Time ran away from me this month and I had intended to make a special dish for the 4th of July (Independence Day in America) so I thought that the next best thing would be to eat American food. I have an obsession with American things, particularly American retro – my Twin Peak’s Cherry Pie is a prime example of this. I blame it in a steady diet of American TV growing up which continues to this day. So when I read in Grazia and on Simon’s site that the Big Rig Diner was an American style diner in true American fashion, it jumped to the top of my list. Part of the Ruby Rabbit venture, Mr NQN and I tried to book for a Sunday afternoon via the mobile number only to find out that they’re only open at night for this month. So after traipsing through the city and Surry Hills one evening, my magical friend The Second Wife and I are peckish having devoured not very much except finger food in the last few hours. We find ourselves at the door of the Big Rig Diner.

The Big Rig kitchen

Booth seating

They weren’t kidding – it’s a diner alright. There’s booth or bar style seating only and a jukebox playing Elvis. As it only opened officially the day before and we are on Oxford Street, the pans aren’t yet covered in a coat of grease and there isn’t someone called Irma tending to the tables. The staff are all young and good looking but oh so friendly. We’re shown our menus which is a single photocopied page. The food ranges from their famous homemade chili, fajitas, pies as well as of course burgers and hot dogs. Prices are very reasonable ranging from $9.50 to $19.50 particularly given that they’re American sized servings too. And it needs to be said – they play some fabulous music here too (think Jump by Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie and Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit).

The Menu

Our waiter who has The Second Wife and I giggling like schoolgirls takes out order. He recommends the Fajitas, the Hot Dog and a serve of fries and we’re happy with that order and of course what else should we wash this down with but a Coke if we’re going for the true American experience. Drinks are $5.50 each.

Chili chips $5.50

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Gordon at the Media conference

Forgive the deliberately provocative title if you will but I was literally waking up with Gordon Ramsay this cold Winter’s Friday morning.  Thanks to the lovely Johanna from Stellar Concepts, at 8:30am several members of Sydney’s press including myself and Helen, assembled in the LG VIP Lounge to have breakfast and to meet Mr Ramsay himself. Walking in and looking tanned and fit in a blue tshirt, he’s nursing a cup of coffee before he gives us a little speech letting us know about the higlights in his Australian visit including a holiday with the family on Hamilton Island and a memorable dinner at Quay. It’s all very cordial and rehearsed and doesn’t really sound like the Ramsay we know and love with none of the edge normally associated with him. At the end, an eager Channel 7 reporter jumps up and asks him “Is your publicist keeping you on a tight leash this time?” which he pointedly ignores. We’re left to ponder what happens next which is Gordon’s first cooking session for the event along with our very generous goodie bags (containing a copy of his book “Healthy Appetite”, LG cooking utensils, a wine bag and some rosemary and oregano olive oil.

We’re seated in row B seat 30 and after the obligatory warm up from Alistair McLeod (beware, don’t put your hand up unless you want to get up and dance in front of everyone!), Gordon and his offsider Stuart Gillies (executive chef at Boxwood Cafe), come out to much applause. Gordon has a strip of tape over his mouth. Yes he knows he needs to behave to avoid another Tracy Grimshaw incident (although that was about as bad as what he said about Lisa Wilkinson and Dannii Minogue at the show last year which passed without controversy so he must be confused as to how far he can take things).

Gordon chats to onstage guests

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I always have an eye or ear out for blogging opportunities. With an ear to the ground and a loyal readership that generously share their recommendations with me, I love seeking out new places that I haven’t tried before. So this evening when we drive past Wilsons we see a cafe on the opposite side of the road which has a large crowd gathered around it. I get excited and say “Oooh let’s check that place out!” to Queen Viv and Miss America, my intrepid dining pals and we head towards Cafe Cana. Getting closer, we encounter some curious looks and it suddenly dawns on us that we’ve almost gatecrashed a dinner session feeding dinner to the homeless. Yes, embarrassing but true.

Sheepishly, we head off to Wilson’s, a Lebanese restaurant which opened over 30 years ago and is said to be Sydney’s oldest Lebanese restaurant. And why the rather un-Lebanese sounding name of Wilson’s? Apparently “Wilson” was the anglicised version of the original Lebanese chef’s name.

The sign is cracked and repaired but when we step in, it’s all retro but charmingly so. With a parachute ceiling and what we can assume to be the original fixtures and decor, it’s like a step back in time. Queen Viv recalls seeing older Lebanese men sitting outside on crates on a hot Summer’s night although this cold, wet rainy Winter’s night there are none.

Cinnamon tea $3

There are two other tables but things are quiet here. We order a range of dishes from the menu and they come out in quick succession. Meanwhile I warm myself with the cinnamon tea which is sweet and heady in cinnamon.

Mixed dips $16

We start with the Mixed dips which is not a huge serve but has babaganoush, hommous, tabouli, two crispy felafel and a pile of soft bread. It’s delicious and we learn the standout dish of the night, particularly when you mix the dips and tabouli and a bit of felafel and pile it on top of the bread.

Kibbeh $10

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