Jimmy's Recipe Malaysia, Tank Stream Way, Sydney

Jimmy's Recipe Malaysia, Tank Stream Way, Sydney

Tuesday 31 July, 2007

Jimmy's is slowly working its way into my favourite lunchtime destinations. As a frequent visitor I have sampled their laksa's more than once and can share with you that I'm a massive fan.

I've introduced about 4 foodie friends to Jimmy's and all agree that the laksas are up there in taste. It's the pokey, intimate dining space that needs work. On my last visit Jimmy was complaining loudly as he made his way through the cramped space clearing tables. He's on the lookout for a larger CBD venue but you know city prices....

However, in the meantime you can enjoy a chicken laksa for the bargain basement price of $7. Today, we arrived and were pleasantly surprised to find the place almost empty. With our table secured we paid our money and were handed 2 x chicken laksas within moments.

The steaming bowls were a sight to behold - they were packed full of thin noodles, tofu, chicken, shallots, bean sprouts etc. And the taste? Well, let's just say they are the perfect cure for blocked sinuses! The bowls were so large that we just couldn't finish them....and believe me I've tried several times. The spicy soup was very hot but very, very good.

By the time we had finished our laskas there was a queue out the entrance. Jimmy's is a CBD institution. Get there before it disappears!

Jimmy's Recipe Malaysia - Shop 3, 17-19 Bridge Street, Tank Stream Way (Singapore Airline House), Sydney

the loft, Lime St, Sydney

the loft, Lime St, Sydney

Sunday 29 July, 2007

In our quest to find the best High Tea offering in Sydney we stumbled across the loft High Tea Lounge. Located at King St Wharf, the loft has recently added High Tea to their list of attractions. It seems that everyone is jumping on the High Tea bandwagon of late and the more the merrier I say! It's a great afternoon activity to share with a group of friends.

We arrived for our 1pm reservation a little early and were welcomed in as the staff we still setting up. The loft decor is all brown & orange with funky orange dividers separating light brown lounges with orange pillows. Each section seats between 4 - 8 people and is reminiscent of a relaxed lounge bar. There is also a large outdoor area covered by blinds and an amazing wood work ceiling. The theme is mildly Balinese with wonderful large wooden Buddhas on display in each bathroom.

There are 2 options for High Tea - Traditional high tea for $35 pp or High Tea with a twist for $45pp. The difference between the two is that the High Tea with a twist also offers a choice of either a teapot cocktail or a glass of sparkling. We opted for the twist and then had to face the extensive list of teapot cocktails to pick from.

The teapot cocktails are unique and the idea is to select one between two. Two of us chose the Importance of Being Ernest - Pimms No. 1 stirred gently with a selection of seasonal fruit, finished with dry ginger ale and lemonade and our High Tea buddies opted for the Turkish Delight - Plymouth gin and a touch of Tuaca shaken with home made rhubarb puree, pear cheek, fresh lemon and chilled T2 Turkish Apple tea.

Our teapot cocktails arrived first and the presentation was wonderful. Each came in a different shaped teapot and clear glasses filled with ice and fresh cucumber. Our Importance of Being Ernest was fresh, tangy and perfect to sip. Next to arrive was our three tiered trays packed full of goodies:

- Smoked salmon wrap

- Mini quiche

- Chicken & avocado sandwich

- Vegetable pissaldiere

- Savoury scroll

- Shortbread

- Lemon mini tart

- Scones with jam & fresh cream

- Dried & fresh fruit with warm chocolate dipping sauce

It was hard to know where to start with this spread. Do you go for the warm food first or follow the golden rule - savoury then sweet? We opted to start at the bottom and work our way up which was fine except by the time we had reached the warm chocolate dipping sauce it was cold. It could have been served on a warmer or tea light.

My favourite was the lemon mini tart - I'm not usually a fan of lemon anything but this was just lovely - the tart pastry was buttery and the filling was mildly sweet. The downside? There was only one each!

I was surprised that there were only a handful of people enjoying High Tea today - it's such a relaxing was to spend the afternoon and there is also a pianist on site to entertain you with such favourites as 'Moon River'. If I was to return for high tea again I'd ask for a lounge as far away from the pianist as possible. It's just that little bit too loud.

the loft - 3 Lime St, King Street Wharf, Sydney - (02) 9299 4770

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

Macro Wholefoods, Willoughby Road, Crows Nest

Macro Wholefoods, Willoughby Road, Crows Nest
Monday 23 July, 2007

Macro Wholefoods is located in the large site next to the Crows Nest Hotel that once housed Five Star Gourmet. The concept is simple and described as,

"Macro Wholefoods Market in Crows Nest opened its doors on 1 December 2004. The store covers an area of 1200m2 and features a range of over 8,000 organic, natural and environmentally-friendly delights! Our departments include fresh produce, deli, bakery, butcher, grocery and naturopathic dispensary, make Macro Crows Nest your one-stop-shop for organic and wholefood products."

It really is a one stop shop and today I was meeting an old Uni buddy for lunch in the Macro Cafe. With so much focus on organic food and its benefits I was keen to understand the Macro concept better. They define organic as,

"grown and handled without the use of synthetic chemicals, artificial fertilisers, food irradiation or genetically modified ingredients (GMOs). Organic farming focuses on the health of the soil and utilises the best of both traditional agriculture and modern techniques to produce nutritious fruit and vegetables with minimal intervention. Organic farming also cares for our environment through the use of renewable resources and a commitment to the conservation of energy, soil and water. Buying certified organic means that the produce has passed the stringent requirements of a 3-year certification process, ensuring integrity for the consumer. Our organic produce is fully certified by Australian Certified Organic (ACO)."

The Macro Cafe is open plan and spills out onto the pavement. It's very relaxed and the menu is listed on laminated menus on the table with specials written on a large blackboard. As much as I loved the open plan setting it was also an open invitation for pigeons (rats of the sky) and my skin crawled each time one flew in.

On the plus side there was a complimentary water tank that you could help yourself to, a range of organic produce in jars to sample and great organic coffee. Once you know what you want you can order & pay at the counter. The staff then hand you a large green teddy bear moneybox with a number on it to place on your table. My lunch buddy and I both ordered one of the specials - Tomato, lentil & barley soup.

The soup was sensational. Served in a humongous bowl with wholegrain bread roll & butter on the side it was thick, incredibly tasty and very more-ish. I savoured every mouthful. If I knew it was going to be on the menu regularly I would return more often!

Macro Wholefoods - 13 - 19 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest - (02) 9004 1240

http://www.macrowholefoods.com.au/crowsnest.html

Briars Inn, Moss Vale Rd, Bowral

Briars Inn, Moss Vale Rd, Bowral
Monday 23 July, 2007

Waking on this glorious, sunny morning you could be forgiven for thinking it was over 30 degrees outside. I opened the door to our room and was harshly reminded that it was in fact only 5 degrees - very cold.

Even more amusing was arriving for breakfast at the Briars Inn and discovering they had shipped in snow for a Christmas in July function the night before. The small steps and entrance into the Inn were lined with thick, icy blocks that hadn't melted overnight.

The Briars Inn breakfast is a buffet. Once you provide your room number to the staff on arrival you can sit anywhere. The table set up is a series of small tables and a large share table. There's the cereal table with about 10 different offerings - I always feel compelled to mix my cereals when presented with so many options; the cold section with fresh fruit salad, yoghurt, large bowls of halved apricots and plums; the juice section with a variety of flavours; the bread section with wholemeal, brown, white, thick & thin loaves; the hot section with bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms and roasted tomatoes plus tea & coffee.

It's a decent spread and during a leisurely breakfast you can easily manage something from each section. The staff also lay out several copies of the NSW papers that you can borrow. I'm not a fan of percolated coffee so left breakfast each morning craving real coffee but overall was impressed with the Briars Inn breakfast......especially as they stayed open till 10am.

Briars Inn - Moss Vale Rd, Bowral - (02) 4868 3566


http://www.briars.com.au/index.php

Cafe Rocca, Bong Bong St, Bowral

Cafe Rocca, Bong Bong St, Bowral
Sunday 22 July, 2007

After a leisurely stroll through Bowral shops and a great find (the local Cheese shop stocks my all time favourite cheese - Clarines - which I had to purchase) we were in need of lunch.

Next door to the fabulous & highly awarded Gumnut patisserie, spilling into the Grand Arcade and outside into the paved courtyard is Café Rocca. Inside it's a wood lovers paradise with large wooden bar, wooden floor boards and wooden chairs and tables - it's very relaxed and we decided to sit inside. It's not that large inside but the staff have to stay across three dining areas so you can appreciate that it took a while for them to realise we were seated and to get some menus.

The local publicity machine promotes Cafe Rocca as, "Michael and Raye Abouchabake have owned Café Rocca in Bowral for the last 10 years. The corner location at 299 Bong Bong Street is an ideal location to sit back and watch the world go by whilst enjoying a well made Belaroma coffee. The 70 seats are spread throughout the cosy interior, the fabulous sidewalk area and the air conditioned arcade. The funky and alive atmosphere of the café is well patronised by locals and visitors alike so don’t be surprised by being involved in tables banter!

There are also some cosy little corners for that quiet and intimate latte with someone special. The menu is extensive, with The Rocca Breakfast being a standout feature for those who are hungry. All the items are prepared fresh daily with stylish salads and superb pastas. It’s not difficult to see Michael’s Mediterranean influences throughout the menu."

The menu is also written on a large chalkboard but the staff had daily specials to share with us and these sounded much more appealing. Our waitress was engaging, cheerful and rattled off the specials with ease. Two of us ordered the chicken, bacon and mushroom pie and two ordered the chicken crepes.

Our food arrived and looked great - the pies came in a oval shaped ramekin filled with chicken, bacon and mushroom and topped with light, flaky pastry. The crepes came folded on half a round plate and was served with a side salad. The food looked great but was average - the pies were edible but lacked the heartiness of a good country gourmet pie. The filling was almost soup like in consistency with a few chunks of chicken, bacon and mushroom thrown in for good measure.

Overall, the food was priced well and commanded a good crowd - maybe we should have opted for the blackboard menu instead?

Café Rocca - Shop 8, Grand Arcade, 299 Bong Bong Street, Bowral - (02) 4861 6036

The Journeyman, Old Hume Highway, Berrima

The Journeyman, Old Hume Highway, Berrima

Saturday 21 July, 2007


I had heard wonderful things about this place and was really looking forward to our dinner tonight. Sometimes this works and sometimes it works against you - tonight I was disappointed and it's tough to follow Eschalot. Don't get me wrong the food was really lovely but the atmosphere and service were very average.

We arrived and found it difficult to navigate the uneven and badly lit entrance. That said, the great thing about dining out in the Southern Highlands is the parking - its free and there's plenty of it. There is an entrance well and front reception and we were directed to our table in the middle of the large open dining space. It felt stark and uninviting as opposed to the bar off the right of the entrance that had exposed sandstone walls and fairy lights - it looked like a Christmas in July haven.

After being seated we were left alone for over 15 mins. The staff didn't appear stretched so we must have been sitting in the service void. When we did receive some service it was disjointed and strained, except from our sommelier who was engaging, very knowledgeable and happy to discuss the local wines and her current studies towards a Master of Wine.

We were served a complimentary starter before we even ordered - artichoke soup - that came in a small tea cup and saucer - it was warm and rich and just the right amount to warm us up. After the cups were removed our waiter returned to take our orders. I found it very odd that they would serve us a starter without taking our order but we went with it. Shortly afterwards I ordered the blue swimmer crab pasta with chilli to start as did one of my dinner buddies - it was served in a large bowl and presented in a spiral bundle of spaghetti with a generous portion of blue swimmer crab and chilli - it was light and the pasta was al dente. Our other dinner buddies ordered the smoked salmon terrine and were very impressed.

For main I opted for the roast pork and pork belly. This was the standout for me. It was a generous serve and was delivered as two slices of roast pork with a slab of pork belly on the side. This was tender, slightly salty and very tasty - I enjoyed every mouthful. My dinner buddies had opted for the sirloin with pumpkin mash and 2 x blue swimmer crab pasta with chilli.

The other oddity with the service was getting our plates cleared - this seemed to take forever and at one point half the table was cleared and they forgot about the other plates. This wasn't realised by the staff until they delivered our next course. After the main meal we received another complimentary dish - quince jelly with brandy foam. I really loved this and was happy to forego dessert afterwards.

The atmosphere at the Journeyman was cold and the wait staff were poor - this is an important factor in the overall experience. If you remove it from the equation I would say it was a solid experience i.e. the food was really lovely but if you return the atmosphere and service to the equation it was disappointing.

I was expecting more and would like to return soon to give it another chance.

The Journeyman - Old Hume Highway, Berrima - (02) 4877 1911

http://www.highlandsnsw.com.au/journeyman/

Old Bakery Tea Rooms, Wingecarribee St, Berrima

Old Bakery Tea Rooms, Wingecarribee St, Berrima

Saturday 21 July, 2007

A trip to the Highlands is not complete without a spot of shopping or devonshire tea. So, we killed two birds with one stone and did both in Berrima today. We are all avid shoppers and I don't think there was one shop on the strip that we didn't indulge e.g. I couldn't go past good 'ol cobbers from the Lolly Swagman or chilli mustard from the Jam Factory.

After exhausting the shopping strip and taking our purchases back to the car we needed to eat. The Old Bakery Tea Rooms is located on Wingecarribee just a short stroll from the main road. The tea rooms have been there for over 100 years with several renovations - there's the front sun room that is lovely as it catches the afternoon sun and the original bakery and sandstone rooms with open fireplaces. It's a homely, inviting space and the staff are very relaxed.

We found a table in the front sun room and were surprised to find the tables covered in butchers paper and a tea cup of crayons. Without prompting we all reverted to childhood and proceeded to write and draw all over it. There was a laminated menu in a stand also on the table and when our waiter finally arrived to take our orders we heard the specials.

I ordered the chicken pie as did one of my lunch buddies and our other lunch buddies ordered the pumpkin soup with thick crusty bread. We also pre-ordered 2 x devonshire teas to share afterwards. After we had ordered the waiter turned to leave and then stopped. She turned and said with a smile..... the kitchen is backed up so there will be a 30 minute wait. This is something you really want to hear upfront and not after you had ordered. Fortunately we weren't in a hurry so didn't mind waiting.

Within 15 mins the meals arrived - extra kitchen staff called in???? The pies were just what you would expect from a cafe specialising in tea & scones - average and the accompanying chips and salad were worse. The pie base was overcooked and the filling was mushy. That said, my lunch buddies loved the pumpkin soup and the fresh crusty bread was divine.

I left most of my lunch and decided to focus on the devonshire tea. This definitely lived up to expectations - the scones were enormous and served warm and there was plenty of cream and jam on offer. This was impressive as you are usually scraping the dish for cream and jam - do you know what I mean? I've had devonshire tea before where they are stingy with the cream and jam and you feel as if it has been rationed.

We all enjoyed the devonshire tea (I enjoyed mine with coffee) and one scone each was more than enough - not sure I could have managed two. For all it's negatives, the Bakery Tea Rooms is quaint and I would recommend it for devonshire tea.



Old Bakery Tea Rooms - Wingecarribee St, Berrima - (02) 4877 1343

Eschalot, Old Hume Highway, Berrima

Eschalot, Old Hume Highway, Berrima

Friday 20 July, 2007

Our first night in the Southern Highlands and it was so cold it must have been snowing somewhere close by. It was freezing....

We had heard that one of the best places to eat was Eschalot in Berrima. Recently relocated from Bowral (Links House) to the gorgeous sandstone cottage in Berrima opposite The Journeyman (I'll get to that shortly). Eschalot stands out as it commands a high position surrounded by lush green grass, parks and paddocks. Directly opposite is the strip of quaint Berrima shops that weekenders flock to. The entry is difficult to locate and the grassy hill is moist and a bugger to navigate in heals - the steps from the road lead to locked doors with a sign instructing you to walk around to the side. It's awkward and not well lit at night.

On entry we were warmly greeted in the lobby - it was toasty warm and we commenced our disrobing - coats, scarves, gloves etc. I liked the fact you could do this in the lobby and not at the table. After we finished our dressing down we were invited into the dining space - it's a series of small rooms with open fireplaces. It's absolutely gorgeous. We were led into the front room that housed 5 tables in varying configurations. Hanging on the walls were caricatures of English gentry and some that closely resembled Australian politicians.

Our waiter was great - he was funny, easy going and shared just enough information with us to keep us entertained. For example, they have mushrooms on the menu described as from the train tunnel. They come from a local eccentric who grows them in a disused train tunnel and now sells them to Tetsuya, Neil Perry and Eschalot among others.

The menu was lean and offered some wonderful choices that made it very difficult to decide. I couldn't go past the goats cheese souffle to start and my dinner buddies ordered 2 x Tian of eggplant, red capsicum, bocconcini & herb salad and 1 x Mushrooms from the train tunnel on hazelnut brioche w/ fromage blanc. The presentation was excellent and we all sat back in sheer delight when the entrees arrived at the table. The souffle was just lovely - it wasn't served in a ramekin as I expected - it was presented like a creme brulee, served upside down on a flat plate. I loved it - it was cheesy, soft and melted in my mouth.

For main I ordered the Veal backstrap poached in butter, asparagus, paradise prawns, semolina gnocchi & lemon jus and my dinner buddies ordered 1 x Blue Eye Cod fillet, Boston Bay mussels, fennel, tomato & basil and 2 x Beef tenderloin, ‘pumpkin rice’, shiitake, spinach & ginger jus. Again, the presentation was fabulous and the food was really good. We also ordered a side of Brussels Sprouts & beans with brown sherry butter that were so good I could have eaten a whole bowl myself.

As full as were were the dessert menu beckoned. I have a sweet tooth and usually it involved chocolate however I was drawn to the pear tartine with saffron ice cream and pistachios as were my dinner buddies. It was presented as thin sheets of rectangular pastry and thin slices of pear layered on top. It was a little overcooked but still very edible and I loved the saffron ice cream.

For our first night in the Southern Highlands this was a treat.

Eschalot - 24 Old Hume Highway, Berrima - (02) 4877 1977

http://www.eschalot.com.au/

Glebe Point Diner, Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe

Glebe Point Diner, Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe
Wednesday 18 July, 2007

I first experienced this fab find two weeks ago and really enjoyed it. So, tonight when we were looking for a Glebe venue to celebrate a friends promotion. It was a no brainer for me........Glebe Point Diner.

We had an early booking and were warmly greeted by the engaging, relaxed staff. They move effortlessly between the tables, picking up an empty glass here, topping up water glasses there - you really feel like you are at a friend's house.

Since my last visit they have added an extra blackboard listing where all the produce is sourced e.g. Jewfish from Bermagui and Chicken from Camden. I think this is a great touch.

After ordering wine and enjoying the cosy atmosphere on this freezing evening we were given the run through of the menu. I am always so impressed by staff who share that little extra. For example, when the chook was being explained to us our waiter could have been playing charades as he explained the fact that oregano was rubbed underneath skin before it was roasted.

Everything on the menu sounded great but I couldn't go past the chicken liver pate for entree while my dinner buddies ordered the Fennel, pear and parmesan salad and Squid with chilli. The meals were presented simply and all looked incredibly inviting. I loved every mouthful of the pate, it was rich and a generous dollop was served. As good as it was I struggled to finish it towards the end. The salad was refreshing and light and the squid was well spiced.

The small dining space filled quickly as did the bench seats that you cannot reserve. A few people arrived and were turned away so I guess after all the media and word of mouth.....Glebe Point Diner has arrived.

For mains one of my dinner buddies and I ordered the roast organic pork loin with apple sauce and savoy cabbage. It was a generous serve and contained two great pieces of crackling. We were like kids in a candy store - I love crackling. The pork was so tender and the cabbage was crunchy. Our other dinner buddy ordered the jewfish and enjoyed the accompanying deep fried vegetables and spuds but found the fish a little salty.

At this point I was full and there was no way I could eat anything further. My dinner buddies ordered the baked custard with cumquat's which was truly sensational. I couldn't help myself and enjoyed a few mouthfuls of this dessert. Being a chocolate girl I would never typically order a dessert like that but after trying it - I'm sold.

Glebe Point Diner is a great experience - the staff are friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable, the food is simple with great flavour and the wine list is good - I'm loving the Mount Benson Shiraz. Another glass please....

Glebe Point Diner - 407 Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe - (02) 9660 2646

www.glebepointdiner.com.au

Golden Century, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park

Golden Century, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Sunday 15 July, 2007

Cheer cheer the red & the white! After watching the Swans demolish Carlton at the SCG we had worked up an appetite for our favourite Chinese. We had planned ahead and actually booked a table earlier that day thinking that it would be busy after the game. It wasn't.

The crazy thing about Golden Century is that you can arrive without a reservation and pretend you do. Before you know it you are whisked in and seated. Of course, I've never done it but I've heard you can.......

We arrived and were directed over to a window table. There were a handful of other Swans supporters inside so I didn't feel the need to remove my red & white scarf. Since my last visit, they have introduced a new menu with pictures - kind of like the Asian restaurants overseas do to attract the western diners. It's tacky but Golden Century is not about the decor - it's all about the food.

To begin we decided to order Chicken & sweet corn soup. For $5 of bowl it was huge and was a meal in itself. It was incredibly tasty and so big that we struggled to finish it before our next dishes arrived:

- Salt & pepper calamari
- Wasabi beef
- Fried rice

We requested some super hot chilli sauce to go with the salt & pepper calamari. This was sensational and gave the extra kick required. The calamari was served in large, long pieces instead of the usual bite size offerings.

The wasabi beef was good but they had gone overboard on the wasabi. So much so that each mouthful ended in tears. We were determined to eat it and gave the sinuses a massive work out. If anyone didn't know what we were eating they might think we were crying over our meal!

After struggling to finish everything we asked for the leftovers to be packed in takeaway containers - they were happy to oblige. Shortly afterwards we were served a complimentary plate of watermelon - delicious.

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

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

Bitton Gourmet, Copeland St, Alexandria

Bitton Gourmet, Copeland St, Alexandria

Saturday 14 July, 2007

Isn't this a find? After reading a short article in the Sunday Telegraph about David Bitton and his gourmet range I was keen to try brunch at Bitton Gourmet. Especially as their aim is five star food at café prices. I'm not that familiar with Alexandria other than knowing it is the factory outlet capital of Australia.

This morning Bitton Gourmet was packed to the rafters with a diverse crowd and plenty of kids (it also houses a kids play area). I walked through the 4 different dining areas and couldn't find an available space so returned to the coffee bar to wait for my brunch buddy. Shortly afterwards a young staff member explained that there was a waiting list for tables and there were 3 parties ahead of us. No problem I was happy to browse and suss out the mini emporium.

David Bitton was also on hand and checked that I had been taken care of. With his lovely accent and endearing manner he is the host with the most. It didn't take long for a table to become available and David thanked me for waiting as I past through the kitchen to the tiled dining space. I had literally sat down when another waiter appeared to welcome me and take my coffee order. The service here is really attentive and warm and if I lived down the road it would be my local.

My brunch buddy arrived and we ordered coffees and received a large bottle of water and tumblers. Coffee can be ordered in different sizes and our mugs of coffee went down a treat on this fresh and chilly day. For brunch our decision was really difficult as everything sounded fabulous. After careful consideration I ordered the French omelet (truffle and goat’s cheese) served with turkish bread and spicy tomato sauce and my brunch buddy ordered the One pan bacon and eggs with turkish bread.

We had a fair wait (it was super busy) however the food was excellent. My omelet came on a large plate with 3 slices of turkish and a shot glass of spicy sauce that was rich, red and delicious. The omelet oozed goats cheese and was so creamy - I couldn't get enough of it. Equally, my brunch buddy raved about her one pan bacon and eggs that came to the table in a small black pan.

So, do they live up to their aim? Absolutely - nothing is over $17 on the breakfast or lunch menu. I'll be back.

Bitton Gourmet - 37 Copeland St, Alexandria - (02) 9519 5111

http://www.bittongourmet.com.au/

Saffron Thai, Cnr George & Grosvenor Sts, Sydney

Saffron Thai, Cnr George & Grosvenor Sts, Sydney

Friday 13 July, 2007

Saffron Thai is located inside the Brooklyn Hotel - the local watering hotel for Grosvenor Place employees. There are two eating options here - sitting in the pub (order at the counter) or sitting in the glass conservatory (table service).

I usually opt for the pub but today we decided to book ahead (it was Friday) and sit in the glass conservatory. As it was Friday that place was packed around 12.30pm with the beer garden and front bars full to capacity and buzzing. Fortunately the glass conservatory was a little quieter and we were shown to our table overlooking the beer garden.

Although this section provides table service it is reasonably priced . Meals range from $8 - 18 and include stir fries, curries, and many entree favourites such as fish cakes, satay sticks,
spring rolls and money bags. My lunch buddy and I decided to share a few dishes and ordered:

- Duck pancakes with shallots

- Green chicken curry

- Pad thai

Our duck pancakes arrived first and were presented in long thin pancakes that were rolled not wrapped (like my favourite Chinese pancakes). The pancakes were floury and the duck was lean and they were crunchy with the long slices of cucumber packed inside. Next up, green chicken curry (this was the highlight). Served in a deep bowl with a generous amount of chicken this curry had a kick to reckon with. Spooned over steamed rice it was really good and so spicy that it guaranteed to clear your sinuses after one mouthful. Finally, the pad thai arrived and it was also good, especially with the curry sauce on top.

The table service was ad hoc and inefficient and our waitress turned up with our chilli sauce after we had finished our meals and she had already cleared the table. That said, the food was great and my lunch was so impressed she will be returning next week.

Saffron Thai, Brooklyn Hotel - Cnr George & Grosvenor Sts, Sydney - (02) 9247 6744

http://www.brooklynhotel.com.au/

Radio Cairo, Spofforth St, Cremorne

Radio Cairo, Spofforth St, Cremorne
Thursday 12 July, 2007

Who would have thought that a local dinner with friends would end up with an invitation to the Deni Ute Muster? For the uninitiated Deni is Deniliquin (near the NSW/ VIC border) and a Ute is a utility truck.

Tonight was dinner with the local crew & new friends. The local crew and I are working our way through the local restaurant offerings in Neutral Bay, Cremorne and Mosman. To date, we have experienced Papaya, Koume Japanese House, The Oaks and Go-Zen. Tonight's fare? African.

This long standing local has a loyal following and the reviews say it all,

"Sydney Eats 2006 "This funky cafe, a former Bent Fork Award winner, has been turning on the tastebuds of locals (and adventurous diners from further afield) for a little over 13 years with its world cuisine, groovy music and atmospheric decor."

We arrived for our 7.30pm booking and you could feel the buzz of the place immediately. There was almost a full house and we were seated at a long table to accomodate our party of 12. The very good looking, young male staff were attentive, good humoured and eager to please - might have helped that we had several young, very good looking females on our table!

To save us looking at menus we asked one of the waiters to order for us. The brief was simple, order enough of their most popular dishes to keep us satisfied. What a great way to order and fortuntately we had an adventurous table that were up for the challenge. We ended up with a feast from chef Srian Perera & his team:

- Lamb skewers (tender meat marinated in a sweet, current baste)

- Afro fries (chilli fries with a good kick)

- Cajun chicken wings (bright orange and messy but worth the trouble)

- Deep fried prawns (looked like pop corn chicken and tasted like pop corn chicken)

- Cinnamon pork ribs (not usually a fan of pork ribs - I couldn't get enough of these - incredibly tender and dripping in a sweet sauce)

- Lamb shanks (fell off the bone in a massaman type thick curry sauce)

- Char grilled prawns (smoky, charcoal prawns)

- Cous cous

- African rice (large grains with currents)

The food was excellent and for our party of 12 there was something for everyone. The decor at Radio Cairo is unique - from the sliding window on entry to the open plan kitchen and the large paper flowers to African heads on display - it's eye catching and fun.

Radio Cairo is a great location for a large group and is affordable (especially as it's BYO). It's popular too - so if you are planning to visit - book now.

Radio Cairo - 83 Spofforth St, Cremorne - (02) 9908 2649

Pony Dining, The Rocks

Pony Dining, Cnr Argyle St and Kendall Lane, The Rocks
Wednesday 11 July, 2007


I'm a fan of Pony Dining and recommend it at every opportunity. So, when the brief came through for a celebration lunch I didn't hesitate to recommend this gem.

Our party of seven walked down to The Rocks on this overcast day. We had team members up from Melbourne so they felt quite at home on this cold, drizzly day. On arrival at Pony you are greeted by the wooden interior and the dramatic pony hide bar. Also impressive is the open kitchen where the man himself, Damian Heads, was standing front & centre.

The Michael Mann design is described as,

"The concept of Pony entails a unique, cutting edge exterior lounge and grill restaurant designed to take advantage of its stellar location in a former bond warehouse in a secluded cobblestone laneway, arguably Sydney’s first laneway restaurant and bar.The interior features a dramatic open kitchen with pony hide clad kitchen counter, heritage brick walls, commissioned woven art hangings on a mesh-clad side wall, black japanned recycled plank flooring and custom goat skin pendant lights hung from the original timber ceiling. The kitchen provides a fascinating theatrical attraction to passers-by with the flames of the wood-fired Argentinean inspired grill in one set of windows.An exterior timber deck features an 11 metre communal dining table and outdoor bar and lounge."

Although we walked into the main dining area we were directed onto the balcony to the large communal table. Even though it was a chilly day there was outdoor heating which kept us toasty. With menus shared across the table we poured over the offerings and the tough choice to make - everything sounded fabulous! But we did agree on grilled Italian flat bread
with smoky eggplant & white bean dip and Australian olives with rosemary, thyme and garlic to share.

The grilled flat bread was very similar to turkish bread, thinly sliced in long servings and with a dollop of dip on each plate. The olives were served in bowls and it didn't take our group long to polish these off. With wine ordered we locked in our main selections - I couldn't go past the Roasted free range chicken, bintje potato gnocchi, tarragon, peas, pan jus like several of my lunch buddies. Whilst the others ordered Risotto of balmain bug, fennel and chilli, Pan roasted snapper, clam chowder, spinach, potato, smoked bacon, 150 day grain fed angus sirloin, béarnaise, hand cut chips, watercress, and Grilled salmon, fetta, tomato, cucumber, kalamata olives.

When the food arrived there were plenty of 'ooh's and aahh's' amongst the group. The plates were large and the servings were generous. My chicken was lovely - it was crisp on the outside, incredibly tender and presented in a fan formation on the plate surrounded by a handful of soft gnocchi and jus.

The atmosphere increased with more lunch patrons and before we knew it the communal table was full. We were in no rush to return to work and the dessert menus arrived to provide a welcome distraction. Having sampled the Apple galette baked with frangipane, sauce anglaise before this was a popular choice and I shared one with a lunch buddy. The thin, delicate pastry was delightful and the finely sliced apple drowned in anglaise was seriously good. Also ordered were the Fruit trifle, almond sponge, vanilla cream and Chocolate indulgence. Again, incredibly good.

My lunch buddies were very impressed by their meals and all vowed to return. The service was attentive and when we asked for the music to be turned down twice they were more than happy to accommodate.

Overall, a great lunch experience.

Pony Dining - Cnr Argyle St and Kendall Lane, The Rocks - (02) 9252 7797

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

Sydney Dance Cafe, Walsh Bay

Sydney Dance Cafe, Pier 4 Wharf, Walsh Bay

Monday 9 July, 2007

Tonight we were off to see Dead Caesar written by Chris Taylor and starring Andrew Hansen (from the Chaser team). We had arranged to meet at the dodgy Chinese on Hickson Rd beforehand for a quick bite. When I arrived it was completely full and there was a waiting list......what the!?@

Not to be deterred we decided to go across the road to the Sydney Dance Cafe. This was our old haunt before the theatre and we've also had some hits and misses there too. I was pleasantly surprised tonight to learn they have revamped somewhat to include a flat screen TV near the counter that doubles as the menu. The decor hasn't change though - the exposed beams and rustic look still dominates.

The Sydney Dance Cafe was once a cheap & cheerful alternative and is now a more established cafe offering meals that range from $14 - $25 each. What hasn't changed is the queuing and paying for your meals at the counter. Fortunately there weren't too many people around this evening so the queue moved quickly.

After viewing the 12 or so dinner offerings I decided to go with the Pan fried sirloin and garlic mash and my theatre buddy ordered the Salt & pepper calamari. After ordering and paying we were handed a table number to display. Our meals didn't take too long and were impressive. The sirloin looked very good and was cooked to order - medium rare. Even more impressive was that I was provided with a steak knife - previously you received the standard blunt knife & fork set wrapped in a paper napkin.

My sirloin was very thick and deliciously tender - it was pan fried so cooked in its own juices which also soaked into the garlic mash. Yum. My theatre buddy polished off her salt & pepper calamari with ease and commented on the generous pile of food presented on the long rectangle plate.

The fascinating part of dining at the Sydney Dance Cafe is watching the steady stream of dance students walk past. Dressed in some unique, innovative gear it's great value to watch especially as you can hear the music coming the dance studios too. Very entertaining.....

I was impressed with the Sydney Dance Cafe tonight and may consider it before our next STC play.

Sydney Dance Cafe - Pier 4 Wharf, Walsh Bay - (02) 9241

5021www.sydneydancecompany.com/studios/cafe.shtml

Level 3 restaurant, Cnr George & King Sts, Sydney

Level 3 restaurant, Cnr George & King Sts, Sydney
Saturday 7 July, 2007

Tonight we were off to see 'Company' at the Theatre Royal. Looking for somewhere closeby to dine beforehand I remembered that boutique hotel on the corner of George & King Sts - The Blacket Hotel.

I also decided to try the online restaurant reservation tool - Menulog - which worked a treat and sent me an instant confirmation plus a reminder the day before.

Entry is located on King St and you walk into the very cool hotel foyer before taking the lift to level 3. On entry you notice the plush white leather lounge seats and pink lighting which scream 'camp' but work. The dining space also spills out onto a well covered verandah that looks over George St to the NRMA building opposite.

Strangely though, the dining room had been cleared to make way for an Album launch and 21st combined. God help us. I'm still at a loss as to why they accepted our dinner reservation when they had this function booked. Despite this the staff welcomed us and sat us at the white leather lounges. When we enquired what was going on the waiter explained that at 9pm they had a function booked and it wouldn't impact us at all.......

We looked over the menu and everything sounded fabulous. I couldn't go past the baby squid filled with chorizo and prawn stuffing served in a saffron consomme for entree and the char grilled black angus fillet served on whipped garlic potato and poached marrow for main. My theatre buddy ordered the wild mushroom & walnut tartlet with a frizzee salad and topped with Gorgonzola for entree and the baked supreme of chicken filled with provolone and truffle paste with fondant potatoes and lemon oil.

About 10 minutes later the fun started - the DJ arrived to test the sound system, followed by the balloon man to fill the place with festive balloons and finally the family of the birthday boy to stick up posters. We called the waiter over and she managed to get the music turned down. Shortly afterwards our entrees arrived and they looked great. The baby squid was seriously good and would rival any stuffed squid I've ever eaten. The chorizo & prawn stiffing was diced and served in an open length of squid. It was perfectly cooked and the saltiness of the chorizo matched the seafood.

The mains were delivered and again we were impressed by the presentation. The black angus fillet was tender and well cooked to my medium rare specifications. The whipped garlic potatoes were deliciously good and I felt very decadent eating the massive pile on my plate. My dinner buddy was equally impressed with her meal and we sat there pondering how the food could be so good when the surrounds were so disappointing.

The service was pretty average - our waiter didn't bring cutlery to the table and then forgot a soup spoon for the consomme. She was very laid back and needed a earthquake to move her into action. That said, I'd like return on a night when there are no functions and the restaurant is fully functional.

Level 3 restaurant, Blacket Hotel - Cnr George & King Sts, Sydney- (02) 9279 3030


http://www.theblacket.com/

Bathers Pavillion, The Esplanade, Balmoral

Bathers Pavillion, The Esplanade, Balmoral
Saturday 7 July, 2007

My last few visits to Bathers have been for dinner so it was welcome surprise to be invited to breakfast this morning. My gorgeous brekkie buddies were house sitting locally and it was a sensational morning in Balmoral. Everyone was out and about, walking the esplanade, playing volleyball on the beach and having 1:1 sessions with their personal trainers.

Bathers Pavillion offers the fine dining option plus the cafe which is open all day every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I met my brekkie buddies in the cafe and they had scored a fabulous table by the window to allow us to soak up the sun.

The atmosphere was buzzy with lots of families, groups of friends, couples and the odd single. Everyone was warmly greeted and served effortlessly. We were offered coffees immediately while we checked out the breakfast menu.

Our Argentinian buddy explained that eggs in the morning just sounded wrong and they always ate sweet food e.g croissants, pastries for breakfast. Fortunately, Bathers offers the whole spectrum of breakfast goodies. So, he ordered the croissants with butter & jam, our other breakfast buddy ordered the toasted brioche with marmalade/ jam and I ordered the Bathers bircher muesli with apple & melon salad.

Our brekkie was delivered and the portions were enormous. The croissants were jumbo size, the brioche came with 3 large slices and the muesli was served in a bowl large enough to feed a family of 4. The muesli was fantastic - it was creamy, sweet and the apple was sliced in the finest pieces. We devoured our breakfast and enjoyed every mouthful.

Bathers is a great spot for a casual breakfast.

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

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

Via Abercrombie, Abercrombie Lane, Sydney

Via Abercrombie, Abercrombie Lane, Sydney
Wednesday 4 July, 2007

This morning a foodie friend introduced me to a hidden gem. Abercrombie Lane is situated off George St in between Bond & Bridge Sts. I never knew it existed.

I always think of Melbourne when I consider laneways however in the past few weeks I've discovered two Sydney laneways offering absolute gems. The first was Tank Stream Lane which houses Jimmy's Recipe Malaysia.

Via Abercrombie is known for it's lunchtime sandwiches - I've seen people return to the office with these massive packages and now I know where they got them! But, what few people also realise is that they do a mean brekkie too! They are open for breakfast and lunch each weekday and are described as,

"the best sandwich joint in Sydney, via Abercrombie is a slick and cosy place and a mecca for any sandwich-loving pilgrim. Coffee is excellent and breakfast is better, but it is the sandwiches who star here."

We arrived for our 'breakfast meeting' and we surprised to discover we were the only diners. It's a small space and the laneway runs right through from George St to Pitt St with via Abercrombie located closer to George St. There are a handful of tables & chairs outside with a large share table inside along with a few extra tables & chairs inside.

The daily papers and magazines are spread across the large share table and the staff are just delightful. We were warmly greeted and invited to take a seat. I was intrigued by their big breakfast offering which is a bargain for $10 that includes coffee. My breakfast buddie gave this the thumbs up so I ordered the big breakfast and she ordered scrambled eggs on toast with freshly sliced tomato.

As it's such a small space you can literally watch the breakfast cooking. During this time we watched a handful of coffee go-ers come in for their takeaway. Our breakfast was delivered and the servings were ridiculously large - so much so the bread is almost hanging off the plate. The eggs were very creamy and delicious whilst the bacon was crispy and the tomatoes fresh and succulent. Using the freshest produce, this is a breakfast of champions.

Aside from the food - I really enjoyed the coffee too. This is a find.

Via Abercrombie - Abercrombie Lane, Sydney - (02) 9251 0000

SMH Homecook Hero - July 2007

SMH Homecook Hero - July 2007

Tuesday 3 July, 2007

With friends like these is it any wonder I rarely cook????

Today, after nominating her in late 2006, my buddy Steph (not me, really!) has made it as Homecook Hero in the SMH Good Living liftout. Her recipes are fabulous and many of them are captured in her recipe blog: http://www.mealswithsteph.blogspot.com/

To read the story accompanying this picture and check out the recipe for Stephanie's crab cakes try this link: http://www.smh.com.au/news/recipes/for-good-measure/2007/07/02/1183351104673.html

Back in February 2005 another foodie friend, Jenny, was also honoured with the title of Homecook Hero.

I definitely surround myself with foodies....

Manly Eat Well, Pittwater Rd, Manly

Manly Eat Well, Pittwater Rd, Manly

Sunday 2 July, 2007

The invitation was too good to refuse - takeaway Chinese from one of Manly's best offerings at a friends place. Earlier in the week I had stumbled across a menu for Manly Eat Well left in a book so had already glanced through the food to give me a taste of what was coming.....and it looked great.

The restaurant blurb states,

Manly Eat-Well is a regular favourite among locals in an area where good restaurants are treasured for their scarcity. As well as the small restaurant, they do a roaring trade in takeaway food, but an effort has been made to make the space look better than the average corner takeaway joint. White linen covers the tables (not a plastic tablecloth in sight), and efficient staff bustle around making sure everyone is happy. A large part of Priscilla and Henry Siu's popularity has to be that they listen to their customers. The dishes are adapted to a Western palate, and options such as the popular lamb pancakes are a succulent alternative to Peking duck. Another crowd-pleasing favourite is the Siu's signature dish of deep fried calamari with spicy salt and chilli. On top of all this, Eat-Well is surprisingly good value, making it well worth a look, if you can wrestle a table from a local, that is.

After deciding how hungry we were we ordered up a feast and it was promised in 15 mins:

- San Chow Boy - came with 5 lettuce cups and a wonderful pork mince mixture

- Chicken & sweet corn soup x 2 plus Chinese short soup x 1 (I learnt something tonight - before serving soup pour boiling water into the bowls to warm them up - it's simple and very effective)

- Grandmothers beancurd (fabulous, mildly spicy with plenty of silken tofu)

- Mongolian lamb (thin slices of lamb coated in sliced onion and very good soy, hoisin and oyster sauce mixture)

- Lemon chicken (this was a highlight - the sauce came in a separate container and the chicken was cut in thick slices - being able to serve your own sauce was sensational as usually the Chinese restaurants over do it)

- Steamed rice

It was ready before we knew it and we served it up in stages. First up San choy bow which is a great dish to get your hands dirty. This was followed by the soup in our heated bowls. Lastly the beancurd, lamb, chicken and rice. We enjoyed every mouthful and I am now a fan of Manly Eat Well.

Manly Eat Well - 153 Pittwater Rd, Manly - (02) 9977 1757