This is becoming quite a series… Which isn’t over just yet despite the warmer temperatures in Sydney this past week.
I baked this Orange and almond slice for a weekend lunch with some friends. I actually stuffed it up (hadn’t figured out how to cream butter and sugar correctly when it’s freezing in the kitchen), but thankfully the recipe is very forgiving since it tasted gorgeous when drenched in orange syrup and served with a huge dollop of cream.
Now this was rather decadent cake to bake – a flourless chocolate cake with port! Completely luscious and pathetically easy to make as long as you know how to separate eggs, melt chocolate and use a beater. Don’t forget the cream. Some berries would be lovely, too.
Well, we’re at the start of a very long journey through the Northern Territory, folks, although in reality the whole trip was only a fortnight. I must say that it’s the most invigorating as well as enlightening holiday I’ve had since Japan.
I began in Darwin, where I touched down after a long 4.5 hour flight. God, Australia is big! After crashing on the hotel bed, the next thought I had was of food. I’d heard about Char, and since it was only 2 blocks from my hotel wandered down on a balmy Darwin evening.
Now this is what al fresco dining is all about! It was good to defrost after the chilly Sydney winter weather. It was also good to taste the pork belly and scallops, served with an apple peanut salad and chilli caramel sauce. I was tempted to try this after watching George cook up a pork belly/scallop dish on Masterchef. The skin of the pork was nicely crisp and the scallops were cooked perfectly. The salad and nutty sauce (along with a glass of Riesling), and it was a lovely dish for a tropical climate.
I followed it up with a Mango Panna Cotta with passionfruit cream. The panna cotta was lovely and light, but I think they went too far with the passionfruit here, which was too bitter for my taste.
The restaurant seemed to be popular with locals and visitors alike and got very full, even for a midweek dinner. I’m just impressed that Darwin has such a sophisticated dining option.
My love for pasteís de nata (more commonly known in Sydney as Portuguese custard tarts) knows no bounds. I had indulged in these delights just a few weeks ago, but they were so good that I had no problems coming back at Sweet Belem last weekend. This time, we had the tarts in the café, along with a bica (otherwise known as a short black).
As if dumplings weren’t enough, it was followed by a slight detour to Petersham for sweets – of the Portuguese kind, of course. My visit to Portugal is now light years in the past, but it hasn’t stopped my occasional craving for some great Portuguese custard tarts from Sweet Belem. Just a geeky aside, the authentic way of pronouncing ‘Belem’ is ‘Bleing’ due to the Portuguese aversion to pronouncing any vowels!
These custard tarts are undoubtedly the best in Sydney. They are rich, spicy warm with cinnamon, and its puff pastry crispy and flaky. One bite and you will never buy one from anyone else.
Apart from the obligatory custard tart, I also indulged in a ‘madelena’, the big sister of the ‘madelene’ that the French make so very well. I must say that this incredibly outdone the custard tart on this visit. It was buttery and lemony and yet light as a feather. I regret not buying more than one.
Static and Silence 