We didn’t quite have time to enjoy a spread like Not Quite Nigella, but the North End Cafe was a cute and friendly spot to enjoy a quick lunch in Maroubra.
O
It’s not on the beach, but still has a beachside vibe.
Serving all day breakfast like simple poached eggs on rye $9.50….
….or all day lunch like the chicken breast burger $17…
…it’s a small but versatile menu for a light meal.
I just had to go back for more dumplings at Din Tai Fung.
This time I had the Chinese tea $1 with free refills, an excellent idea.
I also tried the Seafood Jiao Zi $7.80…
…but sadly they weren’t quite as good as the Shrimp and pork Jiao zi $9.80 or steamed pork dumplings xiao long Bao $5.80
I also ordered the Steamed mini bun with red bean – $1.90
…but again, it wasn’t as good as the savoury pork bun.
The Green bean with minced pork and dried shrimp $11.80 looked pretty good as a share dish…for another time perhaps.
Faheem’s Fast Food on Enmore Road is the first real Indian eatery I’ve discovered in Australia. The decor is perfectly authentic,as is the service and it has the very best (almost Indian) prices!
It’s open daily for dinner everyday, there’s no need to book.
The menu is extensive and includes options like….
Dal Makhani $11 – black lentils with fresh herbs, corriander and spices
Fantastic!! soft naan from $2.50
Garlic naan $3
Rice larger serve like this is $3
Yogurt mint sauce $1.50
Two people can eat for $20.
There’s also the option of three veg curries and rice $10.
I will have to go back!
My gorgeous friend Anu cooks the very best Indian food I’ve ever tasted. Specialising in the cuisine of her home city Hyderabad, all her creations, purely vegetarian, bring the ingredients and favours to life.
It’s such a treat to watch Anu cook, with great passion and pride.
Recently I enjoyed watching her cook a ‘simple family lunch’ of…
Sambar…
Samosa scrolls…
Chickpea curry….
…perfect with poori
Egg Biriyani….
Naan created with just 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 cup plain flour, salt and water, left for 2 hours, rolled, dimpled and baked on the Tawa and then flamed over the gas to create the same effect as a Tandoor oven.
Raita with yogurt, onion and coriander.
Pappadoms made by hand and dried in the back yard – so so good
…and Carrot halwa and Chai finished the meal perfectly!
I’m still enjoying the memory of Anu’s amazing cooking – it was such a treat to watch, learn and savour.
Thank you Anu!!
One for the next stay at The Urban – thanks Not Quite Nigella for the pic and the review
And another from concrete playground!
I would never have found this great spot on my own but it was recommended by a friend.
The Urban won’t fit everyone’s preference ….but I loved it!
It’s close to the city…just a short 6 minute train ride from Central on the inner west line.
It’s just near Newtown Station, easy 2 minute walk.
It’s only $109 per room on the website….
….and if you book on line the mini bar is free.
Pastries and fruit are available all day and so breakfast is included.
The room has a kitchenette so you can cater easily..
…but why do that when it’s surrounded by great places to eat on Enmore Road!
The Urban started life as an RSL Club and front the road it looks quirky but not fancy.
The foyer is pretty plain and practical.
But then you realise that staff at reception are really friendly, approachable and helpful.
And you notice the pastries, coffee and fruit you can help yourself to anytime.
I’d booked a double room, but was upgraded to a king bed (nice!).
Room 405 was great, facing the side street Station Street not the main road. Once the windows were closed it was especially quiet.
The room was simple and basic but it was the five star touches that really impressed like the full toiletries….
….large bathroom and shower ( excellent)….
….pod coffee machine and classy teabags.
The bed was very comfortable, heating was cozy.
And did I mention that free minibar?
If you don’t want to go far the Hakiki icecream shop is across the road…
..as is The Stinking Bishops with an interesting menu.
A bit further along is La Ricetta ( open Monday’s) Great Aunty Three (Vietnamese) and Faheems Fast food (Indian) ( open Mondays).
The Tandoori Hut has a great Biriyani recommended by The Urban reception.
Hartsyard, Osteria di Russo and Russo and Bloodwood are pricier spots nearby.
There’s the historic iconic Enmore Theatre near by and some interesting sounding markets on the weekend.
At breakfast time there were some amazing croissants and pastries on offer – maybe from the wonderful smelling bakery over the road.
And I’m there’s a whole lot more to discover on King Street!
Parking is $40
Wifi is free and excellent!
There’s not many eateries open on a Monday night in the Albury CBD.
However, the Manhattan, a tapas bar at the bottom of the Quest Hotel in Albury is a good spot to choose.
The setting and service is relaxed.
Wine by the glass is well priced and generous. The wine list includes a range of local wines.
The tapas are also good and include garlic and rosemary marinated Lamb strips with tzatziki, pita bread, feta and tomato salad $18…( my favourite)
….baked mushrooms with goats cheese, thyme and garlic and crumb $16…
…and duck lettuce cups with Asian slaw and sesame and lime dressing $17 ( perhaps my least favourite of the three).
Hakiki Turkish Icecream is right across Enmore Road from the Urban.
While The Cow and the Moon up the road is the prize winner…
…this is the more interesting and delicious option.
The Turkish tea is excellent ……
…..as is the Turkish delight $1 each.
The baklava was excellent and the pistachio, all was great.
And I’d love to try the baklava pasties next time too.
As Charmaine O’Brien writes in the Penguin Food Guide to India Indian cuisine is actully incredibly diverse, with the traditional food of each different region reflecting its history, culture, trading opportunities, climate, religion and economy.
This is exactly what Sushant wants to show Canberra and why his new restaurant 7 By The Lake at the Kingston Forshore is the stage for a feast of dishes from seven different parts of India.
Last week Sid from Movenpick introduced the Canberra Food Bloggers to his great friend Sushant who became our culinary guide for the evening.
Sushant is well known in Canberra for his catering business named after his mother Sarla. He is often asked to cook for Canberra’s embassies and temples and Travel & Beyond testify to Sushant’s amazing samosas that sell like hotcakes at Apna Bazaar in Belconnen.
Sushant offered us his delicious Mango Lassi $5.50
(Sweet and creamy yogurt drink made from mango pulp and flavoured with cardamom)…
….and wine by the glass (BYO also available).
We began our journey starting in Sushant’s hometown Mumbai, where the roads of regional tradional foods meet as people from all over India come to make it rich in the big city…
Chicken Lollypop $16.90
(Marinated chicken winglet in a lollipop appearance, deep fried and served hot with lip smacking Szechuan sauce)
This brought back fond memories of Mumbai’s Chowpatty Beach street food.
From Calcutta came our vegetrian entree Palak Papdi Chat $12.90, the finest I’ve tasted in Canberra, with lovely crisp spinach fritters.
(A unique and delicious ’street food’ dish made from a mix of potatoes, chaat masala, onions and roasted cumin topped with crispy and crunchy spinach fritters, fresh sweet yogurt, tangy tamarind chutney and spicy mint and coriander chutney.)
We then met Ramesh, head chef, from Hyderabad who is known for his amazing biriyanis (as is Hyderabad itself!).
Then we continued our journey through the mains with classics like…
Lamb laalmaas $25.90
(An aromatic and flavourful lamb curry prepared in a sauce of yogurt, garlic and variety of spices with a burst of red chillies is a very famous dish that comes from Rajasthan.)
This dish reminded me of Indique restaurant in Jodhpur.
Lal Maans is a dish developed by the Rajputs when out fighting that doesn’t need a frypan and just a few ingredients easily acquired from a nearby village.
The Goanese Fish ( fresh ling fillets cooked in coconut based curry, tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves) took me back to Casa Anjuna $29.90
…and Chicken Chettinad (A classic dish from Chettinad region of south India that gets it’s unique flavour from roasted dry coconut, combination of spices including star anise and fennel seeds) and reminded me of melas from the kitchens of Visalam and The Bengala.
Chettinad cuisine has benefited greatly from the Chettiars ambitious trading relationships with south east asia, the source of distinct flavours like the star anise. $23.90
From the North came Murgh Makhani (creamy textured curry made from smoky flavoured tandoori chicken tikka simmered in tomato and cashew based gravy, also known as Butter Chicken.) $23.90
From Maharashtra (home state to Mumbai) came Kolhapuri Chicken ( boneless chicken pieces cooked in flavourful Kolhapuri style masala) $24.90
From Gujarat, the Indian state with the highest population of vegetarians came our vegetarian main – Lasooni Palak Paneer (Cubes of fried cottage cheese cooked with spinach, green chillies, a special blend of spices and a touch of garlic which gives a unique taste and enhances the flavour of the curry) $23.90
From Bengal we had Bengali Chicken Curry (Chicken marinated in yogurt and spices cooked in mustard oil on slow fire) $23.90
This was accompanied by…
Basmati Jeera Rice $5
(Steamed Basmati rice flavoured with cumin seeds)
Raita (Yogurt mixed with grated cucumber and flavoured with roasted cumin seeds $5.50
And some lovely breads…
Garlic Naan (Fermented plain flour bread cooked in a tandoor topped with minced garlic)…$4.50
Laccha Paratha (Crispy and layered whole meal flour bread cooked on a pan ) $5
Masala Kulcha (Fermented plain flour bread stuffed with a mix of spiced potatoes and herbs, sprinkled with onion seeds, chopped coriander and mint, cooked in a tandoor) $5
Puran Poli – 2 pcs $5.90
(Sweet bread made from plain flour stuffed with sweet mixture of gram daal and jaggery, infused with cardamom and nutmeg, a Maharashtrian delicacy)
I’m a bit of a bread fan, but this Puran Poli that Sushant makes himself was my absolute favourite.
It was truly a very special night to be a Canberra Food Blogger and a guest of Sushant and his team.
Sushant is a great cook and storyteller and has some wonderful ideas that he has been trying out, and still plenty yet to test.
I can’t wait to see what Sushant’s new menu will look like in September.
7 By The Lake is open everyday for lunch and dinner.
It’s at the far end of the Kingston Foreshore that has lots of great newly opened eateries – well worth exploring!
The Goods Shed in Wodonga NSW started life about 150 years ago as a railway shed.
It’s now a good spot on a Sunday night for a casual meal.
It’s a big shed, can be a bit cold in the winter and noisey, but if you grab yourself a booth or a couch and wear your coat it offers a laid back setting and service that is friendly and flexible.
Sharing the
Click to access Goods-Shed-Menu-010716.pdf
Charcuterie
Board
$26 …
and a side of
Steamed Asian Greens, Oyster Sauce, Sweet Soy, Fried Garlic………$7
…..is good with wine by the glass.
A nice way to finish is with wonderful Gundowring icecream….
Salted Caramel & Honey & Walnut Ice Cream.
I searched out a nearby supplier of Gundowring icecream at Danes Fruit and Veg and can say that the licorice flavour is excellent!
Fine Eating 