Posts in Review

Be still my beating heart: Gelato Messina, Darlinghurst

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Gelato Messina, Darlinghurst

Sydney Food Blog Review of Gelato Messina, Darlinghurst: Rocher Ferrero

No, like cardiac-arrest-literally.

Gelato Messina’s Dessert Bar in Darlinghurst has always been OTT in their creations, but when you have a collaborator like ex-Hartyard Andy Bowdy, you know that you’re in for a real treat. Or a sugar spike so high it can hold its own against the statue of liberty.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Gelato Messina, Darlinghurst: Rocher Ferrero

Now I am not a sweets person, not by a long shot, but when I do, I like to go all out. And the Rocher Ferrero certainly fits that description: hazelnut and chocolate come together in a soft serve swirl covered with so many shards of wafer and chocolate that you don’t know where the crispy ends and the rich gelato begins.

We honestly couldn’t finish the cone between us two, which seems like such a waste of good food, but truly, I don’t think we were robust enough to finish this cone.

On a serious note, it was well executed, and the whole thing actuslly tasted like a Ferrero Rocher on steroids, which is no easy feat. The staff were polite and efficient, and I really like how they tried to make use of a tiny space to at least give you a place to stop and enjoy the dessert masterpiece you’ve just purchased.

This was independently paid for.
Gelato Messina
Shop 1, 241 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst, NSW
Phone: 02 9331 1588
Website: http://www.gelatomessina.com/au/

Gelato Messina Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Wok this way: Wok On Inn, Zetland

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Wok On Inn, Zetland

Sydney Food Blog Review of Wok On Inn, Zetland:Korean Prawn Stir Fry with Rice

I am not who you’d call an adventurer. Even living in Sydney, I’ve seen less of Australia than many tourists. Maybe even less of Sydney.

So when I got an invitation to Wok On Inn to check out their new store in Zetland, I thought it would be a great opportunity to explore another area of Sydney that I’ve never been to. And what better way than to do it with food?

Sydney Food Blog Review of Wok On Inn, Zetland: Thai Fish CakesThai Fish Cakes

Wok On Inn has a good formula working for them and they’re sticking to it: pick and customize your ingredients and sauce, and it will be stir-fried to order. Simple, fast consistent.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Wok On Inn, Zetland: Uncle's Drunken Noodles,Uncle’s Drunken Noodles

Sydney Food Blog Review of Wok On Inn, Zetland: Korean Prawn Stir Fry with RiceKorean Prawn Stir Fry

The Drunken Noodles come highly recommended, and seems to have changed slightly fro the last time I tried it. The sauce is spicier – never a bad thing – and darker than before, and I felt like it’s better mixed into the noodles. For the noodle/chilli-averse amongst you, the Korean Prawn Stir Fry provides a slightly sweet foil to white rice that grows on you the more you eat it. The food is starting to taste less distinctive between the dishes as opposed to before, but that may be to do with the fact that a lot of Asian recipes have ingridients that overlap, and if there was a recipe change then that might affect the uniqueness of the flavour combinations.

Otherwise, this eatery does a bustling lunch trade that’s kept flowing by friendly, bubbly staff, many of whom have Asian backgrounds themselves. And with the classy new apartments and snazzy new shopping centre, you do feel like you’re transported to a city within a city, just with a little less pollution.

Now if only Zetland wasn’t so darn far from the train station.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Wok On Inn.
Wok On Inn
Shop T.09 East Village Shopping Centre
2 Defries Avenue, Zetland NSW 2017
Phone: (02) 8048 6320
Website: http://www.wokoninn.com.au

Wok On Inn Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Shanghai’d! Taste of Shanghai, World Square

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square. Braised bamboo shoot

Dumpling frenzy is alive and well in Sydney, with every man and his dog attempting the iconic soup dumpling (xiao long bao) – little pastry wrapped parcels of engineering genius that explode with scalding hot soup the moment you bite into it.

What can I say? We’re gluttons for punishment.

Din Tai Fung has been known as the reigning lords of soup dumplings, and in Sydney, it seems, that claim has been challenged by fellow Chinese restaurant giant the Taste of Shanghai.

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square. Pan fried pork dumpling,Pan fried pork dumpling

Of course, one cannot subsist on soup dumplings alone. Well, maybe we can, but probably shouldn’t. So you know, we order other things, too, just as a cover.

…and also cause I was starving.

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square. Pan fried pork bunsPan fried pork buns

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings)Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings)

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square. Braised bamboo shootBraised bamboo shoot

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square. Stir Fried Green Beans with Pork MinceStir Fried Green Beans with Pork Mince

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square. Olive Fried RiceOlive Fried Rice

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square. Deep Fried Chinese Milk DoughDeep Fried Chinese Milk Dough

And the verdict? They do actually serve up a variety of dishes quite well. The service can be a bit impersonal, but really, I wasn’t expecting too much from the gruff manner of the people seating us anyway. At least they’re consistent, right?

The actual soup dumplings pale in comparision to Din Tai Fung, but it’s a good effort, and better than many other places who attempt this structural masterpiece of a dish. Notable dishes include the braised bamboo shoots, olive fried rice and pan-fried pork buns – the fluffy bun equivalent of the soup dumplings, complete with explosive hot soup.

One warning, though, for the high blood pressured amongst us: the food is incredibly uh, seasoned, so you’re probably going to either need lots of plain rice and tea to cut it, or need to drink an entire lagoon of water afterward.

Mermaid sold separately.

This meal was independently paid for.
Taste of Shanghai
Shop 9.07, World Square Shopping Centre
644 George Street
Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9261 8832
Website: www.tosau.com.au/

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Asian? Asion! Cafe Cre Asion, Sydney

Review 2 Comments
Sydney Food Blog Review of Cafe Cre Asion, Surry Hills

Sydney Food Blog Review of Cafe Cre Asion, Surry Hills

What do you do after you go on a multi-pork-roll-food-crawl down oxford street? Walk to Surry Hills to get dessert, of course!

Sydney Food Blog Review of Cafe Cre Asion, Surry Hills: Cookie Selection

And that’s how we found ourselves at Cafe Cre Asion (how do you even pronounce that, anyway?) ordering cookies, macarons and tea on an incredibly full stomach.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Cafe Cre Asion, Surry Hills: Macaron

This Asian dessert cafe has all the usual suspects…suspect. Matcha features in many of the menu items, including their famous matcha lattes.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Cafe Cre Asion, Surry Hills: Yuzu Honey Tea

The latte was okay, iced, but what really blew me away was the enthusiasm of the service. Sure, there were a few mixups, but they all looked so happy to be there. The macarons were also surprisingly good as well – the roasted rice had a lovely savoury quality to it, and the lychee had an amazing perfume.

A nice place to have afternoon tea with a friend, or takeaway some treats. Be careful of rocking up with big groups though – it’s quite a small space that’s really more suited to uh, intimate catchups.

Or you know, you could just go by yourself and stuff your face with macarons like I wish I did!

This meal was independently paid for.

Cafe Cre Asion
21 Alberta Street, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 8317 4856
Website: www.creasion.com.au/

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Green eggs and…Spice I am, Surry Hills

Review 2 Comments
Sydney Food Blog Review of Spice I Am, Surry Hills

Sydney Food Blog Review of Spice I Am, Surry Hills: Banana Flower Salad, $29

Salads aren’t always green. And you know what, some of the most delicious salads I’ve had, have been far from green.

The banana flower, for example, is an amazingly fresh ingredient that has astringent notes, making it a great base for toppings like shrimp, garlic and fried eschallots. At Spice I Am, it was a lovely pile of sweet, salty, spicy, crunchy, and all the goodness inbetween. A little pricey, though, at close to $30, but an incredibly satisfying solo lunch.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Spice I Am, Surry Hills: Banana Flower Salad, $29

Definitely inspires me to maybe create some of my own…with less detriment to my wallet perhaps? I might sound cheap, but I still am trying to justify dropping a cool $30 for lunch when Haymarket is right around the corner. Maybe a trip to Campbell street is in order?

Maybe when I feel less poor. Haha

This meal was independently paid for.

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Spice I Am
90 Wentworth Ave
Surry Hills, NSW
Phone: (02) 9280 0928
Website: http://spiceiam.com/spice-i-am-surry-hills

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Get in my belly: Mr Crackles, Darlinghurst

Review 1 Comment
Sydney Food Blog Review of Mr Crackles, Darlinghurst

Sydney Food Blog Review of Mr Crackles, Darlinghurst

So the thing is, when foodies get together, we never stop at just one lunch. Just like a hobbit, second and third lunches are quite socially expected, which led us to stop at Mr Crackles, after picking up our $2 rolls at Monsters Rolls!

Cause, uh, we need to more rolls to compare standards right?

Sydney Food Blog Review of Mr Crackles, Darlinghurst: Crackles Classic, $13Crackles Classic, $13

Yes, we’ll roll with that. So by strong recommendation, we got the Crackles Classic, $13, and the Sticky Pork Fries, $12, to share.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Mr Crackles, Darlinghurst: Sticky Pork Fries, $12Sticky Pork Fries, $12

The verdict? The Crackles Classic rolls were…well, they were the victim of overhyping. The pork crackling was lovely, but the actual pork was a touch dry. It was photogenically stacked on top of the baguette, but that made it kind of hard to eat. It was meant to come with “vietnamese salad”, but there was nothing about it that was like the salads in the bahn mi from the obscure corner bakery that I’ve come to know and love.

The Sticky Pork Fries, on the other hand, were AN ABSOLUTE WINNER. Served with a creamy ranch dressing, the sweet tender pork coated crispy fries that just kept me going bite after bite. Definitely worth the trip just for that alone.

Maybe sticky is the key. Sticky err-thang.

This meal was independently paid for.
Mr Crackles
155 Oxford Street
Darlinghurst, NSW
Phone: 02 8068 2832
Website: www.mrcrackles.com.au

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Rawr! Monsters Rolls, Darlinghurst

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Monsters Rolls, Darlinghurst

Sydney Food Blog Review of Monsters Rolls, Darlinghurst

Some girls like clothes shopping together. Some girls like doing each others’ hair. And the rest of us…well we eat together. And that’s pretty much what Christine and I decided to do on a day off together – check out the brand new Monsters Rolls on Oxford St!

It also helps that there was the promise of $2 rolls.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Monsters Rolls, Darlinghurst: Beef RollBeef Roll

Sydney Food Blog Review of Monsters Rolls, Darlinghurst: Pork RollPork Roll

You can’t go wrong if it’s only going to cost $2 right?

Well, I don’t actually know what full price is going to be, but for $2, it was okay. Like in a maybe-if-I-was-in-the-area-and-didn’t-have-anything-planned sorta way. The bread was a touch underdone – which I don’t know whether was because it was designed that way, or because they had to just pump out so many rolls to keep up with the queue. The meat filling – we tried beef and pork – was quite flavourful, but was not quite able to balance out the lacklustre bread. A bit of a domino effect, but what can you do?

The salad and pickles weren’t quite as punchy as the Banh Mi that we are used to, and I was really looking for more tang in each mouthful. The Beef Roll provided slight amusement in tasting like a cheeseburger without the cheese, and much giggles ensued.

I’ve never patronised the Monsters Rolls Food Truck, but based on this first taste, it feels like they might have a bit of work to do, especially with Mr Crackles and Rolls Vietnam on the same street, providing stiff competition for the diners’ dollar. Maybe a re-visit in a few months is in order.

Unless something else comes up.

This meal was independently paid for.
Monsters Rolls
4/113-115 Oxford St
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Phone: 02 8354 1417
Website: http://monsterrolls.com.au

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Muummy dearest: Muum Maam, Surry Hills

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Muum Maam, Surry Hills

Sydney Food Blog Review of Muum Maam, Surry Hills

The horrible thing about having a new full time day job is being so out of the loop! Not that I’m complaining about the consistent income and getting to cook all day, but it does create situations where I’m at a loss about where to go for lunch.

Like when I met up with Simon, from The Heart of Food, and we just had no idea where we wanted to eat..

And the clock was ticking.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Muum Maam, Surry Hills: Five crab and prawn rice net spring rolls with plum sauce, $6Crab and prawn rice net spring rolls with plum sauce, $6

Oh, didn’t I mention that my day job was actually a night job? Yeah. #ThisRestaurantLife.

Anyhoo, we ended up at Muum Maam, which seemed to tick all the boxes: close to the station, interesting food, and a seemingly quick turnaround time.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Muum Maam, Surry Hills: wok-fried calamari, snake bean, snow peas & kafir lime leaves with red chili paste, $15Wok-fried calamari, snake bean, snow peas & kafir lime leaves with red chili paste, $15

And I mean quick. All the food came out within the first 5-10 minutes, even with a slight queue happening because it was bang on lunchtime. And there didnt seem to be a drop in freshness or flavour at all! The Crab and prawn rice net spring rolls with plum sauce, $6, were an instant hit, with a flaky shell that ensured the requirement of a lint roller afterward. The hot, steaming filling was fairly generous, and the plum dipping sauce rounded out all the sweet/savoury flavours that the Thais do incredibly well.

The Wok-fried calamari, snake bean, snow peas & kafir lime leaves with red chili paste, $15 (one of the specials of the day) was mildly spicy, with tender rings of calamari on a bed of crisp vegetables and sweet steamed white rice. Comforting and fresh, this is one of those dishes that leave you so light, you feel like a responsible adult who’s eating healthily.

The pad kee mao (rice noodles stir fried with sweet soy) was good but not quite on the level of the others, which made me wish we spent the $14 on something else more interesting like a papaya salad instead.

The prices were just a touch elevated for Thai food in the vacinity, but it was reflected in the care that was taken in preparing the food. Nothing was just dumped unceremoniously on the plate (which has totes happened to me before), and the staff were polite, efficient, and happy to be there. All good points in my book.

Makes me wonder what the dinner menu is like. Have you been? What did you order?

This meal was independently paid for.
Muum Maam
Shop 1, 50 Holt Street
Surry Hills, NSW
Phone: 02 8317 4931
Website: http://www.muummaam.com.au

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Nuts for Coconuts: Coco Joy, Bondi

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Coco Joy, Bondi Junction

Sydney Food Blog Review of Coco Joy, Bondi Junction: Acai Bowl

You know how everyone has a strange food thing? I mean, I know someone who likes strawberry flavoured things, but not strawberries. Go figure.

Well I actually have a thing too: while I LOVE fresh coconuts, I never did like coconut cream, or milk. So when I got the invite to visit Coco Joy’s first retail store and sample their coconut-made products, I approached with one part excitement, one part apprehension..and 2 parts hunger.

Because hunger always wins.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Coco Joy, Bondi Junction: Scoops of salted caramel, cookies and cream ice cream

The verdict? The Acai bowl is MASSIVE, but also a very satisfying breakfast. I’ve been on the fence about most acai bowls I’ve come across, but there was something about the semi-frozen fruitiness that was really appealing. The pina colada smoothie also had the same frozen fruitiness, so also a winner.

The ice cream, however, had me on the fence. Made with coconut cream, it didn’t turn out as smooth as dairy-made ice creams. The cookies and cream was still quite a satisfying flavour – made from a recipe provided by the man who invented the cookies and cream flavour himself – but the salted caramel was (I felt) overpowered by the coconut flavour, which kinda defeats the purpose.

I know that there has been a big trend of coconut being healthier for you and all that, but I’m really all about the flavours (assuming you don’t have an allergy to lactose). And I just don’t think that the ice cream really compares to the full flavours of dairy-made ice cream.

But on the upside, the menu items that fully utilise those coconut flavours – namely that Acai bowl and the Smoothies – are a great, delicious start to the day.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Coco Joy.
Coco Joy
Shop 5029, Level 5
Westfield Bondi Junction
500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction
Phone: 02 9389 1990
Website: http://www.cocojoy.com

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Three little piggies went to market: Hungry Wolf, Wollongong

Review 1 Comment
Sydney Food Blog Review of Hungry Wolf, Wollongong

Sydney Food Blog Review of Hungry Wolf, Wollongong: Pork Belly, Po' Boy, $10

The tale of the three little piggies has always been one of my favourites – after all, who can’t identify with the poor wolf who was obviously just hangry?

And we all know that you’re not you when you’re hungry. 😉

So I was very delighted to receive an invite to the Hungry Wolf, a sister of the whiskey bar, the Howlin’ Wolf.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Hungry Wolf, Wollongong: Heirloom Tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella, Balsamic DressingHeirloom Tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella, Balsamic Dressing

I was originally expecting smokey barbecues to go with the whiskey theme, but was instead (pleasantly) surprised by fresh, light food, very comparable to whatever we can find in Sydney.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Hungry Wolf, Wollongong: Pork Belly Po' Boy, $10Pork Belly Po’ Boy, $10

We started with a salad of Buffalo Mozzarella, Heirloom Tomatoes and Balsamic Dressing – just fresh but savoury enough to whet our appetites. The tomato wedges were lightly crumbed to provide a crisp exterior, and the mozzarella was creamy and delicate.

But the star of the whole lunch, was really the Po’ Boy.


Sydney Food Blog Review of Hungry Wolf, Wollongong: Pork Belly Po' Boy, $10

Po’ Boys originated from New Orleans, and is basically a variation of a sandwich. But like, BEST SANDWICH EVER level of awesome. Hungry Wolf uses a soft yet crusty bread to hold a delectable pile of whisky braised pork belly, slaw, chilli, aioli and green apple. It was way more satisfying than a banh mi – and that’s saying a LOT coming from me – and the thinner-than-shoestring fries just finished the package for me.

I could have eaten this all day every day and still come back for more.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Hungry Wolf, Wollongong: Pearl Barley and tomatoes, with Beef BrisketPearl Barley and tomatoes, with Beef Brisket

But the downside to an amazing dish? It’s hard for the others to stack up. The Pearl Barley and Tomatoes with Beer Braised Beef Brisket was a lovely wintery dish that was hearty without sitting too heavy in the belly, but really, after the addictive mix of textures and flavours in the Pork Belly Po’ Boy, nothing was going to ever be good enough.

Who knew that a humble sandwich would have come out on top?

And I really respect the vision there, too. When chatting to the chef, I learned that there was a very deliberate balance struck between vision and price point. He would have loved to use top ingredients at every turn, but because of the lack of supply in Wollongong, and the importance of keeping the food affordable, he had to make comprimises in the execution. Not that you’d realise it, given how expertly he’s navigated the murky waters of substitution.

The vibe at the Hungry Wolf certainly screams family, with a small team that really seem to love their jobs. I was given suggestions when offering by someone who has actually eaten from the menu (it’s rarer than you think) and who had their own notes of why they loved those dishes so much.

It’s got great potential, and if this is what the lunch menu looks like, I would be very interested in seeing how dinner pans out.

Now to just figure out the secrets to teleportation…

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Hungry Wolf.
Hungry Wolf
53-61 Crown Street, Wollongong
Phone: 0417 265 272
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hungrywolfkitchen

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