Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | Paid | My Orble | Login
 
Welcome to Sydney Table, my foodie blog. This is where I will review the restaurants I visit and post the recipes I try out. You may also find some random and interesting food articles. I hope you find some culinary delights on here that you like. Eat and cook with your heart people and remember the best meal is the shared meal, with friends or loved ones. And be sure to check out my other websites: www.saltypopcorn.com and http://www.orble.com/total-randomness/ Have a great day!

More





Yesterday was one of the best days I have had for years. I got to spend it with 3 of my most closest people, My Mum, Carrie and Toby. We were planning on a trip to the MCA and a friend, Dan Freene's photography exhibition in Newton and include some lunch there.

Mum and I started out early and visited the New South Wales art gallery with the intention of seeing some art, going to the Archibald and having a coffee in the Cactus garden across the road.

sadhana kitchen, vegan, veganism , raw food, Newtown Food



My mum's quote at the size of the queue for the Archibald was "not for all the tea in China and I am standing in that". So we cruised for a bit looking at the general art and to be honest it is all pretty shit, conservative and kind of boring, But the coffee and cactus garden were enjoyable.

We met up with Carrie and Toby and decided we should do lunch first in Newtown and Toby suggested a place across from where we parked that was a "unique" experience for all of us except Toby - a vegan cafe. My mum went into a bit of a panic at what we were in for. Not only that but it was inside a Yoga studio and across from a street that was entirely graffitied, I could see mum worried about Ohmms and Nameste's but it wasn't like that all.

sadhana kitchen, vegan, veganism , raw food, Newtown Food



What was to follow was one of the most pleasurable food experiences I have had in a long time. It had a great variety of foods that were all explained to us if we showed interest and was not only Vegan but purely raw food. There were two or three items that came cooked but these were unavailable that day and not part of the lunch we were going to try. The staff were all so friendly and helpful and ready to explain the cold pressed coffee still-like thing in the corner and the benefits of all the food. I think Toby made friends with people sworn to the same culinary spirituality.

sadhana kitchen, vegan, veganism , raw food, Newtown Food
My Meal, the Sadhana Quiche


The raw food diet is based on the belief that the most healthful food for the body is uncooked. Although most food is eaten raw, heating food is acceptable as long as the temperature stays below 40 degrees C and 48 degree C (104 to 118 degrees Fahrenheit) (the cutoff temperature varies among those in the raw food community).

Cooking is thought to denature the enzymes naturally present in food. According to raw foodists, enyzymes are the life force of a food, helping us to digest food and absorb nutrients. If we overconsume cooked food, our bodies are forced to work harder by producing more enzymes. Over time, a lack of enzymes from food is thought to lead to digestive problems, nutrient deficiency, accelerated aging, and weight gain.

sadhana kitchen, vegan, veganism , raw food, Newtown Food
Mum's Angel Hair Pasta with walnut meal bolognese sauce


Cooking food can diminish its nutritional value. For example, the cancer-fighting compounds in broccoli, sulforaphanes, are greatly reduced when broccoli is cooked. Certain vitamins, such as vitamin C and folate, are destroyed by heat. Other foods, however, become more healthful after cooking, because the fibrous portion is broken down. For example, cooked tomatoes contain three to four times more lycopene than raw tomatoes.

Cooking also promotes the formation of potentially harmful compounds in food during high heat cooking, such as advanced glycation end products and heterocyclic amines.

While we waited for our meal Carrie, Toby and myself sat in the eclectic and somewhat spiritual bohemian venue and chatted about how good it was Toby could take us to a restaurant where he could eat everything and we were picky while mum walked the streets with a borrowed milk crate photographing graffiti.

sadhana kitchen, vegan, veganism , raw food, Newtown Food
Carrie and Toby's Sadhana Lasagne


The food was exquisite, if somewhat different. As it was vegan and raw we were curious how we could eat a lasagne, a quiche and a spaghetti bolognese. But we managed

Mum had the spaghetti bolognese and the suace was made with a spicy walnut (if I remember correctly) meal and even though it says angel hair pasta I could not taste it - it felt more like grated zucchini. It was delicious - a little too different for mum (even though she enjoyed) so I was lucky enough to finish this off. Toby and Carrie both had the Sadhana Lasagna which was layers of zucchini pasta, cultured cashew cheese, basil pesto, walnut mince, wilted spinach, and chunky tomato sauce. It was a heavenly vegetable light cleansing meal which everyone loved. I had the Sadhana Quiche which consisted of spinach and mushroom filling topped with caramelized onions and smoky coconut crisps. Divine!!

sadhana kitchen, vegan, veganism , raw food, Newtown Food
The ever so delicious Harmony Tonic


Mum and I also had a tonic each which was called Harmony - it is made to cleanse the endocrine system and liver and consisted of blended beetroot, broccoli, carrot, celery, apple, lemon and ginger. It was beautiful.

This is a lunch or breakfast cafe and is a unique experience eating some of the healthiest food you can imagine. I felt great for the rest of the day and incredibly satisfied. I thoroughly recommend a visit for all you vegans out there and also for people who appreciate some great food!

They are located at 76A Wilford Street Newtown and you can suss them out at their informative website right HERE

The rest of the day just got better and better, we walked to friend Dan Freene's photography exhibition where I think I may be scoring a print for my upcoming birthday and then we went to what is now my favourite gallery in Sydney - THE WHITE RABBIT. I am going to write about them on Total Randomness but it is just mind blowing, interactive, original and a complete relief after our state's boring gallery.
21
Vote
   


Heston Blumenthal's Perfect Potatoes

April 23rd 2012 08:57
I love a good spud and wanted a nice side to go with my pies the other night. Flattie and I made pies with corn on the cob, steamed peas and broccoli and spuds were the ideal accompaniment. The biggest drawback was these potatoes take about two hours as a side and the pies take about 20mins.

Heston Blumenthal, Roast Potato recipe, spuds, potatoes


No big deal, I worship Heston and if they were going to be to Heston standards then I wanted in. Flattie asked me if they were going to have some purple foam coming out of them or something like that Not likely - just damn fine cooking from Heston's book Heston Blumenthal at home.

Now - who would think you would need a recipe for cooking a spud - we all do it - when I was a struggling student I would just microwave a whole potato and then cut it in quarters and cover it in butter and pepper - and to be honest that would still tempt me - I loved it but nowhere near as good as Mi Goreng noodles student style, but I digress

Heston Blumenthal, Roast Potato recipe, spuds, potatoes


Really? A recipe on potatoes - YES - how many times have you ended up with soggy and overly starchy wet sock roast potatoes? Chalk-like and clumpy mash? Hmmmm - be honest. Heston's are supposed to be perfect and the best crispiest potatoes imaginable - and while they are superb they are by no means the best - for the best roast potatoes in the galaxy check out another article I did in the past right HERE.

Heston Blumenthal, Roast Potato recipe, spuds, potatoes


While they are not the best - they are definitely the second best potatoes I have ever cooked - they are so crispy and just what you want - they also have so much flavour and may as well have been double deep fried. Divine!! I did make two mistakes - NEVER roast in a glass dish - it takes too long to brown and also I believe it sweats the spuds and it took me a little longer to reach the desired consistency. Next time the tin tray makes a return I also did not leave the spuds to cool as long as I wanted to - I left them on the windowsill and only left them for about 10mins - should have given them a good 30mins to really dry them down.

Heston Blumenthal, Roast Potato recipe, spuds, potatoes


YOU WILL NEED:
Serves 6 as a side dish and be prepared for up to 2hrs of cooking and prepping these spuds.

1.25kg large spuds (Heston recommends maris piper potatoes or, more likely to find in Australia, King Edward (the potato named after me), Sebago or Dutch cream). To be honest - I mostly buy my spuds from Coles in a big bag and I get white ones - I tried this recipe using those and they were more than fine!! Heston, you big snob!!
Olive oil
8 cloves of garlic, bashed with the flat part of a knife or by hand (make them ruff - just bash them once) - still using my fresh garlic on a rope I bought at Grower's markets in December and is the nicest garlic in the world
30g rosemary sprigs - straight off my tree
15g thyme sprigs - I used lemon thyme straight out of my garden
Salt - there is only crushed rock salt

Heston Blumenthal, Roast Potato recipe, spuds, potatoes


YOU WILL NEED TO:

1) Preheat the oven to 180C.
2) Wash and peel the potatoes and cut into quarters. Put them in a bowl under running water for five minutes (A BIT EXCESSIVE - I went for 2mins) to wash the starch off.
3) Cover the potatoes with water in a large saucepan, bring to the boil and cook until very soft (about 25-30 minutes).
4) Drain carefully and leave to cool in the colander.
5) Pour five millimetres of olive oil into a roasting tray large enough to hold the potatoes in one layer.
6) Place in the oven for 15 minutes.
7) Add the potatoes to the tray with the garlic.
8) Stir to coat in the oil and place back in the oven for at least one hour, turning every 20 minutes.
9) After one hour, add the rosemary and thyme to the pan, and return to the oven for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown and crispy all over. 10) Drain on kitchen paper; season with salt.

Then serve the spuds with some damn fine main meal - I suggest a roast or pies with corn and broc and peas!!! Oh - an never forget the red wine

Bon apetit!

Special thanks to Heston Blumenthal for the base recipe and also for The Sydney Morning Herald for bringing this to my attention!!
30
Vote
   


Super Easy Salmon Steak Marinade

April 17th 2012 09:05
OK - it is harder than Taylor Lautner's abs but I am trying to eat healthy and smart at the moment and cutting out as many carbs as possible, making my lunch every day for work and exchanging my daily snacks from delicious chocolate (I will miss you Cadbury Creme eggs and Oportos) to two pieces of fruit. Soft drinks are gone and I am loathing drinking so much water But to add to this I am trying to maintain motivation and walking about 40kms per week - who would have thought - but the big Four Zero approaches in June and I have to look damn slim and hotter than Zac Efron for the event so I can possibly meet someone and shed my image of pending spinsterdom.

salmon steaks, healthy fish, healthy food, diet food


SO - I am only eating veggies or salad every night with a meat - lean steak, chicken and now salmon steaks! I should have grilled it but I do like to flip it easier in a pan and I can monitor it much better.

Pick your own veggies or salad or chips - whatevs - I had a small amount of spiral pasta left over and mixed this with some steamed beans, corn and broccoli - and to be honest it was amazing! Salmon is now a staple in the house and my health and body will be grateful!

salmon steaks, healthy fish, healthy food, diet food


WHAT YOU NEED:
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
* 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
* 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic
* 2 salmon fillets

salmon steaks, healthy fish, healthy food, diet food


WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
1) In a small bowl, combine the oil, soy sauce, mustard and garlic.
2) Pour half of marinade into a large resealable plastic bag.
3) Add the salmon; seal bag and turn to coat.
4) Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Refrigerate remaining marinade.
5) Drain fish and discard marinade.
6) Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the pan or grill.
7) Fry or grill salmon, covered, over high heat for 5-10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Fry it skins side DOWN first 5mins. This is because you want the juices to run down first.
8) Drizzle with reserved marinade.
9) I served with some spiral pasta, steamed corn and broccoli.

Special thanks to the lady who originally came up with the base recipe for this - Nicole Clayton from Arizona

Enjoy it!!
29
Vote
   


SKEWER with TAN THAI: A Review

April 10th 2012 02:40
Manly has two new restaurants that are well worth a look. They are right next door to each other, next to the Manly Cinema, opposite the Manly Wharf Bar and under 4 Pines Brewery - talk about location location location.

They are located inside some old townhouses that have been renovated and look amazing. There is the restaurant Skewer I am reviewing which is Thai and next door is a Japanese restaurant with a review soon to come


[ Click here to read more ]
32
Vote
   


Yummy Cheeseburger in a Can

April 4th 2012 23:58
Not quite as hideous as my fave food - chicken in a can - the world of supposed easy food has gone another step forward beyond the Candwich to the Cheeseburger in a Can - seriously - WTF?????

Cheeseburger in a tin, hideous foods

[ Click here to read more ]
11
Vote
   


Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins

April 1st 2012 07:07
So I had a small pumpkin that was looking a bit brown around the edges and needed something to do with it so I didn't have to throw it out.

pumpkin recipe, muffins, pumpkin muffins, healthy sweets

[ Click here to read more ]
21
Vote
   


This is more of the unique desserts I have made but I was determined to make a Japanese sweet from scratch and it got ticks of approval - it didn't look as spectacular as the ones from the recipe but it tasted just as good I am sure.

Ichigo Daifuku, Japanese food, vegan dessert, vegan sweets

[ Click here to read more ]
22
Vote
   


And so continued our amazing Vegan 3 course meal with the 3 amigos - for the delicious Thai Corn Soup we had for the entree - clickety click right HERE.

vegan meal, tofu, broccoli, vegan recipes, asian

[ Click here to read more ]
31
Vote
   


I finally had the ex and now best friend Toby over for dinner with another best friend Paul - it's the three gay amigos with wine that always ends up a big and messy night and that it did But my dilemma is that Toby is a Vegan and I love all foods, I completely support his stance on veganism, the crazy-assed animal activist but I just don't agree with it. If we weren't supposed to eat animal products it wouldn't taste so bloody good

vegan dish, Nava Atlas, thai soup, spicy starter

[ Click here to read more ]
32
Vote
   


Spiced Rhubarb Pickles

March 4th 2012 05:28
My mum's garden has been going a bit mental of late with crops galore and mum sweating to the bone making passata from all the tomatoes - so many tomatoes she is decimating half the crop. Every time she visits she brings me oodles of tomatoes off the vine and they taste like heaven - she also has an abundance of rhubarb and as I have never cooked with it before she brought a crisp even kilo on her last visit so today was all about making some rhubarb pickles - you could also call it a chutney

Rhubarb is a group of plants that belong to the genus Rheum in the family Polygonaceae. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing from short, thick rhizomes. They have large leaves that are somewhat triangular-shaped with long fleshy petioles. They have small flowers grouped in large compound leafy greenish-white to rose-red inflorescences


[ Click here to read more ]
34
Vote
   


More Posts
1 Posts
5 Posts
5 Posts
342 Posts dating from March 2006
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:

Jason King's Blogs

66674 Vote(s)
3871 Comment(s)
911 Post(s)
26073 Vote(s)
1261 Comment(s)
279 Post(s)
Moderated by Jason King
Copyright © 2012 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]