Category Archives: Travel

David Jones Foodhall, Sydney

By | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

Heart2Heart loves foodhalls especially the Japanese foodhalls in the basement of their department stores ( Mitsukoshi Food Hall January 13, 2009) .  In London, Harrods foodhall and in Australia, I made sure to take a peek at the David Jones Food Hall.  And as usual, the place was very different from the others – it was not crowded, it was not noisy, it was a relaxing atmosphere.    I liked the signs posted in the different walls around the food hall.  This is my most favorite one!

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Wyndham Estate, Hunter Valley

By | Foodie, Travel | 2 Comments

Thanks Tito Ralph Joseph for arranging this wonderful visit at Wyndham Estate!  It was a perfect way to celebrate Dads birthday which I am sure he enjoyed.  We had wine tasting, then a very very delicious lunch.  Everything was good but our most favorite was the dessert especially the pavlova!!!! We thought we were full so we ordered one of each dessert, we ended up ordering maybe 3 or 4 of the pavlova!

Again, we had a very slow and relaxing lunch.  That is one thing I like about Australia.  Everyone seems to enjoy life and cherish every moment of it…instead of always rushing and trying to run after something.  We had finished lunch at maybe 4:30 pm!  So we decided not to do the wine tour anymore because we had to go back to the city before dark.  

Thank you to Wyndham Estate for a warm and kind reception and to Tito Ralph for arranging Dad’s birthday lunch! I wish we stayed longer so we can have more 3 hour lunches!! 🙂 enjoying the food with family

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Smelly Cheese!

By | Cheese, Foodie, Travel | 2 Comments

Of course Heart2Heart loves wine country because what goes better with wine than cheese!!! YUMMY! 🙂  

Beside Brokenback Bar was a dairy shop which we went to while waiting for the food to arrive. 

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Wow! Look at the gigantic bread from Bacco’s leaves in different flavors 

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Other gourmet products to go with the bread and other dairy products 

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Very interesting – FRUIT PASTE which you can add to your cheese and food 

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Mom of course bought!! And she got mad at me for taking her photo carrying the box 🙂 

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After the good lunch we had at Brokenback Bar– we continued to eat! and  we sat outside in one of the picnic tables and had our cheese and port wine…YUMMY!!! 

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And I saw this CHEESE SHOP in one of the areas there while driving!!!  I LOVE IT!!!!! CHEESE HEAVEN!  🙂 It is called the SMELLY CHEESE SHOP!  They were closed already but they opened the shop for us so we got to take a quick peek! Sorry photos are not clear- was hiding the camera 🙂 I always wanted to open a cheese shop here!! I hope someone does!!

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Brokenback Bar, Tuscany Estate & Resort

By | Foodie, Travel | One Comment

We arrived around 1 pm and we were so hungry! So after checking in, we went right away to the resort’s restaurant and we ordered lunch.  Oh my gosh!  Apparently when people eat in this area, they eat very slow and really take their time!!  So you can imagine how hungry we were 🙂 The food started to come at around 2 pm and we finished almost 4 pm

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This is where you cook your own bbq

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Coffin Bay Oysters 

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Wood Fired Pizzas

Margherita 

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Roast Beef 

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Chili Prawn and Black Mussels 

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Cajun Spiced Chicken 

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Sticky BBQ Ribs 

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From the kids menu – Veal Schnitzel 

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Spring Rolls 

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Fritters 

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Three Mushroom Ravioli 

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Sardines 

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Dessert!  

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Hunter Valley

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We rented a van to fit the whole family and James drove us to Hunter Valley! We timed it to celebrate the birthday of Dad who loves winedsc_9587.jpg

We made sure of course we had a GPS to guide us in getting there.  It was a two hour drive to get to the resort

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We chose Tuscany Estate and Resort as recommended by Tita Tess…It was beautifuldsc_9451.JPG

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There are two kinds of rooms… those facing the vineyard

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And those facing the olive grove..we stayed here

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Each room had a door opening to the grove..it was so nice and peaceful.  A nice way to relax and get away from the city

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Meat and Wine Company

By | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

After all the eating we did in Sydney, I realized we did not have LAMB CHOPS!! My favorite!!  Australia is supposed to be known for steaks too!!! So I desperately asked Geraldine if she knew any place and Francis recommended this place!!  We all loved it!! Thanks Francis!!!!  

It is a restaurant chain with branches in other countries.   It is beside the I Max theater and by Cockle Bay Wharf.  

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The steak was really good and I finally had my lamb chops!! We also had the best calamari ( which we always order in almost every restaurant ) here.  It was very fresh and very tender! Take note also of the onion rings which come with the steak… YUMMY! 🙂

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Website:  Meat and Wine Co. 

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Sydney Sightings

By | Travel | No Comments

While walking or riding the bus, I took some random shots of interesting things I saw around the city…

Rock Burger at the Rocks!  I was hoping everyone would want to stop by to get some! 

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Hats for sale!!!  

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 An Australian souvenir!!! 🙂 

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a giant chess set in Hyde park

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St. James everything 🙂

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A sign in the street

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The Mac store in George street!! WOW! 

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Guylian chocolate cafe on the way to the Opera house 

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A beautiful restaurant facade 

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Many beautiful sculptures and works of arts all around the city and inside the buildings dsc_9419.JPGdsc_9227.jpg

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Reminds me of Europe 

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Water Taxis dsc_9384.JPG

A cute and an unusual cupcake store 

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selling GIGANTIC cupcakes!!! 

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They call them MAXI cupcakes for 50 Australian dollars! 

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And many many kebabs and pizza places all over 

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