Steph's Food Journey

The Journey has ended.......

2008-01-31T17:16:00.000+11:00

It's time to go.................Steph's Food Journey.

Thank you everyone for reading my journey over the past 2 years and 2 months. It's been so much fun documenting the journey and sharing my experiences.

I sincerely appreciate your comments, encouragement and suggestions. Steph's Food Journey will remain 'live' so you can always trawl through the drop down boxes of local, interstate and international posts.

To finish off I'll leave you with my favourite places:

Best Sydney local bistro - Maitre Karl

Best Sydney yum cha - Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant

Best Sydney Chinese restaurant - Golden Century

Best restaurant - Australia - Vue de Monde

Best restaurant - International - Jade on 36

Enjoy :)

Milk and Two, Harris Street, Pyrmont

2008-01-28T16:02:00.000+11:00

Milk and Two, Harris Street, Pyrmont

Monday 28 January, 2008

From the folks that bought us Sugaroom - Greg Anderson and Patricia Nunes - comes a cafe known as Milk and Two. The cafe commands the waterfront directly next door to Sugaroom and both dining spaces share facilities.

They have a simple and cost effective strategy in place for their diners,

The menu is simple, it's easy and full of flavour. Breakfast is served until noon, (all day on weekends) and includes the milk & two big breakfast of eggs any style, mushrooms sausage and sourdough as well as baked waffles with hazelnut cream, house made toasted muesli and fresh fruit.

The food is affordable (nothing is over $20) as well as top-notch nosh, with Greg overseeing the menu. Greg believes in providing diners with great food at great prices and the menu at milk & two reflects this in every way. The food is wholesome and hearty, it is simple and casual as well as varied.

My brunch buddy and I pulled up on this lazy Monday and found poll parking spaces. Pyrmont was like a ghost town this morning so it was great to experience no traffic and plenty of parking. The huge piece of land to the right of the cafe is about to be developed into an inner city parkland with bike tracks and gardens and the cafe was open but not much else.

The cafe site is enormous with indoor and outdoor seating. We were advised not to sit in the open air seating on the right as it was far too windy, even though they had set up 6 tables for diners. The indoor seating on concrete exposed floors and surrounded by large floor to ceiling windows is set around a bar.

We sat down and watched as the 4 waiters did as little as possible. It was extraordinary. I appreciate that there weren't many customers around to keep them on their toes but the lack of service and attention was disappointing. We finally ordered coffees and then waited another 20 minutes or so to order brunch. We both ordered:

- Eggs Benedict with leg ham and a side a sauteed mushrooms

The food was OK - the toast was a little overcooked, the eggs a little watery and the coffee was too strong. But hey, it was a long weekend and we were happy to sit and chat a few hours away. The empty plates sat on our table for over 30 minutes even though 2 waiters came by to take drinks orders. To be honest we just laughed about it because it was so bad and we weren't in rush. We also watched as the staff had a few run ins which may explain the less than average service today.

If I ever return to Milk and Two I'll be having the Breakfast Summer Trifle - granola, muesli and fresh berries. It looked amazing.

Milk and Two - 1/1 Harris Street, Pyrmont - (02) 9571 5503

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

The Cupcake Bakery, George St, Sydney

2008-01-24T18:22:00.000+11:00

The Cupcake Bakery, George St, Sydney
Thursday 24 January, 2008

If you love cupcakes Sydney has a new hotspot! The Cupcake Bakery has opened on George St in The Ivy complex. It opened on Wednesday 16 January so is still very new but is already turning over 800 - 900 cupcakes a day. Yes, you read correctly 800 - 900 cupcakes a day.

The Cupcake Bakery philosophy is simple,

Here at The Cupcake Bakery we believe that everyone deserves the good things in life and so we have created some beautiful cupcakes just for you to enjoy. Our cupcakes are baked from scratch daily on the premises so you know that you are getting only the freshest products.

Today we walked up George St mid afternoon and there was already a queue out the door. The George St site is intimate and shares an entrance with fashion store, Mimco. There are 6 high stools against the raised shelves and fabulous cupcake photos decorating the walls. With an established premises in Paddington already this cupcake store is popular and already has a following. They charge $3.50 each or $39.00 per one dozen or $1.50 each for Cupcakies (mini cupcakes).

They had already sold out of their most popular cupcakes so we were left with 4 to choose from. We ordered the:

Choc Vanilla - a moist chocolate cupcake with swirls of vanilla buttercream
Chilli Choc - a moist chocolate cupcake with a hint of chilli warmth and chocolate buttercream

I'm a cupcake fan from way back having enjoyed the offerings from My Little Cupcake, Cupcakes on Pitt and also making my own. I'm thrilled to have one within walking distance from the office and so many new flavours to try.

FYI - the Chilli Choc was good if you don't mind a mild kick and aftertaste. I'm looking forward to trying their Choc Peppermint next.....

The Cupcake Bakery - 320B George St, Sydney - (02) 9332 3700

http://www.thecupcakebakery.com.au/home.htm

Aqua Dining, Cnr Paul & Northcliff Sts, Milsons Point

2008-01-23T22:43:00.000+11:00

Aqua Dining, Cnr Paul & Northcliff Sts, Milsons Point

Wednesday 23 January, 2008

What a disaster! Tonight we were celebrating my Mum's birthday dinner at Aqua Dining. I have never been before and was keen to experience it. I ordered a birthday cake and dealt with a lovely staff member beforehand who was happy to accommodate the cake request, Happy Birthday message and request for a good table.

On the night, however, we were stunned by the lack of service and complete disregard for the birthday celebration. In no uncertain terms....it was shocking.

On arrival we found no staff at the front desk but watched as two staff members were busy discussing beverage prices at the adjacent bar. Finally a staff member acknowledged our presence and directed us to our table.

The table was in direct sunlight. It was near impossible to see and when we asked for the blinds to be lowered to cut the direct sunlight we were told ‘No’ by our very dismissive, rude waitress. Later we discovered the blinds did not work by another staff member. This is unacceptable for a restaurant that trades on it’s glass windows. I sincerely hope there is a plan in place to have these fixed as each table around us complained.

Before the guest of honour arrived, I spoke with our waitress to confirm that the cake would come to table after the main meal. She looked at me blankly and said she had no knowledge of it. I asked her to check and she reluctantly went to the kitchen.

After our guest of honour arrived, the waitress returned to the table to announce we had no cake……..in front of everyone. I asked her to follow me to the front desk and mentioned that it was completely inappropriate to announce this to the table. She couldn’t have cared less. So, I explained that this was my Mum’s 69th birthday and we were trying to give her a wonderful night out. This made no impact.

I asked to speak with the Manager instead. He checked the book, a folder at the adjacent bar and then disappeared into the kitchen. A short time later he returned with good news – we did, in fact, have a cake and it was prepared with ‘Happy birthday’. Thank god! I indicated to the Manager that our waitress had been woeful and announced to the table that we had no cake. He listened but did not apologise for the error.

When our mains arrived we asked the waitress to take a photo of our group. She was dismissive and rudely stated that would do so at her earliest convenience. Twenty minutes later she had not returned to the table to honour the request. We asked a male staff member instead who said he would be delighted to take the photo and did so immediately.

When the mains were cleared the waitress returned and loudly asked the table, ‘Do you want the cake?’. I whispered that it would be appropriate to deliver the cake to the table after a short break. Thirty minutes later the cake arrived and was placed in front of the guest of honour. There were no candles, no fuss or encouragement to sing Happy Birthday. Our appalling waitress literally lent over and placed it on the table. To disguise this from our guest of honour we all made a fuss and started to sing Happy Birthday.

The waitress returned a short time later and stated that we probably needed a knife. After our guest of honour had cut the cake another waiter arrived and said he would be more than happy to have the kitchen do this and organise for the cake to be served with ice cream. Finally! Someone who knew what they were doing.

We had ordered several bottles of wine and after finishing the first bottle of white and red ordered another white. This was opened and then left in the bucket behind our table until we were ready to leave. All attempts to obtain more wine were ignored by the wait staff. So, by the time our bill arrived we still had ¾ of the bottle left to drink.

For a night out that cost over $700 this was, without a doubt, the worst service I have ever experienced. For a restaurant that commands such an stunning location and served such lovely food, the service destroyed it. For entree and main I ordered:

- Seared yellowfin tuna with Iberico jamon, pomelo and red garnet served with Pedro Ximenez

- Roast pink snapper fillet with fregolone, vichy white asparagus, spinach and parmesan with a sorrel sauce

I had looked forward to dining at Aqua Dining for a long time and the service was shocking. Unfortunately, this is what you remember.

Aqua Dining - Cnr Paul & Northcliff Sts, Milsons Point - (02) 9964 9998

http://www.aquadining.com.au/

Hairy Canary, Little Collins St, Melbourne

2008-01-20T20:30:00.000+11:00

Hairy Canary, Little Collins St, Melbourne

Sunday 20 January, 2008

This place became our regular hang out last year. So, this year we had to return just once.

Hidden away on Little Collins St this major find is located up a discreet set of stairs. It offers a small open balcony area and long thin bar & dining space that is open all day.

As they so aptly state on their promotional material,

Our passion and commitment to the industry will be reflected in every aspect; from our impeccable friendly service, unique menu, sublime coffee to our extensive selection of Australian and European wines and beverages.

We will always welcome you, whether it's an early bird breakfast, busy lunch or a meeting place for friends. There will always be people sipping coffee or enjoying a glass of wine over a conversation. Our aim is to create a gathering place for all to enjoy the sights, sounds and ambiance.

We draw inspiration, direction and style from the rich fabric of our combined cultures, with a flare of the Latin 'joie de vivre'. The extensive design and fit-out express our need for a subtle, sophisticated yet simple environment that captures a timeless mood; whilst still creating pockets of interest, with bright splashes of colour and original art works. It can seduce and envelope you with its warmth and friendliness.

This morning we arrived and kicked off with a round of much needed coffee. The coffee is great so we immediately ordered some more. Whilst I was tempted to order Eggs in Purgatory, I caved and ordered their eggs benedict. This was fabulous with thick creamy hollandaise drizzled over two poached eggs, salty jamon and a decent dollop of spinach on two small pieces of ciabata. My brunch buddy ordered the eggs in purgatory with spiced crumbled fetta and wasn't disappointed.

We could have stayed for hours but the tennis beckoned. Hairy Canary is perfect for breakfast, brunch or cocktails!

Hairy Canary - 212 Little Collins St, Melbourne - (03) 9654 2471

http://www.hairycanary.com.au/hairycanary/welcome.html

MoVida, Hosier Lane, Melbourne

2008-01-19T23:46:00.000+11:00

MoVida, Hosier Lane, Melbourne
Saturday 19 January, 2008

Widely known as the best Spanish restaurant in Melbourne, MoVida is located in a typical Melbourne lane way complete with graffiti and cobblestones.

Next door is Misty's - a groovy bar offering a great selection of cocktails that is perfect for a pre or post dinner drink. I can recommend the Misty Bitch.

MoVida is a unique dining experience and you'll be surprised by the amount of people who turn up without a reservation. The dining space offers exposed ceilings, an open bar with impressive wine displays and a mix of tables, lounges and bar stools. It's quirky and intimate. We were seated so close to our neighbours that we ended up sharing stories and discussing the tennis.........as you do in Melbourne during January.

Our waiter was great upfront and impressed us with his knowledge and recommendations. The menu is split between Tapas & Racion. Tapa are small individual pieces, Racion are plates to share amongst two or more people, or a larger dish for one. We opted for an individual tapa each and then a number of Racion to share.

Our waiter recommended about 3-4 dishes to share and said this would be more than adequate but we could always order more if needed. So, we ordered two Tapa and 3 Racion to share:

Tapa

Costilla con sobrasada - Roasted lamb cutlet encased in a Catalan pork & paprika pate
Pollo escabache al Miguel - Spiced chicken escabache tapa on crisp crouton

Racion

Iberico jamon de jabugo (20 grams) - Iberico imported Spanish abugo jamon. Fully acorn fed, 3 years naturally cured
Tortilla de Bacalao - Salt cod and leek tortilla with majarero cheese
Cecina - Air cured wagyu beef thinly sliced with a truffle foam and poached egg

After we ordered the wine arrived closely followed by bread and our tapas. Within minutes of taking the first bite of our tapas the first Racion was delivered. Slow down people! We called a waiter over and asked for them to slow things down as this was ridiculous. They did, a little, but we certainly felt that they were trying to rush us on. This was annoying as we had specifically booked the later seating so that this would not happen.

After a self imposed break and reflection on the dishes so far we agreed that the roasted lamb cutlet and the air cured wagyu was the stand out by far - the truffle foam and poached egg was sensational. Later on we discovered that this was voted 'Dish of the Year' in 2007. The salt cod was surprisingly bland which was disappointing and we were left hungry.

After reviewing the menu again we ordered some more dishes,

Patatas a la pobre - Poor mans potatoes. Slow cooked nicola potatoes with peppers in olive oil
Carillera de buey - Slowly braised beef cheek in Pedro Ximenez, on cauliflower puree
Gambas con pancetta - South Australian prawns wrapped in pastry with pork belly and chick pea shoots

The potatoes were average but the other two dishes were fabulous. We resolved that the menu is hit & miss and our neighbours agreed as they made their way through the menu.

MoVida - 1 Hosier Lane, Melbourne - (03) 9663 3038

http://www.movida.com.au/

Vue de Monde, Little Collins St, Melbourne

2008-01-18T23:41:00.000+11:00

Vue de Monde, Little Collins St, Melbourne
Friday 18 January, 2008

This is without a doubt the best dining experience in Australia.

It's been almost 18 months since my last visit and I was so excited to return to Vue de Monde. My dinner buddy had been to Vue de Monde within the past 6 months so had shared many stories about the menu additions.

On arrival we were greeted like old friends by name. This was impressive. I had requested Table 2 - directly in front of the kitchen so we could watch the food preparation and this was granted. The Maitre'd came over and welcomed us and then shared the menu we had induldged in last time we had visited. He then asked if we were keen to do this again or tailor another menu.

For those of you who have never read my reviews of Vue De Monde before or have never heard of Vue de Monde - it is important to understand that its philosophy is to provide a dining experience that cannot be created at home, encompassing this through food, service and ambiance.

The food is unlike anything you will have experienced and without hesitation we decided to go with their Menu Gourmand and matched wines. Here's a complete list of the experience that the restaurant kindly emailed me to me a few days later.

AMUSE BOUCHE
Chicken san choi Bow with mock turtle consommé and ‘spherification’ of Madeira
~
CRABE FARÇI
Soft shell crab stuffed with sautéed blue swimmer crab accompanied by a Mojo sauce, Sterling Caviar and horseradish
NV Ginrei Tateyama Amaharashi Sake Junmai Daiginjõ-shu Rice wine Toyama, Japan
~
RISOTTO AUX TRUFFES
Classically inspired truffle risotto
Henrique & Henrique Boal 10 years old Madeira, Portugal
~
BOUILLABAISSE ‘EN CINQ MINUTES’ ET TARTARE D’ECREVISSE
5 minute bouillabaisse with tartare of crayfish, buffalo milk skin, finished with aromatic herbs
and a touch of theatre
2003 Château Belá Riesling Sturovo region, Slovakia
~
PARFAIT DE FOIE GRAS
Parfait of foie gras ‘powdered’, nasturcium leaves, crispy rice and coconut egg nog
1988 Marc Brédif Vouvray Grande Année Chenin Blanc Loire Valley, France
~
‘KINGFISH’ POËLE
Kingfish fingers crusted with potato scales and served with broccoli couscous and a broccoli cannelloni,
currant purée and a curried brown chicken
2003 Charles Hours Jurancon Sec Cuvée Marie South West France
~
CONSOMMÉ FROID À LA TOMATE
Delicate tomato consommé with gazpacho jelly
~
TATAKI DE bœuf WAGYU
Tataki of Wagyu beef with soja yuzu noodle and sweet corn purée
2004 Curlewis Pinot Noir Reserve Geelong, Victoria
~
MILLE FEUILLE DE CHEVREUIL
Venison loin, poached, with a mille feuille of braised leg meat and saffron mousseline topped with a petal salad
2003 Rivera Castel del Monte DOC Riserva Il Falcone Puglia, Italy
~
FROMAGE
Salad of Roquefort ravioli with hazelnut dressing
NV Chambers Tokay Rutherglen, Victoria
~
SUCETTE
Rolly Polly
~
PÊche Melba
Peach Melba ‘inspired by the original’, with a little touch of theatre
2006 Michel Torino Torrontes Late Harvest Don David Salta, Argentina
~
Cigare au chocolat
Valrhona chocolate roll filled with smoked chocolate and rolled in puff pastry ‘cigar’ leaves
1999 Yarrabank Late Disgorged Yarra Valley, Victoria
~
NOTRE SÉLECTION DE CAFÉS, THÉS, INFUSIONS ET PETITS-FOURS
A selection of coffee, teas, infusions and miniature teacakes

We had such a great vantage point to view the effortless chefs creating each masterpiece and delight in wondering which dish would make its way to our table. The anticipation...

Words cannot adequately describe how good this restaurant is. I am in awe of the food preparation and the skillful service. It is well beyond your wildest expectations.

A new offering is the wonderful chocolate box presented to each guest on departure. The chocolates are all exquisitely hand made. Bookings for Vue de Monde are required well in advance - the average is 4 months - and you will not be disappointed.

In case you hadn't guessed already....I love the place.

Vue de Monde - 430 Little Collins St, Melbourne - (03) 9691 3888

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

Rockpool Bar & Grill, Crown Complex, Melbourne

2008-01-17T23:04:00.000+11:00

Rockpool Bar & Grill, Crown Complex, Melbourne

Thursday 17 January, 2008

What a surprise tonight was! We hardly expected to enjoy it as much as we did. I had heard mixed reviews about the exorbitant cost, overrated food etc but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We arrived in the Crown Complex and were directed past the water fountains to the luxurious shopping and restaurant precinct. Located next door to Nobu, Rockpool opened in October 2006 and commands a fantastic corner location and is enormous.

Opening the huge front door you are greeted with the image above. This is the Rockpool Bar & Grill logo and it is printed on everything from their menus, business cards and website. You walk down a long wooden corridor and behind glass windows on the left witness the oyster shucking station and air drying room for the meat. You can't help but stop and have a good look at what is going on.

We were greeted at the front desk and directed to a table near the window. The first thing you notice is the smoke from the grills that wafts throughout the huge 160 seater dining space. The open kitchen has large TV monitors so you can view the preparation. There is a philosophy behind Rockpool that Neil Perry has been consistent with after 17 years at Rockpool Sydney,

We have chosen only the finest cattle that have been grass fed and only finished on grain if drought conditions make it necessary. Grass fed beef differs from lot fed beef in that it has a more natural beef flavour and has a much better Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio. This makes it better for you, and the cow enjoys a much healthier life. The beef then goes through a dry ageing process on the bone for between 28 and 40 days. This method allows the enzymes in the meat to do their handy work.

The beef hangs in a special cool room at close to 0 degrees with very low humidity.
In this state, the beef ages perfectly and becomes incredibly tender and much more flavoursome. It is, in reality, the only way to age beef to improve the flavour and it gives an incredibly juicy result. This was once the time honoured way to look after meat.

The quick fixes of today, wet ageing in cryovac, have all but seen this superior but more expensive method disappear. In reality wet ageing is about giving the beef more shelf life, not about improving the flavour or texture of the meat. The great steak houses of North America are among those still dry ageing traditionally.

We will also offer the best full breed Wagyu available in the country, from Blackmore Wagyu. We will seek out marble score 9+, the highest grade in Australia. This beef is incredibly tender, is cooked quickly, and served quite rare. The melting point of the marbling starts at a very low temperature and recent studies in the US suggest that this beef is very good for you as it is full of mono unsaturated fats or “good cholesterol”. I personally feel that it is appropriate to offer both kinds of beef, as they are in taste and texture both very different, but are the best of their kind in Australia. This beef will also be dry aged, a first for Blackmore Wagyu.

As with Rockpool Sydney, Rockpool Bar and Grill Melbourne puts together a comprehensive “ocean to plate” seafood program that enables us to deliver the best quality fish in the world.
We source from wild sustainable fisheries or environmentally sound aquaculture.Our fishermen, providing for the Japanese export market, adhere to a “stress minimising catch methodology,” practiced by Japanese fishermen for hundreds of years.

The fish are line caught in the main, immediately brain-spiked (ikijimi killed) and ice slurried. This serves to bring the body temperature down more rapidly and induces rigor mortis. As a result, the fish are less damaged by stress, preserving the best flavour and texture.
All our fish are delivered whole under ice and are dry filleted each day, water never touching the fish flesh. This is a more time consuming method, but we must look after every step of the process. The common practice of filleting fish with running water leaches flavour and damages their texture and thus we avoid it at all costs.

The fillets are then kept in a static fish fridge until needed for service.This process allows us to maintain complete control of the cold chain management. To maintain the purity of our shellfish, we must keep them alive until ordered.To reduce the stress on species that are not compatible, we maintain our shellfish in four separate tanks, which have individual filtration systems.In this way, we can ensure that each species is kept at its optimal temperature, as well as avoid predation and overcrowding. All our suppliers go to similar lengths. Most of our produce is organic, or at the very least farmed in a clean and green way.

After reading the huge menu that is prepared daily we decided to share a plate of San Daniele Prosciutto with Fresh Figs and 25yr old Balsamic Vinegar for entree. This was outstanding and the staff bought us fresh bread and French butter as a side.The sweetness of the figs and the aged balsamic complimented the ham perfectly. Although we shared the plate and could have easily eaten a whole plate to ourselves it was the prefect starter for the main we ordered.

We decided to go with the Rib-Eye on the Bone 750g 41 days that was listed as suitable for two. This was an understatement as it could have easily fed three adults. This was presented on a large wooden block with individual steak knives that sliced through the meat like it was jelly. Also presented were a selection of sauces to share - Horseradish Cream and Béarnaise and our sides - Sauteed Zucchini with Garlic and Mint and the Potato and Cabbage Gratin. The meat was spectacular and wonderfully smokey from the char grill.

We were stunned by the food and asked for a break before we reviewed the dessert menu. The restaurant was completely full and we watched several tables turn over twice during our meal. We decided to order a selection of three cheeses for dessert and a glass of the Pedro Ximenez sherry. Everything was perfect.

Rockpool Bar & Grill is a great restaurant serving fresh produce and offering slick, professional service. Whilst the cost is higher than your average, local restaurant you will have an experience to be remembered. If you dine out alot and have been to some notable places you will be surprised at how reasonable it is.

Rockpool Bar & Grill, Crown Complex, Melbourne

http://www.rockpoolmelbourne.com/rpm_home.aspx

Mirka at the Tolarno Hotel, Fitzroy St, St Kilda

2008-01-16T23:26:00.000+11:00

Mirka at the Tolarno Hotel, Fitzroy St, St Kilda
Wednesday 16 January, 2008

Mirka is named after the quirky artist Mirka Mora who has lovingly painted all the murals throughout the restaurant, bar and hotel. The restaurant was officially opened on the 21st of February 2007 by Guy Grossi.

Guy Grossi is a Melbourne institution having owned and operated some of the best Italian restaurants. Mirka offers an intimate dining space to the left of the hotel entrance and a happening bar to the right.

We decided to have pre dinner drinks in the bar which also serves breakfast, lunch & dinner daily. I couldn't go past the Green Fairy cocktail served with Absinthe - it was potent and very, very good. This meant we arrived in the restaurant very happy.

The dining space is intimate with seating for less than 50 people. Our table was crammed in the corner between a large table of 10 and another table for two. We may as well have joined tables. Around the exterior of the small dining space were fixed red leather lounges and the rest of the dining space was filled with timber tables and chairs. The walls were a leafy green base with Mirka's murals over the top. They were captivating however there was one wall completely bare that stood out. When we asked our waitress about the bare wall she revealed that she had never even noticed it.

Our waitress had taken her happy pills and was exceptionally bubbly. She ran us through the specials and fixed up our drinks in a whirlwind. The napkins on each table could have easily passed for tea towels which was an odd touch and seemed out of place in an Italian restaurant.

The menu was inviting and it was difficult to decide what to eat. So, after several read throughs of the menu we ordered:

Entree

- Smoked eel with yoghurt, beetroot and figs
- Lobster vol au vont with lobster mousse, asparagus and shaved truffle

Main

- Slow roasted lamb with tomato, garlic and potato cake
- Scotch fillet with waldorf salad and peppercorn sauce

After we ordered a bread plate arrived - it contained fresh sour dough thickly sliced with a small dish of oil and a glass filled with extremely tall bread sticks. Overall the entrees were lovely and for me the absolute stand out was the smoked eel. I'm no connoisseur of eel however this was delicious. The smokiness gave it a wood fired character and paired with the beetroot and figs was light and sweet.

My main was a little bland unfortunately. I was expecting the slow roasted lamb to be flavoursome and cooked to order - medium rare - however it did not deliver. My dinner buddy enjoyed the scotch fillet and peppercorn sauce gave it some bite.

Mirka is a unique place to dine.

Mirka at the Tolarno Hotel - 42 Fitzroy St, St Kilda - (03) 9525 3088

http://www.mirkatolarno.com/

Noodle Bar, David Jones Food Court, Bourke St Mall, Melbourne

2008-01-16T23:02:00.000+11:00

Noodle Bar, David Jones Food Court, Bourke St Mall, Melbourne
Wednesday 16 January, 2008

Having just arrived in Melbourne we checked in and then planned to spend the afternoon shopping. But first, we needed a good feed. Not wanting to spend a huge amount or eat several courses (we were off to Mirka at the Tolarno Hotel tonight) we decided to visit the David Jones Food Court for inspiration.

The lunch crowd had disappeared so it was fantastic to wonder around and take in all the sights and smells ranging from the bakery, cheese stand, deli, oyster bar etc. I rarely get to visit David Jones (as I work at the other end of town in Sydney) and the Food Court is divine as their brochure states,

Come and discover why you will love the David Jones Foodhall, Bourke Street, Melbourne. Gleaming counters, the smiling faces of a hundred Foodhall staff ready to help you. The butcher with knife sharpened to do your bidding. A seafood counter brimming with the freshest prawns. 100 different sorts of bread. A delicatessen stocked with German, Italian, French and English smallgoods.

The Meals-to-go counter that stretches from here to eternity with delicious ready-to-eat food and just-heat-and-eat prepared meals. The Oyster Bar where oysters and champagne are served as a decadent treat. The Juice Bar, the Noodle Bar, the Sushi Bar, the Pasta and Panini Bar, and the Espresso Bar. Wheels of cheeses stacked four high, a seasonal cheese board, olives of every persuasion, a tempting array of antipasto to try from our Cheese and Antipasto Bar.

A fabulous Wine and Spirit Department with a cellar man who lives and breathes wine. Shelves stocked with famous food brands from around Australia and around the world. The fact that you can get everything you need from under one roof. The excitement and sheer buzz of a place dedicated to good food. Come and discover why you love the David Jones Foodhall at Bourke Street. For food lovers, there’s no other store like David Jones.

The Noodle Bar stood out with it's round bar and open kitchen so we could sit on the high chairs and watch the chefs at work. It was still busy with the ladies who lunch so we decided to pull up a high chair and review the menu. Decisions, decisions....

As we watched the bowls of food being prepared from scratch it became harder and harder to make a decision as everything just looked so fresh and delicious. Our chef was scruffy and his checked pants were far too loose and baggy but, boy could he cook!

I ordered the Pad Thai Chicken and my lunch buddy ordered the Salt & Pepper Squid. We watched with delight as our meals were prepared and sat back with a couple of beers enjoying the show. The high flames of the wok, the frantic pace of the four staff moving around the small kitchen and the fresh food - it was great to watch.

The Salt & Pepper Squid arrived first and after one mouth full my lunch buddy stated this was the best Salt & Pepper Squid ever tasted. A big call to make but I have to admit it looked fabulous.

My Pad Thai arrived and we swooned over the huge bowl laced with chilli flakes. My initial mouthful tasted soft glass noodles, coriander, chilli, lime and tamarind. I was very happy - the food was seriously good and it was served in abundance. For this feast we paid just over $30 which included the 2 meals and 2 beers.

We loved every mouthful and the next time I return to Melbourne I will swing by the food court for a quick bite. Loved it!

Noodle Bar, David Jones Food Court, Bourke St Mall, Melbourne

http://www.davidjones.com.au/services/bourke_st_foodhall.jsp

Steph's in Melbourne

2008-01-15T19:12:00.000+11:00

I'm currently in Melbourne - so please stay tuned for more posts.

On the list to visit are:

Mirka at the Tolarno Hotel
Rockpool
Vue de Monde
Movida

plus, of course, the Australian Open Tennis. Any other suggestions????

The Chef's Secret - Poached Eggs

2008-01-13T16:00:00.000+11:00

The Chef's Secret - Poached Eggs
Sunday 13 January, 2008

My breakfast buddy yesterday shared a recent edition of Delicious magazine. Inside is Matt Moran's Chef Secret - how to make perfect poached eggs.

For regular readers, you know eggs benedict is my all time favourite breakfast treat and that I've never been able to make perfect poached eggs.

I've tried to follow a few different guides over the years including Stephanie Alexander's - Cook's Companion with little success.

Matt's step by step guide looked relatively straight forward and I was up for the challenge. So, this morning with my farm fresh eggs, gathered on a recent trip to Goulburn, I gave it a go.

Step 1: Crack the egg into a cup with plastic wrap across the opening. Pull the sides of the plastic up, twist and knot firmly.

Step 2: Slowly place in saucepan of boiling water.

Step 3: Cook to order. For runny eggs boil for less than 4 mins. For hard eggs boil for 7 mins. It worked!

Awaba Cafe, The Esplanade, Balmoral

2008-01-12T17:23:00.000+11:00

Awaba Cafe, The Esplanade, Balmoral
Saturday 12 January, 2008

I vowed never to return after my last visit.......but this morning we had a shocker trying to find a park, the Watermark finishes breakfast at 10am, the SandBar looked boring and we had both been to Bathers and Beaches recently.. So, we arrived at Awaba around 10.45am and were left standing at the entrance for about 3 minutes. My breakfast buddy gave them 2 minutes to seat us after our presence was acknowledged and fortunately they pointed to a vacant table and indicated it was ours.

Our waiter was sullen and carried out his role with a complete lack of interest. We asked for water and it arrived 20 minutes later, but thankfully the coffees arrived promptly. The breakfast menu is lean but I still struggled to make a decision. One thing that did help was my usual breakfast order was not on the menu - eggs benedict.

My breakfast buddy highly recommended the slow roasted tomatoes with avocado and wood fired bread. So, that was easy - two please. The view from Awaba is gorgeous, especially on a beautiful day when the water is sparkling. The construction next door or the abysmal service doesn't seem to deter the locals as it was packed with crowds hanging around the tight entrance.

The food was lovely and I seriously enjoyed every mouthful. The avocado had just the right amount of lemon in it and was easy to spread over the two large slices of toast. The roasted tomatoes fell apart and soaked into the toast.

With the growing crowd outside, Awaba is not the place to sit and soak up the atmosphere and as we were not keen on another round of coffees we asked for our bill. I don't think our waiter spoke two words to us during our visit and this was duly rewarded by our non-tip.

Although I enjoyed the food today, I'm still not a convert.

Awaba Cafe - 67 The Esplanade, Balmoral - (02) 9969 2104

http://www.awabacafe.com.au/

Tailored Events Catering, CarriageWorks, Eveleigh

2008-01-11T22:56:00.000+11:00

Tailored Events Catering, Carriageworks, Eveleigh

Friday 11 January, 2008

Tonight we saw an amazing performance at the CarriageWorks in Eveleigh. I didn't even know the CarriageWorks existed until tonight and I was even more surprised at how fabulous this venue is - why aren't there more performances there? The enormous space, exposed railway posts and fixtures, huge bar and purpose built catering stall manned by Tailored Events Catering were just perfect. According to the CarriageWorks website,

Developed by the NSW State Government through Arts NSW, the Eveleigh Rail Yards at Wilson Street has been transformed into a bold new centre committed to the nurturing, development and presentation of contemporary arts. CarriageWorks offers an exciting addition to the cultural life of Sydney and its artists, providing an environment which pulses with a unique spirit of creativity and innovation. This is a new home for physical theatre, spoken word, music, dance, visual and hybrid arts.

The Sydney Festival is now in full swing and there are some great offerings over the month. Black Watch is currently being performed at the CarriageWorks by the National Theatre of Scotland. As the press blurb states,

Black Watch took the 2006 Edinburgh Festival by storm, playing to sold out crowds and garnering unanimous critical acclaim. Now, the most talked about production on the international theatre circuit arrives in Sydney for its Australian premiere.
Based on recent interviews with former soldiers who served in Iraq, this taut and uncompromising piece of theatre tells the story of Scotland's legendary 300 year-old Black Watch Regiment, whose disbandment was announced in 2004 just before its 800-man battalion replaced some 4,000 U.S. Marines in one of the bloodiest areas of Iraq.

Magnified by recent events, Black Watch reveals the harsh reality of the "war on terror" and what it means to make the journey home again. John Tiffany's production makes powerful and inventive use of movement, music and song to create a visceral, complex and urgent work. The production is widely regarded as a landmark in Scottish theatre and was invited to open the new session of the Scottish Parliament.

We arrived an hour before the performance to eat. The Tailored Events Catering stall looked promising and offered two main dishes:

- Nasi goreng

- Chicken & basil stir fry

I ordered one and my dinner buddy ordered the other. We paid and were handed a table number. Finding a table was easy and there are plenty of share tables, high tables and lounges to choose from. Each table was pre-stocked with dishes of chilli flakes, soy sauce and hot chilli sauce - just what I needed!

It didn't take long for our meals to be cooked to order and they arrived piping hot. The fun part is adding all the condiments to taste and then the first mouthful.....delicious. I was very impressed with the chicken & basil stir fry - it was flavoursome, contained plenty of chicken and fresh veggies. The bowls were a decent size and all for the bargain basement price of $11.

The CarriageWorks is an exciting venue and Black Watch was outstanding.

http://www.tailoredevents.com.au/flash/

Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant, Bank St, Pyrmont

2008-01-06T17:32:00.000+11:00

Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant, Bank St, Pyrmont
Sunday 6 January, 2008

The first I visited this restaurant I loved it and was keen to organise a follow up visit. Today, I invited a few yum cha buddies along to experience the food. We arrived at 11am and it was near empty - here's a tip - on the weekend aim to arrive around 11am as you will easily secure a table. After 11.30am there is a queue down the stairs of eager diners and no empty tables in the huge open dining space.

We were directed to a table for 4 and sat there eagerly awaiting the first trolleys. Trouble is, when you are hungry the food seems to take forever. We were asked if we wanted tea and based on my last experience I asked what teas were available. Apparently, there was only one tea for our table - jasmine - or at least one tea that they were prepared to serve us. To be honest I'm not a big tea drinker myself so it didn't bother me that we were unable to secure a better tea.

The dumplings came out in force and it seemed for a while there that this was all the food on offer today. We sampled prawn dim sims, prawn dumplings, combination dumplings and prawns wrapped in rice noodles. When we asked for an extra chilli sauce the waiter disappeared never to be seen again.....and then as we were about to ask someone else 10 mins later he magically appeared with our chilli sauce. For a near empty restaurant that was unacceptable.

At this time a young waitress came by and asked if we were looking for anything in particular. Finally, someone who was prepared to give us a hand! We requested some BBQ pork, roast duck, salt & pepper calamari and steamed broccolini. The food was absolutely delicious and we devoured each dish. The BBQ pork was marinated in a soy sauce and served in small, bite size slices, the duck was crispy on the outside and slightly oily but tender on the inside, the calamari was served with large pieces of fresh chilli to give it a kick and the steamed vegetables was lightly doused in a hoisin sauce.

We sat there for several hours enjoying the buzz and couldn't believe how soon the dining space had filled. It honestly felt as if we had just sat down in a near empty restaurant and then 5 minutes later turned around again to a packed, buzzing restaurant filled with families and friends.

To finish off we managed to secure some egg tarts. I love egg tarts and for me a visit to yum cha is not complete unless they make an appearance.

I'll be back.

Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant - Bank St, Pyrmont - (02) 9660 9888

Trebob Seafood Restaurant, Mulga Rd, Oatley

2008-01-05T23:58:00.000+11:00

Trebob Seafood Restaurant, Mulga Rd, Oatley
Saturday 5 January, 2008

Tonight we were celebrating the 70th birthday of a very special lady - Aunty Yvonne. Hosted by her three children and surrounded by extended family this night was always going to be memorable.

Trebob is located in the heart of Oatley with ample parking in the side streets. The name, funnily enough, is not French, but an amalgamated name from the owners - Tracey & Bob who have run this family business for just over 10 years.

You enter Trebob by sliding back a large window door. The front dining room seats at least 40 and there is an open bar and kitchen to the rear. Just beyond this is a private dining area with exposed brick walls, stained glass light fixtures and velvet covered chairs. The Christmas decorations were still on display but, as I was reminded tonight, tomorrow is officially the end of the 12 days of Christmas - so all is forgiven.

With a large group - 13 kids and 17 adults - Trebob offered a generous menu of 4 entrees, mains and desserts to pick from. They also included several kids options, fish & chips and crumbed calamari, and kept the jugs of lemonade and coca-cola coming. The restaurant is fully licensed and BYO - bottled wine only.

For the adults the options were:

Entree

- Baked Camembert wrapped in puff pastry with shalloted bacon & served with cumberland sauce

- Golden Calamari lightly crumbed, fried & served with tartare sauce

- Coconut Prawns & Tempura Asparagus coated in coconut, d-fried & served with honey curry mayonnaise

- Smoked Canadian Salmon with oven dried veges, baby english spinach & truffle oil

Main

- Whiting Fillets Beer Batter with chips & garlic soy dips

- Supreme Chicken Mango breast fillets in a mango white wine cream sauce

- Medallions of Beef Burgundy with bacon, mushroom & red burgundy jus on garlic potato mash

- Barramundi Cleopatra grilled with prawn meat in bearnaise sauce

Dessert

- Mango Cream Pot chilled mango custard topped with honey caramel

- Sticky Date Pudding with creme anglaise and butterscotch sauce

- Profiteroles with zabaglione cream and chocolate sauce

- Tiramisu sponge dipped in kahlua coffee with cointreau cheese cream

Decisions, decisions......I agreed to go half and half so that I could try a few dishes and sampled the Baked Camembert (decadent with rich, soft camembert that oozed out of the pastry), Coconut Prawns (dipped in coconut and lightly battered with a lovely curry sauce), Canadian salmon (a little light on and disguised under an enormous salad) and the Supreme Chicken Mango and Barramundi Cleopatra (these two looked suspiciously similar under a thick sauce surrounded by lots of vegetables). I didn't get around to dessert however by the looks of the empty plates on each table they were delicious.

This is a local, family run restaurant and they all chip in - Tracey & Bob work the floor and ensured that we were well looked after night and their kids help out as needed with the uncles and aunts in control of the kitchen. They are hard working and eager to please and when I enquired about the upstairs dining room they were very keen to take me on a tour.

Tonight the celebrations were heartfelt, the speeches entertaining and there was a lot of love in the room. Aunty Yvonne's 70th was a night to remember.

Trebob Seafood Restaurant - 71 Mulga Road, Oatley - (02) 9580 8233

The Boathouse, Ferry Road, Glebe

2008-01-03T23:55:00.000+11:00

The Boathouse, Ferry Road, Glebe
Thursday 3 January, 2007

A wedding is a wonderful occasion and this was a sensational event. The ceremony was in the park at Blackwattle Bay - white chairs lined either side of the red carpet on the cobble stoned pathway and the water was the back drop. Stunning.

After the ceremony we were ushered less than 100 metres away to The Boathouse. Tony Papas and Robert Smallbone established The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay in 1997 after being inspired by wonderful Paris brasseries like Terminus Nord, where the seafood is delivered to tables in pristine condition and with great theatre. Located in an historic converted boathouse at Blackwattle Bay, the décor is classic modern Australian.

Wooden floors, crisp white linen, solid white china and stunning white flower arrangements welcomed us as we arrived at the top of the stairs. Staff carrying trays of sparkling wine and a very cool DJ spinning some cool tunes created a wonderfully relaxed environment.

The attention to detail was second to none - it was so impressive. The menus were carefully placed at each setting and outlined what we would be served:

Entree

Woodside goats curd tuile with watercress and cucumber dressing OR
Roast duck breast, simmered eggplant with master stock, star anise and shiso

Main

Roast blue eye trevalla from Eden with broccolini, eschalot, preserved lemon and oyster salt OR
Grilled 150 year old grain fed angus beef sirloin with nori, lentils, soy and shitake mushrooms

Both served with mixed leaf salad & roast dutch cream potatoes

Dessert

Pedro Ximenez ice cream with chocolate mousse and coffee granita OR
Grilled mango sorbet, mango panna cotta and mango sushi rice

The food was exquisite and everyone was happy to swap dishes to secure what they wanted. I thoroughly enjoyed the goats curd - it was incredibly creamy and very decadent. The trevalla was light and absorbed the lemon & salt well. The roast dutch cream potatoes were crispy around the edges and soft in the centre. But, the absolute standout was the Pedro Ximenez dessert. It was completely over the top and I feared I would be up for 3 days with the coffee granita but I loved every mouthful.

What a great night.

The Boathouse - End of Ferry Road, Glebe - (02) 9518 9011

http://www.boathouse.net.au/index.htm

Papa's Pizza and Pasta, Mona Vale Rd, St Ives

2007-12-30T23:21:00.000+11:00

Papa's Pizza and Pasta, Mona Vale Rd, St Ives

Sunday 30 December, 2007

Tonight we all met up at the St Ives Shopping Village for dinner at Papa's. I've never eaten there before and it was buzzing with locals. The dining space spills out into a large open area and almost everyone was sitting outside on this balmy evening.

This is OK before sunset. After sunset the open air carpark fills with local P-platers. They hang out here and wander in and out of McDonalds all evening. There's got to be another place the local teenagers can go.....

Papa's is an Italian joint with a wood fired pizza oven. Next door is Wyld Ivy - what used to be known as Seven Wives. Papa's menu offers a mixture of wood fired pizzas, meat & seafood dishes and pastas. The staff were lovely and very friendly and we were well looked after. The decor was rustic with wooden table and chairs and a burnt orange colour scene throughout.

We ordered some thick cut garlic bread to start and it was delivered to the table in a large basket. It was very light on the garlic. Then we ordered several large pizzas to share:

- Margherita- mozzarella cheese, tomato and basil
- Tandoori chicken - marinated chicken in tandoori masala, mozzarella cheese, yoghurt, onion and basil

Some trivia for you.....Margherita or Margaret of Savoy (born November 20, 1851 in Turin, died January 4, 1926 in Bordighera), was the Queen consort of the Kingdom of Italy during the reign (1878-1900) of her husband, Humbert I. On January 9, 1878, Humbert succeeded as the new King of Italy. She became his Queen consort and remained by his side for the rest of his reign. Humbert was assassinated by anarchist Gaetano Bresci on July 29, 1900. Margherita encouraged artists and writers and founded cultural institutions, notably the Società del Quartetto, and the Casa di Dante. She was a benefactor of many charities, especially the Red Cross. In 1889 the pizza Margherita was named after her - it has the colours of the Italian flag - Red sauce, green basil and white cheese.

The pizzas were delivered to our table piping hot from the oven and looked impressive. The Margherita was the stand out - it was simple and the flavours shone. The pizzas were cut lazily so they weren't even - each piece was a different size - not by a fraction but by a significant amount.

For a local family pizza joint this is good value and the pizza is pretty good.

Papa's Pizza and Pasta - Shop 17/ 166 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives - 9988 3200

Golden Century, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park

2007-12-29T23:36:00.000+11:00

Golden Century, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park

Saturday 29 December, 2007

It's been a while since I've visited my favourite Chinese restaurant and tonight we were looking for a quick bite before experiencing the recently released, quirky film by Wes Anderson, The Darjeeling Limited.

We had booked for 8pm and when we arrived there was a queue down the stairs of eager diners. The dining space was buzzing and we broke through the crowds to reach the top of the stairs. It was here that the chaos unfolded. The staff were rushing about in every direction and we couldn't get anyones' attention.

We checked the reservations list and waited by the front desk until a staff member returned. Finally we were directed to a table along the wall in the rear. This area is usually used as the private dining room but was opened up tonight to accommodate the crowds. Within 5 minutes of sitting down we realised that they were were actually going use this space as a quasi private dining room. A large extended family arrived and took over 3 big tables of 12 for the duration our meal.

The decor at Golden Century is looking a little tired, especially in the area we were seated in. The mosquitoes were flying around us and the windows were slightly ajar so we tried to force one shut. It didn't take us long to decide our order as the old favourites were high on the list:

- Salt & pepper calamari

- Grandmother's beancurd

- Wasabi beef

- Fried rice

The food was bought out in two deliveries - the rice, calamari and beancurd first and after 10 minutes the beef arrived. As always the food was excellent - the beef had just the right amount of wasabi to give it that alarming sensation. The beancurd was packed full of chilli and coupled with the soup like consistency of the beancurd and pork was divine scooped over the rice.

Washed down with an ice cold beer this was a great meal and we rolled across to Cinema Paris to see the movie.

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

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

Ripples, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman

2007-12-27T23:42:00.000+11:00

Ripples, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman
Thursday 27 December, 2007

The clouds parted today to reveal a stunning blue sky - where have you been?? This made our visit to Ripples all the more enjoyable as it really is a location to savour in good weather.

Driving through the bushland towards Chowder Bay you are reminded how wonderful Sydney is. The location is still under development and the first time I visited I thought it was a find - there is still alot of work to be done with the access, parking and signage and sadly these still haven't been addressed. Also the service has deteriorated. However, the food is just as good.

We arrived at midday and had to stand around waiting for a staff member to attend to us. There were plenty of staff milling at the bar but apparently they couldn't show guests to tables. So, we waited. Then we were directed to a fabulous table on the balcony in the corner. As we were seated my chair legs sunk between the cracks of the wooden boards and almost caused a disaster. The waiter was more concerned with her reaction than mine. So, after I picked myself up and re-positioned the chair we ordered some wine.

The menu is Italian inspired and we couldn't go past the reggiano parmesan cheese w 12 yr old balsamic and lavosh. It was presented on a thin platter and the parmesan was crumbly and bitey. The balsamic gave it an edge and the lavosh dunked in virgin olive oil completed the taste.

Around this time the outdoor balcony was filling to capacity. The water was sparkling below us and the view was striking. There was so much activity around us with the scuba diving school, boats in the bay, families in the park and lively diners in the cafe. For mains we ordered:

- Pan fried kingfish fillet on roast tomato, haloumi, preserved lemon
& parsley salad
- Oven baked lamb rump on vegetable cous-cous & harissa sauce

The food was delicious. My kingfish was salted and crispy and I loved the pairing with haloumi and preserved lemon. My lunch buddy also loved her meal - the lamb was very tender and the cous cous was served in abundance. The food was definitely the saving grace today.

We could have sat there for hours and soaked up the atmosphere with another wine. Bring back the long lunch!

Ripples - Deck C, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman - 9960 3000

http://www.ripplescafe.com.au/

Sky Phoenix, Castlereagh Street, Sydney

2007-12-23T17:51:00.000+11:00

Sky Phoenix, Castlereagh Street, Sydney
Sunday 23 December, 2007

Today we had a plan - get into the city early enough to beat the crowds for last minute Christmas shopping and reward ourselves with yum cha. The first part worked perfectly - there was no one around Pitt St Mall before 11.30am on Sunday morning so we had the pick of the stores and were able to browse at leisure without feeling rushed and we were not surrounded by frantic Christmas shoppers.

Afterwards, we took the huge escalators to Sky Phoenix in Sky Garden. I've always raved about this place but today I was a little disappointed. We arrived and they didn't look busy at all - in fact they had seated everyone in the front section which is partitioned off from the corridor to Bing Lee and the entrance from Castleraegh St.

We were directed to a table in the centre of the dining space and were immediately hit upon by staff with trays and trolleys. We actually wanted to start with some tea so felt like we were turning everyone away. This worked against us because when when we were ready to eat we couldn't locate anyone!

Having learnt from my last yum cha experience at Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant you can actually order any tea you want - it doesn't have to be the plain boring jasmine that they offer the masses. We ordered and waited. Fortunately the pace of the food was so slow that we could sit back and enjoy each dish in isolation and chat for hours.

We started with some prawn rolls that were wrapped in toast. I hadn't seen these before so was keen to try a few different dishes. Unfortunately, they were dry and virtually tasteless - the toast was thick and dulled the taste of the prawn in the middle. Next up, prawns wrapped in seaweed - again, I hadn't seen these before. The prawns were almost pureed and prepared in seaweed like sushi. Without the 'blow your head off' chilli sauce I don't think I could have kept eating them.

We did pick a few winners though.....BBQ pork pieces marinated in plum sauce - they were small bite size pieces glazed and cooked well. They were absolutely delicious and so good that we were tempted to go another plate. This was followed by salt & pepper calamari - the seasoning was so good that I could have just licked it off the calamari and been content.

The staff today were dull and distracted. Asking for drinks other than tea was a chore and even the servers who are usually engaging and friendly were not interested. However, no yum cha experience is complete without mango pancakes and egg tarts. It must sound strange to order these but they are reminders from my first ever yum cha experience and I love them. The mango pancakes aren't really pancakes but fresh mango and sweetened cream wrapped in a flat pancake like base. They are messy to eat and the cream goes everywhere but I really love them. The egg tarts are best served warm and come with the lightest, buttery pastry case.

Overall, not my favourite yum cha experience but I still left smiling after the sweet stuff.

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

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

Fig & Feast, Clark Rd, Neutral Bay

2007-12-22T22:19:00.000+11:00

Fig & Feast, Clark Rd, Neutral Bay

Saturday 22 December, 2007

Fig & Feast has only been open for a few months and tonight was my second visit. My first visit was during the day which allowed us to sit outside and soak up the atmosphere on the white lounges.

Tonight we arrived for an early dinner and discovered an empty restaurant. Outside there were a few locals ordering pizza and ice cream from the take away bar but the interior was completely empty. Decked out with homewares from Fig - Katherine Lee Martin's store in Roseville which was rated by Australia House & Garden as one of Australia's top 10 homeware stores - the interior showcases white washed walls and exposed sandstone. The main part of the restaurant is intimate with tables around a bay window.

We were directed to a table and had our drinks orders taken. The wait staff were a little awkward and read the specials off a notepad for us. Chef, James Richards, is only 29 years old, served his apprenticeship with James Pignolet and was sous chef to Maggie Beer. With such an esteemed training ground our expectations were high.

The menu consists of salads, pastas, risottos and several meat dishes. I couldn't go past the roast lamb on a bed of asparagus and roasted onions whilst my dinner buddy ordered the kangaroo fillet and we shared a Pear, blue cheese, walnut & watercress salad with a balsamic dressing. By this point a few more diners had arrived and there was a definite buzz across the dining space.

The roast lamb was beautifully presented with several thick cut slices with a crispy outer layer. It was cooked to order - medium rare - and the asparagus was steamed with just the right amount of firmness. I really enjoyed it. My dinner buddy also loved the kangaroo and had asked for it medium rare which was prefect.

The intrusion of the staff constantly checking back to see if our meals were OK got very tired and but as we had enjoyed our mains so much we decided to order dessert. Bad move. What sounded great on paper was really disappointing. The chocolate souffle was described as dark chocolate with rum & raisin sauce. What arrived at the table was a microwave pudding with burnt sauce. It was edible.........just. We should have stuck to our delicious mains.

Despite the dessert and staffing issues the location is perfect with ample parking - I'm sure the local area will embrace it soon.

Fig & Feast - 62 Clark Rd, Neutral Bay - (02) 9955 9711

http://www.figandfeast.com/

Asakaze, George St, Sydney

2007-12-21T22:39:00.000+11:00

Asakaze, George St, Sydney
Friday 21 December, 2007

Located in the retail space of the recently refurbished 259 George St complex, Asakaze offers Japanese cuisine including a sushi train on the lower level.

We finished work early today and a work buddy & I decided to give it a try. On arrival we were welcomed inside and invited to take a seat on the high chairs around the sushi train. With drinks ordered we watched the different coloured plates go past. My lunch buddy opened a brochure on the table which revealed the price attached to each plate ($3.50 - $5.00 each). We also prepared our own sauce concoction of wasabi and soy sauce - I love it with some kick.

Sushi is vinegared rice topped or mixed with various fresh ingredients, usually fish or sea food. I wasn't aware of this but there are several different terms for the types of sushi:

Nigiri-zushi - This is sushi with the ingredients on top of a block of rice.
Maki-zushi - Translated as "roll sushi," this is where rice and seafood or other ingredients are placed on a sheet of seaweed (nori) and rolled into a cylindrical shape on a bamboo mat and then cut into smaller pieces.
Temaki - Basically the same as makizushi, except that the nori is rolled into a cone-shape with the ingredients placed inside.
Chirashi - Translated as "scattered", chirashi involves fresh sea food, vegetables or other ingredients being placed on top of sushi rice in a bowl or dish.

The process for ordering at Asakze is simple:

Simply select the plate of your choice
If you can't see what you want, you can order through any of the staff members
When you have finished dining let the staff know, so they can count your plates
Take the bill and proceed to the register

We tried some salmon and tuna sashimi first and it was just delicious - the freshness and thick cut slices was truly delightful. We pondered our next move, watched the plates roll past and then selected some:

- Salmon rolls with spring onions
- Teriyaki rolls with chicken, avocado and cucumber
- Tuna rolls with mayonnaise

We were both impressed with the quality of the food. The place was buzzing and each time any guests leave all the staff sing out in unison a Japanese farewell. Once or twice is fine but when you hear it repeatedly it gets a little tired.

Asakaze - 259 George St, Sydney

The Royal George, George St, Sydney

2007-12-20T23:07:00.000+11:00

The Royal George, George St, Sydney

Thursday 20 December, 2007

Due to open mid December the Ivy still looks like a construction site from the street. However, with all the press around The Ivy and it's almost failed liquor license, Justin Hemmes is sitting on a goldmine again.

The Ivy is to comprise a boutique hotel, bars, a day spa, nine restaurants, a swimming pool with bar, European-style laneways, gardens, cafes, retail outlets, delicatessens, a ballroom and office space. I can't wait to see it finished.

Tonight we decided to try the only open venue within The Ivy complex....The Royal George. This is a blokes pub complete with exposed brick walls, wooden panelling, minimal chairs & tables, a large billiard table and pokies. Even though it has been open since last Friday it could have easily been opening night. The comedy of errors was a mile long but we still had a great time.

Justin Hemmes was sitting outside with some friends as we wandered up to the entrance. The huge bouncers welcomed us inside and we took the stairs up to the main bar. It was packed inside but we managed to find one table at the rear just near the back stairs. On the table was a postcard advertising lunch and dinner and the message - receive a complimentary beverage with every meal purchased*. There was no explanation around what this involved so we grabbed the first available staff member who had absolutely no idea what it referred to. To his credit he went to the bar to find out for us and returned to say we would receive a complimentary house wine, spirit or beer with each meal ordered. We asked where we ordered the meals and again, he didn't know so went to find out. Turns out you order and pay at the bar and are provided with a buzzer. Then you retrieve your meals from the kitchen and grab some cutlery and napkins from the bar.

One of my dinner buddies went up to the bar to order a bottle of wine and asked to see the wine list. 'Wine list?' came the reply. She asked to see a list of the available bottles and was told there was no wine list. She asked what they did offer by the bottle and the bar tender replied with 'you tell me what you want and I'll see if we have it'. So, there are some teething issues in their first week of operation.....

This extended to enquiring where the female toilets were - 'sorry, no idea' came the reply; when we did find out we discovered that there were only 3 female toilets, two basins and one mirror - clearly it was designed by a man; and being served an empty pepper grinder with our meals.

The minute, open kitchen with two chefs working side by side seemed far too small but the meals were pretty good and excellently priced. One of my dinner buddies enjoyed chatting up the head chef who was very easy on the eye and more than happy to speak with us. The menu comprised of t-bone steaks, home made lasagna, pork cutlets, pies and schnitzels which could be summed up a pub grub.

I ordered the Steak, guinness and mushroom pie with peas and mash as did two of my dinner buddies and the others ordered the Poached chicken salad with iceberg, bocconcini, roasted cherry tomatoes and Chicken schnitzel with mash, salad and a choice of sauced. Each meal was priced under $15 each. The pie was served on large plate with a medium size ramekin dish filled with steak, guiness & mushrooms and covered with a layer of thin, flaky puff pastry. We were all disappointed with the amount of peas & mash served alongside the pie

For pub grub is was pretty good and I'm sure the venue, service and food will continue to improve.

The Royal George - 320 George St, Sydney - (02) 9254 8002

Cafe Chicane, Bond St, Sydney

2007-12-18T22:09:00.000+11:00

Cafe Chicane, Bond St, Sydney

Tuesday 18 December, 2007

Nestled at the rear of a forecourt between 2 large buildings on Bond St is a real find. Cafe Chicane offers indoor/ outdoor seating, large screen TV's, a bar and restaurant. I didn't know it even existed until today and will definitely be back.

We arrived at 1pm with a group of 8 - the place was packed to the rafters and there was a great buzz. There were no staff around however we found our reserved table and made ourselves comfortable. The decor offers a feature wall, wood panelling on the side wall and low hanging light fixtures - it's appealing and a little bit funky.

Shortly afterwards a staff member appeared and took our drinks orders. The menus were already on the table and we were transfixed. Offering breakfast (including Toby's Estate coffee) & lunch during the week and dinner on Thursday & Friday this place is very, very reasonably priced. The menus also recommend a beer or wine with each meal which is a great touch.

I couldn't go past the steak burger with caramelised onion, iceberg lettuce, tomato and house mayo and I asked for it to be cooked medium rare. My lunch buddies ordered the salt & pepper calamari, grilled salmon, fish & chips and porcini risotto. We did have to wait a little while for our meals however we were in no rush today and were happy to soak up the atmosphere. The staff were run of their feet trying to accommodate the crowds but did so with a smile on their faces.

The meals arrived in stages and my steak burger was delivered on a large white round plate with a small side dish of tomato sauce and a large side dish of chunky fries coated in chicken salt. The steak wasn't cooked medium rare it was more like a medium well steak however it was actually pretty good.

There wasn't much talking as we tucked into our meals. Cafe Chicane is a find - it is very reasonable, the food is good and it offers some great people watching.

Cafe Chicane - Shop 2 /10 Bond Street, Sydney - (02) 9232 4456

Belgian Beer Cafe, Harrington St, The Rocks

2007-12-17T22:51:00.000+11:00

Belgian Beer Cafe, Harrington St, The Rocks
Monday 17 December, 2007

My dinner buddy had recently returned from Ireland where she was based for several years - so tonight was a great reunion. We met in the bar which is to the left from the entrance. First, you need to step across the clear perspex flooring exposing foundation stones - that are decorated for Christmas - very tacky!

The Heritage Belgian Beer Cafe was designed by the trendsetting Belgium-based design firm, Creneau. It is a place of glowing mahogany-stained solid oak, engraved bar stools, bevelled mirrors, vintage beer posters and etched glass. We were directed to a table for 2 by the window and then left alone for ages before our drinks orders were taken. This was fine as we were talking so much but after we did finally order drinks we were then approached in quick succession by several staff members for our meal orders.

On the menu is traditional Belgium food ranging from schnitzels, 'moules frites' (mussels with chips) cooked up eight different ways, steaks, sausages, meat balls and a variety of seafood. I decided to order the house speciality - this is the first time I've ordered the mussels - usually I go with the steak - and I opted for the Provencale cooked with tomatoes, herbs and garlic. The menu also provides some necessary advice:

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.

My dinner buddy ordered the Chicken & Mushroom Vol au Vent - slightly creamy chicken, mushroom & asparagus casserole served in puff pastry case with chips and salad. When our meals arrived we laughed at their size - they were enormous! My mussels arrived in a large black pot with lid that was removed by the waiter and also served with a side of chunky fries. I thoroughly enjoyed the mussels but struggled to get through the entire pot. I did, however, use their recommended technique and it worked a treat!

The Belgian Beer Cafe currently offers several promotions:

MUSSEL MEN ...

Wednesdays will never be the same again - boys can head down between 6-10pm on Wednesday nights for half-price mussels.

LADIES IN RED ...

Ladies, while the guys are stuffing themselves with half-price mussels, you can be sipping your way (responsibly of course) through your complimentary Kriek draught beer - all you have to do is be sure to be dressed in red, and you can enjoy Belgium's finest cherry-flavoured beer - between 6-10pm the Krieks are on us.

Belgian Beer Cafe - 129-135 Harrington St, The Rocks - (02) 9241 1775

http://www.belgian-beer-cafe.com.au/default.asp?id=1

Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant, Bank St, Pyrmont

2007-12-15T15:40:00.000+11:00

Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant, Bank St, Pyrmont

Saturday 15 December, 2007

Who knew there was yum cha at the Fish Markets? I certainly didn't so it was a real treat to experience it today. When I arrived at the Fish markets this morning I was really impressed to discover parking attendants directing you to the available car spaces - what a nice surprise.

I met my yum cha buddy on the ground floor at the base of the stairs leading up to the restaurant. The entrance is almost directly opposite the Blackwattle Deli. There is a restaurant attendant and counter on the ground floor to direct you upstairs and show you to a table. Up the stairs is a large open dining space with plush blue carpet and formal tables and chairs. To the left is a spectacular fish tank and long bar area. We were seated and my lunch buddy who is very experienced with yum cha and speaks the language took control. This was great as I learnt heaps today.

Did you know you can request several different types of tea? I had always thought that Chinese Tea was jasmine only but my yum cha buddy explained that is is similar to asking for English tea where the varieties are Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Darjeeling etc. Personally, I'm not a fan of tea so was happy for my yum cha buddy to order the Tit-kwon Yan which is a Chinese black tea.

We watched the trolleys and trays go past and decided to start with BBQ pork wrapped in flat noodles and a hefty dose of chilli sauce. This was swiftly followed by vegetable dumplings, fried calamari and scallop dumplings. I was in heaven. I also learnt that if you speak the language you can obtain more food and better yet, request food that hasn't even done the rounds yet! I wanted eggs tarts and was determined to have them before we left but we couldn't see them anywhere. We asked a few people and then my yum cha buddy took control and spoke with someone who returned promptly with 2 egg tarts - sensational!

I was really impressed with the food and as we were settling our bill Luke Mangan from Glass Brasserie, Hilton Hotel arrived for lunch. The bill worked out to be less than $15 each - bargain. Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant is open for lunch from 11.00 am to 3 pm (Mon-Fri) and 10.00 am - 4 pm (Sat-Sun) and dinner from 5.30 pm to midnight every night.

Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Restaurant - Bank St, Pyrmont - (02) 9660 9888

Blue Water Cafe, South Steyne, Manly

2007-12-13T11:55:00.000+11:00

Blue Water Cafe, South Steyne, Manly

Thursday 13 December, 2007

It's been years since I've taken a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and I'd seriously forgotten how big the waves are as you cross the heads - I'm not joking....these waves were huge and the ferry was being rocked back and forth like a small dingy.

We arrived safely at Manly Wharf and it was like the whole of Manly was on holidays - everyone was out and about and the standard outfit was boardshorts and thongs. It takes a while to adjust after coming from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Blue Water Cafe is located on the beachfront, so we walked from the ferry wharf through the shops and up the paved mall to South Steyne. The whole area has undergone a facelift and some of the beachfront cafes/ bars look great e.g. The Shore Club. The Blue Water Cafe spills out onto the sidewalk and has large feature walls inside and a long bar area.

Outside the decor is white chairs and tables and inside it is all wood with sideboards displaying huge vases of flowers. Our group of 20 were welcomed inside and shown to a table at the rear of the cafe directly in front of the kitchen. They had spilt us over 2 tables which was a little awkward however there was plenty of room.

The menu is varied with daily specials and I couldn't go past the Red snapper with chilli fries and tomato salad. My lunch buddies ordered the salt & pepper calamari, beef burger, prawn curry, nachos and beer battered fish & chips. The staff took the orders from each table at intervals which meant we were all eating at different times.

After enjoying a mix of herb & garlic bread our meals arrived. The servings were huge and my red snapper was presented as a thick cut slice on a bed of thin fries coated with chilli flakes with an enormous salad on the side. My lunch buddies were equally impressed with their meals and we all eyed of each other's meals with envy.

The wine flowed and we exchanged Kris Kringle gifts which resulted in lots of laughs. The dessert menus were placed on the table and there was no need to twist our arms.....the chocolate rocher cake with frangelico anglaise was the absolute highlight - it was truly extravagant, incredibly rich and very, very good.

We could have sat there for hours but moved onto the Manly Wharf Hotel instead.

Blue Water Cafe - 28 South Steyne, Manly - (02) 9976 2051

Vaucluse House Tearooms, Wentworth Rd, Vaucluse

2007-12-09T15:13:00.000+11:00

Vaucluse House Tearooms, Wentworth Rd, Vaucluse

Sunday 9 December, 2007

The Tearooms overlook the grounds and gardens of Vaucluse House - an historic house set amongst 26 acres of beautiful greenery. I remember coming here as a child on a school excursion and some background research provided/ reminded me of the following information:

"Vaucluse House is a rare survival of a 19th century harbourside estate. It retains most of its domestic offices and kitchen, stables and outbuildings and is still surrounded by 26 acres (ten hectares) of gardens and grounds.

Begun as a small cottage in 1803, Vaucluse House greatest significance comes from its later ownership by the Australian patriot William Charles Wentworth, his wife Sarah and their family of 10 children. The Wentworths lived at Vaucluse House from 1827–53 and again in 1861–62. They rebuilt and greatly enlarged the house.

William Charles Wentworth's achievements include exploration, lifelong agitation for representative government, the formation of the nation's first university and numerous other political achievements. He was instrumental in drafting the constitution which gave New South Wales responsible government in 1856.

Vaucluse House paints a picture of the social aspirations and lifestyles of the Wentworths and of the servants both convict and free, who lived and worked there. The Gothic Revival mansion, with its picturesque turrets and castellations, includes fashionable entertaining rooms and functional 'back of house' areas. The interior includes original Wentworth pieces together with furniture, furnishings, and collections of the early to mid 19th century.
The extensive gardens and grounds have been restored to their 19th century character. The 26 acre estate includes pleasure garden, kitchen garden, paddocks, bushland and beach frontage. Today, Vaucluse House is one of the few 19th century houses on Sydney Harbour retaining a significant part of its original setting."

We had walked to the Tearooms this morning from New South Head Rd with a pram in tow. The walk down hill was quite pleasant until it dawned on us that we would have to walk back up! The Tearooms were empty and we grabbed a table in the shade as it was a scorcher in the sun. The staff were still setting the tables and it looked as if every table was reserved for lunch. The brunch menu was lean with only 5 offerings:

french toast, honey & ricotta
tearooms porridge, rhubarb compote, brown sugar
bacon, free range eggs, mushrooms, tomato chutney
smoked salmon, spinach & goats cheese ‘open faced' omelette
raisin & cinnamon toast or banana bread

We decided to order a few things and share. I thought the food was OK and very reasonable - there was nothing over $14. The staff were inexperienced but pleasant and they kept the water glasses topped up. The lunch crowd started arriving around 12pm and the Tearooms filled quickly. We were not hurried to move on and ordered another round of coffees.

The gardens and grounds are worth a visit and yes, the hike back up to New South Head Rd was a challenge with a full belly..........

Vaucluse House Tearooms - Wentworth Rd, Vaucluse - (02) 9388 8188

http://www.hht.net.au/museums/vaucluse_house/tearooms

Pink Salt, Cross St, Double Bay

2007-12-08T18:12:00.000+11:00

Pink Salt, Cross St, Double Bay
Saturday 8 December, 2007

The Diva's came together today for Christmas lunch. After a year of high tea's and lunchtime catch ups in the city we decided to try Pink Salt. One Diva knows the owners of Pink Salt and arranged a fabulous table for us in the enclosed terrace that spills onto the sidewalk.

The look is shabby chic or as Pink Salt terms it - pink chic. Each table has pink throws draped over the chairs and the white leather lounges host an array of cushions. It's warm and welcoming and almost like you are visiting a friend's place as the leather is a little worn from over use. The interior is decked out with chandeliers, a pink metallic feature wall and a white marble bar. Further inside it is quite dark and when you visit the toilets there should be torches provided (especially if you have been sitting outside in the sun!).

For those of you who remember, Pink Salt was first featured on 'My Restaurant Rules 2' and owners Evan Hansimikali and Belle Serventi have gained quite a following since they re-opened in Double Bay. Evan was present today and was a gracious host, happy to chat and gave us each a complimentary pink fluffy cupcake as we were leaving.

The menu is small with specials offered each day of the week that include a main meal, glass of wine and salad for $33. There are burgers, a handful of fish and meat dishes plus list of entrees to select from. We decided to share a couple of entrees up front:

- Salt & pepper calamari
- Duck liver and foie gras terrine with toasted brioche and fruit relish

The salt & pepper calamari was sensational and served in very large scored pieces with a very light crispy outer. A nice, spicy chilli sauce was provided to accompany the calamari and we polished that off with ease. The terrine was incredibly decadent and we ordered some extra bread rolls to polish it off. Why it that always the way? Do they expect you to layer the terrine an inch thick on each piece of bread?

For mains, we ordered:

- Beef fillet steak served with hand cut fries and bearnaise sauce x 2
- Steamed blue eye cod with chilli fennel
- Confit duck leg with pan fried gnocchi

The presentation of each dish was just superb - the steak came perched on a large mushroom and the hand cut fries were served in rolled paper. My steak as cooked to order - medium rare - and I enjoyed every single mouthful.

You would think after all this food that we couldn't possibly fit in anything else.....however, we are talking about the diva's. Three serves of sorbet & ice cream and one serve of vanilla creme brulee later we were done. The sorbet & ice cream came to table on a large rectangle plate and four large Chinese soup spoons. Each spoon contained either a scoop of sorbet or ice cream - vanilla bean, pineapple, strawberry and chocolate. The brulee was the largest brulee I have ever seen with the thickest top layer that we had great fun tapping through with our spoons.

Pink Salt is a great place for a lazy long lunch. Request a table outside.

Pink Salt - 53 Cross St, Double Bay - (02) 9328 1664

http://www.pinksalt.com.au/

Intermezzo, Martin Pl, Sydney

2007-12-06T23:03:00.000+11:00

Intermezzo, Martin Pl, Sydney

Thursday 6 December, 2007

I really enjoyed this place the first time I visited and was thrilled to return tonight. We had been at a networking event in the Lobby Bar and by 8.30pm were starving. Even though we didn't have a reservation we approached the Maitre'd and were welcomed through to a table overlooking Martin Place. This was perfect for people watching and the punters heading in and out of the Crystal Bar.

Head of the open kitchen is chef Mario Percuoco, who continues his family's legacy of passion for Italian food (father Armando Percuoco has been in charge of Buon Ricordo for almost 20 years). Our waiter was engaging and very professional - he delivered a plate of fresh bread, olive oil and balsamic in a dish and green olives which we devoured while we looked over the menus.

Where to start? All the food sounded fabulous, especially with the traditional Italian names listed and it was really hard to decide. I settled on the Tagliatelle al Tartufo - with wild mushroom, ricotta and black truffles. One dinner buddy ordered the Fagotti di Vitello - veal roll filled with pancetta, smoked bocconcini, pine nuts, baby spinach and raisins cooked in tomato concasse and our other dinner buddy struggled with her decision and put it to our waiter - what would you order? It was a choice between:

Rotollo D'Agnelo - marinated Victorian Gippsland lamb tenderloin fillets wrapped in pancetta served with sauteed red capsicum and polenta

Linguine Scampi - with New Zealand scampi, fresh cherry tomatoes and chilli

Our waiter made a hilarious pun about being indecisive and then offered to surprise her. We thought this was a great idea and looked forward to seeing what was delivered to the table.

The food was outstanding - I was so truly impressed with my tagliatelle - it was cooked al dente and the portion size was just enough to satisfy me. The combination of the wild mushrooms and black truffles was very flavoursome and for a mushroom lover seriously good. My dinner buddies both thoroughly enjoyed their meals and I'm sure you are wondering what the surprise was.......lamb.

Intermezzo is located in the heart of the city in Martin Place and situated on the lobby level of the Westin Hotel. This is an authentic Italian experience for those of you who appreciate good food, the best ingredients and are prepared to pay for it (the mains are between $31 - $41 each).

Intermezzo - 1 Martin Place, Sydney - (02) 9229 7700

http://www.gposydney.com/

Balmoral Beach Club, The Esplanade, Balmoral

2007-12-02T19:10:00.000+11:00

Balmoral Beach Club, The Esplanade, Balmoral

Sunday 2 December, 2007

Established in 1914, the Balmoral Beach Club is located at the northern end of Balmoral Beach. This exclusive club occupies a prime beachfront site and requires a pin code to enter.

Today, one of my lunch buddies (a member) invited a few of us for Sunday lunch. Once a month the Beach Club offers Sunday lunch to members and guests for $30pp. I was excited as I'd always wondered what was behind the non-descript gated entrance.

We arrived and walked up the ramp and into a small-ish room where tables were set for lunch. With windows on 3 sides of the room to take advantage of the spectacular view we sat down under the sky light. The Beach Club offers food only so drinks are BYO and there's no holding back with members lugging in bags and bags of grog.

The staff were young and inexperienced however they were very polite. They provided us with menus which revealed that lunch today was a choice of:

Paella with chorizo, chicken and mixed seafood - OR

Crispy pork with crab and green pawpaw salad with chilli caramel

Figs with goats cheese, pecans and honey - OR

Baked cheesecake with fresh mango

We ordered and sat back to take in the amazing view and watch the beach and surrounding parks fill up below. From our vantage point at the Balmoral Beach Club we felt very lucky to be here.

Our mains arrived and they all looked fabulous. My paella was rich with tomato and contained a generous serve of chorizo surrounding by grilled prawns. For dessert I had ordered the figs and was again impressed with the portion size. The figs were halved and smothered in goats cheese and drizzled in honey - very more-ish and decadent.

After a very satisfying lunch we took a tour of the Beach Club facilities. Wow! With BBQ facilities, plenty of indoor/ outdoor tables and a small grass area with direct beach access we were sold. This place is amazing. I'm already looking forward to my invitation to return.

Balmoral Beach Club - 6 The Esplanade, Balmoral - (02) 9969 8429

http://www.balmoralbeachclub.com.au/home.cfm

Kazbah, Darling Street, Balmain

2007-12-01T17:41:00.000+11:00

Kazbah, Darling Street, Balmain

Saturday 1 December, 2007

Open since 1998 Kazbah serves a selection of North African, Moroccan & Middle Eastern-inspired dishes. After my recent trip to Dubai, in which I lugged home a decorative tagine, I was keen to return to the 'Home of the Tagine' in Balmain.

Kazbah is a bright, happy place and attracts a boisterous crowd. The yellow walls create a warm atmosphere and the staff move around the floor serving each table with ease. This morning my breakfast buddy and I were on a mission - the breakfast tagine.

We arrived and discovered a queue out the door onto the footpath. Fortunately my breakfast buddy had booked a table so we breezed past the queue to our table. Within moments we were served water and a large glass jug filled with mint. There were already menus on the table however we knew what we wanted.

After ordered we were delivered two fabulously different plates - one red and one blue - and a Middle Eastern tile where the tagine would be placed. The anticipation was immense as we watched food being delivered to the tables around us.

The tagine arrived and the lid was lifted off to reveal a bubbling, steamy concoction of lamb mince, sucuk, feta, spinach, capsicum, caramelised onion, tomato and eggs. A side of turkish and pida bread arrived separately. Where to start?

The breakfast tagine was seriously good and spicy. We enjoyed every mouthful and struggled to finish it off. For $17.50 this is good value and the coffee is sensational - we had to order a second round.

Kazbah - 379 Darling Street, Balmain - (02) 9555 7067

http://www.kazbah.com.au/

Pat and Stick, Chauvel Cinema, Paddington

2007-11-28T22:06:00.000+11:00

Pat and Stick, Chauvel Cinema, Paddington
Wednesday 28 November, 2007

For several weeks I've been attending 'Movies Now' at the Chauvel Cinema on Wednesday nights. It starts at 6.15pm so dinner has been a variety of candy bar cuisine. Fortunately, the Chauvel Cinema offers a selection of Pat and Stick ice cream - so, each week my movie buddy and I have indulged in a different flavour.

Pat and Stick has been in existence since 2004 and positioned itself as 'world famous' ice cream - what ever that means. What they do offer is unique - an ice cream sandwich.

The flavours are enticing and delicious. The only downside is that the Chauvel does not stock all the flavours listed below - but I have tried most of them.

Vanilla Lace (The 'Original') - Classic vanilla bean ice cream with a crunchy oat and almond lace cookie
Double Chocolate - Rich Belgian couveture chocolate ice cream with a choc-fudge cookie
Vanilla Choc - Classic vanilla bean ice cream with a choc-fudge cookie
Espresso Lace - A crunchy oat and almond lace cookie with a seductive espresso ice cream
Caramel Pecan - Caramel ice cream with a nutty pecan cookie
Mochaccino - Our renowned choc-fudge cookie paired beautifully with rich espresso ice cream
Chocolate Lace - Our famous almond and oat lace cookie with rich Belgian chocolate ice cream
Strawberry Choc Chip - Yummy strawberry ice cream and our new choc-chip cookie

Pat and Stick dedicate themselves to creating the finest quality gourmet ice cream sandwiches, using all-natural, premium ingredients for the ultimate in indulgence. They are a Sydney based company and have a presence at the premier gourmet food markets each week and are also stocked in a handful of delis and cafes.

I'm a fan.

http://www.patandstick.com.au/

Fig & Feast, Clark Rd, Neutral Bay

2007-11-25T18:06:00.000+11:00

Fig & Feast, Clark Rd, Neutral Bay
Sunday 25 November, 2007

This site has changed hands again......about 3 months ago it was Vacca Bianca and prior to that it was Lazars. The site occupies a fantastic corner location in Neutral Bay and I've often thought it would be a great site for a mixed business. Recently, the site has had a facelift and has been introduced as Fig & Feast - is a restaurant or a shop - why not both?

The promotion for Fig & Feast states,

"When Katharine Lee Martin opened Fig at Roseville two years ago, the store was rated by Australian House & Garden as “one of Australia’s top ten” new homeware stores. Now Fig & Feast at North Sydney has become a combined ‘urban lounge’ for feast and second showroom for Fig.

Together Katharine and head chef, James, are creating a fresh new example of “glocalisation” – bringing a world of good taste to North Sydney, with the youthful energy and flair of a pair of stylish young entrepreneurs.

Guests arriving at the new-look restaurant are greeted by elegant outdoor couches and rattan armchairs, and a wonderful semi-circular sofa made from water hyacinth. It is clear that Katharine -- who has lived in Italy and has just been to Paris in search of next year’s inspiration -- has a flair for putting diverse and unusual pieces together to create interest and harmony simultaneously."

So, a mixed business has moved in and it's beautifully decked out with comfortable lounges inside and out plus several gifts and homewares on display inside. We arrived without a reservation for lunch today and as all the tables outside were taken we opted to sit on the large rattan armchairs outside under an umbrella. Our waiter was lovely but seemed a little overwhelmed and it took her a while to deliver our menus.

The menus were extensive with plenty of specials on offer. We discovered that James, the chef, was James Richards, who served his apprenticeship with Damien Pignolet and was sous chef to Maggie Beer at the age of 21. There were lounge, restaurant and specials menu to review and it was such a stunning day and incredibly relaxing to sit back in sunken lounges and enjoy the atmosphere.

I opted for the Sardegna pizza - sopressa salami, ham, bacon & prosciutto with chilli & pesto and my lunch buddy ordered the creamy conchiglie with pan-fried chicken breast, pancetta, semi-dried tomatoes & basil plus a side of kumera fries with aioli. The food arrived and looked impressive. My lunch buddy devoured his pasta however the kumera fries were large cut and soggy. My pizza was a little oily and I didn't think the pesto was necessary as it was strong in flavour and took away from the mild saltiness of the prosciutto and salami.

Whilst the food didn't overly impress me today we thoroughly enjoyed sitting outside this afternoon and I think this addition to the Neutral Bay dining scene is long overdue as it provides something different. I'd be happy to return and try their breakfast menu.

Fig & Feast - 62 Clark Rd, Neutral Bay - (02) 9955 9711

http://www.figandfeast.com/

Our Place, Darling St, Balmain

2007-11-24T23:10:00.000+11:00

Our Place, Darling St, Balmain
Saturday 24 November, 2007

After enjoying a very entertaining life drawing class at the Artful Hen with our model, Rodney and several glasses of champagne we made our way across to Balmain for a late lunch.

Our Place is located on Darling St next to the church where the markets are held every Saturday. We had booked the upstairs courtyard overlooking the church for our lunch today and it was decked out with fantastic photos of our hen as place settings. To get to the courtyard you walk through the cafe on the street level and take the stairs to the right of the bar. The stairs are narrow and old and at the top you turn right and head down the ramp, past the toilet block to the courtyard.

Our owner/ waiter was very slow in organising drinks, music and menus and as we had been drinking since 11am we needed to eat. The large group menu included an entree and main and we had a choice of 3 options for each course. The snail pace of the service meant that after we arrived at 2pm it took until 3.30pm for us receive our entrees.

I ordered the house made spanner crab ravioli, cherry tomatoes & manchego cheese sauce for entree and the marinated pork with salsa topped whole potato and green salad. The spanner crab ravioli was a real disappointment - it was basically cherry tomatoes and a minuscule amount of crab inside the large, flat ravioli with cheese drizzled across the top. This entree was served first and by the time the other entrees were served the cheese had hardened and the ravioli had lost its heat. The pork was OK and served a little overcooked.

The highlight of Our Place is definitely the courtyard. It's covered and is an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of Darling St. The toilets are in need of a refurbishment and could be cleaned more frequently. The food was average and whilst the service was well meaning - it was far too slow.

Our Place - 225 Darling St, Balmain - (02) 9810 4677

http://www.ourplaceondarling.com.au/

Bayside Lounge, Darling Drive, Darling Harbour

2007-11-22T21:36:00.000+11:00

Bayside Lounge, Bayside Lounge, Darling Drive, Darling Harbour
Thursday 22 November, 2007

The Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour has recently launched a new bar/ dining experience called the Bayside Lounge.

Commanding great views over Darling Harbour and the back of the city skyline, the lounge offers floor to ceiling glass windows and a variety of seating - lounges, tables & chairs and bar stools. It's very relaxed and today I was set to experience their lunch menu.

My lunch buddy and I arrived and were directed to row of tables & chairs - one side offering chairs and the other side offering deep lounge seating. My lunch buddy explained that the deep lounge seating was a little uncomfortable if you were not used to sitting there and were more suited to very tall people. I opted for the chair.

The staff were warm and welcoming and kept their distance when they observed my lunch buddy and I deep in conversation. Our waiter relayed the daily specials with ease but I was quite taken with the Bayside lounge tasting box - a variety of tasting samples served in a traditional bento box. This consisted of:

- black sesame crusted atlantic salmon on a bed of Japanese noodles
- marinated cuttlefish with fennel salad
- goats cheese tart with beetroot
- japanese mizuna and osaka leaves with marinated tear drop tomatoes & lemon vincotto dressing

My lunch buddy ordered the Beet salad with whipped fresh goats curd with avocado & baby lettuce.

When the meals arrived they looked outstanding. The presentation was first class and my bento box was so enticing I just didn't know where to start. The standout dish was the marinated cuttlefish - it was so flavoursome and the fennel salad complimented it really well. For $25 I thought this was very reasonable.

My lunch buddy couldn't look at my cuttlefish as it reminded her of the cuttlefish she use to pick off the beach and place in her bird cage - gross! Believe me, it was fabulous and I would definitely return to enjoy some more.

As we were leaving I noticed a flyer for their latest offering - High Tea! I'll be back.

Bayside Lounge - Bayside Lounge, Darling Drive, Darling Harbour - (02) 9282 5916

http://www.scec.com.au/services/details.cfm?objectID=160

Viva Goa, Scott St, Pyrmont

2007-11-19T22:42:00.000+11:00

Viva Goa, Scott St, Pyrmont

Monday 19 November, 2007

Portuguese influenced Goan food from the west coast of India? The blackboard out the front summed it up nicely - 'It's bloody different' and with that we entered the small federation home that has been converted into a Goan restaurant offering spicy delicacies.

Located at the far end of Harris St, past the Point Hotel but not as far down as Sugaroom, Scott St is located on the right hand side. There is a small group of old federation buildings, many which have been transformed into restaurants. The interior is bare with wooden floorboards and a mixture of outdoor furniture that is uncomfortable to sit at or smaller tables for 2. Our group of 5 required a larger table and this meant the outdoor furniture setting.

Chef and host, Gus D'souza, prepares such divine food that we literally rolled out of the Viva Goa tonight. He was there to greet us and continued to smile at us as he cooked up our Goan feast - what a find. The menu is enticing and a good read with some background to Goan cuisine and a holiday snap from Augustine's childhood home in Goa.

As everything sounded good, we asked for the assistance of our friendly & very polite waiter. What are your 'must have dishes'? As our goan feast was made up of 3 entrees, 4 mains and 1 dessert we decided on the following dishes with expert advice from our waiter:

- BBQ octopus
- Lentil rolls
- Marinated chicken with yoghurt

- Goan fish curry
- Lamb shanks
- Beef with potatoes
- Chicken slices with yoghurt

When the entrees arrived we were like kids in a candy store. The entrees were presented on a large platter with sauces on the side - the selection and variety were seriously good and the BBQ octopus was so spicy it almost cleared the head cold of one of our dinner buddies.

The mains commanded just as good response and the highlight was the Goan fish curry - it was light and had hints of mango. We couldn't get enough of it. Each meat dish fell apart and offered a mild, delicate spice with flavours that exploded in your mouth. The food was outstanding and although we were hungry - we just couldn't finish off the mains - doggy bag! As our waiter cleared the near empty bowls from the table we remembered dessert. God help us.

I couldn't go past the steamed banana pudding with coconut ice cream while my dinner buddies tried the cherries with cinnamon ice cream and fennel pancakes with vanilla ice cream. Good comfort food that really hit the spot.

It took us a while to contemplate leaving and it was an effort. Viva Goa is a relaxed dining experience with lovely, polite staff, sensational food and bare, uncomfortably furnished decor. Viva Goa is worth a visit.

Viva Goa - 2 Scott St, Pyrmont - (02) 9566 1311

http://www.vivagoa.com.au/

Cafe Belle Fleur, Old Northern Rd, Glenhaven

2007-11-18T17:47:00.000+11:00

Cafe Belle Fleur, Old Northern Rd, Glenhaven

Sunday 18 November, 2008

This morning we ventured over to Glenhaven to have breakfast at Cafe Belle Fleur within the the Flower Power Nursery. Located along Old Northern Road, the Flower Power Nursery has a massive site set alongside a large lake.

The Flower Power promotion of this site states,

"A lot has been said and written about Flower Power Glenhaven. Until you visit the expansive facility you will never really appreciate just how wonderful Garden Centres can be.

Subject to recent extensive renovations, experts describe Glenhaven as the “best garden centre” in Australia. Start with the huge landscape centre with its eight themed display gardens and work your way through a beautiful nursery. Cascading water features, rest areas and stunning shrub and plant features are located everywhere.

Then visit the massive indoor plant, gift and accessory shop before you travel down to a stunning lake- side café and native garden display. A state of the art children’s playground provides the final touch to a magnificent garden and entertainment centre."

We were lucky to arrive and score a great park outside. The entrance takes you through the flower shop, gifts or nursery before walking down a sloped pathway to the entrance of the cafe. We were surprised at how few people were there, however it didn't take long to fill up. As many of the tables were reserved we were initially led to a table near the entrance of the outdoor dining before our waitress deciding that she could offer us a table by the lake - thank you.

The outdoor seating of the cafe showcases several water features however the main aspect is the kids playground. The cafe is so geared around this that they reserve tables alongside it for families. So, if you go expect lots of families and kids running around in super hero costumes.

The view across the lake is stunning with the overhanging trees however the right side of the lake exposes an unsightly area of the nursery - this could easily be covered with lattice, bamboo or something else to complete the picture.

We ordered coffee, well, I ordered a mug of coffee and the girls ordered ice chocolates in these massive tall glasses. The menu offered a range of breakfast items from fresh fruit & yoghurt to waffles and eggs. I couldn't go past the eggs benedict and the girls ordered the Belgian waffles with maple syrup and ice cream and scrambled eggs and bacon on toast.

When the meals arrived they looked pretty good however they hadn't delivered the waffles to order. We had specifically requested them with maple syrup and ice cream however they came to table as their standard order topped with fruit etc. We called the waiter back and she disappeared with the plate stating that she would have the chef prepare another plate. This meant we ate our eggs and had almost finished by the time the waffles returned to the table.

My eggs benedict was good however the spinach was a little watery which meant the English muffins were soggy - not good. The waffles looked fantastic and their delighted owner described them as 'sugary & delicious'. Cafe Belle Fleur is a relaxed place - go when you have plenty of time to spare and enough time to walk off breakfast around the nursery.

Cafe Belle Fleur - 609 Old Northern Rd, Glenhaven - (02) 9634 3411

http://www.flowerpower.com.au/glenhaven.html

Cupcakes with Zoe, Castle Hill

2007-11-17T17:33:00.000+11:00

Cupcakes with Zoe, Castle Hill

Saturday 17 November, 2008

This weekend I am camping out in Castle Hill....literally. My cousins daughters have constructed a bed in the middle of their lounge room and this is where we will sleep until Monday. A weekend in Castle Hill means a trip to Castle Towers for supplies i.e. lollies, ice cream and ingredients for cup cakes as we planned to bake!

The recipe was simple:

CUPCAKES

250g unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 ½ cups self-raising flour

1 ¼ cups plain flour

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

ICING

4 cups icing sugar

125g unsalted butter

¼ cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

We arrived home and sorted out our supplies before switching on the oven. The recipe called for an electric mixer, however we couldn't find all the parts so had to resort to some good 'ol elbow grease. This was a lot easier than we thought and our mixture was smooth with no lumps before we knew it.

We made 12 cupcakes and they only required 15 mins in the oven before cooling on the rack. After all this hard work we had to cool off too........in the pool before deciding how to ice the cupcakes. Zoe did a fantastic job icing the cupcakes and decorating them with the sugary designs - what fun!

Club Café and Bar, Acer Arena, Homebush

2007-11-13T23:28:00.000+11:00

Club Café and Bar, Acer Arena, Homebush
Tuesday 13 November, 2007

Tonight we were bringing sexy back courtesy of Justin Timberlake. What a show!

I'm not a fan of Acer Arena however our experience tonight was effortless. We left the city around 5.30pm, had pre-paid for our parking and parked by 6.30pm. The concert was due to start around 8.30pm so we had plenty of time to sit down and eat. The choices? According to the Acer Arena website,

"Acer Arena offers a range of dining options to patrons visiting the venue. From pre-show dining to al a carte restaurants to bars and fast food, there is something that appeals to everyone. Acer Arena has an award winning in house catering team whose high standards guarantee the highest level of commitment to service, quality and variety for patrons.

Acer Arena's catering team has vast experience in both the Australian and international hotel and hospitality industry and is led by our award winning Executive Chef. From our kitchens we ensure that patrons leave every event having been catered for with our hallmark style.
Acer Arena has in excess of five restaurants and bars located throughout the venue. Boulevarde Café and Terrace, Club Café and Bar, Club View Bar and Club Grill offer a range of meals and beverages catering for a variety of tastes and budgets.

In addition to these restaurants, a wide selection of fast food items and beverages are offered via the fast food concession and bar outlets located throughout the venue on all levels.
Please note that not all concessions, cafes and restaurants are open for every event and unfortunately Acer Arena do not take reservations in their restaurants."

We took the stairs up to Level One and decided to grab a table at the Club Café and Bar which was directly opposite our entry door. Too easy. Our choices were limited but more than adequate and ranged from beef & chicken burgers to salt & pepper calamari and Italian meatballs. To order you went to the bar and paid and provided them with your table number. This sounded simple enough however I got our table number completely wrong and it wasn't until I returned to our table that I realised. So, back up to the counter I went and explained the issue - this was handled with ease and a few laughs all round.

I ordered the beef burger and we also ordered a garlic bread to share. When food arrived and we were impressed by the potion sizes - they were enormous and can only be described as hearty. Each plate was served with a side salad and fries and my burger was pretty good with plenty of fillings including beetroot, pineapple, lettuce, onion relish and tomato.

Overall, you don't go to Acer Arena to eat - so you get what you pay for. The food was adequate for the venue and the concert was brilliant.

Club Café and Bar, Acer Arena, Homebush

http://www.acerarena.com.au/default.asp?flash=1&p=1

Est, George St, Sydney

2007-11-12T23:58:00.000+11:00

Est, George St, Sydney
Monday 12 November, 2007

This is a special place and I always enjoy coming to Est. With its high ceiling, commanding columns and crisp white layout it screams elegant. Tonight we were celebrating - before dinner we had been to the Whitehouse School of Design finale fashion parade and it was also a welcome home celebration.

I've never had a bad meal at Est and it doesn't get any better than kicking off the evening with a glass of Dom Perignon. The menu at Est is a little oddly set out and although I've experienced it before I still need the staff to walk me through it. So, here goes:

1. The seven course tasting menu for $140, available with matched wines $235. Whole table only.
2. The Chef's menu, $120. A five course a la carte menu designed so that one choice is made from each section, consisting of smaller sized dishes.
3. A la carte dining is also available from the Chef's menu for those that want one, two or three courses.

As we were sitting down for a later meal we launched into our orders of entrees and mains. I ordered:

- Grilled white scallops and leather jacket cheeks on jerusalem artichoke puree, shimeji and white soy
- Crisp skin twenty four hour suckling pig on kipfler potatoes, glazed shallots and carrots

The staff were courteous and knowledgeable and when our meals arrived they looked exceptional. Served on large, different sized plates my scallops were lined up and looked so plump and juicy. The suckling pig was easily the best pork I have ever tasted - it was served in a generous portion in a square with a crisp top layer that got progressively more tender underneath - just divine.

As our evening continued on the restaurant slowly emptied and by the time we had finished even the downstairs bar was thinning. Est is an experience not to be missed.

Est - L1, 252 George Street, Sydney - (02) 9240 3010

http://www.merivale.com/establishment/est

2007-11-11T19:54:00.000+11:00

Delante, Waters Rd, Neutral Bay
Sunday 11 November, 2007

Is this the best breakfast in Sydney? For my money it is. Delante is a local gem located in Neutral Bay. The last time I visited Delante I thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast and was wowed. Today's experience was no different.

As a neighbourhood cafe/ deli Delante is a relaxed place. Locals stroll in and are more than happy to wait on the pavement for a table to become available. We strolled up at just the right time with one table spare...outside. This was just what we were after - there are only a handful of tables on the sidewalk and the weather was perfect.

The staff seemed to have changed hands again and were a little green e.g. wobbly hands with the coffee and clearing plates before both of us had finished. We ordered coffees straight off the bat and were not disappointed - they were sensational. So, much so that I had to order another after breakfast. For breakfast I took my breakfast buddies suggestion...again and went with his order - Blue swimmer crab scrambled eggs with potato rosti, spinach leaves in balsamic and a side of sausage & bacon. Bring it on!

After a short-ish wait during which we got to enjoy our coffees our breakfast was delivered to another table - oops! This was annoying more than anything and they were promptly retrieved and given to their rightful owners....us. The presentation was superb and we couldn't look at them a second longer.

The taste? Truly magnificent. The softness of the eggs embedded with blue swimmer crab was outstanding and I want the serving to be never ending (just like tim tams). However, my eyes were bigger than my belly and by the time I had eaten my way through the sausages, bacon, potato rosti and spinach leaves I only managed to eat about 75% of my eggs. This was a blessing for my breakfast buddy who happily finished them off.

I could easily swing by Delante every weekend for breakfast.

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

Bar Milazzo, Bridge St, Sydney

2007-11-09T21:26:00.000+11:00

Bar Milazzo, Bridge St, Sydney

Friday 9 November, 2007

The last time I visited Bar Milazzo I had gripes about the service (nothing new there). Bar Milazzo has a great corner location on Bridge St that offers plenty of outdoor dining under large canvas umbrellas.

We arrived to find the staff casually leaning against the long bar deep in conversation i.e. they had no intention of welcoming any lunchtime patrons. I find this unacceptable in a city cafe - it's Friday lunchtime and you have guests wanting to spend their money. We chose a table and looked around for menus or a menu board. There were specials outlined on a menu board but we couldn't see any menus. Just as we were about to jump up and grab some from the bar a staff member appeared and provided them to us. Our friendly staff member welcomed us and seemed oblivious to the fact we had been there for 10 minutes already.

Our waiter had left the menus open at the light lunch and mains page which was odd considering there were starters/ entrees on the previous page. We decided to order some garlic bread to share while we looked over the menus. The meals are varied in style and also in price ranging from $14 - $30. They offer a selection of salads, fish, burgers, risotto etc and all a step up from your typical cafe fare.

I decided to go with the salt & pepper calamari salad and my lunch buddy ordered the chicken & fruit salad - yes, that's correct.....chicken and fruit salad. The garlic bread was delicious and generously dripping in butter and when our mains arrived we were impressed. The portions were huge and each salad was piled high on a round plate. My salt & pepper calamari was good and the salad underneath was doused in a lemon & herb mayonnaise - a little too much for my liking. My lunch buddy really enjoyed the chicken and fruit salad and commented on how well it worked....who would have thought?

The place had filled up since we first sat down and we wondered how the two floor staff were going to cover it after our experience. After trying to flag down someone to get our bill we decided to go directly to the bar and pay.

The food was good, service bad and I could only recommend this if you are not watching your time.

Bar Milazzo - 21 Bridge Street, Sydney - (02) 9252 7355

http://www.barmilazzo.com/

Simple & Irresistible Thai, Miller St, North Sydney

2007-11-08T22:29:00.000+11:00

Simple & Irresistible Thai, Miller St, North Sydney

Thursday 9 November, 2007

Promoting a restaurant under this name is setting yourself up for disaster, however I was curious. I had driven past this corner location opposite North Sydney oval many times and the signage didn't stand out so I had no idea what the place was called.

We arrived to celebrate a friend's birthday and was given a pile of menu to distribute ourselves. On the ledge behind our table were several candles - this almost proved disastrous as one of our dinner buddies lent back and almost had her hair go up in flames! Nice start. There was no drinks menu included in our pile of menus so we asked a staff member if the restaurant was BYO/ licensed. It was BYO.

There is a bottle shop attached to the North Sydney Hotel just a little further down Miller St so a few of us traipsed down there to purchase some wine. We had all agreed to order the banquet for $30pp which allowed us to try several different dishes and the entrees were being delivered just as we returned with the wine - great timing!

The entrees were a mix of the old favourites - Thai fish cakes, satay sticks, curry puffs and spring rolls. Theses were served with two sauces and we were all impressed by the portion sizes and flavours.

Just as we had finished the entrees and sat back to pause for a minute the mains arrived in quick succession - Chicken with cashews, tofu stir fry, massaman curry, garlic prawns and a generous serve of steamed rice. Each dish was presented on a different sized plate and the rice was dished out by a staff member. The food was pretty good but I couldn't go as far as irresistible. My favourite dish was the chicken with cashews - it was simple, the soy sauce provided a great kick and there was a generous serve of cashews throughout.

There was a rowdy group of 8 at the table behind us which made any conversation difficult and after 10pm when most of the guests had left the staff starting sweeping the floors and tidying up around us - we got the message! The service was average - many of the staff just went through the paces and didn't engage in any conversation.

Simple & Irresistible Thai - 283 Miller St, North Sydney - (02) 9929 6696

Bar Bello, Cnr Phillip & Bridge Sts, Circular Quay

2007-11-07T23:58:00.000+11:00

Bar Bello, Cnr Phillip & Bridge Sts, Circular Quay

Wednesday 7 November, 2008

I have walked past this cafe several times as it shares a corner site with Wagamama. Bar Bello offers indoor/ outdoor seating and an open plan kitchen that you walk past on entry.

The published description of Bar Bello is, "Bar Bello is very popular, because the coffee is excellent and the food delicious at very reasonable prices! You wont be disappointed. Bar Bello offer dine in and takeaway, they have a variety of cafe style food. The staff are friendly and the set up is very hip."

I think someone might be telling porkie pies (and the services of an editor)! We arrived for lunch and were ignored. So, wandered a little further inside before a staff member stopped us and directed us to a table that had a 'reserved' sign on it. With drinks orders taken we looked over the menu - a variety of cafe fare ranging from $10 - 20 including salads, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, risottos, fish & chips and calamari. Surprisingly, Bar Bello is a licensed venue and the interior of Bar Bello is sparse with concrete floors and wooden chairs and tables - there is nothing hip about it.

It took us a while to gain the attention of a staff member to order. One of my lunch buddies mentioned this was a similar experience to her previous visit. For a venue that was half full and had three staff working the floor it was very slow. However, we persisted. I ordered the beef burger and my lunch buddies ordered the chicken burger and chicken & avocado turkish melt.

The food was presented well and was very nice. The burgers came to the table in open halves with a side dish of fries and another side dish of BBQ sauce. A bonus would have been if they had asked us if we wanted BBQ sauce or some other condiment for the fries. The beef burger was little under-done for my liking but still very nice and the fries were well cooked. I love beetroot so was thrilled to find beetroot on the beef burger along with lettuce, tomato, grilled onion and melted cheese. We all enjoyed our meals and the chicken & avocado turkish melt was so large that my lunch buddy had to take it away in a doggy bag.

Overall, the food was good, the prices OK, the service average and the decor sparse.

Bar Bello - Cnr Phillip & Bridge Sts, Circular Quay - (02) 9251 0105

Wharf Restaurant, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay

2007-11-05T20:49:00.000+11:00

Wharf Restaurant, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay
Monday 5 November, 2007

I thoroughly enjoyed my last visit to the Wharf Restaurant so was very much looking forward to returning - this time for lunch. Today's event was the Sydney Theatre Company Pier Group lunch with guest of honour, Cate Blanchett.

The Sydney Theatre Company Pier Group is a dedicated group of theatre lovers who organise a regular program of events to raise funds for special projects. Each year the Pier Group raises vital funds for Sydney Theatre Company by staging a range of signature events throughout the year, providing friends of the Company with opportunities to contribute funds while at the same time engaging with STC and its artists. Pier Group fundraising supports specific STC projects and in the past funding has been provided for disabled access to the Wharf theatre, the commissioning of Australian works and the long-term preservation of historic props, costumes and production drawings.

If it wasn't for Cate Blanchett today's experience would have been a blazing disaster (as one of my lunch buddies so aptly described it). Let me explain.

We had organised a small group to attend today's lunch several months ago. Trying to obtain confirmation on the venue or time was like pulling teeth....repeatedly. My emails and voicemails over the past 8 weeks were left unreturned and to summarise the pain involved let me share with you that I only received acknowledgment/ confirmation from the STC on Friday.....for the lunch today. Hopeless.

We arrived for the 12pm lunch to find at least half the restaurant already full. We gave our names to at least 3 staff before we were directed to a table. There were no menus on the tables so were were not sure what the lunch involved however at $60 pp we assumed the lunch would be worthwhile. Never assume. We were served bread about 12.30pm and sat there for another 30 minutes before lunch was served. So, after being seated for an hour our lunch arrived. For a lunch during business hours with corporate tables this was unnacceptable. At least they were consistent with their lack of organisation.

The restaurant was under-staffed so it took at least 20 mins for each person to be served. Then, they ran out of food. It was extraordinary to us that this could happen and we were incredibly unimpressed with the way the staff served each table. They placed food in front of half the table then disappeared for another 10 mins. What they served for lunch was shocking - tinned tomatoes in a shallow dish with overcooked fish and a dollop of pesto. It was bland and bordering on embarrassing for a restaurant of this standard.

Just as we thought things could not get any worse, we noticed a staff member retrieve the tiered cake stand of cupcakes from the display table in the middle of the restaurant and we burst out laughing. They had run out of cupcakes for dessert! Sure enough, as they neared our table the staff slowed down and tried to disguise that they had run out of dessert. Unbelievable.

If it wasn't for Cate Blanchett talking effortlessly about her passion for the theatre, plans for STC and motherhood the lunch would have been a complete utter waste of time. The Pier Group should get their act together.

Wharf Restaurant - Pier 4 Hickson Road Walsh Bay - (02) 9250 1761

http://www.thewharfrestaurant.com.au/

Restaurant Balzac, Belmore Rd, Randwick

2007-11-03T23:37:00.000+11:00

Restaurant Balzac, Belmore Rd, Randwick

Saturday 3 November, 2007

I visited Restaurant Balzac for the first time many, many years ago when it occupied it's former location at The Spot. I was so impressed with the value for money and innovative food. Since then, Matthew Kemp and his partner Lela Radojkovic have upgraded into the stunning sandstone building which suits their style, food and service perfectly.

There are many descriptions of Matthew Kemp's experience and journey to Restaurant Balzac - this is one of the most concise,

"Matthew Kemp is one of our best young chefs. After arriving in Sydney in 1992, he worked with Dietmar Sawyere at ‘The Park Lane Hotel’, then with Liam Tomlin at ‘Brasserie Cassis’. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1996 and worked for Philip Howard at the two Michelin star restaurant ‘The Square’. It was during this time and under the influence of Philip that Kemp really began to understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of cookery. With this experience, he returned to Australia and worked at ‘Banc’ as Chef de Cuisine. During his time as Chef de Cuisine the restaurant won every accolade possible from ‘Best New Restaurant’ to ‘Restaurant of the Year’. In Matthew’s vision for Restaurant Balzac he wanted to create a restaurant his Nan, Mum or his best chef mates to be able to walk into his restaurant and all choose something off the menu without feeling any apprehension."

Tonight, our party of 4 were ready for the Balzac experience. We had booked several weeks ago and I thought the phone service then and the friendly confirmation call earlier today very impressive. We arrived ready for an experience and were warmly welcomed and shown to our table in the upstairs dining room. The decor is subdued to fit the stunning sandstone exterior - the white linen tablecloths, dull lighting and the dark wood floorboards all add to the atmosphere.

We reviewed the degustation menu and the a la carte - decisions, decisions. It was really hard especially when our engaging waiter (who had just graduated from NIDA) shared the specials with us. What to do? The trouble is everything on the menu sounds so enticing however we agreed to try the a la carte menu. For entree we ordered:

- New Season Asparagus with Baked Goats Cheese, Truffled Honey and Pain de Mie x 2

- Ballotine with quail, squab and foie gras x 2

After we ordered an amuse bouche was promptly delivered and we asked to see the Sommelier for guidance on the wine. The amuse bouche was a cauliflower soup served with a sprinkle of cous cous in a charming white china tea cup - it was smooth, creamy and very, very good.

The Sommelier arrived and we were very impressed with his suggestions - he offered a variety of choices of all different $$ values and steered us towards a cheaper red. Thanks! One of my dinner buddies just wanted a glass of white so without hesitation the Sommelier took her preferences and then said, 'Leave it with me' and disappeared.

Just before the entrees arrived we received a plate of large white crusty bread rolls and a small dish of butter. I don't know about you but a small dish of butter just doesn't cut it - everyone should be served a dish of butter to be as generous or as lean as possible. The wine served was superb however the glass of white came to the table with no explanation - it would have been nice to have this explained.

We were bowled over by the presentation of the entrees - actually we were for every single course. The ballotine was presented in small piles with delicate toast slices strategically positioned alongside each one. It was truly delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed every mouthful.

For mains we had ordered:

- Shank of Aurora Lamb with a Warm Salad of Crisp Belly, Broad Beans, Chick Peas and Ras el Hanout x 2

- Pig trotter stuffed with pork belly and foie gras x 2

Again, we were seriously impressed. The food at Balzac is outstanding. The shank was incredibly tender and the mix of broad beans and chick peas soaked up the mildly spicy sauce.

The restaurant was full and as we were seated in a nook we weren't distracted by other guests or the noise. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the friendly nature of the staff and all agreed that dessert was a must. That said, we ordered:

- Hot Chocolate Fondant with Cappuccino Ice Cream x 1

- Bread and Butter Pudding with Mandarin Ice Cream x 1

- Banana and Hazelnut Strudel with Roast Hazelnut Ice Cream and Banana Milkshake x 2

Before our desserts appeared we were provided with another complimentary dish. Presented in a large shot glass was coconut tapioca topped with fresh mango. It smelt and tasted like summer - which was ironic considering the mother of all storms had just started outside.

As a fan of bananas I was seriously impressed by the Banana and Hazelnut Strudel. This was a truly innovative dessert and the first upright strudel I have ever seen. The banana milkshake came in a large shot glass and was rich and flavoursome. There was a streak of chocolate across the bottom of the plate that kept the rolled strudel upright and the wonderfully warm banana & hazelnut strudel was a stand out! WOW!

Restaurant Balzac is a must - it is really affordable. For three courses, pre dinner drinks and a bottle of wine our bill came to $100 pp. Loved it.

Restaurant Balzac - 141 Belmore Road, Randwick - (02) 9399 9660

http://www.restaurantbalzac.com.au/

International Diethnes Cakes & Coffee, Lonsdale St, Melbourne

2007-11-02T21:59:00.000+11:00

International Diethnes Cakes & Coffee, Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Friday 2 November, 2007

Today I was in Melbourne for a whistle stop visit. I flew in early and out late - joy! My driver from the airport shared a wonderful story about this fabulous cake shop on Lonsdale St that was in walking distance to the office that I simply had to try.....well, if you insist! I certainly don't need my arm twisted to try a cake shop.

With a Greek theme and offering a large glass case of cakes, sweets etc down the right side and plenty of seating down the left, including a few tables & chairs outside - this place is a find! It is open from 8am - midnight daily which is impressive, so it's no wonder it is a favourite with taxi drivers all over Melbourne.

I wandered in early morning and was overwhelmed by the selection of cakes and sweets. There were so many to choose from! I made some small talk with the staff and enquired about their specialities which included,

Kataifi (a pastry that looks like it is wrapped in shredded wheat with nuts on the inside and soaked in a sugar),

Dipples (deep fried Greek pastry which is a cross between a doughnut and a funnel cake), Glykismata (made with a combination of honey, nuts, custards and filo),

Baklava (Greek pastry made with honey, nuts and filo dough),

Loukoumades (greek version of the doughnut),

Koulourakia (a plain, lightly sweetened Greek cookie twist),

Kourambiethes (a wonderful Greek cookie covered in powdered sugar) and

Amygdalopita (Greek Nut Cake).

I decided to buy morning tea for the team - a selection of baklava - pistachio, walnut and almond. It was an enormous sugar fix and heart stopper but deliciously good and whilst everyone admired the baklava only a few indulged - including me.

The only online description I could find for this gem was,

"Champions of 'the bigger, the better' slogan, this cake house offers many old favourites, including large serves of tiramisu, ginormous eclairs, cannolis, pecan tarts and savoury pastries."

During my visit I also indulged in a coffee and I have to say it was one of the best coffees I ever had. I'll be back.

International Diethnes Cakes & Coffee - 185 Lonsdale St, Melbourne - (03) 9663 2092

212 on riley, Riley St, Surry Hills

2007-11-01T18:43:00.000+11:00

212 on riley, Riley St, Surry Hills

Thursday 1 November, 2007

Today I was attending a public workshop held at the Quality Hotel Cambridge in Surry Hills. This groovy little hotel looks very slick & hip inside however outside could easily pass as a housing commission building.

There is one restaurant at the Quality Hotel Cambridge - 212 on riley. As the hotel website states,

"212 Restaurant was Sydney’s first 5 star restaurant known as “Cyranos”. Now known as, 212 on riley. When the restaurant opened in 1979, Sydney’s finest Chef Rolf Widmer introduced a cuisine to Australia never seen before except in France, known by the French as “Nouvelle”. This was to the liking of some of Sydney’s most prominent business people and local residents, such as Mr Paul Keating (former Prime Minister of Australia) and Mr Lionel Murphy and his entourage of Judges. This cuisine carried on until 1990. Our famous cuisine was launched in France by a gentlemen by the name, Mr Paul Bocuse."

I wish restaurants wouldn't set themselves up for failure like that. With PR like this you would expect 212 to be a find. Sadly, it is a colourful interior offering little more than cafe fare. As workshop participants we dined here over lunch and received morning & afternoon tea on platters.

The most challenging aspect of 212 on riley was the service....or rather lack of. It seemed to be an exercise in avoidance. The staff avoided all eye contact with you and any attempt to engage verbally with them was met with a blank stare, no acknowledgment and a quick exit. Bizarre.

For lunch we arrived to find two tables set up for us but not enough chairs. This was promptly fixed by our group, not the staff. The interior of 212 consists of many colourful chairs that are cosy, not comfortable. There is a feature wall that changes colour and has a large 212 printed on it and sheer grey curtains that can be drawn across to make a portion of the dining space private.

The food was laid out for us and comprised of:

- a large bowl of hand cut fries with side bowls of sweet chilli sauce and sour cream

- two large platters of thick cut bruschetta type bread topped with varieties of ham, cheese, tomato, salami, lettuce, tuna etc

- a large platter of fresh fruit

The food was OK and we had approx 45 mins to eat. This place has the potential to be so much better - it's located within walking distance to Crown St - so if you were staying at the Quality Hotel Cambridge....where would you dine????

212 on riley - 212 Riley Street, Surry Hills - (02) 9212 1111

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

Kables, George Street, Sydney

2007-10-31T22:52:00.000+11:00

Kables, George Street, Sydney
Wednesday 31 October, 2007

After my disappointment at the Summit yesterday - it was off to Kables for the last day of Good Food Month. I had enjoyed lunch at Kables last Good Food Month and was keen to return.

"Throughout Good Food Month, restaurants featured in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide will provide a $35 lunch menu which includes a main meal and coffee, and your choice of a glass of Brown Brothers wine, James Squire beer or a 500ml bottle of S.Pellegrino Sparkling Mineral Water. Bookings are recommended. Monday to Friday, noon – 2pm."

My lunch buddy & I arrived at the Four Seasons with high expectations. Walking up the staircase we were warmly greeted and shown to a lovely table by the window. The dining room wasn't full but they had strategically positioned the diners apart to give people a sense of privacy. The service was impeccable and we were delivered water and generous bread basket with sides of butter and salt.

The Good Food Month offer was Pan-Roast Duck Breast, Brandied Cherries and Liquorice. After devouring the variety of bread we thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The duck was so tender and prepared in slices with a larger piece positioned on green vegetables. We loved it.

As we made our way through the meals the Maitre'd stopped by to enquire about our meals. He was discreet and respectful. There's alot to like about Kables as the description states,

"Kable's, the Hotel's premier restaurant, offers a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere. It enjoys a substantial reputation, in a city known for its exciting dining. Accessed from the lobby's sweeping grand staircase, Kable's offers a cosmopolitan Australian menu in an elegant, contemporary setting of dark-stained parquet and rich carpeting. It seats 120, with private dining rooms available for 10 to 50 guests, and a chef's table in the kitchen with seats for up to 16 guests."

Kables, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney - 199 George St, Sydney - T: 9250 3226

http://www.fourseasons.com/sydney

Summit, Australia Square, Sydney

2007-10-30T21:04:00.000+11:00

Summit, Australia Square, Sydney
Tuesday 30 October, 2007

OK - here's the thing....the Summit offers one of the best views across Sydney Harbour. So, why on earth wouldn't they showcase it????? My lunch buddy and I arrived today to take advantage of one of the last days of Good Food Month. I had previously dined here back in 2005 and felt the service let the entire experience down.

Upon exiting the lifts we were whisked to a table in the near empty restaurant looking out South East i.e. we couldn't see the harbour. The greeter was wearing a far too tight black dress and was merely going through the motions - she couldn't have cared less if we were having a good day or planned to enjoy our lunch and this was paramount in the way she delivered these lines.

Our waiter promptly arrived with menus and enquired if we wanted drinks....sparkling water, tap water. When we settled on tap water he dissapeared. It became obvious straight away that the Summit doesn't offer any complimentary starters/ extras e.g. bread, butter, salt. So we sat there looking at the view wondering if we would make it from South East to North in less than 60 mins.

The Summit is positioned as, "A famous icon on the Sydney Restaurant scene, find Summit Restaurant and Orbit Lounge Bar in the heart of Sydney CBD on level 47, Australia Square. Sydney's best 360 degree view, a revolving panorama of city skyline, Sydney Harbour Bridge and sparkling harbour waters and back to Sydney Opera House in 105 minutes. Sydney's premier dining experience for lunch and dinner, an exciting menu presents only the best Australian ingredients and seafood and finest international wines. Owned and operated by acclaimed international chef and restaurateur Michael Moore, Summit Restaurant is absolutely the best Sydney Restaurant experience."

We noticed immediately that our menus did not contain any mention of Good Food Month. This was surprising given they are listed in the Good Food Month guide. We asked our waiter when he returned and he looked around nervously and dissapeared again. A short time he returned with the 2006 Good Food Month promotional flyer. This listed the lunch special as tasmanian salmon.

We knew that the lunch special for 2007 was, 'Seared ocean trout, feta and spinach rotolo, tomato passata and crushed sweet herb pesto' and a glass of Brown Brother wine plus coffee/ tea for $35pp. We had come specifically to enjoy this so when we ordered we requested the Good Food Month special and this is what we received. I don't think the waiter even realised they were still using the 2006 flyers as he certainly didn't acknowledge it.

With prompt delivery of our meals we still hadn't made it around to the Harbour by the time we had finished. This was dissapointing. We couldn't quite grasp why they weren't using the side of the dining space that commanded the Harbour views. Our meals were very lean and light - the ocean trout was lovely and the highlight for me was crushed sweet herb pesto. It wouldn't have been fabulous with some crusty bread.

It didn't take long to finish our meals and we were still hungry. Rather than order one of their $18 desserts we decided to stop off at the newly opened Lindt Cafe for some $4 ice cream - divine.

Summit Restaurant - L47/ 247 George Street, Sydney - (02) 92479777

http://www.summitrestaurant.com.au/

Pyrmonts, Pyrmont St, Pyrmont

2007-10-28T22:36:00.000+11:00

Pyrmonts, Pyrmont St, Pyrmont

Sunday 28 October, 2007

Tonight my Canberra buddies and I were off to see Miss Saigon at Star City. Looking for a place to dine afterwards we opted for Pyrmont's -

"With magnificent harbour and city views, this brasserie-style steak & seafood restaurant is a fun and relaxed venue for lunch or dinner. Whether you’re after a light snack, a deluxe seafood platter or a sizzling steak, Pyrmont’s has something to suit all appetites. "

The last time I visited Pyrmont's I absolutely trashed the place. I'm pleased to report it has improved a little. We arrived after Miss Saigon and were welcomed through to a table near the window. Our drinks orders were taken promptly and we were left to read through the menu...steak or seafood.

I couldn't go past a steak - the choices were endless but I opted for the 130g rib eye with pumpkin and porcini mushrooms. Then, you are asked which sauce - peppercorn, bearnaise, red wine jus etc and also how you would like the steak prepared. Medium rare please. My Canberra buddies ordered the beer battered fish & chips, salt & pepper calamari, mixed vegetables and chat potatoes. What a feast!

It had honestly felt like we had just placed our order when the meals arrived. It was a little disconcerting however the food was very good. Looking around the dining space it seemed everyone was ordered the seafood platter - is there something we don't know about???

After doing some digging I discovered that,

"Led by Head Chef, Matthew Newman, Pyrmont’s offers diners an exciting contemporary menu of fresh seasonal seafood and mouth-watering steaks that are grilled to perfection. The speciality of the house is the chef’s sumptuous ‘Seafood Platter for Two’, which includes an array of hot and cold seasonal seafood with crisp salads, fruits, french fries and a selection of sauces. Whether it’s something light for lunch, pre-theatre dinner or a three-course meal, diners are invited to indulge in the tantalising tastes and spectacular harbour views at Pyrmont’s."

Interestingly, most of the public reviews of Pyrmont's are average. My steak was cooked well, there was generous serve of pumpkin and mushrooms and an even more generous serve of bearnaise. My Canberra buddies really enjoyed their food too and I was pleasantly surprised by the service - it was friendly and efficient. I still feel it is very over priced for what it offers.

Pyrmonts - L1 Star City, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont - 1800 700 700

http://www.starcity.com.au

Danks St Depot, Danks St, Waterloo

2007-10-27T22:12:00.000+10:00

Danks St Depot, Danks St, Waterloo

Saturday 27 October, 2007

It's been almost 2 years since I've visited Danks St Depot and I was looking forward to going back. Danks St has changed significantly since this time with the introduction of several new cafes - e.g Cafe Sopra, bakeries, grocers etc - it's a happening little street.

This morning we arrived for a breakfast and were surprised at how many tables were free. There was a time when you could be waiting for over 20 mins for tables...not any more. There are cafes galore in this neck of the woods. One thing hasn't changed - they still cram too many tables along the wall - meaning it can be challenge to get in and out.

We were on a mission to have the garlic bread. In fact, I'd been dreaming about it for a week! If they didn't offer it any more I would have been disappointed. Thankfully, our waitress said she would check for us and didn't think it would be a problem. Yes! A short time later she returned with the good news.

The breakfast menu hasn't changed all that much - it is lean but very hard to decide. I couldn't go past the basil & goats cheese omelet and my breakfast buddy ordered the same. This is heavenly but there are other very tempting items on the menu including the creamed eggs with truffle oil, WA sardines, BBQ asparagus and poached eggs etc.

When the garlic bread arrived it turned a few heads at the neighbouring tables. One couple asked for the menu back to see what it was and another just lent across and asked. We had to explain it isn't on the menu but it worth asking for. It was a buttery, garlic sensation and I could have eaten so much more.

Thankfully the eggs arrived and we were distracted by the explosion of goats cheese in the centre - yum! We found the service shoddy today but the food was just perfect.

Danks Street Depot - Danks Street, Waterloo - (02) 96982201

http://www.2danksstreet.com.au/

Saffron Thai, Cnr George & Grosvenor Sts, Sydney

2007-10-24T19:23:00.000+10:00

Saffron Thai, Cnr George & Grosvenor Sts, Sydney

Wednesday 24 October, 2007

The last time I visited Saffron Thai we thoroughly enjoyed the food however were frustrated with the service. Today's experience was very similar.

We arrived for lunch without a reservation...it was Wednesday...and watched the staff fumble around as they tried to reconcile the booked tables with the available tables. Moments later we were invited to take our pick. The turnover of staff here is high and there doesn't appear to be any consistency at all. Aside from the fact the staff are impeccably dressed and polite, they just don't know how to take orders efficiently during the lunchtime rush.

My lunch buddy and I have a standard order that we share:

- Duck pancakes with shallots
- Green chicken curry
- Pad thai with prawns

We had specifically asked for the pancakes to come first with the other dishes to follow later on. Our waitress has even repeated this back us to confirm. Not surprisingly the meals all arrived at once and we didn't have enough room on the table for everything. They had only bought us one small bowl of rice (you are usually served two) so we had to ask for another - this took another 10 mins.

The green chicken curry is delicious and served in a deep bowl with a generous amount of chicken. 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 back room at The Brooklyn is devoted to Saffron Thai and it is far nicer to sit here and enjoy your food than within the packed pub. This is great food at reasonable prices - what a shame the service hasn't improved.

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

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

Garden Bar, Establishment, George St, Sydney

2007-10-23T23:20:00.000+10:00

Garden Bar, Establishment, George St, Sydney
Tuesday 23 October, 2007

Tonight was a celebration and bubbles were required. So, we took ourselves off to Establishment after work. After a few drinks we noticed that there were a few randompeople dancing around the bar. What the?!@

Little did we know it was Rumba Night at Establishment.

"Learn to salsa in style with DJ Willie Sabor and friends, and then Rumba the night away. The night will kick off with a salsa class 8.00pm, and then DJ Willie Sabor hits the decks with special guest DJ’s, and gets the party started and it will be a party to remember! For your fix of hip shaking salsa in a tropical paradise, be at Establishment from 7.30pm and feel what is taking Sydney dance by storm!"

As we enjoyed a few more drinks more people arrived and the dancing continued. We were having such a great time that we decided to order dinner:

- Salt & pepper calamari
- Pad Thai
- Thai beef salad
- Green chicken curry

With another bottle of wine ordered we settled back and watched the crowds arrive. We were amazed at the turnout and how everyone was embraced from beginners through to the professionals (or rather.....wannabe professionals).

After ordering and paying at the bar our buzzer lit up. We collected our cutlery and napkins from the rear kitchen and bought all our dishes back to the table. What a feast! As we enjoyed every mouthful we continued to watch the activity around us and by this stage the entire rear half of Establishment was alive with latin beats and sweaty dancers.

Our meals were perfect and we couldn't help but feel guilty tucking into our food as everyone was being so energetic around us. The highlight? The Thai beef salad - the lemongrass, coriander and chilli provided a wonderful flavour to the tender beef slices.

If you would like to learn Rumba in a fun atmosphere after a few drinks - try Establishment on a Tuesday night.

Garden Bar, Establishment - 252 George St, Sydney - (02) 92403000

http://www.merivale.com/whatson.html?eventid=196

Delante, Waters Rd, Neutral Bay

2007-10-20T20:23:00.000+10:00

Delante, Waters Rd, Neutral Bay

Saturday 20 October, 2007

I was first introduced to Delante back in March by an avid fan who dines their regularly. I was promised the best breakfast ever and as I've been out of town and still feeling a little jet lagged it wouldn't have taken an awful lot to impress me. However, this morning I was wowed.

We sat outside on this gorgeous day protected by the shade of the awning and overhanging trees. Within moments we were welcomed by the staff and had our coffee orders taken. That's the mark of a great cafe - take care of drinks orders first and leave us to ponder the menu.

With our coffees on the table we ordered. I let my breakfast buddy order for me and they chose a winner - Blue swimmer crab scrambled eggs with potato rosti, spinach leaves in balsamic and a side of sausage & bacon. Watch out! I knew we were going for a big breakfast but this seemed enormous.

To say the scrambled eggs were good would be an understatement - each mouthful was spectacular. The thin slices of crab cooked amongst the eggs was incredibly more-ish. The side of potato rosti, sausage and bacon held its own too - especially the sausages - small, chicken chipolates that had a gorgeous sweetness to them.

As hungry as I was I could only manage half this serving. So, my breakfast buddy got to enjoy it. Lucky devil!

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

Steph's flickr photos of Dubai

2007-10-18T21:06:00.000+10:00

Dubai is an amazing place - full of construction, sand, diverse cultures and unbelievable resorts. We were fortunate enough to stay at the Madinat Jumeirah which comprises several hotels - Al Qasr and Mina A’ Salam alongside the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Burj Al Arab.

Within Madinet Jumeirah the transport of choice are abras - kind of like Venetian gondolas however to go a greater distance e.g. Burj Al Arab you can take golf buggy's on special tracks.

Al Qasr Arboretum, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

2007-10-17T20:24:00.000+10:00

Al Qasr Arboretum, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Wednesday 17 October, 2007

Imagine having breakfast every morning under the biggest chandeliers, with the largest food selection or dining outside looking out to the waterway and Burj Al Arab. This was our reality every morning at Al Qasr.

For us it was too hot to dine outside - at 9am it was already 30 degrees - so we chose the comfort of the palatial interior. It was actually a little overwhelming dining under such huge chandeliers you felt like you should be wearing a ball gown and not shorts and thongs.

On arrival you are met with well dressed staff who greet you perfectly and direct you to a table. A short time later another staff member arrives with fresh tea or coffee and returns at regular intervals to ensure your cup is never empty.

There are several stations - fresh fruit, yoghurt, smoothies made to order, choose your own cereals with toppings and fresh juices. I'd be happy with this alone but when you are confronted with about 10 more stations you can't help but have a larger than normal breakfast.

Next up a selection of hot breakfast with everything you can imagine plus a complete suite of Japanese breakfast offerings. Then there is the egg station where the chefs will make your eggs to order or prepare an omlette with your choice of toppings. This was an experience as I watched several guests try to bamboozle the chefs with their intricate orders e.g. two egg whites beaten and cooked with a pinch of salt, discard the yolks and fry up some bacon with no fat on the side. Oh please......I just loved to have an omlette cooked up - simple and no fuss.

After this was the pastry and bread section. Freshly baked breads, french butter, pastries, croissants, muffins, pain au chocolate etc. What a selection. Fortunately we were staying here for a week so were able to enjoy some different delicacies each day.

Al Qasr Arboretum - Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai - +971 4 3668888

http://www.madinatjumeirah.com/al_qasr/arboretum/

Khaymat Al Bahar, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

2007-10-16T21:23:00.000+10:00

Khaymat Al Bahar, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Tuesday 16 October, 2007

Located on the grounds of Madinat Jumeirah, Khaymat Al Bahar is a Persian restaurant offering a buffet style feast. The translation is 'Tent of the beach' which captures the decor perfectly. The restaurant is set up with small tented rooms decorated with tea lit lanterns - it is stunning.

A reflection of Bedouin structure, Khaymat Al Bahar serves the beach and pool during the day and into the night. As the sun sets the lanterns take centre stage and sparkle. We were greeted and escorted into the body of the restaurant past the open plan kitchens and through to our table.
There was no explanation of what we do and as we weren't provided with menus we decided to jump up and review the buffet.

Fortunately there was a chef in the kitchen and he kindly walked us through the kitchen and explained the different dishes. He even encouraged us to try the two soups - mixed bean soup and chicken & lentil soup - on offer before we tucked into the lebanese breads and selection of dips - hummus, baba ghannouj, spicy tahini etc. Too many dishes to pick from!

After enjoying a variety of entrees we walked around the kitchen to decide what next. There were several meat dishes, tabouli, cous cous and then the chef in the centre was cooking a few dishes to order:

Spiced prawns in tomato and onion sauce
Fried potatoes
Beef sliced off the bone

We were overwhelmed by the choices and piled up our plates so that we could try everything. The food was delightful - the meat tender, salad fresh and tangy and rice soft. Our eyes were bigger than our bellies and we couldn't finish our plates. It was so disappointing as we desperately wanted to finish everything too.

There was no way we could have eaten dessert but after settling back and enjoying our wine in this stunning atmosphere we started to feel like something sweet. We all wanted backlava but the kitchen didn't have any on hand. Not to worry our intrepid waiter told us to sit tight and he managed to secure some from another Persian restaurant in the Madinat Jumeirah complex....helps when you have 40 or so restaurants to draw on! This was a lovely touch and we were delivered a huge plate of divine backlava that we felt obliged to eat.

Khaymat Al Bahar - Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai - +971 4 3668888

http://www.madinatjumeirah.com/al_qasr/khaymat_al_bahar/

Verre, Hilton Dubai Creek, Dubai

2007-10-15T23:17:00.000+10:00

Verre, Hilton Dubai Creek, Dubai

Monday 15 October, 2007\

Dubai Creek? Doesn't sound too glamorous does it? I was as surprised as you are reading this that Gordon Ramsey would choose to house his first international restaurant on a creek.

Gordon and I go way back.....I've admired his empire and have had the good(?) fortune of dining at his signature London restaurant, Gordon Ramsey at Claridges plus meeting the man himself in Sydney at Aria. The verdict........I was more impressed meeting him than dining at Claridges.

As Gordon himself has been quoted as saying,....“ Verre was my first restaurant outside the UK and represents a huge challenge – but a thoroughly enjoyable one. There is a real buzz about Dubai, and I am proud to be a part of it. In my mind, Dubai is one of the most vibrant cities around.”

Vibrant? Well, the first word that springs to mind is construction. The amount of construction here is phenomenal and every hotel is represented. Verre is located within the Hilton Dubai Creek on the other side of Dubai to Jumeirah so you will have to experience the amazing motorways to get there if you are not staying in the business district.

All my email correspondence with Verre beforehand was impressive - the courteous manner, confirmation details and welcoming tone. On arrival we were treated like royalty, the decor is minimal, subtle with hints of colour and the staff are impeccably dressed. As we reviewed the menu we were completely floored by the variety and descriptions - everything sounded just delicious.

For entree we ordered:

Wild quail and forest mushroom tart with thyme jus
Roasted sea scallops with caramelised pork belly,watermelon, five spices and ginger emulsion x 2

For mains we ordered:

Pan-fried halibut with Scottish lobster and herb risotto,baby leeks and shellfish cream
Roasted wild sea bass with crab couscous,grilled asparagus and sauce vierge
Red label chicken “en vessie” with confit leg, lettuce farcie creamed cabbage and a thyme bouillon

After ordering we received a selection of sour dough and brown rolls and two bowls of fois gras plus french butter. I could have eaten this all evening. The sommelier visited the table and helped us select a moderately priced white - he was very good and offered a variety of suggestions. To say the food was good is an understatement - it was outstanding. We were in awe of the presentation and every mouthful was heavenly.

In between our mains and desserts we received complimentary shot glass to cleanse our palette - this consisted of mango pieces in a coconut cream foam and sauce - absolutely magic. For desserts we ordered:

Cold chocolate fondant with milk ice cream
Assiette of Verre desserts chosen by the chef
Pistachio soufflé with bitter chocolate and honeycomb ice cream

This was sheer excellence and I would highly recommend it. I cannot fault anything, the staff anticipated our every need, were discreet but on top of everything and very polite. The food was just outstanding and we left wanting more and wanting to return the next night! The only downside is the location. The journey from Jumeirah took us an hour to get there in bumper to bumper traffic - it was not fun but the journey home was quick.

Verre - Hilton Dubai Creek, Beniyas Road, Dubai - +971 4 2271111

http://www.gordonramsay.com/dubai/

Arabian Adventures Dessert Safari, Dubai

2007-10-14T22:39:00.000+10:00

Arabian Adventures Desert Safari, Dubai

Sunday 14 October, 2007

When we were planning this holiday to Dubai I was continually informed that we must do the following three things:

- Desert Safari

- Big Bus Tour

- Visit Burj Al Arab

I'm pleased to share that I ticked all of these things off my list during my stay and the highlight was definitely the Desert Safari. Arabian Adventures is one of the largest tour companies in Dubai - it is owned by Emirates and promoted in all of the Emirates owned hotels. There are about 40 tour companies offering similar tours and I've heard some horror stories however we had a wonderful evening and Arabian Adventures were a great tour company.

We were picked up from our hotel at 3.15pm. The white jeep was huge and our driver, Fisell, was very engaging and informative. The jeeps seat 6 people and our party of 3 shared with a family from Scotland. We all had a great time together. The journey out to the sand dunes took approx. 40 minutes and we arrived at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, deep into the heart of the desert. Once we arrived the convey of 35 jeeps pulled in and started to let down their tyres while we played in the sand dunes and took lots of photos.

After a short break and plenty of water - it was at least 35 degrees - we got back into the jeeps for the sand dune experience. Here's the thing.........if you sit up front with the driver you will hardly feel a thing, if you want a bit more of an experience take the middle seats and if you want the all out bumpy ride where you hit your head repeatedly and squeal with delight take the back seat! Not surprisingly, we took the back seat. it was great fun and I think our driver let us off lightly.

After 30 minutes of this we pulled into a camel farm. The camels were resting and we were fortunate to watch a stunning desert sunset. The sun was a brilliant orange colour and we watched it disappear behind the sand dunes. A little further on we arrived at a traditional Bedouin encampment. More camels were there to greet us and we could take camel rides through the desert if we wished.

We walked inside and secured our positions for the Arabian feast and floor show. There were Persian mats lining the ground (sand) and cushions to sit on alongside low rise tables. The encampment was set out in stations e.g. drinks, entrees, mains, henna tattoos, aromatic shisha and sweets. It was difficult to know where to start however once we saw the henna tattoo artists we were in!

I sat down on the firmly placed cushions and indicated I would like a butterfly design. With little English the artist motioned for me to throw my leg across her lap. It took less than a minute and my henna tattoo was complete. The only instructions given were not to touch it for 30 minutes while it dried and it should last one week. Let me assure you, it is now over a week later and it still looks like I had it done yesterday.

We settled down to enjoy a feast of grilled meat, fresh salads and delectable Arabian sweets, while being entertained by a bewitching belly dancer. This was a very energetic performance and we were encouraged to join in and learn how to belly dance. Not sure about the timing of this directly after dinner but everyone was captivating by the dancer and her stunning costumes.

To round off your evening, we toasted with more wine and participated in the aromatic shisha. What a night! Around 9.30pm we were welcomed back to the jeeps for our journey back to the hotel.

I can highly recommend this experience.

Arabian Adventures Desert Safari - Dubai - +971 4 303 4888

http://www.arabian-adventures.com

Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai

2007-10-13T23:32:00.000+10:00

Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Saturday 13 October, 2007

There is only one word I can use to describe this place - TACKY! Located in the 27th floor of the magnificent Burj Al Arab this restaurant sits out in the semi circle structure overlooking the ocean. Our experience here was incredibly disappointing.

The security required to even enter the premises gave Australian customs a run for their money. It's phenomenal. Here's a snippet of the email I received from the restaurant manager prior to our arrival,

This reservation is being held on a guaranteed basis and will be kept as such unless cancelled 24 hours prior to arrival. However the payment is required on the same day of your reservation. In the event of a non-arrival in the restaurant or a cancellation being received on the same day, a charge of AED 150.00 per person will be charged to your credit card.

Your confirmation number is MUN10131340545. Kindly mention your name or the confirmation number upon arrival at our welcome center to ensure a smooth access to the hotel. For enquiries +971 4 301 7600.

Please note the following regulations in Al Muntaha Restaurant:

The dress code in the restaurant is smart casual. Gentlemen are requested to wear a shirt with collar, trousers (no jeans) and closed shoes (no trainers) or UAE national dress.
The view at night time is limited due to the restaurant’s location facing towards the sea. Requests for a window table will be noted, however, tables at the window will not be confirmed, but provided subject to availability.
Use of mobile phones in our restaurants is restricted; please switch your phones to silent mode while dining.
Due to the high demand of the restaurant we will be holding your booking for a period of 30 minutes from the reservation time onwards.
Kindly note that you are allowed to take pictures only in the lobby. Photography is not permitted in any of our restaurants in order to protect the privacy of our guests.
According to law in Dubai, children below 21yrs old are not permitted in the bar.
Please refrain from smoking cigars or pipes in all areas of the restaurant.
Kindly bring this confirmation letter along with you to ensure smooth access to the hotel and restaurant.

Kindly note that we request guests to consume 2 courses during each meal period, either a starter and a main course or a main course and a dessert; however the main course is compulsory.

This was before we had even arrived! We took a golf buggy from our villa in Madinat Jumeirah to a check point. Then we waited for another buddy to transport us the remainder of the 10 minute journey. This buddy was stopped at the main driveway leading out to the Burj where security came to collect our confirmation details. This took a few minutes as the gentleman dressed in a dark suit reviewed the letter, then looked us up & down and then the buggy. It was very orchestrated and we wandered what we would encounter once we reached the hotel.

We were waved through and the journey out to the Burj was breath-taking - all 321 metres of the hotel is magnificent. We pulled up at the entrance and beautifully dressed doorman escorted us off the buggy and welcomed us to Burj Al Arab. Once we entered through glass doors female staff greeted us with silver trays of dates - the local specialty.

The first thing that strikes you in the foyer is the gold - it's dripping with gold and you really don't know where to look! But then you realise the core of the hotel is hollow & you can look directly up the centre - it's brilliant white, blue and gold. From the foyer you can take escalators to the main reception past the cascading water features.

We had no idea where we were going and asked a staff member who directed us to the rear lifts. There are 10 lifts to pick from and the journey to the 27th floor was seamless. The entrance to Al Muntaha is futuristic and you feel like you are walking through a massive computer chip. Then you hit the terrible dark blue carpet with round coloured spots, the different shade of blue furniture and the ceiling of bright fluorescent coloured. It was in poor taste.

Our table was decorated with brilliant white, silver and blue plates that were removed when the bread basket arrived with a choice of salted or unsalted butter. There were several staff around but we still felt that the entire experience did not come close to a 7 star experience.

The menu was surprisingly plain for a signature restaurant and the wine list was outrageously expensive - there would have been at least a 600% mark up on each wine. We met the sommelier and chose our wine and he had the audacity to suggest a wine 3 times more expensive - this was disgraceful and the service continued to go downhill....fast.

We had decided to go with a main & dessert and after ordering our meals were delivered a complimentary amuse bouche - warm salmon soup and chilled broccoli soup. These were OK - nothing flash. Our mains arrived and looked impressive:

- New Zealand loin of venison
- Australian tender strips of lamb
- Australian filleted barramundi

One of my dinner buddies has requested their lamb medium and it was bright pink when it reached the table so she sent it back. This was handled well but meant the rest of us were left with our meals. Our mains were delicious however we all felt let down as we were expecting so much more. The service was patchy and unprofessional - we often had to ask for items twice and when an ant scurried across the table, well, let's just say this was the icing on the cake.

It took a while for our desserts to arrive however they looked delightful. We ordered the:

- Orange tart with chocolate fondant
- Apple tart with vanilla bean ice cream
- Selection of cheeses with apples & figs

The food was lovely at Al Muntaha however the service was dismal. For a 7 star hotel we were expecting an amazing experience at their signature restaurant. The decor was tacky but the hotel has to be seen to be believed.

Al Muntaha - Burj al Arab, Dubai - 971 4 3017600

http://www.burj-al-arab.com/dining/al_mahara/

The Meat Company, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

2007-10-12T22:07:00.000+10:00

The Meat Company, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Friday 12 October, 2007

Known as the Meat & Wine Co every where else, this meat lovers paradise is called The Meat Company in Dubai. Why? It's a dry city (sort of). Located within the Madinat Jumeirah complex, the Meat Co is situated on the sea front of the Souk Madinat Jumeirah. This restaurant offers one of the most spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf and in particular the famous landmark of the Burj Al Arab Hotel - if you are sitting outside.

We were still a little jet lagged so wanted to dine somewhere close by. We caught an abra - kind of like a Venetian gondola from our villa to the souk - what a great way to get around. The souk is an Arabian bazaar of shops, market stalls and food and we decided to dine at the Meat Co on recommendation.

Known for their steaks, the Meat Co describe them as, "The success of our product lies in the preparation of our meat. Preparing and serving succulent steaks that make your mouth water and keep you coming back for more, is what The Meat Co does best. Only the finest South African A Grade and Certified Australian Angus Beef (CAAB) is selected, wet-aged to perfection, and then expertly prepared and basted in The Meat Co’s “unique trade secret basting” - to produce a succulent, tender cut that is full of flavour every time."

We arrived without a reservation on Friday night - bad move. I had actually emailed them from Australia to make a reservation but I had never heard back from them so was prepared to use the old line....we have a reservation under the name of_____. Walking up the entrance we were bowled over by the amount of people out and about. Then is become clear that the reason was because Ramadan had ended and it was EID - the festival to celebrate the end of fasting.

Thankfully we could secure a table inside as long as we were done by 9pm - OK then. This actually suited us fine as we were getting very tired anyway. On entry you walk down a few stairs and see the open kitchen in all its glory. The bar is framed with a green glass and then a large see through wine cellar that is impressive. The furniture is dark brown wood and the chairs are chocolate coloured leather - it's warm & invited with bright coloured artwork dotted throughout. We were seated in a corner which didn't disguise the buzz of the place. Staff moved quickly around the tables and had a real sense of purpose.

We ordered Salt & pepper calamari to share upfront - tender pieces of deep-fried calamari scored and marinated with spices, served on a bed of sliced cucumber, topped with mixed peppers. This was nice and between 3 of us meant we scored about 3 pieces each.

For mains we had to order the steak - the super aged meat. We all ordered the 300g Certified Australian Angus Beef rib eye with their renowned house basting, served with chips. To compliment this we also ordered a rocket & aged parmesan salad - rocket leaves tossed with balsamic and olive oil dressing, semi dried tomatoes and shaved parmesan.

The steaks arrived with much fanfare and it was very obvious that if you weren't a meat lover this place would be wasted on you! For our first night in Dubai this was a lovely introduction. The Meat Co is a relaxed, informal place with the focus on good, hearty steaks.

The Meat Company - Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai - +971 4 368 6040

http://www.themeatco.com/dubai/madinat_jumeirah/

SeLAh, Loftus St, Circular Quay

2007-10-08T21:41:00.000+10:00

SeLAh, Loftus St, Circular Quay

Monday 8 October, 2007

After receiving several recommendations for SeLAh I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it during Good Food Month. My lunch buddy today is leaving at the end of this week to take up a very exciting job offer so this was a celebration.

SeLAh - a Hebrew word meaning pause or rest is located on the bus thoroughfare - Loftus St. We arrived at midday and were welcomed inside. I was immediately struck by the exposed sandstone wall opposite the bold red wall with contemporary art work. The dining space was small but it worked. We were given a choice of tables and opted for the table along the red wall. Within moments another staff member came by to welcome us and provide us with menus, including the Let's do Lunch offering.

Let's do Lunch is an annual event every October and I love it. It allows you to try different restaurants with a capped $35 price tag. This includes a main meal and glass of wine/ beer/ soft drink. SeLAh's lunchtime deal included:

Barramundi fillet with crispy chorizo, black mussel, fennel and sauce vierge
Brown Brothers Viognier

and to compliment this we also ordered hand-cut chips.

We were impressed by the attentiveness of the staff and also the complimentary items that arrived shortly afterwards:

Fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Celeraic volute with truffle oil

When our main meals arrived we were in awe of the presentation. The Barrumundi fillet was piled on top of the chopped fennel and chorizo and surrounded by mussels in sauce vierge. It looked and tasted divine. The fish fell apart and melted in your mouth.

The service was outstanding and for my first Let's Do Lunch outing in 2007 this was a winner.

SeLAh - 12 Loftus St, Circular Quay - (02)

http://www.selah.com.au/1.html

High Tea Party, Stamford Plaza, Double Bay

2007-10-07T21:52:00.000+10:00

High Tea Party, Stamford Plaza, Double Bay
Sunday 7 October, 2007

What a fantastic afternoon! The High Tea Party is an annual event hosted at the Stamford Plaza, Double Bay raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The idea is 'a day of indulgence shared with friends'.....and it definitely was.

There were 8 of us booked in for the High Tea Party today. We all met in the foyer at 12.30pm and after signing in and collecting our very trendy black with silver writing wrist bands climbed the stairs to receive our Henkell Trocken sparkling wine. As we stood around sharing lots of laughs and stories we reviewed the booklet outlining all the seminars, workshops, interactive experiences and boutique markets - the list of things to do was endless....

Westfield Bondi Junction Style sessions
Silkwood Cosmetic Seminars
Triumph Lingerie Fashion Parades
Elixer Health Club workshops

plus lots of interactive experiences from LUSH, T2, Thomas Sabo, Blackberry, Ocean Spray, Benefit and Equal. Where do you start?

We had booked in for a 2pm sitting for High Tea in the lounge so had plenty of time to wander through the Expo beforehand. On Level 2 there was also a courtyard cafe serving complimentary Toby's Estate coffee and serving the most gorgeous pink cupcakes. It was so girlie and fun.

When 2pm arrived we waited in a queue with about 80 other women to be seated in the chandelier filled lounge room. When our table was ready we were welcomed inside and served High Tea.

Traditional scones, jam and King Island cream

Afternoon tea sandwiches:

Tasmanian smoked salmon with baby capers and dill salsa
Rare roast beef with capsicum spread and chives
Free range eggs and seeded mustard mayonnaise
Cucumber stack, cream cheese and black pepper

Assorted sweeties:

Equal baked ricotta & kahlua cheese cake
Equal citrus & strawberry tartlet
Traditional English Fruit cake
Linzer torte
Belgian chocolate brownie

T2 Sydney breakfast and afternoon tea blends and bubbles by Henkell Trocken. While this was all happening there was a gorgeous fashion parade by Myer.

This is a great day out with friends, family - well, anyone that enjoys a good time. The entry fee included everything plus a great gift bag on the way out.

We'll definitely be back next year!

High Tea Party - Stamford Plaza, 33 Cross St, Double Bay - 1300 301 391

http://www.thehighteaparty.com.au/

Mirabelle, Alfred St, Circular Quay

2007-10-05T23:26:00.000+10:00

Mirabelle, Alfred St, Circular Quay

Friday 5 October, 2007

The last time I dined at Mirabelle I thought the food was fantastic and I really enjoyed the light, airy atmosphere and buzz from the foyer of the AMP building that doesn't stop. This time they stepped it up a notch with brilliant staff. Honestly, service can make or break a place and Mirabelle has got it right. There are several Sydney restaurants that could take a leaf out of Mirabelle's book here. Something that you may not know is.....Mirabelle has joined the Sydney restaurant scene by the same smart cookies who run Bambini Trust in Elizabeth Street.

My lunch buddies today, the Divas of Cuisine, aptly named by a great bunch of girlfriends who seriously enjoy their food and wanted a fun name to go by, arrived for lunch on this warm October day. Is it summer already? We entered the marble foyer and it's the red lounge seats that jump out at you - thank god for bright colours! I love the plush lounge seats at Mirabelle and the quirky way they arrange the tables.

Our friendly waiter welcomed us and ensured we had drinks orders taken immediately. The menus and specials looked incredibly tempting however as it was so warm we all gravitated towards the fish. The fish special was way too hard to refuse - Yellow fin tuna with a mango/ citrus sauce and Grilled barramundi with fresh asparagus. To compliment this we decided to share a bowl of shoestring fries. Well, if truth be told, we all ordered the fish and were then about to order a side when our gorgeous waiter jumped in with let me guess.....side of fries?

The bread rolls that arrived at the table were too large and crusty and they demand fresh butter. Unfortunately, Mirabelle only supply oil on the tables. We had to ask for butter which they happily obliged however I would have expected the butter to be on the table or at least the offer made.

The fish was extraordinary - I absolutely loved every mouthful. It was cooked to perfection and the citrus sauce gave it an edge. My lunch buddies were equally in awe of the barramundi. We were having so much fun at Mirabelle that we didn't want to leave so just had to check out the dessert menu. Without hesitation we opted for one warm rhubbard crumble with vanilla bean ice cream and several spoons. Delightful.

Mirabelle is worth a visit.

Mirabelle - Shop 1, 33 Alfred Street, Circular Quay - (02) 9252 3553

http://www.mirabelle.com.au/

Orient Hotel, George St, The Rocks

2007-10-04T21:45:00.000+10:00

Orient Hotel, George St, The Rocks

Thursday 4 October, 2007

I've never been to the Orient Hotel before. I've walked past it a thousand times and I didn't realise it had a small beer garden out the back. Today, my lunch buddy recommended it as we wandered down into The Rocks on this warm & windy day. We were looking for a pub meal and The Orient was able to accommodate.

The Orient has been around since 1844 so is an institution. Little did I know there were several floors of bars, restaurants etc on offer. As their promotional material states:

"Our street level Public Bar is a relaxed gathering place by day with great Aussie bar food, icy-cold beer and friendly staff. Walk through to the sandstone courtyard and find the perfect spot to take time out with a cool drink. By night, the Orient party's, with live bands in the Public Bar every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Check our Gig Guide for more info on who’s rocking the Rocks.

Our stylish Restaurant on the first floor of the hotel is the local’s choice for a business lunch or relaxed dinner date, with a menu of modern Australian dishes and international favourites. Go to the Restaurant page to have a look at our Menus. Also on the first floor is our Atrium Bistro with classic pub food in a relaxed setting. Check out the menu at our Bistro page.
On the top floor of the Orient you’ll find our newly refurbished Rooftop Nightclub, where top DJs play hot party music every Friday & Saturday night, 10pm til 3am. The room is also available for private functions."

We walked in from the corner entrance on George & Argyle St. It's a little dark but as you weave through the public bar to the beer garden you reach a small slice of sunlight. If they could eradicate the pigeons it would be sensational. The outdoor area houses several trees that the beer garden has been built around and there are laminated menus on each table. It's your traditional pub far with old favourites like burgers, calamari, Caesar salad, fish & chips, steak sandwich and bangers & mash.

To order you just return inside to the bar and order. You are competing with the pub goers so be prepared to wait (unless you get there early). There were only 2 staff working the bar which was surprising. After ordering and paying you are handed a table number and directed to a side stand to collect napkins and cutlery. The service wasn't warm or friendly they were merely going through the motions.. The beer garden filled up quickly and were lucky to secure one of the few tables in the shade.

We both ordered the Orient Beef Burger w/bacon, cheese, onion, tomato & chips. This was very reasonable at $12.50. I was impressed at how quickly the meals arrived and they were huge. The burgers were packed full with fillings and they were easier to eat by separating them in two. It also made them last longer. The fries were OK and would have been a lot better with some sauce on the side.

For a relaxed lunchtime feed The Orient is a cheap & cheerful option.

Orient Hotel - 89 George St, The Rocks - (02) 9251 1255

http://www.orienthotel.com.au/

Relish Noodle Star, Military Road, Neutral Bay

2007-10-03T22:48:00.000+10:00

Relish Noodle Star, Military Road, Neutral Bay
Wednesday 3 October, 2007

This has to be my all time favourite Chinese dish and I've been searching for a local place to satisfy my cravings. I was first introduced to Ma Po Tofu in 2005 in China - I didn't really know what it was and described it as a chilli soup with tofu. How things have changed.....

When I returned to China in 2006 I learnt that this dish actually goes by several different names (how helpful)....Granmother's beancurd, Ma Po Tofu or just plain spicy tofu. The interesting thing is back home i.e. here in Sydney this dish is a rarity, however if you ask for it they will deliver.

My quest to find a great local offering has taken my across Sydney:

But finding somewhere closer to home has proved difficult until now. Located on Military Rd just opposite Big Bear shopping centre, Relish Noodle Star looks really tacky. It's a no frills place with no decor, ambiance or care factor. They rely on their food, low prices and there's a steady stream of customers to keep them in business.

Upon entry you are met with ugly tables and basic chairs and there is a counter at the rear where you can order. There are coloured pictures of their menu offerings - your typical Chinese fare and lo and behold - there's a picture of Ma Po Tofu. How on earth could I go past it?

The staff barely acknowledge your presence but again, it's all about the food. Once you order and pay take a seat and wait. No more than 15 mins later a fresh batch of Ma Po Tofu is delivered to the table - again there's no acknowledgement or words shared.

So, what is Ma Po Tofu? It's basically a whole lot of chilli, pork, and silken tofu - click here for the recipe courtesy of the Food Network.

The taste? Well, I had requested extra hot so it was riddled with fresh chilli that lit my mouth up like a Christmas tree and I enjoyed every mouthful. Each serve comes with steamed rice which is perfect for soaking up the chilli sauce.

This is a cheap & cheerful option for dinner.

Relish Noodle Star - 55 Military Road, Neutral Bay - 9904 5454

ARIA, Macquarie St, Circular Quay

2007-10-01T23:26:00.000+10:00

ARIA, Macquarie St, Circular Quay

Monday 1 October, 2007

Tonight, the celebrations continued. We had tickets to see Josh Grobin and were looking for a pre-theatre restaurant. Surprisingly, most of the restaurants surrounding the Opera House were closed - on a long weekend???? Surely, the tourist dollar would have been out in force? Anyway, I tried 3 restaurants before finding out that ARIA was open - thank god.

ARIA offer a wonderful pre-theatre menu that is well priced for a highly awarded restaurant that commands one of the best views in Sydney. Between 5.30 - 7pm each night they offer one course for $40, two courses for $65 and three courses for $80. The entrees are listed as:

PACIFIC OYSTERS - six, freshly shucked with mignonette dressing
CONSOMME - peking duck consommé with duck dumplings, shaved abalone and
mushrooms
GOATCURD - cigar of goat curd with a salad of pickled beetroot, apple and hazelnuts
SCALLOPS - pan fried with a sweet corn puree, cauliflower beignet and a caper and
sultana dressing
HIRAMASA KINGFISH - tartare with crème fraiche and buckwheat blinis
KUROBUTA SWEET PORK BELLY - double cooked and served with pear salad with cider dressing.

The mains offered are:

FENNEL - pot roasted, with globe artichoke, borlotti beans and green olives
YELLOW BELLIED FLOUNDER - roasted on the bone, polenta agnolotti and beurre noisette
JEWFISH - crisp skin fillet with calamari and garlic pippies
GLENLOTH CHICKEN BREAST - roasted with gnocchi, treviso, mushrooms and jus gras
VEAL - blanquette of veal with green asparagus, braised morels and celery hearts
BEEF - chargrilled scotch fillet with a gratin of potato, sautéed mushrooms and
Montpellier butter

How do you decide between these????? After several read throughs of the menu I couldn't go past the Hiramisa Kingfish for entree and the Beef for main while my dinner buddy opted for the Scallops for entree and Jewfish for main. After we ordered a complimentary starter arrived - a vegetable consomme with croutons and also freshly baked bread rolls - soy & linseed or white with fresh butter.

The staff at ARIA are impeccable - they are discreet and move effortlessly around the floor keeping track of each guest - glasses are never left unfilled and plates are cleared promptly. It's wonderful to experience great service - more Sydney restaurants could learn a thing or two from this crew.

Our meals were lovely and light and as we had come early we had more then enough time to order dessert. The kingfish was beautifully prepared and just melted in your mouth with a generous serve of creme fraiche. The beef was cooked to order and perfectly matched with the gratin & mushrooms.

As we pondered dessert you couldn't help but admire the spectacular view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. This really is one of the most stunning views of Sydney. I ordered the CHOCOLATE - chocolate mousse, raspberries, hazelnuts, vanilla ice cream and my dinner buddy ordered the ICECREAM - Pedro Ximenez ice cream, marinated raisins, blood orange.

ARIA is an experience.

ARIA - 1 Macquarie St East Circular Quay - (02) 9252 2555

http://www.ariarestaurant.com/

The Barn Cafe, Middle Head Rd, Mosman

2007-09-29T17:23:00.000+10:00

The Barn Cafe, Middle Head Rd, Mosman
Saturday 29 September 2007

This morning was my second outing in over a week. So, I wanted sunshine, blue sky and water views.

I had visited the first Barn Cafe in Rozelle almost 12 months ago and had thought it was over rated. However, it's a new year and they have recently launched a new menu at a new location so why not give it a try?

I must admit that even though I'm a local to this area I have never been to Headland Park - however I did travel past it yesterday on the way to the fabulous Ripples at Chowder Bay. The Barn at Mosman opened in mid August and my breakfast buddy this morning came all the way from across the bridge so I was keen for this part of Sydney to shine.....and it delivered.

The location is spectacular - looking out to the Heads and watching the boats on Harbour - it reconfirms that Sydney is the best city in the world...well, as far as I'm concerned. The site occupied by The Barn is a small cottage with indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is covered with a recycled timber pergola and there are landscaped lawns (with more to come) in the surrounding area. The menu offers all your breakfast favourites as well as several daily specials listed on a blackboard.

It's family & pet friendly with many locals arriving with their furry friends. The Barn has placed water bowls around the perimeter for the animals and Headland Park offers kids all the distraction they require. We decided to sit outside in the shade on this magnificent morning. I couldn't go past a big coffee and the Mosman breakfast - poached eggs on chunky toast, bacon, pork cumberland sausage & roast tomato. My brunch buddy ordered the smoked salmon scrambled eggs on turkish.

My only gripe was the service. Our coffees were so slow that they arrived at the same time as our breakfast. So, after tucking into breakfast my coffee went cold by the time I was ready to drink it. I would have expected the coffee to arrive well before our food. By the time we had finished our breakfast we needed to order another round of coffees so we could drink them hot. The staff were slow clearing tables too so each new group that arrived had to move dirty plates, cups etc in order to sit down. This was not a good sign.

My brunch buddy & I enjoyed the atmosphere and the wonderful views and stayed for several hours. As this area is still relatively undiscovered it's not overwhelmingly busy and they are currently offering a special of cake & coffee for $6.50 each day between 4 - 5pm. What are you waiting for?

The Barn Cafe - Building 3, 1100 Middle Head Road, Mosman - (02) 9968 2233

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

Ripples, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman

2007-09-28T17:44:00.000+10:00

Ripples, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman

Friday 28 September, 2007

What a glorious location. I am a local to the area and I didn't even know this place existed. Ripples, Chowder Bay officially opened on 1 August this year and commands a harbour foreshore site that has been restored by the Harbour Trust.

Ripples - the cafe chain that started at North Sydney pool and is linked to Aqua Dining - is a gorgeous cafe offering Italian inspired food. For our celebration lunch and my first outing in over a week we couldn't have picked a better day - the weather was sensational and the Harbour sparkled.

Not surprisingly, for such a unique location, this place has been booked out most days since it opened. However finding it and actually getting to the entrance are a challenge. There are two entrance points - park at Chowder Bay and walk across the park or navigate the national parkland drive on Chowder Bay Drive and attempt to find a car spot amongst the construction and limited space. As the area has only recently opened up there is still a lot of work to be done. The entrance requires clearer signage, a level entry (if this is possible), work to ensure the staircase is safe - it's very steep and a better pathway and entrance.

We arrived for our midday celebration and were welcomed to a lovely table. The staff joked with us about how difficult the parking is but we all agreed that this had to be one of the most spectacular locations on Sydney Harbour. There was a gentle breeze that blew through the covered deck as we were seated on these fabulous clear and black moulded chairs. The atmosphere is relaxed and you need a drink as soon as you arrive to toast the fact you found it!

The tables were beautifully set with crisp white tables cloths, the staff were dressed in grey branded uniforms and were all very courteous and friendly. The menu is Italian inspired which is perfect for the location. After soaking up the view and the atmosphere I couldn't go past the Crab filled zucchini flowers for entree and the Blue eye cod with white bean salad for main. The food was stunning and I could not fault it in any way. The flavours, fresh taste and quality of the seafood was truly magnificent.

As we enjoyed our lunch the wind picked up a little and the tables right on the edge of the deck experienced the brunt of it as the umbrellas fell over knocking off glasses several times. This will have to dealt with to ensure the safety of patrons. There are a few private dining areas however they don't command the views that the deck seating does. If I have any complaints about the deck seating it is that the tables are a little close - this was emphasised as the staff knocked off our cutlery twice as they squeezed past.

For a breakfast, lunch venue this location is ideal and once they address the access and parking situation it will be a wonderful experience. This is a venue to be enjoyed during daylight hours - it's magic.

Ripples - Deck C, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman - 9960 3000

http://www.ripplescafe.com.au/

Lindt Chocolat Cafe, George St, Sydney

2007-09-18T21:19:00.000+10:00

Lindt Chocolat Cafe, George St, Sydney
Tuesday 18 September, 2007

Did you know the average Australian consumes about 6.2 kg's of chocolate per year? Today my lunch buddy & I over-indulged. We couldn't help ourselves and it's all Lindt's fault!

When Lindt opened its Cockle Bay cafe at the end of last year, Taste.com.au commented that, "Why the chocolate giant would choose to open two of these cafés in the same city is anyone's guess, but Sydneysiders certainly aren't complaining." Well, now there are three cafes in Sydney - what do they have to say about that??? It appears that Sydney-siders have embraced the Swiss chocolatier, Lindt & Sprungli, and will not let go.

It's certainly not doing me any favours....being a closet chocoholic citing Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory as one of my favourite films I'll be lucky to survive the year. However, after visiting the new George St Lindt cafe on Friday to see what it was like I was keen to return for lunch. I mean, what's not to like about a chocolate cafe? I had visions of enjoying a large slab of rich chocolate cake for lunch and...........well, it's actually not too far from the truth.

My lunch buddy & I arrived around 12.30pm today and were shown to a table by the window. The cafe was buzzing and about 75% of the tables were occupied. We looked over the menus to determine our strategy......chocolate only or savoury & chocolate? Choices, choices.

We decided to share a few items and ordered the following:

- 1 x Iced chocolate and 1 x hot chocolate (the iced chocolate almost bought on a chocolate cardiac arrest - it was incredibly rich, sweet and so deliciously good that I doubted I could have anything else)

- 1 x Club sandwich with smoked salmon, dill, house pickled cucumber with goat's curd on tramezzini (Italian white bread - prepared as High Tea English sandwiches with the crusts cut off - very delicate and tasty)

- 1 x Pistachio almond meringue and 1 x milk chocolate almond meringue (these meringues were soft-ish and the pistachio was prepared with pistachio colouring/ flavour and not real pistachios)

- 1 x Indulgence Cake (the name sums it up)

After we had read and re-read the menu I noticed that in small print at the bottom of the last page was the following statement, 'Please limit all business meetings to 30 minutes'. The sheer fact that Lindt needs to print this on their menus is staggering. What has been happening in their other Sydney cafes?

Our waiter was polite, very helpful and happy to send our cake back to the kitchen to be sliced in two. By the time we were ready to eat the cake we both realised we had gone over board. Oh well, it's not like we do that every day........

Lindt Chocolat Cafe, Cnr George & Grosvenor Sts, Sydney

Old Man's Hat, Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe

2007-09-15T16:26:00.000+10:00

Old Man's Hat, Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe

Saturday 15 September, 2007

What a find! This morning our Glebe friends introduced us to a gem. Old Man's Hat is located near the intersection of Glebe Pt & Pyrmont Bridge Rds. It's a cute joint - the entrance is up a few stairs with a large window with bench seats, red feature walls and colourful furniture. The concept is all about maximising the use of certified organic ingredients.

We were welcomed inside and took the large front table in front of the barista. Coffees all around - and they were really, really good coffees too - we laboured over the menu as everything just sounded sooooo good. The breakfast menu consists of organic muesli's, pancakes, eggs and a few breakfast dampers and sour doughs. Where to start?

I couldn't go past the Petra - lamb sausage, grilled red capsicum, goats cheese and fried eggs on top of sour dough. My breakfast buddies ordered the strawberry & banana pancakes, muesli and two more of the breakfast dampers - this one with bacon, tomato and fried eggs.

After we ordered I had to ask the origin of the name - you've got to admit it's unique....the story goes the owner's Grandfather from the Greek Island of Lesvos used to go into the fields each day wearing the same old hat. At the end of the day he would return with a hat full of organic fruits and vegetables. The cafe pays homage to him.

When our breakfast arrived we were seriously impressed. There wasn't much talking as we started eating. My Petra was absolutely divine - the lamb sausage paired with grilled capsicum and goats cheese was sensational. As much as I loved mine my breakfast buddies also loved theirs and we gave glowing recommendations for each.

The staff were relaxed, pleasant and happy to share stories, jokes etc. We ordered a second round of coffees - Toby's Estate coffee beans - and enjoyed the atmosphere of this happening little place. We grabbed a takeaway menu to see what else they offered - meat, chicken, seafood, vegetarian pizzas, gourmet pastas, vegetarian pastas, salads, gourmet burgers, desserts etc - and vowed to return for dinner.

Old Man's Hat - Shop 2, 197 Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe - (02) 9566 1921

Wharf Restaurant, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay

2007-09-14T23:48:00.000+10:00

Wharf Restaurant, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay

Friday 14 September, 2007

Tonight Inala - a Rudolf Steiner organisation supporting individuals with disabilities - had their annual fundraising dinner. Hosted by their Patron Blanche d'Alpuget and her husband Bob Hawke with entertainment provided by Mirian Margolyes it was bound to be an entertaining evening.

The Wharf Restaurant is located at the end of Pier 4 on Hickson Road which is shared by the Sydney Theatre Company (STC). To get to the restaurant you walk down a long corridor with framed STC posters on either side. As we neared the end we were met with long sheer white curtains hanging from ceiling to floor. Looking through the curtains you could see 100's of tea lights - it was very special.

As the guests were ushered into the restaurant the impact of the tea lights against the backdrop of the Harbour was breathtaking. Already placed on each setting were our entrees:

- Lightly smoked trout with pickled beetroot and shiso (this was a standout - the fresh, light trout was a perfect match for the beetroot - this will be a regular dish over Summer)

Miriam Margolyes is an award winning British actor and is currently in Australia performing her one person show, Dickens' Women. Many people may know her as Professor Sprout from the Harry Potter films or from her roles in The Age of Innocence, Ladies in Lavender, Being Julia or her voice from Babe, Mulan or Happy Feet. Miriam entertained us in 2 parts - before the main course and after the main course. Before the main course she shared stories of her life in British theatre, meeting the Queen, coming to Australia etc. She was warm, engaging and highly entertaining.

There was a choice for the main course:

- Braised lamb with polenta and baby vegetables (the lamb was tender however I'm not a fan of polenta)

- Five spice chicken with white kumera and green onion

After the main course Miriam performed a snippet from her one person show, Dickens' Women. This was really sensational and judging from the reaction from the crowd I'm quite certain her show will be sold out shortly. This was followed by an auction and raffle draw then dessert:

- Raspberry pavlova roulade with raspberries (this was fluffy, light and the raspberries were sweet and delicious)

The staff at the Wharf Restaurant were excellent - they anticipated everyone's needs, kept glassed filled, cleared plates promptly and were very polite.

This was a fantastic night for a good cause and the venue was stunning.

Wharf Restaurant - Pier 4 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay - (02) 9250 1761

http://www.thewharfrestaurant.com.au/

Lindt Chocolat Cafe, George St, Sydney

2007-09-14T18:02:00.000+10:00

Lindt Chocolat Cafe, George St, Sydney

Friday 14 September, 2007

What were they thinking? A new Lindt cafe has sprung up within walking distance of our office. We have watched with anticipation as the cafe came to life over the past few weeks and eagerly awaited the Thursday opening. This afternoon a very wise team member suggested we road test the new cafe...........purely research, of course.

The new cafe commands a huge space near the Suncorp & NAB buildings on George St. There is dining inside and out and a plush, inviting interior that ensures you feel very welcome. There are also well dressed staff mingling by the entrance to greet you and direct you to the right place. It's a little overwhelming.......ice cream station, chocolate boxes, single chocolates, chocolate blocks, desserts, drinks etc.

The Lindt story goes...."Sydney has been the first to experience the mouth watering offerings of Lindt. The first Lindt Chocolat Café (and the world’s first) is located in Martin Place. While Lindt chocolates are manufactured and available world-wide no other countries have their own Lindt Chocolat Cafes. Lindt is a world-class premium chocolate company that has a long and evolved history which began in Switzerland in 1845. Now they enjoy the reputation of being at the forefront of contemporary chocolate suppliers’ renowned for their innovation, quality and Swiss chocolate making tradition."

We decided to sit inside as a storm had just swept over the CBD and were directed to a couple of tables with very comfortable, well padded leather chairs. The decor is dark wood panelling with caramel coloured chairs. The staff were pleasant and keen to impress showering us with more menus and friendly banter. The menu is extensive with plenty of drinks (including tea and coffee for those don't do chocolate), a series of lunch offerings, and a mega list of desserts. What to have????

As it was afternoon tea our group opted for milkshakes, mochas, hot chocolates plus a late and tea. We anxiously awaited their arrival whilst taking in the delicious chocolate aroma of the store. We watched as the staff moved around the floor chatting with diners and sharing their love of chocolate. What a wonderful environment to work in.

My chocolate milkshake was prepared with Lindt ice cream and topped with sprinkles of white & milk chocolate. It was incredibly indulgent and presented in a tall glass. The first sip was delightfully sweet and I feared it would bring on a chocolate cardiac arrest.

There's an entire menu at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe to work through.......so we'll be back.

Lindt Chocolat Cafe, Cnr George & Grosvenor Sts, Sydney

Papaya, Military Rd, Cremorne

2007-09-11T21:44:00.000+10:00

Papaya, Military Rd, Cremorne

Tuesday 11 September, 2007

I love this place and back in April I committed to having my next Thai takeaway from Papaya. It's taken me a while but tonight I arrived home late and the inviting takeaway brochure was staring at me from its prime place on my fridge door. The sleek black brochure outlined everything on offer and made it all sound so deliciously good. Where do you start?

I phoned through my order and had a lovely conversation with the friendly staff member. I ordered:

- Kai Hor Bai Toey - succulent chicken, marinated and wrapped in fragrant pandan leaf then deep fried. Served with a tangy sweet sesame and tamarind sauce

- Pad Thai - classic thai stirfry of rice thin noodles, stir fried with chicken, bean sprouts, crushed peanut and scented sliced red onion

- Kaeng Phed Pedyand - action packed this highly spiced red curry highlights the deep flavours of boneless roast duck in chilli red curry combined with lychee, pineapple and cherry tomatoes which temper the heat of this classic

Could they make the food sound any more inviting???

The staff member explained that they were busy and the order could take up to an hour to be delivered. Was this OK? I was happy to wait and was surprised when my door buzzer went after 40 minutes. Standing in front of me was a smartly dressed staff member holding a brown paper bag with the Papaya logo on a sticker. The package was perfectly prepared and it almost felt wrong to rip it open to retrieve my dinner.

It hit me immediately that I had over-ordered. Not to worry....there's lunch for tomorrow. The food was steaming and I was impressed it had survived the journey so well. The entree chicken was sensational - I could eat a bucketful of the Kai Hor Bai Toey. The Pad Thai soaked up the duck curry and it became very clear that I could easily get three meals out of this lot! I enjoyed every mouthful - the sweetness from the lychee and pineapple with the spiciness of the duck curry was just to die for.

Papaya has continued to deliver the goods.

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

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

The Cookery Book, Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge

2007-09-08T17:12:00.000+10:00

The Cookery Book, Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge

Saturday 8 September, 2007

After brunch at one of my favourite locals, Maitre Karl, I decided to take a different route home. To my surprise I stumbled across a strip of fabulous shops on Sailors Bay Road that included antiques, vintage clothes, furniture and cook books. What a find!

The Cookery Book is set in amongst these shops, is a foodies paradise and is Australia's only exclusive distributor of cookery books for the professional chef and the enthusiastic home cook. On entry you are met with thousands of books (they stock almost 3000 cookbooks at any given time) separated by country e.g. Australia, America, United Kingdom and then by speciality e.g. BBQ, Bakery, Seafood etc. I was overwhelmed and didn't know where to start.

I soon found my way to the Australian section and picked up a copy of My Vue by Shannon Bennett - the genius from Melbourne who owns and runs Vue de Monde. Then I started searching through the other countries and stumbled across a few titles from Marco Pierre White. This notoriously bad boy chef has moved through several restaurants and I was fortunate to dine at Mirabelle in London many years ago. I also purchased a copy of White Slave.

I approached the counter and was met by a lovely staff member who asked if I worked in the industry. When I explained I was just a foodie she grabbed recent newsletters for me and asked me to sign up for their monthly newsletter. I was impressed that they showcase all the upcoming books and offer brief commentary on each. As I had showed interest in Shannon and Marco, I was directed to the books by Anthony Bourdain. I have them all and was pleased to learn that there are two upcoming books, one with an introduction by Tony (My Last Supper: 50 Great Chefs and Their Final Meals Portraits by Melanie Dunea) and another on his travels around the world with his TV show, No Reservations. Bring on November!

My quest for cookbook stores all started back in 2001 when I visited London and was introduced to Books for Cooks just off Portobello Road in Notting Hills. This cosy space dedicated to cookbooks also houses a cafe with a set menu that is an experience not to be missed. Since then I have visited Books for Cooks in Fitzroy, VIC and also The Book Kitchen in Surry Hills, NSW.

If you know of another local or international cookbook store worth visiting - let me know!

The Cookery Book - 44 Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge - (02) 9967 8211

http://www.cookerybook.com.au/

Radio Cairo, Spofforth St, Cremorne

2007-09-07T22:42:00.000+10:00

Radio Cairo, Spofforth St, Cremorne
Friday 7 September, 2007

After a marathon day at the movies I met a local buddy for dinner at Radio Cairo. Located just opposite the Cremorne Orpheum, Radio Cairo is a local institution consistently delivering fabulous African inspired food.

We didn't have a reservation so were seated at one of the high tables at the window. This was ideal as we had a great spot for people watching outside and for checking out the cute waiters inside. Radio Cairo is BYO - very convenient given there is a bottle shop across the road. The decor is mostly panelled wood within the two room dining space. There is also seating at the bar. There are loud, African themed decorations on the walls which add to the quirky nature of the place.

Our friendly waiters delivered us a large bottle of water and took our order:

- Spicy crocodile wings (bright orange, chargrilled and messy but worth the trouble)

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

- Octopus curry (thick cinnamon infused sauce with large pieces of octopus)

- Tiger prawn salad (large prawns with the tails on and a smoky BBQ flavour)

When the two entrees arrived i.e. crocodile wings and lamb skewers our friendly waiter delivered a bowl of water with lemon for our greasy fingers. The crocodile wings were delicious, spicy and fiddly but my local buddy and I decided to jump right in and use our hands. This was far more effective than using a knife and fork. The lamb skewers were a challenge to pull off the skewer but the meat was decadently good with the sweetness from the currents.

We polished off our entrees with ease and joked with the staff about not enjoying our food at all. He laughed and mentioned how often they hear that here. Our mains arrived and we commended ourselves on our choices plus the small cous cous. The sauce from the octopus curry was outstanding with the cous cous and we added the tiger prawns into the mix which created a lovely smokey taste.

By the time we had finished our meals we both agreed that Radio Cairo is one of the best local restaurants around.

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

Oven cafe, Parraween St, Cremorne

2007-09-07T21:12:00.000+10:00

Oven cafe, Parraween St, Cremorne
Friday 7 September, 2007

On this APEC Public Holiday we decided to enjoy a movie marathon at the Cremorne Orpheum - 'Forbidden Lies', '4' and 'After the Wedding'. In between films we ducked out for coffee and then again for a late lunch at Oven.

Located in a quiet backstreet behind the hustle & bustle of Military Road, Oven is a little gem. It's cramped, especially when the locals come in for takeaway coffees however if you arrive on a quiet day, like today, it's a cosy, welcoming space. The staff are friendly and try not to make a big deal of squeezing past you every 2 mins to get in and out of the kitchen.

My movie buddy and I needed a quick bite with the emphasis on quick. Viewing the lean lunch menu I opted for the Lamb and sumac panini with garlic yoghurt and my movie buddy chose the Italian sausages on a bed of mash. I had absolutely no idea what sumac was but it was described to me as a spice - dark burgundy in colour, sumac has a tart, sour lemon taste.

Our meals were delivered promptly and were fabulous. My panini with bursting with tender lamb strips and generously coated in garlic yoghurt - it was perfectly prepared. My movie buddy's meal was equally as tempting - two large gourmet sausages sat on a generous pile of creamy mash.

As time was of the essence there wasn't much talking as we devoured our meals. We were impressed.

Oven cafe - 89 Parraween St, Cremorne - (02) 9908 3536

Fine Fish, Grosvenor Lane, Neutral Bay

2007-09-06T21:47:00.000+10:00

Fine Fish, Grosvenor Lane, Neutral Bay

Thursday 6 September, 2007

After a long day working from home due to APEC (the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation) summit I had to get some fresh air. I ventured across Military Road to the chaos of Grosvenor Lane. Within a minute I was reminded why I rarely come here - everyone is impatient and it's impossible to park.

After my 5th lap around the car park I finally secured a park. Fine Fish backs onto the car park amongst the small boutique shops and Woolworths. For a first time visitor Fine Fish looks impressive with its exposed concrete floors and large blackboard highlighting their philosophy and dine in/ takeaway menus. As they only opened in March - everything looks new and fresh. The long display case leads through to an open kitchen and to a staircase which takes you to the first floor and the dining room.

When I arrived there was no-one behind the counter and two customers standing around. I walked up to the cash register and waited. About 5 minutes later a cook poked his head around and asked if I wanted to place an order. Interesting approach.......do they often find people just standing there aimlessly? I asked for some grilled fish and crumbed calamari. He explained that I couldn't have that. OK then....what can I have? Only what is listed on the board and no variation. That meant....a grilled fish, salad and chips combo for $16.90. If I wanted calamari I could order a 10 pack only. WOW - talk about inflexible.

I decided to forgo the calamari and stick to their combo. What I could specify was the fish - Atlantic Salmon please. A short time later a staff member arrived at the front counter and resumed taking orders and then another staff member appeared from the back office to discuss some remuneration issues. Not only was this completely inappropriate but there was a growing group of take away customers waiting to place their orders. If I had just arrived I would have walked straight back out.

My order came up and to be honest I pleased to get out of there. I didn't have a good feeling about this place but to be fair the food was OK. The salmon was served in a large tray with thin chips and fresh salad. The chips were average but the salad was excellent - a good mix of greens, cucumber and tomato. The salmon was a little undercooked for me but still very nice with a crisp skin.

The old adage 'first impressions count' could not be more true here. I have no desire to return to Fine Fish.

Fine Fish - 75 Grosvenor Lane, Neutral Bay - (02) 9908 4448

http://www.finefish.com.au/

SMH Good Food Guide 2008

2007-09-06T19:12:00.000+10:00

Thursday 6 September, 2007

As September rolls around (are the years getting faster or is just me??) we know some big announcements will be made. Each year the anticipation of the SMH Good Food Guide brings excitement, joy and sorrow and as far as I'm concerned this year - the editors got it so right.

If you haven't seen who was awarded what - click here

The top award went to Tetsuya's as Restaurant of the Year - Three hat honours went to these great Sydney restaurants:

Bilson's
Claude's
est
Marque
Pier
Quay
Tetsuya's

What an illustrious group. During the week I read another article that added further weight to these awards.....four Australian chefs are listed in the new box "My Last Supper: 50 Great Chefs and Their Final Meals Portraits, Interviews and Recipes" by Melanie Dunea. The eagerly anticipated book will arrive here in November and features:

Chui Lee Luk (Claudes)
Guillaume Brahami (Guillaume at Bennelong)
Neil Perry (Rockpool)
Tetsuya Wakuda (Tetsuya's)

What made me really happy????

1) Glebe Point Diner being awarded one hat
2) Pier Tasting Room losing one hat
3) Alchemy 731 losing a hat

Where am I planning to eat in the next few months????

1) Oscillate Wildly (if I can get a reservation, I've tried twice and am getting a little tired of hearing they are continually booked out)
2) Restaurant Balzac (the last time I ate there they were in the old digs)
3) Claudes (I've never been there so it's about time...)

Concrete, Harris St, Pyrmont

2007-09-01T14:42:00.000+10:00

Concrete, Harris St, Pyrmont

Saturday 1 September, 2007

I had received mixed reviews about Concrete but had driven past so many times that I was keen to try it for myself. I arrived as the rain came down and I was so confused that I couldn't find the entrance - was it on Harris St, in the lane way behind or up the side? To disguise my confusion I opted to sit outside under the awning. My brunch buddy arrived and we laughed as I relayed my confusion.....the entrance is on Harris St and looks a little like a large window.

The decor at Concrete is well..concrete. Exposed concrete floors and walls with large windows at the side that open out to bring the outdoors inside. There is a public walkway that goes from Harris St through the outdoor section of Concrete however on this wet Saturday morning it was relatively quiet. Within moments of sitting down our friendly waiter arrived and asked if we like to order coffees. Yes please!

There was a specials board on display and our waiter described these beautifully. After delivering our coffees she walked us through each one and happily answered our questions about the breakfast menu. When asked for her opinion she shared her thoughts on each breakfast offering with ease and helped us make our decision.

I opted for the breakfast special - Three cheese scrambled eggs on turkish with a side of bacon and my brunch buddy ordered the Italian eggs with tomato and crispy potatoes. Our coffees arrived and I have to say I was a little disappointed - they were luke warm and weak. That said, they certainly hit the spot and we ordered more after breakfast requesting them really, really hot.

Our breakfast arrived and we were impressed at how large the servings were. Each plate was enormous and the meals looked so delicious. My eggs were piled high on turkish with large chunks of cheese melted throughout. My brunch buddy's eggs were laid high on turkish with layers of crispy bacon and tomato and a ring of crispy potatoes around the outside of the plate. We both thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast - my three cheese eggs were seriously good and each mouthful revealed a different taste...blue cheese, gorgonzola or cheddar. I was in cheese heaven!

We sat outside chatting away, watched the weather fine up and the lunchtime crowd arrive. I've read and heard mixed reviews about Concrete and our experience today was really good, so I would definitely return.

Concrete - 224 Harris St, Pyrmont - (02) 9518 9523

Hot & Healthy, Bridge St, Sydney

2007-08-28T23:58:00.000+10:00

Hot & Healthy, Bridge St, Sydney

Tuesday 28 August, 2007

This site was recently known as Burger Bar....one of my favourite lunchtime haunts. When we discovered the Burger Bar had closed we waited in anticipation to see what opened in its place. It didn't take long for Hot & Healthy to come on scene.

Using the same furniture but a few new canvases on the walls, the Hot & Healthy display is impressive. The brochures the staff hand out state, "Try our delicious range of healthy gourmet sandwiches, yogurts & juices. Grab a coffee & tasty treat....or some fresh BBQ chicken." With large glass cabinets displaying fresh fruit, sandwich fillings, roast pork & beef and tasty treats the menu is extensive including hot breakfasts, sandwiches, wraps and baguettes, burgers, roasts, soups, BBQ chicken, salad and yogurts. Where do you start?

My lunch buddy & I opted for burgers - each $7.50:

- Chilli chicken - chicken fillet schnitzel, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise & sweet chilli dressing

- Troppo chicken - chicken fillet, bacon, cheese, pineapple, lettuce and mayonnaise

There were several staff on the counter but the service is slow & steady. Everyone is pleasant and the hosts Sofia & Costa are keen to engage with new clientele in their new location. We ordered and paid at the counter and grabbed a table. Fortunately, we arrived early enough to secure a table with ease - must have had something to do with the perfect weather outside today!

The burgers didn't take long and a staff member appeared from the kitchen holding two large plates. There are no table numbers so he did the rounds asking who had ordered Chilli & Troppo. The burgers looked good and were cut in halves for ease - very kind. We squished them down and dug in. The sweet chilli sauce advertised on the Chilli chicken was actually hot chilli paste - I welcomed this but I'm not sure everyone would. With a fiery taste in my mouth I enjoyed every mouthful.

My lunch buddy also raved about the Troppo burger and we vowed to return within a couple of weeks. As we finished a steady stream of eager diners arrived to check out the offerings - many opting for the roast dinner.

Hot & Healthy - Shop 3A, 2 Bridge St, Sydney - (02) 9247 0555

Via Abercrombie, Abercrombie Lane, Sydney

2007-08-27T22:23:00.000+10:00

Via Abercrombie, Abercrombie Lane, Sydney
Monday 27 August, 2007

In my quest to find the best sandwiches in the CBD I returned to Via Abercrombie. The last time I visited this gem I dined in and received my sandwich on a silver platter. Would it travel back to the office? Would the filling fall out at my desk?

In response to my review of Via Abercrombie I received several recommendations for North's Complete Sandwich. So, I put them to the test last week. Whilst I was impressed with the size and taste - it was so difficult to eat. I ended up with half of it on my desk!

When I returned to Via Abercrombie today I was annoyed I had left it till after 12.30pm. The queue was out the door and starting to snake down the lane. I joined and within minutes another foodie buddy arrived by sheer coincidence. We spent about 15 minutes in the queue chatting about what to order.

By the time we reached the counter I had changed my mind several times. Would I stick to what I know - BBQ Chilli chicken on wholemeal or try something new? My foodie buddy suggested a few sandwiches to try as she has sampled them all but indicated that the favourite is Tuna with polish pickle. I decided to go with Ham on wholemeal.

We were warmly greeted at the counter and watched in awe as the thick slices of bread were cut from the loaf and the sandwiches expertly prepared. The Ham sandwich comes with avocado spread, thinly sliced ham, bocconcini, roma tomatoes and fresh basil. It looked sensational. My foodie buddy ordered the Tuna which came with mayo, polish pickle and tuna spread generously across wholemeal bread. For $7.50 each - the sandwiches are less than North's Complete Sandwich but not as large.

We walked out of the small, crowded space and my foodie buddy had a brilliant idea. Why don't we go halves? This was I could try both - yes please! We exchanged halves and re-wrapped them in foil. After a short walk back to the office I unwrapped my sandwich at my desk and was impressed. Which side to try first?

In all honestly I was bowled over by the Tuna. It was so tasty and the polish pickle was a complete standout. The pickle was marinated in vinegar and was well paired with the tuna spread. I was disappointed that I only had one half! That said, the Ham was very good too and the fresh basil was divine.

At this point, I have to say Via Abercrombie is the front runner.......

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

Beaches, The Esplanade, Balmoral

2007-08-26T16:15:00.001+10:00

Beaches, The Esplanade, Balmoral

Sunday 26 August, 2007

This morning after a welcome sleep in, my Melbourne buddy and I drove down to Balmoral for a late breakfast. Hoping to eat at Bathers, we took one look at the queue and decided to go to Beaches. It's been over 12 months since my last visit here.

We wandered in and asked for a table upstairs that commands views over the park & beach. How lucky were we? Right by the window was a table soaking up the gorgeous weather that was available. After ordering coffees - an essential after a big night - we looked over the menu. A new addition to their menu is the Champagne breakfast - for $27.50 you can have coffee, juice, champagne and anything off the food menu. Yes please!

For me the choice was easy - eggs benedict - I know, how boring to always order the same thing. But, the way I figure it I never cook this at home and it is my favourite! My Melbourne buddy ordered the English breakfast with poached eggs, bacon, tomato and mushrooms. The juice and champagne were delivered at the same time and it felt so decadent to be enjoying champagne over breakfast. I should do this more often!

The staff were pleasant but a little forgetful. Our waiter returned a couple of times to check our orders. Might have helped to write them down????? There were times when we wondered where the staff were but we weren't in a rush so were happy to take our time.

The food arrived and I thoroughly enjoyed my eggs benedict - I'm sure the pairing with champagne made it even more enjoyable. My Melbourne buddy devoured her English breakfast and the thick cut toast that accompanied it. We sat there in the sun looking out over the esplanade for ages - what a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

Beaches - 51 The Esplanade, Balmoral - (02) 9969 7704

http://www.beachesrestaurant.com.au/

Post Seafood Brasserie, Martin Place, Sydney

2007-08-25T23:57:00.000+10:00

Post Seafood Brasserie, Martin Place, Sydney
Saturday 25 August, 2007

A reunion is defined in Dictionary.com as,

1. the act of uniting again.
2. the state of being united again.
3. a gathering of relatives, friends, or associates at regular intervals or after separation: a family reunion.

Tonight old friends came together from all over Sydney and interstate to celebrate over drinks and dinner. My new friend, Andrea, Lobby Bar Manager at the Westin Hotel had organised an exclusive area for us to meet beforehand. This was welcomed as the Lobby Bar was packed with hotel guests and also 700 people attending the Starlight Foundation Ball. With champagne corks popping at regular intervals we enjoyed several hours of stories and laughter in our roped off area.

For dinner we had arranged a special deal with Post Seafood Brasserie. Located down the escalators from the Westin lobby is GPO - a thriving area with restaurants/ cafes and bars including Prime and Crystal Bar. Post is described as, "open in design and offering an amazing light filled view of the interior of the historical building with rich upholstered banquettes, glowing light, crisp linen, friendly service and attention to detail. Post has created a menu that is inspired by classic bistro dining. The extensive menu draws on flavours from around the world using the best locally sourced produce."

The GPO had organised a 2 course = $60pp deal for our group including sourdough bread and three sides including green beans with olive tepanade, large hand cut fries and green salads. We only had to pay for our drinks on top. When our group arrived for dinner the Restaurant Manager indicated they could do 3 courses for $60 pp and we could order off the a la carte menu and not the limited group menu. Once we were seated he returned flustered and indicated it was in fact 2 courses for $60pp but we could still order from the a la carte menu. OK then.

As we were seated down one end of the large dining space away from the other guests it took a while to have our drinks/ food orders taken. Given the near empty restaurant this was frustrating at times but luckily the group did not appear to notice. We ordered wine and then two large slices of sour dough were delivered per person with delightfully creamy butter.

Only a handful of people wanted an entree and main - the majority went for main and dessert. Interestingly, Post and Prime have the same owner and share the same kitchen and even though Post is known for their seafood hardly anyone opted for this. Many of us opted for beef or lamb.

I decided to order a main and dessert - Post prime fillet steak with mash, Café de Paris butter and a full flavoured jus and Bailey's souffle. The steak was perfectly cooked to order with an enormous dollop of the creamiest mash alongside it. Accompanied by all the sides (mentioned above) there was no chance of anyone going hungry. The souffle looked fantastic but was very disappointing - I didn't like the pairing of the Bailey's cooked in a souffle and should have ordered the incredibly decadent chocolate tart that many of my dinner buddies went for. You live and learn.

The service, whilst pleasant, was ad hoc. For a Saturday night with only 25% of the restaurant full we were at times in a service void e.g. the entree plates were left on the table for 20 minutes before anyone cleared them. However, when we were served proactively the service was attentive and considerate e.g. every one was asked before the wine was poured.

Overall, the reunion was a huge success and there was talk of it becoming an annual event.

Post Seafood Brasserie - GPO, Lower Ground Floor, 1 Martin Place, Sydney

http://www.gposydney.com/index.asp

Maitre Karl, High St, Willoughby

2007-08-24T23:55:00.000+10:00

Maitre Karl, High St, Willoughby
Friday 24 August, 2007

Tonight was a very special occasion - the coming together of two families to celebrate an engagement - how fun! With spirits high and the anticipation of a wonderful meal we knew this would be a night to remember.

Maitre Karl is one of my favourite local restaurants. It's relaxed, easy to get to & park and is BYO. The promise is, " nestled in the heart of the North Shore, Maitre Karl has created a petite piece of Europe. Upon entering this suburban bistro's inviting chic interior of dark timber and brass you will receive a warm welcome."

The warm welcome is guaranteed. I've never witnessed Karl miss doing this to anyone that walks through the front door. He is a proud host and keen to ensure you have a wonderful experience. With 8 of us dining we had several bottles of wine with us and the most bizarre coincidence was both Dads had purchased the same bottle of red wine - Tyrells Shiraz Rufus Stone- for the occasion.

To kick off the evening we ordered a few of house specialities - tarte flambe. Originating from Alsace, France near the German border, tarte flambée has a thinly rolled yeast free base spread with flavoursome fromage blanc (fresh cheese) and scattered with various ingredients. We selected the following to share:

- Strasbourgeoise - German sausage, onion and sauerkraut

- Gratinee - finely sliced onion, bacon and gruyere cheese

- Al'Italienne - ham and pearl mozzarella on tomato base

The staff served everyone a slice of each off the large wooden serving boards and for several minutes there was silence as we enjoyed each mouthful. One of the specials available was garlic snails (or as the French say - escargot) so as a bit of fun we decided to order half a dozen for the table. The brave few who tried them (myself included) were impressed with the presentation - the serving dish was specially designed for 6 snails and each snail was soaked in a buttery, garlic sauce with a side of bread. The verdict? Not that bad - if can get past the visual of snails in your backyard - a little rubbery but the garlic makes them very edible.

For mains our party of 8 ordered the following dishes:

- Slow braised lamb shanks with gratin dauphinois, ratatouille and red wine jus x 3

- Barramundi oven baked in a paper bag served with salmon mousselini, potato fondant, dill, zucchini and hollandaise sauce x 1

- Veal mignon served with potatoes and a creamy mushroom sauce x 4

The stand out were the lamb shanks. Two massive shanks presented on the plate with tender meat that fell off the bone. It was truly delicious and a dish that I could easily return for again and again. The barramundi arrived at the table in a carefully prepared paper bag - it was a little fiddly to remove but the steamed fish inside was flaky and light. The veal, a special for the evening, was presented in a hearty serving and could have been a little rarer for my liking but the creamy mushroom sauce was sensational. Overall, the quality and size of the servings were wonderful.

It wouldn't have been a celebration without speeches, so with Moet all round, we toasted the engagement and heard some moving words from everyone present. Next up were desserts and coffee. There was one dessert shared - Swiss Alps with toblerone ice cream, mousse and fairy floss however the Mum's weren't up for sharing and each ordered the selection of ice creams and sorbets. The Swiss Alps was a delightful looking dessert with a large white meringue in the centre surrounded by a dollop of ice cream and mousse around the side. The use of fairy floss was fun and we shared this between three of us.

What a great night!

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

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

Omni Blue - Cnr George & Margaret Streets, Sydney

2007-08-24T23:34:00.000+10:00

Omni Blue - Cnr George & Margaret Streets, Sydney

Friday 24 August, 2007

Friday lunch time and the city comes alive with anticipation of the weekend. After a long week some old work colleagues organised a catch up lunch at quite possibly the loudest, busiest cafe in the CBD. We had attempted to eat here several months ago and they had lost our booking so we ended up at Bayswiss.

Omni Blue is located in the MetCentre with entrances via Wynyard Station or down the stairs from Margaret St. With its corner location, Omni Blu has a good sized dining space and also a large takeaway area. We arrived and were ushered in a by a frantic staff member who called everyone 'darling'. The dining space was loud, buzzy and manic with only 2-3 staff on the floor.

The menu is a mix of salads, risottos, pastas, burgers and more hearty meals like pork chops and salmon fillets. It took sometime to have our orders taken and the staff looked so flat out racing through the dining space with 3-4 plates of food at a time.

I ordered the Chicken caesar salad as did one of my lunch buddies. Our other lunch buddies ordered the Salt & pepper calamari and Chicken & chick pea salad. We received our drinks orders and watched the enormous plates of food go past. This is the place you will not leave hungry. The plates sizes are impressive and when our food arrived we all let out an audible gasp. Wow - each meal looked like it could feed a family of four.

The Chicken caesar was piled high and had a little too much dressing for my liking. That said, the croutons were served as large slices, the parmesan was in thin slices, the lettuce was fresh and crispy and the bacon was chopped in small squares. It was an impressive spread and I probably got through 75 % of it before admitting defeat. My lunch buddies also enjoyed their meals but none of us managed to clear our plates.

You need to raise you voices here as it's so loud. I wouldn't recommend it for an intimate lunch but for a catch up with friends where time is not an issue and you have a healthy appetite check it out! Bookings highly recommended.

Omni Blue - Cnr George & Margaret Streets, Sydney - (02) 9252 0041

North's Complete Sandwich, Bridge St, Sydney

2007-08-23T22:43:00.000+10:00

North's Complete Sandwich, Bridge St, Sydney
Thursday 23 August, 2007

The recommendations came flying in when I posted the review for Via Abercrombie. So, today I decided to check out North's for myself.

Located in a small arcade off Bridge St, North's commands large queues and an impressive phone line that never stops. If you arrive before 12pm you will be served easily however anytime after 12pm the queue starts to grow and before you know it it has snaked up the stairs and onto the Bridge St sidewalk.

North's offer a range of sandwiches, wraps and daily specials. They offer enormous slabs of white & wholemeal bread and have also introduced sourdough. There are a few standard sandwiches to select from e.g. roast beef, grilled chicken, chicken schnitzel, roasted vegetables, tuna etc which they prepare with their own lemon mayonnaise.

I joined the queue just before 12pm and there were about 5 people ahead of me. It's a production line with 6 servers behind the counter. There are a few servers at the rear preparing the phone orders and a few on the front behind the glass cabinet calling out 'next'. I stepped up and called out my order, 'Grilled chicken on wholemeal please'.

Once you have ordered you proceed to the register to pay. The sandwiches are all $8 which is a bargain considering their size. The staff are so focused on churning out the sandwiches that there really is no opportunity for chit chat however they were pleasant enough. I watched my server pull down a slab of bread from the shelf and cut two very thick slices. Within minutes she was waving a gi-normous aluminium foil wrapped package towards me. Oh my goodness!

I lugged it back to the office and provided my work colleagues with a preview. As I unwrapped the enormous package the realisation hit me.....I had buckley's of eating the whole thing. I offered up half to a team member who gladly accepted. The bread was so deliciously fresh, the fillings were packed in - lettuce, tomato, lemon mayo and huge chunks of grilled chicken and the combined taste was really, really good.

The only downside for me was that the fillings all fell out when you attempted to take a bite. It was messy and I was repacking the sandwich after each bite. Maybe it would be easier to have the sandwich cut into 4 manageable sections rather than 2 enormous ones?

I'll be back.

North's Complete Sandwich - Shop 1A, 2 Bridge St, Sydney

Baja Cantina, Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe

2007-08-22T22:41:00.000+10:00

Baja Cantina, Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe
Wednesday 22 August, 2007

Tonight my dinner buddy and I went Mexican. I honestly can't recall the last time I ate Mexican - maybe 10+ years ago? So, tonight we arrived at Baja Cantina with an open mind and empty bellies.

deGroots profiled this joint back in June with the following review,

"Don’t you hate it (or love it) when you go to a restaurant and the food is so good and the servings so large that you eat way beyond your stomach capacity? Although this happens far more regularly than I’m prepared to admit, the last occasion was during a visit to Glebe’s Baja Cantina.

The culprit was their massive taco supremo which is way too big for one person and way too good to leave any on the plate. A huge, open, lightly crisped flour tortilla sits on the plate and bears resemblance to a giant clam albeit one that is absolutely packed with tasty portions of refried beans, lettuce, salsa, guacamole, cheese, sour cream and your choice of shredded beef or chicken, chipotle prawns or steak. Luckily the menu has excellent sangria and margheritas to wash it all down.

The airy and spacious interior is reminiscent of a beach side bungalow with whitewashed walls, honey-coloured floorboards, huge windows and high ceilings – an idealised version of a Mexican tacqueria, although the sophisticated atmosphere provides no hint of the stuffing you are about to receive. Uncomfortable wooden chairs will dissuade you from lingering – which is a good thing, because after all that food you’re going to seriously need a walk."

I'm certainly not a connoisseur of all things Mexican so we welcomed the assistance of our friendly waiter. She was very accommodating and recommended a few dishes by describing them in some detail. We took her advice and after starting with fresh, authentic guacamole and corn chips ordered the following:

- Chimichangas - deep-fried burrito that originated in Sonora, Mexico. This was served as folded flour tortillas filled with a wide range of ingredients such as refried beans, rice, cheese and shredded chicken. They were then deep-fried and accompanied with salsa, guacamole and sour cream

- Fajitas - is a generic term used in Tex-Mex cuisine, referring to grilled meat served on a flour or corn tortilla. The chicken was cooked with onions and peppers and came with a separate plate of condiments including sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, and tomato.

I had great fun making up my fajitas and trying a variety of fillings. Three corn tortillas came wrapped in foil and I was invited to order more as I needed them. I had never heard the term chimichangas before but according to a legend, Monica Flin, who started the restaurant El Charro in 1922, accidentally dropped a burrito into the deep fat fryer. She immediately began to utter a Spanish curse-word, but quickly edited herself to say chimichanga, the Spanish equivalent of thingamajig.

The servings were so large that we barely made a dint in the plates of food in front of us. The variety and quality of the food was really good and the spicy kick of the fresh jalapenos was outstanding. Washed down with a couple of beers I was impressed.

Baja Cantina - 43-45 Glebe Point Road, Glebe - (02) 9571 1199

The Oaks, Military Rd, Neutral Bay

2007-08-21T23:05:00.000+10:00

The Oaks, Military Rd, Neutral Bay

Tuesday 21 August, 2007

I read this review back in June and thought I should visit The Oaks more often. I mean, it is my local and if there are single guys hanging out there all the better! So, tonight another single buddy and I decided to plonk ourselves in Nineteenthirtysix bar and have a few wines.

We arrived around 6.30pm and the outdoor beer garden was empty. It was cold, windy and there were scattered showers which drew everyone into the Nineteenthirtysix bar, Steakhouse bistro & bar and Garden Bar.

Nineteenthirtysix bar offers a mix match of brown/ beige colours, lounges, corner chairs and side tables. It's cosy and there are TV's and bench tables down one end. The website blurb states,

"The nineteenthirtysix is The Oaks new bar which is designed to have a comfortable 1936 feel, perfect for casual drinking and chit chat."

There were only two staff on in Nineteenthirtysix bar and one was in training, so it was a slow night. There are approximately 5 red/ white wines available by the glass, bottled wine, plenty of beer and cocktails and you also order food.

After a few wines we realised it was 8.30pm and we were starving. We had been chatting for hours and were completely oblivious to anyone around us. A quick look at the menus sitting on each side table and we decided on a couple of pizzas:

- Tandoori Chicken with mango chutney, herbed yoghurt, cashews and coriander

- Spicy Sausage with baby pearl onions, capsicum marmalata, caramelised onions and oregano

After ordering and paying at the bar we were handed a number to display on our table. Within 15 mins our pizzas were delivered and looked fabulous. Large slices of tandoori chicken and spicy sausage sat on top of each thin crust pizza. Each pizza was topped with plenty fresh ingredients and a mildly spicy sauce. Cut evenly into 4 large pieces we enjoyed every mouthful.

Did we meet anyone? Not tonight but we'll be back.

The Oaks - 181 Military Rd, Neutral Bay - (02) 9953-5515

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

wagamama, Bridge St, Sydney

2007-08-20T22:23:00.000+10:00

wagamama, Bridge St, Sydney

Monday 20 August, 2007

Why do I do this to myself? I've gone on about making poor meal choices at wagamamas before and you would think I'd go prepared today. But no....instead I laboured over the menu trying to remember the one good dish I ordered there in the past. I even asked one of my lunch buddies of she could remember what I had ordered previously......

We arrived on this overcast & windy day and were ushered inside to a table. It's so relaxed at wagamama but I find the staff forced. By that I mean they have to turn it on, be mega friendly and hip, happening individuals. However, it's false. We had several waiters serve us and each had taken their happy pills. One even made a derogatory remark about how he kept such a spotless table and environment that he should have been a women! What the@!#?

I couldn't find the dish I was after so ordered the Chilli chicken ramen -
noodles in a spicy pork and chicken soup topped with a marinated and grilled chicken breast, fresh chillis, sliced red onions, beansprouts, coriander, spring onions and a wedge of lime. Our waiter took the orders and punched the numbers in the electronic ordering pad before writing them upside down effortlessly on our place mats.

The downside at wagamama is that you never receive your orders together. The idea is that the meals come as they are cooked so we took delivery of 2 dishes and had to wait several minutes for the 3rd. This makes a lunch with friends an awkward experience. My ramen arrived and I recognised immediately that I hadn't ordered well.................again! The ramen was average - it was basically a large bowl of clear sour soup with sliced chicken and noodles. It was near impossible to eat with the chopsticks and large spoon but I gave it a red hot go.

The wagamama concept is modelled on the ramen shops popular in Japan for over two hundred years. Although the prices are OK and the dining space is clean and modern - I'd rather hop on a plane and visit Japan than visit wagamama again. I've noticed some Japanese places on York St so will turn my attention there over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

wagamama's - 38 Bridge Street, Sydney - T: 9252 8696

http://www.wagamama.com.au/

Via Abercrombie, Abercrombie Lane, Sydney

2007-08-17T21:35:00.000+10:00

Via Abercrombie, Abercrombie Lane, Sydney

Friday 17 August, 2007

I was introduced to this gem back in July over breakfast and vowed to return for one of their monster sandwiches. Hidden mid way down Abercrombie Lane this sandwich mecca is sensational.

We arrived to find a long queue out the door but most of the tables, inside and out, were free. There's a photocopied menu posted on the window listing all of the sandwiches and other offerings e.g. salads plus a drinks refrigerator just inside the front door.

The wonderful thing about Via Abercrombie is that the staff treat everyone like family. As you near the counter, everyone is referred to as darling, sweetheart and many visitors are invited to take a seat without paying first. There's a lovely, warm feeling at Via Abercrombie.

My lunch buddy and I arrived at the front counter and met the two staff effortlessly making sandwich after sandwich. We both ordered the chilli chicken on brown bread with green salad leaves. As we were eating in house, we were invited to take a seat and pay later. I absolutely love that there is this level of trust at Via Abercrombie.

My lunch buddy and I decided to sit outside which was great for people watching. After a short time our enormous sandwiches were delivered on silver plates. The first bite confirmed everything we suspected - the freshest bread and ingredients were used in creating these sandwiches and the taste? Delicious.

The chilli chicken was mild and served with chunks of chicken lightly coated in soy tasting sauce with large green salad leaves. The combination was perfect. The size of the sandwiches were enough to attract the passing glances/ double takes of other lunch goers.

Unless I'm proven otherwise this is the best sandwich shop in the Sydney CBD for my money.

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

Roxanne, Glebe Point Rd, Glebe

2007-08-16T23:03:00.000+10:00

Roxanne, Glebe Point Rd, Glebe

Thursday 16 August, 2007

The first time I visited Roxanne was on its opening night. This was always going to be a tough night to review. So, what's happening almost 18 months on? The decor has remained unchanged and still embodies the burlesque, Moulin Rouge theme that has since become more popular with the rise of clubs such as Crystal Bar at GPO.

I've since learnt that the name has nothing whatsoever to do The Police song Roxanne - this was what our waiter had eluded to. It is actually intended to evoke a girl of mystery a la Cyrano de Bergerac or Steve Martin. Who would have thought?

We arrived without a reservation after attending a book launch at Gleebooks. We were welcomed inside and offered a table for four near the entrance. Having occupied a prime location in Glebe for almost 18 months, the partners who started Roxanne (Vietnamese-born chef Johnny Nguyen and Nepalese-born owner and some-time cook Raj Shakya) are the same however the staff appear to have changed significantly.

We were starving so ordered some garlic & herb bread to start before checking out the menus. One of my pet peeves is to be presented with a menu and it is riddled with spelling errors and punctuation mistakes. Some words were separated on the menu, for example seafood was listed Sea Food. What the#!@?

Our garlic bread arrived and we polished this off with ease. We are all fans of garlic bread - which is a good thing as you don't want to reek of garlic around dinner buddies that haven't indulged. After reviewing the main offerings we all decided to order something different. I ordered the BBQ plate and my dinner buddies ordered the chicken katsu curry, scallop & prawn risotto and cajun seafood hotpot.

The service was slow considering the restaurant was 50% full but when our meals arrived we were all very impressed. That said, they served up two meals and left us waiting for a minute or two for the third to arrive. Almost five minutes later the fourth meal arrived. No explanation just a quick dash from the kitchen to our table and plate dropped in front of you.

The food was great - my BBQ plate offered a diverse mix including chicken skewers, sausages, steak and pork belly. Accompanying the BBQ smorgasbord was a vibrant salad and a side of balsamic dressing. The other meals were equally impressive - the hotpot contained lots of fresh seafood, the chicken katsu looked rich and decadent and the risotto disappeared so quickly that our dinner buddy had polished off her meal before the rest of us were half way!

There's a lot to like about Roxanne, the food is reasonably priced, the decor is fascinating and doesn't match the food but that's OK and if the service improved it would be a very special place.

Roxanne restaurant & bar - 39 Glebe Point Road, Glebe - (02) 9552 6087

Burger Bun, George St, Sydney

2007-08-13T23:43:00.000+10:00

Burger Bun, George St, Sydney

Monday 13 August, 2007

My lunch buddy had recently returned to work from maternity leave. So, when she suggested we go to our favourite burger joint for lunch I had to break the news that it had left the CBD. I have craved a good burger since its departure. However, there may be a viable alternative close by.

Last week I mentioned a new food court called Food @ 259 and wrote about Thai Tree. We approached the food court and were amazed that there are still only two shop fronts open - what's going on people??? There's a huge lunch crowd waiting for you. Located a hop, skip & a jump from Thai Tree is the Burger Bun. With its fluorescent lights, bright coloured menu, catchy burger names and opening specials the Burger Bun is an attractive option.

We stood a while taking in the catchy burger names and making a touch decision. As part of their opening specials they are offering any burger, drink and chips or salad for $6.90. Yes, you read correctly.....$6.90 for a burger, drink and chips or salad. Bargain!

Without hesitation my lunch buddy and I ordered the Archibald - beef burger with bacon, avocado, cheese, lettuce and tomato. We ordered and paid at the counter before receiving a docket with our order number printed on it. A steady lunch crowd followed to take advantage of the cheap & cheerful deal. A short time later we heard our number called and walked over to collect our brown paper bag full of goodies.

The burgers were delicious - the buns were seriously good and not the sesame version but the light, gourmet bread roll version that is easier to eat as a traditional burger i.e squashed together and eaten with your hands. Is there any other way??? We also received a side of chips that were sprinkled with chicken salt.

My lunch buddy and I thoroughly enjoyed our burgers. I think we've found our new burger bar.

Burger Bun - 259 George St, Sydney

International Food Market, Telstra Stadium, Homebush

2007-08-11T23:47:00.000+10:00

International Food Market, Telstra Stadium, Homebush

Saturday 11 August, 2007

The Breast Cancer Network Australia called on 13,000 people - representing the number of Australians diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 - to stand together and create the first ever Sydney Field of Women LIVE before the Sydney Swans v St Kilda match.

As Swans supporters we arrived early to participate in the Field of Women event. This was incredibly moving and a important reminder about the high incidence of breast cancer. Standing on the field in our pink ponchos we had a minute's silence for women who had died from breast cancer, and breast cancer survivors were asked to put up their hands. Up There, Cazaly composer Mike Brady, who lost his mother to breast cancer, sung a special rendition of his famous song, called Up There, Pink Lady.

The atmosphere was electric and there were several moments that I will never forget:

1) Walking out onto the lush green grass of Telstra Stadium under the bright lights

2) Watching women raise their hands to indicate they were survivors of breast cancer

After the event we walked off the field to take our seats for the game. However we needed to eat first so popped outside to the International Food Market. There was a hive of activity with queues of 20 - 30 people lined up against each stall representing a variety of cultures i.e. Turkish, Portuguese, Indian, Greek etc.

To be honest our selection was made not on the food but the length of the queue. Tonight, the Portuguese won out. We ordered Portuguese dogs (or hot dogs) and Pasteis de Nata (or Portuguese tarts). The dogs were spicy and topped with kim chee, onion, cheese and mustard. The sesame buns were large and packed full with toppings. They had a kick and were a challenge to eat but we enjoyed every mouthful.

We made it to our seats as the whistle blew - perfect timing. It wasn't until the end of the first quarter that we remembered we had the Pasteis de Nata. Bonus!

International Food Market, Telstra Stadium, Homebush

http://fieldofwomen.org.au/index.php?menuID=1

Top Choice, Sussex St, Haymarket

2007-08-10T23:34:00.000+10:00

Top Choice, Sussex St, Haymarket
Friday 10 August, 2007

Tonight we were off to see The Cure at the Entertainment Centre. What an amazing show! I loved every minute of the 3 hour extravaganza.

Beforehand we met inside the Sussex Centre to grab a bite to eat along with all the goths and emos. The outfits were fantastic!

Up the escalators to the Sussex Centre food court you are met with an array of choices. The food court is enormous and the offerings are extensive. Last time I visited, we ate at Happy Chef the shop front lauded by Luke Mangan etc.

So, tonight we watched where the crowds went and viewed all the menus to try and make our selection. I have been to Top Choice inside Market City but never inside the Sussex Centre. After looking over the menu we decided to start with an entree of sizzling honey prawns followed by a main course of Grandmother's beancurd.

The idea is simple - you order and pay at the counter then hover close by. The staff yell out the order into the kitchen and within minutes your dish is up! It's quick, simple and very reasonable. The only downside is that there is only one shop front to purchase your drinks - not sure why this is the case - it's annoying - or maybe I'm just lazy. How many places these days expect you to buy food from one place and drinks from another????

The honey prawns came up first and were sizzling - served on a hot plate they looked and tasted amazing. The prawns were plump, coated with a light golden batter and drizzled with honey. The main course was very spicy with large cubed chunks of beancurd. The sauce was thick and there were peas and thin slices of beef (not mince) throughout. As a massive fan of Grandmother's beancurd I was a little disappointed.

The great thing about the Sussex Centre is that the staff move around clearing plates and cleaning tables regularly so you can always find a table even on a busy Friday night. It's not a place you hang around in - the food is fast and fresh and the idea is to move on quickly. It's ideal for a quick meal on the way somewhere.

In our case this was to Cold Rock. I have a confession to make - I've never been to Cold Rock so had absolutely no idea what it was all about. Pick an ice cream flavour then select some lollies e.g. cherry ripe, smarties etc and watch the staff mash them together. Yum!

Top Choice - Shop F10a/Sussex Centre, 401-403 Sussex Haymarket - (02) 9212 1580

Thai Tree, George St, Sydney

2007-08-09T21:30:00.000+10:00

Thai Tree, George St, Sydney

Wednesday 8 & Thursday 9 August, 2007

There is a brand spanking new food court underneath the NAB building called Food @ 259 on Grosvenor St. Bizarrely it is advertised as open even though only 2 of the 10 or so offerings are actually open for business. The dining space is huge with indoor and outdoor seating and a white/ orange colour scheme. It's bright, fresh, clean and inviting and will be even better once all the food outlets are open.

Thai Tree is located in the rear of the food court and is a buzzy place. There are about 7 staff behind the counter & in the kitchen. They cook all the noodles and soups to order so be prepared to take a number and wait. There are also dishes available on display in the heated bain maries.

On Wednesday I ended up here by accident. My lunch buddy & I were going to eat in the cafe in the foyer of the NAB Building but there were no seats available so we decided to walk around to Food @ 259. There was a reasonable queue of about 10 eager lunch goers which allowed us to review the large menu hung above the serving area before we reached the counter.

I decided to order the Pad Sen Mee with chicken. The Thai noodles used for this dish were rice vermicelli noodles also known as sen-mee in Thai, may-fun in Chinese, or mee hoon in Malay. These rice flour noodles should not be confused with glass noodles (vermicelli) which are made with mung bean flour. After ordering and paying at the counter we were handed a numbered ticket. Mine was 94 and my lunch buddies was 95.

We stood back with the patient crowd waiting for our numbers to be called out. To our dismay the next number called was 13. What the?@*! Turns out each staff member had a different series of tickets so we wouldn't be standing around for 80 more orders......

The turn around was relatively painless given the eager lunch goers and we collected our meals and stocked up on chilli sauce. We grabbed seats in the centre of the large open dining space and tucked in. Pad Sen Mee is fried rice vermicelli noodles cooked in oyster sauce stir fried with chicken & vegetables. The noodles were a little on the greasy side but the chicken & vegetables were fresh and well cooked. I had packed on the chilli sauce so my mouth was on fire but in a good way.

The following day, I ended up here by accident.......again. My lunch buddy and I walked to Jimmy's only to discover a queue out the door. Not prepared to wait, we walked over to Food @ 259. So, it was back to Thai Tree. Today, I decided to order the Pad Siew. Siew means soy sauce in Thai and the noodles used were long & flat.

We had a little wait before our numbers were called. Having experienced the Pad Sen Mee yesterday I was looking forward to trying something new. The Pad Siew was delicious - the falt noodles were light and coated in soy & chilli sauce tossed with chicken & vegetables. I absolutely loved this dish and will definitely return for more.

Note: thanks to Tea & Cookies for the fab photo.

Thai Tree - 259 George St, Sydney