Cottage Point Inn, Sydney @cottagepointinn @guillaume_zika

Cottage Point Inn is perfect as the centrepiece for creating a wonderful day’s event – a special lunch in Sydney’s north.

Overlooking the Cowen Waters in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, this delightful venue began its life as a boat house, general store and post office.

Guests arrive by road, water or air!

They are beautifully cared for by Guillaume Zika – Executive Chef …..

Jim Sanders – Head Sommelier……

…and excellent waitstaff like Amando

We began with Jim’s recommendation of a lovely Sangria made with elderflower liqueur, port and juice of ruby grapefruit and poorman’s orange.

This was served with warm bread with a faint lemon flavour and stylishly served butter….

We were very tempted by the the degustation menu, but decided instead to share a selection from each course.

We chose entrees of Gippsland Veal Rump Tartare $32 – Seasoned with Oyster & Lemon Dressing, Tarragon, Caper Crackers

……and the Line Caught Snapper $34 Served Raw, Persimmon Vierge, Finger Lime & Basil

…and Jim suggested an unusual Argentinian White Fantasia that is usually paired in the degustation with the veal tartare.

…But before the entrees arrived we were surprised with a complimentary appetito of refreshingly crisp and tasty Pear with crème fraîche and pastry shell with a creamy pumpkin purée and parmesan

And after we’d enjoyed our entrees we were again surprised with another entree dish of the Moreton Bay Bug Citrus & Fennel, Lemon Hollandaise, usually $38, which turned out to be my favourite entree ( my second pick would be the veal tartare).

The mains we decided on were the Port Lincoln Spanish Mackerel Braised Endive with Capers & Smoked Parmesan, Noilly Prat Sauce $45…

….and the New Zealand Blue Eye Trevella with Confit young onion, sorrel puree, marjoram and clams $46..

Both were lovely and, like many others before us, we really did enjoy the Lemon & Herb Dauphine Potatoes $10.50 to accompany them.

Then another complimentary dish arrived – what must almost be a signature treat – of Roquefort cheese & green apple jelly with walnuts- perfect!

We’d chosen for dessert the Mont Blanc Tartlet with Chestnut & Rum Cream, White Chocolate Ganache, Buttermilk Sorbet $19 – a real winner!

But again were delightfully surprised with a second dessert of Yoghurt Vacherin Malfroys Gold Honey, Lemon Curd & Basil $19.

This was a meringue shell filled with a lemon curd and nicely highlighted, unusually, by the basil. Gorgeous!

Coffee was the perfect way to finish, especially as by now it was getting late in the afternoon…..

…..with a final unexpected accompaniment of aerated chocolate petit fours.

This is not a meal to be rushed. It deserves plenty of time to enjoy the relaxed and peaceful setting, the attentiveness and passion of the hosts and the creative talent in the dishes.

Portenos, Surry Hills @PortenoSydney

Portenos is a great night out -full of theatre, excellent food and wonderful wine.

The personality of Portenos, is what I remember most, or perhaps rather it’s the personality of the wait staff.

Damien our sommelier chose an amazing Maldec blend that was rich and delicious.

Wait staff are almost choreographed as they snap into action as the first guests arrive at the 6pm sitting.

Their attention to detail and to guest comfort is a stand out.

But the food is equally impressive.

The Grilled Calamari and Sliced Wagyu entrees are lovely and I’d order them again anytime.

VITELLO TONNATO $32 Thinly Sliced Wagyu Girello, Vine Smoked Spanish Mackerel, Anchovy Mayonnaise, Capers & Lemon

CALAMARES ASADOS $30 Grilled Calamari with Celeriac, Hazelnuts & Capers

PAN DE CASA – House Baked Bread & Olive Oil

ACEITUNAS – $8 Marinated Olives

The Wagyu beef I enjoyed most as a meat main.

ENTRAÑA $44 Kobe Cuisine Wagyu Beef Outside Skirt Grilled Over Charcoal

CHANCHITO A LA CRUZ $50 8 hour Woodfired Pig CORDERO A LA CRUZ $50 8 hour Woodfired Lamb (1/2 and 1/2)

As for sides it was the Grilled corn that impressed me most.

CHOCLO ASADO CON LIMA Y QUESO $16 Grilled Corn with Radish, Lime, Butter & Manchego Cheese

ENSALADA DE REMOLACHAS $16 Beetroot, Radicchio & Buffalo Mozzarella Salad with Salsa Verde

REPOLLITOS DE BRUSELA $16 Crispy Fried Brussel Sprouts with Lentils & Mint

Dessert was also excellent, my favourite being the Chocolate tart and mandarin ice-cream $16…

…just a little in front of the Dulce de Leche Flan & Icecream $16.

A perfect accompaniment as the desert wine was…

…and it was a truly special treat to see Damien’s pride in Poretenos wine cellar, with a large range of lovingly selected wines….and ( I noted for later) plenty of delicious Malbecs!

Truly a special and memorable Argentinian themed restaurant, well deserving of its place in Australia’s top 100 restaurants.

Baan Latsamy, Manuka a menu for 10

Baan Latsamy in Manuka is a good spot for a group dinner.

For ten people it works well to order:

5x Crunchy Eggplant with Chicken and Prawn for entree $12.90

2 x Duck Hotpot $24.90

2x a curry such as Beef or Chicken Mussaman Curry $19.90

2x Prawn stir fry with ginger and vegetables $22.90

and 4x coconut rice $3.50

With corkage for three bottles of wine $6 per botttle and the 25% discount with the Canberra Entertainment Book (up to three cards can be used for groups of six or more) it works out at around $17 per person. Great value and good flavours and servcie!

Me & Mrs Jones, Kingston, trying the burgers

The lunch menu at Me & Mrs Jones, includes a range of interesting burgers.

In order of preference they include:

THE KINGSTON BEEF 100% local beef pattie, beetroot, lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, egg, pickles, jack cheese, aioli and house relish on a brioche bun with fries $22

TEMPURA COCONUT CHICKEN Fragrant coconut chicken thigh, with tangy slaw, sriracha hot sauce and kewpie mayo on a brioche bun with fries $19.00

PORTABELLO MUSHROOM Polenta crusted mushroom, beetroot labneh, peperonata and baby leaves on a brioche bun with sweet potato chips $17.00

There’s also a range of interesting salads.

BYO available and two for one meals for holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book.

Open useful hours:

Monday – Friday 7.00am – late
Saturday 8.00am – late
Sunday 8.00am – 04.00pm

Space Kitchen, Woden – immensely popular for Saturday breakfast

Space in Woden has been open around 9 months and has always been busy during the week!

But I now know that Space is also buzzing on a Saturday morning – and why not!

I have always thought Space’s all day breakfast dishes are the highlight of the menu!

The same dishes often look very different the next time I order them and this time the Space Bendict $18.90 was just so pretty!

The Corn Fritters $19.90 are still a great choice…

…and the Fruit Toast $6.90 is excellent for something very light.

But the Hotcakes $17.90 went past…and wow, are they dramatic now, dark with contrasting white shards of chocolate…amazing! Something for next time…lunch even!

And the cakes are also as beautiful as ever.

Fine Eating – Special deal at Movenpick Kingston Foreshore

Try my favourite Movenpick winter dessert – Apple Strudel – at the Kingston Foreshore – in a special Fine Eating deal – $14.95 for the Apple Strudel and a hot drink of your choice.

Available Monday to Thursday until the end of August.

What do you need to do?

Step 1… ‘Like’ Movenpick Kingston Foreshore’s Facebook Page ….

Step 2 ….‘Like’ Fine Eating’s Facebook page…..

Step 3 ….Head to Movenpick on the Kingston Foreshore and show them your ‘Fine Eating’ free offer…

Step 4 ….Enjoy your Apple Strudel deal!

* A Fine Eating tip – a perfect dessert for sharing with a friend on a chilly night!

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.