Jasmyne Tea

El Loco, Surry Hills

I both love party season and hate it. Of course, going out and seeing my friends, eating good food and drinking good wine are all wins in my book, but it all comes with the hassles of trying to find a way home when the designated driver has had one too many, and it leaves a big dent in my bank account after a while.

So when yet another birthday rolled around, I suggested a bar a little less expensive than usual, yet still vibrant and interesting - and with awesome food: El Loco, in Surry Hills.

El Loco is a Merivale restaurant, but it doesn't have the posh, unapproachable air of the other restaurants and bars, so when the three of us turned up one Saturday, we felt right at home. We snagged a table right away and set about ordering.

Pink Cuco - $13.50
Classic Margarita - $13.50

We started off with drinks. Elain ordered a Classic Margarita, which included a good dash of Herradura Blanco tequila and zesty Cointreau. It was fresh and zingy and probably the best margarita I've ever sampled.

My Pink Cuco slushy was a tad more complex: El Jimador tequila was mixed with pink grapefruit and lime juice, and finished off with a ginger and coriander syrup. I was so enamoured of this drink that I ordered two more before the end of the night.

Corn Chips with Guacamole and Salsa - $5.00

The thing I love about El Loco is that a lot of items on the menu are five dollars. With that five dollars you can order a healthy serving of thick corn chips with a creamy guacamole and salsa with a bit of a kick. It's a great bar snack, and we munched on these as we waited for the rest of our order.

Crispy Fried Barramundi Taco - $5.00

Carne Asada Taco - $5.00

The tacos here are all soft-shelled and jam-packed with fillings. We chose one of the specials, a crispy barramundi taco topped with salsa verde and smooth queso - it was chock full of different textures and the flavours were perfectly balanced. The Carne Asada taco included lemongrass beef that was slightly tough but redolent with the fresh, zesty lemongrass, and pico de gallo, a zingy salsa.

Market Grilled Fish - $15.00

The fish of the day happened to be some sort of snapper, which was grilled to perfection. The flesh was tender, which really showed against the crispy skin, and the freshness was accentuated with a beautiful salsa verde. Served with a shaved fennel, cabbage and coriander salad on an oddly floral plate, it was a great meal.

Quesadilla with Chorizo, Jalapenos and Chipotle Mayo - $5.00

Now this quesadilla was SPICY! Stuffed with chorizo, jalapenos and a smoky chipotle mayonnaise then toasted, there was no way I was able to finish it (I'm a light weight when it comes to spice though).

Secret Taco - $5.00

The server wouldn't tell me what was in my secret taco, even after I'd eaten it, so I'm not really sure what it was. It's normally offal and changes daily. My mystery meat rested atop a pile of cabbage and was smothered in a tart pico de gallo salsa, and it was quite tender and slightly gamey.

Churros with Orange Dulce de Leche - $5.00

I thought that each serving of churros would be just enough for one person, so I ordered three serves. What came out were nine massive columns of dough, accompanied by a sweeter-than-sweet dulce de leche spiked with orange syrup. It was delicious, but we had to take half of it home.

If you're looking for a place to chill, with great food and even better drinks at a reasonable price, then I'd definitely recommend El Loco.

El Loco

http://www.elloco.com.au

64 Foveaux Street
Surry Hills
NSW, 2010

Phone: 02 9211 4945

Charlie & Co., Sydney CBD

So I've been watching what I eat. Partly for health reasons, partly for vanity's sake. And while I'm definitely enjoying feeling and looking healthier, I do occasionally miss "unhealthy" food like burgers, chips and pizza.

Obviously, this visit to Charlie & Co. occurred before I made this life-altering decision.

Nestled in a deceptively small corner of the Sydney CBD Westfield's food court, this little burger joint-slash-restaurant is all class. Founded by Justin North, it addresses the issue plaguing office workers throughout the CBD - where can you get a fantastic burger, close to the office and for a fair price?

Unfortunately for me, the city isn't near me AT ALL, so I had to wait for a rare excursion before I  could sample the loveliness of these burgers.

The Classic Fried Chicken - $14.00

Look at this bun. OH. MY. GOSH. It was fluffy and buttery and squishy in the way that burger buns are supposed to be. Apparently they're baked daily for the restaurant, and man, is it worth it!

My friend Mary ordered The Classic Fried Chicken burger, which was filled with a golden, crumbed and fried chicken fillet, iceburg lettuce for crunch, tomato and an aromatic herb and garlic mayonnaise. It was like the KFC's fillet burger's older, more sophistocated sibling.

The Wagyu & Co. Burger - $16.00

My Wagyu Burger was a shining example of how wagyu burgers should be.The bun was excellent quality, and the beef was tender and full of meaty goodness. Accompanied by a sweet beetroot relish, pickled gherkin, aioli and aged chedder, I finished this thing off completely.

Parmesan & Truffle Fries - $8.00

The real reason that most people visit Charlie & Co.; parmesan and truffle fries. The chips were golden brown and every single one was perfectly crispy - something I haven't found very often. Earthy truffle oil lightly coated each morsel of potato, and grated parmesan lent some sharpness to the mix of flavours.

Sigh. Writing all of that has made me feel like this sort of food again. Definitely not somewhere to drop by if you're trying to be health-concious!

Charlie & Co.

The Sydney Room
Level 5,
Westfield Sydney
Cnr Market & Castlereagh St
Sydney
2000

Phone: (02) 8072-7777

Morena, Surry Hills - A Most Excellent Birthday Dinner

For my 22nd birthday I wanted adventure. I'm pretty sure I got it too; after a magnificent day in which I dragged Stephen all around Sydney (more on that later), I asked him to take me to Morena, a modern South American restaurant that I had heard served alpaca. I wanted to top off my day with gastronomic feats of bravery!

Well, unfortunately they didn't have alpaca on the menu that night, but there was still plenty to satisfy my adventurous leanings at this stylish little eatery in Surry Hills.

We were greeted with a beautiful display of lights in hanging glass spheres and a table setting for two, but we decided to eat in a little intimate corner further inside.

Amuse Bouche

We were treated to a complimentary amuse bouche that featured a kind of Peruvian potato soup and a sprinkling of chilli powder. It was warm and spicy, perfect considering we'd just been out in the blustery wind.

The bread rolls that were brought out to us were really something special, light and airy brioche with a crunchy crust, made extra crunchy with a light egg wash.

Andean Garden - $18.00

Stephen's Andean Garden was a thing of beauty; soft and light potato & huacatay (black mint) gnocchi frolicked amongst potatoes cooked in a variety of ways, including poached royal blue potato and wafer-thin kestrel potato crisps. All of this rested on a smooth lima bean purée and was sprinkled with quinoa, broad beans and carrots

Anticucho de Corazón - $20.00

My time for heroics had come: before me was placed a plate of calf heart. But not any old calf heart; no, this gastronomic challenge had been cooked for 24 hours, and was served with crushed kipfler potatoes, chimichuri and whole kernels of Andean corn. The heart was delicious - once I psyched myself up enough to take a bite, that is. It was absolutely the most tender meat I'd ever sampled, and was given a wonderfully zingy flavour from the chimichuri.

Arroz con Pato - $30.00

This pretty plate featured perfectly pink, roasted duck breast that was placed on  pilaf-style Peruvian rice. Bitter beer, coriander and kiss peppers gave the rice an interesting flavour.

Lomo saltado a lo Morena - $35.00

I ordered a medium 300 gram, grass-fed charcoal beef striploin that was served with a bitter jus. It was served with baked Peruvian yellow potatoes that had a floury texture. The huancaina sauce was amazing in its simplicity - creamy, cheesy, and oh-so-slightly spicy.

Hand Cut Potato Chips - $8.00

Ok, so for a South American restaurant, the chips were pretty lackluster. I did enjoy the fact that they were stacked neatly, but they weren't crispy or crunchy in the least. That said, that amazing huancaina sauce made up for most of those shortcomings.

Cheese cake de chocolate blanco y almendas - $15.00

Stephen ordered this white chocolate cheesecake, a sweet, dense version that was served with crunchy toasted almonds and a smear of tart berry puree.

Tres Leches –$15.00

I'd heard a lot about this traditional Latin American sponge cake, soaked in evaporated milk, condensed milk, and cream. It was lightly fried on all sides, preventing it from having a soggy consistency, and was served with fresh pineapple and a roasted pineapple ice cream.

Morena is a beautiful restaurant, with an elegant decor that is reflected in the menu. Highly recommended!

Morena

15/425 Bourke St

Surry Hills, Australia 2010

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0405 902896

Spice Of Life, Harris Park

Indian food was not something I was interested in as a child. I think my Mum may have killed that particular cuisine for me - she used to make this dish that consisted of el cheapo sausages, chunks of overcooked potato and carrot, and curry powder all combined as one in a stew-like creation. We didn't want to hurt her feelings, so we ate some of it while hiding pieces of sausage under our napkins (and if you're reading this Mum - sorry. Truth hurts. I think you're old enough to handle it now).

Luckily Stephen and I took the leap and tried Indian food again - our first butter chicken was a revelation! An explosion of flavour, a riot of spices; this was what we encountered with our first mouthful. After that it was only natural that we try more dishes from this exotic cuisine.

So when we had to organise a Bon Voyage dinner with my work-mates, Indian first sprang to mind. My friend James described Spice of Life as a little less traditional than most Indian restaurants, but good for beginners.

Mango Lassi - $4.00

This concoction of mango puree and yoghurt was actually my very first lassi, and, surprised by the sweet taste, I drank half of it before we got our food. Man did I regret that when the chilli caught up with me...

Papri Chaat - $10.00

We got our friends who'd grown up with Indian food to order for us, because really, apart from naan and butter chicken, we had no idea. Papri Chaat is a North Indian snack, comprised of crispy fried dough wafers, potatoes and chickpeas all covered in a combination of yoghurt, chilli, masala spices and tamarind chutney. This is then topped with crushed sev, a type of dried noodle made from chickpea flour. The dish contains a variety of interesting textures and flavours, and was an excellent start to our meal.

Paneer Tandoori - $14.00

The cottage cheese here is apparently home made, and in this dish it's seasoned with garam masala and skewered along with capsicum, onion, and tomato. The cheese comes out with a texture that is a cross between feta cheese and haloumi.


Coconut Chicken - $17.00

The coconut chicken was probably the spiciest chicken I've tried so far in my life - I honestly could not register any other flavours. I do know that the tender chicken was cooked in a gravy flavoured with curry leaves, chilli, and mustard seeds.

Butter Chicken - $17.00

Oh. My. Gosh. Think of the best butter chicken you ever had; now imagine if it was 10 times better and you've got the gist of this dish. The chicken is marinated in the tomato and yoghurt mixture until it takes on an orange hue, then is cooked in the tandoori. What comes to the table is falling apart before you even get your fork into it, and the flavour is oh-so moreish.


Goat Saag Wala - $18.00

I really only ordered the goat for the novelty, but it was actually pretty good. The goat did have big chunks of bone attached to the meat, but the meat I did get to try was a little gamey, and a bit tougher than beef or chicken. The spinach sauce it was served with was very mild, and didn't really taste like much.

Vegetable Biryani - $14.00

Our friend Ahlam ordered the Vegetable Biryani, as she can only eat halal meat. It had a nice dry consistency, the grains of rice separated, and the vegetables and rice were mildly spiced with a medly of herbs and spices including ginger, cumin, and coriander.

Masala Dosa - $12.00

The Dosa was ordered by our friend Gita - a large, crispy rice crepe stuffed with sauteed potatoes and onion, and served with sambhar (a type of lentil stew) and chutney.

Garlic Naan - $3.50 each serve

Heaven is a garlic naan; I never thought that flat bread with a bit of garlic and butter on it could be so comforting and tasty, but it is - I could definitely eat this by itself.

Cheese Naan - $4.50 each serve

The cheese naan came an extremely close second, but this plain naan stuffed with cheese just couldn't beat the garlic in my opinion.

As we went to pay for our meal, we saw bowls of sugar and fennel seeds laid out on the counter. Our friend Manan told us that you're meant to take a spoonful of each and chew to freshen your breathe. It takes some getting used to, but I love fennel so it was no hardship.

Spice Of Life

116 Wigram St
Harris Park
NSW
2150

9762 1033

http://spiceoflife.net.au/restaurant/index.htm

Three Ropes Espresso, Parramatta

If Circa Espresso and my old school canteen had made sweet, sweet love and had a baby, they would have named him Three Ropes and situated him in a tiny alley-way in Parramatta.

It doesn't look like much - the cafe is about 5 metres wide, and the side opens up in a sort of canteen situation, with cookies, cakes and biscuits in jars. People literally take a second look on the street because they can't believe there's a window in the alley that looks so inviting. The interior is decorated with mint condition (I assume) action figures, old army surplus equipment and exposed copper pipes.

They've only really been open for a couple of weeks, but already they're well known by the locals for their excellent coffee, friendly service, and decor that is some sort of eclectic industrial kitsch.

We were welcomed in by Andy, the guy who runs the place, and shown to a seat. Three Ropes doesn't have a huge selection in terms of food or beverages, but they know what they do and they do it well.

Cappuccino - $3.50

Ok, this cup right here? It contains THE finest cap I've ever had. It was smooth, it was robust, and it had the exact right amount of foam to qualify it for cappuccino-hood, which is so often lacking. I seriously cannot rave about it enough!

Flat White - $3.50

Stephen's flat white was much stronger in coffee flavour and quite bitter, but it was just what he was after.

Pork and Fennel Sausage Baguette - $8.00

We ordered two sandwiches, and mine was beautiful. The baguette was fresh and toasted, so that the crust was lovely and crisp, and it was filled with caramelised onion, wilted baby spinach, and a creamy spread that could have possible been creme fraiche. The sausage was amazing, filled with quality pork and sharp fennel.

Ham & Cheese Toasted Sandwich - $8.00

The gentleman at the table next to us was eating this sandwich, and it looked so good that Stephen ordered it too. It was big enough to function as a doorstop, buttered on each side and toasted, and filled with ham off the bone, cheese, baby spinach, and a delightful smear of some kind of sweet chutney that really just made this sandwich special.

Apricot Frangipane Tart - $3.50

The desserts were made over at Circa, and the minute Stephen heard "frangipane" he knew he had to have it. The shortcrust pastry cradled a thick frangipane paste and juicy, caramelised apricots.

Lamington - $3.50

This was the king of lamingtons - the sponge was butter-yellow and dense, covered in a thick chocolate sauce, and then served with a sprinkling of shredded coconut.

If you're in the Parramatta area, you OWE it to yourself to visit Three Ropes Espresso. The food is good and humble, the coffee is extraordinary, and the boys there make you feel like a local.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

"Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."

- Bubba, Forrest Gump (1994)

So there Stephen and I were: sore from a long flight from California to Louisiana, deaf from the pressure of landing, freezing our extremities off because it was SO much colder here than where we'd come from. Oh, not to mention STARVING - there was no food on the plane, and there are only so many peanuts you can eat before you start to feel sick.

Enter Bubba Gump Shrimp. We saw it in the cab on the way over to the hotel, and, being big fans of the movie, were interested enough to try it out. We quickly called and made a reservation, then scurried on over, practically running due to the cold.

The decor is a shrine to the legend of Forrest Gump, with memorabilia lining the walls, tables, and there's even an attached store selling shirts and souvenirs. There are signs on the table that indicate a customer's need for service - "Run Forrest, Run" means that service isn't required. Soon enough, our waitress came over, gave us the specials then took our orders.

Speckled Blueberry Lemonade - US$3.99

Stephen ordered the lemonade, which came in a huge glass, but was pretty weak in flavour. The blueberries were an interesting addition, but ultimately did nothing for the taste.


Fleur D'Lis - US$10.99 (with Hurricane Glass)

This drink was recommended to us by our waitress - it was sweet and fruity, consisting of Malibu, peach schnapps and melon liqueur. We also got to take the glass home as a souvenir!

Popcorn Shrimp - US$8.99

I loved the way that the popcorn shrimp was presented - they print their own paper with headlines from the time period of the movie. The shrimp were bouncy and tender, crunchy on the outside but juicy when bitten into. There were also crumbed and fried bell peppers, and two dipping sauces.

Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp - US$17.29

The coconut shrimp was really well executed, the shrimp battered and dipped in coconut before being deep fried, and served with fries, coleslaw and Cajun marmelade.

Mama's Southern Fried Chicken - US$15.99

I ordered the Fried Chicken, which turned out to be a BIIIIIIG mistake. Don't get me wrong, the chicken was perfectly cooked, the batter was crisp and the gravy was tasty; but the potato was gluggy and had the mouthfeel of packet potato, and the coleslaw and corn wasn't enough to cut through the amazing amount of grease that the chicken contained. Combined with the residue oil from the other dishes, I was actually feeling quite sick on the way back to the hotel.

Side House Salad - US$5.49

Apparently in the US it's odd to have a salad as a side - it's normally served as an appetiser. Luckily Bubba Gump Shrimp doesn't prescribe to that practise, because we sure as hell needed one. It was a simple house salad, nothing fancy, with our choice of dressing, which was a raspberry vinaigrette.

Key Lime Pie - US$6.25

This is also something I wish we didn't order. We've made a key lime pie before, so we naively assumed we knew what one would be like if we ordered it in a restuarant - not so. The crust was gritty and almost had the texture of sand, the lime filling was so sweet it hurt my teeth, and there was no huge layer of meringue, which was what I was looking forward to.

Clearly there are better places to eat than Bubba Gump Shrimp, but they are good for a quick fix, and most of what we tried was pretty good. Steer clear of the Key Lime Pie and you're set.

Parramatta Phoenix, Parramatta

A couple of people who read my blog have asked me about the relative proliferation of Yum Cha posts I've done. It is true, out of all the cuisines I've featured on this blog, Yum Cha does tend to crop up more than others, and I'll tell you why:

Every time I start editing the pictures for Yum Cha posts, I remember how good the food was and I start to get cravings for it again!

Steamed Prawn Dumplings

I think I'm so attracted to it compared to other types of food because I had absolutely zero exposure to it as a child. The only Chinese food we had came from a corner-store Chinese restaurant where the floors were covered with peeling lino and ten-year-old Christmas lights hung from the windows in a derelict fashion. Not only was this a depressing scene, but the food was simply terrible, all oily and soggy, and it put me off Chinese food for a very long time.

Steamed BBQ Pork Buns

Luckily, the Phoenix chain of Yum Cha restaurants are nothing like the restaurants of my childhood. They opened up a new branch last year in Parramatta called Parramatta Phoenix, which is awesome because it's not too far away from where I live and work. True to the other restaurants, the decor is airy and modern, the service quick and snappy, and the food made with fresh, quality ingredients.

Dim Sims

All our old steamed favourites were there - Prawn Dumplings, BBQ Pork Buns and Dim Sims, which were all executed perfectly and served to us hot and fresh.

Fried Noodles

Combination Dumplings

Deep Fried Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Of course, all our favourite fried dumplings made an appearance as well, including Fried Noodles in Soy, crunchy and crispy Combination Dumplings, and Vegetarian Spring Rolls that were a little soggy but still full of flavour.

Eggplant and Minced Prawn

This was something new for me, a little tower of braised eggplant and minced prawn doused in some kind of sauce, I imagine made from seafood considering its overall flavour. The contrast between the slightly mushy texture of the eggplant and the firmer, meatier texture of the prawn mince was magic.

Mango Pancakes

This was a dessert I'd never tried before. It was pretty simple - whipped cream (which I suspect may have been mock cream) and slices of fresh mango were enfolded within a light-as-air mango pancake. It wasn't very sweet in the way true to form for Chinese desserts, which made it all about the mango.

Sweet Tofu Soup

This was also new to me, but I wasn't a fan. I found it to be flavourless, and whilst the tofu was deliriously soft and silky, I definitely prefer it in a savoury dish.

Mango Pudding

The reliable mango pudding was served at the end, with delicious pieces of mango dotting the pudding and condensed milk in a thin layer over the top.  Of course, this was demolished.

Parramatta Phoenix

Westfield Parramatta
Level 4, Shop 4070
159 - 175 Church St
Parramatta NSW 2150.

Ph: (02) 9891 3338

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/

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/

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