Photo taken by Dan

Lipstick on a pig?

(Click on the images to enlarge.)

No end in sight... people queue to get onto the bridge

On the way up

Baristas serve up free coffee

When we got to Milsons Point, the line snaked around several blocks, seemingly with no end in sight. But once the queue got moving, it was a brisk walk onto the deck of the bridge. I don’t go well together with early starts, so thank goodness for the complimentary coffee.

The country comes to town

Cows... because Sydneysiders apparently don't know where their milk comes from

The human highway

The event seemed to have as its subtext the purpose of showing what NSW had to offer. Not only were Sydneysiders cajoled out of bed on a Sunday morning to experience their bridge in a different light, various produce from around NSW was showcased. Much like the Easter Show, the country was brought to the big smoke. If only they gave us some milk fresh from the cows they brought along to have with cereal.

Time to stretch out... picnic-goers set up

People wave at the TV helicopters

♥

For us, we… packed lightly (mmm, expired jam), so the free bread, jam, apples and yoghurt was much-appreciated – and very delicious too. I must say, I was rather envious of all the people around us eating their scrumptious homemade fruit salads, dips… and curries!

A little taste of home... free NSW produce

Glorious sunrise... and a baker with his wicker basket

Hats and showbags

I must say though, the further the event went along, the more you began to wonder what the whole point of it was. There’s not much of a view because of the railings around the side of the bridge, and despite their best attempts at trying to transport us somewhere else – with the chirping of birds and the croaking of frogs played over loudspeakers – the whirring of television helicopters and the vibrations of passing trains reminded you all too well where you actually were.

Ever watchful... photographers above

I Crave...

Say Cheese

Still it was something different, something to reignite Sydneysiders’ interest in their own city, but it’s something you’d only do once.

Show's over... people leaving the bridge

People out, clouds roll in

Click here for more photos.

Foreboding sight: Sydney's dust storm

Sydney’s dust storm, as captured in my backyard at 6:18 this morning. No, nothing wrong with the white balance.

I was almost hoping it was the End of the World, because the End of the World would’ve eaten up my 8 am Advanced Contracts lecture.

There is no doubt that Bécasse is one of the stars of Sydney fine dining, almost beyond review for an amateur as myself. Familiar and unfamiliar ingredients are brought together in every dish with immaculate execution and presentation. This is food that is as beautiful to look at as it is beautiful to savour. I must say that some of the meatier dishes may come across as being a little underwhelming, but this is purely because of the heavenliness of some of the other dishes; dessert here is something you can’t have enough of! As for ambience, Bécasse is a place well-suited any time a little bit of sophistication is in order. From the elegant but not too pretentious dining room, you can see the chefs deftly applying their masterful craft, as you go through this culinary journey.

You can probably tell from my description that we had the degustation, although they also have a decent à la carte selection. I think I will let the photos speak for themselves, for which many thanks are due to Daniel Tse.

Amuse bouche

Salad of heirloom tomato

Cured Hiramasa kingfish

Steamed snapper

Lyonnaise salad

Slow cooked suckling pig

Cardamon pannacotta

Rhubarb and mandarin goats' cheesecake

Banana crème brulée

Daniel, me, Brendan, Rob

(Farewell Brendan; may your sojourns in Scotland, philosophical and otherwise, be fruitful.)

Conclusion: This is a place any half-decent foodie will not miss, but I don’t think there’s any urgency to make return visits. If you’re on a budget, their café Plan B next door has a delectable wagyu burger at lunch for only $10.

Food: 8.5/10
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 8/10
Value: 7.5/10
Overall: 8/10
(what do these numbers mean?)

“ROM Fail” on a solar energy display: prophetic of the status of the federal government’s renewable energy bill (coupled with the emissions trading scheme)?

… but these chocolate-flavoured cows sure look delicious!

More photos here.

But the fact that someone turned something mundane like this:

into something like this:

blows me away. It reminds me why I contribute: to add to the global commons, the global cultural melting pot where others can express themselves, by using and re-using, free from concerns about intellectual property rights.

Original work | Derivative work (search for Enoch Lau about halfway down)