Tomislav, Darlinghurst

The BFF and I decide to hit up Tomislav for our last dinner of 2011 and see the year out with style. I've always wanted to try Tomislav as I'm intrigued by head chef  and owner Tomislav Martinovic's take on molecular gastronomy.  Tomislav worked with Heston Blumenthal so I think it's safe to assume he knows his stuff.


I LOVE foams, dirts, soils, crumbs and weird sorbets made from herbs and anything else that the creative chefs at Tomislav care to dish up. I think it's really exciting when chefs can take a simple ingredient and make it something really special  and unexpected - like a basil sorbet for example.  When I cook at home it's always something really simple, where the pumpkin looks like pumpkin, so a trip to Tomislav's is a real culinary adventure.

We kick things off with Rice Crackers with Sea Salt and Vinegar ($10.00). The sea salt and vinegar comes in a nifty little atomiser and a few quick sprays gives the cracker a zingy flavour. Of course we also get the spray all over our hands - you can't take us anywhere!  This is a really simple little starter, but it's so creative and a really fan start to our dinner.

Next up is a complementary serve of Sourdough Bread with Butter. Of course this is not ordinary butter.  The BFF and I are pretty chuffed with ourselves when we identified a hint of espresso in the butter gave the bread a nice sweet after taste. Very clever!

I have to say I got a tad excited when the Scampi Carpaccio with Wasabi, Sour Cream and clear Pumpkin Juice ($24.00) came out as the pumpkin juice was being served in a test tube! Just look at how vibrant the colours are in this dish! Lovely.

For my main meal I chose the Roast Striped Trumpeter Fillet with Tomato, Salt Caramel and Grilled Baby Leeks ($40.00).  The fish came topped with rounds of bone marrow which I passed over to a very happy BFF as I'm not eating meat (other than seafood or meat I know is free-range blah blah blah) at the moment. He said it was delicious, melt in the mouth. Now back to me. The trumpeter was fantastic, and I loved how a little bit of salt caramel in each mouthful gave the fish a sweet taste.

The BFF chose a lamb dish for his main (so he didn't have to share with me I'm sure).  The Roast Suffolk Lamb Rump and Lamb Rib with a mint sauce and roast purple onions ($39.00) looked as pretty as a picture and the lamb was melt in the mouth tender I was told.

We ordered a couple of side dishes to go with our mains, though I was feeling a tad full by this stage so maybe one side dish would've done the trick. I'm sure the crunchy Triple Cooked Crinkle Cut Fries ($11.00) were a nod to Heston.  The little salad of Lettuce with Macadamias and Cranberries ($10.00 was a real treat - I love the sweet note the Cranberries added and the creamy dressing and Macadamias made this more than just a bowl of lettuce.

I really was quite full by this stage but the BFF had his little heart set on ordering dessert. I relented and agreed to have a spoonful or two just to help him out.  Half a plate later though I can attest that the
Milk Chocolate Cream Cake with Caramelised Walnuts and Smoked Banana Ice Cream ($18.00) was the perfect note to end the meal on.

I think the BFF must've been feeling jipped that I ate half of "his" dessert as he quickly ordered another dessert before I could protest. The Vanilla Cheesecake with Grilled Strawberries, Basil Ice and Rhubarb Sorbet ($18.00)  really was the perfect way to end the meal on. The deconstructed cheesecake was so light and the grilled strawberries and basil ice were fantastic elements that really added to the texture and taste of the dish.

Tomislav was the perfect place our last meal together of 2011. The food was fun, creative and just amazing. I'd happily return in a heartbeat.  The dishes were all really exciting, with quirky little twists and elements that raised the meal to something really special. If this is molecular gastronomy then I'm in LOVE!

Tomislav can be found at 2/13 Kirketon Road, Darlinghurst.  Phone them on 9356 4535.

Pastizzi Cafe Newtown and Urban Food Market Marrickville

On Christmas Eve Eve Eve I was heading over to Marrickville to collect our free range Christmas Ham from ethical meat wholesaler, Urban Food Market.

I think Urban Food Market are a GREAT business, offering us an option beyond the factory farmed meat that we seemed trapped into buying at so many supermarkets and other meat retailers. Did you know that in Australia the majority of our meat is raised in cages (poultry or pork) or in concrete floored feed lots (grain-fed sheep and cattle) - because it's "cheap" despite being inhumane.  And let's not even get into the whole caged egg business - just thinking about it makes me want to cry.   Free-range meat and eggs may cost more, but at least we know we are eating meat that has lead a happy free-range life as nature intended, and has not been cooped up in tiny cages or in sheds with horrible concrete floors.  We paid $70 for a boned half-leg of Ham and to me it was worth every penny and tasted better than anything we've ever eaten from a supermarket. Just a little "food for thought" and something I hope we can all start thinking about a little more when deciding what to eat.

Rant over...

Anyway, as I was kind of in Neicy-Poo's neighbourhood, we decided we'd catch up for a quick lunch.

I'd ear-marked Petty Cash Cafe near Enmore Park to try, but alas they were already closed for the holidays. We then headed for our second choice, Belljar, in Newtown. Alas they had literally just served their last coffee for the day and were shutting up shop for the holidays. Man, can't a gal get a break here.

In the end we decided to head up to King Street and seek sustenance at Pastizzi, a little cafe serving Maltese food. Pastizzi has been a mainstay Newtown restaurant for longer than I care to remember and I was hoping like crazy that they would be open as I was getting more than a little...starving.

Lady luck was shining on us as not only were they open but they had row upon row of delicious looking Pastizzi for us to devour.  But first we start with a refreshing drink.

Pastizzi, a popular Maltese dish, are a little diamond shaped pastry (either filo or puff pastry) filled with either a savoury filling, like Ricotta, or something sweet like cherry. And boy, are they gooooood!!!

We decide to stick with the savoury and I limit myself to just three seeing as they are not exactly a health food with all that flaky pastry.  After drooling at the counter for about 5 minutes I ended up choosing Spinach and Ricotta, Pea, and Salmon Dill and Ricotta.  My favourite would have to be the subtle flavour of the Spinach and Ricotta - a classic combination in my books.

I was really hoping Niecy-Poo would suggest a few sweet Pastizzi to finish the meal, but we end up with a salad. A pretty nice Caprese Salad though, so I'm not too unhappy.  The salad is a fresh and simple mix of fresh basil, tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella - so simple that even I could make this one at home.

I have a confession to make though. After lunch I went to collect the ham and the wholesaler just happens to be right across the road from Bourke Street Bakery. I think it would be remiss of me to be so close and not indulge in a little something sweet...for the road.

Pastizzi Cafe can be found down the south end of King Street (the "nice end" as I like to think of it) at 523 King Street, Newtown.



Urban Food Market is at Unit 1, 68 Victoria Road, Marrickville.  They are a wholesaler, but are open to the public on Saturdays between 9am - 1pm - at which time they also have various product tastings on offer.  If Saturday's don't work for you then call them up and arrange another time to collect your product, like I did.  And they are across the road from Bourke Street Bakery - what more incentive do you need to visit?

Ristorante Da Angelo, Hobart

I think Hobart's Battery Point has got be one of Australia's most lovely suburbs - not that I've visited all of Australia's suburbs but what's a sweeping, unfounded statement between friends?  Every house is cuter, sweeter and more historic than its neighbour and has me dreaming of living a life in Hobart.

Nestled in amongst this historic architectural dreamland is another of Hobart's dining gems,  Ristorante Da Angelo, a popular family run Italian restaurant.  Once again I have fellow blogger Bizzy Lizzy to thank for this recommendation - she was spot on once again.

We arrive at the restaurant at around 7pm and they are already fully booked. We're offered a seat at the bench that looks out over the street which is the perfect spot as far as I'm concerned. We get a birds eye view of the comings and goings in the historic little neighbourhood, and it's such a peaceful view I think I'd actually prefer this seat over the ones in the back of the restaurant.

We decide to kick things off with a Garlic Pizza Bread  ($10.00 for a medium which is what we greedily ordered rather the the small). I would say undoubtedly that this is one of the best Garlic Pizza Breads I've ever eaten.  The thin (but not too thin) pizza base is topped with garlic, cheese and herbs. The topping is crispy with just a few moreish charred pieces to get the mouth really watering.

We both decide to order pasta for our mains. The Boy choose gold with his Con Scampi – king prawns, bacon, onion and mushrooms in a delicious cream sauce ($28.00 for a large). I have pasta envy!

I ordered the Spaghetti Marinara ($23.50 for a small serve). My Marinara was heaving with luscious king prawns, fish, scallops in a tomato sauce and the tomato sauce was thick and rich. Once again I have to say how fantastic the seafood in Tasmania is.

I can't seem to eat at an Italian restaurant without ordering a garden salad – I find the lightness of the salad offsets the guilt of eating an entire bowl full of tasty tasty carbs. This salad comes with lettuce, tomatoes, olives, capsicum, cucumber doused with a zesty Italian dressing ($9.50 small). 

Mezethes Greek Taverna, Hobart

I have to thank fellow blogger Bizzy Lizzy for recommending nearly every restaurant we ate at in Hobart. Mezethes Greek Taverna (and Da Anegelos at Battery Point - but we'll get to that later) is one of her best recommendations - a fantastic Greek Taverna in our favourite part of town, Salamanca Place.

The restaurant is located in one of the old sandstone buildings in Salamanca Place but the interior has a definite Greek vibe.  From the white washed stone walls and pictures of Greece it's pretty easy to imagine we're having dinner on a sunny Greek island and not in chilly Hobart.

We start dinner with drinks - a diet coke for The Boy and I decide to splash out with a glass of Greek wine which is delicious, dry and crisp.  I'm not normally a wine drinker but this was really a lovely drop.

We start dinner with some Orektika (that's Greek for appetisers). The marinated olives ($6.00 per bowl) are delicious, super plump and served warm with a sprinkling of fresh herbs.  Warm olives seem so simple yet really make a flavourful punch. We devoured these in seconds.

Tasmania has a plethora of amazing fresh seafood on offer. Every restaurant has a mind-boggling choice of seafood and Mezethes has a great selection of seafood on its menu. I choose the Oktapodi Sti Skara ($18.50) - tender succulent Octopus that is BBQ'd over a bed of white hot charcoal and served with potatoes and a crisp green salad.

The Boy chooses the Garides ($26.50) which was my second choice! His plate is heaving with fresh grilled prawns seasoned with a dash of garlic and lemon. His meal is also served with a green salad and chunky roast potatoes as well as his choice of dip. I have to admit I have a bit of food envy - especially at his choice of skordalia dip - pureed potatoes with garlic, olive oil and vinegar.

Our meal at Mezethes was FANTASTIC! I'd go back here for a meal in a heartbeat...if only it wasn't a two hour flight away *sad face*.

Brasserie Bread, Banksmeadow

The Boy and I decided to brave the 70 minute drive from our 'hood over to Banksmeadow (traffic!) to suss our the cafe at the legendary sourdough bakery Brasserie Bread. After we figured out exactly where Banksmeadow is (it's a REALLY long way from Parramatta, that's where it is).

The huge warehouse located on Botany Road houses a bakery (best bread EVER), a cooking school (filled with little kids making a mess/cookies on the day we visited) as well as a very very popular cafe.

At the recent food blogger conference I attended I received two vouchers for some free bread, so whilst we waited in the queue for a table at the cafe we loaded up with bread - a sour cherry loaf (our favourite), a sourdough loaf and a caramalised garlic fancy type bread.

It doesn't take too long to get a table and as The Boy and I have been studying the online menu for weeks we already know what we'll be having.  The Boy, being the true gentleman that he is, sends me up to to the counter to place our order.

In true brunch style we start off with coffee...mmm, coffee. The Boy goes for a cappuccino and I opt for an soy iced coffee sans cream and ice-cream which is the way they serve iced coffee in NYC and I really prefer it without the dairy overload.

The Boy ordered the crispy bacon with poached egg, avocado and tomato on wholemeal toast...Brasserie Bread toast of course ($12.00). He was pretty happy with his brunch however was a bit disappointed that the egg wasn't soft and runny. I went for the Quinoa and Soya Bread with avocado, tomato and goat curd ($11.00).  This was a really simple breakfast and a perfect example of how to whip up the perfect brunch at home (I've got three loaves of Brasserie Bread to experiment with after all).

And despite being an hour from our house The Boy and I are back at Brasserie Bread the following weekend to stock up on bread for our Christmas Day lunch...and then we sit down for brunch.  You didn't think we'd drive all that way with sitting down to eat did you?

Like last week The Boy orders the crispy bacon with poached egg, avocado and tomato on wholemeal toast, but goes for a side of Hollandaise Sauce this time.  He's beyond chuffed that the poached egg is super runny this week - second time lucky.  I decide I'm in the mood for something sweet and the Sourdough Pancakes with stewed berries and honeycomb cream and beyond perfection.  I love that the pancakes that look more like a crumpet than a pancake yet are still super fluffy and not at all dense. The berries still retain their shape despite being stewed and are only just slightly tart. And honeycomb cream...enough said really. YUM!

Brasserie Bread is at 1737 Botany Rd, Banksmeadow.  Phone them on 1300 966 845.