Dom Perignon 2002 @ Universal restaurant

For a champagne lover like myself, there are few greater pleasures than tasting 6 Dom Pérignon vintages in one night. The hero of the evening was the release of the 2002 Dom Pérignon, considered one of the best vintages of this extraordinary wine for the last 100 years. Add to that the superb tasting menu designed by Chef Christine Manfield to showcase the luxurious qualities of the Dom Pérignon range and the evening at Universal restaurant Sydney was as close to heaven as you get.

Filed under: eating out, festivals, Champagne, chef, Christine Manfield, Dom Perignon, wine

Kumar cooks his Masterchef recipe

Chef Kumar Mahadevan is quite proud of his appearance as guest judge on Australian Masterchef. His menu at Abhi’s details the date of the episode, 14th May 2010.

Filed under: eating out, Signature Series, chef, Indian, Kumar Mahadevan, recipe

Justin North’s Confit miso blue eye, cuttlefish, cauliflower and buckwheat

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve eaten at Bécasse this year. Most of those times, I’ve just sat back and enjoyed myself and haven’t shared them with you. Each of the monthly Cellar Nights, a number of the monthly European Regional degustations, as a guest at the seasonal Producers Lunches, and for a family dinner to celebrate my birthday.

Filed under: eating out, Signature Series, chef, Justin North, recipe, Sydney

Scarlet Stories cabaret Ms Caroline Nin @ Bilson’s

In an intimate dinner and performance at Bilson’s, visiting French cabaret artist Ms Caroline Nin seduced us with her Scarlet Stories. At the end of the evening esteemed Sydney Chef Tony Bilson came over to our table. He made a big statement! ”This is one of the best evenings of my life.”

Filed under: eating out, Bilson's, cabaret, Caroline Nin, chef, restaurant, Sydney, Tony Bilson

Because I am a Girl : Universal restaurant Sydney

Because I am a Girl: The State of the World’s Girls 2010 report was launched today across the world. In Sydney, the report was launched at a lunch held at Universal restaurant and hosted by Chef, and member of the Coalition for Investment in Girls, Christine Manfield. 

Filed under: eating out, Because I am a girl, Christine Manfield, Universal restaurant

Pilu at freshwater : present + past

Sitting at dinner, a glimmer of moonlight tickled the breaking surf below. The sound of the waves whispered the background music. The Freshwater building ‘on the beach’ that is now Pilu restaurant, was first a beachside kiosk, and then around 1900 was acquired as a family holiday home. The original architecture and design features of the time have been retained to provide a stylish yet relaxed backdrop for not only great food but what has been awarded Sydney’s best wine list of this year.

Filed under: eating out, chef, Italian, restaurant, Sydney, truffles

Sydney Opera House takes the cake … time for high tea

It’s a couple of months since this high tea birthday celebration at the Sydney Opera House. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed high teas at venues around the world. To be truthful my sentimental favourite is not in my home town, but at Raffles Singapore. Perhaps it’s the colonial setting, where I can escape to another exotic time when a tiger was shot in the Bar and Billards Room, or imagining authors Rudyard Kipling or Somerset Maughan sipping a Singapore Sling in the chair next to me. Back home, in time and place, I’ve tried most of what Sydney’s afternoons have to offer.

Filed under: eating out, dessert, high tea, restaurant, Sydney

Fish Tagine @ Garfish Manly

One of the loveliest aspects of our city of Sydney is our harbour. Another is our seafood. At Garfish Manly you can enjoy both, with the restaurant easy walking distance from the wharf after arriving by ferry. And, when you eat, you’ll still be enjoying the harbour view.

Earlier this month, a select group of food bloggers gathered in the private dining room, to preview the new Garfish menu. My friend and guest for the evening, Kathryn Burnett was pretty chaffed to swap notes with her table neighbour the effervescent Alvin Quah (Masterchef Series 2 contestant) as her left hand man. I was pretty chaffed with catching up with Sydney food friends, and most of all revelling in the deliciousness and diversity of the menu.  Though there were a number of highlights in my night, the hero to my tastebuds was the tagine. The Garfish kitchen has graciously shared their recipe with you.

Filed under: eating out, food + travel, Australia, fish, harbour view, recipe, restaurant, seafood, Sydney, tagine

Soren Lascelles and his Chocolate Brownies

On the evening of Monday 9 August, Soren Lascelles was declared the 2010 Australian Appetite for Excellence, Young Chef of the Year.

Sydney was also proud when Louise Tamayo was awarded The Young Waiter of the Year.

During the final round of judging, the young finalists spent five days on a great initiative, the Hunt & Gather Produce Tour (meeting artisan food producers of NSW).

At the beginning of the tour, each of the young chefs was given one key item of produce, then asked to collect other ingredients during the tour, to be presented in their dish at the ‘Hunt & Gather’ dinner at the Electrolux showroom. Soren Lascelles’ produce item was macadamias and his course was dessert.

Filed under: eating out, in my kitchen, produce, 2010 Young Chef of the Year, Appetite for Excellence, chocolate, dessert, Kim Coronica, Louise Tamayo, Luke Mangan, macadamias, recipe, Soren Lascelles, Thomas Moore, vegetarian

Cellar Night at Bécasse

Marinated tuna, forgotten vegetables, and quince soufflé. What more could you want from a restaurant menu except perhaps to bring your own wine!

Bécasse launched their first monthly “Cellar Night” last Tuesday 6^th of July. Taking place on the first Tuesday of every month the cellar night was designed in order for guests to bring a favourite bottle from their wine collections to match Chef Justin North’s menu.

Filed under: eating out, Australia, chef, food, guest writer, Justin North, Sydney