Date Archives August 2015

He’s in love with that..Koko Black, Sydney CBD

Sydney Food Blog Review of Koko Black, Sydney CBD

A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

Screw diamonds, I say. Chocolate has been a more dependable best friend to many girls around the world, and has the ability to literally make you feel more warm and fuzzy inside.

Especially when it comes in the form of a rich, dark chocolate.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Koko Black, Sydney CBD: Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

Koko Black is one of the latest Melbourne “imports” to arrive in Sydney, and when it comes to chocolate and all things decadent, Sydney pretty much has no self-restraint.

The salon downstairs provide a nook for you to relax with your chocolate of choice, and at the risk of sounding slightly blasphemous, their hot chocolate is SO much better than Lindt, Guylian or Max Brenner. Rich but still drinkable, Koko Black strikes a good balance between thick, pure chocolate sludge, and thin chocolate milk.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Koko Black, Sydney CBD: Chocolate Gateau

The Chocolate Gateau was stood firmly on the rich side of things, and it taught me a firm lesson that even though it may seem like a good idea, I shouldn’t order more than two things off the menu at the same time.

It was, though, a lovely experience. The cafe staff were efficient without being hovering, and there was a feeling that you could hang out there all afternoon without being chased away.

Oh and if you’re thinking about buying some chocolate to take home, just a note that Koko Black’s eating chocolate doesn’t seem to have quite the same amount of cocoa butter as say, Lindt, which means that it’s not quite as sexy. A bit like when you bring home that chick that looks hot in a dark club.

But yeah, stick to the hot chocolate. =)

This meal was independently paid for.
Koko Black
412-414 George St
Sydney, NSW
Phone: (02) 9230 0069
Website: http://www.kokoblack.com/category/salon/sydney/

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De…Luxe Woollahra

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra

From cafe, to bakery, to restaurant, Sydney’s Luxe seems intent on TAKING OVER THE WORLD. Okay, maybe I’ve been watching one too many action movies, but you get the idea.

Luxe started from a little cafe in Westfield’s Bondi, and then proceeded to open a bakery in Newtown to control the quality of the baked goods they serve. And now, they’ve moved on to restaurants, opening the first one in Singapore earlier this year, and now a beautiful location in Woollahra accented in white and gold.

Very…lux!

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Grilled Octopus with Chui's XO SauceGrilled Octopus with Chui’s XO Sauce

And with Chef Chui Lee Luk on board – whom I had previously met at Asia Town – I jumped at the invite to sample their new winter menu.

We started off with Grilled Octopus with Chui’s XO Sauce. Tender pieces of octopus are balanced with cooked capsicum, and Chui’s take on the omnipresent XO sauce that is used everywhere in Asian cooking. Traditionally, XO sauce is made with dried shrimp, scallops, chinese dried ham, chilli, garlic and ginger (amongst the bazillion other ingredients that could be in there). Here, Chui uses bacon instead of chinese ham to echo the other parts of the Luxe menu that already uses bacon.

And really, there’s always a reason to use bacon.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Roasted Barramundi, Plum Pickled Eggplant, Ginger Butter Sauce. Roasted Barramundi, Plum Pickled Eggplant, Ginger Butter Sauce

For mains, we were served up the Roasted Barramundi, Plum Pickled Eggplant and Ginger Butter Sauce, and Balsamic Glazed Duck to share.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Balsamic Glazed DuckBalsamic Glazed Duck

And of course, veggies, because…something something balanced diet.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Broccoli and HazelnutsBroccoli and Hazelnuts

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Luxe SlawLuxe Slaw

Chui has extensive experience as a chef and an intimate understanding of Asian ingredients, and it definitely shows in the conception and execution of this menu. The umeboshi (Japanese plum) pickled eggplant delivered pops of tartness which made the Roasted Barramundi incredibly more-ish, and the slaw and broccoli lightened up the rich, dark balsamic glazed duck.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Pear and Apple Tart Pear and Apple Tart

And even though we ate SO MUCH – I can’t help myself – I actually walked away still feeling light and food coma-free! Even with a Pear and Apple Tart for dessert, it was a nice kind of full. I would have liked to see more Asian elements from Chui given that I know how well she can manipulate the ingredients, but it’s really decent food in very posh surroundings. I really liked how they married the “luxe” decor with a relaxed cafe style service, and a menu that sits somewhere in-between.

If this is the winter menu, I really need to go back and have a look at their lunch!

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Luxe Woollahra.
Luxe Woollahra
118 Queen St
Woollahra, NSW
Website: http://luxesydney.com.au

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More than just dumplings: Din Tai Fung, Chippendale

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park

Din Tai Fung. Soup dumplings. I swear there is no other association. It’s always been the place where families go to celebrate special occasions, and order steaming baskets upon steaming baskets full of juicy, soupy signature xiao long baos.

And other stuff. There’s always other stuff.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Silken Tofu with Pork Floss and Century EggSilken Tofu with Pork Floss and Century Egg, $8.80

Other stuff, like the Silken Tofu with Pork Floss and Century Egg, $8.80. Century egg is fermented to create that black jelly-like texture, which provides rich notes to the light tofu and sweet pork floss. I only eat century eggs in very specific circumstances, and this is one of them. There’s just something so light and refreshing about it, and yet it whets my appetite for more.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wonton with Dry NoodleSpicy Shrimp and Pork Wonton with Dry Noodle, $13.80

The Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wonton with Dry Noodle, $13.80,also hit all the right notes, with silky wonton skin, savoury chilli oil, and tender, springy noodles. There’s just something about this that reminds me of wonton noodles of my childhood, except executed with so much more finesse, and biased as I am, that chilli oil just makes it.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Crispy Fried Chicken with ChilliCrispy Fried Chicken with Chilli, $16.80

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Green Bean with Minced PorkGreen Bean with Minced Pork, $15.80

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Steamed Pork DumplingSteamed Pork Dumpling,$10.80

But of course, dumplings. Must have dumplings. The Steamed Pork Dumpling, $10.80, never disappoints, with its paper thin skin filled with a juicy pork filling, bursting with soup the moment you bite into it. And the most impressive thing isn’t that each dumpling portion is weighed and steamed to an exact science. No, it’s really that the experience at Din Tai Fung is the same ALL OVER THE WORLD.

And that’s so hard to do when it’s a global brand.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Black truffle pork dumplingBlack truffle pork dumpling, $4.80 per pc

Speaking of which, I was so glad to see that they also brought their Black Truffle Pork Dumpling, $4.80 each, to Sydney! After stalking it through Instagram for aggeeess, I finally get to try these lightly truffle perfumed mouthfuls that leave a lingering sense of both luxuriousness and poverty.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Signature DrinksSignature Drinks

Maybe we could wash it all down with a Yuzu Peach drink? Refreshing, citrusy, and utterly delicious.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Golden Taro BreadGolden Taro Bread, $6.80

Now, on to desserts!

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park: Golden Lava BunGolden Lava Bun, $7 for 3pc

The Golden Lava Bun, $7 for 3 pcs, is the wet dream of all salted egg yolk fans out there. The rich custard is made from the salted yolks of duck eggs, which give it a slightly grainy texture, oozing out of a sweet fluffy bun. YAAAASSSSSS.

I’m really quite impressed by the consistency across countries, and by their professional looking earpieces. I mean, any service staff walking around looking like the secret service has to know what they’re doing right?

And added to all of that, Din Tai Fung at The Living Mall is located near massive windows, letting in beautiful afternoon light, adding to a beautiful mood while enjoying your meal. Ticks all of my boxes, for sure.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of The Living Mall.
Din Tai Fung
2nd Floor, Central Park
28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW
Phone: 02 8072 9427
Website: https://www.dintaifungaustralia.com.au

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