friends Archives - Lani Kingston

Lamingtons for Australia Day in the Wild West of the USA.

I was told as soon as I left Australia for my adventure around the world I would have a newfound sense of patriotism. I have always been patriotic about Melbourne (maybe because it is the best place in the world?), but have never really been a flag-toting, sausage eating, Crikey-shouting Aussie.

My friends in Melbourne have always been super organised with our bigger parties – we are huge fans of facebook events. It works for me because now I have gone, they invite me to everything anyway so I can see what is happening back at home. So when I saw the group was heading out for an Australia Day Picnic and rowing a boat to Herring Island, I remembered how my American friends Sam and Nina would always host parties on the American holidays like the 4th July. So, as an Australian, I felt it was my duty to host an Australia Day party here in Phoenix, Arizona.

I got a little excited about the prospect of introducing our friends to a bit of Australian culture. It wouldn’t be Australia day without lamingtons, so I baked a sponge and set to work putting together some Aussie baked deliciousness. For my non-Australian readers, lamingtons are a dense sponge cake filled with raspberry jam, dipped in a chocolate syrupy sauce and rolled in desiccated coconut.

Our friends Erin and Brandon showed up with their super cute son, Liam. He loved to pose for the camera!
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Beer battered fish tacos + an Australian music festival from afar.

Goodbye to one of the most formative, blissful and charmed years of my life.

This year we were some of the last people in the world to reach 2014. I watched my friends in the UK, Australia, Sweden, Italy, Thailand (and even in New York) celebrate the end of 2013, and then finally it was my turn to say goodbye to one of the best years of my life so far.

2013 has brought me so much happiness and love. I finished pastry school and got a job as head pastry chef in an awesome restaurant next to my house.
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My Farewell Melbourne Party.

My farewell party (and last 24 hours) in Melbourne is something I will remember forever. I was so amazingly lucky to have so many people come together to create such an amazing farewell from my beloved home.

Earlier in the day we had all brunched, eaten cloudberry jam on ice cream, visited Swedish Christmas markets – when finally it was time to head home, pack my last few belongings into my bags and boxes, and get dressed to head over to the venue for my party. You can read about the earlier part of the day here.

I put on my party dress while Eric and Peter played Rockband, and Angela set up our wine and cheese lunch. After a glass of wine and a Daisy snuggle we all piled into the car to drive up to Brunswick to Habitat Lounge for the party.
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Swedish Roofies, saffron buns + a warm summer night.

We were late for Swedish Roofie night. I was meant to bring my food processor over to Stina‘s early so she didn’t have to hand grate bags and bags of potatoes.

But Eric spilled the toothpicks all over the floor. He was SO angry. It was hilarious.
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Angela’s 25th Birthday + a South American meringue cake.

Party. of the. year.
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A Persian Feast.

I’ve been blessed with some incredible friends in Melbourne. What’s more, most of them join me in my passion for good food. They have been more than willing to initiate me into the cuisines of their home countries, by cooking me their favourite dishes, or in this case, teaching me to make what I can only refer to as a banquet.

I met my friend Pouya through Angela, and he is such a welcoming, friendly man. Him and his partner Shohre are marvellously interesting people and are always a delight to be around. They come from Iran, and have so many stories to tell, and so many friends around the world. I count myself lucky to be counted among them.
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