Calm Like You

Degustation Weekend, Lithgow, NSW, Australia

As Benny, Lauren and I drove out of the city, the temperature dropped a little more than we'd been accustomed to of recent times. The olbigatory road-trip stops were made to re-fuel and re-stock on nibbles for the 2hour journey out further than West of Sydney. This weekends purpose; to become degusted.

Around 15 of us in total had registered on Rog's weekend menu; the commitment to prepare a meal (course) for all in attendence over the period of around 48hours... that was always gonna be a lot of food!

So as we pulled up at Toad Hall in Lithgow once more, the night sky had become berieved of all cloud and the milky way was all that could be seen, those stars always amaze me whenever I get far away enough from a city to actually see more than about 5 at any one time! We headed in to the warm and festive scented cinnamon aromas, which happened to be Alisons mains that would kick off the weekend.

Myself, Lauren and with more than a little help from Matty, put much love into the Friday nights dessert - chocolate Brownies - one batch for the nut lovers and one for those that had allergies. The nut lovers one went down a storm with all that natural walnutty goodness packed inside every gooey slice! Past fits of giggles, people soon started passing out as Friday rolled into Saturday.

Saturday, the menu powered on with an awesome brekkie from Matty, mid morning Scones by Louise and Aaron, a hot n spicy lunch by Benny, and Ems legendary cupcakes making a cameo in the arrangement too.

The day between eating, consisted mainly of badminton, volleyball, reading, soun baking to an extent (our 22 degrees paling in significance to the whopping 27 that was blazing in England at the equivalent time of day) lounging around and, well I think you get the gist. As the sun dipped, the light was fantastic and I made the most of the warm hues that you only really ever seem to see around this time of year; at least in the Southern Hemisphere!).

Afternoon tea was from the Irish element in the house, with Louise making some damn fine scones with Irish coffee which left the path clear for Rog's Kangeroo Stew; 6hours in the making to explode upon everybodies pallettes. Todd rounded off the evening eith his Spumoni. Group rounds of Taboo kept us busy into Sunday.
Kiri swept everyone away with her berry topped pancakes before Oren capped off the culinary capers with some home made muesli bars and biscuits... a throroughly delicious weekend. Now what happened to that gym membership???