Sky high celebration

I have been doing some very delicious things recently that I wanted to share. Forgive me for recapping …

Last Thursday I went to the launch of a Danish whisky called Stauning, which my friends at The Whisky List are bringing to Australia. One of the owners ran us through the history of the distillery, which was fascinating. He and his eight mates Googled how to make whisky and ended up winning global awards.

I thought their malted rye whisky was very yum.

The tasting was held at Maybe Sammy, which is one of the world’s top bars. It’s an awesome venue and I’d never tried the food until then. It was divine!

I loved the Bresaola, macadamia, compressed green apple, truffle and fennel pollen tart; Kingfish tartare on a nori cracker with horseradish cream, kombu dressing and pear compress; and Sydney rock oysters with mignonette. All soooooo good.

Then I met my sister and we had a fabulous time belatedly celebrating my birthday. We had chardy and kung pao cod at the new Golden Century restaurant XOPP, then we headed to the opening of Sofitel Sydney’s new bar, Lumière.

Remember me moaning about a launch party not starting until 8.30pm? It turned out that’s because the bar is located in the hotel’s exclusive club lounge area, which doesn’t close to guests until 7.30pm.

Lumière is on the 35th floor of the Sofitel, with the most remarkable views of the Sydney skyline.

We sipped Billecart-Salmon champagne from Riedel flutes with impossibly tall, elegant stems, then tried a cocktail called Purple Rain. The drinks were served alongside tidbits such as Ulladulla Blue Fin Tuna with bonito emulsion, smoked tuna garum and Polanco Baerii caviar, wagyu skewers cooked over coal with native herb cream, Foie Gras parfait cylinders with pear and sauternes jelly, and beetroot tartlets with shallot jam and whipped plant-based feta.

There was even a woman playing a harp … very fancy!

We were chatting to a media friend of mine when the foie gras cylinders arrived. They looked like sweets and we all popped them in our mouths and stared at each other in shock as the foie gras oozed out. At first we thought it was some sort of weird cheese until we finally realised it was liver.

They weren’t our favourite … but it was a very fun night.

Friday night was super quiet because the youngest was in Tathra for the weekend, the eldest was out and DD was asleep in Buenos Aires.

On Saturday I caught up with an old friend from Newie who introduced me to the most unexpectedly delicious place called Bubala in Allambie Heights.

Allambie Heights has not previously been known for its culinary excellence but Bubala is determined to change that.

We ate fabulous dips; friend cauliflower with sesame, tahini sauce and salt bush; oven baked chicken with middle eastern spices, caramelised Spanish onion, pine nuts, herbed labneh and black olive crumb; slow-roasted lamb shoulder; and baklava ice cream sandwich. Wow!

Meanwhile DD had been hanging out in a very fancy bar in Buenos Aires called Negroni, sipping the ubiquitous cocktail. I was very jealous until he sent me a news story about Argentina being in the grip of a terrible dengue fever epidemic.

The Argentinian government has refused to provide vaccine and there’s an insect repellent shortage.

My fomo immediately evaporated.

I barely left the house on Sunday because I am up to my neck in my new secret project. But I cooked souvlaki chicken for the eldest and I for dinner.

Then I headed into the office yesterday for a Vivid Sydney training session, while DD went to another fancy cocktail bar in Buenos Aires …