No Fair share

Ok so here’s the scenario. We go out for a lovely romantic dinner. The setting is perfect, a trendy bistro in the lively Darlinghurst area. The mood is wonderful. We’ve bagged ourselves an outdoors table and we’re sipping on a fruity little Verdello watching the weird and wonderful word of Darlinghurst go by. There are jokes and jests flying. Everything is perfect. We discuss what we will order, making sure we don’t double up so we get to taste as many variations as possible. When the entrées arrive mine is the most succulent Kingfish Carpaccio I have ever tasted. The fish is delicately flavoured and so perfect that I insist on J having half so we both get to enjoy this wonderful dish. We ohhhhhhhhh. We ahhhhhhhhhhh. We laugh and joke some more and the wine is flowing.

Then the main course arrives and the ohhhs and ahhhs are only coming from the other side of the table. When I suggest we share like we did with the entrées I get a ‘There’s no way I’m giving away half of this’. How did that happen? I do get to have a taste but for the rest of the main course I have to look on lovingly as the plate is wiped clean. I couldn’t even tell you what I had because I was so focused on the meal I was missing out on.

This is one of the best fish dishes I have ever tasted (and taste was all I actually did). It is Ocean Trout very lightly cooked and then wrapped in an intense mushroom sauce and a feather light layer of filo pastry. The sauce is creamy and light but I wasn’t allowed to taste enough to hazard a guess as to what the main ingredients were.

I have to go back to this restaurant as soon as possible so I can order the Kingfish Carpaccio and the Ocean Trout. The best bit is there will be absolutely no sharing. Oh well, maybe just the wine and the dessert then.

And this restaurant is Fishface, 132 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst.

Oh Yum

Pork Buns, my favourite

I have a friend, the very lovely M, who I always enjoy meeting up with for lunch, especially when that lunch is yum cha. M and I are like two peas in a pod when it comes to yum cha in that neither of us has the will power to say no when those lovely ladies come by with their trolleys of delicious steamed and fried goodies.

For those who are not familiar with yum cha is a wonderful dining experience where the staff come to your table with trolleys of dumplings, dim sims, roast duck and all sorts of other wonderful treats hidden in bamboo steamers. When you select what you want from the trolley they stamp a little card on your table depending on how much the dish cost. This is then used to calculate your bill or to make you realise what a little piggy you have just made of yourself.

Yesterday we met at the Sky Phoenix restaurant in the city. This is a very plush yum cha restaurant and not like the bright and busy ones in Chinatown (which I also love) . I hadn’t seen M for ages and so we had a lot of news to catch up on. We didn’t even notice how many dishes we said yes to until we realised how completely full we both were. We also drank pots and pots of green tea (to help with the digestion of course). M is about to have a baby next month so I really don’t know where she fitted all that we ate. She is a great woman.

I only discovered yum cha a few years ago and I haven’t looked back since. I love everything about it. It is such a social way to dine. The bigger the group, the better. I think the traditional way to enjoy yum cha is to get together for brunch with a big group of friends and just select away to your hearts content until you can eat no more. Well that’s how I enjoy it anyway. There are some great yum cha restaurants in Sydney and the ones in Chinatown have such a great atmosphere at the weekend. The buzz from everyone eating and chatting is wonderful.

Here is a selection of some of my favourite bites from yesterdays lunch -

Dim Sims and Dumplings

Fried Noodles

Roast Duck

Mince Puffs

Green Tea

Custard Tarts (M's favourite, we had to chase the trolly to get these little babies)

Sky Peoenix,
Lvel 3, Skygarden
77 Castlereagh St,
Sydney
(02) 9223 8822

Food highlights

Ok enough about the holiday I hear you say. But please, let me make one last post and then I promise it is straight back to food after a long hiatus. I wanted to very briefly list some of the wonderful restaurants we visited. Our very insightful apartment owner, Nicole, left us with a list of seven good restaurants and we ended up going to five of the restaurants and all of them were excellent. This woman knows her restaurants. We were also lucky to be in Paris with a good friend who also knows his restaurants too, so he had a few little gems for us. I am just going to give a list with a very brief description. This list is as much for my own records as for the blog.

Brasserie Bofinger was a wonderful old style brassiere that specialised in seafood and Alsatian style dishes. We arrived at the restaurant late and only started dinner at about 10:30pm. We finished up at about 1:30am at which time the restaurant was still buzzing with people eating. This is one things I miss in Australia. Over here people eat very early in the night and you would seldom see a restaurant open past midnight.

One of the specialities of Bofinger is Choucroute, sauerkraut laden with cured and boiled meats. This is a monster of a meal and I was such a greedy guts here that I didn't have to eat at all the next day.

Brasserie Bofinger
3, Rue Bastille 75004 Paris
+33 1 42 72 87 82

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Chez Michel was a gorgeous little restaurant that was only 5 minutes from our apartment. We arrived late and were led to a table downstairs that had an old world feel to it with all the stone walls, large wooden tables and cellars of wine. The menu was very gamey and the food was delicious. What we ordered was all slowed cooked meats with rich sauces and delicious vegetables. The desserts were excellent too and my Paris-Brest was a wonderful introduction to this old favourite.
Chez Michel
10, Rue Belzunce 75010 Paris
+33 1 44 53 06 20

Chez Casimir can be found just a few doors down from Chez Michel and it was only when I googled this restaurant to find it's website that I realised that it is owned by the same guy as Chez Michel. This was great little cheap eat restaurant that was just around the corner from where we were staying. They have a wonderful menu with lots of good hearty food on it. We enjoyed a slow cooked stew where the meat just feel apart. The staff here were wonderful. Especially when we kept wanting change tables because more people were joining us.
Chez Casimir
6 rue de Belzunce 75010 Paris
+33 1 48 78 28 80

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Restaurant 404 was a treasure of a Moroccan Restaurant that our friend T had booked for us. It was recommended to him by another friend. Isn't 'word of mouth' great. The decor was so impressive. We arrived for dinner at 8:00 and there were a few other people there. By 8:15 the whole restaurant was full so I reckon it would be a good idea to book here. We started the night off with a round of fresh mojitos that got us in the mood for the meal to come. We ordered a selection of tagines and cous cous dishes that were all great.

If you are booking ask for the tables upstairs which have the big cushions and the round moroccan trays for tables. You get a great view of the festivities in the main part of the restaurant.

I couldn't find a web site for this restaurant but I did find this article which was talked about it Ny times article

Restaurant 404
69, Rue Gravilliers 75003 Paris
+33 1 42 74 57 81

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Chez Louisette is an absolute gem of a cafe. If you can find it in the market you are over the first hurdle. our friend, T, had been here and with the help of a few locals we stumbled across it tucked away in the corner of one of the markets at Les Puces. The day we decided to visit the flea markets we were all very hung over after an all night session of dancing and drinking. We needed hangover food and we needed it immediately. Thank god we weren't after anything too up market because this food was good wholesome fare with not even a smidgen of fancy thrown in. We did have the necessary escargot (when in France) that were juicy and oozing with hot garlic sauce. The mains were a little bit too greasy for all our likings so maybe go for a salad or something that doesn't call for oil in the cooking process.

The decor in here did absolutely nothing for our hangovers and it was almost necessary for us to keep our sun glasses on. I've never been in a place more gaudy in my life with tinsel, Christmas balls and shiny paper as far as the eye can see. But this is what makes this restaurant so fantastically unique. Of course the wait staff shouting the orders to the chef upstairs was also quite unique but nothing beat the dulcet tones of Emmanuelle singing her heart out as she did
her best Edith Piaf impersonation.

Chez Louisette
136 avenue Michelet 93400 Saint-Ouen
+33 1 40 12 10 14

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The Moulin Rouge was everything we hoped it would be and I'm not even talking about how happy J was to see all those topless young ladies. We arrived a little late for our reservation as we got delayed in the queue to go up to the top of the Eifel Tower. We had made a reservation for dinner and a show and to be honest we didn't realise the dinner was going to be so good. I only wish we had had more time to enjoy it as we only had an hour before the show started the waiters were giving us super speedy service. They did allow us to take our time over the dessert and of course there was always that second bottle of champers to enjoy.

There are a few different set menus depending on how much you are willing to pay. Our menu started with some succulent lobster which had already been removed from the shell - no hard work for us thank you very much. For mains we both had an almost perfect fillet steak with shoestring fries and creamy béarnaise sauce.

Dessert was eaten in the dark as the show had already started but I have a recollection of a dark chocolate torte and a fruity little number which we both shared.

The show was wonderful and was a lot less tacky than I thought it was going to be. I loved watching all the girls in their magnificent costumes but not as much as I suspect J loved watching them. This is a tourist attraction that is a definite must-see.

Bal du Moulin Rouge ®
Montmartre
82 boulevard de Clichy 75018 Paris
+33 153 098 282

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We did manage to get to a few foodie shops but its hard to get J to traipse all over Paris in search of the perfect Macaroon as he just isn't into food like I am. We did visit a Mariage Frères shop where I was so excited to see all the different selections of teas displayed in an old world style shop which had gentlemen in linen jackets looking after everyone's requests. I would love to get my hands on some great tea because I drink so much of it but I find it overwhelming when you have so many different teas to choose from. Bar having a sniff into the tin, how can you tell what the tea will taste like? Trial and error I guess. I asked for a recommendation for the guy who was serving me and he came up with a black tea that he said had a 'fresh' taste. It was good but would it be blasphemous to say that I prefer my cup of Lipton tea - so uncultured.

I never made it to Pierre Hermé's shop but as a consolation I did drop into a La Maison Du Chocolat shop and get me some of those tasty little macaroons. There were so many beautiful looking chocolates there I was in my element.

And so our 5 week holiday eventually had to come to an end and what a fitting view from the airport as we sat waiting to board our plane back home. Right so, time to start planning the next holiday.

Dubrovnik continued

It’s got to be a good complaint when you are enjoying your holiday so much that you just can’t fit the time in to update your blog. We have just had the most amazing holiday. Now we’re back in Sydney and I have been reliving the holidays through the photos. Let me first finish off with Dubrovnik and then over the weekend I will give an update on the wonderful food we enjoyed in Paris.

Dubrovnik was the perfect place to chill out and take it easy – except every night when it was time to return home as we were living up the hill over the old town and had to walk up about 500 steps to get home. That’s one way to work off all that good food I suppose.

We found the restaurants were pretty good but were very expensive for what you were getting. I hear that the locals very rarely eat out in the old town themselves because of the prices. The two places that did really impress us were Lokanda Peskarija overlooking the old port and the old Benedictine monastery on Lokrum Island which is now a restaurant and café bar.

Lokanda had a great advantage in that it has the best views of the old port. We knew we were on to a good place when saw the queues that started to form every night. They have traditional Croatian singers that serenade the outdoor restaurant at different times during the night. The food here is simple seafood fare that is served up in big black heavy pots but it is excellent quality seafood and at a pretty good price so this got our vote as our favourite restaurant of the week. WE went there twice and enjoyed prawns, muscles, sardines and seafood risotto. With lots of local wine and some fresh bread. What more could you ask for?

As for our favourite drinking spot - thought it was the bar I mentioned in the last post but that was until we took a day trip over to Lokrum Island. It’s only about 10 minutes away from Dubrovnik by ferry but it feels like another world. We spent the day exploring this little island and swimming in the cold clear waters off its rocky shore. When we could take the sun no more (oh yes I remember that feeling so well as I sit here in the cold sunshine of Sydney) we headed back to where I saw a sign for drinks near were the ferry docks. As we rounded the hedge that concealed this little jewel we heard the excellent music of a local guitar player. The chairs were big comfy balinese chairs that were perfect for enjoying a cold beer while listening to the guitar player and watching the sun go down. I loved this bar and we could have stayed here all night if the last ferry hadn’t been leaving at 8:00pm.

Our little apartment was perfect for our week in Dubrovnik. I had all the best of intientions of cooking for us but except for breakfast I didn't spend any time in the kitchen. This felt very strange for me but I soon got used to it. don't you just love holidys.

Cinque Terre

After the wedding we changed our plans and instead of heading straight to Rome we drove to Cinque Terre with some of our friends. These five villages are so pretty perched on the edge of the cliffs. We now know what all five villages look like because we did the walk from Riomaggiore to Vernazza. It took us about 3 hours but it was he best way to check out all the cliff top views.


When we did arrive at Vernazza all hot and dirty from the walk the first thing we had to do was jump in the crystal clear water. The water here is lovely and cold and refreshing. We dried off and headed straight up to the tippy top of the cliff to a restaurant that served cold beer and seafood to die for. What more could you ask for.

Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it was up beside the castle on the cliff top. We tucked into some seafood anti-pasta that tasted like it was straight from the sea. Marinated squid, king fish and anchovies. I always thought of anchovies as those little hairy things on pizzas but since coming to Italy I have a new appreciation for the lemon marinated version that seems to melt in your mouth.

For mains we had a seafood risotto that I am putting up there with one of the best Risottos I have ever had. Moist with a bite to the rice and the most delicious seafood flavour. It also helped that there we so many jewels of the sea throughout. Benissimo !!!

A stylish lunch

Even though my Mum is probably the best cook I know there has been little or no cooking done at home bar the massive fry-up on the first day. There are so many good places to eat out in that we have been eager to try to all out. No doubt if I had longer at home Mum and I would have enjoyed cooking up something special in the kitchen. But this visit home has been all about dining out.

Dad wanted to take us out to the Radisson in Dublin. This hotel is very close to where my parent live and they like to pop in for lunch as a treat. They have the most beautifully kept gardens. Everything was looking vibrant and lush from the daily dowsing of rain they get. Well there has to be some silver lining to all the rain in Ireland.

Apparently my parents are not too familiar with all the different dishes on the lunch menu as they always order the same thing - the trio of fish. Smoked salmon, king prawns and crab claws and yes, you guessed it, brown bread. We finished off this lunch with some apple tart and ice cream. We enjoyed this lunch in the conservatory and were able to watch four season go by in the space of a couple of hours. You have to love Irish weather and the preoccupation that Irish people have with talking about it.

I did manage to squeeze in a one day visit with my other sister in Wicklow as we had a cross-over between her flying in from France and me flying off to Italy. Such a jet setting family.

We're no Morans

Mum and I drove over to Limerick to visit my sister and check out her new hotel which is doing very well. We had a lovely lunch there and the following day the three of us headed off to Galway to enjoy some girlie pampering at the Spirit one spa in the Radisson.

On our way to Galway we had to stop off at Morans Oyster Cottage in Kilcolgan because my sister raves about the food at this place

I have to say my sister was absolutly right. The food was fantastic. I had the garlic mussels to start and the seafood platter as the main. One of the things I really enjoy about dining out in Ireland is the amazing quality of the seafood. This platter was wonderful and I really enjoyed being able to tuck in to an endless supply of brown soda bread. I will never understand why they serve this bread only in Ireland. It is the best bread availaible and I have to say on this trip home I have eaten it constantly. My family know how much I miss it so they always stock up when they know I'm coming for a visit. And for that I am very grateful.

The spirit one spa is absolutly wonderful and the thermal beds were so relaxing. For anyone who visits Galway ans is suffering from a lack of sunshine you have to try out their beach room. It was so relaxing. Warm sand, the sound of waves lapping up and a day of sun reflected on the ceiling. I really felt like I was on a beach. That was until my Mum said "no flies on this beach" and nearly scared me out of my skin as I had been in a relaxing trance.

I love getting to spend some time with my family and this little girlie trip away was just what the doctor ordered - for all of us.

A welcome home

I had the loveliest welcome home dinner with my parents at l’Ecrivain. I have heard Mum & Dad talk about all the celebratory meals they have enjoyed here so when Mum told me we were going I was very excited.

From the minute we walked in and ordered a pre-dinner drink the entertainment began. All the lovely people started to arrive and the fashion was something to behold. Dad was finding it hard to have a conversation with Mum and I as our eyes were constantly following the next fancy outfit to walk past.

We had the most fantastic meal starting with a Foie Gras entrée that was only divine. The presentation was beautiful but unfortunately the lighting was more on the mood lighting side so I couldn’t take a photo that would do it justice. Our main course was a very luxurious lobster. All the hard work had already been done for us as the succulent meat was already removed from the shell and placed on the plate under the lobster’s head. It was a very extravagant meal and there were constant mmmm’s as we ate and drank.

At the end of the meal while we were having our coffees we were presented with a plate of chocolate truffles and a lovely welcome back message. Apparently my Dad had requested a special table for us and had told the staff we were celebrating my brief return home. Aren’t Dad’s great?

I am so fortunate to have a family that enjoys food as much as I do. In general when we are together we organise our time around food. What better way to enjoy yourself?

L’Ecrivain
109a Lower Baggot St,
Dublin 2
+ 353 1 6611919

Set in Concrete

I love the fact that outdoor dining is such a regular experience here in Sydney. The weekend comes around and a brunch of freshly squeezed orange juice, Eggs Benedict and coffee is just calling out to you. Much as I try to go for other options, as I check the menu, my eyes always seem to gravitate towards the Eggs Benedict. We’re only a few weeks away from Winter here but still the weather is lovely and warm. Saturday morning was so sunny that there was no question about going out for brunch. We had no prior engagements, in fact we had no engagements at all this Saturday which is very rare of late.

We had a big night on Friday in the Bavarian Bier Cafe after work and so hangover food was called for. We headed to Concrete in Pyrmont for some recovery food. This café has been there for years but it is new to us. Even though we have cycled passed it every morning on our way to work we had not ventured there to eat until a few weeks ago when we met up with J’s brother and his family. On that occasion I had the Italian fried eggs (just to be different) and they were excellent.

Eggs Benedict and a prefect Latte

This place is within walking distance of where we live and so we wandered down with Teddy in tow. We picked up the weekend newspapers and had the most relaxing few hours eating our eggs , drinking coffees and watching the world go by.

Teddy's hiding place

This is an excellent café with simple, well made food. The staff provided very good service. They were very smiley and chatty to everyone. I think we got slightly preferential treatment as the waitress fell in love with Teddy and spent most of the time under our table patting and chatting with him. We will now be adding this lovely relaxed café to our list of breakfast spots.

scenes from the cafe

Concrete
224 Harris St
Pyrmont
Sydney

Phone (02) 9518 9523

Room with Roses

This weekend was all about the girls. The very lovely S (who is visiting from the UK at the moment) and I flew up to Brisbane to meet up with another couple of friends. This has become a regular get-together over the years. We have these weekends every few months either up in Brisbane or in Sydney. There is endless talking, laughing, and eating. There is a modicum of shopping, drinking, dancing and sleeping thrown in just for good measure. During these weekends all our troubles and woes are aired and sorted out within the group. It is a million times better than therapy and much more fun.

Back in the early days of these get-togethers the drinking and dancing played a much larger part but now we’re all getting a little bit older and wiser and we even need a ‘Nana Nap’ before heading out for the night. It’s not good but whatever gets you through the night. Now the talk has turned from wild nights to houses, babies and weddings. It’s a true sign of the times. But no matter what the talk, the main focus is always food. No sooner have we finished one meal then we are thinking about what we will eat next.

On Saturday we went on a hunt for some Bridesmaid dresses for two of the girls. All that putting on, taking off and commenting on dresses really takes it out of you so at midday we headed to the very beautiful heritage listed Brisbane Arcade to partake in some of the delicious food on offer at Room with Roses. This is a gorgeous café with oodles of old fashioned style. There are, of course, Roses everywhere along with beautiful chandeliers, old fashioned pictures and high backed cane chairs. There are only a couple of tables with these high backed chairs and they had to be booked but they are well worth it.




The food is fantastic for lunch with a range of Quiches, Salads and Gourmet sandwiches. I went for the Seafood Bruschetta Trio – Prawn & Avocado with lime mayonnaise, Smoked Salmon with herb mascarpone and Sand Crab with lemon juice, eschalots & sour cream. This was a wonderful seafood lunch full of flavours and textures and I loved it. I know my Mum would love this place. I’ll have to take her there when she comes over to visit next time (hint, hint Mum). Luckily the lunch wasn't to filling because they also have a fantastic selection of desserts. Of course if you're having cake then you absolutely must have tea. We had a number of pots of tea, all served in very classy silverware. They made us feel very posh.

I loved the café. It’s all about the atmosphere but it definitely helps that the food is delicious and the staff are very friendly and helpful. If you are in Brisbane and you’re looking for a place to lunch then this is definitely the place for you – but don’t forget to book those high backed chairs.

Room with Roses
Shop 32
Gallery Level
Brisbane Arcade

+61 7 3229 7050

Coolest bar in all of Sydney

I have found the coolest bar in all of Sydney and its called Gazebo. We stumbled across this bar when we were on the way to the Darlinghurst Theatre. It is hidden away in the backstreets of Elizabeth Bay (well really Kings Cross but it’s on the border of Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay too so take your pick). The minute I walked passed I could tell it was a funky bar. It has a very European feel to it, which I think is lacking in most Sydney bars.

The old wrought iron fence caught my eye first. Then I just kept noticing more and more cool furniture.

They have a living wall behind the bar, pretend grass on the front of the bar and cow hide barstools that contrast beautifully with the bar. There are a multitude of funky tables and chairs outside and lots of interesting knickknacks everywhere you look.

There is an extensive wine list that has realistic groupings like “Slurpable Reds” and “Unpronounceable Whites”. Even the actual list itself is cool witch lots of groovy images and typewriter fonts. Whoever did their marketing and art work did an amazing job. There are a lot of wines to choose from and they encourage customers to discuss the wines with the waiters because “If you don't know your Claret from your Beaujolais then please speak up, it makes the staff feel really clever”

We wanted a quick bite to eat before heading to the theatre so we choose from the fish board. There were three different fish dishes and we tried them all. It was a pleasent surprise that ALL of the dishes were excellent. I would happily have enjoyed any of the fish dishes. My personal choice was the seared Trout with an herb cous cous and salsa. It tasted wonderful and was a great combination of simple flavours and textures.

By the time we were leaving the bar it was completely full and the best bit was it was full of very beautiful and interesting characters. We had great fun people watching for the short time we were there. I will definitely be going back to this bar. It had everything going for it. They have lovely, friendly staff, great wines, delicious food and most importantly interesting décor and people to admire.

Gazebo Wine Garden,
2 Elizabeth Bay Road,
Elizabeth Bay,
02 93575333

Bibimbab

Oh God I am happy today. I have just discovered a new lunch and it has everything going for it. All the different ingredients arranged in nice little bundles, sauce on the side AND an egg on top. What more could you possible ask for?

I go through phases of having the same thing for lunch everyday. For a while there it was the plain and simple cheese and tomato sandwich. There was also the sushi phase, the Vietnamese roll phase and the tuna dip roll phase. I am in need of a new phase and now I’ve found it in the form of Bibimbab. Lucky for me they serve this perfect dish at Koba in the food court of the building where I work. Even luckier for me they have a sign on the counter of Koba that explains it’s pronounced Bi Bim Bab. It can be pretty embarrassing when you can’t even pronounce the dish you want to order.

Apparently Bibimbab is a traditional Korean dish which translates as “Mixed Meal” and they recommend that before you tuck in you mix the different ingredients together. Are they mad??? It is so perfect to have all the different ingredients in their own little sections so you can mix and match every chopstick full to produce the perfect mouthful. I love it.

The egg on top is definitely the ‘piece of resistance’. It was my Dad that got me hooked on the idea of an egg on top being the making of a meal. He loves Nasi Goreng and I think the main attraction is that jewel of a fried egg on top. I love anything with an egg on top. Especially when the yolk is runny and you can split it and let all that creamy gold spill out. I’m really gushing here but I just love this new lunch. It’s filled with tasty morsels like mushrooms, carrot, zucchini, glass noodles, bean sprouts, spinach all atop some steamed rice and finished with that winner of a fried egg sprinkled with sesame seeds. You can have your bibimbab with a number of accompaniments like chicken, beef, prawns and raw tuna. I’m keen to try the raw tuna but recently Koba have been out of tuna so I have opted for the second choice of prawns which have been fantastic. There’s a hot chilli sauce on the side that you can add at your own discretion. Today I went all out and ended up with a very runny nose because by God does that sauce pack a punch.

An almost forgotten post

Sashimi Plate, Salmon, Swordfish & Tuna

I was doing a bit of a clear out of my food photos when I came across these little beauties which I forgot to tell you about. They were taken at a lunch I had with my Mum last month at the Boathouse Restaurant. I think I was too sad after she left to gush about our last lunch together for a while. And gush I would have had to because everything about this lunch was excellent.

Snapper Pie with Smoked Tomatoes and Mashed Potato

We did, of course, both order the famous Boathouse Snapper Pie which I have made in the past. I think my version came very close to the real thing but to be honest actually enjoying this simple fish pie at the Boathouse is hard to beat. Those amazing views out across the Anzac Bridge, the crisp white linen tablecloths and the way the pies are presented on a little trolley and cut open in front of you makes you feel like you are being presented with something very special. I am a sucker for ceramony.

White Rhubarb Parfait, Mango & Pinenut Biscotti

We are blessed to have so many good restaurants in Sydney. Over the last few years we have had a number of friends and family stay with us while they take in the wonders that are Sydney. I like to think it is my obligation to introduce them to some of the best food they will ever have the pleasure of enjoying. It's a tough task but you know ... that's just the kind of girl I am.

I really love this City. But now I must say a quick farewell to it as we wing our way up to Airlie Beach and enjoy some Sailing in the Sun around the Whitsunday’s. I will be back to let you know of the adventure next week.

Don't forget if you are in the vicinity, drop into the Boathouse and let them spoil you with their pie. Everyone deserves to be treated once in a while.

If you are interested in seeing the result of my food photo sort out check out my new flickr page.



The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay
Ferry Road
Glebe
9518 9011

Oscillate Wildly

Seared Tuna, Lavender cucumber pickle, confit potato and passionfruit

The dilemma is, do I tell people about my favourite restaurant or let them find it for themselves? It’s a cosy little place so do I want word to spread about how good it is? Being such a big fan of food I do tend to eat out quite a bit. I like to eat at new places so when a little restaurant in Newtown was recommended to me I was keen to give it a try. Little did I know that I was about to stumble upon my new favourite restaurant.

Oscillate Wildly is a little restaurant tucked away on Australia street in Newtown. In my opinion this restaurant has everything going for it. It seats about 30 people so you really have to book. It has been full both times I have been there which means there is a great buzz about the place. The décor is very simple and understated but very stylish. Black and white chequered floor. White walls with a couple of paintings and a funky light. The tables are generously spaced and are set with lovely heavy white tablecloths and napkins.

Roast Venison with Chocolate soil and beetroot puree

Ross Godfrey, who runs the place, does a wonderful job of looking after everyone in the restaurant. You really notice the excellent servicet. The staff explain the menu in great detail but don’t overwhelm you with a list of food reeled off as can happen when the waiters are in a hurry. All the staff appear friendly and attentive without being intrusive.

And then there is the food. The menu changes every few weeks and both times I’ve been all dishes have been excellent. The one and only change to this place would be larger servings. The food is so good you just want more. I have added a few pictures of the food but I haven’t done it any justice because the lighting is dim and there was only a candle on the table to light the food.

As if the food, service and décor of this place weren’t enough to make it so wonderful it is also very reasonably priced at only $48 dollars for three courses. It’s even BYO so you can bring along a bottle of your favourite wine. Can this place do no wrong? I would go so far as to give this restaurant 10/10. It is an absolute gem. If you live in Sydney or you are visiting here it is well worth making a trip to Newtown to check it out.

Chocolate Fondant with cinnamon icecream (after it had been devoured)

Oscillate Wildly
275 Australia St
Newtown NSW 2042
Phone (02) 9517 4700

Blue Mountains Hide Away

For J’s 30th Birthday he very kindly received a gift of a weekend away in the Blue Mountains with a friend – “pick me …pick me” – from his brother and sister-in-law. I love when J gets presents that I can enjoy too. We haven’t been to the Blue Mountains in a long time because when we go away for the weekend we tend to head up or down the coast. But for this weekend we headed west to Collits’ Inn near Lithgow.

I had checked out the website before we headed off and I noticed that they had received a number of awards (most noticeable two hats in the 2006 SMH Good Food Guide) for the restaurant so I knew we were in for a good meal too.

The Inn was absolutely beautiful and was steeped in history. It was originally built in 1823 and served as a rest stop for people travelling along the road from Sydney to Bathurst. It was most recently renovated in 1999 and they have done a fabulous job of keeping the old look and feel of the place.

But enough about the Inn, lets move on to the meal. We were the last to arrive for dinner, as is always the case because J has never adapted to how the Australians like to have dinner at 7:00. He still works on the European standard dinner time of 9:00. As we were last to arrive we got a romantic table that was in its own little dining room off the main room. I did miss my usual people watching but we enjoyed the more intimate setting. We started with a Kir Royale



My meal consisted of

Yabbies with Steamed zucchini flowers stuffed with chicken

Roasted veal cutlet & poached marrow

Apple tarte fine with cinnamon ice cream
(made fresh, as they ask you to preorder it because it takes 30 minutes to prepare).

J's meal was

Sea trout and Pacific oyster tartare, served with poached quail eggs

Pan fried “Tallabung” Pork fillet with apple & celeriac gratin

Ginger croquant and Berry Millefeuille with Kiwi sorbet

Every single dish was excellent but my favourites were the Stuffed Zucchini flowers, the Pork and the Apple Tart. Two out of three of these dishes were my choice during the meal but J ordered the Pork and I didn’t want to have the same so I ordered the veal. The Veal was also delicious but I kept trying to exchange some of my veal for some of his pork.

I would highly recommend this place for a lazy weekend away. On the Sunday we enjoyed a light fruit breakfast before heading up Mount York which took us about 45 minutes to climb. We whiled away the uphill trek by recounting the books we are both reading at the moment. Mine involved a young girl who jet-sets about wearing fancy clothes and dating all sorts of hunky men. J’s was all about criminals meeting other criminals in India. We have very different literary tastes. My excuse for reading this chic lit is that I have read a few serious books recently and when a friend loaned me this one to read I couldn’t help myself. It was trashy and I loved every minute of it.

Collits' Inn
Hartley Vale Rd
Hartley Vale
(61 2) 6355 2072

Lets do blogging

Over the last few months I have been reading Jen's wonderful Milk and Cookies Blog. On a number of occasions we have had photos from the same location. We both had pictures of the fish market recently and when I looked closely I realized that the same people were eating at the tables in both our photos which meant we must have missed each other by minutes. I did remember seeing someone with a camera around their neck but I obviously had no idea who it was at the time. We exchanged e-mails about how we must have just missed each other and decided that we should organise to meet up.

It’s Good Food Month here in Sydney at the moment so what better way to catch up then over a “Let’s do lunch” event in the city. I’ve always wanted to try the French restaurant Galileo at the Observatory Hotel and since they were doing a $35 lunch and wine deal I thought it would be a good option for our lunch date.

I wasn’t off to a good start when I got held up in work (not in the gun way but in the meeting way). I ended up running across the city center in my high heels. Not a good look I can tell you. Luckily Jen had to do an atm run herself so she didn’t have to wait too long.

We were one of the first tables there and the place looked very refined in all its old style elegance. The waiter was very keen to get us our wine but we refrained from quaffing and just went for the one glass with the pie. I was surprised that there weren’t more people there for lunch but then Jen told me they don’t usually do lunch which explains why there were only tables of ladies as we are usually the ones to book the Good food month events.

The Jewfish pie with prawn mousse, artichoke salad and bearnaise sauce was absolutely delicious and went very well with the Brown Brothers' Reisling they served. I would normally pay more attention to my food but I was so caught up chatting with Jen I only have a vague memory of a lovely meaty fish and a rich creamy sauce. This was my first time tasting Jewfish and I was impressed. I’m not sure if this fish actually tastes this good or if it is the skills of the chef that made it so delicious. I’ll have to try my own pie to see if it compares.

We finished off our meal with some tea which was served in this lovely silver service set. It was all very refined and we commented to the waiter how we loved the tea pots. He was in agreement with us and then went on to tell us how much each piece cost which was interesting if not a little too much detail.

Jen was lovely and it was such a pleasure to meet up with someone who is as food orientated as I am. I thought it was funny when we were both talking about what we were doing for the weekend. The people and places were the minor details with both of us going into way more detail about what food we planned to have. Jen has a lovely anniversary treat coming up and I’m really looking forward to reading about that. I loved the fact that even though it was our first meeting we both knew quite a bit about each other from the blogs. I would love to meet more food bloggers. At least they understand the importance of taking that photo before tucking into a good meal.

Galileo,
The Observatory Hotel
89-113 Kent St,
The Rocks
9256 2215

Teddy Boy

Disaster has struck. It seems my camera has been hit by the dreaded E18 Canon error. After a quick google it's obvious that this error is so common there is even a website dedicated to it. Mon dieu. Appearently it is caused by dust or sand in the lens mechanism. Whatever the cause, the consequence is that I will be without my camera for 3 weeks !!! Good lord, how is my blog going to survive. I have a digital video camera that takes stills but the quality is going to be pretty poor. Alternatively I could use J's SLR and just hope when I get the film developed that the pictures look good.

This is killing me as I have three days off work and I had plans to make casseroles, salads and cake that all look excellent in the cookbooks. Now I'm not going to be able to do them justice on the blog. I'll just have to rely on the power of the word. The only problem is we all know it's all about the photo.

To be honest, much as my camera breaking is irritating it is greatly over-shadowed by the wonderful arrival of our new puppy dog - Ted. No sooner had we bought a house with a garden then I was on a mission to find us a dog. I have wanted a dog ever since our childhood dog died 20 years ago and now that day has arrived. Ted is an absolute bundle of cuddliness and is getting used to his new home. No doubt, when the camera comes back from the menders there will be hundreds of photos of Teddy Boy. Here's one I managed to take before the camera stubbornly kept showing the E18 error.

So many words and not a mention yet of food. Before the camera cacked it I did manage to take some photos of a fantastic lunch we had a Manta in Woolloomooloo. The fantastic part of the lunch had much more to do with the lovely women I was dining with, the excellent wine and the incredible view of the boats bobbing in the water on a beautiful sunny afternoon. The food sounded interesting and tasted pretty good - but only pretty good.

The starter and the dessert were both good but I felt like I could have made them myself and that's not what I'm looking for when I'm eating in a fancy restaurant. My starter was Buffalo mozzarella with asparagus, the dessert was White chocolate and mascarpone mousse with fresh strawberries. For mains I had Grilled spatchcock with polenta cake and Swiss brown mushrooms which I have never cooked myself but the presentation was not the best. In fact I didn't even want to put the photo on the web because it did nothing for an already pretty ordinary main meal. In fact, the best bit about the main was the delicious broccolini that accompanied it but then it would be hard for that to go wrong.

I really did have a wonderful lunch but the food was just there, it neither added nor detracted from my enjoyment which was a bit of a shame.

You don't have to put on the red light

A Friday night found us out in Glebe with our friends T & E for a catch up to hear all about their recent trip to Italy. We were lapping up all the stories from Italy because next year we will be joining them there to celebrate their wedding. This year they went on a family holiday with the ulterior motive of checking out possible wedding venues. They have yet to decide on a country or city wedding but either way I'm very excited about having an excuse to visit Italy for the first time. We're also planning to visit a few other cities in Europe while we're there so I will be keeping notes from all the blogs about great restaurants and shops to check out.

For our night out we headed to Roxanne. A lovely new bistro restaurant that has the most beautiful feel about it. It's a small, intimate restaurant, decorated in the most luxurious red velvet and chandeliers. To get there we took a stroll down Glebe Point Road and lapped up the atmosphere generated by the first night of the weekend. There is such a buzz along the road in all the different restaurants. I love it. When we arrived at the restaurant we were greeted by suchwelcoming and friendly staff, it was lovely. The restaurant had a warm feel to it - literally- which was perfect on this chilly night. We cracked open a bottle of champagne the guys had brought us to celebrate the new house. One of the things I really love about Australian restaurants is the idea of BYO. Enjoying your meal with a bottle of your choice at a reasonable price makes so much sense to me.

We managed to drag ourselves away from the conversation for long enough to order from the menu with many changes of mind along the way. There were so many great dishes on the menu it was hard to decide. We were warned away from the BBQ plate by the waitress as it was a little unimaginative but it was hard to go passed the pork belly with coriander salad. Three out of the four of us went for this dish so there was little to share during the meal. The seafood dumplings and the Sea salt prawn & Calamari were both great choices for the entrée. I had the dumplings and I would definitely order them again. I was so caught up in the wonderful food, the champagne and the stories of Italy the I completely forgot to take a photo of the entrées and the mains. You will just have to take my word that they were wonderfully presented and tasted excellent.


Lucky for me I did remember the camera just as dessert was being served as the cakes were very decedent. We shared a Sticky date pudding and Whisky truffle cake. I'm not a big fan of whiskey but luckily this cake had very little whisky taste to it.

I loved this restaurant and will definitely be going back to try some of the other wonderful dishes on offer.

So, now, would any more friends like to come over and visit us in Glebe ???

Roxanne
39 Glebe Point Road in Glebe,
Ph:9552 6087
Licenced and BYO

Bavarian heaven

When I die and go to heaven I hope there is a constant supply of pretzels especially when the beer is served. There is no better snack than a soft pretzel topped with granules of salt, especially when it is served with big glasses of freezing cold Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier. This was the little piece of heaven we got to experience at the Bavarian Bier Cafe in Manly yesterday. After getting the Ferry over from Circular Quay on a cold crisp clear day we met up with some friends for a liquid lunch. We spent hours by the open fire indulging in beers and pretzels that were completely addictive. I must try to make these pretzels myself at home to feed this addiction.

Finger 'Liks'ing Good

I don’t think I would make a very good restaurant reviewer. Well, at least not when I’m busy catching up with a friend. I met with my good friend, JaneyMac, for a belated birthday dinner. I’ve wanted to visit Jimmy Liks in Kings cross for ages now and so we decided this would be the place to go for dinner. JaneyMac and I both love good restaurants so we use our quarterly catch ups to try out places we have heard about.

Jimmy Liks is a very trendy Thai restaurant in Kings Cross. I’ve noticed in recent years there are more and more restaurants going for a similar formula – upmarket Thai food in restaurants where they don’t take bookings and dinner is served at big communal tables where you have the pleasure of getting up close and personal with the stranger beside you. No complaints from me there. As an avid fan of ‘people watching’ I love observing other parties and trying to decide the relationship.

We arrived pretty early at the restaurant and there was no-one else at the large tables. The place felt a little sad with all those place settings and not a customer in sight but we did get very good service from the waitresses as we were the first to arrive. To be honest we were so caught up in talking about men, work, men, new houses and men that we didn’t even notice all the other people arriving. When our food arrived and we took a breath we noticed that the tables were filling up.

We continued our engrossing conversation over dinner and to be honest I wasn’t that impressed with the special of Lamb Yellow Curry or the side of veggies we asked for which actually turned out to be a full main of tofu and vegetables (a sneaky way of adding another meal to our bill).



The one dish that did catch my attention was the Crispy Skin Chicken which was outstanding. The skin, as the menu said, was lovely and crispy. The chicken was cooked to perfection and just fell off the bone. I was a bit naughty and picked up a drumstick to get every last bit off the bone. It really was finger licking good. The sauce was syrupy sweet and made my rice lovely and sticky. There was a spice on the side which I couldn’t identify but it was a nice addition to balance the sweet sauce.

I enjoyed Jimmy Liks but to be honest I wouldn’t be rushing back unless it was to catch up with JaneyMac again so she can tell me how well things are going between her and her new man.

A very happy Birthday Girl

It was my Birthday yesterday and I was treated like a Princess for the day. In the morning I was spoiled rotten with presents from home and from friends here in Sydney. At morning tea the guys in work organised a wicked chocolate cake, pictured above, from Michel's Patisserie. No sooner was I back at my desk then I got a call from my friend S saying she was in the Lindt Café and wanted me to join her for some of their sinful hot chocolate. She treated me to the hot chocolate and also gave me a bunch of my favourite flowers, Tulips, and a pressie. What a lovely friend.



Eventually I dragged myself out of this beautiful Café and back to my desk again. My bum had only hit the seat when the guys were over asking me to join them for a liquid lunch across the road at The Bligh, one of my current favourite bars in the city. A hip and trendy place with incredibly friendly staff who remember a face and go out of their way to accommodate you. The lunch food here is great and really good value. I knew I was going out for dinner with J so I only opted for a sandwich, accompanied by a few too many glasses of Merlot. I found it hard to concentrate on work when I got back, what with the blurry vision and the phone calls from friends bestowing birthday wishes.

When we eventually finished work it was time for J & I to go out for a romantic meal. The majority of our nights out are organised by me but Valentines night and my Birthday our J’s domain and there's nothing he likes more then teasing me about where we are going. I thought I had done some pretty good detective work to figure out where we were going. J doesn’t make it that difficult, especially when he asked “What’s the name of that restaurant you like in Balmoral?” But apparently this was just a red herring. We started the night by heading to industrie bar to have a few cocktails with the hip corporate crowd. After two very strong caipirinhas (cachaça, brown sugar, muddled limes and lots of ice) I was flying. We hopped into a taxi and I expected to head across the Harbour Bridge. Then I noticed we were heading east not north. What happened to my great detective work? We stopped outside Bistro Moncur and there was a grin on my face from ear to ear.



Back in 1999 when I was visiting a friend in Paddington I got a bit lost and came across Bistro Moncur by accident. It got my attention because of its great buzz. I had no idea what the food was like but everyone inside seemed to be enjoying themselves. Since that encounter this restaurant has been on my must-visit list but in seven years I never made it – until last night. We had a pre-dinner drink in the Woollahra Hotel and then it was time to taste Chef, Damien Pignolets’, food for myself. I have been hearing a lot of good things about his food recently because of his new cookbook French and he didn’t let us down on the night. Here’s a sample of what we enjoyed. The photos are slightly blurred but you have to remember how much alcohol had been consumed by the time the food arrived.



To start, I had Tartare of Hiramasa `Ichiban` Kingfish and J had Damien’s Salmon. After tasting both I think I would choose the salmon next time. For mains, I had the special of Roast Quail with pheasant sausage and J had the Fillet Steak (not pictured). The pheasant sausage was gorgeous and was probably my favourite part of the meal. The Steak was done to perfection with a creamy Béarnaise sauce. Dessert was a shared crème brulee (but I don’t remember getting any) and a cheese plate which I gladly indulged in while J devoured the crème brulee.

After dinner I got lots of lovely gifts from J including a fancy new 5-in-1 reflector for my photography. Once I get the knack of using it you will see much better lighting in my food photographs.

Un peu de Paris

I've never been to Paris but it is one of the cities I have always wanted to visit. I can imagine myself staying in a funky artist’s studio apartment near the hub of the action. Wondering out to investigate this romantic city. Stopping to have a croissant and hot chocolate for breakfast. Watching all the beautiful people go by and wondering what it is that gives the French such style. I have read and heard so much about other peoples experiences in Paris that I feel I have vicariously visited it myself. Unfortunately, I am now on the other side of the world, here in Sydney, and there is little chance of going there anytime soon.



Earlier this year I noticed a new patisserie opened on the route I cycle home from work. It has big open windows that give just a peak at the display cases full of tarts, cakes, pies and quiches. It did catch my attention but it wasn’t until I caught a sniff of the wonderful cloud of sweet cakes baking that I got off my bike and had a look inside. This, to me, is a little bit of Paris, right here in Pyrmont, Sydney. It is tastefully decorated in a light blue with stained glass windows and simple dark brown, wooden tables and chairs. Like the French women – nothing pretentious and flashy just lots of class. I love everything about Francois Pastries but most of all I love the amazing food they have on offer. If I can persuade anyone to come within a 1km radius of this Patisserie they have to visit it with me. Each time I have had the pleasure of eating there is takes me a lifetime to order because I want everything on offer. I try something different each time I visit and I have yet to be disappointed. most recently it was this wonderful strawberry tart that got my tastebuds all a tizzy.

I can’t recommend this place highly enough. I am very lucky to have such easy access to it every day. It takes willpower of steel to keep on pedalling by.

Francois Pastries
Shop 3, 35 Union St
Pyrmont,
Sydney

My new friend Tetsuya

Ok so maybe Mr Wakuda just came to our table to ask us if we were enjoying our meal but it was the start of a great friendship – I could tell. We were very excited to meet the man himself since we've been such huge fans of his food for years. To me, the food is near perfection. Each little morsel is so filled with flavour it is sinful. we ohh'ed and ahh'ed at the marron with asparagus and truffle mayonnaise and the tartare of tuna with fresh wasabi on sushi rice and the spatchcock with braised daikon. But my favourite was the signature dish - Confit of ocean trout pictured above. It just seems to melt in your mouth. I had to make myself eat very small fork full’s to make it last longer.

Mum and Tetsuya

When we finally reached the end this culinary extravaganza and were getting ready to leave in a fuzz of food euphoria my new friend, Tetsuya, came along and treated us to some party bags. Well ok, so everyone that dined there also got a bag but I prefer to think of mine as a personal gift. The bag contained a bottle of Vinaigrette for Salads, a bottle of Vinaigrette for Oysters, a jar of Truffle Salsa and a recipe for making the truffle salsa butter. Now the Tetsuya experience can continue on at home. I did, of course, make the butter the next day and bought some fresh sourdough bread to smother it on. Very moreish.

Mum treated J & I to this amazing degustation meal at Tetsuya’s as a thank you for having her to stay – because, lets be honest, that has been such a chore for us - not. My Mum is the easiest house guest in the world and I am going to miss her so much when she heads back to Ireland later today. But we’ve hidden her cases and we’re in denial about the impending departure.

My liver and digestive system are a little bit the worst for wear. After three weeks of abuse they will be getting a break. I read a post on Running with Tweezers this morning where Tami was doing a detox. I don’t think I could cope with the juice and water regime but salads and light healthy meals will be all the go for the next few weeks while I lose those extra pounds that have snuck on as we have been spoiling ourselves and enjoying some of the best food I have ever had.

My kind of heaven

I have found my ideal holiday destination - Noosa or more specifically Noosa Heads. Noosa is on the Sunshine Coast about 160km north of Brisbane. It really is a little bit of heaven. Mum and I headed up there for a break and we were blessed with five days of glorious sunshine. The shops on Hastings Street are wonderful and many an extravagant purchase was made during our stay. But the most enjoyable part of the holiday was the food. There are so many good restaurants in the area (and the near-by Noosaville) that you are completely spoiled for choice.

We ate out three times a day every day, with the odd ice cream in between to tide us over. Lucky for us, there are some beautiful walks along the beach and through the National Park to help burn off some of the calories.

I didn’t want to take too many photos of the food in case it interfered with our meals but below are a few snaps of some of the fabulous food we enjoyed.

Eggs Benedict from Jasper’s (which was our favourite spot for breakfast). Muscles from Bistro C and an almost perfect Wagyu Steak from the River House Restaurant. These two restaurants got voted our joint favourite for dinner. But other wonderful meals were also had at Season, Berardos - which has the most elegant white and cream décor, and Sails where I took the opening picture while we were waiting to order lunch.

This is a long list of good restaurants but they really are all excellent. The only reason more are not included is because we only had five days there. We wouldn’t have been able to fit into our clothes if we had to stay any longer.

I loved Noosa and all it had to offer. If you’re coming to Australia and you enjoy good food then you have to visit Noosa. If you live in Australia then you have no excuse - it is a must-visit place. I can now see why so many people told me it was their favourite place to holiday.

Raw fish fan

I was brought up in the land of meat and potatoes and the first time I tasted the delights of raw fish was when I came to Sydney eight years ago. But I am definitely making up for lost time, being lucky enough to have an excellent sushi takeaway, Asago, right beside where I work. I have sushi at least once a week for lunch. Incredibly tasty and good for you - what more could you ask for?

For years my favourite restaurant was a sushi place called Go-Bungai which was within walking distance of where we live. This was very handy when we got carried away with the sake. Sadly it closed down last year and ever since we've been on the search for another Japanese to call our favourite.

I will use any excuse to go out for a fancy meal but recently J and I haven't had any romantic meals due to visitors or other commitments. So, when we did eventually get ar