Goth Gourmande

Review: Gordon Ramsay at The London, Los Angeles

2012-05-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

As a foodie one can't help but be curious about the ventures of celebrity chefs and so it was that I found myself in Los Angeles and took a detour to the restaurant at The London whose executive chef is none other than Gordon Ramsay.

With a laundry list of food television shows and a history littered with Michelin stars one might expect a lot of things from a restaurant owned by such a man but I'll say that I was sorely disappointed with this venture and thinks Mister Ramsay is better suited to consulting on restaurants than designing them.

To be fair we found ourselves in Los Angeles during Restaurant week and so rather than the tasting menu we were hoping for we were instead treated to an economy 'taster' menu with very limited choices for each course. The restaurant was accordingly packed to the gills with curious foodies and one very obvious table of wealthy regulars who were given the luxury of ordering off menu. I wonder that had we been able to order the normal menu at reflective prices we wouldn't have been so disappointed and the packed restaurant can't have helped the service. It's a shame because as someone who isn't afraid of a hefty dinner bill particularly when travelling I wonder that I wasn't left with a tainted image of the venue.

It must be said though at $44USD for 3 courses this was a real bargain for a food tourist on a limited budget and if your budget is more limited than my own this would make an excellent way to see champagne dining on a beer budget.

The hotel itself has been recently renovated and is very classy if you subscribe to the Trump ideal of white marble and shiney gold fittings as far as the eye can see.

To start with we were whistled away to a bar to wait for our seating and enjoyed a snack and a cocktail while boggling at the Size 0 starlet wannabes being bought $30 cocktails by men twice their age. For people watching there are few better places than posh restaurants in LA, though I pity the dates purchasing food for their darlings that I can only imagine they pushed around their plate to stay fitting in their dresses.

Charred octopus salad, pee wee potatoes, celery hearts and parmesan

Endive Salad with Candied Walnuts, Baked Goats Cheese

Very unfortunately for me there was a runaway insect in my greens, leaving me to worry heftily about the washing of the ingredients. To add insult to injury it took far too long to get the attention of a server to replace my dish and their attitude as they did was less than ideal. Perhaps diners use this as an excuse to have items taken off the bill but frankly I found this incident alone very jarring. To make matters worse they took some time to replace my dish forcing my partner to eat alone while we waited for another. Very disappointing.

Braised American Wagyu Beef Brisket, grain mustard, eggplant and mizuna

Points given for failing to use the American misnomer "Kobe beef" but otherwise a fairly standard beef dish and nothing exciting.

Roasted Organic Chicken Breast with Sweet Corn Succotash

This at least felt new and interesting to me because of the American splash of succotash, but I do feel let down when I am forced to order a chicken dish in a fine dining restaurant; but there were only 3 choices of mains and the other was a vegetarian risotto which appealed even less.

Valhrona Chocolate Fondant with Salted Caramel

Again this was a well executed dessert but hardly an inspired menu choice, I felt this could have been ordered in any quality restaurant the world over.

Lemon Raspberry Millefeuille

Now this was an item I could admire, smooth lemon custard and fresh ripe raspberries with the usual plate dotting that is all the rage at the moment.

Coffee and Macarons at additional cost

The Macarons were okay, but I'll take a Zumbo Macaron over these items any day. Again I would have been happier with a higher cost and better service, these take aways were $14USD on top of my meal whereas diners at the likes of Craft are afforded free delights to take home.

All in all I feel like eating at a Ramsay restaurant was a required part of my foodie career but I think I'll stick to watching him on television.

Gordon Ramsay at The London, West Hollywood

http://www.thelondonwesthollywood.com

Formal dining

Book well in advance through Open Table

Great for people watching

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The Equality Dinner at Quay Restaurant, Sydney

2012-05-21T05:51:00.003-07:00

With marriage equality and Quay desserts hot on TV this evening it seems to be a fitting time to showcase The Equality Dinner that I attended at Quay Restaurant as part of the Sydney LGBT Mardi Gras festival. Gender and sexual equity is a huge part of my ethical landscape and as a member of my company's LGBT support group I was lucky enough to attend this Black Tie event complete with divine dishes and inspiring speakers.

As well as an important event to discuss Marriage Equality in Australia it happened to be at the Iconic Quay Restaurant. For those not acquainted Quay is one of the most prestigious and well celebrated restaurants in Sydney. Currently home to Sydney's Chef of the Year Peter Gilmore, holder of 3 SMH Hats and recently celebrated in San Pellegrino's list of the 50 Best Restaurants in the world. Imagine my delight at a dinner at this notoriously difficult to book venue!

While we hear wonderful speeches by the likes of equality advocates Mia Freedman and Dr Kerryn Phelps we were served a series of dishes far elevated from the usual "chicken or beef" so lets take some time to review the deliciousness.

Sashimi of Hiramasa Kingfish, horseradish cream, smoked eel tapioca, horseradish cream, cherry bell radishes, nasturtiums.

Loin of Riverina Lamb with artichoke emulsion, fennel, leek, confit tomato and Arbequina olives.

Roasted Mulloway, stone ground semolina, heirloom carrots, buckwheat, farro and brown butter.

Petit Fours

White Nectarine Fool, Moscato d'Asti Grania and White Nectarine Ice Cream

Quay's Seven Texture Chocolate Cake

For those who are fans of foodie television you may recognise this dessert as the recent 'pressure test' menu item featured on the 2012 season of MasterChef Australia

For extra fun a number of charity auctions and raffles were held throughout the evening and as a ticket buyer I walked off with a number of beautiful Becker Minty luxury goods for my trouble.

Quay Restaurant

http://www.quay.com.au/

Formal dining

Expect to book several weeks in advance

Though this was an event ticket without menu prices please expect to pay $300+ per head for food and wine

Upper Level

Overseas Passenger Terminal

5 Hickson Road

The Rocks NSW 2000

Phone: +61 2 9251 5600

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Snapshot: A Fish Called Coogee

2012-04-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Lets face it I like the good things in life and I focus more in this blog on expensive Tuna and Champagne than down home old fashioned food. Sometimes, even a posh girl just wants to have something fried by the seaside and when you get that feeling, head straight to A Fish Called Coogee and do not pass Go!

When we arrive it's around 4pm on a warm public holiday. The crowds are thinning but the tired sandy swimmers are starting to come out of the surf and the early dinner crowd is also starting to come in. This is a place with no airs and graces, half the people ordering have no shirt or shoes on (and still get service!)

There's the usual Traditional Fish and Chips ($11) and some potato scallops ($3) but the real star here is great seafood in delicious marinades. This is no hefty spices to cover dodgy seafood, everything is fresh, delicious and the highest quality. Also it must be mentioned how damn clean the place is all I can smell is the marinades and not the oil or the fish, impressive to say the least.

What you don't do with Fish and Chips is eat them in the store! We picked this cliff overlooking Coogee Beach, grabbed some soft drinks and some sauce and sat in the fading sunlight chatting and enjoying our haul.

The fish and chips themselves were just excellent. The Fish was fresh as fresh can be and excellent quality, the batter light and not greasy. The chips the right mix of soft and crisp, the aioli ($3) and home made tartare sauce ($3) just delightful.

The potato scallops had a similar light but crisp and slightly spiced batter, the potatoes were thinly cut and took on the batter perfectly. Sadly what isn't pictured was the thai fish cake ($3) which was so damn good I ate the damn thing with much eye rolling and thigh thumping before I could get a picture. Worth a drive to Coogee that's for sure! The fish cake was fresh fish pressed together with Thai spices, no milled steamed fish here just pressed sweet delicious seafood. In fact I could really go for one right now...

Be aware we ordered way too much food, a serve of Fish and Chips without extras would be more than enough. If you want 'sides' then order 1 main meal between 2.

A Fish Called Coogee

Fish and Chips takeaway and dine in

Super casual, no shirt, no shoes, straight from the Beach OK!

BYO if you eat in (but don't when there are such views to be had!)

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Recipe: Fresh Mexican Salsa

2012-04-09T01:25:00.003-07:00

Fresh Mexican Salsa

1 red onion
1 ear of corn
1 red capsicum
1 large avocado
1 tomato
1 handful of coriander (cilantro)
1/2 a lemon
1/2 tspn chilli flakes

Method

Dice the onion and capsicum and add to a bowl
Cut the avocado roughly into cubes
Cut the corn kernels from the cob and add to the bowl
Dice the tomato and add to the bowl
Dice the cilantro and add to the bowl with the chilli and lemon
Mix thoroughly until the lemon juice coats the ingredients
Serve with corn tortillas and refried beans for a complete vegan meal
Great with my vegan chilli
Serves 2

Review: The Tea Room, Queen Victoria Building

2012-04-06T01:26:00.003-07:00

I belong to a women's professional interest group at work, we have regular off sites and recently went to The Tea Room at the top of the Queen Victoria Building in the Sydney CBD.

Quite frankly this was one of the best work events I've ever been to. It had the right air of elegance without feeling stuffy, the food was delicious and the environment fun... and just a bit girly.

If you're not from the Commonwealth then formal Afternoon Tea may be a bit of a mystery to you but it is generally a very formal affair, finger food and hot tea with elegant place settings.

Small sandwiches usually appear along with sweets and savouries such as hot pastries. Here you can see the tableau in all its glory complete with porcelain crockery and silver tea vessels.

Such a formal affair in a grand setting and with high quality place settings isn't the cheapest of trips out. A traditional afternoon tea is $43 per person, pricier options include alcohol such as cocktails or champagne; perfect for a wedding shower or other family celebration. The cost includes a choice of high quality blended teas brewed in the traditional fashion and 'all you can eat' food. We did not make it through what was served to us however they kept offering additional sandwiches or hot dishes if needed.

This is by no means a full showing of all the food but here's a sampling

Fruit tarts and chocolate opera slice bearing The Tea Room logo printed with edible ink on chocolate discs

Hot scones (with jam and clotted cream) with Spinach and Cheese pastries

Finger sandwiches with cucumber, chicken, tuna or egg salad and egg cream pastries

Custard tarts, macarons, orange almondines and passionfruit creams

Afternoon tea is delicious on its own and this was beautiful food and beautiful tea in a gorgeous setting but what made this so spectacular was how accomodating they were. For a large party (10+) they offered us a discount and pre-arranged preferences for tea and food. More impressively they catered to all the food requirements of a difficult group. With dairy free, gluten free and nut free all at the table they managed to feed all of us to bursting satisfaction. They even provided gluten free bread and pastries rather than just replacing with milk or fruit products as is so often the case. The fact that so many in the group had separate allergies was not so much as commented on, they just ensured that we had well marked well appointed stands that were separate for the allergy sufferers. Bravo.

All in all a fantastic experience and just wonderful for a celebration, particularly for those who are unable or uninterested in drinking alcohol. For a mixed group with so many food issues there are almost no better places to go in Sydney.

The Tea Room, Queen Victoria's Building

http://www.thetearoom.com.au/

Formal morning, afternoon and high teas
Not child friendly
Very accommodating to allergies and food restrictions

Level 3, North End, QVB
455 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9283 7279
Fax: 02 9283 7276
qvbinfo@thetearoom.com.au

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Recipe: Gochujang jjigae

2012-01-29T00:50:00.000-08:00

Regular readers will know that have a huge weakness for Korean food, so I thought it was time to start making it at home. Gochujang is the delicious fermented soy and chilli paste that appears in many Korean stews and BBQ dishes. This is my take on a traditional Korean stew, sweet and spicy it's not for the feint hearted but I personally will be making this a regular rotation in home cooked meals from now on.

Gochujang jjigae

1 onion
1 capsicum
1 carrot
2 cloves garlic
1 cup potato or sweet potato
3 tablespoons gochujang
1 cup water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 packet firm silken tofu
oil for frying

Method

Prepare your vegetables; Dice the onion, julienne the carrot and capsicum, crush the garlic and cut the potato into cubes.
Heat a pan with a small pool of your favourite vegetable oil.
Stir fry the onions, then the capsicum. When the peppers are soft add the carrot and the garlic and stir fry until the garlic is soft.
Add the gochujang and stir fry to coat the vegetables. Add the water and stir so that the chilli paste forms a sauce.
Add the tomato paste and the sugar, stir until well integrated into the sauce. Taste at this point to balance the flavour, add more sugar or chilli to taste.
Add the potato and cover the stew, boil until the potato is soft.
Dice the tofu and add to the stew, cook for a further two minutes and then take off the heat.
Let the stew rest for 2 minutes and serve with rice and your favourite pickles. Serves 4.
Great for vegans and vegetarians but for a meaty twist add diced fish cake in with the potatoes.

Snapshot: Sokyo at The Darling, Pyrmont

2012-01-19T17:43:00.000-08:00

They recently renovated Star City Casino and turned it into The Star Casino Complex and my gosh but it's a lot nicer. So accordingly I'm slowly eating my way through the new eateries since it is conveniently right next to my office.

It was recently the boy's birthday so we stopped for a spot of Japanese at Sokyo in The Darling, the new Hotel attached to the Casino.

Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice: Crispy nigiri, truffle salt, spicy mayo $15

The food is traditional Japanese and modern Asian Fusion with a twist. The usual high quality Japanese dishes you would expect in Sydney appear on the menu. I would definitely recommend perusing the tempura specials, do not pass up the tsukune and this Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice was worth the trip alone.

Sokyo needs some time to find its own identity. At the moment they've made it a little too slick and it just feels a little fake. It's like trying to make your video 'go viral', this is not a notion you can instill, it needs to be given to you by the public.

The waiters are all eye candy cute young boys with stylish shoes, which is great and all but not so much for service. I hope they rectify this, the waiter we had was French and didn't seem very comfortable with Japanese food, nor could he recognise that we were and wanted to be left alone with the menu.

All in all this place needs to find its feet but will nonetheless become a regular visit for me. The price and range mean that you can eat your way through a whole kaiseki or just have some sushi for a short business lunch. This is the perfect local eatery for client meetings in a flash setting, but needs time before I'll return on a date night.

Sokyo at The Darling

http://www.star.com.au/sydney-restaurants/signature-fine-dining/pages/sokyo.aspx
80 Pyrmont Street
Pyrmont NSW 2009
(02) 9777 9000 ‎

Formal modern Japanese and Asian Fusion
New and finding its feet

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Serious birthday cake at Zumbo Patissier, Pyrmont

2012-01-14T20:44:00.000-08:00

I work in Pyrmont close to The Star casino complex and an exciting new addition has come to the neighbourhood; Zumbo Patissier the super luxurious, delightfully decadant cake and pastry maker that makes all foodies in Sydney go to happy little day dream places. The love child of culinary genius Adriano Zumbo this store makes an excellent addition to The Star's recent upgrade.

Sadly being January things are a little more sensible on my diet this month but it's definitely worth noting the Dessert Train!

Set up like a kaiten zushi with small pieces of delight wizzing past on a motorised conveyor belt. Note if you are intending to go that there's a significant wait on popular nights, so don't expect to pop straight in after a meal or a game elsewhere in the building.

Sydney is still on a long running obsession with macarons (cupcakes are sooo 2008) and Zumbo's is definitely one of the best purveyors of these delights. Remember though these little pieces of heaven are delicate and difficult to make, meaning they're definitely a 'treat' food and should be purchased the day you intend to eat them - humidity is the bane of all macarons.

It was recently my birthday and since I have the luck to date a lovely man who shares my taste for all things rich we went on a trip to the patisserie for some serious birthday cake.

Macarons $2.50 each

Shown here is Salted Butter Caramel, Pumpkin, Lemon Verbenna and Coconut Green Chilli & Lavender. All light, perfect and delicious. I think I could eat a meal of those salted caramel delights and be happy.

ssnowmanorr $9 Pâté a choux, bubble tea custard, lychee coconut crème légère, lychee gel, coconut crunch.

Zumbo loves delightful little food tricks and this is genius, it is essentially a bubble tea made into a delightful little cake, complete with milk tea flavoured custard and chunks of Lychee jelly. Despite the heavy creamy interior the outside maintained a light crisp texture that oozed when bit into.

grandma's soap $9 Blueberry compote, fresh blueberries, lavender chantilly & almond cème

This was probably my favourite of the lot, I would love to see the mould that the lavender and creme layer was made with to get it out so smooth and perfect. The bottom was a slightly tart mix of almondine and berry that was offset perfectly by the sweet sweet cream layer.

whizz fizz $9 Raspberry meringue, sherbet, raspberry compote, liquorice crème

This was definitely the boy's favourite. WhizzFizz is a brand of Australian sherbert, the sugary fizzy kind not the cold kind, so expect something a little different from this raspberry meringue pie. The crisp light meringue gives way to rich berry and cream; don't be afraid of the liquorice if you are not a fan it's not strong and compliments the fruit layer perfectly.

√ caramel $9 Passionfruit crème, ginger vanilla bavaroise, tonka bean caramel, ginger sable breton, caramel chantilly, caramel sponge

The texture and construction of this dessert is simply amazing. It's a tiny entremet cake with many finely created layers in a small caramel 'box' with a texture like felted caramel. with the amount of caramel in here you'd think it would be sweet on sweet but there are darker burnt sugar tones and the ginger that set the mouth ablaze. An absolute amazement in construction and to make this many flavours work together in harmony deserves accolades.

Be aware this was simply ridiculous amounts of cake and took us several days to eat, even without me dissecting and photographing every morsel we bought. One and a half of these tiny rich delights was more than enough to fill me up despite no dinner. If you're looking for a fancy gift for an in law or just a small delight for a special occasion one or two of these with a cup of unsweetened coffee would delight even the grumpiest of diners. Much recommended, with quite a bit of willpower wrangling to stop me running over on a regular basis.

Zumbo Patissier at The Star

http://adrianozumbo.com/patisserie-menu/
Shop1, Cafe Court
The Star
80 Pyrmont st
Pyrmont, NSW, 2009
Entry via Edward st

Up market patisserie and eat in dessert train
No cafe seating, take your cake home or sit on the waterfront to enjoy
Walking off with a Zumbo box will cause green envy on all foodies in the vicinity

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Review: The Cut, The Rocks

2011-12-19T04:46:00.001-08:00

The first thing I will say about this post is that it seems that the trend has changed in Sydney restaurants. Once you couldn't get a booking for love or money on a Monday night, and now it seems Sunday is the day of rest. The restaurants we had originally picked out for my birthday dinner were not bookable and so it was further afield I looked, The Cut didn't disappoint.

Sadly the ambient lighting while well suited to the environment didn't take the best picture on my camera without a flash, but the heavy wood furniture and throne style chairs were perfectly suited to the type of restaurant. Also note the group tables perfect for a family or work dinner for 8-10.

Sourdough, butter and oil complimentary with dinner

Good simple bread, the oil was fresh and excellent, worth a dip.

Not pictured: 2006 Cloudy Bay Pelorus Marlborough, NZ $18

Stupidly I forgot to take pictures of the wine, this is actually one of my favourite non French sparkling wines if you see it on a menu choose this over another tired Champagne. Crisp lively and fresh it lacks the heavy toasty of some Champagnes but is an excellent drop in the Southern Summer.

Chicken Liver Pate, Pickled Peach Sorbet, Jamon & Mache $20

The liver pate itself was very well done, not strong on alcohol flavouring as I prefer but smooth and heavy. Despite the pate itself being excellent the accompaniments let it down. Liver parfait is best served with a sticky sweet accompaniment, the cleansing sorbet neither accompanied or cut through the fat it just sort of... melted away leaving too clean a taste behind. The brioche too seemed dry and rather stale, if they make it in house I will be shocked. If you want great pate go to Danks St Depot or Glass, this is good but the sides are not worth it.

Charcuterie Tasting Plate $26

The charcuterie tasting plate was excellent. Serrano Jamon de Jabujanes Gran Reserva,
Prosciutto di San Danielle, Calabrese Salami and Papandrea Fennel Sopressa served with candied mustard fruit and plenty of cornichons. I would have preferred the wait staff to realise that we needed more than 1 slice of bread to get through this pile of meat though.

2008 Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Carménère Conchagua, Chile $98

Usually I like a granache with a steak but the choices we'd made had me hanker for something different. This is a smooth and fruity wine with a freshness familiar to those who like new world wine and the Carménère should be enjoyed by those who like Cabernet.

4-hour Slow Roast Sher F1 Wagyu Standing Rib 400g $56

All prepared to eat his usual dish of grass fed rib eye my partner was distracted by a waiter bearing very shiney things: a side of slow roasted 7 score marbled wagyu. The waiter was kindly enough to give an honest answer on the richness of the food and the serving size that should be ordered. This 400g piece was far too much for my food loving other half, I would suggest instead ordering a 300g ($42) for most. With a similarly excellent salt crust and moist melt in your mouth fatty richness, the rendered fat simply oozing juices from the meat left a very happy boy wishing he could fit more in.

Riverine 150-day, Grain fed Fillet 280g $45

This is probably the best steak I've eaten in Sydney. Grilled to absolute perfection with a crisp caramelised crust, salted just enough, the dark crust hides a perfect medium rare steak. The aged grain fed fillet was tender and the knife slide right through it, this is a steak to savour. I ate it simply with a little lemon and some dijon mustard, the meat is good enough not to require a sauce. Veal jus came with it but was not more exciting than a similar jus at any good steak grill. I will come back for this steak alone, perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, perfectly rested, excellent aged meat treated the way it should be.

Mixed Leaf Salad with Herbs & Lemon Vinaigrette $9

We have learnt not to order rich sides with this kind of meat any more, it goes to waste and leaves us beyond ill. Instead salads, for the boy a mixed leaf salad, nothing special but well done.

Roast Jerusalem Artichokes with Balsamic, Spanish Onion, Radicchio & Goats Cheese $9

Now I like a salad with a bit of difference and this was one fantastic salad. The radicchio had a bitter crispness that really cut through the rich meat, Jerusalem artichokes are quite frankly excellent with everything and pattered with roasted nuts and slices of a mild goats cheese? Just perfect and a great accompaniment in summer.

Affogato $9 Or with your choice of Frangelico, Amaretto or Baileys $14

To be honest the desserts left me a little cold so instead an affogato, Amaretto for preference. A small serve of rich real vanilla bean ice cream with very good quality ristretto makes me suspect their patissier has an Italian bent. Well done and a suitable end to the meal without being cloying.

Lemon Custard on Sugared Puff Pastry, with Elderflower Marshmallow & Rose Geranium Pebbles $15

Take note aspiring chefs this is a supreme lesson in editing your food. What could have been simply a well done de-constructed lemon meringue pie obviously wasn't considered fancy enough for the menu. The Rose Geranium Pebbles were essentially a salted flower caviar gelee that had no purpose on the plate and frankly was a confusing and unnecessary addition that once tried was avoided. The texture alone was off putting let alone the salt, stop over thinking things and just leave a good dessert alone.

I'm not sure if The Cut is still trying to find its feet, there were some absolutely perfect pieces like the salad and meat with some confusing dashes around it like the brioche and the salted mess on dessert. What it does well though is its core business: great quality steak and sides.

Most of the serving staff were good but unfortunately I got the impression that our waiter doesn't like his job. He served out food like a silver service waiter but forgot to tell us about the charcuterie, interrupted our entrée to show me the wine for the next course when we had clearly just been served sparkling, looked miserable the whole time and couldn't make a suggestion about the desserts. Perhaps he wasn't meant to work a Sunday shift, I don't know, but perhaps one less waiter would have been a better experience than a bored one not interested in the food.

Nonetheless I'll be back, but possibly for mains only rather than a 3 course meal.

The Cut Bar and Grill

http://www.cutbarandgrill.com

Up market steak house

Cosy ambience with excellent sound control, good for dates and groups

The Cut Bar & Grill
16 Argyle Street
The Rocks NSW 2000
T +612 9259 5695
reservations@cutbarandgrill.com

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Review: Bel Mondo, The Rocks

2011-12-10T02:11:00.000-08:00

December is simply filled to the brim with events and I had the good fortune of heading to Bel Mondo with a group of female engineers for a business lunch. Unfortunately I was too engaged in conversation to remember to take a picture of the dining room, a dark wood affair encased in a traditional Sydney stone building.

The meal we chose was a 5 Course Degustation, though being a work lunch we opted to order minimal wine rather than drink with every course - I had meetings to go back to after all!

They're currently doing a special that makes business lunches very affordable for a much higher class of food than the usual "red wine and steak" affairs one generally eats with clients. 2 courses $55, 3 courses $72, 5 course degustation $95 (with wines $145). I would definitely recommend this as a place to take your valued clients at the end of the year.

Amuse bouche: Basil Veloute

Tomato and basil consomme with Alaskan King crab, sweet corn and asparagus

Carpaccio of beef with saute mushrooms, wild rocket and shaved pecorino

Fillet of Cone Bay Barramundi with vanilla pomme puree, shaved fennel salad and sauce vierge

Slow cooked lamb shoulder with pea and mint risotto, caramelised garlic and honey puree.

Palate cleanser: Ruby grapefruit granita

Coconut and lychee panna cotta with macerated strawberries and freeze dried mandarin

A nod to the staff for handling dietary requirements very well. Also a nod to my new phone the HTC Evo 3D which I am now using for food photographs as it now comes with dual 5MP high quality lenses and the added bonus of auto upload to Picasa via Google+

Bel Mondo

http://www.belmondo.com.au/

Formal dining, modern Australian
Book ahead

Gloucester Walk
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone +61 2 9241 3700 ‎

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The secret to my success

2011-12-04T02:21:00.000-08:00

On a Sunday I love to make goulash when I can take the time to really let it simmer and develop flavour. I have discovered the perfect addition to the recipe which really adds depth and richness to the sauce.

Marco Polo Paprika Relish is almost pure roasted pepper puree - nothing nasty added just oil and salt. I found it in the import aisle of my local supermarket. Try it some time!

Snapshot: Anita Borg Scholarship Cake!

2011-11-30T20:15:00.001-08:00

If you're not already aware I work at the Big G, and periodically we get to do some awesome things... like host a women in computer science scholarship!

Today is the finalists retreat and we organised a special cake for the winners.

Review: Gumshara Ramen, Haymarket

2011-11-27T01:32:00.000-08:00

Sydney is one of the few cities in the world that is the perfect mix of East meets West. Like Singapore Asian, Western and Fusion food sit side by side in abundance and great quality.

Gumshara is one of the great examples of this, a tiny purveyor of noodles stuck in the side of a busy but not very fancy food court in Chinatown delivers some of the best ramen south of Osaka.

Tonkotsu ramen with roasted pork, chilli bomb and soft boiled egg $14.50

Like a good noodle store in Japan there's only about 5 items on the menu and they're all good. The soup is made in the traditional style with lots of bones for thick natural collagen. Add additional toppings like eggs, different vegetables or as I have a 'bomb' of high seasoning mixed into a small ball of minced meat. This makes the Tonkotsu above into an instant Spicy Tantan style ramen.

I still believe that the noodles at Ichi Ban Boshi are the best ramen noodles I have ever found - even in Japan (though no one does soba right outside that country) but the noodles here are still good quality, I'd just put a firm bet on them being bought in.

Gumshara is located in the Eating World food court on the Dixon St Mall, a real foodies paradise this is a place for those who know that the best Asian food often comes served on sticky tables where ambience is unrequired because the food is that damn good.

I have recently discovered that Eating World is a short walk from the light rail stop making this an easy meal to get to and return from within an hour long lunch time break from the office.

Gumshara

Eating World Harbour Plaza
Shop 209, 25-29 Dixon Street
(enter from Goulburn Street or Factory Street)
Haymarket Chinatown, Sydney

Shared table open foodcourt
Super casual - don't expect a real restaurant or table coverings

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Snapshot: Steerson's Steakhouse

2011-11-24T22:32:00.000-08:00

I tend to eat at more places than I get a chance to review so I'm going to start posting "snapshots" of meals I eat between full reviews.

Chicken Terrine with cornichons and grilled leeks $17.50

220g Eye Fillet Steak and Frites $38

Matching wine: Grant Burge Holy Trinity Grenache/Mourvedre blend $78

Steersons Steakhouse

www.steersons.com.au

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Review: Nobu, Los Angeles

2011-10-16T03:31:00.000-07:00

There are a number of restaurants on my 'food tourism' list that I slowly tick off as I travel the world and Nobu has been on this list for some time.

Nobu is the Japanese Fusion food mecha known more for its celebrity owners than its cuisine which is a shame since the food is amazing and unlike some other food tourism meals was everything I hoped it would be and more. I can say quite comfortably that this was one of the best and most memorable meals of my life and I shall be seeking out other Nobu locations for comparison.

The Los Angeles location is the home of the proprietor and much celebrated Chef Nobu who conveniently was in the kitchen on the date of our visit.

This was also Restaurant Week in Los Angeles; there was a special set menu and the option for an omakase chef chosen tasting menu but my knowledge of Japanese food and the palettes of my fellow diners meant that I custom chose our menu from amongst the dish types. It is worth noting that the Omakase chef's tasting was $150USD and our personally selected meal came to just short of this per person including a bottle of Piper Hiedsick NV at $75USD. If you have a member of your dining party who is familiar with such a menu you may wish to choose your own meal rather than have the chef do the same. The adventurous may wish to trust the chef, be sure to explain your allergies and tastes!

Nobu like to do their rotation in an unusual fashion and put the sushi/sashimi at the end rather than the beginning but as I like to leave any dish of toro till last this was fine by me.

We arrived early due to the chaos of Los Angeles traffic and so sat in the bar for a drink before dinner.

Lychee Martini $14USD and Yamazaki 12 year old $12USD

The dining room is subdued Asian stylings with heavy emphasis on privacy screens, presumeably to hide well known patrons from each other. Unlike other LA restaurants though Nobu seems to attract actual food fans and so there is a lack of the Size 0 brigade I have seen elsewhere which I am thankful for, the poor girls just make me want to feed them.

Arctic Char in a Yuzu Soy with fresh Jalapeno and Coriander (Cilantro) $22USD

This is Asian fusion done just right, in fact when the waiter explained that they are a fusion restaurant rather than pure Japanese I remarked "Oh well Yuzu and Cilantro were made to be together" and then found this on the menu. I was not let down, it is a food combination which always delights and combined with the delicious sashimi and spicy pepper was entirely memorable in a small bite. A great sign for the rest of the meal.

Shishito Peppers $7USD

My partner is very fond of hot food and had enjoyed the shishito at Inakaya so I ordered this. They were lovely and fresh however inconsistently hot and so we opted not to finish the entire dish of peppers for fear our palette would be ruined for the subtle food in the rest of the menu.

Heart of Palm Salad $12USD

After the spicy peppers this cold dish of shavings of heart of palm with pink peppercorns was a real refresher. Heart of palm is a favourite ingredient of mine often found in my father's pantry and glad to see it appear on an Asian Fusion menu.

Yellowfin Tuna Spicy Taro Chips $14USD

This is one of those dishes that is so good, so perfect, such a delight in one mouthful that you think about it for days to come, that all the diners at the table pause and close their eyes when it is mentioned. A sliver of taro perfectly crisped is topped with a spicy fermented miso sauce and a roll of immaculate quality raw tuna. Amazing, a mouthful worth a visit to the restaurant alone. 4 pieces for 3 diners though? Dangerous

Oshinko $8USD

It may seem funny to order pickles in a fine restaurant but I can't fathom a Japanese meal without them. These were all obviously made fresh on the premises and included a standard daikon, fresh water radish, carrot, cucumber, cabbage and an Asian spinach. Deeeeelicious!

Beef Kushiyaki $12USD

Good quality marbled beef is basted in a sweet mirin and umami filled fermented soy base and grilled to perfection. So good we ordered a second order of this dish.

Wagyu beef and Foie Gras Gyoza $6USD each (minimum 2)

As a woman obsessed with both Japanese food and liver I don't know that you could possibly tailor make a better dish for me. This was without a doubt the best dumpling I have ever eaten and the dish contained everything one could ask for in textures and tastes. Silky light dumpling skin was crisped to perfection, rich meat and smooth liver set off by a tangy Jalapeno dressing or a sweet caramelised garlic and ginger sauce. Unforgettable, and again; we ordered another of the same as soon as these were eaten.

Foie Gras Fennel and Apple Special $18USD

My partner fails to see the light when it comes to foie gras so there were only two bites but I cannot pass up any chance for real foie gras, banned in Australia and with a texture that sadly no humane feeding technique can reproduce. Shavings of fennel and apple are soft and crisp in turn with a sweet sauce, gone in a second but delightful nonetheless.

Tempura: Asparagus $4USD, Sugar Snap Peas $3USD and Sweet Potato $3USD

Asparagus and Sugar Snap Peas are my favourites and unsurprisingly this is a fantastic rendition with light batter and not too much oil. There are any number of other seasonable vegetables on offer here and you could easily order a large meal of just tempura to appease the vegetarians.

Sushi and Sashimi: Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Toro fatty tuna belly $28USD, Magoro Bluefin Tuna $9USD, Cucumber Rolls $6USD, Avocado Rolls $6USD, Spicy Yellowfin Tuna Hand Roll $7.50USD each

The quality of the seafood doesn't fail to disappoint in the sushi course; the only let down here is that the hand roll is performed somewhat like hosomaki rather than the conical shape I am used to in Australia and Japan. This means that rather than the seaweed being crisp it is damp and clings to the sushi rice making it difficult to chew when it is multi-layered.

On the other hand the vegetarian rolls and delightful and light after the rest of the meal and the tuna is mouthwateringly delicious. For those who question the cost of two small pieces of fish I urge any foodie to purchase high end toro at least once, the fatty tuna belly is unlike any other sashimi you will eat. Like any good tuna the toro here lingers in the mouth after the fact and I am loathe to give up the taste to another dish... but there's dessert to be had!

Espresso Martini $14USD

Real coffee a rare delight in the US is made into a refreshing after dinner drink, not too bitter not tasting strongly of alcohol.

Ginger and Carrot Cake $13USD

A soft cake is surrounded by a soft cream cheese icing and topped with a ginger ice cream, accompanied with a salted caramel. Amazing.

PB&J Satandagi $12USD

I'm a sucker for peanut butter everything and the Americans really know how to treat their nut products but after a taste I'm glad I didn't order this as it was rich beyond compare and would have sat heavily after the light and floating meal. Light Japanese style fried dough is injected with hot peanut butter and dark chocolate sauce, accompanied by peanut butter ice cream topped with an ume shu jelly. An inspired fusion dessert.

Froyo Nobu Style $11USD

A light vanilla frozen yoghurt served simply with fresh seasonal berries and toasted black sesame.

Well... what do you say about a meal like this? Delightful, inspired, delicious and matched with immaculate service and surroundings. This is a restaurant worth travelling for and with locations in Europe, the Americas and the Asia Pacific one needn't go too far.

Nobu Los Angeles

http://www.noburestaurants.com/
903 North La Cienega Boulevard
+1.310.657.571

Formal dining Japanese/Californian fusion
Vegetarian and allergen friendly if these are discussed with the server

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Review: BBQ City, Sydney CBD

2011-07-17T02:52:00.000-07:00

Readers of this blog will know how much I like Korean food, but what then is my fallback, the restaurant I go to time and again? It's this one BBQ City, a rowdy staple filled to the brim with Korean students and their families merrily chomping away.

Like many of the best restaurants in Sydney it's not at ground floor, look up opposite the entry to World's Square on Liverpool St.

BBQ City is not the place to go for an intimate meal, it's rowdy and has a party atmosphere with lots of clatter and an army of staff. If you're looking for an informal dinner party or a shared team outing however it's a great option. Rather like yum cha the more people you add the better the experience and the wider the variety of the food.

There is a party room if you're so inclined but it books out in advance so be prepared to book it early and for tables of 10 or more only. If you do get it it's a formal Korean dining room rather like a tatami room at Japanese restaurants so be ready to shed your shoes and sit on the floor.

Assorted banchan - included with the meal

Banchan at this restaurant are varied, seasonal and can be refilled on request. There's usually some form of fresh seasonal vegetables such as radish or sprouts, a potato or pasta salad and the ubiquitous sweet simmered potatoes.

Kim chi jeon $18

The kim chi pancake is rather thick and heavy, no light start to a meal but crisp and not oily with plenty of chilli kim chi. A spicy vegetarian delight.

Mandu Fried or Boiled $18

The dumplings are akin to Japanese gyoza filled with pork, chives and glass noodles. They can be ordered fried for those drinking or boiled for those who are calorie conscious. They're both excellent and served with a umami dipping sauce that I tend to want to put on just about everything.

Spicy marinated pork stir fry $18

Chilli and fermented soy beans are stir fried with onion, carrot and large slices of green sprouts. This is moreish and the fermented soy adds an excellent umame savouriness that has me coming back for more time and again. It's particularly excellent served with the Korean plum wine and rice.

Tofu Hot Pot $21

Most people in the west associate Korean food with meat filled BBQ madness however most peasant dishes from Korea are vegetarian. If you can convince a vegetarian to come and watch you consume the meat dishes at BBQ City there are plenty of options. This hot pot is steeped in chilli and vegetables and makes a satisfying if adventurous dish.

Gochujang tteokbokki with Cheese $22

This bowl is huge, enough to feed 3 on its own comfortably. You can choose to have it cooked by the kitchen or have them bring you the hotpot to cook yourself. While not my favourite rendition of this dish - Best Friend and Darling City take this crown for me in Sydney - this is definitely a solid rendition. Thick sausage like rice cakes similar to a gluten free gnocchi are served with fried fish cake, capsicum and carrot in a sweet ultra hot sauce and topped with cheddar cheese. Delicious - but sometimes regretted after the fact!

If the dish prices look steep please be aware that they are very hearty and not designed for one person, this is where having a large group comes in handy since the meals are mostly 'family style' and designed to be shared.

But while I love some variety in my food surely you come to BBQ city for the BBQ...

Assorted meat platter $42

This is intended to share and this picture is after an entire BBQ has been filled with meat. There's easily enough meat to have 2 people eat 2-3 rounds of ssam or a larger group to each trial the meat. You can order meat dishes separately for around $18-$22 each. If you're taking this option I would recommend the pork marinated in wine, the kalbi marinated ribs and the thinly sliced pork neck. Alternatively for large groups I would recommend 2 meat platters to ensure everyone eats their fill.

The meat is cooked on small gas filled BBQs set into the table. I prefer to cook my own and this restaurant will happily leave you to it if they can see a leader performing the role well. If you're a little trepidatious they will cook it for you on request. Note the rolled out kalbi ribs with the bone still attached, just delicious! Mushrooms, onions and whole cloves of garlic can be added to enhance the experience.

Once cooked the meat is cut into small pieces with kitchen scissors, spread with sauce and wrapped in lettuce to be eaten. This is the source of the word ssam which means - to wrap. This is a food designed to be eaten with the hands and wrapped in leaves.

Here you can see three sauces, the light brown sauce is the standard ssam sauce which is partially mashed fermented soy beans. I've also asked for two types of chilli sauce, one which is a sweet hot sauce which may appeal to those that like American BBQ and the other is gochujang the hot hot hot sour chilli sauce that brings much of Korean food its flavour.

This is the sign of a Korean BBQ attended properly and with gusto. Lots of dishes everywhere and not much food left in sight!

This place is great for a party, they serve plentiful Korean and Japanese beers (including Sapporo and Hite for $8), bottles of soju for $12 and Korean Plum and Raspberry Wines at $22 a bottle. Highly recommended.

I eat out a alot, I explore restaurants a lot, and this is a favourite; not particularly outstanding in the world's food but a great example of its cuisine and solid in both food and service. It's good for a large party but not good for a quiet date. Unless you're super keen on Korean food as I am this is a terrible choice for summer since the number of people, the hot BBQs and the chili laden food make this an adventure in sweat during the Summer months. Doesn't stop me though... I just order more beers and carry a folding fan.

BBQ City

Rowdy fun atmosphere
Fully licensed, Asian alcohols only

116/120 Liverpool Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9267 5155 ‎

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Review: Aux Anciens Canadiens, Quebec City

2011-07-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

For me travel is about doing unique things in memorable places, and Quebec City will forever be characterised in my head by this meal.

Quebec City is in French Canada and the Ancient Canadian is wild Canadian game cooked in rustic French style. Housed in the historic Maison Jacquet, one of the largest houses in upper-town in its day and the oldest in Quebec, was built in 1675. The site was granted to François Jacquet in 1674 by the Sisters of the neighbouring Ursuline Convent. It is as Quebecois as you can manage in my head.

The interior is warm and cozy and even though it's Summer it is still very cold by Australian standards so I am thankful for the intimate homeliness.

One of my goals in life is to eat and experience as many different kinds of animal as I can. This restaurant proves to be an amazing aid to this mission.

I love the rustic feeling crockery and the personalised crystal.

McKeown Cider $7.95CAD

This "red mountain" cider is sweet and light, perfect with the heavy food. It reminds me of Sydney cider that I miss so much.

Rillette of bison with cranberry chutney $9.75CAD

What do you say about this? This is about as much French Canada as I can imagine. A haunch of bison is confited in salt and its own fat until it disintegrates. Then it's cooled in a jar, leaving it the consistency of creamy pate. Served with white bread and cranberry chutney it is without a doubt amazing.

Quebec Tasting Platter $36CAD

Québec meat pie, Lac St-Jean meat pie with wild meats served with pheasant and bison casserole, meatball ragout and pig’s knuckle ragoût, salt pork grillades, homemade baked beans and peach chutney. The taste of the wild meat Lac St Jean pie is unlike anything I have ever eaten in my life and I want to keep eating as much as possible but with every part of this meal covered in animal fat - including the pastry and the beans then it is difficult to eat more than a small amount without my stomach reeling against the rich food.

Everything is delicious, the Quebec pie has crisp lard pastry crust, the homely beans and rustic pig knuckle are all divine. I almost roll down the hill to my bed and breakfast, in pain but so very fulfilled.

You cannot go through Quebec City without stopping here. The building is iconic, the food amazing and the chance to eat wild Canadian meats simply cannot be passed up. Go hungry, do not take a vegetarian.

Aux Ancien Canadiens

http://www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/

Must see gourmet tourism
Not for vegetarians or those who object to hunted animals

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Review: Les Halles Park Ave, NYC

2011-07-10T01:15:00.000-07:00

With his cavalier attitude, his love of food, travel, wine and smoking it can be no surprise to anyone that Anthony Bourdain is someone I look up to (and am incredibly jealous of). So after years of watching his shows and reading his books I finally bothered to go and eat at the restaurant that made him so famous - Brasserie Les Halles in New York City.

So named for the Les Halles marketplace in Paris the Brasserie is designed to bring good quality simple French bistro food using American ingredients to the New York crowd and it does this well. This being the US the majority of service staff I encounter are Latin but nonetheless the feel of the restaurant is murky European style and devoid of the washed clean Americana they seem to love in the US.

The Brasserie Les Halles has long been a New York favourite and evidently makes a roaring trade of 'event meals' with custom artwork for the restaurant in the art deco style to celebrate major events. I was rather enamoured of the display of them on show.

I was in town for the Memorial Day long weekend and after a lovely day site seeing with some friends we decided to round it all out with a meal here. I'm rather used to public holidays incurring some kind of service levy - but not in the land of the free where penalty rates don't exist! Not only was their no additional service cost, but to my surprise the wine is always 50% off on a Monday - including long weekends.

Pommery “POP Earth” Brut $125USD ($62.50 on Mondays)

That of course meant to I had to start with a champagne - this is the eco offering from staple Champagne house Pommery which was the first champagne house to obtain ISO 14001 environmental certification for their efforts in sustainable farming and waste management. You can feel good about yourself as you drink what is a classic glass of Pommery; crisp and fruity with a long finish.

Sour dough bread and Terrine Maison $8.50USD

If there's anyway I like a meal to start it's with champagne, pate and cornichons. Prior to this meal I had just spent 2 weeks in French canada being stuffed to the gills with exotic pates so it's nice to be presented with a simple French classic made well and in house.

Soup of the Day - Carrot Soup $8.75

Often in the US I am a little afraid of the vegetables - factory farming is the norm and many ingredients travel long distances. Brightly coloured vegetable soups such as these speak of local high quality produce and a respect for the food that I am thankful for.

Betteraves rôties au fromage de chèvre (red beets with roasted goat cheese) $7.75USD

The Australian obsession with beets is fairly well known (and somewhat abhorred by foreigners) however I am a little surprised that my friends have not encountered this classic combination of beets and goats cheese. Good quality French Chevre is used and the presentation is simple but modern.

From Les Halles

2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme $80USD ($40USD on Mondays)

Les Halles is famous for its beef, and I do love a Grenache Mourvedre with a steak, so with such a discount I immediately reach for the best Grenache I can find on the menu this 2008 Telegramme. It has the familiar notes of any French Mourvedre blend and is of a good enough drinking age to be appreciated, it sits extremely well with the French style food and I would easily order this as a staple in French restaurants.

Planche de Grillade $29USD for 1 or $58USD for 2 to share

Very happily taking his place as the protein fanatic my friend orders the mixed grill - lamb chop, hanger steak, merguez, steak, thick cut bacon, provençal dressing served with rustic French style chips. I don't dare try and sample from his plate for fear of losing a hand but he looked very pleased with the results.

Coq au Vin $23.50USD

It is the start of Summer and I could not stomach this kind of comfort food in the heat but - when in Rome, why not order a Roman dish? So this French classic is chosen and consumed with glee. This was a daily special and may not be readily on the menu

Noixde St. Jacques Poêlées au Champagne $24.50USD

One member of our party is a pesco-vegetarian and so I am a little surprised that Les Halles is considered the most palatable of the choices I had presented. Nonetheless she did find more than enough to eat and was delighted with these pan seared scallops with champagne cream sauce.

Filet de Boeuf, Béarnaise $31USD

For my meal I eat a tried and true staple of any brasserie - grilled filet with chips and bearnaise sauce. Simple food for me really highlights the quality of the restaurant - simple things done well are so much better than complex food made for the sake of its creator and not its diner. I am not disappointed; the beef is grain fed and dry aged just as I like it. It's slightly less flavourful than Australian beef but it is excellent quality and cooked to perfection. The bearnaise sauce is a classic done well, there is little else to say but that I can see how with such good quality simple food Les Halles could gain the notoriety it has.

Assorted sorbet/glaces $7.50USD

By the time we're done its 36 degrees celsius and we are now all full of wine and rich food - it's time for something a little icy to cool off. Both sorbets and ice creams are on offer all made on premise and recently scooped. They are served simply in a very cold bowl, but they don't last long enough for the bowl to warm up!

Creme Brulee - $8.50USD

Following a meal full of well prepared classics another is brought out - the creme brulee with cracking caramel and rich custard this is another classic recipe prepared with care.

To sum up Les Halles I would say this - when someone cares enough about the food to select classic recipes and excellent ingredients it shows. The entire meal was good quality from the salad to the wine and prepared with care and concern.

Even the service staff seem to have a pride in what they do, they try and stear us away from cooking the meats beyond a certain level (in the most polite of ways), they seem happy to have us choose good matching wines. We are brought extra bread, cold water, special coffee orders without a blink of an eye or a pause for concern. More importantly for myself sometimes I find that well established restaurants can react in an unflattering manner to someone who dresses in an alternative fashion the way I do - regardless of the price of the food or the fact that I am the customer. This snootiness doesn't just affect the alternative dresser though, sometimes you feel as though a restaurant is there to serve the chef's ego and not the customer - and Les Halles is not that place.

I leave feeling sated, well served and not badly out of pocket; the same meal at home would have cost twice the price. There's a standing steak and chips special at $20 and 3 course event and prix fixe menus at $65 a head - A steal by Sydney standards. This is a place you could easily bring your partner on a date or your family for a birthday to feel warm and well fed and leave satisfied. There aren't many places I've seen in New York that fit this bill and I can see why this Brasserie made such a name for itself in its time.

I have seen unflattering reviews of the service at Brasserie Les Halles, I will not say I support them but I will say that the common theme seems to be that those disappointed attended for a Friday or Saturday evening dinner. My honest opinion is that if you're expecting immaculate service on a weekend in a busy New York restaurant you're fooling yourself. Pick a quiet night or an early seating, order a nice simple meal and an excellent bottle of wine and you won't be disappointed. I can only assume I will be back.

Brasserie Les Halles, Park Avenue

http://leshalles.net/brasserie/

411 Park Avenue South (at 29th Street)
New York, NY 10016
Ph: +1-212-679-4111 (or book online)

Open 7:30am – Midnight 7 days - continual service throughout with Brunch on weekends
Fully licensed, upmarket casual atmosphere

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Review: Exeter Bakery, Tasmania

2011-05-08T04:03:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up the tradition when driving between Brisbane and the Gold Coast was to stop at Yatala Pies, the perfect down home bakery serving simply excellent pies. Most regional roads in and out of larger Australian cities will have them and for launceston this is Exeter Bakery.

This is comfort food at its best - even at 4 in the afternoon on a quiet road in Tasmania the bakery was packed, but there was plenty of fresh food and great smiles from the staff who were more than happy to chat to me about their wares.

The traditional food in Tasmania I would discover is the Curried Scallop Pie but I really couldn't bring myself to eat it so it was an old fashioned Steak Pie for me.

The food is all cooked fresh on site and you can see they rotate their stock regularly. A large range of wood fired pies was available in both regular abd premium as well as a range of delicious and nostalgic sweet treats.

Chunky Steak Pie $4.50

The reason you come to a place like this has to be the traditional flakey pastry pie. Golden crisp pastry, thick steak and delicious gravy this was worth a side trip in the car. The whole thing was delicious, hot and not at all fatty or overwhelming. The kind of pie you widen your eyes, moan and point at to find your friends are doing the same.

Matchstick $3

All the joy the pastry, sugar, cream and jam could bring to a man. I'd like to tell you about it but being lactose intolerant I'd have to pass. On the other hand it did elicit this expression on the face of the purchaser.

$2.50 Lemon Slice

A very traditional Aussie favourite a biscuit and condensed milk base is topped with a citrussy fondant icing and shredded coconut. This is easily the best rendition of this simple classic I've ever had, and the theft of a bite of mine was so good my partner bought another.

There were plenty of other snacks to be had, but only so much stomach space. There's no wine or table cloths and a lot of the food comes in a paper bag but y'know... it doesn't matter. This is down home country cooking and nostalgic comfort food treats - my favourite!

The great thing too is that you know it's a small business and a local employer that you're supporting not to mention a great place to pull over when the kids need a bathroom or are fighting over the Nintendo on a longer drive! Much recommended, but take cash there's no EFTPOS or ATM facilities

Exeter Historic Bakery, Tamar Valley Tasmania

104 Main Rd
Exeter TAS 7275
(03) 6394 4069 ‎

Bakery and cafe environment, hot and cold drinks available
Expect limited hot food after lunch hours
Family friendly, super casual

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Recipe: May May's Tasty Meatloaf

2011-04-03T01:37:00.000-07:00

Meatloaf is a real budget breaker that gets a bad wrap in sitcoms but is actually the perfect family meal - cheap, easy and kid friendly. As we enter the cooler months we start to enter my favourite comfort food territory so here's my meatloaf recipe perfect for those nights in.

All the better is that most of these items can be stored in the freezer or bought cheaply making it a great option to stretch out the budget or just keep yourself filled at the end of the month. For staple foods like this I have no problem with buying the cheaper grocery options as you can see from the pictures making this meatloaf coming in around $10 to easily serve 4 portions.

Meatloaf

500g mince lamb or beef
250g middle bacon
1 carrot
1 onion
1.5 cups breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons tomato puree
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Get a large mixing bowl and put the mince meat into the pan. I prefer lamb for meals such as this, it mixes well with the bacon and has a higher fat content than beef but if you have fussy kids beef is just as good and will taste more like hamburger.

Dice the onion into very small pieces and grate the carrot - this is a great way to hide vegetables from fussy kids. If you think they won't eat carrot substitute for a second onion because you want to retain the moisture. Place the vegetables in the mixing bowl with the meat.

For the bacon buying cheap bacon is actually for the best, you want a high fat content to render through the mince meat as it cooks so middle bacon with lots of streaks is perfect. Don't use Picnic or Short cut bacon as this won't render and look for higher fat content bacon - often the cheapest is the best for this recipe. Cut off the rind and dice into small pieces.

Place the diced bacon in the mixing bowl with the wet ingredients and mix.

Season as you go, when the ingredients are well mixed through add a cup of breadcrumbs and knead with your hands or two wooden spoons.

When it is complete it should look similar to uncooked hamburger.

Place into a loaf tin, if you've made too much it is okay if the mixture mounds over the top of the tin because it will shrink slightly as it cooks.

You should still be able to see the sides of the tin however. You do not need to line the tin with paper or oil as the fat from the meat will stop the meatloaf from sticking to the tin.

Wrap the tin in foil and place into the oven for an hour at 180 C

After an hour take the meatloaf out of the oven and remove the foil, return to the oven for an additional 10 mins to crisp up the outside before serving.

Don't forget to run a knife or plastic spatula around the side of the meatloaf before attempting to remove and slice. Serve with your favourite vegetables and gravy or mustard.

Valentine's Day Dinner

2011-02-14T03:09:00.000-08:00

I eat out so much it seemed to be a waste to go out for an overly crowded set dinner menu for Valentine's Day so instead we had a romantic dinner at home. The good thing about dating another foodie is that you know you can trust him to pick up the pieces without guidance!

For once the dining table isn't covered in gaming equipment!

Tintilla Estate 2005 Shiraz

Grain fed aged Scotch Fillet

Heirloom tomatoes and Spanish onion macerated with sugar and balsamic

Salad of mixed leaves, onion, avocado and herb goat's cheese dressed with olive oil and lime

Coconut tarts and Walnut macaroons

Assorted chocolates from Bon Bon Fine Chocolates

... all wrapped up with kisses, cards and the right kind of off colour humour.

Review: Sean's Kitchen, Star City Casino Pyrmont

2011-02-08T04:01:00.000-08:00

When you think of Casino food you probably think of cheap buffets and $5 steak vouchers, but Sean's Kitchen is anything but. The warm classy interior is hidden on an elevated floor above and behind the gaming floor so that the blinking bleeping poker machines are out of sight and out of mind.

Sean's Kitchen specialise in European charcuterie and good quality Australian beef and seafood and it is a great restaurant for a celebration meal. We were off for a birthday, the boy's this time and after a not so pleasant day at work for both of us it was time to wash away the stress with some good wine and excellent food.

Veuve Clicquot by the glass $27

Flavours of Jamon Charcuterie plate $40

If you've never had Spanish ham this is a great way to try it as a progression of Fermin Serrano, Seven Hermanos Iberico de Bellota and Fermin Iberico de Bellota. Jamon Iberico de Bellota is a high quality ham cut from acorn fed Black Iberian pigs. High in fat and raised without stress this is the kobe of pork and the small amounts in the serving are deceptively filling. Served as it should be with good quality bread and pickles this is a great start to any celebration meal.

Liver Parfait and toasted brioche $17

I of course have to order the liver parfait and this is an excellent rendition made with chicken livers but cut with duck fat and sieved to perfection. This is a very heavy and large serving and would probably have done for both of us if only the boy ate liver. Generally I am not a fan of aspic sealing on pate however this is a sweet balsamic jelly that I am rather fond of, especially as the dish did not come with a chutney or other sweet acid to cut through the fat. The brioche is simply excellent, heavy and rich and toasted perfectly.

2005 St Henri Shiraz $157

It's a celebration meal so I decide to splash out on a bottle of the St Henri, easily one of my favourite wines and just perfect with a rich steak meal. The St Henri is the more affordable second cousin to the Penfold's Grange and the 2005 is a recent release but already at drinkable age, especially after being properly decanted. The wine itself is dark and luscious, heavy on berry tastes with a spicey touch similar to tobacco leaf, highly recommended with aged beef.

Dry aged Rib Eye 500g (on the bone) $58

Grass fed Greenham Natural Scotch Fillet 350g $42

Both steaks are perfectly cooked, my rib eye shows no innappropriate scorching on the bone and the more delicate grass fed beef is perfectly rested and sealed. I am less of a fan of the grass fed beef which has a 'younger' taste but we both enjoy the meat spectacularly. Be aware that Sean's Kitchen is of the "if you order a steak, you only get the steak" philosophy of things so be ready to order sides separately.

A choice of sauces is given, we ask for both mustards and veal jus. The jus is to be recommended they have a marvelous sous chef preparing this to perfection; rich, clear and succulent the tiniest amount provides a lingering taste sensation. There are a number of higher marble steaks on the menu including two wagyu steaks however after our experience of being bested by the meal at Glass we decide to avoid the richer choices.

Mustards and Murray River Salt provided with main meal

Butter whipped potatoes $9

Why yes that is a small pool of melted butter you can see in the side of the image. Be sparing with the spoon as this puree is more butter than potato and could easily remove your appetite for the delicious meats.

Baby cos salad with Chardonnay dressing $9

A kitchen hand with OCD has carefully selected and placed these lettuce leaves with peculiar care however they really are delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the rich food.

Remy Martin $15 (back) and Hennessy $18 (front) VSOP Cognac

Nothing particularly fancy here I just rather like a glass of cognac at the end of a rich meal. To be honest I rather wish I'd poured it in my coffee (because I am a bad person).

Panna cotta with Mango $12 with Espresso $5

The test of good service is to be fussy and see how they respond. Sean's Kitchen dutifully brought me soy milk, on the side, removed elements of the dessert and replaced them to order. This dessert should be served with strawberries and a coulis, neither of which I'm particularly fond of. The staff changed the orders readily and brought all items out as I had asked for them in record time, to be commended. The panna cotta sadly I cannot recommend after all that, it was a "yoghurt pannacotta" twist on the classic that left the texture slightly dense and not at all quivering. Sad news indeed.

Valrhona chocolate mousse with Blood orange sorbet and caramelised blood orange $12

The boy's dessert was far more successful (his photography not so much so) and much larger than expected. The dark chocolate mousse goes surprisingly well with the bitter sweet blood orange - if you're expecting overtones of Jaffa you will be disappointed. Still the heavy sweetness and crisp acid make an excellent mix particularly with the textural surprise of the chocolate crisp.

I must make mention of these delightful vintage style butcher's etchings that are printed on the tableware, it's this kind of sweet but macabre note that I think makes Sean's Kitchen a little more endearing.

The service at Sean's Kitchen also deserves a serious nod, while not silver service the hustle and bustle is kept out of chaos by an army of service staff that somehow still make you feel as though you are being especially attended to. That itself is an art form and here it is executed wonderfully. Sommelier's are dispatched with care, French bread boys appear like Carbohydrate Ninjas and the waitress managed to memorise the entire meal order prattled off by a starving gourmande without so much as a blink or a flash of paper. Combined with my fussy dessert ordering it really is something worth noting.

Next time you're looking for a really good steak in Sydney think about Sean's Kitchen, keep your head down in in the gaming room and march upstairs for a rich but soul satisfying dining experience.

Sean's Kitchen at Star City

http://www.starcity.com.au‎

80 Pyrmont Street

Pyrmont 2009, Australia

(02) 9777 9000

Formal dining, fully licensed

Not family or party friendly

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Review: Best Friend (Chung jin dong), Sydney CBD

2011-01-28T23:53:00.001-08:00

Continuing on for my current love of Korean food I recently went to one of the more casual offerings Best Friend on Pitt St.

It has all the tell tale signs of a good city Asian eatery; it's humming with young couples and groups of friends and the crowd is primarily made up of the ethnicity of the restaurant. Any Korean eatery where the primary menus and signage are in Korean is always a good sign. We're by no means the only anglo people in the room but I can't help wondering how many of the boys here were introduced to the food by their girlfriends.

Like many similar city restaurants there's a large screen pumping out variety shows and Kpop videos in the background, this is always a love hate relationship for a diner. Kpop has all the glitz and choreagraphed dancing of similar Japanese Pop offerings but with a slightly more 80s feel and often a lot more humour. While we're eating a clip shows where the protagonist sings a heartfelt love song while wearing a chicken suit, sadly I failed to get a decent photo of it.

Banchan - included with meal

The dinner is more casual than many Korean restaurants and I gather a bit cheaper so the Banchan are hardly fancy but still welcome. A small salad, kimchi, fish cake and rice jelly are brought out with our drinks.

Boiled mandu 10 for $6.60 or 20 for $9.90

When boiled these mandu dumplings are more akin to wanton than gyoza but they remain one of my favourite relatively guilt free starters. Minced pork, shallot and glass noodles are wrapped in a wheat based dumpling skin. The soy/chilli/sesame sauce served with these is filled with umame and one of the better examples of dumpling sauce I've tried.

Special set - spicy pork $13

Best friend has a number of bento style casual meals available at a reasonable price. This comes with a spicy pork bulgogi, rice, salad and miso soup for $13 making it a great place for a quick reasonably priced bite on the way home. It's not ground breaking food but for a quick pre-cinema meal or post drink dinner it's not a bad option.

Gochujang tteokbokki - Korean rice cake with chilli sauce $19.90

This dish is my current obsession, I could eat it day in and day out and the version at Best Friend is a great rendition. Soft sausage shaped rice cakes are reminiscent of rice based gnocchi, they're soft with a pleasantly chewy texture. This is then cooked in a gochujang chilli sauce not for the feint hearted - if you don't like spicy food stay away from anything Korean and spicy, they like it super hot one of the reasons I love their food! This version has a bit of texture too it so I suspect they have used tomato in their sauce, it is also laced with chunky vegetables and slices of fish cake. Being lactose intolerant I can do without the cheese but it does go well with the sweet spicey sauce.

Be warned this meal is huge, it's designed for 2 people - or me and my lunch tomorrow! If you are going to heat it up make sure to use a wok or oven with a little extra water as the rice cakes lose moisture over night and can be chewy. Definitely avoid microwaving.

This and Darling City are easily two of my favourite casual Korean diners, great for a quick bite at a reasonable price but nothing fancy. Great for when you're sick of Thai food in Sydney. For those out for a rowdy evening $9 bottles of soju and meat dishes bound to soak up the drinks are a great pull as well.

Best Friend (Chung jin dong)

Google Places entry

377 Pitt Street, Sydney 2000
(02) 9261 8326 ‎

Fully licensed (Asian alcohols only)

Casual family atmosphere

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Review: Glass at Hilton Sydney CBD

2011-01-16T23:00:00.000-08:00

It was recently my 30th birthday and as a treat my boy took me out to Glass at the Hilton. Glass is the latest venture by celebrity chef and restauranteur Luke Mangan.

The decor is modern and chic, well thought out and subdued, just as you would expect from a top tier restaurant in a leading 5 star hotel. Most importantly for a restaurant such as this the sound engineering is such that you can't hear the conversation at the next table. The high ceilings and glass wall lend a huge air of spaciousness and it is all helped along by views of the beautiful Queen Victoria's Building across the road. Sadly it was under renovation at the time of our dinner and I couldn't get a photo that would do it justice.

We are presented with the menus and here is the only criticism I will make of the evening; the food menu was on a large clipboard and when I say large I mean A3 in size, far larger than my actual table setting so I could not set it down at any point. This made it rather awkward to hold and review and eventually I gave up and balanced it over my forks. The wine menu was also ridiculously large but not in dimensions - just in content! The menu is the size of a slim novel (a full 45 pages) and takes in every major wine producing country and most wine regions of the antipodes. I deliberate for some time and argue with myself about choices until the waitress wonders if I might like to speak to the sommelier, however her question only prompts me to make a decision.

Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve $27 by the glass

Those who know me well know I like Champagne, and I can't walk past a Billecart, especially as a toasting glass in a celebration meal. Being a traditional Champagne it's a blend of Pinot Noir, Muenier and Chardonnay with a citrussy front and a clean finish, just perfect with lighter summer appetisers.

We ponder the food menu once again and decide that the tasting menu isn't for us - the boy doesn't eat liver and much of the menu is seafood that we are not fond of so we order a la carte more to our tastes.

Fresh breads are brought to us and served simply with Mangan's signature olive oil which has a fresh grassy taste, lighter than the Spanish oils I usually use but fresh and well blended.

Chicken Liver Parfait, Pear Chutney and Brioche $15.40

It's my 30th birhday, I'm feeling poorly, the only thing I want in the world at this moment is a liver parfait. I brightly smile at the menu and my dining companion knows exactly what is coming. This liver parfait isn't my favourite in Sydney (that probably still goes to Danks St Depot for the texture and the parmesan) but it is good and served with a pear chutney and toasted brioche. This makes for a happy goth gourmande.

Yellow fin tuna, wasabi, yuzu and avocado $28.60

Continuing the birthday wishlist the menu provides once again with this raw tuna dish, served with a bright fresh yuzu sauce and lotus root chips as if the chef had asked for my favourite foods before I arrived. The meat is light and fresh, not as meaty as some tuna I've eaten but immaculate quality and the flavours mesh perfectly together - a definite must order.

Charcuterie plate $19.80

Three entrees is probably too much but again it's my birthday and another all time favourite has to be charcuterie. This plate doesn't disappoint either; marbled beef carpaccio, prosciutto and pork salami are served with crisp pickles. We are brought more of the sour dough bread to eat it with and the acid of the pickles cuts perfectly through the fat of the meats.

Torbreck 'The Steading' 2007 $93

I love a Grenache Mourvedre with aged beef and after much arguing with myself over the wine menu I chose this Torbreck, sadly the 2006 listed wasn't available but they did have this 2007 which honestly was more than ready for drinking. Torbreck has really made a name for itself as a fantastic Barossa winery and this bottle is no different. The sommelier approaches apologises for the change in vintage, we do the taste and approve dance and then he decants it beautifully using an aerator.

200g Rockdale Fillet with truffle mash and Cafe de Paris butter $51.70

Originally this meal was served with parmesan and truffle fries however I'm not so much one for chips and so changed this order to a truffle mash instead. This may have been my downfall, between the 3 appetizers and the richness of this meal I couldn't eat it all and rather wish I'd ordered it with a salad. Nonetheless the meat was beautifully cooked, dripping in melted Cafe de Paris butter and the truffle mash was rich and flavourful. Definitely worth ordering, think about skipping the entree if you really want to fit it in.

300g Rangers Valley Wagyu Scotch fillet (5+ marble score) with pork sausage and a celeriac remlouade $73.70

I was too full to try all but the smallest amount of my companion's meal but it was beautiful, the pork sausage particularly was spiced well and set off the wagyu. I've never tried the Rangers Valley beef prior to this meal and I must say I was impressed. The chef too knew how to handle the steak, all too often kitchens will leave high marble steak to cool too long while resting and the fat becomes gelatinous; not so here.

Rocket (arugula) salad with walnuts and blue cheese $14

I think we were a little optimistic about how much we could eat, but it's summer and I like a salad with my meal. This was probably the only lowlight of the meal, it wasn't very exciting and could have been dressed more.

No matter how stuffed we were though a celebration meal deserves sweets. Here you can see the chamomile tea that I needed for the illness.

Vanilla creme brulee with macadamia biscotti $18.70

One of the best things about creme brulee has to be cracking the sugar on top so this large flat bowl of brulee was just perfect and filled with extended sugar related glee. The smooth vanilla bean custard underneath was just icing on the cake really.

Petits fours $16.50

Figuring myself to be too full and ill for a whole dessert I ordered petits fours and then was served with an entire platter of the things, so much so that I took most of them home. Mini truffles, quince jam, pistachio nougat, home made marshmallow, mini Cannelles Bourdalaises and mini Madeleines served two by two so you and your companion can share the tastes. Each mini mouthful was wonderful and there was a temptation for every palette. As someone who loves a small bite of many things this was a real delight.

The comment I must make which is sadly not always true was that the service was immaculate. On arrival we are seated and tended to, I point out to the waitress that I am not well and I would like her to bring more water than normal, she courteously refills my glass with my preferred water time and time again without requiring prompting. Eventually when I have drunk significant imported water she makes sure that I still want bottled rather than free water in a very polite manner. Additionally due to being ill I had drunk little of the bottle of wine we had ordered, at the end of the meal they looked sympathetically at me and not only offered to let us take the rest of the bottle but also decanted it back into the bottle and gave us a signature carry bag to take it home in. At no time was I left without my needs attended to but I never felt like the waiters were hovering or imposing; the perfect balance of front of house service to be duly commended.

Some high quality restaurants you go to just to try, others become emotional favourites and this was definitely in the latter category. I am often dubious about celebrity chefs but I can't help but feel that Mangan has earnt his reputation; the menu, food quality, service and decor are on top all the way. I can only recommend Glass for the next time you have a special date or reason to celebrate.

Glass Brasserie at the Sydney Hilton

http://www.glassbrasserie.com.au/

2/488 George Street
Sydney 2000, Australia
(02) 9265 6068

Formal dining atmosphere, private dining available
Bookings advised unless staying in the hotel

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Review: Doorae, Sydney CBD

2011-01-08T21:43:00.000-08:00

Sydney has differing Asian communities to where I grew up which leads to some interesting cuisines that I don't have much experience with but I have come to know and love Korean food.

Doorae is one of the many ssam Korean BBQ restaurants in Sydney and is conveniently close to the Red Oak beef cafe on Clarence St, making it perfect after a few drinks. That being said Korean BBQ is perfect drinking food anyway, plenty of pickled nibbles, meat, salad and fruit wines!

Seoljungmae Plum Wine $21 and Bakseju (Soju) Gold $22

Plum wine is a definite weakness of mine, the Korean version is lighter and dryer than the Japanese umeshu making it perfect in Summer or in the heat of the table BBQ. This Seoljungmae brand has become the default version sold at most restaurants in Sydney, sadly they do not have the "gold" version which comes filled with green picked plums.

Soju is too tart for my tastes, it's like a rougher stronger version of the Japanese shochu, like drinking cheap grain vodka. Nonetheless my friends drink it merrily by the glassful. Thankfully Korean standard is to also serve a large bottle of cold water with all meals as the short sharp shots of alcohol are deadly without it.

Fried mandu $10

Dumplings are one of my all time favourite foods and these fried snacks don't disappoint. They're fried in light oil with a thicker pastry than Chinese jiao zhi, filled with minced meat and glass noodles they're the perfect drinking snack.

Kim chi jeon $15

'Jeon' just means fried things and this one is a fried Korean pancake similar to a chong you bing (scallion pancake) in Chinese cuisine, however pancakes are usually more heavily laiden with fillings in Korean cooking. This one is mixed with kim chi to give it a vinegared chilli taste that brightens the pancake to a bright orange colour. The taste is excellent but I admit that I'm used to Korean restaurants serving much larger and more perfectly rounded jeons than this version.

Assorted banchan - included with meal

Most ssam restaurants will bring small dishes (banchan) to accompany the meat included in the price of the meal, some of the better ones in Sydney will also refill these endlessly. Here pictured is Miyeok muchim - dressed seaweed, Musaengchae - raw white radish cut into stripes, Baechu kimchi - Pickled and spiced cabbage leaves and Gamja namul - glazed sweet soy simmered potatoes.

As this is a BBQ restaurant we order fresh meat which is then grilled on a coal fueled hot plate set into the table. I like to grill it a little at a time as we talk and drink however some restaurants don't like patrons to do their own BBQing and the serious looking woman who comes to turn our meet confirms that this is indeed a restaurant such as this.

Pork belly marinated in Chinese style wine $18
Marinated short rib (yang nyum kalbe) $19
Fresh fillet of beef (saeng deakshim) $19

I absolutely love beef cooked in the Korean style, and the kalbe marinated short rib is a must at any Korean BBQ. The lean meat from across the flank is left attached to the rib and can be rolled out like a carpet on the grill rather than smaller strips of meet left along the rib as with American style BBQ. Of course a good quality fillet steak is thrown in for good measure.

Pork belly also done on the BBQ is marvelous in these thin fatty strips which caramelize in the intense heat to give a sweet and salty taste despite the relatively quick cooking time.

The meat is eaten laden with ssam sauce - a thick umami heavy paste made from fermented miso beans wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves which are welcome in the heat. It's rich and heavy food however and I am soon full.

Sadly Doorae does not have any sweets on the menu and I am not in the mood for the cold buckwheat noodles that traditionally finish such a meal so instead I settle on more fruit wine.

Bok Bun Ja $22

I've never tried this Blackberry wine before but I shall be having it again. Ice cold after the hot meal it's a great finish to the evening, sweet without being overpowering.

The service at Doorae is much like many similar Korean restaurants - efficient rather than friendly, though they gently attempt to tell us when we are attempting to order too much alcohol at once without being rude so I think this is merely cultural difference rather than any kind of rudeness.

I prefer not to eat at any ethnic restaurant not filled with people of that ethnicity and Doorae is no different, it seems mostly to be filled with Korean families having celebration meals.

The environment is nice, if not lively, and I would say that Doorae is a comfortable but not excellent example of the cuisine. If you're in the vicinity or can't handle the loud erraticness of Shinara or BBQ City this is definitely an option but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.

Doorae Korean BBQ

209 Clarence Street
Sydney 2000, Australia
Phone: (02) 9290 100

Fully licensed
Family atmosphere - no carousing students or Korean pop videos to be seen.

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