Posts tagged octopus

Livin’ la vida: Los Vida, Crows Nest

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Prawn Ceviche, $13

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Chorizo Octopus Tacos, $8

Authenticity is a very finicky thing. We get so riled up about “this isn’t authentic (insert food here)”, that sometimes, we forget about the fun of it all. I know, because I do it too.

So it’s quite a relief to rock up to eat a cuisine that I have little experience with: this time, it’s Mexican.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Smoked Chilly Popcorn with Chorizo Chips, $7Smoked Chilly Popcorn with Chorizo Chips, $7

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Prawn Ceviche, $13Prawn Ceviche, $13

I’ve seen mixed reviews about Los Vida in Sydney’s CBD, but this brand new venue in Crow’s Nest also seems to be accompanied with a brand new menu, just to spruce things up a bit.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Los Vida Famous Fish Tacos, $5Los Vida Famous Fish Tacos, $5

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Lamb Barbacoa Tacos, $5Lamb Barbacoa Tacos, $5

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Chorizo Octopus Tacos, $8Chorizo Octopus Tacos, $8

So I did my food blogger duties and gave the new menu a workout, the only kind of workout I partake in.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Chilaquiles, $13Chilaquiles, $13

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Beef Ribs, $18Beef Ribs, $18

Sydney Food Blog Review of Los Vida, Crows Nest: Watermelon Salad, $12Watermelon Salad, $12

The Chorizo Octopus Tacos were an instant favourite, with the smoky paprika and tender octopus delivery punchy mouthfuls of flavour. The Chilaquiles was like hearty, grown up nachos that’s perfect to share, and the Beef Ribs had a sweet sauce paired with tender meat and tangy pickles.

I did have a bit of an issue that the Prawn Ceviche actually involved poached prawns in a tangy dressing (WHY U TOY WITH MY FEELINGS), which actually made for a nice mouthful, just not a ceviche. And I was looking forward to cured raw prawns in citrus.

But otherwise, it was all very enjoyable, with bubbly staff members and an upstairs/downstairs setup that gave the whole restaurant a lot of depth and a great ambience. Whether or not it was ‘authentic’ or not (as some of the reviews were complaining about) I really don’t know, and you know what? I don’t think I cared. It was a good lunch and a great day out, and I really want more of those Chorizo and Octopus Tacos.

Why do they have to be so small?

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Los Vida.
Los Vida
419 Pacific Highway
Crows Nest NSW
Phone: 02 9439 8323
Website: http://losvida.com.au

Los Vida Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

De…Luxe Woollahra

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra

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!

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Grilled Octopus with Chui's XO SauceGrilled 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.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Roasted Barramundi, Plum Pickled Eggplant, Ginger Butter Sauce. 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.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Balsamic Glazed DuckBalsamic Glazed Duck

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

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Broccoli and HazelnutsBroccoli and Hazelnuts

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Luxe SlawLuxe 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.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Luxe, Wollahra: Pear and Apple Tart 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

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When the moon hits your eye: Pizza Design Co., Parramatta

Review
Review of Pizza Design Co., Parramatta | Sydney Food Blog by Tammi Kwok

Review of Pizza Design Co., Parramatta | Sydney Food Blog by Tammi Kwok

Subway has copped a LOT of crap, but you know what? They’ve got a good system going. People get to pick what they want for a single price point, and it’s quick and easy. The illusion of choice, without too much going on.

If only life was that easy.

Now what if you can apply a system like that to, say, pizza?

Review of Pizza Design Co, Parramatta

Pizza Design Co. in Parramatta has applied just such a system. The steps are simple: pick your base, sauce, cheese, toppings, and you’re all done! $15, and see you later.

Exactly like Subway, without the cookie at the end.

Review of Pizza Design Co, Parramatta

The pizza was actually surprisingly good. There’s something to be said about things hot from the oven, but even then, the base was a great chewy texture, the toppings light and relatively fresh, and it was a fairly good portion for $15. The service was polite and fast, and by people who generally look happy to be there.

We all know that this isn’t some top notch gourmet experience, but really, you weren’t expecting that were you? I know I wasn’t, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Not bad. Not too bad at all.

This meal was independently paid for.
Pizza Design Co.
279 – 281 Church Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone: 02 9687 6667
Website: http://www.pizzadesignco.com.au

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