Extremes of anything, big or small interest me and my sister had been plying me with stories of having the legendary King Crab for years. When she last had it, about 5 years ago, it was $500 and it fed 8 people with plenty left over. If you pass by a fish tank in one of the larger Chinese restaurants, the King Crab are the gigantic 3-40cms long beasts, the flesh less delicate and sweet than mud crabs but if you get a full one, much better to feed a gluttonous tribe. Crab are a funny thing though, sometimes they are empty with little flesh in them whereas sometimes they’re full of flesh and this varies apparently according to the moon. Its a cycle that we’ve yet to decipher so we usually go with lobster which is always reliably full.
Its a family celebration for my sister that brings us to the Golden Unicorn in Maroubra. They’re also having a special on King Crab and for $250, you can get a King Crab cooked however you’d like (we opted for crab cooked in XO chili sauce) and a double lot of e-fun noodles. If the crab is full, then there’s no need to order any other dishes.
Click here to read the full story
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
September 22, 2007
by Not Quite Nigella
Nestled in a small side street of the Rocks is a small Japanese restaurant which is so popular that if you come between 12.30-2pm without a booking, you will most likely be turned away. I can see why its popular, its a gorgeous, private setting where you can sit either indoors or outdoors and populated with suits, mums and tourists alike.
As I’m meeting friends, one of whom only has an hour until she needs to be back in the office, we take to the task of ordering quickly. We choose from the Lunch box specials menu (there is also an a la carte regular menu) as the lacquered boxes that adorn other tables look delicious.
Click here to read the full story
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
September 21, 2007
by Not Quite Nigella
It was a miserable rainy spring day in Sydney and I couldn’t think of anything better to do than make a Louisiana Bread and Butter pudding. Its the kind of thing that provides some aromatherapy whilst cooking and with all of the windows and doors shut to keep the howling wind and rain out, the only choice.
I originally found a recipe for this without the banana in a Keith Floyd book on American Cooking called “American Pie” but the book has since disappeared from shelves. I loved it and found some variations on the internet for it and so I adapted them from what I could remember from Floyd’s recipe to make this final recipe. It is an understatement to say that the smell of baking cinnamon, nutmeg and bread is heavenly. I think I enjoyed the smell of it baking almost as much as the eating!
Click here to read the full story
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
September 20, 2007
by Not Quite Nigella
La Renaissance is the kind of place that, even if you’re in a hurry, you stop and pause to savour the sight of delicious cakes in the display. This time my friend and I weren’t in a hurry so we join the rest of the eager purchasers.
Choosing a cake is extremely hard; does one go with a tried-and-true chocolate favourite like Tiramisu or a French classic like Creme Brulee or do I try their more unusual cakes. There are also eclairs, handmade chocolates, macarons (I’ll be back for these!), creme caramels, palmiers and a selection of fruit tarts. Each has its own appeal but in the end I am won by the paisley shaped mousse confections in either Mango (Matisse), Berry (Larme de Gaugin) or Passionfruit (Passion de Pierre). Most of the individual cakes are approximately $6 for eat in or $5 for takeaway. Larger cakes are about $29-$32 for the smaller sized ones that serve 6. Since I am a firm berry fan I choose the Berry (Larme de Gaugin $6) and a coffee ($3.50) and my friend chooses the Mango version (Matisse $6) and a pot of tea ($3). There’s also a selection of hot savouries that smell incredibly enticing but we resist.
Click here to read the full story
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
September 19, 2007
by Not Quite Nigella
I had been given some double passes to see Home Song Stories by the kind people at Dendy films and it seems only fitting that we partake of some suburban Chinese Australian cuisine to help get us in the mood. My husband and I (and his family) love Dendy films as they’re not the usual cliched Hollywood blockbuster, plus they serve the best choc tops with real waffle cones, good quality chocolate and flavours like Cherry Ripe and Boysenberry. Once you’ve had one you’ll be hooked!
At about $11.20 per person, Chong Hing must be one of the best value restaurants in Sydney. If you look at their regular menu the prices are similar to any suburban Chinese restaurant. However a glance at their walls shows their set menus for 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 people. What is also surprising is that there are a few seafood dishes offered in this set menu. Tonight we have 4 omnivores and 1 herbivore so we opt for the Menu A for 4 plus a vegetarian dish (warning for vegetarians, there aren’t many vegetarian dishes on the menu).
Menu 4A comprises of Deep fried king prawns in creamy sauce, Pork strips with stir fried mixed vegetables, Chicken with celery and honey and pepper pork ribs
Shortly after we order, the tea and house soup (clear vegetable and pork broth) arrives. Then with the rice arrives the first dish, pork strips with mixed vegetables-fabulously tender strips of tasty pork with shiitake mushrooms, boy choy and other veges perfectly cooked-definitely one of my favourites, especially the pork strips. They’re generous with the skiitake mushrooms, one of the costlier vegetables.
Click here to read the full story
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
September 18, 2007
by Not Quite Nigella
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
