The results of Christmas...

 

dumpling mastering

Sewing days

How cool is this?
Saturday night we headed out to find some food after watching a fashion parade for an organisation a friend has been participating in - the Social Studio.
Seamstress was on our list of new places to try, though we didn't fancy our chances of a seat on a weekend during social season.  Alas, our wish was granted and we were seated.
After beginning our tasty meal with Tempura style green prawns (with rhubarb of all things), the waiter asked to move us to use the table.  We were sat down to the side next to one of the interesting items scattered around the restaurant, reflecting it's theme.

This was not just any Sewing Machine, it is a Pinnock.  The relevance you ask? Well, my dear grandfather was a Mechanical Engineer, and when he brought the family to South Australia, begun work with Pinnock Sewing Machines!  

The waiter was not very interested in this coincidence, I mean there are many people who have family links to sewing machine manufacturers, but I was chuffed.


Although this machine looks like it was designed somewhere between 1910 - 1940, sometime before my Grandfather worked at the company, I'm still in awe. These machines are fascinating, and my interest grows.


Oh, and what else did we eat?  Straw mushroom, truffle oil & bitter melon risotto (ok but flavours need longer to develop); gai larn with oyster sauce (average); braised duck with rice & preserved lemon (best duck ever?); and SB had the pork belly.


Several weeks ago when visiting Adelaide, at a the house of an acquaintance, I studied the antique sewing machine and overlooker that they had set up and used.    I could have studied these creatures all night...

Today's efforts

Here's what's been happening today

3rd attempt at Sourdough Bread, using the starter from last weeks efforts. this one's plain & wholemeal flour, a lot simpler and is rising like it should

Mixed peel, including some of the lemons from the abundance LV has kindly given us, ready for the big pudding steam off next week! I've got ready my sultanas, raisins & currant mix and the Holgates nut Brown Ale - hopefully the special ingredient.

Sewing panels of the new skirt together, using the first of the material bought a year ago in Hoi An, Vietnam.

The trial oil on canvas painting is feeling like it's near complete...

Repairs on the Acrylic painting damaged from the leaky ceiling (we thought the landlord and/or agent had fixed since the previous times we told them) were not a success. Time to visit the art store and see if there is anything available.

Tonight, laksa - with tofu, straw & button mushrooms, pak choi, snow peas, rice & egg noodles (so good together) and the paste (sometimes you just can't make everything from scratch)

And maybe if I have time some Lemon Buttermilk Cookies with Passionfruit icing, to use up the rest of the passionfruit juice.

and the soundtrack for this afternoon....
Tears for Fears - Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92)
Talking Heads - Best of Talking Heads
The Art of Noise - The Best of the Art of Noise

and for washing up:
Sonic Youth - The Eternal

oh no, don't do it!

Decadent chocolate truffle torte