Starstruck by Leonardo

It's kind of weird seeing an A-List celeb in real life.  Especially when they just look and act like a normal everyday person.  That was the case anyway with Leonardo Dicaprio.

The first time I saw him at Cherry he came by himself surrounded by body guards and sat in a reserved area by a corner spending the whole time on his phone.  There were others around him but he didn't really talk to anyone.

I was pretty close to him, and he is quite a good looking person - 'he looked exactly like he does in the movies' I thought to myself.

Then I thought to myself again - 'der ... of course he is going to look like he does in the movies.... cos he is him?'

I saw him again last Friday night at Cherry.  And when he walked in, dressed again in a baseball cap and black puffer jacket, he held his drink and just looked at the ground as he walked to his usual corner.

People must have gotten wind that he was here and suddenly there were interested on-lookers trying to get a glimpse of this superstar.  We were sitting behind him with a column in between us.  The Smiz, my bestie and Hollywood and I.  Smiz didn't really take to the whole Leonardo thing.  She thought it was pretty pointless how he causes such a scene just by 'being'.  I started thinking how he must hate being stared at, pointed at and talked about right in front of him.  People looked at him not in appreciation of his work or what he has accomplished as an actor, but more so like a rare jewel, or an endangered animal - it was like a sense of amazement.

He didn't stay for very long and when he left, life just went back to how it was.  We kept on drinking.

Starstruck? Yes perhaps.  It was all a bit exciting to have seen him twice.  :)

Yours truly,

Miss A.

I think I just ate a rabbit's ass

It was one of those awesome occasions where me, Smiz and Hollywood caught up for dinner.  We had initially decided on heading to El Loco for some tacos and margaritas but then decided on El Capo.  I had read some great reviews on El Capo and thought it would be great to give it a go.

I got a mandarin margarita which was actually pretty nice.  Whilst waiting for the Smiz to arrive we ordered some starters and we also got given a serving of these weird pop-corny kernals that had some sort of salty seasoning on it.  Imagine eating an oversized corn kernal that was hollow.  Weird and not my favourite but yet I couldn't stop eating it.

Our starters came, corn bread with 'home made butter'.  Not sure if it was really home made but it was tasty, I do love my butter, though I didn't think much of the corn bread which were pretty much like deep fried balls of flour.

The other dishes we ordered were passable, such as the sardines, ceviche and red cabbage salad.

We ordered the rabbit cooked three ways and we were all very excited about it as it sounded fantastic.

I was the first one to try and initially I thought it was just me.  I didn't really like it, but I didn't want to ruin it for everyone so I didn't say anything.  I tried the soup that was poured around the meat when it was served.  It was gross, I think that would be the best way to describe it.

Smiz did one better though and said "this tastes like a rabbit's ass"

Now that I think about it I wish we were more vocal about the dish when we were asked how our meal was, but all we said was that it was 'interesting'.

The night ended perfectly though.

We walked over to Porteno for cocktails and ended up ordering more food.  It was only from the bar menu but it was definitely delicious and we all sighed in satisfaction as we ate our pork sliders and looked at the menu to order more food.  

So it was a thumbs down for El Capo or El Crappo as I now call it, I am not sure what all the rave reviews were about.

One thing we can all agree on though and that is Porteno, absolutely amazing, I always love heading back there, for a drink, bar food and looking forward to heading there for another dinner sometime soon.

I am trying to get a date in with my foodie buddies so I am hoping so in the next few months.

Yours truly

Miss A.

I know April is for loving pork but...

Whilst reading the latest issue of Gourmet Traveller, I was informed that April is the International Festival of Pork.

I experienced something last Friday that pretty much pushed the boundary of loving pork, and well, put me off the meat for a good few days.  Well I do love it and I was back on it by today.

After a great dinner at Pizza e Birra Surry Hills, and bottle of wine with the Smiz, we met up with another pal of ours Hollywood.  Hollywood is this great gal I have known for years now, back in the days of Chinese Laundry, where she reminded me that during her first shift with me I was severely hungover.  Yes I was, I do remember taking a drinks order and by the time I went to make them I forgot what the order was.  And kids, don't try this at home but I am pretty sure I took a valium or two before my shift.

Back to the story of my weird pork encounter.  We went over to a bar called The Passage in Darlinghurst and decided to order some margaritas.

I say:  "Can you make a Tommy's Margarita?"
He says: "No but I can make you a Pork Margarita"

Hollywood's face lit up and my mouth stayed open for longer than it should.  The Smiz was socialising as she does but we decided to order her one anyway.

Pork Margarita:
Pork fat infused in tequila with a crackling and salt rim

Ok so it sounded interesting, so we decided to try it.  Curiosity got the better of us.

First taste, the tiniest sip ever.

- Hmm slight taste of smokey bacon.

Second taste, a slightly bigger sip.

- It's like a cheese and bacon ball dipped in tequila.

Alarm bells started ringing in my head when I saw a thin film of fat floating on my drink.

I say: "how much cholesterol is in this drink?"
He says: "none"

Somehow I don't believe him.

Hollywood loved it.

Smiz was not so sure.

I on the other hand got us a round of Ocho to cleanse our palate.