Date Archives November 2015

Devon on Danks, Waterloo

Review November 30, 2015

I’ve been very lucky to have very good friends in my life. Friends who will brunch with you, and support you when you go,

“Hmmmm. Do you think we should order one of everything?”

Okay, so it’s not quite that extreme. But Christine did help me with my gluttony by coming with Alli and me to Devon on Danks – the younger sister of the cafe-award-winning Devon Cafe in Surry Hills.

Because she’s a good friend, that’s why.

Now I’ve had a bit of a mixed experience with Devon. My first experience wasn’t that great, but then the second was much better. Maybe third time’s the charm?

A photo posted by Tammi Kwok (@teafortammi) on Jul 2, 2014 at 1:20am PDT

Mmmmmm all the fish eggs.

Well that Salmon Blini isn’t quite available anymore, and a lot of stuff has changed since. Between the three of us, we ordered the Bruschetta with extra soft egg ($17), Brunching with the Sakuma’s ($27), Annato Spiced Fried Chicken Fillet ($7), Kaya Cronnie ($7), and a DD Special ($12). Okay, so I was exaggerating when I said with ordered one of everything, but we weren’t too far off!

Bruschetta, $17

Bruschetta ($17) first, because it was as close as we were going to get to our 5-a-day in this brunch. Homemade burrata melted onto balsamic chargrilled sourdough gets topped with basil, and confit tomatoes and basil. Very luscious, full of flavour, but curiously lacking the creamy naughtiness that a bursting ball of burrata gives you. A great bruschetta, but WHERE MY BURRATA?!!

Oh, but I really recommend paying the extra $3 to order the soft egg. Not only does it give you great egg porn, but the yolk also soaks into the toast, giving you a squidgy, rich bite.

And besides, the soft whites look like it could’ve been a ball of burrata, so um, we can pretend.

Brunching with the Sakuma’s, $27

Then the dish that has caused a whole ton of debate in my circles – Brunching with the Sakumas ($27). The first incarnation, Breakfast with the Sakumas, had a smoked eel croquette, kewpie mayo, furikake (a Japanese savoury sprinkle that you usually have on rice) and a 63C egg. The salmon at the time, for me, was incredibly dry and overcooked, and for the new-hot-cafe-on-the-block, it just felt like an unacceptable thing.

I’m happy to report that this time, they’ve really upped their game. The roasted salmon is served in a thick piece, rather than a long, thin fillet, and this allows the inside to retain a silky softness, while giving you some serious crunch in the skin. Top points!

It also comes with potato noodles, clam and miso butter, onsen egg, and furikake. And you might be tempted to think that the potato noodles are made of potato starch, like other asian noodles? Nope. It’s spiralised potatoes, which should make the zucchini spaghetti lovers happy. It retained a slight crunch that polarised the table – and by that, I mean that I was the only one who liked it – but I think it provided a great body to otherwise soft textures on the plate.

Good show, Devon on Danks, good show. *slow claps*

Annato Spiced chicken fillet, $7

Christine had already tried The Manny P Burger, so instead of going to whole hog, we order just Annato Spiced Fried Chicken Fillet ($7), with a side of their chilli mayo. Annato refers to a red spice, often used as food colouring in some Spanish cultures, that comes from the seeds of the achiote tree.

But besides a bright orange colour, I’m not sure how much flavour has come across. The chicken didn’t taste unlike typical fried chicken, and not particularly moreish in itself.

Dat chilli mayo, tho. Tangy, salty, creamy…all the qualities you want in a good condiment. If this chilli mayo was on Tinder, I’d swipe right in a heartbeat, and then proceed to stalk it on social media. Trust me when I say that YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE.

Kaya Cronnie, $7

On the sweet side, we got the Kaya ~~Cronut~~ Cronnie ($7). Whoever said that round shapes doesn’t fit in square things was lying. LYING. Deep fried croissant pastry gets pumped full of kaya, which hails from my side of the world: South East Asia.

To call it coconut jam would really be too simple. Think of it like…like Coconut Dulce De Leche, made with coconut cream, egg yolks, and a shit ton of sugar.

Which could bother some people, but you’ve just ordered deep fried pastry. I don’t think the sugar matters.

DD Special, $12

Ah, this next one’s for the true connoisseur. Soft serve and salty chips are one of life’s great pleasures, and Devon on Danks has made a blue pea flower and jasmine soft serve for their DD Special ($12) this week. Blue pea flower is used in very traditional Peranakan desserts to add a sky blue tint, but it doesn’t have a lot of flavour, which is where the palate cleansing jasmine comes in.

Legit.

The staff at Devon on Danks have a much more relaxed vibe than the original, probably because the cafe itself has a chill vibe to it, assisted by wonderfully lit wide open spaces, beautiful decor, and beautiful wood and enamel-coated furnishings. Price-wise, it’s um, not student friendly, but fairly doable if you’re in a large group and splitting the bill. And you know, if you’ve got some savings. The food is well executed, and the seasonal menu means that the chefs are ever improving, which can only mean good things.

This meal was independently paid for.

Devon on Danks
2 Danks St
Waterloo NSW 2017
Phone:+61 2 9698 7795
Website: http://www.devoncafe.com.au

At..Home Thai, Sydney

Review November 29, 2015

Home Thai, Sydney. Sydney Food Blog Review

Remember how I talked about how every conversation with my friends revolve around food? Yep, it’s struck again! This time it was Christine’s birthday, so Simon and I went present shopping.

But first, lunch.

For me, hot days = Thai salads, and Simon recommended the ones at Home Thai on Sussex Street.

Mixed Papaya Salad $11.90

Just like many authentic Thai restaurants, a papaya salad comes in many variations: fermented crab, shrimp, anchovies, sausages, rice noodles…if anyone ever tells you again that a salad is just a bowl of rabbit food, sock ’em in the head with some fermented crab.

That’ll teach them.

We got the Mixed Papaya Salad ($11.90), with vermicelli, pork roll (which is a bit like a Thai ham), Thai anchovies and pork crackling (!!). Because pork crackling makes everything better. This version is a little more sweet, which tempers the fermented flavours of the anchovies and shrimp paste. The soft pork roll and pork crackling added a great contrast of textures, that made this more a satisfying meal than a side dish.

Eastern Thai Sausage ($11.90)

Speaking of side dishes, we also got the Eastern Thai Sausage ($11.90). The texture was more like fresh mince than what you’d necessarily expect from a sausage, and there was a slight sourness that’s typical of this variety. Why it’s sour, I have no idea. But I’m quite happy to eat it all the same.

And because we’re asian, WE MUST HAVE RICE!!

Pork Hock with Rice ($9.90)

Rarrr. Rice monster.

The Pork Hock with Rice ($9.90) was very simply a stewed bit of pork hock, with lots of gravy and rice. There’s just something about the whole hock getting stewed that turns the rind and fat into a lovely soft gelatinous mass, with chunks of fall-apart meat underneath. Unctuous, flavourful, and an absolute favourite at the table.

SAH GOOD.

As for the present, well we didn’t quite find what we were looking for, but we got there in the end. Now who’s birthday’s next…

This meal was independently paid for.

Home Thai
1-2/299 Sussex St
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone:+61 2 9261 5058
Website: http://www.homethaisussex.com.au

The Rice Den, St Leonard’s

Review November 27, 2015

What’s going on with the North Sydney area? It wasn’t until I started looking through my calendar did I realise how many trips I was making into the St. Leonard’s/Crows Nest to eat. Thai Food, Mexican, Burgers…and now, Modern Cantonese.

The Rice Den in St. Leonards takes traditional Cantonese cuisine and gives it a new spin with fresh Australian ingredients. When we first step in, the dark wood furnishings convey a sense of old world charm, while the efficient wait staff bring it all back into the modern day. They knew the menu like the back of their hand, and could make personal recommendations based on solid food knowledge.

So far, so good.

Handmade Cheong Fun, Peanut sesame, hoisin sauce $8

We started with the Handmade Cheong Fun with Peanut Sesame and Hoisin Sauce, $8. Because nostalgia. When I was a kid, Cheong Fun was a daily breakfast. My mum would take me to this hawker stall, downstairs from the kindergarten I went to. A large, rotund man in a thin white wife beater stood, amongst steaming pots, selling rice cakes with radish condiments and rice noodle rolls with hoisin sauce to long queues of dreary-eyed office workers in the building.

The noodles here were soft, tender, but not quite as silky as I wanted them to be. As for the sauce, I could do without the peanut element, but it really did bring childhood memories flooding back for me.

Mixed wild mushroom pancake, $10

But because you can’t live on rice noodles alone – well, you can, but I don’t think you’re meant to – we also got the Mixed Wild Mushroom Pancake ($10) and Rice Wine Cured Ocean Trout with pickled fennel, ginger and soy sauce ($16).

Rice Wine Cured Ocean Trout, Pickled Fennel, Ginger and Soy Sauce $16

The Rice Wine Cured Ocean Trout was seriously kickass, but we all know that I’ve got a bit of a thing for cured fish. Or fresh fish. Or any fish. Doesn’t have to be fish, as long as it comes from the sea. In this case, the rice wine flavour wasn’t particularly obvious, but it really worked as a dish, for me.

Tea smoked chicken salad, rice sheets, peanut sesame and soy dressing, chinkiang vinegar, $16

Crispy soft shell crab, with spicy spanner crab mung bean noodle ($24)

Of the larger bites, we ordered the Tea smoked chicken salad, rice sheets, peanut sesame and soy dressing, chinking vinegar ($16), and the Crispy soft shell crab, with spicy spanner crab mung bean noodle ($24).

Maybe it was the crazy heat, but I was really really feeling the chicken salad, and I’m not even a chicken fan! The smoke really came through without being too overpowering, and the black vinegar dressing kept it refreshing and moreish. A big fat yes.

The Crispy soft shell crab, with spicy spanner crab mung bean noodle ($24) reminded me a little of the Thai claypot crab with glass noodles, mixed a little with chilli crab. There was something really comforting about it, and it was very well made, but somehow wasn’t quite as punchy as the tart chicken salad on a steaming hot day.

French Toast, Dulce de Leche, Peanut Crumble, Mascarpone with matcha green tea, $14

And to finish, French Toast, Dulce de Leche, Peanut Crumble, Mascarpone with matcha green tea ($14). It was crazy rich, with only the green tea mascarpone to cut it. It didn’t quite have the pudding quality that I like in a french toast – My french toasts border on bread pudding – but it was fantastically crispy, and oozing with Dulce de Leche.

I really like what The Rice Den does with bringing old school favourites into the modern day. There’s a whole lot of respect for the cuisine, without taking itself too seriously, which is really what casual dining (to me) is all about. Because not everyone has to spend 10,000hrs perfecting Cantonese techniques.

No, I think we’ll leave that to the old masters.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of The Rice Den.

The Rice Den
30-32 Chandos Street
St Leonards, Sydney
Phone: 02 9438 3612
Website: http://thericeden.com.au

Coffee Box Espresso, Darling Harbour

Review November 25, 2015 1 Comment

With the onset of 38C days, I think it’s safe to say that summer is officially upon us. It sucks, but it’s true. And with all the sweat, tears, and general grumpiness that accompanies it, also comes the headaches, and you know what solves that?

Iced Coffee.

Many ‘serious’ coffee places seem too snooty to do an iced coffee – there’s a stigma that iced coffee is somehow not worth their time because it’s more coffee flavoured milk than a serious caffeine hit. Fair enough, but that leaves people like me in the middle of nowhere, because I’m an unabashed fan of iced coffee that’s forced to either settle for the bottled stuff or make it at home myself.

Well Coffee Box Espresso in Darling Harbour comes to the rescue! Made with a shot of real coffee and scoops of ice cream, they actually make one of the best iced coffees I’ve had in Sydney. Assuming you like iced coffees, of course. Blended and frosty, it was creamy, sweet, and, I can’t stress this enough, made with actual coffee. Caffeine and sugar hit, all at once!

It’s a twofer.

And if iced coffee is a little bit beneath you (no judgement here! *backs away with hands raised*), then a cold drip might be your thing instead. This week, the cold drip coffee came in the form of an Ethiopian Koke Yirgacheffe, with was sweeter and less acidic than most cold drips I’ve had. Very easy to drink, especially for a coffee beginner like me.

Food-wise, I think Coffee Box Espresso do pretty well for a tiny little kitchen that’s pretty much the size of a kiosk. Sandwiches are made daily on-site, and the pastries are baked by “mother dearest”.

I kid you not. The owner’s mother supplies the baked goods, which instantly raises my respect for the place.

Strawberry and Passionfruit Muffin

We tried the Strawberry Passionfruit Muffin, which was covered with a very generous dusting of icing sugar.

Like the kind that will go up in puffs if you breathe too hard on it.

The muffin itself was tender and moist, and fell apart in the best way. Like a heroine in an old school romance movie. A little bit of tart, a little bit of sweet, and a whole lotta soft cakey crumble.

Well done, Mama.

And at the risk of eating dessert before the main – the sky is going to fall down on us! – we also tried the Prosciutto and Egg sandwich.

Prosciuto and Egg Sandwich

Hard boiled eggs – but not too hard boiled! NO GREY RING OF DEATH!- are well, sandwiched between a crusty roll, together with strips of prosciutto, rocket and tomato relish. Very delicious mix of flavours, even though the bread was a bit, um, chewy for my taste. Which wasn’t too hard to fix – just take off the bottom and have it as a tartine!

My mama always said I was a problem solver.

The Coffee Box Espresso may only be a scant eight weeks old, but they seem to have their act together. The owner makes the coffee personally – for every customer, not just for me – and there was a sense of consistency and heart in the work. I’m glad to see a kiosk that tries for standard, rather than just ordering things in for profit and ease, and with the arrival of a new oven soon (so I’m told) it looks like it should go on that way.

Definitely stop by for a quick iced coffee if you’re in the area on a hot day – they aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but they sure do provide a smooth ride.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Coffee Box.

Coffee Box Espresso
Level 2, Harbourside Shopping Centre
2-10 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, NSW
Phone: N.A.

Kansas City Shuffle, The Rocks

Review November 23, 2015

What is breakfast food? Personally, I’m of the camp that any food can be breakfast food if you’re happy eating it first thing in the morning (fried chicken fans, rejoice!), but Sam has very specific categories that he likes to put his food into. For example, to him, rice is not a breakfast food, even though me and most of the Asian population of the world would disagree.

So what about, say, beef brisket?

eef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter

Well, at Kansas City Shuffle, breakfast does indeed include beef brisket with (gasp! Horror!) smoked chilli butter, on a crispy waffle. The secret to making it breakfast? Slapping an egg on it.

Beef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter

True story.

My favourite dish that morning, the beef brisket was oh-so-unctuous, and the waffle just soaked up all that butter. Because clearly ~~my waistline~~ I need more butter in my life. The poached egg I could take it or leave it, but if that’s the one thing allowing me to have this dish first thing in the morning, then I’ll take it.

Fried Chicken Burger

We also ordered the Fried Chicken Burger, which was meant to come inbetween donuts, but we had brioche today because they were having issues with their donut recipe.

Because brioche is such a downgrade, amirite?

The burger itself was nice enough, but strangely enough I didn't actually get anything from the fried chicken. It could’ve been any other patty in there for all the texture and flavour it was giving me. The slaw and the pickle was pulling all the weight, and perhaps it was the lack of donut, but it just made this dish fall short of my expectations a little.

So really, I’ve just been stood up by a doughnut and starfished by fried chicken.

FML.

Pancake with Lemon Curd

And because we’re greedy, pancakes with lemon curd, fresh berries and smoked almond to finish off. As far as the pancake itself, it was a bit doughy for me – you know when it keeps rolling around in your mouth too long? Yeah, like that – but I really liked the sharp tang of the lemon curd. Made me feel like I could’ve eaten more, and that’s always welcome.

Kansas City Shuffle has a great Surry-Hills-vibe to it, with none of the manic frenzy. The chefs seem genuinely happy to be there, and there’s a warmth in all the interactions – I should know, I was right next to the door watching everyone come in. The coffee was excellent, which makes sense since the owner has completed in multiple national coffee competitions, and placed in the top 5!

Sure, the food could have used a little finessing (not the beef though, that was hectic), But they did mention that they were still working out some kinks in the recipes.

So maybe I’d wait a couple weeks for them to find their feet before trying more of the menu. But in the meantime, I think we can agree that anything can be breakfast, as long as there’s an egg on it.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Kansas City Shuffle.

Kansas City Shuffle
195 Gloucester St
The Rocks NSW 2000
Phone:+61 415 362 038
Website: https://www.facebook.com/kansascityshufflesyd/

Mugen Ramen, Melbourne CBD

Review November 22, 2015

I really dislike eating alone. Really, I do. I mean, I almost never ever order just the one thing, and the stares of judgement and mild disbelief from even the most polite waitstaff when I’m sitting, alone, at a table covered with food…well, even I get embarassed too, sometimes.

But sometimes, when you’re all alone in a strange city, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. And in this case, Mugen Ramen was calling my name.

Tsukune, $15

Mugen Ramen, sister to Robot (a bar that lives right next door to it), is known for their Japas menu (Japanese tapas), and Tsukemen: dry ramen dipped in a thick gravy-like broth, perfect for summer where thick steaming bowls of soups have no place.

But ramen never stands alone. The Japanese, in their infinite wisdom have side dishes to accompany. Because variety is the spice of life, right?

Tsukune, $15, is basically a chicken kofta. Seasoned chicken mince is shaped around a skewer and grilled, and youre encouraged to dip it in a fresh egg yolk. Chicken on chicken action, eyyy!

Pipi Sake Mushi, $15

I also can’t go past shellfish without ordering it, so I order yet another dish to go with my ramen. NO JUDGEMENT.

The Pipi Sake Mushi, $15, was a delightful little pot of buttery clams, much like white wine steamed mussels, buy smallet and, well, Japanese. The sake provided a light astringency that cut through the richness of the butter, and enhanced the sweetness of the juicy juicy clams. Yum.

Goma Tsukemen, $13

But the main event: Goma Tsukemen, a thick, salty sesame sauce that coats every strand of the thick ramen noodles. And even for an absolute sodium-fan like me, this was salty. Like screw-your-face-up-dry-your-mouth-out kinda salt levels. Delicious, but halfway through the bowl I was struggling to keep downing it despite the sharp pangs of saltiness on my lips.

Despite the slight seasoning issue – didn’t stop me from eating it all, though! – I really did enjoy the food at Mugen. The basement dining area added to a wonderful underground dining sorta vibe, and well, it just helped me hide from the shame of eating all those dishes by myself.

Service-wise, well, I think there could be some improvements. I made sure to go for a late lunch (2:30pm) on a weekday in order to have my pick of tables, and even though the restaurant was nearly empty, the waitress tried to insist that I sit at the adjacent table to the one I wanted, which was more dimly lit. When I asked why, she said that they might need to seat a larger group and that I might need to move should they need the table back.

Fair enough, though I don’t see why that should happen in an empty restaurant, right? Well, 2 people came along, and then she promptly asked for the table back. At this point, the restaurant was 60% empty!! Even the customers waved me back down and said that they didn’t mind sitting at the next table. I don’t really know what was going on, but it wasn’t necessarily the nicest experience.

But, if you’re not too fussed on service, it’s worth a summer lunch. The food is intensely satisfying, and a classy take on comfort foods. My sorta comfort food, anyway.

Just remember to go with friends. Maybe you’ll get better luck with the tables.

This meal was independently paid for.

Mugen Ramen
11 Bligh Place, CBD
Melbourne, VIC
Phone: 03 9620 3647
Website: http://www.mensousaimugen.com

Limited..Edition Coffee Roasters, Surry Hills

Review November 20, 2015

Sydney Food Blog Review of Edition Coffee Roasters, Darlinghurst

I can count on one hand how much I know about Nordic culture:

1. Alexander Skarsgard
2. IKEA
3. Gravlax

And that’s it. That’s really it. So when Aaron suggests lunch at Edition Coffee Roasters, where “Nordic and Japanese aesthetics meet“, I really didn’t know what to expect. An image of a Japanese Viking popped into my head, and beyond giving me the giggles, gave me no other clue as to what I was going to be in for.

So we follow Google Maps down Liverpool St, pass avant garde furniture shops (are they called lifestyle design, now?) and straight into…well, a MUJI catalogue. I kid you not – a small sun-drenched cafe filled with white tiles and light wood. Very Swedish, and very MUJI. Welcome to Edition Coffee Roasters.

We pour over the very short menu and make our decisions as I am thoroughly distracted by the beautifully carved wooden handles of the cutlery. Can I pop a couple into my handbag without them noticing? Surely they won’t notice if a couple forks go missing?

Thankfully the food arrived before I talked myself into a life of crime, and the cutlery in question was now to be used.

Garden of Valhalla, $16

The Garden of Valhalla, $16, was a riot of colours and flavours, pairing an orange mayonnaise with cos lettuce, radish and boiled potatoes. The cherry on the cake was the coffee cured egg yolk, and provided a sticky saltiness that added a hint of richness that grounded an otherwise delicate dish.

Mushroom Pond, $12

On the more Japanese side of things, the Mushroom Pond, $12, provided a lusciously rich and aromatic take on the comfortingly chewy wheat noodles know as Udon. One of the more well-known Japanese noodles, udon is commonly used in noodle soups and stir-fries (yakiudon). Here, it’s infused with a mushroom sauce to a deliciously nutty brown, and the mushroom cream added a finishing touch, much like vanilla ice cream finishes a warm brownie beautifully.

Fisksoppa, $19

Showcasing the Nordic influence was the Fisksoppa, $19. A delicate shard of pastry, balanced on the top of a creamy blue cod and burnt eschallot stew. It was flavourful, though quite a bit more subtle than the other dishes at the table.

Edition Coffee Roasters is certainly providing so much more than just coffee. It’s an experience: transporting you to a whole other world that’s serene and calm, and filled with expertly prepared and sophisticatedly executed food. Mind you, you are paying rather dearly for the privilege – the Mushroom Pond could’ve been finished in a couple bites if I wasn’t deliberately taking my time.

Go with friends. That way maybe you can finish their food too. ?

This meal was independently paid for.

Edition Coffee Roasters
265 Liverpool Street
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
E-mail: info@editioncoffeeroasters.com
Website: http://editioncoffeeroasters.com

Gyros? Yeeros? The Yeeros Shop, Marrickville

Review November 15, 2015

Lamb Gyros, The Yeeros Shop: Sydney Food Blog Review

“So the other day, Simon and I went for lunch…”

“Do all your stories start out with food?”

Sam got a smack in the arm for that, but you know what? He’s not wrong. All my stories DO start out with food and I’ve got the waistline to show for it. I wear it like a badge of honour, on my…belly.

ANYWAY.

Simon and I DID go out for lunch one rainy afternoon, making a special trip to Marrickville to visit Blackforest Smokehouse for their cured goods, on the same morning we found out that cured meat was bad for you. Like really really bad for you.

Talk about timing, huh?

So packets of bacon and chorizo later, we found ourselves standing outside The Yeeros shop in Marrickville, because it seemed just a little too on-the-nose to just rip into our newly-bought cancer meats like the starving food bloggers that we were.

What’s the difference between Gyros and Yeeros, anyway?

Whatever it is, all I know is that it means for me spiced meat with fresh veggies, rolled in a soft wheat wrap. A thin sheet of baking paper tries its darndest to hold together a straining roll of lamb and sauce, but it really serves little structural purpose, like a woman’s negligee. This meal was designed for you to get messy with it, and messy with it we shall get.

Chunks of browned lamb and shreds of lettuce spill out between my fingers with every bite, and I had the pleasure to lick it off with garlic-vinegar-dipped chunky chips that smelled intensely of potatoes. No no, this wasn’t just the “deep fried chip” aroma that follows you lovingly like a besotted suitor, no. This was some serious potato black magic, and the chips just tasted intensely of the actual vegetable, with every steaming bite that we took.

And it was many many bites, too, because the serving was so large that neither Simon nor I could actually finish it in its entirety. And that’s on top of us sharing one small order of chips. Great to share, although I’m not sure how it would go down with the ‘authentic’ service – I really don’t know what is it about good, hearty food like this that requires brusque service and people who talk to you like you don’t know anything ~~Jon Snow~~, but I’m happy to sign up to the experience.

I am Asian, after all.

Definitely drop by for a shared lunch if you’re in the area, or make the trip out with friends and go on a food crawl! I heard that there’s a really good pickle shop in the area…

This meal was independently paid for.

The Yeeros Shop
431 Illawarra Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: +61 2 9559 1167
Website: theyeerosshop.com.au/

Momo Brasserie, Sydney CBD

Review November 13, 2015 1 Comment

Momo Brasserie Review. Sydney Food Blog Review

Momo’s Wagyu Brioche

I’m not the kind of girl that needs her coffee in the morning to operate. In fact, I’m not the kind of girl to operate in the morning at all.

But that’s besides the point.

Cappuccino

Unlike so many sleep-deprived 20-somethings out there, the caffeine in coffee doesn’t actually have an effect on me, so I’m extra picky about how my coffee tastes. Di Bella Coffee blends and roasts their own coffee out of Queensland. From what I’ve tried at Momo Brasserie, it’s actually a pretty good cuppa. It was aromatic without being burnt and bitter, and unlike many of the coffee places I’ve been to, this didn’t require the cloak of milk and sugar to mask badly handled beans. Very slightly acidic and fruity, with lots of body without a burned aftertaste.

The food was a bit hit and miss for me. The Wagyu Brioche (pictured above), $20, was dry and somewhat uninspiring – not the two words you’d wanna hear in the same sentence as “wagyu” and “brioche”. It was saved entirely by the chips on the plate, though, with just the right amount of crispy to fluffy ratio, and a salty bite that keeps you going back for more.

The New York Pastrami, $19.50, makes all the WHO cancer warnings worthwhile. I love me some cancer meat. A heaping mountain of house-made pastrami lay atop toasted rye with pickles and mustard, and a refreshing slaw and cut through the brininess of the meat. A serving large enough for two, but only eaten by one.

Momo’s New York Pastrami, $19.50

It’s mine, ALL MINE Y’HEAR?!

So good coffee, and okay food. But what about the service? Well, the service was incredibly attentive – I pre-ordered because Sam was on a ticking lunch break, and they paid attention to when he arrived and made the coffee and food accordingly. Very meticulous, and very seamless. Definitely somewhere to go on a lunch break time pump, if only for the coffee and the service, just maybe avoid the burger and get anything with that house made pastrami in it.

Mmmmm. Delicious cancer meat.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Di Bella Coffee.

Momo Brasserie
65 Elizabeth St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9233 8838
Website: www.momobrasserie.com.au/

Grain Bar, Sydney

Review November 11, 2015

Grain Bar, Four Seasons, Sydney. Sydney Food Blog Review

I may not be a drinker, but I’m ashamed to say that I’m a nightmare to any bartender. I see cocktails as food, and I’m very, uh, specific about what and how my drinks are balanced. My usual order is *takes a deep breath* aBloodyMarywithextraTabascoextrasaltlemonnotlimeshakennotstirredchilledbutwithnoice.

You see what I mean?

So it’s nice to finally meet a bartender who shares the same view: cocktails aren’t just there to get drunk on – it’s meant to be absolutely delicious.

Sam-the-boyfriend meets Sammy-the-bartender over whiskey and the beautiful bar at Grain Bar, at The Four Seasons. Let me just take a moment and say that I feel so posh and adult right now.

Look Ma, no hands!

I know that they say that you should never drink on an empty stomach, but it was a lovely day, and we were in a good mood, so what the hey.

If you ever thought that whiskey was just about men with moustaches sitting at bars filled with cigar smoke and dark wood, well…okay there’s an element of that but it’s also so SO much more. Sammy-the-bartender guided us through the smokey peat and liquid gold.

Our favourite was the 18yo Yamazaki: smooth, nutty, and almost unctuous in the way it slides down the throat. But even more than the amazing booze on offer – any bar can stock that – is the sheer vastness of knowledge and passion that Sammy had for the history and cultures that are behind each bottle. He clearly loved what he was doing, and in return, we had an experience that we would be hard pressed to get anywhere else.

But now and we were nice and sloshed up, we were ready for a big feed, and we were quite sure it was going to be better than a 2am kebab run.

Well, we’d hoped. ?

And because we are so thorough, we ordered the Grain Burger, $24, Smokey Meats Platter, $38, Whiskey Cured Salmon, $14, and Maple Bourbon Stuffed Cronuts, $7. I know it’s a lot of food, but hey, how can you make a fair judgement otherwise?

Whisky Cured Salmon, $14

My absolute favourite at the table? The Whiskey Cured Salmon. Velvety slices of salmon cured with salt, sugar of course, whiskey, were served with salmon roe (Think of the children!), that left delicious pops of saltiness in every bite. There were little cracker things, too, but who needs ’em when you have it’s so damned beautiful on its own!

Grain Burger, $24

The Grain Burger and Smokey Meats Platter were a bit on the ‘meh’ side of things. The burger patty was a bit overcooked for my taste, and it wasn’t quite large enough for the bun encasing it. The Smokey Meats were good enough o their own, but when Sydney has been churning out smokey meats the likes of The Oxford Tavern, Parson’s and Vic’s Meats? You just can’t go back from that.

Smokey Meat Platter, $38

And the Cronuts? Well the cronuts were more like a crispy profiterole than cronut, but it was still had lovely pops of sweet custard piped into a thin shell. Not bad, but also not a cronut.

It is definitely clear to me that Grain Bar is all about the whiskey. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a beginner, it really has the variety and the know-how to introduce you into the craft. The food is designed to be a a supporting act, and well, it’s pretty obvious. The overall experience is great – friendly, professional service, and fabulous ambience – but it’s more bar than restaurant, and I’m okay with that.

Although, I would seriously make a trip for the whiskey salmon. It was that good.

Date Archives November 2015

Devon on Danks, Waterloo

This meal was independently paid for.

Devon on Danks
2 Danks St
Waterloo NSW 2017
Phone:+61 2 9698 7795
Website: http://www.devoncafe.com.au

At..Home Thai, Sydney

This meal was independently paid for.

Home Thai
1-2/299 Sussex St
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone:+61 2 9261 5058
Website: http://www.homethaisussex.com.au

The Rice Den, St Leonard’s

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of The Rice Den.

The Rice Den
30-32 Chandos Street
St Leonards, Sydney
Phone: 02 9438 3612
Website: http://thericeden.com.au

Coffee Box Espresso, Darling Harbour

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Coffee Box.

Coffee Box Espresso
Level 2, Harbourside Shopping Centre
2-10 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, NSW
Phone: N.A.

Kansas City Shuffle, The Rocks

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Kansas City Shuffle.

Kansas City Shuffle
195 Gloucester St
The Rocks NSW 2000
Phone:+61 415 362 038
Website: https://www.facebook.com/kansascityshufflesyd/

Mugen Ramen, Melbourne CBD

This meal was independently paid for.

Mugen Ramen
11 Bligh Place, CBD
Melbourne, VIC
Phone: 03 9620 3647
Website: http://www.mensousaimugen.com

Limited..Edition Coffee Roasters, Surry Hills

This meal was independently paid for.

Edition Coffee Roasters
265 Liverpool Street
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
E-mail: info@editioncoffeeroasters.com
Website: http://editioncoffeeroasters.com

Gyros? Yeeros? The Yeeros Shop, Marrickville

This meal was independently paid for.

The Yeeros Shop
431 Illawarra Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: +61 2 9559 1167
Website: theyeerosshop.com.au/

Momo Brasserie, Sydney CBD

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Di Bella Coffee.

Momo Brasserie
65 Elizabeth St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9233 8838
Website: www.momobrasserie.com.au/

Grain Bar, Sydney

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Grain Bar.

Grain Bar
199 George St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9250 3118
Website: www.grainbar.com.au

This meal was independently paid for.

Devon on Danks 2 Danks St Waterloo NSW 2017 Phone:+61 2 9698 7795 Website: http://www.devoncafe.com.au

This meal was independently paid for.

Home Thai 1-2/299 Sussex St Sydney NSW 2000 Phone:+61 2 9261 5058 Website: http://www.homethaisussex.com.au

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of The Rice Den.

The Rice Den 30-32 Chandos Street St Leonards, Sydney Phone: 02 9438 3612 Website: http://thericeden.com.au

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Coffee Box.

Coffee Box Espresso Level 2, Harbourside Shopping Centre 2-10 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, NSW Phone: N.A.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Kansas City Shuffle.

Kansas City Shuffle 195 Gloucester St The Rocks NSW 2000 Phone:+61 415 362 038 Website: https://www.facebook.com/kansascityshufflesyd/

This meal was independently paid for.

Mugen Ramen 11 Bligh Place, CBD Melbourne, VIC Phone: 03 9620 3647 Website: http://www.mensousaimugen.com

This meal was independently paid for.

Edition Coffee Roasters 265 Liverpool Street Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 E-mail: info@editioncoffeeroasters.com Website: http://editioncoffeeroasters.com

This meal was independently paid for.

The Yeeros Shop 431 Illawarra Rd Marrickville NSW 2204 Phone: +61 2 9559 1167 Website: theyeerosshop.com.au/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Di Bella Coffee.

Momo Brasserie 65 Elizabeth St Sydney NSW 2000, Australia Phone: +61 2 9233 8838 Website: www.momobrasserie.com.au/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Grain Bar.

Grain Bar 199 George St Sydney NSW 2000, Australia Phone: +61 2 9250 3118 Website: www.grainbar.com.au

Devon on Danks
2 Danks St
Waterloo NSW 2017
Phone:+61 2 9698 7795
Website: http://www.devoncafe.com.au

Home Thai
1-2/299 Sussex St
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone:+61 2 9261 5058
Website: http://www.homethaisussex.com.au

The Rice Den
30-32 Chandos Street
St Leonards, Sydney
Phone: 02 9438 3612
Website: http://thericeden.com.au

Coffee Box Espresso
Level 2, Harbourside Shopping Centre
2-10 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, NSW
Phone: N.A.

Kansas City Shuffle
195 Gloucester St
The Rocks NSW 2000
Phone:+61 415 362 038
Website: https://www.facebook.com/kansascityshufflesyd/

Mugen Ramen
11 Bligh Place, CBD
Melbourne, VIC
Phone: 03 9620 3647
Website: http://www.mensousaimugen.com

Edition Coffee Roasters
265 Liverpool Street
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
E-mail: info@editioncoffeeroasters.com
Website: http://editioncoffeeroasters.com

The Yeeros Shop
431 Illawarra Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: +61 2 9559 1167
Website: theyeerosshop.com.au/

Momo Brasserie
65 Elizabeth St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9233 8838
Website: www.momobrasserie.com.au/

Grain Bar
199 George St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9250 3118
Website: www.grainbar.com.au