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What was 2019 about? - 1 JANUARY 2020 Many kitchen tables lay in ashes as 2019 ended. Apocalyptic orange skies glowed above many communities, and flames mercilessly tore across the landscape to steal lives, homes and livelihoods from many. Bush fires still burn ferociously across Australia as brave and exhausted fireys risk their lives to save others. Here in Sydney, where I’m based, the impact is limited to skies occasionally full of smoke haze, but newsfeeds run constant updates of bushfire horrors elsewhere. A new decade began today. A decade that requires us to connect – to offer help, hope, and kindness. Rebuilding takes money and time. From sales of Scottie Marsh’s Christmas Crisis T Shirt - which raised more than $100K - to the Red Cross Appeal that raised over $2M, public donations have been generous. And astoundingly, the fundraiser by Australian comedian Celeste Barber has raised over $44M – and keeps climbing. Rebuilding lives requires time, and ongoing support. The destruction of our forests, animals, and their natural habitats has been horrific. There is a need for honest, national grieving. And action instead of inaction on climate change. Is 2020 a year of alignment? I hope it is a year of balance, renewal, and equity for all. In 2019 Sydney Bites again celebrated food and sharing a table. We ran a Heritage tour around Willoughby with ANZAC biscuits and Billy Tea, and a celebration of the area's early multiple Chinese gardens and gardeners, and their legacy and history. We ate lucky foods on our Year of the Pig tour; took tour groups to VIVID SYDNEY light festival; and ate and sipped our way around Barangaroo, Bondi, Central Park, Chippendale, Marrickville, Newtown, The Rocks, Redfern, and TRAMSHEDS gourmet market. Earlier in the year we rebranded to more clearly communicate where are located and what we do, and give us better focus.  We entertained overseas guests from New Zealand, Singapore, and the USA, and showed Sydneysiders new facets of their own city. Food-wise we ate some great food – suppliers helped me deliver delicious food experiences – except for one plate on one tour I shudder to remember. I may have grumbled more than a little about how many new burger menus have popped up, and I saw one organic restaurant favourite disappear, but overall Sydney kept bringing new plates and new flavours to the table. On a personal level the year brought new skills, the joy of running a monthly foodie book club, meeting some of you reading this blog, a home break-in that took a few heartbeats to recover from, and sadly in December I lost a BFF. 2020 will deliver new flavours, new tours, and Sydney Bites Food Tours will be rolling out some exciting news and soulful surprises. People ask me ‘What's a food tour?’ I can only speak about my point of difference, which is a selection of cafes and providores that I've personally checked out not only for food quality but for hospitality. Whether it's a market tour or a foodie walking tour, I take my role as food and flavour guide really seriously. I don't get kickbacks to promote certain venues, I only add venues to my tour itinerary if I would personally spend the bucks to eat there myself – which I do. I respect that your time is valuable – we're all trying to fit it all in, right? With the belief that food connects people, we offer experiences that are inclusive rather than exclusive. I love Sydney and want to share it with you ... and sharing food is about kicking back and relaxing, with quality food in front of you, whether it's a share plate, a cocktail, a mocktail, or a dessert plate. Connecting you with good food is what I do. No kickbacks. No attitude. Just chill. Food is a shared language, and sharing food around a table with you is a brief but powerful way to connect. Stay connected to us by following our Instagram account. Or subscribe to our enews for tour and food news. Bon appétit to you in 2020!  COUNTDOWN TO XMAS IN SYDNEY - December 2019 blog |
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