everyday eats 2011 launches

Having been so busy doing a whole bunch of PR and marketing lately, it's really nice to come back to the reason why I got into the food industry in the first place - food writing. Everyday Eats (formerly known as Cheap Eats) is a total bible for any Sydney-sider who wants to get the best from this city...without dropping a bomb everytime.

Us contributors were sent on a fantastical journey through Sydney by our fearless editor Angie Schiavone, in search of the best to write home about when it comes to affordable bang for your buck. The criteria for an 'affordable eat' is two courses for under $30...and in one of the most expensive cities in the world, a guide to these kind of gems is nothing to sniff at.

Here are three award winning establishments you should know about, and why (for the rest of the line up of winners, check out the book!

Best Bargain - Pondok Buyung

If you're starving, hangry even, this Indonesian treasure has you covered. It might not actually be 'all you can eat', but it's pretty close. The serving sizes are larger than life and sure to sate even the most voracious of appetites. Just $9 will get you a huge plate of rice, a couple of curries (there are about 20 to choose from, including winners like rendang, fish or eggplant)..and the tea is free. A low key dining win.

140 Anzac Parade, Kensington
9663 2296
Fri - Wed 10am - 8pm, Thurs 10am - 7pm
Cash only

Best Culinary Theatre - Chef's Gallery

The name don't lie. Set up so you can see into the kitchen, it may feel a little like a goldfish bowl for the chefs, but as a punter, it's modern dinner theatre. Watch all the action happening in the kitchen, like noodles being made by hand. Winners include the slow-roasted beef shin, but the steamed black sesame-filled buns with little piggy faces are too cute for words.

Shop 12, Regents Place
501 George St, Sydney
9267 8877
Daily 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm
www.chefsgallery.com.au

Best View - The Crabbe Hole

There aren't many views more quintessentially Sydney-stunning than looking out over Bondi Beach from Bondi Icebergs. The Crabbe Hole is Icebergs' own little hole-in-the-wall cafe, serving up simple cafe pleasers like the P.L.T (Prosciutto, lettuce and tomato cemented together with a generous schmear of aioli) and cracking Little Marionette coffee, served up by baritoned barista with theatrical aplomb.
Try heading here during the week to avoid the Saturday morning crowds and pretend the view is all your own.

1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach
(part of the Bondi Icebergs building)
Daily 7am - 5pm

Thanks to Everyday Eats, we gave away 5 copies of the book to lucky FBi supporters on the show. To take part in FBi promotions in the future, make sure you sign up!

bar round up: february 2011

2010 was the year of the small bar. With so many cool little things opening up all over the place though, it can be difficult to wade through the list, so here's a few you should check out.

The pop up bars: Greenhouse, The Island

Pop up bars generally inhabit filthy back alleys and disused inner city haunts..so one of the things that makes this latest pop up so special is a million dollar Dawes Point view.

As the name implies, the idea behind the bar isn't just pop-up cool though, but a project driven by the challenge to become as green as possible. Architect Joost Bakker and Jason Chan's amazing project features as many salvaged, recycled and reusable elements as possible...and it isn't lip service:
Greenhouse mills its own flour, grows its own herbs and composts all organic waste, amongst a laundry list of inspired green processes. The food menu includes pleasingly simple food including pizza and pasta, as well as killer coffee to boot. Greenhouse will stick around Sydney for just a few more weeks, so be sure to check it out, before it uproots and goes on tour.

Monday - Saturday 7:30am - Midnight
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Sunday 10:00am - 10:00pm
(Brunch, Lunch and Dinner)

Where: Dawe's Point, Sydney
More here: Greenhouse by Joost

The Island

If you haven't already jumped on a ferry to check out the latest and greatest from that little island in the harbour that brought you the Biennale and the Cockatoo Island Festival (or as it was endearingly labelled 'Cockfest'), until April 10, the island plays host to an island paradise in the form of a bar. A great place to order a few expertly mixed cocktails by 2010 Bartender of the Year - Marco Faraone, the shipping container bar also features shared plates for al fresco dining.

Open: Tuesday - Sunday 12.30pm - 8.30pm
Where: Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
More here: The Island Bar

Hunky Dory Social Club

Darlinghurst locals have been waiting for this baby to open for months. Standing dormant, with the promise of 'the next cool bar', Hunky Dory Social Club is finally open, and suffice to say, it was worth the wait.

Featuring exposed brick walls, contrasting with fancy light fixtures and a rooftop garden, it's a multi levelled bar adventure, starting with food on the ground floor at Bruno's...expect simple, rustic Italian favourites including pizza and pasta, then head upstairs to the middle level - cosy corners made for sipping Aperol and orange juice - and further north to the rooftop terrace for comfy Chesterfields and a fantastic view of our fair city. Hunky Dory indeed.

When: Tues-Sun, 12pm-12am
Where: 215 Oxford St, Darlinghurst

Ultimo's Coffee Mecca

[press release]

Ultimo’s growing café scene is set to add another member to the fold, with CBD coffee masters Mecca Espresso, moving into the neighbourhood this February.

MECCA ESPRESSO HARRIS STREET offers an all encompassing coffee experience from fine rich espresso made using Mecca’s signature Dark Horse blend, to direct-sourced single origins brewed via Clover, siphon or pour over. A wide range of beans to take home and expert advice. In this new space, owner and purveyor of the dark arts, Paul Geshos has created an allencompassing coffee experience for aficionados and novices alike:

Introducing a coffee education and demo space, which will host regular master classes and tastings that pair the unique and unusual with coffee, including raw milk cheese, charcuterie and single origin chocolate, amongst others.

Coffee enthusiasts can learn how to get the best out of their coffee at home, using the latest brewing techniques: Whether it’s pour over, siphon, Aeropress or plunger (French press), Geshos and his talented team will show you how to get the best out of your single origin custom roast. The in-store hardware includes La Marzocco Espresso machines; a Clover, Hario (Japan) siphons, as well as a pour over bar, so caf-fiends can get their fix on the latest and greatest. The beans on offer are selected by Geshos, himself at the source - a result of regularly bouncing around the globe, from Ethiopia to Panama, Kenya to Colombia and back, searching out the best in the business.

Soak up the caffeine with something seasonal from the café menu, or pick up a freshly harvested bag of single origin beans for home, as well as the accoutrement (including Hario siphons and kettles, Kone drip filters and the unique Aeropress) to get the job done.

The new space on Harris Street showcases Mecca’s seed to cup philosophy and commitment to excellence, serving the world’s finest coffees, brewed the finest equipment by baristas passionate about their craft.

Mecca Espresso, 646 Harris Street, Ultimo. Monday – Saturday 7am – 4pm. P: 9280 4204 W: meccaespresso.com

V-Day

As if Monday's weren't hard enough, this Monday has the added bonus of toting the date 'February 14' this year. And while plenty of restaurants will be doing Valentines Day specials, why not try making something yourself?

Sri Lankan Love Cake

After spending Christmast travelling around Sri Lanka, I was introduced to their version of love cake. Sweet, sticky and spicy, it's a hangover from the Portuguese settlement history. Featuring citrus, cardamom, all important cinnamon (there are cinnamon plantations everywhere in Sri Lanka), rosewater and honey - it's an aromatic piece of baking that's sure to make your kitchen smell pretty special.

125g room temperature butter
500g caster sugar
250g semolina
10 eggs
185g finely chopped nuts (traditionally, this recipes calls for cashew, but  try a combination of macadamia, cashew and pistachio)
2 tablespoons rosewater
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon lemon or lime zest

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius.
2. Line or grease your cake tin (traditionally, this is baked in a square tin)
3. Place the semolina on a baking tray and heat in the oven for 5 minutes
4. Pour into a mixing bowl with the butter and mix
5. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks and caster sugar together until the texture becomes light
6. Add the semolina mixture and mix until combined.
7. Add the nuts, honey and spices and give it another good mix
8. In a clean dry bowl, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks.
9. Gently fold the egg whites into the cake mixture - careful not to over mix.
10. Pour into the cake tin and bake for 50-60 minutes.
11. After the cake is done, allow it to cool and dust with icing sugar.

Heart (of Palm)

If you're going to serve up your heart on Valentine's Day, it might be better received if you feed the object of your affection this very simple, sexy finger food.

Hearts of palm are literally the core of the palm tree, tinned for your convenience and available at most good grocers these days for about four bucks.

Once removed from the can, julienne the hell out of them and wrap each stick in a piece of proscuitto or jamon (jamon brings out a slightly nuttier flavour ).

Simple. Sexy.

Getting figgy with it

A time-honored classic and near impossible to stuff up. Cut a cross into each fig and squeeze from the bottom so they open out like little flowers. Sprinkle a little blue cheese on each fig, wrap the based of it in proscuitto and stick it under the grill for a few minutes until the cheese starts to melt and the proscuitto begins to crisp at the top. Feed to said object of affection.

Happy hunting!

[TOYS] collective does Ms. G's this March

Issue #5: Ballz Deep

Announcing our first event for the year, in partnership with March into Merivale.

Introducing Nic Wong (Bodega), Jowett Yu (Ms. G’s), and Thomas Lim (Duke Bistro)…

…alongside Dan Hong (Lotus, Ms. G’s) in an all-Asian crew extravaganza at Ms. G’s this March.
Issue #5 also showcases the talents of Charlie Ainsbury (Duke Bistro), cocktail bartender extraordinare.
Date: Sunday March 27, 6.30pm
Venue: Ms. G’s 155 Victoria Street, Potts Point, Sydney NSW
Book: www.toyscollective.eventbrite.com, or click here from Friday February 4
Cost: $120 including matched wines*
More about our new members soon, but until then: Love you long time!