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Saturday, January 01, 2011

Sydney New Year's Eve Fireworks



Welcome to 2011!

It's hard to believe that another year has come has gone. Writing Grab Your Fork has been a huge part of it, and I'm grateful for the friendships I've made, the comments I've received, the opportunities I've been given, and the readers (yes you!) who stop by everyday.

In 2010 I published a total of 224 posts, all written after I've clocked off from my day job - I've yet to find a way to blog and pay the mortgage! It's been a busy year but a rewarding one, and I've relished every minute of it.

Here are some of my highlights from 2010:


Visiting Japan and making it to the Sapporo Snow Festival


Seeing the Robosaurus at the Sydney Royal Easter Show with Chocolatesuze


Revelling in the beauty of the 1m high roti tisu on a food bloggers feast across Malaysia and Thailand with Billy, Minh and Simon


Scoring my own Food & Drink column, Eating Out Of Town in Time Out Sydney

christmas pudding
Celebrating Christmas in July at Billy's

DSC_5193-1007
Being approached to write the reviews for the Food Lovers Guide to Chinatown


Being wowed by the Bistro CBD dinner cooked by fellow food bloggers Fouad, Billy, Karen and Linda.

lachsschinken
Discovering laschsschinken at the Adelaide Central Market, a cold smoked pork that tastes just like smoked salmon


Seeing my first ever Roller Derby match


Celebrating the arrival of spring with a food bloggers barbecue at Karen's

mole poblano
Making my first ever mole poblano - a chocolate chilli sauce for chicken



Working on and seeing my reviews published in The Foodies' Guide to Sydney 2011


The smell of one hundred legs of jamon at Rodriguez Brothers, Yagoona


Feeling like I had been transported to Chile as I feasted on empanadas and lomito at La Paula, Fairfield


Being interviewed by the always affable Simon Marnie about the best food in Cabramatta live on ABC Radio 702 Weekends for the Crave Sydney International Food Festival


Biting into the crunchiest ever cassava chip at Boteco, Surry Hills


Taking turns to host a dinner party with a group of friends we call Stomachs Eleven


Savouring the tender veal tongue at District Dining, Surry Hills


Visiting the Philippines for the first time and discovering the joys of grated Edam cheese on sweet buns, shaved ice and in ice cream


Co-hosting the Sydney Food Bloggers Christmas Picnic for over 60 bloggers with Chocolatesuze



And now we embark on a new year, and a new decade.

I welcomed in 2011 at Dawes Point on Sydney Harbour where, once again, Sydney put on a fireworks spectacular. The Harbour Bridge featured heavily in the midnight celebrations, our beloved coathanger ablaze with a cacophony of synchronised fireworks.


Start of the midnight fireworks


Fireworks frenzy


Sydney New Year's Eve Fireworks

Thank you all for your support, emails, conversations and comments. May your year ahead be filled with new adventures, delicious eats, and an end to clothes mysteriously shrinking in the wash!

38 comments:

  1. enjoyed reading your blog for the past few years and will happily continue to do so :)
    happy new year!

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  2. Lovely post Helen, wonderful fireworks (which I will get to see in person next NYE!), and of course Happy New Year! You did well in 2010, and I'm sure 2011 will be just as good, if not better for you!

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  3. Happy new year Helen,

    Thanks for all the insights and aspirational eating ideas!

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  4. I've really enjoyed reading your blogs Helen and seeing your exploits writ large.

    Congratulations on a wonderful year, and may there be many to come.

    And I wouldn't change a thing! You keep that day job. We don't want you getting all fancy-smancy.

    Happy New Year Lovely.

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  5. Happy New Year, Helen!

    Best of luck for the future and I eagerly await what you and your blog get up to in 2011.

    SSG xxx

    Sydney Shop Girl blog

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  6. Happy New Year to you! :)

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  7. What a fantastic hightlight reel; definitely MVP-worthy. Happy New Year and I hope the eating is better in 2011!

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  8. Congratulations on a wonderful post Helen, and what a wonderful year to remember! Here's hoping 2011 brings even more amazing adventures for you and great posts for us.

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  9. Happy New Year Helen!!
    Your fireworks photos are amazing! I was at Drummoyne watching them with family & friends, which was a wonderful way to start the year!!
    Thank you for your blog...you are such an inspiration to me. Jen :))

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  10. So many great posts. Can't wait to read more. Happy New Year Helen.

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  11. Mrs Pig Flyin'1/01/2011 11:23 am

    Thank you so much for all the delicious posts in 2010 and looking forward to many more in the new decade!

    Can't wait for the next Stomachs' Eleven feast :)

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  12. Happy New Year, Helen! The fireworks in Sydney was amazing, wasn't it? I hope you'll have a wonderful year 2011 and great inspirations for many posts to come. :D

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  13. Haha, oh yes, those shrinking clothes...seems to be a universal phenomenon!

    Happy New Year again!

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  14. Happy New Year, my dear Helen! One of my highlights was meeting you - I still feel honoured to count you as a friend. Here's to another year of sweet (and, I s'pose, savoury) eats in 2011, and even more super fun times! xo

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  15. Thank you for your wonderful posts, such a joy to read them. What a year you have had. Happy New Year Helen

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  16. Congratulations for a wonderful 2010 Helen, so many highs. Here's to even greater foodie success and joy in 2011

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  17. Thank you for sharing your 2010 exploits with us too, Helen. Happy 2011!

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  18. Looks like you had a fantastic 2010! Hope 2011 is even better for you!

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  19. Helen, your culinary journey never stops to amaze me. Here's a toast to a delicious 2011! :)

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  20. Happy New Year. Enjoyed reading your posts on travels and yummy food :)

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  21. Happy new year, Helen! Wishing you a good year ahead and many more feasting & eating :)

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  22. A little off topic but - your pictures of the fireworks are fantastic! Which camera did you use?

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  23. Happy New Year Helen!! Can't wait for another year of fun and awesome food together (as well as karaoke!). Btw your photos of the fireworks are amazing!

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  24. Thanks for letting us share your gastronomic journey, Helen. Have a great new year.

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  25. Happy New Year! Looking forward to more adventures in 2011!

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  26. with every blog post I know you are ever-closer to being able to chuck in that day job. Your hard work and efforts are appreciated by all your loyal fans. Keep up the great posts - I'm more often than not trying not to drool on the keyboard and very green with envy!

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  27. Great post Helen! have really enjoyed reading your blog :) Happy New Year and can't wait to read what's to come in 2011!

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  28. Wow Helen! Did you have a great spot for fireworks!! amazing photos!
    Happy new delicious year! x

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  29. Happy New Year Helen! Wow, you've certainly had an eventful year. Here's to much excitement in 2011, and of course, more good food.

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  30. that's alot that you've achieved last year. enjoyed reading your blog and will continue reading. ^^ happy new year helen!

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  31. Great roundup of the year Helen - I'm incredibly impressed with the amount of stuff you fit in around your day job! Hope 2011 is even better, although 2010 looked pretty good!

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  32. Happy New Year Helen, I have enjoyed reading about your adventures in 2010, and look forward to a year of new adventures.

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  33. Thank you so much for your comments everyone. It's always a buzz to hear from you! Happy New Year again!

    Hi Jin - Glad you've been enjoying the ride. Hope you keep coming back!

    Hi Craig - Ahh how exciting. Wait until you see the fireworks live!

    Hi R - lol. Thanks as always for your support and good cheer :)

    Hi Mrs Pig Flyin' - No thank you! Can't wait for the next one either!

    Hi mademoiselle delicieuse - lol. Surely there's something wrong with the washing machine!

    Hi Hannah - Aww it was a fun night indeed. Looking forward to meeting up with you for dinner in Sydney sometime soon :)

    Hi Billy - Journey! Drink drink! lol

    Hi Anon - I use a Nikon D90 but more importantly I used a tripod and set my camera settings to optimise fireworks capture (use google for tips).

    Hi Karen - Always up for a bit of Whitney, sister! And thanks, was worth lugging the tripod into the city!

    Hi divemummy - Aww thank you :) It is a tasty and delicious labour of love.

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  34. Nice round up Helen! Happy New Year for 2011!

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  35. Your photos of the fireworks are amazing! Even better than what I remember them to be.
    Hope your new year is bigger and better!

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  36. 2010 was a big year for you and i am so pleased to see you get published and "mainstream media" recognition for your fantastic blog. it really is a wonderful source of information on where and what to eat.

    happy new year helen!

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  37. What a big year you've had Helen, well done! Looking forward to following your eats in 2011. Happy new year :)

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