Posts tagged markets

Love Dem Apples, Surry Hills

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Love Dem Apples, Surry Hills

Love Dem Apples, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

This candy apple business is just so new to me. I never ever had a toffee apple, and I wouldn’t know where to start! I mean, are all toffee apples created equal? Where in the apple are you meant to bite into, so you don’t break your teeth?

I’ve got sensitive teeth, you know.

Well, maybe caramel apples might be the place to start. Love Dem Apples is serving up this healthy unhealthy treat (I believe that “North American style caramel apples” is the official name?) in the trendy Surry Hills, just ripe (teehee) for an after dinner treat.


The Order:

Peanut butter Chocolate Apple

Strawberry Caramel Apple with Pop Rocks


The Food:

I know it’s been a while, but I’m still not quite sure what I think of it. The concept is simple – Soft caramel coats the outside of a crisp Granny Smith apple, with other flavours added to complement. Visually they look very beautiful, and gifting these would look as impressive as gifting a box of donuts, just more novel.

I’m got the peanut butter chocolate apple, because peanut butter + chocolate + apple = AMAZINGGGG.

Peanut butter caramel apple: Love Dem Apples, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog ReviewPeanut butter caramel apple

In this case, though, it felt a bit like the ratios were off for me. The tartness of the Granny Smith apple overwhelmed any sweetness, and while it’s healthier to have just a little bit of sweets with your apple, I don’t think any of us are actually expecting a healthy dessert, are we? I’d almost rather have apple pieces with peanut butter chocolate caramel poured over – makes it easier to eat, too.

Strawberry Pop Rock Apple: Love Dem Apples, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog ReviewStrawberry Pop Rock Apple

Jen’s Strawberry and Pop rocks combo garnered much the same response – the idea is right, just the ratios were a touch off for us.

There was an option for extra caramel sauce for $1 ($1.50?) I think, but if you got the apples to-go, you might not have known until it was too late. Also, it can get mighty messy trying to eat a whole apple dipped in molten caramel sauce.


The Service:

It’s hard to fault service when the people behind the counter look so happy to be there. I mean, given that it’s owner Joe and his mum (when we went), I’m sure they have a vested interest, but still. Very friendly and chatty, and clearly very happy with their own product.

They also very helpfully cut up my apple for me to make it easier to eat, which I appreciate.

Peanut butter caramel apple: Love Dem Apples, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review


Value for money:

At about $7 for a basic caramel apple (more for the premium ones) it’s a bit on the pricey side for me. Especially when you can get a really satisfying baller donut for the same price. But it DOES take a lot of work, and I’m sure shop rent in Surry Hills cost heaps, so it’s understandable.

Not ideal, but understandable at least.


The Vibe:

Brightly lit with all types of decorated apples in rows, this shop is part Willy Wonka whimsy, part Julia Childs homely. And with Jo actually making these apples during shop downtime, it really feels like you’re stepping into his kitchen, in his house.

There’s even a little bench space if you’d like to eat in, but these apples are definitely more of a grab’n’go type food.


And finally,

I’m all for the Sydney food scape getting different foods, and Love Dem Apples is doing just that – presenting something different. I want to love the apples more because the concept is fabulous, but somehow the execution doesn’t quite work for me. Worth a try if you were wondering what they’re like, though, but personally, it’s more the novelty of it than anything else.

This meal was independently paid for.
Love Dem Apples
454 Cleveland Street
Surry Hills, NSW
Phone: 02 8317 4842
Website: https://www.facebook.com/lovedemapplez/

Love Dem Apples Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Best of Brunch, SMH Good Food Month

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Best of Brunch, SMH Good Food Month 2015

Sydney Food Blog Review of Best of Brunch, Good Food Month 2015: Fried Chicken and Waffles, Hartsyard

The world of food is fantastically varied. You just know, KNOW, that wherever you go, someone has a specialty and it’s going to be just delicious. I mean Asia has street food, America’s got diners (amongst other things), and Australia?

Australia’s got talent brunch.

So it’s fitting that Good Food Month celebrates that with Best of Brunch, where some of Australia’s best and hipsterest come together to feed us the most important meal of the day.

You know, the one we eat after sleeping in and while nursing a hangover?

Sydney Food Blog Review of Best of Brunch, Good Food Month 2015: Poached Eggs and Kale Salad, Ruby's DinerPoached Eggs and Kale Salad, Ruby’s Diner

Ruby’s Diner was first up to bat, with a very responsible Poached Eggs and Kale Salad. Very light, very healthy, and very keeping in with the theme of the Pyrmont Growers’ Markets right round the corner. It almost felt too healthy, except the kale salad was actually quite delicious, so points for that.

And perfect to whet your appetite for the courses to come.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of SMH Good Food Month.
Ruby’s Diner
Shop1/173-179 Bronte Road
Bondi Junction, NSW
Phone: 0404 379 585
Website: www.rubys.com/

Ruby's Diner Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sydney Food Blog Review of Best of Brunch, Good Food Month 2015: Farro and Corn, PinboneFarro and Corn, Pinbone

Pinbone (RIP) then bulks it up with Farro and Corn, which for some reason made me think of American grits. Very comforting, and so luscious that you just wanna roll around in a bed of it.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of SMH Good Food Month.
Pinbone
3 Jersey Rd
Woollahra NSW 2025
Phone: +61 2 9328 1600
Website: www.pinbone.com.au/

Pinbone Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sydney Food Blog Review of Best of Brunch, Good Food Month 2015: Fried Chicken and Waffles, HartsyardFried Chicken and Waffles, Hartsyard

But you know what you have with grits? FRIED F**KING CHICKEN. And not just any chicken either. It was the famed Hartsyard fried chicken. And waffles. But really, we all know who’s the star here. Crispy juicy fried chicken, sweet fluffy waffles, maple syrup…this elevated the meal to a had-a-sexy-night-then-roll-out-of-bed sorta brunch. I’ve always wondered about the hype, and now I know.

Oh boy, do I know.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of SMH Good Food Month.
Hartsyard
33 Enmore Road
Enmore, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 8068 1473
Website: http://hartsyard.com.au

Hartsyard Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sydney Food Blog Review of Best of Brunch, Good Food Month 2015: Apple Strudel, LuMi DiningApple Strudel, LuMi Bar and Dining

Then, it was over all too soon. LuMi Dining put forward an apple strudel, which, while it might have been a perfectly respectable strudel, wasn’t quite at the level of the fried chicken. And I’m beginning to fear that nothing will ever live up to the fried chicken, and my life will be sad.

That being said, the apple strudel isn’t quite what I’d go to LuMi for, necessarily. The rest of the menu is much better. Much.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of SMH Good Food Month.
LuMi Bar and Dining
56 Pirrama Road
Pyrmont, NSW
Phone: 02 9571 1999
Website: http://www.lumidining.com

LuMi Bar & Dining Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sydney Food Blog Review of Best of Brunch, Good Food Month 2015: Chocolate Chip Cookie, West JulietteChocolate Chip Cookie, West Juliett

And to take home, like a cool, new-age version of the petit fours that you get at the end of fancy restaurant meals, a salted chocolate chip cookie from West Juliett. The reveal of this brought many ooh’s and aah’s at the table, even though I hadn’t really heard of West Juliett before this. I know, #foodbloggerfail.

Either way, the cookie never actually made it home. Soft chewy pieces with melty bits of chocolate all through it? YAAAASSSSSS. I absolutely demolished it. Demolished.

Milk not included.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of SMH Good Food Month.
West Juliett
30 Llewellyn Street
Marrickville, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9519 0101
Website: https://www.facebook.com/westjuliettcafe

West Juliett Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

C’est La Vie! BBR French World Festival, Circular Quay

Festivals Review
Review of the BBR French Festival, Circular Quay

Review of BBR French World Festival

French: the language of love, romance, and..CHEESE!! The BBR (bleu blanc rouge – blue, white and red) festival is ON at Customs House to celebrate Bastille day.

Okay, so there’s more than cheese, but I got distracted.

Review of BBR French World Festival: foie gras canapesFoie Gras Canapés from Chef Up Sydney’s French Cooking Masterclass

Chef’s Up! was holding french cooking masterclasses, and we were treated to everything from escargot to foie gras!

Review of BBR French World Festival: melted raclette over charcuterie platterRaclette and Charcuterie Platter

But onto the cheese. I had a bit of food ADHD walking around the whole festival – there was everything from belgian waffles, to poutine, to rosti, to my favourite…RACLETTE!

Review of BBR French World Festival: melted raclette toastiesMelted Raclette Toasties

I only had time and money to buy one thing, and I chose to go for the fabulous raclette. Coming from the word “racler” which refers to the scraping of the melted cheese off the wheel, the experience of this cheese is like a fondue on steriods.

Frencheese, who usually has market stalls in Melbourne, were melting raclette on, well, everything. From charcuterie to potatoes to toasties, its very hard to go wrong with delicious melted cheese.

But be wary: the line is insane and the wait even longer. If you have a spare 45 minutes to get food, then I would say its worth a try.

Or maybe just get some belgian chips to snack on while waiting in line. 🙂

BBR French World Festival is running till the end of today at Customs House, so get in quick! Visit the BBR Festival website for more details.

Insatiable Munchies attended the French Masterclass by Chef Up! as guests of BBR French World Festival.
Frencheese
Location Varies; See FB
Phone: +61 422 249 402
Website: http://www.frencheese.com.au

Click to add a blog post for Frencheese on Zomato

D’oh nut: The Whisk and Crumb, Lover’s Markets

Review
Review of The Whisk and Crumb, Lover's Markets

Review of The Whisk and Crumb, Lover's Markets

Never since the renaissance has there been a revival so rampant like that of the humble doughnut. Mostly made with yeast leavened dough that’s been deep fried and coated in sugar, the humble treat with a hole has now been refined and expanded to gastronomical proportions, with every filling, frosting, and topping you can get.

In other words – in this day and age – there’s no reason to produce a bad doughnut.

Review of The Whisk and Crumb: Pretzel and Peanut Butter DoughnutPretzel and Peanut Butter Doughnut

So when I saw The Whisk and Crumb at the Parramatta Lovers Markets, I instantly caved to my sugar cravings. After all, who can resist chocolate topped doughnuts with popcorn, peanut butter, milky ways, and other delicious things designed to trigger an insulin spike to end all insulin spikes?

Review of The Whisk and Crumb: Milky way and chocolate doughnutMilky way and chocolate doughnut

Unfortunately, these doughnuts are better conceptually than in execution. And expensive, to boot. Two tiny doughnuts cost $10 (or $5.50) for one, and while the toppings were inventive, the texture of the actual doughnuts were cakey, and dry. And if I wanted to just buy candy, I would’ve just gone into the confectionary aisle and bought candy.

So much promise, so much disappointment. D’oh!

This meal was independently paid for.
The Whisk and Crumb
Lovers Markets
Centenary Square, Parrmatta NSW 2150
Phone: +61 2 4782 3975
Website: https://instagram.com/thewhiskncrumb/

Spectrum Now

Festivals Review 1 Comment
Mary's Cheeseburger

Mary's Cheeseburger

Man, I really LOVE food festivals. From Taste, to Good Food Month, to the Lunar Markets, anytime I can food crawl without moving more than 2 steps between stalls is a good time indeed.

Needless to say, when I got
the invite to sample the stalls at the Nosh Pit for Spectrum Now, I was absolutely chomping at the bit to get sown there.

Pork belly and Fried Mushroom Gua Bao from Bao StopPork belly and Fried Mushroom Gua Bao from Bao Stop

Curated by Luke Powell of LP’s Quality Meats, the Nosh Pit consists of two rows flanking either end of Spectrum Now, and features heavy hitters like black Star Pastry, Mary’s, and of course, LP’s Quality Meats.

We begin the night of binge feasting by tucking into a selection of Gua Baos from Bao Stop. Originating in China, Gua Baos consists of savoury fillings sandwiched between an oval shaped soft milk bun. Pork belly is most traditional, accompanied with mistard greens and thick brown braising gravy.

And we don’t want to break tradition.

Their pork belly bao was fall-apart tender, juxtaposed with the crunch of the pickled mustard greens. The Mushroom was my favourite, with battered oyster mushrooms smothered with a satay-type peanut sauce. Maybe it’s the chilli – and we always give extra points for chilli – but I would happily take the mushroom over the pork any day.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Bao Stop
Bao Stop
Location Varies-See Fb
Sydney, NSW
Phone: 0420 305 355
Website: https://www.facebook.com/baostopsydney

Bao Stop on Urbanspoon

Seared Salmon Salad from Bondi's BestSeared Salmon Salad from Bondi’s Best

With the indulgent comes the healthy, because.. eat your veggies.

Chicken Egg Wrap from Bondi's BestChicken Egg Wrap from Bondi’s Best

I had heard that Bondi’s Best was known for their seafood, but the surprise of the night was actually their gluten free egg wraps for me. Instead of a flour wrap, they used a thin sheet of fried egg to roll up ingredients like poached chicken, or persian feta and spinach. Served cold, it was a fantastic light option that would be amazing on a warm balmy day. I was really impressed that the egg wrap wasn’t dried out, but was still strong enough for the wrap not to fall apart. Well done.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Bondi’s Best
Bondi’s Best
Shop 1 39-53 Campbell Parade
North Bondi, NSW 2026
Phone: 02 9300 9886
Website: http://www.bondisbest.com.au/

Bondi's Best Seafood on Urbanspoon

Sandwiches from LP's Quality Meants

Of course, if you are a fan of smoke, you can’t walk past LP’s Quality Meats without getting a little something something. And we got it, in the form of a Smoked Sausage Roll and Smoked Beef Roll. The sausage was nicely paired with a nice harissa, but I much preferred the smoked beef. There was a comment that it was a bit like corned beef, but you know what? Corned beef brings back all sorts of comforting memories of Saturday morning brunch with my mom whilst my dad was playing golf. So it’s a good thing.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Lp’s Quality Meats
Lp’s Quality Meats
12-16 Chippen St
Chippendale, NSW 2008
Phone: 02 8399 0929
Website: http://www.lpsqualitymeats.com/

LP's Quality Meats on Urbanspoon

Hoy Pinoy Skewers

And the stall that puts smoke inmy hair and a smile on my face: hoy pinoy!! I know I’ve had my fix about a month ago, but really, how can you ever get enough of their sticky sweet glazed pork belly and chicken, barbecued to smokey charred perfection. Yum. Consistently good, and totally worth the queue!

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Hoy Pinoy
Hoy Pinoy
Location Varies- See Facebook
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hoypinoybbq

Hoy Pinoy on Urbanspoon

Mary's Cheese BurgerMary’s Cheese Burger

Newtown favourite Mary’s has brought their famous Cheese Burger to Spectrum Now, with a Pizza Sub that was sadly unavailable when I went.

They’ve done well, serving up exactly what you’d expect – a good burger. Was it mind blowing? Not exactly, but then again, I’m a Mister Gee Burger sorta girl, so I might not be the droid person that they’re looking for.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Mary’s
Mary’s
6 Mary St
Newtown, NSW 2042
Phone: 02 4995 9550

Mary's on Urbanspoon

Pedal for your coffee

We needed a break after the first wave of eating, so we took the opportunity to explore the rest of Spectrum Now at the Domain.

There are interactive art installations aplenty, and SBS has put up a hipster coffee area, where you can get a free iced coffee…but you have you blend your own by pedalling on a bike-powered blender. Novel idea, and a way for me to work off the guilt food.

Hendricks Parlour of CuriositiesHendricks Parlour of Curiosities

Even if you’re not an alcohol consumer, take the time to hang out at the Hendricks Parlour of Curiousities. The aesthetic reminds me strongly of American Horror Story: Freakshow, and delightfully so. It was whimsical tents and gnarly 1930s style furniture with the odd skeleton in a glass jar.

I absolutely LOVED IT.

Mr Wong's from Gelato MessinaMr Wong’s from Gelato Messina

But we can’t stay away from the food for too long. Back to the nosh pit we go, and this time straight to Gelato Messina’s Milk Bar and N2 Extreme Gelato/BlackStar Pastry.

N2 and Blackstar Plum DessertPlum Slinger from N2 and Blackstar

Brokeback Moment from N2 and Blackstar

N2 and Blackstar Watermelon and Rose CakeStrawberry Watermelon Cake from N2 and Blackstar

N2 and Blackstar Cake SmashCake Smash from N2 and Blackstar

These dessert headliners put up a spectacular showing, but the slap-the-table-it’s-so-good dessert winner for me was the Cake Smash. Created on the first night of Spectrum Now for Spectrum Now, this beautiful franken-dessert involves freezing the famous Strawberry Watermelon Cake from Blackstar with liquid nitrogen, and literally smashing it into one of N2’s gelatos with the merciless beaters of a standing mixer. With more liquid nitrogen, of course.

It was hands down the best of both worlds, with all the delicate rose and fruit flavours of the cake, and the frozen liquid velvet of the gelato.

My mind was blown.

Liquid nitrogen creates a super smooth frozen treat, as well as creates this dramatic fog that spills out of the mixers, and that Strawberry Watermelon cake was all sorts of floral and fruity, and the thin layers of cream and light sponge just made for such a well-balanced bite, that was augmented by being flash frozen by liquid nitrogen. If nothing else, this is the thing to get at Spectrum Now.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of N2 Extreme Gelato and Blackstar Pastry
N2 Extreme Gelato
43/1 Dixon St
Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: http://www.n2extremegelato.com.au/

N2 Extreme Gelato on Urbanspoon

Blackstar Pastry
277 Australia St
Newtown, NSW 2042
Phone: 02 9557 8656
Website: http://www.blackstarpastry.com.au/

Black Star Pastry on Urbanspoon

If you’d like to get your fix of Spectrum Now, it runs at the Domain from now till this Sunday, 22nd of March.

Full Mooning: Lunar Markets 2015, Pyrmont Park

Festivals Review
Korean Tacos from Poklol at the Lunar Markets

Korean Tacos from Poklol at the Lunar Markets

The moon is said to do strange things to people: it brings out the monsters, it brings out the crazy…and it brings out the HUNGRY.

Oh wait, that’s just a normal state for me.

But markets usually involve me getting up early in the morning, and honey child, I ain’t no morning person. Which is why night markets have always been a favourite of mine – from the annual Night Noodle Markets of Good Food Month, to the weekly Chinatown markets – and I’m so excited that NSW Food and Wine Festival has just started the inaugural Lunar Markets, to celebrate Chinese New Year!

They’ve selected a cool mix of seasoned market stall holders and food truck operators, newbies on the Sydney food scene, and even some favourites from interstate.

I haven’t eaten from Poklol before, but their selection of fusion foods certainly inspire an appetite. The tacos that we were given to sample were generously filled with marinated beef and pork, and had that distinct Korean mix of sweet and salty.

Poklol
Food Truck Location Varies Check Facebook
Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: 0421 111 691
Website: http://www.poklol.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZOMGPOKLOL

Poklol on Urbanspoon

Crispy Dumplings from Fat NoodleCrispy Dumplings, Fat Noodle

Fat Noodle also joined the Lunar Market fray, offering up a mixture of crispy bites and stir-fried dishes. We were given Crispy Dumplings and Spring Rolls to sample, all hot and steaming from the fryer. It may not be knock your socks off amazing in terms of dumplings, but we already know that Fat Noodle produces consistent, reliable, quality food. So there’s that.

No Salt and Pepper Tofu on the market menu though. /sad face. That, you have to cross the road to The Star to get.

Fat Noodle
80 Pyrmont St Level 1
Sydney, NSW 2009
Phone: 1800 700 700
Website: http://www.star.com.au/sydney-restaurants/casual-dining/Pages/fat-noodle.aspx

Fat Noodle on Urbanspoon

Gyozas from ZagyozaGyozas from Zagyoza

All the way from their initial debut at the markets in Brisbane, and then interstate in Melbourne, Zagyoza has brought a variety of 9 gyozas for your sampling pleasure. As a base standard pork dumplings were pretty nice, their seafood dumplings – made with prawn and squid meat – were better, and their vegan black bean dumplings interesting. I personally am a bit so so about the texture myself, but it’s so much better than a LOT of other vegan food that I’ve tried.

Zagyoza
Shop 1/60 Vulture St West End
Brisbane, QLD
Phone: 07 3844 6696
Website: http://www.zagyoza.com/

Zagyoza on Urbanspoon

Pork Skewers from Daniel SanGiant Pork Skewer from Daniel San

Manly residents Daniel San has also put on a strong market face, serving up a short menu, allowing them to focus on quality. The giant pork skewers we sampled were nicely flavoured, and comes with the added bonus of allowing you to use the sticks for a bit of jousting afterwards! The pork that they used was quite lean though, putting them at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to this particular market, because…

Daniel San
55 N Steyne
Manly, NSW 2095
Phone: 02 9977 6963
Website: http://danielsan.com.au/

Daniel San on Urbanspoon

Skewers from Hoy PinoyPork and Chicken Skewers from Hoy Pinoy

HOY frickin’ PINOY is back in the building!!! Since I first tried them at the Winter Night Markets in Melbourne, I’ve been stalking them like a woman possessed, sniffing the air for that smoky smell of charcoal like a wolf.

See? I told you that the moon does strange things to people.

They are the reason I would seriously consider moving to Melbourne, and that is no exaggeration. Their menu is short, but it packs a punch. Their chicken skewers are coated in a sweet soy glaze, and their pork skewers in a banana ketchup glaze. Never in my life have I been such a fan of chicken.

And their showing at both the SMH Night Noodle Markets and The Age Night Noodle Markets shows amazing consistency – here’s hoping that they’re soon going to make a permanent expansion up to Sydney.

Hoy Pinoy
Mobile Food Truck
Location Varies- See Facebook
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hoypinoybbq

Hoy Pinoy on Urbanspoon

Tammi eating Filipino skewers

Hoy Pinoy makes me happy.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of the NSW Food and Wine Festival.

One night in Bangkok…

Bangkok Travel
Chatuchak Markets

Two, actually, but what a productive two nights/three days that was!

If you’re the type of person who loves eating new foods that you don’t know the name of, Thailand’s definitely the place for you.
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