Bar Zini

A small Italian hideaway (replete with Italian staff) that knows a thing or two about la dolce vita. In the morning you will find locals knocking back coffee at the bar, the barista starting conversations with all the regulars, and people snatching a quick moment with their loved one before work. It makes the start to the day that much brighter. For breakfast I recommend the bacon and egg roll, it is rare to find a straightforward one nowadays in Sydney; runny free-range eggs, lovely smoked bacon, Turkish bread, and that’s your lot. Incidentally they do spanking good coffee right through the day. Lunch has all the pastas and salads you expect, all balanced and refreshing – definitely not the stoge some places try and pass off as Italian. Evening, however, is my favourite time of day at this joint. When the weather is warm and the air is buzzing with post-work recreation, a frosty glass of Italian white and some lightly dressed pasta is just the ticket for a civilised wind-down. Want to know what makes this even better? It’s free! Every Thursday and Friday between 5pm and 7 pm Bar Zini generously invites everyone to enjoy free aperitivo consisting of salad, pizza and pasta. If you have religiously saved ten coffee stamps the glass of wine is thrown into the bargain too! I must warn you, if you do take up this generous offer it is highly likely the dinner menu will lure you to stay for something a little more substantial. As the menu varies daily I can’t make specific recommendations but past favourites include; veal scallopine with gorgonzola sauce and spinach and some fantastic mussels with a rich tomato based sauce and soft polenta. Whatever time of day you find yourself in Bar Zini you will enjoy it.  

78 Harris St
Pyrmont NSW 2009
http://www.barzini.com.au/

Tasmania

I owe you all an apology. According to Blogger I haven't posted since the 5th of September. An extremely busy work schedule and one friend's fabulous wedding has meant that I have barely had time to remind my family that I'm alive. Hopefully I'll be able to update you on all the restaurants I have tried in the past couple of months.

I thought I'd start with a brief overview of a few of the places I tried in Hobart.

Pigeon Hole: A little trek uphill through Hobart brings you to a lovely little cafe in a suburb full of pretty houses. The kitchen is located in an old fridge, but despite the space limitation they manage to pump out a range of home-made breads and in-one-pan egg breakfasts that are simply delectable. It is hard to resist one of the lovely pastries on display for a post-breakfast treat. I recommend the rhubarb danish with one of Pigeon Hole's coffees.

Jam Jar Lounge: They have Bloody Mary cocktails on the breakfast menu. Enough said.

Daci and Daci: Fantastic bakery, you cannot go near this place and not be tempted! Pain au chocolate passed the test.

Jackman and McRoss: Another fine bakery. Get a pork and pistachio sausage roll a go for a stroll around the Battery Point area.

MONA Wine Bar: When you can't take anymore sex and death slink away to the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) Wine Bar for super fresh Tassie oysters and lovely Ploughman's lunch. With a vineyard and brewery on-site there is no shortage of drinkies! (Don't get the Moo Brew larger, tasted like floral VB).

Jack Greene Bar: Burgers! Really good ones! And about 10 beers on tap; feels really similar to the Local Taphouse on Flinders in Sydney. The Fish burger comes as an actual fillet of perfectly cooked fish. Blue-eye trevalla no less! The Belly Pork burger is also worth a look in. Top it off with cider and you are well on your way.

Nant Distillery: An artisan distillery an hour outside of Hobart, near Bothwell. Three course lunch, whisky tasting, distillery tour and two hours of clay-pigeon shooting; what more could you want? Lunch consisted of confit trout from the distillery’s own streams, twice cooked duck with plums and a fabulous sticky toffee pudding with whisky butterscotch sauce. The blokes running the shoot are hilarious. I want their life.

Salamanca Markets: A must-do if in Hobart on a Saturday. Go to one of the German sausage sizzle stands, get a bratwurst and take in a buskers show.

Kate's Berry Farm: If you find yourself driving up the east coast of Tasmania make sure you stop in at Kate's Berry Farm in Swansea. They have a selection of berry pies, jams and chocolates for sale. Disappointingly no fresh berries! But the pies are stuffed full of berries and are absolutely delectable.

The Edge of the Bay Restaurant: Attached to the Edge of the Bay hotel this is one of two up-market restaurants in Coles Bay, near Freycinet national park. The menu is limited, and there isn't much seafood on the menu (two dishes in all) which is such a shame given the restaurant sits on the edge of such pristine water. I thought they would at least have oysters. The pulled pork entree was seasoned very strangely and wasn't enjoyable. The main coral trout was perfectly cooked and beautifully accompanied. The cheese plate was lack-luster. The view however was knock-out.

Coles Bay Marine Farm: The oysters were a bit deflated, having been left too long between shucking and serving. The scallops and mussels were beautifully cooked. Nice place for a spot of lunch.

Blue Eye Dragon

Now I owe The Jet-setter an apology. She wanted to go to this restaurant before I had tried it, and in my indecisive flimsyness I suggested somewhere else. Stupid past-self. Now I have been; come close dear readers, for I am about to share with you a gem of a restaurant. Sure Australia has some rockin' Asian food, some cheap and cheerful, others ritzy, but this place has an intangible magic about it that makes it one of my absolute favourites.

Blue eye dragon is located behind The Star casino on Pyrmont St. nestled in an old school hall next to a quaint little church. A huge iron dragon guards the entrance to a very sparse looking concrete courtyard that has pieces of naturally formed, expensive looking furniture that give the place a very Zen feel. A door to the left opens up into the cavernous dining room that still contains the 'stage' from the buildings days as a school. Diners up here are subtly screened so they need not worry about their eating habits being on display, so feast away!

The tables are white-clothed topped with large sheets of paper, and the delicate light provides intimacy without making the menu difficult to read. Now a note about the staff; they are brilliant! The restaurant owner greets every new table at the door with a huge grin. He warmly seats you and explains how the menu works. There is the straight up a la carte delio, or of there are four of you in your party you can order the banquet. If you are lucky enough to be in the latter situation, DO IT! At $50 per person you get to choose 6 entrees and 4 mains. Yep, ten courses! While these dishes are designed for sharing they certainly aren't tapas sized. My family, the one full of chefs, had to take the last dish home. We simply couldn't fit anything more! And we are well trained in the multi-course marathon. For shame!

You could choose dishes like the fried chicken with five spice salt, or the pork mince filled tofu. You must get the beef shin; don't argue with me! Queensland scallops in house XO sauce, slightly spicy with the right balance of sour and salty without overpowering the delicate meat of the shellfish. You all know I am a huge fan of belly pork, so the slow cooked version in an awesome salty broth is always on my 'must order' list. The beef fillet is also on there. Now I realise this isn't Taiwanese cuisine in the authentic sense, it has most definately been re-styled for the western clienelle but they have done a nice job of it. Kept the flavours we love but ditched the blood jellies and chicken feet. Go, you know you can't stay away now you have read about it.

http://www.blueeyedragon.com.au/pc.php

Graze

It’s Friday night after a very long week at work. I have tickets to go see ‘The Beards’ at the Manning Bar, but they won’t be taking the stage till about 10 pm. My date, being the workaholic he is won’t be out of work until 8 pm so I have a few hours to kills. Hey Mum fancy dinner out? My treat? Deal.

I have wanted to try this share-plate restaurant in Pyrmont since it first opened its doors to reveal a funky, mod interior that is all light wood furnishings and dark walls with large French windows that open out onto Harris Street on a hot night.  My thinking was ‘why not give it a try for lovely lady-night-out’? Surprisingly Graze has space to squeeze a last minute booking for two on a Friday, only if we come straight away though. So come we do.

Mum and I are escorted upstairs to a nicely spaced dining room decorated in the same style as downstairs. There is a balcony that faces onto Harris street with counter-space and seating for four diners, an ideal people-watching spot I’ll be sure to nab next time (especially on a Saturday; the crowds that go to the Casino are hilarious! Ladies the world is not your gynaecologist). Despite the emptiness of the restaurant at this early dinner hour the atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, none of that awkward whispering-until-the-room-fills required. The staff, are among the best I have encountered, they are ever-present, never intrusive, have perfect timing and are happy to chat and have a laugh. Furthermore they are not ‘gimicky’ (as much fun as that is at times), they are just really good at what they do. 

So what to eat? Well the jamon and cheese toasty with cauliflower milkshake just sounds too good to pass up. The toasties are mini, buttery and crispy, with the warm cauliflower milkshake served in a mini Perspex milk carton. How fun! We also get truffled duck egg on toast with parmesan and grilled asparagus. These little soft-poached gems are stunning. The earthy truffle combined with the bite of parmesan, crunchy toast and asparagus make for a dish that should be on every cafes lunch menu. Simple, not fussy, ever so perfect. The soft shell crab with native finger lime dressing is also lovely, but my heart belongs to the duck eggs.

For mains we have chicken wings with sweet potato puree and corn that has a lovely balance of sweet and salty. The wings have been nicely de-boned so you can eagerly stuff your face with the juicy, tender meat. The second main of filo wrapped lamb doesn’t quite hit the right notes though. The pastry isn’t as light and fluffy as we would have liked, and it isn’t ample enough to absorb the juices from the lamb mince. While the pastry has remained crisp, there isn’t a flavour that comes through strongly enough to be the centrepiece of the meal. It is a bit flat. All this food is washed down with a lovely Italian wine that I randomly select (I am really flying blind here, Australian wine is the only type I know anything about) and it turns out to be lovely (but naturally too much led me to forget the name of it). Reminds me a lot of a granache, mourvedre blended with something else. Smooth.  

Desert consists of Eaton mess, strawberries, meringue and cream has all the right components, but not enough meringue and a bit too much cream. The balance of flavours needs work. The espresso crème brulee with rhubarb has lovely texture and the interesting combination of espresso and rhubarb is nice. I could go another one to myself (we had to share didn’t we?).

Overall this place is warm and welcoming, a lovely option if you want to linger of nice wine and food to catch up with friends, family or the other half you keep neglecting for episodes of revenge.   

http://grazepyrmont.com.au/

Wok Station

Everyone has a favourite local restaurant. The cheap, easy one you go to when it is raining, there is nothing in the fridge or you are having a really lazy night and just damn well don't feel like cooking, OK? Wok station is mine.

It is a Thai restaurant on Harris st and Union square, perfectly located to snare locals and professionals on their way home who realise their stomach is eating itself. Most of the seating is inside, but in summer the folding windows and doors open out allowing the people, curry and BYO booze to be flung (yup, flung) onto the footpath covering the neighbourhood with the hum of eating, drinking and general merriment (@ Jet-setter; that one is for you).

 It is a Monday. It is 8:30 pm. I have been at run-club and subsequently could eat the crutch out of a low flying duck. So when Cueball suggests Thai for dinner I get pretty excited. We nab our favourite table, the one with the throne-like chairs near the window, and settle in for some people-watching. Wok station has recently had a makeover. Previously the set-up was basic with metal chairs and tables, it did not invite the diner to linger over their meal. Now however under their new 'romantic event' slogan (yeah, so Asian) there is warm lighting, comfy chairs and a bit more of a go-slow atmosphere (in the dining room, not the kitchen).

This place has your standard pad Thai and chilli basil stirfry, but the dish I always get is this green curry pork called 'Gang keaw waan moo yang'. It is green curry overflowing with greenbeans and young eggplant, with a sprinkling of fresh peppercorns, packing the right amount of heat to get the nose running. The thick cuts of pork are cooked on a grill so it is tender and juicy, and gives the dish a slightly smoky flavour. Another favourite is the simmering seafood. This is a sweeter, soy based dish with generous serves of calamari, fish, and prawns. We generally get satay skewers, which can be a little dry sometimes but that is easily remedied with helpings of the fantastic peanut sauce. Otherwise we go for the diamond bags, little parcels of wonton pastry filled with nuts, spices and seafood.

Other fabulous dishes include Thunder Chicken; minced chicken and spring onion in tamarind sauce, and massaman lamb curry; one of the best versions of this curry I have had. So while this is my local, if you happen to walk past with an empty stomach, the food is nice, the staff are nice and it is conviently located next to one of the nicest watering holes in Sydney (Gallon, review is on its way!).

The Fish Shop

Being from ye olde merry England I really appreciate how much more awesome my life here in Oz is. But there is one thing that Australia just can't get right; fish and chips! Who would have thought this country with all the blue stuff around it and an apparent love affair with seafood would struggle with such a simple dish? The fish must be freshly battered and crisp. The chips must be fresh, not frozen and certainly not processed! Yet time and again I get soggy batter, overcooked fish, and chips that don't even deserve to be called chips. 'Geriatric mash' might be a better name.So when I heard that Merivale's own Brit Jeremy Strode was opening up The Fish Shop in Potts Point I got a little excited. I grabbed me a Brit and a Scot and went for a gander.

The Fish Shop is set up 'canteen' style with high tables and bar stools scattered throughout the decent space. Small touches like mismatched furniture, stained glass inserts and wooden panelling give this place the aura of your favourite summer holiday fish shop down the south coast. The kitchen is open, with four bar stools a little invasively placed along one counter overlooking the kitchen. The bar is nestled up the back. Menus come as mini newspapers with fun factoids. For example did you know that a scallop has hundreds of eyes, all of which are blue? Might have to google that one.

We start with potato scallops and some natural oysters. The oyster are fresh and the potato scallop isn't processed! Generous slatherings of salt and Satchwell's vinegar make this the best potato scallop I have had in years. This bodes well. Now for the mains. Specials are scrawled on the blackboard. I decide grilled kingfish is just the thing, while the odd couple go for classic battered fish.The fish and chips are divine. The right amount of crisp, golden batter encapsulates lovely delicate whitehead fillets. The tartare is homemade, the chunks are identifiable. Oohh gherkin, capers. And the chips, bless me the chips. Fresh!

My kingfish arrives with crispy skin and a lemony rocket salad. It is a simple composition that highlights what an awesome fish that kingfish is. Oh thankyou humble kingfish for being so very delicious. Given the prices I'm very happy with the portion sizes. No main is over $30 (though I'm sure adding lobster or crab to the specials menu would change that!).

I have a gin and rhubarb cocktail for desert (alco) though I am tempted by the ice cream sandwich on offer. I'll save that one for next time I reckon. Though Time Out just did a write up so heaven knows if ill be able get a seat there anytime soon. Can we get a poms seated first policy happening? I'm hooked!

http://merivale.com.au/thefishshop/

Concrete blonde

I have been lured to The Cross on a Sunday for one very good reason; Sunday Roast and I have it on good authority that Concrete Blonde is the place to go.

This place is located on Bayswater road in the same complex as Hugo’s. There is a lovely canopied outdoor seating area, and lounge seats on which to enjoy a pre-dinner (or lunch) drink in the afternoon sun. I assume this place is named after the U.S. rock group of the same name, though the name has been interpreted literally in the interesting glass door to the toilet, which contains patterns and text made of concrete set in the glass. The fit-out feels expensive, but the tone of the restaurant is quite casual.

After the parents, Cueball and I settle into our seats, I spy the kitchen. It is open, and you can see the chefs flitting back and forth, that bit is pretty standard. But the wood-fire spit and free-standing circular grills sure aren’t! Unfortunately there isn’t anything on the spit today, but our waitress informs us that last night there was a special of spit-roasted suckling pig. If that isn’t the best combination of food related words I have heard in a while. Given that the pig understandably sold out last night I go for the grass-fed Tasmanian roast beef with all the traditional trimmings. Think buttery beans and carrots, Yorkshire pudding, potatoes and jus served alongside a thick cut of just-medium beef. Oh it is heaven, absolute heaven. Of course I managed to squeeze in an entrée first; ham hock terrine with sourdough toast, perfectly accompanied by a large glass of chardonnay (Canobolas-Smith, Orange 2006). Pinot noir (Explorer by Surveyor Thomson) with the beef, from Central Otago duh (seriously who isn’t on the Otago bandwagon yet?).

Though the beef leaves me absolutely stuffed I am completely suckered in by the warm lemon pudding with vanilla bean ice-cream. It is spongy on top, and gooey inside. Others on the table go for honeycomb parfait and a valrhona chocolate terrine with raspberries and chocolate soil. Parfait, well everybody loves parfait, and for those chocaholics out there the valrhona is everything you need and want.

For $48, the Sunday lunch menu on offer at Concrete Blonde is more than a bargain, I am so stuffed I actually walk home to avoid my stomach bursting. That roast beef is the best I have had at any restaurant, and if they have the suckling pig on again God help anyone who prevents me from getting a reservation!

 http://www.concreteblonderestaurant.com.au/

Hemmingway’s

Why must summer end? I have only been to the beach, erm…three times this summer. That is practically un-Australian! The Jet-Setter states that a visit to the beach for a dip followed by cocktails is in order, and I couldn’t agree more. The day selected turns out to be a real scorcher, perfect for a swim. However post 6 pm it turns cool very fast. After delicately inserting a toe into the surf and retracting it with a scream of ‘it’s cold!’ we skip the dip and go straight for the drinks.

Hemmingway’s has been our coffee and drinks haunt in Manly all summer; the Jet-Setter is a massive fan of the bearded wonder’s short stories. So an opportunity to try their dinner menu is an exciting prospect to both of us. The menus theme in the downstairs bar is presented as ‘school meals made adult and fun’ so there are things like chicken nuggets and chips and fish fingers. So what awaits us in the restaurant upstairs? Awkward staff members for one thing.

After being assured downstairs that there is space for two in the restaurant, we reach the top of the stairs to find two bemused floor staff without a spare table. After a really weird conversation in which I felt like we were speaking a different language to the waiters we decide to wait downstairs until there is a table available. Once we get a table upstairs and pursue the menu we opt for:

‘Peppers’; padron peppers, bacon, feta, currants

‘Gin and tonic’; poached salmon, gin jelly, cucumber puree, salmon roe

‘Kiev’; black garlic, sweet corn, chicken

‘Leaves’; rocket, parmesan, balsamic

The ‘peppers’ is not much special, essentially peppers covered in cheese. The portion is decent enough, though you do get the odd really hot one so choose carefully. ‘Gin and tonic’ is beautifully presented, the jelly is lovely and fragrant and the salmon is beautifully cooked. The one thing this dish really needs is salt to lift the flavours to the next level. By far the best dish is ‘Kiev’, the chicken is served in a lovely crispy, salty ball with smears of smoky black garlic and sweet corn that I end up wiping off the plate with my fingers.

In the end the meal was nice, but I have been to nicer restaurants for less. The restaurant feels a little grungy, when I was expecting a bit more of a colonial, manly (oooooh fun with puns) opulence. Having my meal presided over by a portrait of a shirtless Hemmingway is a tad odd, though not unpleasant. I’ll be back for the coffee and snacks downstairs.   

http://www.hemingwaysmanly.com.au/_.html

Menya Noodle Bar

Right; I love ramen. As in I have been to Japan twice mainly just to eat Ramen. When the weather in Australia turns cold I can’t help but get a little excited; it is ramen season!

I have been a loyal customer of Ramen Kan (Bondi and China Town http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/70/751830/restaurant/Sydney/Chinatown/Ramen-Kan-Haymarket) even since I stumbled across it on the way to a Prodigy concert in 2005. The train of thought went: concert, lots of dancing, need energy, ooooh carbs, mmmmm ramen. But tonight I feel like a change. The internet informs me that Menya Noodle Bar in China Town does a good noodle soup.  

The Socialite joins me in trying to find Menya. According to my phone it is just around the corner from the UTS library, but we loop around the block once without spotting it. Finally we realise it is on the ground floor of a tall, skinny complex full of restaurants. We push past all the hawkers for the scattering of Chinese restaurants surrounding Menya and gawk at the large menu of the wall for a while. All the different Ramen, noodles and rice dishes look and sound divine. I am tempted by the ramen with extra pork (ton-toro ramen) but I finally settle for teriyaki beef soba noodles. The socialite goes for the Ramen with Karage chicken (Tori kara-age ramen).

We find ourselves a spot at the long communal table running down the centre of the restaurant and watch the staff chat with two police officers. Looks like something ‘went down’ during the day. So dinner and show, brilliant. When the noodle soups arrive they are everything we want. The stocks are rich and meaty and all meat is cooked to perfection. Needless to say both are soon devoured. Looks like I now have two Ramen restaurants in which to practice my proper Japanese noodle slurping etiquette  

http://menya.com.au/

Montpellier Public House

29^th February 2012

Ever since Balzac in Randwick morphed into the more relaxed, approachable Montpellier Public House I have been desperate to go. I even work in Randwick. However, as always happens when you live right near something you keep putting it off thinking that you will always have time to go. Of course I never managed to do so. So how to force me to actually plant my bum on a seat in Montpellier? Ooooooh voucher! Eleven dishes for two people for $69? I’m in!

Mum and Dad join Cueball and I on a hideously rainy night, the kind where you want to watch Chocolat and make pained noises every time the do something with chocolate. The Façade of Montpellier has changed very little since it was built in 1859, being a heritage listed building that once held ‘The Star and Garter Inn’ and subsequently a school for girls (Hmmmmm). Most recently the venue was Restaurant Balzac (yes, go ahead have a laugh), a modern French/British fine-diner headed by Matt Kemp. Kemp closed Balzac early 2011, recognising the shifting mood in Sydney’s dining scene towards more relaxed, affordable offerings and re-opened as Montpellier mid 2011. Montpellier is touted as a ‘gastro-pub’ with a weekly Sunday roast. There is even a supper menu from 10pm-11:30pm for late-night snackers.

The downstairs dining room is a casual wood and sandstone affair, with big windows taking up most of the wall space. Upstairs is a bit more fine-dining, with mood lighting and tables snuggled into cosy nooks. The voucher menu we are offered provides us with a six-dish tasting plate, a choice of main dish each, and a selection of four small desserts as well as a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine per couple. The entrees consist of pea and ham soup, fresh oyster with red wine shallot vinegar, red cabbage salad, escargot, onion tart with goat feta and crumbed lambs brains with tartare. The pea and ham soup is among the best I have tasted and the onion tart is caramelised goodness. I have never tried lambs brain before, and these beautifully golden little nuggets are the perfect introduction. The golden crust gives way to a creamy-textured rich flesh that is cut through with the astringent citrus in the tartare. They are worth trying!

For main I opt for a parmesan-crusted leather-jacket with ratatouille. The fish comes whole, and I’m sorry but people who say they ‘don’t like their food looking at them’ need to go to Bunnings to purchase a spine. Keeping meat on the bone retains flavour and moisture, and this yellow jacket is beautiful. The crust is salty, the meat sweet and the ratatouille flavoursome. Cueball opts for the pumpkin and mushroom risotto which despite being a bit on the small side for a main is delightfully al-dente and packs a flavour-punch. The only disappointing main is the lamb cassoulet. While the look of the dish has all the right things; the clay pot, the toasted breadcrumbs, it is quite sweet and after several mouthfuls tastes a bit like Heinz baked-beans. Shame man.

It takes the waitress quite a while to clear our main plates, she seems more pre-occupied with clearing and resetting the empty tables in the restaurant. It being 9:30 pm on a Wednesday we are one of the few tables left, so she isn’t exactly run off her feet. Only after catching her eye do we succeed in having the plates removed. Dessert is another selection of smalls; peach sorbet, panna cotta, Eton mess, and roasted figs in Amaretto syrup with vanilla ice-cream. The panna cotta has a perfect just-set texture, the Eton mess (a meringue, cream and strawberry smash) is summer in a glass. The figs are rich and sweet with the ice-cream cutting through all the sugar. The peach is interesting as it is a flavour I’m not used to; delicious none-the-less.

The re-invented restaurant certainly has the right food and atmosphere marketed as a nice local place to go any night of the week for good food and drink. I know I’ll be back, though I can’t cheat with a voucher next time can I? There is just so much more on the menu I want to try!

Footnote: The parentals recently re-visited Montpellier, who graciously allowed them to use a voucher a couple of days out of date. They said the service was impeccable and the food was even better than the first time; with no cassoulet in sight. Sounds like we were there on a rare night where mistakes happened.

http://www.montpellierpublichouse.com.au

York Lane

You know, it is really hard to try to cut down drinking during the week when there are so many awesome little bars popping up around Sydney. I could go on a non-school night, but weekends see these little bars become buzzing hunks of human limbs, and sometimes you just aren’t in the mood the shout at someone over a ‘relaxing’ drink.

Now I am terrible at catching up with people, and York Lane offers the perfect opportunity to catch up with an ex-housemate/colleague; The Socialite. Both of us used to work at a hotel around the corner from this place, and when I first read the address I am a little dubious. The little alleyway this bar nestles in is framed by a stripclub (or brothel, who knows?) and a selection of homeless men. I used to always walk a little quicker past this alley late at night. Creepy-town.

As we approach the alley The Socialite thinks I am taking her to the stripclub. Maybe some other time kitten. Instead I lead her a little further down, past the boob-club and the homeless men, to a tiled, little hole in the wall. Obligatory milk carts are scattered at the entrance, chipboard, moody-coloured tiles and chalk boards take up the wall space. As you walk into the sunken space, which has a single-table mezzanine, you are greeted by a bar/kitchen down the left side and the scattering of tables, chairs and stools at the end of the cosy space.

After being greeted warmly, The Socialite and I sit in the middle of the room with a good view of the bar and kitchen. The menu and drinks list is written on scraps of cardboard. The menu is small nibble plates and a short selection of about 10 wines, a few beers, cider and spirits, including a concktail special. The only issue with the wine list is they fail to list the wine region. I’m sorry, but I’m a cool climate wine lover (SNOB!), I need to know where they are from. Upon asking at the bar, the lovely man behind the bar doesn’t seem sure where the wine is from either, but a quick read of the label and we all learn something today (turns out their pinot is for the Yarra, tasty!).

To nibble we order the belly pork with chilli jam, antipasto plate and duck pancakes. The fat on the pork is beautifully rendered down, leaving the pork tender and juicy. Dipping a chunk of this into the chilli jam; heaven. The antipasto plate contains lovely fresh cured meats, olives, cornichons and some feta, though it was a little light on the meat side for the price tag of $22. Still nice though. The duck pancakes contain flavoursome pieces of duck with crisp spring onion, but are unfortunately served in a burrito tortilla. The tortilla is far too thick and heavy for the filling, leaving you with a chink of leftover bread at the end.

All in all a nice place to have a drink and a light nibble; emphasis on the drink. You certainly don’t want to try to fill an empty stomach here (then again I am a walking stomach so you waifish types might do fine). I will be back for more pinot.     

http://www.facebook.com/pages/York-Lane/188585934513171

Maya da Dhaba

Friday, bumming around the lab, when Running Buddy comes up with a dangerously good idea; skip the run, hit up a bar and restaurant instead. Oh Running Buddy, you delightful cad you!

Given Running Buddy’s expertise in Indian cuisine, I leave the choice of eatery in his hands. Maya da dhaba on Cleveland street it is. Leggy Blonde joins us (I mean seriously, how was it that you were blessed with those things? Freaking jealous). After whetting our whistles with a cider at Bar Cleveland, where we were offered free canapés (happy hour has canapés people, get on it!) we meander down to the restaurant.

The restaurant is a converted Victorian townhouse and many of the original features, including the fireplaces, awnings and a decorated plaster ceiling, have been kept. White table cloths and warm colours make the restaurant feel intimate, but not over-the-top-wow-you-are-in-India-now. Waiters are in crisp white shirts and we are quickly seated at a nice table near the window. Given we are early the restaurant is quiet, with a few other families dining. After 8 pm though this restaurant kicks off big time with the noise level taking a similar upswing to rambunctious (oh la la).

Entrée:

Kaju Kebab. Seasoned pureed potato, mixed with paneer (cottage cheese to the uninitiated), coated with crushed cashew nuts and served crisp.

We tried to order three of these (the menu doesn’t specify how many per portion), upon which we were snootily informed by what I assume is the maitre’d that there are four pieces per portion. We are fine with that. Clearly he thought it was going to be an issue. Yeah. Weird.

These little nuggets are tasty, like a cheesy potato nugget, but the generous cashew crust slightly overpowers anything else going on in there. Shame.

Mains:

Punjabi Baingan. Baby eggplant pan fried and cooked with onions, tomato and chillies, then finished with coriander.

Nazuk Kofta. Croquettes of cottage cheese, potato, cashew nuts and spices, simmered in a sauce of crushed tomatoes, almond meal and cream sauce.

Paneer Ka Salan. Strips of paneer sautéed with capsicum, onions, spices and finished with fresh tomato and coriander.

Rice and naan.

Our waitress takes our order without a docket book, which is great for eye contact if you can remember the order. She can’t. We don’t get our Nazuk Kofta, instead we get, ummmm something? It is a paneer dish with beans in it. It is tasty. Same goes for the Paneer Ka Salan. However the real standout is the Punjabi Baingan. The potatoes are mega tasty and covered in mooshy eggplant. Tasty!

Everything is pretty quickly devoured. Helped along by Kingfisher beer. Then it is out into the night for, well I’m a bit boring, so sleep.  

http://www.mayadhaba.com.au/

Pilu at Freshwater

Ah those few lazy days between Christmas and New Years. Normally days spent wandering between cafes and the beach. But given Sydney's poor attempt at sunshine this year, my bum has seen very little sand. Instead I was invited by The Jet-Setter to ‘look at’ some sand, from Pilu at Freshwater.

Who hasn’t wandered past this gorgeous weatherboard house, wrapped around with a glass-enclosed balcony and thought ‘I really have to go there for lunch sometime’? Equally how many of us have actually made the time to go? Well I finally made it.

This whole building breathes the  beach. Weatherboard, blue and white, big windows, simple table settings and friendly relaxed staff. Of course given that we booked only a day ahead we don’t get one of the coveted tables out on the veranda. However it is of little matter. Just about every table in this restaurant has a lovely view of Freshwater beach. We settle in, quickly select a bottle of Tassie Pinot Noir and order from the Sardinian influenced menu. The Jet-Setter opts for mint fettuccine with lamb ragu for entrée and the seafood tomato soup for main. For an entrée the pasta dish is a large size. I’m glad I don’t have to face that down before another course! That said, the pasta is quickly devoured (with a few ‘mmmmmmm’s’ in there) by The Jet-Setter, who shows massive restraint in not eating the whole thing to save room for the course to come. I can never do that! Or so I thought…

My entrée is the salt baked NZ King salmon with saffron kipfler potatoes, baby leeks and beetroot puree. Again the size of the entrée is massive. It is a lovely no-fuss dish that allows the basic flavours of each component to shine in their own right. The potatoes are delicately floral with saffron, the leeks add crunch and beetroot rounds off the dish with earthy undertones. And, yeah, couldn’t finish it! Couldn’t risk not being able to fit my saddle of lamb with slow cooked lamb-belly, date jam and eschallots in! Gimme, gimme, gimme!

That said, the lamb is a little more cooked than I like it (the bloodier the better really) and it is not the most tender piece of lamb I have had, but the flavours are spot-on; homey, sweet, savoury, meaty. I heart. The Jet-Setter’s tomato soup is presented with a bib, and upon dramatic lifting of the cloche I can see why. Do not, for the love of God, wear white if you plan to order this dish. You deserve to look like you have been attacked by a four year old during art-and-craft time if you do! So bib donned, The Jet-Setter sets about devouring the generous heapings of seafood clamouring for space in the bowl. Octopus, mussels, fish, bugs, it’s all there. Good thing she didn’t eat all her entree.

With all these massive portions dessert isn’t really an option. But affogatos certainly are! When our lovely waitress informs us that they are out of vanilla ice-cream (a prospect she seems very upset by) she proposes the supplementation of some Italian fruit-and-nut ice cream thing which I cannot for the life of me remember the name of (any Italian readers out there? Oh and please don’t hate me for not knowing!). It works beautifully with the coffee, and I leave the restaurant full, buzzing and desperate for a swim. After that meal however I dare not expose the world to my bloated stomach. No need to thank me.

 http://www.piluatfreshwater.com.au/