Tag Archives: sydney

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Birthday Dinner – Entree

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We always seem to be visiting French or French inspired restaurants on our birthdays. This time it was my birthday and we went a lot more upmarket, at Bistro Moncur, Woollahra. This restaurant serves classic bistro food, which is fine enough for me.

For entree I had the beetroot, goats cheese fritter, witloof and walnut salad. It’s a classic combination, cooked and seasoned perfectly.

Salad of baby beetroot, goats cheese fritters, roman beans and witloof

BB on the other hand went all out with the French onion souffle gratin. The cheese sauce made the dish quite rich, but it was the lightness of the souffle that impressed me the most. It was a top bit of cooking.

French Onion Souffle Gratin

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Favourite Feeds – Burgers

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I really do like a burger every now and then, with a side of hot chips, but in this age, what really defines a burger? Meat-wise, it seems like any mince/spicing combination goes these days. Moroccan lamb, Thai chicken – they’re not really burgers, are they?

Personally, I still like the ‘traditional’ Aussie burger, the kind that they make (made?) at milk bars way back when. Beef patty, cheese, fried onion, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, and tomato sauce on a spongy bun. No pickles, no mustard, no rocket, no sourdough roll. Just the basics.

Given my specifications, the burger below, although served at a cafe, is just about acceptable.

Beef burger

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Favourite Feeds – Sushi

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Another Japanese favourite. Sushi is actually just any little morsel that uses sushi rice – steamed Japanese short grain rice dressed with mirin. It’s the toppings that vary. Traditionally, the Japanese use raw seafood, vegetables (pickled or fresh), egg, or tofu. Now that sushi has gone completely global, anything goes.

Here is some homemade sushi, ‘California’ style: crabstick, omelette, cucumber, carrot. There is also an inari (tofu pouch filled with sushi rice).

Oishii!

A sushi platter I had in Tokyo – for breakfast, no less.

My sushi breakfast

But best of all was the ginormous sushi and sashimi platter I shared at Masuya, Sydney.

Sushi and sashimi platter

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Favourite Feeds – Scallops

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This is a relatively new favourite, but I’ve had quite a few smashing scallop dishes in the last year or so that I would now order scallops anytime that it appears on the menu.

Given that it’s such a delicate shellfish, it is more versatile than you might think. I had this scallop dish at the Golden Century, a good Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown. It’s very simply stir-fried with snowpeas and carrots, and a little seasoning.

Scallops and asparagus

I had this dish at Char, in Darwin. It has the fashionable paring of scallops and pork belly. Being Darwin, it was served with a south-east asian accompaniment of crunchy salad and peanut sauce. Luscious!

Pork Belly and Scallops

Last but not least, a more simpler take – but just as delicious as the two above – scallops wrapped in bacon, with aioli. I had this at Pearsons, a little bistro-style restaurant in Mortdale.

Scallops and bacon

Mmm…

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Under the Fig Tree

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The Moreton Bay Fig, that is. This must be one of the most scenic spots in the city. Observatory Hill sits high above the Rocks area, and is the favourite of joggers, loungers and wedding photographers. It has (of course) a lovely 19th Century sandstone observatory – Australia’s oldest. And despite being located next to one of the busiest motorways in Sydney, it remains a surprisingly tranquil place.

Observatory Hill

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Remembrance Day

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Spring also brings Remembrance Day. There will be ceremonies all over the country commemorating the armistice signed to end World War I. In Australia, it is also a remembrance of all those lost in armed conflict.

Sydney’s main ceremony is at the cenotaph in Martin Place. Aside from being a memorial, it was also the place where soldiers enlisted for the army in WWI.

I walk past this monument almost everyday. The simplicity and gravity of the place never fails to strike me.

Memorial