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Sydney Table - July 2006

Good Call By Amy

July 31st 2006 08:23
Gee, it's been a while. Sorry about that. And yes I've still got some Canberra goss to put up, and I'll see if I can't crank that out very soon, so we can move on back into the heart of Sydney food.

In the meantime, Amy makes a good point in a cafe review which I feel needs to be publicised here as well. She is angry about small portions of pretentious food, as well she should be.

No one likes a dish that screams "look at me, I'm ever so posh", as is becoming the trend these days. I do appreciate refined, sophisticated food, but that does not mean being stingy, either on serving or flavours. And I only swoon over tiny portions sitting on huge white plates when the quality and flavours of the food deserve it; when this style of food and presentation matches the flavours and aims of the chef.


Usually it's in a luxurious restaurant and I'm wearing smart clothing.

But this is out of place in day to day, down market restaurants and cafes where people go for a good relaxing feed. Especially if the flavours are sacrificed.

Amy says: "But though I might look like a foodie, I’m really only a hedonist. Good food is good food, and I’d really prefer it wasn’t served in minute quantities on an oversized plate in a precarious, gravity-defying stack of over-thought, over-prepared and (logically) over-priced unpronounceable morsels."

Too true; we just want to tuck in to some real freaking food.
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Milk And Honey

July 23rd 2006 04:17
Ground Floor Centre Cinema Building, 29 Garema Place, Bunda Streeet, Canberra 2600 - (02) 6247 7722

Milk and Honey is the type of place you want to be eating. The food for lunch is around $15-$18, and it's of solid quality. Milk and Honey looks quite like a bar from the inside, with plush couches, a modern design, and lots of colour and wood; but the food is much better than bar snacks. They serve the typical mixed bag of cafe food, focusing predominantly on meat dishes.


The chips are a good start. Now there's nothing better than hand cut, double cooked, pre blanched chips; but these frozen chips which come devastatingly crunchy and with a wonderfully thick aioli and more than acceptable, and the seductive combination of fat and salt forgives all.

"Wok tossed chilli sea salt balmain bugs and prawns on (green) papaya salad with lime" sounds too good to be true. What a great idea; I'm expecting a kind of som tum with crispy salty chilli prawns and balmain bugs. Mmmmmm. And on the face of it, it looks good. Look at all that lovely crust on the bugs (second photo). But unfortunately as is the case with so much mid range cafe and restaurant food these days, it's let down at the last moment by things than could be so easily rectified. In this case, it's just weak on flavour. The seafood could do with some more chilli; and the salad is much too oily, while missing enough of the important lime/palm sugar combo which would cut through that oiliness and provide the much needed sour/sweet element.

On the other hand the pasta is deftly made. Pappardelle with prawns, chorizo, tomato and fetta is a wonderfully combination, and uses good quality pasta (or maybe I'm just a sucker for wide, flat pasta). The creaminess of the fetta and the savoury chilli behind the chorizo makes this dish a standout. Also good, but less impressive, is the linguine with veal strips, tomato, garlic and chilli.

Lamb skewers served on pitta bread with hummus and Israeli salad (tomato cucumber combo) is solid, good quality ingredients, without flooring me.
The prawn and chorizo pasta is a definite favourite, and the balmain bugs, prawns and papaya salad is interesting and tasty, even if is falls short at the end. But the menu is long and has all manner of dishes, from traditional meat based offerings to pasta and risotto, grilled sandwiches, and some interesting Asian-style sharing plates. The level of food is consistent, and you shouldn't be worried about letting loose on the menu.
Milk and Honey is definitely a good place to have lunch, instead of taking a pot shot at some of the other places around it.
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Interesting Number Plates

July 20th 2006 01:08
Found in Canberra:

"20000"; Pretty cool, don't you think? And on a rocking retro car.


I also spotted a Canberra Raiders brand number plate.
But the best one was this one:

"Queensland - The Smart State"


Queensland, the smart state? Er...
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Bardelis

July 19th 2006 04:56
1 Garema Pl Canberra 2600 - (02) 6249 8988

Looking for a place to have lunch, searching through the centre of Canberra, we come across Bardelis. Looks good; a second hand book store, modern sandwich place, juice bar, and other cafe items. But urgh. Someone isn't trying here. Canned soup in a place like this is criminal. I mean really, there are so many places which will make a home style minestrone in bulk for you to pass off as your own. The thick, gelatinous slop is a sign of the problems in this place, including the dodgy juice and smoothies. Give it a miss, you can do better. Especially with Milk and Honey around the corner.
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Greengrocer On Clifford

July 19th 2006 02:33
37 Clifford St Goulburn 2580 - (02) 4821 0033

After years of going through Goulburn to practically everywhere, it's taken us a while to find *the* place to eat. And yes, despite the fact that I like the whole idea and tradition of the Paragon Cafe, and the memories it brings back, it really doesn't taste that good.

But find it we did, when a friend recommended Greengrocer. It does fantastic sandwiches, has a huge array of salads, pastas, cakes, fresh fruit and vegetables, juices, and even professional looking wood fired pizza for the evenings. Everything is freshly made, and I was very impressed when the lady replied, after having been asked if we could have pizza for lunch; "Well, our chefs make the dough in the morning, and it has to have time to rise and mature, so it's usually not ready until dinner. Plus they have to make the sauces during the day..." This is a dedicated place, no doubt about it.

Off the main road, Greengrocer shares a massive building with a bike shop in the back, and uses the front portion to accommodate a wide variety of fresh produce, as well as chairs and tables for the cafe, where you're gonna be eating.

I'm not going to tell you what to eat at a sandwich bar, seriously. Suffice to say that it's all good. The sliced bread is very thick (off a proper tasty loaf, not out of a packet), and just as a personal preference I always have my sandwiches toasted. Especially if it's got cheese in it. And definitely if it's on Turkish bread. Always. Apart from that, go for it.
The cakes too are very tempting, although the Oreo cake did not live up to it's expected grandeur; instead it was more like a big pile of mousse. The crumbles however are very nice.

Make sure you make this your first preference when passing through Goulburn; everything is fresh and vibrant and for a long trip it’ll be just what you need. Plus I suspect the pizzas, if you come at the right time, would be spectacular.
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Sydney Table Goes On Holiday!

July 6th 2006 00:48
In the spirit of these holidays, we're packing up and heading to Canberra! Stay tuned for tips and reviews about the best places to eat in our Aussie capital.
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Cafe Q

July 4th 2006 03:17
469 Bronte Rd Bronte 2024 - 9369 5673

Bronte Beach has had a thriving little cafe culture for the last five or ten years, with many cafes changing shopfront or direction; but one stalwart is Cafe Q, which seems to personify the heart of Bronte.
While the rest of the cafes and restaurants seem to cater to tourists or visitors, Cafe Q (along with the old Bronte Chippa, which has sadly changed hands) is the locals' cafe.

Which is not to say that it frowns on visitors. Not in the least. Instead, visitors seem to eschew the homely looking Cafe Q for more modern (think stainless steel) cafes next door. Their loss. Which is why you'll always find a couple of Bronte locals cooking, serving, or eating at Cafe Q.

Cafe Q does typical cafe fare such as sandwiches, burgers, breakfasts all day long, and so on; along with more adventurous offerings. And as a good cafe does, it transcends any particular cuisine label.

The BLT, ever-present cafe item, is as you'd expect it, but with a Cafe Q touch. Jazzed up lettuce comes with baby spinach and rocket; along with tasty bacon and a crispy Turkish bread sandwich; and extra greenery on the side.

The minestrone is fantastic. A light yet flavourful stock, not overpowered by tomato as is so often the case, is the secret here. Lots of good winter vegetables and some soft Turkish bread for dunking make this a light, wonderful alternative.

My Thai green curry chicken is obviously not going to be the same as what's on offer at authentic, devoted Thai places. And that's fine, I'm aware of that. Yet this is also not the weak, watery, heavy-on-the-coconut-milk curry that you find in so many places. Generous amounts of chicken breast come simmered in a spicy curry sauce with spring onion, baby tomatoes, and a few other vegetables over rice. Excellent.

Cafe Q is the cafe of choice for locals, and should be the first port of call for visitors. Food prices range up to $15 for lunch, and $22 for dinner; and with a setting like this, the waves crashing down across the road, and food this good and homely, Cafe Q should be everyone’s favourite.
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What The?

July 4th 2006 02:47


How did all these shopping trolleys get to Bronte Beach? Considering the closest supermarket is 4km away in Bondi Junction...
I wonder what was going on last night?
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