Mr Wei’s , Canberra City – good choices for a pre-theatre dinner

Mr Wei’s is conveniently close to the canberra Theatre making it a good spot to try for a pre-theatre dinner.

Prices are quite high, but it does offer 25% discount for the Canberra Entertaimnet Card and BYO wine at $10 per bottle.

It also has some very delicious choices that can be shared which makes the final price reasonable.

The steamed pork dumplings $13.50 for 12 are excellent and a perfect entree for sharing.

The Eggplant is well sized and looks great, but lacks flavoured without plenty of sauce and is not as good as the dumplings.

The Massaman Beef Cheek $26.50 has a great flavour and texture and could be shared between four….

But the Taro Duck $28.50 is a stand out, with a nice crisp batter and lean, soft duck breast.

Barbers Inc. Department of PM&C – a gem in Barton

Barton is blessed with some great eateries serving the departmental workers close by, like Double Drummer (AGS)Ne Brindabella Cafe (DFAT).

But I think my favourite so far might be Barbers Inc. on the ground floor of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

It’s well priced, and the menu varies offering ever changing curry, pasta and soup lunch options.

They day I visited there was a very beautiful and flavoursome Lamb Vindaloo with Eggplant and Lentils and rice $16

The lighter option was a very tasty chicken and rice noodle soup with spinach and toast $5.90 for a very generous serve.

There are also nude burgers with extra salad on offer made ready made and made to order sandwiches.

The atmosphere is good for a workplace cafe especially up the stairs.

It’s a great find that I know I will return to often!

Open weekdays 7am-5pm.

Second look at Polo Restaurant – Peirogi Specials night, Turner

Having enjoyed my first visit to Polo at the White Eagle Club in Turner, I was back this week again for the Wednesday night specials.

The menu was a little different this time and I think it keeps changing.

The Mushroom and Cabbage or Cheese and Potato Pierogi ($10 or $14 with a wine of beer) were still on…

….but there were also Koldunai – handmade Lithuanian dumplings – pan seared with bacon and camrmelised cabbage ($13 or $17 with a drink). These were offered in Beef with Horseradish and yogurt sauce….

…but my favourite were the pork and fennel with apple and fennel slaw.

The Veal Goulash $16 looked pretty good – wrapped in potato blintz with pickled fennel/kolrabi and sour cream.

There were also good looking ricotta fritters $10….

….Kodunai – handmade sweet cheese dumplings with chooclate custard $13…

…and another dessert….

…but I think liked the savoury dishes best.

There’s a nice choice of wine or beer to go with your special and wine pours are generous.

Opinions seem to be divided about this venue and not everyone agrees with me, but I love it here! It’s so relaxed and friendly and everyone is enjoying each other’s company as they share a simple meal and a drink.

…And it is noisey in some spots. But the library is a quiet spot (though it might be a bit too quiet for some) and surprisingly the main area (with carpet) is quieter than the room next door (with a wooden floor).

A couple of other things I learnt this time are…

Get there early and order quickly as the line gets long.
Book by texting 0422898617. It’s easy and you get a very quick, friendly and accomodating response.
Ask for the mainroom near the kitchen or the library if you need somewhere quiet.

I’m looking forward to another visit already!

Din Tai Fung, Sydney – the standard by which all dumplings are measured!

People who know, always seem to tell me that Din Tai Fung’s dumplings are the very best…and having now experienced them for myself, I absolutely agree.

Din Tai Fung is not fancy, it’s more ‘food court’….but it’s fun.

And fortunately there’s several Din Tai Fungs spread around Syndey, in Star City, Westfied on Pitt Street, World Square on George Street and Blue Street/Millet Street in Greenwood Plaza attached to North Sydney Station.
The dumplings have a delicate pastry, perfectly cooked with just the right amount of stock captured inside and a wonderfully flavoursome filling.

The Shrimp and Pork ( 4 for $6.80) are especially lovely …..

…..but the steamed pork dumpling Xiao Long Bao (4 for $5.80) are also good.

I didn’t enjoy the Pork Buns $2.80 quite as good as the dumplings but they are good to round out a light lunch.

The Hungry Buddha

The Hungry Buddha in Curtin is Canberra’s oldest Nepalese restaurant.

While the momos are quite pricey at $9 for 4 ….

One samosa is $6.50

…and the mains $19-22 are modest in size… the flavours are excellent.

The specials are good and include…

The Nepalese goat curry $20 is also very good – khasi ko masu –
exquisite village style curry of tender boneless goat enriched with the flavours of fenugreek, cinnamon, tomatoes, coriander, bay leaves, ginger & garlic – a famous specialty of nepal

Desserts are well priced at $7.50 for pistachio icecream and $6.50 for rice pudding.

Breads are $4-5 and a good way to balance the meal without needing extra courses. Serves of rice are $3.

BYO corkage is $6 per bottle of wine.

A 25% discount is also offered to holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book.

38 Expresso, Kingston Foreshore

38 Expresso on the Kingston Foreshore, offers Canberra Entertainment Book holders two meals for the price of one…

Like the….

Pastrami Pickle and Mustard Sub $12

Roast Beef and Gravy Roll $13

Regulars…

Specials…

Sunday @SydneyFishMarket, Pyrmont @decosti_seafoods

I have a great friend who religiously visits the Sydney Fish Markets each Sunday morning early, to choose fresh seafood to cook for dinner.

This week he generously took me along and introduced me to the delights of not only the beautiful fresh fish and seafood…..

….but also lots of great people…

….like Nova and Sandra at De Costi Seafoods…

….who have the very best skills at filleting fish for sashimi….

…and showed me the $195 per kg blue fin tuna from Japan that is highly sought after by top Sydney Restaurants.

In fact Demetri, who manages De Costi’s, explained the important role the business has as a wholesale supplier to Sydney’s restauranteurs. However, DeCosti’s also highly values its shop front as a showroom for its produce and retail outlet for the public.

And so wonderful for us that they do, as the barramundi we enjoyed for dinner that night was absolutely delicious.

BBQ grilled barramundi with roast potatoes ( parboiled then seasoned and cooked at 180 degrees for 30 mins in oil, before turning for another 30 min) shaved fennel (with a potato peeler, then 5 min in iced water to curl) sliced olives and radishes, diced orange and toasted pine nuts. All garnished with red wine vinegar! Delicious!

But first there was the rest of the fish market to tour….

….like the Sashumi Bar…..

……Peters where you can pick your fish and have it cooked for your lunch……

….Black Wattle delicatessen that I noticed sells my favourite Gundowring licorice ice-cream and has great coffee…

….a very tempting Gregory’s Bread….

….and a well stocked fruit and veg shop to purchase the sides to accompany your fish.

And after a trip to the fish market, what you really need is a traditional, lovingly home-cooked full English breakfast!

The Pedler – such a great asset for Campbell

The Pedler describes itself as Campbell’s first local pub!

But it’s so much more…open 7days from 7am it’s great for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, coffee, a wine and share plate or dessert ( the Peach and Mango Melba looked great at the next table).

We tried the Prawn Betel Leaves $16 for three, with galangal, toasted coconut, green mango in a nahm Jim and coconut dressing ….

…..and Prawn and Chorizo $16 in a tomato, chilli and basil sugo with grilled sourdough.

Both were good and I’d certainly order them again.
The mixed berry and mango smoothie was very pretty. I’m not a smoothie person, but I can see this would be a good choice if I was $7.50.

The Pedlar is, as it claims…a gathering place offering a stylish and approachable setting ….but it also has very friendly and accomodating service. Charging my iPhone ( in between the photos !) was no trouble at all.

The wine pours are very generous and wine by the glass starts at $7.

Share plates range from $13 – $17, but I also like the idea of sharing $24 Chese board with three cheeses, fig paste and broken pane croccante with some extra warm sourdough with smoked butte $5.

You can just walk in, but it is very popular so it’s wise to book on 0477533488.

I just know I will be back….often!

Mama Boui’s, Surry Hills – great value

Mama Boui’s on Devonshire Street is easy to get to through the Devonshire Street Tunnel. It’s cute, friendly but trendy. It’s also got great prices.

The Pulled Duck Pancakes are delicious for entree $16.

The Coconut Tamarind Curry $18 with sour coconut, tamarind curry of pumpkin, eggplant, mushrooms and sweet potato is good but perhaps not as good as the Saigon Influenced Duck Curry or the Vermicelli Noodle Salad Bowl Lemongrass Pork and with Pork Spring Rolls and fresh herbs.

Rice is $3 for a large serve and wine by the glass starts at $9.

One entree and one main with rice is plenty for two people.

Caphs, Manuka – trying the $15 lunch special

Caph’s, Manuka offers a $15 lunch special that includes a wine or beer, as well as a two for one deal (or half price meal for single diners) for Canberra Entertainment Book holders. This makes it excellent value for a tight budget.

The Lamb Burger is a good choice.