I heart canapes!

Pre-coffee on Monday morning (and therefore somewhat dangerous) I received an email (from the night before) which started off well and good and entertaining enough, but which finished with: PS - I can't believe you wasted today wallowing in domesticity.

To clarify - my Sunday was not wasted wallowing in anything, thank you very much. As well as dishes and vacuuming and whipping up tasty fruit based vodka drinks, I managed to fill my Sunday (and Saturday for that matter) with all sorts of other things - which included (but was in no way limited to) caramel walnut tarts and coffee with fellow foodies at Floriditas, a trip to Lyall Bay, scrambled eggs (accompaniments of choice currently standing at Vogels toast, parmesan cheese and Anathoth tomato relish), and downing a bottle of cheap red while watching some friends Iguana Wrestle. Don't ask.

I'm standing by my decision to get domestic - cleaning the house whilst watching the Silver Ferns win was time well spent. I was especially grateful when I got home exhausted on Monday night after my return to the gym following recent carb-on-carb shenanigans (and while we're on the topic, for a classier take on carb-on-carbs, how good does this pecorino potato and mint ravioli look?!).

Anyway! Last night I had the pleasure of attending the media launch for the third annual Wellington on a Plate culinary festival. It's on from 5-21 August 2011 here in the windy city - 17 days of set menus at fancy restaurants for cheap, events involving truffles, cupcakes, blindfolds and martinis to name but a few, specialty burgers, and needless to say, lots and lots of eating.

I judge events/weddings/parties/anything-that-requires-schmoozing by the finger food - I love finger food - and the fancy high tea and bubbles theme was pulled of a treat on Tuesday evening by the organisers and Ruth Pretty catering. Mini pies of snapper with a parmesan crumb, traditional pork with a tasty tasty relish, and fancy potato top were highlights. That was alongside little salmon sammys and before baby macarons and neenish tarts. It was all washed down with delicious bubbles from Palliser Estate. I was also lucky enough to push through those internet/flesh boundaries and meet for real Rosa aka Mrs Cake, Laura from Hungry and Frozen, and Jo from the Wellingtonista. We went for a wine afterwards at my new favourite bar Cuckoo Cocktail Emporium. They now do daytime coffee too! My friend and I had a goss-swap coffee date on their outdoor couches in the sun the other day at lunch time. It was lovely.

It is shaping up to be a food filled August, and as well as a great excuse to catch up with as many friends as possible over swanky lunches I normally couldn't afford, I'll also try and get to some of the events. And maybe, just maybe, if I play my cards right, I'll even get taken out on a dinner date or two - it is my birthday month after all. There appears to be something for most budgets; I know I'll be embracing burgers at restaurants I've always wanted to go to - starting with Martin Bosley's! There's also a baking competition, so if you love your butter and sugar creaming there are some pretty sweet prizes to be won. The program came out today, so get reading and watch this space!