Recently in Italian Category

All day breakfast - coffee and fresh juice

What I've been doing a lot of lately, is surrounding myself with other motivated and passionate individuals who have left their secure full-time jobs and are doing their own thing. There seems to be more and more friends doing 4 day working weeks or even changing careers completely. The inspiration must be contagious.

On this particular day, I had brunch with the fabulous Mel (aka Fooderati). With both of us coming from advertising backgrounds, our passion for food and appetite for new experiences led us to leap towards new opportunities. As we caught up on each other's recent ventures, we soaked in a bit of sun and munched on a delightful breakfast at Pieno in Surry Hills -which is a relatively new little place adjacent to The Winery by Gazebo and opposite Thomas Dux Grocer on Crown Street.

I started off with a freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. It was intensely citrusy and bitter sweet which was exactly what I needed.

I spent longer than usual browsing the all-day breakfast menu and finally put my new waistline reduction obsession aside and ordered the blueberry griddle cakes which were served with melted butter and maple syrup and dusted with icing sugar. They were moist and hearty and generous in serving size too as I only manage to finish off half the plate.

Blueberry griddle cakes (pancakes / hotcakes) with butter and maple syrup

Mel's sauteed mushroom bruschetta with an extra side of bacon was as enormous and hid beneath a promising garden of rocket. The scent of the toasted bread which had been lightly coated with garlic oil was divine.

Breakfast bruschetta of sauteed mushrooms with rocket and garlic oil and a side of bacon

Sometimes, there's nothing much better than a late morning start with a good breakfast!

Pieno
11/285A Crown St, Surry Hills, NSW
Phone: (02) 8354 1303

Two months ago, I turned 25 and there was plenty to celebrate. In between all the drama of a quarter-life-crisis, I'd resigned from my day job to pursue the free-spirited life of an entrepreneur.

So the last thing I wanted to do was organise a function. But I did it anyway.

Velero sits on Woolloomooloo Wharf and offers sexy alfresco dining. Their fuss-free function menu featured various options including the $55 set menu which is what I went for.

Sourdough with marinated olives and my cocktail (I forgot what it was...)

Tapas to share
Marinated olives with herbs, garlic, chilli, lemon, orange and fennel seed
Freshly shucked Sydney Rock Oysters dressed with lemon
Croquetas de Jamon
Roast mushrooms with chilli, garlic, herbs & Manchego
Deep-fried cuttlefish served with smoked chilli aioli
Pan-fried chorizo picante with chickpea puree and peppers

Mains, a choice of
Roast wild barramundi with chorizo, roast peppers, chickpeas, herbs and olive oil
Grilled Jindalee sirloin with patatas a lo pobre and roast garlic and paprika butter
Roast spatchcock with pan fried wild mushrooms, cavalo nero and tozino
Fettuccine with portobello, pine and porcini mushrooms, parmesan and parsley
Seafood paella with prawns, mussels, cuttlefish, chorizo and saffron

Sides to share
Rocket and manchego salad with herbs and PX balsamic
Patatas Bravas: fried potatoes with salsa picante and aioli

Sydney rock oysters, deep-fried cuttlefish and roast mushrooms

The Sydney rock oysters were served au natural -they were tasty and seductive. The cuttlefish was my favourite of the tapas. They were cooked to perfection... Piping hot and not too chewy.

Croquetas de jamon and chorizo

The croquettes (or in Spanish: croquetas) were scrumptious too. Inside the lightly breaded fritters was a fluffy smooth mix of mashed potato and ham. It was just what we needed to combat the cold breeze.

Rocket and manchego salad with herbs and PX balsamic

As for the mains, strangely enough, everyone pretty much ordered either the paella or the sirloin. However, the unfortunate thing about fusion restaurants is not knowing what you'll be getting. Velero, being a mix of Spanish and Italian, was supposed to give us the best of both worlds. And it did, until the paella was served. Because it wasn't served on a traditional paella pan, we didn't get the crisp bottom layer of golden rice and the half of a lemon was most definitely more than enough. According to my guests, the serving size varied from one to another as well.

But the good news is that everyone who ordered the steak (including me) gave it the thumbs up. The paprika butter was so flavoursome, it added another whole dimension to my Jindalee sirloin -which by the way, was a perfect medium.

Side dish of patatas bravas

Seafood paella

Grilled Jindalee sirloin with patatas a lo pobre and roast garlic and paprika butter

Overall?

Hit: We had really lovely service matched by the beautiful waterside views of the city skyline and promenade.

Miss: The food was a slight let down and there was a $5 per person cakeage fee.

Group photo

P.S. There's still 6 days left to bake a tart for your chance to win a $175 Julie & Julia prize pack. 5 runners-up will also win double passes. Click here for more information.

Velero
Shop 2, 6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo
Phone: (02) 9356 2222
Web: velero.com.au

I'm a big fan of Time Out. I would never visit a city without first consulting the local Time Out guide.

Time Out Sydney's Food Awards 09 winners were announced this week, so let's see who made the cut:

People's Choice
Winner: Glebe Point Diner, Glebe
Runners-up: Bodega, Surry Hills; Quay, The Rocks; Marque, Surry Hills; Longrain, Surry Hills

I'm a bit ashamed that I haven't yet dined at Glebe Point Diner. There are all round positive reviews from other food bloggers, namely, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry, Double Cooked, Lemonade Land and Steph's Food Journey and along with mountain loads of press and editorial reviews, Glebe Point Diner is an obvious people's choice.

Best New Restaurant
Winner: Rockpool Bar and Grill, Sydney
Runners-up: Sepia, Sydney; Spice Temple, Sydney; Etch, Sydney; The Beresford, Darlinghurst

Rockpool Bar & Grill in Melbourne is an absolute favourite. While I haven't been to its Sydney sister, can anyone tell me if it's any different?

Etch is simply full of pretty spaces and their macaroni is to-die-for. The revamped Beresford trattoria is also a clear winner (runner-up in this case) with the locals.

Best Cafe
Winner: Cafe Sopra, Waterloo
Runners-up: Deus ex Machina, Camperdown; Wall, Surry Hills; Ruby's Diner, Waverley; Kazbah, Balmain

Anyone who has been to Kazbah's breakfast banquet will be an advocate. Hmmm, why isn't Dank Street Depot a runner-up?

Best Desserts
Winner: Universal, Darlinghurst
Runners-up: Pier, Rosebay; Quay, The Rocks; Longrain, Surry Hills; Rockpool, The Rocks

I haven't been to Universal, nor Pier or Longrain. But if Quay is any benchmark for the winner, I have to get myself to Universal. I adore Quay's eight texture chocolate cake and their pear creme caramel, sauterne jelly, pear icecream and caramel cream!

Best Steak
Winner: Fix St James, Sydney
Runners-up: Bistro Moncur, Woolahra; Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney; Tabou, Surry Hills; Mad Cow, Sydney

Wow, I haven't been to any of these places. What about Prime? Chophouse?

Best Fixed Price Menu
Winner: Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Surry Hills
Runners-up: Assiette, Surry Hills, Atelier, Glebe; Vini, Surry Hills; Marque, Surry Hills

Best Seafood
Winner: Sepia, Sydney
Runners-up: Tetsuya's, Sydney; Manta, Woolloomooloo; Fish Face, Darlinghurst; Pier, Rose Bay

Am I the only one who hearts Flying Fish, Masuya and Ocean Room?

Best Burgers
Winner: Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney
Runners-Up: Plan B by Becasse, Sydney; Ruby's Diner, Waverley; The Burger Joint, Darlinghurst; Paul's Burgers, Sylvania

You will have no doubt seen my recent list of where to find the best burgers in Sydney. I still stand by it -although from reading the comments, I need to get myself to Rockpool Bar & Grill and Counter Burger!

Best Cheap Eat
Winner: Black Star Pastry, Newtown
Runners-up: Din Tai Fung, Haymarket; Guzman y Gomez, Newtown; Mamak, Haymarket; Gumshara Ramen, Haymarket

Seriously, how can anything beat Mamak? OK, maybe #chronic ramen is close, but a pastry shop? It must be bloody good, and I have yet to try. But the bigger issue here, is how 6 xiao long bao (soup dumplings) for $8.80 can be considered a cheap eat!

Best Sandwiches
Winner: Malibu, Surry Hills
Runners-up: Pilu Kiosk, 'On the Beach', Freshwater; Big Bite, Sydney; Hong Ha, Hurstville; Plan B by Becasse, Sydney

Best Patisseries
Winner: Adriano Zumbo, Balmain
Runners-up: Croissant D'Or, Potts Point; Yellow, Potts Point; Bourke Street Bakery, Surry Hills; Sweet Belem, Petersham

Ah, Zumbo. Post-Masterchef, Zumbo appears to be the real winner with endless queues and requests for his macarons, croquembouche and the chocolate mousse cake.

Best Noodles
Winner: Gumshara, Haymarket
Runners-up: Pho An, Bankstown; Twisted Noodle Bar, Sydney; Menya Noodle Bar, Sydney, Tan Viet, Cabramatta

I think ramen should be in its own category. But regardless, you'll still find me every fortnight slurping up $7 noodles at Dong Ba in Bankstown.

Best Thai
Winner: Spice I Am, Surry Hills
Runners-up: Longrain, Surry Hills; Sailor's Thai, The Rocks; Chat Thai, Sydney; Crocodile Senior, Sydney

Best Yum Cha
Winner: Fisherman's Wharf, Pyrmont
Runners-up: Marigold, Sydney, Sunny Harbour Seafood Restaurant, Hurstville; Sky Phoenix, Sydney; Golden Unicorn, Maroubra

Best Tapas
Winner: Bodega, Surry Hills
Runners-up: Ash St Cellar, Sydney; Delicado, McMahons Point; Sean's Kitchen, Pyrmont, Catalonia, Kirribilli

Bodega, can anything beat it? I think Spanish Terrazas, Velero and Cantina may be close contenders for runners-up.

Best Pizza
Winner: Lucio Pizzeria, Darlinghurst
Runners-up: Pompei's, Bondi Beach; Rosso Pomodoro, Balmain; La Disfida, Haberfield; Pizza Mario, Surry Hills

Errr, Pizza e Birra anyone?

So what do you think? Are these the winners or losers?

Merivale's Winter Feasts have many talking -about its irresistable value for money and its risqué adverts. It is of course the follow up to the March into Merivale campaign where Justin Hemmes first convinced his top chefs to get their gear off. This time, they were back and just as naked beneath their winter coats.

At the launch party back in June, I was très impressed with plenty of dishes, but it was Ash Street Cellar's creamed snapper and fennel soup with gremolata that had me captivated.

Without much persuasion, Wynn and her hubby John met Zen and myself there one night after work. Tucked in a laneway behind the The Ivy, you somehow fall into a European fantasty of intimate outdoor dining complete with gorgeous French cafe chairs. It's a pity Ash Street Cellar doesn't accept bookings because I would have otherwise had dined here many times before.

Ash Street Cellar's Winter Feasts offer was 3 courses for $35 including a glass of wine or a James Squire.

Spanish Jamon Iberico

However, we were quite hungry tonight and with my recent return from Barcelona, I felt it was only necessary to satisfy my cravings with 2 plates of Spanish Jamon Iberico. I was glad we topped up on the $35 Winter Feast because once the food had arrived, I noted they would be sensational for lunch but left you yearning for more at dinner.

The first plate of jamon iberico was generous which made the second look some what rushed and incomplete. The melt-in-your-mouth texture was beautiful.

Creamed fennel soup with leek and gremolata

My first course was naturally the creamed (not sure if there was snapper) fennel soup with leek and gremolata. It was exactly the way I remembered it to be, only this time, in a much larger serving -hooray.

The boy has the whitebait, forgetting his dislike of eating a fish whole. Their barely there crumbled batter makes them delicious and flavoursome, even though the remains of a small plate of fish heads may tell you differently.

Fried whitebait with chilli mayonnaise

My main course of Italian pork sausage had a gorgeous aroma but looked like it should have belonged to a banquet of tapas and not served solo. It was presented on a small bed of cabbage and caramelized onions and garnished with fresh parsley leaves -all of which turned a sausage into a hearty meal.

Italian pork sausage with caramelized onions

Meanwhile, I didn't hear much from my dining companion regarding his smoked salmon which can only mean good things.

Smoked salmon with garlic potatoes

Chocolate pretzels with caramel sauce

Gorgonzola piccante with quince and fruit bread

The desserts were all simple items but executed brilliantly. My crumble was divine. The tangy fresh orange segments were balanced sublimely with lemon curd and rich shortbread crumbs.

Fresh orange segments, lemon curd and short bread crumbs

While we ended up spending more than $35 per person (on additional drinks, bread and jamon), I still think it's fabulous value for money.

Here's also a sneak peek at the offers around the other Merivale venues. Special thanks to Melissa at Merivale for inviting me to the Merivale Winter Feasts launch party as VIP! (Yes -it was awesome not having to fight over food with the general public, whilst balancing a DSLR!)

Bistro CBD

Simun Dragicevich's gougeres -cheesy choux puffs, duck rillette with beetroot, cornishons en croute and white chocolate tartlettes

Est.

Peter Doyle's avocado, king crab and mint on lavosh; tartare of ocean trout, cucumber, ponzu and coriander and tuscan bean stew and braised beef cheek tarts

Lotus

Dan Hong's tuna tartare with sweet wasabi

Mad Cow

Christopher Whitehead's goat's curd, pear and rocket mini tart, our signature beef tartare and chocolate brownies

Sushi e

Ura San's ocean trout sashimi

Teppanyaki

Akira Urata's king fish skewers with Asian salsa, mini wagyu penny burger and Beijing duck 'ivy style'

Uccello

Massimo Bianchi's prosciutto san daniele and grissini and tiramisu

Merivale Winter Feasts are available as 1, 2 or 3 courses with a glass of wine or a James Squire, Monday to Friday, 12 noon - 2pm and 6 - 8pm. Go to merivalewinterfeasts.com for Winter Feast menu options and more info.

Ash St Cellar
1 Ash St, Sydney
www.merivale.com/#/ivy/ashstreetcellar

I've been back in Sydney for almost a week now and if there was one country I wish I had spent more time in, it would be Italy. Due to the train strike in France, I spent an extra three days in Nice and subsequently, three days less in Italy. So we threw out our plans to see the Amalfi Coast and Rome and flew to Greece a day early, leaving three days to eat our hearts out in Bologna!

On the first night, we accidentally over-ordered -forgetting the difference in serving sizes between France and Italy. Research showed that plenty of visitors and locals considered Pizzeria Nicola as one of the best. With decent prices, a menu which covered all bases and massive serves, I couldn't agree more. We had the bruschetta, prosciutto melone, riso ai frutti di mare, pappardelle ai funghi porcini and the quattro stagioni pizza; yes, all of this for two.

Bruschetta from Pizzeria Nicola

The prosciutto was so fragrant... sweet, slightly salty, delicate and paired brilliantly with fresh rockmelon.

Prosciutto melone from Pizzeria Nicola

The risotto was served generously with mussels, prawns, vongole and calamari; the rice was moist and al dente. My pasta was fresh and creamy, perfect with the rich and slightly nutty porcini mushrooms -delectable!

Riso ai frutti di mare from Pizzeria Nicola

Pappardelle ai funghi porcini from Pizzeria Nicola

As for the pizza... let's start with the crust. It was thin, its edges were crisp and brown and there were plenty of gorgeously textured air bubbles. The wood-fired base was topped with a tasty balanced combination of tomatoes, mozzarella, ham, mushroom, artichoke and pork sausage.

Quattro stagioni pizza from Pizzeria Nicola

The next day, we checked out Trattoria Tony for its Bologna specialty of ragu (bolognese sauce). Traditional bolognese is actually less tomatoey than its international adaptations of which I'm used to. The meat sauce was an aromatic mix of uniformly chopped carrot, onion, celery, garlic, porcini mushrooms, mince, tomatoes. We loved it ladled over the homemade tagiatelle and green lasagne.

Antipasto misto from Trattoria Tony

Lasagne verdi al forno from Trattoria Tony

Tagiatelle al ragu from Trattoria Tony

Fragole con gelato from Trattoria Tony

Creme caramel from Trattoria Tony

A quick trip to Venice

Pizzeria Nicola
Piazza San Martino, 9
Bologna 40126, Italy
Phone: +39 51 23 2502

Trattoria Tony
Via Augusto Righi, 1
Bologna 40126, Italy
Phone: +39 51 23 2852

More on food from Santorini and Dubai soon! :)

From first appearances, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was just an average senior's bowling club bistro. Oh, how wrong I was!

Zen's workmate DC has been a local at the club for decades and even celebrated his 50th birthday at this family-run restaurant on its opening day some time last year. When we agreed to stroll down the street to Wiseman Park Wollongong City Bowling Club for brunch, I went sans-camera, not expecting anything photo-worthy. (Pictures below taken with my brand spanking new iPhone)

Imagine is more of a bistaurant (bistro & restaurant). Its menu is down-to-earth yet slightly fancy but sticks to a traditional Mediterranean fare. The prices are higher than a $10 pub steak but its food has many talking. On a Friday or Saturday night, expect to find the place booked out, with regulars even taking the food out to a different seating area.

Zen and I share the seafood paella which was about $56.90 from memory. We're advised that it will take about 25 minutes to be cooked so we start off with some garlic bread.

The Turkish bread was piping hot and buttery and could have had a little more garlic. However, it was delicious to the boyfriend, the non-garlic eater who eats garlic occasionally.

Our meals were thoughtfully brought out at the same time.

DC has the lamb casserole which is served with a side of steamed seasonal vegetables. He compares it to his mother's cooking which is a good sign, although stating that it's missing a crucial ingredient which he can't pinpoint. I think anything substantially close to one's mother's cooking is bloody good.

The seafood paella smelt scrumptious and included a generous spread of mussels, moreton bay bugs, king prawns and baby octopus. The rice was of the perfect consistency and I simply loved the tomato and saffron colours which stained Zen's fingers, hehe :)

Garlic bread

Lamb casserole

Seafood Paella before waiter served it

My plate of seafood paella

Make a booking and be surprised.

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Imagine Restaurant
Wiseman Park Wollongong City Bowling Club
Foleys Rd, Gwynneville, NSW
Phone: +61 (2) 4229 4132‎

Last Thursday, I was invited to attend the launch of Way2go, a bi-monthly user-generated magazine backed up by NRMA which offers inspiring and entertaining stories, personal tips and advice from passionate travellers. Call it Magazine 2.0 if you like.

The magazine is packed with real life experiences and quirky photography and travel tips. My favourite in this first issue was the DIY security with a rubber doorstop! The magazine even offers some awesome prizes for great stories.

Just before I take you behind the scenes to this media launch party, I am proud to announce the first giveaway on JENIUS! Scroll down to the end of this post for more info on whats up for grabs and how to win. I'm overwhelmed with excitement as PR and media agencies begin to embrace bloggers as this means there's plenty of good stuff coming your way. This recognition is rather flattering and I must admit that I'm enjoying the opportunity to network with some amazing people (as well as the free food, of course!).

Aerial view of function

The Way2go launch party was held at Mezzaluna, a modern Italian hotspot on Victoria Street, Potts Point. The restaurant was staffed by its 2 owners, bartenders and wait staff. I found myself rotating between the gorgeous warmth on the outdoor terrace which had a stunning view of the city skyline and the air-conditioned floor which featured a scrumptious array of traditional Italian bites.

Food on offer included this oven roasted stuffed suckling pig, freshly shucked oysters, grilled eggplant and zucchini, celeriac salad, crab and fish cakes, risotto balls, salmon carpaccio, figs wrapped in finely sliced proscuitto and much more. I finished off with not one but two servings of fresh gnocchi, the first with tomato sauce and the second with gorgonzola & cream sauce. It then only made sense to pair it with two pieces of chocolate and ricotta filled cannoli. Delish!

Oven-roasted stuffed suckling pig

Celeriac salad

Fresh figs wrapped with prosciutto

Mushrooms with blue cheese

Grilled zucchini and eggplant

Marinated capsicum

Crab and fish cake balls

Risotto balls

Lamb rolled in poppy seeds

Carpaccio of salmon

City views

Gnocchi freshly made

Fresh gnocchi cooking with tomato sauce

There was a business card pot competition which I coincidentally won as well! You can tell how thrilled I was in the pic below. It was the first time I had ever won anything decent! With $200 worth of lunch or dinner, I'll be back soon to try the a la carte menu.

Me winning business card pot prize

Cannoli

I left the night with a goodie bag of NRMA Publishing mags and a very cool USB key-chain photoframe! And there's something for you too... (scroll down a tiny bit more)

Goodie bag

Win 1 of 5 one-year subscriptions to the Way2go magazine!

Thanks to Zing, 5 lucky JENIUS readers will win an one-year subscription to the Way2go magazine!

To enter, simply leave a comment in 25 words or less about why you want this subscription to the magazine. Be the most creative to win.

Sorry, this promotion is open to Australian and NZ residents only.

Entries close on Friday, 27th February 2009 at 11:59pm. Winners will be announced on Tuesday 3rd March 2009 and will be notified via email for their address.

Good luck!

Way2go magazine is on sale bi-monthly at newsagents across Australia for $5.95. Issue 1 is out now. For more info, visit the official site.

Restaurant 373 is a relatively new restaurant that works. Local fresh produce, warm furnishings, great casual service, funky appetisers and a fabulous 8 course degustation.

We started off with olives, garlic popcorn and chilli grissini...

And then slapped on lots of this delish fish and white bean paste onto crusty bits of poppyseed and almond bread.

I think we had the best seat in the house, at the front of this heritage building, facing the busy night life of Elizabeth Street:

Next up was the roasted butternut pumpkin soup. Mmm, the saffron yoghurt turned good old pumpkin soup into something more.

The menu boasted that the oysters were delivered by the oyster farmer from Bruny Island... you don't get that every day! These were served in 5 ways, although none of them really stood out. We had ours grilled with mushroom relish, natural with white balsamic pickled cucumber, gratinated with braised leek compote, drizzled with limoncello and kilpatrick hollandiase. I thought some of the flavours were too overpowering for juicy fresh oysters.

"Dust" is such a fancy word for powder. The Spring Bay scallop mousse, crispy skin confit chicken wing and scallop roe was served with lime "dust". Although being seated in a top notch restaurant in North Hobart, I somehow expected a real chicken wing.... as in, the type with bones. Nonetheless, this didn't disappoint ... it was uber crispy and there were no sticky fingers to lick up.

Oh boy, did I love the ham hock consomme. The Campania pork belly was tasty, as was the stick of crackling and the hearty aroma of the creamy fennel puree. All the flavours intertwined well into a savoury heaven.

Restaurant 373 is generous with their serving size. In fact, so generous that I was pretty much full before the Flinders Island wallaby shank was served, so Zen helped me finish off half of it. I was a little puzzled at why they served consomme after consomme but the meat fell off the bone. It was tender, juicy and... big!

The Flinders Island lamb stew was gorgeous (yes, with the wallaby and lamb both from Flinders Island, i did feel like I was eating up Flinders Island!). It was modern European at it's best... served with tiny roasted vegies and rosemary mash, I thought it made the perfect Winter feast.

... so that we could enjoy these desserts twice as much!

Overall? Restaurant 373 is new and they show it with their amateur looking business card and fresh innovative twist on European food... you've gotta love it.

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Restaurant 373
373 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart, Tasmania
Web: www.restaurant373.com.au

Mmm... I have a new addiction. Pastizzi Cafe in Newtown is the modern day version of 1950's Maltese Cafe on Crown Street in Surry Hills. It is still a family run business and it shows in their friendly service.

They stock and serve hundreds of golden filo pastry parcels... chilli con carne, veggie curry, spinach & ricotta, chicken & mushroom are just some of the savoury ones to name.

And then there's the new sweet variety of cherry cheese, chocolate & ricotta (pictured below) and apple (also pictured below). These were so flaky and satisfying.

For those who just can't get enough of these heavenly things, grab a dozen of frozen ones to take home.

I love cafe! If the cheap and hearty pastizzi are anything to go by, I can't wait to try the pasta dishes. Ravioli, linguini and cannoli, here I come!

Pastizzi Cafe
523 King Street, Newtown NSW
Ph: +61 (2) 9519 1063

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Some time last week, I was invited to dine at one of Norton Street's new pizza joints... operated by my sister's colleague's brother-in-law. Ha! That was a mouthful.

I was pleasantly surprised at the cosiness of the restaurant; the interior was long and terrace-like. The original rustic steel frames were exposed, complimenting the orange and beige hues. We sat further inside, away from the large mirrors -ensuring that none of us would be preoccupied with checking ourselves out.

While we looked through the menu, I admired the affordable prices and drooled over the blackboard specials. These yummy complimentary tomato bruschettas were brought out on a bed of baby spinach:

Check out these cool pasta colander lights -

The portions here were perfect. Between the four of us, we happily devoured a salad, pasta and 2 large pizzas. The salad was a luscious mix of green leaves, anchovies, sun-dried and roma tomatoes, feta cheese and balsamic.

The fettucine salsiccia (sausage) consisted of thin strands of al dente pasta, tossed in a light tomato sauce with meaty bits of tasty sausage. It was scrumptious with a sprinkle of chilli flakes.

The Campollo was covered with chicken, basil, Camembert and possibly capsicum and tomato.

The seafood was more gourmet and twice as tasty... I found myself finishing off 2 big slices.

Desserts at 7ettimo included cakes and gelato. The mango gelato was delectably coated in a mango chocolate shell! Yummo. The tiramisu gelato and marble cake were a little ordinary... it left me thinking about some cannoli! (LOL, it rhymes. Try to rap that!)

The night soon evolved into random talk of cars, jobs, hobbies, what 'Zenith' meant... and what Christina is like at work versus home! It was past 10pm and Norton Street had just awoken.

Overall, 7ettimo makes delicious & simple home-style pastas and pizzas with a surprisingly affordable price tag. I'll be a regular here, that's for sure.

7ettimo
165 Norton Street, Leichhardt

Recently, I've noticed that Zen and I are ordering the wrong foods. He asks for the salad or iced coffee and they're always served to me. Excuse me, because I enjoy big hearty meals and may occasionally order as a man would.

On this extremely late Sunday afternoon, we decided to brunch at Bello. I've been here a couple of times before and have loved their generous servings and location. It's a fabulous excuse to impulse shop, although you might not be in the mood after paying almost $10 for a bowl of wedges with sweet chilli sauce and sour cream. So here is Zen's iced coffee with lots of ice cream (which was initially served to me). And below is my frothy hazelnut latte.

Our orders take a while to arrive... I'm suspecting it was the cafe's near full capacity... and hopefully, they were preparing our dishes, fresh. The risotto does not disappoint. It's a rich mountain of creamy flavour.

However, I was more impressed with my stack of corn and zucchini fritters.

There was a $3 surcharge for the bacon but considering there were 3 - 5 strips, browned perfectly with most of the fat trimmed, I was happy. The tomato and avocado salsa was lovely too; it had cut through the pan-fried fritters and bacon so elegantly.

Cafe Bello
Level Ground, Shop 172, Burwood Westfield (100 Burwood Rd)
Phone (02) 9745 1545

Machiavelli needs no introduction. It's reputation has been flourished by the high rollers and politicians of Sydney and with that, expect to pay the high prices.

Tradition and familiarity are key aspects of Machiavelli's success. Old men, all groomed well in black suits and bow ties fuss about the preparation table while others wait tables. The menu is small but has the fine usuals including Bolognese and Steak Diane.

We started off with some smoked salmon, served fresh with generous amounts of capers and thinly sliced onion.

The fried zucchini flowers were delicious too. The innards were filled with a gorgeous ricotta blend and the blossoms were airy and crisp.

I ordered the fusilli crab as my main. Tender flakes of crab meat were intertwined with a creamy white wine sauce. It was a huge serving but was it $38's worth?

Funnily enough, we had walked past a McDonald's on our way here... and the French Fries were exactly reminiscent of that. They were identically fried to a golden brown crunch, but served in a cute iron pan.

My companion had the pepper steak which was a perfect medium-rare...

The strawberries were irresistible... All night, I watched as they were picked, cut and flamed over a blue light. MmMmmm...

We walked out, full as can be... greeting and waving to some old Italian friends. Machiavelli isn't a place you'd go daily... not unless it was a business-paid-for expense of course.

Machiavelli Ristorante Italiano
123 Clarence St Sydney
Monday -Friday 12 noon - 2:30pm & 6 - 9 pm
Closed weekends and Public Holidays
Tel: 9299-3748
Web: www.machiavelli.com.au

There isn't a worst feeling than being cheated... and I would least expect it from a place as renouned as Kingsley Steakhouse. It started off well, as with all relationships. Kingsley appeared popular and I was intrigued. It's menu boasted lavish prices... so I set my expectations right up high.

And then starters arrived...

...followed by mains, where the serving sizes and lack of oomph broke my heart.

There's always a bitter sweet ending. The brulee looked delectable. The glazed shell looked as though it had been burnt the right way... through my mind, I fantasized about the nutty walnut flavours which would be entangled within the luscious cream... How wrong I was. The brulee was average. The caramelised sugar was borderlining soft. It had clearly been standing out alone for too long...

Kingsley Steakhouse
www.kingsletsteak.com.au

Rocket Restaurant is one of those places you always talk about revisiting. They've got a sophisticated menu and a relaxing yet stylish interior. However, there's nothing really much beyond that. The service seems to suit chatty regulars... and to my surprise, the amazing dukkah and olive oil has now been replaced with room temperature bread and butter.

Zen and I decide to share the antipasto plate. There were fresh figs, goats cheese, prosciutto, grissini, a rich roast capsicum with sun-dried tomato, bocconcini and pesto tart, and more. It was a cold rainy day, and the entree was clearly not enough to share between two. Yet we were asked if we wanted a break before our mains were served?

Shortly after hinting that we were ready for our mains, Zen's seafood risotto, which was an impressive combination of prawns, swordfish, trout, mussels and vongole, arrived.

And I had the Wagyu. The gnocchi was in large chopped chunks but it so fluffy and warm. The wagyu was flakey, tender and hearty...

Because we failed to decide on one single dessert, we opted for the selection of desserts for two. Out came a colourful array tiny delicacies.

I really want to like Rocket. But it somehow doesn't seem as good as the first time. It would have also been nice if the petit fours weren't only rushed out after we had asked for the bill...

Rocket Restaurant
Cnr Help & Railway Streets Chatswood
Phone: (02) 9411 8233
Web: www.rocketrestaurant.com.au

Ah... the digital age... where my photos are time-stamped.

Think back a couple of weeks. Or even a month. Remember what you spent that Friday night doing? What did you have for dinner?

Well, I've retained all of that info to share with you (now that i'm back in action)... So... many weeks ago, Zen and I feasted on a giant seafood and meat platter at La Vigna Cafe in the Italian Forum. This is my second visit, and I found that the service was just as impressive. Hmm... which reminds me... I haven't read the Waiter's Rant in a while!

Within 10 minutes of ordering, an enormous plate of baby lamb cutlets, barbequed quails, souvlaki, spicy meatballs, Italian sausages, prawns, octopus, calamari, mussels, salad and chips were brought out...

For just $65, we stuffed ourselves silly. Thankfully, all the calories were burnt off by the end of our 7 hour Poker game.

See my previous visit.

Or check out their website.

Cafe La Vigna
Italian Forum
Shop 34, 23 Norton Street Leichhardt
Phone: (02) 9572 8599

Fifteen Melbourne. It's the restaurant from TV. It's Jamie Oliver's. There's definitely a novelty factor to dining at Fifteen -which explains the set-up of a reservation line and the long waiting list! Two months ago, when Zen and I were planning our next trip down to Melbourne, I persuaded him to make a booking for dinner. And so here we are. It wasn't dinner... but we felt pretty lucky to have scored a table for six for lunch (considering that the weekend coincided with the F1 Grand Prix and the FINA World Championship). Melbourne was busy.

The interior of the restaurant was funky. Glass pots of herbs hung from the ceiling... there were graffiti feature walls, giant mirrors with elegant detailed frames, and the garden-inspired bathrooms even provided Aesop hand wash and cream. I was impressed.

The olive oil was gorgeous... I have such a weakness for good olive oil and sea salt... yummo!

The rump was served on a timber chopping board... classic Jamie Oliver style. This was probably the best main anyone on our table had ordered. Obviously, I had to do a bit of taste testing! It was divine :-)

My main dish was the quail. And unfortunately, was slightly disappointing. The red grape was an interesting incorporation but overall, nothing spectacular.

The mint ice-cream was refreshing and totally complemented the peach which was bathed in wine. The frosted almonds led me to reminisce of the kind you would normally get from the corner milk bar; except this was twice as good.

In the end, the food was pretty good but our table paid $50 for 5 bottles of sparkling water. Yes... pricey indeed.

And in case you weren't sure what Fifteen was all about? Here's something I took away with me:

Fifteen facts about Fifteen

1. Jamie Oliver set up 'Fifteen' in London after a mate told him about how cooking had a positive impact on a group of young people from tough backgrounds she was working with.


2. It's called 'Fifteen' because the first group in London were 15 young people.


3. Even through it's called 'Fifteen' we now take 20 trainees into the restaurant.


4. Even though Jamie set it up, he doesn't fund it -we have to raise the money here in Australia to make it happen.


5. 'Fifteen' is made up of two organisations that work together to support the young people, offer them training opportunities and work with our generous sponsors and donors.


6. The fifteen Foundation -the charitable, youth support bit.


7. Fifteen Melbourne -the restaurant is a proper business, with a twist.


8. Fifteen Melbourne gives 30% of its profit back to the Foundation in Australia and up to 3% of its total turnover to the UK foundation.


9. However, that's not enough to cover all costs of getting these young people through the 16-month program, so we look for sponsorship, donations and grants to cover the rest.


10. This is the first 'Fifteen' in the ever growing family to be set up outside Europe.


11. There are 'Fifteens' in London, Cornwall and Amsterdam.


12. A new group of young people are recruited each year.


13. 'Fifteen trainees in Australia have the chance to complete the first year of their apprenticeship in the Fifteen Melbourne kitchen.


14. 'Fifteen' makes sure that if they graduate they get placements to complete their apprenticeships in other top restaurants around Melbourne. But it doesn't end there...


15. 'Fifteen' trainees remain a part of the 'Fifteen' family even after they leave -they're always welcome back and we'll always be there to support them if they need us.

This is about more than just cooking. 'Fifteen' is about giving troubled young people the chance to get out of the rut they're in and break the cycles that are holding them back, and to show the world how amazing they can be!

OK, I'm drawn in. Dining here again will be my charitable thing for the year.

Fifteen Melbourne Restaurant

Reservations:
Australian Callers: 1300 799 415
International Callers: 0061 3 8648 6000

Enquiries:
enquiry@fifteenmelbourne.com.au

Location:
Basement, 115 - 117 Collins Street
(Enter through Georges Parade)
Melbourne, Victoria

Web:
http://www.fifteenmelbourne.com.au/index.html

Seeing that Zen and I were only in Melbourne for 3 nights (theoretically 2 nights, since we were on the Great Ocean Road for one the nights), Scusa Mi was meant to be my gastronomical highlight of the trip. But I don't learn, do I? Yet again... I failed to make a booking! Thus instead of an elegant 5 course meal, we ate our mains... and left (hehe).

Scusa Mi was awarded one-hat in 2007's Good Food Guide. They also boast their own label of extra-virgin olive oil, breath-taking views of the Yarra River, and a menu which names all the finest ingredients.

Superb salad. The pears were sweet and a fresh balance to the crispy witlof, celery and fennel. The cheese was a little overpowering, but gave the salad the perfect oomph. However, the service was questionable. I think the waitor was high... he managed to spill our neighbouring table's champaigne all over the curtains, and looked rather scattered when suggesting menu items. It was the night before NYE afterall... who is there to blame.

Happy new year everyone! Cheers to a delicious 2007!!

Scusa Mi Ristorante
Mid-level, Southgate
Southbank, Victoria 3006
Phone: (03) 96994111
Website: www.scusami.com.au

What else could have brought me to Brunswick Street but the Alannah Hill factory outlet! Brunswick Street is probably the King Street (of Newtown) or the Oxford Street in Sydney. So we snagged a seat in the open terrace and watched the Brunswick Street crowds walk on by.

I was actually sick... so you'll have to excuse the absence of my taste buds! I do remember the occasional taste of sweetness from the creamy honey mustard though...

The Fitz Cafe
347 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Victoria 2065
Phone: (03) 94175794

Merry Christmas! Last night, I was put in charge of our family's Christmas dinner. So instead of last year's roast, fresh prawns and lobster mornay, I decided to stock up on some oysters, scallops and green king prawns. I also did the gingerbread baking a day in advance!

Nothing beats fresh oysters with a few drops of Tabasco and a squeeze of lemon juice.

I adpated the Cashew-Crusted Prawns with Honey-Lemon Sauce recipe from the Coles Christmas Magazine. And instead of using cooked Australian Black Tiger Prawns, I opted for the uncooked Green King Prawns... The prawns were shelled and deveined , but I left the head and tail on (to look fancy).

1/2 cup plain flour
2 eggs
1 cup dried breadcrumbs
100g cashew nuts, chopped finely
18 king prawns, shelled and deveined
1/4 cup peanut oil
HONEY-LEMON SAUCE
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
50g butter

1. Place flour onto a plate. Lightly beat eggs in a medium bowl. Combine breadcrumbs and cashew nuts in a separate large bowl.
2. Dip each prawn in flour first, shaking off excess, then dip in egg wash and finally roll in breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly to secure. Place on a tray sprinkled with breadcrumbs and put in fridge for 20 minutes.
3. Combine sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes till slightly thickened.
4. Heat oil in non-stick pan over medium heat. Cook prawns in batches for 2 - 4 minutes each side til golden. Drain on paper towel. Serve with honey-lemon sauce.

For our mains, I turned to Al Dente La Collezione (published by Hardie Grant Books, for Barilla Australia) - a compilation of pasta dishes by chefs around Australia.

120ml olive oil
1 leek, diced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 red chillies, finely chopped
4 tablespoons of sundried tomatoes, chopped
120g napoletana sauce
100ml cream
2 tablespoons of chives, chopped
24 large scallops
2 tablespoons of cajun spice
500g fettuccine or tagliatelle
CORIANDER PESTO
1 bunch coriander leaves, washed and dried
3 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan cheese
3 garlic cloves chopped
1 tablespoon of toasted pine nuts
salt and ground black pepper to taste
60ml olive oil

1. To make the coriander pesto, blend all the ingredients in a food processor. With the motor running, drizzle the oil down the feed tube until all are combined.
2. Heat 60mls of olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add leek, garlic and chilli and cook, stirring often, until the leek is transparent. Add the sundried tomatoes and Napoletana sauce and cook for 5 minutes or until the sauce starts to reduce.
3. Pour in the cream and simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. Stir in the chives and season to taste.
4. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until al dente. Meanwhile, pat the scallops dry with a clean tea-towel. Dust the scallops with Cajun spice.
5. Heat the remaining olive oil in a heavy-based frying pan until very hot. Cook the scallops in batches for 30 seconds on each side.
6. Drain the pasta and return to the saucepan. Add the sauce, and toss over a low heat until combined.
7. Arrange the pasta onto serving plats, and top with scallops and a dollop of pesto. Serve immediately.

And last but not least, for the gingerbread, I drew inspiration from Helen (GrabYourFork)'s post.

125g butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarb
3 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 tablespoons golden syrup
ICING
1 1/2 cups pure icing sugar
1 egg white
4 drops lemon juice
food colouring

1. Cream the butter and sugar
2. Add egg yolk and mix in remaining gingerbread ingredients.
3. Combine and keed until dought forms. Roll out dough and cut out shapes using cookie cutters or knife. Continue to remove excess dough for re-use.
4. Bake for 10 minutes in a moderate oven (180C).
5. Remove immediately and place on a cooling tray.
6. Whisk the egg white, then gradually add the icing sugar. Ensure that there are no lumps, then add lemon juice and food colouring.
7. Decorate as you like.

Jet Bar/Cafe is neatly tucked into the front of the Queen Victoria Building. After confirming there was available seating, we soon crawled up a steep twist of stairs, and were led to a poorly lit table. The service was cold and unattentive... it must have been at least 40 minutes before our lunch arrived.

The spring rolls were a pricey four for $7 (I know... I see five in the photo too). It was as satisfying as an entree being served half way through the mains could be.

Both Jo and I ordered the prawn linguini, which was slightly tossed with tomatoes, garlic, onion, basil and chilli. The lemon juice added a refreshing balance, but overall, it was disappointingly bland.

As usual, Sham went for the creamy pasta, and Jordan had the spaghetti bolognese... both looked wonderful and smelt so comforting! But our expectations would never have been met anyway... considering the wait and the service...

Jet Bar / Cafe
Queen Victoria Bldg
Level Ground, Shop 55, Druit St

Phone (02) 9283 5004

I'm so behind with all of this blogging business. I've been tied down with the last weeks of uni (will definately be deferring next semester), and the biggest news is... well, I've resigned.

Moving on, here is another lunch time adventure brought to you by the Eyeblaster girls...

Cellini's Bar and Restaurant offers cafe style food inside the glorious (and historic) QVB. We ordered the fettucine carbonara and a roast capsicum and zucchini melt to share...

The fettucine carbonara was the perfect serving size for one. The pasta was al dente, and was intertwined with a sublime creamy pesto sauce.

On the other hand, the melt was rather deceiving... I had expected something more hearty. Perhaps with the unnamed riches of pesto or roast eggplant. Instead, pickled vegetables and cheese lay ontop of some crusty turkish bread... Ah, the dissatisfaction...

Cellini's cafe-style menu shows influences which stretches from Italy to Asia. The service was wonderful, and the food was fairly priced and was prepared quite promptly... overall, a wonderful escape...

Cellini's Bar and Restaurant
Level 2, Shop 46-48, QVB Sydney
Phone: 92644671

Operating Hours
Monday - Friday: 9am to 9pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9am to 7pm

It's been a while since I've been to Leichhardt... and there was no better way to spend Saturday night than with a few girlfriends and some tasty pastas and grills. Parking was a breeze inside the Italian Forum carpark, which was $12 flat rate for entry after 6pm.

The Italian Forum was packed with groups of families, friends and couples. It was a cheery atmosphere filled with loud conversations and laughter. The service was flirtatious but efficient.

I had the Linguine with Balmain Bugs... which was flawlessly spiced with chilli and lots of cracked black pepper. I think dried pasta was used, but they were really generous with the Balmain bugs... I counted 6 halves, so 3 whole in total. They were succulent and so tender! I tasted no basil (there were shallots instead), but the olive oil & white wine tied all the ingredients in really well.

Cafe La Vigna also offer desserts such as cannoli, tiramisu, portuguese tarts, and more! But we left for a place more quiet...

Thanks for organising this Sumali! Hope to see you girls soon :-)

Cafe La Vigna
Italian Forum, Shop 34
23 Norton Street Leichhardt
Phone: 9572 8599

On a breezy spring evening, Zen and I strolled along King Street Wharf seeking a warm dinner to satisfy our grumbling stomachs. Casa Di Nico looked so warm inside, and the idea of hearty pasta and seafood locked in our choice.

Casa Di Nico
The Promenade - King Street Wharf, Sydney
Tel : (02) 9279 4115
Web: http://www.nicks-seafood.com.au/casa_di_nico.htm

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