Date Archives January 2016

Hello…Kitty Diner, Chatswood

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood

Gee Gee Burger, $12: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog Review

Sometimes it doesn’t matter what the reviews say. If you put a dish like Crispy Lamb Ribs on the menu, I will show up. And I will drag Christine and Simon along with me. Like how we ended up at the Hello Kitty Diner…

And made this.

Our Freakshake creation: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewWhat happens when you cross a milkshake with a doughnut and a soft serve?

Simon is not impressed.

Simon is not impressed: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog Review


The Order:

Crispy lamb ribs, $10
With sweet soy, mint, sesame seeds

Southern fried chicken, $10
With waffles, bourbon barrelled maple syrup

Gee Gee Burger, $12
Korean fried chicken, cucumber kimchi, pickled vegetables, Asian slaw

Sweet potato fries, $6
With Miso Mayonnaise

Doughnut Soft Serve

Doughnut

Yuzu curd and white chocolate milkshake, $8


The Food:

Never has there been such a roller coaster of emotions when it comes to a menu. First I got all excited because Warren Turnbull of Chur Burger fame (and just all round chef who knows his food) designed the menu. I mean, how wrong can it get, right?

Then the deluge of reviews came through, and let’s just say that people were less than impressed. Quite a bit less. Reviews ran the gamut of saying that you’d go more for the kitsch of the theme than the food, to saying that it was downright nasty (I’m paraphrasing here). Either way, it didn’t look good for our tastebuds, but I was adamant on getting my hands on those lamb ribs.

Crispy lamb ribs, $10: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewCrispy lamb ribs, $10

Ahh lamb ribs. My second favourite of the rib variety – after beef ribs, of course – and I’m glad to say that this doesn’t change things. Lightly coated with corn flour, there was just the slightest crunch before it gives way to unctuous meat, the richness of which is enhanced with the sweet soy sauce. Because sugar is delicious, amirite?

Southern fried chicken, $10: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewSouthern fried chicken, $10

The rest though, didn’t fare quite as well and fell into the “okay” category. The chicken in the Southern Fried Chicken was pretty decent, but the sad state of the waffles let it down. It was stale, and tasted like waffles that had been pre-cooked and heated in the microwave. Even the novelty of having it Hello-Kitty-shaped couldn’t save it.

Gee Gee Burger, $12: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewGee Gee Burger, $12

The Gee Gee was in a similar boat, with a decent balance of flavours, but dry bun. It’s like you could see where they were trying to go with it, but they never quite got there.

Sweet potato fries, $6: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewSweet potato fries, $6

The Sweet Potato Fries were pretty edible, but no where close to the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever had in Sydney. Even with the miso mayo – and you know I’ll eat anything that’s got miso in it.

Doughnut: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog Review Doughnut

Doughnut flavoured soft serve: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewDoughnut flavoured soft serve

Of the sweets, the Doughnut and Doughnut soft serve was dutifully adorned with Hello Kitty themed decorations, but when it comes down to it, the ice cream tasted like plain vanilla – which is okay except when you’re selling it as doughnut flavoured – and the strawberry flavoured doughnut was so sweet that I’m still buzzing from the sugar high days later.

The real travesty, though, was the Yuzu Curd and White Chocolate Milkshake. It’s as if who made this never had yuzu before. It was faintly chemical in taste, and on top of everything, runny like the texture of milk. We all took a sip each, and the glass was banished to the end of the table, behind the water glasses.

I guess what Simon said really summed up the food, ” I wouldn’t be angry if I was served this again”. Sure, the menu is designed by a really good chef, but it’s a bit like Apple being designed in California – no one said anything about execution. With mostly okay-but-not-mind-blowing dishes, you really start to wonder how much the novelty of it all is really carrying the diner.

Food: 0.5/1


The Service:

The Hello Kitty Diner seems to be staffed mostly by teenage girls, which seems fitting given the theme, no? They aren’t the most experienced of staff, but at least they don’t look like they were tortured into being there, which is saying a lot. They were polite enough, and we really appreciated the little things, like waters being replenished efficiently, but not much personality otherwise.

Well, this one girl did seemed sorry that we pretty much left the milkshake untouched, but that’s about it.

Service: 0.5/1


Value for money:

It’s not the most filling meal you could have at Chatswood, but $10 for a plate of ribs is not too shabby either. The burger was of a similar price and size to Chur, except for the drop in quality, so it’s also not the worst thing you could spend your money on.

But really, you’re there for the kitsch. Let’s not kid ourselves.

Value for money: 0.5/1


The Vibe:

I actually love how the diner is decked out. It actually feels like how I imagined a Hello Kitty Diner would look like as a 10 year-old, and I like how they get the message across without shoving your face in it.

And we all know how I love a good theme. 😉

The Vibe: 1/1


And finally,

There are no illusions here. The Hello Kitty Diner isn’t the epitome of fine dining, and you know what? It never said it was either. It’s there for the fans and people who love the novelty, and by the way, you can eat there too. All we could ask of it is that the food doesn’t suck, and in that regard, we were pleasantly surprised.

Just don’t order that Yuzu curd and white chocolate milkshake. Just please. Don’t.

Bonus Points: 0/1

This meal was independently paid for.
Hello Kitty Diner
The District, Chatswood Interchange
436 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, Sydney
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hellokittydineraustralia/

Hello Kitty Diner Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Kangaroo Burger Recipe

Food Recipe 1 Comment
Kangaroo Burger Recipe, with Beetroot, Fresh Tomatoes, Pickles and Cheese! And Bacon, of course.

WOOOOOOOOO!!!! I’m so excited to finally be releasing my first Periscope recipe – it’s taken a crazy amount of planning, but we’re finally ready to kick off!

This week is all about ‘Straya, mate, as we make a Kangaroo Burger, complete with beetroot and bacon, because how else would you have your burger? Kangaroo can be a slightly gamey meat to eat, which makes it perfect to take on heavy hitting spices and flavours! It’s also crazy lean, which just begs for some added fat.

Bacon fat? Why yes, don’t mind if I do.

Kangaroo Burger Recipe

Tammi Kwok
A truly Australian barbecue isn't complete without our coat of arms. This Kangaroo Burger is a great way to try kangaroo meat for the first time - covered in cheese and topped with bacon. Like nature intended.
Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

For the Patties

  • 500 g Kangaroo Mince
  • 100 g bacon fat* minced (optional)
  • 2 g salt 1/2 tsp
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried garlic flakes
  • 1/2 tsp dried onion flakes
  • 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper
  • 2 birds eye chilli finely chopped (optional)

For the burger

  • 5 bread rolls or small burger buns
  • 5 slices of bacon
  • 5 slices of colby cheese
  • 5 slices of tinned beetroot drained
  • Sliced pickles
  • 2 ripe tomatoes sliced
  • 5 tbsp of mayonnaise

Instructions
 

For the patty

  • Add all the ingredients for the patty into a bowl and mix well.
  • If possible, leave overnight for the flavours to develop.

For the burger

  • Starting with a wide, cold pan over medium heat, fry the bacon till crispy and most of the fat has rendered.
  • Remove the bacon to rest on paper towels, leaving the fat in the pan.
  • Split the buns into half, and place inside-down into the hot pan of bacon fat to toast. This is what brings it to the next level. Alternatively, you can butter the insides of the buns and toast them that way, too.
  • Remove the buns, and divide the meat into 5 patties. Shape them with your hands and carefully place into the hot, oiled pan (or barbecue). Leave for 2 min till seared, and then flip.
  • Top cooked side with slices of cheese, and cover. Leave for another minute till cheese is melted and patty is cooked.
  • Spread both sides of toasted buns with mayonnaise, then layer tomatoes, beetroot, pickle, cheese-topped patty and bacon, before topping with other bun.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

*I use the extra fat trimmings from my bacon to make it an extra luxurious burger, but feel free to leave it out if you don't have any on hand!

But wait, there’s more! I’d love to see your versions of this recipe and what you think of it! Take a photo and remember to tag @TeaForTammi or Wusthof Australia on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and we’ll share our favourites! We’ll be Periscoping and sharing a recipe every week, so don’t worry if you’ve arrived here fashionably late to the party. Simply join us 6:30pm (Sydney time) every Wednesday for more delicious food, and follow @TeaForTammi to get notified when we go live!

Kimchi and Parmesan Waffles Recipe

Food Recipe 1 Comment
Kimchi and Parmesan Waffles Recipe

What do your friends do when they go overseas? Perhaps give you a small souvenir upon their return? Well, mine gives me food…BEFORE they leave for the holiday. Yep, our circle of friends are very useful for clearing fridges and cupboards, as well as providing willing guinea pigs for all types of crazy recipe testing.

Because foodie friends are the best.

As a result, I found myself staring at an open carton of buttermilk, tubs of homemade kimchi, and cheese that had to get used up. You may think, “kimchi pancakes?”, but I challenge you, CHALLENGE YOU to follow me on this journey of something more…kimchi and parmesan WAFFLES.
Read More

Mado Cafe, Auburn

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Mado Cafe, Auburn

Mado Cafe, Auburn. Sydney Food Blog Review

I don’t often get to head out to Auburn, but when we do, I like to make it count. So the obvious thing after an Afghan dinner at Khaybar with Simon and Christine is ice cream at Mado Cafe. Especially when it’s “the only ice cream in the world eaten with a knife and fork”.

Say whaaaaaa…???


The Order:

Cay (Turkish Tea), $2

Apple Tea, $3.50

Kesme Maras, $7.50
The only ice cream in the world eaten with a knife and fork

Baklava, $2.50

Kunefe, $10


The Food:

The dessert of the hour, the Kesme Maras, is meant to have a thick, chewy texture that makes cutlery a requirement. Served in a large block, it reminded me of the ice cream sandwiches of my childhood, were vendors slice it up straight out of the cardboard prisons that barely restrain the creamy treat.

Oh yeah, didn’t I mention that ice cream sandwiches in Singapore are served in bread like an actual sandwich. None of that copout cookie business here!

Kesme Maras, $7.50: Mado Cafe, Auburn. Sydney Food Blog ReviewKesme Maras, $7.50

Kesme Maras, $7.50: Mado Cafe, Auburn. Sydney Food Blog Review

Anyhoo. The Kesme Maras in this case wasn’t quite as chewy in texture as I’d hoped, like the one from Hakiki in Newtown. It ate like rich block of vanilla ice cream, topped with sauce and pistachio. Not bad, but not that special either.

Kunefe, $10: Mado Cafe, Auburn. Sydney Food Blog ReviewKunefe, $10

The Kunefe sat in a similar league for me: I’ve come to love the rich, cheesy, oozing Knefe that I’ve had from other Lebanese places, covered in semolina and orange blossom syrup, and this one was just a little on the light side. The crispy pastry added a nice texture, but where my cheese at??

Kunefe, $10: Mado Cafe, Auburn. Sydney Food Blog Review

Oh, there you are!

As you can see, not very heavy in the cheese department.

The baklava wasn’t my favourite, either – I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure the texture was a little bit powdery. At least, for my taste.

Oh but do get yourself a Turkish tea whilst you’re there. Just a little something to cut all that sweet.

Food: 0.5/1


The Service:

They were fairly efficient and friendly, but I did feel fairly embarrassed when I asked about the difference between Turkish Tea and regular tea (they have it specifically labelled on their menu), and our waiter said, “uh, it’s just tea. Like, black tea”. Well, I’m sorry i didn’t know!

The embarrassment wasn’t enough to ruin the evening, but it was enough for me to remember the service by. So…not bad, but not great, either.

Service: 0.5/1


Value for money:

I don’t know how I feel paying $10 for that Kunefe and $7.50 for the Kesme Maras. I get that it’s a dessert and all, and it’s pretty reasonable for a dessert pricing, but at the same time, I’m not sure that for what I got I was happy with the value. I’m not bitterly mourning the loss in my wallet, but at the same time, I don’t think that I’m going to be running back anytime soon, especially if I’m feeling broke and selective about my food.

Value for money: 0/1


The Vibe:

Walking into Mado Cafe was like walking into someone’s house. I’m serious. The chairs were upholstered with boldly printed fabric, and there were embroidered tapestry runners laid under glass tabletops. Jaunty pop music played softly from the speakers (I thought I heard me a little Uptown Funk?), and it really was like relaxing at a friend’s house.

It was also really nice that they didn’t chase us out as we sat there for a couple hours chatting. An added bonus to a very relaxing evening.

Vibe: 0.5/1


And finally,

It’s really such a shame that the famed Kesme Maras wasn’t as mind-blowing as I thought it would be. It was still a nice place to sit and relax after dinner, but Auburn is filled with bakeries and middle eastern sweet shops that I wouldn’t necessarily label this one a must-go.

Bonus points: 0/1

This meal was independently paid for.
Mado Cafe
63 Auburn Road
Auburn, NSW
Phone: 02 9643 5299

Mado Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Busshari, Potts Point

Review 9 Comments
Sydney Food Blog Review of Busshari, Potts Point

Soba & Somen, $20: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog Review

It’s been disgustingly hot, hasn’t it? And you know it’s bad, when the lovely manager of Busshari, Yuko, apologises profusely for the heat and assures you that the air-conditioning is indeed running, as you walk in the door. I can see what she means though – no sooner had I positioned myself at the counter, I was covered in a sheen of sweat.

DAMN YOU AND YOUR CRAZY WEATHER SYDNEY!

Needless to say, it was a really good time to be eating cold food – Yuko suggested the Seafood Sashimi and Seasonal Vegetable Salad, Soba and Somen, and we were definitely not going to turn that down.


The Order:

Ocean trout belly nigiri, $8 for 2pcs
Toro nigiri sushi, $12 for 2pc

Seafood sashimi and seasonal vegetable salad, $27

Deep fried flounder, $28

Grilled Scampi with sea salt, green tea oil, $26

Soba & Somen, $20
Chilled green tea soba and Somen with shiitake mushroom, prawn and radish wasabi

Matcha Ice Cream


The Food:

If you truly do eat with your eyes, then the food at Busshari is an exquisite feast. Everything came out looking stunning – piles of food artfully arranged on stone plates that conveyed a modern Japanese aesthetic.

Ocean trout belly nigiri, $8 for 2pcs: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog ReviewOcean trout belly nigiri, $8 for 2pcs

Toro nigiri sushi, $12 for 2pc: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog ReviewToro nigiri sushi, $12 for 2pcs

We started with pieces of Ocean Trout Belly Nigiri and Toro Nigiri Sushi. Tender melt-in-your-mouth slices of fish are wrapped around 2cm-wide batons of rice, forming the perfect mouthful. Unctuous, luscious, and luxurious, these easy bites were a great start to our evening.

Seafood sashimi and seasonal vegetable salad, $27: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog ReviewSeafood sashimi and seasonal vegetable salad, $27

Then we got a bit more stuck in with the Seafood Sashimi and Seasonal Vegetable Salad. Whoever said that salads were measly rabbit food clearly had not seen this salad before. A veritable mountain of salad leaves were thoroughly covered in a sweet/savoury dressing, and adorned with a variety of fresh, sliced fish, assorted seafood, and finished with a nest of white radish and a Renkon (lotus root) chip. It was refreshing, simple, and oh so filling. Order to share, or as a main on a hot day. Either way, win-win.

Deep fried flounder, $28: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog ReviewDeep fried flounder, $28

The salad was immediately followed by another ‘wow’ dish: the Deep Fried Flounder. Pieces of fish are lightly battered and fried, and set on the crispy bones of the flounder bent into a graceful arch. I didn’t eat the bones this time – didn’t want to seem unladylike – but Yuko tells me that 1 in 3 customers down the whole thing, bones and all!

Grilled Scampi with sea salt, green tea oil, $26: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog ReviewGrilled Scampi with sea salt, green tea oil, $26

And then, we indulge my obsession with shellfish: the Grilled Scampi with Sea Salt and Green Tea Oil was soft and buttery, although I was missing any noticeable flavour of green tea. But really, we all know that I’d eat shellfish done any which way, so really, no loss there!

Soba & Somen, $20: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog ReviewSoba & Somen, $20

And then the last savoury dish – Soba and Somen. Chilled green tea buckwheat, and wheat noodles are arranged in a waterfall, with little pots of sauce that you dip the noodles in and slurp up. The shiitake mushrooms – served on the side – were the best bit of this, though. Slices of rehydrated mushrooms are marinated in a sweet soy mixture, and the result is a meaty, moreish bite. So good.

Matcha Ice Cream: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog ReviewMatcha Ice Cream

And just when we thought that we couldn’t eat any more – who am I kidding? We were that full by the time we finished the salad – scoops of creamy matcha ice cream come out, anointed with sweetened red bean paste. Not quite the best of all the matcha ice cream I’ve had – ahh Meiji you maker of addictive frozen desserts – but it was pretty good, especially when you can get it for free!

Food: 1/1


The Service:

I know that it’s hard to comment on the service because I was dining as a guest, but from my vantage point at the counter, it did genuinely look like everyone was having a great time. Waters were consistently getting topped up, and orders were flying off the pass at lightning speed…did I mention that this was also one of the calmest kitchens that I’ve had the pleasure of watching? We felt like we were in very good hands, and it was an absolute joy.

Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog Review

Service: 1/1


Value for money:

Busshari is not where you go for a night out that’s light on your wallet, much like the rest of Potts Point. Not that it’s particularly taxing either, but $27 for a main-sized salad – even though it’s got lovely slices of fresh seafood – still would have me hard pressed to slap the “bang for your buck” label on it.

Seafood sashimi and seasonal vegetable salad, $27: Busshari, Potts Point. Sydney Food Blog ReviewSeafood sashimi and seasonal vegetable salad, $27

Still a nice restaurant for a classy dinner out, though. A worthy choice, especially if you’re in the area.

Value for money: 0.5/1


The Vibe:

I guess “casual” would be the best way to describe both the cuisine style and the crowd. There certainly wasn’t the hushed quietness of some Japanese restaurants I’ve been to, but Busshari also weren’t going out of their way to emulate the hipster crowd of the inner city. Go for a relaxed evening…because sushi and chill, right?

Vibe: 0.5/1


And finally,

I do absolutely feel like we were thoroughly spoilt by Chef Nobu – who has been at Busshari for the whole 10 years they’ve been open! – and the Busshari team. Chef steadily worked through the many orders that were coming through on the printer, expertly handling the many varieties of fish that they kept on hand.

If you’re into your sake, they also have a Yuzu sake in stock that is so deliciously light, it’s like drinking juice. Highly recommended, if you’re of the Sake persuasion. Trust me, you’ll want to be.

And don’t forget to flash your Washoku Lovers membership when you go to get a free scoop of matcha ice cream! Don’t say I don’t hook you up! ?

Bonus Points: 0.5/1

Washoku Lovers is a free membership programme that gives you perks to many Japanese restaurants in Sydney! We also have visited other restaurants participating in the Washoku Lovers programme, like Tamagetaya and Manpuku Ramen! To find out more about the programme and sign up, visit www.washokulovers.com.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Washoku Lovers.
Busshari
119 Macleay St
Potts Point NSW 2011
Phone:+61 2 9357 4555
Website: https://www.facebook.com/bussharipottspoint

Busshari Authentic Japanese Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

257 Home Kitchen, Eastwood

Review 2 Comments
Sydney Food Blog Review of 257 Home Kitchen, Eastwood

257 Home Kitchen, Eastwood. Sydney Food Blog Review

Coming from a country like Singapore, I’ve been taught from a very early age to trust a queue. That is, if there’s a queue outside a restaurant, they MUST be good. Cause all these people can’t be wrong, right? Especially in an Asian-heavy suburb like Eastwood: if I’m hungry and there are people queueing out the door of 257 Home Kitchen, it should be a safe bet that we’ll have a good dinner.

Right? RIGHT??


The Order:

Pan-seared pork dumpling, $10.80

Jellyfish with scallion oil, $13.80

Braised Pork Belly with Eggs, $22.80

Steamed Cod Fish with Preserved Vegetables, $18.80

Eggplants and Octopus with Soy Bean Paste, $18.80


The Food:

After reading online that the food was authentic and that it was well worth the wait, I decided to put the menu to the test. Yes, we ordered this much food for the blog. Not that I was greedy, or anything.

Pan-seared pork dumpling, $10.80: 257 Home Kitchen, Eastwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewPan-seared pork dumpling, $10.80

The Pan-seared pork dumpling, $10.80, was okay, if a little doughy for my taste. The filling was appropriately juicy and well, porky, but the there was something vaguely chalky about the wrapping that reminded me of factory-made dumplings that I’ve tasted elsewhere before.

Jellyfish with scallion oil, $13.80: 257 Home Kitchen, Eastwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewJellyfish with scallion oil, $13.80

The Jellyfish with scallion oil, $13.80, was a little different from the Japanese style jellyfish salads that I’ve had at other restaurants. Rather than thin strips, this one used the thicker parts of the jelly fish, cut into shorter pieces that provided a similar mouth-feel to the tapioca balls that you find at the bottom of your bubble tea, except crunchy instead of chewy. It was also only very lightly seasoned, which does not bode well if you like a little more flavour to go with your jellyfish. A bit meh, and I much prefer the other versions.

Braised Pork Belly with Eggs, $22.80: 257 Home Kitchen, Eastwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewBraised Pork Belly with Eggs, $22.80

I think the favourite at the table was the Braised Pork Belly with Eggs, $22.80. A classic Chinese dish, this involves cooking cubes of fatty pork belly in a soy based stock, with quail eggs added in for texture. The result is a tender, gelatinous pork, with lots of dark, rich sauce for you to spoon over a bowl of rice.

Steamed Cod Fish with Preserved Vegetables, $18.80: 257 Home Kitchen, Eastwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewSteamed Cod Fish with Preserved Vegetables, $18.80

I ordered the Steamed Cod Fish with Preserved Vegetables, $18.80, mostly because I haven’t seen many restaurants give the option of Snow Cod (or halibut), and it’s one of my favourite fishes (fish?). Steaming it over a bed of preserved vegetables brought back memories of my mother’s cooking, and the gravy of soy, veg, and juices off the fish seasoned it just enough. A fair warning though: this is no boneless fillet. You’re meant to pick at the fish daintily with chopsticks, or risk a mouthful of prickly bones!

Eggplants and Octopus with Soy Bean Paste, $18.80: 257 Home Kitchen, Eastwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewEggplants and Octopus with Soy Bean Paste, $18.80

Sam and I ADORE eggplant, and coupled with my love for octopus, the Eggplant and Octopus with Soy Bean Paste, $18.80, seemed like an obvious dish to order for our veg component. This one was a bit of a let down for me. Most eggplant dishes I’ve had in Chinese restaurants are rich and thick, with punchy flavours that bring out the body of the eggplant. This particular one was a bit limp for me – the eggplant was a bad kind of mushy, and somehow the octopus took on nothing of the flavours around it. The rice cakes, though, I did thoroughly enjoy. Slices of chewy cakes litter the dish like pockets of treasure – it was the only reason that I ate this at all.

Food: 0.5/1


The Service:

I’ve never had such a dichotomy of experiences in the same restaurant, on the same visit. We started out in “shockingly bad” territory, with the waitress skipping right past us to the next person in the queue, after a 15min wait. When we asked about it, she said she assumed that we were with the people behind us, even though we were standing fairly far apart from them, were the first people in the queue at this point, and had no contact with them at all. Thankfully, she redeemed herself by immediately offering us a table.

Then during the meal, the service was excellent, with our waters efficiently kept topped up, and our food arriving pretty quickly. It wasn’t hard at all to get their attention, and requests for chilli sauce were filled with no trouble at all. Things were looking up, and the hanger was passing. Well, except for the one bit of confusion where our dumplings took a little longer, and then all of a sudden we were presented with two orders, instead of one. ?

So I guess it’s a middle-of-the-road score for service, since the good and the bad evened out? Still fairly bizarre, though.

Service: 0.5/1


Value for money:

This is definitely NOT somewhere you’d go to dine alone. For one, the portions are quite a bit larger than a single person’s meal, but they also charge you for it.

The jelly fish, for example, was the one I could justify the least – $13.80 for a tiny salad? Not when I can get better just by walking down the street. The eggplant was also a bit on the pricey side for me. Even when you consider the super tiny pieces of octopus, I don’t think I can justify shelling out nearly $20 to order this dish a second time.

Even when you apply Asian metrics to this meal – because the menu is built for sharing, the cost per head gets cheaper if you dine in a larger group – it’s still a fairly expensive meal for the home style dishes that they serve.

And it’s not even in the CBD!

Value for money: 0/1


The Vibe:

I do like the hipster deco of the restaurant (wood and tile surfaces) and the busyness of it all really does add to a modern Asian restaurant sort of feel. The crockery also matched the feel of the interior design, tying it all together in an elegance I appreciate.

The only thing that ruined the illusion for me (which I’m sure was just due to my bad luck on the night) was the super annoying group next to me. About 6 middle aged men and women (I think they were in their 50s) were yelling to each other over the noise of the restaurant…about my food. I kid you not. They were dissecting my choices, the amount of my order, and well, us, right next to our table! We were so close that I could have slapped the main culprit in her smug face if I lacked the control. Just because I’m speaking English doesn’t mean I don’t understand it when you judge me in Cantonese, lady!

But it’s not something the restaurant can really help, so I don’t blame them. Just my bad luck.

Vibe: 1/1


And finally,

So I guess the reports that the food is authentic is fairly correct – it was authentic…to home style cooking. But I’m not sure that I want to pay those sort of prices to eat food that any of my friends’ mums could make at home. No, when I decide to treat myself to a meal out, I’d want to get something that is either labour intensive for a home cook to make, or requires a kind of finesse that only a chef can deliver.

I guess they weren’t lying when they called it “Home Kitchen” though, huh.

I’m not sure that I’ll be stepping back into 257 Home Kitchen any time soon, especially when there are so many more options to check out in Eastwood.

Bonus Points: 0/1

This meal was independently paid for.
257 Home Kitchen
257 Rowe Street
Eastwood, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9874 6118

257 Home Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Burgers By Josh, North Sydney

Best in Sydney Review 20 Comments
Sydney Food Blog Review of Burgers by Josh, North Sydney

J Burger, $14: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog Review

There has been much debate about the best burgers in Sydney, but I think that there’s no denying that Burgers by Josh is absolutely killing it right now. After making social media waves as the head chef (and burger genius) of Danno’s, Josh has now branched out on his own, serving up Sydney’s favourite American import (well, besides Doughnuts, One Direction and…nevermind) to the hungry masses.

We stop by to start 2016 with a bang! Burger-style, of course. ??


The Order:

J Burger, $14
Wagyu, American Cheese, Westmont Picklerey Pickles, fresh sliced tomatoes, iceberg, onion, J sauce

The Colonel, $15
Southern fried free range chicken breast, American cheese, Mississippi Mayo, iceberg, fresh sliced tomato

Jurassic Fries, $10
Twice fried beer battered chips, Primo sauce, Liquid cheese


The Food:

Josh proves that he’s first and foremost, a chef – expertly working the grills and the pass all by himself, while about 40 people (by my estimation) placed their orders one right after the other. The open kitchen (no where to hide, here!) exuded a sense of calm and cool, as Josh methodically worked through all the orders with his team of two.

The result? Utter deliciousness, even if they weren’t the most photogenic (I doubt he had time to worry about presentation!).

J Burger, $14: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog ReviewJ Burger, $14

On the burger front, we started with the J Burger: presumably named after Josh himself, this had a Wagyu patty, American Cheese, Westmont Picklerey Pickles, fresh sliced tomatoes, iceberg, onion, J sauce between soft sesame seed buns. Simple and straightforward, this held all the flavours of your classic burger, but on steroids. The patty was expertly cooked to a medium rare, and together with the melted cheese, pickles, tomato, lettuce, onion, and sauce, it created the most delicious slip’n’slide ever.

The Colonel, $15: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog ReviewThe Colonel, $15

The Colonel was a cheeky take on a chicken burger, with Southern fried chicken breast, American cheese, Mississippi Mayo, iceberg and fresh sliced tomato. I’m not the biggest chicken burger fan at the best of times, but this was a really good mix of tender chicken, fresh vegetables and tangy sauce. Personally, it wasn’t as well constructed as the J Burger – the uneven shape of the thick chicken breast meant that some bites had chicken, some bites didn’t, and some bites threatened to slide the whole piece out the other side – but the more you ate, the more you figured out how to hold the burger. It just takes some practice, and no one is complaining about any excuse to have more burger.

Jurassic Fries, $10: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog ReviewJurassic Fries, $10

As a side, The Jurassic Fries could also just be a meal unto itself. Twice fried beer battered chips are topped with Primo sauce and liquid cheese for an unctuous pile of super crispy chips with melty bits. The only complaint? Not enough sauce for my liking – I like it with there’s a river of sauce going down my mountain of chips. Cause it’s like, um, nature, you know?

Jurassic Fries, $10: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog Review


The Service:

I’ve heard plenty about issues with the service before – from orders getting forgotten to burgers being served cold – but I think it’s ironed out now. There was still a bit of a wait, since everyone ordered at once, but if he managed to get everything out hot and correctly, then I don’t see how there would be an issue moving forward.


Value for money:

I was very lucky to be invited to eat at Burgers by Josh, but at the $15-20 mark usually, I think the burgers are skating the edge of reasonable and pricey. In a volume sense, only the Primo pays homage to his humongous burgers of days gone past, but I think on the whole the food is well made enough to justify both the price AND the dedicated trip out to North Sydney. Just.


The Vibe:

Located in an ex-bar, I really enjoyed the clear sight into the kitchen, where you can watch Josh work his magic. There’s a great graffiti/burger aesthetic to it, that makes it feel that much more street. I love the tattoo style branding, and it’s that same attitude that’s reflected in the food. Love it.


And finally,

I know I sound like an ungrateful bitch, but I really regret not ordering the Infamous Primo. Having had the Godzilla tower of sauce, meat and onion rings before, I thought I’d be reasonable and give the other menu items a try.

The Infamous Primo: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog ReviewThe Infamous Primo

WHY, WHY DID I NOT LISTEN TO MY BELLY???

Everything was still delicious, but don’t make the same mistake as me. Order the damn Primo, because it’s “infamous” for a reason – it’s damned good.

Josh will be at The Upper Deck at Greenwood Plaza till the end of January. You can find out more about where he’ll be next by following him on Facebook here.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Burgers by Josh.

Burgers by Josh
The Upper Deck, Greenwood Plaza
36 Blue Street, North Sydney, NSW
Website: https://www.facebook.com/burgersbyjosh/?fref=ts

Burgers by Josh Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Balsamic Glazed Beef Ribs Recipe + Harris Farms Curious Cuts!

Food Recipe 17 Comments
Sydney lifestyle blog recipe for Balsamic Glazed Beef Ribs

Time just flies, doesn’t it? Australia Day is almost upon us, and we know that you’re not truly ‘strayan until you fire up that barbecue! Well, while most people will turn to a really beautiful cut of meat, it can get really expensive budgeting a steak per person for 20 people. (I don’t know about you, but I can eat a kilo of steak in a sitting easy! I usually try and bring my own meat to a barbecue, obvs.)
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Vic’s Meat Market, Pyrmont 

Review 2 Comments
Sydney Food Blog Review of VIc's Meat Markets, Pyrmont

Beef Short Rib, $30: Vic's Meat Market, Pyrmont. Sydney Food Blog Review.

There was a period of time when I was absolutely obsessed with barbecue. Like barbecue errthang. Meat, marinaded, plain, sausages, basted, wings, foiled…I mean, ERRTHANG. Because it’s all about that smoke, ’bout that smoke, no trouble.

So when my Instagram just exploded with pictures of Vic’s Meat Market’s luscious, shiny, barbecued thangs, I just had to put it on the Eat List.


The Order:

Beef Short Rib, $30
Pasture fed beef ribs with pickles, sauce and selection of sides.

Chicken wings basket, $10

Smoked sausages, $10

Barq’s root beer, $4 each


The Food:

Vic’s has always been known for their meat and quality, and you just know that things are going to have a certain standard walking in.

Chicken wings basket, $10: Vic's Meat Market, Pyrmont, Pyrmont. Sydney Food Blog Review.Chicken wings basket, $10

The Chicken Wing Basket, $10, was only very lightly smoky, covered in peppery spices that added a crunch to the tender perfection of nature that is the chicken wing.

Smoked sausages, $10: Vic's Meat Market, Pyrmont, Pyrmont. Sydney Food Blog Review.Smoked sausages, $10

The Smoked Sausages were juicy, but not particularly smoky. That barbecue sauce that it was served with, though, really brought things together and made it ever so easy to keep picking at it.

Beef Short Rib, $30: Vic's Meat Market, Pyrmont. Sydney Food Blog Review.Beef Short Rib, $30

And the main event – the Beef Ribs, $30. Beef ribs are my favourite kind of ribs EVAHHHH which makes me automatically partial to this dish. I love mixing it up with the sides, even though it feels like I’ve had, well, beefier ribs in other places. The tangy pickles – McClune’s – provided a really nice counterpoint to the meatfest, too, which kept me eating way more than I should.

And no that wasn’t a Magic Mike joke.

Food: 1/1


The Service:

Maybe I’ve been to one too many Brazillian barbecues, but I was kind of missing a sense of “go on, you know you wanna” when I ordered at the counter (it’s not table service, by the way). Don’t get me wrong, it was perfectly pleasant and polite, but there is an unabashed joy and fun that I associate with barbecued meats that somehow I expect from the service too.

Although I do really like that they give out individual packets of wet wipes with your meal. That, for “exuberant” eaters like myself, was very thoughtful.

Service: 0.5/1


Value for money:

How much would you pay for beef ribs? There was much chest clutching when I told my friends that the platter of rib and sides cost $30. Yeah, it’s not a typo. 1 rib. Even with what I like to call “CBD tax”, it’s a bit steep for me. I can understand that barbecue takes a lot of time, effort and resources, but I think there are a few other barbecue joints that provide a similar quality, for a lower price. Mind you, I didn’t hesitate dropping $30 on it to give it a try, but I would definitely think twice about paying $30 to eat it again.

The wings and sausages were priced okay, but added to the fact that you’d have to schlepp all the way out to the fish markets to have this? Not sure that there aren’t other things that I might make the effort for, instead.

Value for money: 0.5/1


The Vibe:

Plenty of sunshine, open spaces and dark wood make for a classy approach to the kitschy barbecue dives that are glamourised on the travel channel. It’s got a really chilled vibe that makes you feel like you could spend all afternoon there, which is no mean feat considering it’s a restaurant right next to a car park. Not the MOST cozy of places, but quite nice enough.

The Vibe: 0.5/1


And finally,

If you’re the type to actually do your fish shopping at the fish markets – the parking alone is cray cray – then you might be happy to know that you can just do your meat shopping whilst you’re at it, too. The butchers are pretty helpful, and actually have a wide range of culinary knowledge, which is a step up from many a local butcher I’ve spoken to.

Be warned though, the meat is still “fish market produce” prices, but if it works for you, then there’s no judgement here. Meanwhile, I’m off to get some oysters.

Bonus points: 0.5/1

This meal was independently paid for.
Vic’s Meat Market
Sydney Fish Market
Bank Street, Pyrmont, NSW
Phone: 02 8570 8570
Website: http://www.vicsmeatmarket.com.au

Vic's Meat Market Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Granny’s Noodle, Burwood 

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Granny's Noodles, Burwood

Granny's Noodle, Burwood. Sydney Food Blog Review

It was past dinner time, and I was HANGRY. (Enough to justify all caps, as Sam can attest to.) We had just finished watching Point Break, I was feeling physically inadequate, and my belly was scoffing at the suggestion of waiting till we get home.

And hanging out in line wasn’t an option either.

Granny’s Noodle was fairly empty – usually not a good sign for an Asian restaurant – but it smelled good, and the force of my hunger propelled me through their open doorway.


The Order:

Mixed sauce with Pig’s Ears, $5.80

Vinegared Fungus, $4.80

Granny’s Signature Beef and Tripe Soup Noodles, $15.90

Sizzling Intestine with Special Made Sauce, $12.80


The Food:

It may sound weird, but there’s just something so satisfyingly comforting about offal. It reminds me of street food that I loved as a kid with my parents, holidaying in Hong Kong, and since then, I can never go past an offal item on the menu.

Mixed sauce with Pig's Ears, $5.80: Granny's Noodle, Burwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewMixed sauce with Pig’s Ears, $5.80

As sides we had the Mixed sauce with Pig’s Ears, $5.80, and Vinegared Fungus, $4.80. Sexy names, I know. The Pig’s Ears here were cooked/pickled a bit too far for my liking, resulting in the thin skin around the crunchy cartilage forming a weird sort of sticky mush.

Vinegared Fungus, $4.80: Granny's Noodle, Burwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewVinegared Fungus, $4.80

The Vinegared Fungus fared much better – also known as Woodear Mushrooms, by the way – crunchy, light and tart, and made for a great side to the heavier mains.

Granny's Signature Beef and Tripe Soup Noodles, $15.90: Granny's Noodle, Burwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewGranny’s Signature Beef and Tripe Soup Noodles, $15.90

I suppose you can’t go to Granny’s Noodles without ordering well, noodles, so we got the Granny’s Signature Beef and Tripe Soup Noodles, $15.90. The beef slices and tripe were tender, like the long strands of wheat noodles, and were very easy to down on a cool night. The broth was a bit on the light side for me – I wanted something dark and rich and beefy – but Sam liked it, and it would’ve just been the icing on the cake.

Sizzling Intestine with Special Made Sauce, $12.80: Granny's Noodle, Burwood.Sydney Food Blog ReviewSizzling Intestine with Special Made Sauce, $12.80

My favourite of the night though? The Sizzling Intestine with Special Made Sauce, $12.80. The cleanliness of something like intestines really tells you everything you know about the thoroughness of the kitchen, and these, I’m happy to report, had no weird smell or aftertaste. Even Sam of the supersensitive nose couldn’t detect anything, which is saying a lot. Maybe it was that crazy about of pepper and spices, but nothing hides bad intestine, and for that, they get the kudos for a good dish.

Food: 1/1


The Service:

Doesn’t it say something for the stereotype when you walk into an Asian restaurant and you’re grateful to not be ignored? They were very quick to respond, and I liked how the waitress who took out order was honest about portion sizes and how much we needed per person. It showed a familiarity with the menu that we take for granted, but doesn’t always happen.

Otherwise it was pretty uneventful, other than the mystery of the missing spoons. There was a canister filled with chopsticks for you to grab as you needed, and it just seemed that our spoons ran out and no one noticed. Fair enough, but especially noticeable in a nearly-empty restaurant.

Service: 0.5/1


Value for money:

The prices fell well within expectations of what you would pay in Sydney, and the portions also weren’t out of the norm. The noodles were quite filling, but not more than what you would get at any other ramen or noodle joint at the same price.

Not bad, but not great either.

Value for money: 0.5/1


The Vibe:

Granny’s Noodles was nice and clean and bright, but not particularly extraordinary in the vibe-department. Eh.

Vibe: 0.5/1


And finally,

It was a little scary walking in, when people online didn’t seem to like Granny’s Noodles too much. I thought it was alright, especially if you’re already in the area and you can’t be bothered to wait in line, like I was. I don’t particularly feel the urge to go back again, but no regrets for having been there either.

Bonus point: 0/1

This meal was independently paid for.
Granny’s Noodle
132 Burwood Road
Burwood, NSW
Phone: 02 8541 4954
Website: http://www.grannysnoodle.com

Granny's Noodle Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato