It’s a crazy busy time of year.
Between all the end of year appointments (optometrist, accountant, hair cuts, dentist) and getting ready for Christmas, it’s been hard to find time to come up for air.
When life gets like that, I always think it’s important to find time to unwind. So when our friends Cliff and Kathy asked if we’d like to go out for dinner tonight, I immediately said yes. Spending time with close friends with whom we can relax and completely be ourselves is remarkably therapeutic.
We went to Spanish Tapas in Glebe and shared the $40/head banquet menu, which included a selection of tapas and paella for four, accompanied by garlic bread and salad. It was tasty and great value…
Then the entertainment started! The owner’s wife runs a neighbouring flamenco school, and every night in December, they have a performance. The dancers were so good that I tried taking a couple of videos for you – please excuse the low light and shaky camera handling (I promise I only had one cocktail)…
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After dinner, we wandered across the road to Grand Gelato. They have the most unusual selection of flavours…
I think this one is only for the true bacon afficionado…
All the sorbets here are delicious, particularly the chocolate and lemon. All dairy-free too…
Cliff and Kathy loved the popcorn and caramel gelato, but it was too savoury for me…
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I’m flat out at the moment, so I’m not spending as much time online as I normally would. But it’s a very good busy – December is always a joyous time of year. I hope you’re all having a wonderful month as well! x
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Enjoy the festive season Celia. All the very best to you and Pete
Thanks Glenda! Hope you and Maus are enjoying the season too! x
Olé! ;) ps the cocktail looks very very good
Azita, the cocktail was named “Sex on the Beach”, but frankly, it was probably better than that (no sand). ;-) It was vodka, peach schnapps, OJ and cranberry.
Unwinding is good! Love flamenco dance, music, the whole atmosphere is simply amazing! A bit like fado from Portugal, but happier. Much happier.
hope your month goes smoothly, Celia – we are working hard here in the lab, if it serves of any consolation, December is a busy month in which we can get a lot done because the students don’t have to teach or attend many classes…
Sally, I hope you get heaps done during the down time! I’ve never seen flamenco before, and it was wonderful to watch, particularly after a cocktail! :D
So glad you are taking some time to just enjoy!
Your video is very smooth- I think you are a very tough self critic.
And the ice cream- I am a sucker for good ice cream. Popcorn and caramel sounds very good to me- but then they all sound and look delicious.
Heidi, thank you – Cliff and Kathy really liked the popcorn and caramel, but it was a bit too salty for me. The bacon was apparently just weird (Kathy tried it).. :)
How wonderful – they were dancing a Sevillana! Very good too :)
Oooh, which one was that, Chica? The first or the second video? They were very good, I loved the heel clicking and stomping…
The first one – there’s a pattern to it (four parts I think) with pauses. the music changes rhythm and so does the dance, the hand movements etc….very lovely!
Ooooh, ice cream. Yummy. Happy Christmas to you and your family. xx
Thanks Misky! Hope you and Peder are having a wonderful month too! I’ll be back in a few days – just a mad crush at the moment…
You are a true blogger Celia. Not only do you take photos of your food, but the entertainment too. Bacon and maple sounds interesting.
Anne, Cliff and Kathy tried the bacon and both thought it was very strange. I didn’t like the popcorn, so I didn’t even try it! :)
Flamenco and gelato– now that’s a great way to spend an evening! Sounds like you had a lot of fun.
Vaishali, don’t forget the cocktail and paella! :) It was a great evening!
Bacon and Maple sounds very North American…or hangover material :-)
After six tapas, a large paella, a cocktail and a lemon sorbet – I wasn’t game to try it, Brydie! If it wasn’t good (and Kathy said it wasn’t), I didn’t want to have the lingering taste in my mouth! :D
Sounds like a wonderful evening! Like you said, I think it’s so important to stop and take a breather sometimes!
Thanks Clare, running at speed at the moment, so it was lovely to take a little time out! xx
What great value seeing as they also throw in some entertainment. I love a spontaneous night out like that. I have been rushing about like a mad thing as well. As if December isn’t busy enough, I also try to fit in appointments like hair cuts and dental check-ups and seeing my thyroid specialist. I don’t know why I don’t do these things in a quieter month of the year. Anyway…I’ll press on – it’s very busy but I love it! xx
It’s a crazy time of year, isn’t it? I’m glad you’re enjoying it though! :) xx
It is indeed a busy and silly time of year. That bacon icecream looks scary. And the paella dish looks sensational.. I have been searching all over Australia for a gas Paella ring as I have decided that this is the way to go for summer. No shops seem to stock them! sob
Fran, give Chefs’ Warehouse in Surry Hills a call – I think they might stock them. I know I’ve seen a paella ring there, but just can’t remember if it was gas or electric!
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2010/02/12/chefs-warehouse/
Tapas and ice cream, great combination (ice cream goes with everything!). End of school here today so our silly season starts this weekend. Can’t wait!
Jo, hope you have a fabulous silly season! Last week was crazy for us, just coming up for air now! :)
Fantastic!
Great fun! I’m thinking we need to go back before the nightly shows finish! :)
What a fun night out Celia, I’m glad you got to relax sweetie! That paella looks the business for sure, the prawns make it look so pretty too. I spotted a lavender gelato there that had me wishing I could have that for breakfast :)
Don’t run yourself too ragged before Christmas, and CONGRATULATIONS on the record breaking IMK posts- awesome! Xox
Becca darling, thank you! They really had the most unusual gelato flavours – a kataifi pastry one as well – and a good selection of sorbets as well. The paella was most fine! All the best to you and C and the Js for a fabulous Chrissie! xx
Oh what a fun night out! I love tapas and to have the flamenco dancing on top of it must have made the evening special. I hear you about the end of the year crazies and this year I made a point to slide all of my appointments into months with good weather & far away from the holidays.
The gelato selection looks amazing & although I love bacon, I don’t think I’d try it in gelato. Does that mean I’m a purist?
Di, you’re far more sensible that me. I really should have pushed stuff into January, but there’s something about closing the year with tasks ticked off that I haven’t quite shaken. I’m not sure if avoiding bacon icecream makes you a purist. Maybe it just means you have good taste.. ;-)
That Spanisch tapas restaurant looks very cool too. The cocktail looks tasty & that ice-cream flavour: bacon maple sounds very tasty, tasty, tasty! Thanks for the video’s too! 😃
Soph, the cocktail was wickedly good! I could have another one right now, and it’s 8am! :)
hahaha!! x
Time out during the silly season is a wonderful idea… I’m almost there… I can hear the soft sighs of serenity in the distance ;)
ED, it really is like a stumble to the finish line, isn’t it? This week is promising to be better for us..hope it all eases up for you soon as well!
It is the busiest but most wonderful time of the year isn’t it? Everyone is in such a good mood and relaxed. We need to extend it to the rest of the year!
Claire, it is a lovely time of year, but I wish I could say I was relaxed! We’re still running like crazy people, although a bit better this week than last!
Blow it! Instead of the video a big white empty space appeared on my computer!! Wonder why ’cause everything else was there!! Glad you had a wonderful time – the menu surely sounded appetizing . . . and, yes, most of us at the moment methinks feel like ‘cancelling’ just the one day :) !
Sorry Eha, I suspect you don’t have a fast enough broadband. Videos are always quite large. Hope you’re enjoying the festive season!
Always good to have a bit of down time, the wicked chocolate sorbet was calling my name.
Norma, it was VERY good! We had it with blood orange sorbet as well – great combination of flavours!
Time Out from routine is always a good thing! I love the unusual gelato flavours :)
Thanks Tandy! Some of the flavours were very unusual indeed! :)
I’m really in favor of spending as much time with friends and family during the holidays as you possibly can. That’s what’s most important! I can see you had a really lovely evening, and now I’m craving gelato! LOL!
Thank you, we did have a wonderful time. Planning a trip back with my boys, I think they’d love it!
What a night! I’d want to be in the front row for that performance. I love flamenco!
Maureen, I’ve never watched it before, it was such a treat! There aren’t many dance styles that appeal to me, but this one really did!
Hehe I wish we could go for a pre Christmas dinner with you and Pete! And maple bacon? It’s practically a staple here in Canada, I’ve found my people :P
Big Boy is a big fan of maple syrup on bacon as well, just not sure any of us would eat it in an icecream! Glad to hear you’re having fun! :)
It all looks delicious! I had a chestnut gelato just a couple of hours ago in Lucca…very good indeed.
Deb, I ADORE chestnut gelato! Hope you’re having a wonderful wintry festive season! xx
Oh Celia- you couldn’t have said it better! I don’t even know the last time I came up for air! The baker at the restaurant is out sick (indefinitely) and I’ve now become their makeshift pastry chef. All during this crazy busy time of year no less!!! I think I need one of those cocktails you flaunt at the top of your post…
But besides all of that, I hope you and your family are doing well this festive season! Lots of love :) xoxo Em
Em, you’re the pastry chef on top of looking after two small people!! I wish I could join you for a cocktail – one of these days! Hope it all calms down for you soon, and you and your gorgeous family have a wonderful Christmas! xx
Celia, You are one of the most active people I know any day of the year. When December rolls around, you shift into hyper-drive. Don’t worry about the blogosphere; you’ve got things to do. We aren’t going anywhere.
I’m glad that you and Pete got a chance to spend an evening out with your friends. Everything about that night sounds wonderful, though, to be honest, I’m kind of fixated on that maple bacon gelato. If there was a gelato place nearby, I’d be there just about daily. :)
John, you guys are amazing – I couldn’t even bring myself to try the maple bacon icecream! Maybe you can add that to your list to experiment with next year. :) I hope everything’s going well in your part of the world, and it’s not too cold, and the back stairs are all rebuilt and looking brilliant! Talk soon, I hope! xx
It’s been crazy hectic and I have not visited many of my friends blogs…I promise to be better in 2014. I take this time dear Celia to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year…OLE!
Norma, you’re so nice, thank you! All the very best to you for a wonderful Christmas and festive season as well – may you have eagles soaring by your window this month! xx
I’ve been meaning to go to that Spanish tapas place, thanks for the reminder! My favorite gelato is still Cow and the Moon, though, their chocolate sorbet is swoon-worthy! :-D
Saucy, it’s been a while since we tried Cow and the Moon, we’ll have to try this choc sorbet next time! :)
Bacon and maple sounds HORRIBLE! But the flamencos even though i cannot pay the vid would be fantastic! Love the idea of sharing a dinner with good friends .. how I wish you were closer! Love to all. Busy is good! c
Thank you darling. That’s what I thought as well, but obviously there’s a market, because so many people have left comments saying they’d love it! :) I wish you lived closer too! xx
The gelato looks wonderful! Sue
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Sue, I only had the sorbets, but they were delicious! :)
You know I’m all about that cocktail. Everything looks fantastic though!
Greg, I came home and ordered Peach Schnapps straight away! :)