Rise - 3 year anniversary special Omakase degustation
Oh, the food was fabulous, I'll definitely be back.
How often have you said those words after having a satisfying meal? Well, I've committed that crime too many times. Sometimes I'd go back for that one specific thing they left me craving, other times it'd be to see a cute waiter (ha!). There's something unique about all my favourite restaurants, and the reason I love Rise, is because of their genuineness, quirky service and innovation. Plus, for their 3 year anniversary, there's even a special Omakase degustation running between 17th - 22nd June for almost half price.
So naturally, I went on the first available day, booking the 8pm session in advance... knowing that it'd be another long evening in the office. No one likes timed seatings, but hey, from a restaurant owner's point of view, it's basically doubling the revenue prospects of each table! And at $36 per person, I'm not complaining.
I've been down with the flu for a couple of days, so it was sparkling water for me, and this luscious lychee cocktail for Zen.
The first dish was produced and brought out in masses. Behind the sushi bar, I admired the quick production line. There were boxes of washed and perfectly trimmed witlof leaves and more. The tuna tartare is a staple item on the Rise menu, regularly making an appearance in the seasonal plate. It was nice to see it used as the main entree ingredient. I also couldn't get enough of the wasabi flavoured guacamole.
I think Rise had discovered the secret to making the best clear soup stock and I'm so glad they've kept using it. The soup was warm, cleansing and delicious. Somewhere amongst the dumpling-looking calamari tortellini, rocket and cherry tomatoes were bits of kaffir lime leaves -so fragrant they are!
When the assorted sashimi platter was served, I understood why we weren't forking out the usual $60. To my shock, they had reduced the 4 servings of fresh sashimi to 2. See my previous posts here and here as proof. Nonetheless, the salmon and kingfish was fantastic. Its texture was so delicate and the flavours... mmmm.... the flavours enhanced every morsel in the shot glass.
The seasonal plate was good but not great. I didn't like how the wonton cup had been fried so early that it lost its crunchiness.
The main dish was chicken. That's right, plain joe... But wait, there was a twist... the lemongrass scented coconut cream worked wonders for this otherwise boring dish.
And lastly... the pannacotta, tapioca rice pudding looked like a 3 year old's wacky Hulk experiment but tasted of something familiar to fine dining. It was the combination you wish you had thought of. Yum!
I don't know what it is, but there's something good they're doing right. It seemed like the general consensus around the dining floor was that most had dined at Rise several times before.
Happy 3 year anniversary, Rise!
July 24, 2007
Let's Rise again!
It's been a while since I've last food blogged. To be precise, it's been over 3 weeks of the flu, fever, cold, cough and aching joints. But seeing that my taste buds had started to come back to life, Zen and I decided to Rise again! Hooray to yummy sashimi!
The downside to dining out so soon was my excessive coughing. Not only did I feel like a nuisance for constanltly coughing, but I accidentally (and rather embarrasingly) blew out the tealight candle numerous times! Thank goodness the staff were always so friendly in offering to re-light it.
Starters were rice paper rolls with cured salmon omelette. The smoked ocean trout accompaniment and hummus was so good.
Next was the clear soup, which was a lovely variation to my first visit. It was just as refreshing and left me lingering for more... mMmMmM...
The sashimi was what we had really come here for. The sauces bring out the delicate textures of the fish so well. Each were beautiful in it's own way... some of them had a soy base, others with hints of miso and sesame and another with something vaguely reminiscent of ponzu.
The main dish was also simple in execution. The Tonkatsu sauce was rich and tangy... I mopped it all up with the potato croquette!
I'll probably be back to Rise soon. They have birthday specials for members!
Rise Restaurant
23 Craigend Street, Darlinghurst
February 26, 2007
Omakase (degustation) @ Rise Restaurant
Zen was back on Friday night after his first working week in Wollongong; so we caught up over an initimate dinner at Rise. Heading straight to Darlinghurst after work, we were rather early... though this meant we were able to grab the cosy window seat :-)
The menu was really impressive and forced a battle in my mind between the degustation or the a la carte. There's actually 30% off the Omakase menu on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays, but we decided go for the whole experience anyway. The degustation it was.
First of the 7 dishes was the chicken and tofu salad. The tofu was chilled and silky soft. Its flavour was so refreshing with the crisp spanish onion and shallots, and the chicken was tossed in a flavoursome sesame and miso sauce. Mmmm, give me more.
Next was the soup, which was cleansing and fragrant with kaffir lime leaves and lemon grass. The fried tofu and calamari mince had such a nice complimenting texture.
Aww, sashimi. Check out this piece of artwork! It was so beautiful... each shot glass was filled with such tender flavours.
And then we had the seasonal plate which consisted of:
The pasta dish featured lightly blanched rice noodles with shredded green papaya and a large scallop which was seared to perfection. Topped with dill, coriander and chilli, this dish was uber tantalising.
I heart Rise.
Rise Restaurant
23 Craigend Street, Darlinghurst
Phone (02) 9357-1755
Web http://www.riserestaurant.com.au
January 14, 2007
J'adore Lounge Bar and Restaurant
Happy birthday Tim!
On Tuesday night, we were here to celebrate Tim's 22nd birthday... well... I was more or less there to flex my photography skills. LOL. And surprise, surprise... Zen and I ended up indulging ourselves with a scrumptious 3 course meal.
J'adore restaurant is all about intimacy. There's the fireplace, the slinky booths and the candlelit tables... However, with the Tuesday specials (2 for 1 mains), I was surprised to find that at 8pm, it was still relatively empty.
For entrees, Zen decided to go for what I would normally have ordered -the pork belly. He assured me that it was perfectly cooked and so satisfying to devour.
I had the giant quail with ginger syrup glaze. Driven by both curiousity and greed, my temptations overpowered me. How big could a giant quail really be? The quail was ever so tender. Its outside was glossy and tanned with sweetness. It was no longer a question of size. The bigger, the better.
Next, Zen opted for the chicken. It was too buttery for my liking... but he seemed to enjoy it.
And I went for the bouillabaisse which was rich in flavour. Its distinctive aroma was so delicate... although a little overwhelming without slices of the trusty bread. The potatoes on the other hand were the ideal wedge. Crispy and flavoursome all around with a soft hearty centre.
At this stage, Zen was already prepared to skip desserts... but I had come prepared with my eyes on the brulee with sago and fresh lychees. MmM... It didn't disappoint. The brulee was a creamy mixture of starchy sago and Malibu. Its caramelised crust proportion was perfect.
Generous servings and with some intriguing dishes.
J'adore Lounge Bar & Restaurant
1A Burton Street Darlinghurst
Operating hours:
Tuesday to Friday - midday till 2.30pm & 6pm till midnight
Saturday: 6pm - midnight
Sunday & Monday: closed or open for special reservations/function
Bookings and enquiries: 0405 395 248 or email anya@jadore.com.au
Website: www.jadore.com.au
October 30, 2006
Arun Thai Restaurant
Arun Thai is nothing like your corner Thai takeaway. The interior is sophisticated, the menu is classy and the service is thoughtful. The staff were dressed in matching uniforms, and each dish on the menu was carefully marked with its degree of hotness.
Zen and I were starving, and cautious about over-eating... so we skipped the starters, and went straight for the mains. I can never pass on Thai soup. I love the unique texture and the spices... ooh yes, the spices! We ordered the Tom Kha Gai to share, which was a pricey $11. The waiter then warned us of the small serving size, and true, it wasn't enough to share... but the flavours were eccentric.
At this stage, the restaurant was full to capacity... Still, it's not an excuse for the mildly disappointing beef stir-fry. The beef was dry and chewy and sat scattered over the plate... soaking in its own juices. It was nothing like the harmony of chilli and basil I had salivated over.
Massive pan-fried scallops hid beneath a mountain of lettuce, mint leaves, shallots, ginger, onion, carrot and coriander. The scallops were big, tender and so meaty! It balanced well with the dynamic dressing...
The soft shell crab also lacked imagination. The entire crusty crab was served as 1 large piece... and was encased in a heavy batter.
Unsatisfied with our meals, we decided to treat ourselves to dessert. I really wanted the black sticky rice pudding which was served with custard... but unfortunately, they'd run out of custard... so I opted for the fresh mango with sticky rice and coconut cream instead. The mango was everything summer could be... sweet and exotic... the sticky rice and coconut cream was a little bland, but the mint leaves provided a refreshing touch. During the 15 minutes we waited for our desserts, we were asked three... or maybe four times by different waiters if we'd like to order dessert. Call it attentive if you like, but I thought it was a little disorganised.
Overpriced? Maybe. Would I dine here again? Probably not. Arun Thai has a great ambience, and the dishes are no doubt authentic... though lacking a bit in the quality aspect, but I'd rather dine at any Newtown Thai outlet for half the price.
Arun Thai Restaurant
28 Macleay St Potts Point
Phone: (02) 9326 9135
September 18, 2006
Sushi Tengoku, Kensington
Lesson learnt: always order what the restaurant specialises in. I don't know what drove me into order tempura and teriyaki chicken at a place named Sushi Tengoku. It could have been the cold windy wet weather... or maybe it was Zen...
So after a late night at uni, Zen and I decided to stop by this small neon-lit restaurant, which we'd always driven past. Sushi Tengoku was packed with local "honkie" families. As soon as you enter, you're exposed to a fresh but fishy scent. I sat on the only available table, and waited for it to be cleaned whilst listening to everyone's conversations about food. Every table seemed to prize what they had ordered... fresh sashimi, and sushi of every sort... mMm...
Overall, the sushi was amazing... and is probably the only thing you should order. It's all extremely fresh, well-priced and offers a vast variety of fresh seafood and sashimi. I'll definately pass on the hot food next time round.
Sushi Tengoku
121 Anzac Parade Kensington
Tel: (02) 9663 3388
Bookings are recommended.
September 08, 2006
Moore Park Golden Century Seafood Restaurant
What a nice ending to a very hectic week. The Eyeblaster AU team switched on our Outlook out-of-office assistants, and diverted our direct lines for what we hoped to be a peaceful Friday afternoon... Lunch was served at the Moore Park Golden Century Seafood Restaurant. The ceiling to floor windows exposed us to the lovely landscaped streets of the Entertainment Quarter. The interior was spacious and airy... also unexpectedly quiet.
A little disappointed that this seafood restaurant didn't have any soft-shelled crab, we ordered two servings of the salt & pepper squid.
The wasabi beef was one of this restaurant's specialties, but I found it a little too sweet, and was missing that little extra kick of hotness from the wasabi. I've had this dish before at TingHa Restaurant at Parramatta, where the beef was actually green. Overall, it was quite nice and tender.
Moore Park Golden Century Seafood Restaurant
Shop 1/F, 220/888 Bent Street
Entertainment Quater, Cnr Lang Road & Driver Avenue, Moore Park
Tel: 9358 4488
Web: http://www.goldencentury.com.au/
August 11, 2006
Ichi Ban Boshi, Bondi Junction
I've heard lots about Ichi-Ban Boshi. Some friends would rave on about the value for money and others loved the quality of the soup base. Then there's the talk of collagen in the Tonkotsu... I had to try it for myself!
Zen ordered the Udon Set, which featured a salad, a mini katsu-don, and the udon ($13).
The soup was so rich, fatty, and very satisfying.
Ichi-Ban Boshi
http://www.ichibanboshi.com.au
Bondi Junction - 360 Oxford Street
Town Hall - Level 2, The Galleries Victoria, 500 George Street
Strand Arcade - Level 2, Strand Arcade, 193 Pitt Street
July 13, 2006
Pizza e Birra, Surry Hills
Pizza - Mozzarella, prawns, cherry tomatoes and rocket
Maccaroni with fresh tomato and basil sauce topped with crispy eggplant
Crispy potatoes with garlic and rosemary
Pizza - Tomato, mozzarella, rocket, thinly sliced prosciutto and parmesan shavings
Casareccia pasta with a finely chopped calamari, scallop, prawn and tomato ragyu
Tomato, mozzarella and slices of spicy cured pork sausage
Italian coffee and ricotta trifle
Baked chocolate and amaretti custard, with caramel
Sweet pizza with baked banana, cinnamon sugar and dark Belgium chocolate
Pastry tubes filled with sweetened ricotta and chocolate served with a raspberry sauce
July 12, 2006
Strangers with Candy
July 09, 2006
Danks Street Depot
Hot braised beef sandwich with caramalized onions, jus and cripsy potatoes
Toasted rueben sandwich (corned beef, sauerkraut and tilsit cheese)
June 14, 2006
Red Star Pizza Cafe, Waterloo
Lemon Tart
Bruschetta
Chicken and Avocado Panini
Interior of Red Star
Fettucine with Creamy Pesto, Chicken and Sun-dried Tomatoes
Penne with Spicy Italian Sausage, Olives, Tomatoes and Parsley
Zucchini and Chicken Pizza
Steak Panini
Steak Panini with mixed salad leaves, tomatoes, caramelised onion and aioli
Red Star is a small pizza cafe on Bourke St, Waterloo, that I have grown to love. It may be a lengthy wait for your food, but it is sure worth it!
Red Star - Pizza Cafe
782 - 822 Bourke Street Waterloo
Phone: +61 (02) 8399 1719