18th Birthday Dinner at Sealevel

On Sunday my family and I celebrated Betty's 18th birthday at Sealevel, a favourite restaurant of ours in Cronulla.

We started with cocktails: a Pineapple Mojito for Betty and a pomegranate, cranberry, lemon and mint concoction called Simply Pink for me.

Betty didn't like hers that much  so I swapped her.  I thought it was good, but the Simply Pink was better.  It was probably the most delicious beverage I've ever tasted.  It's going in the Official List.

Entrees included squid, pork belly, scallops and beetroot ravioli. All were excellent.

 

 

 

The ravioli looked like Devon but I promise it didn't taste like it at all.

Mains included beer battered perch with chips, snapper, and steak with fancy onions and some delicious mashed potato stuff.

 

 

 

The waitress who served us was great too; very friendly and funny but still professional.

We got there early enough to enjoy the spectacular view of the ocean as well. I didn't get a photo but I really think you should all go there and sea for yourselves (boom boom).  They have midweek specials, function packages, very reasonably-priced breakfast options and a hectic seafood platter too.

It was a fantastic dining experience about which I have absolutely no complaints.  Even their bathrooms are nice.  The only thing I'd change is maybe having a giant Simply Pink fountain on every table.  Thanks Sealevel!

Beach Burrito Company Cronulla

On Monday night James and I celebrated his completion of uni with a trip to the Beach Burrito Company at Cronulla. Some of my friends (hello girls if you're reading!) went the other night and I was really excited to try it.
 
We got there at about nine, but there were a few tables there and they were happy to serve us (unlike Splash tapas, who wouldn't take a booking for 8.30).  I really liked the cheesy decor and fun atmosphere.  Is this is trendy and/or hipster thing at the moment? I don't know but I liked it.
    First we ordered drinks: Dos Equis beer for James and a Paloma cocktail for me.  It had quite a light and refreshing flavour with pink grapefruit and other stuff and was $12, which I consider reasonable when the cocktail is actually good. 
  The guy corrected James's pronunciation though which is not only a bit rude but also super awkward because he said "Dos Ecky", which is wrong.  You don't work in a French restaurant silly!

We forgave him though, because our burritos were fantastic! Mine was chicken and James's was beef; both were really filling and super flavoursome. 
 
The food was really good value too: I think a burrito is about $14, but on Monday they do them for $10! They have a different special every day, how awesome is that?
    Then we had a second round of drinks: another beer for James and a frozen vodka margarita for me.  The guy recommended it and I was sceptical, since frozen cocktails are usually the worst, but he gave me a little bit to taste and I was sold, it was so yummy!
  How's that for a serving size? Cool cup too.
    Around ten they started to clean up and put chairs on top of tables and such, which is kind of annoying but I was a waitress once and I know how much it sucks waiting for the last person to get out so you can start closing up, especially if you won't get paid extra if you're late, so I can let it slide.    One of the guys also came over and told us they were about to close though, and I thought that was overdoing it.  Customers can be remarkably stupid though, maybe he thought we didn't get the hint. 
 
It was sort of a downer to be hurried out, but whatever, the food was amazing, the service was very friendly, the drinks were delicious, the value was excellent and the decor and ambience were really fun.  I'd still give it at least 8.5/10 and I'll be back a lot.
  Thank you Beach Burrito Company!

Food Glorious Food

I've been eating a lot, for a change.

I went to Swiss Quattro with my family last Monday night to celebrate my sister finishing her HSC (well done Betty!) and me finishing uni. You might remember that my last meal there sucked, but I'm glad I gave it another chance because it was really nice.

 

I was wary of pasta after last time so I had a calzone: delicious! The pasta was actually good too though. Looks like I'm going back!

On Thursday I hung out with James. We wanted to go to trivia but most people were too busy with exams and such, but we grabbed dinner at Oatley Pub anyway in the Clock and Oyster pizzeria, where we had a calzone. What can I say, I just think pizza tastes better when you fold it in half.

We shared so as not to be greedy, and followed it with a sundae at Bay Vista. It was some kind of Greek themed flavour, featuring rose and pistachio icecreams.  We shared that as well.

Like I said, not greedy.

On Friday I had dinner with James and Rob at Sunny BBQ restaurant in Hurstville. It's the same Sunny as Sunny Bouffler Seafood on Ormonde Parade, which is the best chip shop ever, so I had a good feeling about the restaurant.  We ordered way too much and while I probably wouldn't order any of those dishes again, I'd definitely go back soon and try something else.

The prawns were a bit too salty, but the serving was so generous and amazing value at only $18 for all those nice big prawns.

The duck had all the bones in. I can't be doing with any food that requires that much effort to eat, but the meat was so tender and the flavour was fantastic.

The chicken just wasn't really my thing at all, but the boys enjoyed it so I don't think my dislike of the dish is a reflection on the restaurant at all.

The dim sims rocked though, I'll order them again when I go back. No photo but I'm sure you've seen a dim sim before.

And on Saturday night I went to my Aunty's house for my cousin's birthday! My Uncle is Turkish and his side of the family were all there too, which means loads of lovely food. Whenever I talk about My Turkish Family people think I'm joking but I'm not!

We had all the usual fare plus my favourite rice made by my Uncle's mother and The Best Pide I've Ever Eaten (see photos along the side) featuring yummy toppings like sujuk.

We also had a lovely gelato cake and a baked ricotta cake, the only store-bought one I've ever enjoyed since my Mum started making her own.

It's from a place called Papa's. Danielle if you are reading you have to try this!

After such a food-filled week I'm sure it is no surprise that I spent Sunday stuffing my face at an afternoon tea - snaps to come.

 

18 and The World's Best Pide

 

Last night I went to my cousin's 18th!

 

This was my cousin from the Turkish side of my family.  Everyone thinks I am making this up but they are real people, I swear! I am not Turkish but my uncle (my Dad's sister's husband) is.  I love hanging out with my Turkish family because there is so much delicious food.

Mini  cheese and onion quiches made by Mum.

 

I was so busy photographing the food that I forgot to eat any of this bhuja mix!  Noooo!  It's my favourite snack so I'm kicking myself now, but thank God, I just remembered we have Soy Chips in the kitchen.  That'll do.  Anyway.

 

We always buy Mrs Quick's sausage rolls from the supermarket, they are by far the best.

We had pide from some place at Haberfield.  Oh my God.  This stuff was AMAZING.  I will never again enjoy Westfield kebab shop pide.

 

There were heaps of flavours and I grabbed a bit of everything.  One had some kind of meat that I was told was like a Turkish salami.  I don't like salami at all but I tried it anyway and I'm so glad I did, it was fantastic.  One of the best things I have ever eaten. I wish I knew the actual name of it - does anyone?

BTW, if you pronounce this so it rhymes with "ride", or try to be accurate by calling it "pidday", click here.

Mum made these butterfly cakes, they were lovely

 

Gelato cake!

 

My lardburger plate.  The other thing is a ricotta cheesecake from some place called Papa's.  It was really yummy, tasted like homemade.

 

Dad always buys this English beer for my Grandad.  I think it's gross but whatever.

Shall we do some outfit snaps now?

Betty in a Glassons top over a Supre tank dress with SES pleathe jacket and Siren shoes, $30 down from $170.  I loved how she did her hair.

Me in my red Kmart dress ($29) and Target leopard shoes ($10.88?), with Equip gold bangles (part of a huge set I got in a 3 for $10 sale), the Bee Ring and a necklace stolen from Betty.

Ready for a close-up?

How cool is this crazy mirror?

Mum in a Basque sweater dress (40% off, this weekend only!) and my Aunty in what is probably a really thrifty outfit, knowing her. 

 

As you can see, everyone in my family is as greedy and stingy as I am.

 

Happy birthday Addi!

Fur Elise

A couple of weeks ago was Lara's birthday and I was supposed to go to Kit and Kaboodle to celebrate.  I love Lara and I love Kit and Kaboodle so I was pretty pumped!

Some of the other girls were also going to K&K the same night, so we met up for dinner first at Thai Passion in World Square.

It was all really yummy, and since it's BYO we took some trivia wine too.  Unfortunately though I left my lipstick behind!  So sad.

Meg's grandmother recently gave her a mink coat that she wanted to wear out, so naturally I joined in.

As is often the case, I swear it's less blurry in real life. 

I do have a fur (I think it's faux but it's very classy) that used to belong to my Nana (hello Nana if you're reading!) but this mink jacket is a hand-me-down from a family friend's daughter's dress up collection.  I've had it since I was a kid, but this was the first time I wore it out.  It's a bit big, but it was SO warm.  I only had on a short-sleeved knit dress that is actually meant to be a long top (classy) and opaque tights, but I was extremely warm all night.

Here's Meg modelling hers:

That's The Newt's car, parked smack in the middle of George St.  Lucky much!

I did feel a bit silly at first, but that ended when I met Lizzie Lovette, who I used to listen to on the radio, and she said we looked glamourous.  Then a tourist stopped us and asked whereabouts in Sydney she could buy fur jackets like ours.  Stuff like that doesn't usually happen to me so I was pretty excited.

We made some friends:

Then we stopped for a quick beverage at this swanky old fashioned place called Eau de Vie in Darlo.  Our fur coats felt right at home.

And naturally we stopped at King's Cross Maccas for a Happy Meal.

Finally we made it to Kit and Kaboodle, but I couldn't find Lara anywhere!  I thought maybe I got the wrong stamp so I even walked down to the door and checked with the lady about the guest list and she told me I was on the right level.  Maybe everyone had left already and gone somewhere else?

Lara I am really sorry that I somehow dogged your birthday!  I feel really bad!

...I still had an awesome night though.