Princess Coco Part 2!

So you might have read my post last week when I went to check out Princess Coco when they had their 'sneak preview' opening. They were closed again monday to wednesday this week for further 'training, security and refrigeration upgrade'. Today they were open again and I decided to buy a couple of their individual cakes to take home and share with my mum (THE cake lover of all time).

Sorry mum, there's only 2 cakes in there!

Admittedly these cakes are not cheap, they're around the $8.50 mark for takeaway and around $12.50 for eat in but they looked really good and definitely worth a try.

Ooh I cannot wait to eat these pretty things!

The first piece I chose was a raspberry and chocolate cake - it has a crunchy biscuit base which contains nuts (hazelnuts I think?) topped with layers of chocolate and raspberry. Decorated with fresh raspberry and pistachio, some silver leaf and a delicate curl of chocolate it's almost too pretty to eat. But oh my does it taste good. Really good! The base has a nice roasted nutty flavour, the raspberry layer is tart and fresh and the dark chocolate mousse is smooth and not too sweet - it all combines together really well and it's not too sweet at all.

Raspberry chocolate cake - layer upon layer of yum!

The second piece was a raspberry mousseline (or was it just called berry mousseline? I can't remember now I'm afraid). It's a round cake and cute as a button and very striking in colour. There's a thin cake layer on the bottom, topped with the berry mousseline and decorated with chopped nuts, a small cube of coconut dusted marshmallow and an arc of chocolate. Mum did the honours of cutting it in half for me to get an inside shot but had a little mishap as you can see in the photo, oops! Inside there is actually a disc of mango mousse (or something like mousse). Dang this cake is realllly good as well. The berry and mango components are very fresh and you can tell they use real fruit for both the cakes. It's tart and fresh with just the right level of sweetness. Yum!!

Berry (raspberry?) mousseline. Arrrgh cake down! cake down!

I'm really impressed by these cakes - perfectly balanced flavours and great 'cakemanship' which is clearly evident when you eat them. Yummy!!

What: Princess Coco Chocolaterie
Where: 158-166 Day St, Sydney (Mon-Wed: 7am-8pm, Thu-Fri: 7am-10pm, Sat: 10am-10pm, Sunday closed)
How much: The mousseline is $8.50 takeaway and the raspberry chocolate cake was $9.50.

Princess Coco Chocolaterie - Salon du chocolat

So.. I walk past this block every day and have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Princess Coco. After a long time of no action, the renovations started happening and then last week they seemed like they were training staff and preparing to finally open (yes, I was peeking through the glass doors whenever I could catch a glimpse!).

Today the store had a 'sneak preview' opening with the official opening on August 29 which will have the full menu available.

View from outside.. those chandeliers are bright and sparkly!

I like the fit out which is in line with their belle epoque style (see the story on their website) - pretty chandeliers, comfy purple and gold chairs, soft music which isn't too loud so it's a relaxing space which is suitable for conversation too. Service was polite, prompt and unobtrusive with menus and water provided as soon as we sat down. Oh and behind the counter you can see into the kitchen which I like as this means they at least make some, if not all, of the food there!

Hmm... glass cabinet full of chocolates

Seating along the side

And they use Valrhona chocolate so how can you go wrong? I decided to try something simple - Earl Grey chocolate noir (Caraibe dark chocolate with hints of bergamot). The earl grey flavour is just right - strong but not overpowering. The chocolate was a tad too sweet for my liking but that's just personal preference. It's a little on the pricey side with takeaway at $6.50 and dine-in $8.50 but nothing out of the ordinary for a chocolate cafe and looking at the displays of macarons, cakes and chocolates I think the quality should be good.

I'll definitely be interested to see what the full menu will be like and to try some more of their stuff!

I'd like one of these chairs in my home! Earl Grey chocolat noir and the macarons on display.

Cakes look pretty.... might go back and buy one...

What: Princess Coco Chocolaterie
Where: 158-166 Day St, Sydney (Mon-Wed: 7am-8pm, Thu-Fri: 7am-10pm, Sat: 10am-10pm, Sunday closed)
How much: Hot chocolate was $6.50 takeaway and $8.50 dine in.

Glass Wine Bar's $20 Corporate Lunch

Yep! Glass Wine Bar has a $20 Corporate lunch available Mon-Fri 12-3pm for a limited time. The description on their website is as follows:

"Even if you are having a busy day, make time for lunch and enjoy glass Wine Bar’s NEW ‘Corporate Lunch Options’- which features our famous wagyu burger, beef pie, minute steak or market fish and chips with a glass of under & Over Shiraz or a Vale Ale beer for only $20. No bookings are required."

I've had a crazy craving for burgers lately so I was super excited to try this out! The wine bar is a very nice setting for lunch - it's airy and filled with light, and you can watch the action in the kitchen too.

The view of the kitchen.

 
C's opted for the minute steak and a glass of wine whereas I've chosen a ginger ale and of course the wagyu burger. The steak is nicely cooked and quite tender, it comes with bearnaise sauce - I've got a bit of food envy! But then my burger arrives and it's exactly what I've been craving! The meat is juicy and there's bacon, cheese, bbq sauce, tomato and a pickle on the side. Both meals come with a serve of freshly cooked french fries. It's more than filling for a lunch and super tasty. It's more than what I would normally spend on lunch but makes for a nice treat, I think I'd like to come back and order the steak!

Drinks, Minute Steak, Wagyu Burger - complete with a french fry trying to escape!

 
What: Glass Wine Bar's $20 Corporate luch
Where: Glass Wine Bar at the Hilton Hotel
How much: $20

Wrap & Roll

"It's only WRAP & ROLL but I like it!" is the tag line for the Vietnamese offering called Wrap & Roll at Westfield Sydney.

I was definitely keen to check out this place as there were many interesting dishes that you don't normally see at Vietnamese restaurants in Sydney, let alone in the cbd. As it's tag line suggests, it's largely wraps and rolls - you won't find beef noodle soup or pork chop rice. I was immediately drawn to the Bánh cuốn which is on the starters section of the menu. It's described as "Mushrooms and minced pork rolled with transparent freshly steamed rice paper, topped with fried shallots. Served with bean sprouts and fresh herbs and a Northern style sauce. A signature dish and a classic from the north."

Check out the steamy action!

It's worth checking out how they make the freshly steamed rice paper as the roll making counter is visible through glass. They pour the milky looking batter onto the steamer, cover it with a lid and in no time at all you have a delicate sheet of rice paper. It's a light dish, the pork mince and mushrooms make for a simple and homely taste, made complete by the fried shallots which adds a crunchy contrast to the rolls as well as giving the taste a stronger accent. The sauce is also light and fresh so that it doesn't overpower the dish. It's a light and fresh dish and I really enjoyed it. So much so, I've had it 3 times already and still can't bring myself to try the other dishes on the menu - that will have to wait til next time, assuming I can stop myself ordering the Bánh cuốn again!

Bánh cuốn

What: Wrap & Roll
Where: Shop 5004, Retail Level 5, Westfield Sydney (188 Pitt St Sydney) 0280727050
How much: Bánh cuốn will cost you $8.90 - dishes range from $8.90 to $15.00

Jack Snacks!... Bon Bon Fine Chocolate at The Strand Arcade

Ooh ooh! A new chocolate shop!

That was my reaction when I came across the new "branch" of the Bon Bon Fine Chocolate shop which has just opened at The Strand Arcade. It's a lot bigger than their original QVB shop, which is a tiny hole-in-the-wall that most peole know or have walked past at some point. I immediately went inside to have a look - it's got a nice chocolate shop meets library/study feel. There's shades of brown, browny-orange and cream to match the chocolate mood. The library theme is defined with old-fashioned looking books and globes on the shelves and old-fashioned looking map frescos on the wall. All under the chandeliers which hang from the ceiling, giving the room a sparkly brightness.

Mmm chocolate...

But more interesting to me are the endless packages which are neatly displayed - chocolate-covered coffee beans, fruit (muscatels, currants, sundried montmorency cherries), coconut rough and different kinds of nuts (including macadamias, pistachios, almonds). There's also a few flavours of nougat and chocolate in various forms such as thin discs, pretzel shapes and a good old plain block of chocolate. The 'fancy' chocolates are available in pre-packed gift boxes or you can select your own from the glass display at the counter - there's plenty to choose from and I've already worked out which ones I'm interested in trying!

...and more chocolate...

Bon Bon's chocolates are made using French and Belgian chocolate so it's good stuff. The abundance of small packets are the perfect trap for the CBD worker looking for a snack or as a gift. On my first visit I tasted a couple of samples and knew I would be back. So there I was the next day purchasing a packet of the Sundried Montmorency Cherries in 60% Dark Chocolate ($9.50 for 150gm). They're ugly little knobs with a dusting of cocoa powder and totally irresistable - the dark chocolate is rich and the dried cherries are soft. It's a little on the sweet side but so delicious, for me it was perfect with some hot green tea as an after dinner treat.

The only bad thing about this fabulous new shop? The risk that my whole paycheck is going to be spent here!

What: Sundried Montmorency Cherries in 60% Dark Chocolate
Where: Bon Bon Fine Chocolate - Shop 33, Ground Floor, The Strand Arcade, Sydney (02) 9232 2992
How much: The cherries were $9.50 for 150gm, prices vary for the other items

Old friends and old favourites: Encasa

There's nothing better than spending time with an old friend - Lost Girl is by no means old, but we've been friends for a long time and that's something I'm more than grateful for.

So what better than dinner with an old friend at an old favourite? I first went to Encasa in 2004 - asked to organise a work lunch for our team of about 12 people (my gluttony was infamous even back then) I thought Encasa would make a good choice. The logic? More people equals more tapas! We ordered 2 of every tapa on the lunch menu and it was ALOT of food and all delicious. It's since been a favourite of mine, the tapas are authentic and the prices are good value.

But back to my dinner with Lost Girl - we didn't want anything too heavy or meaty so we decided to choose two seafood and one vegie tapa. The first was "Pulpo a la Plancha" (grilled fresh baby octopus, $13.50). The taste was nice, although a teeeeeny bit on the chewier side. We still ate it all, but I probably wouldn't recommend it for those with dentures heehee!

We also wanted to get the "Sardinas en Vinagre" (Sardine fillets marinated in olive oil, vinegar and garlic, $9.50). When ordering we were told they don't have sardines but they do have "Anchoas" (anchovies). No complaints from me. These are so good. They go so well with the lightly toasted bread that comes drizzled with a touch of olive oil, the vinegar is refreshing and the olive oil and garlic add loads of flavour. I could eat this all night.

Pulpo a la Plancha. Anchoas en Vinagre - goes perfectly with the lightly toasted bread.

As for the vegie choice... if I could only order 2 dishes when eating at Encasa, these would probably be it because I always order them when I come here. "Champiñones al Ajillo" (Sizzling garlic mushrooms, $9) and Patatas Bravas (Fried potato w/ garlic mayonnaise and spicy tomato salsa, $9). The mushrooms are so garlicky that you probably won't make any new friends but you won't care cause it's more than worth it. And the potatoes, talk about a perfect combination. And it's a huge plate so it's excellent value too.

I'll take Patatas Bravas over chips any day.
And Champiñones al Ajillo - the tastiest defense against vampires and hot dates!

I'm looking forward to my next catch up with Lost Girl. I'm also looking forward to catching up with Encasa again too.

What: Encasa restaurant
Where: 423 Pitt St, Sydney (02) 9211 4257 (check their website for hours and menu)
How much: Tapas range from about $7-$15, they also have main dishes as well as pizza and pasta
Need to know: You should definitely book for dinner, it's always busy at night time. I don't know about you, but I don't like missing out when I have my heart set on Spanish....

The Cut Bar & Grill (and some birthday wishes)

This post is dedicated to 3 people. Firstly, NfOrCeR as this dinner was for his 30th birthday celebration - hope you had a great birthday my friend! And I am really glad I got to celebrate with you! Secondly is tanash - a big, big thank you, you know why. And last but certainly not least to E because today is his birthday and he loves a good piece of meat. Happy birthday E!! :)

So yes, meat features in this post. And really it should because meat is the absolute star of The Cut Bar & Grill. Now, I have to admit - being an Argyle restaurant I had some doubts. I didn't expect the food to be bad, I expected good food. I just didn't know whether it would be a great meal or whether it would be a case of style over substance. I'm not saying that Argyle is style over substance, just that a few frequenters are (a few, not all, and definitely none of my friends fall in this category). Maybe I think this because one can be refused entry to Argyle if one is not fashionably attired. It's also possible I was one of these said people the same night we came to The Cut to eat.

One last point about style. The Cut does have style. There's the pair of bullhorns overhead as you descend the stairs down to the underground restaurant. Marble tables, exposed sandstone and brick walls, timber ceiling beams and supports. Leather banquettes, leather chairs, leather chairs with cowhide backs. Black and white 'sketch' mural of a bookshelf that tells you which toilet is for which gender. Glass wall that corridors off the toilets with a barely discernable gap as an entry point (and if you miss it, the table nearest to the toilets might just notice and have a little giggle). Little cleavers and chopping boards acting as door handles in the toilets (which of course you don't see until you've made it through the glass wall).

F stands for female, leather abounds, the moody looking bar.

Yes folks, it is one stylish meat house. But it's comfortable too - the temperature is just right - even for the person who is always cold (me!). The lighting is soft but it's not so soft that you can't read the menu or see your food. Noise level is good too - it's quiet enough that you don't have to shout yet noisy enough that you don't have to whisper to avoid sharing your conversation with adjacent tables. And as we were seated on a bigger table with the curved leather banquette on one side, it felt very much like your own dining space.

Hurry up and get to the food you say? Ok. But first I need a drink. How about a "Mrs Robinson" cocktail (Parma Pomegranate Liqueur and Pomme Verte with lychee juice, whole lychees and watermelon cubes, $20)? It's described as young, fresh and fruity - aptly so as it ticks all those boxes. The only complaint is that it's got fruity bits in it which don't travel up the skinny straw too well. But that doesn't stop our table from ordering 3 of them.

Why hello Mrs Robinson.... yummy..

Bread is nice, there's a choice of white or brown (?) and best of all you can butter it or dip in olive oil. Side dishes are nice too, all $9. We got 'Shoestring fries with horseradish aioli', 'Steamed broccoli with almonds and anchovy butter' and 'Fried rosemary potatoes with prosciutto' which was the table favourite. Salads are all $10, ours was a 'Baby cos, red radish, dill creme fraiche and garlic croutes'. All is well in the food department thus far, but there's no wow factor just yet...

Bread olive oil or butter, shoestring fries, mustard.

Glorious fried potatoes with prosciutto, baby cos lettuce salad, steamed broccoli.

That is until the steak arrives and everything sort of fades into the background. The menu indicates that they are all grilled over beechwood and charcoal, then finished under a 650 degree broiler. I chose the '4-hour Slow roast Sher F1 Wagyu standing rib', served from their wagyu beef trolley, opting for the 300gm 'standard cut' ($39). It comes out on a white plate plain and simple, no unnecessary garnishes or adornments - it's all about the meat. It is perrrfectly cooked. It is stupennnndously tender. It tastes absolutely FANTASTIC. There are complimentary mustards or you can order a sauce for $5. Being an Argentinian food devotee, I tried the chimichurri. This was the one and only disappointment of the meal, it's not at all like the chimichurri in Argentina so stick to the other sauces (I tasted the ones my friends ordered and they were much nicer). And if you want real chimichurri then head to Porteño. One friend didn't order any sauce and was given a steak gravy/sauce of some sort, which I think a nice gesture.

E - this one's just for you, happy birthday my friend!

After the amazing steak, it was time for dessert. We placed our orders and NfOrCeR's was served with a candle for his birthday. Aww. I like those kinds of gestures too. I had 'Chocolate coconut mousse, black cherry sorbet with coconut rough soil and cherry liquer bubbles' ($16). Yum - quite a strong chocolate emphasis but a really nice flavour. The black cherry sorbet really cuts through the sweetness and makes for a good pairing. 'Praline crusted meringue with passionfruit curd and campari pearls' ($14) - it's one of their sweeter offerings but very nice and very pretty presentation. And then the 'Apple pie' - apple and blackberry jelly, honey creme, black cumin milk sorbet ($14) - this was very good. So good that the owner of this particular plate had eaten half before I got to take a photo. And I could see why once I tasted it, all the components worked well together in both taste and texture, a perfect combination of fruity and creamy flavours. I felt a little sugared out by the end of dessert so possibly something a little lighter would have been more suitable. But then that's probably because I was in a steak-induced food coma... and it was totally worth it.

Chocolate coconut mousse, Praline crusted meringue, half of the 'Apple Pie'

Hope you had a great birthday NfOrCeR!

What: The Cut Bar & Grill
Where: 16 Argyle Street, The Rocks
How much: Check the online menu for additional prices

K-Week continues... NARU Korean Restaurant

So far during this K-Week, the posts have been fairly standard Korean things. Korean BBQ, instant noodles - nothing too new there. But there are many, many other Korean foods out there and I will, over time, try to blog about many more. So I thought it fitting to introduce something very Korean this week.

Haejangguk (해장국)  is a Korean "hangover stew". Read more about it on wiki. I first had this dish in Strathfield last year and it is a really hearty dish, perfect for the oncoming winter. It's very Korean too, you won't find it at any old restaurant - here in Sydney I've only seen it at a couple of eateries and it's always the specialty dish.

And now there's a new restaurant in the city that specialises in Haejangguk. Yay! It's called NARU and I have been waiting and waiting for this place to finally open as I had walked past it many times while they were still renovating. Was it worth the wait? Most definitely.

Finally it's open! Head downstairs and it's a little piece of Korea.

It's in an inconspicuous spot amongst the other Koreatown restaurants - you need to walk down the stairs to get to the entrance. But inside is a bright space full of Korean's eating Haejangguk. The menu is a laminated A3 sheet with a few noodle dishes but the rest consists mostly of meat and seafood. The Haejangguk comes with either Short Beef Rib or Spicy Pork Rib. We got the Spicy Pork Rib ($13). It's a big serving and comes out in a hot pot - there's big chunks of pork rib, cooked chinese cabbage, eschallots, shredded fresh mint and cheoncho powder (powder from fruit skins of a citrus tree). It's all nestled into a hot, chilli soup. The flavours combine together and have a great kick. And the pork is so soft, you can't help but try to pick every last bit off the bones. They even give you a small tin 'bucket' lined with a plastic bag for discarding the bones.

Haejangguk - the tastiest hangover cure I've ever seen and yummy banchan on the side.

Check out them bones!

I thought we should order something a little different to the Haejangguk to try, so opted for Grilled Fish and Soybean Paste Stew ($12). It's very simple, the Soybean Paste Stew has only a little spice to it and is filled with cubes of tofu and cucumber. The fish looks rather plain but don't be fooled - it's so tasty and perfectly fried, not a dry bite to be found.

She looks a little plain, but mmm that is one tasty piece of fish!

Last but not least are the banchan side dishes that come complimentary (doesn't everybody just love complimentary banchan at Korean restaurants). These are definitely worth mentioning because NARU actually sells banchan, there's a fridge section near the entrance. The best one we tried tonight was the Kkakdugi (깍두기) which is kimchi made with daikon. It's tart, crunchy, chilli and cold all at the same time, just looking at the photo again I could eat some right now! But funny enough I didn't spot it in the banchan fridge for sale. There was, amongst other things, regular kimchi and white kimchi (kimchi without chilli, apparently this was the original form of kimchi before chilli was introduced to Korea).

So next time you're in the mood for Korean, consider trying NARU for something new. The only question that remains is - does Haejangguk really cure hangovers? I'm not too sure as I've only had it when I've been sober. If anyone has put it to the test, please let me know the results!

What: NARU Korean Restaurant
Where: 375 Pitt St, Sydney. The times on the opening banner said Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 3pm-10pm but on the glass window it says Mon-Sat from 8am, Sun 11am-9pm. Take your guess I suppose!
How much: Dishes range from $10 to $45. Our meal cost only $25 for 2 and we were more than satisfied!

Welcome to K-Week! First up - Kozy!

Happy Easter to everybody! Hope you are all enjoying a well-deserved break. For me, this means catching up on sleep (I have a HUGE sleep debt) and just as importantly, finding time to work on the preciousssss. Not that 'ring' precious, but 'this' precious - our blog!

So welcome to K-Week! This week of posts from me is all about a cuisine which I love loads and eat loads of - Korean food! To some it may seem there's not much variety, the stereotype of Korean food is Kimchi, Korean BBQ, Bibimbap and Bulgogi. I do love all those things, but there is so much more, and the variety available in Sydney these days is getting better and better. Let's get to it!

First up, what is this dark alleyway??? Where exactly am I taking you?

Err.. where are you taking me?

Don't be scared! I'm not going to threaten you with a knife and demand your money! No, no, nothing like that. In fact, this is my absolutely favourite Korean BBQ restaurant in the city. Yes, there are many good k-bbq's around, but there are many reasons why I like this one...

One night many months ago I was on my way to O Bal Tan (another very good Korean BBQ place in a city laneway). But on my way I came across this laneway, and my tummy told me I should go and have a look-see at what was down there. Lo and behold I found Kozy, a Korean barbecue restaurant. I peered through the doorway, took a squiz at the menu and decided this was our new destination instead. It was a fantastic meal and ever since that night I have returned many times. It is the only k-bbq restaurant I have eaten at ever since.

The most important thing at k-bbq? The meat! Kozy's got all the must-haves and it's very, very good quality. I always order Wagyu Flapmeat ($24) and it is worth every dollar - so meltingly-tender and flavoursome. Even if you accidentally over-cook some it's still soft (seriously, it is! I know cause I've done so). I also really like their Pork Belly ($17). There's a variation, Wine Pork Belly ($18). Both are good, but taste wise I have to admit I can't really taste much difference with the wine. The wined-pig's crispiness was a little better but maybe we just happened to do a better job of cooking that particular night, I'm not too sure. Another favourite is Beef Tongue ($18), not everyone likes tongue (yes that sounds wrong) but I do like it's lean, slightly chewy texture. It all cooks exceptionally well because Kozy uses real charcoal. And here they change the metal grill-plate for you regularly - you don't have to ask them and you don't have to pay. I couldn't ask for more. Well I could actually - one of the best things about k-bbq is that it's not an overly meat-heavy affair when eaten properly. You get fresh lettuce leaves - place a piece of meat in the middle and some dipping sauce. The standard offerings are sesame oil with salt and pepper, and korean style miso based sauce. I love both and they complement the meat really well. Wrap it all up and it's a great balance of flavours. We get as much lettuce as we like here at Kozy, and there's also fresh garlic and green chilli too.

The 'banchan' side dishes are a good standard, if you ask nicely I'm sure they'll refill them for you. On one occasion that I ate at Kozy, it was my birthday celebration with all my girlfriends from school and we went through a lot of banchan, our waiter was very kind and kept refilling it. Maybe it's cause we went through it so quickly and with such gusto, like a banchan-hungry mob.

Meat is always on the menu at a k-bbq.

Banchan side dishes and dipping sauces on the left, big thumbs up for charcoal on the right.

Pork belly, wagyu flapmeat, wrapped up in lettuce. OMG I am in heaven everytime I eat this. Seriously!!!

They also have those hot pot soups, the prices range from $12 to $15. All the ones I have tasted so far have been good - Gom Tang (thick beef-bone soup with sliced beef and vermicelli in hot pot), Hae Mul Silky Tofu Stew (spicy silky tofu stew served with mixed seafood and vegetables in hot pot), Kimchi Cheegae (kimchi stew with tofu, vegetables, and pork served in hot pot), Duen Jang Cheegae (Korean style miso stew with beef and assorted vegetables served in hot pot).

So far so good - good food, good service. But there's one last, fantastic surprise.... wait for it.... cheap Soju!!! That's Korean distilled beverage for the unfamiliar - in other words - alcohol. It's super cheap because for every $30 you spend you can have one bottle of Soju for $1! Yeap.. one dollar!! I think it's a minimum spend of $10 per person or something like that, I can't quite remember. But in any case, the cheap Soju is awesome value. My girlfriends loved this bargain as much as I do. Does that make us a banchan-hungry mob of Soju guzzlers?

Don't get me wrong soups are good... but $1 Soju is even better!

Do you still need another reason to check out Kozy? I would say no. But perhaps I haven't convinced everyone. During the day, there's no bbq to cook at your table. Instead there's a lunch special for only $7.99. You can choose from numerous options - a bowl of noodle soup or maybe rice with a dish of meat. You get some banchan side dishes too. All for $7.99! I've had the afore-mentioned Hae Mul Silky Tofu Stew with rice, So Bugolgi Set (Korean sizzling bbq beef marinated in soya sauce served with rice) and the Jan Chi Guksu (Korean style noodles with kimchi and vegetables in seasoned soup). The stew is hearty and makes for good comfort food, the bulgogi beef is soft and flavoursome which goes well with rice, and the noodle soup is light with a little kick of kimchi. All are generous serves that come with banchan side dishes and make for a very filling lunch. Awesome value!

Lunch special Hae Mul Silky Tofu Stew with rice and banchan. Only $7.99! And it don't look so dodgy in daylight.

Jan Chi Guksu in the foreground, So Bulgogi Set at the back - both $7.99, I smell a tasty bargain...

In summary:
I love small eateries in little laneways.
I love authentic Korean bbq.
I love a $1 Soju bargain.
I love a $7.99 lunch special that is filling and tastes good.
So it's easy to see why I love Kozy so much, it really is one of my favourite places to eat in Sydney!

What: Kozy Korean Barbecue
Where: 7 Wilmot St, Sydney (02) 9267 3533
How much: Lunch special $7.99 (regular lunch menu also available), BBQ meats in the $20 range, many more items available on the menu. Aaaaaand don't forget the $1 Soju!

Return to Central Baking Depot - Quiche and Cake

After my recent trip to Central Baking Depot, I was keen to go back. In particular, I was keen to try the Flourless Chocolate and Sour Cherry Slice. Well, I did go back. I went back at 4pm on a weekday when having a late lunch. I was hoping to sit in the cafe and relax a little but apparently it's only takeaway at this hour. So I took my treats to the park instead.

I was thinking of getting the Beef Brisket pie again but there weren't any left so I made a last minute decision to get the Pancetta and Gruyere Cheese Quiche. I don't know about others, but everytime I order a quiche I am instantly hit by a pang of regret. "What am I doing?!" is what I would usually think. Why you may ask? Because quiche usually has a disproportionate amount of egg which makes it a little bland and overly-eggy in a weird way. So I ordered this Pancetta and Gruyere Cheese Quiche and immediately started to question my judgement. To make matters worse I noticed on the way to the park that the paper bag was getting rather oily. Oh no! Was I to meet an eggy-oily fate? I took my first bite. Crunch!! Sure the pastry is a little on the oily side, but you barely notice it cause it's so crunchy and tasty. And then there's the pancetta - there is loads of it!!! The filling for the quiche is not at all over-eggy. I hardly remember the oil when I'm eating it, that's how good it is.

Enough pancetta to raise your cholesterol, in a most tasty way.

With savouries out of the way, it was time to finally taste the Flourless Chocolate and Sour Cherry Slice which I had oggled on previous occasions but never bought. It looked good in the shop but then after eating the quiche I worried if it was going to be too oily too. It's probably not that healthy - but dang it tastes good! It's so moist and soft and light you can practically inhale it. The chocolate flavour is nice, the only complaint is that there's not that many sour cherries. If there were a few more it would be even more awesome. One word - yum! Hmm.. what next to try from Central Baking Depot......

Have you sniffed this recently?

What: Pancetta and Gruyere Cheese Quiche, Flourless Chocolate and Sour Cherry Slice
Where: Central Baking Depot
How much: Quiche was $4.40 and Slice was $4.50

Central Baking Depot - Beef brisket, mushroom & red wine pie

For someone who's spent 5/6ths of their life living in Sydney, I've managed to not pick up some quintessential Sydney traits. I don't spend weekends at the beach, hardly drink beer and I don't watch the nrl religiously. Ok, I don't watch nrl at all. But one very Australian food that I've become very attached to over the years is the meat pie. So simple - a bit of pastry that holds some meat in sauce. It doesn't sound like much to get excited about but when done right a meat pie is heaven on earth to me.

This is where Central Baking Depot comes in. The 'little brother' of Bourke Street Bakery that's located in the CBD (CBD, Central Baking Depot.. co-incidence? I think not!), it has breads, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, coffee etc etc. There are a few small dine in tables but the large majority seem to line up for takeaway at this awesome bakery. The atmosphere reminds me alot of bakeries that you find in europe. And when I think of european bakeries I inevitably think of Bakken met Passie which is situated a few minutes walk from where Jess used to live in Amsterdam. I would go back to Amsterdam just to eat their amazing ham and cheese croissant which is hands down the best in the whole wide world. So ok, Central Baking Depot is not quiiite Bakken met Passie, but it's not far off and I think Sydney could definitely do with more places like this. I shall proceed to tell you why.

The pies and sausage rolls are supplied by Bourke Street Bakery and I know their sausage rolls are oh so famous but I'm a sucker for a pie and just have to try one. I choose the "beef brisket, mushroom and red wine pie". WOW. The pastry was light and flaky, with a smattering of poppyseeds on top. Inside you'll find REAL beef and NO gristle, surrounded by an abundance of thinly sliced mushrooms and a full flavoured red wine sauce. Beef brisket pie, where have you been all my life?? Everytime I think about this pie I want to eat it. Like.. right now...

Seriously, if you like meat pies half as much as I do, try it. I'm curious to know if anybody else is as impressed as me - so leave a comment if you do eat one and tell me what you think! Oh, I'm also super keen to try their 'flourless chocolate and sour cherry cake' as I remember oggling it the first time I visited Central Baking Depot and it's been waiting for me to try it ever since. In fact, I might have to get a piece during lunch tomorrow...

Flaky layers of pastry reveal a jumble of meat and mushrooms in a very tasty sauce. I kid you not, that is a chunk of real meat! And they don't skimp on the mushrooms either!

What: Central Baking Depot
Where: 37-39 Erskine St, Sydney. Check the website for opening hours and details of their new stores (Bondi Junction opens on 14 March and Neutral Bay in April 2011)
How much: A pie this good doesn't come cheap. It costs $5.30 - but it's worth every cent!

Sick days 2... Pho from Vermicelli

It's another day at work feeling sick and even so I don't really want to have soup every day. So instead, there's noodle soup :) I decided to try the beef noodle soup from Vermicelli on King St as I remember liking their rice paper rolls a long time ago. Since I'm still sick I opt for the regular size, it's pretty small and probably would only be filling enough for a healthy person with a very small appetite. The takeaway container is quite small too, so it's hard to manoeuvre the contents around and I can't get to the bean sprouts til I get to the very bottom of the container. Asides the bean sprouts logistics, the taste is nice - it's flavoursome and doesn't have the msg taste that leaves you feeling so thirsty you want to down a litre of water. And they've got the all important herbs too. Sickly me gives it a thumbs up for taste and quality, healthy me thinks it could be a bigger serving.

Beansprouts nowhere to be seen, they're waaaaay down the bottom.

What: Beef noodle soup
Where: Vermicelli on King Street
How much: $7.50 for a regular ($9 for large)

Sick days 1... Soup for lunch

What do you crave to eat when you're sick? Like most chinese people, my answer is congee. Well most of the time anyway. It's the ultimate comfort food. This past week coughing and sniffles can be heard all around, everyone's sick and I haven't escaped. There's been nothing better than my mum's congee at home. But going back to work I have to fend for myself and find alternative comfort foods, congee is not easily found in Sydney's cbd.

So on this day, lunch was another great comfort food and that's none other than soup. There's a little shop at the George St entrance to Hunter Connection food court. They sell fresh juices and a handful of different soups. I decided to try the "sweet corn and tomato" and despite not being a big fan of corn it was pretty good. With enough flavour for a sick person to actually taste and enough vegetables to leave you feeling fairly satisfied, I was able to get through the rest of the day. Oh, I also got a pumpkin seed roll from Luneburger which is one of my favourite bakeries in Sydney so I was plenty full after I finished everything.

Hot soup and fresh bread, it's a sick man's lunch.

What: Sweetcorn and tomato soup, pumpkin seed roll
Where: Soup was from the juice/soup place at Hunter Connection food court (at George St entrance), bread roll from Luneburger at Wynard train station
How much: I got a regular soup for $6 (large is $7.50), bread roll was $1

Makoto Salmon Sashimi

Wednesday was the seventh day of Chinese New Year. Known as "Yan Yat" in Cantonese (人日) it is considered to be everyone's birthday and for those of us who are Chinese Malaysians, it's a day to "Lao Yusheng" for good luck. Literally this means to mix or toss raw fish. The "Yusheng" is a salad that includes raw fish, vegetables and sauce. Unfortunately you won't see any of that in this post! As it's only mum and me we usually just get some salmon sashimi for our own simple version of lao yusheng. I got this takeaway salmon sashimi from Makoto. It was fresh and came with some seaweed salad, a tasty substitute indeed.

It's not quite Lao Yusheng, but at least it was tasty!

What: Small Salmon Sashimi
Where: Makoto sushi bar, 19 Liverpool St, Sydney
How much: $15 for 10 slices and a little seaweed salad on the side

GPO Wood Fired Pizza

Mmm pizza. Especially the thin and crispy wood fired kind at GPO. It's crazy busy if you go there for lunch on a weekday but on a non-Friday weeknight it's not as hectic. I ordered 3 takeaway pizzas from there on a Wednesday night at about 8pm or so. They said it would take 10min and indeed they rang me after 10min to tell me it was ready. The drive home was torture because it smelt so good! And naturally it wasn't as crispy after travelling in a cardboard box but it was still dang good pizza. With an uber thin crust and generous amounts of fresh toppings in great combinations, there's a lot to like. And because the crust is so thin, it's not too heavy. We ordered 3 small pizzas (20cm), the Patate, Salsiccia and Ortolana. The Patate (Bianca Base with Shaved Potatoes, Rosemary, Sea Salt & Olive Oil) had the right amount of saltiness and the potato slices were nice and soft. Salsiccia (Tomato Base, Mozzarella, Italian Sausage Mince, Mushroom & Spinach) was a really nice mix of meat and vegies and Ortolana (Tomato Base with Mozzarella, Eggplant, Zucchini & Mushroom) has a very generous amount of topping which I personally like - it's disappointing to order say a mushroom pizza and only find a scattering of mushrooms on there. And no, I did not eat all 3 pizzas by myself!


Meet my three friends - Patate, Salsiccia and Ortolana.

What: GPO Wood Fired Pizza (see menu)
Where: Lower Ground Floor, GPO Sydney, No. 1 Martin Place.
How much: $40.90 for the 3 pizzas we ordered.