Blue Mountains - Mountain Heritage Hotel

Just spent the weekend away on a relaxing pamper trip with Peter to the Blue Mountains. We stayed at the Mountain Heritage Hotel on a "Divine" package deal. It included: 1hr Massage session, Spa/View room accommodation, buffet breakkie, champagne/strawberries/choccies on arrival, spa bath bliss package and a cocktail each. It was so great!! I feel so relaxed now - exactly what I needed!!

We also went to the Blue Mountains "Scenic World" - where we got to ride the railway (which is the steepest incline railway in the world!!) and see the view from a cable car. Very touristy ;)

We drove up for another 30min to visit a "Carnivorous Plants" display on at the Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens and were bitterly disappointed as we missed the information session and the plants weren't even that great. Ok, so to be honest, I expected large moving sized plants munching away at meat - but I guess not.... haha!

P.S. The lack of original photos from my camera was due to my battery pack failing out on me 1 hour into the trip *sighs*.

Chris, Zena, Peter and I also tried out a new Jap restaurant on Sat night that was recommended by a friend from work. "Sakana-Ya"! We had: Sake, Chicken skewers, deep fried chicken, nimono-style swordfish belly, smoked salmon/salmon roe/challots on a bed of rice, Barasushi (fresh sushimi, fish roe.... on a bed of rice), green tea pudding/green tea icecream/japanese dumpling filled with sweet red bean. Our dinner in pictures...

Hope everyone is making an effort to take time out for yourselves and enjoy life!

*Hugs*

Jenn

Degustation@Peppers

This is my 7th week in Canberra and I’m really enjoying it here. Work is exactly what I want to be doing, the people here (both Syd and Canberrians) are great, badminton is really kicking off and the extra $$$ is a bonus! I’m going to start driving down to Canberra next week – go my Civic! =)

Met up with Jason and Magz for dinner the other night – it was good to see them again. We’re planning to catch up every week for dinner. Should be fun =)

I’m also starting to try out different restaurants every week – I’m becoming a food critic ;) Peter and I tried this restaurant called “Peppers” in Balmain last weekend. A 7 course Japanese fusion degustation. The food was OK - not as tasty as I would have liked it to be, but check it out in pics -->>

Starting with the bread, oily dip and olives (also super yummy hot green tea for me cos I was feeling sickie)

First up for me - Asparagus spears with poached egg, Grana Padano and truffle vinaigrette

First up for Peter - Nicola potato and mushroom terrine with parsley pesto, tomato concasse

We each both had the seared scallops with crispy chorizo, apple, smoked eggplant and sherry vinaigrette

My 3rd dish of the night - Kingfish fillet with papaya, tomato, caper and Spanish onion salsa, lemon oil

I ordered a beef dish, which you can see turned out way too raw for me - so Peter ate this one ;)

We each both had the crispy pork belly with enoki mushrooms, soba noodle, sweet and sour sauce

I swapped my beef with Peter's (thanks dear!) Duck confit tart with pickled cherries, walnut and witlof salad, pinot reduction

Life has definitely taken a turn for the better (and it’s getting more exciting). I’m more focused into my finances, Peter, family and friends. It’s now in life when you’re starting to get older that you realise how important all of these things are.

Let’s make the most of what we have!

*hugs*
Jenn