The Victoria Room, Darlinghurst

I have been to The Victoria Room for their High Tea before. This time I am here for their dinner. It is a Sunday night and they have a Performance Carnival which we are unaware of. It is a variety of entertainment from the local artists and musicians.

Valentino (Non-Alcoholic)

Their long list of cocktails which didn't stop me from ordering some non-alcoholic drinks from the menu.

English Rose (Non-Alcoholic)

V R Punch Bowl: Serve 4 (Alcoholic)

Their Sunday night offers a special menu. It is mainly sharing plates. I guess it is allowing us to enjoy the entertainment better?

Tasting Plate Cold

The cold tasting plate including vegetable and goats cheese roulade, marinated Persian fetta, frittata, French prosciutto di parma and salami di cacciatore, artichoke heart, Reggiano grilled zucchini and Turkish bread. Just cant stop myself eating the prosciutto. :p

Tasting Plate Hot

The hot tasting plate including grilled chorizo, spicy chicken skewers, prawn and chickpea fritter, Argentinean calamari, pan friend haloumi. Their aioli sauce is really yummy. I have almost dipped everything to it.

Four Cheese Fondue

We also ordered 2 serves of four cheese fondue with fennel sausage, roasted potato, witlof and herb bread. I prefer the sausage and potato. The herb bread is not bad either. May be I don't like the bitterness in witlof.

Tart of Poached Pear soaked in a Brew of Decadent Mulled Wine with Vanilla Anglaise

With our sweet tooth, we have to order some desserts too.

Rose Pannacotta

Warm Belgian Chocolate Fondant with an Elegant Chocolate Sauce and Mascarpone

Chocolate and Hazelnut Mousse

This is my first time in Sydney where there is live entertainment while dining. It is certainly an interesting experience. :)

The Victoria Room

Level 1

235 Victoria Street

Darlinghurst NSW

(02) 9357 4488

Book Kitchen, Surry Hills - Photos Post

It was a sad day today. I have to farewell my good friend who is leaving Sydney for good. To ease the saddness, I have to find a nice place to eat! Here are the food that ate...

Puff Pastry Tart, Herb Stuffed Swiss Brown Mushrooms, Cauliflower Puree, Peas and Truffled Pecorino

Corn Fritters, Crab Meat, Avocado Salsa, Tomato, Poached Egg, Salad Leaves

Scramble Eggs with Smoked Ham Hock, Spinach, Persian Feta and Asparagus on Sourdough Toast

I also ordered a handcut chips as side. It is more like a handcut wedges!

Handcut Chips with Hand Whipped Aioli

The Book Kitchen

255 Devonshire Street

Surry Hills NSW

(02) 9310 1003

Otto Ristorante, Woolloomooloo

What's great about dining in Sydney is that you can easily find a place with waterview! This time we went to Otto Ristorante at the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf. Chef has organised for us the entree and dessert. All we have to choose is the main. Even though everything on the menu seems very nice... struggling to pick which one shall I go for? 

 Olives and Bread Sticks

We start off with some complimentary bread, bread sticks and olives. We are sharing our entree or Primi and every dish seems it is in a very large portion! :O 

 Carpaccio Di Manzo

The beef carpaccio, raw and thinly sliced, with the capers and parmesan. It is so smooth that it just slips down my throat. The parmesan and capers helps to bring out the full favour of the beef. 

 Crudo Di Tonno Con Granchio e Melanzne e Rucola

Another carpaccio dish that we have is the raw tuna with smoked eggplant puree, crab meat and apple. This is different to the beef one and I prefer the beef over tuna. 

Fiori Di Zucchina Al Baccala Con Asparagi e Pomodorini

I really love zucchini flowers. It was deep fried and stuffed with baccala, salt cod. The cherry tomatoes is fresh and juicy and I cant stop myself picking them to eat. The asparagus is young and crunchy. 

Capesante Con Purea Di Sedano Rapa e Zafferano

The presentation of the scallop is very nice. You can taste the freshness of the scallop as well. 

 Today's Special: Pork Ribs

Here comes our main, I have chosen the today's special, pork ribs. Interesting to find that pork can be cooked to medium. I always thought that pork has to be cooked well done? However, I cannot get my mind set to medium so I have requested to cook mine to well done. It turns out to be as lovely as the medium cook one. The cracking was very nice! 

Lingua Di Manzo Con Peperoni Marinati e Crostini All'aglio

Wagyu beef tongue was my choice before I am aware of the today's special. (The photo taken is not as good.) The tongue is really tender and it just melted in your mouth.

Strozzapreti Al Gamberi

Today's Special: Grilled Snapper

Risotto Agli Spinaci Con Burrata

Other mains which we have ordered are strozzapreti artisan pasta with yamba prawns, garlic, chili and black olives with tomato and calamari sauce, grilled whole snapper and spinach risotto. 

Semifreddo Al Balsamico Sorbetto Alle Fragole Pepe Nero

We cant complete our meal without tasting Chef's desserts. He has organised for us a fair few of the dishes to share among us. 

Mousse Di Carprino Con Fichi e Capperi

Never thought of goat cheese can be a dessert. I normally would have goat cheese in savory dishes. This time in dessert, very interesting!

 Panna Cotta Con Frutti Di Bosco e Sciroppo Di Ribes

Can you imagine having panna cotta on a plate instead of a cup? This is a very creative.

 Brule Di Allo Zafferano Con Sorbetto Alle Arancie Rosse

The saffron brulee with grapefruit sorbet is too pretty to dig in.

 Stravaganza Di Cioccolate

It is our friend Cameraman's belated birthday. Chef has organised this surprise for him. It is a chocolate tasting plate. In particular, I like the hazelnut mocha brulee with its rich favour.

We have eaten this meal from bright daylight till dark at night and enjoying a bit of sea breeze. We are dreaming whether one day we can dock our boat at the jetty there?

Otto Ristorante

8/6 Cowper Wharf Road

Woolloomooloo NSW

(02) 9368 7488

Tara Tea Room, The Rocks

I was busy shopping at The Rocks Market and started to feel a bit tired. I think I will need to find a place to sit down and relax. I saw this heritage terrace with a sign saying "scones out of the oven". The clock on the sign is striking now and this is it! :) 

You have to walk pass a long hallway toward the end and found this cosy tea room behind an Irish gift shop. Settling at a table and scanning through their menu. It is either Devonshire Tea or a Tasting Basket for 2. There are a lot of teas to choose from and they have a variety of coffees too.

Tasting Basket for Two

I picked the tasting basket as it has 5 scones in the basket. Their scones are fluffy and soft with crusty outer. Their homemade jam is great compliment to these scones. I love it.

Teapot with Tea Cosy

I have also ordered a variety of loose leaf tea and herbal fusion. I love how they "dress up" their teapot to serve. Each one has a tea cosy and their colour represent a different type of tea which ordered.

It is a good choice to wind down shopping at the market earlier. :p

Tara Tea Room

33 George Street

The Rocks NSW

(02) 9247 3233