tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35561784991884290832012-05-28T21:32:08.563+10:00Simon Food FavouritesA Sydney Food Blog of Restaurants, Cafes, Bars and EventsSimon Leongnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1063125SimonFoodFavouriteshttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-35584429654316536152012-05-28T00:46:00.000+10:002012-05-28T11:28:53.628+10:00Li'l Darlin: Wine Bar & Tapas, Randwick (17 May 2012)51 Perouse Road, Randwick NSW 2031
http://www.lildarlin.com.au
A li'l spot to wine and dine
Just when I thought Alice met Charlie Dessert Factory was on a good thing they mysteriously closed not long after opening and is now replaced by Li'l Darlin. The new tapas wine bar seems to be a welcomed addition for locals although nearby tapas bars The Spanish Fly and El Bulli now have some Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-51382162813919427042012-05-21T23:53:00.000+10:002012-05-28T01:00:04.119+10:00Bibim, to mix.: Korean, Darlinghurst (17 May 2012)169 William Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
http://www.facebook.com/bibim.to.mix
More buck for your bibim-bap
'Bibim-bap literally means mixed rice and is our signature dish. It combines warm rice with namul, seasme oil and mild chilli paste. Namul is a term used to describe a variety of seasoned vegetables, both fresh and dried'
Thanks to OliveQueen for the tweet recommendation in my Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-77627281386759766412012-05-17T01:24:00.000+10:002012-05-28T01:00:35.972+10:00Laksa House: Malaysian, CBD Sydney (16 May 2012)
QVB LG North, Shop 17, 455 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
House of Lacklustre Laksa
The last time I visited Laska House was a pretty disappointing visit but I thought I should at least return to try their laksa. This time I try the Chicken Laksa ($8.90) and unfortunately it's one of the most watered down laksas I've had around town. If you were a laksa virgin it might be a good Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-22002575026535258872012-05-15T23:57:00.000+10:002012-05-28T01:01:32.151+10:00Nguyen on Erskine: Vietnamese, CBD Sydney (15 May 2012)52A Erskine Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Pho-gettable broth had potential
Across the road from Laksa King and Central Baking Depot I stumbled across this Vietnamese eatery which apparently has been there for a while now. At first the name made me think it might have been related to the celebrity chef Luke Nguyen but I don't think it is. The Finely sliced tender sirloin beef pho noodle soup ($9) Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-87891571093417814562012-05-14T00:10:00.000+10:002012-05-28T01:02:09.601+10:00A weekend away in the Blue Mountains for Mother's Day, Mount Victoria (11-13 May 2012)Sunset Rock Lookout, Mount Victoria, Blue Mountains, NSW 2786
Fresh air, views and sunsets
A weekend getaway with friends brought me to Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains for some R&R. The views from the holiday house we stayed at were amazing which overlooked a valley and towards the mountains. Champagne, cheese and a fireplace made for a homely first night plus some Lindt chocolate Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-28016503840339238322012-05-10T00:12:00.000+10:002012-05-10T06:09:17.134+10:00Noodle Mee: Asian, Wynyard Station, CBD Sydney (9 May 2012)289 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
All stations to Asia
I'm not sure how long this place has been here but I must have walked past it so many times without noticing. I didn't even notice it when I've done an EasyWay taste testing right next door. The hole in the wall entrance leads to a largish seating area and you can either choose ready made dishes from the bain-marie or the cooked to Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-27216039596582583382012-05-08T00:29:00.000+10:002012-05-08T15:28:08.159+10:00Marque Restaurant: Friday Prix Fixe 3 course lunch menu $45, Surry Hills (4 May 2012)4/5 355 Crown Street Surry Hills NSW 2010
http://www.marquerestaurant.com.au
Hitting the Marque for lunch
Thanks to Richard Elliot for organising a catch up lunch with two other friends at Marque for their Prix Fixe 3 course menu ($45) which is only served for Friday lunch. It included an amuse-bouche and post-dessert plus housemade bread making it perhaps one of the best lunch deals in aSimon Leongnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-51101671679856323072012-05-05T04:39:00.000+10:002012-05-05T04:39:43.962+10:00How To Cook Like Heston: Triple-cooked chips (4 May 2012)
http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/howtocooklikeheston
Chip off the odd Heston
After watching the How To Cook Like Heston on SBS One about cooking potato I was mesmerised by the triple-cooked chip technique to cook the perfect chip. Until now I've been using the Cold Oil cooking technique which has suited my need for cooking simplicity in the kitchen but it doesn't really provide the Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-83153416679692493412012-05-04T01:14:00.002+10:002012-05-04T01:14:53.355+10:00Kobe Jones: Modern Japanese, King Street Wharf, Sydney (4 May 2012)29 Lime Street, King Street Wharf, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.kobejones.com.au
All you can eat sushi challenge
A casual lunch club suggestion with friends brings me to Kobe Jones to try their All You Can Eat Sushi ($29.50) lunch time special. To get the sushi platter you need a minimum of two people to order. There was four different types chosen by the chef including the Volcano Roll whichSimon Leongnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-66845427341621405862012-05-03T00:45:00.000+10:002012-05-03T12:04:38.228+10:00Bavarian Bier Café: Pure Bier Fest'12 Launch, CBD Sydney (2 May 2012)16 O'Connell Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.bavarianbiercafe.com
Bring out the Bavarian in you
Thanks to James Cooley from Stellar* for inviting me to the launch event of Pure Bier Fest'12 at the Bavarian Bier Café O'Connell Street restaurant. I only had time to pop by for a quick Hacker-Pschorr bier and the more fruity Franzichaner Weissbier which would suit the summer months. ThomasSimon Leongnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-57057582289532701942012-05-02T12:10:00.000+10:002012-05-02T14:58:40.018+10:00Truly Madly Tim Tam Orchard, Martin Place, Sydney (2 May 2012)Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
7 am – 7 pm: Pick your free Original Tim Tam
http://www.arnotts.com
Free Tim Tam pickings
Martin Place is the place to be today for Tim Tam lovers wanting to pick their own free Tim Tam from the trees. They'll be available between 7 am and 7 pm. Initially 30,000 Tim Tams will be hung from the trees but they're going so fast I heard 1000s more are on their Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-79327973611360952502012-04-30T23:43:00.001+10:002012-04-30T23:49:38.542+10:00Cafe Sopra at Fratelli Fresh: Italian, Waterloo (21 Apr 2012)7 Danks Street, Waterloo NSW 2017
http://www.fratellifresh.com.au
Fresh Italian brunching
Cafe Sopra is probably one of my favourite brunch spots in Sydney. The chalkboard seasonal menu always has tempting choices and seems mostly reasonably priced for the quality. Timing your visit is crucial in avoiding a long wait for a table, especially on the weekend. Stuffed zucchini flower with 5 Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-44037660114220967892012-04-30T00:46:00.000+10:002012-04-30T09:03:41.403+10:00La Bodeguita Del Medio: Cuban Restaurant & Bar, CBD Sydney (19 Oct 2011)
125 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.lbdm.com.au
Rum your way into Cuba
Thanks to Tony Maia (Venue Manager) of La Bodeguita Del Medio for inviting me as a guest to sample some of the dishes by Head Chef Danny Parreno and a few rum-based cocktails from the bar. You can’t go too wrong with the Mojito ($14) which is probably what LBDM are best known for but Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-90263014046107460472012-04-28T19:19:00.000+10:002012-04-28T19:21:00.487+10:00Patisse: Patisserie & Café, Waterloo (28 Apr 2012)Shop G01, PYD Building, 197 Young Street, Waterloo NSW 2017
http://www.patisse.com.au
Sugar hit in Waterloo
A casual afternoon tea brings me to Patisse for a sugar hit of Chef Vincent Gadan's cakes. By 3 pm it's unfortunately slim pickings from the counter display as most of the cakes seem to have gone for the day. The Opera Cake ($7.50) has the right amount of cake and chocolate for me whichSimon Leongnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-48739019942323048192012-04-25T22:29:00.003+10:002012-04-25T22:30:30.104+10:00Park Bench: Pop Up Cafe, CBD Sydney (23 Apr 2012)
580 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.twoblacksheep.com.au
Two black sheep pop into a cafe
While casually passing by Park Bench on George Street I was suddenly caught in a fierce downpour which sealed my fate to seek refuge and stay for lunch. The owners of Two Black Sheep have created a temporary pop up cafe bringing with it a bit of Newtown warmth and quirkiness, or dareSimon Leongnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-84339321772193447682012-04-24T00:12:00.000+10:002012-04-24T08:51:36.510+10:00Taste Test: The Best Chocolate Cake in the world, Brookvale (23 Apr 2012)Shop 134B, Warringah Mall
Corner Condamine Street & Old Pittwater Road, Brookvale NSW 2100
http://www.thebestchocolatecake.com.au
Best Choc Cake comes to Oz
“This flourless, layered chocolate meringue and airy chocolate mousse, topped with a thin luscious glaze of ganache creates the perfect combination of desirable textures that melts in your mouth. Yet this decadent choc‐filled cake is Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-31197303925637200562012-04-22T23:44:00.001+10:002012-04-22T23:47:18.904+10:00How to make a DIY Nespresso Pod Wall Rack for nothing (9 Mar 2012)
Racking up your pods
After checking out the Nespresso store and seeing how expensive Nespresso pod racks were I decided I could make myself one for practically nothing — I always love a challenge. With two A4 sheets of plastic coated cardboard I found I was able to work out a simple design that would hold the pods in place. The sheets were about 2 mm thick which is about ideal. It needs to Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-41285694380609297962012-04-20T01:46:00.000+10:002012-04-20T13:56:08.200+10:00Mr Cooper's Restaurant & Wine Bar: Launch Party, Paddington (19 Apr 2012)
438 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021
http://mrcoopers.com.au
New wine bar joins Oxford St
Thanks to Scarlett LaPlanche from Mr Cooper's Wine Bar for inviting me to their launch party with Chef John Rankin in the kitchen cooking up a storm of tasty canapés, formerly of The Owl House. The name of the bar is apparently linked to Robert 'Black Bob' Cooper who was a convict and had a Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-55304681387880675482012-04-19T14:28:00.001+10:002012-04-19T14:28:57.485+10:00Taste Test: Paddy the Baker Irish Soda Bread (15 & 30 Mar 2012)http://www.paddythebaker.comhttps://twitter.com/#!/paddythebakerLuck of the Irish sodaThanks to Gerard 'Paddy' Winston (pictured above) for providing samples of his breads and jams to taste test. I remember spotting his stand at the Good Food & Wine Show 2011 but never had a chance to try at the time with all the seagull tasting crowds around him. His Irish Soda Bread ($6.50) is something very Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-62483196074685767762012-04-18T21:21:00.003+10:002012-04-18T22:04:44.484+10:00Nonya: Malaysian, Haymarket, Sydney (11 Apr 2012)Shop 88, Level 5 (1st Floor), 1 Dixon Street, Sydney NSW 2000http://www.nonya.net.au (under construction)Prone to kitchen problemsMy first attempt to visit Nonya was met with closed doors due to a sudden kitchen renovation mysteriously just after they’d opened which ended going downstairs to More More Cha. This time when arriving I was told by the menu spruiker downstairs that the kitchen was Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-72035189825044346142012-04-18T00:20:00.007+10:002012-04-18T00:53:42.591+10:00Masterclass with Peter Gilmore at Quay, The Rocks, Sydney (16 Apr 2012)Upper Level, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney NSW 2000http://www.quay.com.auThe Quay is in the cookingThanks to Katrina Parker from Open Haus for inviting me to the Winter Produce Masterclass with Chef Peter Gilmore at Quay. Ever since October 2008 when I first visited Quay for a Let's Do Lunch I've been wanting to revisit but haven't had the chance. The event was hosted by Electrolux but Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-80052234826622756902012-04-16T00:04:00.006+10:002012-04-16T03:15:33.511+10:00The Norfolk on Cleveland: Pub bistro, Redfern (1 Sept 2011, 14 Apr 2012)305 Cleveland Street, Redfern NSW 2016http://www.thenorfolk.coTempting bar snacks menuThe Norfolk is probably one of those pubs you'd wish to have closer to home with such a tempting bar snacks menu and weekly specials for the budget conscious. The Spiced Norfolk Fries ($7.50) seem to be a reliable side to any drink. I'm sure they're pretty basic fries but it's the spices they add which make it Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-82822727190512741752012-04-15T13:15:00.002+10:002012-04-15T13:16:43.963+10:00Bavarian Bier Café: Oktoberfest with Bier & Schnapps, CBD Sydney (25 Oct 2011)16 O'Connell Street, Sydney NSW 2000http://www.bavarianbiercafe.comHeart warming schnapps timeWell if you wanted to know what was on offer at last years Bavarian Bier Café Oktoberfest then this post will tell you what you missed out on — sorry. Unfortunately this is what happens when you get side-tracked with eating out too much and not having enough time to post everything when you want to. Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-17781128603967987982012-04-13T17:38:00.002+10:002012-04-13T17:52:25.004+10:00Xanthi: Greek, $30 Lunchtime Express Menu, Westfield Sydney (12 Apr 2012)Level 6 Dining Precinct, Westfield SydneyCnr Pitt St Mall and Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000Phone: (02) 9232 8535http://xanthi.com.auExpress without cutting cornersA casual monthly club lunch with friends brings me back to Xanthi to try their Lunchtime Express Menu for only $30 per person. It’s served between 12 and 2 pm and includes a glass of house wine or beer making it very good value. Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556178499188429083.post-23550203764172494492012-04-13T00:11:00.004+10:002012-04-13T00:16:02.135+10:00Uno Espresso: $2 Happy Hour Coffee, CBD Sydney (30 Mar 2012)60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000Caffeine hit for a bargain priceThanks to Tony Hollingsworth for the Happy Hour tip at Uno Espresso between 2-3 pm. I'm actually not a huge coffee drinker but I'm always up for a bargain. My cappuccino ($2 small) was pretty good which I ordered without sugar to put it to the test. Hardly any bitterness although could have been a bit more milky and creamier for my Simon Leongnoreply@blogger.com0