Posts tagged sydney food blog

Hair of the dog: Bloody Mary’s, Darlinghurst

Review September 14, 2015

Sydney Food Blog Review of Bloody Mary's, Darlinghurst

I’m obsessed with Bloody Mary’s. Well, virgin mary’s cause I don’t do so well with alcohol (asian genes and all), but you get the idea. Bloody Caesar, Bloody Maria, Bacon fat vodka…whatever the combination, I’m absolutely there.

So when I saw this Buzzfeed article about a cafe called Bloody Mary’s, right here in Sydney, I knew I had to go.

Bloody Hell, $25

Classic Bloody Mary, $14

So, there were many bloody mary’s, as expected, but also a short food menu to soak up the potential hangovers.

Bloody Mary’s Beef Burger, $19

Yankee Doodle Classic Hotdog, $13

The verdict? Bloody marys with massive-ass toppers are good fun and beats crazy milkshakes anyday. Because cheeseburger > doughnut. The actual food on the menu did seem like an afterthought to the bloody mary’s, which I guess is a fair call, except when the Bloody Mary’s Beef Burger turned up fairly dry, both in topper form and full-sized form.

The buffalo wing topper was actually pretty good, and I wished we ordered that instead, but life is full of shoulda woulda couldas and this will be one of them.

I also got the Yankee Doodle Classic Hotdog, which was pretty punchy in flavour with chorizo and mushrooms covered in a creamy sauce. And cheese. Because cheese is delicious. A bit too much bread in each mouthful for my liking, but it was okay when you wash it down with your bloody mary.

Great theme, so-so execution. Go for the experience, but I’m not sure that it’s enough to hook me into coming back hangover after hangover. The drinks are pretty good, but incredibly..delicate for my unsubtle Asian palate. (Read: needs more tabasco. Always more tabasco.)

Go on and give it a go, though. I’d love to know what you think. And if you aren’t quite into it, as I was, well there’s always Gelato Messina’s Dessert Bar down the street.

This meal was independently paid for.

Bloody Mary’s
332 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
Phone: 02 9360 5568
Website: http://www.bloodymaryssydney.com.au

Singapore week! Cafe Mix, Shangri La

Review September 11, 2015

Sydney Food Blog Review of Cafe Mix, Shangri La

I have a confession: I have been so busy eating, that I’ve actually not had enough time to blog. I know, #FoodBloggerProblems, right?

But finally, FINALLY, I’m sitting down to write the recap of Shangri-La’s Singapore Week at Cafe Mix. Because there’s nothing like putting the words “Singapore” and “all-you-can-eat” together to get me all hot under the collar.

Oh look, proper satay sticks, and not the massive chicken breast monstrosities that we usually get in Sydney!

Each table also got a single Singapore Chilli Crab to share, which, while authentic in its sauce, was a bit of a waste of time on the size. See, with crab, there’s always a effort-to-enjoyment ratio. The meat that you get from all the work picking the crab clean should be worth the time taken to do it. And with this, it was just a bit, well, imbalanced.

And my golden ratio was violated.

The rest of the offerings – chicken rice? YAAASSS – was actually quite authentic and well-done, considering that it can be hard to get the specific ingredients and skill in Sydney. The chicken was silky and tender, and the condiment game was strong with this one.

The dessert spread was the most impressive of the lot, mixing traditional dessert items, like Pulut Hitam, a black glutinous rice and coconut porridge, with more modern takes like the pandan roulette. Oh and the pandan gelato? Smooth as silk and rich like a colonial master. Best pandan gelato I’ve had, well, ever.

It was a great way to ease some of the homesickness I’ve had for Singapore food, without the hassle of you know, actually leaving the country. And the best part of the Shangri-la wasn’t even that they flew the chefs in, oh no, it was the service. The waiters were omnipresent and invisible all at once, and missing cutlery and drinks mysteriously appear before we even think to ask for them.

Well done, Shangri-la, well done. *slow claps*

This meal was independently paid for.

Shayan Quarter @ Cafe Mix
176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9250 6206
Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/dining/restaurants/cafe-mix/

Shanghai’d! Taste of Shanghai, World Square

Review September 6, 2015

Sydney Food Blog Review: Taste of Shanghai, World Square

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.

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.

Pan fried pork buns

Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings)

Braised bamboo shoot

Stir Fried Green Beans with Pork Mince

Olive Fried Rice

Deep 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/

Asian? Asion! Cafe Cre Asion, Sydney

Review September 4, 2015 2 Comments

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!

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.

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

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/

Green eggs and…Spice I am, Surry Hills

Review September 2, 2015 2 Comments

Sydney Food Blog Review of Spice I Am, Surry Hills

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.

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.

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

Get in my belly: Mr Crackles, Darlinghurst

Review August 31, 2015 1 Comment

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?

Crackles 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.

Sticky 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

Three little piggies went to market: Hungry Wolf, Wollongong

Review August 21, 2015 1 Comment

Sydney Food Blog Review of Hungry Wolf, Wollongong

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.

Heirloom 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.

Pork 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.

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.

Pearl 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

I saw the angel in the marble: Rengaya, North Sydney

Review August 19, 2015

Sydney Food Blog Review of Rengaya, North Sydney

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” – Michelangelo

I think I finally understand what Michelangelo meant. I mean, I was never really good at Art History, but when faced with such beauty, I think there’s no way I can miss what he meant.

Because surely, he was talking about the marble in a 9+ piece of wagyu beef right?

Premium Wagyu Beef Sashimi, $18.90

Wagyu literally translates to “Japanese cow”, and refers to a breed of cow that naturally produces meat with an amazing amount of marbling. And you know what this fat does? It gives you a super tender, deliciously melt-in-your-mouth piece of meat.

And I am TOTALLY addicted.

Rengaya, in North Sydney, has a wide selection of wagyu beef available for their Japanese tabletop BBQ, and we were totally spoilt when we got invited there for dinner!

Salmon Belly Sashimi, $17.90

Duck with BBQ Sauce, $24.90

Of course, wagyu wasn’t the only thing on the menu: Japanese restaurant staples like salmon sashimi and salads were also options for us to choose. The BBQ menu also had items like duck and – the all important litmus test for how they treat and store meat – offal.

Assorted Ambles, $19.90

Curiously labelled Assorted Ambles, the the offal in this case was a selection of intestine, tongue, liver and kidney. Marinading provided two functions – to flavour the meat and to help it last longer in storage. The result, is a series of mouthfuls that are deliciously savoury, and a perfect match to fluffy Japanese rice.

Premium Wagyu Amusement, $49.90

But the main event is always the wagyu, and there is a platter with an assortment of cuts to suit our needs. Because I don’t discriminate when it comes to meat. =)

Bright red wagyu so fresh you can eat it thinly sliced as sashimi – seriously, you should try it sometime. It’s so delicate! – These mouthfuls of meat pair especially well with the smoke off the hot coals.

Speaking of mouthfuls, it’s a very good idea to order the salad leaves with accompanying sauces, so that you can wrap up the meat, Korean BBQ style. Because…salad. And also because it’s freaking delicious. Don’t say I don’t tell you about the good stuff!

BBQ Squid, $13.90

Foil Yaki Garlic, $8.90

And if you’re afraid of getting attacked by vampires on the way home – or, you know, you just really like garlic – the Foil Yaki Garlic is an insanely good excuse for anti-vampire breath. Peeled garlic is basically cooked over the barbecue in melted butter, and the rich smokey flavour puts a satisfying end to any True Blood fantasies you might have ever had. Or will ever have.

Yukke Bibimba, $19.90

Not keen on barbecue? (What’s WRONG WITH YOU) Then there are also a la carte selections like the Yukke Bibimba, which, like the Korean Yukke, features amazingly fresh raw beef on a hot stone bowl of rice and vegetables. The Oxtail porridge was also rice and full of flavour, if not a touch heavy on the chilli oil.

Wa Dessert Platter

And just when we thought that we couldn’t eat anymore, dessert. Because…do I really need to justify why I’m such a fatty anymore? You read the blog right? In the haze of my resulting food coma, I remembered being pleasantly surprised by the creamy matcha creme brûlée – breaking open that caramel top always makes my day – and not much else.

This is definitely one of those places that you’d want to go with a group – otherwise be prepared to be so stuffed cause you’ll just want to order EVERYTHING – and if you’ve got your Washoku Lovers card on you, you can also get a portion of Premium Beef Rib (2pc) & Premium Beef Loin (2pc) for $20 ($35 RRP). Win-win, right?

Also, great way to test potential dates. If they are still interested after the Foil Yaki Garlic, they’re a keeper. =)

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.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Rengaya and Washoku Lovers.

Rengaya
73 Miller Street
North Sydney NSW
Phone: (02) 9929 6169
Website: www.yakiniku.com.au/rengaya/

Hayes St Wharf Bistro, Neutral Bay

Review August 17, 2015

There’s something that they don’t tell you about cooking school when you sign up: that the education is nearly a decade behind what’s currently happening in the food scene.

Scallop and crab boudin blanc, tomato crab bisque and black caviar, $18

Chicken Liver Parfait, Cherry Marmalade and Brioche, $16

Sticky Wagyu Brisket Bourginon, Caramelised Shallot and Truffled Mash, $30

Roasted Half Duck, Gnocchi and Cherries, $36

Hand cut chips with Rosemary Salt, $8

Rhubarb Blanc Mange, Cinnamon Crumble, Apple Sorbet, $14

Hayes St Wharf serves up perfectly tasty food in lovely, relaxing surroundings. The expectation and the experience was a touch disparate, though – the information I had pointed to a modern style of French dining, but the experience felt fairly old school. Boudin blanc, bourginon, blanc mange…these just transport me back to cookbooks of the late 80s and early 90s, though not entirely in a bad way.

Except for the French rap music playing in the background. That was new school, a bit…odd. To me, at least.

Front of house also didn’t have too much off-the-cuff knowledge about the food, which is slightly worrying – sure, you can always find out from the kitchen, but it causes a break in the seamless experience of being in safe hands.

It is, though a nice little place to catch up with friends or have a date night – you can hear each other talk and there’s a professionalism to it all without being too intimidating. Shame that it can’t capitalise a bit more on the surrounding views, though, it would have really made the travel time more worthwhile.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Hayes St Wharf Bistro.

Hayes St Wharf Bistro
13 Hayes Street
Neutral Bay, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9908 1133
Website: www.hayesstwharfbistro.com.au/

The cheese of it all! Nuffnang Product Talk: Frico Cheese

Product Review August 16, 2015

I’ve always had a love affair with cheese. When I was first introduced to camembert as a teenager, I loved it so much I once ate a whole wheel of it in the closet. Like literally, sitting inside of the closet so that no one could come between me and that glorious oozing block.

But I’ve never had as much luck with hard cheeses. Something about the drier texture always said ‘meh’ to me, and while I’ve never disliked it, it has never swept me off my feet.

Well dutch cheese actually straddles the two worlds for me. It definitely classes as a hard cheese, but somehow retains a lovely creamy, almost waxy quality to it that doesnt dry out your mouth like hard cheeses can do. I was given samples of Frico cheese – maasdam, edam, and gouda – and I actually got real hooked on the cumin-studded Gouda. Frico is a Dutch company who’ve been making cheeses since 1898, so who better to rope me into the hard cheese world than such an experienced cheese maker?

And I didn’t have to be in the closet this time!

However. As nice as it was as an eating cheese, it wasn’t quite as good in other applications. The sweetness of the maasdam and gouda meant that it interfered with the aioli that I like to put on my sandwiches, even though it melted nicely. Finely grated, it was an okay cheese for salads, but didn’t really contribute as much as say, parmesan for a kick of sharp flavour.

But who needs to cook with it when you can just EAT THE WHOLE BLOCK?! It may not be a staple in my cooking, but at least now I have a fantastic, rich addition to my cheese platter – which may or may not replace my meals. Shhhhh.

I promise that I won’t get intense about the gouda though. 😉

This meal was independently paid for.

Bloody Mary’s 332 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst Phone: 02 9360 5568 Website: http://www.bloodymaryssydney.com.au

This meal was independently paid for.

Shayan Quarter @ Cafe Mix 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks Sydney, NSW Phone: 02 9250 6206 Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/dining/restaurants/cafe-mix/

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/

This meal was independently paid for.

This meal was independently paid for.

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

This meal was independently paid for.

Mr Crackles 155 Oxford Street Darlinghurst, NSW Phone: 02 8068 2832 Website: www.mrcrackles.com.au

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

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Rengaya and Washoku Lovers.

Rengaya 73 Miller Street North Sydney NSW Phone: (02) 9929 6169 Website: www.yakiniku.com.au/rengaya/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Hayes St Wharf Bistro.

Hayes St Wharf Bistro 13 Hayes Street Neutral Bay, Sydney, NSW Phone: 02 9908 1133 Website: www.hayesstwharfbistro.com.au/

Insatiable Munchies was provided samples of Frico cheeses for review.

Bloody Mary’s
332 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
Phone: 02 9360 5568
Website: http://www.bloodymaryssydney.com.au

Shayan Quarter @ Cafe Mix
176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9250 6206
Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/dining/restaurants/cafe-mix/

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

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

Mr Crackles
155 Oxford Street
Darlinghurst, NSW
Phone: 02 8068 2832
Website: www.mrcrackles.com.au

Hungry Wolf
53-61 Crown Street, Wollongong
Phone: 0417 265 272
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hungrywolfkitchen

Rengaya
73 Miller Street
North Sydney NSW
Phone: (02) 9929 6169
Website: www.yakiniku.com.au/rengaya/

Hayes St Wharf Bistro
13 Hayes Street
Neutral Bay, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9908 1133
Website: www.hayesstwharfbistro.com.au/