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Saturday, January 01, 2011

Sydney New Year's Eve Fireworks



Welcome to 2011!

It's hard to believe that another year has come has gone. Writing Grab Your Fork has been a huge part of it, and I'm grateful for the friendships I've made, the comments I've received, the opportunities I've been given, and the readers (yes you!) who stop by everyday.

In 2010 I published a total of 224 posts, all written after I've clocked off from my day job - I've yet to find a way to blog and pay the mortgage! It's been a busy year but a rewarding one, and I've relished every minute of it.

Here are some of my highlights from 2010:


Visiting Japan and making it to the Sapporo Snow Festival


Seeing the Robosaurus at the Sydney Royal Easter Show with Chocolatesuze


Revelling in the beauty of the 1m high roti tisu on a food bloggers feast across Malaysia and Thailand with Billy, Minh and Simon


Scoring my own Food & Drink column, Eating Out Of Town in Time Out Sydney

christmas pudding
Celebrating Christmas in July at Billy's

DSC_5193-1007
Being approached to write the reviews for the Food Lovers Guide to Chinatown


Being wowed by the Bistro CBD dinner cooked by fellow food bloggers Fouad, Billy, Karen and Linda.

lachsschinken
Discovering laschsschinken at the Adelaide Central Market, a cold smoked pork that tastes just like smoked salmon


Seeing my first ever Roller Derby match


Celebrating the arrival of spring with a food bloggers barbecue at Karen's

mole poblano
Making my first ever mole poblano - a chocolate chilli sauce for chicken



Working on and seeing my reviews published in The Foodies' Guide to Sydney 2011


The smell of one hundred legs of jamon at Rodriguez Brothers, Yagoona


Feeling like I had been transported to Chile as I feasted on empanadas and lomito at La Paula, Fairfield


Being interviewed by the always affable Simon Marnie about the best food in Cabramatta live on ABC Radio 702 Weekends for the Crave Sydney International Food Festival


Biting into the crunchiest ever cassava chip at Boteco, Surry Hills


Taking turns to host a dinner party with a group of friends we call Stomachs Eleven


Savouring the tender veal tongue at District Dining, Surry Hills


Visiting the Philippines for the first time and discovering the joys of grated Edam cheese on sweet buns, shaved ice and in ice cream


Co-hosting the Sydney Food Bloggers Christmas Picnic for over 60 bloggers with Chocolatesuze



And now we embark on a new year, and a new decade.

I welcomed in 2011 at Dawes Point on Sydney Harbour where, once again, Sydney put on a fireworks spectacular. The Harbour Bridge featured heavily in the midnight celebrations, our beloved coathanger ablaze with a cacophony of synchronised fireworks.


Start of the midnight fireworks


Fireworks frenzy


Sydney New Year's Eve Fireworks

Thank you all for your support, emails, conversations and comments. May your year ahead be filled with new adventures, delicious eats, and an end to clothes mysteriously shrinking in the wash!
38 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (Grab Your Fork) on 1/01/2011 06:09:00 am


38 Comments:

  • At 1/01/2011 6:23 am, Anonymous Jin said…

    enjoyed reading your blog for the past few years and will happily continue to do so :)
    happy new year!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 6:35 am, Anonymous Craig @ Craig & Caroline Hind Online said…

    Lovely post Helen, wonderful fireworks (which I will get to see in person next NYE!), and of course Happy New Year! You did well in 2010, and I'm sure 2011 will be just as good, if not better for you!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 6:44 am, Blogger cafedave said…

    Happy new year Helen,

    Thanks for all the insights and aspirational eating ideas!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 8:52 am, Blogger R said…

    I've really enjoyed reading your blogs Helen and seeing your exploits writ large.

    Congratulations on a wonderful year, and may there be many to come.

    And I wouldn't change a thing! You keep that day job. We don't want you getting all fancy-smancy.

    Happy New Year Lovely.

     
  • At 1/01/2011 9:06 am, Blogger Sydney Shop Girl said…

    Happy New Year, Helen!

    Best of luck for the future and I eagerly await what you and your blog get up to in 2011.

    SSG xxx

    Sydney Shop Girl blog

     
  • At 1/01/2011 9:20 am, Blogger Y said…

    Happy New Year to you! :)

     
  • At 1/01/2011 10:37 am, Blogger joey@forkingaroundsydney said…

    What a fantastic hightlight reel; definitely MVP-worthy. Happy New Year and I hope the eating is better in 2011!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 10:53 am, Blogger Louise said…

    Congratulations on a wonderful post Helen, and what a wonderful year to remember! Here's hoping 2011 brings even more amazing adventures for you and great posts for us.

     
  • At 1/01/2011 10:56 am, Blogger Jennifer Reid said…

    Happy New Year Helen!!
    Your fireworks photos are amazing! I was at Drummoyne watching them with family & friends, which was a wonderful way to start the year!!
    Thank you for your blog...you are such an inspiration to me. Jen :))

     
  • At 1/01/2011 11:03 am, Anonymous Mark @ Cafe Campana said…

    So many great posts. Can't wait to read more. Happy New Year Helen.

     
  • At 1/01/2011 11:23 am, Anonymous Mrs Pig Flyin' said…

    Thank you so much for all the delicious posts in 2010 and looking forward to many more in the new decade!

    Can't wait for the next Stomachs' Eleven feast :)

     
  • At 1/01/2011 11:33 am, Anonymous Emily said…

    Happy New Year, Helen! The fireworks in Sydney was amazing, wasn't it? I hope you'll have a wonderful year 2011 and great inspirations for many posts to come. :D

     
  • At 1/01/2011 11:52 am, Blogger Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse) said…

    Haha, oh yes, those shrinking clothes...seems to be a universal phenomenon!

    Happy New Year again!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 1:38 pm, Anonymous Hannah said…

    Happy New Year, my dear Helen! One of my highlights was meeting you - I still feel honoured to count you as a friend. Here's to another year of sweet (and, I s'pose, savoury) eats in 2011, and even more super fun times! xo

     
  • At 1/01/2011 2:33 pm, Anonymous sara @ Belly Rumbles said…

    Thank you for your wonderful posts, such a joy to read them. What a year you have had. Happy New Year Helen

     
  • At 1/01/2011 2:35 pm, Blogger thang @ noodlies said…

    Congratulations for a wonderful 2010 Helen, so many highs. Here's to even greater foodie success and joy in 2011

     
  • At 1/01/2011 3:48 pm, Anonymous IVNHO said…

    Thank you for sharing your 2010 exploits with us too, Helen. Happy 2011!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 5:28 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Looks like you had a fantastic 2010! Hope 2011 is even better for you!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 5:31 pm, Anonymous billy @ a table for two said…

    Helen, your culinary journey never stops to amaze me. Here's a toast to a delicious 2011! :)

     
  • At 1/01/2011 6:11 pm, Blogger Cubie said…

    Happy New Year. Enjoyed reading your posts on travels and yummy food :)

     
  • At 1/01/2011 6:14 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Happy new year, Helen! Wishing you a good year ahead and many more feasting & eating :)

     
  • At 1/01/2011 6:18 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    A little off topic but - your pictures of the fireworks are fantastic! Which camera did you use?

     
  • At 1/01/2011 8:17 pm, Blogger Karen | Citrus and Candy said…

    Happy New Year Helen!! Can't wait for another year of fun and awesome food together (as well as karaoke!). Btw your photos of the fireworks are amazing!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 9:18 pm, Blogger OohLookBel said…

    Thanks for letting us share your gastronomic journey, Helen. Have a great new year.

     
  • At 1/01/2011 10:03 pm, Blogger YaYa said…

    Happy New Year! Looking forward to more adventures in 2011!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 10:52 pm, Anonymous divemummy said…

    with every blog post I know you are ever-closer to being able to chuck in that day job. Your hard work and efforts are appreciated by all your loyal fans. Keep up the great posts - I'm more often than not trying not to drool on the keyboard and very green with envy!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 11:25 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Great post Helen! have really enjoyed reading your blog :) Happy New Year and can't wait to read what's to come in 2011!

     
  • At 1/01/2011 11:28 pm, Blogger Maria said…

    Happy New Year Helen!

     
  • At 1/02/2011 12:00 am, Anonymous Iron Chef Shellie said…

    Wow Helen! Did you have a great spot for fireworks!! amazing photos!
    Happy new delicious year! x

     
  • At 1/02/2011 10:55 am, Blogger shaz said…

    Happy New Year Helen! Wow, you've certainly had an eventful year. Here's to much excitement in 2011, and of course, more good food.

     
  • At 1/02/2011 10:58 am, Blogger Mel said…

    that's alot that you've achieved last year. enjoyed reading your blog and will continue reading. ^^ happy new year helen!

     
  • At 1/02/2011 11:20 am, Anonymous JT@ areyouhungary said…

    Great roundup of the year Helen - I'm incredibly impressed with the amount of stuff you fit in around your day job! Hope 2011 is even better, although 2010 looked pretty good!

     
  • At 1/02/2011 2:31 pm, Anonymous MissDissent said…

    Happy New Year Helen, I have enjoyed reading about your adventures in 2010, and look forward to a year of new adventures.

     
  • At 1/02/2011 4:17 pm, Blogger Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

    Thank you so much for your comments everyone. It's always a buzz to hear from you! Happy New Year again!

    Hi Jin - Glad you've been enjoying the ride. Hope you keep coming back!

    Hi Craig - Ahh how exciting. Wait until you see the fireworks live!

    Hi R - lol. Thanks as always for your support and good cheer :)

    Hi Mrs Pig Flyin' - No thank you! Can't wait for the next one either!

    Hi mademoiselle delicieuse - lol. Surely there's something wrong with the washing machine!

    Hi Hannah - Aww it was a fun night indeed. Looking forward to meeting up with you for dinner in Sydney sometime soon :)

    Hi Billy - Journey! Drink drink! lol

    Hi Anon - I use a Nikon D90 but more importantly I used a tripod and set my camera settings to optimise fireworks capture (use google for tips).

    Hi Karen - Always up for a bit of Whitney, sister! And thanks, was worth lugging the tripod into the city!

    Hi divemummy - Aww thank you :) It is a tasty and delicious labour of love.

     
  • At 1/03/2011 8:16 am, Blogger Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul said…

    Nice round up Helen! Happy New Year for 2011!

     
  • At 1/03/2011 12:46 pm, Blogger Jen said…

    Your photos of the fireworks are amazing! Even better than what I remember them to be.
    Hope your new year is bigger and better!

     
  • At 1/03/2011 3:09 pm, Blogger Anna (Morsels and Musings) said…

    2010 was a big year for you and i am so pleased to see you get published and "mainstream media" recognition for your fantastic blog. it really is a wonderful source of information on where and what to eat.

    happy new year helen!

     
  • At 1/03/2011 9:56 pm, Anonymous Jen (jenius.com.au) said…

    What a big year you've had Helen, well done! Looking forward to following your eats in 2011. Happy new year :)

     

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