Simply Noodles, King St, Newtown

Simply Noodles, King St, Newtown

Wednesday 28 February, 2007

My movie buddy and I are back in Newtown each Wednesday for our Movies 101 course with Andrew Urban.

Because I am such a creature of habit I gravitated back to what I know - somewhere cheap & cheerful and close to DENDY cinemas. Simply Noodles delivers.

The staff have changed since my last visit and are friendly in their approach i.e. when they are not eating themselves! Tonight I arrived and discovered the kitchen and counter staff enjoying an early dinner. It took a moment for them to realise they had a paying customer, but when they did they were on to it.

To confirm for you that I am overwhelmingly a creature of habit I ordered the only dish I have ever ordered there (and I've eaten there about 5 times) - spicy tofu & pork mince. For $11 it's awesome value. Just as I remembered it was delicious and 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 has the same consistency as Grandmother's beancurd but is surprisingly different. The soft tofu just melted in my mouth but tonight's serving was so big there was no way I could finish it.

My movie buddy ordered a selection of spring rolls and dim sum that came with it's own steamed basket. We both enjoyed our meals - the atmosphere is relaxed with a mix of eat in and takeaway customers - we' ve never had trouble getting a table. The decor is white and it's clean. If you are after a quick bite this is a great option.

Our movie tonight.....The Notorious Bettie Page - a biopic of the 1950's pin up girl.

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

Zensation, Bourke St, Redfern

Zensation Tea House, Bourke St, Redfern

Saturday 24 February, 2007

Zensation Tea House is located at the southern end of Bourke St just past Cleveland St. It's a cluttered space filled with Chinese lanterns, teapots and many varieties of organic, green and oolong tea.

Today we were participating in their Zensation Tea Appreciation session. This was organised as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations - for $18 pp - the invitation stated:

Enjoy a Chinese High – Tea Ceremony and Tea Appreciation Afternoon for novices and connoisseurs of China’s national drink – tea.

Learn to savour and appreciate the nuances of fragrant jasmine tea, potent Chinese green tea, delicate, golden Taiwanese (Formosa) oolong, earthy and sweet pu-erh from Yunnan and the highly prized white teas. To accompany the varieties of tea, enjoy an array of cakes and pastries and a selection of in-house Oriental-flavoured gelato in the relaxed comfort of Zensation Tea House.

We arrived at 3pm and they were still clearing up after the 1pm session. It was crowded and hot in the small space and none of the staff really knew what was happening. We stood around for a bit and were then directed inside to sit wherever we liked. We sat at a table for 4 (there were 3 of us) and were handed menus. There was no real explanation of what was going to happen so we just sat still whilst the staff rushed around aimlessly.

Finally Raymond Leung appeared and took the microphone and welcomed us all. His enthusiasm and warm, friendly manner was refreshing and put everyone at ease. He introduced the concept of tasting 9 teas over the next 2 hours and explained we would begin with white, then green, black and finally herbal teas.

We began with Silver Needle - this organic white tea is exquisite, delicate and highly prized. This is as close to the natural state of fresh tea leaves. This contains very little caffeine but a high concentration of antioxident.

Next up Long Ching - this is one of China's most famous and highly regarded green teas also known as Dragon Well. This tea possess 4 qualities of uniqueness: green colour, mellow taste, refreshing aroma and beautiful shape. This tea has a cooling effect on the body.

My favourite tea was served next - Dragon Pearls. These are hand rolled pearls of jasmine scented green tea buds. The taste combines the delicate and refreshing taste of green tea with the relaxing properties of jasmine perfume.

This was followed by Do Hong Pao - this oolong (semi-fermented) tea is the king of the famous Wu Yi Rocks teas. This tea grows in the rocks of the mountains and highly valued for both its unique smoky taste and medicinal nutrients.

Another oolong tea followed - Super Oolong (Raymond's favourite). This premium oolong is grown in Taiwan, famous for their Oolong. This is a large leafed tea that produces a honey green infusion with a misty floral fragrance and delicately sweet after taste.

Next up Tik Kuan Yin. This oolong tea is also known as iron Buddha tea and is known for its mesmerising flavour. The leaves are large and full and produce a light amber infusion with roasty and subtle floral tones.

Then we experienced a black tea - Pu-Erh. This famous vintage tea has been post fermented (stored for years after the tea leaves are prepared). Cakes of Pu-Erh increase in flavour and value with age. The infusion is dark and has a special earthy taste. This tea has medicinal benefits for lowering cholesterol and weight management. Pu-Erh is low in caffeine so very gentle on the stomach and goes particularly well with a heavy or greasy meal.

We finished with two herbal teas - Rosebud and Lemongrass - this herbal blend has long been a popular drink in Asia. Rosebuds are particularly beneficial for the skin. It is a great subtle floral infusion. And lastly Hibiscus flower - this refreshing and thirst quenching infusion produces a tart, ruby, red liquid which is rich in Vitamin C. A great digestive and delicious as sweetened and iced Summer beverage.

It did take us 2 hours to complete the different teas and we were also served a plate of Chinese biscuits - almond flavoured and candied plums. For $18 pp I thought this was reasonable but the staff (who I discovered were volunteers) did not know what was being served so couldn't explain it when it reached the table or describe what was going on - this was disappointing.

As I'm not a regular tea drinker I wouldn't rush back to Zensation but I did enjoy the tea appreciation session - it was somethign different and the tea cups and pots used were stunning.

Zensation Tea House - 656 Bourke Street, Redfern - (02) 9319 2788

Jazushi, Devonshire St, Surry Hills

Jazushi, Devonshire St, Surry Hills

Thursday 22 February, 2007

OK, I'm having deja vu.......I swear I did this 2 weeks ago! So much fun was had at Jazushi and Hedwig that it had to be revisited.

Tonight my Mandarin buddy and I caught the train to Central and walked up Devonshire St to Jazushi. I love introducing friends to my favourite places and Jazushi did not disappoint.

We were greeted warmly and offered seats at the end of long share table. A complimentary bowl of beans arrived and we polished this off while I recounted the dishes my theatre buddy and I had enjoyed two weeks ago.

- Beef Tataki sliced seared beef roll with marinated onion in balsamic

- Camembert Tempura with teriyaki cream sauce

- JFC Jazushi fried Chicken with yuzu citrus sauce on bed of tartare

Yes, yes and yes. If only ordering was this easy each time you dined out!

We also ordered the Kakuni Pork Belly braised & marinated over night in soy dashi sauce that was incredibly soft and tender but not the best tasting pork belly - it had lots of stringy fat and was swimming in sauce.

As we enjoyed our meal the owners of Jazushi were auditioning a new jazz trio - the sultry singer, swinging guitar player and a very cool base player played several songs to a small crowd. They received applause and encouragement from the early diners and sure enough this translated into a booking - they have their first gig at Jazushi on Friday 16 March.

Considering the small crowd in the restaurant tonight I was surprised by how slow the service was. There was plenty of staff around but not much initiative. This has to improve.

As much as I wanted to order the chocolate creme brulee there just wasn't time - my stomach thanked me - and we headed down to the Tom Mann Theatre to see Hedwig. Great night!

Jazushi - 145 Devonshire St, Surry Hills - (02) 9699-8977

http://www.jazushi.com.au/

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Peel St, Kirribilli

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Peel St, Kirribilli
Tuesday 20 February, 2007

Tonight was an historic occasion and Sydney Harbour came alive. From our vantage point in Kirribilli we watched in awe as the ships met, then enjoyed a beautiful meal before seeing the QM2 depart Sydney around 11pm. As the SMH reported earlier,

Tens of thousands of people tonight packed Sydney Harbour's foreshore to witness a historic reunion of two queens of the sea. The Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary 2 greeted each other with the sound of their whistles as the QE2 sailed past her sister ship docked at the Garden Island navy base around 7pm (AEDT).

Later, passengers and onlookers were treated to a fireworks display celebrating the pair's visit to the harbour city. The Queen Mary 2, the world's largest passenger cruise liner, majestically sailed through the harbour shortly before dawn today, followed by a flotilla of boats and watched by thousands onshore.

Too tall, at 23 storeys high, to sail under the Harbour Bridge and too long to berth at the International Terminal at Circular Quay, the $1 billion grand lady of the sea, on her maiden visit to Sydney, docked at the naval base.

This evening, her sister ship, the QE2, was also welcomed by large crowds as she sailed through the harbour to dock at Circular Quay. As she passed near Garden Island, the QE2 sounded its whistles, prompting a similar response from her big sister and rapturous applause and cheers from those watching on the foreshore.

It was a sight not seen in Sydney since the two ships' predecessors - the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth - greeted each other in the harbour as troop carriers in 1941. The two liners' arrival has caused traffic chaos on Sydney roads and on the harbour as people jostled for the best vantage points.

QM2 Captain Christopher Rynd said the daybreak welcome to Sydney rivalled that of any port it had visited. "We were way out there at sea in the dark and looking in towards the heads, you could see the profile of the headlands, and between, the hundreds of small lights of boats waiting to escort us in,'' the New Zealand-born Captain Rynd told reporters.

"And once we got into the harbour you could see it was just like a magic carpet spread out before you.'' The Sydney Chamber of Commerce and the NSW government expected the two ships' passengers to spend up to $1000 each while in Sydney, injecting more than $3 million into the local economy.

The 345-metre-long QM2 weighs in at 151,400 tonnes and caters for up to 3090 passengers with the help of 1253 crew.

With the tens of thousands of people that lined the Harbour - I'm sure many of them were in Kirribilli as it was packed - we took in the view and enjoyed every moment. After the initial passing we moved inside the Squardron for dinner. On the menu tonight,

- Tasmanian smoked salmon with avocado salsa and coriander salsa
- Shiraz braised duck with red cabbage and sour cherry sauce
- Dark chocolate and honey almond nougat ice cream pyramid with fruit coulis and berries

The food was very good. The entree serve was enormous - a large plate lined with salmon with a mound of avocado & salsa on top - it was light and fresh. The shiraz duck was probably the best duck I have ever eaten outside of Chinatown - tender meat fell off the two large pieces and the skin was crisp - the cherry sauce was perfect. I shared a dessert and in hindsight could have easily polished off one ice cream pyramids myself - it was sooooo good.

What a night! As we toasted the QM2 leaving Sydney Harbour just after 11pm it was quite overwhelming - from Kirribilli the QM2 wiped out the Eastern suburbs - the sheer size of the ship was extraordinary.

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

http://www.rsys.com.au

East Ocean, Sussex St, Haymarket

East Ocean, Sussex St, Haymarket
Saturday 17 February, 2007

Tonight was Chinese New Year - it is now the Year of the Pig. So, what better way to celebrate than to head into Chinatown for a banquet at East Ocean. We knew it was going to be ridiculously busy, crowded and loud but nothing prepared us for this.

I had eaten at East Ocean back in November - it was good, not great. So, tonight we decided to return for their Chinese New Year banquet at $70pp. Bring it on.

Chinatown was packed to the rafters - it was a sight to behold and there was only one thing that would get you through the evening - patience. On arrival at East Ocean there was a large congregation at the bottom of the stairs on Sussex St - eager diners waiting for a seat? No, it was the dragon dancing group waiting for their green light to enter. Lining the staircase were the dramatic, brightly coloured dragon costumes and head pieces.

We had been told to arrive promptly at 6.30pm as there were two sittings - 6.30 and 8.30pm - and we did. The dining space was full with large groups of families and friends, the atmosphere was loud and electric, and the staff were in abundance.

As it was Chinese NYE we had to pre-order our meal - so we knew earlier this week that we would be enjoying:

- Mixed entree e.g. spring rolls, dim sum and prawn dumplings

- Sweet corn soup with crab meat

- Lobster with ginger and shallot

- Stir fried scallops with macadamia nuts

- Salt and pepper calamari

- Steamed whole fish

- Fried rice

- Chinese tea

- Fresh fruit

Our waiter for the evening was Steve - a wonderful man who kept our table well organised and ensured everything had it's place. He was good humoured and quite protective of us during the night. For example, the supreme crispy skin chicken was not on our menu but it looked so great and many tables around us were tucking into it. So, we asked Steve if there was any way we could also enjoy the supreme crispy skin chicken too. We watched him talk with a few other waiters and a very senior looking gentleman before returning and sharing that the chicken would be added to our menu. You've gotta love a waiter that goes into bat for you!

Due to the enormous crowd our food did take a while to arrive however when it did it all came at once. This was a little overwhelming. Not long after we started eating the dragon dancers began - it was all happening! The sound, colour and excitement was fabulous. A member of the dance group came to our table to hand out red envelopes and explained that we could make a donation to the group by placing money inside the envelopes and putting it inside the dragon's mouth. The drummers set up near the kitchen and the drum beats were loud and strong (and now permanently embedded in my mind).

We got right into the spirit of it and watched in awe as three different dragons worked their way through the restaurant. Eager diners stood up on chairs and waved their red envelopes high to attract the dragons. It was so much fun and watching the kids was priceless - it is apparently good luck to place an envelope inside the dragon's mouth. We handed over three envelopes but watched as many tables handed over many more. The interested part was watching the dragon's circle the dining space over and over again, batter their eyes and sidle up against unsuspecting diners.

The dramatic conclusion was watching the dragons try to pull down the lettuce hanging from the ceiling. Everyone stood up and clapped and cheered - it created a brilliant atmosphere and everyone sat down exhausted ready to resume eating. The highlight of this display was watching everyone else - the people watching was so much fun - the young and old - and watching how important this night was. I loved it.

Our food was great - the flavours and freshness were to be commended considering the amount of food the kitchen had to prepare and serve in quick succession. The highlight for me was the stir fried scallops - they were large, plump and delicious - and the supreme crispy skin chicken that was served tender on the inside and delightfully crisp on the outside.

We all over-ate and sunk back into our chairs very satisfied. One thing was confirmed this will become an annual event for us. We left just prior to 8.30am and walked into the chaos of Dixon St that was alive with markets and side show games. It was crowded but we took out time looking at the stalls of trinkets, lanterns, lotus lights, food and jewellery. What a sensational night.

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

Gelatomassi, King St, Newtown

Gelatomassi, King St, Newtown

Friday 16 February, 2007

After a great evening - ZanziBar for drinks then dinner at Sumalee Thai - we walked up King St towards the city to find Gelatomassi.

One of our dinner buddies is a regular here and knows the team - Sal & Ciccio - behind its success. We were warmly greeted and invited inside. The first thing that struck me was the array of colours and flavours on offer. From your fruit varieties to your rich, creamy chocolates - it's a gelato lovers paradise.

As their website states,

With over 30 years of retail experience combined, the La Rosa brothers 'Salvatore & Ciccio' have made it their mission to bring the "sweetness of life" to the people of Sydney with Gelatomassi. Using methods adopted from Sicily - Italy, Gelatomassi is made fresh on the premises and stored at just the right temperature. Giving you the consumer…the perfect gelato experience!

"Gelato needs to be enjoyed" says Sal, "there's gelato then there's Gelatomassi. Nothing gives me more satisfaction then making a fresh batch of gelato and giving waiting customers a sample to taste. Their expressions say it all…the taste is truly to die for..."


Where to start? We salivated over the different offerings before each deciding on two scoops. I went with Green apple and baccio in a cup while my dinner buddies opted for flavours like watermelon, mint choc, white chocolate and tiramisu.

WOW! Words cannot describe how good this gelato is - it is so fresh, light and creamy. Honestly, this is the best gelato in Sydney. It was consistently packed with regulars the staff are friendly, knowledgeable and keen to share the new flavours - ask for a try or you will be offered one anyway.

There is minimal seating outside on the footpath and inside but there is a large share table at the rear. The walls are covered with photos of their regulars, friends and family and their framed reviews. They are proud of their success and should be.

I loved it.

Gelatomassi - 262 King St, Newtown - (02) 9526 0655

http://www.gelatomassi.com.au/home_06.htm

Bank Hotel, King Street, Newtown

Bank Hotel, King Street, Newtown

Friday 16 February, 2007

Tonight was our Girl's Night Out. Even though it had been in our diaries for several months it still crept up on us. We planned to do a bar crawl of sorts and started our evening at ZanziBar (directly opposite the Bank Hotel).

After 4 bottles of wine at ZaniBar we crossed the road and entered the Bank Hotel. It has recently re-opened after a rumoured $19 million refurbishment and looks fantastic. The quality of the finishes are remarkable - from the flooring, marble bars, sandstone walls, heaters built into the ceilings, wooden slat chairs and tables and automated sun shades that cover the open air dining space of Sumalee Thai.

From the street level bar take the stairs downstairs to find the entrance to Sumalee Thai. The first thing you will notice is the amazing display of fresh flowers. Tonight's display was a massive bunch of Tiger Lillies - stunning.

We had been told that our reservation would be kept for 15 minutes and we made it by the skin of our teeth. We were led to our table and provided with menus. The idea here is you order your drinks at the bar and order your food at the counter near the kitchen.

We were all starving and decided to order a feast. Most of the dishes are offered in an entree and main serve and we ordered:

- roast duck salad

- tofu and chilli

- massaman beef

- green curry chicken

- roast duck stir fry

- eggplant & mushroom stir fry

- pork ribs

- steamed rice

After we ordered and paid we were told there would be at least a 45 minute wait for the food. We didn't mind as we were having so much fun.

After 20 minutes our first few dishes arrived. The servings were enormous and the fragrance was extraordinary. We dug in and enjoyed every mouthful. The stand out dishes were the roast duck salad and the roast duck stir fry - the large strips of duck were tender, flavoursome and incredibly good. The salad was light, fresh and the combination of the coriander, garlic, chilli and mint was to die for.

The pork just fell off the bone and was delightfully tender, the beef was served in large chunky pieces and served with a thick spiced sauce and huge chunks of potatoes and onions, the eggplant and mushroom stir fry was mushy and oozed flavour - there was nothing to fault.

It was definitely a case of our eyes were bigger than our bellies - we gave it a good effort but we didn't come close to finishing our food. We were having so much fun we didn't want to leave - the dining space remained full the entire night and the crowd was relaxed.

After dinner we walked through the rest of the hotel - it was packed to the rafters and each space was so different with interesting decor and music. It's a great place for a night out.

Sumalee Thai - 324 King St, Newtown - (02) 8568 1900

ZanziBar, King St, Newtown

ZanziBar, King St, Newtown

Friday 16 February, 2007

What a find! We caught the train to Newtown after work for our Girl's Night Out - it was going to be big and the pressure was on to make it even bigger!

ZanziBar is located directed opposite Newtown station on the corner of a lane way. It offers gorgeous window seats in the street level bar where you can watch the world go by, a restaurant and lounge bar on the middle level and a spectacular roof top bar.

Their website describes this find as,

ZanziBar Newtown is an exotic oasis located in the heart of vibrant King Street precinct offering a warm welcome for both locals & visitors alike.

The main bar provides a relaxed & friendly environment where regulars, tourists, theatregoers and artisans rub shoulders. And for those bold enough to venture upstairs, there's a hidden world of Eastern Opulence waiting to be discovered in the Cocktail Lounge. The Rooftop offers a stunning view every afternoon with amazing sunsets, combined with fine dining which are both hard to forget.

We climbed the steep staircase to the roof - there is a railing on one side and also an automated stair lift that goes right to the top (this looked like a viable option for getting back down). The roof top is the place to be - it looks like a Moroccan themed paradise with beautiful touches such as tiled tabletops.

We were lucky to arrive early and secure a large table near the water feature. There was a diverse crowd on the rooftop and everyone was relaxed. The vibe on the rooftop is really laid back and there is a small bar on one end where you can order drinks and a selection of bar food such as the spectacular looking three tiered trays of Middle Eastern mezze. There was one of these on almost every second table.

We started our evening with a light, crisp Savignon Blanc, enjoyed the balmy evening and watched the sun set. Before we knew it we had polished off 4 bottles and had to leave to make our reservation at Sumalee Thai in the newly refurbished Bank Hotel across the road.

ZanziBar, 323 King St, Newtown - (02) 9519 1511

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

Go Zen, Spit Rd, Mosman

Go Zen, Spit Rd, Mosman

Thursday 15 February, 2007

I've said this before but I'm going to say it again...Go Zen is a find. I rarely write about my visits here (and there have been many) as it's not a place I wish to promote. I has a lovely, hidden away vibe to it that will be ruined if everyone starts going there.

It was written up in the latest edition of Sydney Eats and these few lines sum it up nicely,

“Tucked down a very unexciting alley, tiny Go-Zen could be your next secret eating spot – if you can find it, that is. Top it all of with sake, warmed and served in traditional pottery.”

John Newton and Stephanie Clifford-Smith, Sydney Eats 2007 - September 2006

There were a few things that took place before we arrived - I forgot what time I had booked for, so had to call them and ask. Then we were running late, not by a few minutes or even 15 minutes but by 30 minutes. I called back and explained and they were absolutely fine about it and said they would keep the table. This was sincerely appreciated as there were 7 of us.

We arrived and scored the last two car spots in the rear carpark. We were warmly greeted and seated at the last vacant table. It's such a small space and only offers 8 or tables, so bookings are highly recommended. The decor is bland with minimal Japanese touches but this doesn't detract from what everyone is there for........the food.

With all the chatting and laughing it took us ages to order but we settled on:

- Seafood tempura

- Beef tataki x 2

- Steamed eggplant x 2

- Deep fried calamari

- Sashimi and tuna x 2

- Beef teriyaki

Personally, I could eat plates and plates of sashimi and tuna with lots of soy & wasabi forever but the standout dish this evening was the half eggplant, steamed until soft and creamy served with a peanut sauce. It was seriously delicious and we polished off two of these with ease.

The service is attentive, they do their absolute best to cater to your requests and allow enough time between each dish so you can enjoy everything and not feel rushed. But on top of all this the prices are outstanding. For this feast we only paid $25pp and it's BYO too.

Being a local of mine I wondered if I would encounter anyone I knew and surprise, surprise I did - one work buddy and one local buddy who promised to introduce me to a new sushi place in Neutral Bay....stay tuned.

Go Zen - Shop 5/ 142 Spit Road Mosman - (02) 9969 8889

Tasty Thai, Spofforth St, Cremorne

Tasty Thai, Spofforth St, Cremorne

Wednesday 14 February, 2007

Tonight I left work late and couldn't bear the thought of cooking. So, after scanning my local takeaways I decided to try Tasty Thai (really bad name, I know).

Tasty Thai is located in a small group of shops on the back route from the city to Mosman. It's a shopfront only with a few makeshift tables and chairs for you to sit and wait while they prepare your meal. There were at least 5 staff hovering around the open kitchen with 2 working the counter.

I scanned their laminated menu sitting on the counter and decided to order:

- Pumpkin with vegetables and egg

- Gang ped yang (Roasted duck curry)

- Steamed rice

While I waited I read their promotional material and learnt that they do offer dine in - where? I certainly couldn't see where you want to seat and eat. Who knows - maybe there is a back section I wasn't aware of. I also learnt they offer free home delivery for orders above $15.

It took less than 15 minutes for my meal to be prepared and then I discovered they only take cash. Not surprisingly there is no ATM available in this small group of shops. Fortunately I found some cash hidden away in my wallet and paid up.

The food was delicious - the pumpkin was squared in huge chunks and served with lots of sprouts, mushrooms and baby corn. The roast duck was served in long strips and very tender - I was actually surprised by how much duck they served, it was in adundance. It was also served with pineapple and lychees that offered a delightful sweetness. Overall, I really impressed with the food and have more than enough left over for lunch tomorrow.

I have a feeling this may become one of my preferred local takeaways.

Tasty Thai - 43 Spofforth St, Cremorne - (02) 9904 2545

Victoria Room, Victoria St, Darlinghurst

Victoria Room, Victoria St, Darlinghurst
Saturday 10 February, 2007

I visited the Victoria Room for the first time last August. It was sensational and I have been looking forward to returning.

Today I was catching up with some old work buddies for High Tea. The Victoria Room opens for High Tea at 2pm and at 10 to 2pm there was a small but eager group of women anxiously waiting outside for the doors to open. One staff member popped down to say it wouldn't be long - to be precise, 'the doors will open in a minute'.

At 2pm, true to their word, the doors opened and everyone was welcomed inside. We climbed the dark, candle lit stairs adjusting to the change of light. At the top of the stairs is a reception desk where we were greeted and then led to our booth.

The decor is fabulous, old lamps of all different shapes and sizes, velvet lounges restored to their former glory and leather couches. It's screams over the top and it is. I love it. We had a leather booth that was cosy and comfortable for three.

The staff are prompt and have a tendency to get run off their feet as the afternoon goes by. They glide through the large open space in white kaftan tops with silver sequins - it's a great look and works for the environment. Our waiter arrived to take our tea orders and didn't bat an eyelid as two of us opted for coffee.

The prices have climbed since my last visit - the High Tea is now $30pp and the Royal Tea is now $40pp (both up $5). We all opted for the High Tea (my reason was that I had to drive to Harbord for an engagement party that turned out to be a wedding....but that's a whole other story).

Not long afterwards we received a beautiful silver tiered tray with three levels that housed:

Afternoon Tea Sandwiches - Chicken & Wild Herbs, Cucumber, Creme Fraiche & Dill, Smoked Salmon with fresh Rocket, Lemon & Capers
Scones & Conserve - Date & Plain Scones served with Triple Berry Conserve & Chantilly Cream
Assorted Sweeties - Mini Florentine, Sticky date pudding, Vanilla Bean Cup Cake topped with Pink Icing & Confetti, Passionfruit Yo-Yo

Wow! It's hard to know where to start. We decided to start with the sandwiches with the crusts cut off - they were elegant, light and fresh and then couldn't go past the scones. I love a good scone and these were delicious, still slightly warm and the conserve & cream were decadent.

We slowed down a little and ordered more coffees and one tea - the Turkish Apple which came to the table in a stunning Moroccan glass.

This has to be one of the most wonderful ways to spend an afternoon with friends - you can relax, enjoy the atmosphere, pick at the wonderful treats served on the tiered tray and have a good 'ol catch up.

Victoria Room - 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst - (02) 9357 4488

http://www.thevictoriaroom.com/main.php

Golden Century, Sussex St, Haymarket

Golden Century, Sussex St, Haymarket
Friday 9 February, 2007

Tonight I took my Mum to see Il Divo - this was her birthday present and she loved every minute of it. To be honest I didn't know that much about Il Divo before the concert, other than the fact the group is made up of 4 men from different countries -France, Spain, USA and Switzerland.

Before the concert we grabbed some dinner at Golden Century - my favourite Chinese restaurant. I had booked a table upstairs (do this if you don't want to stand out on the sidewalk and wait for a table downstairs). We took the escalators to the upper floor and were greeted by a frazzled looking woman carrying a walkie talkie. She tried to seat us in the thoroughfare at the top of the escalators and I explained we had booked a table in the rear room.

It's amazing what you get when you ask politely - we were led into the rear room and welcomed by a lovely waiter. Scurrying around us were waiters carrying clear plastic bags full with live fish, lobsters and crabs - it's a sight and adds to the atmosphere. The noise levels are high, there's a calm chaos across the floor and there are an abundance of staff just waiting to serve you. I love it.

We read through the extensive menu and I asked Mum to order whatever she wanted. We kicked off with an entree of San Choy Bow - it was presented in the largest lettuce cups we had ever seen and tasted fresh, light with droplets of water hanging off the lettuce and the filling of pork, waterchesnuts etc was meaty, savoury and very, very good.

For our main dishes we ordered:

- Honey king prawns (massive prawns with a tempura coating on a plate of honey - sensational!)
- Braised scallops with asparagus (plump, juicy scallops served with crisp, inch long pieces of fresh asparagus)
- Crispy skin chicken (tender chicken strips coated with a cripsy skin and lightly salted)
- Fried rice

We enjoyed every mouthful and had way too much food. We tried to pace ourselves but had to admit we had over ordered. We settled our bill and left with plenty of time to walk down to the Entertainment Centre. There were night marktets in Chinatown so there was a great atmosphere with wonderful sights and smells. What a night.

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

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

Jazushi, Devonshire St, Surry Hills

Jazushi, Devonshire St, Surry Hills
Wednesday 7 February, 2007

I remember when Jazushi first opened - several years ago - and a music buddy of mine dragged me along to try out this Japanese restaurant that offers live jazz on the weekends. What an interesting mix. Needless to say, I became a firm fan.

Their website describes the experience as,

"Jazushi" a combination of fine food, Japanese and Eurasian fusion, coupled with a well sought after funky, groovy typical Jazz bar offering live acts and recorded well known Jazz musicians with a line up of events to come. Try the food before or after the company b, Belvoir Theatre. Just 1 minutes walk to the Belvoir theatre Clisdell St. Prominently placed in Surry Hills near Strawberry Hills Pub and 4 minutes walk Central station off Elizabeth Street. Spacious casual with Jazz sophistication. Function area available. Out door garden area covered in with Live Bamboo in Oriental setting and heated.

Tonight my theatre buddy and I were off to see 'Hedwig and the angry inch' at the Tom Mann Theatre, so needed somewhere close by to dine beforehand. Jazushi!

We arrived and were greeted like old friends. At 6pm the front dining space was barely full but by 7pm it was almost a packed house. I love the look and feel of Jazushi - it has exposed brick and long share tables at the front, a stark white dining space at the rear and outdoor garden. It's such a intriguing place - the decor doesn't fit the environment but it works.

After ordering drinks we were delivered a bowl of beans to eat - this comes complimentary to each table. When Jazushi first opened they were serving roasted peanuts as a complimentary starter but the beans are a nice touch.

The idea behind the menu is to order plates to share. So we decided on the following dishes:

- Beef Tataki sliced seared beef roll with marinated onion in balsamic
- Camembert Tempura with teriyaki crème sauce
- JFC Jazushi fried Chicken with yuzu citrus sauce on bed of tartare

The beef tataki was sensational - the rolled beef was rare and it was stuffed with onion slices. This provided a slightly zingy flavour and even though there were 8 rolls on the plate we polished them off in record time.

The camembert was deliciously decadent - lightly crisp on the outside and wonderfully soft and creamy on the inside. We shared with our waiter that it was one of the best dishes we had ever tasted and he responded that they have several regulars that return time after time just for the camembert.

The chicken was fantastic - presented in a tall stack each piece was tender and had a great coating of Jazushi fried skin. The citrus sauce added a lovely tart taste.

We were enjoying the food so much and the atmosphere.......our entire share table started talking about our meals and suggesting dishes to try - it was like one big happy family. On a high we decided to order dessert. Without hesitation we chose the dessert platter thinking we would have a taste of 3-4 different desserts.

Oh, how wrong we were. What was delivered to the table was 4 full size desserts on an enormous platter. Clearly, our eyes were way too big for our bellies but we had a great laugh among ourselves and with our friendly neighbours. The four desserts were:

- Chocolate brulee (the absolute stand out)
- Green tea ice cream served with red beans
- Coffee pudding
- Vanilla and chocolate ice cream

We were in heaven. I'll be back within a month.

Jazushi - 145 Devonshire St, Surry Hills - (02) 9699-8977

http://www.jazushi.com.au/

Cupcakes on Pitt, Pitt St, Sydney

Cupcakes on Pitt, Pitt St, Sydney
Tuesday 6 February, 2007

WOW! It's been 6 or so months since my last cupcake and I'd seriously forgotten how good they were. Cupcakes on Pitt has been on my list of places to visit for ages and today I was lucky enough to experience them without even going there myself.

I received a wonderful surprise at work. Two cupcakes were delivered from Cupcakes on Pitt in a clear plastic container and a card stating,

"Dear Steph - enjoy! Thanks for a fabulous Saturday. Have a great week. A"

WOW! This is tens times better than getting flowers or chocolates delivered. I looked at them all day as they just looked too good to eat. One was a chocolate cupcake with orange icing and a violet crumble crushed on top and the other was a buttermilk cupcake with yellow icing and a bright icing flower on top.

It's the simple things in life that put a smile on your face and for me, it's cupcakes. How did they taste? Well, as much as I would love to say I ate both myself....I shared them with a friend and we confirmed that Cupcakes on Pitt produce the best cupcakes in Sydney.

The cupcakes themselves are incredibly moist and delicious and the icing is buttery, decadent and very, very good.

I'll have to visit Cupcakes on Pitt myself and check out their full range - stay tuned.

Cupcakes on Pitt - Shop 2, 323 Pitt St, Sydney - (02) 9264 4644

Walsh Bay Cafe, Hickson Rd, Dawes Point

Walsh Bay Cafe, Hickson Rd, Dawes Point
Monday 5 February, 2007

What was I thinking??? Two train wrecks in two days! Seriously, this week is not getting off to a great start.

Tonight we were off to see our first Sydney Theatre Company play for 2007, Troupers, starring Barry Otto. In a moment of madness I recommended we dine at the Walsh Bay Cafe - the Chinese restaurant opposite the Wharf Theatre.

I had last dined here in October and it had improved immensely. Our experience tonight confirmed that my favourable review was premature. Way premature.....

I arrived first and was the only guest in the restaurant. I ordered a drink and some salt & pepper tofu. Ten minutes later I got my drink after I watched the waitress set each table with chopsticks and napkins in amazement. I enquired if she had put my order in but was met with a blank stare......then the fun started.

My theatre buddy arrived and we ordered the Peking Pork and some steamed rice....but the salt & pepper tofu still hadn't arrived. 40 minutes later our meals arrived and were inedible. I am being polite.

After one mouthful of the Peking pork I spat out the bones. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and tried another piece....more bones. What the@*! Our waiter swung by and enquired if we wanted any sauce for the tofu. I explained that the pork was just a plate of bones covered in thick sauce and she laughed and said each plate was different, some might be meat and bones, some meat, some bones. OK then. This explains everything.....and how is that acceptable for $17?

I am reluctant to describe the tofu for fear of sending my heartrate through the roof. It was beyond shocking. Thick, battered, deep fried pieces of tofu with not an ounce of salt & pepper on them. When I explained this to the waiter she laughed again and said this was how they prepared the tofu all the time. I challenged this as I had fond memories of the tofu from my last visit and she challenged me right back. No, it is always deep fried.

Train wreck is being kind. For $42 we barely touched our meals. We left over half the meals on each plate. I shared how disappointed I was about the food with our waiter on exit but it fell on deaf ears.

Do not bother!

Walsh Bay Cafe - 16A Hickson Rd, Dawes Point - (02) 9241 4365

Akuna Bay Cafe, General San Martin Drive, Akuna Bay

Akuna Bay Cafe, General San Martin Drive, Akuna Bay
Sunday 4 February, 2007

I can only describe our experience here today as a train wreck. The last time we ate at the Akuna Bay cafe it was pretty average and it wasn't by choice that I returned today. We had actually wanted to dine at Akuna Bay Events (located upstairs) but unfortunately it wasn't open, so our only other option was the cafe.

Akuna Bay is a sleepy little hamlet buried deep within Ku-ring-gai National Park. It offers stunning bushland and waterways and the enter fee has risen to $11 but it's such a gorgeous location that this is a small price to pay. Unfortunately, the only cafe at the marina is an absolute shocker. The decor is tacky and tired looking but the staff are well meaning even though they really don't know what they are doing.

You order and pay at the counter and this itself is a challenge. The staff are inexperienced, forgetful and vague and there doesn't appear to be any communication between them. Once we ordered and received our table number we watched the chaos unfold. Surrounding tables were being delivered meals but only one or two at a time so no-one got to eat at the same time. We received one club sandwich shortly afterwards, followed by bacon & egg rolls 10 minutes later. About 15 minutes after that we received the smoked salmon caeser salad and another 10 minutes after that my salt & pepper calamari arrived with an apology.

The calamari was virtually inedible but the accompanying fries and salad were good. I received 5 pieces of hard, overcooked calamari and a small bowl of sweet chilli sauce. It was terrible. My lunch buddies didn't object to their meals, in fact the smoked salmon caeser salad was described as lovely. We all laughed about how bad the service was but I wouldn't choose to eat here again.

It's such a shame that there isn't a better cafe here - most of the boats moored in the marina are valued at several $100,000's so there's no shortage of people with $$ to spend.

Akuna Cafe on the Bay - d'Albora Marinas, General San Martin Drive, Akuna Bay, Ku-ring-gai National Park - (02) 9450 1344

http://www.dalboramarinas.com.au/jsp/c_index.jsp

Salon Blanc, Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo

Salon Blanc, Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo
Saturday 3 February, 2007

Salon Blanc offers great people watching along the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo. It is the second restaurant down from Cowper Wharf Rd (the first restaurant on the wharf is Aki's Indian) and there are approximately 9 restaurants along the wharf including China Doll, Kingsleys's Steak & Crab House and Otto.

The website states,

"Situated on the historic Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo Salon Blanc offers an unforgettable dining experience. As you approach the restaurant you are greeted with the stunning Iain Halliday design of white walls, eclectic furnishings, with dabs of colour and convivial seating. A welcome splash of comfort and style to the wharf."

I think the description is lacking as the white washed walls, white furniture and white place settings are offset by a striking silver hanging that sparkles with the light and a rich, colourful feature wall that looks like a mosaic from outside. I really loved the look and feel of the space.

We were warmly greeted and shown to our prime table overlooking the wharf and city skyline. It was still light and we needed sunglasses on until 8pm as the blinds don't come down far enough to block the sunlight from the outdoor seating. We were encouraged to order a cocktail first and after reading their menu and pricey wine list decided on a Vanilla mojito - perennial mint smashed with tahitian limes and matuselum ron, vanilla bean and sugar and White peach bellini - a lick of summer peach bound with italian prosecco. Both were $15.

As we enjoyed our cocktails and watched the crowds arrive for dinner it became obvious that unless you have a booking along the wharf it is near impossible to acquire a table. We watched so many people be turned away and watched them try the next restaurant, then the next with no luck.

Chef Colin Selwood is now a part owner in Salon Blanc and although he is a New Zealander brings his French, bordering Spanish cuisine to Sydney. I couldn't go past the Thirlmere free range chicken liver parfait, cornichons and toasted brioche for entree and my dinner buddy ordered the Zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, green olives and oregano, tomato sauce and truffle pecorino.

When the chicken liver parfait arrived at the table I knew straight away that there was far too much parfait for the amount of brioche served. It would have been nice for the staff to suggest that if I wanted more brioche I only had to ask. Instead, I ran out of brioche (it was creamy and incredibly delicious) and had to flag down a waiter to enquire whether I could have more. The answer was yes, but it would have been nice not to have to ask.

After we finished our cocktails we decided to order wine by the glass to go with our mains. We asked one waiter for a suggestion and she said she would get the Sommelier. Shortly afterwards, another waiter arrived and we went through the same process. The Sommelier did finally arrive and suggest some lovely options but our meals arrived well before the wine. I thought the staff could have been more forward thinking and ensure we had our wine before the main meals arrived.

I had ordered the Crisp skin ocean trout with roast capsicum cous cous,
saffron and tomato vinaigrette and my dinner buddy ordered the Grilled hiramasa kingfish with warm salad of sugar snap peas, red onion and swiss browns. Our fish was beautifully cooked but unfortunately the roast capsicum cous cous was a disapointment - it was dry and served as a cylinder base for the fish.

As we continued to people watch and enjoy the atmosphere we agreed to splurge and order dessert. I opted for the Mango parfait with coconut rice pudding (our waiter suggested this over the Passion fruit tart and orange jelly) and my dinner buddy ordered the dessert special - Summer pavlova topped with cream and berries.

Our desserts were really good except for the shaved dried coconut served alongside the coconut rice pudding. It was hard and inedible. The service was hit & miss which was disappointing but overall the food was good. It was pricey and I felt it was just too pricey for what we experienced - entrees are just under $20, mains are under $40 and desserts are $15 and under.

Salon Blanc - 2/6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo - (02) 9356 2222

http://www.salonblanc.com.au/

Sandbar, The Strand, Dee Why

Sandbar, The Strand, Dee Why
Saturday 3 February, 2007

This morning we were celebrating a friend's birthday and decided to do this over brunch in sunny Dee Why. The last time we ate at Sandbar was early 2006 and we all had fond memories of the staff, atmosphere and food.

Sandbar is one of the most popular cafes on The Strand and deservedly so. It has also won a raft of local and industry awards:

- Winner NSW Small Business Awards 2006 "Champion Café in NSW / ACT" and "Best Café Northern Beaches 2005"

- Gold Medal Winner 2005/2006 and 2003/2004 "Best Casual Dining on the Northern Beaches" As voted by Entertainment Publications.

Sandbar is a friendly, relaxed place. Locals come in off the beach in their cossies and thongs and wannabe locals visit for the great coffee (they use Allpress - the best coffee around) and laid back atmosphere.

We had a great table inside along the wall. We ordered coffees and were exceptionally impressed, so much so we ordered another round straight away. The aim was brunch and the breakfast menu is very appealing offering pancakes, waffles, fresh fruit, toast, eggs etc.

Not surprisingly I couldn't go past the eggs benedict with ham, 3 of my brunch buddies ordered the Sweetcorn fritters with avocado, roasted tomato and crispy bacon, 2 opted for the Sandbar Breakfast; eggs, bacon, mushrooms, chipolata sausages, roast tomatoes and toast and 1 ordered the Toasted waffles with poached pear, lime syrup, wild raspberries and vanilla bean ice cream.

The service was attentive, we didn't have to ask for anything as the staff just seemed to appear at just the right time to take more coffee orders, clear the table of plates and top up the water.

My eggs benedict was OK. The muffins tasted like they had been toasted well before the eggs were ready, so by the time they reached the table were almost hard. The eggs were good and offered a nice balance between runny and hard. My brunch buddies all devoured their meals and it looked the absolute winner was the Sweetcorn fritters.

With greacoffeefe, service and atmosphere - Sandbar gets my vote for the best cafe in Dee Why.

Sandbar - 25 The Strand, Dee Why - (02) 9984 8444

http://www.sandbardeewhy.com.au