Best of 2009 @ Penguin says Feed Me!

It's hard to believe that it's already been 6 months since I started my blog and the year 2009 has already come to an end! Not only has food blogging made me expand my waistline but it's also encouraged me to expand my baking and cooking skills as well as meeting other amazing bloggers from around Sydney. Thanks to all the readers - those who comment and also those who lurk around unnnoticed ;) - for your support for the first 6 months of this blog. It's really you guys who motivate me to keep posting about my culinary adventures!

So here are some of my favourite posts from 2009:

The First Post - Assiette, Surry Hills: I had been toying around with starting up a food blog for a while but this was the meal that really kicked me into it! It was an amazing 3 course meal shared with some of my closest friends and it was without a doubt great value at only $30!

Best value aburi scallop sushi - Sushi Sagunja, Chatswood: This may just have been my greatest find in 2009. Since my post about it I've been back several times and they have never failed to impress with their sweet, smokey perfectly-seared scallops on top of sushi rice... yum!

Favourite patisserie - Bacco Pasticceria, Sydney: Everytime I go here I can't help but stare at all the beautiful desserts in the display window. And then I have to buy one. And eat one. And every dessert I've had here has been almost too pretty to eat but then I bite into it and all my hesitations go away...

Most mind-blowing meal - Marque Restaurant, Surry Hills: This was by far the most intriguiging and interesting meal of the year, with flavour combinations that surprised yet pleased me. The presentation of the dishes and attention to detail was amazing and again it was great value for only $45.

Most memorable baking adventure - Rainbow Vanilla Buttercake: This cake was inspired by chocolatesuze's 20 layer rainbow cake and although it took me all night to bake each layer individually, it was worth it to see Queen Chu's face when she cut the cake open :) 

Favourite event from SIFF - Sydney Food and Wine Fair: This called for some strategic decision-making as to how to best make use of our coupons and which food items to purchase, but some dishes (like the seven-textured chocolate cake from Quay) were too good to resist. Combined with some awesome freebies and great weather, it was a fantastic day.

Photo courtesy of Simon from the heart of food

Food blogger gatherings - These were by far the highlight of my year. I got to meet some amazing people who understood when it was photo-taking time and when it was eating time! It was great to finally put faces to blogs which I had been reading for a long time and to find out that food bloggers are such fun-loving, friendly people was a bonus!

Anyway that's it from me this year! Thanks again to everyone for all the support you've given me for the past 6 months. Happy New Year and I hope you all have a great NYE!