Vispo, George St, Sydney

Vispo, George St, Sydney

Friday 31 March, 2007

Vispo is an office favourite - located only a short distance from our building. The last time we visited was for Melbourne Cup and today's occasion was a lunch with old, and dear, friends. We were directed towards the rear of the dining space to our table.

The decor at the rear is very different to the decor at the front. As you enter Vispo on George St there are wooden floor boards and your standard wooden cafe chairs and white wobbly tables. At the rear, however, there are cubed seats in brown, green and purple tones. There's even a wall feature in the same coloured fabric.

We ordered drinks and looked over the menu which has also changed since our last visit. Our waiter was entertaining and must have overheard us commenting on his fabulous French accent as he turned it on big time for the duration of our lunch - much to our, and his, amusement.

I decided to order the steak sandwich which was described as medium rare served with chutney, onions and lettuce on a Turkish bread roll. My lunch buddies ordered 2 x salt & pepper calamari, 1 x steak sandwich and 1 x salmon risotto.

Our meals were delivered promptly but were actually pretty average. The steak sandwich could have been a little more on the medium rare side than the medium well side, the calamari was a tad rubbery but the highlight was the salmon risotto - the salmon was served in abundance with lots of green vegetables.

Even though some of the food was a let down we had a good time. I'm not sure I would rush back but due to its location and the French waiter I'll pop in for coffee.

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

Young Alfred, Alfred St, Circular Quay

Young Alfred, Alfred St, Circular Quay

Monday 26 March, 2007

Today was a thank you lunch and the venue was kept under wraps until 15 mins beforehand. I love surprises and this was a pleasant one. Our group of 6 walked down to Circular Quay on this sunny Autumn day and wandered into Customs House.

Young Alfred is located on the Ground Floor of Customs House. As you walk through the main entrance it's on the left and spills out onto the veranda. The main foyer of Customs House is a treasure trove of fascinating stuff from a miniature model of Sydney city under glass (which you can walk over) to newspapers from all over the world (want to read Frank Bruni's latest review from the NY Times each Wednesday?). Needless to say I'm one of the last in Sydney to discover this as the newspaper section is packed.

We were directed to our table inside and then promptly forgotten about for a good 10 mins. I was having flashbacks to my last visit over 12 months ago. Surely the service has improved since then? Sadly no, we waited..............and waited..................................and then waited some more.

It's certainly not due to lack of staff - there were at least 4 milling around the bar area but they didn't appear interested in serving their customers today. When we finally did wave down a staff member we ordered drinks and asked for menus.

The menu is largely Italian and offers a range of gourmet pizzas, slow roast lamb casseroles, seafood casseroles, pastas etc. It's a lean menu and has several gems to pick from. We kicked off with some bruschetta that was delivered in individual bowls - the aroma from the fresh tomatoes, basil and olive oil was sensational and it tasted pretty good too.

We struggled to flag down a waiter to take our lunch orders and when one did arrive he didn't have a pen or paper. He was a little arrogant in his approach and laughed when we enquired how he would be able to remember everything. To his credit he did get everything right but it was the attitude that bothered more than anything.

For our mains the table ordered 2 x mushroom risotto, 1 x Orecchiette and 2 x pizzas. I ordered the Martha pizza (roma tomatoes, basil and bocconchini) and shared this with my lunch buddy who ordered the TNT pizza (salami, red onion, bacon, chilli and capsicum). Every dish that arrived at our table looked fabulous - the presentation and aromas were first rate.

Our pizzas were good - they were sliced into 4 pieces and served on a light, thin base. I love simple, fresh pizzas that use the best ingredients and make the most of the flavours - they delivered on all counts.

Sadly the service was atrocious. It is a shame as the food delivers....this is becoming a disappointing trend in Sydney.

Young Alfred - Ground Floor, Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay - (02) 9251 5192





http://www.youngalfred.com.au/

Delante, Waters Rd, Neutral Bay

Delante, Waters Rd, Neutral Bay

Sunday 25 March, 2007

After driving over to Maitre Karl this morning for breakfast and discovering that it was closed, my breakfast buddies convinced me that Delante was the place to go.

The latest review I could find stated,

As the food world becomes obsessed with the benefits of all things slow (slow food being the antithesis to the multinational fast food chains) there are a few establishments championing the cause by bringing slow food into the lives of the very busy.

This cafe/food store/home caterer is a haven of exquisite food – perfect for those seeking the indulgences of real home-style food (full of the flavour that slow and gentle cooking brings out), pre-packaged to take home, heat up and devour. The charming duo behind this cafe hail from the InterContinental Sydney (Albert Au was the banquet chef and Heinz Sehmieg the executive chef) their background and skill evident in every mouthful of their sensational lasagnes, soups, curries, osso buccos and slow braises.

For those too hungry to wait, take a seat at one of the tables and enjoy their breakfast (served all day, every day), or delight in the beautifully constructed lunch menu. The poached egg and leg ham on crisp rosti potatoes with hollandaise is a dish of local legend, while the dips and salads on the lunch menu (most available to take home too) are fresh and seasonally motivated. AC Butchery sausages and steaks are served with mash or fries and, if you prefer, you can take them to cook at home with Delante’s roasted veg or garlic mash and present your loved one with a feast – just don’t forget to hide the containers.

Always up to try somewhere new I readily agreed and followed them to Neutral Bay. Delante was full on this blustery morning and we only had to wait a short while for a table outside. Inside it's a cosy haven for food lovers offering a deli section, fresh bread, spices etc - you could browse aimlessly for ages but we were hungry and wanted brekkie.

The friendly staff cleared our table and took our coffee orders. We looked over the all day brekkie menu and I couldn't go past the unique eggs benedict that came with marinated vegetables, baba ghanoush and minted youghurt. My breakfast buddies chose more of the same with lots of sides such as baked beans, sausages, bacon etc. A breakfast feast had been ordered.

The servings were enormous and we were not disappointed - the poached eggs came very runny which was OK by me as they ran all over the sourdough and marinated vegetables. This created an orange coloured plate of food that was offset by the minted yoghurt and babe ghanoush that was spread across the sourdough. It was jumble of flavours and worked for me.

Judging from the constant flow of diners this place is popular for breakfast and also for foodies looking for specific gourmet ingredients. I know where I'll be going to buy my deli goods from now on.

Delante - Shop 1/12 Waters Rd, Neutral Bay - (02) 9953 1789

Maitre Karl, High St, Willoughby

Maitre Karl, High St, Willoughby

Saturday 24 March, 2007

Maitre Karl is my favourite local restaurant and the last time I visited was in October. It is the home of the tarte flambe and of Karl, your host and owner. Arriving at Maitre Karl is an experience as Karl is there to greet you with his booming voice and friendly manner - he is hands on in his approach and can always be heard asking if everyone is having a good time.

Tonight, on this wet and windy evening we arrived and were invited to chose which table we wanted. It was 7.30pm and the restaurant was already quite full and we chose a table away from the front door and near the bar. Karl came over immediately and knew two of our dinner buddies, one who was celebrating a milestone birthday. We knew straight away we would be in for a great evening.

You cannot visit Maitre Karl without trying the tarte flambe which originates from Alsace , France. Tarte Flambée has a thinly rolled yeast free base spread with flavoursome fromage blanc (fresh cheese) and scattered with various ingredients. This is the perfect entree as you can get a few to share for the table. We decided to share 3 tarte flambes between 5 of us - maybe a little ambitious but we were all hungry. We chose the Strasbourgeoise - German sausage, onion and sauerkraut; Gratinée - Onion, bacon and gruyere cheese; and the special of the day which had smoked salmon and capers on top.

Each arrived at our table on a wooden chopping block and already carved up for easy distribution - the staff dished out two servings of each for everyone and left the rest for us to fight over. The easiest way to describe the tarte flambe is to think of a super thin pizza base - fresh and crusty and lightly layered with savoury toppings. My favourite tonight was the Strasbourgeoise as it was covered in caramelised onion, mild sauerkraut that had a tangy flavour that complimented the smokey sausage.

We had only just finished these before realising we hadn't ordered our main meals yet. It didn't take us long to decide and 3 of us chose the Steak Café de Paris - Rib eye on the bone with herb butter and red wine jus, pommes frites and 2 opted for the Poisson en papillotes - Fish of the day (barramundi), oven baked in a paper bag, potato fondantes, tomato, artichoke, orange and herbs.

The Steak Café de Paris was cooked to order (medium rare) and was enormous - when it arrived at the table I was convinced that I could feed a family of 4. The steak was tender and sat on a bed of long stringy fries and covered with a dollop of herb butter that had melted over the steak and onto the fries. It was delicious but I couldn't finish it all.

The wine list offers a handful of Australian wines and plenty of Austrian, French and German varietals. You can BYO however it is $8 corkage per bottle. The atmosphere at Maitre Karl is loud, buzzy and a little frantic with waiters rushing around and the constant stream of eager diners - many of who are locals and regulars as Karl seems to know everyone.

As a surprise to us all an amazing flourless chocolate cake arrived at our table for dessert - it was moist, decadent and a chocoholics delight. We were having such a great time that we all decided to come back the following morning for breakfast.......

Maitre Karl - 197 High Street, Willoughby - (02) 9958 1110

http://www.maitrekarl.com.au/

Toast, Mary St, Surry Hills

Toast, Mary St, Surry Hills
Saturday 24 March, 2007

Tucked away in the back of Surry Hills on a quiet street next to a design book store is Toast. Taking up an entire corner block and spilling out onto the sidewalk Toast offers a welcoming space with large open windows. Concrete floors, stunning Chinese screens hanging from the ceiling and wooden panels around the bar - the look is slick and industrial.

Offering all day breakfast on Saturday and Sunday (I love that) Toast is a relaxed place - the staff are laid back, the music alters from acid jazz one minute to loud pop the next - it's somewhere you could easily settle back and enjoy for hours. And...today we did. Arriving for brunch at 10am we didn't leave until 1pm.

We ordered coffees and once they were delivered a large bottle of water & glasses arrived at the table. I liked the fact we didn't have to ask for the water. The menus were already on the table and there were four of them - 2 x drinks menus e.g coffees, juices and shakes and 2 x food menus e.g eggs, omelette's, bircher muesli.

Hanging from the wall were the specials of the day - one that appealed to me - scrambled eggs, baby spinach, chorizo and grilled haloumi. My breakfast buddy ordered scrambled eggs with spinach and bacon.

Our food was delivered on large white rectangular plates and looked great. When asked if we wanted any pepper it arrived in a small dish - nice touch. Our breakfast was very good - the eggs were creamy, the haloumi was soft and mildly salty and the chorizo was thick cut and spicy. The servings were huge and we took our time.

Toast is worth a visit.

Toast - 23-33 Mary St, Surry Hills - (02) 9280 2615

Papaya, Military Rd, Cremorne

Papaya, Military Rd, Cremorne
Thursday 22 March, 2007

I have admired this place from afar for several months and received several recommendations to visit. Tonight, our group of 8 arrived prepared for a feast. We all live locally and are on a mission to try some of the best local offerings. To date we have been to The Oaks, Koume Japanese House and Go Zen. Tonight's offering Thai cuisine.

From the outside looking in Papaya is appealing - dark wood, dim lighting and colourful bench seats and cushions. We arrived and were directed to our table at the front in the large open window. This was well received as it was a balmy, steamy evening.

We arrived and were warmly greeted by the staff - there was a buzz of eager diners and the staff are rushing around the restaurant to meet demand - it's frantic but everything falls in to place. Papaya is also located next door to a Bottle Shop which makes it super handy for BYO.

We looked at the fabulous menus and were spoilt for choice - where to begin? So, we decided to draw on the expertise of the Maitre'd. We spoke with him about what we liked and didn't like so much and then left it in his capable hands. The best thing was we were thrilled with the food that arrived at our table, we couldn't have picked such a sensational feast if we tried!

We began with Chicken pieces wrapped in banana leaves and Fish cakes. The chicken was incredibly tender and was browned on the outside by the banana leaves. The Fish cakes were moist and light and the accompanying side sauce was like sticky honey - delicious!

After a much needed mini break the feast arrived in quick succession:

- Duck salad
- Chicken & potato yellow curry
- Tofu, chicken and vegetable stir fry
- Pad Thai

The presentation of the meals was fabulous - each dish came on a different shaped plate and everything looked so fresh and incredibly appetising. We tucked in immediately and were not disappointed. A large bowl of steamed rice also arrived which was perfect to soak up the lovely yellow curry.

The chicken curry was lovely with large chunks of chicken and a whole potato that we cut up at the table - it was a mild curry and very tasty. The Pad Thai arrived wrapped in a pancake and was bursting with flavour and vegetables. The stir fry was piled high with fresh vegetables and a good mix of chicken and tofu plus ginger that added a wonderful zing. The Duck salad was delightful - small-ish pieces of tender duck mixed in an Asian salad of shallots, lemongrass and vegetables all served in a large iceberg lettuce leaf.

Just when you thought it was not humanly possible to eat another mouthful a chocolate cake arrived with candles. It was one of the dinner buddies birthdays and Papaya were happy to accomodate.

This place is a serious find and I'll be back for takeaway and to eat in again soon.

Papaya - Shop 7, 307 MilitaryRd, Cremorne - (02) 9953 8992

http://www.papayathai.com.au/

Grace Cafe, York St, Sydney

Grace Cafe, York St, Sydney
Monday 19 March, 2007

Don't laugh...for the past 6 weeks my China buddy and I have attended Mandarin lessons every Monday night. We have two more classes to go. This has all been in preparation for an upcoming trip to China.

To psyche ourselves up beforehand we have been catching up at the Grace Cafe. We have been using this time to remind ourselves what we learnt the week before and grab a quick bite to eat. The Grace Hotel is on the way so is a good place to park ourselves.

The Grace Cafe is located on street level on the corner of York & King Sts. The cafe promotional blurb states,

"Experience the newly refurbished, contemporary Grace Café. Enjoy our fresh menu with daily specials in a stress-free dining atmosphere, right in the heart of the CBD."

The decor is simple, clean and accessible and attracts a range of CBD workers, tourists and hotel guests. The staff mean well however they are not on top of things - they are just going through the motions and there is no spark or indication that they are enjoying what they do.

I've sampled a range of food here, usually depending on my mood and have tried a coffee or two and:

- Club Sandwich with chicken, bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato and served with fries $15
- Banana bread $4
- White and dark chocolate charlotte - white velvety chocolate and bittersweet chocolate mousse with jaconde biscuit and orange glaze $9


The Club Sandwich was enormous and made to order. It was absolutely delicious but my eyes were bigger than my belly and I couldn't finish it. The filling was mainly chicken with a lean amount of the other ingredients. The Banana bread was served thick and warm with plastic packets of butter - should have been real butter served in a dish - but it was freshly baked and yum. The White & dark chocolate charlotte was decadent and satisfied my need for chocolate for a month!

The food is reasonably priced for a CBD hotel and has always been good. The cafe is usually half full with suits having meetings and visiting families catching an early dinner.

Grace Cafe - 77 York St, Sydney - (02) 9272 6888

http://www.gracehotel.com.au/

Sky Phoenix, Castlereagh Street, Sydney

Sky Phoenix, Castlereagh Street, Sydney

Sunday 18 March, 2007

I've never been disappointed by this place - it continually delivers a great yum cha experience. My last visit reminded me and this visit confirmed it.

Today we were celebrating two birthdays (well, three if you include the 75th birthday of the Harbour Bridge) so it was Chinese tea toasts all around . We arrived up the steep escalators from Pitt St Mall and were welcomed into the large dining space. The larger tables are located at the rear so we walked past the impressive display of awards, huge glassed in wine rack and private rooms.

The staff are in abundance here so for us hungry diners it was heaven. Trolleys rolled past so frequently that we were turning them away. We started with a selection of steamed buns served in baskets - pork buns, steamed vegetable dumplings and seafood dumplings. They also provided us with the hottest chilli sauce which added a wonderful kick.

We then moved onto the delicious, tender pork - served in thick sliced strips and lined up on an oval plate, Singapore noodles and salt & pepper calamari. It just kept getting better. Between the 5 of us we polished off everything with ease and finished the savoury meals with prawn wontons that were crispy on the outside and tender in the middle.

A trip to yum cha is not complete without sampling some of their sweet offerings. Today we decided to go with the mango pancakes - two long, thin slices of mango surrounded by a light cream substance (probably sugar and egg whites) and wrapped in pancakes.

We loved every minute of it.

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

http://www.skyphoenix.com.au/content/index2.html

Bathers' Pavillion, The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach

Bathers Pavilion, The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach
Saturday 17 March, 2007

It's been over 12 months since my last visit to Bathers so I was really looking forward to dinner tonight. Balmoral is a stunning location and the restaurant promotion states,

"The Bathers' Pavillion is owned by chef Serge Dansereau. 'A little more' encapsulates a great deal of Bather's philosophy. Emphasis is placed on creating a unique and memorable eating experience within stylish, timeless interiors with warm, friendly and informed service."

It had rained earlier in the day but the temperature was still a little steamy and the waves crashed into the beach as we walked along the promenade to the entrance. The great thing about coming to Balmoral at night is the parking situation. You can actually get a park close to the beach!

The Bathers' Pavilion has a fascinating history. The building itself was commissioned by Mosman Council in 1924, the foundation stone laid in 1928 and officially opened in 1929. The building was designed with a Moor-ish feel and offered change facilities and lockers and also sold swimmers, towels and caps. This continued until 1967 when it became a brunch institution called Mischa's. After a long battle with renovations, council approvals etc it re-opened in 1999 in its current form.

We were welcomed and shown to our table by the window overlooking the beach. The interior is relaxed, beachy and colourful with splashes of blue throughout and colourful artwork that rotates regularly. The restaurant was partly full and we were provided with menus. My dinner buddy this evening had the Entertainment Book so we would be getting 25 % off the total bill. Nice one...as the prices at Bathers are 2 courses for $75 and 3 courses for $115.

We decided on 2 courses and chose to do main & dessert. It didn't take me or my dinner buddy long to decide:

Me: Otway Ranges lamb loin with pressed shank, potato gratin and bean casserole
Dinner buddy: Snapper fillet with marron and sea scallop, lemongrass rossini and snow pea salad
Me: Brulee of lemon cream with raspberry sorbet and berry jus
Dinner buddy: Mango floating island with tropical ratatouille, guava sorbet and sesame seed biscuit

Our waiter was French and had lovely accent. Even though his English was good we had to strain at times to understand him as we got swept up with the wonderful accent. The table next to us however couldn't understand a word he said and requested another waiter. The only downside to his service was when I asked for a recommendation of a glass of wine to go with my main meal. Of the 5 or so suggestions he recommended the most expensive one. The glasses ranged from $10 - $18 and he jumped to the most expensive with no alternative option. I didn't appreciate this and especially when I heard him do the same thing to the table next to us.

The food was sensational - my lamb loin was tender and cut into small disc portions laid up against each other, the pressed shank was delicious and the potato gratin was served in a rectangle block. The bean casserole came to the table on a separate plate that looked remarkably like a small souffle saucepan. It was served cold which I thought was a little odd but tasted good once I mixed in with the pressed shank.

The brulee was incredibly tasty - I wouldn't usually go for lemon sweets as I'm a chocolate girl but it was creamy, sweet and very more-ish. We ordered tea afterwards and were presented with a fabulous container of 15 different teas in small porcelain dishes. It was beautifully presented and made out decision difficult. The explanation of each tea was listed on the base.

Overall, a lovely evening and with 25% off the bill even more satisfying.

Bathers Pavilion - 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach - (02) 9969 5050

http://www.batherspavilion.com.au/

Altitude, Cumberland St, The Rocks

Altitude, Cumberland St, The Rocks

Thursday 15 March, 2007

It was too good to pass up.......the opportunity to experience the culinary delights of a current 2 star (former 3 star) Michelin chef visiting Sydney. Sign me up. The invitation stated,

Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney is celebrating French Haute Cuisine at Altitude Restaurant & invites you to join European guest chef Jacques Pourcel from Le Jardin Des Sens & Altitude's executive chef, Michael Kean. Pourcel, an award winning French chef, & Kean will create culinary delights inspired by the marriage of our own Australian produce, Mediterranean cooking styles, and the ambience of Pourcel's home country France, integrating the aromatic flavours of pepper, saffron, vanilla, cinnamon and coconut. Pourcel and his brother Laurent own restaurants in Paris, Montpellier, Tokyo, Bangkok, London, Shanghai and Mauritius and have been awarded 3 Michelin Stars in 1998 for their creative approach to fine food. Altitude's a la carte menus are priced from $150 & degustation menus from $250, both selections showcasing the rich colour, flavour & Haute cuisine for which both chef's are renowned. Each will be accompanied by wines selected by French sommelier, Thierry Lebouc from Montpellier, France. Bookings essential.

I arrived early and took the lift to the top floor of the Shangri-La. I approached the reception desk of Altitude and gave the name our table had been booked under. The staff member had a quick look and then asked me if I definitely had a booking here tonight. I asked her to have another look but after scanning her list again she told me there was no reservation and turned me away. I stood there dumb-founded. My saving grace was soaking up the incredible views over the Harbour to the north until my dinner buddy arrived.

A short while later my dinner buddy arrived and I shared the news. She whipped out her email confirmation plus deposit receipt and we approached the reception desk again. Thankfully, a different staff member was behind the desk and he found our booking immediately. We explained what had happened with the other staff member and he apologised profusely stating that our booking was clearly noted.

We were seated at a prime table by the window looking down onto the Harbour Bridge. It was absolutely spectacular and we took a minute to soak it all in. Our waiter explained that a special menu had been prepared and we could either have the degustation or a three course meal prepared by Jacques Pourcel. He also shared with us that we could order another course at any time for $30.

We had been sent the menu via email earlier in the week so already knew what we wanted to order. We both agreed to try 4 courses off the a la carte menu and match wines from their French list. Here's what we ordered:

Me: Zucchini flowers stuffed and baked with crayfish tails, vegetable fricassee and herb butter emulsion

Dinner buddy: Butternut squash puree topped with fresh truffle shavings and crushed hazelnuts

Me: Crayfish tails semi oven baked next to a cannelloni of zucchini confit with caviar butter and scampi oil

Dinner buddy: Crayfish tails semi oven baked next to a cannelloni of zucchini confit with caviar butter and scampi oil

Me: Brochette of beef fillet with mushrooms with a potato galette and onion confit, passion wine jus reduced and seasonal salad

Dinner buddy: Challans duck wings confit in a stew of pistachio butter with the fillet roasted, chicken liver flan and roasting jus lifted with orange

Me: Chocolate butternut fondant served with crunchy nougatine, caramel a la creme and full milk ice cream

Dinner buddy: Chocolate butternut fondant served with crunchy nougatine, caramel a la creme and full milk ice cream

After we ordered we were served three complimentary starters:

- Olive tapenade with four styles of cheese bread e.g. Parmesan bread, blue cheese scroll

- Amuse bouche of puree carrot, pea and creme fraiche

- Olive oil served with freshly baked bread

One of the highlights during the night was watching Jacques Pourcel come out of the kitchen with a translator and visit each and every table for a chat. It was a lovely touch and when he arrived at our table we shook his hand, welcomed him to Sydney and congratulated him on the menu.

The food was beautifully presented and each course was very good (especially the chocolate and butternut fondant) BUT I was expecting more. I don't like to go there but I've had far better meals at Tetsuya and Vue de Monde. I think the hype surrounding a Michelin star chef over shadowed the actual food.

It was a good experience overall but the absolute highlight for me was the view.

Altitude - Level 36, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks - (02) 9250 6123

http://www.altitudesydney.com.au/

Cinque, King St, Newtown

Cinque, King St, Newtown

Wednesday 14 March, 2007

After several weeks eating at Simply Noodles, we decided to revert back to our old Newtown haunt before the movies - Cinque. We sat at the tables in the foyer entrance to the DENDY cinemas directly opposite FiSH records.

Trying to flag down a waiter was like trying to locate a needle in a haystack..........incredibly frustrating and tiresome. The staff have turned over again since my last visit and there was no warmth or personality displayed at all. They merely stood over the table, took the order and delivered the order. Hardly any words were shared or smiles offered.

Even though I had started a habit of ordering from their all day breakfast menu for dinner I had a good look at their other menu items and decided to order the Burger Royale. My movie buddy ordered the quesadilla (a toasted tortilla with melted cheese inside).

The crowd at Cinque is urban - Uni students, mums and prams, staff from the local hospital and professionals. It's this laid back mix that makes Cinque so appealing as does their location in the heart of Newtown.

The meals were good - exactly what you expect at a cafe. The letdown? The service.

We'll probably give it another go next week, so stay tuned.....

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

Cargo Bar, The Promenade, King St Wharf

Cargo Bar, The Promenade, King St Wharf

Tuesday 13 March, 2007

Where do you take three Danish girls for dinner after a visit to the Aquarium? For me there was only one choice..........Cargo Bar. I have only been to Denmark once in my life (and I thoroughly enjoyed it) but it was obvious to me that the outdoor culture doesn't exist in the same way it does here (primarily because of the weather). So, having taken the girls to Opera Bar earlier today and now Cargo Bar they were starting to see a pattern in how Australian's live.

We initially sat in the beer garden area downstairs where we enjoyed a drink and considered their menu. Cargo Bar has a variety of food offerings ranging from starters (calamari and chunky fries) and pizzas to salads and mains (pork ribs, schnitzels and burgers). The Danish girls shared with me that had two food goals in Australia:

1) try Vegemite

2) eat Kangaroo

The pizza menu could assist us with one of these goals. They offer a Kangaroo, sweet potato & wild rocket pizza. We ordered & paid at the bar and were handed a table number. Within 15 mins a staff member delivered us a Tandoori chicken, mint yoghurt & mango chutney, lime & black pepper pizza. What the!@? We politely explained that we hadn't ordered this pizza and the staff member apologised and explained it would take another 15 mins. No problem - we had time.

Our pizza arrived and the Danish girls eagerly looked it over. It smelt like lamb and looked like thin strips of lamb but tasted a little more chewy. It was actually quite tasty and the girls polished off their slices with glee. An Australian food goal had been achieved!

A short time later a large group from Sydney Uni began setting up for a ski themed function so we were informed that if we wanted to stay we would have to relocate upstairs. The upstairs crowd was more 'suits' than Uni students and we enjoyed the laid back atmosphere.

Overall, a great afternoon.

Cargo Bar - The Promenade, King St Wharf - (02) 9262 1777

http://www.cargobar.com.au/#

Opera Bar, Lower Concourse Level, Sydney Opera House

Opera Bar, Lower Concourse Level, Sydney Opera House
Tuesday 13 March, 2007

Today I was showing three lovely Danish girls around the city. We did a guided tour of the Opera House (fantastic and as a local I enjoyed it just as much as a tourist) and I even learnt a thing or two. Did you know that the organ in the Concert hall took 10 years to build and two years to tune? I was also fascinated by the exhibit of Max Dupain photographs on display in the foyer of the Playhouse and Drama Theatre that showcase the construction of the Opera House during the 1960's.

After walking the 200+ stairs of the Opera House we decided lunch was the go. The last time I visited Opera Bar was for dinner so today it was the perfect lunch venue to show of our sensational Harbour. The girls were overwhelmed by the view - Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city skyline - and it was timely reminder for me that I live in the best city on earth. Sydney is the place to be.

We ordered wine and sat soaking up the atmosphere. The lunch menu at Opera Bar offers a variety of meals and but our needs were pretty simple:

2 x Fusilli pasta with kalamamta olives, oregano, Persian feta and shaved parmesan

2 x Beer battered flathead fillets with chips & tartare sauce

The staff at Opera Bar are aloof and appear detached and superior. I just don't get this. If I worked at Opera Bar and was lucky enough to soak up that atmosphere every day I'd be in a sensational mood. Instead you have staff who appear to have just woken up or have just arrived home after a big night out. With a large number of visitors and locals passing through the area it would be great to see engaging, enthusiastic staff at Opera Bar...........at least once!

Nevertheless, we enjoyed our lunch as the location is a winner. The food is average but you are not going there for the food. It's all about the location.

Opera Bar - Lower Concourse Level, Sydney Opera House - (02) 9247 1666

http://www.operabar.com.au/home.html

Book Kitchen, Devonshire St, Surry Hills

Book Kitchen, Devonshire St, Surry Hills
Saturday 10 March, 2007

This is a foodie find. Go for breakfast, lunch and dinner and allow plenty of time to browse the books - cookbooks, food travel, old & new - it's a wonderful distraction.

A visit to Surry Hills for me has to include a side trip to Vivid - a wonderful shop full of gifts, clothes and jewellery. After spending 30 mins here I wondered down to the Book Kitchen to meet my Italy buddy for a leisurely breakfast.

The Book Kitchen was full but not over-crowded and we easily secured a table near the open kitchen. It's a converted warehouse with concrete floors and exposed beams - the dining area is a small & compact space and there's a library of books in the front on the right. After ordering coffees our waiter asked us if we would consider moving to another table. He had table of 8 waiting and couldn't fit them in anywhere else. 'Not a problem' was our reply to which he almost hugged us and then said the coffees were on him. Thanks.

We checked out the menu and I love the fact they offer breakfast until 3pm. I couldn't go past the Spanish baked eggs with tomato confit, capsicum and oregano (chorizo optional). It just sounded so good and the chorizo was an absolute must. My Italian buddy ordered the same.

The baked eggs arrived at the table on a large white plate and looked sensational - a plate full of eggs, tomato, capsicum and chorizo (which was a little light on) served with great coffee (a special blend by Single Origin Roasters). What more could you want for breakfast?

The Book Kitchen offers more than just great food - as their description states,

The Book Kitchen is the result of passionate chefs travelling the world experiencing culinary delights when and wherever possible. David Campbell worked for Tetsuya in London and transferred to the US to continue the concept for Millennium Hotels. After experiencing in New York how restaurant menus can be so produce driven, David knew it was time to start sharing his passion with fellow foodies. Time in London and Europe showed just how much Australians miss out on food literature. Not just cookbooks but novels, reference guides, photographic journals, foreign language books and professional texts.

Our new "kitchen'' combines serving the freshest, sustainable, seasonal produce available with a broad selection of food related books. Our floor staff are a combination of chefs and other industry people who love epicurean books. Our aim is to create an atmosphere to stimulate the minds of all lovers of food.

The Book Kitchen sources organic and free range produce where possible. This means that we search for the best seasonal produce with our suppliers. As organic and bio-dynamic foods use traditional farming methods and don't use pesticides, ingredients aren't always available. So where we can we will substitute for another ingredient. Our menus are market driven, as we go to the markets ourselves twice a week we can change the menu accordingly.
We have sourced bio-dynamic eggs from Havago farm in Oberon, use Country Valley organic milk in our coffee, use line caught fish and other ecologically sustainable produce.

I love this place and will go back for dinner one day soon.

Book Kitchen - 255 Devonshire St, Surry Hills - (02) 9310 1003

http://www.thebookkitchen.com.au/

Quadrant, Macquarie St, Sydney

Quadrant, Macquarie St, Sydney
Friday 9 March, 2007

Learning that Quadrant offers a pre-theatre menu special was music to my ears. As their website explains,

Quadrant Restaurant is perfect for pre-theatre dining just a few minutes stroll from the Sydney Opera House. For just $35.00 per person the imaginative pre-theatre dinner menu offers guests a main course and a glass of fine Australian wine.

As a regular visitor to the Opera House for live theatre, plays etc it is getting a little tired to find somewhere new & exciting to eat beforehand. So, without hesitation we decided to give Quadrant a go.

I called about 2 weeks to make the reservation. The call was answered by a reception desk staff member who explained she would take the reservation and the restaurant would call back later to confirm. They didn't. A few days later I called again and got the same response. A few days after that I asked to be put through to the restaurant and finally got confirmation of our booking. It can't be that hard people.

We arrived early-ish and immediately loved the vantage point Quadrant offers - it is on L2 so looks down across East Circular Quay. On a Friday night this a fabulous people watching territory.

The pre-theatre menu was already on the table and our waiter was pleasant and attentive, ensuring our water glasses were topped up and we had enough complimentary bread (served with an accompanying platter of butter, salt and olive oil). The dining space is compact but we didn't feel cramped. We were fortunate enough to have a corner table so felt quite private and removed from the remainder of the restaurant.

There were three options for the main meal on the pre-theatre menu. I opted for the tenderloins of lamb served with asparagus whilst my dinner buddy ordered the trout. To compliment this we ordered a bowl of fries. We were offered our wine up front while waiting for our meals which was a nice touch and it didn't take long for the meals to be served at all.

The lamb was delicious, very tender and a generous serve. The disappointment, however, was our fries. They were those shoe string fries that go cold really quickly. This isn't to say we didn't polish off over the bowl....we could have sat there for hours enjoying the activity below.

For a pleasant pre-theatre meal I would absolutely consider Quadrant again.

Quadrant - Level 2, Quay Grand Suites, 61 Macquarie Street, East Circular Quay - (02) 9256 4000

http://www.mirvachotels.com.au/

Bentley Bar & Restaurant, Crown St, Surry Hills

Bentley Bar & Restaurant, Crown St, Surry Hills

Thursday 8 March, 2007

Open for almost 12 months the Bentley Bar & Restaurant has received plenty of accolades. From Sommelier of the Year, Nick Hildebrandt to Best New Restaurant it's almost peaked too soon. I couldn't wait to get there myself and check it out.

Ex-Moog chef Brent Savage has created a modern European menu with Spanish influences. There's a bar menu that offers tapas plates that looked really appealing but our intention was to sit and enjoy a meal in the compact, red themed restaurant.

Located on the city end of Crown St their signature dish is published as Warm shellfish salad; pan-roasted snapper with sweet corn, black funghi, zucchini flower and squid ink. It sounded great but the menu offered far more appealing options. We arrived on this rainy, hectic Thursday night and were warmly greeted. I love a good welcome, not over the top and not dismissive, just right.

We decided to try their degustation menu - 8 courses for $95pp - this was really reasonable considering the variety and quality of the food. I was impressed by almost each and every plate the was delivered to our table (expect that plate of summer, miniature vegetables that tasted bland, not cooked through and let the standard of our other dishes down).

The highlights were the unique almond milk gazpacho delivered up front on a tray. It was also served with a single silver spoon carrying a citrus flavoured oyster and a chorizo sausage slice wrapped in a soft shell taco. The variety of flavours and the creativity behind the dishes and the presentation were fabulous. Also, worth mentioning were thin rolled slices of duck (lean and delicious), the flat pork belly (tender and exquisite) and for dessert the complimentary offering of espresso gelato and egg whites - the marriage of coffee and fluffy egg whites was intriguing.

Our waiter was attentive, helpful with our wine choice and discreet when topping up glasses. He cleared our plates immediately and allowed us ample time between courses. The service was really good and unpretentious.

I enjoyed the experience and would happily return to sample some more food and explore the wine list further.

Bentley Bar & Restaurant - 320 Crown St, Surry Hills - (02) 9332 2344

http://www.thebentley.com.au/

Belgian Beer Cafe, Harrington St, The Rocks

Belgian Beer Cafe, Harrington St, The Rocks
Monday 5 March, 2007

I came here for lunch a week or two ago and had a surprisingly good experience. Prior to that I hadn't visited for almost 12 months. You know how you go through cycles of visiting a place to death? Well, I had reached that with this place. My last visit (excluding a week or so ago) was in March 2006 for dinner.

Today, my lunch buddy and I met at 12.30pm inside the reception area. I love the heritage look and feel of the place and it's a shame they haven't done more with this - e.g. provide some history on the back of the menus.

We were seated on the side of the main dining space - it was already buzzing as the noise carries. I knew what I wanted to eat but still enjoyed reading the lengthy menu that starts with,

The menus feature traditional Belgian Bistro favourites like "Moules-frites", mussels served with chips, and "Waterzooi a la Ghentoise", a typical chicken stew. Many of the dishes are prepared with beer as a main ingredient.

Although I am well aware that the mussels are the house speciality I've yet to be tempted to order them..........one day. However I do like their useful tip provided on the menu,

Hint: Keep the shell from the first mussel you eat and use this as your pincher for the rest of the dish. So please... NO KNIVES AND FORKS. Our mussels are always of prime eating quality, however, in July and August they may have a slightly different taste because it is their spawning season.

Today I had an overwhelming desire to increase my iron intake, so ordered the Char grilled Beef Rib Eye (350 Grams) served with roasted rosemary & garlic potatoes and Bearnaise sauce for $26.50. My lunch buddy ordered the same thing. We also requested that the meat be cooked medium rare and on the rarer side. Our waitress took this to the kitchen and returned a short time later. The chef was more than happy to prepare the meat this way as this was the truest form of medium rare. I wasn't aware of this but it was nice that he sent the message back to us.

Well, I can confidently say that they delivered - the meat was cooked to perfection and I enjoyed every mouthful......as did my lunch buddy.

Belgian Beer Cafe - 135 Harrington St, The Rocks - (02) 9241 1775

http://www.belgian-beer-cafe.com.au/

Next Cafe, Darling St, Rozelle

Next Cafe, Darling St, Rozelle

Saturday 3 March, 2007

This morning I was catching up with a Balmain buddy for brekkie. Next Cafe is a light, airy place with a relaxed vibe, so much so that the staff spend most of their time talking with each other and not much time focusing on their bread & butter.....the customers!

We arrived at 9.30am this morning and found a table at the front on the sidewalk. It was at least 10 mins before anyone realised we had arrived and might want to order coffee. When a staff member did finally appear they did not meet your eyes when they spoke - it was really odd but consistent amongst all the staff. We ordered coffees and waited.

The menu offers a variety of breakfast options ranging from porridge, eggs, toast and fruit salad. In my quest to find the best eggs benedict around I contemplated ordering this but then spotted the 'Eggs Benenext' - a variation on eggs benedict. This consisted of two poached eggs on thick cut toast with tomato relish, country ham and drizzled with hollandaise. My brekkie buddy ordered scrambled eggs and bacon with spinach.

There was a constant stream of breakfast seekers at Cafe Next but it didn't appear over crowded. Our coffees arrived first followed shortly afterwards by breakfast. My breakfast was pretty good - the thick cut toast was perfect to soak up the drizzled hollandaise and the poached eggs were perfect but the ham was not cooked so tasted cold and soggy. The coffee was pretty good, not sensational and we did order a second round.

I'm sure there are better cafes in Rozelle - if you know of one let me know.

Next Cafe - 618 Darling St, Rozelle - (02) 9555 5418

Paddington Bowling Club, Quarry St, Paddington

Paddington Bowling Club, Quarry St, Paddington

Thursday 1 March, 2007

At the end of Day One of our team conference we were invited to jump in cabs & head over to Paddington Bowling Club. Barefoot bowling was the afternoon activity followed by an Aussie BBQ prepared by the Quarry Bistro.

The promotional blurb from Clubs NSW states,



Forget clubs and pubs — lawn bowls is where the action is! Paddo Bowlo is one of Sydney’s hottest meeting places for inner-city singles. It’s a quirky venue for birthdays, hens and bucks parties and corporate events. You don’t need to be a member of the club to play unless you live within a five-kilometre radius. The restaurant will deliver food to your table on the green.

On arrival I was amazed by the sight of guys & girls in rolled up suit pants walking barefoot across the green. The place was packed and it was 4.30pm on a Thursday - don't these people work? We were invited to lanes 12 & 13 on the rear bowling green to meet our instructor. She talked us through the rules, split us into 4 teams, coached us and kept score. All the while we enjoyed some gourmet nibbles and drinks. The platters of food awaiting us consisted of fresh rice paper rolls, mushroom frittatas, spring rolls and lamb skewers. It was just what we needed to give us the get up & go to bowl.

After laughing our way through several games and awarding the winning team (congrats Team Numero Uno) we migrated back indoors to the private room. Located past the bar and up some stairs this room has chocolate carpet, white walls and groovy light fittings. It's prefect for a team activity or event.

As we entered there was another large table set up that still had the used plates and left over food from another group. It would have been nice to have this cleared away before we entered.

On a large buffet table we were provided with large platters of salad, lamb chops, sausage rissoles and chicken fillets. It was a casual evening and a fun way to finish off a long day. The staff were occasionally attentive - it came in waves - at times they were on top of things and arrived to clear the table but most of the time they stayed in theme with the entire club....laid back.

I'd definitely return for an afternoon of bowls.

Paddington Bowling Club - 2 Quarry St, Paddington - (02) 9363 1150