I’m at Wasavie restaurant, patissier Adriano Zumbo is sitting across the dinner table from me, Reem is at my side and he is completely unawares of the couple behind him to his left that are nudging each other and pointing at him. I can’t lip read much but the words “Masterchef” seem to spring to their lips a lot. Life must be crazy for Zumbo nowadays.
Sonoma Goodie bag-breads are fantastic as is the Spelt Maple Oven Roasted Muesli which has some very delicious almonds in it.
A little earlier that night Reem and I were at the new Sonoma Bakery opening at Fiveways in Paddington (love their olive loaf toasted) and who should pop in but pastry god Adriano Zumbo. He is definitely the most popular man in town and we watch as eager admirers stand back and watch and spotting a gap in the conversation, introduce themselves. I don’t blame them, I’d do the same.
But anyway, back to dinner…Wasavie is one of those Japanese restaurants I had meant to go to for the longest time and knowing that Zumbo, Reem and I love Japanese, we grabbed a table in the second room, not the communal table which seems to be the more popular place to dine at but was full up. We choose a few light things to eat after having eaten quite a few tasty sourdough canapes. The waitress lets us know that as the kitchen is busy then the sushi and sashimi plate will be about 30-40 minutes which isn’t a problem.
Potato and Wagyu Croquette $6 each
The Potato and Wagyu croquettes come with that fantastic Japanese tangy BBQ type brown sauce. They’re huge, about the size of Duck Eggs and freshly cooked, crunchy on the outside, soft with mashed potato inside which collapses in with a gentle poke of the chopstick. It’s good value for $6 and all of us weren’t quite sure what they would be like given the price. “It’s probably got about this much Wagyu in it” says Adriano making a 5 cent coin size with his hands. Thankfully it turns out bigger than that and I thought it might be Wagyu mince but it is instead Wagyu pieces with a bit of gristle in all of them. Nevertheless it’s still moreish and agree that we could go for more of these.
Tofu and seaweed salad $12
The tofu and seaweed salad is dressed with a Japanese sesame dressing and is a salad of mixed leaves, some seaweed and cubes of soft, pillowy tofu on top with thinly sliced spring onions.
Sushi and Sahimi plate $39
The Sushi and sashimi plate comes out and it has a selection of sashimi, nigiri as well as some nori rolls. The sashimi is beautifully silky and melt in the mouth, particularly the salmon. I find the nori rolls a bit too big for my taste and when they’re so big I find it hard to eat them in one bite and taking smaller bites means that it falls apart.
Refashioned Champagne Cork with a stone
As for the conversation, it was lots of fun but of course it was off the record so I’m afraid I can’t spill my lovelies.
So tell me Dear Reader, who is your ideal dinner companion (dead or alive)?
Wasavie
8 Heeley Street, Paddington, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9380 8838
Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6pm
Thursday to Sunday 12noon to 3pm and from 6pm onwards
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50 Comments | Add your own
OMG you went to dinner with Adriano Zumbo???? He is probably my dream dinner date seriously. I wish I was a fly on the wall!
Forget the food which looks v nice but Adrian Zumbo? U R so lucky!
PSI meant AdrianO Zumbo.
Would love to hear more about the sonoma opening with piccies- hope you are going to post later.
Those croquettes look awesome. Ideal dinner date:hmm Nigella Lawson would be good. Or for eye candy factor and intellectual conversation Barrack Obama
ohhh lucky you!!
looks like a great little restaurant, must put in my own little “must go and try places” book
p.s i was expecting to see a photo of you and/or him
Aww… You’re so lucky!
Sounds lovely – I have my eye on the croquettes. Perfect dinner companion – anyone who can hold a decent conversation and who doesn’t whinge constantly about the food.
Gorgeous food. And I love those breads. It’s all-natural, healthy, whole, hearty bread. They’re beautiful too.
I couldn’t help but sigh when I saw the sashimi plate. There’s something about glistening fresh sashimi that just makes me happy
I’m not sure about my ideal dinner date (I’ll think of the perfect person as soon as I click “Post Comment” I’m sure)… it is hard to go past my sister really, for good company and also being so obliging with my food photography!
such a healthy meal! haha… I’m guessing Adriano is not a big eater?
My ideal companion is anyone who can appreciate good food, without bad BO, and a good sense of humour
You are such a tease! And I’m so jealous …. looks like a nice restaurant too, writing it down.
Ooh this place looks so cute! I don’t like big rolls either, cause they always fall apart
Lucky you getting to dine with Zumbo! I’m not too fussed with my dining companions, as long as there are no awkward silences and they can wait for me to take photos, it’s all good 
Was lovely to catch up with you, and to spend some time chatting with Adriano.
You lucky lucky thing. The wagyu croquette sounds delish. My ideal dining companion is someone I feel completely comfortable with and someone who can put up with me critiquing or commeting on every single course. So it’ll have to be my boyfriend
Food looks delicious, I love big rolls so will have to give it a try.
I think Gordon Ramsay might be entertaining to have dinner with.
Totally kicking myself for missing out on this fabulous night! But the food looks great (and I bet the fabulous company was great too) and the bread looks amazing!
I would have been completely starstruck. the Potato and Wagyu Croquettes look delish.
Shock shock dinner w Zumbo? i can hardly catch his eyes…what a great treat for u my dear!! lucky gal!
OMG! Your so lucky to dine with the famous Zumbo! Those potato and wagyu croquettes look heavenly. I’m glad to hear they are the size of duck eggs! Other wise they would be might expensive!
My wife would give up her right arm for dinner with Zumbo. She said that he’s the only one she would give up an appendage for.I won’t take that personally.
You are so lucky!! WOooowww
Those croquettes look pretty good. Mmm. Hehee
as for dinner companion – I dont know – someone I can share my food with cos Jonny is one of those annoying non-sharers. Grr!
Lucky is the word! Wagyu Croquette!! Wow! My ideal dinner companion: Robert Pattinson. Who else? lol!!!
I would love to go to dinner with Jamie Oliver
he is the bomb. Or Nigella Lawson 
Come on, Lorraine, surely you can spill the goss on the ‘off the record’ conversation to us? The meal looks nice, though it must have been interesting to have your meal interrupted all the time.
And I’d love to eat with Gordon Ramsay, to hear about what’s probably happening in the kitchen. And George Clooney, for eye candy and a laugh
Sounds like a fabulous meal! Those croquettes look superb and the sushi are gorgeous!
Don’t worry, we’ll grab the goss of you when the time and place is appropriate
Dinner date… well other than gatecrashing Ellie’s and Rob Pattison’s date, I just love dining with all my blogger and twitter friends awwww….
Daniel Craig would also suffice quite well
Potato and Wagyu Croquette? Wow. Talk about decadence!
I want to dine with YOU, because you always seem to know the BEST places, and I already can guarantee that you are a fabulous person!
mine is still alive – my boyfriend
and with nori rolls, whether they are big or small i try to fit the whole piece in my mouth rather then try to eat it in bites – i dont care if i look like i have a soccer ball in my mouth lols
AHHH!! And you didn’t take a photo of HIM?!
I would LOVE to have dinner with Adriano Zumbo. Having breakfast, lunch, brunch, coffee, supper, anything with him sounds awesome too xD
Does he read your blog by the way? lol
Yummy! Love the little stone holder. Fun times
The potato and wagyu beef croquette sound like my kind of food! I’m going to have to hire you as my restaurant guide when I visit your neck of the woods…
What a lark! Would love to hear what you think about Klausen’s French Mountain Bread! My ideal dining companion would have to be a good storyteller.
Ooops, just noticed it was the Sonoma and not the Brasserie Mountain bread, oh well, I’m sure you’ll be telling us about that as well too in due course!
Yes, we are all very jealous, you’re going from strength to strength and you are managing to take part in the best foodie outings. Not fair
haha Good for you Lorraine, it’s a hard job but someone’s got to do it, Right ? Lol!
My ideal dinner companion/s would comprise of twelve of the world’s best Masterchefs and I would extract as much information out of them as possible or even better have them cook for me. Heaven……….
hey hey lucky you!
I’ve got a weird one…I would like to have dinner with my cat…well my cat transformed into a human, that way I could ask him where the hell he’s taken the sink plug! seriously…where is it????!??
Hello, I was wondering if you could help me out? My husband and I are coming to Sydney (from a little WA country town) and well quite frankly, we love good food, I was wondering what would be your top 10, have to dine in eateries??? Thankyou M
Oohh those croquettes looks very good! but the sashimi/sushi platter doesn’t look as spectacular to me :S hee hee Zumbo, I sense all the swooning
Adriano Zumbo? You are one lucky lady! Those croquettes look really delish!
MMMMMM,…what a lovely meal you tasted!! The crouquettes sound so good to me,..;
that is some HEFTY bread–yum! as for my ideal dinner companion, i think it depends on what’s being consumed. i wouldn’t want to devour pizza in front of jfk, ya know?
I could inhale that bread…
Lucky you, getting to dine with Adriano Zumbo!
Those croquettes look absolutely amazing. I always enjoy well cooked croquettes, such a joy.
As for who I’d have dinner with… hmmmm. Nigella Lawson, Jun Tanaka, or Gordon Ramsay. Is it strange that they’re all foodies?
Refashioned Champagne Cork with a stone – How creative & cute!
Coz to me, she is the best cook ever.
And dinner with Zumbo? You win! I just love to have dinner with my grandma
Still swooning xD Especially after seeing the photo on Shoot the Chef <3 <3 <3 I wonder if he realises he has so many crazy fangirls…
Tell us about the Sonoma Launch party, that cafe is my new favourite, such good bread the Miche is my favourite and Moya, Sonoma does that loaf way better then the french mountain bread, how could you confuse them?? lol
wow! ye damn sooo lucky
Awlright, sounds like a challenge HarveyL, hehe! Okay Lorraine, how about a tasteoff and let your superb tastebuds be the judge? Ultimately I think the winners are the breadloving population of Sydney though!
haha no contest I say… Lorraine?
Hi Aubrey-I did! Hehe I bet he is a lot of girl’s dream dates
Hi Brianna-Haha how about both!
Thanks!
Hi sandra-Not really…there wasn’t much room to take photos and the finger food was nice but we only had a couple of pieces. You can read my actual Sonoma story from a while back. I have to say their bread is fantastic! Ooh yes I like both of them!
Hi isLa-Hehe indeed! It’s a nice place (but very busy!). No I didn’t want him to feel put on the spot or on show. We just wanted to have a nice dinner!
Hi Phuoc-Thankyou!
Hi Cakelaw-they were really good (if only there wasn’t any gristle). Haha true that! whingers are a no go!
Hi Divina-They are fantastic breads-so chewy and good!
Hi Conor-Yes that was a magnificent sashimi plate!
Yes an understanding dining partner is essential! 
Hi Lex-Well I think the canapes at Sonoma were pretty filling
Haha yes I should imagine bad BO puts you off food!
Hi Sydneygal-Hehe why? Cool, another Japanese place for you to try?
Hi Betty-Yes unless you have a big mouth like Mr NQN
Haha yes that’s all we want really! 
Hi Reemski-thanks for being my “date” to Sonoma!
Hi Shirley-Haha good choice indeed! To choose someone else might have hurt his feeling!
Hi Tim-Hehe that’s true, if he was in a good or a bad mood!
Hopefully the food would be good or you’d get a repeat of Kitchen Nightmares 
Hi Trisha-Aww what a shame. Everything was fantastic indeed!
Hi Katherine-Hehe he’s a nice regular kind of guy though (that just happens to make amazing cakes of course!)
Hi Lady Macaron-Thankyou! Yes it was a lot of fun!
Hi clekitty-Yes he’s totally famous now but thankfully hasn’t changed
Yes they were huge! Although I could have had another 
Hi Mike-Hehe don’t take it personally!
Hi Esz-Yep it was a fun night!
Oh no a non sharer? 
they can change though from what I hear 
Hi Ellie-Haha you are so twilight obsessed! I have to admit he was totally hot in Twilight though
Hi Tara-Ahh a Jamie fan are you! It would be fantastic to get them all together!
Hi Belle-haha but then he might never want to have dinner with me again!
Ahh no they weren’t interrupting the meal, it was at the Sonoma party that they were talking to him (probably good that we didn’t get the communal table as I think everyone would have wanted to talk to him hehe) All good choices!
Hi 5 Star Foodie-It was very good!
Hi Karen-Heheh but my lips are sealed
Aww how sweet! He is hot too.
Hi Sophia-It was really good!
Aww you are so sweet. Well if you make it to Australia it’s a date! 
Hi Betty-Hehe! Really? I am trying to picture it
Hi Alice-Nooo I didn’t want him to feel weird! Haha sounds like any meal is good as long as it’s with Zumbo! I believe he does and I know for sure that he read these comments
Hi Christie-It’s cute isn’t it! Fun times indeed
Hi Helen-Of course! I love a challenge!
Hi Moya-I’ve tried regular mountain bread but I haven’t taken notice of the brand. Will look out for it! Ahh yes good stories are priceless!
Hi Matilda-Aww thankyou so much! Yes someone’s got to have dinner with him
Hmm dinner with a purpose, I like it!
Hi Maria-Indeed lucky!
LOL that’s so funny! 
Hi Miranda-Interesting, let me get back to you on that!
Are you staying in the city and are you ok with traveling for a meal? 
Hi FFichiban-it’s pretty good in terms of freshness! It’s just missing the pretty Japanese plates I think
Haha from you?
Hi Faith-I am! We both were!
Hi Sophie-I love croquettes (a bit too much
)
Hi grace-haha you want something dainty I suppose for that!
Hi Blond Duck-Hehe it’s delish!
Hi Su-yin-We felt very lucky
Yes I always marvel at how croquettes can stay together when they’re so soft! Haha not strange at all! 
Hi Penny-Haha I know! Aww that’s so sweet!
Hi Alice-Hehe I just went to have a look at it. Nice pic!
Hehe he’s definitely the most popular boy at school.
Hi HarveyL-It was extremely crowded with some nice canapes although the melted cheese ones were cold. I love Sonoma bread though so I was happy to get some and Adriano did the sweet tarts which were amazing.
Hi nora-thanks, I feel so!
Hi Moya & HarveyL-Sure! happy to do any sort of tasteoff (except for offal hehe)
I feel vindicated!! Sonoma was best bread in foodies Guide to sydney,its not just me after all, lol
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