If wining and dining is one of life's greatest pleasures, then a degustation with matched wines must the ultimate way to enjoy life.
Well, tonight, the Taste Of Sydney crew took this up a notch by taking me and a few other bloggers on a progressive degustation (a fancy term for 'restaurant crawl') around some of Sydney's finest eateries. A taste of Taste Of Sydney.
We all start with the Tasty Budo cocktail at Sake restaurant, which is a luscious concoction of fresh grapes with Kozaemon 3 year old junmai sake and citrus.
12 Argyle Street, Sydney, NSW (The Rocks)
Phone: (02) 9259 5656
Web: sakerestaurant.com.au
The group splits into two so we can cover more restaurants.
My group heads conveniently next door to The Cut Bar & Grill for the charcuterie tasting plate with cornichons and mustard fruits which features Prosciutto di San Danielle, Calabrese Salami and Papandrea Fennel Sopressa.
The serving at the Taste Of Sydney will be slightly smaller but there's no doubt this is good quality stuff - a great dish for sharing at the festival! In particular, I love the peppery sweetness of the mustard fruits, it just pairs so well with the salty savoury flavours of cured meats!
16 Argyle Street, Sydney, NSW (The Rocks)
Phone: (02) 9259 5695
Web: cutbarandgrill.com.au
For our main course, we're picked up in a hire car (that's just how I roll!) and driven to Westfield to check out Spiedo Restaurant and Bar's housemade pasta.
This is the handmade wholemeal strozzapreti with zucchini, prawns, cherry tomatoes and saffron.
There's a funny story behind the name 'strozzapreti'. I'm told it means 'priest choker' in Italian because gluttonous priests used to eat this too quickly and then choke! LOL!
But that's beside the point - the texture of this pasta is really delicious. There's a slight bite within each tube and the shape of it allows it to hold the gorgeous prawn broth sauce liberally. Delectable!
Level 6, Westfield, 188 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW
Phone: (02) 8072 9999
Web: spiedo.com.au
Dessert takes us to Darlinghurst's A Tavola for their famous cremino al cioccolato which has remained on the menu for over a year due to popular demand.
But first, more wine. The waiter suggests the 'Normanno' Zibibbo which is a delightful recommendation. It's a delicate Sicilian white grape muscat that complements the rich robustness of our chocolate mousse.
Don't underestimate the look of this - it is absolutely decadent! Eat it like a trifle, digging into all three layers.
348 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW
Phone: (02) 9331 7871
Web: atavola.com.au
And to finish, we all meet-up at Longrain to sip cocktails and swap details on the progressive feast we've just had.
You may remember that I've previously had the Ping Pong cocktail (second from the left) at last year's Taste Of Sydney event... Because I again couldn't resist the idea of lychee with passionfruit, I ordered it again tonight. There are some cocktails which have my name all over it and this is most definitely one of them! So tangy, sweet and Summery!
Here's a peek at the cocktails which will be available at the festival: from left to right - Stickmata is Eristoff sloe berry vodka with a berry overload of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries shaked with fresh lime; Ping Pong is Eristoff vodka with lychee, passionfruit pulp and a squeeze of fresh lime; Acapulco Gold is Cazadores tequila over crushed chunks of lemon and lime with chilli, vanilla and citrus soda; and Ginger Rogers is Bacardi Gold rum and Grand Marnier muddled with fresh lime, shaken over ice served tall and topped with ginger beer.
85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, NSW
Phone: (02) 9280 2888
Web: longrain.com.au
Taste Of Sydney 2012
So this progressive degustation was simply a tease of what's really to come... Imagine that... over 15 restaurants at your fingertips! Taste Of Sydney 2012 is definitely just getting bigger and better!
Held on 8-11 March (9 days away!), this pop-up restaurant festival promises to deliver your dream degustation, prepared by a selection of Sydney's leading and hatted restaurants (preview menu here). There will also be award-winning wineries, artisan producers and boutique exhibitors, plus cooking schools, tasting masterclasses and chef demonstrations to not only win over your taste buds, but to give you some new skills to take home!
The Prizes
Thanks to Stellar* Concepts and the Taste Of Sydney organisers, these amazingly indulgent prizes are up for grabs!!
Major Prize: VIP double pass valued at $200
- Redeemable Friday/Saturday/Sunday
- Access to the exclusive HSBC VIP Lounge
- 6 complimentary drinks
- 60 crowns
Runner-up Prizes: 5x general admission double passes valued at $50 each
- Tickets can be used for any session -
Thursday 8 March: 5.30pm - 10.00pm
Friday 9 March: noon - 4.00pm
Friday 9 March: 5.30pm - 10.00pm
Saturday 10 March: noon - 4.00pm
Saturday 10 March: 5.30pm - 9.30pm
Sunday 11 March: noon - 5.00pm
The Competition
To enter the competition, simply leave a comment below in 25 words or less, mentioning two or more of the participating restaurants or chefs in one sentence! The sentence can be about anything - just make me laugh :)
For example...
The Three Blue Ducks were an unusual sighting at The Veggie Patch. I Otto-matically thought about having duck for dinner.
Here's all the info you need --
Taste Of Sydney 2012 restaurants and chefs:
A Tavola - Eugenio Maiale
Charlie & Co. - Justin North
Efendy - Somer Sivrioglu
Flying Fish - Peter Kuruvita
Four in Hand - Colin Fassnidge
L'etoile - Manu Feildel
Longrain Restaurant & Bar - Martin Boetz
Ormeggio at the Spit - Alessandro Pavoni
Otto Ristorante - Richard Ptacnik
Quarter Twenty One - Justin North
Saké Restaurant & Bar - Shaun Presland
Spiedo - Alessandro Pavoni
The Cut Bar & Grill - James Privett
The Montpellier Public House - Matthew Kemp
Plus the brand new Sustainable Pop-Up Restaurant featuring:
Fish & Co. - Tom Kime
Three Blue Ducks - Darren Robertson and Mark LaBrooy
The Veggie Patch - Georgie Swift
Agapé Organics - Simon Lawson
Jen
x
*** UPDATE 06/03/12: THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED.
the Hiramasa kingfish ceviche was a great starter and finishing with a Longrain cocktail was a perfect way to chill in this hot weather
It certainly was! Lovely seeing you tonight! x
Hey Charlie & Co, do you have the Flying Fish? I have got Four in the Hand,you better Cut, Bar and Grill them.
Haha, so clever. And you're quick!
A progressive degustation - what a fab idea! Everything looks amazing even in the low light ;) Great comp, here's my entry:
"At '12 Taste of Sydney my truelove gave to me 'Four in Hand', 'Three Blue Ducks' two 'Flying Fish' and 'Sake' in a pear treeeeee."
Totally coveting one of those VIP passes!
Three blue ducks receive the cut, bar & grill by Ommergio at the spit. Charlie & Co. brought another one, making it four in hand.
It was a great night out. Love the car and pasta photos :)
Four in Hand's head chef Colin caught screaming at Sous chef 'Charlie' : I don't give 'three blue ducks' what you say, that steak was meant to be medium rare, Efendy Saké, go put your head in the L'etoilet, you won't make the Efendy Cut at this rate'
Quarter Twenty One on a dark and stormy night: Longrain starts to fall, dodging Flying Fish overhead I find shelter, pouring myself a warm Sake.
Charlie & Co set off from The Montpellier Public House hunting Three Blue Ducks but stumbled upon Colin Fassnidge in The Veggie Patch drinking Saké.
Charlie & Co. were certain that Four in Hand has got to be better than Three Blue Ducks in The Veggie Patch.
Three Blue Ducks wearing Spiedos frolicked in The Montpellier Public House and many patrons were Efendy-ed.
If I won I'd first get myself some tropical liquid courage from Boetz at the Longrain Bar, en-route to the aesthetically pleasing boys from Three Blue Ducks to get the best view - oh woops! I meant.. TASTE of sydney ;)
I would LOVE to do a progressive degustation around Sydney - perhpas a new business venture for you Jen, I'd totally come along.
Charlie and Co. were Just North of the Public House when they saw Tony Abbott in his Efend-ing Spiedo.
I would love to win one of the tickets! Here you go:
"A police named Efendy caught me Spied-ing, so he sent me a Flying Fish and Three Blue Ducks as a warning"
When Three Blue Ducks enter into The Cut Bar and Grill, they need to Speido up because chefs Charlie and Co are gonna roast them.
So excited for Taste of Sydney!
I would LOVE to go to Taste =)
"Man u wouldn't believe I paid a quarter, for twenty one flying fish, three blue ducks & a veggie patch. Good price considering I had $four in hand."
It looks so good!! I hope I get the chance to go this year.. not sure if I'll be able to as it's a jam packed weeked for me!
I Otto spend some time in the overgrown Veggie Patch *sees the rain sill falling outside* yeah right, and Fish might Fly!
OrMeGgio!! How could I be Efendy? I was just Agape at the Flying Fish in the Veggie Patch!
Four in Hand is all i need to purchase the four cocktails from Longrain Bar and Restaurant at Taste of Sydney!
With Four in hand I decided to spend big, Charlie & Co. decided we should buy a Flying Fish, Three Blue Ducks and a Veggie Patch
I'm "Cut", I "Otto" not had that last "Saké!" At one point, I had "Four in Hand!" Now, I'm seeing "L'Etoile"s
Sounds like a fab night! I was following enviously on Instagram!
Wow that is a great prize! here's my entry:
Justin [a] North direction
I Spiedo a Flying Fish...
Upon closer inspection
It was a lovely dish!
With no further objection
for Taste tickets I wish!
My mouth was Agapé at the sight of Manu Feildel L'etoile-ing in The Veggie Patch, he’s just too good looking for goodness Saké!
I 'Otto' know better than to be 'Efendy' if I don't get tickets! Hopefully I'll 'Spiedo' Justin Noth somewhere else.
Imagining my grandpa:
Hey, I paid quarter twenty one! Where is my fish & co? You know da flying fish and da 3 blue ducks? Back in my day, we ate longgrain rice, vegies from the vegie patch and drank sake.
I'd love to win these taste tickets!
Hi sorry, just saw the 25 words or less: is it ok if I change to this:
Hey! I pay quarter twenty one! Where is fish & Co? Da flying fish & three blue ducks? In my day, we had longrain rice and sake.
Great reunion with Charlie and Co; onlookers watched with mouths Agape while we sang “L’Etoile aquantaince be forgot”, but I Efendy’d Otto by ignoring him.
Brendan Tavola in Speido's, Boitz says "Ormeggio-wd, you saké! I'll Cut-Grill you into Veggie-Patch!"
"I'm efendy-d! Duel at Twenty-One past the Quarter. I'll d-E'toile you!"
Oh. Thanks for the great competition. Great site too :)
Cruddy limerick time..
Once I had this urge to go
To a place called Charlie and Co,
But my friend said "Efendy!
It's really more trendy."
So I just went with the flow, bro.
What a fabulous night (love the limo!) and the food looks fantastic. Great competition, too - here's my entry:
Three blue ducks walk into a bar
Give me A Tavola and 2 Saké, bar-tender
And keep the change
We saw a flying fish & three blue ducks stealing sake with four in each hand
At quarter twenty one L'etoile will be Spiedoing to Ormeggio at the Spit to save the flying fish from being eaten by three blue ducks.
Thank you so much for the tickets Jen! Went last Friday and the food was delicious, the weather was warm and the cider was cold. Great day.