Monday, March 26, 2012

La Vucciria, Paddington

Miss Piggy and The Boy dined as guests of La Vucciria.

Back in the 90s, before most of you were out of primary school, I worked with a lady at Optus.  We were work friends but never really hung out after work that I recall.  After about 2 years of slogging it out at the Big O I decided to up sticks and go traveling.  I never saw my work friend again...but of course we're friends on Facebook. Whenever I write a blog post I pop it on Facebook thinking maybe someone who knew me 100 years ago would like to have a read.

And you know what, the lady from Optus reads my blog (Facebook - you are good for something). She mentioned me to Stephanie at La Vucciria -- where she has become a regular -- and an invitation ensued for The Boy and I to venture to Sicily...via Paddington.


La Vucciria is a little Sicilian oasis tucked away on busy Flinders Street - identifiable by its bright red door, basket of goodies parked on the curb and a larger than life menu scrawled on the outside wall.  I already love it and we haven't even set foot inside. It feels so charming and rustic and a world away from Paddington.


The interior is quite modern, a leather banquette down one side, sleek bar on the other, interesting lamp shades made from planks of wood, but the food feels authentic and rustic. The menu changes on a regular basis depending on what's in season and what looks good at the markets that week.


After a harrowing drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic down Parramatta Road (seriously, that has got to be the WORST road in the known universe) I really need a drink.  A wine menu is handed over with the list of wines tapped into an old Italian travel magazine.  I need something stronger however and the cocktail menu gives us both a chuckle - the drinks list has been inserted inside a vintage style Italian "magazine for men" with the rudie bits covered by strategically placed stars. LOLs.


The cocktail list is organised by type of spirit - vodka, rum, whiskey.  It feels like a Gin night to me so I settle on a Bramble cocktail - a mix of gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and a Blackberry Liqueur all topped with an ever-so-retro maraschino cherry. 


The Boy chooses the entrees starting off with Gratin Scallops ($15.00) - perfectly cooked Scallops topped with a browned, crispy Gratin and a zesty Tomato and Caper garnish. The Crispy Prawns ($13.00) are wonderful and sit in a small pool of beautiful creamy sauce - but they are not the Flash Fried Prawns we were expecting (and had seen on other tables). 


Not to worry as chef, cum waiter for the evening, Fabio sees us staring longingly at the other tables with bowls of the Flash Fried Prawns and arranges for a platter of Crispy Calamari, Prawns and Zucchini ($18.00) to magically appear at out table.  This is a GREAT dish, the prawns are so crispy we can eat the head, tail and shell as well as the meaty prawn flesh.  Sadly my photo doesn't do the dish any justice (the restaurant has some moody, dark lighting happening), but I think my "skills" with Picasa have helped restore the photo...sort of.


The mains are all written in Italian so we need some help deciphering what's what. In fact the staff are all Italian (probably Sicilian really), and speak with dreamy accents - there are also quite a few Italian speaking customers, so this place must be the 'real deal'.

The Boy beats me to my first choice of Swordfish alla Palermitana ($26.00) and it's a stunning dish.  The fish is so fresh and light, the flavours lifted by the tomato, basil and caper topping. I have food envy, but I'm pretty happy with my Spaghetti nero Seppia ($24.00) - a spaghetti dotted with cuttlefish and stained black from the Cuttlefish ink. It's a strong flavoured dish, but really great.



By this stage I'm nearly bursting but we need to have dessert...for the blog of course!  The Boy chooses Tiramsu ($9.00) which he wolfs down - it's strong with the flavour of espresso, guaranteed to keep you up all night!  I couldn't go past the Figs with Lemon Cream ($8.00).  Is there anything figs can't do I ask you?  The Lemon Cream is sublime, sweet - almost like a Lemon Curd.  It was the perfect dessert to end a perfect meal. We'll be back!


La Vucciria is at 160 Flinders Street, Paddington (just before you hit Anzac Parade).  Phone them on 8068 5598. I'd suggest making a booking as they were PACKED when we visited on a Saturday night.

La Vucciria on Urbanspoon

23 comments:

  1. I can safely say I was well out of high school in 1990 so I guess I don't fall into the "young readership" demographic.
    How lovely does this restaurant look?! I dig how they scribe the menu on the external wall. Great looking food!

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    1. I loved the outdoor menu - though I imagine it's a big job changing it over every week. Would be kinda fun really.

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  2. Oops, that girlie pic should have a 'NSFW' warning (had quickly scroll past it!). The food at La Vucciria looks fab; love that you 'must' have dessert - for the blog, of course.

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    1. Ha ha, I know Bel! It took my by surprise too...

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  3. it is a shame they r not open for lunch! the light will be glorious during the day time! for a long time now, i've been googling 'ristorante enoteca'... and completing missing the proper name of the resto...till recently!! talk about stupid huh? looks great! def going to check it out!

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    1. The light during the day would be fantastic in there, I agree. It would be a nice place for a long Sunday lunch. I struggled a bit in the dim light, but I reckon the photos pulled up OK.

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  4. this restaurant looks lovely! will definitely have to check it out!
    and agree - is there anything figs cant do? LOVE FIGS!

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  5. I already love it...from the other side of the state! Pretty cool that food and blogging re-connected you to an old friend :)

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  6. Looks nice. So many places to try. I managed to venture up the Woolhara end of Oxford St last week for an impromptu dinner, so maybe getting to this when in need of an Italian fix won't be so difficult.

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    1. There are WAY too many places to try...the open up so fast too. No wonder I've put on 10kgs since I started the blog....oopsie!

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  7. LOL I'm probably old enough to be your granny. :)

    I love that menu on the wall - very clever.

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    1. I bet you're not old enough to be my granny! And if you are you'd be a cool granny who blogs!

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  8. Haven't been there but food looks good. The only thing I don't like is the restaurant's name... not very catchy/easy to remember.

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    1. We were just calling it "La V", but with a swanky Italian restaurant...rolls off the tongue quite easily.

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  9. I've walked past this place a few times and it has always looked appealing with the bright red door and sleek white walls.

    For some reason I thought it was really expensive, but mid twneties for a main isn't too bad. Especially if it is good.

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  10. Parramatta Road is seriously the worst road ever... but it looks like it was worth the journey! Those scallops look incredible!

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  11. heh ive used the 'but i need to eat dessert for the blog' excuse on the boy too :P the lemon cream sounds amazing

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  12. I love Facebook and you never know who will read your blog :) I only just recently found out a friend of mine actually reads every single one of my blog posts but never told me ~ and she has also been telling her friends and asking them to support me :) I love these silent readers because I was one a silent reader too hehe

    Looks like a great place to have dinner ~ hahaha i've used the 'because of the blog' excuse on a daily basis because I keep telling Mr Bao 'You came up with the name 'Nevertoosweetforme' now we've gotta live up to the blog name hahaha

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  13. Dear Miss Piggy,

    The food looks awesome especially the squid ink pasta, always one of my favourites at Italian restaurants.

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  14. I am one of your older readers, well and truly out of school in the 90s. Food looks fabulous.

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  15. Figs and lemon cream? Be still my heart! It looks like a fun place to dine and it's not too far from where we live! :D

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  16. The deserts there look really good! & yes parra road has to be the worst road ever...

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  17. mmmm delicious! the drinks menu reminds me of something at the winery!

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