Restaurant Review: Lunch at Jamie's Kitchen, Sydney

About a month ago, I went to Sydney for a weekend. Whenever I travel, I spend a great deal of time checking out restaurants, cafes, bakeries, patisseries, pretty much anything and everything food related. On this particular trip, I had a list of places to go to, one of them being Jamie's Kitchen on Pitt Street (Sydney). I've researched and googled the restaurant and found out that they don't do bookings. Although I am just going there alone, I didn't want to be disappointed and not get a table, afterall I don't have much time with this trip. Anyway, I decided that I will go to Jamie's on a Saturday morning, line up if I must, I would be there before it actually opens hoping that I'll be one of the first. As planned I got there about 5-10 minutes before it opened. As I have thought, there were already people waiting outside. It was amazing to see that I'm not the only crazy person in Sydney that Saturday morning. We waited and finally the doors opened, people started pouring in. I got seated quickly as I asked for a table for one and was the third person in the doors.

The restaurant design is fantastic. My only criticism was the lack of light where I was seated, hence I could not take decent photos of my meal. But nevertheless, the decor and atmosphere was great. Service was very good as well which always adds to the experience.

Now onto the food, since it was fairly early, I decided that I would just get an entree and a dessert. I chose the Squid Ink Risotto with Blue Swimmer Crab and for dessert, Panacotta with Berries. The food was great (prices were not bad at all). Full of flavour, well cooked and well seasoned. I couldn't ask for anything more. It looked simple yet the flavours were anything but.

I definitely recommend Jamie's Kitchen.

Restaurant Review: Lunch at Haan Ssie, Adelaide

This is one of my favorite Asian/Korean restaurants in Adelaide. The numerous times I've been to this place since it opened late last year, I've only ordered from their dinner menu. I have been a fan since the beginning.

A couple of weeks ago I've noticed that they have introduced a lunch menu, completely different to their Asian/Korean menu, which is both quirky and unusual. Although I was a bit relunctant to try this new western inspired menu, we decided to give it a go as prices start as low as $4.90. We thought why not, it's cheap and if it is anywhere as good as their Korean dishes, then it will be worth it.

We started the meal with their "Basketball" & "Baseball" appetizers or munchies as they call it. The first one is a mashed sweet potato ball deep fried & served on a bed of crispy noodles. Baseball on the otherhand is a deep fried meat version with mozerella inside & served with a sauce similar to what you'd expect if you order the japanese takoyaki. After our munchies, we had an "Eiffel Tower" & "UFO". Eiffel Tower is simply tempura calamari rings on a bed or should I say big mound of salad with apple & kiwi dressing. It is absolutely yummy. UFO is Haan Ssie's version of the good 'ol cheeseburger, served with none other than crispy fries & dipping sauce. There was a choice of soy mayo or sweet chili mayo sauce. We picked the soy mayo. The burger was juicy and the sauce was different but good.

The verdict, our meal was satisfying and delicious. I prefer the dinner menu (Korean menu) over the western-inspired lunch menu but then again I love Korean food. So lunch or dinner, this restaurant seem to be doing good, just hope they don't change or delete their Korean dishes off the menu just because most people in Adelaide aren't that familiar with them.

Restaurant Review: Sah Modern Mediterranean, North Adelaide SA

I'm so glad we tried this place out because the food was really good. As the name says, it serves modern mediterranean dishes. The restaurant was very busy when we went there and was booked out. The menu was quite intensive and after a few minutes we decided to go with some tapas for entree and share a combination paella for mains.



tapas (left to right)
soft shell crab tempura in chili & smoked paprika & couscous
sauteed chorizo, sultanas with pedro ximenez glaze
fried scampi tails in garlic cream, spring onions & couscous

The tapas (photo above) came out fairly quickly considering the place was packed. The dishes looked appetizing and it tasted as good as it looked. My favorite was the scampi. It was juicy and cooked to perfection. I was very surprised at how they've incorporated the couscous in the dish and I think it worked really well. My second preference was the crab, similar to the scampi, it was cooked well. Wouldn't consider it as tempura as such but the flavors were great. The chorizo was really good too, would have been better with a little more sweetness though, just to balance out the spice.

combination paella

I was looking forward to the paella the most. It is quite hard to get a really good paella in town and I was hoping that this could be the one. For me, it was ok, not the best I have eaten but at least the flavors were there and the seafood were cooked well. My search for an authentic paella in Adelaide continues.

The verdict, I really like this place. The atmosphere is lively yet not too casual and the food is great. Definitely coming back to Sah to try more of their dishes.

Restaurant Review: Devour Dessert Cafe, Prospect SA

We found this new dessert cafe in Prospect Rd, Adelaide though a friend. We were keen to try it as it sounded really good. Went to check them out of Facebook and the photos looked amazing. This dessert cafe is rather small and does not take any bookings so I suggest either coming early or calling beforehand to make sure seats are available.

We went there on a Saturday night just after dinner. The place wasn't packed so we were quite lucky to get a seat immediately. The menu is small and the dishes priced reasonably. After a few minutes of deliberation, we decided to try the smoked chocolate mousse, doughnut sundae & the malt milkshake. Most, if not all of the items were familiar desserts done with a twist, so expect to be wowed when the desserts come out. 

The malt milkshake came first, in a very interesting glass milk bottle no less. It was sweet and malty. Imagine drinking maltesers without the chocolate. That's what it tasted like. It really enjoyed it.



malt milkshake

Next up was my smoked chocolate mousse. It had a glass dome-shaped cloche when it arrived on the table to keep the smoke contained (yes there was smoke) while being carried to the table. Once the plate was placed in front of me, the cloche was remove. I was taken a back by the smokiness of the dish. Seriously, it was very smoky. The technique was quite effective as the smoke imparted it's flavor onto each component on the plate. It was a nice and clever dish but I wish the smoke flavor wasn't too strong.

smoked chocolate mousse

Lastly, the doughnut sundae came. It was just that, doughnut and ice cream with chocolate sauce & honeycomb. This was a huge dessert and it took 2 of us to finish it. As we expected, it was a very sweet and filling dessert. Much heavier than the light chocolate mousse we had previously. It was a good dessert but you better make sure you are hungry and sugar-holic before you order this because four chocolate doughnuts, a scope of ice cream and honeycomb chunks aren't that easy to finish.



doughnut sundae

Overall, I enjoyed Devour Dessert Cafe in Prospect Rd. It is definitely worth going back to. Maybe not every weekend but certainly ever now and then.



Restaurant Review: Antiquteas

Here is another little cafe we found when we went to Handorf yesterday. We parked our car and the first thing I saw was this adorable cafe called Antiquteas High Tea & Dessert Bar. It is located not far from Chocolate No 5 which I wrote about previously. We went to Handorf for lunch but we decided we'll check out this cafe after for dessert. We went there just after lunch and a sign saying "Devonshire Tea for $10" greeted us. It was charming. The decor is very pretty and quite in keeping with the concept of High Tea. Unfortunately for us, we cam in a little to late. They've sold out of the High Tea nibbles and only had a handful of pastries left. Nevermind we said, we'll just order something to eat and have some tea (English). We ended up with a chocolate eclair, mini chocolate macaron & lemon curd cupcake.

The pastries arrived quickly on a white serving platter with floral prints. They've seriously tied everything to the high tea concept. It was like we've gone back to the Victorian era and moved to an English manor for tea. The english tea arrived in a silver tea pot together with the sugar & milk, all in matching silver containers. The tea wasn't complete without the mandatory strainer of course. The mismatched dinnerware, gold teaspoons, silver teapot, white table cloth & napkin was very elegant but playful with a touch shabby chic thrown in.

I think this cafe wins for originality in terms of ambiance and concept. The food isn't bad but I think for me, it was the decor and the whole tea experience that would make me want to come back. Who would have though a cafe specialising in english high tea would exist in a quaint little german town. It might be a little strange but I'm telling you it works. It is like you're in Disneyworld's Epcot. One minute you are in Germany, the next, England.     

Restaurant Review: Chocolate No 5

I can't believe I've been eating out all weekend which although not good for the pocket nor the waistline, it's definitely good for blogging. Yesterday, we went to Handorf in South Australia. For those who haven't been to Handorf, it is a small German town about 30minutes out of Adelaide City. It is quite a busy little town and definitely a tourist attraction. For us locals though, this is a nice place to go to spend a Sunday afternoon with lots of little shops, cafes, German biergartens (or for us, pubs) and the ever so popular strawberry farm, Beerenberg (this is a must stop for me, I love their Smoky Bourbon Barbecue Sauce, I can't seem to find it anywhere else so I buy a lot when I visit the Beerenberg farm shop). Anyway, back to the restaurant review...

We were walking along the main street when we discovered this little cafe called Chocolate No 5. It's a little cafe that specialises in chocolates. They sell truffles and other chocolate desserts. We were keen to try their desserts so we ordered a Chocolate Belgian Waffle and 2 pieces of truffles - Hazelnut Crunch & Salted Caramel (which was highly recommended by the store keeper).

Hazelnut Crunch (left) & Salted Caramel (right)

We were very happy with the truffles we ordered. The Hazelnut had 3 whole nuts inside covered in dark chocolate and on top as you can see are extra crushed hazelnut. I though the balance of nut and chocolate were quite good. As for the Salted Caramel, we got what we ordered. The thin later of dark chocolate, once broken, exposed a rich yet soft salted caramel.

Belgian Waffles served with Vanilla Ice Cream, Fresh
Strawberries & Chocolate Sauce
(truffles were added on the plate for the photo-shoot)

 The waffle arrived a few minutes later and when it arrived, it was warm and smelled really good, just as you would expect from a freshly made waffle. The ice cream is nothing special, just an ordinary vanilla ice cream, however, it complimented the waffle really well. The strawberries were fresh and added a contrast to the sweetness of the dessert. The milk chocolate sauce I found was too sweet so we hardly touched it. I though the dish was already sweet enough and adding the sauce would just make it too sweet to eat. The waffle was good but personally I preferred the truffles.

Restaurant Review: Eggless Dessert Cafe, Goodwood SA

After our dinner at Lychie Restaurant last night, we decided to try Eggless Dessert Cafe in Goodwood Road, SA. I've always wanted to try this cafe ever since I saw it more than a year ago. The first time I saw it, groups of people were lined up outside this small cafe and it didn't even seem open. I though, what was going on. It's pretty strange how so many people would line up outside a closed cafe and couldn't understand why, hence, I was very curious. I never got the chance of eating there since last night and found out why you have to line up way before the cafe is open. For one, they don't take reservations unless your in a group of 6 or more. Second, everyone lines up, seriously, we were 15 minutes early and we were the second couple to line up. Third, by the time the door opened and everyone outside enters the cafe, pretty much all the seats were taken up. It only took maybe another 15 or so minutes before the entire cafe was full. So if you were late, then you'll be left waiting outside and since this is a dessert cafe, you might have to wait for a while. We were the first ones to leave from the original group that entered the restaurant when it opened and we were there for about 30 minutes. Lastly, the desserts were good, can't even tell that they don't have eggs in them, hence the name Eggless Dessert Cafe.

Eggless Tasting Platter for 2

We couldn't pick what to get, so decided to try the Eggless Tasting Platter for 2 (picture above). It was definitely enough to feed 2 people even though it looks small in the photo. Of course, if you're really hungry, one could probably finish the entire thing on their own. I recommend trying their Tasting Platter if you are a first-time visitor to Eggless. The menu changes all the time and by ordering the platter, you will be able to try their popular items without having to pick just one. This platter is from the February Menu 

Crema Catalana & Chocolate Madeleine

If I would rank the dishes on the platter from the best to the least preferred dessert, my favorite of all the four desserts would be the Crema Catalana. It is pretty much the same as a French Creme Brulee and being one of my all-time favorite desserts, this was a sure hit for me. I can't believe that it was egg-less though. It was creamy and full of flavor. The thin caramelised top was done well, it cracked with little pressure from the spoon revealing the tasty custard within.

The Chocolate Madeleine would be my second choice. I think being eggless it wasn't fluffy, instead it was a little bit dense and not as moist, but the chocolate flavor was definitely there. It was like eating a chocolate cake (a small one). It was paired with vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate ganache & fresh strawberries.  

Tiramisu & Walnut Tart with Cognac Prunes

My third choice is the Tiramisu. It was creamy and tasted alright even without the eggs. My only comment would be the subtleness of the coffee flavor, there was more chocolate than coffee. I prefer mine to have a stronger coffee flavor since Tiramisu is supposed to have a strong coffee flavor. Besides, it is called Tiramisu or "Pick Me Up" for this reason.

My least favorite is the Walnut Tart with Cognac Prunes. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad tart. I'm just not a fan or nutty dessert and I don't like prunes. It did have a nice taste to it though and the syrup from the Cognac Prunes complimented it very well. I thought the lask of eggs made the cake a little bit dense and dry though. The cream and syrup helped with the dryness but I think I needed more of it to finish the tart.

Overall, I like Eggless Dessert Cafe. It's small and has a friendly vibe. It's quite busy and lively which makes it easy for people to just relax and enjoy their food. The food is surprisingly good specially since it is egg-free. Honestly, you wouldn't really think anything is missing from your favorite desserts when you go here. This is definitely a must-try place even if you love eggs. Their menu is quite diverse that a lot of people with special dietary needs can still eat here. They have vegan and gluten-free alternatives which are quite rare in dessert places. I think they've really captured a niche market being the only cafe in Adelaide that serve desserts without any eggs in it. Thumbs Up to Eggless Dessert Cafe, I would definitely be coming back.

Restaurant Review: Lychie, Glenelg SA

My saturday nights are usually reserved for dining out. Last night, we chose to eat at Lychie Restaurant in Glenelg (South Australia) for the second time. The first time we ate there, many months ago, it was newly opened. We tried their yum cha after seeing an article on a magazine. Although their take on yum cha wasn't exactly traditional, we did enjoy it and so we thought we should come back to try their a la carte menu.

On our second visit, we ordered 3 dishes - China Roast Duck, Bok Choy & Peking Style Pork Ribs. Here's what I though of the dishes...

We really liked the Roast Duck, the best among the dishes we ordered. Although it wasn't perfect, the skin was really crispy and there weren't much fat between the skin & meat. The pork is alright. I like the sauce but I thought the meat could be a little more tender. The bok choy on the otherhand was cooked well. It remained crispy and served with just the right amount of sauce.

Overall, it was a pleasant meal. It was not by any means traditional nor cheap compared to the restaurants in Chinatown but it was not bad at all. I think they are catering more to the Australian market with their menu, pricing and location rather the Asians, who would probably go to the Chinatown to eat Chinese rather than this part of town. Nevertheless the food and service was good enough for us to come back again, even just so we could try their Peking Duck. 

China Roast Duck

Bok Choy with Sesame Seed

Peking Style Pork Spare Ribs

Dinner at The Ginger Room

Last year, I went to Canberra on an overnight trip. Although eating was not my main purpose for the trip, it soon became the highlight. The night before the trip, a friend, who happens to be a chef himself, recommended a restaurant that I haven't even heard of. I quickly search the net for the restaurant's phone number and called the following day.

Fast forward, it was 6pm and I was sitting in a corner table and a few tables to my left is a couple who seemed to be on their first date. A couple of tables in front of me was a couple with their little girl. I did not think that the restaurant would be this quiet, but I guess being a week night, it might I should have expected it.

My meal started with an amuse bouche and some bread, followed by pan-fried fish for my entree, braised pork for main course and a lemon meringue tart for dessert. Every dish came out looking perfect and timing was great. I had enough time to rest for a little bit before the next course arrived. The dishes I had (and pretty much everything in the menu) were modern and Asian-inspired. The clever combination of ingredients and flavors were interesting and exciting to eat, something unexpected. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and I would come back the next time I'm in Canberra. Just like the dishes, I was also pleasantly surprised that it didn't cost me a fortune to dine at The Ginger Room. The cost of my 3-course meal - $69! Now, that's a bargain.

So the next time you are in Canberra, why not visit The Ginger Room at the Old Parliament House.