While everybody was on holidays, I hope divine dessert devotees had not stopped indulging! Your trusty CEO and secretary ate our way not only through Sydney (at our favourite eateries) but also country NSW and VIC, and persevered with our creative cooking. Many new year's resolutions were therefore along the lines of "exercise regularly" "go to the gym twice a week" "tango away the flabs". Let's just see how long these resolutions can be maintained.
So begins DDT 2010. What is it with DDT and picnic that brings on extreme weather conditions? November DDT "Jazz Picnic" was unfortunately downgraded to BYO dessert to the air conditioned comfort of Kolling Medical Research Institute; while the first DDT of 2010 held at Symphony in the Domain was a gustily day of 42 degree heat followed by a southerly change at around 3, which cooled Sydney down to 24 by 4:30 but then the incoming thunderstorm at 5:30 drenched everyone on site...
AAAanyway, the weather fined up by 6:30, beautiful mild conditions fit for a summer evening symphonic picnic... and everyone started to feel more relaxed to commence nibbling and sharing the goodies:
DDT CEO brought beautiful "delice" from Lindt chocolate cafe... the macaron shells suffered a little from the strong wind as the box tipped upside-down several times in the afternoon. Verdict? I personally will still go for Adriano's macarons!!
DDT Secretary CS and her rose cupcakes with rosewater and rose jam, the box unfortunately tipped upside down many times during the day. But it still tasted moist and rosy.... as vouched by Eze (our Argentinian participant!)
Creation by Alex, a huge box of white chocolate tropical fruit tiramisu (or strictly 'trifle'... if its not coffee its not 'tiramisu', says the purist CS) with berries, sponge soaked with mango juice and cointreau, topped with white chocolate shavings. Rich and decadent!
A light and fluffy "Japanese cheese cake" by Susan. Lovely, unpretentious goodness!
My personal opinion to this dessert experience was that it probably wasn't so "divine" ... It was one less organised DDT, with people trying to find the organisers, last minute piking because of extreme weather conditions, and different people calling to ask "What are we meant to bring? How do we find you?" while DDT CEO and secretary felt flustered with the heat, wind and rain, keeping picnic rugs and items covered during the storm so our guests would have a comfortable spot to sit on arrival, and held fort of an approximate space of 7 picnic rugs. Of course had the weather been more pleasant we would have had a bigger turn out earlier in the day (there was a 20-strong crowd for symphony by 7:30), but we would not have been so close to the stage and the fireworks! It was quite an experience, and thanks to those who made the effort and turned up with goodies!!
Quick mention - many of the participants were here for the symphony, and brought along freshly prepared (but savoury - GASP!!) goodies such as Vietnamese spring rolls and cheese and spinach triangles still warm and crispy from the oven... many thanks for feeding us late afternoon/early evening!CS
PS Welcome! Our unofficial DDT secretary for Buenos Aires, Ezequiel Donati who force-ate his way through Sydney and country VIC/NSW with us during his visit! Hope this inspired you to explore the sweet world of desserts!!
