The (new) Marlborough Hotel, Newtown

Miss Piggy dined as a guest of The Marlborough Hotel for her first two meals. On the third visit she cracked open her wallet and bought her own lunch. True story.

Even though I walk past The Marlborough Hotel in Newtown every few weeks or so I failed to notice the whole place had shut down for a full renovation and make over. I think my eyes were distracted by that “other” Newtown pub that has also had a recent make over and ended up bright green like a radioactive frog.

The "new" Marly is bright, light, airy and fun. It’s also feels much more feminine than before with the decor (both inside and out) reminding me of a garden party. There are loads of comfortable upholstered couches, hanging baskets of flowers and astro turf . Gone are the dark, masculine booths, carpet and wood that adorned the old Marly. Don’t worry though boys as you can still get beer on tap and a good blokey feed. 

I like how "fun" the food options are at the new Marly Kitchen. It’s really good mix of that diner craze that is popular at the moment (cue the cheeseburger with fries) and good pub staples like steaks and schnitzels. It’s the best of both worlds.

The new menu also has some fun twists on regular pub items such as “chip nachos – there’s not a corn chip in sight. I really got a chuckle out of seeing the “Backyard Platter” listed on the menu – a perfect mix of Aussie BBQ favourites such as Jatz with cheese, cabanossi and dip – perfect food for sharing over a beer or three on a sunny Sunday (or Saturday) afternoon in the beer garden.

The new menu also has a REALLY large selection of vegetarian options on the menu which is a rare sight at a pub (or anywhere really). On my first visit I’m with VegeTARAian so we try a few of the non-meat options. We’re planning to come back with a bigger vegetarian group soon as there are SO many vegetarian choices we hardly made a dent in things.

Tara is keen to try the Vegetable Schnitzel ($17.00) which is something VERY VERY rare to see on a menu anywhere. We’re told the schnitzel is made from “seitan” which Tara pronounces like “satan” (who staunch meat eaters might think concocted this “non-meat” schnitty) but I thought it was pretty good. The flavour is good (quite nutty) and the texture was somewhat meaty (like a sausage perhaps) but more “bouncy” which makes sense seeing as this product is basically pure gluten. We had the vegetable schnitzel with a side of mushroom gravy (all their gravy’s here are vegetarian) along with some stellar, creamy mash, and fresh, crunchy batons of vegetables.

The minute I spied the Chip Sandwich on the menu ($8.00) I knew that I HAD to have it. The chef tells us it’s something that he’ll often eat in himself while working in the kitchen so he thought why not put it on the menu. I tell you the man is a genius! This simple, but delicious sandwich will bring back memories for just about every poor uni student or British backpacker who has whipped themselves up a chip sambo to ward off certain starvation.

The Nacho Fries ($18.00) are a tasty and interesting twist on your regular nachos. We have all the usual suspects - salsa, guacamole, cheese and beans - adorning, not crunchy corn chips, but big fat steak fries. The creamy guacamole has a mild heat to it and the salsa is vibrant and colourful, offering a burst of freshness with every mouthful.  I really loved the spicy beans -- they have a good amount of smokey + spicy = tasty! And can I just say how much I LOVE liquid cheese. I kinda want to burst into the kitchen, find the liquid cheese bottle and empty into my mouth. But, that would be wrong (or would it)?

I'm back a few short days later I really need to try the cheeseburger as I'm still on my quest to find a Shake Shack doppelgänger. Whilst there are loads of meaty options on the new Marly Kitchen menu I need to get my cheeseburger craving sorted first before I can move on. 

The cheeseburger is very substantial and it comes with fat, steak chips - so I think it's pretty good value for $16.  It's gloriously messy to eat and my little rectangle of wax paper looks like something akin to a crime scene by the time I'm finished - a good sign of enjoyment I'd say.  The burger comes on a sweet, pillowy brioche bun (as they all do here) which is soft and fluffy from being steamed before serving. The juicy pattie is generously sized with a hint of pepper and is blanketed in a layer of melty cheese AND my beloved liquid cheese. The whole lot of topped off with a squirt of tomato sauce + mustard. I am happy!

I brought my meat-eating work buddy along so that I could get snaps of some other options for carnivores but she was too tempted by the Veggie Burger not to order it! This thing is HUGE and a much less messy affair to eat than my lovely cheeseburger (or perhaps she is just a more coordinated eater). The burger has a flavorusome veggie pattie, sweet potato, beetroot and tomato amongst other things and my friend says that it's really good.  I didn't spy any liquid cheese on there though...perhaps because I ate it all?

I'm back again, this time for a Friday team lunch (paying my own way this time FYI).  The courtyard is really nice area to spend our lunch hour -- a nice respite from our artificially lit cubicle farm.  I'd already decided last visit that I was going to order the steak sandwich ($18.00). The Marly's steak sandwich is a departure from the type of steak sambo I'm used to seeing.  The steak was thin ribbons of tender meat - not the huge chunk of steak I was expecting (making it really easy to bite through). Other than that it had all the usual suspects - lettuce, tomato, beetroot, cheese + big fat steak chips. I cannot get enough of these chips!

I also knew from my last visit that I really NEEDED to try one of The Marly's waffles (all $8.00) each.  I'd had my eye on the pulled pork waffle but when one of my teamsters hinted that she'd like to try the fried chicken waffle I was happy to go halvies (after all a waffle AND a steak sambo is a bit much even for me).  The waffles themselves were quite crunchy, but softened up thanks to a generous dollop of gravy. The fried chicken was EXCELLENT, so excellent that I was sad I was sharing. The batter was super crispy, and just a bit peppery and the tender white meat was still nice and moist.

One of my colleagues had the fried chicken burger -- I'm getting this next time for sure if the chicken inside is anything like the chicken that comes with the waffle.  And here's a picture of a salad - just to prove they do salads (or deconstructed prawn cocktails actually).

 The Marly Kitchen is on the ground floor of The Marlborough Hotel -145 King Street, Newtown.

Freda's, Chippendale (maybe)

You know I actually have no idea what suburb Freda's is actually in. I mean, it's right near Railway Square at Central, but is Central even a suburb? Is it technically Redfern? But how can it be Redfern if it's basically on the doorstep of Central station? Actually now that I think about it Freda's is probably in Chippendale...maybe, but probably not Surry Hills.  Wherever it is, Freda's is TOPS!

My fellow workers at the cubicle-farm where I spend my weekdays decided it was high time we ventured out for a lunch together and whoever picked Freda's picked a winner.  Freda's is a large-sized "small bar" that doubles as a Canteen during daylight hours. It's housed in what looks to be an old loading dock and fitted out in the standard retro/shabby/industrial that is all the rage these days.  It's cool and I like it. A LOT!

The lunch offerings seem fairly basic upon first glance - just sandwiches + salads.  But these are not just any old sandwiches + salads.  Sandwiches fillings like Muscovy Duck or Wagyu Corned Beef takes things to the next level. Teamsters that had the Muscovy Duck sambo were beyond impressed at the wonderful flavours and all muttering words of lunchtime delight. And...all the sandwiches came with a little bowl of olives...cute.

We're told that the meat is all free range, but I'm still not 100% convinced (or even 50% convinced) that Bungalow "Sweet" Pork is actually pasture-raised. So whilst the Roast of the Day, Porchetta with Crackling, is pretty tempting (esp when it arrived on the table for somebody else) I decided to go for the Smoked Trout Salad with Kipfler Potoats + Roasted Peppers which was DELICIOUS.

From middle photo: my trout salad; Porchetta; Corned Beef Sambo & the Muscovy Duck Sambo.

Freda's has a lunch special - where you can choose a glass of wine OR dessert for an extra $5. The sweet tooth's in the team couldn't go past something sweet to finish up the meal.  And because I'd just had a salad for lunch (ok, with a kinda oily dressing, but it was a salad none-the-less) I enjoyed a taste of both desserts.  The enormous slice of Jaffa Cake was big enough for everyone to try, but it was the moist apple torte, caramelised full of fruit + nuts,  that was the favourite.

Freda's is a great Friday lunch spot - big, relaxed, with really friendly staff and a cool vibe. The great tasting food makes it a must re-visit I think.

Freda's is at 107-109 Regent Street, Chippendale/Central/wherever.

Glass Brassiere, Sydney

For weeks I’ve been wondering what those pesky pink dots adorning our footpaths have been about. What the hell are they for? As I got off the bus at the QVB, where I was meeting up with The BFF, there they were again...dot dot dot dot as far as the eye could see leading right past the Hilton’s Glass Brassiere.

Maybe that’s what they are saying – “go and eat at Glass Brassiere, you won’t regret it”.

Being a modern gal I’d made our reservation at Glass via Twitter – directly with Executive Chef Joey Pavlovich, who came over to say HI when we arrived at the restaurant.  The BFF and I both thought this was really nice, especially for a chef who oversees a kitchen as busy as the one at Glass.

Adding to our excitement is the fact that the dining room at Glass is just stunning! A thirteen meter high window runs the length of the restaurant giving the most stunning views of the QVB.  This has to be one of the most captivating views in the city - the QVB is just so close it feels like you could just reach out and touch it.  I love seeing this beautiful old building from another vantage point - spectacular.
 

I also have to give massive props to our lovely waiter who endured are inability to make a decision about what to order. Should we have the degustation? No, too much food. What about steak? Hmmm...no. What about fish. Nah. He then runs as through his favourites...nope again. In the end we ordered a whole bunch of Tapas dishes - everything on the Tapas menu in fact (minus the Samosas as I just wasn't in a Samosa kind of mood).  We thought this would give us a small meal - a taste of lots of different small dishes. How wrong we were - I was literally bursting by the time we got through everything.

Deciding what to order is thirsty work so we start off with some drinks - a cranberry juice for The BFF and a soda water for moi - it is a school night after all.  A basket of bread quickly arrives too which we foolishly demolish - there goes the stomach room.

Because we're now "friends with the chef" thanks to the marvel of twitter, Joey sends out an Amuse Bouche to start us off - a spoonful of avocado salad.  It's delicious and bodes well for the rest of the meal.

Next four of our tapas dishes arrive: prawn toast with coriander, corn and topped with a chipotle sauce ($8 pp); Spanish Ortiz Ondarroa anchovies from the tin with garlic toast ($24 00); Spring Bay scallop with XO sauce, tofu, pork scratchings ($8 pp); and last (for now) but not least tempura zucchini flower with ricotta and anchovy ($7 pp).

We shared just one piece of the zucchini flower, the scallop and the prawn toast and it was so sweet when our waiter came along and cut these in half for us...neatly down the middle so we were all even Stevens. I gotta tell you, cutting a zucchini flower in half looks like hard work, but I reckon he did a pretty stellar job.

Each dish was really lovely - very flavoursome, and they all looked so vibrant and fresh. I especially loved the crispy prawn toast with its spicy hit from the chipotle. The anchovies with garlic toast were also a hit with me - the garlic toast was a great offset to the saltiness of the anchovies, and the dish felt very rustic being served on a wooden board with the anchovies still in the tin and sitting atop its very retro looking packaging.

Maybe Joey read my post about my Yum Cha adventure at The Eight where I lamented at only having one Peking Duck Pancake as he sent out a basket of Duck Pancakes. A whole basket just for us - we each had four or five pancakes. Oh happy days.

By this stage I'm starting to feel quite full. Having gorged ourselves on bread and duck pancakes both The BFF and I are groaning as our tummies expand.  Luckily there is a bit of a breather before the next course arrives: chicken liver parfait with a pear jelly, chutney and toasted brioche ($15.00) and a charcuterie board with onion relish and grilled bread ($22.00).

The parfait, oh the parfait! It was silky smooth and utterly moreish. The BFF ordered a second basket of bread and wouldn't let the waiter take the pot of parfait from him until every last morsel was removed - it was THAT good! The charcuterie board was absolutely stellar - the cured meats cut so paper thin they practically melted on the tongue.

By this stage I really need to lay down and let my poor stomach digest some food.  No time for that as our last three dishes arrive at the table: chilli whole crispy school prawns with Szechuan salt and an aioli dipping sauce ($15.00); tempura soft shell crab with nam jim ($10.00); and slow cooked octopus with kimchi and apple ($15.00).

I am in a serious food coma by this stage and forgot to adjust the white balance on my camera to account for the fact that the sun had set - so apologies for the slightly "yellow" hue on this photos. 

Crispy school prawns and soft shell crab are two of my favourite dishes (amongst all my other favourite dishes that is) so I am in heaven at the first taste of each dish. The prawns were fantastic - a pinch of Szechuan salt gave them a fiery hit and a squeeze of lime took the edge of the burn. The octopus was also great - tender with just the right about of bite, and I love green apple in a salad - just that little bit of acidity is perfect to offset the heat of the kimchi.

Now that the meal is over I go off to "powder my nose" only to return and find that The BFF has ordered dessert!!! He admits he is in totally tummy agony from our epic feast but he couldn't go past the mango and coconut bombe Alaska with lychee salad ($18.00). Furthermore he insists that I help him eat dessert. Oh, alright then.  My favourite part of this dish was the dehydrated lychee - it was sweet, crunchy and tasted a bit like a solid form of fairy floss.

Glass Brasserie is on Level 2 of the Hilton Hotel - 488 George Street, Sydney. Phone them on 9265-6068.

Issus Cafe, Melbourne

One of the things that appeals to most about Melbourne is the network of laneways that weave and wind their away across the city, like giant spiderweb. I find nothing more intriguing, or appealing, than wandering up and down these narrow little streets - it's a delightful way to spend a morning, afternoon...or evening.

One of my favourite laneways is by far Centre Place - a narrow, crowded laneway bustling with cafes, tiny quirky shops and people just wandering and soaking up the vibe.  This little pedestrian thoroughfare reminds me a lot of wandering through the laneways of Barcelona - it has a distinctly European vibe happening.

There are at least twenty or so eateries in Centre Place so The Boy and I just took a punt and picked a cafe that had a free outdoor table where we could people watch and soak at the uniquely Melbourne atmosphere - this is how we ended up at Issus Cafe.

First order of the day is coffee which ticks all the basic requirements - hot, nice flavoured roast as well as being a good caffeine fix to get us going on our first morning in Melbourne.

When The Boy isn't indulging in his quest to try every Big Breakfast in the world his other weakness is usually Eggs Benedict ($13.90). The offering at Issus Cafe is as good as any with premium smoked ham atop a toasted English muffin and doused with Hollandaise Sauce.  A side of hash browns and sausages are thrown in for good measure.

I'd spent quite some time perusing the menu without being able to make a decision on what to have. Just as I was about to put in my order for Eggs Benedict too The Boy points out the specials board which is sitting literally adjacent to our table...talk about blind! How could I have not noticed the breakfast special of Pan Fried Mushrooms with Spinach and Thyme with Poached Eggs and Pan-fried Haloumi ($16.90).  Haloumi is one of my favourite foods and I nearly always order it when it's on offer.  I was pretty happy with my breakfast and the Haloumi was as good as I could've hopped for...nice and squeaky!

Our brunch at Cafe Issus was great, friendly service and nice food, but for me the experience was all about grabbing a table in the laneway and watching the world go by. A blissful way to spend a morning.

Issus Cafe is at 8-10 Centre Place, Melbourne (just off Flinders Lane and behind Swanston Street).

Butcher Shop Cafe, Gulgong

The Boy and I arrived in Gulgong to visit our friend The Cattle Baroness on a lovely sunny afternoon in February.  We headed straight for the Gulgong Butchers in order to stock up on our beloved Vegemite and Cheese Sausages.

We had our esky and ice bricks in the car and were planning to take as many snags back to Sydney as we could manage (and afford).  I was so excited about our impending purchase that I was out of the car before The Boy had even parked properly.  Needless to say that I was beyond devastated when the butcher tells me that they don't have any Cheese and Vegemite snags this weekend.

The Boy could hear me wailing from outside the shop and he enters just as I begin my bargaining phase with the butchers.

"I've driven all the way from Sydney".
"It's my birthday".
"I love them and must have them".
"Pleeeaaaaassseeeeeeeeeeee". 
"If you have some in the freezer I don't mind taking frozen sausages".
"If you make then today I'll come back tomorrow to collect them...honest I will".

Surprisingly none of my pleading results in any Cheese and Vegemite Sausages being produced.  O.M.G.  

We leave the butcher's shell shocked, with our feet dragging behind us and a sad face that not even Droopy Dog could compete with. There's only one thing that might ease the pain a little bit...food.

We head across the road to the Butcher Shop Cafe in seek of solace and it's solace that we find.  The cafe, although not housing any Cheese and Vegemite Sausages, has a blackboard menu that takes up an entire wall.

The cafe is actually not in an old butcher's shop, but takes its name from its sister restaurant located in Mudgee which is.  The cafe is bright, spacious and has a lovely rustic vibe to it - it feels a little bit like an old style milk bar.  There are some eclectic pieces of furniture and an old butchers sign that hangs above the coffee machine that help accentuate that "country feel".

We take a seat at the big wooden communal table and after perusing the menu for all but a second we both decide that we need big meaty burgers to fill the hole that Gulgong Butchers has left in our sausage-less tummies.

I go for the Steak Sandwich with Caramelised Onions ($10.00) and it is nearly as big as the plate with big, thick slices of white bread. The onions are beautifully sweet, and the steak is tender and cooked to perfection.  The salad greens just emphasise the fact that a steak sanger this tasty must be good for me.

The Boy orders the Butcher Burger ($10.00) that comes with cheese and bacon. It is just as huge as my sandwich and looks delicious.  We both fall silent as we munch through our lunch, our thoughts temporarily diverted from our Sausage Sadness.

We also order some drinks. The Boy goes for a Caramel Milkshake ($3.50) and as I drank half of it I can tell you it was pretty amazing.  I love that it came served in the metal glass...just like milkshakes of yesteryear.  I ordered a Ginger Beer ($3.50) which was lovely and refreshing.

After lunch we head back over to the butcher's just to double check that no Cheese and Vegemite Sausages have materialised in our absence. Nope. They do give me their phone number though so I can call ahead next time and order some to avoid disappointment.  Now why didn't I think of that earlier?

The Butcher Shop Cafe is at 113 Mayne St, Gulgong.  They are open daily for breakfast and lunch.

Australia Day Fish & Chips at Ocean Master, Newport Beach

Happy 'Straya Day everyone (translation: that's Australia Day for anyone reading from overseas).

As today was set to be a scorcher in Sydney's west The Boy and I hopped in the car and headed over to Narrabean Beach to try and keep cool.  Although being all blue skies and burning sunshine in Parramatta, when we arrived at the beach the skies were grey and a misty fog was hanging low on the beach.  We couldn't see more than 20 meters in any direction.  Very very weird, but it didn't stop us going for a swim.

After a few hours of frolicking in the water it was time for some sustenance.  Being at the beach really only means one thing for lunch - Fish & Chips.  Never mind that we'd only been at the beach three days before Australia Day and had fish & chips for lunch then.  The diet starts tomorrow right?

We decide to head up to Newport Beach for a change of scenery and settle on some fish & chips from Ocean Master Seafood.

The last time we had fish & chips The Boy and I shared a Fisherman's Basket.  "Somehow" The Boy ate all of his fish cocktail pieces and half of mine...not happy Jan. 

To avoid any such stealing of my food today we decide to go our separate ways and each order an Ocean's Choice ($14.95).  I'm happy with this decision as all my fish pieces will come in their own protective box, safe from greedy little fingers.  It's  probably the best way to order food for two people anyway as their family meals and fisherman's baskets cost around $35.00 - $38.00.

We get our minds made up just in time as the place fills up soon after we place our order.  We waited for about 15 minutes for our food, which is pretty good considering the place was heaving with beach goers. 

Before the rush....

...and during the rush

Our meals each come with 2 fish cocktails, 2 calamari rings, 2 prawn cutlets, 2 sea scallops (The Boy got half of mine anyway) and chips.  In retrospect it's probably too much food for one person, but not enough for two.

I think I probably spent too much time taking photos and playing around with my awesome new Canon G11 Powershot as by the time I got around to eating my food it had all gone a bit soggy from being couped up in its cardboard box.

The Boy polished his off in record time and assures me everything was perfectly fine and crispy for those of  us not taking photos for our blogs.  We both agree that the Prawn Cutlets were the best thing on offer in the box - crunchy and crispy.

After spying a number of bluebottle warning signs on the beach we decide to head home rather than risk being stung. It's SO hot here right now I kind of wish I'd braved the stingers.

Ocean Master Seafood is at 385 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport, right opposite the beach.