A few pics from our most enjoyable Queen’s Birthday long weekend…
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On Friday, Pete and I popped in to Carriageworks to spend half an hour in the Grand Bazaar of Arak, Iran. Hossein Valamanesh’s Char Soo is a four-sided video presentation which places the viewer at the centre of the market.
The projections screen on all four walls of the small space, providing a 360º view of the bazaar. You can watch a bicycle being ridden towards you, pass you on the side and then travel away down the tunnel behind you. The people on the screen are life-sized, and whilst the experience isn’t completely immersive, it’s captivating to watch nonetheless.
Here is just a tiny snippet from one of the projections – an entire day in the market is clipped to run over 27 minutes, from early morning set up to shutting down at night…
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I woke up at 5.30am on Saturday morning and decided it was too early and too cold to get up. I probably should have peeked in on my sourdough before making that decision, as this is what I found an hour later…
Perfectly salvageable though, and by 10am, I had six loaves baked for the weekend…
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On Sunday, I had an entire day to myself in the city.
I popped in to Gumption in the Strand Arcade and ordered my new favourite – a double decaf with ¾ milk and one sugar (it’s the closest thing I’ve found to two piccolos).
I was so happy that I couldn’t stop humming – it made the barista laugh when he brought out my coffee. Although he might have been laughing at my mad orange kantha coat – everybody else in the arcade was elegantly attired in black…
I then wandered down George Street towards the Rocks Markets.
Despite the sunshine, it was a cool 12C day and the seas were choppy – I was grateful for my warm coat. We Sydneysiders are incredibly blessed to be able to stand right on the water’s edge and drink in these amazing views whenever we want…
For lunch, I found an outside table at Ribs and Burgers and had the mini slider duo with really, really good chips…
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On Monday, our friends Will and Bethany popped in with Tom and Not-A-Baby-Anymore Grace.
We put together an impromptu lunch of beef keema, hummous, and Persian fetta, stuffed inside my new sourdough focaccias. It was a huge hit, and we probably didn’t need the chocolate pudding I served afterwards. Ah well, it’s winter and it’s cold, right?
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Long weekends don’t come around very often, and I’m always grateful for this one in June. It’s a welcome pause in an otherwise busy time of year!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
looks like a great weekend
Celia, you are very lucky indeed to live in Sydney. I think we are all lucky to live in Australia.
I think you all are too!
The moral of the energetic sourdough is always to leave the bowl on a clean surface, so that you scrape it back into the bowl. Looks a pretty fab weekend.
Sounds like you had a glorious weekend! The views from the harbour are beautiful.
A couple of years ago, I was visiting Sydney to see Mum and my sister. I was lucky enough to meet Elaine of Cash Palace fame and bought a wonderful Kantha coat from her. I wear it proudly in the Connecticut USA spring and autumn. You have no idea how many compliments I’ve had, and how many times people have threatened to kidnap me for my coat! I adore it! You are very lucky to have one too.
It’s been getting hotter and hotter with high humidity so we don’t go outside much. We tried sitting out for cocktails yesterday but I almost melted so we came back in to the cooled house! Your breads look amazing, I just love how you cut into them and the beautiful, organic shapes they bake into.
Your day to yourself sounds wonderful, I am spending the day with my cousin Lucy tomorrow and we shall walk, drink coffee and enjoy the beautiful day. Hopefully it won’t be too hot.
SO happy for you! I am the biggest ‘people person’ in the world, but oh do I enjoy disappearing into the madding crowd on my own occasionally: your day sounds absolutely fabulous!!
Your exploding sourdough….by the way my sourdough loaf turned out way better the only thing is I think I needed to cook it for a further 5 mins…I put it on the oven tray and cooked it for 15 mins (5 mins over what you mentioned) but I think it needed 5 mins more for finishing off the middle. The crust was great and the texture was had good holes…so really good…Keen to try it again. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
I am always envious of your weekend wanderings about the city. I never seem to get enough time to be a tourist in my own city.
What a wonderful adventure. I like that you wore your orange coat. So fun! Hugs, Maz
Long time lurker, first time commenter- Ribs and Burgers do the best chips don,t they!
I remember the Strand Arcade really well…a beautiful building! Laughed out loud when I saw the sourdough…it’s happened to me but as you say, salvageable! The market video bought back memories of a long weekend we did in Tangier from Spain (it’s only half a day’s travel away). Big Man and I kept breaking away from the group and exploring places like this alone…good memories!
I don’t know whether to be more impressed at the sourdough rising or the 6 loaves – amazing it can keep rising even when we are too cold to get out of bed – looks like a lovely wintery weekend
I love the peek into your long weekend! How I’d love to catch up in those arcades with you for a coffee one day!
Ha! That sourdough, Celia. Wow.
What a wonderful weekend you had – and your keema focaccias look fabulous. I really must try those very soon.
Fabulous looking loaves, Celia! I didn’t bake this weekend – practically the first since you sent me some dehydrated starter in October/November last year. I just want you to know what a blessing you shared with my family when you mailed that little envelope. I always send thankful thoughts your way when I bake!
If I could buy some starter from you I’d be in heaven! I’m in QLD.
Sue, I don’t sell my starter, sorry! I’ll email you.