Niji Sushi Bar @ Kingsford

 

When you spy a Japanese restaurant and keep talking about it and then the boy suggests actually going (after only recently discovering he likes sushi) I could not refuse!  Since our first visit we have been back again and will continue to do so.  Over the last two visits we have enjoyed quite a few dishes off the sushi train and I am looking forward to going back for dinner and enjoying their evening menu. 

Niji Sushi Bar is in Kingsford and the lines on a Sunday at noon are already getting long.  We are seated at the train and within minutes most of the seats are taken.

The first dish I spy turns out to be my all time favourite now and is the tiger roll. The prawn, avocado combo with chilli is amazing topped with crunchy tōgarashi sprinkled on top. 

 

Each plate is coloured coded to a price (typical sushi train style).  Dishes range from $3.50 to $6.50. The mixed fish plate looked really good and was very happy with the choice.  The tuna was particularly good.

 

Who else judges a restaurant on their staple dish.  For sushi train it is usually the salmon nigiri.  My friends little Miss 8 devoured 3-4 plates of it in one sitting! 

 

 

Always nice to have a pot of green tea to sip on while perusing the train.

The deep fried soft shell crab caught out eye.  It was crispy and lightly coated in a tempura batter and was very tender.

 

Another unique sushi roll was the duck skin roll that definitely made my mouth water and was really delicious.  Crispy skin topped a sushi roll with tender pink duck and avocado in the middle.  Sticky and sweet it was great.

 

 

The lobster salad roll on the other hand was a slight disappointment.  The flavour wasn't awful it was more that the texture was a bit mushy for my liking.  

 

 

 

Niji also offer a few lunch time specials ranging from bento boxes including tempura  which the boy devoured on our first visit.

 

 

 

To sushi rice bowls like this dish heaped with kingfish, tuna, salmon, butterfish and tamago with seaweed, roe and wasabi. 

 

 

Always a favourite choice for me at any sushi train is the seared scallop.  Niji's is topped with sauce and mayo too.

 

Finally ending one of the visit's with a serve of crunchy karaage chicken we are sated and happy sushi campers! 

 

 

 

I am very happy with my find in an area that I am just discovering.  I will definitely be putting Niji on my list of go to sushi trains.  They also offer a dinner service with a full al la carte menu including a degustation menu.

 

The restaurant also services beverages and is also BYO wine.

 

 

Yebisu Izakaya @ Regent Place

 



 

Yebisu is a charming Japanese Izakaya snuggled inside Regent Place on George Street. It’s very popular amongst the Japanese community, along with everyone else in the know! I have eaten here previously, pop over here to read about that night here. 

Regent Place appears to be the 'new' dining scene with loads of restaurants and Assembly Bar downstairs.

We arrived on a Friday night a little before 6pm and the line was already stretching. As we had been invited by Yebisu to dine with them we were whisked in quickly and sat at a table along the back wall offering a great view of the restaurant.

It's pumping on a Friday night. Don't be deterred by the long lines and waiting times, it dishes up some decent and fair eats and both the menu and beverage list is fairly extensive.

First up we grabbed a couple of Asahi’s including a Super Dry Black and a cold Ippin sake.

 

Asahi and Sake make for a great start to a meal

Using the menu and the touch pad to select from the menu we worked our way through picking and choosing our dishes. Dishes do come out fast once ordered so if you want to have a more leisurely dinner make selections throughout the meal to pace it (and yourself (hahah) !!!).

We start with a bowl of the lotus chips.  Paired with beer and/or sake these are just the devils food.  AMAZING.  Whatever the seasoning is that is sprinkled on these chips is very addictive!

lotus chips

 

In hindsight we should have had a bowl each. These were so utterly glorious and we neither of us could stop eating them (to the point that we were arguing who was eating more!!!)

 

As mentioned the dishes come out fast and soon we had a table laden with dishes!

 

just to start!

 

 

We begin with a serve sashimi entrée of the day. A selection of tuna, salmon and kingfish. A good palate cleanser.

 

Today's sashimi entrée

 

The chilli pork dumplings are served in a decorative bowl. They are steaming and plump with pork mince with a small kick of warming chilli. 

 

chilli pork dumplings

 

You can not eat at an Izakaya and not order yakitori or skewers!   We are swayed by the pork belly, pork and kimch (salt) and the salmon belly (in all it’s fatty gloriousness). These were all very tasty and the salmon belly was a favourite.

pork belly

 

pork and kimch (salt) and salmon belly

To finish our meal we ordered the chicken meatball hotpot.  A big wok of soup and ingredients are placed on the table to simmer.

 

chicken hotpot

 

The hotpot bubbled away with the occasional stir until we were ready to dig in.

 

 

Spooning out tidbits and morsels of fresh chicken, mushrooms, noodles, cabbage and fragrant broth was comforting and nourishing.

 

slurp away

 

Yebisu is a fun night out and you won't leave hungry!  It's a fun atmosphere and good food.

*Roofood was invited by Yebisu and Washuko Lovers. 

 

Wok and Noodle Bar @ Potts Point

Looking for an authentic and quaint Japanese style noodle bar in Sydney? Head to Wok n’ Noodle Bar in Potts Point.  Although the address is Shop 2, 119 Macleay Street Potts Point it is actually in Llankelly Place(tucked in behind Busshari).

Wok and Noodle Bar were opened by the guys of Ramen Osan and have been opened for a few months. Seating only a handful of people at a time, this tiny kitchen overlooks its patrons and is genuinely authentic Japanese.

 

 

We share a serve of the gyoza that are home made. 

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Fresh and full of pork, ginger and garlic with a chewy yet soft wrapping and a thin crispy bottom these are good!

 

I have taken up on the recommendation to try the unique Sydney Black ramen. I’m intrigued and definitely find that I am starting to enjoy the varieties of ramen (remember it’s not that long since I really started to ‘get’ ramen).

A piping hot bowl of ramen is served to me on this wet cold day and it’s the perfect weather for this variety of ramen (but anytime is a good time). It’s a nice size bowl of soup (not over the top large) and I instantly fall in love with the bamboo handles soup spoons that are offered up to use, along with chopsticks.

The soup base consists of both Chicken & seafood stock topped with a selection of pickled bamboo shoots, yam, broccoli, mushroom, onion, Chinese yam, black garlic oil and parmesan cheese.

The black garlic paste floats on the top of the soup like a glorious oil slick and is nothing like I imagined but loved every bit of it!

 

 

 

My dining buddy orders a bowl of the spicy miso ramen, which is a Hokkaido style ramen, it’s a spicy chicken stock, a soft gooey egg, shallots and other tidbits. 

The ramen here at Wok and Noodles is thinner and lighter than the Ramen O San counterpart but just as delicious and tasty.

As Sydney in the grips of the ramen craze, you can rest assured that Wok and Noodles are at the top of their game. Definitely a place I will love to come back to soon.

 

 

Sushi Rio @ Westfield Sydney

I love Sushi Rio so much that I am on average once a week.  I have started having cravings if I don't get a such fix!

 

Sushi Rio is in Westfields Sydney on Level 4.  Most dishes are $3.50 making this sushi train a fantastic cheap lunch in the city.  You can choose off the train or you can order from a list of dishes. 

 

 

 

I would have to say my favourite sushi dishes here are the soft shell crab handroll, the crispy skin salmon (because it still meaty) and the grilled salmon nigiri.

Make sure you ask for fresh wasabi, which comes cold out of the fridge and top with copious amount of pickled ginger (it's the best).

Sometimes they have special dishes on, like the crispy prawns pictured below.

 

Sushi Rio is definitely a go too place for lunch!  Best to go early during lunch time, although turn around time is frequent.

 

 

 

Travel Photo of the Month - June 2016

I have been culling my old travel photos lately. 

While sifting I came across this photo and it brought back a flood of memories. To a day that was most definitely in the top most memorable days in all my years of travel. One of my dream trips was to do ‘Africa’ safari style. Free camping out of the truck for a couple of months across the continent had always been a dream and that dream became a reality in 2001.

This particular day we were in Livingstone, Zambia. We were visiting that side of Victoria Falls. 

We were lucky to be there during the season when the mighty Zambezi river was low and flowing slow(er) and were able to wade out into the middle of the river to the Angel’s Armchair (or Devil’s Pool as some may know it now). A natural ‘pool’ that is on the edge of the Falls, literally. 

Sitting in this pool peering over the ledge into the First Gorge and looking 100 metres down to the Zambezi River below was one of the most awe-inspiring, inspirational moments of my life. A moment that I have always cherished.





Don't worry I'm not 'throwing' the photos out, just converting to soft copy and getting rid of the bulky, heavy photo albums that are gathering dust and culling some of the unnecessary photos!  keeping the keepers!

 

 

Roo Recipe: Persian Delight Doughnuts with Pistachio and Rose Petal Toffee

 

It's that time of year again.  It's Bake Off Season.  My workplace holds a Charity bake-off every year and it's highly competitive.  Last year I made redneck Breakfast Cupcakes and placed third.  This year I am baking two entries and looking forward to eating some of the delicious baked goods my colleagues are baking!  I cam second this year with my Persian delight doughnuts.  I was super excited about this dish.

This first dish I have been thinking about for a while.

Persian Delight Doughnuts
A baked cardamom doughnut with white chocolate rose ganache and pistachio crumb, rose petal and pistachio toffee and pistachio pashmak.

There are a few components but fairly easy to put together.

Baked cardamom doughnuts

Ingredients

2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
⅔ cup granulated sugar
2 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter, softened
½ cup milk, bring to a scald but not boiling
½ cup light Greek yogurt
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Method

Preheat the oven to 160°C. Lightly grease a doughnut pan with melted butter.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, cardamom, and salt.

Add butter and rub through dry ingredients until crumb like texture. Add the hot milk, yogurt, eggs and vanilla and stir until combined but do not over mix.

Transfer batter to a piping bag.  Pipe into greased doughnut pan to about 2/3 full. Bake in oven until doughnuts spring back.  Approx 12 - 14 minutes.  Let cool for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.


Pistachio and rose petal toffee

Ingredients
1 tbsp rosewater
1 cup of sugar
¼ cup of water
dried rose petals
60g pistachios, chopped finely

Method

Line baking tray with baking paper. 

Chop pistachios to small pieces.  Sprinkle pistachio onto lined baking tray.

Place 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a pan over low heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium.

Do not stir! Cook for 5 minutes until a medium golden caramel.

Pour toffee over nuts  and sprinkle rose petals over the top.  Set aside to cool completely before snapping into shards. Toffee can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container.

Rosewater and white chocolate ganache

Ingredients

100g white eating chocolate, chopped coarsely
2 tbsp thickened cream
A few drops rosewater,  to taste

Method

Stir chocolate and cream in a small bowl over a pot of simmering water over low heat until melted and smooth. Add rosewater to taste. Cover and refrigerate until mixture is spreadable.

Pistachio crumb
100g pistachio, crushed

To assemble

To put altogether, ice cooled doughnuts with the rosewater and white chocolate ganache, sprinkle with pistachio crumb, top with a shard of pistachio and rose petal toffee and a pinch of pistachio pashmak!

Tell me what you think?

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!!!

 

 

 

Ajisen Ramen @ Hurstville

I feel I am slowly gravitating towards that level of Ramen addiction!  Remember way back in the day when I just didn't get what the fuss was all about.  Over time I think my taste buds are evolving!

 

Last Saturday I suggested we use a voucher that had been sitting around and head up to Hurstville to test out Ajisen.  I have always walked past this little casual ramen place but never got around to dining here.

 

The 3 of us grabbed a table and the waitress handed over laminated menus.  After much to'ing and fro'ing we made our choices. 

 

Note that you can also buy a couple of bottles of Japanese beer to go along with your ramen.

 

I settled with a bowl of the Spicy Karaage Chicken ramen.  The broth is a surprising light yet creamy and the chicken is crispy and hot and doesn't get to soggy in the soup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 'little' bro has the tonkatsu ramen (hold the mushrooms).  yeah he hates them with a passion.  He is so not a fung -I (fun guy)!!!  Excuse the pun I couldn't help myself.  I can't take credit for that though,  I heard this the other day on the telly and have been waiting to use it since!

 

 

 

 

the boyfee , who is now quiet partial to the ramen goes the Special, which has karaage, ribs, chasu and egg.

 

The usual condiments are on offer along with an awesome pot of fried garlic powder that we all liberally sprinkle on!!! I wonder if you can buy that stuff anywhere?

 

The restaurant has a few students, young locals and mostly people just wanting a quick and easy dinner before heading off on their Saturday night.  It's a decent bowl and quiet hearty.  Definitely would visit again if I was wanting a bowl of quick ramen.

 

 

 

 

Travel Photo of the Month - May 2016 - On the Road to Gundagai

On a recent EPIC road trip around NSW and Victoria I stayed over a night in Gundagai and stumbled across the old train station. 

Left just the way you would have rode the rails back in the day. 

It's a beautiful old building and station and wandering around I could only imagine what it was like.