Friends in High Places

Michael and Judy McMahon are stalwarts of the Sydney restaurant scene and their harbourside eatery Catalina in Rose Bay is right at the top of the very best spots for a bite to eat in the Eastern Suburbs. It even has it's own tame pelicans to charm diners and next door is the base for the quaint flying boats that deliver passengers to ritzy Palm Beach.

Judy has just turned 60 so that's as good a reason as any to hold a shindig so she gathered some old pals at Catalina for lunch which included our esteemed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his lovely wife Lucy as our snap shows with birthday girl Judy. And the menu? : glazed Toothfish and braised octopus with couscous to start with followed by roast lamb with roasted baby beetroots washed down with Pommery Rosé Champagne. We reckon Malcolm needed a spot of relaxation. For Tuesday & The Census was just around the corner.

Party Of The Month

 
  Catalina Restaurant in Rose Bay, by the harbour, has now been one of Sydney's most popular eateries for 20 years and owners Michael and Judy McMahon decided to throw a bash. And what a party . Guests were delivered in a fleet of Jaguars, entertainment was by the world renowned trumpeter James Morrison and his big band and most importantly, the Pommery flowed. We think they should have a party every year like this !


right : Ronan Keating and girlfriend Storm 
Uechtritz enjoyed themselves

below : a sure sign of how well Catalina is thought of by fellow top chefs : Neil Perry & Luke Mangan (right) joined the party

Eileen 'Red' Bond had a ball ..as did Tim Storrier and Justin Miller and this couple approved of the bubbles!

Volvo's Classy V40 Launch

The ever so reliable Volvo car makers launched their new model, the V40 at Sydney's Technology Park. With a Pommery Champagne bar the organisers sensibly ferried guests to and from the party in fleet of Volvo 4WDs.

Anyone remember The Saint ?-vintage Volvo

Watch our video of the unveiling of the V40 : this was quite amazing as the car really did seem to be racing along a road. And an even a racier act followed with a performance by chart topping DJ Havana Brown with her dancers. We like these car launches !

Volvo fans Matt Shirvington,Guillaume & Terry Kaljo,Lisa Wilkinson

hugs & kisses at Volvo

Jessica Gomez was there

Havana Brown

Party Rivals see in the New Year

Catalina in Rose Bay                                                                Bondi Icebergs

Paris Hilton at Icebergs in 2007

Ever since Paris Hilton and then boyfriend Stavros Niarchos III attended the first New Year's Day charity bash at Bondi  Icebergs in 2007 it's been the recovery party for January 1st but a new competitor looks like stealing Iceberg's thunder. 

Damion Downey

Catalina in Rose Bay threw an almost identical party hosted by musician Damion Downey formerly of Sneaky Sound System . With his party partner Tim Holmes a'Court they pulled in around 300 guests, about the same number that attended the Bondi Bash.

Catalina's was slightly marred by the discovery of a body floating beneath the pier the previous day, the result of  tragic boating accident but with it's expansive view and large dining room it's certainly a comfortable venue.

Chris Brown

Chris Joannou * Laura Csortan

At the Icebergs and sipping on Veuve Clicquot: Dan Single and girlfriend Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Kings Cross nightclub mogul John Ibrahim, Charlotte Dawson and Brian McFadden with Vogue Williams.
At Catalina swilling Pommery and lunching on pancakes and duck sauce-the newly trimmed billionaire James Packer taking a series of intense looking phone calls and wife Erica, Laura Csortan and boyfriend Chris Joannou from Silverchair and Southeby's Justin Miller with designer Danielle Wallace-she flew in from Lake Como.
Missing in action : Kylie Minogue and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Pop-Up Pommery

Grant Dwyer

 If you plan to go shopping this week at Westfield's new glitzy super centre in the Pitt Street Mall, make your way to the third level. Amongst all those brand name stores-Gucci, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Zegna, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Prada..you get the drift- you will find an oasis at the centre-the Pommery Bar.

Michael McMahon *  Angela Shallis*Jon Cammell

It's a 'pop-up' bar provided by the management for weary shoppers overcome with the luxury of the whole place. Last night they threw an opening bash with magnums of Pommery doing the rounds and a host of fashion and TV names on hand to sample the drop.                                  

Matt Moran & Deborah Thomas

Lewis Grant & Jordan Coulter

The Nine network's hit show 'The Block' judge Neale Whittaker who doubles up as Editor in Chief of the design bible Belle magazine, Woman's Weekly Editorial Director Deborah Thomas, TV producer Michael Pell, Weekend Sunrise host Samantha Armytage, designer Carla Zampatti , MasterChef star Matt Moran and restaurateur Michael McMahon joined luxury hotel owner Terry Schwamberg and Ashley Dawson Damer amongst others.

Michael Pell * Samantha Armytage

It's only there for one week so don't miss it !

Maggie Tabberer* Michael Love*Amanda Tabberer

Julia Clarke

Carla Zampatti
 Stop Press : According to the Champagne Bureau Australia the high Australian dollar is now making French champagne far more affordable with brands like Moet & Chandon selling for around $44 a bottle. Australia is the ninth largest importer of the bubbly and with the current global financial malaise- Australia being almost unique in having weathered the financial meltdown -French champagne houses are targeting the country in an effort to increase sales.