Papparich, Parramatta (II) - featuring Poh Ling Yeow!

Can you believe it's nearly the end of October? Neither can I. It feels like yesterday that I posted up my initial PappaRich Parramatta review when I was approached once again for another lunch at the restaurant - with Poh Ling Yeow this time. Although I haven't been watching Masterchef (in fact, not that much TV at all) in the last few years, I still remembered the first season very well and it's good to see her making her mark in the food industry. Considering I was at the peak of my stomach bug at the time of the actual event, I was actually hesitant on pigging out on this occasion but then I was too tempted at the thought of meeting Poh in person...for lunch!

On the day, Poh was making a special appearance at Westfield Parramatta earlier that day where she demonstrated some of her favourite Malaysian dishes at a pop up restaurant. After demonstrating the dishes, the people at the pop up restaurant got the chance to sample the finished product. Looked very cool from afar.

Lychee Cincau ($5.90)

While it may not looked pretty, Poh said that this was one of her fave PappaRich drinks out of the extensive beverages menu. 

Ribena Melon ($6.90)

It was a warm day so I went with the fruity Ribena melon (mainly because I do have a soft spot for Ribena drinks). It may look simpler than the many other beverages at this restaurant, but I personally enjoyed its lightness. Plus I do like the lychees stuck on the straws.

Pappa Fried chicken skin ($8.90)

We started off on a high note with PappaRich's signature fried chicken skin zomg. While the fried chicken skin was a tad chewier than my last visit, it was still addictive to the point that I kept popping many of these babies into my mouth. Dammit fried chicken why do you have to be so bad for me?

Pappa Fried Chicken Wings ($8.90)

There was more fried chicken goodness happening when the wings arrived to our table. While the skin does have that tempting crispiness, the meat had that juicy and well-cooked texture, which was what I personally preferred when it comes to chicken wings.

No matter which Malaysian restaurant I go to, the roti was always a must order for entrees to share. This time we went for the basic roti canai, which I always enjoyed for its flaky, crisp yet soft texture. We did note that it was a bit sweeter compared to rotis at various other Malaysian joints but it was still tasty for me especially when using the dipping sauces.

Satay Chicken ($12.90 for 6 pieces, $21.90 for 12 pieces)

The satay chicken was well cooked and easy to chew this time around though I still enjoy dipping the roti into that satay sauce.

Before the mains were served, we got to check out a live Teh Tarik demonstration. It's amazing how he was able to pull this off so perfectly. I struggle at pouring a drink out from a low distance let alone that high.

Nasi Lemak with Curry Chicken ($13.50)

My pick of the main dish this time was the traditional Nasi Lemak with curry chicken. Apart from the red sambal (?), it wasn't as flavour intensive as the other dishes I've had previously at PappaRich, which was good for the tummy at the time, though the veggies did cool me down a bit. The curry chicken was deliciously tender and not too spicy and the rice wasn't too soft or hard. 

Pappa Char Kway Teow ($13.50)

I sampled a bit of Mel's main dish pick, which was the Char Kway Teow. It was slightly spicier though from what I've heard on what CKT was meant to be, I presume this was the norm. Really liked the taste of the noodles as well as the smokey flavours and aroma from the renowned dish. 

Dry Kway Teow with Steamed Chicken ($13.50)

When I spotted this dish on the other table, I know I had to try a sample. It's saucier and slippery than the traditional CKT but I do like the twist on this dish. Regretted not ordering this as my main dish of choice but I was happy with what I got. 

Dry Curry Egg Noodle with Steamed Chicken ($13.50)

Another dish that I am very keen to try on my next visit was the dry curry egg noodle. Didn't get to sample this but wished that I did since it looks mighty tasty especially with the rich sauce. Like the other main plates, this looked very filling though also great to share with a large group. 

Pappa Chicken Rice with Steamed Chicken ($13.50)

Biryani Rice with Red Chicken and Sambak Eggplant ($13.50)

This was another dish that I also wished I ordered if I had a bigger stomach. Did not look like a dish I would expect at a Malaysian restaurant but it looks yummy. Can imagine the huge range of flavours from various components of this plate.

Assorted vegetarian dim sum dumplings ($4.90-$6.90)

If you are a vegetarian and the amount of meaty dishes have put you off, don't fret. There is a menu full of vegetarian dishes including the vegetarian versions of fried mee hoon, char koay teow and four different types of dumplings catered for this market. 

By the end, we were too stuffed to have dessert but we did have lots of fun taking selfies with Poh. All in all, I had a good time at PappaRich on this visit. Especially discovering dishes that I didn't even notice on my first visit. While the queues are still crazy, the prices are decent enough to get you full by dinner. If you are not familiar with Malaysian cuisine, PappaRich offers a generous range of dishes to explore your taste buds whether you like laksa, curry, nasi lemak or roti. 

Disclaimer: The Random Foodie dined as a guest of PappaRich Parramatta, courtesy of Wasamedia. Opinions are however, my own. 

PappaRich Parramatta
Shop 2185A, Westfield Parramatta
159-175 Church Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
(02) 9633 3387
http://papparich.net.au/

Brickfields, Chippendale

Been wanting to get this review out sooner than later but the last few weeks have been so busy for me in terms of work and getting sick. Recently, I've started a new job up in the Pyrmont area so I've been slowly adjusting to life in that end of the city now. One of the eateries that has been in my drafts for a very long time has been Brickfields. While it does have its own cafe in the growing foodie town of Chippendale, Brickfields is actually well-known as a bakery with its bread being distributed to various cafes across Sydney. It's one of those cafes that keep me coming back for more especially since their menu changes regularly. I believe that an item or two on this review may no longer be on the current menu but then again it might make a comeback soon. Right?

Skim Mocha

Satisfied by my skim mocha made with Mecca Espresso coffee beans (my personal fave right now). It's actually quite creamy but still has that aromatic Mecca taste that I loved from trying it at their own branches. 

Bacon. Manchego, Pickle with Greens ($10.00)

Because it's well-known for its artisan bead, you gotta try a sandwich...or two! The filling change on a regular basis but the seeded bread remains the same throughout all my visits. On one of my more recent visits, I've got to try this bread with none other than bacon! With Manchego cheese! While the Manchego cheese has a bitey taste that you would expect from harder cheeses, this tasted incredibly delicious with the zesty pickles, various greens and that damn crispy bacon. 

Mushroom Melt with Truffle Mayo and Pickled Jalapeno ($10.00)

If you think this post is at its peak by that bacon roll, think again. May I present you the Mushroom Melt. Again I'm not sure if this is still on the menu as of now but it was around for a while during my previous visits. The earthy truffle and mushroom aroma hits your senses immediately when it arrives at the table. While I usually spot enoki mushrooms at various Asian restaurants, this worked very well as a filling for this sandwich. And of course, that melted cheese was absolutely divine when you bite into it. It was also quite spicey thanks to the jalapenos, which hits you slowly after multiple bites but this kick made this sandwich amazingly flavoursome. 

Canele ($4.00) 

You certainly get good value for money since the sandwiches and other main-sized plates can fill you up. Decided to go simple and get a canale for my post-meal treat. It was slightly sweet with that firm and crispy crust on the outside with fluffy insides. Not a big expert on caneles actually (only tried Flour and Stone's version so far) but I thought this was really nice to try.

With all the dishes priced at less than $16 (half the dishes on the menu costs less than $10), this was actually cheaper compared to most cafes around the area. Service was attentive though it was interesting paying for the dishes at the counter before sitting down first. Seating can be a bit random because of the unique seats by the benches that can get you carried away...literally. The cafe was actually quite small so I could imagine it to be very hard getting a table on the weekend if you decide to eat in. If this cafe was around when I was a student back at UTS, I would definitely be a regular here especially after those dreaded morning lectures and tutorials. Will definitely be making even more visits on the weekend when I have the time to try more of the constantly changing menu that this delicious cafe offers including the sandwiches, big plates and the baked pastries and treats.   

Brickfields
206 Cleveland Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
(02) 9698 7880
https://www.facebook.com/brickfieldsbakery
Mon-Fri: 7:00am - 3:00pm
Sat-Sun: 8:00am - 4:00pm

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

Circa, Parramatta

If there's one suburb with an escalating food scene in 2014, it had to be Parramatta. With lots of well-regarded restaurants and hip cafes opening up in the area these days, it's no wonder that more restauranteurs have set their eyes in this major city. Great for Westies like myself (even though I don't work in the area). One of the cafes that first put Parramatta on the foodie map was Circa Espresso, which won the SMH Cafe of the Year in 2013 and has consistently received the highly coveted Three Cups in the SMH Cafe Food Guide.

This was located on the quieter side of the city but it was often packed on weekends especially if you wanted to get a table. The cafe space was actually quite small so it might not fit that many people especially during its peak hours. But the narrow space was what made this cafe so charming to begin with.

Mocha

With three cups under its belt, expectations were high when it came to Circa's coffee. It had a rich and coffee bean taste that worked very well. Was also smooth and creamy too with a slightly sweet cocoa flavour. According to this year's Good Cafe Guide, they currently use 5 Senses for their coffee. Very pleased with this offering. The coffee art looks really nice too.

Egyptian Tea

My friend, A, got the Egyptian tea which looked really refreshing especially with the beach weather happening lately. 

Baked eggs - baked free range eggs with sujuk, Danish feta, diced tomatoes, with a hint of chilli and sourdough toast

The one dish I've had my eye on for a long time has been the famous baked eggs. How can I not resist them? I've had decent baked eggs but damn these eggs blew me away. It wasn't as heavy as the ones that I tried at Paper Plane Cafe on the other side of Parramatta so it was easier for me to finish off this pan. The feta was quite salty but it mixed well with the tangy diced tomatoes, runny eggs and the generous servings of the smoked sujuk (aka chorizo). It also helped in easing the spicy flavour from the chilli, which can get quite strong. There wasn't as much tomato sauce for this kind of baked eggs but I personally didn't mind since it actually made this dish lighter. Dip the crusty bread into this generous dish and you got yourself a winning dish. Sure it's pricey at $19 but it's a must have especially if you love baked eggs.

Avocado smash with Danish feta, confit cherry tomatoes and dukkah poached egg on sourdough bread

By the time I got around to doing this review, there has already been numerous variations to this popular cafe dish over the last month and a bit so I'm not too sure about the correct name of the dish...basically it's Avocade Smash (lol yeah I have a huge backlog). A decided on this dish since she was keen for a lighter option for dietary reasons. Looked incredibly delicious especially when the poached egg yolk was flowing out onto the dish. Also liked the freshness of the ingredients from the tomatoes to the smashed yet not very heavy avocado. If you want to go vegetarian but you still love eggs, I would certainly recommend this dish too.

Baked treats

While the space may be small, the service was friendly and accommodating to our requests. We were pleased with the dishes and drinks on this visit even though the prices weren't too cheap. With the delicious brunches and decent coffee, it's no surprise that this "blink-and-you-miss-it" cafe on the quiet side of Parramatta has become a major contributor to an ever-growing cafe scene in this happening city. They also do all-day breakfast and weekend trading on both Saturday and Sunday now, which are winning factors if you cannot make it to Circa on weekdays and you are a late riser like myself. 

Circa
21 Wentworth Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
(02) 8896 6071
http://circaespresso.com.au/
Tue-Fri: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Sat-Sun: 8:00am - 3:00pm
NB: Kitchen closes at 2:00pm

Ippudo Central Park, Chippendale

By now you may or may not have heard that the worldwide famed Ippudo was in the process of opening their second Sydney branch at the newly developed Central Plaza across the street from good ol' UTS. Well the wait is over because this hotly anticipated restaurant will be opening its doors on 2nd October 2014 (WHICH IS TOMORROW YOU GUYS!!!). With branches all over the world, it's no wonder that Ippudo has been going strength to strength in Sydney.

Thanks to Sana from SD Marketing, I was invited to the soft opening of Ippudo Central Park before the official opening. This branch is situated in the dining district at the outdoor courtyard next to the likes of Max Brenners, Coco Cubano, Rib and Burgers, and Autolyse. While the two branches share the same name, that familiar greeting as you stepped inside the premises and the ramen, there's a decent array of entree dishes that are available exclusively to the Central Park branch. This includes the Ippudo Chasu Croquette ($8.00), Tomato Pickles ($8.00), and the Ippudo Fish and Chips ($14.00). Yup you read that right.

House-made Lemon Lime Bitters ($5.00)

At the time of our visit, alcoholic beverages and the pork buns were sadly unavailable but still, at least there's more room to try other dishes. The lemon lime bitter was so refreshing to have that I forgot to take a pic till I already drank half of it! Whoops...

Seared Salmon Sushi ($13.00) 

We were initially indecisive about what we should get for our entree to share. After much time spent on looking at the menu, we settled on sushi since we were curious on how Ippudo compares to the traditional sushi joints. Gotta say that we were surprised on how much we enjoyed this dish. The temari salmon tasted fresh while the rice had a nice, balanced texture. However, the mentai mayo and avocado added loads of zesty flavour with a slightly creamy texture that actually worked well with the sushi. Wouldn't mind ordering more if I can.

Platter of Additional Ramen Toppings

Since both CC and I ordered a Special version of the ramen of our choice, we received a platter of extra toppings including flavoured egg, simmered pork belly, roasted seaweed, black mushrooms, bamboo shoots and spring onions. I haven't tried the special version at the other branch to see if they also serve the extra toppings separately but I thought this was a good idea so you can decide how much you want to eat with your bowl instead of eating everything inside.

Tori Shoyu Ramen Special ($21.00) 

I wasn't feeling too well in terms of the stomach so I went with something a bit lighter that I haven't tried at Ippudo before, which was the Tori Shoyu Ramen Special. This type of ramen uses a chicken broth blended with special bonito extract, served with medium wavy noodles and topped with original chicken chasu, menna, leek and naruto. While the broth was lighter, it was full of flavour from all the ingredients even when I added most of the extras into the bowl. It was also fascinating digging into tender chicken and pork belly pieces in one go as your slurp up the contents. Very generous serving size especially with the additional toppings.

The finished dish with the extra special toppings

Akamaru Special ($24.00)

CC went along with her favourite Ippudo ramen, which was the Akamaru Shinaji (mine too) but decided to go up a notch and order the Akamaru Special. This was basically the Akamaru Shinaji (tonkotsu broth with miso paste and garlic oil with thin noodles, pork belly, black mushrooms and spring onion) with the platter of additional toppings as mentioned previously. Always enjoyed blending the miso paste with the tonkotsu broth just to see the beautiful result. 

Both CC and I were very pleased with what Ippudo Central Park has offered. We were even more excited about the new dishes that we could only get at this branch. While the prices are more expensive for the uni students in the area, Ippudo is definitely worth it for the deliciously unique dishes, spaced out and spotless decor and the welcoming and friendly service from the staff. Very keen to go back again to try the Miso Tonkotsu Ramen, the Ippudo Fish and Chips, and the Chasu Croquette on my next visit. With so many restaurants opening around Chippendale these days, it is no surprise that this quiet suburb will become one of the next upcoming food hub spot in Sydney. 



Disclaimer: The Random Foodie dined as a guest of Ippudo Sydney Central Park, courtesy of Sana from SD Marketing. Opinions are however, my own.

Ippudo Sydney Central Park
Level 1 RB07, 28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW 2008
(02) 8078 7020
http://www.ippudo.com.au/
Opening Date: 2nd October 2014