[TOYS] collective wins The Age Good Food Guide Innovation Award

[Press release]

[TOYS] collective is proud to announce their first accolade, at The Age Good Food Guide Awards last night in Melbourne. This is the first year the award has been handed out and the entire team - now numbering just over 40 members in two states - are thrilled to be acknowledged by the industry they are so passionate about.

A culmination of efforts by chefs, sommelliers, front of house, cocktail bartenders and other creative professionals within the food industry, [TOYS] exists to create a community environment in which healthy competition, the sharing of ideas and support can contribute to the positive growth of the food industry.

[TOYS] wishes to thank their friends, mentors and sponsors, including San Pellegrino, Plumm Vintage, Australian Pork, Regal Salmon, Fisheads, Endeavour Beer, Murdoch Produce and many more for their ongoing support of the program, and most importantly, the brave dining public who allow [TOYS] to create, excite and push the culinary envelope.

what's on

If it's not a new restaurant popping up, there are other new and exciting food experiences popping up around the traps.

1950's Fair

This weekend, Rose Seidler House dusts of its curtains, puts on the kettle and rolls out the carpet for its annual 1950's fair. Think victory rolls, circle skirts, vintage markets, hot looking cars and festival food. This year, the food stakes get raised a notch as the guys from Porteno and Bodega present their wares. There will reportedly be chilli dogs, pulled pork sambos and a little something for the vegetarians, too, so slick back that hair, pull on those seamed stockings and get ready to rock.

Rose Seidler House
Sunday 21 August
10.00am — 5.00pm
General $25 | Conc/member $20 | Family $70 | Tickets available at the gate

Ultimo Science Festival

Mid August hosts the Ultimo Science Festival, geared getting people down with the business of all things geektastic. Next week, Ultimo TAFE gets set to present a dinner of mollecular gastronomic proportions, applying scientific experimentation and principals to your dinner. It may be a passe term where the food industry is concerned, but screw that - it's a great opportunity to see young chef talent having fun playing with their food.

When: Wednesday 24 August: 6:30pm – 9pm
Where: The Apprentice Restaurant, Ultimo TAFE, Building E, Harris Street
Tickets: $75 per person. This includes wines.
Bookings essential email SydneyTAFE.120years@tafensw.edu.au or call (02) 9217 4133

Global food tour: Fairfield

The Benevolent Society might not be the first organiser you'd think of when it comes to food tours, but who cares. Part of their 'growing communities together' initiative, they have created Taste Tours, which focus on highlighting the colourful and multicultural experiences you can find in your own back yard. Next weekend, they're running a gastronomic tour of Fairfield. You'll discover some brilliant food finds from experts in the know including cuisine from Serbia, Burma, Europe, Afghanistan, Assyria, the Middle East and India...all in one day!

When: August 27, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Cost: $80 per adult, $40 for kids
Book here.

nourishing foods

When it all gets a little indulgent, it's time to rebalance by focus on the kind of food that's geared towards being good to your system, instead of punching you in the gut (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Nourishing Quarter

On a dining strip that's more well known for meat and booze, it's nice to see that Nourishing Quarter is constantly full of people. Like the name implies, it's all about food that's not only ethically sourced and carefully chosen, it's also really good for you. Featuring ingredients like quinoa grains, chia seeds incorporated into Vietnamese wraps, monastic spring rolls and quinoa congee, there's a South American and Asian flavour in the cooking, which sounds like a strange combination, but works surprisingly well.

315 Cleveland Street
Redfern
http://www.bnourished.com.au

The Suveran

The Suv's menu keeps growing, with an extensive list of soups, burgers, craps (that's crêpe with a German accent, apparently), pizzas and stews that are all soy, dairy, gluten, flour, yeast, tap water, sugar..and nightshade (?!) free. Thank god it's not meat free though, their meaty stews (eat in or handily packaged up to take home) are hearty, rich and aromatic. There are also young coconuts (you put the lime in the coconut) a go-go and supercharged smoothies sure to give you a healthy jolt.

244 Oxford Street
Bondi Junction

Bodhi in the Park

21 years later, this vegan, Asian yum cha joint situated in Hyde Park is still going. While 'vegan' and 'yum cha' may sound like a contradiction, the result is a remarkably good one. No, there are no chicken feet or pork products, two of the hallmarks of any truly great yum cha session, but the steamed beetroot and ginger dumplings, Japanese konyaku noodle in spice tom yum sauce and steamed bbq buns are all winners. Think of it as detox yumcha, where most of the ingredients are organic.

Lower Mezzanine Level of Cook and Philip Park
2-4 College St Sydney
Between St Mary’s Cathedral and the swimming pool
Yum Cha 11am-4pm 7 days
Dinner 5pm-10pm Tue-Sun