Yebisu Bar & Grill Haymarket

Over the past couple of years I have dined at Yebisu Izakaya in Regent Place (which you can read here and here) and have had great pleasure in eating there. 

Recently I was invited to dine at the newly opened Yebisu Bar & Grill on Dixon St in Haymarket. I was definitely keen to taste more of those yakitori from the open grill. On arrival you can take the stairs or the lift up to the first floor.  The walls have a very modern street vibe which reflects Japanese heritage, cultural and colour!

I love the wall art!

We have prime seating (aka the counter that runs along the front of the kitchen) giving us optimum kitchen views. Being able to watch the chefs grilling over the hot smoke grill, a sushi chef slicing super fresh fish and making up delectable looking plates of sashimi and sushi, the hustle and bustle of a working kitchen.

There is the sake cart which rolls around the restaurant with the traditional bells when you order.

Tonight we try the Aged Jozen mizuno gooshi – it is a mild sweet sake, easy drinking and lovely.

Ordering is simple via the ipad but that doesn’t actually make it any easier to order from a mouth watering selection. What to order!!???? 

I can’t resist the aroma of smoke and meat 

With beer there must be snackage so we order a bowl of the Lotus Root chips

These are seriously awesome drinking snacks. I still cannot figure out what spice is dusted on these lovelies. Does anyone know?

Chicken Skin (salt)

The chicken skin is half crispy and full of fatty flavour. The salt sprinkles on it make a good pop through the oiliness.

Pork & Kimuchi (salt)

This was a favourite. The pork is so tasty with a sprinkle of salt rolled around a mound of kimuchi, which is similar to the Korean kimchi but is milder in flavour. 

Takoyaki

These freshly made balls were good. Good piece of octopus inside a ball topped with sauces, mayo and flakes of bonito flakes. First for the boy who appeared to like them.

and the dishes keep coming...... next up spicy karaage chicken

Pieces of spicy, juicy chicken fried to a delicious crunch is a winner!

Sapporo

Chicken skin with ponzu

This dish was crispier than the chicken skin skewer but after a few minutes swimming in the ponzu sauce became quite soggy. Definitely a dish to eat straight up!

Even though our bellies are full we muster up enough room for dessert.

Tempura Fried Icecream

I love a good deep fried ice cream so I was tempted by this dessert. This dessert was okay. The vanilla ice cream was creamy and the choc sauce was good, just that the tempura coating was not crispy or flavourful enough for my liking. Remember taste is subjective! 

I really enjoyed my dining experience.  I love nothing but watching a working kitchen (yeah Im a food geek) and the lovely dishes that came out of the kitchen.  

Thank you to Yebisu and Washoku Lovers for the kind invitation to dine at your new establishment. I would definitely recommend here for a night out in Chinatown. 

*Roofood dined as guests of Yebisu and Washoku Lovers

Stable Talk @ Kensington

Kensington has long been a University area, diverse, cultural and a long list of cheap and cheerfuls, offering to all the Uni students and locals looking for tasty eats. With upcoming developments now and in the near future, the area needs a few more options for those that want something a little more upmarket.

 

A casual café by day to tapas and wine bar by evening, cozy Stable Talk is a warm welcome to Kensington. Opening their doors 5 months ago they are offering some tasty delights and great wines.  As the name suggests, yes there is a lot of horse race theming throughout the restaurant.

 

Dining with friends, because you know tapas is best shared, the wine plentiful and food is delicious and of course the company is wonderful too! We definitely had very enjoyable evening.  The staff are friendly and welcoming.

 

There is a kick ass cocktail list with some fresh new cocktails and the wine list runs with international and local wines (some by the glass) but mostly by the bottle. We have arrived early so a little tipple to start the evening is a must along side a bowl of warm marinated olives. 

 

These plump, briny kalamata olives are addictive!

  

Our dining buddies arrive and a bottle of Lost Turtle, Sauvignon Blanc from, the Marlborough region is opened. The passionfruit notes are crispy and fruity.

The menu is quiet extensive with a few specials thrown in.

We decide to do one of the specials, the fresh spanner crab with tomato tartar.
 

Fresh chunks of crab were swiftly forked up. This was a fresh and light starter.
 

Fried calamari slider with salad of rocket and lemon aioli and a chorizo slider.

 

The fried calamari sliders were pretty good. The slider bun were soft and fluffy. However I think it was the chorizo slider that one person had that was a winner.

Potato Bravas

 

 

I can never go pass a serve of potato bravas. I mean they are fried potatoes!!! These were crispy and fluffy and a generous serve.

 

Salt cod croquettas with lemon aioli

 

 

The salt cod croquettas were crispy and hot but I didn’t think there was a lot of fish flavour. I think I was expecting something saltier. That being said they were tasty enough, just not what I was hoping for.

 

Beetroot, kale and goats cheese salad with coffee salt.

 

The girls like the salad, the boys wouldn’t touch it. What is the aversion to kale? I really liked this salad. The beetroot had bite and the nubs of goats cheese offered a salty, creamy texture with hints of coffee salt granules.

 

 

Slow cooked beef and pork meatballs in rich tomato sauce

 

We ordered two serves of the meatballs, mainly because we knew the boys would like them. They were a decent size swimming in a bowl of tomato sauce.

 

Braised chicken in Olarosso sherry and cinnamon

The chicken would have to be the winner of the night. A serving is half a (small) chicken served with puree sweet potato. The sherry really shines through this dish. It was delicious.

Pan con tomato garlic bread

 

Still feeling a little peckish we finish off with some of the garlic and tomato bread. It’s crusty with hints of garlic and a light fresh tomato topping.

But you quite end a meal without dessert. So we share a serve of the Churros with hot chocolate

The churros are hot and cinnamony sweet and dunked into the spicy Mexican style chocolate these are the perfect ending to our meal.

 

If you are looking for a restaurant where you can have a long leisurely dinner sharing plates and sipping on lovely wines, then this is the spot for you. 

Stable Talk has been a long awaited and much needed addition to the dining scene in Kensington.  It's the Tomato Sauce Odds!!!

 

 

 

Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing

Kicking back on a Saturday night with a beer (or wine) in hand watching a movie or two you need finger food.  Something easy to eat that is delicious and comforting.

 

You can't go past Buffalo Wings. Probably one of the most famous appetisers from the States. 

 

Living in Toronto years ago, one of my favourite nights of the week was Beer & Wing night at the local pub with a great friend sharing some Buffalo wings and cheap beer.  It was always a lot of fun and they were so tasty.

 

There are a few claims circulating about where Buffalo wings originated.  The most famous being Anchor Bar in Buffalo.  Here legend states that Franks Red Hot was used.  When I found a bottle of Franks Red Hot in Woolworths the other week (and on sale for $2!) I had an idea....make your own! 

  

 

 

throw it all on a chopping board to serve 

 

 

 

Ingredients

 



1.5 kilo of chicken wings, broken down drum and wing (discard wing tip (or use to make chicken stock) or purchase already cut

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

dash of oil

1/4 cup of butter, melted

1/4 cup Franks Red Hot

handful of parsley, chopped

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup mayonnaise

100gms of blue cheese (I used Blue Castello)

Dash of lemon juice

carrots sticks

celery sticks

 

Method

1.  Mix onion powder, garlic powder and oil and season with salt and pepper and rub into chicken wings.  Place in fridge for at least 2 hours (or up to 12 hours).
2. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
3. Place wings on a wire rack in a baking tray and bake in oven for approx 1 hour or until crispy and meat is tender.
4. Place sour cream, mayonnaise, blue cheese and lemon juice in a blender until mix until smooth, pour into a bowl and place in fridge until ready.
5. When the wings are ready, mix melted butter and Franks Red Hot in a bowl (use more or less Red Hot to taste). 
6. Toss hot wings in sauce and serve with blue cheese dressing, any leftover wing sauce (for extra dipping), carrots and celery.

 

I also did a side of baked sweet potato home fries and corn cobs.

 

These were so frickin' delicious and as close to the real thing as you could get.  They are slightly healthier too as the chicken is baked and not fried.

The boy was in his element and I was licking my fingers too.

 

Did you know that Buffalo Wings have become so famous that the town of Buffalo in New York state even have a Chicken Wing Day!

 

 

Express Lunch @ Contrabando

When you have a team lunch to celebrate a team members promotion and they mention a lunch spot that is a great place for a quick lunch with a good deal I had to google it.  I hadn't seen alot of reviews on nor heard much about Contrabando, so I was excited about going.

 

 

 

Turns out it's where the Noble House used to be - look for the upside down sign out the front.  It's unassuming and full of mystery as you head downstairs into a moody lit room, with local artwork hanging on the walls.  It's obviously had a make over (or make under as it's more grungy and graffettied than Noble House was)  Cheeky and playful.

 

The menu looks great, with flourishes of Southern Californian, Mexican and Latin American influences.  There are a few dishes that are enticing but we are all here for the express lunch which is on Monday and Thursday.  Four tapas size dishes and a beverage (beer, wine or soft drink) for $20, that's a real bargain in the city!

 

The beverage choice is either a Salvados on tap or a Vaquera, peruvian Apple Cider.  I go with the cider and it's cold and light and fruity.

 

When the corn arrives we all dive onto it.  There is something about corn when cheese, chipotle and lime are involved. 

 

 

 

 

 

The mazorca are chargrilled, topped with queso freso, lime and a chipotle mayo with a hint of heat.  They are delicious!

Everyone is taco crazy these days and this crispy fish taco, with tomatillo salsa verde and pico de gallo is a tasty little number on super soft tortillas.  I could be in Baja right now!

The third dish was probably my least favourite.  The choripan, which is essentially a chorizo hot dog comes with habanero mustard and salsa criola.  It was nice, just not a favouite.  The mini chorizo sausage had a nice smoky flavour with a kick of chilli.

We finish the meal with the wagyu beef quesedilla.  This is a big hit.  The rich flavour of the beef is tasty and topped with a salsa verde, the crispy tortilla sandwiches it all together.

 

The staff are fun and friendly and it's a great place to have a quick lunch at.  As it is in the CBD it is a suits and corporates type of lunch spot, but it's a great spot!

 

I know I'll be back...perhaps next time I'll indulge in a $10 cocktail.

 

 



Tasting the new menu @ The Norfolk

I recently attended a food bloggers event at The Norfolk in Surry Hills to partake in a tasting of the new(ish) menu.

 

I have never been to The Norfolk before but

 

I arrive early, so I start with a Tommy's Apple Crumble, a delicious concoction that reminder me of a cool autumn nights dessert...but of course, this was anything but....a mix of Herradura silver tequila, pomme verte, lime, agave with a jam and biscuit rim. 

 

 

Finally everyone arrived and we were all chatting and catching up and speculating and perusing the enticing menu.  I'm excited.

 

I must remind myself to PACE MYSELF....my new Tantra!

 

We start with a special...Chicken Waffle on a stick!

I'm a fan of the fried chicken and waffles with maple syrup....yes maple syrup is a must. 

 

This reminded me of America's State Fair food - something that is on my bucket list.   A waffle wrapped around chicken, deep fried topped with sauces.  Yeah this works.

 

 

This cheeseburger however blew me away.  Sydney's burger craze is rampant at the moment and there is some high stake contenders in being the best burger.  This perfect little starter wow'ed me!

 

Monterey cheese burger - ezy cheese and jalapeno salsa.  This was deceptively delicious!.  It looks simple but OMG...I love spray cheese....yes it's overprocessed and fake...but you gotta love it!  The jalapeno salsa has some heat but blends well with the cheese....

 

Time for another round of cocktails.  Next choice is the Cowgirl Bubbles.  A blend of Jack honey, strawberry liqueur, lemon, ginger, sparkling wine.  I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous one.  It was nice, just wasn't pairing as well with the food.

 

Tacos, Tacos, Tacos!  So many tacos.  In fact there was 3 each.  I'm glad I'm wearing my stretchy pants.

 

 

We sample the Asado Beef (above front), Pulled Pork (mid left) and the Jalapeno Popper (mid right).

the Asado Beef taco had coffee, avocado cream and arbol chilli salsa.  It was very tasty.  The Pulled Pork taco was served with smoked adobo pork, aji chili and pineapple salsa.   The pulled pork was smoky and tender but it was the pineapple salsa that pulled it through (no pun intended).  In all honesty, and my own opinion, I think I am over pulled pork.  I think I have overdosed on it over the past year, so I wasn't so keen on it....not when there was a jalapeno popper taco to be had!

. 

Breaded, fried, cheesy hot peppers wrapped in a soft tortilla topped with pumpkin mole, queso and salsa rojo.  I yes, folks we have a clear winner!

 

getting up close and personal with an asado beef taco

 

Chef Jamie Thomas and the kitchen crew were still pumping out the dishes.  Not only for us but also being a Tuesday night, keeping up with the demand for Taco Night!

 

I think I went into deep fried heaven here.....

 

Mole Fried Chicken Wings with mole spices, crema and chilli vinegar.

 

The mole spices shine through this fried chicken and the chilli vinegar gives it a nice flavour that cuts through.  The sauce was unusual.  We all commented on it an and we worked out that it was the coffee (we think that's what it was) on top of the sauce that was giving it a a unique and unusual flavour. I wasn't a fan of it...but others loved it.

 

Next fried dish up was Deep Fried Pickles with ranch sauce.  I have loved Fried Pickles since I started travelling through the States years ago.  They are a dish that can be fantastic or terrible.  These were crispy with a light batter and dipped in ranch...mmmmm

 

 

 

However it was the Mac n Cheeseballs with spiced ketchup that blew most of us away.  These deceptively (yes I use that word again) simple looking balls were just awesome orbs of cheesy carb laden fried bombs!

 

Fried food in all its glory!

 

 

 

Thankfully we had a small break before the onslaught of more tastings.  The menu is packed with delicious snacks and tacos (many we have sampled tonight) but there is also salads, burgers and mains (which we didn't see).  More reason to come back and do some more 'sampling'. 

 

the last round of savoury dishes makes it's way to the tables with the San Jose Choy Bow which has grilled chicken, green papaya, lime, peanuts and salsa rojo.  These were refreshing, crunchy and delightful.

 

Another wow factor dish was the BBQ corn with ancho mayo topped with bacon and pretzel furikake

 

Furikake is traditionally a Japanese dry seasoning that is sprinkled atop rice.  It comes in various flavours but mostly with a base of dried ground fish, seaweed and sesame seeds.  Tonight we see it with bacon and pretzel crumbs too.  The corns wins the dish of the night for me (big call, I know) but really I love corn and this was top notch.

 

Last but not least was the K Town Burrito with short rib, smoked frank and kimchi rice wrapped in a torilla.  This was a fusion of Mexican and Korean and it worked.  I just wish I could have enjoyed it more (but the belly was full).

 

We cannot finish off any meal without dessert.

 

Deep fried banana taco with peanut butter icecream, ice magic, peanuts, 100's and 1000's and fried corn taco.  This is a fun, childlike dessert in all it's glory and it was good.  Anything fried will win right? and who can resist 100's and 1000's?

 

I really enjoyed dinner at The Norfolk.  The menu is extensive and fun, particularly if you love American fried foods.  It has a unique atmosphere, a fun court yard for al fresco drinking and dining.  The staff are friendly and helpful and overall just a great pub to spend some time in.

 

Thanks for the invite! 

 

*Roofood dined as a guest of Drink n Dine.  All opinions are expressly my own.