Whatever happened to Ian Pengelley?

Whatever happened to Ian Pengelley?
Thursday 30 November, 2006

After attending the Gordon Ramsey dinner at ARIA back in October I was keen to start reading 'Humble Pie'. Meaning and doing are quite different things but I am pleased to share I have finally read it (and I enjoyed it too).

What most interested me (aside from the background about Gordon) was his reference to Ian Pengelley. I had dined at Pengelleys back in April 2005 - it had been touted as the latest and greatest place to dine in London and whilst it was very good - there were a few disappointments.

As I reached p201 of Humble Pie I was pleasantly surprised to read the following passage,

"A more recent mistake has been our involvement with Ian Pengelley. This has taught me that the only chefs we back in the future financially must be chefs who have trained within the Gordon Ramsey Group. Pengelley, formally of the much celebrated Notting Hill Asian Fusion restaurant E&O, was the first chef from outside the group to receive our backing and I think it is fair to say that it was pretty much a disaster from the start - a total fucking flop.

We helped him set up the restaurant in Sloane St, Knightsbridge, on the old site of Monte's, but it lasted less than a year, and we've since broken ties with him. There were bad reviews, a kitchen that was in total chaos and a huge gap between his idea of what the restaurant should be about, and ours. The guy used to wear flip flops to work. He was also, as he has admitted in the press, drinking. Late last year, we finally closed the place; we were just losing too much money to continue.

I'd be the first to admit that it was an error of judgment on our part. I was also taken in by his menu, by his fucking chilli salt squid, by all those amazing Japanese and Thai influences. It was a massive commitment on our side because, before he opened, we sent him off to Vietnam on a three month sabbatical to do some recipe research; he went with Jason Atherton, shortly before he opened maze. Ian told us about this cookery school where you get allotted to a village in the mountains; 500 dollars buys you a stay with a family who will show you all the classic ways with Vietnamese ingredients. I was hooked by this idea because it seemed so perfect; the chefs would learn amazing new skills and recipes, and the family would earn enough dollars to buy a small piece of land at the end of it.

....basically, the two of them had just been on a jolly. Ian Pengelley, meanwhile, has disappeared into the mists of North London.

Very interesting....what am I going to read next? The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten.

Golden Century, Sussex Street, Haymarket

Golden Century, Sussex Street, Haymarket
Tuesday 28 November, 2006

Sydney is a great place to be - we've had the pick of concerts lately - U2, Kylie, Billy Joel and now Elton John. Tonight I was surprising my dinner buddies with dinner and Elton John in concert (an early Christmas present).

It was all a big secret and this had driven them mad for weeks - they desperately wanted to know where they were going, what the dress code was, what time should they order a taxi, would it be a late night etc. I, of course, had great delight in not giving anything away.

To kick off the evening we enjoyed a meal at Golden Century. As regular readers know, this is one of my favourite Sydney restaurants but as my dinner buddies are not so keen on spicy food we ordered:

- San chow bow
- Spring rolls
- Shrimp with scrambled egg
- Shredded duck with Chinese mushrooms
- Grandmother's beancurd (mild)
- Fried rice

For a Tuesday night Golden Century was absolutely packed - we had booked a table upstairs (this is definitely the best place to dine) and there were several large banquet tables around us.

I love watching the sight of the staff arriving at tables with live fish, pippies, lobster in plastic bags for approval. This can be alarming the first time you see it but it is standard in good Asian restaurants.

The staff are in abundance at Golden Century and keep watch over their tables with pride. The downside? The toilets are filthy & there are only 3 female toilets for a restaurant that seats over 300 people.

How was Elton John? What a performer...he came on stage at 8pm and did not walk off until well after 11pm. There was no interval, change of costume or support act. His piano playing was on fire.

Golden Century - 393 Sussex Street, Haymarket - (02) 9212 3901

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

Sky Phoenix, Castlereagh Street,

Sky Phoenix, Castlereagh Street, Sydney
Sunday 26 November, 2006

The last time I visited I summed up the experience as 'yum cha with a smile'. I'm pleased to report that today's experience was no different. My china buddy and I decided to make a day of everything Chinese. We started with yum cha, followed by a trip to the Powerhouse Museum for the new exhibit, The Great Wall of China: dynasties, dragons and warriors.

I love the look and feel of Sky Phoenix - it's very different to your typical tired looking, run down Chinese dining space. It's slick, modern and refreshing to walk into such an inviting space. We were seated and within minutes the trolleys arrived. We were selective and enjoyed the dishes:

- Vegetable spring rolls
- Prawn dumplings
- BBQ pork
- Vegetable dumplings
- Roast duck
- Sweet pork buns
- Egg custard tarts
- Mango pancakes

Everything was superb. We paced ourselves and had long breaks between each couple of dishes to savour every mouthful. Particular mention must go to the BBQ pork - it was tender with a slightly crisp outer edge and the sweetness of the sauce drizzled over the top was just delicious.

By midday the place was packed but it's such a large space that you don't feel overwhelmed. There are also 3 private rooms that have been named after precious stones e.g. 'Ruby' and 'Sapphire' and a lounge at the front to enjoy a quiet drink.

The toilets are also worth mentioning. They are easily the largest cubicles I have ever seen - enough room to swing your handbag in.

The staff are pleasant and circulate regularly. As I heard recently, 'Sky Phoenix trolleys circulate 25% more than any other yum cha establishment'. I'm not sure if this is accurate but it certainly feels like it.

Sky Phoenix - Level 3, Sky Garden, 77 Castlereagh St, Sydney - T: 9223 8822

La Locanda, Macpherson St, Waverley

La Locanda, Macpherson St, Waverley
Saturday 25 November, 2006

Tonight a friend's birthday dinner beckoned me to Bronte or is that Waverley? The address is listed as Waverley but everything you read about the restaurant states Bronte. Who knows...maybe it sounds better to say Bronte? I had never heard of this place but the restaurant blurb states,

Everybody loves a good-looking Italian and La Locanda is as cool, classy and elegant as Sophia Lauren. It resides at a previously unloved section of central Bronte, virtually a world away from the suburb's teeming, and underwhelming, seaside cafes - and now that La L is opposite Wet Paint, Bronte's other top noshery, there's even more reason to head inland. The small, airy dining room packs a big punch, with brisk service that aims to please, seasonal Italian food that excels, and loyal locals that even include some high-profile chefs. The entree of tenderly grilled, stuffed calamari is a must.

My first impressions were of the large chandelier hanging high above the small dining space, the feature wall with fabulous Renoir like images of women and the chalkboard written up in Italian. Did you say Italian? Yes, Italian. You might think you are in Italy, for about all of 5 seconds but the loud, noisy sound of broad Australian accents brings you crashing back pretty quickly. So, what's with the Italian menu?

The small dining space is cramped but the staff do their best to apologise everytime they knock the back of your chair. We had a party of 10, so once everyone arrived the staff came around to translate the menu. They go through everything - from the 4-5 entrees, 5 pasta dishes and 4 mains. I'm afraid that it is near impossible to remember everything - so there's lots of repeating dishes unless you hook onto something you really want or spot a dish on another table that you want.

I ordered the stuffed calamari (house specialty) for entree and lamb cutlets for main. I wasn't alone - our table ordered every last calamari and 5 of the lamb cutlets. The mains are as is - so will need to order plenty of sides to fill your plate.

Despite the small dining space and the noise (it is near impossible to hear someone sitting opposite you) the food is sensational. It leaves Leichhardt for dead. The stuffed calamari was filled with ricotta, pine nuts and pesto and you received two decent sized pieces on your plate. The lamb cutlets were spectacular - so tender with 4 cutlets resting on the plate.

The service was also very good - the staff clearly love working here and enjoy explaining the menu. I really enjoyed it - it's homely and all about the food.

La Locanda - 65B Macpherson St, Waverley - (02) 9389 3666

Amo Roma, George Street, The Rocks

Amo Roma, George Street, The Rocks
Thursday 23 November, 2006

Organising a lunch with a large group of people can be a challenge. For the organiser (especially in an organisation where the simple RSVP is a difficult concept to understand) it is tough to have the card signed, present purchased and get numbers right etc.

So, today we had a farewell lunch and a table for 10 - trouble was there were 17 guests. We squeezed ourselves in as best we could. We asked the staff for assistance and were met with several different responses - can't help you sorry, every table is booked, we can only provide you with more chairs, we can move you upstairs in 15 minutes etc. Ever accommodating we stayed put and ordered.

Amo Roma is an interesting place. You enter off George St or via the Nurses Walk laneway. It's beautiful, old sandstone exterior is just charming however inside they have created a slick, modern looking space - glass splashbacks, wooden floorboards, state of the art flat screen TV's on the walls (playing Channel V videoclips with no sound - instead we were entertained by bizarre monk like chanting and soft Italian background music) and glass tables with large numbers painted on top.

The menu is largely Italian - pastas, pizzas and salads. Three of us decided to share two large pizzas and a salad:

- Amo roma: tomato, mozzarella, italian salami, ham, capsicum, mushroom & smoked cheese
- Mexicana: tomato, mozzarella, capsicum, ground beef, onion, fresh chilli & tomato salsa
- Caprese salad: bocconcini, roma tomato, basil leaves, onions, capers & lemon pesto dressing

Everything was really good - the pizza base was thin & the toppings were fresh. Without a doubt my favourite was the Amo roma - the kick from the salami with the mozzarella & smoked cheese was delicious.

The service however leaves alot to be desired - if they sorted this out it would actually be a solid experience.

Amo Roma - 135 George Street, The Rocks - (02) 9247 1920

www.amoroma.com.au

Simply Noodles, King Street, Newtown

Simply Noodles, King Street, Newtown
Wednesday 22 November, 2006

Looking for somewhere different to eat (we have done Cinque to death) this clean, slick looking noodle joint is appealing. Just a hop, skip & a jump from DENDY Newtown is Simply Noodles.

On entry you are greeted with wooden paneled walls, white low stools and tables. To the right is a large menu board with photos and a complete list of everything that is made to order. It is very reasonable and everything is less than $15.

The restaurant blurb states,

"This noodle bar is all clean lines and modern touches, while the kitchen output is fresh, delicious and healthy. There's a wide range of vegetarian meals plus delicacies such as a roast duck and salted vegie noodle soup."

I ordered the spicy tofu & pork mince served with steamed rice. The photo reminded me of my absolute favourite Chinese dish Grandmother's beancurd. My dinner buddies ordered the chicken with cashews & vegetables and the singapore noodles. All were made to order and delivered separately.

After ordering & paying at the counter you are handed a buzzer. There's also a serving area with lots of condiments, for example, hot chilli sauce, chopped chillis, soy sauce etc.

My spicy tofu & pork mince was delicious - it had a great kick to it. The tofu was served in large, diced pieces and the pork was minced but also in large pieces. It definitely had the same consistency as Grandmother's beancurd but was surprisingly different. The soft tofu just melts in your mouth.

Simply Noodles is cheap & cheerful. I think we may have found a new venue to go before the movies. Speaking of which, we watched 'Catch a fire' tonight and were treated to a post movie discussion with director, Phillip Noyce.

Simply Noodles - 273 King Street, Newtown - (02) 9557 4453

Napoli in Bocca, Parramatta Road, Leichhardt

Napoli in Bocca, Parramatta Road, Leichhardt
Tuesday 21 November, 2006

I have a soft spot for Napoli in Bocca in Haberfield. About 18 months ago I did a pizza making class with owner Ben Riccio organised by Gourmet Safaris. It was here that one of regular dinner buddies and I decided on a whim to book our Gourmet Safari to Vietnam.

Since then I have craved the simple, authentic, Italian pizzas that Napoli in Bocca are known for. This afternoon I decided to call and make a booking just in case (sometimes they get really, really busy) and lucky I did - they have moved from Haberfield to Leichhardt. OK thanks for sharing that. The Haberfield location has been gutted and the Leichhardt site is almost a mirror image with exposed brick walls, red & white check tablecloths, wooden chairs & tables and chalkboards dotted throughout the dining space listing the daily specials.

It's a casual, family, BYO atmosphere - Ben's extended and adopted family run the place and they treat everyone like family, so there lot's a laughter and chatter. Tonight I was introducing my dinner buddies to Napoli in Bocca. They had never been or experienced simple, authentic, Italian pizzas.

The key here is simplicity - in Australia we have grown up with thick base pizzas topped with everything but the kitchen sink. When you finally experience authentic Italian pizza you can't go back. Their minimal toppings using the freshest ingredients are sensational.

We decided to splash out and order three pizzas:

Fungi - cheese, tomato and mushroom
4 Formaggio - cheese, cheese, cheese and more cheese
Spugnazzio - tomato, cheese, ham & salami

We also ordered a tomato, bocconcini and basil salad. The salad arrived first, followed by the pizzas in quick succession. Napoli in Bocci have a fabulous, traditional pizza oven that burns so hot it can churn out a pizza in under two minutes flat.

It's definitely a cheap eats kind of place (each pizza is under $20) with a diverse crowd all seeking good food and a relaxed atmosphere.

Napoli in Bocca - 435 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt - (02) 9569 5824

Steph's Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of questions I am asked frequently:

Q: Why did you start Steph's Food Journey?
A: For years I have been the 'go to' person for restaurant news and reviews amongst my friends and family. People come to me regularly for recommendations - so it only seemed like a natural progression to create a food blog.

Q: When did you start Steph's Food Journey?
A: I had two weeks off between jobs in November 2005 and I had wanted to create a blog for sometime but didn't know where to start. So, I used the two weeks to learn as much as possible about blogs and html code - that's how it all began.

Q: Do you get paid for this?
A: No, I have a full time job in Sydney that has nothing to do with food or dining out. I absolutely love what I do and the blog is my bit of fun on the side. I think I have the best of both worlds.

Q:Is your blog sponsored?
A: No, it's all designed, developed and updated by me. I do this in my spare time for fun.

Q: How often do you eat out?
A: On average about 4 times a week.

Q: Do you eat out for the specific purpose of the blog?
A: No, this is just what I do. My social life revolves around eating out and trying new restaurants/ cafes.

Q: How do you afford it?
A: Everyone has a hobby or something they don't mind spending money on. For me, that thing is food. I love eating out and think nothing of spending $500+ at Vue de Monde and equally enjoy the experience of spending $20 on pizza at Napoli in Bocci - it's all about variety and the experience.

Q: Do the restaurants know you are going to write about them?
A: No they don't. I pay my own way at each restaurant and write about my experiences as a regular customer. I don't want or seek special treatment - this would have a negative impact on what I write.

Q: Have you ever been caught out?
A: Several months ago I dined at Guillaume at Bennelong. My dinner buddies took great delight in sharing with the sommelier that I have a food blog and would be writing about the experience. On other occasions I've had friends and family send my blog link to different restaurants both locally and internationally.

Q: Did the experience change once they found out?
A: Thankfully no and I would have been really disappointed if it had. I still can't get a table at Vue De Monde for January 2007! I'm on the waiting list.
(NOTE: We didn't get in to Vue De Monde in January and are now planning a trip back to Melbourne in August)

Q: Do you have an affiliation with any food media?
A: Absolutely not. I read the local and international papers and magazines and watch food related TV shows just like everyone else for inspiration.

Q: Do you like to cook?
A: I love cooking and am finding less and less time to do it properly. When I cook I like to have time to prepare, source the right produce etc.

Q: How often do you cook?
A: A couple of times a week.

Q: What are your favourite food related books?
A: 'Kitchen Confidential' by Anthony Bourdain; 'The Cook's Companion' by Stephanie Alexander; 'Garlic & Sapphires' - Ruth Reichl; and 'The Perfectionist' by Rudolph Chelminski.

Q: What your favourite restaurant in Sydney?
A: That's really difficult to answer - it is currently shared between Golden Century (Chinese), Firefly (Spanish Tapas) and Maitre Karl (European).

Q: What's your favourite restaurant in Australia?
A: Without a doubt Vue de Monde in Melbourne. Shannon Bennett is a genius.

Q: If money was no object what would be your best food experience?
A: Fly me to Italy for a long lunch in Tuscany - fresh produce, local wine and a table full of other foodies!

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Peel Street, Kirribilli

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Peel Street, Kirribilli
Sunday 19 November, 2006

The Squadron is a family favourite - we meet here regularly with extended family and friends for casual BBQ's. This afternoon we were catching up with long time friends, their children and friends who have moved here from the UK.

The location is spectacular - right on the Harbour in what must be prime real estate. The history of the club is extensive,

"The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is a private Member Sailing Club established in 1862. The Squadron grounds, facilities and services are provided for the enjoyment and utilisation of Members and invited guests in their company. The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is not open to the general public."

The aim of the club is to promote the sport of sailing and the view from the main club house is across the stunning sailing boats that are moored in the Harbour below. This afternoon we enjoyed a casual BBQ on the lower deck however there is a private dining area and buffet restaurant upstairs.

My favourite part of the club is the wine cellar - it has a sandstone wall and the interior is floor to ceiling wine racks with space for approx. 20 people. The club's collection is extensive.

The BBQ area allows you to select your meat, fish, chicken or sausages and cook your own at the large gas BBQ's. Just alongside this is a fabulous buffet section with fresh salads - green, mixed, greek, pumpkin, potato - the list goes on and everything is delicious.

We enjoyed a relaxed BBQ, the weather was superb and we watched the sailors return from their day on the Harbour.

What a spectacular way to finish the weekend.

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

http://www.rsys.com.au

The Oaks, Military Road, Neutral Bay

The Oaks, Military Road, Neutral Bay
Friday 17 November, 2006

One of the best things about The Oaks is that it is stumbling distance from my place. Friday night's are a great time to visit as the atmosphere is super charged - there's a buzz across the outdoor beer garden, the clientelle is diverse, there's plenty of food & drink available and on Friday nights The Oaks is open until 1.30am.

The Oaks opened on the North Shore in 1885 and it's history is documented as,

"The magnificent Oaks Tree (Quercus Robur) was planted in August 1938 By Kathleen McGill (nee Furlong). The original seedling, 30cm high came from the old Anthony Horden's department store in George Street Sydney. It was a custom of the store in those days to give an Oak Tree to any patron spending more than Ten pounds in one purchase. Members of the Furlong family held the license for The Oaks from 1918 -1975. It is a tradition that luck comes to those who are struck by an acorn when they fall in Autumn."

Tonight I was catching up with new dinner buddies so there were lots of laughs and chatter. We secured a prime table outside underneath the fabulous Oak tree in the beer garden. The variety of food available at The Oaks is great - cook your own steaks, pots of mussels, pizzas etc. We opted for a couple of pizzas from the Oaks Gourmet Pizza stand. You order and pay for your food at the counter and are provided with a table number, plates & cutlery. We ordered:

- Oaks Deluxe pizza - spicy sausage, caramelised onion, roasted capsicum and tomato
- Thai Chicken pizza - chicken, peanuts, carrot & bean sprouts with a spicy sauce

I think it is a pre-requisiste for staff at The Oaks to be good looking and very helpful - we needed to secure another table when more friends arrived & the staff were most obliging - they made things happen quickly and with smiles on their faces.

The Oaks is also the place where you will be guaranteed to run into people you know - I bumped into my brother & his girlfriend, friends who moved here from the UK and a work buddy. A great night was enjoyed by all.

The Oaks - 118 Military Road, Neutral Bay - (02)9953-5515

http://www.oakshotel.com.au/

Fox Golden Century, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park

Fox Golden Century, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Tuesday 14 November, 2006

Tonight was my oldest school friend's (aka partner in crime) birthday so there really was no decision to make as to where the celebration would take place. Bring on the Grandmother's beancurd and Wasabi beef......code for Golden Century.

It's pretty sad that we order the same thing every time we visit and even sadder that the staff know us there. However, I actually like that and I am a creature of habit so it suits me to a tee.

Celebrating a birthday at Golden Century is hilarious as they have a pre-recorded 'Happy Birthday' that they blare over the speakers and invite all your fellow diners to singalong. The funny part is that the recording is so bad they have turned it down where the name is inserted and everyone goes quiet as they don't know the person's name! It all adds to the experience. I had done the right thing and pre-warned my birthday buddy that this would take place so she could prepare herself in advance (however, nothing can prepare you for this).

Tonight we ordered a feast of:

- San choy bow
- Wasabi beef (cubed)
- Grandmother's beancurd
- Salt & pepper tofu
- Peking duck (pancakes & noodles)

Let me say this was a feast! We had way too much food but the best thing was I scored the leftovers (that will be lunch for the next 2 days!).

Fox Golden Century is part of the Golden Century family - the flagship restaurant is located in Chinatown and they also own the City Noodle Cafe at Star City and the Noodle Bar in the Entertainment Quarter. As their website states,

"Another associate restaurant, the Fox Golden Century Seafood Restaurant located in Entertainment Quarter, open in November 1999. The restaurant embrace the traditional Cantonese food served by Golden Century Seafood Restaurant. There's no noisy rabble blocking the doorway waiting for a table, the decor is modern, the seats comfortable and the parking free. You're at the Golden Century in Entertainment Quarter, offspring of one of Chinatown's most famous restaurants.

Signature Dish:

Steamed barramundi with chilli and black bean sauce
Wasabi Beef (Fox Golden Century Only)

To answer the big question, yes, the food is almost as good as the original, in a more relaxed environment. This means pure Cantonese cooking featuring a huge choice of live seafood cooked in many ways - although steamed with ginger and shallots is the purest and the best. Try the steamed oysters, scallops or prawns for starters and go on to morwong, mud crab or XO spiced pippis.

The menu is encyclopedic with a page of vegetarian dishes, barbecue meats, hotpots, regional specialties, hard to find gems like duck steamed with mushrooms and simple dishes such as salt and pepper deep fried beancurd, squid or white bait. There's a choice of Chinese grain wines and warmed Shoa Hsing is especially good."

I have been visiting Golden Century for so long and I still forget to validate my parking! It's only $6 to park after 6pm but the restaurant will get you in for free. When will I learn?

I love this place.

Fox Golden Century - Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park - (02) 9358 4488

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

Casa Asturiana, Liverpool Street, Sydney

Casa Asturiana, Liverpool Street, Sydney
Monday 13 November, 2006

Tonight we were in Liverpool Street at the Whitehouse School of Design to see the 3rd year students final show before graduation. It was absolutely fantastic - the creativity, design and flair these students displayed was just inspiring - the future of Australian fashion was on the catwalk.

After the show we walked back up Liverpool Street towards George Street. The last time I visited Casa Asturiana I enjoyed the variety of tapas so much I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to return.

As luck would have it, they had a table for 6 just inside the entrance. We'll take it. Menus all round we viewed the house specialties:

Pollo de la Casa - Fresh tender chicken breast, grilled then cooked with cream and white wine, served over cubed roast potatoes, the chef's specialty
Cazela de la Casa - Fresh fillet of fish, pimientos, clams & local mussels. All baked in a white wine & Spanish ham sauce
Fabada Asturiana - The traditional hearty Asturian bean stew. White beans, pork & chorizo are slowly cooked together with Morcilla-blood sausage, garlic, paprika & olive oil
Calamares en su Tinta con Arroz - Baby calamari cooked in its own ink with Spanish ham & onions served with jasmine rice
Paletilla de Cordero- Tender oven baked marinated whole shoulder of lamb, served with chips and garden salad, or jacket potato & salad

which all sounded very good however the tapas selection was too good to pass. So, we ordered a selection of:

Calamares Fritos - Fresh calamari, fried to perfection
Gambas a la Plancha - Fresh prawns from the barbecue accompanied with salt & lemon
Choriza a la Sidra - Spanish pork & paprika sausage cooked in cider
Gambas Picantes - Peeled prawns cooked in a spicy tomato & garlic sauce
Albondigas a la Asturiana - Delicious meatballs cooked in a savoury tomato sauce

plus one Paletilla de Cordero for our token male.

The service was very hit & miss - we were delivered the wrong wine which was opened at our table but thenretrievedd by the Manager, some of usreceivedd water and others missed out and despite the table ordering specific dishes it was just plonked in the centre or end of the table. However, plenty of laughs and good food make for a great evening wherever you are.

Casa Asturiana - 77 Liverpool St, Sydney - (02) 9264 1010

http://www.casaasturiana.com.au/index1.htm

East Ocean, Sussex St, Haymarket

East Ocean, Sussex St, Haymarket
Sunday 12 November, 2006

Another night....another concert. It wasn't supposed to be like this but both U2 and Kylie were postponed from their original dates and then both ended up on the same weekend.

We all met in Chinatown and on a whim decided to try East Ocean. Walking up the stairs you are greeted with a large open space and a sea of tables. Seated immediately, our jovial waiter Donald asked if we were going to Kylie. 'Yes' came our reply in unison.

We ordered Grandmother's beancurd, wasabi beef, salt & pepper calamari and steamed rice. A feast to give us the energy to dance the night away at Kylie. The beancurd was slightly different at East Ocean - it was prepared with lemongrass so had a lighter, tangy flavour instead of the red hot chilli that I love. The wasabi beef was unfortunately extremely mild and the meat was so incredibly tender. The salt & pepper calamari was good with a nice blend of salt & pepper.

Our waiter Donald provided us with some complimentary dessert - savoury sesame seed balls and almond biscuits. We polished these off so quickly that another plate was delivered pronto.

Kylie......what can I say - she was sensational on stage, the costumes, the dancers, the atmosphere and then Bono arrived. God, how lucky are we? Bono on Friday and Sunday night - someone is watching over us! Kylie & Bono sang 'Kids' together - the song Kylie made famous with Robbie Williams several years ago.

What a night.

East Ocean - 421-429 Sussex St, Haymarket - (02) 9212 4198

Dick's Hotel, Beattie Street, Balmain

Dick's Hotel, Beattie Street, Balmain
Saturday 12 November, 2006

Which Sydney hotel has the best looking Publican? Today, I discovered it is Dick's Hotel in Balmain. Located just opposite the Exchange Hotel on Beattie St, Dick's is a great, family friendly pub with an undercover bistro.

Dick's has a wonderful history - it was established in 1874 by John Dick. Briefly owned by Mr Lean in the mid to late 1880's and known as Lean's Hotel it soon reverted back to it's original name in 1889 - Dick's Hotel.

Today we were celebrating a friend's upcoming wedding. Sixteen of us gathered for lunch at 1pm in the undercover bistro. A long table had been set aside for us near the open kitchen. We were blessed with the weather - it was a stunning day and the covered bistro provided some relief from warm day.

The bistro menu was very accommodating - burgers, lamb shanks, salads, calarmari etc - there was something for everyone. The special of the day - smoked salmon salad was a big hit as were the skewered prawns, deluxe beef burger and salt & pepper calarmari.

You order and pay for your meals at the kitchen window and are provided with a table number. As you stand and wait to order you can watch the action in the small kitchen - it's so hot in there, I don't know how they do it.

I ordered the deluxe beef burger - it was well stocked with salad, beef pattie, cheese and a side of thick cut fries. The beef pattie was slightly overcooked but overall it was a good burger. It would have been great if they had provided a side of sweet chilli sauce for the fries but there were plenty of other condiments available - tomato sauce, BBQ sauce and mustard.

My lunch buddies thought the salt & pepper calamari was a little light on the salt but the calarmari was very tender; the smoked salmon salad was delicious with goat's cheese and the prawn skewers were BBQ'd to perfection.

Dick's is the kind of place you can stay for hours and we did. Another bottle of Spy Valley anyone?

Dick's Hotel - 89 Beattie Street, Balmain - (02) 9818 2828

U2 Cocktail Party, Acer Arena, Homebush

U2 Cocktail Party, Acer Arena, Homebush
Friday 10 November, 2006

Words can't describe how excited I was about going to see the latest U2 concert. I've been listening to 'How to dismantle an atomic bomb' on my iPod for weeks to get in the mood.

When the tickets first went on sale - the options were to pay a premium to get tickets immediately or wait until they go on general sale and potentially miss out. For me there was no decision to make - it was always going to be the first option. With our premium tickets came the promise of VIP treatment:

5.45 - 6.45pm - U2 cocktail party at Acer Arena
7.00 - 7.45pm - Kanye West (Support Act)
7.45 - 8.00pm - Break
8.00 - 11.00pm - U2

We left the city early to beat the crowds and had pre-paid our parking out at Homebush. This all paid off and we arrived at Homebush with plenty of time to spare. We were amongst the first to enter for the pre-show event (got to get your money's worth!) and were directed into the ground floor of Acer Arena.

We descended the stairs into a dimly lit area with long tables displaying platters of sushi and savoury bagels. To the left and at the rear were two of the longest, most well stocked bars I have ever seen. There was spotlights and music playing (not U2) and we grabbed some champagne before finding a table to base ourselves. These were a premium as only 6 or so tables dotted the massive area. This meant that almost everyone of the 500 or so pre show event attendees were standing around juggling drinks, food & napkins.

We were lucky enough to share a table with a lovely family and were strategically placed near the exit of the kitchen, which meant we could see all the food coming out - tempura prawns, chicken & vegetable noodle boxes and mini meat pies. The food didn't stop and drinks flowed well past the 6.45pm finish.

There was a brief announcement at 7pm that Kanye West was about to take the stage but only a trickle of guests left Acer Arena. The food continued to come out and the drinks were topped up (why on earth would we leave now?).

At 7.30pm we felt sufficiently full and decided to check out the last few numbers by Kanye West. We walked the short distance from Acer Arena to Telstra Stadium and then had fun trying locate Gate B. We entered with ease, found our seats and got to listen to Kanye perform his 2 biggest hits, Gold Digger and Touch the Sky.

U2 hit the stage at 8.30pm just as the rain came down. The atmosphere was amazing & the view of the thousands of fans in the rain (but not budging) was sensational. We were lucky enough to be under cover to enjoy the concert and U2 delivered - a great mix of old & new songs that everyone could sing along to.

I loved it!

Vispo, George Street, Sydney

Vispo, George Street, Sydney
Tuesday 7 November, 2006

The Melbourne Cup lunch - these events can be great or dismal - it all depends on the group you are with. Today, we walked across the road to lunch at Vispo - they were having a Melbourne Cup event for $49 pp.

We arrived and were greeted like old friends (many of us are). Our table had pretty good viewing of the plasma screen TV that was set up on the bar for the big race. A glass of bubbly with fresh strawberries to kick off the proceedings and we were off.

We'd had a sweep organised in the office and Vispo had organised mystery trifectas for us all. To be honest I didn't even know who was in the race but it doesn't take long to get in the swing of things.

For entree we had the choice of:

- Sauteed King prawns wrapped in prosciutto with lemon wedges, served with fresh bread and finished with a traditional marie rose sauce
- Camembert & grilled asparagus crostini served on rocket & finished with lemon vinaigrette
- Smoked chicken salad with fresh mango, macadamia nuts & mixed leaf, finished with a sweet chilli dressing.

I opted for the smoked chicken salad - it was light, tangy and chock full of bits e.g. nuts, mango etc. I think this was the best pick of the three.

We had a trusty benefactor who took care of our drinks orders and had a selection of one red and two whites. Red please.

For main the choices were:

- Atlantic salmon fillet served with wilted baby spinach on a bed of creamy mash potato & finished with lime & dill hollandaise
- Scotch fillet steak served on dophinoise potato and sauteed wild mushrooms finished with red wine jus
- Grilled vegetable stack with mozzarella and drizzled with basil pesto

I chose the steak and requested it medium rare. Sadly, with the amount of steak ordered they were unable to accommodate individual orders so I ended up with a medium well steak. Whilst this wasn't a major inconvenience it would have been nice to have the steak I ordered.

We watched the race - no one won the trifecta -and were then served tea/ coffee and chocolates. This was great as it took the edge of all the alcohol. But then, the Manager delivered us some of his homebrew Limoncello - oh my god! There's goes the afternoon.....The best thing was we didn't have far to go afterwards - one road to cross.

Vispo - 210 George Street Sydney - (02) 9251 4117

QVB Tearooms, Queen Victoria Building, George St, Sydney

QVB Tearooms, Queen Victoria Building, George St, Sydney
Sunday 5 November, 2006

Some friends and I are on a mission to find the best afternoon tea in Sydney - to date we have visited The Sir Stamford for their chocolate high tea and the Victoria Room for high tea.

Today's venue was located on Level 3 of the Queen Victoria Building. To find the tearooms you catch the lift to Level 2 and then take the stairs up to Level 3 at the northern end of the building. You arrive in a plush setting with warm, chocolate tones. The tearooms are set in a large, open room with very high ceilings (so the noise carries). In my opinion the QVB is one of Sydney's most spectacular buildings with a wonderful history as it's website explains,

"The Queen Victoria Building, now affectionately known as the QVB, was designed by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place in dire times, as Sydney was in a severe recession. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen, stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project. Originally, a concert hall, coffee shops, offices, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople, such as tailors, mercers, hairdressers and florists, were accommodated.

The QVB fills an entire city block bound by George, Market, York and Druitt Streets. The dominant feature is the mighty centre dome, consisting of an inner glass dome and an exterior copper-sheathed dome. Glorious stained glass windows and splendid
architecture endure throughout the building and an original 19th century staircase sits alongside the dome. Every detail has been faithfully restored, including arches, pillars, balustrades and the intricate tiled floors thus maintaining the integrity of the building.

The visual message of Sydney's coat of arms, on the cartwheel stained glass window, is that the beehive depicts business, the sailing ship - trade, and the dolphins - the harbour. Panel 1, on the left hand side, represents the Council of the City of Sydney, and symbols of architecture, while the letters I.G.B. on panel 3, on the right, represent Ipoh Gardens Berhad, the Malaysian company who restored the QVB."

The QVB tearooms serve afternoon tea from 11am onwards with three options to pick from:

Afternoon Tea
A selection of cakes and pastries, finger sandwiches, scones and preserves, tea or coffee $25.00

Sparkling Afternoon Tea
A selection of cakes and pastries, finger sandwiches, scones and preserve, tea or coffee and a glass of Australian sparkling wine $30.00

Champagne Afternoon Tea
A selection of cakes and pastries, finger sandwiches, scones and preserve, tea or coffee and a piccolo of Nicholas Feuillate Champagne $45

Naturally, we opted to go with the Champagne afternoon tea. Our champagne arrived first, followed by the gorgeous, tiered afternoon tea tray with the Royal Doulton 'Old Country Roses' design. Our afternoon tea treats were scones with jam & cream, spinach samosas, egg sandwiches, salmon & cucumber sandwiches, cheese tartlets, berry profiteroles, chocolate brownies, almond cakes, strawberry & cream pastries and passionfruit melting moments. Everything was lovely but we had to ask for our coffees/ teas to be served (I think they had forgotten).

The service is hit & miss. At times we were neglected and had to grab a staff member as they came past and at other times we were fawned over like royalty.

QVB Tearooms - Queen Victoria Building, 415 George St, Sydney - (02) 9283 7279

http://www.thetearoom.com.au/default.aspx?id=15&vu=9&sm=b_a

Steph's Italian Feast 2

Steph's Italian Feast 2
Saturday 11 November, 2006

After the success of last week's Italian Feast, I decided to continue the theme with a different audience. I modified the menu slightly after visiting The Deli, Potts Point. The Deli was recently awarded 'Business of the Year' in the Fresh Food / Grocery category by the Sydney Council and has a small but wonderful selection of antipasto, salads, jams, chutneys, bread, dips, cheese and cold treats e.g. gelato, ice cream etc.

My dinner buddies this evening were treated to:

Entree - Antipasto platter

- Green olives stuffed with fetta
- Pesto with Ciabatta bread

First course

- Duck, prosciutto & caramelised onion ravioli

Second course

- Swordfish steaks with lemon
- Green bean salad

Dessert

- Fig and Toasted honey & walnut ice cream
- Almond biscotti with Nonna Angelo (1995)

The Nonna Angelo came from a wonderful vineyard outside of Lucca, Italy called Fattoria Cercatoia Alta. I carried this with me from Lucca on every train, bus and plane journey back to Australia (yes, it was worth it). Vineyard owner, Angelo had made this dessert wine to commemorate the birth of his first grandchild. Vintage Cellars came to the party again and were able to provide me with:

- Asti Spumante - Cora - Sweet Sparkling Wine produced in Costigliole D'Asti
- Maroltti Campi - Albiano - Verdechhio Dei Castelli Di Jesi - 2004

These were the perfect accompaniment to our Italian Feast.

Another success! Will it be three times lucky for Steph's Italian Feast?

La Buvette, Challis St, Potts Point

La Buvette, Challis St, Potts Point
Saturday 4 November, 2006

My favourite Potts Point cafe is Yellow however I've always seen the crowds of eager diners at La Buvette and wondered what it was all about. Today, I was catching up with an old work buddy and we decided to try somewhere different.

La Buvette is a small spot located close to the corner of Macleay & Challis St next door to the dry cleaners. It attracts a really diverse crowd and is surprisingly unpretentious, considering the area. Due to it's popularity there can be a wait for a table. We arrived, scored a table and ordered coffees. The coffee here is excellent, so much so I ordered another immediately.

The breakfast offerings are extensive and available all day. Museli, eggs, fruit salad, French toast, pancakes, Regular readers are aware that my favourite brekkie dish to order is eggs benedict - this is a dish I can never replicate at home, so it only seems appropriate to order it when out. But today, I couldn't go past the house specialty - Croque Madame. This is of French origin and is a ham, cheese & tomato sandwich, dipped in egg and then grilled, topped with a fried egg and Bechamel sauce. My breakfast buddy ordered the eggs benedict.

I was intrigued by this dish and learnt that 'croquer' in French means crunch. There is another variation to this dish, Croque Monsieur, which is the same dish without the egg on top. I'm not sure I would order it again but it was great to try it.

The service was excellent - the Manager was friendly and appeared at just the right time to take orders, clear plates etc. It's a busy little place, locals stand on the pavement waiting for their takeaway coffees, so it can get a little claustrophobic if you are sitting outside.

La Buvette - 35 Challis St, Potts Point -(02) 9358 5113

Firefly, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay

Firefly, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
Friday 3 November, 2006

Tonight we were off to see 'Afternoon of the Elves' at the Sydney Theatre. Looking for somewhere different to dine before the show we decided to give Firefly a go. Located just across the road from the Sydney Theatre on Pier 7 - this is a real find and their promotional blurb states,

"Firefly is a small but perfectly formed tapas winebar located right on the waterfront at Walsh Bay. At Firefly we believe in casual dining by the harbour, an interesting wine list with many by the glass, and polished, friendly service."

My first impressions were - what an amazing location & why didn't I know about this sooner? The beauty is, with the tables & chairs in place, Firefly does not get crowded like a typical bar i.e. people standing 10 deep at the bar. Firefly only seats 40 people, so reserve a table ahead of time so that you are not disappointed.

I arrived early and was able to select our table on the second level. I also had a chance to speak with the Manager and learn a little more about Firefly. This was great and as they weren't busy at this stage she was happy to sit & chat. She had recently put together a functions brochure and was happy to share it with me - Firefly would be a perfect location for a cocktail function (I've got a milestone birthday coming up next year and I think I've found the venue).

The wine list is brilliant offering plenty of wines by the glass and the decor has been designed to make the most of the view. We ordered several dishes from their tapas menu - the menu is designed to share, however they do offer larger tapas plates that you could order as a main meal. We ordered:

- crab cakes with avocado salsa (very soft & chock full of capsicum & onion)
- dumplings (light and served in a steam basket with soy sauce)
- haloumi wrapped in proscuitto (delicious and must be eaten warm)
- pork belly with spiced apple slices (very tasty and the spiced apples were sensational)
- garlic bread (very moorish)

Everything was really good and we completely lost track of time. So much so, we had the dessert menus in hand and just decided what we wanted when we realised the play started in 15 mins. Damn it! We could have stayed there all night. So, we let the Manager know we would return after the play for dessert.

At 9.15pm we returned and discovered they had reserved a table for us - how nice! We ordered dessert and tea and sat back to enjoy the atmosphere. This place is a major find - I loved it!

Firefly - Pier Seven, 17 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay - (02) 9241 2031

http://www.fireflybar.net/

ECQ Bar, Quay Grand, Macquarie St, East Circular Quay

ECQ Bar, Quay Grand, Macquarie St, East Circular Quay
Friday 3 November, 2006

I've walked past ECQ bar so many times and always wondered what it was like inside. Today, a group from work headed down to enjoy lunch for a colleague's farewell. I looked up ECQ bar on Eatability and it has received an absolute caning - each of the 3 reviews posted for 2006 start with 'horrible', 'disgraceful' and 'appalling'. I was looking forward to making my own assessment of the place.

We arrived for our 12.30pm booking, all 25 of us of us. ECQ is located on the 3rd floor of the Quay Grand, so you can take the lift or plush chocolate carpeted stairs. They had prepared by setting up two long tables for us. However, we were shown to our table and then left alone. As many of us had never dined there before we were unaware that you have to order drinks and food at the bar - thanks for sharing that with us. Once this became obvious we got up in small groups and went to the bar and ordered.

The menu is diverse with burgers, schnitzel, pad thai, calarmari rings, fish & chips etc and it is all quite reasonable - noting over $26. One of our lunch buddies enquired about the baguette and was rudely informed it's the same as a club sandwich (so, why don't we call it that then???). Our friendly (not) waiter, Amanda, came right undone when asked if the mayonnaise was prepared with raw egg (another lunch buddy is pregnant). Instead of offering to ask the kitchen, she said they were too busy to ask so I'll bring you ketchup instead. OK then....

I ordered the grilled octopus & spanish chorizo sausage salad with rocket and saffron dressing. It looked amazing when it arrived at the table on a long white rectangle platter. Unfortunately it was dripping in oil. I picked up some rocket with my fork and had to wait for it to drip dry. The octopus & chorizo were delicious but I'm afraid the salad component was almost inedible.

The others meals were served on an ad hoc basis - this is what you can expect when you order & pay at the bar as they are prepared and served as they are ordered. So, everyone ate at different times. The calarmari rings looked superb and were presented in a small steam basket positioned on a white plate. The pad thai arrived in a ceramic bowl and the linguine arrived on a square platter but again was swimming in oil.

There is so much potential here - next time I'll visit for drinks and enjoy the view.

ECQ Bar - Quay Grand, Macquarie St, East Circular Quay - (02) 9256 4000

http://www.ozhorizons.com.au/nsw/syd/qc/fac.htm

Cinque, King Street, Newtown

Cinque, King Street, Newtown
Wednesday 1 November, 2006

The last time I ate at Cinque I had breakfast for dinner - and loved it! Tonight we commenced a film course with Andrew Urban at DENDY Newtown, so for the next 6 or so weeks we will be dining in Newtown every Wednesday evening.

Cinque sits in a corner at the entrance of DENDY cinemas and offers tables inside and outside. It's very relaxed and the staff are hit & miss. The last time we visited we had a really attentive waiter who was on top of things, this time around all the staff had changed and we couldn't flag anyone down. When we did they took my coffee order and left, we had to call them back for menus & then again to order. Then, bizarrely, we were enjoying our drinks and the waiter appeared suddenly and asked if we were ready for our main meals. Absolutely, came our reply. Since when does a cafe ask if you are ready to eat? You order, you eat.

Cinque doesn't have it's own website but I located one description during my research,

"Cinque is a lively and unpretentious cafe in the heart of Newtown. Conveniently located right outside the Dendy cinema, Cinque is particularly popular for breakfast - dog lovers are able to park their pooches at the door and enjoy bacon and eggs within line of sight. Serving a good range of herbal teas, coffee and chai, fresh juices and light snacks, Cinque also has a hearty specials menu if you've got an appetite. The secret to Cinque's success is consistency: good, no-nonsense meals served by well-trained, attentive and cheerful staff."

Tonight we remained faithful and had breakfast - toasted turkish bread with ricotta, honey & cinnamon and banana bread with strawberry jam. Just brilliant.

We'll be back.

Cinque - Shop 1a, 261 King St, Newtown - (02) 9519 3077