Jasmyne Tea

Angelo's On The Bay, Cabarita - Take 2

There is NOTHING I hate more than a stranger who spoils my time out.

There we were, celebrating our friend Joon's acceptance into Bond University on the Gold Coast at Angelo's on the Bay, minding our own business (and we're not a particularly rowdy bunch, so it's not like we were screaming or anything); the table next to us was conducting a wedding reception, and they decided to have a speech. Glassed were tapped with silverware, and the mother of the bride stood up - and, doing the respectful thing, we quietened down a little.

BUT, apparently that wasn't enough for some shrew sitting at that table - she actually turned around and shushed us repeatedly as if we were small children, instead of doing the adult thing and politely asking us to be quiet for a moment. Stephen and Joon, being the classic passive aggressives, started talking louder. Said shrew literally turned around in her chair, gave us the evil eye for 30 seconds, then shushed us again with her finger literally in front of her mouth.

I may or may not have sworn at her.

Irritating episode aside, we chose Angelo's at the Bay because we've always had good experiences there. The food's wonderful, the service is top notch, and the atmosphere is normally pleasantly ambient.

Bread Rolls

We started with some rolls as we were waiting for everyone to find parking, then ordered drinks for the table.

Banana Colada - $18.50

This was mine: Malibu, fresh banana, banana liqueur, coconut cream and pineapple juice were all combined to creat the Banana Colada. It was a little strong with the banana liqueur, which masked a lot of the other flavours, but still enjoyable.

Roasted Sea Scallops on the Shell - $22.00

6 perfectly roasted scallops graced the plate, cooked so that the flesh was still delicate and basted in a hazelnut and chervil butter.

Caramelised Eschallot & Brie Tarte Tatin - $21.00

The tarte tatin was a beautiful starter, the eschallot caramelised until soft and tender, with the brie underneath supporting it's sweetened yet tangy flavour. It was served with a velvety cauliflower veloute, and asparagus and micro herbs tossed in a fresh salsa verde.

'On The Bay' Seafood Platter for Two - $140.00

We tried this platter last time, and the quality seems to be pretty consistent. The top plate was where the cold seafood resided, consisting of oysters, king prawns, lobsters, raw salmon, and a seafood salad served inside avacado halves.

The lower plate included battered and fried calamari and fish, roasted scallops and chips, which came with tartar and cocktail sauce.

Pappadelle - $23.00

A large serving of al dente, house-made pappadelle was served with a fall-apart beef cheek ragu, with porcini mushrooms lending their nutty flavour and parsely giving some freshness. The whole delicious concoction was topped with truffle-infused pecorino, a decadent finish.

Grilled Atlantic Salmon Medallions - $33.00

The salmon was flakey and moist, the skin grilled until crispy. The medallions were served on white bean puree and a zucchini and dill salad, and drizzled with an aromatic basil emulsion. Roasted kipfler potatoes and cherry tomatoes also dotted the plate.

House-Made Pumpkin & Chestnut Ravioli - $28.00

The pasta for the ravioli was a little thick for my taste, but the mixture of pumpkin and chestnut was surprisingly well-matched, and the burnt sage butter accentuated the flavour. Topped with creamy marinated goats feta, it was a great dish.

White Chocolate & Amarena Cherry Creme Brulee - $15.00

It wasn't my dessert, but I still stole a spoon so I could crack the sugar top. It shattered perfectly! The custard was flavoured with super-sweet white chocolate, but balanced with sour amarena cherry and served with crunchy biscotti.

White Peach Pannacotta - $15.00

The pannacotta was thick and creamy, and delicately flavoured with peach and topped with rosewater pashmak. A tart strawberry consomme also graced the plate, and three small pieces of amaretto jelly finished it off. The plating was a little clumsy, but each seperate element was beautifully made.

Mini Dessert Plate - $20.00

The mini dessert plate was a tasting plate of three different desserts on the menu. The first was the very same peach pannacotta we'd just tried, but set within a chocolate cup. The middle dessert was an almond and Iranian dried-fig and cognac frangipani tart, with honey and nougat gelato, strawberry salad and vanilla-bean anglaise. I wasn't a particular fan of the dried fig, but I really liked all the other elements. The last dessert was the white chocolate and cherry brulee.

Honey Poached Figs with Mixed Berry Sorbet - Special

We were told that this dish came with honey poached fresh figs, but the honey syrup was only drizzled over the top, so the figs were inconsistently cooked. However, the flavours were good, and the berry sorbet was very well executed.

The food here is excellent, with a focus on quality and decent portions, and the service is always impeccable. We did exchange death-glares as we left, but it's not the restaurant's fault if some of their customers turn out to be unpleasant, and I'd totally come back if the opportunity presented itself.

Angelo's On The Bay

Prince Edward Park, Phillips St
Cabarita
NSW 2137

Tel: (02) 9743-2225
Fax: (02) 9736-2391

Email: [email protected]

http://www.angelosonthebay.com.au/

Truly, Madly Tim Tam (Sponsored Post)

There are certain things that people say they love, but what they really mean is that they really like it.

So obviously you know that's NOT what I mean when I say I love Tim Tams.

Seriously. Tim Tams and I have had a lengthy, tumultuous affair for many years, born of a fierce and passionate love of the chocolate-coated crunchy biscuit with chocolate-cream filling. I remember when I was young it was the in thing to bite off both ends of a Tim Tam and use them as chocolatey straws to suck up our tea or milk, and I still do it even now.

Source

Whether you're a fan of the original Tim Tam, or prefer the newer versions like Turkish Delight (my personal fave), there's a Tim Tam for everyone, and now there's an ad for everyone too!

Arnotts have launched the 'Truly, Madly Tim Tam' campaign, and you can be a part of it! Simply click here, watch the ad on Youtube and follow the link beside the video to get your very own personalised ad!

This is a Rocketfuel sponsored post.

Antipasto Roulade

It's so exciting: Stephen's sister Melissa has gotten to the point where she's testing out recipes for her kitchen tea, and I'm going wedding dress shopping for the first time tomorrow for my own wedding. Things are moving forward! *girly squeal*

One of the recipes was straight off the top of her head, an idea she had whilst perusing the menu at her reception venue. It's quite ingenious - a roulade made up of all of our favourite elements on an antipasto platter, including prosciutto, bocconcini, sundried tomato and eggplant. It's quick, it's easy, and it's something I'll definitely be busting out when I next have a party.

Antipasto Roulade

The recipe is quite simple, and it really depends on what you like. We started off with approximately 12 pieces of prosciutto, laid out on a sheet of cling wrap in 2 groups of 6 slices, each overlapping to make a sort of large rectangle. Bocconcini cheese slices were then layered on top, then thin slices of pickled eggplant and sundried tomato. The whole thing was carefully rolled up while still managing to keep the cling wrap on the outside, then refrigerated for an hour or so to set. When ready to serve, we just carefully sliced 2 cm thick pieces with the cling wrap still on, unwrapping when each slice was cut. Served with a bit of lettuce for garnish and some balsamic vinegar, and hey presto!

You can easily use any other type of antipasto you like, such as artichoke hearts or capsicum.

Red Rooster, Harlem, New York, NY USA

New York City speaks of many things for me. It's a metropolis of fashion, food, art, history, music, and theatre, all very interesting and important things to me, and walking through this massive city you'll see five very different boroughs or areas, and hear over 800 languages being spoken. Approximately 50 million tourists visit every year, and I was very lucky to be one of them.

When we were planning our trip, I knew straight away I wanted to try soul food. I used to read a lot of American literature as a teen, and it was the sort of food I'd dream of eating as I forced down another of my mother's failed attempts at curried sausages (thanks Mark Twain). Luckily, we knew just the place to go.

Red Rooster is run by chef Macus Samuelsson and was opened in 2010, almost directly across the road from Sylvia's in Harlem. We arrived there a tad early, and so waited in the bar area, and already the place was swarming with people. By the time our friendly waitress had led us to our table, we'd already planned what to order, and so got stuck in straight away.

The Earl of Harlem - US$15.00

The Earl of Harlem was a distinguished cocktail to start with, comprised of Bulleit bourbon, Earl Grey tea and spiced coriander syrup. It had a hell of a kick, but I loved it.

Prosecco (Pisani, Italy) - US$11.00

My glass of prosecco was insanely crisp and dry, with the aroma reminding me of apples, or maybe apricot. I was a fan of the simplicity of this wine, and found it to be an excellent aperitif.

Corn Bread - US$6.00

Corn bread was something I'd been wanting to sample since arriving in America, and I think this was a great first sample. Two neat squares of slightly crumbly corn bread were accompanied by a sweet honey butter and a tomato chutney with a bit of bite.

Jerk Bacon and Egg - US$18.00

The Jerk Bacon and Egg was like the best big breakfast you'll ever have. The egg was cooked to gooey perfection, and served with brown beans, charred pork ribs and a type of Haitian pickled cabbage called pikliz. THIS was the soulfood I'd been looking for, and I was hard pressed to share it with Stephen!

Pot Roast for Two - US$79.00

The pot roast for two was a high point in an entire evening of high points. It came highly recommended by our waitress,  and was cooked perfectly rare, with a flavoursome charred outer. Not only was there more meat than you could shake a stick at, but the dish came with some roasted veggies and a rich, cheesey potato bake:

Potato Bake

Rich, creamy, and extremely decadent, this potato bake has ruined me for all other potato bakes. It was given a little added dimension with some herbs, and it was comforting and wholesome.

Black Eyed Peas - US$8.00

We ordered a serving of black-eyed peas as well,  which were cooked until soft and the gravy reduced. They were flavoured with chives, their oniony aroma going well with the peas.

Whiskey Fudge - US$5.00

By the time we were done with the mains, we were SO stuffed, even though we really wanted to try the sweet potato doughnuts. We opted for the whiskey fudge instead, and were presented with three squares of glossy, delicious whiskey goodness, covered with a sprinkling of macadamia nuts.

Smokey Jasmine Earl Grey - US$3.00

We finally finished our epic soul food banquet with some Smokey Jasmine Earl Grey tea, and paid our bill. We were SO satisfied with out experience here, and SO happy with the prices, which would have easily been doubled had we been in Sydney. I'm definitely coming back here when we next visit; anyone who finds themselves in the area needs to visit pronto!

Red Rooster

310 Lennox Ave
New York, NY
10027

http://redroosterharlem.com/

Sticky Date Cake with Butterscotch Sauce

So apparently there are people out there who have never had sticky date  pudding.

"What sort of deprived childhood did you suffer through to not ever have had sticky date pudding?!?!?!" I yelled at Stephen. In front of his mum.

Oops.

Despite my chronic foot-in-mouth disease, Stephen's mum graciously deigned to try this totally awesome sticky date cake, smothered in a sexy butterscotch sauce. It's thick and luscious, and gorgeous when served warm. All in all, not a bad specimen to have as your first sticky date experience.

Sticky Date Cake with Butterscotch Sauce
*Adapted from Bill Granger's Best of Bill

INGREDIENTS

300g medjool dates, pitted and chopped
1 tsp bicarb soda
70g diced unsalted butter
170g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 lightly beaten eggs
185g self-raising flour, sifted
185g soft brown sugar
200mL cream
150g unsalted butter, extra

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius, and grease and line the base of a 20 cm spring-form cake tin. Put the dates in a saucepan with 250mL of water and cook, stirring occasionally for 5-6 minutes until the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and stir in the bicarb and 70g of butter; set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

2. Transfer dates to a large mixing bowl, add the sugar, vanilla and eggs and stir well. Fold in the sifted flour until combined, then pour into the prepared tin and bake for 50 minutes (check if it's cooked with a skewer inserted in the middle). Leave in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn out and cool on a wire rack.

3. For the butterscotch sauce, heat the sugar, cream and extra butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook over a low heat for 3 minutes, then pour over the sticky date cake to serve.

Sassy's Red, Sydney CBD

I've been bitten by the travel bug; ever since my return from the States I've been planning my next trip. I've got folders full of bookmarked travel advice for Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia - clearly the colder weather has me craving some sunshine and pina coladas.

Unfortunately money is a major factor when it comes to travel, and as we're currently saving for our wedding and another trip to the US for Stephen's research, the closest I'm going to get to South-East Asia for the moment is at a restaurant.

The cuisine and decor at Sassy's Red, run by the brains behind Chinta Ria at Cockle Bay Wharf, is based on cafes in Malaysia. Situated on level 5 in the Sydney CBD Westfield's, everything about Sassy's Red is bold, colourful and bustling, and it's reflected in the food.

Roti Canai - $4.00

This was my first Malaysian roti experience. The outside was flaky and a little dry, but the inside was soft, stretchy and a little doughy. It was served with a spicy chicken curry sauce, which was creamy with coconut milk; chilli gave a little kick to the sauce.

Mee Goreng - $11.00

My sister Katie wanted noodles, so I ordered the Mee Goreng. It was too spicy for her, but it was a perfect heat for me - just enough to tingle the tastebuds. Chunks of chicken fought for attention with cubes of tofu, and bean sprouts and crispy fried onion added some textural variety to this noodle dish.

Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang - $11.00

I ordered the Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang, which Katie stole after rejecting her noodles. The rendang was magnificent, with tender chunks of beef simmered in a gravy redolent with chilli. The rice was meant to be cooked with coconut milk, but I didn't detect any difference between that rice and rice cooked with plain ole water. Pickled veggies, nuts, and an egg split in two filled out the rest of the plate.

It's hard to feel disappointed with a lack of travel opportunity when your belly's full of such delicious food. It was a great experience, and I look forward to trying Chinta Ria's Mood For Love upstairs as well.

Sassy's Red

http://www.sassysred.com/

Westfield Sydney, Level 5, Shop 5002
Cnr Pitt St Mall & Market St
Sydney
NSW 2000

Phone: (02) 8072 8072

Ruby's Diner, City of Commerce, California, USA

What's one thing that every tourist should do whilst in California?

Shopping.

[Oh, how I love shopping.]

Right outside LA is a factory outlet called The Citadel, FULL of brand names. We went a bit nuts at Calvin Klein and I spent more money in one afternoon than I did in the 4 weeks I was in the US, but I don't regret it at all :)

I had wanted to eat at an authentic American diner during my time there, and luckily for me there was a Ruby's Diner at the outlet.

Started in 1982 by Doug Cavanaugh in Balboa, California, Ruby's was named after Doug's mother. He decided on a 1940's themed diner because "that's when Balboa had its heyday!". They filled the store with memorabilia from the era and opened with a simple menu of burgers, hot dogs and malt shakes.

Now with restaurants all across Southern California, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada, Ruby's is a wildly successful chain of diner restaurants that still focuses on quality food and service.

Malted Chocolate Shake

Peanut Butter Cup Shake

We started with good old-fashioned milkshakes. Considering how many options there were, Stephen was probably a little too old-fashioned in ordering the malted chocolate shake, but it was really well executed. I ordered a peanut butter cup shake, which I guess was really just peanut butter and chocolate. Both shakes were thick and creamy, with a little extra served on the side in metal cups. Generous dollops of whipped cream and cherries graced the tops.

Cheeseburger

We both got cheeseburgers, which came with a giant serving of freshly-cooked fries and a slightly less significant salad. The burger itself was glorious, a structure of squishy bread, crunchy lettuce, tart tomato, tender, juicy beef and American cheese. Ketchup and mustard were provided, of course.

This was just a quick stop during our marathon of shopping, but next time I'm in California I'll definitely be trying something else on the menu. The service was impeccable, the food quick to come out but still amazingly fresh.

Ruby's Diner

100 Citadel Drive #222
City of Commerce
CA 90040
USA

Phone: 323.382.7829

http://www.rubys.com/index.aspx