Sunday, May 30, 2010

Adriano Zumbo Patisserie, Balmain

My chef friend organised a gathering at Adriano Zumbo Patisserie. Arriving there nice and early to avoid disappointment (missing out of selections). We were there so early which we can stop by Bertoni for a cup of coffee. :) 
 Adriano Zumbo Patisserie
This tiny patisserie showing off what they offer. Once you walked in you would just want to pick every single one they are available. 
 Variety
Unfortunately, we can only pick a few of what's available for the date... but obviously it is the most I have tried at a time! :)
Our selection for the day!
Just drooling...
Charlotte Full
This is my favourite of the day! Yummy!!
 Dr. Apple
I like the sourness of this piece of cake. It's just refreshing!!
 Sunny Cloud
 Various Macarons
The must try macarons. His variety is definitely different to others!! :)

Just sweet enough to satisfying my taste bud!! :)
 
Side note: Adriano Zumbo has been nominated as Cleo Bachelor 2010 at the age 28. 

Adriano Zumbo Patisserie
296 Darling Street
Balmain NSW 2041
(02) 9810 7318   

Monday, May 24, 2010

Sakana-ya, Crows Nest

This is one of my favourite Japanese restaurant. It has not been westernised. It only serves traditional Japanese food where you can see lot of Japanese will come here to dine. They also serve the freshest sashimi. Since I have a craving for sashimi so I have tagged my friends to go along with me. :)

You will walk past a Japanese garden if you are entering through their back door.
Japanese Garden
 Japanese Pottery
Daily special sashimi... this time I have choosen salmon, king fish, sea urchin and scampi.
Daily Special Sashimi
They will make scampi miso soup with the scampi heads.
Scampi Miso Soup
Another must order is their barrasushi. It is as nice as it looks!
Barrasushi
This is another must have dish (only if they are available)... grilled king fish head (half). You can also have the nimono style which is simmered with salt soy sauce.
Grilled King Fish Head
The deep fried New Zealand flouder which is so crispy that you can eat the fin and bones!
My friend's favourite Japanese chawanmushi. Their version is with lots of chunky seafood. The egg custard is so smooth.
Chawanmushi Combination
Finally this is the only place I have eaten this Japanese rice dumpling. It is one type of mochi. It requires around 20 mins cooking.
Japanese Rice Dumpling
Everytime I go there, it brings back memory of my Japan trips! :)

Sakana-ya
336 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest NSW 2065
02 9438 1468

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Fifteen, Melbourne

Walking around the whole of the Melbourne city... finally we have found a place to eat!! If Miss C hasnt been here before, I wouldn't think or notice a restaurant is here!! We are sitting at the bar table. Since we are rushing to watch a show afterwards, we quickly decide what we will have and place our orders. We spent time taking photos and the pairs came after us already started eating. We started to worry how come our dishes are not yet ready??? We asked the waiter and found that our orders havent placed into their system!!! After sorting out the orders etc, our dishes finally came... after an hour!!
Berkshire pork belly with cotechino sausage, celeriac, apple sauce and salsa verde 
My friend order this pork belly. The pork is quite tender and the skin is quite crisy.
Zucchini wrapped wild barramundi with chickpeas inzimino, chorizo and basil oil
The crisy fish skin is quite interesting. Seldom see the skin is being served. 
Lyndale Park organic lamb with neck bolognese, creamy cannellini beans, broccolini and pea shoots
The cannellini beans is not as creamy as it said... but quite nuty. But overall this dish is nice. :)
Pan roasted duck breast and confit leg with parsnip purée, shallot ‘tortino’ and black cabbage
Unfortunately, this duck is not properly cooked. Since we were in a rush, my friend did not ask them to re-cook it. 
Butternut pumpkin risotto with seared Hervey Bay scallops, crispy sage and scallop bottarga
The risotto is quite bland not as interesting as its name.

Running out of time to try out their dessert. 

Fifteen Melbourne
Basement 115 - 117 Collins Street
(Enter through George Pde)
Phone: 1300 799 415

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

est., Sydney (March into Merivale)

My friend organised a foodies lunch at est. to try their March into Merivale menu. The menu has 3 choices: veal, chicken or fish. We have also ordered the entree and dessert to follow. (Unfortunately, due to short lunch hour, I cannot try the desserts!)
Their interesting cutlery.
We started with entree joselito jamon “iberico de bellota”, chick pea and tomato puree, black olive bread twigs. This is a very interesting dish, never thought chick pea can be so tasty!
The second entree that we shared is nage of lobster claw, scampi, moreton bay bug, cucumber, peas, ginger and lime. It is a very refreshing combination.
Waited not long our main arrives... I had pan roasted fillet of mulloway, eggplant caponata. The fish is cooked in perfection, just right!!
The other main is fillet of veal, mushrooms, garlic, tarragon. The veal is so tender!! Yummy... what a satisfying lunch!! My friends are continuing with their dessert while I have to leave. :( Thanks for inviting me to a wonderful lunch.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Baroque Bistro Patisserie, The Rocks

My friend from overseas visiting and thinking where shall we head out for a nice dinner. As usual doing a few search and reading a few review and found this place, Baroque Bistro, which opened not long ago. It is the same owner as my favourite patisseries La Renaissance. It is a causal relaxing style restaurant. The menu has a few to choose from (which is good enough for me to make the decision) There are also daily special from their blackboard.

The complimentary bread with olive oil is served. The baguette is so crusty and I cant stop my hand picking another piece! The ocean trout tartare is being served. It is just so delicious... The main is followed... Duck two ways, baby beetroot, orange sauce. Butcher cut of beef, fries, sauce bordelaise. This is the today special truite grenobloise: whole trout grenobloise. Forgot the name of this dish but it's pork neck. The meat is so tender... it just melted in my mouth! Our side, salad of organic greens, vegetables, potato crisp, walnut vinaigrette. Cannot finish a meal without the dessert, we cant really choose which one to order. If we arent so full, I think I will choose at least 2 of them. The vanilla creme brulee with pistachio ice cream. Once you put in your mouth the first spoonful, you will want to have more!!

The most important of all, thanks for your company to make this meal very enjoyable!!! :)

* Some of these photos were taken using mobile phone. The quality of these photos arent as good. 

Baroque Bistro Bar Patisserie
88 George Street
The Rocks NSW 2000
02 9241 4811 

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Bilson's Restaurant, Sydney [Closed]

I am so excited to go to another fine dining restaurant. Bilson's has been awarded with a three hat status since 2007. May be I was too excited and forgot to take photos to some of the dishes! Even though I have to share these lovely food.

We have seated near one of the large window looking out on Pitt Street. We were thinking whether to order the Fine Bouche, Fin Bec or Fine Guelue. Since we are not as hungry, we decided to go for the Fine Guelue. It started with Amuse Bouche It is a refreshing start.

The entree which we have chosen is tartar of abalone and black angus, beetroot carpaccio and horseradish ice-cream & fresh water crayfish remoulade with caviar dressing and citrus merigue. The presentation of these dishes are just so amazing. It's just an artwork before you eat. :)
Our main, hiramasa kingfish with braised octopus, cauliflower and black olives Dry aged black angus striploin 'facon nicoise' Finally the dessert, autour du chocolat and creme brulee with pistachio crumb. It is surely a memorable dinner and surely will go back again!

Bilson's Restaurant
27 O'Connell Street
Sydney NSW 2000
02 8214 0496 

Monday, March 29, 2010

Tetsuya, Sydney

It's been awhile since I have logged into my blog... so my first post in this new year has to be some really good restaurant!! My good friend organised this gathering 2-3 months ahead. Tetsuya, it has ranked at No.17 by The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurant 2009 list. It is also the Best Restaurant in Australasia. It has to be something good! I was so looking forward to the weekend lunch. The day was drizzle with rain. Lucky where I parked my car is not too far from the restaurant... otherwise I will be soaking wet!! The first dish is cold asparagus soap with poach egg. It is quite a refreshing start. I enjoyed it very much. Then kingfish sashimi... it tasted like Chinese steam fish soy sauce with kingfish sashimi. The roasted scampi with herb and citrus oil brought me surprises. The citrus oil bring out good favour of the scampi. The signature dish ocean trout with salad. The ocean trout is nicely done.The abalone with steam melon. The steam melon itself is tasteless... and the melon did not absorb enough of the abalone taste. Ravioli of octopus, rice & tomato, this is a tasty dish. The octopus has been diced into small cube and it is not chewy. Nicely done. Then with dishes chicken breast and wagyu with leek, tomato and soy sauce. Finally the desserts are being served, floating island with vanilla bean and praline anglaise and salted sable with cameralised tasmanian leatherwood honey. At that time I am almost full and did not finish them. It has been over 3 hours... and we are all full and missing out on the coffee & tea and petit fours. It's a good 3 hours entertain with food. What a good weekend!!

Tetsuya
529 Kent Street
Sydney NSW 2000
02 9267 2900