I used to work in the Strand Arcade. At a shoe shop in there to be specific and I used to find that when I went there, because of the lovely architecture that it felt like a step back in time. The store itself was a small cube of a store with no storeroom or back room and just a mirror on one side. There was nowhere to look but out and we later learned that the girls in the shop across from us disliked us because they thought that all we did was stare at them. But there really wasn’t anywhere else to look.
Anyway, I digress but I always feel a bit of trepidation and familiarity when I step onto the tiled floors of the Strand Arcade and look up. It’s still a beautiful arcade housing many fashion designers and I breathe a sigh of relief when I see that the shoe store is closed for the day and I have therefore managed to again evade my former boss. I make my way towards the Western end of the arcade where I get into an elevator with another couple who seem as lost as I do.
You see I don’t know exactly where in the Strand Arcade La Rosa is located but I know that it must be somewhat close to Pendolino, its sister restaurant if only because the lower floors hold boutiques. It turns out there are we are all looking for La Rosa and when the elevator doors open on the second floor onto the Pendolino entrance the staff look at us and we look at them. “La Rosa?” they ask and we nod and they point in the opposite direction on the same floor on the Eastern end. Oh well, at least we got the floor right.
Salumi Misti di Casa – Mixed house Cured Meats $29
This evening was a reunion dinner of sorts with all of us that had travelled to Singapore together. There was Alison from Delicious and Sandra from the Singapore Tourism Board. But the point is, we’re all good eaters and nothing is off limits so we choose easily and with firm consensus. It makes sense to try the mixed house cured meats platter as the five tantalising sounding cured meats preceding it sound difficult to choose a favourite from so the platter including them all is ordered. There is a scoop of Nduja (pronounced n-dooh-yah) a spicy Calabrian cured meat puree which is a popular now item. It is a spreadable sausage in a vivid orange shade with just the right level of spice in it. There is also the Salsicce “Mignon” di Cinghiale, a halved link of cured sausage made with wild boar and black pepper which is waxy with large chunks of fat and surprisingly mild flavoured.
There are also a range of thinly salamis including “Salsicce Montenuovo Calabrese” a finely ground cured pork sausage made from Sangiovese red wine, capsicum puree and Calabrian spices and a “Salame di Wagyu” mixed Wagyu beef and pork salami with wild fennel seeds and garlic. Lastly there is the “Pancetta del Rinascimento” or renaissance pancetta made with mountain herbs, black pepper & coriander seeds and it is wonderful when wrapped around the house baked grissini which is crunchy and moreish and we suspect what all grissini is supposed to taste like but never does. There are also three excellent Sicilian soda cured green olives (and three isn’t enough we all agree) and a fantastic giardineria which is well balanced with sweetness and vinegar (I sometimes find giardineria too vinegary).
Conchiglioni col Ripieno di Zucca – Baked Conchiglioni Pasta filled with Pumpkin and Ricotta $24
Our mains all come at once next. Our stuffed shell pasta is filled with a smooth, sweet pumpkin and ricotta filling and baked until caramelised and crunchy on top. It looks almost burnt but it stays on the right side of caramel with some nice crunchy texture on the edges of the pasta. It is paired with a heavily dressed side salad with a mixture of leaves and yellow capsicum.
Bracciole al Sugo – Tomato Braised Pig’s Trotter Rolls with a centre of Raisins, Pine Nuts and Parsley $28
The pig’s trotters were something that we all like but don’t get to order that often as sometimes your friends don’t want to have them. Lucky we are all fans. It comes out as a roll, slow braised and fall apart soft in a tomato sauce on top of a bed of creamy mashed potato.
Calzone di Ricotta Salsiccia e Ciccoria – Calzone Pizza with a centre of Ricotta, Mozzarella, Wagyu Beef & Fennel Salami and Chicory $22
We tossed up whether to get a pizza or the calzone and the charming waiter’s recommendation of the funghi pizza did sound good. Despite this, we order the calzone which has an excellent dough and filled with the warm, steamy milkiness of the melted fresh mozzarella and ricotta along with pieces of the wagyu beef and fennel salami and wilted chicory.
Torta di Ricotta – Ricotta Neapolitan Cake $12
Well with the three of us dessert was always going to be on the cards and we go first for the ricotta cake to see whether it was similar to the famous Pasticceria Papa one. As soon as we see it we realise that it’s nothing like it. It’s a ricotta cheesecake studded thickly with pine nuts with a hint of citrus. The pine nuts give it a savoury quality and we’re not very taken by this dessert.
Zeppola – Traditional Potato and Cinnamon Doughnut with Vanilla Bean Gelato $12
The same can’t be said for the giant zeppola, a swoonworthy potato flour and cinnamon donut that sits proudly in the centre of the plate oozing drips of the melting vanilla bean gelato. The doughnut is heady in cinnamon and sits in a pool of caramel sauce and this is devoured with much relish the crunchy shell and soft interior melting the vanilla ice cream.
Oh yes I’d brave an encounter with that old workplace for this again.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you go back to your old work places ever? And have you ever worked in a shop and if so, what type of shop was it?
La Rosa
Level 2, Strand Arcade, 412-414 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: +61 (02) 9223 1674
Monday to Saturday – 11:30 to Late
http://www.larosabarandpizza.com.au/
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51 Comments | Add your own
I used to work in a bar….a bar frequented by bogans. I went back there once to show a friend just how bad it was! I shall not be going back there again!
What a beautiful arcade. It reminds me of the Galleries Lafayette in Paris. Such beautiful architecture. The food looks delicious too.
You used to work in a shoe shop? Why am I not surprised?
My first job was in a handbag shop in the Strand Arcade, so this was a nice memory flash, thank you!
Is Strand Arcade a mall? It looks wonderful. Nothing like american malls, which tend to be just big and ugly with greasy tasteless fried food.
AHHH! That doughnut looks heavenly!!!!!!!!!!!! I am craving one at this very moment!!!!!!!!!
I love the strand! Love and Hatred is where I bought my first ever diamond.
Good to see it’s all still kicking. I remember when Morrisey and Edminston were still a couple and had their shop there. Ah, the 80′s…
T xx
I worked in a newsagency in high school. It is in my home town where my parents still live, going back is weird because the store has since changed hands and the new owners are quite rude. A shame really…
I bags the ricotta neopolitan cake! I have bern back to old workplaces, but it is usually a mistake.
i am drooling over the torta di ricotta! looks so yummy!
ps, i used to work in a hotel and yeah sometime i do drop by to say hi to some old friend who still work there and we could have our fav chinese dishes:)
I have been back to the buildings of a couple of different offices where I used to work. It’s weird. I’d rather avoid the buildings! I would brave one of them though for that giant zeppola. The baked pasta looks delicious too.
hmm I am still not sure that I coudl do pigs trotters lol!
I used to work in a fish and chip shop when I was at school. It was hot. And smelled. ewwww
I do go back to one of my former workplaces – Rosehill Racecourse – at least once a year for ladies day. I used to be a waitress in the private boxes, but now I go back as a patron of the members dining. It’s a wonderful if not a weird feeling being served where you used to serve others.
this strand arcade place reminds me of one of washington’s subway station
I really want to dine here just for the lovely building it is in…
I’ve never done retail – the idea of customers terrified me as a teenager!
What a beautiful arcade. And nduja…how intriguing.
That salumi plate is definitely a winner! Calzone looks great too!
What a beautiful building to work in. I am not too familiar with the foods and tend to go with what sounds familiar which are desserts as far as commenting. If there, I would try some of them. As far as work, I worked as a Secretary for many years and have not gone back as the last company I worked for and closest to home after a few moves, mostly shut down in the states and moved the production end to China. I had a beautiful office area there that looked over a Gazebo and lawn, so got to see outside. Loved it.
Oh my goodness it has been such a long time since I have been to the strand arcade!
Looks like its worth a trip just for the donut
I used to work in a boutique jewellery store, and i have just moved back to the area -and now i sneak past it as i feel guilty for not having kept in touch with the staff there as they were always so lovely to me.
That Salumi platter looked fantastic! Shame the ricotta cake wasn’t great as I love the one from papa pasticceria!
I’m not keen on returning to old workplaces. I used to work in a small gift shop. Actually my fiance doesn’t like it either… it makes it tricky when between us we’ve worked at 4 places in our street!
Nom nom nom… but, were the pizzas any good?
I’ve had tapas here at lunch and they were quite good.
Thank you for ‘The Strand’, Lorraine: quite one of my favourite places in Sydney
! A very special world, methinks it feels more like London’s Burlington Arcade (still there?) than Galleries Lafayette? Beautiful cafe food – would so enjoy the baked pasta for lunch! From age 15 to 23 when I got married, I loved and breathed working retail Nov -end of Jan, mostly good old David Jones, during ‘holidays’!! French perfumery, pharmacy, jewellery [almost became a trainee buyer!] and for years as an Elizabeth Arden consultant. That was not work, that was HUGE fun for which I just happened to be paid! Thanks for the memories 
!
Such a shame about the Torta di Ricotta! I dont really go back to old jobs. Its more about the people for me and if I want to see them, I do it outside of work. It feels strange for me to be back in an office I use to work in haha
I went back to my office in Brisbane to show off off my baby or have this famous Brisbane passionfruit sponge cake from the famous Shingle Inn with the girls from the office when the boss was out. Now I live too far away. But I do love the Strand arcade, visiting it as a child I fell in love with it. There use to be a great toy shop which any 10 year would find delightful. I used my savings on holidays in Sydney spend up big, well I thought it was alot money when I was 10. I don’t think it is there anymore.
I’ve had the pizzas here a few times and they are amazing! The bruschetta was also divine, very authentic Italian rather than the crap you get at a typical restaurant. The prices were very reasonable for such good food, I did expect it to be more expensive. We paid just over $50 for a pizza, bruschetta and two beers!
I have been back to my old work place to shop when I need some fabric or yarn . I used to work at a JOANN Fabrics. I have also been back to a old job I had in High School that has since been closed down and torn down. In fact, I met my husband of 36 years at the gas station(petrol) where I worked.
—I absolutely love all of those candles in the first photos. Sooooooo atmospheric & romantic.
I will order the “Ricotta Neapolitan Cake,” It looks like Art Work. Stuuuuuuuuning.
I worked on a cruise ship…And I did go back once.
Yum! I have visited places where I used to work and feel the same level of trepidation you did. The Strand is absolutely gorgeous!
@ Bern – I DO remember the magical toy shop you write about, tho’ I was officially too old to have my nose pressed against the window
!
I always visit the Strand when in Sydney, including a mandatory coffee at the cafe with tables outside Crumpler. I try not to go back to where I worked, but have special friends from those times – can it really be 24 years since we started working together? – and bump into less special ones when out. And I worked in a health food store when I was at uni in the 1980s, at which time I worked out retail was not my calling!
I haven’t been back to the cafe I used to work at because it changed hands, can no longer go back to the Angus and Robertson I worked at because it went bankrupt, and I’m scared to go back to the chiropractors I worked at because I feel guilty for not believing in in enough to actually pay for a treatment
Also, ooooh that doughnut looks glorious! Boo to icky pinenuts and orange citrus though!
I love the Strand Arcade – it so beautiful, and so are the shops in it!
I used to work in a record store when I was at school – does that date me at all?
The Strand Arcade is such a gorgeous location. The potato and cinnamon doughnut looks like a definite must-have!
I’ve worked in 3 retail stores – 1 of them I lasted 2 weeks because it was so awful and boring. The best one was at Lush – gorgeous scents all day long!
Ooh that pigs trotter looks good. How nice to be with like minded eaters! My family had a florist shop in an arcade for years, so I see my old boss -Mum- quite a bit
Of course she’s the best boss I’ve ever had!You never know who might read this 
I’ve been to strand arcade so many times but I’ve never seen this!! I’m writing the name and hunting that place down next time, the dessert looks amazing!
What a fabulous building, it reminds me a bit of Liberty in London where I worked when I was a student. I often go back as I love the store and the familiarity of knowing my way around the idiosyncratic building makes me feel at home. Faaabulous food at La Rosa. GG
Oh look at the cured meat selections! Such a beautiful restaurant and I’d be there next day if I live in the same city.
However, I enjoyed looking at your photos!
Sounds delicious – I love Pendolino so this sounds great too!
Cured meats will always be in vogue-make for great tapas selection and perk up the taste buds.
Good to hear you had the chance to catch up with friends;it seems next to impossible to do with your hectic schedules!!
I used to work in a community pharmacy and when I left, could not bring myself to revisit.It took awhile to shake off the negative vibe associated with it.
If you come across a recipe for those irrressistable potato flour doughnuts…please share the love..
Bon Sante’ to your next reunion dinner!
I love the Strand Arcade. It has been one of my favourite places in Sydney since I went there for the first time around 40 years ago.
I never noticed the top of the Strand, only for QVB high tea, but those desserts look so gooooood!
It looks like something out of a story!
I was just reading about La Rosa today and Lo & behold, here is your lovely account of it Lorraine. I must try it the next time I’m in the city with my girls, Gabriella loves Pendolino so I’m sure she would love to try the food here.
For me, a plateful of those delicious Zeppoli thank you. The last time I had them was in Little Italy, New York during an Italian Festa,they were cooking them in a huge cauldron of oil and couldn’t keep up with the demand!
I used to work in a Pharmacy for about 15 years as the Senior Head girl and buyer. I’m now on the other side of the counter as a customer but love to catch up with my old boss, we have a good laugh about the good old days while his staff look at us with blank faces lol.
Giant doughnut with caramel? Oh yes please!
Brilliant and mouth-watering restaurant review. I’m particularly smitten with the Salumi Misti di Casa and the Calzone!
On another note..I’m so happy you’re taking part in the challenge!! No problem being late at all! (I’m always late, and in fact, haven’t even written up my post or arranged the photos yet, and I’m co-host lol) Just glad you’re joining in! I know whatever you make will be amazing! So looking forward to seeing
I really love your pictures… They make me want to travel. This is so beautiful. Oh that doughnut with gelato, the cured meat… God this looks like heaven. Love it girl.
After college/university, I started working on and IT company…and I am still there…so, yes, I used to go each day to my old work place.
The baked pasta looks delicious! I’m a fan of pendolino so I imagine I’d like this place too.
I have always loved the Strand. I feel like I am transported to another time. La Rosa looks like a nice place to try out.
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