The launch of Taste Of Sydney

The Taste festival is every foodie's dream... and it's coming to Sydney! I was thrilled to be invited to attend the media launch this week (free food!!!) and it has only left me feeling more excited about the upcoming event. This glam outdoor food festival allows diners to mix and match their own degustation from top restaurants including Flying Fish, Becasse & Etch, Berowra Waters Inn & more.

During the event, chefs will each produce three signature dishes; at the launch, I tasted 13 of these and here's my verdict:

The truffle risotto was flavoursome and glued together with tasty bits of mozzarella. These were super hot, rich and moist. The sauce complemented it well and was not too overpowering.

Berowra Waters - A Soignee Truffle Risotto with Mozzarella and a Spinach/Fennel Rockerfella Sauce

I've had Peter Kuruvita's yellow fun tuna with ruby graprefruit and sweet pork crackling before and this was a delectable miniature version! Tiny shiso leaf, crumbled pork crackling, a small slate of perfectly seared tuna sat on top of a pinch of grapefruit and this glossy sweet sauce. I loved it so much, I had two.

Flying Fish - Yellow fin tuna with ruby grapefruit and sweet pork crackling

Seeing so many spoonfuls of Bird Cow Fish's celeriac and smoked trout remoulade was mind-blowing. I loved the energy of the ocean trout roe... it brought the classic salad to life.

Bird Cow Fish - Celeriac and smoked trout remoulade with ocean trout roe

Restaurant Assiette paired juicy fresh Sydney Rock Oysters with a Vietnamese inspired dressing with tasted like a cross between nuoc mam (fish sauce used for dipping) and sweet chilli sauce. Fried onion and baby coriander made the perfect garnish.

Restaurant Assiette - Sydney Rock Oyster with Vietnamese dressing,crispy shallots and baby coriander

Longrain's spicy pork sausage betel leaves required a tricky maneuver to eat but it was divine. The combination of fresh herbs reminded me of all the luscious food available in Asia.

Longrain - Spicy pork sausage betel leaves & pickled ginger

I believe I had at least four of Jarred Ingersoll's pastrami of kingfish with earl grey tea smoked oysters. They were suited with a revitalizing cucumber and apple salad and was simply really good!

Danks Street Depot - Pastrami of kingfish with smoked oysters and a cucumber and apple salad

Sailor's Thai also used betel leaves with prawn and a citrus combination with plenty of peanuts. Its flavours were big and strong. Watch out for the dripping juices though! It was another tough one to pick up.

Sailor's Thai - Prawn Miang served with peanuts and lime on betel leaf

Ooh, do I even need to say anything about these? They looked and tasted marvelous! Centennial Parkland Dining's beetroot macaroon with foie gras was definitely one of my top picks! I could have eaten so many but these sexy little things were popular with the crowd.

Centennial Parklands Dining - Betroot Macaroon with foie gras

Chandon Pinot Rose pouring into glass

Ottoman Cuisine - Etli Borek - crisp home made filo rolls filled with braised veal shank, currants & pine-nuts, served with pomegranate and yoghurt sauce

Restaurant Balzac - Wagyu Beef ' Bourguignonne' with Truffled Cauliflower and Onion Rings

These cute little mini organic wagyu burgers by Justin North were the last savoury canapes to come out. As full as I was, I had to have one. If you've never had a burger melt in your mouth, this will.

Becasse & Etch - Mini organic grass fed wagyu burger

Über big and über sweet were Peter Conistis' double chocolate hazelbut baklava, and last but not least were George Francisco's jiggly-like-boobs vanilla panna cotta. Like any visit to Jonah's at Whale Beach, it was heavenly. The accompanying pomegranate molasses and lavender honey made it a work of art.

Civic Dining - Double chocolate hazelnut baclava

Jonah's at Whale Beach - Mini vanilla panna cotta with pomegranate molasses and lavender honey

And it wouldn't have been a launch party without a goodie bag! Hoorah to Lavazza coffee, Tabasco, James Squire beer and other bits and bobs.

Gift bag goodies

chocolatesuze and i fight with wooden disposable forks

Taste of Sydney
12 - 15 March 2009
Centennial Park - Brazilian Fields

Tickets are on sale now through tastefestivals.com.au & Ticketek.