Crossroads Bar, Swiss Fondue

Crossroads Bar

The Swissotel Sydney

Swiss Fondue Promotion- $27 per person

Swissotel Sydney,

Market Street Sydney

92387082

Bookings advised

Crossroads Bar is located on level eight. The lush surroundings are the ideal place to relax over high tea or a few drinks. The Crossroads Bar is also an ideal meeting place to catch up with colleagues or friends

To celebrate the boy's birthday, I took him to the Swissotel for the ultimate protein feast. Boys listen and weep. Cheese, cheese, cheese, more cheese, some sausages, pickles and lots of crunchy bread. Okay so maybe bread isn't really a protein food BUT it soaks up the cheese so its actually super cheesy bread.

Crossroads Bar on level 8 at the Swissotel is currently doing fondue but note that fondue isn't on the menu all year. You should book because it takes the kitchen quite some time to get the fondue and fondue condiments ready.

Fondue Forks

The fondue condiments

Swiss Sausages

Crunchy sesame topped bread. Very generous serving

Roasted potatoes

Gerkins and picked onions. Very good when dipped in cheese

The cheese

This was the first time I've tried cheese fondue and I absolutely loved it. The cheese was really good and everything went so well with the cheese. Cheesy goodness! Definitely a must try for all fondue-virgins.

Est March into Merivale 2011

Est

http://www.merivale.com/#/establishment/est

Level 1, 252 George St Sydney

Bookings absolutely essential

Since 2003 Est has been the recipient of the highly acclaimed SMH Good Food Guide 3 hats. I have been dying to go to this place and since Merivale is running their 'March into Merivale' promotion- What better time to go?

I had booked a table of 7 for lunch about a month early. Hint: Like Quay and other fine dining restaurants, est charges 10% 'service charge' fee if you have 8 or more people. Personally I dont see why- bigger tables tend to receive less service- not more.

March Into Merivale

You have a number of options- 1 course $33, 2courses $50 and 3courses $65 (all w beer/champagne/wine)

Entrees:

Pretty much everyone in the group ordered the white seared scallops as an entree. They were beautiful.

Mains

1) Crisp Skin Palmed Mulloway, grilled belgian endive agro dolce. Very good but sadly also very small.

2) Soy glazed beef fillet, sesame, grated apple & radish. definitely recommended. If you are trying out the march into merivale est promotion, you have to try this. Its really good

The restaurant is very beautiful. In the centre of the restaurant there are these great white greek/roman columns and it gives the place a very elegant feel.

Subsolo

Subsolo Restaurant

www.subsolo.com.au

161 King Street Sydney

Very cool spanish tapas & wine bar.

Drinks are a must have.

Sangria. This was quite strong for a sangria.

Manzanilla Martini:

Tapas:

1) Trio of Garlic Mushrooms. I loved this! It has an exotic mix of mushrooms. yum.

2) Paprika Salt & Pepper Squid with Saffron Mayonnaise. A bit too oily.

3) Chicken Chorizos

4) Spanish Meatballs filled with cheese

Mains:

For mains we actually ordered the rump skewers and the chicken skewers or espetadas but they were so good that alas..I only remembered to take a photo after our group had demolished the food. The skewers actually come with 3 sides- potato bravavas, side salad and vegetables. One skewer is easily enough for 2 people to share.

The chicken skewer or espedata was definitely the highlight of the meal. It was tender, juicy, flavoursome and lovingly charcoaled.

Assiette, French, Fine Dining

Assiette Restaurant,

French & Fine Dining

http://www.restaurantassiette.com.au/

48 Albion Street Surry Hills

9212 7979

Nestled deep in the bustling heart of Surry Hills, Restaurant Assiette provides an intimate and stylish haven for foodies, gourmands and casual diners alike; a sanctuary to relax and enjoy the best food and wine with a modern French twist.

If you're a foodie like me, then you must have read in the news that Becasse will be relocating to the Sydney Westfield on Pitt Street. This is very sad news for me. First of all, I've never once ventured into Becasse, so I guess I'll never get a chance try out the Clarence Street establishment. Secondly, Plan B will be changing and this may be the end of its famous wagyu burgers. But I guess at least I've dined in a restaurant that once held Becasse.

Assiette:

Assiette is the type of place you would want to go if you have an anniversary to celebrate, a special date or just when you want to wowed over by gorgeous food.

They have a degustation menu for $99, which is extremely good for a two hatted restaurant. Our group chose to have the a la carte menu as we were not very hungry.

Starter- Pumpkin & leek soup

Entrees:

1) Cured Marlborough salmon with prawn peignets, pink grapefruit, mandarin and fennel

My friend who ordered this said it was delicious.

2) Terrine of duck and foie gras with cured duck breast, raisins and caramelised peach

This entree was probably the wrong choice for me. It was too meaty, too strong and too heavy for my tastes. The foie gras was also extremely fatty and didnt actually have much taste to it. However the caramelised peach was sweet and juicy and matched the duck breast perfectly.

I apologise for the photo quality- the restaurant was very dim.

Mains:

1) Mushroom crusted veal fillet with cepe spaetzle, asparagus, dashi jelly and mushroom emulsion.

Cepe spaetzle? I have no idea what this is but I hear its very good

2) Pan fried dory with seared scallop, onion bhaji, cauliflower puree and mango chutney

I love scallops and I loved this dish. I couldnt really taste the mango chutney (which I think is a good thing)

Overall I enjoyed the experience and recommend Assiette.

Altitude

Altitude Restaurant

http://www.36levelsabove.com.au/

Perched above Sydney's spectacular harbour at the top of the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, Altitude Restaurant is among the city's most iconic dining experience.

The views from this restaurant is just breathtaking at night. Imaging the sydney harbour bridge as the backdrop of your dinner party.

We had the four course dinner menu at $120 per person.

And of course, our meal was accompanied by an assortment of cutlery.

Complimentary Bread. Thankfully Altitude doesnt serve tiny servings so our group didnt need two servings of bread.

Freshly shucked Sydney Rock and Pacific oysters

Mains:

Pan Roasted crispy skim Mulloway Cod

Blackmore wagyu beef pithvier

Palate Cleanser

Desserts

Petit Fours

A very enjoyable experience.

Quay

Quay, Circular Quay, Fine Dining

Quay Restaurant is Australia's most awarded restaurant, and one of only two Australian restaurants on the prestigious San Pellegrino World's Top 50 List.


Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks

For my twenty-first I decided to have my birthday celebrations at Quay. I invited a small number of friends (as far as my budget could stretched) and we dined at Quay on a beautiful cloudless Saturday night.

We ordered the four course dinner menu instead of the seven course tasting menu, but since every one shared their dishes, it was pretty much degustation anyways.

To start with we had various cocktails:











The menu



Amuse Bouche. I think this was tuna sashimi and something.. it was SO good





Course One: Seapearls, Sashimi tuna, sea scallop, crab, green lip abalone, octopus. One of these had edible gold leaf on top too :O





Entrees:
Gentle braise of pearl oyster, shaved southern squid, lettuce hearts, golden tapioca, lobster velvet, pea flower

Patridge entree.. I think this was a special so its not on the normal menu

Slow braised pig cheek, ginger milk curd, fresh palm heart, green lipped abalone, Tasmanian wakame & chestnut mushroom consommé. Wow. WOW. Can I just say that this dish blew me away.. it was THAT good. This is the one dish that I say you just HAVE to order to get the whole experience

Squid Entree.. Also a special, cant see it on the menu anymore.





Course 3

Course 4

8 textured chocolate cake











Highly recommended :) I had an awesome birthday and an awesome time.