This blog is all about me......I come here for respite in between caring for JoJo (our Daughter who has Special Needs)......I am addicted to starting new projects......I am becoming a fabric-a-holic... I love to try out recipes... take a beach walk and breathe in that salty blue air......love to have coffee...sip a glass of champagne......read a book......I am Queen of the Armchair and am inspired by all the wonderful blogs out there!!!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Graduation...and a Celebration Dinner at Tyler's Kitchen!!!

Yay....I finally graduated from my TAFE Course...

nearly 2 years worth...surgery in between...caring for a daughter with a disability...

looking back I sometimes wonder how I did it all!!!


For the 'big day' Mr Armchair brought me home this gorgeous bunch of flowers...

My dear friend Geo (no blog) sent me this fabric...

and this pattern from Anni Downs ...
Geo has already made this pattern...now it's my turn!!!
Thank you so much dear Geo!!!

Off now to the Graduation...the sign greeting us at the door...

Tourism and Hospitality tables for the Graduates of 2009...

Cara and Lyn with me...Cheers to us!!!
Lyn together with our fellow student Rob run a delightful Bed and Breakfast...
to which we were invited to a meal...more on this another time...

JoJo looking engrossed in my Certificate...

then with yours truly and Mr Armchair...
One of the teachers Debbie insisted I have a pic taken with my family to put on the blog!!!

'The Certificate'

And then unbeknown to me JoJo brought home the balloon from our table!!!
A great night...and even though it was a bit harder than I thought it would be I'm going to miss these classes...

To see some of the cooking from the classes hop on over to my other blog My Dolce Vita

To celebrate the 2 of us...with JoJo at respite care...went out for dinner...
Here we are outside Tyler's Kitchen across from the beach...

On entering there is this fabulous print hanging...

the Restaurant...

A huge blackboard filled by enthusiastic patrons...
Tyler's has a modern European Menu changing daily and has just been written up in delicious magazine!!! Go Tyler!!!

The crustiest bread rolls served with Unsalted Butter...see the little flakes of Sea Salt atop the butter...

Roast Loin of Rabbit...braised leg meat...honey noodle...grilled apricot...pistachio

Grilled Scallops...pea veloute...crisp proscuitto

Pan Fried Atlantic Salmon...local bug cigar...snowpeas...asparagus...black cream...chervil

Pan Roasted Duck Breast...australian lentils...baby turnips...cauliflower puree...jus gras

Almond Mousse...fresh figs...rhubarb...chocolate...strawberry


Selection of Cheeses served with bread...wafers and muscatels...
The one on the left is Brique D'Affinois...
On the right is Brillat Savarin Triple Cream...
followed by St Agur Blue Cheese...
All these cheeses are from France...and they were so creamy and just delicious!!!

All followed by some dark chocolate...

It can't get much better than this!!!

Thank you so much Tyler's Kitchen...


I have thoroughly enjoyed my course and look forward to trying out new recipes here at home...maybe even doing a 'Julie and Julia' and blogging my way through a cook book!!!

Our oven here at home has died...my birthday on the weekend and I was hoping to make a gluten free cake...so I had the idea to ask a local cafe/restaurant here that makes a lot of gluten free food if they could make me one...blow me down they said yes...
and I have ordered a White Chocolate and Fig cake...figs are soaked in Cointreau...
and I am so looking forward to this!!!

29 comments:

Pooch Purple Reign said...

im going to need to know a bit more about that CAKE.
and, it doesnt matter how you dit it, just that YOU DID IT!
cheers
~laura happy birthday !!

Terry said...

Dzintra You truly are QUEEN Lovely post and I am happy to share in your celebration.
A Hugmungous thankyou. I am on the plane to Italy with my Mother and we landed in Holland yesterday (still jet lagged). My wings are tattered but you and Vicki have given me strength.
Thankyou again and enjoy your cake. Yumm. Happy Happy Terry

Fer said...

You're doing it again, all that yummy food!! (especially the scallops and prosciutto, drool drool drool.....)

Congratulations on graduating!

Julia said...

Congratulations on graduating, Dzintra...that's wonderful!
With what I've seen on your blog, I knew you would have no troble passing..
Yum that food looks so good..
Enjoy that cake..
Hugs Julia ♥
P.S. I'll have to pass this on to my Joe-Da-Chef..

ceecee said...

Dear Dzintra,
Hooray, hooray! Congratulations my friend. I was so excited to see that the day had finally come. You are so amazing. The dinner at Tyler's Kitchen looked delicious. And then Cinderella the chef arrives home and the oven's busted! Isn't life just like that? Have a laugh and a glass of good Australian red wine and wait for that Fig and White chocolate cake. Send me a piece.
Best wishes,
Catherine xxoo

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Dear Dzintra
Congratulations my friend... well done on all you have achieved.. you should be very proud... Love all those pics too of your smiling faces!!!! happy family... plus balloon!! haha... well one day we may just get that coffee together... thanks for your lovely comments and being on this blogging ride with me... take care.. and have fun xxx Julie

Nat Palaskas said...

What can I say! Congratulations my dear Queen. I'm so proud of you. You did really well. Nice gifts from Geo too. I've got something for you from the trip and now is as good time as any to give them to you. Will send that off to you soon. Enjoy being a free agent - Love
Nat

ria vogelzang said...

Dear Dzintra. Congratulations from my oart of the world!!!
You did a GREAT job!!!!
What beautiful pictures of you and your family! Jojo also looks lovely!
Enjoy your gifts and all the love!
Big hug from the Netherlands!

Cattinka said...

Congratulations! You did it!
I love the gifts you got, especially the summer pattern.
KATRIN W.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dzintra, how on earth did I miss this post.....OMG you are so beautiful, and now a graduate!!! YIPEEEEE! Congratulations with all my heart. YOU REALLY Have done much, that is for sure. We then wonder, "How did I do all that?" YOu are super and again, SO GORGEOUS! I just love your hair.....

ENJOY THE DAY SWEET ONE! Anita

Bev C said...

Hello Dzintra and JoJo,and Mr Armchair. Congratulations on having the patience to photograph all that food I would have tucked straight into some of those dishes. The restaurant looks divine. Love that JoJo managed to sneak home a balloon. Have fun.
Bev.xoxo

a good yarn said...

Congratulations Dzintra! Your graduation was a special occasion indeed. Dinner at Tyler's looked sublime - what fantastic dishes, beautifully presented. Your birthday cake sounds amazing - I can't wait to see pictures! Ann :-)

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dzintra....you really know how to make someone break their diet!!! THIS IS GLORIOUS! LIVE IT UP AND LARGE!!! Anita

miss~nance said...

congratulations on your Graduation.

That dinner looked pretty special.

Hugs & Blessings

Gail

Unknown said...

Hello..Catching up on blogs..Congrats on your Graduation and Belated Birthday Wishes...
cheers

Sue said...

Congratulations, you are an amazing woman.
Great pics of a well deserved celebration too. Now I'm hungry!

Sharon (Stitches on Mars) said...

Congratulations Dzintra,

Thats a wonderful accomplishment. looks like you've had a wonderful celebratory dinner, and cake to come. Enjoy!

BTW the flowers were gorgeous too :)

Hugs, Sharon

Astrid said...

Congratulations on your graduation!
Enjoy the cake! :)

Margaret said...

Fun times , exciting times make the world a better place, lovely post the photos of the family and food are terrific and the Certificate , how wonderful you must be. Lots of love .

Sandi said...

Congratulations, Dzintra, what an achievement! A lovely bouquet of flowers from Mr Armchair, too. Your dinner celebrations looked wonderful.

Kimonos and Sushi(OLD BLOG) said...

What a great post Dzintra. Well Done you on the Cert in Hospitality.Mr Armchair did spoil you what lovely flowers. How was your birthday? Happy Birthdasy for 17/4. I hope you got spoilt again.
Andrea

Micki said...

Congratulations on your graduation...you do look as pretty as a Queen. Lovely photos and the food was fab!
Micki

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

What fantastic looking courses-the rabbit certainly looks interesting all sppiky like that (and it's easier knowing where the bones are too hehe) :)

Val said...

It's amazing to see on your blog a picture of La Ciotat,it's the town where I was born!
val

Vicki's Bit-o-earth said...

CONGRATULATIONS Dear Dzintra!!! Wow! I'm so proud of and for you! Your family looks so proud and happy too! A happy happy time, and lovely gifts to commemorate this much anticipated event! I have been saving something for your just for your graduation too... it will be in the mail. (I'm just back from the birth of my new grandson, so its slowed down all my intentions of getting things don.lol) xxxVicki

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

WoW!!! Congratulations...you go girl. The food looked absolutely amazing and so are you!

God bless and have a terrific Tuesday!!!

Lurline said...

Me too - catching up - how wonderful for you - congratulations!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Sharon (Stitches on Mars) said...

Hi Dzintra,

It looks like you've had a wonderful birthday. The day looked gorgeous, from the weather to the flowers to the scenery to the food and of course you.
Happy happy birthday,
Hugs, Sharon

Simone de Klerk said...

I'm not sure how I could have missed this gorgeous post. So lovely to see you, JoJo and Gundars together on the picture. I just love looking at all those pictures!

Welcome To My World

Hello, my name is Dzintra Ingrid ... have been known as Ingrid and since our Sea Change I have started to use Dzintra ... pronounced without the D ... (but still known as Ingrid, I know, it's confusing ...)

Welcome to my world ... a journal of our Sea Change ... Mum to three wonderful children ... bringing up a daughter with a disability and seeing life through her eyes ... being a new Nanna ... photos ... inspiring quotes ... taking on a cookery course ... the odd recipe ... and trying to get some stitching done amongst all this ...