Last week in Newcastle ......

Heading out of Newcastle to spend my last week in Australia working out of Sydney.  I made my rounds of the favorite places including Sprocket for their Pumpkin Lentil salad which they didn't have, but had their Pumpkin Israeli couscous instead,  Newcastle beach, and of course Goldbergs for a last dinner.

Also celebrated a birthday a few days ago and made some dinner for some of the girls at the apartment as well.  Can't believe that I have lived here for 6 weeks! I'm going to miss this little town.

Pics from this past week......

 

B-day dinner some of the girls at the apt made for me 

(steak & homemade fries, chinese vegetables, apple cake!)

Pumpkin Couscous from Sprocket

Newcastle Beach

 

Dinner for the girls

(Roasted chicken with lime & coriander, garlic rice, steamed vegetables, S & P shrimp one of the girls made)

Can't leave without having the lamington!

 

or making the last stop to Goldbergs......

Slow roasted lamb infused with garlic & rosemary

pan fried potatos, peas and pancetta pink peppercorn jus

 

Sea Salt Pork Medallion 

with chili roasted pumpkin, grilled caramelized apple, fresh asparagus & spicy rhubarb jam

  

Good times 

Not sure how much time I will have to blog in Sydney as it's getting pretty intense with the rotation work now.  It is Chinese New Year's this weekend though so definitely I will have a post on that.  See you back in Sydney!

Port Stephens

It was an overcast morning on my 3rd to last weekend here in Australia.  Despite the weather, Yushi and I went ahead and did a day's outing at Port Stephens.  It was a blast! The drive out south from Newcastle was about 45 minutes.  Our guide was Naomi and two other guys from the hostel, Alex and Sam, were with us as well for the day.  I have to say that the hostels here in Australia are fantastic. They provide many tours and activities at cheap rates which we definitely took advantage of.

 

Ready for our dolphin excursion!

Once we arrived to Port Stephens we got onto a boat with other passengers and spent the next couple of hours in search of dolphins.  We met some really nice people on board.  I met a family of really chill Aussies from Sydney up for the weekend in Port Stephens as well as the crew of the ship.  The sun actually came out while we were at sea and it was a lovely sail.  We did manage to find 2 dolphins and though there wasn't a whole pod, we were ohhing and ahhing over those two for quite a while.  It was nice to see them out in their natural setting.  The boat also had what is called a boom net, don't ask me why its called that, I have no idea, but it is a net that they drop off the side of the boat and people can get in it and have an awesome ride with the waves crashing into them.  Not many went in it, but I couldn't pass up the chance and it was seriously fun!

 

There are the 2 little guys!

 

Boom netting, good fun!

From the boat we headed into the town for lunch.  We were recommended an Aussie pie place by Naomi called Red Neds.  It has 50 different versions of pies from the orginal meat pie to exotic ones like Kangaroo and Crocodile.  Yushi and I tried the recommended seafood pie of scallops and shrimp and the  sweet and spicy african chicken.  Both delicious and the owner was the sweetest lady ever.  I feel complete now that I've tried an authentic Aussie pie.

 

Yummmmmy!

After lunch we headed off to our next and best adventure of the day, sand boarding on the dunes!! It was oin Stockton beach, a short drive away from the harbour.  The dunes were amazing! Who would have thought there would be some in Australia? I never would have.  And to top it off there were even camels there?!! I was shocked to see them sitting calmly in the sand.  Apparently there were camel rides up and down the beach.  In any case, sandboarding.... we got into a huge 4WD with other people and drove up a ways to a dune that was nice and steep.  Naomi showed the boys, Yushi and I how to get on the boards and ride down.  It is not like snowboarding as you aren't strapped to the board but kind of like surfing on a short board except you can't turn, you ride straight down.  Most people ride on their butts because its extremely fast and if you try standing and don't do it right you can eat sand very bad.  After a few times on our behinds, the boys and I decided to give it a go on our feet.  It was hard the first few times and I couldn't get my balance right so kept falling off.  Climbing back up to the top of the dune was also a huge workout and I was sweating and breathing hard each time I got to the top. None of the boys or I had a successful attempt at fully making it down the hill on our feet, but my last run for the day I looked down the dune and told myself I needed to make it all the way down.  The guys so kindly let me go first so I pushed off and looked straight ahead of me.  The wind was ripping through my hair and I was going so fast I was scared, but it was amazing and I made it all the way to the bottom where I then proceeded to make the greatest tumble with flip and roll included off of my board,  turned back and pump fisted back up to the guys at the top.  Wished I had gotten a video of that run! I had sand everywhere in my eyes, face, mouth, clothes, you get the point.  Although the guys weren't able to have the same run I did, we had a good time and headed off to the beach for a swim and to get as much sand off of us.  The water was refreshing and after the swim we were ready for the last part of our trip..... shark and ray feeding!

 

Camels??? Boarding on our butts first!

We went to the Shark and Ray Centre about a 20 minute drive away.  I was curious as to what it would be like.  We all have these negative perceptions of sharks and those were the ones in my head.  Not the case though, it was perfectly safe as the sharks were baby ones and we fed both the sharks and the rays shrimp and squid on little sticks.  I have to admit I was scared to touch them at first, but they're really not so bad.  The sharks are rough and leathery and the rays are smooth and a bit slimy feeling.  The rays are really friendly and came right up to eat from our hands.  We had a lot of fun and it was a great experience.

I touched a shark! 

 Having fun with the stuffed versions! 

Coming back to Newcastle we were all exhausted, but I must say that this trip is one of the best that I will remember for a very long time. 

 

Naomi our awesome guide!

Goodbye Mel :(

These past few days have been many goodbyes and get togethers for my friend Mel.  She is done with her stay here in Australia and is heading back home.  I'm very sad that she is going as she's been with me through my entire stay in Newcastle and its been fun hanging out,eating, talking, cooking, shopping, adventuring, and even working together.  Last night Elodie and Gustavo invited us girls over to their house for dinner and it was really lovely.  She made a simple but delicious French dinner for us.  Their place is so cute and welcoming and both of them are just great people.

Elodie & Gustavo, great couple!

Dinner was appetizers of hummus and tarte a la tomate, entree of ratatouille, and dessert was homemade chocolate cake with cookies and cream ice cream.  It was a wonderful time and the food was homey and delicious.

 

Tarte a la tomate

(Home made tart crust layered with mustard and cheese and topped with fresh tomatoes & oregano, YUM!)

Dessert & picture time!

 

Buddies! 

For Mel's last meal here, we took her out to our favorite restaurant.... yes, Goldbergs!  We knew lunch would be just as awesome as dinner.... and it was. Mel ordered her favorite pumpkin penne, Yushi tried the Marinara which had plenty of seafood over fettuccine and I had a fantastic lamb burger on ciabatta; this dish was fantastic! The meat was unlike beef, a bit softer but the spices and flavor mixed into it were delicious and I don't think I can recreate this.  Combine that with the grilled onions and the fresh vegetables along with the crispy ciabatta and you have a top rated burger. We had a bottle of our favorite Verdelho to enjoy with our meal and ended with the best dessert ever, the Rocher Chocolate! It was described as a gluten free rich chocolate mousse nougat set on meringue and covered with chocolate ganache.  It came with two scoops of vanilla ice cream dusted with cocoa powder and was the best thing we've ever tasted. Happy smiles all around!

 

Bread of the day and our bottle of Verdelho

Marinara

(Mussels, squid, prawns, fish & baby octopus, garlic, shallots, tomato sauce with fettuccini)

 

Lamb Burger

 Rocher Chocolate

(Rich chocolate mousse nougat set on meringue and covered with chocolate ganache )

It was not just the food that was great though but the company.  As we talked over lunch and reflected over our time in Australia, we realized that we really appreciated having the opportunity to be here together and to have been able to form these lasting relationships with each other as friends as well as colleagues in our profession. I'm thankful for them both.

As we were walking back to our apartment we were so full we could barely walk, but each time we complained about the fullness we remembered how good the food was and that made it worth the while.  As we laughed and talked I could not help but feel sad that our third amiga was leaving soon. We took a last picture before she left with Gordon our apartment manager.  I miss her already!

Once again......Goldbergs!

Quick post and then I'm off to bed for another long day tomorrow. We just can't get enough of this place! This is the last week for Mel here, she heads back to the States on Monday.  We had a long day in the office today and as a goodbye dinner for Mel, our preceptor, Paul, took us all out to dinner at Goldbergs.  He'd never been there, but we raved about it so much he caved in and had to try it.  Let me tell you peer pressure works especially if you have three hungry girls with you! 

 

Seeded Mustard Marinated Lamb 

on potato & pumpkin mash with wilted spinach with sweet paprika aioli

Fresh handmade cracked pepper linguine 

with tiger prawns, fresh cherry tomato, baby spinach, lime and olive oil

 

Grilled Reef Fish 

with Mango & toasted Almond Couscous, topped with Tomato Salsa and a Chili lime dressing

Paul & Mel!

We all ordered off of their special's menu tonight.  Paul and Yushi both had the fresh handmade cracked pepper linguine with tiger prawns, fresh cherry tomato, baby spinach, lime and olive oil.  Mel had the lamb with pumpkin puree, and I had the grilled reef fish with a mango & toasted almond couscous, topped with tomato salsa and a chili lime dressing.  Dessert we all shared the chocolate mousse cake with ice cream and were completely stuffed and content.  Everything was delicious as usual!

Goldbergs
137 Darby St
Cooks Hill NSW 2300

My Favorite Restaurant in Australia!!

I love the weekends here! After a relaxed morning, the girls and I headed over to Kotara Mall to do a little shopping in the afternoon and then went down to Darby Street for dinner at Goldberg's once again.  Can I just say that it is the best restaurant that I've been to here in Australia!

We all decided to try different dishes tonight as we've heard that everything is really good and from my first visit at Goldbergs, I could believe it.  On the specials menu tonight, there was kangaroo and scotch fillet which the other two girls ordered and I had the Roasted Capsicum & Basil Polenta.  Everything was delicious!

 Kangaroo
(tastes like beef to me)

 

Scotch Fillet with Asparagus

 

Roasted Capsicum & Basil Polenta

(Pesto mushrooms, roasted peppers, zucchini, kumera, spicy baba ganoush with tomato chutney)

My dish was unbelievably good! There were layers of the roasted peppers, zucchini,  kumera (sweet potato), and basil polenta stacked in a beautiful tower with the tomato chutney on top and the baba ganoush on the side.  All the vegetables were tender but firm and the flavors melded together nicely in the mouth with just the right amount of saltiness.  There was also a reduced balsamic dressing around the dish that added sweetness to the dish as well.  The basil polenta was crispy on the outside and firm on the inside, perfect! I really enjoyed the baba ganoush (mashed eggplant with spices) with its flavor and spice.  I would never have thought to add it to this dish but it was wonderful with it being slightly chilled in comparison to the roasted vegetables and had a good texture and consistency.

 

 Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake & Berry and Ricotta Cheesecake

(Chocolate cake topped with dark chocolate mousse & more chocolate)

&

(Baked ricotta cheesecake with blueberries)

We decided to share and indulge in dessert as well and were quite glad we did. The two chosen were the Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake that was chocolate heaven and also the Berry and Ricotta Cheesecake which was light and refreshing to offset the sweetness of the chocolate mousse.  Both came with scoops of vanilla ice cream and a touch of fruit, delightful!

 

Good food and good times!

Needless to say, we enjoyed our meals very much and I have deemed Goldbergs to be the best restaurant in Australia! It's not just that the food is fantastic, but the service, atmosphere, and the price also is unbeatable and unlike any other place I've been to.  Enjoy vicariously my friends!

Goldbergs
137 Darby Street
Cooks Hill NSW 2300

Blackbutt Reserve...... Koala petting!!!

It was nice and cool today which was a relief from yesterday's heat.  Elodie and Gustavo took us girls up to Blackbutt Reserve.  It is a lovely and wonderful place for a picnic as well as a good place to see some Australian wildlife.  The drive is about 20 minutes out of Newcastle and once we arrived we were immersed in the bush.  There are tall trees, lots of green, and plenty of space to walk about.  The reserve was established in the 1960s and holds animals indigenous to Australia such as koalas, kangaroos, and wombats among many others.  What's great about this place is that there is no fee to see these animals unlike in Sydney where the zoos and wildlife centers charge a hefty entrance fee.

What to see first?

The highlights for the day were ding ding ding petting and seeing a baby koala up close and personal, then seeing a wombat for the first time, and last but not least having an awesome Aussie BBQ!

Where the wombat lives.....

Ahhhh wombat sighting!!! He's so cute and big!

I have been wanting to see a wombat since coming to Australia and at the Taronga Zoo they were hiding in their burrows, but at Blackbutt we were able to view their sleeping quarters and they they were! Much bigger and quite unlike what I imagined them to be.  We called them tanks because they were so large and oddly enough cute.  I will never forget seeing them because all of us just laughed and laughed at how cute they were.

Getting ready to grill!

Yummmmmmmm!

Enjoying the afternoon

In Australia the parks have areas with BBQs that are electrically heated and are free to use for the public.  It is wonderful! I wish they had it back in the States.  We had gone to the store before heading over to Blackbutt and picked up some steaks, tomatoes, bread, sausages, onions, and strawberries.  Elodie also made a nice couscous salad the day before.  We enjoyed ourselves immensely and the relaxed Sunday atmosphere was awesome as we enjoyed the conversation and company.

Koala yay!

Ted the 1 year old Koala.  He's soooo cute & cuddly!

Last but not least we had our personal koala encounter.  We waited all morning for it as it started at 2 pm.  When the gates were opened,we were introduced to Ted, a 1 year old baby koala who nonchalantly munched and chewed his Eucalyptus leaves as we gushed over how cute he was, took pictures, and petted him.  Koalas are really soft and cuddly, I wish I could have picked him up!

It was a great way to spend a day trip and I enjoyed it a lot.  Tired, full, but content I return back to my room ready for a busy week ahead.  Tomorrow I will take my second train trip down to Sydney and spend some time with my family friends as well as do some work with my preceptor.  This Tuesday is Australia Day, a national holiday here so I will check out the festivites and share them soon!

The past week's adventures

This past week has been busy.  Some things I did...
Go on my first train ride ever! We traveled to the main University Campus to speak with the pharmacy school's advisor and got a good perspective on pharmacy practice in Australia as well as the school's curriculum.  It is different as expected and I feel with the exchange of information from us in the U.S. that we provide their school with a different perspective and ideas to implement in their own program. 

My first train ride!

The whole train to ourselves! Not really...

We found out we were on the wrong one so had to jump on the right one which had way more pple

Friday night we had dinner with Elodie, a co-worker and her boyfriend Gustavo.  Elodie is the person who helped Mel and I set up our housing and work arrangements here so I am really thankful for her.  She is spunky and has lived in France, Spain, and now Australia, a world class traveler! We had dinner over at a place called the Grind.

Elodie and Gustavo

 TGIF!

Mushroom

(Portabello mushroom with thyme and basil stuffing, arugala, roasted red bell peppers with balsamic dressing)

Dinner for me was great! I enjoyed my mushroom, yes that was how it was named on the menu) the stuffing was just right and with the salad and dressing on the plate it was light and refreshing.  The other dishes my dinner partners ordered unfortunately was not as great and they were disappointed because either the dish was too creamy, too spicy, or just unflavorful.  All in all though, I had a great time enjoying the company and it was a good way to end a long week!