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We've name dropped the Malaya several times but have never really given it the attention it deserves. A recently satisfied craving set us straight.
We think they have the best salt and pepper squid in town (no small claim) as well as mouth-watering beef rendang and superb prawn curry (from their original 1963 recipe).
...you take 'em both and there you have....
SMH Good Living Reports that the not so good Opium is closing in September making way for a grand re-opening in November as Ocean Club with SFD favourite Raita Noda in the kitchen.
According to SMH, "It's big feature will be a wall of 30 fish tanks holding 500 fish and seafood awaiting their fate...as well as live shark - for display purposes only."
Wow, lots of fish tanks, radical concept there. What is Chinese for deja-vu? All the same Ocean Club sounds like a club worth breaking our Groucho Policy" for.
The bad news is that this almost certainly seals the fate of our much beloved Rise.
...Fratelli Fresh, (for those who've been living under some sort of rock, or in the Eastern Suburbs and can't stop eating in the Westfield food court), it's the wholesaler of choice for frrresh fruit and veg to many of Sydney's top restaurants.
Before 10 a.m. it's only open to trade after 10 the doors swing open to the public and access to top quality fruits and veggies (as well as imported Italian olive oils, balsamics, anchovies and more) is all yours.
Surprisingly, the prices too are approachable (much cheaper the our local mega-grocery).
7 Danks St Waterloo, Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm Saturday 8am-4pm
Just in case you can't get enough of Waterloo :P the opening of Sopra cafe upstairs at Fratelli Fresh (appropriately enough as sopra is Italian for upstairs) helps to seal it's status as the weekend brunching place to be. (well for us anyways, we like to shop at FF)
With former Fuel chef Andy Bunn on the burners the menu is short and sharp with a skew towards vegetarian dishes.
We both had the same dish (a very unusual occurance) as the frittata with asparagus, pecorino, basil and some in-season and heavenly chanterelles proved to much to pass up. (phone cam pick above)
Sopra (upstairs at Fratelli Fresh) 7 Danks St, Waterloo
September 6th (thats a week from today) is the day they give the hats away as the 2005 SMH Good Food Guide launches.
(Can't find link to this year's event - so here is last years')
If you, like me, are on a mac (and if you aren't, I know that you wish you were), you'll love these beautiful sushi icons.
Quay really is the total package.
It's bridge/harbour/opera house views are the envy of it's neighbors, it's simple elegance is a comfortable sort of formal fine dining and the food (courtesy of Peter Gilmore) is simply stunning both in design and execution.
This is modern Australian at it's finest - using fresh local ingredients to their best advantage and fearlessly leveraging asian influence and traditional technique.
These elements combine in masterstroke dishes such as sweet and succulent Tasmanian lobster ravioli with tomato confit, almond puree, vanilla and cardamom brown butter, stunning South Australian Blue Fin tuna loin and belly sashimi, white asparagus, water chestnuts, dashi jelly, nasturtium and roasted squab with grilled dates, lemon jam, roasted single glove garlic, pastilla with almonds, orange flower honey.
I don't have enough words to describe the ravioli of slow braised quail, black lipped abalone, celeriac puree, quail consomme - quite simply one of the best things that has ever crossed my lips.
....and do save room for the 5 textured chocolate cake.
(full desciptions courtesy of the website, nup can't remember that many ingredients)
Rating: 18/20
Quay Restaurant - Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney 2000
We were very excited to hear about the opening of Billingsgate Fish Bistro (from London's eponymous fish market) in the former Balzac location in Randwick (38-40 St Paul's Rd) and if this review is any indication it lives up to expectations.
...and speaking of Balzac, it's also back up and running well in it's new location (141 Belmore Rd, Randwick) with it's loyal following and reputation in tow.
***updated, see review here.
Are we like, the only people who missed this great sushi post on the ever kawaii , Watashi to Tokyo?
It's got everything you'll ever need to know about sushi except where to buy a jumbo california roll pillow (pictured). (http://www.spiralandcircle.com/Japanesecollectibles.htm)
(incidentally, we also really love the gallery of sweets.)
