It all started five years ago. Our eyes met over a steaming dish of pad thai… ok I lie, that would be all too convenient, wouldn’t it? I have in my head various versions of how “it all started”. I mean, I’ve known Panu for years, we worked at the same company but it didn’t “all start” when we first met. Truthfully? I thought he was totally weird when we first met, but that’s a whole nother story.

How else can I start this story? It all started at work? Boring. How about… It all started at Jackson’s on George? Too… gross. Ok truth? It all started during a work conference in Coolum’s Hyatt Regency resort. Sounds classy but actually, it was about 3am on a Saturday night (or Sunday morning, depends how you see it), with a bunch of us all drunk and chilling out in the pool, spilling red wine and white wine and god knows what else into the very water we were swimming in. Yeah, classy, right? But that, folks, is how it all started.

That was Saturday, November 25, 2006.

beef panang curry

You’re probably wondering what Newtown Thai has to do with all of this? I guess for me, it was one of those moments which set the course for the rest of my life. I could say it was the moment my life began but that’s a little too dramatic because as happy as I am now, I loved being single too. Being single was all about me, what’s not to love about that? And it’s not that it was better, or more fun, it’s just… different.

I’m totally digressing right? Right.

salmon green curry

So after the debaucherous night in the pool, Panu and I didn’t see each other for about three weeks. I spent time with my parents in Brisbane, visited my brother in Townsville and road tripped up to Cairns where I lost all of my luggage (that too is for another story). By the time I came back to Sydney, I was sure Panu had recovered from his wine-binge hangover in Coolum and not remember a thing.

But you know, I’m a sucker for punishment so I suggested we have dinner. He said yes. I suggested Thai. He said yes.

And that’s how we ended up at Newtown Thai.

garlic pepper beef

The food at Newtown Thai is pretty awesome. I know I said  Thai Riffic is great, and it is, but it’s all fancy and stuff. If you just want a good simple Thai meal, this is where it’s at. The pad thai is the perfect balance of sweet and savoury, the pad see ew (no photo, sorry) is my favourite and the curries all hit the spot. And the garlic pepper stir fry! Awesome.

I have to say though, the fresh coconut juice is a no go. I’m really not sure what they use – a butter knife maybe? – but they way they hack the top off the poor coconuts… we were finding bits of coconut husk in every mouthful and it wasn’t pleasant.

So back to Newtown Thai in 2006. Panu and I realised we had something real going on and decided to give it a shot and we haven’t looked back since. It’s been five years and I am still very much in… happiness.

It’s our anniversary today and look! It really did all start over a steaming dish of pad thai 😉

ps. we had Thai because I told him Newtown Thai made the best pad thai. He said he knew some place in Crows Nest that made the best pad thai but they closed down pretty soon after so I was winning our disagreements back then and I’m still winning them today. Heh.

pps. these photos of Newtown Thai dishes are not from five years ago, they’re from two weeks ago 🙂

Newtown Thai
117 King Street,
Newtown, NSW, 2042
(02) 9557 2425

Newtown Thai on Urbanspoon

30 Thoughts on “it’s our 5 year anniversary! and it all started at Newtown Thai…

  1. Nawww you guys look so cute together! Happy anniversary! Here’s to many more 🙂

  2. Aaw haha happy 5 yr anniversary to you two! Great happy snaps 🙂

    What a bummer about the coconut juice though -.-

  3. Awww, the cuteness! Happy anniversary, y’all!!

  4. Bewdiful. love to you both.

  5. Awwww thanks y’all! And Vivian, yes the coconut juice was disappointing! And I love that stuff. I now just get the Nudie bottled coconut water.. guaranteed no husk hehe.

  6. Happy anniversary lovelies! Love the cheesy photos! xx

  7. happy anniversary and wishing you a lifetime more of happinness;)

  8. Don’t deny it, Jacksons on George has started up many a-romances 😉

    Happy anniversary Cat and Panu! You guys are so damn cute together it’s criminal xx

  9. Hot food.
    Hot couple.
    Congrats Cat & Panu, your happiness makes everyone salivate.

    xxSii

  10. Maria: LOL yeah we’re good at cheesy pics 😉

    mc: Thanks!

    Karen: Wahahaaaaa.. Jacksons on George. Classy joint that one, I used to go way too often!!

    Shari: Awww stop it. Am dinnering with another lurvely couple this weekend – Ayreen and Costa, now BE JEALOUS! 😀

  11. Hsiu Pin on November 25, 2011 at 5:49 pm said:

    Happy anniversary!

  12. nawwww <333333 happy anno!

  13. I _thought_ so!! When you said you met over a plate of Thai I wondered what you were talking about. I knew it was in the pool!! 😉

    And I can’t believe it has been 5 whole years since then. It seems like a whole different lifetime. I miss those days sometimes, not many parties can compare to those ddaways. We need to organise a pool party with all the same people.
    …we’re gonna need some bikes and deck chairs 😉

    Say Hi to Panu!

    nic xxx

    • We TOTALLY need to have a pool party reminiscent of those days! The question is though, would you come back from Norway for it?? and Jo from UK (speaking of which, she’s coming back for xmas YAY!) .. MISS YOU! xx

  14. Aww….congratulations…=)
    Hope you and Panu have something special plan to celebrate 5 years.

    I’m so happy for you and it was really great to read about your story as like you…I love being single…maybe sometimes even too much!

    • It’s so funny when people say love happens when you least expect it because it’s SO TRUE. I was having a ball being single that when all this happened I actually didn’t want to be in a relationship at all and almost DIDN’T. But then see how it all turned out hehe.

  15. Happy anniversary you two!!!

  16. Aww Happy Birthday to you Catty and Panu! And may there be many, many more! 😀

  17. Congratulations to you two! I’ve been reading your blog for years now and remember each anniversary post. So sweet!

  18. Congrats on the big Five years…and what better way to celebrate than with food!

  19. Nawww…congrats guys! For the husband and I, it all started over Sugar Hits. We’d known each other for a couple of years by then and were dating other people when we met – so it was a purely platonic friendship PLUS I thought he looked nerdy (well…I still kinda do =p).

    And you, my dear, are full of stories!

  20. Awww Happy Anniversary you two! May there be many, many more! 🙂 Wish I could bake you two a humongous cake – I miss having you as a neighbour! xxx

    p.s. Did you include some photos in the collage that were taken by Bruce & Mowie?

  21. haha congratulations! You missed out the naughty bits over green curry and garlic pepper beef 😉

  22. Happy 5th anniversary, gorgeous collage of both of you.

  23. You guys are too cute! Congrats on such a milestone 😀 x

  24. Thank you thank you thank you for the well wishes, you love peeps!

  25. Congratulations!!! Wow 5 years that’s fantastic 🙂 All the best ~

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