Posts Tagged "date night"

summer drink

Posted by Sharon Pakir on Mar 31, 2012 in Cooking | 0 comments

Today was a particularly warm March day and it was utterly glorious. I rather inappropriately wore a comfortable maxi dress to work (suited it up with a blazer) and revelled in walking around the city and my neighbourhood running errands after.

It reminded me of the brilliant drink I learnt of this summer, and made me crave it.

See, over the Christmas break, S and I decided to try out a little wine bar near our house for a relaxed date night.

And this wine bar, otherwise known as THAT BRILLIANT PLACE, had jugs of nectar on their specials board.

NECTAR OF THE HEAVENS.

ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING ME?

*UNBLINKING STARE*

So simple, so good, and I can’t believe I’d never thought of it:

Moscato laced with limes and their juice, served over ice in large red wine glasses.

Somehow, the combination is just electric – the sweetness of the moscato and its just right amount of bubbles, the tropical lime taste tempering the sweetness, the ice making it gushingly, oh so summer-quenching cold, and all that smoothness washing down from a large bulbous glass down your throat.

Oh.

My.

God.

And far be it for ME to hold back this amazing secret – instead, I SHARE my knowledge with you.

In the vain hope that if you have me over, you’ll have a jug of said goodness ready for me, of course.

 

Read More

salix in mornington

Posted by Sharon Pakir on Dec 29, 2011 in Lifestyle, Travel | 1 comment

Salix is part of the Willow Creek Vineyard, and on a recommendation of a girlfriend who just KNOWS the kind of thing I like, we booked dinner there on the Friday night to kick off our Mornington weekend of bliss.

Many vineyards in Victoria are just gorgeous – we are pretty spoilt for choice in terms of wineries on our end of the world – but Salix was particularly sublime when driving up to it just before the sunset, the glow of the sun just cast over the vast grape fields.

I’m sure it helped that it was just about devoid of any other people – we had obviously come at the right time.

We had a really lovely short walk around the vineyard and watched the sun dancing on the lovely roses around us. I know, I know, it sounds like hogwash but it was LOVELY!

After a short stroll, we sat down by our full glass window seat and enjoyed a spectacular meal as we watched the sun set, over some truly lovely conversation.

Let me just tell you. I’m no food critic, but I’m pretty well versed at the fine dining thing, and that steak, I’m still thinking about it. It wasn’t as good as my out of body Rockpool experience, but it was certainly VERY high on my list of perfect steaks I’ve eaten. I almost wrestled S for his meal but that’s not what ladies do in nice restaurants.

I kicked him in the shin under the table instead until he let me have more bites.

More gratuitous photo taking because I brought the good camera and I was determined to get better with it.

So pleased that S loved the first outfit I put on for this weekend away – a bloody awesome steal too at AUD$10 from Kuala Lumpur. So very pleasing and comfortable (read: baggy) enough for big meals.

And lastly:

Salix Restaurant (not the bistro) was INCREDIBLY pleasing and such a gorgeous way to start the weekend after the hustle and bustle of driving up after work. Watching the sun set over great wines, luscious food and in beautiful greenery was just sublime, especially with wonderful conversation and date night excitement. HIGHLY recommended.

Go. YOU MUST GO.

And order the steak. That’s what I’ll be getting next time!

 

Details:

Willow Creek Vineyard

166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North 3926

Victoria, Australia (Melway Ref. 162 H9)

Salix Restaurant

12noon – 3pm daily; 6pm – 11pm Friday and Saturday

ph. 03 5989 7640

 

Read More

single happy moment

Posted by Sharon Pakir on Aug 8, 2011 in Happiness, Love | 0 comments

The night before I left for Singapore, S and a bunch of our friends dined at the inimitable Maze, Melbourne (Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant).

Besides being delighted at partaking in some 5-star dining (good restaurants DO please me so!) – this was even more pleasing because Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, I am almost ashamed to say, is one of my trashy tv favourites – I adore watching him RUN A TIGHT KITCHEN, and yell at people who are acting like fools in it. I love it. I do.

Then there is the rather wonderful fact that my lovely S, who has zero interest in fine dining or good restaurants, consistently takes me to these places for the simple fact that I love them, and he enjoys (his words!) witnessing me coo AT my food lovingly like a deranged child.

Ah, true love.

I didn’t get any shots of the food or the night, we were too busy imbibing and spending joyous times with friends, but I did get this shot at pre-dinner cocktails – capturing basically a very very happy moment.

Him looking incredibly spiffy from weeks of healthy habits, me feeling sassy with fresh haircut and buttery soft leather jacket – we were feeing on top of the world, and it’s nice in these hectic weeks of present to look back on that moment just a fleeting 4 weeks ago, and smile.

Read More

daggy date night

Posted by Sharon Pakir on Jul 15, 2011 in Lifestyle, Love | 0 comments

So tonight S and I had a daggy date night because, frankly, we were way too exhausted from the last 2 week’s vagaries and activity to do much else. We drove the 2 minutes down to our local neighbourhood (two whole minutes!), and elected to have sitdown dinner in what we regard to be the BEST pizza shop in our area.

Unfortunately, what is the BEST pizza shop turned out not to be the best PASTA restaurant – I mean, I have many times had to eat substandard pasta. But this was BAD. And the thing is, truly bad food is hard to come by.

S’ lasagne came drowning in sauce that tasted like Heinz baked beans, I kid you not – it was like the cook had opened a tin of baked beans, emptied half a bottle of ketchup, and stirred it all in a pot before plonking it on some flat lasagne noodles. Awful.

My carbonara came out also drenched in sauce, but which was what can only be described as a GLUE LIKE consistency. I kid you not. I ate about 3 mouthfuls before declaring my mouth unfit for the experience. The bacon was flaccid and uncooked. The whole mess sat unappetisingly on my plate for about 3 minutes. We looked at each other and simultaneously rose from our chairs, declaring dinner DONE.

It’s almost inconceivable that a place that has consistently WOW pizza can cook pasta so tremendously badly, OR that they are fully booked every Friday night. Just, wow.

Anyways.

We were so tired that we almost didn’t even care, and decided to salvage the meal at the local pub, with a glass of wine and some dessert.

We sat by their open fire and spent a delightful 45 minutes just sipping and chatting and cuddling, and things were just sublime.

Then we popped into the GAMING LOUNGE with our desserts in hand, and here’s where things got awesome.

You see, I’ve never played the pokies before. And so beginners luck was MAH FRIEND ladies and gentlemen, we were just ON FYAH. PLUS, we found the one machine that seemed to just keep PAYING OUT (on 2 cent games, but STILL YAYY ME). Also, it was rather inappropriately called “Oriental something or other”. YAYY for politically incorrect machines, because let me tell you, S and I razzle dazzled that place.

All the old birds and their henpecked husbands were staring at us at once wistful (lucky machine) and disapprovingly (clearly our youth, vigour and raucous laughter didn’t suit how seriously they took their gaming). One older lady even took up a firm position gazing at our screen. Seriously, this machine was the BOMB GIGGEDY of pokies machine – every 5 button presses, we got something back in value (from 10 cents, all the way to $8 at one stage!)

In the end it was just such a happy hour – literally. And FREE (we started with $30, and miraculously, walked out with $30! Go us!) – PLUS, S got charged seniors prices for the sundaes (quiet chortle. Make what you will of that, but we are insisting it’s because the girl thought we were lovely).

I still don’t see how pokies can actually be alluring, let alone addictive, but sometimes the most fun is spent doing the daggy things, with someone you love. Especially when the “daggy date night” is followed by coming home and suitcase packing with the most hideous face mask on, whilst your honey watches the golf in his pajamas. Oh yeah, that’s how we roll on a Friday night.

 

Read More

birthday month update: date night!

Posted by Sharon Pakir on May 30, 2011 in Lifestyle, Love | 1 comment

Yup, here’s another birthday month update, wherein I let you know how my extravaganza of turning older is going. The answer? SWIMMINGLY.

I’m actually about a week behind with posting the glorious activity, but hey, life’s tough when you’re celebrating the various groups of friends you have, the coming of age (shudder), owning a business or two, and trying to cook all the detox food your man needs to not starve to death!

So last Tuesday, S took me on my birthday dinner date! It’s a bit of a ritual, birthday dates – or rather, dinner dates in general. S and I are believers of keeping the romance alive and one of our favourite things to do is to get frocked up, go to an exciting new restaurant, take walks hand in hand under the stars, drink wine, and share a few priceless hours.

Get frocked up we did – me in a new dress that my mummy got me when she was here, and him in a wonderful pink shirt that I just adore him in.

And whilst we’re here, I’d just like to put in a plug for the lovely boutique Zampera – ’tis where I got the lovely dress above from, and was totally styled by owner and personal stylist Maria. Maria’s a great friend of mine, and honestly, she has that magic touch that makes you feel just wonderfully glamourous, pretty, whilst staying comfortable and dressed to a budget and style that suits you. I mean, I don’t mean to brag, but that night was one of the few nights this past year I’ve truly felt pretty enough for S to wine and dine me so:

If you have a special occasion, or just need a wardrobe makeover or consult, go see Maria at Zampera. You will NOT regret it.

/plug over

SO ANYWAYS.

S took me to Cumulus Inc, in Flinders Lane.

And wined me.

And dined me.

And indulgently encouraged me to order more oysters when I’d lovingly polished off the first batch with googly eyes and incessant drooling noises, like a truly classy lady does.

So there we sat, dear reader, (yes, I really did get all Bronte sisters on you there), holding hands across the table, giggling and chatting, imbibing and nibbling on yumminess.

S couldn’t care less whether he eats in a 5 star restaurant, or home cooked food at home – but he knows the good gastronomy really pleases me. He actually says half the fun is watching my coos and squeals escalate as a good meal goes on.

On the other hand, I think the best thing about date night with S is not about being taken out or being wined and dined (though they are certainly rather LOVELY aspects of it all) – but that for those few hours, we are in an elevated state of love. Date nights, because it’s a formal appointment of love, seems to put both of us in a great mood and on our best behaviours – he is the ultimate gentleman, and I am his adoring lady.

Not that we NEED a date night to be good to each other – far from the contrary. I think S and I have a wonderful relationship when we’re “on” and “off”, whether we’re lolling on the couch in pyjamas or out having a social event. But when we’re on a date, it’s like the curtain is closed on any issues or stresses we may be facing in work or externally, and our focus is JUST each other. It takes us right back to when we were courting, giddy with excitement and feeling like the world faded away when we were in each others’ presence.

And that’s nice, and important to keep alive in any relationship. And why date night is important.

With S, I don’t mind when we emerge from the restaurant into the freezing cold, because I’m hand in hand with my best friend. And with him, I love walking down a cobbled Melbourne laneway, because it feels like we’re in a musical and sauntering along to imaginary music.

So, anyway.

I hope you’re still reading and not spewing into a bag somewhere. Got a bit carried away, didn’t I.

After dinner, we adjourned to the Sofitel,  for dessert. Up we went to the 35th floor, and the Atrium Lounge was just stunning.

And came complete with a gasp-worthy view from the ladies rooms.

I also had no idea that the Sofitel Atrium Lounge was RENOWN for its creme brulee, but rather happily, it was what I ordered (with some “grandfather port” which was heavenly).

Was the creme brulee good?

OH MY GOD. It was so creamy and good that I am still dreaming of it, almost a whole week later. DREAMING. AND DROOLING. IN MY SLEEP. Yes. Truly.

We cosied up on the couch that that rather perfect, quiet, peaceful bar overlooking the city, and just savoured the last hour of our date night whilst feasting on delectable treats.

Was it a perfect birthday dinner date? Yes, I think so. But having a lovely man as I do, he tends to make all of them perfect. And I’m a lucky girl for it.

Thank you darling, it was a beautiful night. The company was exquisite, as was the experience we shared. The conversations were immeasurably lovely, and the way you make me feel? Just as electrifying as our first ever dinner date.

xx

A very spoilt birthday girl

Read More