Hurricane’s Grill & Bar @ Darling Harbour, NSW

Dear Food lovers,

Hurricane’s Grill & Bar is definitely a MUST visit place for meat lovers out there. They serve absolutely divine juicy succulent pork ribs that I favour tremendously.

“… Specialising in premium quality Australian Beef Steaks, tasty Beef, Pork & Lamb Ribs and BBQ Chicken, Hurricane’s Grill signature dishes are marinated in special basting sauces originating from South Africa. These special ingredients make our flavours unique, delicious and very different from other traditional steakhouses.

Hurricane’s Grill also offer burgers, fresh seafood, vegetarian dishes, speciality salads, tempting desserts and a quality selection of wines and cocktails…”

Hurricane’s Grill & Bar was first opened in Bondi Beach and after those successful years, they branched out to top-notch places like Darling Harbour & Top Ryde.

Thanks to my gorgeous sister’s networking skills, we managed to be seated in the nick of time while plenty of patrons were still in queue.

Hurricane’s Grill !

Complimentary bread roll.

Caesar Salad with crisp cos lettuce, croutons, bacon, anchovies,
shaved parmigiano and caesar dressing @ AUD 20.00

Roquefort Salad with grated creamy blue cheese and rich, Roquefort dressing
@ AUD 20.00

Fried Calamari tossed in bread crumbs then fried until golden,served with tartare sauce and rice @ AUD 16.00

Spiced Potato Wedges served with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce @ AUD 10.00

Garlic Mushrooms prepared with fresh garlic, olive oil & garlic butter @ AUD 12.00

BBQ Chicken Wings basted and char-grilled @ AUD 19.00

Full Rack Pork Ribs were basted then grilled till tender. Can’t get enough of this! @ AUD 42.90

Half Rack Lamb Ribs @ AUD 31.90

Look how busy & happy they were! Too busy for the camera.

Ain’t a good night without a mixture of good food and good companions…

 

Taste: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Address: Level 2 Shops 433-436, Darling Harbor Sydney NSW
Contact: +61 2 9211 2210
Website: http://hurricanesgrill.com.au/

De Pho Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant @ Chatswood, NSW

Dear Food lovers,

Been slacking off on blogging recently but the eating sessions has not stopped at all.

Today’s post:- Vietnamese/Chinese Food

De Pho is probably the busiest restaurant in Chatswood, located within the food court of Lemon Grove Shopping Centre. Tucked away from the main pathway, I advise patrons to put a little extra effort in searching for the restaurant. However, it is not hard to miss a restaurant that constantly produces long queues.

This restaurant is famous for their Vietnamese Phở and crispy chicken. Phở is a Vietnamese noodle soup, usually served with beef or chicken. The soup includes noodles made from rice and is often served with Asian Basil, mint leaves, lime and bean sprouts that are added to the soup. The broth for beef Phở is made from several hours of simmering beef bones, oxtails, flank steak, charred onion, charred ginger and spices.

de Pho

Massive queue! but it was worth the wait…

Entrée – Little adorable fish cakes @ AUD 6.50

Entrée – Deep Fried Spring Roll @ AUD 8.00

Phở Garnishes

Steamed Chicken Rice

Stir Noodle with Pork Ham & Sliced Chicken @ AUD 11.50

Stir Noodle with BBQ Pork @ AUD 11.50

Deep Fried Crispy Chicken

Vermicelli with Lemon Grass Chicken @ AUD 10.50

Beef & Beef Tendon with Rice Noodle Soup (Phở) @ AUD 11.50

Mung Bean drink @ AUD 3.50

Young Coconut drink @ AUD 3.50

Taste: 4.5/5
Customer Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Address: Shop 21, 427-441 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067 (Lemon Grove Shopping Centre)
Contact: +61 2 9904 8870

Sydney Fish Market @ Pyrmont, Sydney

Dear Food lovers,

If you are craving for seafood, this place is highly recommended to put all that craving to a temporary stop. This place is famous for its seafood’s freshness, quality and definitely the cheapest option available in the city. You may even select your own seafood varieties and have them (chefs) cook to the recipe selections available.

The Sydney Fish Market is the major fish market of Australia, with the largest and most diverse range of seafood to offer. The Market has over 100 different species, both proverbial and exotic to please customers from all different cultures and culinary preferences.

The produce comes from both national and international waters. This fish market, with regard to diversity and quality, is the largest of its kind in the world behind the markets of Japan. The Market deals with over 15 million tonnes of seafood each year on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour.

The Sydney Fish Market is essential to visit with its lively atmosphere and magnificent views of the Harbour. The Market place is a true reflection of Sydney’s vibrancy, with many things to see and do including the entertaining seafood cooking school. The Market is central to the city of Sydney making it a base for tourists, friends and families alike. It is walking distance from Star Casino (6-10 minute walk)

Only two outlets where I normally grab my seafood platters - Fish Market Cafe BBQ Grill...

& Christie's - Lady busy shucking the fresh oysters.

Crowded with tourist and local customers. An advice for first timers, grab a table before you search for food.

Seafood Platter - Half of a Lobster & Prawns.

Fresh Cooked Lobster.

Salmon Heaven - only place that satisfy my craving for fresh salmon.

Variety of fresh seafood selection.

The most expensive and massive Oysters at Sydney Fish Market are the Pacific shucked Oysters from Swan Bay (salty) @ AUD 24.00 per dozen.

Other shucked Oysters selections available.

Rock Lobster Mornay - Melted Cheese.

Chilli & Garlic Rock Lobster.

Deep-fried Seasoned Soft Shell Crab.

Fresh thinly sliced Salmon - best to go with wasabi & soy sauce.

Pacific Oysters Mornay & Killpatrick Oysters (diced grilled bacon).

Grilled Scallops.

Seaweed Salad from China.

Deep-fried Squid & Octopus.

Brother's favourite Honey & Dill Mustard sauce.

Pacific Oysters from Porto Bay - less salty and smaller size @ AUD 16.90 per dozen.

More Rock Lobster Mornay, Grilled Scallops & Prawn Skewers.

Huge pot of Sweet & Sour Crab.

Taste: 4.5/5
Customer Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Address: Locked Bag 247, Bank Street, Pyrmont, NSW 2009 Contact: +61 2 9004 1100
Website: www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au

Chefs Gallery @ George Street, Sydney

Dear Food lovers,

The Chefs Gallery opened sometime September 2011. My sister did mentioned to me about this place even before I arrive in Sydney.  Apparently food was lovely and flavoursome so it was worth bringing Mum & Dad to try.
We were told that the joint is usually packed with customers therefore it is necessary to make reservations a day or two in advance. We manage to book in for dinner on Thursday night and on that same week, my bestie Lynsa made dinner reservation to dine at that same restaurant. So I will be combining all the photos under one post instead of posting the same thing twice.

Chefs Gallery is owned by an entrepreneurial name Kaisern Ching, who brought successful Taipei-based global noodle chain Din Tai Fung to World Square, Sydney. Rumours has it that he was not in good terms with the existing shareholders of Din Tai Fung, so he left and came up with Chefs Gallery, thus you will notice the similarity in some of their dishes.

Many restaurants these days have tried removing the barrier between the chefs and their customers, allowing the customers to see the skills involve in preparing the food as some sort of entertainment or performance. Many have adopted this concept and Chefs Gallery is one of the many that have implemented the concept and successfully attracted many customers.

Front Entrance.

Bars along the glass window kitchen, the usual wooden dinning tables and chairs in the middle and the slightly more comfy dinning couches on the other side.

Bar seating by the kitchen, watching the chefs fiddling and stretching the hand made noodles.

Chef WOK-ing hard.

One does the handmade noodles and passes to the next chef to cook the noodles to ensure absolute freshness.

Tataki Wagyu with a Sichuan style spicy dressing @ AUD 15.90.

Noodles with shitake mushrooms and golden fried shallots in premium soya sauce served room temperature @ AUD 10.90.

Fresh Pear Juice to sooth your throat - recommended by Lynsa.

Small plate of pan fried scallops served with a garlic and oil free vinaigrette dressing @ AUD 24.90

Eggplant served with a tangy minced pork sauce @ AUD 15.90.

One of my recommended dish for Peking duck lovers - Shredded Peking duck with cucumber and hoisin sauce rolled inside a fluffy Chinese roti @ AUD 15.90.

Shredded Peking duck with cucumber and hoisin sauce rolled inside a fluffy Chinese roti @ AUD 15.90.

Prawn and pork wonton in a Shanghainese style spicy sauce @ AUD 13.90.

Steamed chicken and shitake mushroom siu mai, topped with a seared scallop and garnished with red flying fish roe @ AUD 15.90.

New Macanese style mini burger filled with pork fillet, lettuce, pork floss and mayo, wholesome and flavoursome @ AUD 13.90.

Golden snow flake chicken - chef's own recipe of lightly crumbed chicken fillet, very crispy, tender and moist. Served with a blueberry sauce @ AUD 10.90.

Wok fried Wagyu beef slices with slivers of water chestnut and fried fritters @ AUD 23.90.

Handmade Spinach noodles wok fried with seafood @ AUD 17.90.

Wok fried medium grain rice served with light crumbed chicken fillet @ AUD 15.90.

Dessert - Cute little PIGS - black sesame bun.

What more may I ask for but a nice companion for dinner. Lynsa is so not ready for this snapshot. Boys, she is still single but... unavailable.

Norm: Something doesn't seem right...
Lynsa: RETAKE!!
LOL. moments we'll never forget.

Taste: 4.5/5
Customer Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Address: Shop 12 (facing Bathurst Street), Ground Level Regent Place Shopping Centre, 501 George Street, Sydney NSW, 2000
Contact: +61 2 9267 8877
Website: www.chefsgallery.com.au

Sushi Train @ Bondi Junction, New South Wales

Dear Food lovers,

From where I was born, there are several Japanese restaurants for a small little city (town). However, not many of these restaurants serve decent sushi. Patrons are paying at an outrageous price for sushi that falls apart after dipping into the soy sauce platter.

Welcome to Sushi Train Bondi Junction.

This is definitely my most desired spot to satisfy my utmost sushi cravings.  This little sushi train outlet is the busiest sushi train outlet I reckon due to its capacity (20 patrons max) and is located just across the road from Westifield Bondi Junction. So it is usually a fair bit wait during peak hours. Many customers who couldn’t wait will usually end up having take-away. Customers normally do not linger around after their meals, so the turnover of seats is quite fast.
This joint used to only employ Japanese staffs and chefs, providing a Japanese culture atmosphere, however things have changed. There are very few Japanese employees left and now we have a mixture of Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian employees. Nevertheless, the standard of sushi’s here are still very well maintained.

This is at 2pm... non-peak hour and yet there is still a queue.

Prices vary according to their colour plates. The usual sushi train rules.

Aburi Salmon Sushi @ AUD 4.50 - Torch grilled salmon with mayo and secret sauce. Epic.

Grilled Scallops Sushi @ AUD 5.50.

Unagi (Eel) Sushi @ AUD 5.50.

Inari @ AUD 3.50.

Chicken Avocado & Creame Cheese @ AUD 3.50.

My all time favourite platter, Teriyaki Chicken & Avocado Roll @ AUD 4.00. Selling like hot cakes as they do run out of this occasionally. Demand greater than Supply.

Ebi Fry Roll @ AUD 5.50 - comes with a distinct spicy creamy dip.

Salmon Sashimi @ AUD 5.50.

Takoyaki Balls - AUD 4.00.

Cooly Roll @ AUD 5.00.

Chocolate Mousse @ AUD 4.50 - rich and creamy mousse with chocolate sponge.

Chefs are constantly making fresh sushi. Old ones are thrown away and replaced by the fresh ones.

I came, I saw, I conquered - Julius Caesar.

Taste: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Address: 193 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, NSW 2022
Contact: +61 2 9387 3774

Le Paris-Go Café @ Bondi Beach, New South Wales

Dear Food lovers,

This morning weather was kinda gloomy. Checked the weather forecast and it indicates hailstorm for the rest of the week. I drove my parents out to the Eastern suburbs coastal area – Bondi Beach. One of the most popular beaches in Sydney and among world’s most well-known beaches. This beach is probably the closest beach to Sydney city (8km) and this beach stretches a kilometre long facing south into the Tasman Sea attracting more than 40,000 visitors on a usual summer weekend for topless sunbathing, swimming, board and body surfing (great waves).

Summer at Bondi Beach.

I finally decided we should grab our first bite of the day at this small-medium rectangular size café on the corner of Hall Street & Consett Avenue.  The café looked slightly shabby as it wasn’t fancy or well decorated but it gave a very homey and pleasant sensation. This place not only serves excellent fresh brewed coffee but also scrumptious breakfast selections.

Gets crowded early in the morning and lunch time when people need their coffee shots to get them through the day.

Pots of flowers that I fancied hanging off the wall.

Small-medium size cafe - wooden tables, chairs and comfortable couches.

It is best to come at non-peak hours...because I have witness when this place gets overcrowded.

We ordered a set of French Toast – caramelised bananas, strawberries and real Canadian maple syrup and a set of Eggs Benedict – poached eggs on grilled sourdough with fresh slices of Smoked Salmon, Hollandaise sauce & fresh English spinach.

French Toast @ AUD 14.00.

Eggs Benedict - Smoked Salmon @ AUD 12.90.

Mocha - AUD 4.50.

Cappuccino - AUD 3.50.

If you were to drop by at this café, a few sites recommended trying the Breakfast Burritos with refried beans, guacamole, scrambled eggs and sour cream. Will definitely give this dish a shot on my next visit.

Taste: 4/5
Customer Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Address: 38 Hall Street, Bondi Beach, NSW
Contact: +61 2 9130 6753

Kam Fook Seafood Restaurant @ Westfield Bondi Junction, New South Wales

Dear Food lovers,

Another one of my preferred place for ‘yumcha’ would be at Kam Fook.  Located on the same floor as Max Brenner and a floor below Event Cinemas of Westfield Bondi Junction.  They are possibly my second preference compared to Zilver cause of their Fung Zhao (凤抓) – Chicken Feet sauce tasted slightly different to the ideal sauce I’ve always had. Apart from that, most dishes were acceptably delightful.
Kamfook was established in 2005 at Bondi Junction, offering Yumcha to the Eastern Suburbs with some of the best chefs under their roofs.
Kam Fook offers a generous 20 metres of opened frontage to its dinners allowing 268 seating within the restaurant.  The restaurant uses hand-made Chinese furniture with the high quality finishes of the 20th century décor with an aim to offer a modern interpretation of Chinese restaurant to their patrons.

U can't miss this restaurant with such massive sign...

Char Siew Bao - Steamed BBQ Pork Buns.

Char Siew Bao - Steamed BBQ Pork Buns.

Plump & Shiny Har Gao - Steamed Prawn Dumplings.

Gao Choi Gao - Garlic Chive and Scallop Dumplings.

Siu Mai - Steamed Pork Dumplings.

Deep Fried Wu Kok - Taro Dumping.

Crispy and fluffy on the outside and soft mashed taro with pork on the inside.

Pineapple Custard Bun.

Definitely my family's preferred dish. Crispy, crunchy pineapple layer on the exterior of the bun and sweet custard on the inside.

Fung Zhao (凤抓) - Chicken Feet.

Steamed Sticky Glutinous Rice with Chicken in Lotus Leaf Wrap/糯米鸡/ Lo Mai Gai.

Ham Sui Kok (咸水角) - Savoury Glutinous Dumpling, slightly crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside with flavoursome diced pork meat.

Deep Fried Salt & Pepper Lobster - only available during the weekend.

Dessert - Cup of Smooth Slippery Mango Pudding & Coconut Jelly Cubes.

Definitely not available in my hometown Icy Cold Glass Bottled COCA-COLA.

You can already tell whats my favourite dimsim dishes from these recent posts. Or these are probably the best dimsim dishes one can ask for? What are your favourite dimsim dishes?

Taste: 4/5
Customer Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Address: Shop 6010, Level 6, Westfield Shopping Centre, 100 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction.
Contact: +61 2 9386 9889
Website: http://www.kamfooksydney.com.au