Happy Valentine's!

Now I know a lot of people nowadays just think Valentines is a money making scheme to which there is some truth in it.

But personally, I think it's a great day just to take time out and say, "I think you are a very special person" :)

This year was no different to last year. I whipped up Thai Red Duck Curry for Leng for a special home cooked Valentine's dinner. The only difference was that I am back to working full time this year so we only sat down to dinner at about 7.30pm (I hate Melbourne traffic-argh!!!).

I got my Valentine gift a week before. If you don't know Leng, he can't keep surprises! He just wants to give them to me straightaway! I had to BEG him to not keep asking me to open my Christmas presents under the tree!! Finally, we compromised - I opened 1 of the 4 boxes BEFORE Christmas.

But back to February 14th. I got the most darling oval Le Creuset cast iron pot in the colour Dune which I had been eyeing for awhile now from Leng plus 2 red roses. Odd, I thought. I'd never gotten just 2 stalks...but apparently it was to signify "you and I"....awww....

Red duck curries aside, I hope you had a romantic Valentines. It doesn't need to be an expensive dinner out in town. It can be a simple home cooked meal interrupted intermittently with a romantic slow dance to Al Green's "I'm so in love with you" in your dining room :)

NB: This post could not have happened without the boy who pre-aerated the red wine, lit all the candles he could find scattered about the apartment, set the mood with crooner Al Green in the background, ran down the road to buy the roasted duck and cooked the rice. Thank you! I am a very lucky girl indeed! xox

Looking For a Wedding Photographer?

I thought I'd write a quick post with regards to my wedding photographer.

His name is Harvard. And he is quirky. And I love that about him!

When I was surfing the web for a photographer (or a photojournalist for those in the know!), *I knew straightaway that I wanted a photographer that could blog, take vintage-y pictures but most importantly, I wanted to avoid those mainstream photographers that went by the hour and had an entourage of an assistant plus a guy carrying this large reflector thing (think bendy-front-car-window-sun-blocker-thingy).

Our initial coffee meeting with him lasted for more than an hour!

And my emails to him consisted of where one would find the best ramen and coffee in Melbourne Town.

Yes, he was The One indeed :)

We had our engagement shoot with him yesterday. Leng and I didn't know what to expect but we knew we had 2 hours with him.

2 hours turned into the entire afternoon which ended up with the 3 of us downing ciders on a roof top bar, on a hot Melbourne afternoon.

The shoot turned out to be more like...a date! An outing with friends. Harvard was so easy going it was like we had hired a friend to take pictures of us whilst we chatted and traipsed around Melbourne Town.

We have yet to see the pictures but I have a good feeling about them. Which is always good!

So, if you are looking for a photographer cum foodie cum instant friend...look none the further.

Harvard Wang (based in Melbourne but apparently will travel for pictures. And good food!)

And this is his travelogue on his recent trip to Japan. I simply adore his blogging style!

*It is odd what you discover about oneself when prepping for one's own nuptials. I definitely lack the crazy-wedding-prep-gene. Yes, I want to get married and live happily ever after with Leng but no, I do not care for chair covers, colour themes and what dress I will be wearing! I certainly had more fun meeting up with Harvard versus buying my dress. Leng and I enjoyed our pre-marriage education weekend much more than having to choose a reception venue. I suspect we are more about the marriage versus the wedding itself...

** These are the initial set of pictures which piqued my interest and as they say, rest was history.

Jamie's Italian...in Syd-deh-nee!!!

Sorry but I have been a tad bit MIA...

Blame the long, summer days I say. Light till 8.30-9pm is truly amazing. One can dine outdoors, go for a post-prandial walk, or watch telly till dusk plonked the couch next to the wide, opened balcony doors whilst the cool, evening breeze wafts in.

Either way, I've been busy just partaking in life. And enjoying Summer :)

But this little piece of news rocked my world. A little slow to the party but I got there nonetheless. The Sydneysiders have finally got one above us Melburnians. Actually, they've got Quay and Tetsuyas...so yes, they've got a few more but I would definitely just get on a flight just to try Jamie's Italian.

Here is a cute review on it.

Get your palates there stat!