Rhodes Phoenix

Another birthday, another excuse to eat. This time is to the newest member of the Phoenix family, located at Rhodes Shopping Centre.

Food

They are not very adventurous here. They seem to have a small range of the usual suspects, with some favourites not even appearing like the daikon cakes, fried rice sheets. I was sad that there was such a limited offering in steamed dumplings! There is none of the unusual offerings you get at some other yum cha places, (to those who cares - no mango pancakes on the dessert trolley!), but at least the basics are done well. The pastries of the dumplings are a bit thick, but the filling is great. Everything tasted fresh and are warm to hot. The test of the kitchen egg tarts are pretty nice. Not the best I've had, but with acceptable pastry and a not too sweet and not too hard filling.

Rating - 6

Atmosphere

Well, Phoenix departs from the stereotypical yum-cha places in that they pay attention to decor. This one has a black and red colour scheme going. There is a huge space with black walls, white table-clothed tables and black primary school classroom style chairs. Our private room also featured black walls, with a vibrant red painting and flower arrangements. The acoustics in that place is quite bad so you get all the noise of any other yum cha place. The point of difference though - space. We had a party of 15, and was spread out in two tables. You can eat there without jamming your elbow into someone else or poking their eyes out with your chopsticks.

Rating - 2

Service

The best thing about eating here is that you can actually book a table before 12pm. We had a booking and walked straight pass the crowd that was waiting anxiously for a table. The waiters are like other yum cha places. Harried and you can never get their attention. They were slow in refilling our water and didn't remove the empty steamers or plates from our table for ages. Their English skills? Who knows as I didn't speak to them in English!

The trolley ladies are actually pretty nice, they try to get you what you want and are helpful!

Rating - 3.5

C-factor

$22 a head is probably more expensive than the Asian places. You have to pay for the decor afterall. But as they say, getting everyone together to celebrate my b'day? Priceless!

Rating - 1

Brownie Points - 12.5

Info

Level 5, Rhodes Shopping Centre
1 Rider Boulevard
Rhodes
NSW 2138
Phone (02) 9739 6628
Website

Verandah Bar

This was the place for my farewell lunch. I'd been here once before, when the place was packed, and this time was no different.

Food

The bar is dominated by a huge BBQ, with the chefs cooking a number of wares on it. I'd tried the Piri Piri Chicken Burger with chilli, Saffron Mayo, Fries ($14) before and was quite impressed, so this time I thought I would test their kitchen skills. Big mistake. My Beer battered fish & chips with Tartare sauce($14) was only warm, the batter was a bit limpy, probably from sitting there for so long. The fish itself was ok, I didn't expect that much from a pub meal, but I DID expect them to serve their meals hot... The shoestring chips were also quite limp, and I prefer fat chips to these anyway. The rocket salad wasn't that fresh, the dressing was substandard. The tartare sauce was quite acceptable, but because the food was bad, I was using it to cover my food in...

Rating - 4.5

Atmosphere

It's a happening bar, and today was no different. We got a table out on the "verandah" today so it was quite nice. What I don't like is the way they squish everyone into one confined space. We were so close to the next party we could here all their conversation.

The look of the place is stainless steel high table with bar stools. There are also some highly prized booths with comfy red cushioning that you have to be very early to nab. There are TVs showing sports. There' not much light at all. I think it's a blokey sort of place, but there seems to be lots of females there, so what do I know?

Rating - 1.5

Service

It's a bar, so you order your meal at the counter, they give you a buzzer, and when it goes off, you get up to get your food, your sauce and your cutlery. Same thing with drinks. The bar staff come around to clear your plates and that's about it.

At least they don't shy away from their own mistakes. A few of the guy's chicken schnitzel(s) ($12) weren't cooked through, and each time it happened, (4 in total!), they were good-natured enough to replace the meal with an apology. At least they make up for their lack of cooking skills with their hospitality!

Rating - 3.5

C-factor

Price is just about on par with other pubs. The food could be just a little better though!

Rating - 0.5

Brownie Points - 10

Info

60 Castlereagh Street Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9238 0888
Website

Manta

Manta was the setting for my 3rd Sydney Festival Fast Festival Feasts (FFF). I was looking forward to it as it had got some rave reviews, and because at one time, Steve Manfredi was at the helm.

Food

Their specialty is seafood, and for the festival, the menu was Tagliatelle with braised cuttlefish, pine nuts, currants and gremolata. The food did live up to my expectations. The pasta was fresh and had real bite. The cuttlefish was cooked expertly, so it was very tender. The slightly oily sauce matched the pasta and the cuttlefish perfectly, with the pine nuts adding crunch, the currants adding sweetness, and the gremolata adding colour. Too bad we didn't get our wines until we were halfway through our meal to enjoy.

Rating - 7.5

Atmosphere

You know what they say. Woolloomooloo wharf is where the rich folks live. On a glorious Sydney evening, we watched people walking home from work, exercising around the wharf, and some people starting to dine. The whole strip was quite empty at this early hour though, I suspect it will get full later.

Manta itself is like all the other restaurants on the wharf, with the blue and white walls, a huge outdoor seating area, with awnings to block the harsh sunlight. We were seated outside, but unfortunately, it just got too hot and sunny. Because we weren't really enjoying ourselves, we didn't stay long, but I can see how you can lounge here and watch the day go by.

And finally, a bit about the restaurant decor itself. Whites and neutrals, the feeling is sunny and relaxed, suits the setting but nothing unusual about it.

Rating - 1.5

Service

We arrived just after 6pm to an almost empty restaurant, and was greeted by an immaculately dressed Maitre 'd. Upon informing him that we were there for the FFF, we were seated and asked if we'd like any drinks. We said we'll like some time, then they left us alone. We had decided on the drinks order, but they never came back, just kept chatting to themselves. If the restaurants says it opens at 6pm, I expect them to be ready to serve customers at 6pm, not still polishing glasses, lighting candles and setting tables while we were there. The waiters were very rude too. They never informed us if we'd actually ordered, and a waiter actually gave us food menus when we asked to order drinks. They asked for our choice of wine but after I ordered the red, they informed me that there was only white, so what was the point of asking at all? Needless to say, they didn't give us water and we had to ask for it, and they never bothered refilling our long empty glasses either. I wonder again, is this the normal service, or was it the service for FFF patrons?

Rating - 1

C-factor

Well, for $25, we got a great meal, an ok glass of wine, no bread or sides, and rude and incompetent waiters. They also charged our bill incorrectly. We were charged for the coke which substituted for the wine - it would've set me back $4 if I didn't step in to correct them. I think I would say the price is pretty good if only the waiters weren't so up themselves.

Rating - 0.5

Brownie Points - 10.5

Info

The Wharf Woolloomooloo
6 Cowper Wharf Road
Woolloomooloo
NSW 2011
Phone (02) 9332 3822
Website

Byron Bay Cookie Company Savoury Biscuits

Taste

I think I have mentioned here enough time by now for everyone to realise that yes I LOVE the Byron Bay Cookies. The Fennel Seed Parmesan Crackers is the first savory offering I've tried and I am addicted! The flavour is very complex. You get the strong hit of fennel, which leaves a pleasant aftertaste. The Parmesan then sends a salty sweet hand, the lovely smell wafting up. Finally the biscuit was thick enough for it to be crunchy but not crumbly.

I also got my hands on the Coriander & Jalapeno Pepper polenta cripss, which just blew my mind. Such wonderful flavour, and of course that hit from the jalapenos...I think I'm addicted.

Rating - 8

Look

Beautiful, each one baked to a dark brown, covered in fennel sweet with little golden yellow Parmesan blobs or brown coriander. They come in several different packaging so you can easily give them as gifts, but I kept to the basic, since this was all for me!

Rating - 2

C-factor

170g for $15.50 is pretty expensive, but like I've said many times before, I will pay for quality. Just try to get them when they're on special!

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 11

Ingredients

Fennel Seed Parmesan Crackers

organic white spelt flour, Parmesan style cheese (28%), Parmesan cheese, parmigiano reggiano (14%), canola oil, organic sea salt, fennel seeds (1%)

Coriander & Jalapeno Pepper polenta cripss

organic white spelt flour, polenta (25%), sugar, jalapeno peppers (12%), canola oil, egg yolk, organic sea salt, coriander seeds (0.8%)

Available At

David Jones Foodhall
Website

Puddings on the Ritz Vanilla Crescents

Taste

These almond vanilla shortbread from Puddings on the Ritz are as exquisite as the Speculaas cookies I tried earlier. It's subtly sweet, very fragrant and light. The light dusking of icing sugar only adds to its appeal.

Rating - 7.5

Look

I love the beautiful packaging, in a cute little box that can be resealed. The crescents are small and cute, and with that white icing sugar, look as heavenly as they taste.

Rating - 2.5

C-factor

120g for $9.50, quite expensive, but I can tell that good quality ingredients have been used.

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 11

Ingredients

plain wheat flour, unsalted butter, almond meal (40%), icing sugar, egg yolk, vanilla sugar, pure vanilla essence, fresh lemon rind.

Available At

David Jones Foodhall
Website

Max Brenner Block Equador

Taste

I am a bit surprised about this single origin block. I've had Max Brenner chocolates many times before, and even visited the shop! And they've always striked me as better than average, but not spectacular. However, this chocolate, containing 70% cocoa is very complex. When they talk about aromas in chocolate, I can actually taste it here. Don't get me wrong though, this is not one of those yuppy chocolate where it is all talk and no substance, the chocolate is pleasant all on its own, and even better when used to make some delectable chocolate truffles.

Rating - 7.5

Look

Max Brenner packagings are always interesting and this one didn't disappoint. It comes in a clear plastic container with a slide reseal. It's what it says on the packaging, a block. You can use it to grate small amounts, cut it up for cooking, or just eat it.

Rating - 2

C-factor

400g for... Expensive but worth it.

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 10.5

Ingredients

cocoa mass, cocoa butter, sugar, natural vanilla, emulsifier, cocoa solid 70% minimum

Available At

David Jones
Lower Ground Floor, Elizabeth Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9266 5308

Coffee Philosophy by Mocopan

Taste

I have walked past here a lot of times, and their coffee looks great. Unfortunately I only had $10 with me and because their food is so expensive and they don't accept credit card for <$20, I can't order a coffee. So... I can only report on their food.

At 12:30pm, the only sandwich choice left is the roast beef ($8.50), so I didn't have a choice really but to order that. The sandwich was toasted and paired with a side salad, but it was only kinda warm... The roast beef didn't seem fresh and the cheese wasn't even melted. The relish was quite nice but the Turkish bread was a bit hard and dry. The lettuce was limp...I am beginning to think that this is a leftover sandwich...Luckily the salad was fresh, with juicy tomatoes and FRESH lettuce.

I can't blame them really as their focus is coffee, and I'm sure I won't be back for the food. Here's hoping their coffee is worth it.

Rating - 4.5

Look

Located on the ground level of the Strand Arcade, with dark wood paneling and a huge coffee machine. Their coffee offerings look really good... their food display is lackluster. All the other coffee shops in the strand were packed with lunch crowds, except for this place, which still had a few seats of their like 10 seat shop left. The seats are also not built for lunch. You have to perch on stools, and the benches are very narrow, with no room to put your plates. There are inbuilt holes for sugar that you can't move out of the way either. I felt like I was an intruder and not meant to be there!

Rating - 1

C-factor

Ok, since they ARE in the Strand Arcade, they must be paying a bucket load for rent, but for a $8.50 sandwich, I expect a lot more. I mean, they don't even have table service! Plus, I was meeting my least favourite person in the world for a business transaction, so that's just sour on sour!

Rating - 0

Swiss Points - 5.5

Available At

Shop 27, Strand Arcade
125 Pitt St Mall
Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9231 3002
Website

Connoisseur Classic Vanilla Yoghurt

Taste

I didn't have a good experience lst time with Connoisseur's Peachy Mango Perfection, but this yoghurt surprised me. It was creamy, thick and not too sweet, perfect for pouring over fresh honeydew...

Rating - 7

Look

It comes in the sexy black tub that is easily resealable. The yoghurt is more yellow than normal but tastes great.

Rating - 2

C-factor

500g for $3.99. Not bad at all.

Rating - 1.5

Swiss Points - 10.5

Ingredients

milk, cream, milk solids non fat, sugar, thickener, flavour, halal gelatine,
emulsifier, colours, cultures

Available At

Supermarkets everywhere

Farmers Union Natural European Style Yoghurt

Taste

I have to say this is not the best yoghurt I've had. It's got a tang to it, but it's not that creamy. Pretty ordinary performer.

Rating - 5

Look

Not very interesting at all, in a white tub with foil to seal the top. Once you open it you can't reseal it.

Rating - 0.5

C-factor

200g for around $2, so very expensive for its class.

Rating - 0.5

Swiss Points - 6

Ingredients

skim milk, milk solids non fat, cream, live culture

Available At

Harris Farm Markets
Website

Vegetali Poached Turkish Figs in Honey & Hazelnut Syrup

Taste

The new range of "food from your fridge" products from Vegetali sound very appealing. This was quite nice, the figs were thick and juicy, except it's a little too sweet for me. I like my figs straight up, so I wasn't a big fan.

Rating - 5

Look

It comes in a handy plastic container that you can get "straight out of the fridge!", and it's easy to seal. The figs look wonderful and plum in their syrup.

Rating - 2

C-factor

220g for $7.99, very exy indeed!

Rating - 0

Swiss Points - 7

Ingredients

figs, water, sugar, hazelnut syrup (sugar, water, natural plant extract), concentrated lemon juice, caramel preservative, honey cinnamon

Available At

Harris Farm Markets
Website

Summit Restaurant

I chose The Summit as my 2nd Sydney Festival Fast Festival Feasts, mainly because it's the closest place in between my new work building. Plus, I'd been here in late 2005 and while it wasn't the best food I've had, it was pretty good, so was looking forward to another great experience like at Glass Brasserie earlier. Well, the Summit definitely didn't measure up.

Food

We were offered drinks and our wines were delivered. They offered a choice of a red or white Preece, no idea what grape as they didn't specify, or a Crown Lager. I went for the white this time since we were having fish. I thought the white was pretty unspectacular, but not bad in any way, just not very memorable.

We ordered a serve of the Sonoma 5 hour sourdough loaf, three antipasto dips - warm ligurian and kalamata olives with roasted chilli artichoke paste, hand rolled sea salt grissini ($8). The Sonoma delivered but as regular readers will know, is not my favourite bread. I tried the dips, which were swimming in oil. They were passable but nothing to write home about. I know how expensive Sonomas are so at least this was not a rip off.

The mains were Paella spiced ocean trout with caramelised tomato tart and candied garlic eggplant ($25). The waiter came around with the dreaded pepper mill which I politely declined. The ocean trout was very salty, and slightly overcooked. However, I really liked the tomato tart. The tomato had been shrunk so that it was very sweet. The "candied" eggplant on the other hand, wasn't that sweet. Overall, the food was...average for the setting.

Rating - 6.5

Atmosphere

For those not in the know, this is a revolving restaurant, set on the 47th floor of Australia Square. In our 1.5 hrs there, we were through nearly one rotation. We saw the harbour bridge, opera house and all other famous landmarks around the harbour. It was a glorious day, and we could see very far.

The decor fitted the setting, very high class, a bit bland, but nothing to offend, and nothing too out there. They do bill themselves as a tourist attraction so I guess they have to be conservative.

Rating - 2.5

Service

For a restaurant that was almost empty, I found the service a bit slow. They asked for drinks order, but didn't take our food order for about 20 minutes after that. However, once we ordered, the meal arrived in good time. It was ok because we were chatting, but if we wanted to get out of there quickly it wouldn't be a good choice.

The waiter was doing a bit of hard selling, pushing first the mineral water, then the bread, then vegetables and dessert on us. I didn't like that. The waiter wasn't so polite and while efficient, was worst than I expect for the prices they charge at this place.

Rating - 3

C-factor

Any place that charge $9.80 for a bottle of water is a rip-off, no matter how beautiful the setting. They forgot to charge our bread so at least that compensated for it. In terms of the "C", I guess it has date potential, definitely a good show-off place. But since I'm a foodie, I won't be returning.

Rating - 0.5

Brownie Points - 12.5

Info

Level 47, Australia Square
264 George Street,
Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9247 9777
Website

Katjes Fred Ferkel

Taste

I'd tried the Katjes Summer Fruit Frenzy Fruit Jellies before, and these are just as good, if not better. They are 99% fat free, in the shape of a bear face. The fruit gum ears are different flavours, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, although I really couldn't tell the difference, and the face is a soft fruity foam in grape. Katjes is still one of the best gummies I've tasted.

Rating - 8.5

Look

The bears are cute, the packaging is fun. This is great for kids and adults alike!

Rating - 2.5

C-factor

I got this 180g bag in a sample bag, so not sure how much they are. But hey, that means they were free for me!

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 12

Ingredients

glucose syrup, sugar, gelatine, fruit juice (3%) from fruit juice concetrates (orange, apple), acid:citric acid, gelling agentL pectin, fruit extracts (grape, elderberry ,currant), flavourings , glazing agentL beeswax white.

Available At

Supermarkets everywhere

Kasugai Gummy Candy

Taste

Kasugai gummies are popular in Asia, and for good reason. They are soft and juicy, have appealing flavour, and actually taste like the fruit!

I have tried a few flavours, including peach, mango, apple and grape, but this time I had the privilege to try the Kiwi. The label says "Kiwi gummy, super juicy", and they are absolutely right. It's like eating a sweet kiwifruit in each bite!

Rating - 7.5

Look

They come individually wrapped, I wouldn't expect anything less. Plus, each lolly is clear green but specked with little black spots, and they look very cute.

Rating - 3

C-factor

135g in a pack for around $5.

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 11.5

Ingredients

sugar, corn syrup, kiwifruit puree, gelatin, oblate powder, d-sorbitol, acidulant, pectin, artificial kiwifruit flavour, palm oil, emulsifier, artifical colouring

Available At

Asian groceries

Kit Kat Chunky Honeycomb

Taste

Much better than I expected as I am not really a fan of honeycomb. This wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be, and the combination and quantity of chocolate to honeycomb was just right, and the signature crunchy wafer is as good as always.

Rating - 7.5

Look

Being "chunky" means that instead of the usual 2 bar or 4 bar which you tear apart, this one is a real chocolate bar and not made for sharing. All the better I say! The packaging departs from the signature red and white, but incorporates yellow and gold, to represent the honeycomb I guess.

Rating - 1.5

C-factor

60g for 78 cents, not bad at all. I think this bar is discontinued, so grab it while you can.

Rating - 1.5

Swiss Points - 10.5

Ingredients

sugar, milk solids, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, vegetable fats, wheat flour, glucose syrup,emulsifier, coca, raising agent, gelatine, flavours, yeast, salt

Available At

Supermarkets everywhere

Lindt Excellence Natural Mint

Taste

I am not really a fan of mint chocolate usually, unless it's the very good kind, but in my quest to try all the Lindt Excellence range, I had to try these. I have to admit, these are actually a bit worst than normal mint chocolates I have. Overall, the bar was too sweet, the mint taste was not overpowering but didn't add anything to the chocolate at all. I still like mint shouldn't be in chocolates except for in after dinner mints. Not a fan at all.

Rating - 5

Look

The packaging is not very appealing, haha, they drew a mint leave, but I still like that cardboard box!

Rating - 1.5

C-factor

100g for $2.99. I wouldn't buy this.

Rating - 0

Swiss Points - 6.5

Ingredients

cocoa solid 30% min, milk solids 20% min, sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, coca mass, butter fat, lactose, skimmed milk powder, malt extract powder, emulsifier, soya lecthin, flavouring, vanillin, peppermint oil

Available At

Supermarkets everywhere

Superior Gold Smoked Salmon

Taste

These are much better than your average supermarket salmon, but of course nothing compared to the fresh cured stuff. The salmon had real salmon taste. My only complain is that it's a bit more salty than I would like.

Rating - 6.5

Look

Very glossy red in sexy black and gold packaging. These are layered on a cardboard box for easy removal.

Rating - 2

C-factor

350g for $11.99. Not bad for this quality.

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 9.5

Ingredients

oncornynchus mykiss, salt, natural wood smoke

Available At

Harris Farm Markets
Website

Glass Brasserie

Ever since Luke Mangan closed down Salt, Bistro Lulu and Moorish, I've been wanting to try out Luke's new digs, to see if the savage critics had been right in their criticisms. So when the Fast Festival Feasts, part of the Sydney Festival offerings came up, I jumped at the chance.

Food

We were off to see Telophaza at 8pm, so were after a quick dinner. The item on offer was the Confit duck leg served with cauliflower puree, pickled papaya and cucumber salad with star anise, paired with a merlot. We didn't have to worry about rushing as everything went smoothly and were timed perfectly. Our Preece merlots were delivered (which was very good so I was able to finish 2 glasses), then some warm baguettes from their open for all to see oven. The baguettes didn't quite have the crunchy crust I like, but the inside was soft, and paired with the excellent butter, quite acceptable.

We were still polishing off the bread when our mains arrived. I was happy to see that these cut-price meals are a decent size. The duck leg was a nice golden brown. The meat was tender and fell off the bone. The cauliflower puree was mixed with a heavy, slightly sweet reduction and was heavenly. The salad was different, the texture was excellent and quite refreshing with the duck. The meal was way above my expectations. I cannot fault this at all.

Rating - 8.5

Atmosphere

Well, the rumours when this place opened was that a LOT, and I mean a LOT of money has gone into the decor, and this place certainly looks impressive. It looks very different to normal restaurants. The colour scheme is still warm chocolate and neutrals, but impressive chandeliers, lots of "glass" creating interesting light effects, as well as some funky round booths and banquettes, make it a very inviting place.

Because we had to dine between 6-7, the clientele were older people or hotel guests. I didn't see many people enjoying the Special menu at all. When we left just after 7pm, the room had not filled up. I wonder if they get that busy normally, or was it because it was a Monday?

Rating - 2.5

Service

I couldn't fault the service except for one part. One waiter came to ask us how the meals were, before we'd even had a chance to take a bite!

Otherwise they were unobtrusive and very attentive. They cloaked our bags for us and returned them when we left, without us having to do a thing. Hey, even Luke said hello when we came in. He also stopped for a long chat at a table close to us, obviously regulars.

Rating - 4.5

C-factor

We walked out of there for $50 for 2, no hidden charges, it's just about the best value meal I've had!

Rating - 2

Brownie Points - 17.5

Info

Level 2,
488 George Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9265 6068
Website

Yea Creme Fraiche & Clotted Cream

Taste

These are the best cream I've ever tasted, even better than the King Island stuff. Rich and smooth and tasting like REAL CREAM!! Creme Fraiche is like sour cream but with more fat, while Clotted cream is like doulbe cream, but with more fat! They are excellent in cooking or in eat with scones.

Rating - 7.5

Look

These tubs make them easier to get out than the jars you get from the supermarket. I made sure I licked the containers clean.

Rating - 1.5

C-factor

500ml for $4.99, very exy compared to normal cream. Is it worth it? Only for very special occasion, and only if you're not watching your weight.

Rating - 0.5

Swiss Points - 9.5

Ingredients

cream, culture

Available At

Harris Farm Markets
Website

King Island Black Label Brie

Taste

This is the top label Brie from King Island Dairy, and yes I can taste the difference! This is actually a lot creamier and doesn't have that waxy taste of the double brie. It actually reminds me of the Triple Cream Cheese.

It has won the following awards:Grand Champion 2006 Australian Grand Dairy Awards & 2006 Australian Specialist Cheesemakers' Association Show, Champion Cheese award 2005 Australian Specialist Cheesemakers' Association Show.

Rating - 8

Look

The cheese looks like the Triple Cream, but the packaging, in black foil with gold lettering, indicates it's in a special class.

Rating - 2.5

C-factor

At $36.99/kg it's $ more expensive than the Double Brie, and $4 more expensive than the Triple Cream. I would stick to the Triple Cream.

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 11.5

Ingredients

pasteurised milk, salt, enzyme (rennet), cultures

Available At

Harris Farm Markets
Website

King Island Seal Bay Triple Cream Cheese

Taste

I can say it's my favourite cheese from King Island Dairy, and one of my favourite of all cheeses. I love creamy cheese with a bit of bite that is not too overpowering. This one is virtually oozing in its creaminess. It's perfectly balanced in saltiness too.

Rating - 8.5

Look

A soft white mold surrounds a very creamy yellow melting centre. It looks very inviting.

Rating - 2

C-factor

$32.99/kg, I would buy this anytime.

Rating - 1.5

Swiss Points - 12

Ingredients

pasteurised milk, salt, enzyme, cultures

Available At

Harris Farm Markets
Website

Boost Juice 3

Taste

The Energy Lift is one of the best boost smoothie I have tasted from Boost. Prehaps it's the small ratio of bananas or maybe it's because these fruits are in season right now. This was a great balance of different flavours, and not at all watery or milky.

Rating - 7.5

Look

The same as always.

Rating - 1.5

C-factor

R.R.P. is $5.95 as it's a premium smoothie, but I got a voucher to get it for $3.

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 10

Ingredients

mango, banana, tropical juice, TD5 mango yoghurt, sorbet & ice + an energiser BOOST

Available At

Boost Juice Bar
Website

Confiland Assorted Swiss Chocolate

Taste

Someone bought these goodies, landscapes
napolitains from Confiland back from Switzerland. They were labelled "CH-2830 Correndlin". I tried 4 flavours:

• hazelnut - not much hazelnut taste, kinda just like the normal milk chocolate really.
• milk - a bit fake, too much vanilla perhaps? Not as melt in the mouth and smooth as I thought.
• dark - suitably bitter notes with a smooth chocolate.
• coffee - has a very strong and bitter coffee taste. The milk chocolate coating is quite smooth but quite sweet.

Rating -6

Look

Individually wrapped boxes with pictures of scenery from Switzerland. Cute and chic, better than the average souvenir, but only 'cos you can eat it.

Rating - 2

C-factor

I don't know how much this costs, but hey, it was free for me!

Rating - 1.5

Swiss Points - 9.5

Available At

Switzerland

Ta Fong Noodle House 2

Food

It has been awhile, but this time we tried the Vietnamese rice sheet with pork cake ($7.50). The rice sheets were not as silky or smooth as the Chinese ones, but were more like thick noodles. The pork cake was a bit like spam (not that I've had that for years but you get the drift). If you drown it in the sweet chilli sauce though, it all tastes good, especially on a humid day. The vermicelli in the Spring rolls with rice vermicelli ($7.50) were served cold, you combine a bit of that with some of the vegetables and a piping hot and crunchy spring roll, drown in more sweet chilli sauce, and eat. The spring rolls here are always reliable, crunchy and fresh with just the right texture contrast. And of course we had to have the Rare beef noodle soup ($7.00), which were as good as always.

Rating - 7.5

Atmosphere

Funny, but the place wasn't that full and everyone was really quiet and polite, is this the same Flemington I know?

Rating - 1.5

Service

The boss was out and about today, wishing everyone a Happy New Year and giving toys to kids. The mood was happy and the service was speedy and great as usual.

Rating - 3.5

C-factor

Not as cheap as some these days, but if you don't want to cook, it's great.

Rating - 1

Brownie Points - 13.5

Info

12B Henley Rd,
Homebush West
NSW 2140
Phone (02) 9746 5486

Dolce Ristorante

I'd been quite taken by this newish food destination near work, so I was looking forward to this farewell lunch.

Food

We started off with some Bruschetta ($8.90) - Served on wood fired sourdough bread, which had fresh summary tomatoes and a good olive oil, even though the bread was a bit hard and obviously not the freshest. The orange, carrot and ginger juice ($4.50) was great, but it was made at the trusty juice bar next door, not at the restaurant.

The menu is Italian, with several appealing sounding things I wanted to try. I decided on the Ravioli di astice, pesce bianco e rucola con salsa bisque ($24.90) - Ravioli of lobster, blue eyed cod and rocket with bisque sauce - about 5 big raviolo, with a firm lobster meet filling. I couldn't really taste any lobster so I wonder how much of this was in the ravioli. The bisque was heavenly but unfortunately I couldn't scoop it up as I wasn't provided with a spoon (see Service for my rant on that matter).

The food took a long time to arrive...was it worth waiting for? Not quite. They do quite appealing food, but not that appealing!

Rating - 6.5

Atmosphere

As mentioned, I really like the location of this place. They sat us on a long table, away from the crowd, so it definitely felt like we had the place to ourselves. It was also easier for the staff to ignore us this way...

Rating - 2

Service

Weird comes to mind when I try to describe this. All the staff were friendly and "cool", with immaculate hair and attitude to spare. They came repeatedly to ask us for drink orders, but they had to be asked numerous times to fill our water. I asked the waiter to bring a juice for me with ginger, and he did exceedingly well.

Our bruschetta was ordered to share, but they didn't bring any individual plates for us, so we all made a mess eating on our hands. The same thing happened with my pasta, they didn't give me a spoon and I couldn't get anyone's attention so I couldn't spoon up the bisque in my pasta, and I splashed sauce everywhere. Plus, it's the standard to serve pasta with a spoon and fork, and not a knife!

We waited for over an hour for our food, and when we complained, we only got a non-sincere apology and reassurance that it won't be long. This was unacceptable as we had PRE-ORDERED everything. I think it defects the purpose really if you pre-order and everything still takes forever. There weren't that many of us, about 15 in total, so it's a very reasonable size to handle.

Rating - 1

C-factor

The prices are comparable to Bond Cafe across the road, and I think the food is actually better, but their appalling service is nothing compared to Bond. The food is priced on the expensive size for the portions that you get, so it's more of a special occasions place.

Rating - 0.5

Brownie Points - 10

Info

Shop 4,
126 Phillip St
Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9232 3487
Website

Dolce Espresso Bar

Taste

I tried the summer juice ($4) - It was quite lovely. It was actually "summary", fresh and not too sweet, but very refreshing. The next occasion I didn't go as healthy, taking up a cappuccino ($3). They use Segafredo beans, which I usually find is more bitter. Their coffee is bitter, but not as much as other Segafredo places like BeanBah or Patissseria Papa.

Rating - 7

Look

This is situated in the newly opened Deutsche Bank Place foyer. The area is enclosed by glass on 2 sides, with a row of shops lining the other, and the last side opened to the elements. There are several fountains and these shimmering squares hanging from the ceilings. The atmosphere is surprisingly peaceful and quiet. The cafe has that slick modern look too. They also do coffee art if you are interested in that.

Rating - 2.5

C-factor

It's actually cheaper than some of the other places around. I think because it's hidden in the foyer of an office block it's not really discovered yet.

Rating - 1.5

Swiss Points - 11

Available At

Shop 2-3,
126 Phillip St
Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9232 3487
Website

The Aft Cafe

After our walk around Lake Tuggeranong, we stopped off at the Aft Cafe, right on the water besides the lake, for a leisurely long weekend lunch.

Food

The Aft Cafe is one of those relaxing places, right by the water, and the menu reflects its setting. On Sunday, breakfast is served until 2pm, so that's how I found myself eating Potato Cake - with grilled tomato, braised leek, mushrooms, bacon & poached eggs ($14.90). The name is quite misleading as the potato cake definitely didn't play a central role in this dish. It's probably better named as breakfast assortment. The potato cakes, slightly bland, set in the middle of the plate. It was topped by 2 poached eggs. The yolks of them were overcooked so no runny yokes :(. The rest of the ingredients were divided into the 4 corners. The tomato was sweet and nicely grilled, the leeks were swimming in butter and soft and melting, the mushrooms met the same fate. However, all that oiliness meant the potato cakes became very soggy. Bacon is not normally one of my favourite things as it is often too salty and fatty, and the pork flavour is masked. These bacon, unfortunately, were very salty.

Slokky ordered the spiced chicken wrap - with with tomato, salad greens & mayonnaise, served with chips ($12.90). The chicken certainly wasn't very spicy at all, but the marinade had a pleasant sweet taste. Cucumber, lettuce and tomato made up the salad greens, and went very well with the lightly toasted tortilla wrap.

The consensus around the rest of the table was that the food was good but not great, the portions just right, but the lettuce leaves need to be washed.

Rating - 6

Atmosphere

This cafe is situated inside the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, a modern looking building befitting an art gallery/theatre. It is right by the water, with a wide wrap-around balcony. Inside is very bright, with floor to ceiling windows looking onto the lake outside.

The deco is casual cafe, with white tables and chairs. On the day we were there, there were locals on the balcony enjoying a late brekkie and reading the paper, but also groups celebrating special occasions. I can see myself spending a leisurely weekend here.

Rating - 2

Service

Maybe because it's the holidays, or she'd had a very bad year, but the girl who greeted us acted like she really didn't want to be here. We arrived at 12pm to an almost empty cafe, and she asked us if we had a booking. When we told her no, she acted like it was a huge inconvenience. The whole time we were there, only 3 other table came in, and the restaurant wasn't even half full, so I don't know what she was worrying about. She plonked down the menus, and asked if we wanted anything to drink. When I asked for water she seemed very displeased.

Luckily she didn't reflect the attitude of all the other staff. The waiter who delivered our food and greeted other people was friendly and courteous.

Rating - 2

C-factor

Well, this is Canberra, and we know that everything is more expensive here. For the price we paid, we could get a lot better in Sydney, possibly most other places in Australia, but in Canberra, it was a fair price I guess. I am glad I live in Sydney so I can eat out a lot.

Rating - 0

Brownie Points - 10

Info

137 Reed Street
Greenway
ACT 2900
Phone (02) 6293 9366
Website

The Barn Cafe

Since my last Rozelle outing, watching loads of people enjoying themselves here, I'd wanted to give this place a try. So when my old friend from overseas came to visit, I wanted to show her the real Sydney, with a day tour of the best food places in Sydney!

Food

We arrived when the lunch crowd was in full swing. The menu was oh so more-ish, but I finally settled on the Char Grilled Sirloin Sandwich - grain fed sirloin steak, chilli jam, beetroot relish, cos lettuce and tomato and basil salsa on grilled ciabatta ($17.50) and the Atlantic Salmon - dukkah crusted salmon on a spiced sweet potato, rocket, asparagus and char grilled orange and lemon ($22.50).

The food took awhile to arrive - no wonder with the huge crowd - but it was definitely worth the wait. The salmon was cooked to medium, fresh and melt in the mouth, with a nicely crisped skin. The dish was presented with a half orange and lemon. The sweet potato has been lightly fried and was very crunchy. The asparagus was obviously very fresh.

The steak sandwich was served on good bread, which always score points in my book. The steak was juicy and tender, well rested, paired with an awesome chilli jam. I couldn't put it all in my mouth at once, but apart from that, it was a classic simple dish made very well.

Rating - 8.5

Atmosphere

This place is like one huge barnyard. Chunky wooden tables set with chunky cutlery nestle among piles of hay and scarecrows. There are family groups celebrating birthdays and some early Christmas gift exchange, as well as local couples, friends and family. There is also an outside area which would be very pleasant on a sunny day. Even with the huge space, they are still struggling for tables. Luckily the space is wide and open, with a very high ceiling, so it can accommodate the number of people without feeling cramped.

There are some special touches. The bathroom for one, has a wok as the wash basin, very cool.

Rating - 2.5

Service

The staff are efficient with bringing water and menu, but otherwise I didn't see much of them. You go to the counter to pay your bill, it's that sort of place.

Rating - 3

C-factor

We used the e-book and got 25% off ,so our bill came to $46.88 for 3. I also saw a guy from work, dining with his mates. After our meal, we browsed their extensive organic section. Next time I want to try their desserts and coffee. They also do catering. I will be back.

Rating - 1.5

Brownie Points - 15.5

Info

731-735 Darling Street
Rozelle
NSW 2039
Phone (02) 9810 1633
Website

Cafe SaSa

Being one of dozens of restaurants/cafes/bar along Stanley Street, you have to be pretty good at your game to survive. The good thing is you can walk into almost any restaurant and know you will have a good time.

Food

We got a couple of entrees to share. The Brie mango salad ($14) - Brie, snowpeas shoot, cherry tomatoes, pinenuts w/cider dressing was wonderfully tangy, sweet and sour. The mango and brie combining extremely well. The Chicken mango salad ($14) delivered almost the same thrill, except with chicken replacing the brie. We also got a couple of seafood platters to share. They included: Crumbed Italian fish cake served with aioli,Grilled baby octopus salad,king prawns,seafood soup,calamari rings... amongst others. The standout was the seafood soup, with an intensity of flavour and hint of sweetness.

The portions were huge and we found ourselves struggling to finish everything, especially when we also had some deliciously garlicky bread to go with it.

The mains were even bigger,my NZ Snapper fillet with roast baby eggplant, sweet potato, black mussels and dill hollandaise ($28.50) was beautiful. The fish cooked just right. The eggplant was roasted to perfection and the accompanying sauces can stand on its own. Slokky ordered the Yearling scotch fillet with creamed leek dutch carrots, balsamic roasted tomatoes and garlic pepper sauce
($27.00), which was one of the best-cooked steak of 2006. The meat was juicy and soft, the leek was creamy all right. The tomatoes were very sweet.

All in all, one of the best meals I've had in 2006. It's just too bad I'd stuffed myself earlier in the day so I couldn't do this justice!

Rating - 8

Atmosphere

Cafe Sasa is basically in a terraced house. We were seated in the upstairs area, a narrow rectangular room. Fortunately they weren't full so we had the whole upstairs to ourselves. The lighting is very dim and they have a bar upstairs as well. Besides that, there are a couple of paintings on the wall, but nothing too distinguishing.

There was tablecloth on the tables and good cutlery, but it was one of those wet but humid summer days, and we couldn't figure out how to open the windows until very late into our dinner, so we all suffered from the heat for quite a bit.

We could look out the windows onto the street, to see people going in and out of restaurants and funky shops. Some of those restaurants look really good, must check them out sometime. I am sure the other people are checking us out as well.

Rating - 2

Service

We had our own waiter and he was extremely friendly. A few people dropped their cutlery and he was very good-natured about it. He also dropped some cutlery too but he turned a mistake into a plus by joking about it. The good thing was he wasn't cheesy like some waiters can be. The rest of the staff were also great. Things arrived quickly and promptly too.

Rating - 4

C-factor

We BYOed so it didn't end up costing that much. For great food at decent prices and great company, even though I haven't met over half the people before.

Rating - 1.5

Brownie Points - 15.5

Info

68 Stanley Street
Darlinghurst
NSW 2010
Phone (02) 9332 3002