Gelato "Me" Time and a Walk at Pyrmont & Darling Harbour

Before I faced my extremely hectic October, I was able to squeeze in some well-deserved "me" time on the last week of September.

I left the office early one Friday afternoon and got out of my work area via a different route. Instead of taking the bus, I took the tram as I wanted to have a walk from Pyrmont to Darling Harbour.

I got off at The Star, Sydney's premier casino, and had gelato at Messina. I had a scoop of their Salted Caramel (my favourite) and Coffee (because my "me" time almost always includes my beloved beverage). I was by my lonesome and yet these "me" times of mine are some of my happiest respite at the end of the day. It is more enjoyable when there's some sort of yummy food. 

Another thing I enjoy about my "me" time is that it usually involves a lot of walking. This activity relaxes me. Walking makes me think, helps me clear my mind and soothes my soul.

As I go out of The Star, I chanced upon a big Pink Snail, an art installation which was part of Sydney's Art and About for this year. It is the city's collaborative arts festival where streets, laneways and buildings becomes a canvas for creation and storytelling.

A sunny afternoon awaited me as I walked out to Pyrmont Bay Park. From the wharf, one can see the Harbour Bridge peeking. I stayed there for awhile and looked at some pretty boats. 

From Pyrmont, I walked towards Darling Harbour, my favourite little harbour in Sydney. I can never get tired of this lovely scenery. 

Our city has a laidback culture that it is normal to see people just hanging out at the wharf. They sit down, talk, watch the sunset, have a cuppa. 

As I left Darling Harbour, I took one last look from the stairs leading out to the train station and captured the Sun that was about to set. Like a ring of fire, the sunlight gave out a burst of warm colours. A wonderful way to say goodbye to a lovely day. 

Flavours of the Philippines at Shangri-la Hotel Sydney

As part of Sydney's Good Food Month celebrations, Shangri-la Hotel Sydney started the Philippine Food Festival yesterday and it will run until 15th October.

Experience the annual Philippine Food Festival featuring traditional cuisine like 
Kare-Kare, Pork Sisig, Chicken Inasal and much more to excite your palate.

The Philippine Food Festival buffet is available from 1st - 15th October. 

Buffet lunch from 12pm - 2.30pm on Mondays to Fridays and 12.30pm to 2:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays at $48 per person. 

Buffet dinner from 6pm - 10.30pm at $75 per person.

For reservations, call (02) 9250 6206 or email dine.slsn@shangri-la.com.
(info source)


I've been told that the Chefs from Shangri-la Hotel Manila are cooking it up for us here in Sydney.

I'm unable to participate in this festival at this time (how sad!) but a friend of mine has made reservations and was sent the sample menu and it looks good. See below:

APPETIZER 
Embotido (Minced Pork wrapped in Crépinette) 
Lumpiang Sariwa (Fresh Vegetable Spring Roll) 
Kilawing Tanguigue (Spanish Mackarel Ceviche) 
Tokwa’t Baboy (Bean Curd and Fried Pork with Soy Sauce Vinaigrette) 
Adobong Talong (Eggplant cooked with Soy sauce, Garlic and Vinegar) 
Green Mango with Bagoong (Green Mango with Shrimp Paste) 
Itlog na Maalat na may Kamatis (Salted egg with Tomato) 
Kilawing Talaba (Oyster Ceviche)

SALAD 

Kangkong na may suka at toyo (Swamp cabbage with Soy vinaigrette) 

Inihaw na Talong (Roasted Eggplant) 

Ensaladang Inasal na Manok (Chicken Inasal Salad) 

Atchara (Pickled Young Papaya) 

Macaroni and Ham Salad 

Puso ng Saging “Kilawo” (Banana Heart with Coconut Milk) 

Pepino Salad (Cucumber in sweet and sour vinaigrette) 

Ensaladang Okra (Lady Finger Salad) 

Ensaladang Togue (Bean Sprout Salad)

SOUP 

Papaitan (Ox Tripe and Ox Feet Soup) 

Monggo at Hibi (Green Monggo Soup with Dried Shrimp) 

Bulalo (Beef Shank Soup) 

Sari-Sari Lamang Dagat na Pochero (Seafood Pochero)

ACTION STATION 

Sisig (Stir Fried Crispy Pork) 

Pinaputok na Maya-Maya (Red Snapper Wrapped in Banana Leaf)

IHAW-IHAW 

Lamb Rump , Beef Ribs , Chicken Wings Inasal

SAWSAWAN (Condiments) 

Soy Sauce, Vinegar, Barbecue Sauce, Bagoong, Mang Tomas

MAIN COURSE 

Pusit Bicol Express (Squid with Chilies Coconut Milk) 

Pusit Gambas Style (Garlic Squid cooked in Olive Oil) 

Estofadong Dila (Slow cooked OX Tongue in Tomato Sauce) 

Kare-Kare (Stewed Ox Tail in Peanut Sauce) 

Pinakbet (Vegetables cooked in Shrimp Paste) 

Guinataang Kalabasa at Sitaw (Pumpkin and Squash cooked in Coconut Milk) 

Suwam na Tahong (Steamed Mussel in Ginger Broth) 

Pata Humba (Pork Knuckle cooked in Sweet Soy Sauce) 

Lechon Kawali (Crispy Pork Belly) 

Callos (Ox Tripe and Ox Feet Menudo) 

Adobong Manok (Chicken cooked in Soy, Vinegar and Garlic) 

Bulalong Kaldereta (Veal Stew in mildly spiced tomato sauce) 

Pancit Palabok (Rice Noodle with Smoked fish and Shrimp Sauce) 

Blue Marlin Inasal (Grilled Blue Marlin with Anatto Oil) 

Adobong Pusit at Talong (Squid Cooked in Vinegar and Garlic) 

Sinigang sa Miso na Lapu-Lapu (Grouper with Sour Broth with Miso)

DESSERT 

Matamis na Saging at Sago (Banana and Tapioca Pearls cooked in Palm Sugar) 

Fruit Salad (Mixed fruits with Cream and Condensed Milk) 

Buko Pandan (Young Coconut with Screw Pine Jelly) 

Brazo de Mercedes (Meringue Roulade filled with Vanilla Custard) 

Crema De Fruta (Vanilla Sponge Layered with Mixed Fruits and Cream) 

Guinataang Mais (Glutinous Rice cooked in Coconut Milk with Sweet Corn) 

Guinataang Halo-Halo (Glutinous rice ball with sweet potato, yam, taro, banana in coconut milk) 

Maja Blanca (Coconut Pudding with Sweet Corn) 

Ube Halaya (Purple Yam  Pudding) 

Turon (Banana and Jackfruit Spring Roll) 

Leche Flan (Caramel Custard) 

Dila-Dila (Sticky Rice with Sugar and Sesame Seeds) 

Halo-Halo Station (Assorted Sweetened Fruits topped with Shaved Ice, Leche Flan and Ube Ice Cream and Milk)

If you have time, make a reservation and come to Cafe Mix of Shangri-la Hotel Sydney to enjoy the Philippines' hearty and delicious dishes. 

September on Ibyangram

Ibyang + Instagram = Ibyangram

While my instagram photos are shared on my twitter page and sometimes on my tumblr and fb page, I would like to have a monthly dump of ibyangrams on AWCL too. It is thru instagram that I share everyday moments and random finds. I use instagram as my real time mini-blog. Every end of the month, I'll be choosing a couple of photos from my instagram and share it here because I have something more to say about a certain ibyangram.

September was such a busy month! But wow, it was one of our most productive yet. Work took so much of our time for the past weeks that even on weekends, we have committed our Sundays to a project we're working on together. It also involved doing something for the community: voting on the national elections and being called for jury duty. September was a festive month too! We were blessed to quietly celebrate the Husband's birthday and Mooncake Festival at home, plus spend time with friends whom we haven't seen in ages. 

Sorry for the not-so-regular posts. I have days wherein the word "hectic" is an understatement. I face challenging tasks at work which sometimes result to long hours that whatever's left of my night, I spend it doing important chores at home and de-stressing (either I walk on the treadmill or curl up in bed with a book). Blogging is still one of my favourite habits. I feel incomplete when I don't get to sit down and write. Writing is one of my creative outlets and it's something that I terribly miss when I never get to do it.  

Good news though, one of the things the Husband and I are busy with involves this blog too. We bought the domain www.awifescharmedlife.com a year ago and this year, we decided to do something about it. Hubby and I are currently designing the site and maybe finally launch it before the year ends. I hope you watch out for that because we are working very hard in making the design of www.awifescharmedlife.com as attractive and user-friendly as possible.

  

So that's a little heads-up on what I'm up to. I have so much to write about, I hope you bear with some blog inactivity on some days. I hope these September Ibyangrams will help make up for days I never get to publish a blog post. Enjoy and I hope your September was fabulous too. Let's welcome October with delight!

Mooncake Festival Celebration at Home

September means two things in our household: the Husband's birthday month and Mooncake Festival. We've made Mooncake Festival a part of the things we celebrate in a year. This is one of our food favourites and at the same time, we are fascinated by what the celebration symbolizes: abundance and togetherness. So a few weeks before Mooncake Festival, I make sure I buy us a box of Mooncakes. Our favourite is the Casahana brand. 

Like last year, we got the Pandan Delight and Toffee Coconut. 

On the night of Mooncake Festival, I brought out the mooncakes for dessert and prepared tea at the table.

Since Mooncake Festival happened two days after the Husband's birthday, I put a little chocolate biscuit in between the mooncakes and put a candle in the middle.

When I called the Husband to the table, he was surprised to see the lighted candle. He was amused when I told him to make a wish and blow his candle, and that making another wish two days after his birthday is still valid. (Well to me, making a wish everyday is valid even if it isn't your birthday! :))

We only finished one mooncake that night as we were full from dinner. We enjoyed the Pandan Delight, a flavour we love because it has salted egg in the middle. 

The Toffee Coconut was eaten and very much savoured over the weekend. It is the Husband's favourite as it is very-chocolatey.

How did you celebrate Mooncake Festival?

Related Posts:

Mooncake Festival 2008

Happy Mooncake Festival!