The Casual Connoisseur

Bella Vista Restaurant, Santa Barbara

2014-05-29T15:07:00.004+10:00

We had heard great things about the sunsets at Butterfly Beach and the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara, so on our last night, we decided to head to the resort for dinner around sunset.

Parking was a breeze, right out front near the beach, or you could valet if you wished. The staff were fantastic, remembering us from earlier that day and welcoming us individually by name, ensuring we were seated in an area with a great view over the beach and that we were warm enough - thanks to the lovely fire pit and gas heaters.

The service was excellent. Our waiter was attentive, but not intrusive, and very knowledgeable in relation to the food and drinks menu, even down to outlining ingredients in some of the sauces.

Our meal that evening:

Entrees:
Grilled Octopus - Green Olive Potato Salad, Warm Pancetta Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
Wild Boar Pappardelle - Pinot Noir Braised, Morel Mushrooms

The octopus was the star of the show here, beautifully smokey, yet delicate flavors.

Mains:
Organic Chicken - Porcini Bolognese, Soft Polenta, Romanesco Broccoli
California Duck Breast

The duck proved the better dish here.

Sides:
Truffle Parmesan Fries, Roasted Garlic Aioli

We rounded the meal off with some very strong (be careful if driving) but yummy cocktails - the end to a perfect evening.

This restaurant boasts a beautiful location with the beach just across the road> We were treated to an amazing Santa Barbara sunset and some other diners advised that earlier, they had seen a few pods of dolphins, so you never know your luck.

The atmosphere in the outdoor seating area was relaxing and romantic, the perfect end to our stay in Santa Barbara. Highly recommended

Cafe Sydney, Circular Quay, NSW Sydney Australia

2014-05-29T14:38:00.001+10:00

If you are hosting visitors from overseas or want an impressive view for a special occasion then this is the place you need to book. We have impressed a number of friends with this amazing location overlooking both the Opera House and the bridge.

For the view and the food, the prices are quite reasonable. After all, you are in the middle of Sydney looking at an amazing vista. Whilst its not Michelin starred, the food is good, but remember, it is still casual dining and not a fine dining french restaurant. That said the meals are of decent size, flavors are great, wine and cocktail selection are good and the staff are fantastic.

As you might have guessed this is no secret spot. Right on Circular Quay, perched atop customs house, the restaurant can be easily accessed on foot or by public transport from within or outside of the CBD and if you want the table with a view you will need to get in early. Over the last few years we have needed to book at least 2 months in advance to ensure we secured our favourite spot and leading up to any holidays we expect you would need to get in even earlier to snag that space.

Can recommend:

Entrees:
Cannot go past the crumbed crab cake, grilled prawn, cornichon, fennel, sauce gribiche - best dish in the house, beautiful.

Main:
The following have been hits with us over the last few visits:
Twice cooked duck leg, fig, thyme gnocchi, cavalo nero, jus
Cone Bay barramundi, prawn, baby carrot, pearl barley, harissa, lemon butter
Peppered beef tenderloin, brussels sprouts, swiss brown mushroom, bone marrow, jus

Dessert:
Double chocolate slice, pistachio crumble, passion fruit sorbet, creme fraiche

TIP: Book a table outside. In winter, they crank up the gas heaters and staff provide cozy blankets. We have enjoyed the restaurant in the heat of summer, as the cool breeze kicks in and in the chilly winter enjoying apple and rhubarb crumble with our blankets, snuggled up having a coffee. On our last visit we enjoyed a huge thunderstorm across the city from underneath the outdoor awning.

http://www.cafesydney.com/

Our Favorite Things in Vegas

2014-05-29T10:48:00.001+10:00

After returning from our fourth visit to the 'city of sin' there were some things we continued to do, some places we gave a miss and some that were even better than we remembered.

After having a relaxing, yes, that right we RELAXED IN VEGAS.....time, we are sure to return for a fifth trip, and when we do, these are the things we will be doing:

Staying at Wynn Las Vegas - this is our favourite hotel right now and returning recently, following a 6 year gap, it was better than ever. The resort atmosphere and exemplary service makes for a truly relaxing experience. TIP: pay the extra to stay in a tower suite - the additional pools, complimentary breakfast and level of service is well worth it.
Driving a tank. Yep, you can do it all in Vegas and although there was no time to fit it in this trip, its definitely on the list for next time
Cirque Du Soleil, If you haven't seen Cirque Du Soleil in Vegas, you haven't seen Cirque Du Soleil at its best. Having seen the majority of Cirque shows in Vegas, our firm favourite by a mile is KA at MGM Grand
Take a walk down The Strip. Las Vegas is ever evolving, each trip we find something new and interesting on a walk down the famous strip. Free entertainment, courtesy of Bellagio Fountains or the Volcano at Mirage, this time we were disappointed to see that the Sirens of TI show has been permanently cancelled to make way for shops, which leads us to....
Shopping at the Premium Outlets North, whilst we didn't stock up on this visit, there have been times when we have truly been pushing that luggage limit and once where we couldn't talk our way out of paying excess baggage due to some great prices on designer brands.
Visit the Grand Canyon National Park . We have flown over it, drove out to it for half a day, tipped toed our way around the Skywalk and on the next trip we plan to raft through part of it. A beautiful and unique place well worth travelling out to see - and yes, it is quite a way to get there so allow a full day.
Restaurant Joel Robuchon , its worth it
Cheaper dining options...... we love the Buffet at Mirage for dinner. They have a great choice of food, plenty of items cooked fresh to order and its great value for money.
Visiting the Spa at Encore . What an experience. Not only is the spa beautiful and relaxing, it has a great menu of treatment options and packages that could well keep you there all day and have you floating out on a cloud. The Moroccan mud wrap was amazing and when you book a treatment, you are welcome to turn up well in advance and linger on afterwards enjoying the rest of the facilities including sauna, plunge pools, showers or have a relaxing herbal tea and some fruit.
Get married - yep, definitely going to renew our vows on the next trip to Las Vegas, why not, its a bit of fun and with almost 90,000 a year doing it, its not like they are short of options. www.vegas.com/weddings/

Social Eating House, Broadbeach, Queensland

2014-05-22T14:02:00.003+10:00

Social Eating House is a newish restaurant, in Broadbeach on teh Gold Coast. It focusses on a shared dining experience and offering a great range of small and large sharing platters with plenty of flavor.

As we were staying at Peppers on Broadbeach, the restaurant was conveniently located just downstairs on Oracle Boulevard.

We visited in December 2013 and were very impressed with our meal, drinks, the restaurant and the staff. We enjoyed:

- ½ Shell Hervey Bay Scallops, Red Curry, Tomato and Kaffir Lime
- 1kg Boneless Salt Bush Lamb Shoulder, Slow Roasted In Sheep’s Milk Yoghurt and Lamb Stock
- Grilled Red Claw Yabby, Tarragon and Brown Butter Emulsion, Shaved Fennel, Jamon and Rockmelon Leaf
- Roasted Chat Potatoes, Caper and Lemon Mayo
- Green Leaves, Fennel, Peas, Feta and Mint

The lamb was by far the star of the show. Slow cooked, packed with flavor, moist and tender, melt in the mouth goodness. The green leaves, fennel,peas, feta and mint where there perfect friend for this huge piece of meat allowing us to ensure we finished the entire piece (it was slightly larger than expected).

We have tried a few slow cooked lamb shoulders at other restaurants however, this one is by far the best

This casual, relaxed and trendy restaurant/bar is a great place to catch up with a group of friends. We will definitely be visiting again.

http://www.socialeatinghouse.com.au/

What are the criteria for receiving Michelin stars?

2014-01-28T12:44:00.003+11:00

'The star symbols judge only what’s on the plate, meaning the quality of products, the mastering of flavors, mastering of cooking, personality of the cuisine, value for the money and the consistency of what the restaurant offers to its customers both throughout the menu and the year.

One star indicates a very good restaurant in its category, offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard. A good place to stop on your journey.

Two stars denote excellent cuisine, skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality. Worth a detour.

Three stars reward exceptional cuisine where diners eat extremely well, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients. Worth a special journey.

Along with the rating of stars, the MICHELIN Guide provides a written description of each locale with a variety of symbols to give further insight into an establishment. Ambiance, specialties, and wine are just a few of the factors. Comfort is also rated by 1 to 5 forks and spoons for a restaurant and 1 to 5 pavilions for a hotel.'

http://www.michelintravel.com/michelin-selections/selecting-our-stars/

The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2014

2014-01-14T15:57:00.000+11:00

SYDNEY

Two hats

Aria, The Bridge Room, Buon Ricordo, Claude’s, est., Four in Hand Dining Room, Gastro Park, Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Longrain, Lucio’s Italian Restaurant, Marque, MoVida, Mr Wong, Ormeggio at The Spit, Pilu at Freshwater, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Spice Temple, Tetsuya’s

One hat

Aki’s Indian Restaurant, Ananas Bar & Brasserie, The Apollo, Arras, Balla, The Bathers’ Pavilion, Berowra Waters Inn, Billy Kwong, Bistro Moncur, Bistrode CBD, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, Bodega, buzo trattoria, Cafe Sopra, Catalina, China Doll, Clareville Kiosk, The Devonshire, Flying Fish Restaurant & Bar, Foveaux Restaurant & Bar, Glass Brasserie, Gowings Bar & Grill, Hartsyard, Jonah’s Restaurant, Kepos Street Kitchen, Monopole, Ms.G’s, Oscillate Wildly, Popolo, Porteño, The Restaurant Pendolino, Saké Restaurant & Bar, Sean’s Panaroma, Sixpenny, Sokyo, Three Blue Ducks, Tomislav, Uccello, Ume Restaurant, Xanthi

CANBERRA

Two hats

Aubergine (Griffith)

One hat

Courgette (Canberra City), Italian & Sons (Braddon), Ottoman Cuisine (Barton), Pulp Kitchen European Brasserie (Ainslie), Waters Edge (Parkes)

REGIONAL NSW

Two hats

Biota Dining (Bowral), No 2 Oak Street (Bellingen), Subo (Newcastle West)

One hat

Bistro Molines (Mount View), Caveau (Wollongong), Darley’s (Katoomba) , Eschalot (Berrima), Fins (Kingscliff), Flooded Gums (Bonville), Lolli Redini (Orange), Manfredi at Bells (Killcare Heights), Muse Kitchen (Pokolbin), Muse Restaurant (Pokolbin), Neila (Cowra), Racine (Orange), Restaurant Como (Blaxland), Restaurant Mason (Newcastle), The River Moruya (Moruya), The Stunned Mullet (Port Macquarie), Tonic (Millthorpe), Town Restaurant (Bangalow), Tyler’s Pantry (Mogo), Wharf Rd Restaurant & Bar (Nowra), Zanzibar Cafe (Merimbula)

BSKT Cafe, Gold Coast

2014-01-09T10:50:00.001+11:00

In December 2013 we headed up to the Gold Coast for a few days. Deciding to stay at Peppers Broadbeach, we took advantage of the bikes the hotel has for hire and took a lovely ride down south, past all the beautiful house, mermaid beach and had a beautiful lunch at BSKT Cafe.

Right on the beach, the atmosphere is cool and laid back, the staff are friendly and helpful. BSKT has a good size menu with plenty of healthy, free range, organic, gluten free and vegan options. Not only is the food good for you, but is tastes great (a combination others have tried and failed).

This visit we enjoyed:

BSKT Burger - Ground Angus beef, wholemeal bun, beetroot relish, tomato, spinach, goats cheese, leg ham, fries and aioli
BSKT Juice - Apple, berries and mint
Hot chocolate
Gluten free banana bread

The scenery is great, the staff are welcoming and the food was amazing. We had a bit of food envy with teh table next to us enjoying the DIY fresh spring rolls - raw veggies, fried tempeh, Vietnamese mint and satay sauce with light pancakes. So that is on the list for our next visit!

We love this refreshing cafe, committed to providing high quality nutritious food at reasonable prices and have placed it on our list for the next GC visit.

Well done BSKT Cafe!

http://www.bskt.com.au/

Top 10 Aussie road trip stopovers

2014-01-08T15:44:00.000+11:00

Save yourself the time and check out the top 10 Aussie road trip stopover suggestions. Some beautiful properties on offer from our friends at Stayz

Design Hotels

2014-01-08T12:50:00.001+11:00

'Design Hotels™ represents and markets a curated selection of more than 260 independent hotels in over 50 countries across the globe.

More than a collection of hotels, the company is a collection of stories. Each property reflects the ideas of a visionary hotelier, an "Original," someone with a passion for genuine hospitality and cultural authenticity, for thought-provoking design and groundbreaking architecture. All "Originals" stand for the individual, aesthetic and service-driven experiences that their hotels provide.

Founded by Claus Sendlinger in 1993, Design Hotels™ has developed into a full-service hospitality marketing consultant, offering customized services including global sales representation, revenue management, strategic marketing, public relations and branding.

The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York, Singapore and Perth'

We have been booking with them for over 5 years now and have never been disappointed. Properties we particularly enjoyed include:

Their properties are beautiful. Check out current specials at http://www.designhotels.com/specials?workmatrix_user=a155864eb6

Nat Geo - Best Trips 2014

2014-01-08T11:43:00.002+11:00

Check out Nat Geo's 'Best Trips 2014' for some travel inspiration

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com.au/travel/best-trips-2014/

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

2014-01-07T10:40:00.002+11:00

It was our first visit to Singapore and we were adamant that we must stay at one of the better hotels. After researching, we got it down to 3:

Capella on Sentosa
Fullerton Bay Hotel
Marina Bay Sands (MBS)

After looking at Sentosa Island we decided it wasn't for us (thankfully, as we did visit whilst there and would not recommend it). We decided to take the plunge and go with MBS and we were very happy with the choice.

Located around half an hour by taxi from the airport and over looking the ocean, bay and gardens, MBS is a huge property. Must admit, this was one of our concerns, as in recent years we have tended to appreciate the boutique, smaller hotels with more personal service and privacy. That said MBS did not disappoint.

We booked a club room, which provided great value as it included breakfast, afternoon tea, cocktail and canape hour and non alcoholic beverages for most of the day. The staff in the club lounge were fantastic. Our names and preferences were remembered by day 2 and the service was faultless. The food and drink choices and quality was great and we rarely had to wait more than 5 minutes for a table.

Our room was large with a huge bathroom with large separate shower and deep free standing bath. Floor to ceiling windows provided great views across the bay. Easy and controlled access to the top of the hotel where the infinity pool and club lounge are located was a breeze. Security ensure that only guests or paying visitors can access the area, so thankfully, it was not as packed as we expected.

Views from the top are amazing. The huge port one side and the city the other. One night we had dinner at the trendy Ku De Ta. Impressive decor, great view and good service, but the food wasn't quite there for us.

Each night the hotel puts on a laser show - definitely worth catching. We would advise you take it in from out front of the Fullerton Bay Hotel on the other side of the water.

This is an amazing hotel with a fabulous range of facilities and convenient access to transport and major attractions. Whilst check-in was a pain (we arrived just before midnight and has to wait around 20 min at the general desk rather than the quicker , separate, club room check in area) everything else was a breeze.

With great access to shopping, the clean, safe and reliable metro system and the beautiful (and free) Gardens by the Bay http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg this hotel was a great choice and we will certainly return.

We highly recommend the club rooms at MBS

http://www.marinabaysands.com/

Olives, Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, USA

2014-01-03T16:35:00.002+11:00

After a bad experience in 2004, we decided to give Todd English's Olives restaurant in the Bellagio hotel a second chance on a recent visit to Las Vegas.

We are pleased to say that the second visit proved to be a much better experience. The restaurant has a great view over the lake for the famous fountains so you need to book well in advance to secure a table with a view on the patio.

Some of the tables are positioned uncomfortably close to each other - our group had the pleasure of sitting next to a canoodling couple, but we didn't let it spoil our birthday celebration!

What did we order?

We had a few people at the table and between us all the following graced our plates:

The flat bread with Portobello wild mushroom purée, herb-roasted portobello, red onions, fontina cheese, white truffle oil

Duck Two Ways
seared muscovy breast, confit leg tortellini, caramelized apples, maple sauce

Brick Oven Roasted Free Range Chicken
country mashed potato cake, green beans, madeira jus, watercress salad

Char Grilled Ribeye
ash roasted fingerling potatoes, sweet onion jam, piquillo peppers,
port wine glaze, garlicky broccolini

Grilled Squid and Octopus

chickpea vinaigrette, tomatoes, toasted garlic, parsley

All food was cooked well, tasted great and delivered in just the right time. The flatbread was a HUGE portion, could have easily been shared between 2-3 people. Presentation was nice, flavors were good and we were impressed with the standard of the cocktails.

With gifts being offered to the birthday girl, it wasn't long before our waiter appeared with a pretty plate with 'happy Birthday' piped on it and some yummy mini deserts - a nice touch.

Due to the decor the restaurant can get a little loud when full, however, on this occasion we liked the bustling busy atmosphere and as it didn't affect the wait time on our meals (drinks and food timed perfectly) it wasn't a problem.

Lets be honest, you are paying for the location and the atmosphere just as much as the food. Yes, there are cheaper places, yes there are places that have better food. But on the whole we found the prices adequate for the experience and enjoyed our night and will return on our next trip to Vegas.

Summary: Good food, fantastic view of the fountains, nice atmosphere

The Gleneagles Hotel

2014-01-03T16:20:00.000+11:00

This hotel does gain good reviews on other forums, but for us did not deliver on expectations. For the price, the ratings and the accolades we expected much more.

We have to say, we got the feeling the hotel was resting on its reputation and that the rooms were in need of some minor renovations/spruce up. New carpet wouldn't go a miss, ours was full of stains and the slippers looked as if they had already been worn.

The bathroom was quite nice and very spacious, although we were not not a big fan of large plants that dominated the space. The toiletries were decent and the towels were fluffy and thick.

Good hotel for those travelling with children, which meant they were everywhere - a slight put off for us

Room service at the property was just ok, menu was great but the flavours and temperature of the food was less than perfect and we were definitely a little disappointed.

The downfalls we found in this property are the things that make us weary of staying in older hotels - although other older hotels we have visited and reviewed have surprised and impressed us, unfortunately, on the whole, The Gleneagles did not.

The grounds are amazing. We visited in Winter and it was snowing which made the grounds look magical. Set in its own 850-acre estate, beautiful scenery, complete with Golf Club and championship course it was definitely impressing on the drive up to check in and it provided space for nice leisurely walks before dinner and after breakfast.

The rooms where comfortable, location was lovely, but this isn't the hotel for us

http://www.gleneagles.com/home.aspx

Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood

2013-06-23T19:15:00.000+10:00

Part of the Thompson hotel group, The Roosevelt boasts an impressive pool and bar area with well appointed rooms in the main hotel or 'cabana rooms' overlooking the pool.

This hotel is in one of the best locations for those on a first time visit to LA. Across the road is the Chinese Theatre, Walk of Fame and Madam Tussauds. A short stroll down the street is El Capitan Theatre and The Roosevelt is also in prime position for access to the subway and the Hop on Hop off bus routes. This is a great selling point as you can pop in and out of the hotel whilst sightseeing throughout the day.

The history and glamour of the hotel is undeniable, but this is not a pretentious property, the staff are friendly, service is that great mix of always having your needs met without feeling that staff are over attentive or intrusive.

The pool are of this hotel is a standout. With fire-pits, the Tropicana Pool Bar, comfy lounges and fabulous lighting it is definitely the place to be.

The rooms were large with refined decor, pay tv and comfortable beds. Whilst the bathroom was a little cramped, we were so busy sightseeing and spending time in other areas of the hotel that it was quite adequate and we found this to be a value for money property given the standard of the property and its proximity to attractions - you could also bump into a celebrity (we saw John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix on our 2004 visit).

It seems the restaurant (which had great food when we visited in 2004) has recently been replaced by The Spare Room which opened in February 2011 and is a modern day gaming parlor and cocktail lounge with a great selection of drinks.

The bar out front of the hotel (25 Degrees) has a decent range of drinks and also has a great burger menu at very reasonable prices. The restaurant has been heralded twice by The Los Angeles Times as one of the best burgers in Los Angeles and you really cant beat happy hour at this place, not only were the drinks cheaper, but the sides were on special too.

Large rooms, 24 hour fitness centre, amazing pool area, unbeatable location and late checkout mean this hotel is our choice when visiting LA.

The Athenaeum Hotel, London

2013-06-16T18:54:00.003+10:00

We love London and we love Mayfair. Our favourite haunt for all past visits was of course Dukes Hotel. However, this time we are on a limited budget so had t o look elsewhere.

Being the same distance from Green Park station as Dukes and at only £220 a night we decided to give The Athenaeum a try.

I must say we were feeling a little worried, being such a fan of Dukes. However, we need not have been. Whilst the hotel has a different vibe to Dukes due to being a much bigger, high rise property, the value for money was great.

Included in the price was Wifi, breakfast, which included a continental buffet as well as your choice from a hot menu and tea/coffee - on the second day we were even offered a take away hot chocolate after finishing! Also included where the items in the mini bar (except spirits) which where replenished each day. This was great as there were plenty of drinks and nibbles and fruit for us to take with us each day as we went sightseeing. The nespresso machine was also a great inclusion.

Whilst the elevators felt a little cramped with more than 4 people in them, the rooms where very large with views across St James Park.

The bathroom was fine, a little dated with a very small sink, but it was adaquate and was more than made up for by the huge size and good standard of the room. Furnished in a contemporary style with a comfortable king size bed, high tea style chairs looking out the floor to ceiling windows, pay TV, iPod dock, work station and plenty of storage we would happily stay here again.

Just across the road from the hotel was one of the the Barclays Bicycle Hire hubs. Here we paid just £2 to pedal power around the city for 24 hours. All you have to do is make sure you return the bike to a hub every 30 minutes. This worked out well as we could jump on the bikes at the hotel, ride down to hyde park, return the bokes and take out a row boat, grab another bike and get back to teh hotel for lunch, pick up another bike and zip down to Buckingham palace, return the bikes, do some sightseeing and continue all day. Even if you keep the bike a little longer, it's only a few pound, so much nicer and much cheaper than a taxi plus you get a unique view of the city, some fresh air and some exercise.

Walking distance to Buckingham Palace, Green Park Station, St James and Hyde Park, this hotel provides a value for money stay in Mayfair, especially if you are looking at staying for a few nights so want some extra space.

Puschka, Liverpool, UK

2013-06-16T16:35:00.001+10:00

Situated on Rodney Street in Liverpool's Georgian Quarter, Puschka Opened in 2001. They have received rave reviews in the Guardian, been voted best restaurant in Liverpool and pride themselves on creating dishes using fresh, and, were possible, local, ingredients. This is evident level of care and attention in every dish.

On arrival you will know which table is yours, as names are cutely written on the hot pink place mats - such a nice touch and so pretty.

The menu is considered and fresh, the feel cozy, just like you are at a friends place, a friend who is extremely hospitable an excellent cook and isn't rushing you out of the door as soon as you take your last bite.

Their early bird menu £19.90 for 3 courses is great value and the dishes are homely and full of flavour. We opted for the al a carte menu on our last visit, enjoying an entree of confit duck shepherds pie a main of venison with red wine, juniper, dauphinoise potato gratin and finishing up with the burnt English vanilla custard with lavender shortbread.

The staff were extremely friendly, but not so much that they are intrusive. All extremely knowledgable in relation to the fantastic menu,literally able to tell us where each item was sourced from and how the restaurant is working on reducing food miles - the distance your meal travels from provider to plate.

Each dish was well thought, fresh, tasty and just the right size that you can comfortably accommodate 3 courses. It is a haven away from the hustle, bustle and one size fits all restaurants in the city. You will leave feeling satisfied, relaxed and eager to return to this cozy bolt hole.

Highly recommended for catching up with friends.

Well done Puschka , we only wish there were more restaurants like you!

http://www.puschka.co.uk/

Vanitas Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, Queensland

2013-06-16T16:22:00.002+10:00

As the fine dining restaurant at Palazzo Versace on the gold Coast, Vanitas does not disappoint.

It's a beautiful restaurant with five star service and fantastic food. It boasts a great view of the hotel's lagoon style pool,is dotted with tea light candles giving a romantic and relaxed atmosphere, and, as you would expect - Versace plates, cutlery, glassware.

On arrival the staff made us very welcome, nothing was a problem and they had a wealth of knowledge in relation to menu, wine and cocktails.

We opted for the sand crab tortellini with tempura of New Zealand scampi, aoli and herb oil - this was the best entree we have had in a very long time. The pasta was amazing and the dish was fresh, had beautiful flavours and the portion size was quite large.

For main the choice was easy - roasted duck breast with sweet potato purée, bok choy and coffee sauce. The duck was cooked to perfection, the sweet potato puree was silky and flavoursome and, as someone who is not a fan of coffee, the sauce was still fantastic.

The baby spinach in butter with garlic and spiced hand cut chips sides that we chose to compliment the dishes were tasty and the portion size generous, so generous in fact, that there was room for tea and coffee but not desert.

Highly recommended for a romantic meal.

Harbour front Restaurant, Wollongong

2011-04-16T09:40:00.001+10:00

We had been to this restaurant years ago and been bitterly disappointed. Seeing that it was still open, we assumed it had improved. So, for the next birthday in the group we booked the Harbourfront hoping they would be able to change our mind and praying that we may uncover another decent place to eat in Wollongong.

Unfortunately, we are now left wondering how the place is even open at all.

We waited over an hour for our entrées, the mains were delivered in such a staggered way that from a table of 8 by the time that last person received their meals, the majority of the group had finished and were patiently awaiting the drinks they had ordered 15 minutes ago that had been sitting, unattended on the edge of the bar for 10 minutes.

The raised eyebrow and looks for attention from staff were ignored and it honesty felt like we were the uninvited guests sneaking into a wedding at which, we were not welcome.

So, onto the food. The entrée- under cooked and over salted scallops. The main - being a seafood restaurant we opted for a seafood dish (rather than the steaks etc they also have on the menu). The John Dory with king prawns in a creamy garlic sauce was, whilst not a bad as the scallops, still not worth the price tag of $39.90. Don't get us wrong, we'd happily pay (and have done) well above that price, but you do expect to get quality food and ingredients. This main was served just warm, the fish has no texture (leading us to believe could it have been previously frozen) and the sauce seemed to act as a cover up to the very average quality of the fish. The king prawns were not that large and had little flavour.

After the first 2 courses being so disappointing, we did what we often do in these cases, pull back on the drinks, decline desert and ask for the cheque - why put ourselves through another painful course and further contribute to and reward what is, at best mediocre food and high prices.

With one of the best locations in town, the restaurant needs to do one of 2 things - reduce the prices and continue on, or, increase the quality of the restaurant, food and staff and try to move forward. The place needs a good clean and refurb and the toilets are less than desirable. The place is resting on previous reputations and could, with minimal effort (fresh local produce, a good clean of the restaurant, more and better trained staff) easily improve and we honestly hope that it does. Having said that, we will not be the guinea pigs and will await some serious accolades before we book again.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World - amazing competition

2011-04-11T21:15:00.002+10:00

http://www.slh.com/goldcoins

Worlds tallest hotel opens

2011-04-11T20:24:00.001+10:00

http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/glance/156041/worlds-tallest-hotel-opens.glance

Jamies Italian, Liverpool City Centre, UK

2011-04-10T10:28:00.000+10:00

The restaurant is located in a great spot in the popular LiverpoolOne development. Sitting opposite John Lewis rather than up near the many other eateries surrounding the alfresco area up on the top level, Jaime's is a fairly large restaurant spanning two floors.

As we dined in the less busy lunch period we were seated downstairs with the upper floor closed. As expected, the restaurant had a nice, casual atmosphere and friendly staff. Only one small issue - the tables were packed in a little too tight.

To start we opt for the Italian nachos (crispy fried 4 cheese ravioli with 'angry' arrabiata sauce). Unfortunately, this dish was disappointing. It was a very small portion, quite bland and the alleged ‘angry' arrabiata sauce tasted suspiciously like warmed tinned tomatoes and nothing else – come on Jamie.

For our main we chose the grilled chicken (free range, boned, marinated and char grilled with warm tomato, olive, chilli and caper sauce) was a vast improvement. Big ticks for going with free range. The chicken was cooked to perfection and was lovely and moist. The sauce complemented the meal and was tasty and flavoursome, without being over powering. The 'posh chips' with truffle oil and parmesan were unfortunately less tasty and crispy that we would have liked, and again were a small portion.

As we were en-route to a meeting, it was soft drink and mineral water all round. However, Jamie's has a decent wine list and the purchase options of by the bottle or the glass.

With great rustic themed décor (loving the old toilets will the pull flush, but beware of the hand dryers that almost blew me out of the restroom), a casual atmosphere, good, swift service and reasonable prices, Jamie's has done well. With a few minor improvements to portion size and either sauces or description of sauces, this place will be a roaring sauces (although, given the name on the door it will probably be a success regardless)

The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards 2011

2010-12-06T18:49:00.000+11:00

Three Hats: Marque, est., Quay

Two Hats: Aria, Assiette, Becasse, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Berowra Waters Inn, Bilson's, Bistro Ortolan, Buon Ricordo, Claude's, Four in Hand Dining Room, Guillaume at Bennelong, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Lucio's, Pilu at Freshwater, Rockpool, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sepia, Tetsuya's, Universal

One Hat: Ad Lib Bistro, Altitude, Arras, Astral, Billy Kwong, Bird Cow Fish, Bistro Moncur, Bistrode, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, Bodega, buzo trattoria, Cafe Sopra, Catalina, Etch, Fish Face, Flying Fish, Golden Century, Jonah's Whale Beach, Koi, Longrain, Mad Cow, Manly Pavilion, Omerta, Ormeggio at the Spit, Oscillate Wildly, Otto Ristorante, Pendolino, Pier, Restaurant Balzac, Sailors Thai Restaurant, Sake Restaurant & Bar, Sean's Panaroma, Spice Temple, Yoshii.

Regional

Two Hats: Lochiel House (Kurrajong Heights), Rock (Pokolbin)

One Hat: ashcrofts (Blackheath), Bacchus (Newcastle), Bamboo Restaurant and Bar (Casuarina Beach), bells at killcare (Killcare), Bistro Molines (Mount View), Caveau (Wollongong), dish (Byron Bay), Darley's (Katoomba), Eschalot (Berrima), Fins (Kingscliff), Italian and Sons (Canberra), Lolli Redini (Orange), Muse (Pokolbin), Neila (Cowra), No. 2 Oak Street (Bellingen), Ottoman Cuisine (Canberra), Restaurant Como.

Just St James, London, UK

2010-09-20T22:55:00.000+10:00

With its location in an affluent area close to Buckingham Palace and just down from the Ritz hotel, you would think it would live up to its website statement 'Just St James Restaurant and Bar is one of the top restaurants in London'. However, this was definitely not our experience.

It is a very large restaurant spread over 2 levels, and to have such a large restaurant with only 2 tables seated at 7pm at night – we should have known better.....

We started with the Cornish Lobster and Watercress Ravioli with Sage Butter Sauce. The presentation was ok but we could tell before eating it that the pasta was slightly undercooked. On tasting the dish it was obvious that it was not freshly made when ordered.

For the main we opted for the fillet of Aberdeen Angus Beef, Wilted Leaf Spinach, Nutbourne Vine Tomatoes, Armagnac Jus and also a side of buttered Jersey Royals.

Within a few seconds of the food arriving (I had managed to put one piece of potato in my mouth) the server asked if everything was ok – with a mouth full of potato I nodded as thus far it was – BIG MISTAKE (and possibly a very sneaky move – read on)

The meat was tough, chewy, grizzy and had a large lump in it?????? It was that bad that this was one of the very rare occasions that the food was such poor quality we could actually not bring ourselves to pay for one of the meals. After discussing whether to make a complaint and offer our opinion in relation to what was served up, we mutually decided that it was unacceptable and we would make a complaint and request removal from the bill.

When the floor manager/host had finish his lengthy discussion about his upcoming sabbatical to a winery with his friend at the table next (whom we assumed from the questions asked ‘why isn’t it busy’, ‘do you have a function coming in later’, may have been an investor in the establishment) he sidled past and asked if we had finished.

It was at this point we motioned to the offending plate and advised we were unhappy with the meat. Straight away he swooped in with – the server checked if everything was ok after delivery and you said yes............hmmmm well that half a potato was ok. We explained the issue was with the steak and not wanting to have one of us sit with an empty plate while the other finished their mediocre piece of meat (sans lump and grizzle but still not up to par) we had simply left the meal. (We have a rule – if you send something back, don’t order anything else).

Most decent restaurants would have been embarrassed and offered sincere apologies. However, this host floated away to ‘check the quality with the chef’ – after all, as long as the chef is happy who cares what the customers think – that’s the best way to run a business isn’t it????????????

Having checked with his chef – who, due to the chit chat and lengthy schmoozing with the table next to us we learned was his father, we were advised they were happy with the quality of the meat – oh, well that’s great but they didn’t have to try and eat it.

We were clearly unhappy with the whole evening and to remedy this, the tact chosen was for the waiter to argue with us and the host to argue with us – always a good customer service strategy.

Had we eaten half the meal and then complained we could have understood the argument, but only two bites were taken from the meat (one of those ending up in a napkin)

We found the staff rude and condescending and it seems there is clearly a lack of understanding in relation selecting and cooking meat.

Based on our experience, we were left wondering how the place is still open. Clearly they rely on corporate functions – but even if we were on the corporate credit card or a work Christmas party, we still would have complained about the meat!!!

After it appeared the investor/friend, had begun to take note (and that we could no longer be bothered with his rude attitude further ruining our night and given up the argument) the host took the service charge off and shunted us towards the door.

Will we go back???? never

Relish on Addison, Shellharbour, NSW Australia

2010-08-21T20:50:00.000+10:00

Located in Shellharbour Village and just a short walk to the harbour, this cafe/restaurant has delicious food, friendly staff and a great atmosphere.

With a contemporary and extensive menu including seasonal specials, the food is fresh, tasty and the menu is changed on a regular basis. We would have to say at this point in time it is the best restaurant/cafe in Shellharbour. For this reason, bookings are recommended for Thursday - Saturday nights as well as Sunday brunch.

The favourite entrées include the mixed bruschetta and the crispy chilli prawns and squid with vermicelli salad. The mains are changed regularly and include pastas, meats, seafood and vegetarian options.

At only $10 the deserts are great value and taste amazing - we recommend the chocolate fondant with honeycomb ice cream or the crème brulee - note, before 5pm you can get these delicious dessert with a free coffee - bargain.

The breakfast menu (Sundays) is great and well priced, offering pancakes, full english, omelettes etc. as well as yummy smoothies. The breakfast menu is well priced and due to the great location, you can walk off your food and drinks down the beach - what a great start to the day!

In our opinion the breakfast is the best value for money, however we have visited Relish for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks and never been disappointed.

Opening times for Relish are Tue-Fri 9.30am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8.30am-8.30pm.

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2010-08-15T14:50:00.002+10:00

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