that we were heading to a local cafe for breakfast this morning.
Gourmandise de Paris can be found on Harris Street in Pyrmont. It was a short walk from our friend's place and we got a table pretty quickly. More importantly, they brought us our coffee orders even more quickly!
Two on the table ordered the Parisian Breakfast. The chocolate croissant came with a coffee and orange juice. These were the mini chocolate croissants. Gourmandise de Paris had run out of the standard size and offered to give them two of the small ones instead. I thought it was a great trade-off.
Two of us ordered the fabulous French Toast with berries. It came with real maple syrup too.
One of us ordered the other variety of French toast, which came with apple cinnamon.
The pesky vegetarian got the Bacon, eggs and avocado. DS enjoyed the extra bacon!
'
Believe it or not, Guormandise de Paris specialises in French Crepes. You wouldn't know it looking at our meals!
It was our last full day in Sydney and with all the late nights and walking, we all woke up decidedly seedy this morning. 2 nights of Vivid was starting to take it's toll on us and our friends!
It took us a while to figure out the agenda for the day. When asked what we all wanted to do today, none of the adults could string together a coherent response. Suffice to say, it was just as well we had decided that we were heading to a local cafe for breakfast this morning.
Gourmandise de Paris can be found on Harris Street in Pyrmont. It was a short walk from our friend's place and we got a table pretty quickly. More importantly, they brought us our coffee orders even more quickly!
Two on the table ordered the Parisian Breakfast. The chocolate croissant came with a coffee and orange juice. These were the mini chocolate croissants. Gourmandise de Paris had run out of the standard size and offered to give them two of the small ones instead. I thought it was a great trade-off.
Two of us ordered the fabulous French Toast with berries. It came with real maple syrup too.
One of us ordered the other variety of French toast, which came with apple cinnamon.
The pesky vegetarian got the Bacon, eggs and avocado. DS enjoyed the extra bacon!
'
Believe it or not, Guormandise de Paris specialises in French Crepes. You wouldn't know it looking at our meals!
Last edited:
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
Did I mention Food?
It was left to the two teens to set the agenda for the morning. They nominated a trip into the Sydney downtown area for a spot of shopping. And not just any sort of shopping.....Manga book shopping. So after breakfast, we headed to Kinokuniya and spent a couple of hours there before. That's to say....the teens looked at Manga books and they both eventually got two books each. The adults just wandered around aimlessly, flicking through books that they didn't read and magazines that they didn't see. I eventually found a quiet corner with a chair and just sat there for a while. A LONG while.
Anyone wanna guess what we did after the bookshop?
Sedap, literally translates to 'tasty', is a rather rustic, Malaysian kopitiam style hawker store.
We indulged in some snacks to share. Lobak (5 spice meat roll) in tofu skin, deep fried.
Rice noodles, with hoi sin sauce and sesame seeds.
Street food is the order of the day. This is the Char Kaoy Teow.
I was happy to find the Assam Laksa on the menu. Its made with tamarind and fish stock; rather than a coconut milk base (which is what you'd find in the Laksa Lemak).
DH ordered one of the roti varieties - this murtabak was filled with onion and egg - with some curry gravy.
Another street favourite - the Har Mee (prawn based stock, soup noodles) was also another favourite on the table.
The food was decent for Sydney and Sedap did it's best to recreate the ambience of being in South-East Asia. Right down to the drink mugs!
It was left to the two teens to set the agenda for the morning. They nominated a trip into the Sydney downtown area for a spot of shopping. And not just any sort of shopping.....Manga book shopping. So after breakfast, we headed to Kinokuniya and spent a couple of hours there before. That's to say....the teens looked at Manga books and they both eventually got two books each. The adults just wandered around aimlessly, flicking through books that they didn't read and magazines that they didn't see. I eventually found a quiet corner with a chair and just sat there for a while. A LONG while.
Anyone wanna guess what we did after the bookshop?
Sedap, literally translates to 'tasty', is a rather rustic, Malaysian kopitiam style hawker store.
We indulged in some snacks to share. Lobak (5 spice meat roll) in tofu skin, deep fried.
Rice noodles, with hoi sin sauce and sesame seeds.
Street food is the order of the day. This is the Char Kaoy Teow.
I was happy to find the Assam Laksa on the menu. Its made with tamarind and fish stock; rather than a coconut milk base (which is what you'd find in the Laksa Lemak).
DH ordered one of the roti varieties - this murtabak was filled with onion and egg - with some curry gravy.
Another street favourite - the Har Mee (prawn based stock, soup noodles) was also another favourite on the table.
The food was decent for Sydney and Sedap did it's best to recreate the ambience of being in South-East Asia. Right down to the drink mugs!
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
I hope you're expecting MORE Food Porn
We were pretty much in a food coma by this stage and walked back to Pyrmont for a rest. We spent a relaxing afternoon just resting and chatting with our friends. Given the amount of food we had eaten, you might be forgiven for thinking that we skipped dinner. Did I mention food??? Oh yes.
We book-ended our meals today with French cuisine. Le Trader is also located on Harris Street, about 4 shops away from Gourmandise de Paris. We had checked out the menu in the morning and decided that it might be an appropriate place to have dinner.
My dinner. I was in the turf mood and had the most delicious Filet de boeuf et ses frites maison sauce au choix (Fillet of beef served with Lyonnaise potatoes and pepper sauce). Medium rare, of course. Perfectly cooked!
Both teens went with the Chicken Breast fillet.
DH went with the Poisson du jour a la Grenobloise ou au Beurre blanc (Deboned grilled fillet of snapper with seasonal vegetables served with capers or Beurre blanc sauce) was wonderfully well cooked as well! That vegetable medley was delicious.
One of our friends got the Duck breast fillet, accompanied with sweet potato mash spinash and orange & Grand Marnier sauce.
The other got the Duck leg confit served with potatoes, shiitake mushrooms and Foie Gras. Flake-off-the-bone-stuff-of-dreams. Both duck dishes were divine!
None of us could go past the dessert sampler! Honey, macadamia and caramel ice cream, Creme Brulee and chocolate fondant.
Well....almost none of us. There's always one in the crowd....who chose the strawberry concoction.
By the time we finished dinner, we were all ready to curl up and go to sleep! But there was still a 3rd night of Vivid to come.
We were pretty much in a food coma by this stage and walked back to Pyrmont for a rest. We spent a relaxing afternoon just resting and chatting with our friends. Given the amount of food we had eaten, you might be forgiven for thinking that we skipped dinner. Did I mention food??? Oh yes.
We book-ended our meals today with French cuisine. Le Trader is also located on Harris Street, about 4 shops away from Gourmandise de Paris. We had checked out the menu in the morning and decided that it might be an appropriate place to have dinner.
My dinner. I was in the turf mood and had the most delicious Filet de boeuf et ses frites maison sauce au choix (Fillet of beef served with Lyonnaise potatoes and pepper sauce). Medium rare, of course. Perfectly cooked!
Both teens went with the Chicken Breast fillet.
DH went with the Poisson du jour a la Grenobloise ou au Beurre blanc (Deboned grilled fillet of snapper with seasonal vegetables served with capers or Beurre blanc sauce) was wonderfully well cooked as well! That vegetable medley was delicious.
One of our friends got the Duck breast fillet, accompanied with sweet potato mash spinash and orange & Grand Marnier sauce.
The other got the Duck leg confit served with potatoes, shiitake mushrooms and Foie Gras. Flake-off-the-bone-stuff-of-dreams. Both duck dishes were divine!
None of us could go past the dessert sampler! Honey, macadamia and caramel ice cream, Creme Brulee and chocolate fondant.
Well....almost none of us. There's always one in the crowd....who chose the strawberry concoction.
By the time we finished dinner, we were all ready to curl up and go to sleep! But there was still a 3rd night of Vivid to come.
dolphingirl47
In Search of the Tag Fairy
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2007
All the food looks delicious. I am not normally a big friend of French Toast, but this made my mouth water.
Corinna
Corinna
Mum from oz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2010
Yum, yum, yum!! I feel like a fraud because I'm a Sydneysider that has never been to any of those places. Although I admit I'm really just a suburnbanite!! I only trek into the city every few months.
dgbg100106
Missing the Tag Fiary
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2008
Love a day of food and friendship!
DisneyFirefly
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
I actually had to look up the chocolate fondant, because I'm sitting here like "...you got chocolate what?" Now that I know what you meant, it sounds yummy!
Aussie Wendy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
Making me drool and I've not long eaten dinner. That French place is on the list for our next Sydney trip! It all looked divine though. You made it out 3 nights in a row viewing is pretty dedicated!
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
I like French Toast very much. This particular version was pretty good. Glad it made your mouth water.
It happens! I work in the city and it can be months before I actually get out of my office building!
Well.......we did walk a bit.......
It was great company; which is what made it so fun.
I hope you make it back to Australia some day, Ellen. Would be fun to catch up with you here.
Chocolate lava cake.
Being inspired by you. I started this week with a good portion eating kick.
Is a trip to Sydney on the cards soon?
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
The Vivid Colours Night 3
Our third and final night in Sydney!
Getting down to the Circular Quay area by public transport was not a good experience on this night. After eating at Le Trader, we headed towards the Star Casino ferry landing. Afterall, we were right there. We took one look at the queue and realised that alternative means of getting to our destination was going to be in order. The queue was Radiator Springs Racer proportions!
So......we figured walking was the best option. Did I mention that we walked a minimum of 11,000 steps most nights?
We headed to the Opera House side of Circular Quay. First up the Piano Steps. Very popular with the kids!
This was the Move Over Damien display. A large canvas of LED lights that changed colour. I have to admit that I didn't quite get the point of this display.
Evidently, so did a lot of people. Most of the crowd walked straight on by.
Exposed. A little bit more thought provoking if you stopped to think about it...but again, most people walked straight on by. I actually liked this installation.
This side of the Quay gave me an opportunity to capture the buildings. They were very colourful and it was nice to see the Circular Quay area all lit up.
Further along this side of the Quay, and we were heading right to the Opera House.
The rest of the group had to pry me away.
They patiently waited for two rounds before giving me the hurry-up! But seriously......the picture taking opportunity was too good to pass up.
I did move on......eventually.
There were other fish to fry...so to speak. Splendens, representing two Siamese fighting fish poised on the brink of battle.
I think everyone was very patient with me this night.
Yeah. All right. There is such as thing as too many Opera House pictures.
It's the end of the walkway.
By this stage, everyone was super tired and we just sat and looked at the city for a while.
Vivid had been a spectacular experience! I'm so glad we made the effort to see it.
Our third and final night in Sydney!
Getting down to the Circular Quay area by public transport was not a good experience on this night. After eating at Le Trader, we headed towards the Star Casino ferry landing. Afterall, we were right there. We took one look at the queue and realised that alternative means of getting to our destination was going to be in order. The queue was Radiator Springs Racer proportions!
So......we figured walking was the best option. Did I mention that we walked a minimum of 11,000 steps most nights?
We headed to the Opera House side of Circular Quay. First up the Piano Steps. Very popular with the kids!
This was the Move Over Damien display. A large canvas of LED lights that changed colour. I have to admit that I didn't quite get the point of this display.
Evidently, so did a lot of people. Most of the crowd walked straight on by.
Exposed. A little bit more thought provoking if you stopped to think about it...but again, most people walked straight on by. I actually liked this installation.
This side of the Quay gave me an opportunity to capture the buildings. They were very colourful and it was nice to see the Circular Quay area all lit up.
Further along this side of the Quay, and we were heading right to the Opera House.
The rest of the group had to pry me away.
They patiently waited for two rounds before giving me the hurry-up! But seriously......the picture taking opportunity was too good to pass up.
I did move on......eventually.
There were other fish to fry...so to speak. Splendens, representing two Siamese fighting fish poised on the brink of battle.
I think everyone was very patient with me this night.
Yeah. All right. There is such as thing as too many Opera House pictures.
It's the end of the walkway.
By this stage, everyone was super tired and we just sat and looked at the city for a while.
Vivid had been a spectacular experience! I'm so glad we made the effort to see it.
Last edited:
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
Day 4. It's Departure Day
There really isn't much more to share about this trip. We've come to our final day in Sydney and we had a lazy morning at our friend's place, having a quick breakfast and packing up.
There was, however, just enough time for a final quick walk. This time, we headed past the Fish Market and towards Glebe.
I really like the fact that Sydney is built right by the water.
It does allow you ample opportunity to look at water life.
But all good things.....and it was time for us to head back.
Our flight home was at 3 pm, which left just enough time for us to stop for a quick bite for lunch. Our friends took us to Grandma's Little Bakery on the way to the airport. For those of you that watch Australian Masterchef, I understand this 'warehouse' was used as a location in one of the episodes.
One of the teens ordered spaghetti bolognaise.
The other teen had the lasagna. By all accounts both pasta meals were delicious.
One of our friends ordered Grandma's chicken soup. Apparently, this is really really good.
The other had the eggs bolognaise shakshuka. I had order envy!
DH went with pumpkin soup.
Which left my order. The Moroccan Beef Casserole. My meal was delish!
On the insistence of our friends, we ordered some chocolate cake (or was it the chocolate brownie) to share. Amazing!
Another meal that had us rolling down the aisle!
I was amazed that we still fitted into our airline seats on the way home.
Thankfully, it was an uneventful flight home. Needless to say, we didn't eat dinner that night.
On reflection, this trip was all about Vivid and the food. I'd be happy for another trip to Sydney just for Vivid.....and the food. The best part of this trip was our company. It was just THE best! Here's to more time with our friends.
Thanks for reading along.
There really isn't much more to share about this trip. We've come to our final day in Sydney and we had a lazy morning at our friend's place, having a quick breakfast and packing up.
There was, however, just enough time for a final quick walk. This time, we headed past the Fish Market and towards Glebe.
I really like the fact that Sydney is built right by the water.
It does allow you ample opportunity to look at water life.
But all good things.....and it was time for us to head back.
Our flight home was at 3 pm, which left just enough time for us to stop for a quick bite for lunch. Our friends took us to Grandma's Little Bakery on the way to the airport. For those of you that watch Australian Masterchef, I understand this 'warehouse' was used as a location in one of the episodes.
One of the teens ordered spaghetti bolognaise.
The other teen had the lasagna. By all accounts both pasta meals were delicious.
One of our friends ordered Grandma's chicken soup. Apparently, this is really really good.
The other had the eggs bolognaise shakshuka. I had order envy!
DH went with pumpkin soup.
Which left my order. The Moroccan Beef Casserole. My meal was delish!
On the insistence of our friends, we ordered some chocolate cake (or was it the chocolate brownie) to share. Amazing!
Another meal that had us rolling down the aisle!
I was amazed that we still fitted into our airline seats on the way home.
Thankfully, it was an uneventful flight home. Needless to say, we didn't eat dinner that night.
On reflection, this trip was all about Vivid and the food. I'd be happy for another trip to Sydney just for Vivid.....and the food. The best part of this trip was our company. It was just THE best! Here's to more time with our friends.
Thanks for reading along.
dolphingirl47
In Search of the Tag Fairy
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2007
The opera house looked stunning with all the different light patterns. That lunch looked amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Corinna
Corinna
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