First of all I need to start this story off with an apology to the people at Galley Foods. Mainly because up until my husband booked this last time I was sure I had been blacklisted from there. Long time readers probably know that I am on my Learner’s License. Our first attempt was aborted when my husband saw the windy, narrow road that I had to drive and said that it would scare the boots off me. He knows my driving limits and I deferred to him. The second and third times were with friends who got sick and then my husband got sick and I had to cancel each and every booking. So on my fourth attempt, I asked my husband to call them and book using his phone number. I’m sure if they heard the name “Lorraine” and my phone number they’d hang up on me after a long, derisive laugh.
So one sunny Saturday afternoon Rose, Ronald, Nr NQN and I piled into the car and took the 1.5 hour drive out to the Kuringai Chase National Park. After the Pacific Highway, the route turns into Bobbin Head Road which is a picturesque drive and we get to the National Parks entrance and pay $11 entry fee (per car). After that Mr NQN and I swapped roles and he drove the rest of the way. For normal people, the road would probably be fine but for a nervous driver like me, the narrowness of the roads and lack of lane demarcation was too much.
Once inside the Kuringai National Park, the drive is pretty with lots of trees and a small rainforest area and within a few minutes we make it to the Empire Marina. There are signs for Boat Hire and a sign that says “No Fishing” and looking down from the wharf we see lots of fish snacking on bread pieces. We take a seat and have a look at the menu which is reasonably priced and features a lot of cafe style and Modern Australian dishes. It’s a little chillier here as it’s by the water and many fellow diners take advantage of the red, blue and black blankets that they provide for warmth but when the sun is out, it’s gorgeous and hits the water just so. Service is very friendly and casual and everything conspires to make you feel like you’re on holiday.
The Menu
Cappucino $3.50
The Toby’s Estate cappucino is fantastically creamy and smooth and almost hot chocolatey. Rose and Ronald order one after tasting ours.
Salt and pepper Squid $18.50
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August 11, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
Bidding farewell to the North Shore is a sad goodbye. For years, I’d always thought that there wasn’t much in the way to eat around here but I was sorely mistaken and set straight by many loyal readers who pointed out great finds in the area. Living close to Neutral Bay meant that I had a range of fantastic Japanese food within 10 minutes and one of my favourite places was Japaz, a Japanese tapas place. I later learned from Yas from Hungry Digital Elf that Japaz also has a cafe called Atomic Espresso across the road and they happen to serve Katsusando (Fried Pork Katsu Sandwiches) from Thursdays to Saturdays. Only 20 of these sandwiches are made on these days and if you want to nab yourself one, you need to ring ahead and reserve your “sando” (Japanese for sandwich).
Evidence of my Limited Edition lunacy
Yes this is a Limited Edition Sandwich. The two words Limited Edition can either bore or excite someone. Sadly I’m one of the latter. If I hear that only a few are available of something, the desire to covet and own one of these things is exponentially increased. The Louis Vuitton Murakami collection was one such instance of instant smitteness. I had to have the Murakami Retro bag. I rang LV and put my name down and pestered them every few days to see whether a shipment had come in. When it did, I bought it, used it and then after a big fat raindrop plopped on the cream leather trim (you can probably see it on the right of the bow), stowed it away in its dustbag for years, just in case it ever got marked again, taken out only on occasions where a dress or outfit specifically matched the colours. I never said I made sense did I?
Cappucino $4
This afternoon Mr NQN and I find ourselves on the small Atomic Espresso cafe on Wycombe Street in Neutral Bay. The chef from Japaz walks past us and gives us a quiet Irasshaimase and nod. The waitress is friendly and we tell her that we are here to collect our Katsusando and have lunch so we order coffee and a pasta dish that she recommends. It’s called Atomic Espresso so we have high hopes for the coffee and we’re not let down. It’s a great, full bodied coffee.
The Limited Edition Pork Katsusando $15
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August 3, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
Despite how it sounds being Tweeted is not a bad thing. Particularly when you’re tweeted things such as “2 Prime rib into the oven for 4 hours. Tonight’s take it slow dinner.” and “bone marrow roasted, mixed with chopped parsley and into sauce” from Chefmumu (aka Craig MacIndoe) who is busy preparing the night’s dinner and whetting our appetites with what he has in store for us. He is also the brains behind a great offer for you readers (read on!).
Polin & Polin Hunter wines
The Lamb Oven
Duck Fat potatoes: worth the applause
When I arrive along with a gaggle of other hungry, excited bloggers, we get another quick impromptu peek into the kitchen, past the furiously hot ovens to reveal the delicious Duck Fat potatoes, the other oven which has slow roasted the Lamb for 13 hours and the display of wines from Polin & Polin wine.
Kumatoes which then become…
Kumato relish
18 month Jamon
After our little tour, we’re ushered into the Tapas Bar where we’re fed delicious, delicately laid sheets of 18 month Jamon Serrano while watching a short documentary featuring a visit to Graham Strong’s Arcadia Saltbush Lamb farm which he runs with his parents and how the drought tolerant plant Saltbush makes such an impact on farming.
Slow Roasted Arcadia Lamb done 2 ways: View 1
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July 12, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
I seem to be a spree. A reader recommendation spree in fact. I treasure each and every reader I have and when they take the time out to recommend a place to eat to me I take it seriously. When I was recommended the Himalayan Char Grill from reader Audrey after posting about a particularly good Lamb Shank at Fort Denison, I put it in the moleskine. My trusty, reliable little black book not full of phone numbers of the opposite sex but phone numbers and addresses of restaurants I want to visit.
It’s housed inside a small, brightly lit shopping centre and on this Sunday night we take our seat and peruse the menu with M and the boys. We know the Lamb Shanks are a no brainer – on the menu there are two lots of Lamb Shanks: a single shank with potatoes (Aloo Shank) for $15.90 and a double serve of Lamb Shanks without potatoes for $23.90. Goat curry is also a must have as others haven’t tried it. We also try the Wagyu beef and some chicken wings and order some roti along with rice to help soak up all of that meaty goodness.
Mango Lassi $4
Starting off with mango lassis, they’re thick but not particularly mangoey. They pour these from premade lassi bottles in the fridge into a glass packed with ice.
Entree: Chargrilled Wagyu beef and cumin potatoes (serves 2) $19.90
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June 17, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
The dumplingers
My husband never really gets excited about food. So much so that the idea of dining at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant didn’t thrill him much. He just saw it as a place at which he had to grudgingly wear a suit. However when I read Ffichiban’s review signalling the Northside arrival of Shanghai style dumplings, I knew that this would excite him. We’ve always had to trek all the way to Ashfield to get these little plump morsels of soup and meat but now we’re pleased to discover a closer location in Chatswood. A sister restaurant to New Shanghai in Ashfield, the Chatswood location has been open for 2 months already.
At 2pm there is already a queue and a stand with a sheet of paper you write down your name and tear off a tag with your number and wait. We end up waiting for about 10 minutes while watching the 4 dumpling ladies in matching aprons make each dumpling pleating and pleating until the requisite number of pleats appears on top.
It’s a large rectangular space full of people and the tables are rickety and flimsy despite how new it is. The menu has lots of pictures to make it easy to choose but of course we know what we want. We choose a range of dishes including some Cold dishes, soup and of course dumplings and the level of English here with the waitstaff is very good particularly when compared with Ashfield.
Iced green bean drink $4.20
Our drink arrives quickly and I may have spoken too soon. I asked for red bean and I’m given green bean which I don’t really mind. It’s mostly ice and the thick straw helps a little in sucking up the drink although a long handled teaspoon is needed for the pieces at the bottom.
Pork Ribs $4.80
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June 11, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
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