Tuesday morning was our most normal sleep schedule yet! P didn’t stir until 7 am so we slept in and seemed to get on Australian time all the way. I also didn’t cough all night long. We went on a family walk after Chris and Laura left for work, just around the neighborhood. It was so nice outside we couldn’t help but soak it up. Once we got home we showered and made breakfast for the three of us.
P played with the Tupperware some more because he’s obsessed, which tired him out and created the perfect nap scenario. Once again his morning nap lasted 2 hours…which was eating into our plans for the afternoon…so we had to wake him up. He wasn’t ready at all and it took a bit of effort to wake him. Such a sweet angel when he’s sleeping. Eventually we got him changed and ready to head off.
We met Laura and Chris in the CBD for a lunch date at Din Tai Fung (aka the most famous dumplings in the world). I’d read about it (in Bon Appetit) prior to coming here but Laura and Chris both mentioned it once we arrived in Sydney so clearly it was a must for foodies. It was also the first Asian restaurant we took P to, which made me semi nervous since there’s so much sesame and peanuts/tree nuts (and oils) in Asian cuisine.
As per usual I wiped down the high chair and table and kept a close watch on what he was exposed to, and it all worked out fine. Phew.
The food was really good. We got vegetarian dumplings, pork dumplings, pork buns, fried rice, noodles, shrimp and pineapple, and fried chicken.
I tried everything but the chicken and wonton noodle soup (above).
The vegetarian dumplings were legit with the greens and water chestnuts. Mmmm.
The pork dumplings were also super good and reminded me of the potstickers I used to eat way back when I was little and we went to our fave Chinese spot in town, the Great Wall. Probably because that’s really the only time I ate pork but the flavors were great. The dumplings were jiggly due to flavorful juices that burst on your tongue when you popped them in your mouth.
The pork bun was doughy and meaty in perfect balance.
The pineapple shrimp was the best of all. I’m not sure what the mayo sauce was that smothered it, but it was delicious.
All in all, a damn fine lunch (and my stomach had zero issues whatsoever!!!). P pounded two happybaby pouches (butternut squash apple with chia seeds and plum pear raspberry) and then played with the containers while we ate. He was content and entertained and despite the fact that the wait staff tried to serve him a kids tray a few times (super cute btw!) it was both a yummy and stress free meal.
Afterwards, Chris and Laura went back to work and Kyle and I stayed in the CBD to explore. First we hit up the QVB (these Aussies and their abbreviations!!). The Queen Victoria Building is basically a gorgeous building with shops and cafés inside. I ended up getting two shorts and then we meandered towards Pitt street for more shopping. The Westfield mall was there with a million more stores and there was a nice promenade too.
Kyle got fro-yo while P snoozed in my chest in the ergo for his afternoon nap. I tried on a few more things once he woke up but didn’t end up buying anything else. We grabbed the ferry back home from Circular Quay and then went to the local park in double bay to let Pacman play on the grass and swing and stuff.
What a silly little face.
For dinner we split up the tasks – Chris (and Laura?) bbqed and I made a big salad with romaine, quinoa, goats cheese, corn, and pepitas with a mustard red wine vinaigrette.
The goat cheese was very similar to the goat gouda Kyle and I bought on repeat all last summer from the Davis Farmer’s Market.
We had that with shrimp and steak. I’m still not sure about steak as a main dish (I couldn’t finish mine – I think I’m more of a meat-as-an-accent person? – I dunno, still sorting it out) but Chris cooked it perfectly. The shrimp were awesome too with a basil chili paste marinade and then blackened on the grill.
We kept it mellow with some tv and vino in the evening.
Wow those dumplings sound amazing! Australia looks awesome, I love reading about your trip! 🙂
um, I love that pink wine glass coaster thing in the last photo – so cute!
p.s. is it weird that all these posts make me want to watch Finding Nemo?
ummm NO! i was quoting it the entire time we were there!!!! haha.
I wish I could enjoy a BBQ steak in summer weather. Bliss! Only a few more months until summer…
I eat meat but not much beef anymore. If we do BBQ steak in the summer then I have super small portions. I can eat maybe 5-10 bites of a straight steak and that’s it. I don’t have GI issues, just not interested in more. Same goes for pork roasts. Once in a while I’ll have marinated chicken or something like that, but mostly meat is an ingredient.
It all looks so divine and delish!
Wow, I’m surprised you had no GI issues as pretty much all dumpling wrappers are made from wheat flour and same as the buns!
Although many people with gluten issues in Australia have no issues eating wheat overseas. A lot of people think it has to do with the type of wheat we grow here and whether it’s GMO.
I’m so excited you enjoyed Australia! I studied abroad there while in college and I’m so loving your commentary on so many of the sight’s I’ve seen too!
Makes me wanna go to oz. glad to see you are having a great time. I am not onto pork somewhat religious reasons and dumplings tend to be all pork so I usually pass these look good. Btw we are loving Jillian’s yoga inferno. So much so that I think I will buy the DVD! Thanks for the recommendation! I do to frequently Bikram hot vinyasa etc, but she is something else!!enjoy and thanks!!
Btw your patty cakes is too cute!!
I think I was supervising the BBQing at that stage 🙂
you mean back-seat grilling.
yay! i love that you’ve been enjoying it. i did it this morning myself. i can feel myself getting better at crow each time. i have never done bikram! I have yet to go to a studio here in davis although i know there are tons of great ones. I think once P is a bit older I will try to get some childcare for an hour so I can attend a class.
It is SUCH a fantastic place. You are so lucky to have studied abroad there!
Believe me I was waiting for the blow all day….and nothing! So weird. I felt like my gut was invincible this vacation. Definitely a pleasant surprise. There might be something to the wheat thing, but as far as I know it’s illegal to grow GM wheat in the US.
agreed karen! i think i would enjoy a steak salad much more than a steak. a few bites was plenty (not because i disliked it, but like you said, just because i wasn’t interested), so kyle got the rest of mine.
Maybe coz you’re relaxed on holiday so ur digestive system is better able to handle things you are intolerant to. Obviously if u are allergic or eat something off that’s different.
Looks like a fun day! Those pork and liquidy jelly dumplings are called a few names: xiaolongbao, or XLB, or chinese soup dumplings- never had them myself but sounds like a cool idea. Its still weird for me to read your blog and see so much meat/pork/chicken……
That quinoa salad you made with the bbq dinner looks awesome!
They have a Din Tai Fun in Arcadia, if you ever make your way back to LA (I think they only make the soup dumplings on the weekend though, and there is always a LOOONG wait for a table).
cool!