Sea la vie Restaurant

Merry Christmas.

We hope you had a peaceful day and enjoyed your activities with your loved ones.  We did!

Christmas Day is the only day in the year that Sea la vie is closed.  So we enjoyed the day off and spent it at Sea la vie (truly), outside under the umbrella structure and had lunch with Karen’s family (we did this with my family last year).

We had a great day as Karen’s siblings are spread out over some distance.  Karen’s eldest sister, Marge, lives in Inverell, Wendy, Karen’s other sister lives in Wauchope and her brother, David,  lives in San Diego (USA).  So it was us four Merediths (Adrian, Karen, Kate and Daniel), Karen’s siblings, their spouses and Karen’s parents, Jack and Eunice.

It is not all that often we are able to get together as a family, the last time being in 2003 for Karen’s parents diamond (60th) wedding anniversary.  So it had been a long time between drinks - so to speak!

Anyway, Matt (our sensational Head Chef) cooked lunch for us (the day before) and we just had to put lunch out on the table and off we ate and drank (some Margan and Petersons wines).  We ate Salmon, Pork (with crackling and apple sauce), Duck, Turkey and for dessert, a traditional Christmas Pudding (made by Karen’s sister Marge).

So that was our Christmas, a relaxing and fun day.

This week (Monday 18th December) I took off for a few days and spent some timethe Hunter Valley.  Hard to take - tasting wine, eating cheese, sleeping (which I need plenty off) and I even had a swim.

The weather was great so meandering around the wineries was an absolute pleasure.  Apart from the weather, being the week before Christmas the Hunter Valley was dead - so I just about had the place to myself.

I visited my favourite vineyard - Petersons (by the way which we have two reds (Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon) on our wine list.  I also visited First Creek, Draytons, Oakvale and Margan Wineries.  I’d heard very good things about Margan, from a few of our guests at Sea la vie actually.  The lady at Margan knew her stuff and we had a good old chin wag about wines as I slowly tasted my way through their tasting list.

So if you’re up in the Hunter Valley make Petersons and Margan a must!!!!!!  I was also very impressed with First Creek.

In the evenings I thoroughly enjoyed my two dinners - one being at Casuarina Restaurant and the other at Il Cacciatore At Hermitage Lodge, Pokolbin (I ate the Risotto with Duck).  Both award winning restaurants.  At Casuarina, so I read, are famous for their Flambé - they bring the trolley to the table and cook (certain meals) in front of the guests - really neat).

I came back with a boot load of wine.  One wine I purchased was a First Creek Raspberry Wine - I’m keen to try and use this for drizzling over some desserts (which they gave me some recipes - so keep a look out when your are at Sea la vie).

To finish, I’ll share the wording of a sign at Petersons, it  took my fancy - “Life’s too short to drink bad wine”.  How true!!!!!

The Beach Reserve was officially opened today (Sunday 17^th December).  I was honoured to be asked to be an official guest and one of only two speakers.  See pictures – that’s me in the white shirt in the middle (left picture), in the other picture (right picture) me using my hands to make a point (unlike me ha ha!!!).

The weather of late has been dubious (cloudy and /or wet) but today the sun shone bright and it was a glorious day and many people were in attendance.  Many families were there, no doubt waiting for the free Paddle Pops for the kids couresty of Warringah Council.

The Beach Reserve looks fabulous.  Warringah Council has done a great job.  I believe that we all yearn to be part of a community and this reserve offers such an opportunity.

As a child I grew up in Roseville (about 15 minutes drive west of Dee Why Beach) and we often frequented Dee Why Beach on summer nights for a swim and a picnic dinner or for an early Sunday morning swim.  One year we even had a two week holiday at the then Surfrider Motel.  It was close to home, Dad went to work, but we were on the Beach!  It was a vibrant and exciting beach and this refurbishment continues in that vain.

At Sea la vie there has been much conjecture about the refurbishment.  But as one lady said this morning “Adrian, I must admit it is stunning”.  That sums it up for me, we were all concerned for many reasons – the timing (warmer weather), the length of time taken, the design.  So after 4 months of watching developments we now get to enjoy!

This is now an area that we as a community can benefit and so can businesses along The Strand.  Businesses such as Sea la vie and the other restaurants, cafes, takeaway shops and surf shops will all appreciate the refurbishment.

Let the people come to Dee Why Beach and see how good it is!

Now it is up to the weather (it has got to get better) – please God, bring on summer (blue skies, warmer days and lots of people).

The picture below is Dick Persson (left), the Council’s Administrator, and Bruce MacKenzie (right), the Architect, unveiling the plaque.

Anthony (pictured), our Barista, is getting married (again).  Anthony and Lucia were married early in the year for immigration purposes.  This time it’s the whole song and dance!

They marry on Saturday 27th January 2007 at St Patrick’s, Manly.  The reception follows and is at Mona Vale Golf Club.

Word has it that there will also be a wedding in Italy sometime - what’s that - 3 weddings and a ???

All the best Lucia and Anthony from all of us at Sea la vie and all our regulars who enjoy your coffees.

Well the await opening of the Beach Reserve occurs on Sunday 17th December 2006 at 11am.  The opening will happen at the northern end of the Reserve (I guess that means near the Surf Club).

Yours truly (Adrian) has been asked by Warringah Council to talk for a few minutes, my talk is to be on behalf of the business owners along The Strand.

How about that - any ideas on what I should say?

The Reserve when it is finished sometime next week will look fantastic.

My hope is that all those who frequent Dee Why Beach will enjoy the refurbished reserve.  Also from a business point of view, lets hope it brings more people to the restaurants, cafes and takeaway businesses along the beachfront - all year round.

Well, I entered our website in the National Hospitality Website Awards a few months ago.  In late October they chose 5 finalists, one of which was Sea la vie (www.sealavie.com.au) .  We were the only finalist in NSW.  How good is that!

So I’m proud of our website.  Take a look around for yourself.  Have a look at the menus found on the Cafe page - http://www.sealavie.com.au/cafe.htm