I fell in love with Sydney at the Rocks
last time. The colours, the re-created history, the food, the liveliness,
the sun, the happy smiles.
last time. The colours, the re-created history, the food, the liveliness,
the sun, the happy smiles.
Spent my first afternoon at Sydney there then. And my last
breakfast at Pancakes
on the Rocks.
breakfast at Pancakes
on the Rocks.
Last evening was so different. The Rocks was empty. Bleak.
Grey. Chilly.
Grey. Chilly.
A bit like the changing soundtrack of a movie.
Still there were streaks of the magic that held me in its
spell last time floating around.
spell last time floating around.
The Mocha at the Guylian Cafe. My first sip of Sydney
last time. Still ambrosial.
last time. Still ambrosial.
‘Gee – li – an’ as the Nepali manager told us it is
pronounced. He remembered me from my last trip. Six months back and many
customers in between.
pronounced. He remembered me from my last trip. Six months back and many
customers in between.
Just as he remembered my fellow gym mates from Bandra who
apparently used to drop in here often. I had to gently break it to him that it
was unlikely that John and Bips would be coming to Guylian for hot chocolate
together again.
apparently used to drop in here often. I had to gently break it to him that it
was unlikely that John and Bips would be coming to Guylian for hot chocolate
together again.
But then they should perhaps for the sake of the amazing
blueberry baked cheesecake that we had.
blueberry baked cheesecake that we had.
And then it was time to step out of the world of chocolat.
Ambling down the empty lanes. Conversations shrouding the
nip in the air. Trying to build an appetite for dinner.
nip in the air. Trying to build an appetite for dinner.
What better way to thaw frozen ears than to step into the
glow of Sydney’s oldest pub? The Fortune of War.
glow of Sydney’s oldest pub? The Fortune of War.
Sitting by the pub counter. The frumpy senior bar maid and
the friendly younger one hovering around.
the friendly younger one hovering around.
“I am from Sydney but feel like a world citizen. I was at
Western Sydney a few days back. Felt like I was in a melting pot of cultures. I
am sure you will enjoy our city.”
Western Sydney a few days back. Felt like I was in a melting pot of cultures. I
am sure you will enjoy our city.”
I had to have a Toohey for Sue and the tips she mailed me
from her memories of Sydney.
from her memories of Sydney.
And finally Pancakes of the Rocks. The reason
why we were here. I had come back all the way from Mumbai to give directions to
the place.
why we were here. I had come back all the way from Mumbai to give directions to
the place.
Well last
time was different. It was breakfast and that too after an appetite built
on a walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
time was different. It was breakfast and that too after an appetite built
on a walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Last evening we found out that Pancake on the Rocks is not
the place to order individual plates if your appetite is not at its best.
the place to order individual plates if your appetite is not at its best.
My savoury potato pancake with Mexican beef chilli and
guacamole was stodgy, heavy and lacked zing. Would you believe it if I said
that the only thing I finished on the plate was the lettuce?!
guacamole was stodgy, heavy and lacked zing. Would you believe it if I said
that the only thing I finished on the plate was the lettuce?!
Our other order, scrambled eggs, devoid of salt. Lovely
sausage and bacon though and I did have a bit of that to balance the lettuce.
sausage and bacon though and I did have a bit of that to balance the lettuce.
In Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’, where I took the title
of the post from, the hero talks about the beauty of Paris in the rains.
of the post from, the hero talks about the beauty of Paris in the rains.
Come to think of it, perhaps The Rocks had a bit of that in
the grey, chilly evening yesterday.
the grey, chilly evening yesterday.
OMG…..the cheesecake looks so inviting…!!! Yummmmmy!