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/