Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Duke Bistro
Saturday night over the June long weekend was the perfect rainy night of a long weekend. It was now Winter and as with this long weekend of the last few years, the weather was miserable. It screamed for a cozy pub and some good food.
The Flinders is the exact pub to be at on a night like this. I have walked past it numerous times & it looked like such a cool place, probably too cool for me. It also looked very grungey again, not suited to me, but this was the perfect night for getting somewhere dark & cool.
Funnily, upon arriving to the upstairs eatery, Duke Bistro, the staff were anything but too cool. Happily accommodating us after determining we had no booking (bookings? I just assume everywhere does not take bookings these days!!!), we were quickly seated and given the short menu to choose from. Plates are to share here. There weren't a lot of vegetarian choices but that was ok, the few they had were beyond!
We started with daikon radish in dash butter with bread. If there was a dish to go there for, this would be my pick. Salty, sweet & the bread was the perfect accompaniment to mop every last drop on the plate. The mixed heirloom carrots was just as good. Carrots were in season so the produce spoke for itself. Having heard about the chicken wings, I had to give them a go. The only downside t being with a vegetarian is that when you do want to try a meat dish, you get the whole thing. Maybe not a downside.
Timeout Sydney predicted that chicken wings would make a comeback in 2011. I can see why. The coleslaw milk was also such a refreshing accompaniment though if I did pick a floor, these were just slightly too salty.
The waitress was helpful with selecting a bottle to go with our dishes. She did well, we stumbled out with full bellies and silly content grins, happy for the fact we still had two days off!
The Flinders is the exact pub to be at on a night like this. I have walked past it numerous times & it looked like such a cool place, probably too cool for me. It also looked very grungey again, not suited to me, but this was the perfect night for getting somewhere dark & cool.
Funnily, upon arriving to the upstairs eatery, Duke Bistro, the staff were anything but too cool. Happily accommodating us after determining we had no booking (bookings? I just assume everywhere does not take bookings these days!!!), we were quickly seated and given the short menu to choose from. Plates are to share here. There weren't a lot of vegetarian choices but that was ok, the few they had were beyond!
We started with daikon radish in dash butter with bread. If there was a dish to go there for, this would be my pick. Salty, sweet & the bread was the perfect accompaniment to mop every last drop on the plate. The mixed heirloom carrots was just as good. Carrots were in season so the produce spoke for itself. Having heard about the chicken wings, I had to give them a go. The only downside t being with a vegetarian is that when you do want to try a meat dish, you get the whole thing. Maybe not a downside.
Timeout Sydney predicted that chicken wings would make a comeback in 2011. I can see why. The coleslaw milk was also such a refreshing accompaniment though if I did pick a floor, these were just slightly too salty.
The waitress was helpful with selecting a bottle to go with our dishes. She did well, we stumbled out with full bellies and silly content grins, happy for the fact we still had two days off!
The Lucio at Lucio's Pizzeria
Little did I know that pizza so good was just around the corner. I have lived in the inner city for years with a multitude of pizza institutions at my door. I have tried several, loved them all. So having read for some time now that it was in fact Lucio Pizzeria was the best in Sydney, I am surprised that I didn't run. Instead I seem to have crawled, at snails pace.
A cold, rainy night in Sydney is always a good setting for pizza & a glass of red. A quick thirty minutes after arriving, and a glass of red at the convenient East Village pub next door, we were seated by the attentive & lovely waitstaff.
I couldn't go past trying the Lucio, half marguerita, half ricotta, ham and spinach calzone. Terry Durack had not only named it their best, but one of the top 50 things very Sydney food lover should try, the article which spurred this challenge so it was a no brainer. Even easier in that it sounded damn delicious!
When the infamous pizza arrived the look of it was enough for you to commit your complete pizza loyalty from that point on. I had naughtily ordered the pizza for myself so it wad lucky that it was half vegetarian so Stef could help me eat it. The overall rating, so delicious, so fresh and am now asking the question as to why there is not more ricotta pizza & why I did not ponder that question before now. A slow waddle to a cab and we headed home, proudly announcing we had definitely had the best pizza in Sydney.
Note: we did actually try Lucio's a few months ago. We have also managed to get back there since. There is no other option for pizza now.
A cold, rainy night in Sydney is always a good setting for pizza & a glass of red. A quick thirty minutes after arriving, and a glass of red at the convenient East Village pub next door, we were seated by the attentive & lovely waitstaff.
I couldn't go past trying the Lucio, half marguerita, half ricotta, ham and spinach calzone. Terry Durack had not only named it their best, but one of the top 50 things very Sydney food lover should try, the article which spurred this challenge so it was a no brainer. Even easier in that it sounded damn delicious!When the infamous pizza arrived the look of it was enough for you to commit your complete pizza loyalty from that point on. I had naughtily ordered the pizza for myself so it wad lucky that it was half vegetarian so Stef could help me eat it. The overall rating, so delicious, so fresh and am now asking the question as to why there is not more ricotta pizza & why I did not ponder that question before now. A slow waddle to a cab and we headed home, proudly announcing we had definitely had the best pizza in Sydney.
Note: we did actually try Lucio's a few months ago. We have also managed to get back there since. There is no other option for pizza now.
Spit Roasted Chicken from Victor Churchill
There is something about the old fashion spit roasted chook. Must be having grown up in the suburbs of Sydney. The spit roasted chicken and chips or veg or salad graced our household on many Friday nights when my mum wanted an easy dinner.
I had high hopes for this challenge to take me back to those times where a whipped up dinner was some of the funnest. It didn't disappoint.
Part of the fun of this challenge was that i finally got to go to the famed Victor Churchill's butcher. Having seen in numerous times, I always was impressed by the beautiful design and that was just from looking in from the outside. The store is just something else. It reflects the respect for the produce, something not seen at the everyday supermarket.
On to the chook, skin was perfectly crispy and seasoned. The meat was tender and juicy. I have to say it was still slightly oily for my liking but that perhaps is the difference to me now and when I eight or nine.
I had high hopes for this challenge to take me back to those times where a whipped up dinner was some of the funnest. It didn't disappoint.Part of the fun of this challenge was that i finally got to go to the famed Victor Churchill's butcher. Having seen in numerous times, I always was impressed by the beautiful design and that was just from looking in from the outside. The store is just something else. It reflects the respect for the produce, something not seen at the everyday supermarket.
On to the chook, skin was perfectly crispy and seasoned. The meat was tender and juicy. I have to say it was still slightly oily for my liking but that perhaps is the difference to me now and when I eight or nine.
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