Goong Hei Fat Choy!!

Back to work, an unexpected foodie week, spiritual well being and a kick ass movie - how else would I celebrate the chinese new years eve?

Back to work is a bit boring - so I'm gonna skip that. All I will say is I love being able to work from home!

FOOD - tried 2 great restaurants this week. 

Sokyo @ The Star (aka Star City Casino). It's a rather swanky new Japanese restaurant in a new hotel next to the revamped casino. The menu tries a little too hard with fancy combos at times but it is also a great opportunity to try stuff not commonly available - Like the morton bay bug sashimi. The presentation is faultless and everything tasted great just take it easy on the ordering. Go with a group and order a plate of everything that tickles you and then get seconds if you like it. And save room for dessert!

Atmosphere was loud and hip but thinned out pretty early. The bar and cocktail menu are very impressive along with the 4 figure bottles of wine on offer - Ouch. Thanks Dad!

Chefs Gallery - Cnr of George st and Bathurst st in the city. YUMMO! Just wish I was hungrier. This place was set up by the same guy behind Din Tai Fung but specialises in hand made noodles instead of dumplings. We got primo seating at the bar in front of the noodle making master. Very Cool!! Just go - it's yummy and they have desserts made to look like piggy's but I forgot to take a photo. But go to the link and download the menu for pics.

Spirituality and health - I have been very good and getting up for early yoga classes followed by a dip in the ocean. It gets me outta bed in the morning but also sends me to it early in the evening. Not that interesting to write about either and I would end up offending too many people with my attitude towards spirituality and how to get it - some other time when I feel like a rant.

Kick ass movie  - The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn in 3D!!!

An absolute must see! Now, I've never been a huge TinTin fan from my youth or anything so I was expecting an epic animation of an ok boy story. I was completely blown away by this, absolutely brilliant film making. Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg and a huge list of other recognisable names. I never imagined these 2 working together but the result is mesmerising to watch and very entertaining not to mention the potential for many, many sequals to come. Is it live action or is it animation? It's like they did a live action movie and when their imaginations went further than they knew how to realise, they animated it. But because it is a careful blending of both it creates a seamless new look to the film so that animated sequences, particularly stunts and explosions, are even more believable. This is breakthrough cinema!

And for Chinese New Year - I will be having dinner with my family and making gin dois (fried sesame dumplings with red bean paste inside) with 3 generations of cooks. Photo is not the actual  ones I made (because I haven't made them yet!) but so you know what I am talking about.

Til next week: Happy Year of the Water Dragon!!