Bowery Lane, Sydney CBD

Apologies again for being absent on the blog lately. Aside from work, lots of personal commitments including farewells, birthdays, housewarmings and an anniversary has happened over the last few weeks. Even long weekend was busy! Of course, that hasn't stopped me from exploring loads of foodie places that I will hopefully update on the blog when I get the chance. One of the places I've been over the last 2 weeks was the ever-popular Bowery Lane. Not only is this restaurant about 5 minutes from my workplace, it's one of those restaurants that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Recently we were there for CC's birthday where we got to sample a wide range of dishes on the $55 set menu due to our large group. Sadly there was no epic soft shell crab action since it wasn't included on the set menu. The price didn't include drinks but that didn't stop us from ordering lots of beverages. I couldn't remember the actual name of the first drink but it reminded me of an 'old fashioned' whisky beverage that KT always ordered whenever we're out for drinks. Strong stuff but does the stuff when life gets you down.

Another cocktail I liked was the Charlie Chaplin, which had a sweeter taste that was less stronger than the first drink.

Artisan sourdough with butter

Because a couple of friends were running late, we had to wait for the bread to show up at our able even though CC said that we're all happy to be served. So by the time the bread and butter arrived, we were grabbing it to satisfy our hunger cravings. My fave was definitely the soy and lineseed bread which was most likely sourced from Sonoma Bakery.

Marinated Sicilian olives, orange, rosemary, chilli, garlic lemon ($7.00)

I'm quite pleased with the olives here. Some were quite firm, some were on the softer side. Very tasty if you like your olives though it was a tad salty. A couple of friends weren't big fan so I was happy to make the most of my addiction.

Black pepper and lime salt calamari with coriander aioli ($16.00)

I'm guessing it's because there was a large group of us, and because it was a Friday night, the food took a long time to show up. Because of this, everyone got very impatient when I wanted to take photos of food so sorry in advance for the quality of some of the photos. Nevertheless the quality of the dishes made up for all that waiting. Such as the black pepper and lime salt calamari. The calamari was nicely crumbled, which went well with the smooth aioli sauce.

San danielle prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, fresh fig, witlof, quinoa, rocket, walnut and vincotto ($19.00)

For the health conscious, there was the slightly healthier prosciutto salad. There's even quinoa! Definitely a refreshing combination even with the creamy buffalo mozzarella.

La stella burrata, confit heirloom tomato, radish, lemon, basil, candied olive ($17.00/$26.00)

While burrata isn't one of my fave cheeses (way too creamy for my liking), it looked very pleasing to the eye. The others really enjoyed sharing this dish while I made the most of the veggies on the side.

Braised wagyu short rib, charred onion, roasted garlic, dijon ($62.00 to share)

Since the party consists of two full tables, the main dishes were served alternatively so I missed out on a couple of dishes including the king prawn pappardelle and the whole roasted field mushrooms. We did, however, ended up with a lot of meat. Such as this epic wagyu short rob. Luckily it was made to share and none of us were vegetarian. The short rib was tender and succulent while the sides were well matched in terms of the balance of flavours. Especially once we get too overwhelmed by the meat.

Slow cooked lamb shoulder, smoked eggplant, lemon garlic dressing, watercress ($57.00 to share)

By this point everyone was so hungry from all the waiting that they didn't bother eating for the camera to eat first heh. Despite the less than appealing shot below, the lamb was incredibly delicious. The game taste was not too strong so this will please those who were more wary of this fatty meat, although the side ingredients also helped a bit. 

Burnt carrot, smoked yoghurt, toasted sesame seed

Shoestring fries, chilli salt

Baby cos, green peas, beans, mint, aioli

We also got a decent range of sides to share whether you are keen for greens or up for crunch fries. The burnt carrot with yoghurt and sesame seeds seemed like an unusual combination which surprisingly went well with the table. French fries were a reminder of Maccas fries but with a bit of spice (and was rather addictive). But damn those greens. Girl's gotta have some greens and CC LOVES her greens heh.

Jar of cookies and cream - honeycomb, vanilla, dark chocolate

Now this was the dessert I've been looking forward to all night after spotting it in countless reviews in the past. While we all sadly had to share this dessert (seriously...), CC got her very own cookies and cream jar along with a candle. It looked so adorable and it was full of lots of sweet goodies. The ingredients tasted so good together that I seriously didn't want to share it with anyone. I'm sure the others will agree with me on that.

Strawberry shortcake - vanilla bean ice cream, macerated berries 

I didn't think this would top the last dessert but it also exceeded my expectation despite its simpler presentation. Was sweeter and fruitier in comparison to the cookies and cream jar, which is equally pleasing.

Despite the lengthy wait to get our food (most likely because of our large group), it was a delicious experience. It is located in the heart of the CBD so it is a convenient spot if you want to have a work outing with your colleagues or a catch up with friends at night. Will definitely return again to get the desserts and their famous burgers and even try their breakfast dishes if I wake up early enough.

Bowery Lane
1 O'Connell Street, Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9252 8017

http://www.bowerylane.com.au/
Mon-Wed: 7:00am - 10:00pm
Thurs-Fri: 7:00am - Late
Sat:5:00pm - Late

Cafe Sel Et Poivre, Darlinghurst

I don't go to French restaurants as much as I would love to. But one of the restaurants that has been on my wishlist for a very long time has been Cafe Sel Et Poivre (aka Sel Et Poivre) especially after hearing the praises of its classic French bistro fare and of course, the creme brulee. Situated on the competitive restaurant district of Victoria Street in Darlinghurst (and not too far from the Cross), Cafe Sel Et Poivre has stood the test of time with little menu and decor changes over the years.

The restaurant has been around for more than a decade, which is a rare feat considering the many other restaurants closing its doors in a year or less these days. The decor wasn't too fancy especially with our table sitting on a rough slope but it had its charms especially the old fashioned lamps attached on the walls. Since it was a friend's birthday and there was a big group, we ended up getting a $55 set menu of three courses.

Fontanet Les Terrasses Premium

Enjoyed the wine. Not too rich or intense with a slightly fruity aftertaste. Suitable for meat, cheese and spicy dishes (according to the epic research we did that evening. True story). Definitely enjoyed a few glasses of this red wine. 

Crispy galette of fresh swimmer crab, leeks and sauce a l'americaine ($17.50)

If fried ice cream was savoury and stuffed with swimmer crab instead of ice cream then this would be it. The pastry on the outside was thin and crispy with lots of flaky layers. However, when you cut into the galette, there was that succulent, hot and shredded swimmer crab bursting out of the flaky pastry. It even tasted nice with the not-too-creamy bisque-like sauce. Initially I wasn't sure if I wanted to get this but I was glad that I picked this as my entree in the end. 

Marinated braised beef cheeks with Miramar Cab/Sauv sauce and frites ($27.90)

The braised beef was very tender and soaked into the thick and rich Cab/Sauv sauce, which basically a bacon, cognac and port sauce. Seriously can't get enough of the beef that melts away in your mouth though the assorted veggies do add a lovely crunch to this dish. So good to have as a warm, comfort dish during the Winter seasons...or any other season that acts like Winter (like this week. Far out).

Pommes frites

The main that I picked came with a generous serving of pommes frites on the side. Since it was shoestring fries, it immediately reminded me of a certain restaurant corporation but damn they actually got very addictive especially when dipping them into the sauce. 

Authentic creme brulee with fresh vanilla beans ($13.90)

The braised dish was so rich and intense that I wasn't sure if I could handle the dessert. Since it was already part of the set menu, we had no choice but to continue. Also because of creme brulee. Cannot resist this at all. While I was battling my stomach as I divulge into this rich dessert, I drooled at the creamy and sweet egg custard. And I always enjoy cracking onto that brulee topping, which is an essential part of a winning creme brulee. It was no wonder that most of us weren't keen to share even though we were full. 

While this wouldn't be the restaurant I would go to on a regular basis since the prices were on the more expensive end, the dishes were quite delicious, service was friendly and cheeky, and the creme brulee was too good to miss. As we only got a set menu with a limited selection of dishes, there was still a few classic French bistro dishes that I'm keen to try on my next visit such as the snails (oooh yeaah), country style pate, pork and duck rillettes and the steak tartare. According to the website it opens from very early in the morning to very late at night so check it out if you need a morning French breakfast or a late night supper session.

Cafe Sel Et Poivre
263 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
(02) 9361 6530
http://www.seletpoivre.com.au/
Mon-Thurs: 6:30am - 11:30pm
Fri: 6:30am - 1:30am
Sat: 6:30am - midnight

Palings Kitchen and Bar, Sydney CBD

It seems that Sydney is moving towards a more casual, lower-priced dining given the many high profile restaurant closures recently. Lots of celebrity chefs who fronted fine dining restaurants have been moving onto cheaper and affordable dining in areas such as cafes, ramen, burgers and Mexican food. One of them was Mad Cow which has reinvented itself as Palings Kitchen and Bar and opened earlier this year. It may have the same head chef (Christopher Whitehead) but Palings now come with slightly lower prices, friendly and casual atmosphere, and a more diverse menu that will satisfy vegetarians, sweets and seafood lovers. 

During the winter season, Merivale has introduced a number seasonal cheap deals that were only available for certain hours. At the moment, Palings is holding a 'Roast with Th'most' deal where you could wither have a bowl of soup and a sandwich on the menu for $19 or you could have a two course meal with a glass of wine or beer for $35. You could choose a main dish and match it with a salad or a dessert from the menu. This deal is available for lunch and for dinner (6pm-7pm only) and valid until 30th August. So get going before you have to pay a main and a dessert for full price! (A la carte prices are listed below).

As usual, I was quite stuck on what I wanted to order. I was so keen on trying the Rangers Valley rump steak but it was sold out! At the time of our visit (about a month ago actually...), there used to be a 'Pie of the Day' but since then, there has been a couple of beef pies added to the permanent Palings menu as of now. Either way, the Pie of the Day that evening was also a beef pie and it was absolutely scrumptious. It may not have the insane flavours or exciting sides like The Pie Tin but I adored the flaky and buttery pie crust, plus the beef filling was tender to my liking.

Pie of the day - Beef pie with potato mash and winter greens ($15.00)

The amount of seafood dishes on the menu is generous which is good for those who cannot eat meat for personal or religious reasons. I only tried a little bit from this dish and found it juicy and slightly cheesy which matched well with the spaetzle (egg noodles from Eastern Europe ala Austria, Hungary, Switzerland). R had this dish and certainly enjoyed it.

Grilled local prawns, spaetzle, lemon, parmesan ($28.00)

CC also wanted the rump steak so once we heard that it sold out, she ended up ordering the Cape Grim rib eye on the bone. It was no surprise how generous the dish was so I had to help with eating a bit of the dish. While it tasted nice, the meat was tougher than we liked. In fact, the steak was quite hard to cut that the table kept shaking. 

Cape Grim Rib Eye on the Bone, crisp spuds, watercress and black pepper - 400g, grass-fed ($36.00)

When given the option of a two-course meal, we knew we had to get desserts especially if they are made by the legendary Lorraine Godsmark (former pastry chef at Rockpool and Yellow Bistro) who runs Lorraine's Patisserie downstairs. 

CC was immediately drawn to the peanut butter ice cream sandwich with chocolate sauce. While it looked different to the generic ice cream sandwiches, CC absolutely loved it and gave it the thumbs up. I'm a fan of anything with peanut butter so will look into this next time.

Peanut butter ice cream sandwich, chocolate sauce ($12.00)

The New York cheesecake was a highlight on our table. The filling was quite light which complemented well with a thin biscuit base and the dollop of sweetened cream (or was it creme fraiche?) on the side.

My pick for dessert was the flourless chocolate cake. It was incredibly rich, moist, sweet and soft on the palate. Quite intense to handle after a few mouthfuls but nicely complimented by the cream and the red jam on the side (I think it's raspberry jam...can't recall sorry guys). The white cream (sweetened cream/creme fraiche?) must be a signature for their desserts since it appeared in all of our dessert plates.

The atmosphere is certainly more casual, noisy, hip, down to earth and vibrant than the much more formal Mad Cow. It is situated in the same area as the Ivy Bar which contributed to the social vibe of the restaurant. I personally thought that the service wasn't too great in my opinion. For instance, one of the waiters made us go to a specific table (which ended up being very unstable) even though there were many other available tables in the restaurant. While some of the food didn't blow my mind, I wouldn't mind coming back to try out the other food on the vast menu especially the rump steak and the deli sandwich. Will recommend it for outings with friends and workmates especially for Friday night drinks before hitting up the dancefloor at the Ivy Bar.

Palings Kitchen and Bar
Level 1, Ivy
330 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9240 3000
http://merivale.com.au/palings/ 

Rainford Street Social, Surry Hills [CLOSED]

Thanks to Jessie from Cav Con, I was invited to the Rainford Street Social's Winter Menu Tasting event launch. It was a very interesting night since it was also the second State of Origin as well as the night of the Labor leadership spill when Kevin Rudd replaces Julia Gillard to become PM...again. But that's for another day! 

I've first heard about Rainford Street Social from reading about it in sites like Time Out and Concrete Playground and similar sites like that. It is known for its bistro vibe with a Modern-Australian menu and a focus on sharing and local grown produce. Personally, I remember it used to be the well-known and much loved Bird Cow Fish (RIP) where I often visited when I volunteered in the area (their burnt butter gnocchi was the bomb!). What I didn't know is that this restaurant is owned by the same team as Toko Restaurant, which is located just a few blocks away. When entering inside the restaurant, we were greeted with friendly and helpful service and a heart-warming vibe from the spacious, wooden decor.

While we were given a tasting menu, there were different dishes that popped up to our surprise. I found out later that the dishes that were listed on the tasting menu were the ones that will be available on Rainford Street Social's Winter menu. I'm guessing that the non-listed dishes were favourites from previous seasonal menus.

We were treated with meatball sliders to start the night. I intially thought that they were the 'Rainford Meatballs' from the menu that we were given but then that entree showed up as well later on. It looked just like how a slider should be: tiny, single serving with swiss cheese and a meatball packed between the buns. I enjoyed trying out these tasty morsels though it was quite dry and tough.

Meatball slider

We thought that this entree looked like an unusual combination. I personally didn't mind it as I do like anything with jamon ham and a sweet palate-cleansing broth. Though the slow cooked egg was the one that intrigued me the most. It was runny and oozy but I really wanted a slice of bread to dip into the egg even if it's already soaked by the broth.

Sweet pea and jamon broth, slow cooked egg ($14.00)

More meatballs you ask? That's pretty much what happened along with slices of bread. From this point, the dishes that they delivered were all shared between everyone on the table. This is a plus because I really doubt that I would be able to finish every single full plate on my own. The swiss cheese gave the meatballs a moreish and meatier taste. While the meatballs tasted good with the tomato fondue, I was curious to know what the white puree was on the side (white bean puree?). 

Rainford meatballs, tomato fondue, swiss cheese and pine nuts ($16.00)

You can tell just by looking at this dish alone that this would have been perfect, heart-warming comfort food for a cold winter night. So much melted cheesy goodness!

Cauliflower cheese ($10.00)

Another heart-warming, comfort dish that is great for vegetarians. It has a slightly sweet and soft texture from the grill and the garlic yoghurt was a tasty, creamy addition to this delicious side.

Grilled pumpkin, garlic yoghurt, brown butter ($9.00) 

Still hungry for more vegetarian food? You can be relieved that Rainford Street Social has the Grilled Vegetable Lasagne to fill you up. This hearty dish is certainly keeping up with the home-cooked, comfort food theme for the Winter menu. If you don't believe me that this is a vegetarian dish, let me tell you that the filling for the lasagne consisted of veggies like eggplant, zucchini and capsicum - absolutely no trace of meat! Lots of cheese of course but it actually wasn't too strong. Despite the immense carb contents of this dish; I thought it was a bit lighter than other lasagnes that I've had in the past.

Grilled Vegetable Lasagne ($22.00)

We weren't sure how to divide it up between us but from the parts we've tried, it tasted brilliant. The skin was crispy to perfection and the duck meat was juicy and fall-off-the-bone tender. It tasted even better when mixing with the creamy, white puree. One of my favourite dishes from tonight!

Confit duck leg, white bean puree, spiced cherries ($26.00)

While it was rich and dense, I didn't really mind it at all. Partly because of my chocolate addiction and my interest in trying something that is classified as 'gluten free'. I guess the whipped cream might help in balancing the heaviness from the dark chocolate for those who aren't too keen for it. Either way, I was eating through a good portion of the plate and wouldn't mind ordering this again.

Chocolate Torte, whipped cream - gluten free ($12.00)

On the other hand, the "Upside-down" cheesecake was the lightest from the desserts. The cheese wasn't as strong (which is just how I like it) and the brown butter breadcrumbs matched well with the rest of the dish. It was quite fruity as well thanks to the strawberries - again it's just how I like it.

"Upside-down" cheesecake, brown butter breadcrumbs ($16.00)

Everyone was raving about this dish because I only had a couple of bites before it was polished off the plate. I thought this was certainly the highlight of my dining experience because of its balanced flavours - it wasn't too rich and sweet and you can still taste the banana. The crumble on top of the banana cream pie gave it a crunchier texture in what was otherwise a fairly creamy dish. I was sad that this wasn't available on the current Winter menu (though this was available back in its early days judging from the older reviews) but hopefully it shows up again on one of the upcoming seasonal menus soon.

Banana Cream Pie

The wait for the food was fairly long that in between meals (to the point where CC and I were craving for everything from El Jannahs to Yum Cha to Gelato Messina), the service was wonderful and attentive to our needs throughout the night. The prices aren't cheap but for a restaurant on Crown Street, Surry Hills; it's pretty much the standard. The rustic, heartwarming look of some of the dishes gave the restaurant a homely and warmful vibe that will attract families and friends for a casual social outing this season. With this tasting event, I humbly look forward to what will be offered on Rainford Street Social's menu in the upcoming seasons.

Disclaimer: The Random Foodie and co dined as guests of Rainford Street Social and Cav Con. Opinions are still personal.

Rainford Street Social
500 Crown Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
(02) 9357 2573
http://www.rainfordstreetsocial.com.au/

District Dining, Surry Hills [CLOSED]

Around this time, I just got back from my six week trip overseas and already there are more changes to the restaurant scene within that short time than over the last few years. By now, a growing number of fine dining restaurants including Manly Pavilion, Bilson, Montpellier Public House, Berowra Waters Inn and North's Becasse empire (to name a few...) have closed its doors due to finances being the main reason. And this really sucks for someone who has been away from Sydney the entire time.


If there's any restaurant that I must try and hopefully save before it disappears, District Dining is up there as the menu has mostly changed since my last visit. While it may not be as fine dining as its sister restaurant 'Assiette', its bistro-style layout outshines itself through its methods, presentation, tapas-style shared plates and unique flavours delivered by chef Warren Turnbull. With an ever changing seasonal menu inspired by a multitude of different cuisines, there's always something new to try along with some old favourites.

Crispy pig ears, szechuan salt

One thing that is making me keep coming back for more is the crispy pig ears. I know one of my mates is obsessed with them when we tried it the first time hehe. While it was a bit salty, it was also slightly sweet. It is sooo much crunchy goodness!

Crispy quail eggs, tarragon mayonnaise

Crispy quail eggs is another favourite of mine. How can you resist the oozing and runny egg yolk from such a small egg? The breadcrumbs covering the egg makes it all even better. The tarragon mayonnaise made the egg yolk even creamier when I scooped it all up.

Pork canitas tacos, pineapple salsa, chipotle mayo

Pork canitas tacos is a recent addition to the constantly changing menu. When it was presented to the table, it was layered out so you can create your own tacos. Despite being included on the 'Something to Snack On' menu, it was actually pretty filling even on 1 taco alone. Definitely enjoyed it with the chipotle mayo.

Veal tongue, truffle celeriac remoulade, salsa verde

I was instantly attracted to the veal tongue dish the moment I saw the words truffle and salsa verde (green salsa). This may not be the one dish that will immediately attract the usual diner but the tongue was cooked perfectly and its softness melts in your mouth with each bite while savouring its slightly crispy, chargrilled edge. You can immediately sense the truffle aroma with the remoulade that gives the dish a rather creamy texture. Like the quail eggs, it was enjoyable scooping up the salsa verde and the remoulade with pieces of the tongue.

Banana brûlée with peanut brittle and chocolate gelato

I was incredibly full by the end thanks to those tacos but the desserts look amazing and I needed something to balance my tastebuds from the savoury stuff. Upon looking at the desserts menu I fell in love with the sight of the Banana brulee and I knew I had to try it. The brulee was irresistably smooth and nourishing, and the gelato placed on top of a small bed of finely crushed peanuts tasted so good when mixed together. Sadly this is no longer available on the current menu but hopefully a creme brulee of any other flavour will be available soon.

Antler-like coat hangers

When dining, I found that the service was impeccable with friendly and attentive staff attending to your need almost immediately. The prices are fairly reasonable and the food is simply amazing that you should come by at least once. It will be a huge loss if restaurants like this close down anytime soon. Bring your friends, family, or partner so you can order as many dishes as you can.

District Dining
17 Randle Street, Surry Hills 2010
(02) 9211 7798
http://districtdining.com.au/