Kuk's Thai Kitchen, Pacific Highway, Lindfield

Kuk's Thai Kitchen, Pacific Highway, Lindfield
Sunday 29 January, 2006

I'm not sure how this place remains in business. It's never full and the food is very average compared to some of the better Thai restaurants around i.e. Banana Blossom and Longrain.

The service here is non-existent. The three staff working the floor (there were 3 tables) and fielding the takeaway orders were all a million miles away. They were more concerned with chatting at the back of the restaurant than taking orders, removing plates, refilling water bottles etc. God knows how bad it would be if the restaurant was half full....

Tonight's agenda was cheap and cheerful. For five guests @ $25 pp we shared a mixed entree of thai fish cakes (rubbery), chicken satay, spring rolls and curry puffs followed by steamed rice, pad thai, massaman beef, yellow chicken curry and steamed vegetables. The food is edible but the massaman beef was so small that it didn't even serve two people and the pad thai was disgusting. How hard can it be to get a dish like pad thai right?

For a local restaurant, I'm sure you could find a handful of dishes on the menu that would make it worthy of a return visit or takeaway. However, if you don't live in Lindfield I wouldn't bother.

Kuk's Thai Kitchen - 338 Pacific Highway, Lindfield - (02) 94169366

Pier Tasting Room, New South Head Rd, Rose Bay

Pier Tasting Room, New South Head Rd, Rose Bay
Saturday 28 January, 2006

There's been such a buzz around the new Tasting Room at Pier. Favourable reviews and recommendations meant that we decided to try it over lunch. This also meant we could take in the view on a gorgeous summer day.

Well, what an incredible disappointment. The service was non-existent, the view was disgraceful, the pricing was exorbitant and the food wasn't that great.

Let me elaborate.....we arrived only to find the front door blocked by another party. Once we were able to get inside and were greeted, the Maitre'd walked us to our seats in the Tasting Room. This is not a room as you would imagine, more an entrance way through to the restaurant. The high chairs and raised benches are not everyone's cup of tea and they certainly do ensure you will not stick around for a long lunch.

Our 'view' looked directly onto an old boat ramp strewn with rubbish...bottles, chip packets, paper etc. Half way through our meal a young boy from the Marina decided to clean it up by sweeping it all back into the harbour - nice one!

The service was cold & clinical and the wait time between meals was too long. The menu is interesting and all the items look appealing. It is divided into six sections:

- Oysters
- Sashimi
- Tasting raw
- Tasting
- Tasting cheese
- Tasting dessert

and the instructions are to work your way down the menu. We were informed that the meals were approx. half that of a typical entree, however they are priced between $16 - $32 which makes for an expensive lunch.

We decided to order 3 dishes each - I had the Kingfish sashimi ($16), Chilled gazpacho with yabbies ($19) and Pressing of foie gras and duck confit, pickled cherries with toasted brioche ($32). I was not blown away by any of the dishes, they were all good but nothing that special. It didn't help that our waitress kept seeking approval for every dish when she cleared the plates.

My dining buddies ordered Ocean trout tartare with wasabi cream, cucumber and trout roe ($16), Chilled gazpacho ($9), Steamed vongole with garlic, chilli, white wine & parsley ($18), Pastrami of king salmon with lemon, toast and extra virgin olive oil ($18) and 2 x Crispy skinned pork belly with seared scallops and citrus glaze ($22). Again, good but none of the 'wow' factor you would expect.

We have all eaten at Pier before and loved it. It's clearly one of the better seafood restaurants Sydney has to offer..........just not today.

Having worked our way through three meals each, none of us were full. We asked for the bill - $65 each for lunch. If the food was fabulous, service was impeccable and I felt full I would not have a problem with the price. Today's experience made us feel like this was highway robbery.

Not to be outdone we made our way over to Cinema Paris at the Entertainment Quarter to see 'Brokeback Mountain'. The session commenced at 4pm, so we had over an hour to kill. Unanimously we agreed to head over to Golden Century for a quick bite - Salt & pepper calamari and Grandma's bean curd - now that's what I call value for money and a meal that hits the spot.

Pier Tasting Room - 594 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay - (02) 93276561

http://www.pierrestaurant.com.au/rest.html

Seven Wives, St Ives Shopping Village, St Ives

Seven Wives, St Ives Shopping Village, St Ives
Friday 27 January, 2006

Seven Wives has now been open for 12 months and is still trying to find its feet. Those who are familiar with its sister restaurant in Lindfield, Food & Plonk, would be dissapointed.

I had visited halfway through last year and found the service to be very average. The food was OK but it certainly didn't leave me with a feeling of wanting to rush back. The decor is minimal with stark white hard chairs.

Tonight, nothing much has changed. The service is still neglectful, you have to ask for menus, for the BYO wine to be uncorked, for cracked pepper and sugar - the list goes on. When we arrived, we were the only guests. I always find this a little strange but then consider we will receive stand out service - sadly no.

Only 4 more tables arrived during the course of the evening whilst Mamma's wood fired pizza and Gelatissimo next door were packed to the rafters.

I ordered salt & pepper calarmari with aioli (too chewy) for entree and the scotch fillet (delicious) for main. There are some great items on the menu but it's not a warm or inviting place. The maitre'd seemed distracted and the other waitress looked like she was entering Year 10 at High School. For a local restaurant this should not matter if you are being taken care of. When you are not - it is easy to highlight as a concern.

We didn't bother staying on for dessert. The standout items of the night were the BYO wines - Taylors St Andrews Chardonnay and Cabinet Savignon.

Seven Wines - Shop 16, 166 Mona Vale Road, St Ives Shopping Village, St Ives - (02)9983 1777

http://www.foodandplonk.com.au/sevenwives.html

Vivo cafe & restaurant, George St, Sydney

Vivo cafe & restaurant, George St, Sydney
Friday 27 January, 2006

We were looking for a midway point between The Rocks and Town Hall, preferably on George St. I racked my brains for a cafe style destination and only one sprung to mind - Vivo.

This was our coffee shop of choice when I worked in the vicinity many years ago and I didn't know if it still existed - but thankfully it does. It was packed outside with a handful of vacant tables inside. We were greeted and shown to our table by a pleasant staff member who promptly took our drinks orders.

The menu is quite extensive with lots of turkish bread options, salads, lighter meals and main meals e.g. risotto, chicken breast etc. There's definitely something for everyone. We ordered a range of lunch options, chicken caeser salad, chicken schnitzel on turkish, vegetable linguine and a vegetarian turkish.
All the meals were good. I enjoyed the Chicken caesar salad - it had a poached egg on top with a decent piece of chicken and chicken pieces throughout the salad. It was large and I felt like I wasn't making a dint in it.

Everyone enjoyed their meals. It's probably a little more expensive than you would normally expect to pay at a cafe for lunch (the Chicken caesar salad was $18) however the service was really good and you are smack bang in the centre of town.

Vivo cafe & restaurant - 388 George St, Sydney - (02) 9221 1169

Summer Salt, Mitchell Road, Cronulla

Summer Salt, Mitchell Road, Cronulla
Wednesday 25 January, 2006

My 'Shire' friends had been raving about this place for months. So, after tempting me over to experience Sea Level back in December I was very happy to accept an invitation to try Summer Salt.

What a beautiful location. Away from the main area of Cronulla beach, it is located in an isolated section of the beach. There's heaps of parking at night - not sure that it would be smooth sailing during the day as you would be competing with all the beach goers.

You cross a wooden deck bridge into the restaurant. At the entrance we were greeted and welcomed inside. It's a large open space with floor to ceiling windows looking out to the beach. It's a lovely setting.

We had a 7.30pm booking and the restaurant was packed. The menus were presented and I didn't make it past the degustation listing. We agreed that this was the best option with the matched wines.

The staff were pleasant and chatty, except one. She wouldn't look anyone in the eye or engage in any conversations - her voice was soft and you could hardly hear her when she explained what the dish was. I knew I recognised her and sure enough it was Ally Mansell, the recently crowned Australian princess.

The degustation menu comprised of:

- Mini Sourdough Loaf
- Stuffed Zucchini flowers with seafood mousse with red chilli & peanut nam jim
- Prawns stuffed with Asian herbs wrapped in a potato & asparagus crust with tomato chilli jam & coriander peanut pesto
- Mango sorbet
- Chargrilled Tuna with piquillo pepper, balsamic dressing, beans & oven roast tomato
- Char grilled duck with fresh poached nectarines, cassia bark & sticky orange sauce
- Chefs mango souffle

The food was OK - the first two courses - Stuffed zucchini flowers and Prawns were really doughy and heavy on the batter which was really disappointing.

The tuna, duck and souffle were absolutely delicious and it's a shame that the first few dishes let the whole experience down.

The matched wines were interesting with the best match being the Chapel Hill Shiraz - by far the best selection for the Char-grilled duck.

To sum up the experience..........great location.

Summer Salt - Elouera Surf Life Saving Club, Mitchell Road, Cronulla - (02) 9523 2366

http://www.summersalt.com.au/

Punch Lane, Little Bourke St, Melbourne

Punch Lane, Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Sunday 22 January, 2006

This brasserie is located just up from Chinatown towards the Parliament building. It's directly opposite Longrain (yes, Sydneysiders they have recently opened one in Melbourne). It looks like a Parisian brasserie, it has collages of French cheese wrappers, wooden floorboards, a large wooden bar in the centre and an ecletic mix of wooden chairs and red lounges. There are large chalkboards with specials listed, several wines by the glass and there's a great display of empty wine bottles at the rear of the restaurant. It's welcoming even if the staff aren't.

We ordered drinks and it took ages for the menus to arrive. The staff here do the bare minimum required (or it could be my expectations after Vue de Monde). I enjoyed the Spanish chicken croquettes with dijonaisse for entree and the Porterhouse steak with creamy mash, candied red wine shallots and jus for main. My tennis buddy enjoyed the stuffed zucchini flowers for entree and the Porterhouse steak with creamy mash, candied red wine shallots and jus for main.

The food was good and Punch Lane has a relaxed, informal atmosphere. I'd definitely return to enjoy a glass of wine and a light meal.

Punch Lane - 43 Little Bourke St, Melbourne - (03) 96394944

http://www.punchlane.com.au/index.html

Vue de Monde, Little Collins St, Melbourne

Vue de Monde, Little Collins St, Melbourne
Saturday 21 January, 2006

I have died and gone to heaven............

I always considered Tetsuya's my idea of food heaven - the preparation, quality, display, creativity and service - sheer brilliance. Tonight I experienced something that far surpasses this - is that possible? I feel incredibly guilty saying that but it's true and I have been dreaming of the food ever since (and Ryan, one of the Head Chef's ever since).

We were incredibly lucky to get in on a Saturday night as they are usually booked out months in advance. It's located on Little Collins St opp. the Irish Times Pub. We went there for a drink before dinner and loved the atmosphere and relaxed feel, especially the tiny nook with stained glass windows.

Vue De Monde is located in Normandy Chambers - an impressive looking building. Upon entry you are welcomed and made to feel at home. The staff are so switched on, polite, knowledgeable and welcoming. We had the best table in the entire restaurant (Table no.2) directly in front of the open kitchen. It was like watching theatre. They had even set the table so we were both watching the kitchen - ever single detail was considered. The crisp white table cloths were laid with signature Vue de Monde plates and a resting bar for the cutlery. I loved everything about it.

We had been given several recommendations for Vue de Monde but really didn't know what to expect. Once we were settled our waiter discussed how the evening would unfold. She asked if there were any foods we didn't eat, preferences (No and no) and then discussed our budget for the night. I can't recall ever being asked this in a restaurant but this is what happens. Everything is prepared in degustation style and the waiters prepare a degustation meal for you based on your budget and food preferences. This is then discussed with the Head Chef, Shannon Bennett. Apparently, they have 65 dishes available and prepare a menu for each table individually. We didn't have the same meal as the tables on either side, but did share a course or two with the one behind us.

We chose a 9 course meal (they go up to 13 courses) with matching wines. Everything is a surprise, you don't know what is coming and this definitely adds to the experience. We devoured the following courses:

- Chinese spoon of haddock with cucumber cream and a thin sliced hand cut potato crisp
- Thinly sliced abolone accompanied by wafer thin rockmelon strips wrapped around watermelon puree
- Grilled scallop served on corn puree with popcorn spinkled all over
- Mushroom risotto with Madeira and truffle sauce with slices of truffle over the top
- Layer of Whiting and prawn on sauteed iceberg lettuce with herbed salt and a prawn cracker
- Ballantine of pheasant with foie gras and pistachio mousse
served with apricot jelly
- Tomato consomme with gazpacho jelly
- Squab, its leg braised with carrots, leeks and the breast meat sandwiching a pistachio mousseline
- Rasperry sorbet and passionfruit souffle
- Millefeuille of chocolate layered with a doquoise of hazelnut, orange jelly and white chocolate


The food was faultless, ever dish was served and the first mouthful was magic. It's without a doubt the best meal I have ever experienced. I have never enjoyed every dish on a degustation menu - usually there are one or two standouts - with this experience I cannot highlight any one dish - it was phenomenal. OK, if I was forced to it would have to be the Mushroom risotto with Madeiraa and truffle sauce with slices of truffle over the top. It melted in your mouth.

The matched wines were magnificent. They complimented every dish as if they had been specifically made with the dish in mind. Our sommelier was excellent - not only did he talk about the wine, he also discussed the region and the winemakers.

We were enthralled by the theatrics in the kitchen and the effortless way they worked as a team to prepare so many dishes. Sure, there were 'words' exchanged amongst the chefs - this all added to the experience. The beauty of it is that they can witness your immediate reaction to the food. And believe me, there are reactions.

We befriended several other tables and discussed our favourite dishes. The waiters encouraged us to talk to the kitchen as it was directly in front of us, but it felt like we would be imposing on their focus.

Shannon looks like an eccentric musician. He is so calm in the kitchen, labouring over the broad beans, carefully wiping the plates, observing the other chefs - he is so fascinating to watch. The other chefs are clearly in awe of him and the wait staff are massive fans too.

Without a doubt, the best meal I have ever experienced - the price - well, let's just say it's not somewhere you would visit ever week, it's an experience and price should not matter.

Vue de Monde - 430 Little Collins St, Melbourne - (03) 996913888

http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/default.aspx

Langtons, Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Langtons, Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Friday 20 January, 2006

After a long day shopping we were really looking forward to this meal. Langtons has a great look and feel - you enter down stairs from Flinders Lane into this darkish large space with a massive wall of wine bottles to the left, the kitchen bang on centre and the dining room to the right. The colours are rich dark browns and creams.

We were greeted and welcomed and shown to our table. Our waiter was excellent - just enough banter, jokes and sharing of information - anything further would have been bordering on annoying. He was full of information and even recommended a place where all the chefs and wait staff go after work (Supper Club, L1, 161 Spring St).

We ordered and then had a visit by the sommelier to discuss how we could match the wines. I ordered the Crumbed Shaw River Buffalo Mozzarella, Baby Artichokes, Broad Beans, Caramelised Shallots for entree, Rotisserie of Pomegranate Glazed Duck, Spiced Confit Leg, Roast Pear Cous Cous, Blood Orange Salad for main and Mandarin Crème Brulee and Chocolate Custard Pots, Orange Peel Eugenies for dessert. My tennis buddy ordered the Slow Roasted Free Range Pork Belly, Apple, Cotechino and Green Leaves, Mint and Balsamic Dressing for entree, Grilled Tuna with Herb Crust, Flavours of “Nicoise” Salad, Kalamata Olive and Chilli Vinaigrette for main and the Soft Pistachio Meringue, Poached Rhubarb and Blood Orange Salad, Lemon Curd for dessert.

The food was delightful and it was hard to fault anything, especially the way they handled this incident. As we were enjoying our main courses, my tennis buddy almost bit into a piece of hard plastic. When we informed the waiter of this, they apologised and explained they would tell the chef. Being an open kitchen we could see everything unfold. He spoke with the head chef and she was very concerned, speaking with the appropriate chef individually. Within minutes our waiter returned and apologised again before announcing they wouldn't be charging us for this dish.

The wine list was very impressive and I would definitely return for dinner again or to enjoy a drink in the wine bar.


Langtons - 61 Flinders Lane, Melbourne - (03) 96630222

http://www.langtonsrestaurant.com.au/

Issus Cafe & Bar, Centre Lane, Melbourne

Issus Cafe & Bar, Centre Lane, Melbourne
Friday 20 January, 2006

We left Sydney at the crack of dawn for Melbourne - aside from the foodie adventure in front of us we were really there to see the tennis. We arrived at our hotel just on 9am a short walk from this great laneway I had discovered on my last visit - Centre Lane.

Centre Lane is full of cafes, coffee bars and is a spectacular location for people watching. It's narrow but full of tables and chairs and has a very Parisian feel with the curved cafe signs hanging above the tables. The inside of most of the cafes are empty - the sidewalk is the place to be seen. On a Monday morning it was packed - don't these people have jobs to go to? We wandered through the maze and stumbled across Issus. It had black leather cube seats and large tables - perfect for breakfast and reading the paper.

I ordered the big breakfast - fried eggs on sourdough with Andrew's sausages, bacon, grilled tomatoes and sauteed mushrooms. My tennis buddy ordered Eggs benedict - poached eggs with premium ham on a toasted English muffin coated with traditional Hollandaise sauce. Both were fair - they were nothing special just the run of your mill breakfast. My bread wasn't sourdough and the coffee was terrible - Grinders.

The service was OK and the Manager appeared to use the inside of Issus to entertain his friends over coffee. I wouldn't rush back but the atmosphere is so good that I'd probably try another cafe in the laneway.

Issus Cafe & Bar - 8 Centre Pl Melbourne - (03) 96638844

The Little Snail, Murray St, Pyrmont

The Little Snail, Murray St, Pyrmont
Wednesday 18 January, 2006

The Little Snail has been around for years. I remember going there as a poor Uni student to their old Broadway premises as they offered this amazing deal of 3 courses for $25 pp.

How times have changes. They are now located in Pyrmont, just behind Darling Harbour and inflation means that the 3 courses are now $44 pp. It's still a very affordable meal considering the portion sizes.

We were off to see 'An Inspector calls' at the Lyric Theatre, so needed somewhere close by for a quick bite. The Little Snail now largely caters for groups. We had an early booking and walked in behind a bus load of senior citizens. Once we were provided with menus our waiter suggested that we order immediately or the large group of 40 plus people would delay our meals.

So, we ordered immediately - I went with the traditional French Onion soup, then Veal escalop with creamy mushroom sauce followed by Honey & almond cheesecake. My theatre buddy went with a dozen snails in the shell with lashings of garlic butter, then the grilled duck breast finished in orange grand marnier sauce followed by profiteroles topped with chocolate sauce.

Our waiters were attentive and the food was served well within our timeframe to get to the theatre. The food itself was passable - not good, great or excellent. It seems to me that this is the perfect example of you get what you pay for. $44 for a 3 course meal is great value but don't go there with high expectations.

The Little Snail - 50 Murray St, Pyrmont - (02)9212 7512

http://www.thelittlesnail.com.au/index.asp

Vispo Espresso Bar, George St, Sydney

Vispo Espresso Bar, George St, Sydney
Tuesday 17 January, 2006

It was raining and we had planned to go down to Circular Quay for lunch. Plan B? Across the road from the office - Vispo Espresso Bar. I had never eaten there so it was a great suggestion from my lunch buddy.

Vispo offers outdoor and indoor tables plus lounges at the rear of the cafe. We opted for the rear of the cafe on the lounges. It was very comfortable and felt like a world away from the hustle & bustle on George St. Once seated, we were greeted by an extremely enthusiastic staff member who welcomed us and offered us menus. Her approach was a little over-enthusiastic but I'd much prefer this than the alternative.

The lunch offerings comprise of a variety of sandwiches, risottos, pastas and salads - it's not extensive and it did take me a while to decide. I opted for the nicoise salad and my lunch buddy chose the chicken BLT. Both meals came served on huge plates and unfortunately neither of us were able to finish them.

The nicoise salad was lovely with a good variety of green beans, olives, chat potatoes, lettuce, tuna steak, red onions and egg. It was delicious but I couldn't eat it all. The service was efficient and the food really good. The only downside? They don't allow you to pay separately.

Vispo Espresso Bar - 210 George St, Sydney - (02) 92514118

Fox Golden Century Seafood, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park

Fox Golden Century Seafood, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Friday 13 January, 2006

Can there be a perfect meal? I think I experienced it tonight. We were supposed to head out to Homebush for the Women's Finals of the Medibank International. It was raining and all reports were that the match would be rain delayed. Plan B - Chinese meal.

Golden Century is currently my favourite chinese restaurant. It is fast, efficient and the food is fantastic! We had made a reservation for 7pm. We were a few minutes late as we'd watched Heath Ledger arrive at the premiere of Brokeback Mountain at Cinema Paris.

No problem, our table wasn't ready. We viewed the menus and decided on our order, not that hard as we had already planned what we were going to eat - half Peking Duck (pancakes with crispy duck skin and the remaining duck meat is chopped up, stir-fried, and eaten wrapped in fresh lettuce), salt & pepper squid and grandma's beancurd.

I've eaten the same order here several times and each time it has been great. Tonight, the food tasted unbelievable, like I was eating the dishes and experiencing the intensity of flavours for the first time. I couldn't get enough of it but as usual, we had way too much food. Another doggy bag....

Fox Golden Century - Entertainment Quarter, (Corner of Lang Road and Driver Ave)
Moore Park - (02) 9358 4488

http://www.goldencentury.com.au/

Phuong, Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest

Phuong, Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest
Monday 9 January, 2006

Having visited Phuong several times in 2005, I was really excited about going back for the first time in 2006. Would it live up to expectations? Would it still be my favourite Vietnamese restaurant?

Sadly no. Having been to Trans recently I had somewhere good to compare it to. Where do I start? Service. Hopeless. We arrived and were left standing in the middle of the restaurant while about 5 staff tried to figure out which table we were to be seated at. Back and forth we went. Finally we were seated only to watch the next diners go through the same process, then the next. The service continued to unimpress. We tried to capture someone's attention to order drinks, then food, then the bill. As usual, Phuong was packed. Outside and inside.

Food. Nowhere near as good as previous visits. I'm currently obsessed with the soft shell crab and stuffed squid. If I go back in the near future I will definitely order these dishes. The dissapointment was the sizzling beef. Usually this is a highlight. Tonight it was overcooked and too chewy to eat.

We also tried some different dishes - prawns in a honey sauce - too few prawns and too many vegetables; and the stir fried chicken with chilli & ginger - OK, but nothing special.

My guests thought the food was really good, so maybe I'm getting too particular. My reasoning is that I have experienced Phuong when the service and food were 10 times better.

We all agreed that Trans was undoubtably the best Vietnamese restaurant.

Phuong - 87 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest - (02) 94392621

Sydney Fresh Food Market, Parramatta Rd, Flemington

Sydney Fresh Food Market, Parramatta Rd, Flemington
Saturday 7 January, 2006

I'm not a morning person, so the 6.30pm start was a tad difficult. My foodie friend, Jen, had assured me that we needed to get out there really early to see what happens, enjoy the atmosphere, get the best produce.....all I was thinking about was coffee!

You can't miss the Sydney Fresh Food Market. It's situated on a massive site and ever second car is entering the premises. Fortunately we arrived early enough to find a park directly outside the entrance to the Growers Market - any later would mean driving around for ages trying to score a park or parking a couple of km's away. The issue here is that you buy so much that you really need to get there early to park nearby and be prepared.

By this, I mean, bringing several bags or better yet your own trolley. You can hire a trolley ($10 upfront and a $7 refund when you return it) on the premises and it really is the only way to make the most of your experience. When you see the regulars with their home made trolleys & baskets you feel like an amateur. I did with my one green shopping bag.

Upon entry are the fish markets (better prices are available at the Sydney Fish Markets), so bypass this and head into the main part of the warehouse for the fruit & vegetables. This is where the fun starts - the smells, the narrow walkways, the people (and the pungent body odour...), the beautiful displays of food and the tastes. Here's a tip - try everything before you buy it. The stall holders are only to pleased to give you a sample.

Here are some of the bargains to be enjoyed: $1 for a punnet of strawberries, $2 for a kilo of plums, $2 for 3 punnets of blackberries, $3 for kilo bag of snow peas, $5 for a box of 60 apples, $6 for tray of rockmelons and $12 for a tray of 15 mangos.

Why would you shop anywhere else when bargains of this magnitude can found in Flemington? I certainly wouldn't go there every week but I would go there to stock up on fruit & vegetables maybe once a month.

Sydney Fresh Food Market - Parramatta Road, Flemington

http://www.sydneyfreshfood.com.au/

The Barn cafe & grocery, Darling St, Rozelle

The Barn cafe & grocery, Darling St, Rozelle
Friday 6 January, 2006

I had been warned that this place was a complete rip off - the grocery store ups items to 300% and it's not even that great, it's full of mother's groups, kids run wild, the service is hopeless, there is metered parking only....

I'm a firm believer that you have to judge things for yourself, so off I went.

I drove into the carpark (where there is approx. 12 spaces) and parked the car - no metered parking for me! The back entrance goes directly into the cafe past the outdoor space with big long wooden tables and benches. It was mainly full of prams, so I ventured inside - again mainly full of prams.

I love the look & feel of this place - big exposed beams, wooden floors, benches along the window and big share tables. Fortunately I arrived before the lunchtime rush at 11.30am. The staff seemed pleasant enough and there were plenty of them but it was incredibly hard to find one when you wanted to order.

To order a coffee I had to go up to the counter, this soon became a trend amongst other diners as no-one was coming to the tables. There was a massive wait once ordering and the staff did apologise each time but it didn't excuse the issue.

I ordered the spicy lentil & chirizo soup - it was spicy but the lentils were not cooked through. It came served with 2 pieces of bread smeared with pesto. It was an enormous bowl and was the cheapest lunchtime offering at $10.50.

After lunch we wandered through the grocery - there is a deli, fruit & veg section and cooking supplies. Many items were on sale and still seemed a little pricey.

I'm not going to rush back - it was too noisy with all the babies & kids, the service was hopeless and the food wasn't that great.

The Barn cafe & grocery - 731-736 Darling St, Rozelle - (02) 98101633

http://www.thebarncafe.com.au/

La Sala, Foster Street, Surry Hills

La Sala, Foster Street, Surry Hills
Thursday 5 January, 2006

La Sala opened in November and there has been a great buzz around this Italian restaurant. Darren Simpson (formally Aqua Luna) has created a lovely, inviting space and it's tough to get in.

I phoned on Tuesday for a Thursday night booking only to be told they were booked out. About 30 minutes later they called back and offered me a table at 7pm. I had to ask the question, 'you are not going to try and move us out around 8.30pm?' This generated a really refreshing discussion about how annoying it is when restaurants try to hurry you out in order to take another cover. I hate that and surprisingly so does the La Sala Bookings Manager. We had a good laugh about it and I already had a good impression of La Sala before I arrived.

It's a great space from the minute you enter - it's huge with an inviting bar at the entrance. Behind the bar is a massive warehouse space that is open but the floors are carpeted to cushion the sound. On the left is the kitchen (open so you peer in) with a specials board and a very interesting display of olive jars & wheels of cheese. At the back of the restaurant is a raised level with extra seating.

We were greeted by the attentive & friendly staff and shown to our table. Enjoying the look & feel of the restaurant we were provided with menus, offered drinks and marinated olives. The service is excellent - our waiter was very knowledgeable, definitely knew the menu and was able to recommend wine to match our meals.

To make the most of this experience, we decided to share an entree so we could enjoy a main & dessert. We ordered the panzanella with grilled Yamba prawns - it was presented to the table on a raised platform so we could serve ourselves. It was light and the perfect starter - a traditional tuscan bread salad with Yamba prawns, tomatoes, onion, basil, parsley, cucumber, vinegar & oil.

For main I ordered the special - porchetta al forno - a slow roasted pork knuckle. It was delicious with a whole roasted carrot and a side of creamed spinach. I'm not sure about the creamed spinach as I have had issues with spinach since childhood but my friend (who loves spinach) really enjoyed it. She ordered the tuna served with a sicilian ragout. Again, very good.

The atmosphere is buzzy - it was packed and as we were finishing our mains Bill Grainger came in with 9 friends. Clearly, even those in the food industry want to dine at this place. We succumbed to the dessert menu and ordered the torta - lemon, passionfruit & goats curd with creme fraiche and the chocolate flourless cake with creme fraiche. They were exceptional.

This place is definitely worth a visit.

La Sala - 23 Foster Street, Surry Hills - (02) 92813352

http://www.lasala.com.au/

Nick's Cake Shop, Bay Street, Brighton-le-Sands

Nick's Cake Shop, Bay Street, Brighton-le-Sands
Thursday 5 January, 2006

The SMH had a blurb on Nick's Cake Shop back in 2004 where they followed Peter Conistis (Omega) around to his favourite places.

Conistis says many Greeks regard Nick's as the best cake shop in the city. He likes it, but wouldn't go quite that far. It has an array of non-Greek bakery items and good tray sweets, especially the baklava that is made with an assortment of nuts. Conistis also favours the "puff delights", Turkish delight wrapped in puff pastry and covered in icing sugar.

I had never heard of Nick's Cake Shop but we stumbled across it after rolling out of Enigma. I was drawn to the floor to ceiling displays of cakes, pastries and sweets. It's a shoebox but it's so intriguing - all the food is cooked on the premises and the staff will gladly talk you though the displays.

I tried the hazelnut baklava, almond baklava and puff delight - sheer heaven.
Next time I'll try the...

Nick's Cake Shop - 313 Bay Street, Brighton-le-Sands - (02) 95977080

Enigma, Grand Pde, Brighton-Le-Sands

Enigma, Grand Pde, Brighton-Le-Sands
Thursday 5 January, 2006

Greek yum cha? I thought there was only one kind of yum cha, so the temptation of greek yum cha meant I ended up in Brighton-le-Sands for lunch with a friend.

On this overcast day we entered Enigma and discovered an empty restaurant - I always find this a little strange and wonder why there are no other guests - is there something we don't know?

Our waiter was pleasant enough but appeared to be going through the motions - he didn't talk or offer any explanation about the dishes.

For $28 pp Enigma offers a variety of greek dishes that is very reasonable - considering you feel like rolling out onto the Grand parade. It's certainly not yum cha as would expect with ladies pushing trolleys around and selecting what dishes you would like to try. Enigma's Greek yum cha is basically a set menu & the dishes are delivered to your table in the following order:

- A selection of dips (tzatiki, tarasamalata & eggplant) with beautiful fresh bread
- Cabbage salad
- Grilled haloumi
- BBQ octopus
- The most delicious roast lamb (this was by far the best dish)
- Beef croquettes in a rich tomato sauce
- Vine leaves
- Spinach triangles
- Zucchini & cheese croquettes

It was good - I'd go back specifically for the roast lamb.

Enigma restaurant - 88 The Grand Pde, Brighton-le-Sands - (02)95563611

www.enigmarestaurant.com.au

Yellow Bistro & Food Store, Maclay Street, Potts Point

Yellow Bistro & Food Store, Maclay Street, Potts Point
Wednesday 4 January, 2006

I love this place. I was first introduced to Yellow back in November and have been a massive fan since. I love driving up to it and seeing the bright yellow exterior and the amazing grates over the balconies on the upper floors.

Today I was taking my sister and one her friends (they are both visiting from their home away from home - London) to Yellow for the first time. I was excited as I hoped they would love this place as much as I do and be bowled over the food.

Potts Point has received so much attention lately with the crop of new cafes/ restaurants in Maclay St and Challis St e.g. Lotus.

We ordered a variety of dishes so we could try them all - Crab & papaya stack; wanton broth; pork, fennel & onion salad - they were beautifully presented and all tasted amazing. We all enjoyed swapping dishes and trying a bit of everything.

The thing I like about Yellow is that the meals are not too large. This means that you can still indulge in a dessert - today we outdid ourselves with slices of New York cheese cake; chocolate, macadamia & caramel tart; and lemon tart. Each one was sensational in their own right and we enjoyed their coffee too - Single Origin Roasters.

Judging from the empty plates I'd say we have a winner!

You know a place is good when you seen reknowned chef, author, TV presenter - Kylie Kwong enter and chat to the staff for ages.....

Yellow Bistro & Food Store - 57 Maclay Street, Potts Point - (02) 93573400

Neutral Bay Seafood, Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay

Neutral Bay Seafood, Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay
Tuesday 3 January, 2006

I had been told that this place serves the best fish & chips in the area. Deciding not to cook (I am still on holidays....) I decided to wander up there and check it out. From the outside it's probably one of the cleanest looking seafood shops I've ever seen with it's inviting display of fish and clear, concise signs.

Inside the family owners are efficient and on top of things. There is always a queue out the door but the key is to walk in and order, then walk out and leave room for other people to order. It's such a small space that it astounds me that people think they have to remain inside to receive their order. The owners (I don't know how they do it) remember who has ordered what and call out to you & they always throw in a few extra items.

Tonight I order grilled fish, crumbed calamari and a potato scallop. When I arrived home I discovered almost double my calamari order and 3 potato scallops. It's just that kind of place and I'm sure it's why they have such a loyal following.

Next time I get a craving for fish & chips you know where I will be going.

Neutral Bay Seafood - 163 Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay - (02) 99532767

Jellyfish, North Steyne, Manly

Jellyfish, North Steyne, Manly
Tuesday 3 January, 2006

I had received several recommendations for this cafe on Manly beach. It's right next door to Ash's Table which I am very familiar with. I couldn't recall ever eating at Jellyfish before but as soon as we sat down it all came flooding back.

The staff were great, very pleasant & helpful. When our waiter overheard our conversation about Melbourne cafes she suggested an Italian place in Fitzroy & even suggested a dish that must be ordered - duck ravioli. Very impressive!

The weather today was spectacular and Manly was packed full of beach goers, tourists and locals. The atmosphere in Manly was relaxed with thongs (flip flops) part of the compulsory dress code.

The lunch menu is varied with light meals or something more substantial. Today we both ordered the same thing (how boring!) - pineapple & mint frappes with chicken & chorizo burgers. It was sensational - a great blend of chicken and chorizo with lettuce, tomato and lemon mayonnaise. The frappes were perfect for the warm weather.

I'll definitely be going back.

Jellyfish - 5/93 North Steyne, Manly - (02) 99774555

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Peel Street, Kirribilli

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Peel Street, Kirribilli
Sunday 1 January, 2006

This has been a family favourite for a casual BBQ over the years. It's a great location, on the harbour, with private dining rooms, function rooms, accommodation and downstairs they have the 'cook your own' facilities for a BBQ. The deck looks out towards The Heads and it's the perfect vantage point to watch the boats sail by.

There's a good selection of meat, chicken and seafood that you can purchase to cook and then a buffet salad bar that's quite impressive.

My favourite part of the Squadron is the wine cellar - it's sandstone on the outside and is big enough to fit 20 people with floor to ceiling wooden wine racks. There is a great selection of wines inside and if I had unlimited funds I'd design one just like it for my place.

Tonight was our recovery BBQ after NYE. Perfect location but the stifling heat made it uncomfortable to sit outside. At 8.45pm the southerly buster kicked in and we watched the boats tumble around in the Harbour and the gale force winds wreak havoc with the trees - it was a freakish display after such a ridiculously hot day.

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron - 33 Peel Street, Kirribilli - (02) 99557171

http://www.rsys.com.au

Mint Bar & Dining, Bridge St, Sydney

Mint Bar & Dining, Bridge St, Sydney
Saturday 31 December, 2005

There's always so much talk around what you are doing for NYE. In previous years I've done some pretty special things - fly over Antarctica, picnic in Taronga Zoo, play in the snow in Whistler etc. This year some friends decided to hire a suite at the Hotel InterContinental.

Before the 9pm fireworks we had dinner at Mint Bar & Dining on the ground floor of the Hotel (formally Sketches - for those of you who remember the famous pasta place). There has been some hype around this place with a new chef coming on board recently - Jeff Campbell. Apparently he has worked with Jamie Oliver and all over the world.

The staff are attentive but have that air of pretentiousness that is completely unnecessary. There seemed to be an awful lot of staff working but it was difficult to get anyone's attention.

The food is good but the staff were clearly distracted on NYE. There was a set menu for $95 pp which included:

- Glass of bubbly & amuse buche (I had no idea what this meant but it translates to 'tease the mouth') with beetroot & goats cheese tartlets and pesto & parmesan spread on bread
- MINT share plate of tomato, basil & crab meat bruschetta; marinated BBQ prawns; and lime & ginger oysters
- Lime sorbet
- Beef of wellington with wild mushrooms, truffle and spinach
- Chocolate tart with mascarpone ice cream and honeycomb

For a 7pm booking we weren't served our mains until 8.30pm, so I think someone in the kitchen had not planned or timed out how long the beef of wellington would take before serving. We had to ask how long the mains would be as we didn't want to miss the 9pm fireworks.

The food was good and special mention must be made of the beetroot & goats cheese tartlets, the beef of wellington and the chocolate tartlet.

Mint Bar & Dining - 62 Bridge Street, Sydney - (02) 92401210

http://www.mintbaranddining.com.au/html/index.htm