When people ask me to find a place to meet, I am always happy to do so. For a food blogger, getting to choose a place means that we are going to eat at a place that a) we’ve never to before and b) might be new and exciting. So when meeting the lovely Bianca and Ainsley one morning, at 11:30am I thought where better to go but for Morning Tea at Harrogate teas, a shop which I happened to hear about from a lovely reader Maria who had stopped by there several months ago. Just a word of warning: don’t drink your Earl Grey with milk like I did! But more on that later…
All teas are Fair Trade and have been even before Fair Trade became Fair Trade, and the scones are made each morning by Greg who owns the business with Marjorie. Our waitress takes our order but not without recommending that we get at least one scone each as they’re made to Greg’s mum’s recipe. All of the other tables are reserved and it’s quiet and tranquil in this Victorian style Tea Room setting. The jam is a chunky strawberry and china is Royal Albert and there’s a tiered stand on the table. Things are just as they should be.
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August 24, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
Have I ever mentioned that I love reader recommendations? I probably have and one of my readers that has taken the time out to recommend to me a few places is Wayfarer. I jot the recommendations down in my Moleskine and I do try to get to as many as possible-when timing, friends and budgets permit. Fine Fish was one of those places that shouldn’t have taken me long to get to. In neighbouring Neutral Bay, it is a mere 10 minute drive away and I do love a good fish and chips.
One Friday night Mr NQN and I find ourselves standing in front of the Fish Counter (the restaurant is upstairs). There are specials updated daily on the website so I know what’s on offer but I have a hankering for good old fashioned fish and chips and a grilled salmon burger. Making my order at the counter we sit back and wait for the kitchen to cook our food. The staff are busy as they also cook the food for the restaurant upstairs and I take the chance to walk around and see what else in on offer. In the freezer there are all manner of items from fish stock, Canadian lobster tails, scallops, Balmain bug tail meat etc and on the shelves there are dips and sauces as well as tins of Petrossian Caviar on display. In the front counter are super fresh looking pieces of fish that you can get them to cook for you for the price of the fish plus $2 per 100g and I’m interested to see Patagonian Toothfish (Chilean Seabass).
Patagoanian Toothfish, called “The White Gold of the Southern Ocean” was a fish that was aggressively hunted in the 1980s which ended up threatening the species. It’s said to be a very richly flavoured fish which goes well with lighter Asian flavours (as opposed to rich French style butter based sauces). The owner is friendly and chats easily about his produce.
Salmon Burger $9.95
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May 30, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
“They have a Tea Master!” says my friend, the PR superstar The Second Wife. She knows of my major love of tea and she tells me that the kind people at the Sir Stamford have invited me and a friend to High Tea at their Circular Quay location so I’m taking along Queen Viv for today’s ride. And at 2pm I’m walking along the marbled floors, past the huge gilt edged paintings and into the gorgeous Bar where High Tea is held every afternoon in a very hushed, elegant style.
Queen Viv and I are poured water from a silver jug and sparkling wine as soon as we sit down which is lovely for our parched souls. After browsing through the tea menu we see why they have a tea master – they take their tea very seriously here and the brand of choice is Ronnefeldt of Germany, one of my favourite teas.
There are enticing Green and White tea varieties and a South African Vanilla Roibosh (Rooibos) that Queen Viv selects but I’m more of a black tea drinker so I select the Wild Cherry from India. I’ve often spoken of my witching hour around 4pm when I feel vulnerable to sugary snacks and concoctions in order to boost my energy levels. Apparently according to the tea menu, the Countess of Bedford felt the same calling it “a sinking feeling” during this time.
Teapots and hourglass
The teapots of tea arrive with The Austrian Tea Master, Robert Gachiel who sets down an hourglass timer set to 3 minutes for our tea to steep. He tells us he is one of five Certified Tea Masters in Australia. Ronnefeldt started training tea masters a few years ago when they saw a gap in the market. Gachiel is currently on silver status with the gold status to come next year when he completes the Gold programme in Sri Lanka where they are required to oversee and participate in all aspects of tea from the very beginning where it is grown to visiting the old tea factory. Tea Masters need to identify 18 types of tea leaves both wet and dry and complete oral and written examinations before they reach Gold Tea Master status and join the 60 or so people around the world that share the title.
Robert Gachiel, Tea Master
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May 15, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
Summer time is indeed a great time in Sydney. It’s when everyone has holidays and the city looks at its sparkling best. it’s also when many free events are on and the Festival of Sydney is on and to add to the freebies available, there is a “We Love Sydney” card where people can take a friend for free to attractions, places to eat and hotels. One of the places interested me, it was the House of Pies. It’s no secret that I love pies and will travel for a good pie. This place was in Matraville which is about 30 minutes from the CBD.
We see a sign displayed that House of pie is a Trans fat free zone with none being used in the pastries or fillings. The store is open 24 hours so should the urge to get a pie hit and you happen to be south of the CBD this may be where you might want to end up (although I can’t vouch for the crowd you may be sharing your bench with).
It always makes me a bit wary when people have signs that they were awarded this and that but they’re from a few years ago. Case in point is their award for “Best Pie in Sydney 2004” but a search on their website reveals some additional wins and nominations since then. We approach the store, with its wood panelled outer and the bench seating inside and out. It’s a hot Sydney day and the girl behind the counter looks as enthused as a hot lizard on a rock. With her chin resting on the counter waiting for an order she takes our order without a word and places them on the counter. Our change is worldessly handed back to us and she resumes her position leaning her chin against the counter.
Chunky chicken and mushroom $3.60
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February 15, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
After our delicious journey back in time at the Oceanic Cafe where we emerged to the sights and sounds of 2009, Queen Viv could sense my excitement and suggested that we follow up our meal at Oceanic with a visit to New York restaurant in Kings Cross at a later date. A similar concept to the Oceanic Cafe, New York restaurant is a restaurant serving traditional Australian/English meals at very reasonable prices to a loyal community. I was more than happy to, the only problem was that they were closed over Christmas until January 19th (I only found out the opening date as the owner happened to answer the phone while he was there). I rang up on the 19th to book a table for 4 the Saturday after only to be told by the friendly owner Paul “Oh darling, we don’t take reservations” and then he asked my name and I answered “Lorraine” and he said “OK Lorraine, I look forward to meeting you!”. Wow, friendly folk indeed!
We’re supposed to meet Queen Viv and Miss America at 7pm this Saturday night but we are late-by half an hour (arrgh since when did Kings Cross become a 1hour parking only zone?). Queen Viv calls us to ask where we are-the maitre’d is enquiring about our lateness. Of course we don’t realise why. It’s because the New York restaurant closes at 8pm! On Kellet Street in Kings Cross, it’s located between two brothels.
Rushing in, we order quickly. I go straight to the Chef’s specialties where I order the crumbed lamb cutlets, my husband orders the chicken schnitzel and Queen Viv and Miss America both order the beef sausages. There is a note which makes us grin: “Minimum order $3.50″. For good measure we also get a glass of orange cordial for 70c and an entree bowl of soup for 80c. Items are divided into old fashioned sections such as “Cold Collations” and there’s even an oyster section with the cheapest item being Light Gold Toast for 40c.
We look around. There are groups of mostly men, of various ages although mostly senior citizens. One is so enamoured of his chop that he picks up the whole thing (about the size of a plate) and eats it with his hands. There’s also younger men, including two fashionable young men and one dashingly handsome guy. A real mix that has us intrigued. As it’s busy some of the men share a table and exchange greetings.
We scarcely have time to observe our fellow diners as everything arrives quickly. We ask Jeff the maitre’d if it is ok to take photos-he is intimidating looking with his tattoos but he smiles broadly and spreads his hands out and says “Of course, no problems at all” and tells us that we are free to take any photos we like and that fellow diners won’t mind at all. In fact it’s most hospitable reaction we’ve had. He tells us that the New York restaurant has been around for about 50 years, and at this location for 17 years.
Orange Cordial 70c
Vegetable soup 80c
Crumbed Lamb cutlets $10
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February 9, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
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