El Bulli del Punto

I ate at El Bulli in Surry Hills a few years ago (I think it was 2008, yes it must have been as our eyes lit up when we saw Dulce de Leche on the menu and it instantly transported us back to Argentina which we'd visited early 2008) and after we had paid for the delicious meal I noticed on the business card that there was an El Bulli del Punto - tapas at The Spot in Randwick? Perfect for me, as it's close to where I live.

Since then I've been to El Bulli del Punto a few times with the family and we always enjoy the food and atmosphere - seriously, does anyone not love tapas? It's not a huge space - there's wooden tables and chairs with cushioned seating along one of the walls (with cushions too), painted fresco walls, candles and a simple glass vase on each table holding two roses. It's warm and inviting which I like.

The complimentary bread comes with a super addictive dipping sauce - I think it's allioli, the Catalan version of aioli. It's somewhat runnier but the garlicky taste is divine. I think I could have this as a meal on it's own but I'd probably have to fight the rest of my family for it!


Lovely allioli with bread, disappearing right before my eyes!

Tonight we order the Ensalada de Tomate (layers of vine ripened tomatoes, spanish onion & fresh basil served in a vinaigrette dressing, $14.50). We don't normally order this but UK (as in Uncle K, not United Kingdom!) has just gotten a not-so-favourable cholesterol reading so a healthy salad is in order. It's simple, light and refreshing - I'd consider ordering it again. But there's always an order of Alitas al Ajillo (garlic chicken wings, $14.50) for Dylzo who is 10 years old and loves all things chicken. They are heaped with garlic which gives them loads of flavour.

Ensalade de Tomato (is that beer good for cholesterol UK?) and Alitas al Ajillo in a nice setting, perfect for tapas.

Personally, I cannot go past the Chipirones (char grilled baby squid in a salt and garlic sauce, $14.50). Oh baby - baby squid! The first time I ever had Chipirones was with Jess in Barcelona and the ones here are nearly, possibly equally,  as good. They are tender bite sized pieces that you can't stop eating.

Chipirones - if you like squid, you'll love these babies!

Cordero Adobado a la Plancha (marinated barbecued lamb backstrap fillets, $19.50) is always a favourite, juicy and full of flavour. Another favourite which is bound to be ordered is Champiñones al Ajillo (sauteed mushrooms in garlic, parsley, white wine & olive oil, $12.50) - garlic and mushrooms are like a match made in heaven that I never get tired of eating. The last savoury dish is up to me to choose this time and I've opted for something we don't normally get - Melon con Jamón (juicy chunks of fresh rockmelon wrapped in thinly sliced serrano ham, $13.50). I enjoy this classic combination, as it's a refreshing contrast to the rest of the dishes and lightens the meal a little.

Cordero Adobado a la Plancha, Melon con Jamón and Champiñones al Ajillo - están muy ricos!

Everyone is so full by the time we finish the tapas and noone is looking in good shape for dessert. I convince them to share a Crema Catalana (traditional baked custard with caramelised sugar coating, $13.50) because AA likes her creme brulees and I use this to persuade her. This version is a little thicker than some and the caramelised coating is almost a solid sheet which needs a decent whack to get through. It tastes like it's got the tiniest hint of alcohol but I can't be sure. Somewhat sweeter than a usual creme brulee, the others find it a tad too sweet and rich, so I end up eating most of it on my own. No complaints from me!

Crema Catalana. You guys sure you don't want anymore? I guess I'll have to eat it all myself... heehee.

What: El Bulli del Punto (see website for details of both El Bulli restaurants)
Where: 40 St Pauls St, Randwick 2031 (02) 9398 2027
How much: See website for menu and prices
Need to know: I'd definitely recommend booking ahead, as it can get quite busy!

Java Restaurant

Looking at my posts, it probably seems I don't eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. That perhaps my diet is comprised solely of snacks instead. So it's time for a dinner post. And what better than one of my favourite restaurants in Randwick, no, make that one of my favourite restaurants full stop! It's none other than Java Restaurant, an Indonesian place that's been around for years and years (it's something in the vincinity of 20, I can't remember exactly now).

I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but my family have been eating at this restaurant for over 10yrs, and we order the same dishes every time. EVERY time. When we've got a larger table, then we might add something new to try. But the dishes I'm going to blog about today, are the ones that we order without fail. The waiter knows as well and smiles knowingly when he says "the usual?" :)

The usual #1 - Ayam Sereh. Deep fried chicken pre-marinated in lemon grass and spices ($13.90). It's the perfect fried chicken, with crispy coated skin and tender flesh. The lemon grass and spices are the perfect combination, not too overpowering. It's served with chilli on the side which is a low spicy and I think contains some tomato. Sometimes when we have a big table of diners, we order 2 serves cause nobody wants to miss out. That's how good it is.

The usual #2 - Kangkung Cah Bawang Putih or Terasi. Choice of stir-fried Water Spinach sauteed with garlic or tomato slices, onions and shrimp paste chilli ($13.90). We always go for the garlic option, as some of our family are not chilli eaters. Plus it's nice to have a non-chilli dish as all the other dishes have a chilli component. This is the kind of vegetable dish that everyone likes, even people who don't like vegetables. And I can attest to that as I do know such people and they have gone to Java and liked this dish!

Ayam Sereh, Kangkung with garlic.

The usual #3 - Terong Belado. Fried egg plant pieces topped with belado chilli (11.90). Perfectly fried eggplant topped with a fresh chilli sauce that isn't too spicy. For a fried dish, it's nice and light, the pieces of eggplant are chunky so you get nice fresh eggplant inside.

The usual #4 - Ikan Goreng Cabe. Deep fried whole snapper topped with medium hot chilli (market price, last time I had it, it was $31). Another glorious example of how deep fried food should taste. The fish is not too dry inside, and the outside is so crispy that you can crunch away on the fins and other fried bits. The chilli is different to those in the above dishes - it's a little hotter and not so much the salsa-like consistency that you get with Ayam Sereh or Terong Belado. Note that we ask for our chilli to be served on the side.

Terong Belado, Ikan Goreng Cabe.

Rice costs $2 per person, but is unlimited. And that's important cause this is the kind of food that makes you eat more rice than usual. And it does seem like a lot of fried food to eat at once, but you don't walk out feeling like you just ate a bucket of KFC. Our mum likes healthy food that's boiled or steamed but even she has a soft spot for Java.

This post is dedicated to Ice Man. I once had some leftover Ayam Sereh which I took to work the next day and gave to Ice Man to try. Even though it was leftover fried food that had to be reheated in the microwave, he loved it and asked me where I got it from. I said we'd go for lunch or dinner sometime together with Clem but haven't got around to it yet. This is a good reminder, we should go soon, I'm always up for Java :)

What: Java Restaurant
Where: 151 Avoca St, Randwick. Ph: 02 9398 6990. Open every day 11am-10pm except Tuesday
How much: Most dishes under $20
Need to know: They only take cash payments and for friday and saturday night dinner you should definitely make a booking

High

Recently my great aunt came to Sydney from Malaysia stay with us for three months. She's a coffee lover, or rather a caffeine addict should I say. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.. wherever she went she would try a coffee. Anyone who's been to Malaysia will know that good western style coffee is HARD to find. So it was fitting that we take her for one more Sydney-coffee before she flew back to Malaysia. Where better than her favourite coffee spot in Sydney. High - a cafe on High Street in Randwick that apparently serves excellent Toby's Estate coffee. I'm no expert as I don't drink coffee but from all accounts it's a very good coffee indeed and it looks it too:


Large latte - coffee really is the star of High cafe.

 But it's not just the coffee that tastes good, all day breakfast does too. Avocado, tomato and basil on sourdough toast looked light and fresh. Poached eggs with sourdough toast and a side of avocado was polished off with not a scrap to spare, but for me and my great aunt, we just couldn't go past the scrambled eggs with sourdough toast and 2 sides of bacon to share. The bacon is crispy, the scrambled eggs not too runny with the right amount of creaminess and the sourdough toast soft and fresh. It's a comfortable space too - small but cosy with some artwork on the walls and coffee display at the entrance. There was a continuous trickle of customers and not too many staff but service was still friendly. My family will definitely be back for the coffee, it'll be bacon for me again too!


Scrambled eggs with sourdough toast and 2 sides of bacon. Avocado, tomato and basil on sourdough toast.


What: High Cafe
Where: Shop 6, 166 High St Randwick (Mon-Thu 6:30am-4:00pm, Fri 6:30am-3:00pm, Sat/Sun 7:00am-3:00pm)