Taste of Sydney

After a tough day at work, Merv and I set out to Centennial Park for the annual Taste of Sydney Food Festival. This is the second time we've been to the event, and to be honest, we probably wouldn't have gone tonight if not for the free tickets that I got through work. It's an expensive outing. Tasting plates from some of the best restaurants in Sydney costing $10-$12 each. You need around 3-4 to fill yourself up (for a girl), and when you throw in a beverage, it could set you back around $50 a meal.

Still, who can refuse a free ticket!

We had some yummy slow cooked ocean trout with French Onion soup from Berowra Waters Inn, and a delicious Seared Regal King Salmon with a salad of pomegranite, Mint and Feta from Restaurant Balzac. Merv had a mediocre Slow cooked shoulder of lamb with smoked potato puree and jus from celebrity chef Manu's L'etoile, followed by a delicious Confit of Pork Belly with Squid, Chorizo and Chick pea from Four in Hand. Not satisfied with two meat dishes, my little raptor went in for a third dish of Saddle of Suckling Pig with Baby Garden Peas from Restaurant Balzac.

Dessert was a big treat! I picked the Amedei Milk Chocolate mousse with salter caramel and fresh berries from Ottos and Merv picked the Apple Tarte Tartin with Calvados Creme Anglais from Bilsons. And guess who was at his own restaurant stand signing books? None other then Tony Bilson himself! I didn't buy his book but I did go up to him and get a kiss on the cheek! Exciting stuff! I think he might have been a bit disappointed that I didn't buy his $40 book though. Oh well!

The only downer of the night was that Merv was a poop. He wasn't excited about the food (even though he gobbled up every thing), he grumbled about how he didn't want to be there and I had to pretty much shovel delicious free sample food in his mouth. He put me down about my Tony Bilson kiss ("What's the big deal?") and we ended up arguing on the way home. I knew moving in together would be hard but this has been HARD. Coming from a family who were always so optimistic, excited and supportive, to coming home to someone who's a constant "realist" - it's a big adjustment and I'm not use to it. I don't think I can get use to it.

... but as Tony says, if you can't, you MUST.

I'm determined to overcome his negativity. I'm determined to flood him with enough happiness, optimism and positivity in his life time, so that it would ultimately squash every ounce of negativity out of him.

That is my will.