Years and years ago I’d be excited at meeting a pop star or a rock star. For when I was a teenager I realised every teenage girl’s (at the time) dream and met the Norwegian band A-ha when they visited Sydney-please tell me that you remember them. I even managed to get an autograph and a photo but for reasons of 80’s hair and fashion crime, I shall refrain from posting it here. Nowadays the sighting of a chef excites me. And tonight when we’re visiting the Taste of Sydney festival, I’m feeling a culinary version of A-ha-mania.
The Taste of Sydney festival was an event we’d been looking forward to for a while, not only spurred on because of the preview that we got of the fabulous food we’d be having. Held at Centennial Park it was billed as a bit of a food market a la Castle Hill’s Food Affare and a bit of a food festival a la the SMH Good Food Fair. We were being joined by Christie and her husband Dillon tonight and trying to fill our hungry tummies with some of the best food Sydney’s chefs had to offer.
Who do we see carrying his wobbly booby pannacotta but George Francisco of Jonah’s. We talk to him about enjoying it at the launch and introduce ourselves. It seems that his friends from the US have found his wobbly sensation on our blogs and emailed him about it. He was talking to the PR company The Mint Partners and they had told him that one of the best things they had done was inviting bloggers to the event and preview. We love that attitude! We also bump into Suze, Helen and Billy.
George Francisco of Jonah’s
Onto the food. While Dillon and Mr NQN menacingly guard the tables (the faux menacing purely as a buffer to the people who wanted our table and a warning, tables are in short supply), Christie and I tag-teamed it to the stalls to buy the food. Forget cavemen bringing home the goods, we modern cavewomen were armed with “crowns”, the currency of choice for the festival. $1 buys you 1 crown with each course being 8-14 crowns each and to eat 3 courses you would want to have about $30 or so crowns and it’s Crowns only at the restaurant stalls. We start with a selection of dishes, different to what we had at the launch so that we could try as much as possible.
Civic Dining: Moussaka of Eggplant, sea scallop and Taramasalata 10 crowns/$10
We start with one of my favourite dishes ever, the one that Peter Conistis takes with him to every restaurant and which I unfailingly order: the Moussaka of eggplant, sea scallop and Taramasalata. It’s more like a chic stack of textures and flavours rather than a baked down moussaka and the creamy texture and delicate taste get approving nods all around. And at 10 crowns, this is one of the best value dishes around. And we get a bonus, Peter Conistis comes out and we get a photo of him with his creation!
Peter Conistis of Civic Dining
Ottoman Cuisine Salmon Dolma-Salmon crayfish and prawn wrapped in vine leaves, lightly battered, served with savoury piquant sauce 12 Crowns/$12
You understand cutting the Moussaka into quarters does not exactly sate the men so we are off again, to seek more food which we find from Ottoman Cuisine. The Salmon Dolma is salmon, crayfish and prawns wrapped in vine leaves, lightly battered, served with savoury piquant sauce. While we are waiting, there are complimentary Turkish Delights and a generous sized plate of cured beef to nibble on. When we get the plate of Salmon Dolma, there are two on the plate, if I were to make a crass comparison it would resemble those terrible deep fried dim sims from a takeaway shop but we know it’s nothing like them. It’s flavourful and rich inside, heady with roe and a crispiness on the outside with the vine leaves acting like a golden filo.
Ottoman Cuisine: complimentary Turkish Delight
Ottoman Cuisine: complimentary cured beef
Berowra Waters Inn we try the slow cooked petuna ocean trout, cauliflower puree, kalamata olive tapenade 14 crowns / $14
At Berowra Waters Inn we try the slow cooked petuna ocean trout, cauliflower puree, kalamata olive tapenade. It’s delicate and soft and very subtly flavoured. The olive puree gives it saltiness I’m sure but my morsel doesn’t have any (there are downfalls of dividing things in 4).
Plan B: Gundooee organic grass fed Wagyu beef burger
At Plan B, Dillon gets his much hungered for Gundooee organic grass fed Wagyu beef burger. We don’t torture the poor hungry soul and make him cut it into quarters.
Pilu’s Hiramasa Kingfish with Vernaccia, green olives and a hint of Bottarga is delicious-a firm fish flavoured with a soupy sauce flavoured with olives, herbs and Bottarga (cured fish roe). I also get a picture with chef Giovanni Pilu which is very exciting indeed. He gives us a card for a complimentary cocktail if we dine at Pilu for lunch or dinner. Having eaten there for a friend’s wedding and having some of the most delicious food ever served at a wedding, we’ve always meant to go back.
Giovanni Pilu
Centennial Parklands Dining: Roast Kurobuta Pork Neck with fennel and witlof salad 12 crowns/$12
The Roast Kurobuta Pork Neck with fennel and witlof salad was chosen as we knew that a large slab of meat would appease the men and their eyes light up a the sight of it. It’s a little hard to cut and if I can be picky a touch on the chewy side but gets a big thumbs up from the men who like the size and the fennel flavour.
Centennial Parklands: Hiramasa Kingfish in citrus oil, fresh peas and creme fraiche 10crowns/$10
We also try the entree dish of Hiramasa Kingfish in citrus oil, fresh peas and creme fraiche. This is more my and Christie’s style with the delicate and super fresh sashimi fish.
Restaurant Balzac: Saddle of Suckling Pig with crackling and baby garden peas12 crowns/$12
The brief given to us is clear from the guys, they need some more meat and need it now so we make our way to Restaurant Balzac for their Saddle of Suckling Pig with crackling and baby garden peas. It’s perfectly soft and delicious and absolute perfection. We’re over the moon with this dish and the bonus is getting to meet Lela Radojkovic and Matthew Kemp.
Lela Radojkovic
Matthew Kemp
Assiette: Loin and crumbed belly of lamb with basil mayonnaise and a tomato olive jus 12 crowns/$12
Our last dish is Assiette’s loin and crumbed belly of lamb with basil mayonnaise and a tomato olive jus. We also spy their dessert, a fabulous looking strawberry bellini with strawberry and cinnamon donut. The loin is soft and tender and pink inside while the crumbed belly is nothing but scrumptious. A fantastic way to end the dishes of the night. We’re impressed with the standard of food being turned out in an outdoor setting like this (unlike some other outdoor events where the food really suffers).
Some of the dishes that were sighted but not eaten:
Assiette: strawberry bellini with strawberry and cinnamon donut 8 crowns/$8
Centennial Parklands: Goats’ Cheese Marshmallow with strawberries and basil 8 crowns/$8
Danks Street Depot: Pastrami of kingfish with smoked oysters and a cucumber and apple salad 10 crowns/$10
Danks Street Depot: Ham steamed in Hay and served with buttered swedes 12 crowns/$12
Danks Street Depot selection: in foreground Poached strawberries with a chocolate and hazelnut meringue with whipped cream 8 crowns/$8
Wandering round and partaking of some of the samples is also part of the fun. Many of the stalls take crowns but all accept cash. Some of the stalls that we saw were…
“All Things Sweet” Rose, date and pistachio cupcakes-delectably rose-y with a praline topping!
Lakelands olives and olive oils-the mandarin and ginger infused ones are particularly good.
Pukara Estate Olive oils-adore the caramelised balsamic vinegar and the mayonnaises
Sparkle Cupcakery: although they do accept crowns, their cupcakes are $4.50 so you’ll need to pay the 50c in cash/coins.
Barambah Organic Dairy
Cupcakes from the EQ markets stall, one of the most generous with their samples!
Zokoko chocolates
One of the most interesting stalls was the Zokoko chocolate stall where they give you a taste test with 3 types of chocolates and explain the difference between the. I won’t give it all away except to say that one ingredient can change the whole taste of chocolate.
The Taste Wine tent is great value for wine lovers where for 4 crowns ($4) you get to taste different wines and eat nibblies.
Emirates Lounge
There’s the Emirates Lounge where for a $100 ticket, you can sip on drinks and nibble canapes. Not a bad idea if you’re after a long, lazy weekend day.
And don’t forget there’s the Chef’s Table where you’ll be able to chat with the chefs over a glass of wine. See the website for a timetable and chat with your favourite chef!
The Taste of Sydney festival will be held at the Brazilian Gardens, off Grand Drive, Centennial Park on the 12th-15th March 2009.
Opening times:
Thursday 12th March – 5pm-9pm
Friday 13th March – 11:30am-3:30pm & 5pm-9pm
Saturday 14th March – 11:30am-3:30pm & 5pm-9pm
Sunday 15th March – 12pm-5pm
For more information see their website.
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44 Comments | Add your own
Totally speechless about the gorgeous photos, the pannacotta, the salmon, the strawberry bellini and..and…Lorraine I want to be there right now!!
That all looks amazing, especially that ridiculous bellini and those rose cupcakes (I’m such a sucker for rose flavor).
I admit I’m not a big fan of eggplant but that Moussaka looks delicious!
And it looks like you got to sample a lot of seafood – do you have a favorite?
Thank you!! What great pictures of George. We grew up together here in Yorktown, VA. I hope to see him this summer when he comes stateside for a visit. Hopefully, he will make me a little wobbly booby.
I enjoy your blog very much. I love reading your articles and seeing your pics, just delish.
Looks like a great opening night. Must have been such a high to meet with these chefs and sample some of their wares.
Is it just me or do the chefs look absolutely knackered?
Do the Aussies eat like this all the time? If so, we’ll start searching for flights. What a fun event.
lucky you! there was a food festival similar to this not too long ago here in Miami but I didn’t make it. Tickets were from $180-$380! Those were yummy food.. and I would be totally star-struck too if I were to meet those great chefs.
wow how nice! so many delicious food and interesting people
I remember A-ha too
You’ve got some great shots of George Fransisco. Photographing people is harder than photographing food, so you’ve done an amazing job. It’s also great to hear you’re getting such a positive response to blogging.
Ooh I can’t wait to go on Sunday! Just a quick question, are the other small non-restaurant stores, like Sparkle Cupcakery operating in Crowns or in normal cash?
Sounds and looks like fun and such a great variety of quality food on offer – it would be hard to choose between them. You certainly met quite a few Chefs, tried a lovely range of food and wrote a great review.
I remember A-ha well too! we must be the same vintage…
Love the wobbly booby, that made me chuckle! sounds like great fun with lots of delicious food.
Lucky you meeting all those chefs!
And yay for inviting bloggers to previews, always a good idea for those who write truthfully!
Looked like an amazing event, can’t wait to hit up Melbourne’s Taste fest this year again!
fantastic review L. very much looking forward to heading over on saturday (well, i was before, but i am even more so now!)
Looks fantastic. I’m crushed that I’m out of town while this is going on.
wow you’re so fast! 0_0 but great post hehe i took another jiggly pannacotta video but wont be up till 2moro =P
Thanks for your fab preview of the dishes (and the heads up on the table situation). Balzac’s suckling pig is definitely on my list. And Wills is under orders to bag a table while I get the food…
Looks great! So looking forward to going tomorrow! What was your favourite dish? And good to know that all of them take cash – that was something I thought was going to be bothersome.
Thank you for posting this up! It looks fantastic. I’m actually going tonight and now you’ve made me even more excited about it. (I’ve already forwarded this onto my friends that are going with me tonight)
Drooling now, the pictures look fantastic, we can’t wait to attend the event tonight!
Love your style, mecho team
Oh wow, this looks amazing! Looks like you had a really good time.
I can’t wait for the London one now, it’s the weekend after my finals (thankfully!). x
wow, the moussaka looks better than i had imagined, yummo; another dish to circle on the menu. thanks for the sneak peek! i can’t wait to go on Sunday!!
that eggplant moussaka looks beautiful.
NQN, could you one day do a post where you list your favourite cook books? or have you already done so?
OOHHH WOOOWW! I am sooo excited about Sat night nooowww whhhheheeee! So much to tryyyy XD How many crowns did you end up spending? Will I need to buy another book when I get there?
Wow, what a fab event… I really miss going to the BBC Good Food Show in the UK. Great fun trying to spot the celeb chefs (met Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver, Anthony Worrall-Thompson, James Burton-Race, um… who else?), always eat and eat and eat the samples on offer, trying not to buy so much that I can’t carry it all home!
Did someone say.. complimentary beef!? :9
Just got back from Taste and it was fantastic. Wasn’t meant to go today it was a last minute jaunt with a friend. Can’t wait to go back on Sunday and take it at a more leisurely pace in the Emirates tent!! Fave from today Ottoman’s filo fingers and the pannacotta *yum*.
The photos look great!
It sounds like my sort of event.
I *think* it’s of the same concept to the Taste of London event (the nearest one to me) so your article has helped me to make up my mind to go to the London one.
Had another great outing with you darling! Congrats on the speedy post….
A super fast post! You guys also did well to score a table too. We resorted to using an abandoned SMH booth. Was good to see you guys, albeit briefly.
Oh I can’t believe I have to wait all the way till Sunday!
Thanks thanks thanks…. I gonna go tomorrow lunch and was hoping to see someone post about it first… Finally its you… hehe..
I can’t decide what should I have…but ”Assiette: Loin and crumbed belly of lamb with basil mayonnaise and a tomato olive jus 12 crowns/$12” looks really good… Any reccomendation? hehe
i can’t think of anything more intimidating than sharing a table with the chef and having to make small-talk like some star-struck idiot.
$100 per person to eat nibbles and sip champagne non-stop? nice.
my fave was the Poached strawberries with a chocolate and hazelnut meringue. yum!
This sounds like just my kind of event – I am glad you had a great time – and yes I too remember Aha – Take on Me with the real/pencil drawing video!!
lovely, lovely, lovely! Thanks for sharing.
What a great event—I cannot believe all the fabulous photos you got! Amazing!
Goodness, that looks like a HAVEN for me! AHh!! Beautiful pictures as usual!
Chef George Francisco looks haaawt! Especially when he’s holding the wobbly booby! LOL
thanks again for the tickets lorraine, had a fabulous time =)
Hi Gera-Thanks! Hehe it was as good as it looked
Next year maybe a trip to Sydney is in order? 
Hi anna-Yes if I had room I would’ve ordered that bellini I think! The cupcakes were divine
Hi Kathy-It’s amazing, so soft and creamy! I think one could even make it at home if they dared!
That’s hard, I think I really liked the last two dishes, Assiette’s lamb and Balzac’s pork 
Hi Bethie-You’re welcome! It was great to finally speak to him, his pannacotta was definitely a sensation and it was great to see him carrying one around! Hehe yes ask for some wobbly booby!
Thankyou so much, that’s very kind of you to say 
Hi Simon-It was, I didn’t expect that they would actually be there!
I suppose they would have been knackered! Wait until Sunday night though, that will be after 4 days of it.
Hi The Duo Dishes-Hehe sure!
Definitely worth coming over here for food though 
Hi Jescel -Wow, that sounds like an expensive food festival! Was it very popular? Yes I felt like a teenager again
Hi snooky doodle-Hehe I hear A-ha are still doing shows and releasing CDs!
Hi Arwen-Hubby captured those. He is a great photographer indeed!
I know, it’s great to hear that! 
Hi Chris-you’ll have so much fun!
Can’t wait to read all about it! Some trade in crowns as well as cash but the stalls all take cash. The restaurants only take crowns. Sparkle’s pricing is a bit odd, their cupcakes are $4.50 so you can use crowns but have to pay the extra.
Hi Anita-Yes a study of the menu is definitely required
Thanks so much!
Hi arista-Haha yes 80’s music for me! The wobbly booby was certainly a sight to behold
It was a lot of fun 
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-I was so surprised! I think they liked coming out and mingling
Yes a great idea indeed. It’s great when a PR company is so forward thinking.If it’s anything like this, you’ll have lots of fun!
Hi shez-Thanks so much! Can’t wait to read all about it!
Hi Jobe-Aww no, really? I think Melbourne is next so if you happen to get there much there’s a chance to go.
Hi chocolatesuze-:lol: Is it different to the other one? You love that jiggle!
Hi belle-Yes it’s all about being prepared there I think!
Look forward to your post!
Hi Forager-Have fun! My favourite was probably the Assiette lamb and the Balzac pork but I loved dishes I had at the preview like the Pannacotta. The restaurants only take crowns but the stalls take cash and crowns.
Hi angela-You’re welcome! How fantastic, which dishes did you like best?
Hi mecho team-Did you have fun? What did you like the best? Seems like a lot of Sydney is going
Thankyou so much 
Hi Su-yin-Oh yes it started in London didn’t it? Good timing for you too!
Hi Jen-As soon as I saw it on the menu I knew I had to have it
You’re welcome-have fun! 
Hi reddoorread-It was so delicious
Sure, I can do one of those. I don’t think I have written about them but no surprises, Nigella features a lot in hte list 
Hi FFichiban-I think you’ll need to buy 100 crowns with your healthy appetite
We spent 40 crowns and then bought some stuff with cash. I have to say the girl selling them didn’t do a brilliant job. When hubby asked how many crowns he should buy she just told him 10 crowns per person 
Hi Angela-Oh wow, they are there? How exciting! Aww makes me want to fly over for that!
Hi Y-Sure did! WE were very lucky with the timing of that! We were right at the front when it came out
Hi Belinda-Yay! Let us know what it was like in the Emirates tent, sounds like a lovely place to while away the hours
Yes the Ottoman fingers and Pannacotta were among my favourites at the preview 
Hi Eater, not a cook-Yes i was brought out to Australia by the same people. I can imagine the London one is definitely worth going to
Hi Christie-Always fun with you-partner in crime!
Hi Helen-We were really lucky that night I think. It felt like musical chairs! Yes I think you guys were leaving as we arrived as we had to battle the bridge traffic
Hi Karen-Aww but sometimes the last day is the most fun!
Hi Bean Sprout-Hehe finally?
Out of the ones I tried, the lamb, the Balzac Pork, Ottoman filo rolls, Pannacotta, Prawn betel leaf, moussaka and arancini.
Hi the projectivist-You could simply sit there and admire surely? Yes it doesn’t sound like much of a hardship does it
Are you going to go?
Hi TonyM-Thanks! Haha yes the video! I forgot about that. So cool at the time
Hi yummystuff-You’re more than welcome
Hi Sandie -It was so much fun! Thankyou so much!
Hi Jesse-Hehe thankyou so much! That’s lovely of you to say
Hi K-haha he might read this story and the comments!
I sent him the link to it 
Hi skye-Yay so glad that you enjoyed it, you’re more than welcome
Hi Lorraine!
Just to say that we had a great time last Sunday, the highlight being for us the Beer Tasting with matching food from Balzac! We also attended a table talk with Martin from Longrain, and it was all most enjoyable, thank you again for the tickets! Cheers.
Hi Sandra-Fantastic! So glad to hear that and you’re more than welcome. Thanks for letting us know how you found it
Wauw,,, Is this event happneing each year? hope so
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