FELIZ NAVIDAD

alas, the three-part mexican food series will have to be postponed until the new year as tomorrow we are off to new zealand - or en-zed as they like to call it here. we will try to check in on the kiwi road but expect a full update on our travels when we return. happy holidays!!

SYDNEY, MEXICO PART 1

given that we're from the u.s., which is conveniently located next to mexico, we like to consider ourselves as intimately familiar with mexican cuisine. granted, massachusetts is not exactly "nuevo mexico" but we have some decent mexican. so when a colleague of j's suggested we go to a place in newtown called GUZMAN Y GOMEZ for the "best guacamole in sydney" we were a little intrigued (being the guac fanatics we are). thus began our survey of comida mexicana in sydney.

tonight was the first installment of that survey, what we hope to be a three-part series on mexican food in sydney. it didn't exactly get off to a great start. it was a bit far to go all the way to G&G so we attempted to go to CAFE PACIFICO in darlinghurst. but that was closed for a private function. our back-up plan was MAD MEX, in the same neighbourhood but with more of a fast-food atmosphere. it had the same lineup as anna's in boston: tortilla machine man, meat and salsa man and female cashier. the only difference was that they were so slow...it was like anna's on valium. oh, and the burritos were like aus$15 each (vs us$5 at anna's). who knows, maybe it costs a lot to import mexican food to australia, what with the gst and all. the upside though was that you could get beer and margaritas with your meal here. all in all, the food was quite good (maybe even giving anna's a run for its money).

next stop: GUZMAN Y GOMEZ or CAFE PACIFICO

JASON JASON SCHWARTZMAN SCHWARTZMAN

last night we went to the sydney premiere of the darjeeling limited. after the movie we spent some quality time with my long-lost cousin and j's namesake, jason schwartzman. by quality time, i mean we sat in a q&a with j.s., the film's co-star and co-writer, and 200 sydneysiders. he was quite funny and gracious. and the film itself was really good too. it was rich with detail, color, and humor. we recommend.

AND WE'RE BACK

yes it's been a while since we've blogged. it's been a busy week with work - for both of us! we've also had some pressing social engagements and we spent two nights out shooting photos around sydney. it's a great city for that - the harbors and bays glow beautifully in the moonlight. we've also had a chance to explore a little more, checking out the bustling, atmospheric restaurant scene at wolloomooloo wharf and roaming around the very dc-like potts point. and if that weren't enough, we've been busy gearing up (literally) for our trip to new zealand.

so, to show that our time spent incommunicado this last week has not been in vain, here are some of the night shots from around the harbor, potts point, and rushcutters bay: