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Sydney Table - September 2006

GFM: What's On?

September 30th 2006 04:35
To see a daily rundown of what's on during Good Food Month, click on the calender on the top right hand side of their homepage.

Or, click here for the 1st October, and change the '1' to whatever date you want in the URL...

Just in case you have a day free, and feel like something foodie to do...



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Good Food Month: Hyde Park Sydney Food and Wine Fair

September 30th 2006 04:19
The Sydney Food and Wine Fair in Hyde Park is on Saturday 28th October, with the food stalls from 12-2 pm. This is by far my favourite event of Good Food Month. The entire of one half of Hyde Park is covered in stalls from different restaurants, ranging from popular take away places to top three hat restaurants. Each stall offers one or two dishes in the style of their restaurant, but in smaller servings; and you go up and down the length of Hyde Park checking out what's good, who's selling what, and deciding what you want to try. There's always one or two dishes which are the hit of the day (and rightly so) and sell out very quickly; so get there early, and if you see something good, buy it.


The idea is you buy coupons and exchange them for food. Dishes are usually $6-$8 (3-4 coupons) and wine/beer $4, all of which to raise funds for the AIDS Trust of Australia.

It's a chef-spotting zone, if you're into that sort of thing, because all the big restaurants come, and they all bring their big name head chef.

It's also an occasion to try food from some of the restaurants which are usually too expensive for most of us; and to discover new restaurants. Sometimes the bets looking dish comes from a place you've never heard of before.

And keep a look out for Serge Dansereau of Bathers Pavilion, and his wicked desserts.
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Good Food Guide: Let's Do Lunch

September 30th 2006 04:14
Let's Do Lunch is a series of deals at some of Sydney's top restaurants offering a special lunch meal with wine/beer and coffee for $35. It's a nice way to sample some of the top restaurants, sometimes doing something a little different or special, in a more appropriate price range. And it's also a nice way to spend a free lunch time - prefect date opportunity!
Some of the offerings look really good, so check it out.
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Good Food Month: Night Noodle Markets

September 30th 2006 04:08
The Night Noodle Markets is pretty self explanatory from its name; it's a night market of Asian food in Hyde Park, although not all noodles. Different restaurants come to prepare a few dishes en masse, and you get to wander around, smell and see what's good, share with friends, and relax in the open. Nice way to spend an evening.
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Good Food Month (GFM) 2006 - OCTOBER!

September 30th 2006 04:00
Alright, I hope everybody's very excited, because Good Food Month (GFM) is a-comming. Tomorrow, in fact. You see, October is SMH Good Food Month. Sweeet...

There is literally all sorts of stuff on. I'll be keeping you up to date day by day, just in case you find yourself with nothing to do tomorrow, you know where to look. But basically there are all sorts of outdoor markets, food festivals, special dinners, special offers at restaurants, cooking classes, tours, tastings, and so on.

We'll start off with a couple of features on what I feel are the best aspects of GFM, but please check out the site or the Good Living every Tuesday in the SMH to decide for yourself. And definitely get into it!
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World Cup on TV! - 11:00am Sunday on SBS

September 30th 2006 03:58
The World Cup of Athletics is on TV (finally!) tomorrow (Sunday 1st) at 11:00am on SBS. One hour of quality athletics.
And hopefully we will see Mottram race Bekele in full.
I wonder who's gonna win...
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Haile Gebrselassie just misses marathon WR! Read it on Rocky's Running Diary

September 25th 2006 03:52
Haile Gebrselassie ran the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, and just missed the world record after being under it up to the 35k mark.

Read all about it here on Rocky's Running Diary.
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What's On 23rd to 1st

September 19th 2006 12:29
Just a quick link; Check out whats on next couple of weekends food wise. A good list on Grab Your Fork. Click on the link to read it. Mmm, Brazilian Festival!
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Green Bean Som Tum

September 19th 2006 07:07
We all love Som Tum, right? Course you do. But it can be hard to find green papaya. I mean very hard. So luckily there are other options!
Pim has posted a great idea of using green beans, and a handy recipe. Check it out here. However other substitutes can include green mango (great but also impossible to find), carrot (very adequate sub), cucumber, or cabbage (which I'd blanch a little first), all of which can be substituted into a basic recipe at what I assume would be a one to one ratio. It's mostly done to taste and adjusted many times anyway.

What would be good is to do a combo of all these, for a bit of vege variety a colour; it would be like the ultimate salad!

By the way, does anyone know of any handy Sydney places selling green papaya?
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Mmm, scam...

September 19th 2006 06:53
Check it out! I finally got a scam letter!
Due to the filters on Hotmail, and simple luck, I've never recieved a really clear scam email of the sort that is always joked about. But that has just changed, because Miss Tersy Jabie has just sent me a message through Orble saying she wants my help to bring a $10.5 million inheritance over from The Ivory Coast.
Of course I get a cut. I mean, not matter how much she calls me "dear", I'm not helping if there's no moolah in it for me. But I feel so honoured that she chose me! Although it's a good idea Miss Jabie is coming to Australia to further her education; there are a couple of points about punctuation and capital letters most relevent for letters offering a share of $10 million which someone might want to explain Tersy. Still, she wants my friendship too, so who am I to say no. She sounds so nice, and I wasn't using my bank account anyway...

But I don't understand why her profile says she's from Denver, Colorado...

Ahh, I finally feel part of the online community! Someone's tried to scam me!

From Miss Tersy Jabie
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
West Africa.
Dear after going through your profile i decided to contact you for friendship and assistace.I am Miss Tersy Jabie the only child of late chief and Mrs Jabie ,my father was poisoned to death by his business associates because of his wealth and during my fathers sickness he called me on his sick bed as his only child because my mother died when i was young and told me about the money($10.500.000) he deposited in a bank here in our country that it was because of this money he was poisoned that if he dies i shall look for some one whom i trust to help me transfer this money out of this our country to his account for investment purpose abroad while i will continue my education then the person will be managing the investment.Dear am soliciting your assistance to help me transfer this money out of this country for my life sake while i will come to meet you to continue my education in your country.
Dear am looking forward to hear from you so that we can discuss on what will be your compensation for this assistace.As i have every documents that relates to this transfer.
Please reply me directely on this my private mail box for more details.
tersyjabie@yahoo.fr
or
tersyjabie5@yahoo.fr

Expecting to hear from you.

Thanks
miss Tersy Jabie.
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Mottram Wins!

September 18th 2006 08:26
I'll be back with more food related posts soon, but in the meantime, have a look at what Craig Mottram has been up to over the weekend; he defeated Kenenisa Bekele to win the World Cup 3000m. What a champ. Check it out here on my running diary by clicking here.
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Restaurants To Consider

September 11th 2006 03:12
Well, a couple of guides out, some new openings, and where does this leave us?
After all this information, where should you actually go to eat? Especially if you want to try different places.

Here's the places I want to try, or have recently tried and can recommend!

Snakebean, 90 something on Oxford St, close to Hyde Park. From the people who run RQ, but cheaper, with takeaway. And much cheaper, I'm told. Like, very. A mainly Thai joint, this tops my wish list. Race you there.

Pomegranate Thai in Balmain. Run by the same people as the various Prasits Thai places, but supposedly more inventive and off the beaten track. Which is music to my ears. And did someone say scampi pad prik khing? Oh boy, I'm there.

Straits Kitchen, Nonya/Singaporean, 476 Anzac Parade. This place I've been to, and can't recommend it highly enough. The chicken curry with roti is fantastic, just dunk away. This is also the place to have Hainanese chicken rice; and their claypot rice topped with meat looks almost as good as the stir fried vegies. Get into it.

Obviously quite interested in Ramen Kan after its award in Sydney Eats. And also Blue Eye Dragon.

Wouldn't mind trying Billy Kwong (the new "Favourite Asian" restaurant in this years Good Food Guide) to see what the fuss is about.

And finally, at the other end of the price spectrum, very much want to eat at Aria's, especially after drooling over photos from another blog, and their menus. I mean, just look at tha mash! It's obscene!

So if you're looking for a place to try, give one of these places a go, and be sure to tell me what you think, ay!
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Sydney Eats (incl. Cheap Eats)

September 10th 2006 02:28
Well from one food guide to another, the Sydney Eats guide (formerly Cheap Eats) came out recently. Sydney Eats fills a much needed gap; The Good Food Guide covers the upper market well, but leaves a little to be desired in the lower price range, the takeaways and cheaper restaurants.
However there's a lot of choice, and no scores (just price ranges) to guide you by, so choosing a place can be hard.

Their awards for this year:

Bent Fork: Blue Eye Dragon (Taiwanese, Pyrmont)
The Bent Fork is the top Sydney Eats award, but the restaurant must be new to the guide that year.

Clean Plate: Bentley Restaurant and Bar (Mod European, Surry Hills)
The Clean Plate is the award for food only, ignoring anything else like service, surrounds, or price.

Price Category Awards:
$: Ramen Kan (Japanese, esp. noodles, Haymarket)
$$: Aperitif (French/Medit., Kings Cross)
$$$: Bistrode (Mod Aus/French, Surry Hills)
$$$$: Coast (Italian, Darling Harbour)
$$$$$: Jonah's (Mod Aus, Palm Beach)
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GFG: The Movers and Shakers

September 9th 2006 05:59
Who lost their hats, who gained 'em? What were the big moves; who dropped the ball this past year... (so you know what to gossip about to your friends, obviously...)

Bilsons jumped up to 3 hats after a very favourable review in the Good Living a couple of months ago.

Becasse reopened in a new location this year, retained their two hats and jumped into Best Restaurant.

Billy Kwong picked up a hat, and Favourite Asian; see here.

Balzac unfortunately lost one hat, but in last weeks Good Living, Balzac's sister restaurant Two Rooms was given an unoficial hat. So it evens it out.

Longrain lost a hat, and Sailors Thai gained one, leaving them both at one hat, and leveling the playing field between Sydney's two top level (modern) Thai places.

Perama lost its hat, as did Spice I Am. And what's up with that?

For a full notation of all the ups and downs, check out Grab Your Fork here, with all the little pluses and minuses.
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Where is Non La?

September 9th 2006 00:13
How can Non La have been over looked in The Good Food Guide? Has no one told Simon Thomsen? (Why doesn't he read my blog...)

From what I can see, the GFG reviews past restaurants which have been in the book before, as well as new opening restaurants by well known chefs or in popular areas. However little effort is made to search through the already established pool of restaurants which have been operating for years.

I can appreciate that it must be difficult finding restaurants from the thousands around, and culling them for the book, but someone should really tell the reviewers about such obvious exclusions.

So for those who've got the book, I suggest you pencil in Non La, a top Vietnamese restaurant, with a score of 14 out of 20 (a really good level in the GFG).
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What's On In Sydney

September 8th 2006 07:59
Just a tip to check out the following list on Grab Your Fork about foodie events for the next two weekends. Just in case anyone out there is bored...

(and yes, apparently The Cross has an organic market...)

THIS WEEKEND

SAT 09 SEP: Ashfield Gourmet Market
SAT 09 SEP: Castle Hill Farmers Market
SAT 09 SEP: Farmers Market, Ent Quarter
SAT 09 SEP: Kings Cross Organic Market
SAT 09 SEP: Orange Grove Markets
SAT 09 SEP: Warwick Farm Trackside Market

SUN 10 SEP: National BBQ Day
SUN 10 SEP: Festival of the Winds
SUN 10 SEP: Italian Forum Market

NEXT WEEKEND

SAT 16 SEP: Ashfield Gourmet Market
SAT 16 SEP: Farmers Market, Ent Quarter
SAT 16 SEP: Northside Produce Market
SAT 16 SEP: Orange Grove Markets
SAT 16 SEP: Warwick Farm Trackside Market

SUN 17 SEP: Burwood Festival
SUN 17 SEP: Marrickville Festival
SUN 17 SEP: GUSTO Italian Festival
SUN 17 SEP: Italian Forum Market
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GFG: Categories and Favourite Asian

September 8th 2006 06:06
Hmmm...
Since when is all Asian food able to be grouped together?

I mean honestly, how do you compare Chinese to Japanese to Thai to Indian to *shudder* fusion? A couple of years ago The Good Food Guide (GFG) got rid of many of the categories such as Best Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and created the Favourite Asian category. Similarly with the merging of Best Italian, French, Greek, into Favourite Mediterranean. And now no mention of Steak or Seafood picks. Even the selections of fish and chip places has gone.

Where's the advantage in condensing and bastardising all these categories? Are you trying to tell me that I don't need to know where the best Thai or Japanese place is because the best Asian place happens to be Chinese?

And as it so happens, how come last year's Favourite Asian, Spice I Am, got demoted? The new Favourite Asian restaurant is Kyle Kwong's 'Billy Kwong', a modern Chinese place. No, I haven't eaten there. But I have eaten regularly at Spice I Am, which has gotten better over the past year. All I'm saying is, where's the recognition?
Plus, at Billy Kwong's roughly $80 per person banquet, and mains between $19 and $42, Spice I Am is definitely more accessable.
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To Be A Fly On The Wall...

September 8th 2006 05:32
Indeed.



Assumedly at Tetsuya's during the Alain Ducasse dinner.
From left, Tetsuya Wakuda, Tony Bilson, and Alain Ducasse (9 Michelin stars over 3 restaurants)

Photo from SMH
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GFG Restaurant of the Year, Becasse

September 8th 2006 04:53
Just an interesting note on Becasse and this award. It's the first time it's ever been given to a restaurant without three hats (Becasse has two). But it's a stunning place, in terms of set up and room, and the prices are slightly more accessable. So; good choice, as it takes the award away from the extreme top, and allocates it to a fantastic restaurant which does more accessable food, even if it still is at the two hat level. That said, half a dozen or so restaurants might have fit that description, although Becasse has always stood out.
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Good Food Guide (GFG) Awards

September 8th 2006 03:58
The GFG came out earlier this week, I hope everyone has their copy. For those who don't, here's how the awards at the top panned out.

Restaurant of the year Becasse, city

Chef of the year Katrina Kanetani, pastry chef, Pier, Rose Bay

Best new restaurant Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Surry Hills

Best regional restaurant Fins, Byron Bay

The Sydney Morning Herald Award for Professional Excellence Tony Bilson of Bilson's, for his commitment to fine dining, the marriage of food and wine, his influence on the next generation of chefs and for 35 years of great food.

The Sydney Morning Herald Silver Service Award Toni Urquhart of No. 2 Oak Street, Bellingen, for enthusiastic, charming, genuine, warm-hearted country hospitality and being a great sommelier to boot.

The Good Food Guide Sommelier Award Nick Hildebrandt of Bentley Restaurant & Bar, for showing us a bigger world of wine that's accessible, fascinating and, best of all, fun.

The Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award Philip Wood from Tetsuya's. The young chef receives a return international flight courtesy of Qantas, along with the chance to work in leading European restaurants, a substantial cash prize from food suppliers and leading Sydney chefs, and a set of Furitechnics knives.

Favourite bistro Bistrode, Surry Hills

Favourite Mediterranean VINI, Surry Hills

Favourite Asian Billy Kwong, Surry Hills

Favourite pizza La Disfida, Haberfield

Favourite yum cha Marigold Citymark, Haymarket

Favourite bar Bambini Wine Room, city

Favourite cafe Brasserie Bread, Banksmeadow

City

Three hats

Bilson's, Claude's, est., Guillaume at Bennelong, Marque, Pier, Quay, Tetsuya's

Two hats

Aria, Becasse, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Bistro Moncur, Buon Ricordo, Iceberg's Dining Room & Bar, Lucio's, Omega, Pello, Pier Tasting Room, Pilu at Freshwater, Rockpool, Sean's Panaroma, Yoshii

One hat

Alchemy 731, Assiette, Astral, The Bathers' Pavilion Restaurant, Billy Kwong, Bird Cow Fish, Bistro CBD, Bistro Moore, Bistrode, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, buzo, Catalina Rose Bay, Coast, Fish Face, Flying Fish, Forbes & Burton, Forty One, Galileo, Grand National, Il Piave, Jonah's, La Sala, Longrain, Lo Studio, Lotus, Mezes at Omega, Milsons, Otto, Restaurant Atelier, Restaurant Balzac, Restaurant Sojourn, Sailors Thai Restaurant, Three Weeds, The Wharf, Ying's

Regional

Two hats

Collits' Inn (Hartley Vale), Fins (Byron Bay), Solitary (Leura Falls)

One hat

Ashcrofts (Blackheath), Bannister's (Mollymook), Boomerang (Byron Bay), Caveau (Wollongong), Courgette (Canberra City), Darley's (Katoomba), dish (Byron Bay), Eschalot (Bowral), The Journeyman (Berrima), Lolli Redini (Orange), Lochiel House (Kurrajong Heights), Neila (Cowra), No. 2 Oak Street (Bellingen), Ottoman Cuisine (Barton), Restaurant II (Newcastle), The River (Moruya), Sage (Braddon), Tonic (Millthorpe), Vulcans (Blackheath), Zest (Nelson Bay)

Text from the SMH site.
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Prasits Thai Northside Take Away

September 4th 2006 02:36
395 Crown Street, Surry Hills - 9332 1792

Prasits Thai Northside is the takeaway and casual eatery version of Prasits Thai Northside 2 down the street, which is unfortunately closed when we go.
Prasits is a long running Sydney institution, having moved all around the city, and currently running in Surry Hills, but retaining its north shore name.

I'm a little hesitant to pass judgement on Prasits; some things work, but others don't. And although it's better than the average Thai place, I did expect more from a place with such a history and following. Still, we didn't try the main restaurant, so maybe that has something to do with it.

The menu offers some more unusual dishes, such as Banana Flower Salad, but some land with a thud, especially the overly sweet salads. On the other hand, there are some truely spectacular dishes, such as the Tofu Tamarind. I think it's a matter of experimentation and finding the dishes you like, and sticking to what's good.

And although I don't have a photo of the Tofu Tamarind (mainly because it got eaten before a photo was possible) it was fantastic. Deep fried tofu with an unbelievably crisp outside and silky soft creamy inside is covered in a thick sweet tamarind sauce. And is delicious.



Masaman Curry with Chicken is good, but then again I've never been a big fan. However this one is lifted by the inclusion of peanuts, and crispy fried shallots.



The Prasit Stir Fry with basil, green beans, and bamboo shoots is a welcome chilli hit; the sauce is tasty and the vegetables fresh and crunchy, but the bamboo shoots cut up into tiny cubes is a bit unsettling, kind of like baby food - I much prefer the more usual long strips.



Chicken Salad has a strong peanut taste - like a chicken satay salad. Which is nice for a few mouthfuls, but after a while the sweetness becomes overpowering.



Jungle Curry is welcome after the previous sugar hit, and helps to balance the excessive sugar which is coming in the Banana Flower Salad. Peppercorns, apple eggplants and a tart but spicy sauce makes this dish work well.



I love the idea of Banana Flower salad, mostly because it's something different, and I love salads. It comes with chicken poached in coconut milk and peanut. Sounds great. And it is, for a couple of moments. But gosh, after that, it becomes like eating raw sugar.

Prasits is solid; there are some interesting specials, like the crispy fish, and I would love to try their noodle dishes. But then again, the sugar has to be toned back. It's all about balance, after all. So while it's better than the average, there just seems to be something missing to really lift it above the others.
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Good Food Guide 2007

September 4th 2006 02:31
It's here. Well, nearly. Tomorrow, in fact. Just a heads up to make sure everyone gets their copy; it's well worth it.
Also look out for the Good Living in the SMH tomorrow, for a big feature on who won and lost hats, the new places, and all the goss.
And finally check back here in the next couple of days for a summary of the GFG ups and downs, the good and the bad, who's done what.
Eating Season for 2007 is beginning. Can you feel it? I hope you're hungry...
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New Stuff... Plus Good Food Guide Cover

September 1st 2006 13:03
Stuff's coming, I promise. Soon, very soon. This weekend.

Stay tuned.

In the meantime, have a sneak peak of the new Good Food Guide cover on Sydney Food Diary. For anyone who cares, that is. Like me.

Yes, it will get better...
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