Friday, June 15, 2012

4Fourteen, Surry Hills

We’re lucky enough to have a Scheduled Day Off each month at my work – a luxury that makes me feel like one of the luckiest worker-bees on the planet. Thing is I’m such a lazy person that I often just waste them by blobbing about on the couch at home and pottering about (more blobbing than pottering though). For my last SDO I was determined to get my (ever-expanding) butt off the couch and head in to Surry Hills to try one of the eateries on my ever-growing wish list (ergo the ever-expanding butt problem).


Initially I was thinking of heading to Orto Trading Co or Rueben Hills – two cafes that have been on my Surry Hills radar for way to long. However I thought a Friday lunch would be a perfect time to visit Colin Fassnidge’s newest restaurant, 4Fourteen. Colin’s two other restaurants in the Eastern Suburbs are insanely popular and really busy so despite only being open for a few short weeks I already knew that 4Fourteen was PACKED to the rafters on weekends as well as for weeknight dinners.  Lunch turned out to be a perfect time to visit - not crowded, quiet and very enjoyable.


I’m not really sure why I wanted to visit 4Fourteen as I don’t feel overly motivated to visit either Four in Hand or the Paddington Arms despite their rave reviews.  I think they are just too far from where I live to make it “easy” for me to get to (I’m lazy remember, too much effort makes me want to nap). The new restaurant in Surry Hills seemed much more accessible to me – easy to get to on the train. And it seemed like a nice "special" place to catch up with Big Sister and hear all about her recent travels overseas.


We were offered a seat at the counter over-looking the open kitchen. No food blogger in their right mind would say no to this, what we’d consider a million dollar view. What a GREAT place to sit! We got to see all the action, watch our meals being prepared and ask the chefs questions (when they weren’t too busy that is).  My height-challenged sister had a few issues getting down from her perch though (which was quite fun to watch).



Big Sister decided to forgo entrees (though she did end up eating half of both of mine - hmm) which meant I had to order two entrees in order to get the "full entree experience" that sharing entrees normally brings.  The Chicken Wing with Parfait, Crispy Tortilla and Quince Chutney ($7.50 each) was sublime (and the chook was free-range so bonus points)!  Although I now know how to DIY pork crackling thanks to the #porfkest cooking class I did recently at Atelier, I still felt it necessary to order the (free range) Pork Crackling with pickled vegetables with smoked mayonnaise ($9.00).  The crackling was excellent - super crispy, light and salty.  The pickled vegies offered a wonderful acidic hit.



For mains Big Sister ordered the Seared Bonito with Fennel Juice, Vanilla Buttermilk and Celery ($18.00).  The Bonito was lightly seared - really lovely. The fennel juice was..."interesting" and didn't have an overly aniseed flavour like I was expecting. 


I ordered the Crumbed Pigs Tail with Crab and Corn Salad, Avocado Puree ($22.00) and it was totally amazing. It wasn't the de-boned pigs tail that I was expecting (of Masterchef fame), but more like shredded pork that has been crumbed then fried - the shape actually resembled those frozen fish portions we sometimes buy (ok, we buy them every week. Don't judge) rather than a piggies tail!  It was such a tasty dish - the pork was so tender and full of smokey flavour.


We thought a few sides would be in order.  Big sister choose both the Mixed Grain Salad with red and white quinoa, toasted nuts and puffed rice ($12.00) and the Orange and Ginger Carrots with Cumin and Yoghurt ($9.00).  I LOVED the big chunky carrots - deliciously caramelised and the yoghurt dressing was perfectly tart.  The Mixed Grain Salad was such a healthy option...so healthy we decided to be virtuous and not order dessert.


4Fourteen is at 414 Bourke Street, Surry Hills (entrance via: 72a Fitzroy Street). Phone them on 9331 5399. AND THEY TAKE BOOKINGS *happy dance*.

4Fourteen on Urbanspoon

33 comments:

  1. LOL at "frozen fish portions we sometimes buy (ok, we buy them every week. Don't judge)" :D

    Lucky you for getting an SDO, and how nice to have lunch at 4fourteen! I've been to Four in Hand and Paddo Arms and loved them both.

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    1. It was a great day off (and I love those frozen fish portions....sad, I know)!

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  2. Lucky you to get to eat out in non-packed restaurants and with sunlight... foodie nerdness speaking :)
    Other than the dreaded word "interesting" it sounds like you had a great meal there, and free-range has bonus points in my book, too.

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    1. I thought the fennel juice would taste more aniseed-y, but it was more like wheat grass. LOL. The whole meal was GREAT...love it, and loved doing something great on my day off.

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  3. Great article but Fass has a part in the Four in Hand and the paddington ARMS, not the inn.
    Cheers :)

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    1. D'oh! Thanks so much for pointing out my typo. All fixed up now!

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  4. Always love kitchen prep tv! The pig tail sounds delish!

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    1. Best spot in the house! It would be fun to watch a dinner service when they are really under the pump. Lunch was VERY calm.

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  5. Sounds like a yummy lunch I need to add to my list!

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    1. It was lovely Tara...and the dining room was beautiful.

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  6. YUM! I love the sound of that pork crackling and pickled veggie dish. So lucky to sit at the bar and watch all the action. It's fascinating to watch professional chefs work... but it does make me feel guilty about what a messy cook I am! Those guys are wiping things down constantly and professional kitchens always look so sparkling!

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    1. Those guys have a team to help them stay tidy...we just have our husbands who fail to follow our orders. Sigh.

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  7. A lot of buzz on this place, I am just happy that's my birthdate. Hmmmmm, wonder if I can get a free cake if I ever visit? I don't like pork. LOL

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    1. I reckon you should hit them up for a free cake...and I thought you didn't eat pork. I love it...only the free-range stuff of course. Happy pigs are...happy!

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  8. Love the pigs tail. U didn't hv dessert? The bounty is awesome!!!!!

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    1. We didn't have dessert. I was actually quite full by the end of lunch, and my sister is trying to be on a diet...I should follow suit really. Oink.

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  9. the chicken wing dish looks so nice!
    im surprised you resisted dessert! their bounty dessert is something i really want to try :)

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    1. The chicken wing dish was OMG! What a GREAT way to start such a fabulous meal. I need to cut back on the desserts...Miss Piggy is turning into Miss Tubby.

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  10. Pork crackling? Yes, please! (and it's healthy cos it's a salad :P )

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    1. Everything is healthy with salad...spot on.

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  11. There's so much buzz about this place at the moment and I can totally see why thanks to your photos. Wanna try that crackling + pickles dish so bad!

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    1. I'm glad I got in on a quiet day...I walked past later that night SO CROWDED!

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  12. Perfect idea of going at lunch- not so crowded and fab option of sitting on the counter.
    Those carrots look devine!

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  13. Lol at the use of "interesting". Didn't like it so much? Ooh the pigs tail really does sound great!

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    1. LOL...it tasted, unlike Fennel which surprised me (I thought it would taste like licorice juice but was....more like wheat-grass I guess). Pigs tail & the chicken wing were great. It was all great...even the fennel juice.

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  14. hehe it does look like fish, sounds really delicious though! I'm slightly height challenged too and whenever I get off high stools, I always fear I might make a fool of myself ^^" thankfully it hasn't happened yet lol

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought it looked like a fish piece. It was too funny watching Big Sister trying to find the floor - I'm 8" taller than her.

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  15. Everyone seems to have been here! All the photos and reviews from what I have seen or read are so far positive! Really really need to try this place out.

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    1. It's unusual for me to go anywhere in the early days...so I've outdone myself this time.

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  16. This place looks cool Miss Piggy, it makes me want to hop on the plane and head for Surry Hills :)

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  17. I can't be more happier when you mention that they take bookings, hoooorah! hahah love this, I had a great time at Four in Hand and this looks equally as good.

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  18. I wish I had SDO - no fair. What is wrong with my work place? haha. Wow the food looks top notch. I've not been to 4Fourteen or four in hand. What is wrong with ME?! =(

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