Let's Do Lunch - Guillaume at Bennelong

It's this time of the year again... Crave Sydney Food Festival. My first event will be Let's Do Lunch - Guillaume at Bennelong. 

This is year their menu is roasted free-range chicken breast with a tombe of silverbeet on a bed of cauliflower puree, olives and lemon confits jus.

 Roasted Free-Range Chicken Breast

It was better than what I expected for a chicken breast. It was juicy and tender. I really love the browning and it is quite crispy! I dont normally eat the skin and I finished it this time! Now I am worrying how much fat I ate!!!! :O

Although we were not facing the water, but we have a free concert (without sound) when we were there!!

Since we have to go back to work, we have to skip the dessert which is pavlova and coffee or tea with petit four which we were thinking to get at the beginning. They look really good at the table next to us.

Guillaume at Bennelong

Sydney Opera House

Bennelong Point

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone (02) 9241 1999

Private Kitchen - Duck Degustation

My chef friend organised and prepared a duck degustation for us today. It was such a wonderful experience. Everything is to its perfection!!

 Our Sitting

Here are the sample of his menu. I guess it's only him who can understand all these. :)

 Our Menu of The Day

Before we started, there was bread and the butter is so tasty which I cant stop myself eating!!! :O 

Sourdough & Yummy Butter

We started off with Duck Neck Sausage with Mushroom Broth. The crushed pistachio nuts made the sausage not as flat.

Duck Neck Sausage with Enoki Mushroom Broth

Following the sausage, we had the Duck Breast Salad. The blood orange doesnt look bloody to me!! hahaha... It is quite a refreshing dish getting us ready for the main. 

Duck Breast Salad with Fig, Blood Orange and Orange Aioli

Our main is the Duck Confit with Lentil and Sour Cherry. It is an interesting combination. Although I am not fond of cherry, but it is a very nice combination. We also had salad and roasted rosemary potatoes as side!! I just cant stopped myself munching all these in.

Duck Confit with Lentil and Sour Cherry

Salad and Roasted Rosemary Potatoes

Without prior knowledge, I should not eaten too much of the side... we still have Cheese Platter before our dessert! :O I forgotten what's the cheese we had... but I really like that softer type over the hard cheese with the strong truffle taste.

Cheese Platter with Apple Watercrest and Guava Paste

Finally the long waited Vanilla Bean and Duck Egg Brulee with Truffle Honey and Hazelnut Praline. This is actually in his restaurant menu!!! :) I can only use these words to sum it up... Wah... the amazing!! 

 Vanilla Bean and Duck Egg Brulee with Truffle Honey and Hazelnut Praline

We are not stopping yet... there were still macarons, petit four and greentea puff!! We all went home with a full stomach!!

Macarons

 Petit Four

 Greentea Puff

Olio, St Leonards

What's attractive me about this cafe is their coffee... Kopi Luwak. This coffee is made of coffee berries which have been eaten by Asian Palm Civet, then pass through its digestive system. Hence I called it "cat poo" coffee... hahahaha...

Since I am having an early dinner close by, so I can try out this long waited coffee. :D However, the cafe closes at 9pm, we have to rush in before it closes. Lucky that the waiter let us in. 


We quickly settle ourselves and order our drinks. 

Brochure at the Cafe explaining what's Kopi Luwak

When the waiter passes me the coffee, the aroma goes through my nose. It smells so good!!! The waiter explains to me how I should taste it. There is a sparkling water with lime & ginger to raise my palate. It also comes with a petite four with a hint of ginger. 

 Kopi Luwak

After my sparkling water, my first sip of it reminded me as if I am drinking herbal tea. It is so strong. I have a bite to the brown sugar provided. The second sip I can taste it. It is silky smooth and without the bitterness. I really enjoy it!!! Now need to plan for my weekend brunch. :D




Olio
Shop 1, The Forum
St Leonards Station
Sydney NSW 2065

The Counter, Crows Nest

When I was given the menu, I felt like I am about to start a questionnaire! :O There are so many choices.It took me awhile to read through what do they offer. 

Questionnaire

Step 1, choose your patty, size and whether on a bun or plate. Step 2, choose your cheese... there is a lot of variety. Step 3, choose your toppings (up to 4). This is the fun part... so many different topping you can choose... this took us awhile to choose the best combination! :) Step 4, choose the sauce... it is not just tomato or mustard. There is at least more than 10 type! Finally, choose your bun. There is over 5 different buns. ;O The waiter comes to us quite often to ask if we are ready. hahahaha... We didn't wait for long for our custom build burger to come. Here are are creations. 

 Version 1

Version 2

 Version 3

We also ordered the Fifty Fifty which chose half onion rings and chips. It completed the meal. :D

The "fifty fifty"

The Counter

118 Willoughby Road

Crows Nest NSW 2065

(02) 9436 2700