Bondi
On Monday we started out the week with a relaxing morning at Bondi. We went to Harry’s to try their infamous matches. I got the strawberry matcha and Stella got the mango. They were served in these adorable, clear, cans. It was one of the best matcha lattes I have had. We then met Sienna and Alexa at Bondi Beach. We sat on the hills above the beach because it was a little bit too windy to sit in the sand. We stayed there for a while, reading, chatting, and tanning until we headed back to our apartment to finish our schoolwork.
Pasta Tuesday
On Tuesdays a local restaurant, Arms Length, has a pasta special. My roommates and I all made a night out of it. Arms Length serves the same pasta for a month and February’s pasta was a ravioli in sausage cream sauce. It was creamy and had a hint of spice. It’s a shame that we are not here for longer so I could try more month’s pasta.
Weekend of Wines
This weekend we went to Hunter Valley to learn about wine, its production, and do some tasting. On Saturday, our first stop was in a small town called Wollombi. There we got lunch and explored the small local shops. Following lunch, the first winery we visited was Brokenwood Wines. We sat at large semicircular tables with our sommelier in the middle pouring our wines. At the beginning of our tasting he explained to us “Wine 101”.
Wine 101
- Set the wine on the table, and swirl- by aerating the wine you are able to experience the full aroma and flavor of the wine
- Hold the wine up to your face to take a look and appreciate the color and appearance of the wine
- Smell the wine
- Taste the wine and then swallow with a serious, contemplative expression
The second winery we visited was Ernest Hill Wines. This winery was smaller and more rustic than the previous winery we visited. We sat in a circle around some barrels which we used as tables. Our sommelier at this winery shared with us about how different wines are made. She shared how when they leave the grapes on the vine to ripen longer it produces a sweeter wine because of the extra sugars. I had my favorite wine here. It was a sparkling dessert wine which was so delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day.
For dinner, my roommates and I went to a seafood restaurant called Kingfish. It was a beautiful little outside restaurant by the water. I got salmon with a white sauce and sauteed cabbage. It was a perfect way to end the night.
On Sunday, we started our day off with a walk along the wharf. We stopped for coffee at the Beehive Honeysuckle Cafe. We sat in the sun enjoying the view of the water while enjoying our drinks. I ended up ordering an iced chai, which was perfect in the hot early morning sun.
After enjoying lunch at a Thai restaurant we made our way to our third winery. Margan Wines was a gorgeous winery located under sprawling mountains. There we learned about the history of Hunter Valley and enjoyed a variety of local wines.
After doing a thorough tasting of many different wines this weekend I have determined that dessert wines are, of course, my favorite and then I tend to prefer whites and am not the biggest fan of most reds. Overall, this weekend was an incredibly informative and enjoyable experience.
– Maddie