Every blogger made the decision to start their blog. What we wanted to know was how they decided what would be their first post – and to reflect on something that has been hidden in their archives ever since. Sharking for Chips & Drinks are running the feature ‘Back to the Start’ over the next few weeks where we will introduce you to bloggers from Melbourne, Australia and much further afield. These are all great bloggers so I suggest you subscribe to their blog and follow them on Twitter.

——————————————————————————————————-

My first blog post was about the Good Food Month 2008 and picking out my favourite events that appealed to me. I didn’t have a blog before then but was thinking of having one and thought this would be a great way to share my thoughts on what I wanted to check it. The name of my food blog Simon Food Favourites was based on wanting to share my favourite dishes that I discovered. I still label any dishes that I would recommend to others as a SIMON FAVOURITE so it’s easy to identify them in my posts. When I first started the blog it was more a casual hobby which was updated quickly but now photographing my meals has become an obsession and finding time to do a comprehensive post with a lot more photos is a huge challenge. I have photos from restaurants I’ve visited since November 2009 that I never had the chance to post and currently have more than 600 visited and photographed places in my ever increasing backlog that will sadly never see the light of day due to time. Twitter and Facebook updates have increasingly become my outlet for daily food updates to highlight my favourites and when time permits I still really enjoy getting a blog post up of my food adventures.

My First Post

01 OCTOBER 2008

Good Food Month – My Picks of Interest

 

OUTDOOR EVENTS:
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_catalog_29872/Outdoor_Events
[BECAUSE I haven't been for a while because it's too crazy]
Sydney Food and Wine Fair
Saturday, November 1
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29872/Sydney_Food_and_Wine_Fair

[BECAUSE is social, outdoors and some bargains to be found]
Night Noodle Markets
October 13th – 17th and 20th – 24th
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29872/Night_Noodle_Markets_-_Hyde_Park_North

[BECAUSE it's close to home and a good crowd]

Danks Street Festival

October 26th from 11am – 4pm
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29872/Danks_Street_Festival

LET’S DO LUNCH:
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_catalog_29873/Lets_do_lunch

[BECAUSE it got Restaurant of the Year and I've already booked a table for 10]

Quay

Butter poached leather jacket, white asparagus, spring herbs, lemon confit dressing

http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Quay

[BECAUSE I'm willing to give them one more try to see if I really do not like them]
Aria
Roast barramundi fillet with gamberetti with pea and zucchini risotto
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Aria

[BECAUSE I haven't been]
Becasse
Slow roast Provencal lamb with spring vegetables, olive and herb vinaigrette
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Becasse

[BECAUSE it's Lobster]
Bungalow 8
Lobster with your choice of the following sauces; Mornay, Jamaican or Praya. Da Luge Butter. Served with Salad or Cajun Rice

http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Bungalow_8

[BECAUSE of the view]
Forty One
Slow cooked Tasmanian ocean trout, crushed sweet green peas with grated peccorino, prosciutto, lemon, basil and mint
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Forty_One

[BECAUSE I've heard good things about Glass]
Glass Wine Bar
Enjoy confit duck leg, cauliflower puree, apple date almond salad in Glass Wine Bar or on the Glass Chefs Table.

http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Glass_Wine_Bar

[BECAUSE I've never been]
Jonah’s
Sesame seared Yellowfin tuna paillard, crisp onion rings, watercress and red radish
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Jonah’s

[BECAUSE they are giving 2 courses]
Kable’s
Warm salad of asparagus and serrano ham served with Shimeji mushrooms, green peas and baby mache salad. Followed by a main course of Vanilla Butter Poached Tasmanian Salmon served on a bed of potato risotto, leek confit and quince
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Kable’s

[BECAUSE it sounds delicious]

Ocean Room
Ocean Assiette – A Plate Of Ocean Room’s Signature Creations – Prawn Trio – crispy wasabi prawn, panko crusted king prawn, spicy crystal prawn sushi roll – Char Grilled Ocean Trout Fillet, Herbed Vegetable Tartare – Zesty Spring Cabbage Salad.

http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Ocean_Room

[BECAUSE it's lobster and prawns and sounds like it'll fill me up]
Zaaffran
Tropical lobster and prawns glazed in the clay over mixed salad, spiced potato wedges, fresh baked mushroom flatbread with truffle butter

http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29873/Zaaffran
HATS OFF:
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_catalog_29890/Hats_off

[BECAUSE I've heard good things about Glass]
Glass Restaurant: Luke Mangan Hats Off Dinner
Take a culinary tour of Luke Mangan’s Restaurants from the days of the past with Salt and Bistro Lulu, to the present with South in LA and Salt in Tokyo and of course Glass Brasserie. 5 courses of culinary delight matched with Luke’s range of Hand Picked ‘Luke Mangan’ Wines served with Sanpellegrino.

http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29890/Glass_Restaurant_-_Luke_Mangan_Hats_Off
_DinnerSOMETHING SWEET:
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_catalog_29892/High_Tea
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_catalog_29891/Sugar_Hit

[BECAUSE this place has been on my list for ages]

Garden Court at the Sofitel
During October, you can enjoy a delicious Lenotre Afternoon Tea with a glass of Brown Brother’s sparkling wine in the Sofitel Lounge. Lenotre Afternoon Tea includes a beautiful selection of cakes and tarts, assorted finger sandwiches, Ronnefeldt tea and espresso coffee.
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29892/Garden_Court_at_the_Sofitel

[BECAUSE it's a nice place to dine]

The InterContinental Cortile Lounge
Tasting platter of Grand Marnier-Strawberry Infused Panna Cotta; Chestnut Timbale, V.S.O.P cognac cream & White Chocolate-Rasberry Torte
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29891/The_InterContinental_Cortile_Lounge%3b_
Cafe_Opera_and_Club_Bar

 HANDS ON:
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_catalog_29894/Hands_on

[BECAUSE it's cocktails!]
Cocktail Course by Emmilou – Emmilou Lounge and Tapas Bar
October 1st
Cost: $60 per person

Hands on approach to not only making (and drinking!) cocktails, but further understanding recipe’s and how to make them work for you.

[BECAUSE it's cocktails and great location]
Cocktail Masterclass – theloft
Cost: $20 per person, minimum booking of 5
October 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th Times 5-6pm; 6-7pm; 7-8pm
Wow your friends with your own cocktail creation! During this ‘hands-on’ session theloft mixologist will teach you how to create a liquid masterpiece.
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29894/Cocktail_Masterclass_-_theloft

SPECIAL EVENTS:
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_catalog_29895/Special_Events

[BECAUSE it's Beer!]
Australian Beer Festival
The 4th Annual Australian Beer Festival, will be held in the heart of the historic Rocks at the Australian Hotel. This two-day event showcases over 60 Aussie beers from all over the country to suit any taste bud. In its 4th year, the event has now become a must on any beer fans calender. Meet the Brewer sessions and live entertainment along with great prizes along the way.

Tasting Cups $5. Tasting tickets (inc 10 beer samples) $10.
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29895/Australian_Beer_Festival

[BECAUSE it's cocktails]
Belvedere Bar
As the official spirit of Good Food Month, Belvedere Vodka has joined with Cargo Lounge to create a special and sophisticated experience for October including a special Belvedere cocktail list. The Sun Room, a private room within Cargo Lounge at King Street Wharf will transform into the one and only Belvedere Bar. The Belvedere Bar is perfect for gatherings. Bookings essential

http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29895/Belvedere_Bar

[BECAUSE last year was so much fun]
Freestyle Cocktail Sessions
Cost: $30 per person
Good Food Month has invited Sydney’s Best Bartenders & DJs to participate in a one night only extravaganza, combining fantastic beats with exotic drinks.These bartending legends will simultaneously mix you up a mind blowing selection of classic and modern cocktails all to the beat of Sydney’s most respected DJs
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29895/Freestyle_Cocktail_Sessions

[BECAUSE I love oysters and they love me!!!]
Get Shucked
Drop in on the glamorous Woolloomooloo wharf with head chef Daniel Hughes and Moreton Bay oyster farmer Tim Dumbrell for Manta’s annual oyster festival, showcasing the best Australia has to offer, with an abundance of oyster friendly wine available by the glass selected by sommelier Glen Davis.
Cost: $2.50 per oyster
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29895/Get_Shucked

[BECAUSE you get heaps of yummy quality cheese and five wines]
Sydney Specialist Cheese Show
October 19th from 11am – 4pm
$40
Come along and taste a range of cheeses from some of the finest producers in the country.
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_product_29895/Sydney_Specialist_Cheese_Show

[BECAUSE it sounds like a real foodies event]
Young Chefs’ Dinner – Coast Restaurant
Cost: $150 plus wine

October 13th, 7pm
The Young Chefs’ Dinner showcases the cooking of Sydney’s best young chefs including James Parry from Oscillate Wildly, winner of the 2009 Josephine Pignolet Award. Other chefs include Luke Powell (Tetsuya’s), Josh Davidson (Coast), Michael Urquhart (No 2 Oak St, Bellingen) and Marc Williams (Foveaux Restaurant and Bar).COCKTAILS:
http://gfm.smh.com.au/_catalog_29896/Cocktails[BECAUSE they are cocktails!!!]
Any and all of them but preference goes to the ones with a great view.

———————————————————————

Read Simon’s latest Blog Post: http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com.au

Follow Simon on Twitter

Follow @Shark4ChipDrink
//