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

Review August 5, 2015

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.

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.

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/

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra

De…Luxe Woollahra

Review August 3, 2015

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!

Grilled 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.

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.

Balsamic Glazed Duck

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

Broccoli and Hazelnuts

Luxe 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.

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

Sydney Food Blog Review of Din Tai Fung, Central Park

More than just dumplings: Din Tai Fung, Chippendale

Review August 2, 2015

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.

Silken 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.

Spicy 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.

Crispy Fried Chicken with Chilli, $16.80

Green Bean with Minced Pork, $15.80

Steamed 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.

Black 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.

Signature Drinks

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

Golden Taro Bread, $6.80

Now, on to desserts!

Golden 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

A table full of goodies from Kurtosh house

Kurtosh House, Darlinghurst

Review July 31, 2015

Ever get that feeling that you want some cake, but you don’t need a whole piece of it? That you only need a tiny taste and you’d be satisfied, but your hands are tied by portion sizes?

What if, you could buy cakes just by weight, in how small or large a piece you want it?
Read More

The Most Important Meal of the Day is..? Criniti’s, Woolloomoloo

Review July 29, 2015

I have something I need to admit. I, Tammi, am a breakfast skipper. Now DON’T JUDGE ME. I just never seem to wake up hungry, and I like to do all my eating in the later part of the day. And after it became acceptable to eat bacon at any time of the day, the morning meal just didn’t seem so special anymore.

But when someone offers you ribs at breakfast? Why, don’t mind if I do.

Italiano, $19

I’ve always associated Criniti’s with nighttime food: long ass pizzas, huge platters of pasta and antipasto, tipsy people hoeing right in…so when I got the invite to have breakfast by the water, I was absolutely intrigued.

Was the stigma of having pizza for breakfast finally going to be lifted?

Well, not quite.

They did do some massive breakfast platters, and The Italiano, $19, provided an absolute bounty salty meats in the form of bacon, prosciutto, porchetta, sausages…with some grilled tomato and crumbed eggplant, because veggies. It was quite enjoyable with chilli on the side, and if you weren’t an absolute glutton like I am, it would have been plenty for two.

Rustico (3 egg Omelette), $14

The Rustico, $14, was a 3 egg omelette that is slightly less impressive. The eggs came out just a touch on the dry side, and when had next to the punchy, salty flavours of the other dishes, it fell on the flat side of bland.

Uncle Cosimo, $19

But I’ve promised ribs, and ribs I will deliver. The Uncle Cosimo, $19, (which is a pretty gangsta name, I think), has fried eggs with braised pork ribs, and a tomato based sauce/stew in a cast iron pan. The pork ribs and tomato sauce were quite sweet, which totally makes me happy because I like me some sweet/savoury combos. I would have been totally happier if the eggs were baked into the tomato sauce, but hey, why nitpick?

The thing is, Criniti’s has never made themselves out to be the very height of haute cuisine. They just want to provide a decent dining experience with food that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a lovely ambience, and friendly service. And they’ve definitely achieved that.

And bonus points that the breakfasts aren’t too busy, which just makes a lazy brunch bu the water all that much better.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Criniti’s.

Criniti’s
Shop 2, 6 Cowper Wharf Road
Wooloomooloo, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 1300 274 648
Websoite: http://www.crinitis.com.au

Learn how to drink more water and trick your brain into liking it

How to Drink More Water – 10 Ways to Boost Your Water Intake

Health and Wellness Life Hacks July 28, 2015

We all know we should drink more water. It is after all one of our most basic needs for survival. Taken from the cute toddler mopping your floor all day to the professional athlete breaking laws of physics with each stride, we all need to keep hydrated in order our bodies to function in tiptop conditions. It seems like a fairly straight forward process, but it’s surprising how difficult it can be to follow the one simple rule. DRINK. MORE. WATER! Follow these simple tips to drink more water and boost your water intake.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream, Newtown

Stretch it real good: Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream, Newtown

Review July 27, 2015

Some women collect shoes. Others, jewellery. Me? It’s all about the weird and wonderful things I can EAT!

Salep is a kind of thickening agent/flour that’s made from orchids, and it’s used in middle eastern cuisine to give foods – like ice cream – a sort of stretchy texture. Turkish ice cream, in particular, is known for this, and while it doesn’t have much flavour on its own, the texture is freaky AF. At Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream in Newtown, they not only have Salep thickened ice cream, they also have them in all sorts of Middle Eastern flavours to tempt you. A bit like a belly dancer. A good one though. Not the ones at restaurants at Saturday night that you don’t want to make eye contact with.

I had the pomegranate, which was lovely and fruity, but the tahini. Oh. My. God the Tahini. Like the Asian black sesame but creamier and richer. And somehow healthy-feeling. I’m sure it’s not, but any delusion that lets me continue to eat this amazing ice cream is a good delusion.

If ice cream is not quite your thing, well there’s always Turkish Coffee on the menu to, to give you that late afternoon pick-me-up.

But really. Go the ice cream. Trust me.

This meal was independently paid for.

Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream
63-71 Enmore Road
Enmore, NSW
Phone: 02 8040 1676
Website: www.hakiki.com.au/

Sydney Food Blog Review of New Shanghai, Bondi

Something Old, Something…New Shanghai, Bondi

Review July 26, 2015

You know the stereotype about Asian menus having 10 billion different items so you don’t know what you want to order? Well, let me tell you that the Struggle. Is. Real.

And I was totally struck by a case of analysis paralysis when I rocked up for my invite to New Shanghai and their steaming baskets of dumplings.

So what do you do when you don’t know what to order? Well, “order everything” seems like an answer we can go with!

Shredded jellyfish & radish tossed with sea salt & light soy dressing, $7.80

Sweet & sour pork rib in dark vinegar sauce, $5.80

Crab meat Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings), $11.50

New shanghai pan fried pork bun, $6

Deep fried calamari coated with salted egg yolk, $20.80

Shandong Chicken (Deep fried crispy skin chicken with special garlic & chilli sauce on rice), $13.50″

Stir fried Chinese rice cake with X.O. sauce & shredded pork, $14.40

Steamed pumpkin & sticky rice cake filled with pumpkin paste, $5.50

See? I wasn’t kidding.

I’ve long popped my New Shanghai cherry, and the biggest gripe I’ve always had is about the consistency between the outlets. I usually go to Chatswood, for example, and it’s usually pretty good, but a scheduling decision put me at the Bondi branch this time, which showed some cracks in its armour. The all important Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) have always been steaming hot full of liquid in Chatswood, but this time, they were not quite as soupy as they should be. Even accounting for the time it took for me to take photos. The skin was not quite thin or translucent enough, although the filling itself was quite tasty.

The Pan Fried Pork Buns, on the other hand, did what the soup dumplings should have done, and burst forth with super hot juices encased in a sweet fluffy shell made out of Chinese milk dough. That, I could have kept eating forever. That, and the Fried Rice Cakes in X.O sauce? YYAAAAASSSSSSS. There’s just something about the firm, chewy slices of rice cakes that just gives you a warm hug from the inside and tells you that everything is going to be okay.

Cold dishes also fared well – the Shredded Jellyfish with Sea Salt and Soy was quite refreshing, and the Sweet and Sour Pork Rib, while containing more cartilage than I was expecting – was also very moreish. Light, and balanced, because shredded jellyfish is a salad right? And it’s good for you?

Other hot dishes, on the other hand, didn’t do quite so well. The Salted Egg Yolk Calamari tasted like it had no egg yolk at all – which either means that there was a distinct lack of egg yolk, or that the order was taken down wrong, even though it was repeated back to me – and it did taste like more batter than calamari at many points. The Shandong chicken had clearly been off the mountain for too long, because while it’s meant to be served at room temperature, both the chicken skin (which was meant to be crispy) and the sauce were a pale shade of tepid.

The sweet dish to finish – Steamed pumpkin & sticky rice cake filled with pumpkin paste reminded me of Japanese mochi, which is not such a bad thing, except that I was really looking forward to a pumpkin tasting filling, rather than something that looked and tasted like red bean.

But like any relationship, it has its ups and downs, and while this might’ve been a blight in my otherwise great experience at New Shanghai, it’s not enough to deter me from going back…to the Chatswood branch.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of New Shanghai.

New Shanghai
Food Court, Shop 4
Level 5, Westfield Bondi Junction
500 Oxford Street
Bondi Junction, Sydney, NSW
Phone: (02) 9386 4623
Website: www.newshanghai.com.au/

Sydney Food Blog Review of Milk Bar by Cafe Ish, Redfern

Raising the bar on milkshakes: Milk Bar by Cafe Ish, Redfern

Review July 24, 2015

You know that scene in the sick, dystopian classic Clockwork Orange where the main characters enter this bar – decorated entirely in black statues – and dispenses milk from the statue’s uh, sensitive regions? Well that was what I always thought what a milk bar was. Like literally. A bar atmosphere, but serving milk.

Weird, right?

Well, thankfully the real thing isn’t quite as R18 as Clockwork Orange, and a bit more diner-style, with milkshakes and burgers. Yes, much more my speed.

Herbed Beef Patty, $14.50

Cafe Ish always had great food, and when they closed up the Surry Hills location and started a milk bar in Redfern, they ended up on my never-ending list of places to visit but never had the time to. Well, I did happen to be in Redfern a couple of weeks back, and, heeding the sirens call of Miso Caramel Milkshakes, I made my way in.

Of course, Milkshake needs company, or it’ll get lonely, so I also ordered a Herbed Beef Patty Burger ($14.50) with the self-proclaimed Freaking Awesome Wings ($4.95). Because if wings are that self confident, they should get a chance to show what they’ve got.

Freaking Awesome Wings, $4.95

Okay, so good news, the Freaking Awesome Wings, were truly, freaking awesome. Lightly crisp on the outside – which I’m guessing is due to a corn flour or sweet potato flour coating to provide tempura-like lightness – and covered in a tangy sweet chilli dressing/sauce, these wings were like the Buffy of chicken wings: they kicked ass, took names, and brought a little excitement into your life.

The Miso Caramel Milkshake also lived up to its name – by shaking up my world. Geddit? It had just the right notes of umami and richness, and is just proof that you need miso caramel in all areas of your life. Because (repeat after me) miso caramel can only make you a better person.

A downside though to having two home runs in a single sitting? The burger wasn’t all that great. I’m more used to the juicy fall-apart patties that have come into vogue, that the burgers here were a little too…structurally sound for my taste. And when you put all the dishes down at the same table, it’s just not hitting quite the same notes.

But it’s okay. As long as the milkshakes and wings are on the menu, I know I’ll keep going back.

This meal was independently paid for.

Milk Bar by Cafe ish
105 Regent Street
Redfern, NSW
Phone: 02 9698 8598
Website: www.themilkbarbycafeish.com

Tenkomori, Sydney CBD

Review July 22, 2015 1 Comment

You know how some brands have a luxury line and a everyday line, but basically sell the same thing? Like Lexus and Toyota, for example, are owned by the same parent company, and on a smaller scale…

Menya and Tenkomori.

In fact, Menya, Mappen, Oiden, Tenkomori, Chanoma and Dera Uma are owned by the same people, and they specialise in bringing you quick, tasty food in a no frills sorta way.

In other words, self service is pretty much the name of the game.

But before you start thinking you’ll have to slum it like a budget airline, the Menya group of restaurants have been pretty good at serving up tasty, value-for-money food. Especially in the CBD. I’ve long been a fan of Mappen and their $5 udon bowls, so it was good to have a look at what Tenkomori had to offer.

I’d previously been quite unimpressed with Tenkomori – the ni-tamago didn’t hold the sexy ooze that it was meant to, and the sides were all rather uninspiring. Mind you, I went on opening day, which carried with it all the teething prolems, but is a runny yolk really too much to ask for?

I can’t comment on the yolk this time because I chose to get something else, but I’m happy to report that the new menu items – like the Cold Chilli Pork Noodle with Sesame sauce (pictured above) were moreish and delicious. Al dente noodles and tangy sauce, savoury pork mince with my favourite onsen egg? Yes please!

The ramen, not so much. Especially when Menya is just round the corner.

Oh and before I forget, Washoku Lovers Members get a free side dish! So if you’re a loyalty card holder like me, you’re in luck.

Now if only I can get a one stop shop for all my Udon, Donburi and Ramen needs..

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 Suminoya and Oiden! To find out more about the programme and sign up, visit www.washokulovers.com.

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

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/

De…Luxe Woollahra

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Luxe Woollahra.

Luxe Woollahra
118 Queen St
Woollahra, NSW
Website: http://luxesydney.com.au

More than just dumplings: Din Tai Fung, Chippendale

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

Kurtosh House, Darlinghurst

The Most Important Meal of the Day is..? Criniti’s, Woolloomoloo

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Criniti’s.

Criniti’s
Shop 2, 6 Cowper Wharf Road
Wooloomooloo, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 1300 274 648
Websoite: http://www.crinitis.com.au

How to Drink More Water – 10 Ways to Boost Your Water Intake

Stretch it real good: Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream, Newtown

This meal was independently paid for.

Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream
63-71 Enmore Road
Enmore, NSW
Phone: 02 8040 1676
Website: www.hakiki.com.au/

Something Old, Something…New Shanghai, Bondi

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of New Shanghai.

New Shanghai
Food Court, Shop 4
Level 5, Westfield Bondi Junction
500 Oxford Street
Bondi Junction, Sydney, NSW
Phone: (02) 9386 4623
Website: www.newshanghai.com.au/

Raising the bar on milkshakes: Milk Bar by Cafe Ish, Redfern

This meal was independently paid for.

Tenkomori, Sydney CBD

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Tenkomori.

Tenkomori
16/501 George St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9266 0660
Website: http://tenkomori.com.au

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/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Luxe Woollahra.

Luxe Woollahra 118 Queen St Woollahra, NSW Website: http://luxesydney.com.au

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

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Criniti’s.

Criniti’s Shop 2, 6 Cowper Wharf Road Wooloomooloo, Sydney, NSW Phone: 1300 274 648 Websoite: http://www.crinitis.com.au

This meal was independently paid for.

Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream 63-71 Enmore Road Enmore, NSW Phone: 02 8040 1676 Website: www.hakiki.com.au/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of New Shanghai.

New Shanghai Food Court, Shop 4 Level 5, Westfield Bondi Junction 500 Oxford Street Bondi Junction, Sydney, NSW Phone: (02) 9386 4623 Website: www.newshanghai.com.au/

This meal was independently paid for.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Tenkomori.

Tenkomori 16/501 George St Sydney NSW 2000, Australia Phone: +61 2 9266 0660 Website: http://tenkomori.com.au

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

Luxe Woollahra
118 Queen St
Woollahra, NSW
Website: http://luxesydney.com.au

Din Tai Fung
2nd Floor, Central Park
28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW
Phone: 02 8072 9427
Website: https://www.dintaifungaustralia.com.au

Criniti’s
Shop 2, 6 Cowper Wharf Road
Wooloomooloo, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 1300 274 648
Websoite: http://www.crinitis.com.au

Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream
63-71 Enmore Road
Enmore, NSW
Phone: 02 8040 1676
Website: www.hakiki.com.au/

New Shanghai
Food Court, Shop 4
Level 5, Westfield Bondi Junction
500 Oxford Street
Bondi Junction, Sydney, NSW
Phone: (02) 9386 4623
Website: www.newshanghai.com.au/

Tenkomori
16/501 George St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9266 0660
Website: http://tenkomori.com.au