Making Water Chestnut Cake (馬蹄糕) for Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year. I am trying to make my first Chinese New Year cake for this festive season. The easiest would be water chestnut cake. It only requires a few steps. I went to a Chinese groceries store to buy the necessary ingredient and started the process.

Mixing water chestnut powder

Chopping water chestnut into small pieces

Melting the Brown Sugar

Ready to Steam

After steaming for about half an hour, it is ready to be served.

Final Product: Water Chestnut Cake

Water Chestnut Cake

It doesn't look bad after all, but still have room for improvement. I love the texture... a success!

Opera Kitchen: Charlie & Co

It's summer time and it's time to enjoy the sun! I went to this Opera Kitchen where you can dine outdoor with the view of both Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. What's more you ask for?

The Wagyu & Co. Burger

Opera Kitchen

Lower Concourse Level

Sydney Opera House

Bennelong Point

Sydney NSW

Glass Brasserie, Sydney

Glass Brasserie which is located inside Hilton Hotel, Sydney. I have heard a lot of its dessert which I am quite anticipating to finish with a high note. :)


We kick off with some entrees, zucchini flowers and scallops.

Tempura Zucchini Flower with Ricotta and Anchovy

Spring Bay Scallops, XO Sauce, Tofu and Pork Scratching

Then moving on to our mains.

Kurobuta Pork Loin with Sage & Parmesan Crust, Gnocchi, Peas, Zucchini Flower and Dashi Sauce

To Share: David Blackmore Wagyu Best End of Rump 9+, Beef Cheek Bourguignon, Roast Bone Marrow, Grilled Asparagus and Mash (This is the half the portion)

Following on to our most anticipated dessert.

Toffee Souffle with Pecan Butter Ice Cream

The souffle did not disappoint. It will stand high up after I took this photo! ;)

Glass Brasserie

Level 2

488 George Street

Sydney NSW

(02) 9265 6068

Bills, Darlinghurst

How do you normal start your day? Today I start off with a very nice breakfast at Bills, Darlinghurst.

Sweet Corn Fritters with Roast Tomato, Spinach and Bacon; Side - Avocado Salsa

The avocado salsa is so yummy and goes well with the corn fritters.

Scrambled Eggs with Sourdough Toast, Bacon and Button Mushrooms with Garlic Confit

The scramble eggs is so creamy and you wanna have more.

Ricotta Hotcakes with Fresh Banana and Honeycomb Butter

Out of the three, ricotta hotcakes is slightly not as good as others. But it is still a good way to start a day! :)

Hot Chocolate

When they bring this hot chocolate, I thought this is very interesting hot chocolate. After a deep look and found they use chocolate chip instead of syrup. Nice!

Bills, Darlinghurst

433 Liverpool Street,

Darlinghurst NSW

(02) 9360 9631

The Cut Bar & Grill, The Rocks

Miss iCon will soon leave Sydney for good and we want to eat a few more nice places before she goes. We decided to go to The Cut Bar and Grill at The Rocks.

The Cut Bar and Grill

The restaurant is located at the lower level of a heritage Argyle building.

Cured Meats Plate: Viande des Grisons - Air Dried Beef; Serrano Jamon de Jabujanes Gran Reserva; Prosciutto di San Danielle

Kingfish Carpaccio with Radish and Capers

We started off with some entrees, Cured Meats Plate and Kingfish Carpaccio.

Tasmanian Wilderness Grass Feed - New York Sirloin

4-Hour Slow Roast Sher F1 Wagyu Standing Rib - Standard Cut

Then comes the main we are looking for... STEAK!! The 4 Hour slow roast is served from its Wagyu trolley. It cooked to perfection. No wonder it is their famous dish!!! Yum...

Fried Rosemary Potatoes with Prosciutto; Steamed Green Peas, Onion and Mint

I also love their fried rosemary potatoes with prosciutto. The potatoes is so creamy and full of the rosemary aroma.

Fried Cauliflower Salad

As we were so full, we have skipped our dessert. I'll miss all the fun eating with you! All the best my dear friend.

The Cut Bar & Grill

16 Argyle Street

The Rocks NSW

(02) 9259 5695

Blancharu, Elizabeth Bay

Today is Mid-Autumn Festival. It is normally where family gathering together for dinner then eat moon cakes and play lantern afterwards. My family dinner is at Blancharu. We have chosen the 7 course degustation.

After our order taken, we were served with small bread rolls, French onion or sourdough. The French onion bread roll has a right balance of onion taste.

Aburi Ocean Trout with Macedoine Salad and Dill Pesto

Shortly after our first entree is served. It is a very interesting start and looking forward to what will follow.

Second entree is chicken terrine, Tikuzen style. (Sorry forgot to take a picture of it)

Clam Broth with Carrot Flan 

We have to mix up the flan at the bottom to eat with the broth together.

Mushroom and Sweetbread Pie with Balsamic Sauce

This is deconstructed pie. The pastry is crispy and it is very interesting to try sweetbread. It is very tender.

Possion Du Jour is Pan Fried Barramundi with Garlic Butter and Cauliflower

This dish somehow gave a bitterness taste to it. 

Wagyu Beef Tenderloin, Cassava Root, Bordelaise Sauce, Wasabi Power

Never had cassava root before, first thought it is some kind of potato chip. The texture is harder than potato. 

Dessert Du Jour is Cheesecake with Passionfruit sorbet

Finishes off with a cheesecake and my favourite passionfruit sorbet... yum yum!! :D

Moon Cakes - Lotus Seed with Egg Yolk

We finished off with moon cakes at home. :) Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!!!

Blancharu

Shop 1, 21 Elizabeth Bay Road

Elizabeth Bay NSW

(02) 9360 3555

Restaurant Balzac, Randwick [Closed]

I was planning to go to pay a visit to Restaurant Balzac long ago. Unfortunately when the time comes, it has decided to closed it door and rebrand to a new venture. I visited it on its last day. It is their last Sunday Seasonal Degustation. This menu is to show case their best dishes during its 11 years.

Pork Cheek Schnitzel with Crackling, Brussel Sprout Slaw and Pickled Pears

Cauliflower Veloute with Crisp Confit Chicken

Marinated Kingfish, Smoked Ocean Trout with Poached Prawns and Orange

Steamed Barramundi with Petit Pois a la Francaise, Salt and Pepper Squid

Duck Salad with Witlof and Orange (Surprise Dish)

Breaded Truffle Quail Egg, Ragout of Mushrooms, Celeriac and Asparagus

Daube of Beef Brisket, Bone Marrow, Sauce Bordelaise and Pomme Puree

Welsh Rarebit

Pina Colada

Bread & Butter Pudding

Eton Mess

Mandarin Jelly

Chocolate Fondue

Restaurant Balzac [Closed]

141 Belmore Road

Randwick