Frankie's Pizza, Sydney CBD

These days, I enjoy sipping a drink or two at a good bar whether it's in the CBD or somewhere in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst or Newtown. Frankie's Pizza has that charm where it operates as both a dive bar (with live music!) and a New-York-esque pizza lounge. And a cheap and decent one too. With the same management team who also run The Baxter Inn and Shady Pines Saloon, you know you are onto a very good thing here.

You can order a whole pizza which allows you to pick any flavours from the menu. If you want to order by the slice, you can only get a choice of four flavours (which changes regularly) which is listed on the board above the pizza oven in the diner room. On the first night we went, there was a special Halloween event so the pizzas had different horror-themed names that night such as 'Blood and Bone' (Margherita) Green Meanie (Spinach), Acid Tongue (Salami) and Sea Beast (Napoletana). While each slice was $5 on my first visit, the prices had increased to $6 when I returned a few weeks ago.

Sidra Del Verano Apple and Pear Cider ($13.00)

Usually I've found that ciders can be too sweet and rich to the point that it can be a struggle to finish up. This cider was the opposite for us. It was refreshing, light, not too sweet and very easy to finish. We were bummed when we did finish off this cider so quickly.

Salami: salami, onion, chilli, olives. tomato, cheese (Slice: $6.00, Whole: $21.00)

Since we opted for different toppings of pizza by the slice, we observed the staff putting the pizza in the oven. In less than 2 minutes, it was already out of the oven for us to eat immediately. The pizza slices were similar to a New York pizza in terms of look, taste and texture. 

The crust was super thin, crispy and light while the slices were so massive that you need to fold them up so that the toppings won't fall onto the plate. I really enjoyed the Salami pizza with the thin, juicy and slightly spicy salami slices as well as the thinly sliced onion. While the menu said there was olives, there wasn't much on the pizza and was particularly hidden on the above shot.

Margherita: tomato, cheese, basil (Slice: $6.00, Whole: $18.00)

I always enjoy a simple Margherita if it's done right. This was one of the better versions of this classic pizza. The cheese did not overload the pizza slice and it balanced well with the tomato, which was how I usually prefer when it comes to this.

Spinach: spinach, ricotto, tomato, cheese (Slice: $6.00, Whole: $19.00)

I didn't get the chance to try the Spinach pizza but CC said that she really enjoyed the toppings on this slice. Toppings were also quite balanced here. Good choice for the vegetarians.

Napoletana: anchovies, capers, oregano, tomato, cheese (S: $6.00, W: $18.00)

Because the slices were light and thin, I was still keen for another slice. While I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the anchovies because of too many negative pop culture references (heh), I was surprised that it tasted nice with this pizza. While it was salty and bursting with lots of flavour, I could imagine how good this would have tasted after a heavy drinking session.

Chorizo: chorizo sausages, mozzarella, mushrooms, jalapeno (S: $6.00, W: $21.00)

I returned again after having cravings for a quick slice of pizza after work. The order by the slice menu was similar to what I've tried on the previous visit except with the choice of a chorizo pizza slice. The Chorizo was another slice that I enjoyed from this joint. It was a tad spicy due to the jalapenos but not to the point where you need that glass of milk. There was a good share of toppings on this slice including the juicy sausages and the chopped mushrooms.

While it was understandably quiet when we got there at the grandma hour of 6pm (it's a bar after all), both rooms filled up very quickly not long afterwards. The service experience was a mixed bag since the person serving me was friendly but a different one serving my friend was a bit more abrupt. Despite that, the pizzas were delicious and addictive to make me want more. While this isn't the pizza that you would get from renowned pizza restaurants such as Pizza Mario, Gigi's, and Via Napoli, it's an accessible and affordable option in the heart of the CBD especially if you are keen for a cheap eat and drinks with your colleagues or friends after work. Bonus points that Frankie's is open till 4am which is much much later compared to most Sydney CBD bars that close at midnight or 11pm.

Frankie's Pizza
50 Hunter Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://frankiespizzabytheslice.com/
https://www.facebook.com/stcfrankiespizza/
Sat-Thurs: 4:00pm - 3:00am
Fri: 12:00pm - 3:00am

Six States of Beer [QLD] at The Oaks, Neutral Bay

It is no surprise that I do love a drink. Most types of drinks actually. Whether it's whisky, wine, vodka, gin and tonic or even beer depending on the occasion. While I do like to drink, I'm not much of an expert on beer so I was surprised to receive an invite to attend Six States of Beer at The Oaks in Neutral Bay. This is an ongoing series of events where it focuses on a selected range of craft beers made from the state and a themed degustation of matching dishes (previous events involved cheese, chocolate, pork and bites). This was the fifth installment of the Six States series which focused on beers from QLD and matching seafood dishes. It was hosted by the passionate beer expert, Kirrily Waldhorn with food being prepared by The Oaks' chef, Danny Russo.

Bighead - Burleigh Brewing Company

The Bighead was served to all diners on arrival. While this drink is a 100% natural, full-strength beer with loads of flavour, it also has zero carbs! With its smooth, balanced texture, this was easy to drink with any meal such as a pub lunch or dessert at a French restaurant.

Hef - Burleigh Brewing Company

Another beer from the same brewery was the Hef, an unfiltered wheat beer brewed from malted barley, malted wheat, water, hop and yeast. This was inspired by German wheat beer with its smooth, creamy texture and a slightly sweet banana and clove flavour. Out of all the beers I've tried, this was definitely my favourite of the bunch. 

Crab cake and Oaks slaw slider

The one dish I have been looking forward to the most out of this event was the crab cake slider. Been dreaming about getting my hands on crab cakes ever since watching it featured on numerous American food travel shows but been disappointed that this has been rare to find around Sydney. When it arrived packed inside a brioche bun, I was surprised that it wasn't in its crumbed form that I usually see in those aforementioned US food travel shows but was delighted at the healthier look of the shredded crab meat. These bite sized treats were fresh and delicious though also quite salty. Wouldn't mind trying more of this.  

Pale Ale - Four Hearts Brewing Company

This craft beer was an American pale ale with a passionfruit sweetness followed with a strong, deep and bitter malt flavour. You can also taste a bit of marmelade as you sip this beer. Apparently the bitterness is average for this type of drink so I didn't mind it at all. This is the first drink brewed by the Four Hearts Brewing Company, which will become an official brewery by the end of this year.

Crispy flash fried squid and school prawns served with squid ink aioli

This was accompanied by the crispy squid and school prawns with squid ink aioli. The squid was tender and juicy with a nicely crisp batter while the school prawns were crunchy and not too sharp so it was easy to pop in your mouth. This also came with a wedge of lime that gave a good flavour boost to this dish. 

Anzus Ipa - Fortitude Brewing Company

Unlike the pale ale, the Anzus Ipa had a very clean and light malt backbone by placing focus on the hops this time. By boosting the amount of hops in this beer, this gave the beer an earthy, piney and fruity aroma and flavour that is suitable for the Australian climate. It certainly helped in cooling down our tastebuds from the heat and spiciness of the following dish.

Whole baked snapper with Thai flavours, Asian greens and rice

And boy was this one intensely spicy fish!!! We were amazed at the size of the baked snapper when it arrived to our table. This was cooked with a Thai green curry to soften the fish and add a hint of creaminess to the overall dish. While the fish was well cooked and freshly made, the spiciness was close to the level that you can expect at Thai restaurants. Was so glad to have that beer to cool down that heat.  

For that extra hotness if you dare!

White chocolate and raspberry Pilsener - Bacchus Brewing

While it looked like a glass of cocktail or wine, this was actually beer! It was a strange but lovely mix of spicy Czech Pilsener with the flavour and aroma of raspberries and white chocolate. This was perfect for the final paired dish of the night.

White chocolate mousse with raspberries and sea salt snow

The night finished off with the equally matched white chocolate mousse with raspberries and sea salt snow, which had a creamy and milky taste mixed with...pureed scallops! There's even a hint of anchovy in this dish as well. Never expected seafood to show up in a dessert like this since I didn't even detect it as I tasted this dish but it was a nice surprise.

Beermosa

I rushed through this final drink because I had to leave pretty early (living in south west Sydney is a pain) but from what I tasted, this drink had that sweetness that I would expect from a citrus-based beverage with the added beer taste. Would like to get another one of this.  

Had a great time learning about various beers across Queensland and getting into the tasting experience where you explore your senses. As for the Oaks, there are heaps of decent quality dishes to try and lots of space to chill even on busy nights. The next and final Six States of Beer event for 2014 will focus on Beer vs Wine from SA. This will be held on Wednesday 10th December 2014. Tickets cost $60 + booking fee which is worth it for the four course plus drinks degustation experience.  

Disclaimer: The Random Foodie dined at The Oaks Hotel as a guest, courtesy of Wasamedia. Opinions are however, my own.

The Oaks Hotel
118 Military Road, Neutral Bay NSW 2089
(02) 9953 5515
http://www.oakshotel.com.au/
Mon-Wed: 10:00am - 12:00am
Thurs-Sat: 10:00am - 1:30am
Sun: 12:00pm - 12:00am

March into Merivale 2012 Launch Party, Sydney

Finally it's March into Merivale month is here for 2012. And it went off with a bang! Seriously was it me or was it more packed this year than last year? As per last year, this was held at the Ash Street Laneway and the Ivy Room. Unfortunately they did not give out the menu list of food offered at all the stands which was slightly frustrating. Like last year, an entry ticket gives you 6 food items and 2 drinks to try out with additional $10 and $20 tokens that can be topped up throughout the night. This year, all tickets to the launch party have sold out in advance.



This year the theme for March into Merivale is 'Eat my words'. The theme is slightly similar to last year's theme 'The Art of Food' except with a focus on words describing food indulgence in varying forms. During the event, models parade around the venue displaying very little clothing in front of wordy background shots.




In complying with the theme, decorations such as plates were displayed across the restaurant stands with some classic food-related one-liners. Aside from the models, entertainment included a DJ and several musicians playing at the Ash Street Laneway and the Ivy Room.


My friends and I turned up before it opens which ended up being a good decision as the line got long fairly quickly. After trying several, I lost my friends in the massive crowd so it was time to wander around to check what's available. It was a bit tough trying to move through the crowd on both levels and some stalls had really long queues which can be tough for the impatient. Eventually I found my mates again but I decided to wander and check out more stuff while they chill out and drink on.

Glasses of wine and champagne were being handed out non-stop throughout the night for you to mingle and chill after an epic gourmet feast.

Ash Street Cellar

Chicken and chorizo Argentinian empanada with salsa criolla

Ash St Cellar tart of the day with various toppings (raspberry, blueberry) - I wanted to try the raspberry tart but the person in front of me got the last one!!!

Beresford Hotel

Shellfish orecchiette with vongole, mussels, crab, cuttlefish, squid, chilli, garlic, parsley & lemon - FAVE

Classic panzarotti in three different flavours

Bistrode CBD

Wagyu beef pie with homemade bistrode ketchup - FAVE

Spit roast Melanda Park pig with raw fennel and lemon dressing - FAVE

El Loco

Field mushroom quesadilla with chipotle mayo

Secret Taco

(Did not get to try the crumbed flathead taco which I heard is the standout dish at El Loco's stall)


Est.

Salad of sand crab heart of palm, avocado, chilli, pink grapefruit, coriander cress - FAVE

Mascarpone citrus cannoli, raspberries and violets

Felix

Lamb pie, sauteed mushrooms and tarragon jus - FAVE

Tasting of fruit de mare with lobster roll, oyster, prawn & mussel (ran out before I got to try it)

Mad Cow

Barbequed rangers valley wagyu flank steak with spicy barbeque sauce

Signature pavlova with strawberries and passionfruit

Ms G's

Vietnamese ocean trout ceviche with prawn crackers

Sang choy bao of cheeseburger springroll with potato chip mayonnaise - FAVE

Sailors Thai Ivy

Grilled chicken satay with peanut sauce - FAVE

Beef curry with roti - my friends really enjoyed this dish!

Sushi Choo

Vegetarian hand roll

Mixed seafood ceviche

Sushi E

Spicy tuna Dynamite roll, Wagyu beef confit with miso sesame sauce

Uccello

Vitello Tonnato, piquillo peppers and caper berries

Prawn and calamari salad with saffron infused orzo, olives, chilli, cherrie tomatoes and parsley

Mr Wong (a new restaurant perhaps?)

Steamed scallop shumai

David O'Brien

Tuna carpaccio, fois gras butter, brioch, quail egg

By the end of the night I was absolutely full and slightly tipsy. So much food in so little time...

March into Merivale is running from 16th February to 5th April. For more info on upcoming special events and their month-long $33 restaurant meal deals, check out the Merivale website.
Make sure you book for your favourite event soon because it will sell out.


Merivale Restaurants

http://merivale.com.au/