Every year for the past 12 years, a friend of ours has thrown a Christmas party. It is a major event on our calendar, about 30 of us get together and spend the afternoon/night eating, drinking and being merry.When we moved to Sydney last year, we were the 3rd couple from our group living here. Work commitments meant that none of us would make it to Melbourne for the annual, and seeing it was the first Christmas in Sydney for both Sis and MJ, and BF and I, the 6 of us decided to start our own Sydney tradition.
You would think that between Sis and I, we would work at whipping up a big fancy feast, but no. The other couple, SteveKat, were moving back to Melbourne just before Christmas, and MJ had been raving about this amazing chicken takeaway that he and Sis had found just near their house. Boys being boys, Steve decided that he MUST try said chicken before leaving Sydney. Thus, The Sydney Chicken Christmas Dinner was born.This year, there were just the four of us, and Sampson (Sis' cat!). After the craziness of December, it is nice to just relax with some good takeaway, a beer or two, a bottle of wine, and good company.
I know, you want to know about the food - barbeque chicken, hot chips, tabouli, toum and chilli sauce. MJ always makes sure to get extra toum and chilli sauce because we eat so much of it! Toum is a deliciously creamy garlic sauce made mostly from garlic and oil, is very pungent and addictive. A rather modest spread for Christmas, but a new tradition. It also means that by the time we all make it to Melbourne (I fly tonight!) that we have not overdone the Christmas foods early.
Sampson getting into the spirit
awwww look at sampson! how cute. what a nice holiday gathering. happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a wonderful tradition to me! Anything done with family , friends and food is worth it! Have a wonderful time and safe trip!! Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteA lovely tradition and the food looks and sounds fantastic. Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteThe toum sounds delicious. It reminds me of one of my favorite Greek sauces called skordalia, which is made with garlic and oil, and I think potato or bread. It is so yummy with fried smelts!
ReplyDeleteYour feast sounds lovely. Merry Christmas!
That sounds fantastic! And I adore toum, I could eat bowls of it quite happily. Merry Christmas to you and your family Annie! :D
ReplyDeleteI think a Sydney Chicken Christmas Dinner sounds delightful! Especially since you were traveling!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the cats festive attire. Happy Holidays! :)
What a nice little gathering! Samson is a handsome kitty! I love tabby's so much.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a nice holiday tradition! My husband and I are newlyweds and haven't quite developed any holiday traditions yet. I love the sound of your Sydney Chicken Christmas Dinner - hope you have a great new year!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great tradition! We actually don't cook for Christmas, either. I go home to Colorado and we spend the week skiing. And best of all, no clean up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thoughts and best wishes everyone! Will post soon, once I get over Christmas and NYE!
ReplyDeletewhere was the chicken from? i have an inkling i may know where it is!
ReplyDeletechristmas doesn't have to be about fancy food - just tasty stuff and lots of it! :) Happy New Year!
Helen - it is from Oricco Mediterranean Charcoal Chicken on New Canterbury Rd in Dulwich Hill - did you guess right?!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great Christmas tradition. I cook for Christmas, but that sounds like a lot more relaxed...maybe time for a new tradition!
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