Rengaya @ North Sydney

 

Rengaya is not new to the restaurant scene having been in business for nearly 20 years. It’s reputation is clearly evident when all the tables are full by 6.30pm on a Monday night!

We are seated in one of the 3 main areas that are set in a ‘traditional’ style. There are 2 private dining areas that you can book if you want to have something more secluded.

 

 

 

 

 Shelves laden with old sake bottles make for great decor. 

 

 

 

 

In Japan BBQ is called Yakiniku and is a very social eating activity.  A grill/BBQ plate is placed in the centre of your table and you grill morsels of protein and vegies to your liking and dunk it into various sauces.  It's social and it go hand in hand with drinking. Beer, sake and cocktails are the norm. 

Chu Hai cocktails, rarely seen if at all in Sydney are a must! They are a refreshing mix of Chu Hai, fruit juice and soda served in a tall glass. Here it is served nama chūhai, meaning it is a DIY cocktail!
 

 

 

I have opted for orange and passionfruit one .After squeezing my own juice and mixing it myself and finding the right balance (ie all in!!).  It is light, fizzy and very refreshing!

 

 

I smile when our first dish arrives.   The premium wagyu beef sashimi is divine in it's simplicity. Six slices of well marbled raw wagyu is a beautiful site.  Atop crunchy shavings of daikon and served with fresh wasabi this is an awesome starter and the first time I have eaten raw wagyu. 

 

Check out that marbling!

 

 

To maximise the varieties of Wagyu we decide to try the Wagyu Amusement, comprising of a selection of (from left to right top row to bottom row) , Wagyu ribs, Wagyu loin, Wagyu oyster blade and Wagyu rib fingers and wagyu ox tongue.

 

 

and if you do not know your cuts of beef it comes with a handy list of which is what cut.

 

The loin and oyster blade are well marbled with a sprinkling of salt and pepper for a hint of flavour (not that this beef needs any assistance!)

 

 

ox Tongue (back pic) and rib fingers (front pic) look awesome. I cannot wait to try the ox tongue.

 

 

There is something fun and entertaining about BBQ’ing at your own table. Just do not forget about what you have on the grill and leave it to long.  You do not want to burn anything!

 

 

 

 

Placing pieces on that literally only take a minute or two to sear we wait......

 

 

 

 

 

Pork loin, slightly frozen and thinly cut are brought to the table along with milkfed lamb cutlets that look delicious.

 

 

 

 

We have ordered a bowl of Yukke bimiba, a Japanese dish similar to the Korean Bimibap served with raw Wagyu beef.

 

It is served in a piping hot stone bowl which you then stir all the ingredients together to make a lovely rice dish. 

 

The tender pieces of beef slightly cook through and the rice that has been on the base of the hot stone has gone crispy and crunchy.  This is comfort food and it is yummy!

 

 

 

 

 

We finish with a rich, hearty oxtail soup that is nourishing and warming.  A winner dish for next winter I reckon!

 

 

To finish off this fine meal a cold glass of sake is needed.  Otokoyama Junmai from Hokkaido is the choice tonight.  A huge sake bottle arrives table side and the cold crisp sake is poured into the small carafe with precision!

 

 

 

Visiting Rengaya was a delight.  I have never eaten Premium Wagyu beef before and I marvelled at the marbling of the meat.  If only I could could enjoy my steak as much as I enjoyed this meal!  Definitely recommend Rengaya.  I was surprised on how many people were there dining on a Monday night and clearly many regulars!

Thanks so much for the invitation!

 

 

*Roofood dined as a guest of Rengaya and Washoku Lovers

Papi Chulo @ Manly

 

 What was supposed to be our first date a year ago, a ferry ride to Manly, a lovely lunch and a few drinks ended up being cancelled due to horrendous whether and we went to the movies instead!. So we took the opportunity of our first anniversary celebrations to do it instead! Perfect date day though! A sunny day, with a little crisp wind and of course, awesome company!

 

Merivale's Papi Chulo is nestled right on Manly Wharf, literally a few steps from the ferry. Where an American smoke house/Latin inspired menu meets beach art deco décor which makes for a beautiful light and airy atmosphere with gorgeous views of the Harbour.

 

 

 

We start with drinks and I am drawn to the Bloody Ceaser Romero with Bacon-washed Olmeca Altos Tequila, papi's spice mix, olive and clamato juice (it’s a pimped up bloody mary, only better!)

 

 

We start with a bowl of Pea Guacamole with tortilla chips. Sprinkled with peas, pea shoot tendrils and sunflower seeds this guac is good. The warm crisp tortilla chips have the smallest hint of salt to the them.

 

 

The Tropical Taro Salad (which came with hidden slices of smoked Kingfish) was a surprise. Refreshingly light and tangy the crispy strips of taro added a perfect crunch to this salad.

 

The highlight dish of the day turned out to the be the Roasted Cauliflower with romesco, parmesan and burnt butter crumbs. We both LOVED this dish. The cauli was soft and tender but still held firm and the cheesy romesco sauce and crunch butter crumbs were just superb.

 

 

 

The Smoked Hot Wings with comeback sauce were another pleasure. The wings are fried to perfect crunchy crispness and tender and juicy meat. However I wasn’t really taken with the comeback sauce, but that is my personal taste).

Service is fantastic and dishes are served quickly. Staff are super friendly and there is no one person waiting on tables it’s a variety of servers.

Next up is the Jumbo King Prawns in lemongrass and coconut dressing. Two huge prawns adore a small plate and take a good 2-3 big bites to eat. They are really delicious.

 

 

 

 

I’m hitting my limit by now and lucky to have a few minutes break before the Lebanese Chicken Platter arrives with sides of curly fries and Vietnamese Coleslaw. BBQ chicken with peri peri spice is served on a platter with tabbouli, pickled veg, lettuce and pita bread.

The curly fries are super curly and cooked perfectly. The Vietnamese coleslaw adds a tangy freshness to the meal. We are so full now and end up taking a doggy bag home with us.

We do manage to share a dessert of the Chocolate chip cookie, marshmallow, butterscotch and vanilla ice cream.  Warm gooey choc chip cookie with a disc of fluffy marshmallow topped with ice cream and butterscotch is a perfect date dessert.

  

Although this was a year in the making, we finally got to visit and I know I will be recommending this to friends and definitely would like to come back and sample more of this delicious the menu.  

 

 

 

Bare Grill and Cafe @ La Perouse

 

The burger craze has been sweeping Sydney for some time now and there are some awesome burger joints that are taking the "meat between a bun basic burger" to new levels.　 One of the most notable burger joints is Bare Grill.　 In a little over 12 months Bare Grill have climbed that ladder to new heights and offering up some great tasting concoctions!

I have had the pleasure of smashing a Bare Grill burger or two over the past few months and it has fast become my go to burg place when a craving hits.

The last couple of visits I have chosen The Hangover (not the Bradley Cooper variety).　 A soft bun  with beer battered fish, American cheddar, hash brown, sunny side egg, fries and pickled mayo.　 I love me some pickled mayo!

The Boy has indulged in the Wild West burger.  Thanks to Ompty's great discount deals.  You can grab either of these with fries and a soft drink for $10!

 

 

Now, although Bare Grill has become famous for it’s burgers, the rest of the menu is also great which includes T-bone steaks, BBQ Pork ribs, souvlakia and the assortment of grilled fried seafood.　 I cannot forget to mention buffalo wings and EPIC fries (which are just that, EPIC!)

Thanks to ompty.com for inviting me along recently to sample some more delights, it gave me a chance to try some of the other delicious offerings (I usually smash a burg and hit my peak!).

We start with the buffalo wings, BBQ wings and a serve of the EPIC Fries (definitely sharing dishes by the way).　

The buffalo wings are crispy and crunchy covered in a not to spicy buffalo sauce.  I love buffalo wings and blue cheese dip!!!

buffalo wings

BBQ wings

The BBQ wings are good too but my real focus was on those EPIC fries.　 I was lusting over them. Definitely one of those ‘I need a moment to myself’ moments (haven’t had one of them in awhile!)

EPIC fries

Epic fries.　 Crispy waffle fries topped with pulled pork, gooey liquid cheese (that stuff is addictive), spicy aioli, shallots, bacon and Carolina sticky BBQ Sauce.　

I move onto the burgers.　 I have opted for The Fatties.　 Appropriately named after the Facebook Group (which I am of course a member of).　 It has double beef patties, American cheddar, bacon and the delicious Bare sauce (addiction right there peeps)!

The Fatties really hit the spot for that ‘cheeseburger’ craving.　 The beef patties are juicy and perfectly cooked.　There is just the right amount of grease to soak into the burger too.

Don't you just love the branding on the bun?

The Boy has been eyeing off The Bare Cockfighter the last couple of visits and goes with it today. It has two Southern fried chicken, bacon, American cheddar, guacamole, coleslaw, iceberg lettuce and big bare sauce.  Instant love!!

Everything is made in house (except for the pulled pork, which is ordered in).

I didn't taste these two burgers but they looked mouth watering. The Trip and The Cure.

The Trip has a beef patty, bacon, onion rings, American cheddar, hash brown and truffle mayo (front pic) and The Cure consisting of double beef patties, American cheddar, jalapenos, bacon, gherkins, hash brown, fried egg and that delicious Bare sauce (back pic)!!! Oh my.....

 

There are other offerings too.  The Greek Salad and Souvalaki is fresh and zesty.

 

For beverages, there is the usual selection of soft drinks and milkshakes…then there is the Freak Shakes! 

The Nutella Bomb is an eye popping chocolate milk shake/dessert delight.  Topped with a nutella filled donut and whipped cream, it truly is the BOMB!
Perfect to share over a romantic lunch?

Bare Grill is the perfect lunch or dinner spot (and a walk along the beach to walk off the food coma).  Get there early (particularly on a sunny day and coming into the Summer months).  The lines get long and crazy.

If you are in need of an ice cream they offer Pat and Stick's cookie icecreams!!!

In 3 days time Bare Grill is coming to Surry Hills.  Friday they open their doors to a second venue.  the menu will offer some new burgers and my tastebuds can't wait.


*Roofood dined as a guest of Ompty and Bare Grill. Thanks for a fab lunch!
 

Good Food & Wine Show, Sydney 2016 - Part 1

The Good Food & Wine Show in Sydney is my annual pilgrimage. It’s the one major event of the year that I look forward to and enjoy every single minute and this year I backed it up with a two day visit!

Arriving early on Friday the lines are already long but we are in the doors before we know it and purchasing our tasting glass and lanyard.　 As an FYI this year, if you were a Dan Murphy’s member you could ‘jump’ the line and enter in a separate line quicker and also receive a free wine glass (which I did on the Saturday). Thanks Dan Murphy’s.

Ready.....set....go..

Where to begin?　 Wine of course!

First stop is Bunnamagoo Wines.

 

 

Our second stop of the day was a absolute delight. Sampling the awesome Hartshorn sheep whey vodka and vanilla liqueur. 　How?　 By developing a technique to use the by-product (from making cheese from sheep milk (whey) from the family business at Grand Ewe cheese and distilling this to create a clean, crisp vodka is, in my opinion, brilliant.　

The bottles are gorgeous too being lovingly hand painted!　 The vanilla liquor is like vanilla icecream in a bottle!!!

So much to try and see.

We make our way through Barossa wines before landing at Bruny Island Cheese Co.　 I am a fan of the stinky cheeses and newly paired beers. Here we have The Saint and the Otto.  The Saint is [   and the Otto is a fresh cheese wrapped in prosciutto.

The Saint (left) and Otto (right) - Bruny Island Cheese Co.

Bruny Island Beer Co is brewing some awesome Farm Ale and dark beers too, which pair really well with stinky cheeses.
 

 

I’m excited about beer and cheese together (and there is more on that during Saturdays visit later).
I’m sensing more beer this year.　 Although I am not a big beer drinker (occasionally drinking beer when it’s hot), today I sampled some beers that may just change my mind a little.　

Over at the Australian Brewery I was surprised by a nice Pilsner (which is my Partner and Dad’s beer of choice) and their Ice Ice Baby (pilsner on ice on tap).

We may have spent quite some time over at Tamburlaine chatting with Mark Davidson.  This is one of my favourite wineries and love their GSM and their stickies and Muscat!

Tasmanian artisan brewery Moo Brew have a range of brews to suit your palette.  I really am liking the darker ales today!

 

Want something wintery and warming? Maxwell’s Liqueur Mead is heavenly and a bottle is  purchased!

Doc Adams is next.　 A friend has raved about their wine (specifically the 2013 GSM) and I have been wanting to try it before I purchased a case.　 Sadly, they are not sampling it at the show.　 I made some enquiries about purchasing a bottle before committing…and I left my details.　

 

A drool worthy moment with Miguel as he cooks a huge pan of paella.　 Cannot help myself and purchase a paella pan and a take home paella kit!  Pity he didn't come with the purchase! 

 

We stop by Sud Polaire for some gin….  I am not a gin person (it makes me cry) so I don't enjoy it as much as other spirits and I find tonic to be to bitter and grrrr....

 

So I  am surprised by this tonic!  I like it.

 

Whiskey and Porteen over at Melbourne Martini is sipped (and bring the Boy back the next day).

 

Cheers from us girls as we sip our way around the festival.

James Squire is offering a selection of their beers and we can not help ourselves, we have to sample all of them.　 I am a big fan of the Summer Swindler.　 The Jack of Spades Porter is palatable too!

The Wog with the Grog have a selection of European grappas and citrus based liqueurs.

I think it is clear what the Biltong Man makes and the mango and chilli one is a winner!

Over at Mr Black I fall in love with their cold drip coffee liqueur.　 I don’t think I have ever tasted something so delicious made from/with coffee.

Oregano bakery offering up some awesome scrolls.

 

Always stop by Stone's.　 I noticed the Gold is no longer available but there are a few other options.　 The reserve is quite nice.

Okay so there was some food involved (at some point!). hahaha

Jack Dillion’s was there again this year and offering some tasty BBQ sauces along with their lovely smoked garlic.　

The lovely people at Brixton gave me a bottle of their Jerk sauce and their BBQ rum sauce is awesome!!! (purchased a bottled the next day).　 Looking forward to making some jerk chicken with this.

 

 

The Smelly Cheese Club offer a range of just that (stinky) cheese from all around the world!　  So as per normal I purchase their selection. (in fact we had the le Delice de Cremiers on the weekend and loved this soft cheese)

 

We discovered Nick’s Jerky at the Deni Ute Muster last year and are fans of the dried stuff.

 

The aptly name Sticky Balsamic　 stall is a must.　 A lovely range of balsamic vinegars including a gorgeous pear balsamic.　 Miss B purchased the box set!!!!

 

Murray River Pork are taste testing their pork products and I arrive just in time for a slab of pork belly with crunchy crackling.　 Yum!

 

Tamar valley truffles is always a nice stop…one day I will purchase you lovelies!

 

There is lots of cider tasting this year too.  Elk cider is a traditional Swedish cider and they make a  nice apple cider!  I find pear to sweet.

 

Over at Cheese Ally, there is a lot to explore and enjoyed meeting Mrs Cheese from Hunter Belle Cheese.  Say Fromage!!!!  the cheese range is good too and purchase a few of the range including caramelised onion and hyme and cranberry and pistachio.  Their beer cheese is divine!

Our first day was awesome at the show and there were plenty of products purchased (lucky I took my Nanna trolley).