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Bar Luca – Sydney CBD – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog – … one bite at a time!

About Us – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

Big breakfast Archives – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

5 Days in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

14 North 108 East – Leppington – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

Momo Brasserie & Lindt Café -Sydney CBD – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

January 23, 2025

Bar Luca – Sydney CBD – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

maximios / Uncategorized

Bianca: Huddle in close children, for I’m about to share with you where you can get some of the best burgers going around Sydney at the moment. ‘Bar Luca’ in Sydney’s CBD is now probably one of the worst kept secrets in the burger world – virtually exploding onto the scene in the last 4 months or so and rapidly gaining momentum thanks to the Facebook juggernaut that is ‘The Fatties Burger Appreciation Society’ or FBAS as its lovingly referred to.

Known for their cleverly crafted creations with names such as ‘Cereal Killer’, ‘True Blue’ and ‘Biggie Smalls’. The most exciting factor of all, these babies were crafted by bad arse burger flipper and head chef & owner Sarah Robbins and husband James. I’m no staunch feminist but I do slightly swell with pride when a fellow home-girl knocks the boy’s outta the water. I just had to nerd out and ask her a few questions….

*B: Where do you get the inspiration and the names for your devilishly wicked creations? S: It varies, last weeks creation was born out of a dinner at Chiswick, a slow cooked and pulled lamb with eggplant puree. Sometimes the names come first but obviously they have to be kept PG because of the corporate crowd. B: We also discussed some tinkering with a dessert offering, I believe Bacon and Nutella were used in the same sentence. So watch this space!

*B: What’s been your favourite special so far? S: The Ducking Hipster w/house smoked duck bacon. B: Guys you did read that right, duck bacon… My only regret is missing out on the Biggie smalls, with a teeny slider adorning the burger.

*B: How has the Facebook group, The Fatties Burger Appreciation Society affected business? S: Quite a lot, response has been rather amazing – with things really taking off after International burger day with free add-ons. B: With the introduction of specials every week, there is literally something new for ‘fatties’ to try week to week.

*B: Outside of Bar Luca, where do you go for a burger in Sydney? S: To Publife for the classic O.G and Cheekyburger.

*B: Do you think this burger trend will ever end? S: I can’t see it ending anytime soon, I do like to eat burgers when I go out just to see what other places are doing but sometimes I end up a little disappointed. B: And that is because…..Sarah is doing some of the best burgers in Sydney. That is all.

Now the burgers! I made four separate visits to really give an accurate breadth of the quality of the burgers and I’ll apologise first up for the photo quality of the first visit – I have no idea what was going on but I can tell you Alex will not be IMPRESSED!!!

So my first visit I took a dip into the specials menu, with the ‘Viva La France’ – Wagyu patty, roasted Portobello mushroom, baby spinach, pickled onions, vintage cheddar, French onion aioli and topped with a cheese beignet popper $16. I was a little sceptical about the mushroom, as I do like to keep it quite simple and adding even more vegetables is really the antithesis of a burger for me but I was pleasantly surprised. The fun truly began once you took that first bite of the popper, which was almost soufflé like in texture. It wasn’t until I dove right in did the mushroom reveal itself as it was smothered in the aioli, the mushroom was plump yet devoid of that wateriness which can sometimes be a pitfall of cooked mushies. The patty was a beautifully cooked medium and was seasoned well and very tasty. What really made this burger for me was the sauce, thick, rich and the perfect accompaniment to all the ingredients. Can this please make a re-appearance? A strong 4/5 pickles.

The Cheeseburger is still my go-to when I’m eating a burger and it’s also a great way to gauge the quality of the food because in its simplest form there really isn’t much too it but when it’s done well, its magical. So, I just had to try Bar Luca’s ‘Classic Cheese’ – 200g wagyu patty, American cheddar, house made ketchup, mustard & pickles $12 + $2 bacon. This is truly a thing of beauty, easily one of the best looking burgers I’ve had the pleasure of having placed before me. You really can’t hide behind a cheeseburger, it either shows all your faults or makes you fall in love. Fortunately I had the latter, the patty was again a stand-out. With two generous servings of melted cheese and the pinnacle of all that is holy – crispy bacon. One of the better simple cheeseburgers I’ve had. This gets a 4.6/5 pickles and a smile…just cos.

My aversion to chicken burgers has also waned, old age has made me softer and more accepting. So we have the ‘Chicken Karaage Burger’ –w/wasabi aioili, pickled veg, coriander and coral lettuce $14. I shared this and the cheeseburger with a friend my second visit and we both gravitated towards the cheeseburger. I was expecting a crispier piece of chicken, something heavily battered. It was a touch on the dry side as well, I don’t like wasabi/horseradish but luckily the aioli wasn’t that strong. Most divisive of all was the pickled veg (radish?), I happened to think it worked, my friend not so much. There was a strong perfumy smell and taste but it balanced nicely to cut through the heaviness of the chicken. Not my favourite but chicken burg eaters should be satisfied, 3.5/5 pickles.

For ‘research’ purposes we extended our eating quest out to fried things, namely, the ‘Bomb Frites’ – fries topped with pulled pork, cheese, corn, sour cream, coriander & chipotle aioli $12. The Lamborghini of fries! I wouldn’t necessarily think corn kernels would work in this setting but they do, adding popping bursts of sweetness with a bite here and there. The pulled pork lathered in BBQ sauce was juicy and tender. A great side for any chip lover.

Another visit saw me back at Bar Luca with Madre in tow, I shared a few bites of the Blame Canada my first visit but it didn’t leave much of an impression over me – so I felt I needed to give it another whirl.

So, the ‘Blame Canada’ – 200g wagyu beef patty, maple glazed streaky bacon, poutine & maple aioli $15. All I can say is that I’m glad this made its way back into my periphery. The beef patty was cooked to a juicy medium to medium rare with a pink centre. The grind on the patty was particularly noticeable (across all burgers) and has been one of the best I’ve come across in Sydney. There was a distinguishable sweetness from the maple aioli that balanced nicely with the bacon. The star is really the poutine, taking this burger to stratospheric levels, it was a saucy/ cheesy devilish mix and one I would travel for. If there was any criticism or room for improvement it would be a slightly longer toast on the buns to reduce ‘construction’ issues. This gets a 4.7/5 pickles.

Mother went with the ‘Pulled Pork’ – w/coleslaw, coriander & chipotle aioli $14. Pulled pork burgers are rarely successful in my opinion, texturally it all tends to smoosh into one bite and I usually find it has a tuna-ish vibe going on. This one suffered some catastrophic construction issues, with the bottom bun becoming a soggy unpleasant mess before really diving in. A longer toast on the buns could help alleviate this issue somewhat but I do understand it’s the wettest mixture to make an appearance on a burger bun outside of a chilli/mince. But, the actual pulled pork is tasty, with a subtle smoky background hit and the slaw adding some crunch. Mum put this up the top of her list for a favourite pork burger in Sydney but it did lose a lot of points for the sheer wetness factor. Points for the flavour. A 3/5 pickles.

And lastly, the special of the week and one that I hope will make a repeat appearance. The ‘Limp Brisket’ – 14 hour smoked brisket, BBQ pit beans, collard greens, crispy fried onions & smoky BBQ aioli $16.  The brisket makes this burger, smoked in-house with the burnt ends being the proverbial jackpot. I’d go out on a limb and say this beats Vic’s Meat Markets brisket burg, with it being super tender and packing a flavour punch. Props also to the Bar Luca team for smoking their own brisket. I was sceptical about the beans, on a burger it just seemed odd. I’m glad to say I was wrong, still with a bit of bite they added another textural element along with the crispy fried onions. The smoky BBQ sauce added some sweetness and the collard greens (which initially gave me the sweats) was actually quite useful in balancing all the elements and creating a sort of vacuum, preventing the bottom bun becoming soggy. I was worried that it’d be a mish-mash of competing ingredients vying for top billing but every ingredient was there for a reason and complemented each other, this was an exceptionally well thought out and executed burger. This gets a very well-earned 4.8/5 pickles.

I was back a few weeks later to try another special. The ‘PBJB Burger’ w/ A Wagyu patty, peanut butter, redcurrant and onion jam, maple bacon, cheddar and maple aioli. Rich and generous in every sense of the word. Crunchy peanut butter sings in the background, with muted whisperings as well as adding little bursts of crunch. Each ingredient had its moment in the sun. With nothing outshining the seemingly endless flavour profiles. But it all worked! The jam was a masterful way to balance and cut through the heaviness and salt factor. With double bacon and double cheese! The cheese was a highlight for me, alongside the maple aioli, which really bumped up the creamy factor. The bacon was super crispy and as always the patty was a med rare to med. Beautiful pinkage. What I liked most of all? Nary a lettuce leaf in sight, as it should be. I am not a generous pickle ‘score-erer’ BUT I have found my burger unicorn. 5/5 PICKLES. It’s all downhill from here.

City office workers, I hope you truly appreciate what a special little gem you have right on your doorstep, Sarah and team keep knocking them out of the park.

Bianca

November 25, 2024

For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog – … one bite at a time!

maximios / Uncategorized

Hidden within the regal QVB is Esquire, a stylish speakeasy hidden within the QVB. ESQ…

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The Four Seasons Hotel, Mode Kitchen’s Truffle Degustation. Winter is here!

Eros, Greek taverna in the heart of Potts Point.

A review of Sydney Grecian restaurant Ploos in the Rocks Sydney.

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[invite] Bianca: Celebrating and championing coastal Mexican cuisine, Alma located in Avalon on Sydney’s Northern…

November 22, 2024

About Us – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

maximios / Uncategorized

About us: For Food’s Sake is a food, travel and lifestyle website created by family members Vanessa, Bianca and Alex. Growing up in a traditional Italian household, we, as a family have had the pleasure of constantly being surrounded by delicious food. On this website, we will be sharing restaurant reviews, our favourite recipes (including some gems from Nonna’s handwritten recipe collection) and some travel pieces.

A little about us: Vanessa:  My two greatest passions in life are food and travel. I have spent the past 10 years of my life travelling the world (both for business and pleasure) and have been fortunate enough to experience food and culture in places I would never have imagined.  From sweet Borscht in St Petersburg, succulent Adana in Istanbul to aromatic tagines in Marrakesh. I have had the opportunity to fulfil many of my dreams and my passion for food through my travels. Ultimately, my personal ethos is to “Try, Taste and Travel! “

Bianca: Avid restaurant hunter, television nut, carnivorous burger devourer,  voracious reader and sacrificial food ‘taster’. My general interest in food blossomed during my early years, vivid memories of my grandmothers fresh Gnocchi tutorials, Stromboli at Easter time.  My LOVE of food began in 2012 when I began my journey to ‘healthy eating’, being involved in meal preparations really did bring home as to what exactly was going in my food. Though my tastes in food has changed, I’m now forever on the hunt for the perfect burger and pancakes!

Alex: My love for food is evident in my passion…photography. With a keen eye for detail and sharp, punchy imagery, I aim to show food in glorious detail – creating the kind of pictures that illicit strong social media traction and instant cravings! I style and capture bold colourful and engaging imagery bringing food to life. I can host food styling and photography workshops to share insider skills and knowledge with candour and enthusiasm.

Make sure you follow our Instagram account at @4foodssake -To contact Vanessa, Bianca & Alex, please email [email protected]

IL Globo interview

August 15, 2024

Big breakfast Archives – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

maximios / Uncategorized

[invite] Bianca: It’s always nice to stumble across those tucked away little gems in the…

[invite] Bianca: Nestled in a quiet thoroughfare just a few paces away from bustling St Leonards…

[invite] Bianca Wentworth Point is becoming quite the little foodie enclave, with the recent opening of…

[invite] Bianca: I’ve now actively become the biggest hypocrite around, breakfast and brunch are totally…

Bianca: In another life I was a baker, a bakess? A bread roll? All I…

{invite} Bianca: Having a huge extended family spread out throughout the world, we constantly had…

Bianca & Vanessa Braving the Antarctic conditions one Saturday morning, Alex and I made our way…

Bianca: Coffee, I love it – it fuels many a person’s morning and being in…

Alex: As Three Wiliams quickly becomes an iconic household name in any foodie family, they…

Bianca: I was clearly in a French mood when I decided to visit both ‘Antoine’s…

June 27, 2024

5 Days in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

maximios / Uncategorized

Bianca: And here we are, the most anticipated part of the holiday. Paradisus La Perla Resort Playa Del Carmen. I really had one goal for our honeymoon. To come back black!! I’m a simple lady, some booze, some tacos and some quality tanning time. The other half was keen for some in-depth exploration of the Yucatan, my planned exploration was basically from the poolside lounger to the food-hut (which I didn’t even have to do because they have poolside waiters…).

Alas, despite this ‘miscommunication’ of holiday intentions our Playa Del Carmen accommodation was stellar.

DAY 1

Fellow FFS’aker Vanessa spent her honeymoon at Paradisus and couldn’t stop raving about her time here. I was SOLD! Our King Junior suite was in the vicinity of $500 a night. This is an all-inclusive resort and IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE! If you can stomach all the obnoxious loud Americans that is…

A large two-person tub, two separate vanities, two-person shower (with separate heads) basically every girls dream bathroom. As well as a generously sized outdoor balcony. Ours fronted on to the hotel’s periphery so there was no real view to enjoy. There are two resorts within the property, La Perla (the Adults only section) and Esmeralda (for the families). We really only crossed over one night for one of our meals.

There are 24 bars and restaurants within La Perla & Esmeralda. There are 2 buffets operating on any given day and 14 designated restaurants. This was definitely a much more slick operation than Grand Oasis Tulum so I couldn’t foresee any double dinners here. Not that we’d want to, we were completely satisfied by the portions and quality at every single meal during our stay.

Our first dinner was at The Grill. 

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With a mix of Italian & Argentinian dishes on the menu, we somehow settled on salmon and a burger?? No idea how that happened… Our first night was trial and error in regards to the quantity ordered, as the individual portion sizes are on the smaller side. Spring for the Empanadas, they were delicious.

Blackened Salmon with Chimichurri Butter The Hamburger The Chocolate Sacher cake the perfect ending!

Day 2

Jules had all intentions of becoming a Mer-man this trip, sadly we both suffered at the hands of the 40-minute ferry from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel. We had booked a snorkelling excursion straight off the ferry and with little time to recover after the bumpy ride we were a little worse for wear, hence being so light on the photos.

The reef whilst pretty, really had nothing on what we experienced in Vanuatu. Whether the recent Hurricanes had anything to do with the state of the reef I’m a little unsure.

Petal was a little under the weather!

Alas, our Cozumel day trip wasn’t really maximised. There is quite a lot to do on the island. So please, if you do go. Do the following and report back… just tell me it was horrible so I don’t get the FOMO. Shopping in downtown/ San Miguel. Snorkel at Money Bar Beach club. Visit the Mayan Cacao Company. Palancar Beach and visit the San Gervasio ruins.

Dinner, however, more than made up for it. Bana offers an impressive Asian fusion menu.

Continuing the Margherita train for the day!

I’ll preface this meal with Julian stating ‘It was the best sushi I’ve ever eaten”. Big call. I don’t recall eating much that day and I was clearly in way too much of a hurry to eat and forgot to take a photo of the menu. So please excuse my amateurish recount.

Crispy Prawns

I do admit, this was up there for some of the best sushi I’ve had. Particularly the crispy prawn topped with torched melted cheese, sublime!

Miso Salmon Black Pepper Beef Prawn Pad Thai

DAY 3

Chichen Itza (Chicken Pizza). Do you go or not? We organised a tour from Paradisus that started at 7:45am, we got back to the resort at 9pm. Let’s just say there may or may not have been a few arguments! Included in our tour was a 2-hour visit to Chichen Itza to view the Mayan ruins, a Mexican buffet lunch, a stop at Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman Cenote and a quick stop at Valladolid.

Chichen Itza

Restaurante Tio Manolo – And the Merman!

The timing of our visit to the Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman Cenote was a little unfortunate. As it was a fairly warm day that quickly descended into rainfall. Obviously through no fault of the tour operators but I didn’t particularly want to jump in whilst it was raining.

And our final spot. Valladolid, the third largest city in the Yucatan. We really only explored the towns main square because it started bucketing as soon as we got off the bus. Never fear, I made it to the chocolate shop!

Vento, with a nod to Oriental Mediterranean, was next on our restaurant hit-list.

Vento Mezze Cypress Salad Beef Fillet in Plum Sauce Lamb Loin Mujaddara Finished with the Domo de Chocolate

Day 4

It certainly didn’t start very promising. The rain gods were not very kind, with heavy showers from the early morning until midday. But, the universe knew I was in desperate need for a tan and the heavens cleared. And thus began my epic 5-hour tanning/pool session, mixed in with a few cocktails, several tequila & vodka shots, some tacos and nachos and a little drunken fat nap. All in all, a very successful day!

By this point, I’d yet to have some authentic Mexican tacos. But our final meal was to be at the hotel’s Mexican restaurant. And what do you know, not a single taco in sight…

The Gordita Trilogy Shrimp Aguachile Mini Duck Torta Traditional Guacamole (sans Grasshoppers). Braised Beef Rib Vegetable Fajitas (Literally the closest thing to a taco) Don’t bother with this one! Azteca Corn Cake -w/ caramel sauce Chocolate Trilogy -w/ tequila cream

And with that, we bid adieu to Playa Del Carmen and headed to Cuba!

Bianca

http://www.paradisuslaperlaresort.com/index.asp

June 27, 2024

14 North 108 East – Leppington – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

maximios / Uncategorized

Vanessa: “Where’s Leppington ?” you ask..those were my exact thoughts when we were invited to check out the recently opened Vietnamese restaurant, 14 North 108 East . Nestled between Home World and spacious land primed for new development, lies this trendy eatery that offers a Vietnamese twist on traditional breakfast dishes as well a modern Vietnamese menu.

We were impressed by the spacious interior with beautifully painted murals spanning along the back wall.  As we were shown around two things stood out to me, the private dining area with bar and the café side of the restaurant.  Appealing to coffee lovers far and wide, 14 North 108 East offers a variety of coffee options including cold drip – which I’m a big fan of!

The menu is diverse and I was really excited to experience the breakfast options with a Vietnamese twist.

We ordered the Vietnamese iced coffee ($4.50)  whilst we waited for our food. This was creamy, sweet and ice cold, worth a try.

To kick us off we had the Good Morning Vietnam ($17) with pate, Vietnamese devon, fried eggs, bacon and sourdough or baguette. I loved everything about this although a warning,  the pate is very fresh (made in house) and quite a strong liver flavor.  The crispy bread was the perfect addition to mop up the runny egg yolk.

The Fried Rice for Breakfast ($17) is an interesting choice as it’s definitely not something I would consider as a breakfast option. Consisting of garlic fried rice, bacon, edamame topped with a fried egg it is full of flavor and a good option for sharing.

From the lunch menu we went with a make your own lunch bowl $15 consisting of vermicelli rice noodles, lemongrass pork which packed a punch of flavor topped with soy and sesame oil. This is a substantial dish that doesn’t leave you feeling heavy, really enjoyed it.

Being a novice in the world of Bahn Mi I don’t have a huge amount of comparison but their bahn mi filled with your choice of protein (we opted for pork) and all the usual condiments was absolutely delicious. I don’t think ever had a bread roll that crunchy before in my life! Very well priced as well at $6.50.

We were also privy to an off menu dish of beef pho, the traditional Vietnamese soup with noodles and beef. A beautiful broth that was full of flavor. I’m not sure why its not on the standard menu but it absolutely should be!

We finished off our savoury dishes with a touch of sweetness by ordering the blueberry pancake stack ($19) off the breakfast menu.  This highly photogenic dish is almost like a work of art consisting of two blueberry pancakes served with vanilla-infused mascarpone, seasonal berries, caramelised banana, canadian maple syrup, oreo crumb and vanilla bean ice-cream.

We were really pleased we did not let distance deter us from experiencing the food and venue, sometimes going that little bit further lets you experience the unexpected.  We are definitely planning to return to experience the dinner menu.

Enjoy!

Vanessa

*For Foods Sake dined as guest of 14 North 108 East

June 26, 2024

Momo Brasserie & Lindt Café -Sydney CBD – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

maximios / Uncategorized

Alex: After Bianca decided she had a serious craving for a Rueben Sandwich, we decided to sniff out one that we heard was pretty decent. So we found ourselves at Momo Brasserie, since we were there, why not throw in some pulled pork and call it a day! To beat the office crowd we decided to make our way there a little early. As expected for 12pm on a weekday, the place was filled with office workers having a bite and big wigs in suits running ‘business meetings’. Generally, that’s what I call my lunch and dinner dates.

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We got the menu upon sitting down, but who are we kidding? We knew what we wanted already. No time for games! “I’ll get the Reuben Classic Sandwich” I could almost see Bianca salivating at the mouth as she ordered.

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Personally I am not a big fan of Reuben’s but this one I quite enjoyed. Momo describes itself as “the home of traditional New York Style Pastrami” and it’s easy to understand why. The house made pastrami was tangy, with a decent amount of both corned beef and sauerkraut. The sandwich itself wasn’t too thick which meant it was easier to eat then most Reuben’s I’ve had. The Garden Salad that accompanied the Reuben was average, but it helped to balance out the meatiness of the Reuben.

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As well as the Reuben sandwich, we decided to share the “Momo’s famous pulled pork burger”. My sister got me hooked on pulled pork last december when she and my mum made home made brioche buns with pulled pork, so, ever since that day my expectations have been high. Those expectations were then exceeded in San Francisco (sorry Bianca) but that story is for another post!

There was nothing wrong with the burger, but I think, once you have had the best, there is just no comparison. The pork was a little dry, but really soft. I think it needed a bit more of the creamy slaw and it would’ve been a whole lot better. The chips on the other hand were really crispy and fluffy so it was a win win in the end.

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We stopped by Lindt Café after shopping up an imaginary storm at Pitt Street Mall and got the Iced Mocha. Everyone that knows me, knows that desert is my favourite meal so being a professed chocaholic I expected great things from this decadent mocha. While I love me some Lindt chocolate the mocha was unsettlingly rich, The icecream, the milk, plus the powder of chocolate on top was too much for my little stomach to handle…But I would still go back. Maybe next time I’ll share!

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Until next time…

Alex Squadrito

V.B.A

June 26, 2024

forfoodssake, Author at For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

maximios / Uncategorized

Hidden within the regal QVB is Esquire, a stylish speakeasy hidden within the QVB. ESQ…

Surry Hills stalwart Milli Vini has long been one of Crown’s Street’s favourites. With a…

Shared menus shine at Israeli restaurant Shaffa, right in the heart of Surry Hills.

The Four Seasons Hotel, Mode Kitchen’s Truffle Degustation. Winter is here!

Eros, Greek taverna in the heart of Potts Point.

A review of Sydney Grecian restaurant Ploos in the Rocks Sydney.

Vanessa: On a rare occasion that Bianca and I were sans babies, we took the…

Fine dining at quiet achiever Oliveto restaurant in Rhodes, modern Italian in an upscale setting.

Bianca: An absolute must-visit when venturing north towards Port Stephens is the charming restaurant The…

[invite] Bianca: Celebrating and championing coastal Mexican cuisine, Alma located in Avalon on Sydney’s Northern…

June 26, 2024

4Fourteen – Surry Hills – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

maximios / Uncategorized

Bianca: To celebrate Madre’s impending acceptance into the pensioner’s hall of fame, otherwise known as her birthday, we decided to treat her to dinner at her favourite chefs Surry Hills restaurant, ‘4Fourteen’. Now I’ll put this out there first up, mother and I have a little bit of a soft spot for the Irish born celebrity chef, the accent and smile don’t hurt either. Was my dad a little uncomfortable at Madre’s constant badgering of the staff about Colin’s whereabouts that night, sure! He wore it well, it was her birthday after all.

To set the mood for the evening, we arrived a little late and found a car spot our first loop around the surrounding street, surely a sign for a great night. We were warmly greeted and shown to our table. A celebratory occasion just isn’t the same without some sort of alcoholic beverage surely? Mum and I at my urging, shared the ‘Fireball’ – Lemon, orange, fig, Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey’ $17. A particularly potent concoction, perhaps it wasn’t the greatest moment for me to launch into my spiel about Fireball whiskeys recent(ish) splash in the news (anti-freeze anyone?) mother was now under the impression I was trying to kill her on her birthday.

I was kind of hoping my dad would order the ‘Princess Needs A Drink’ just for pure hysterics, alas he went with his favourite classic an ‘Aperol Spritz’ $17. Which was suitably sour, I wouldn’t have minded stealing away with that glass either. Kleptomania does run in the family.

On to the main reason we were here, besides Colin of course. The food! A few entrées were ordered. First up were ‘CJ’s Chips and Dips’ – chard and crackling. $10. Absolutely genius, taking a vastly underused vegetable like chard, lightly coating and then deep-frying. Umm, I’d eat chard everyday if it was this good. The puffy crackling was flawlessly cooked and tipping this dish over the edge was the spicy smoked potato mayonnaise.

Not wanting to be complete gluttons, we shared two croquettes between four, the ‘Ham Hock and Cheese Croquette’ –w/ mustard crème fraiche $4.50ea. Crispy on the outside with a glorious oozy middle, we all picked up on a discernible horseradish component, mum thought it overpowered all other flavours. I’d have to agree with her here, she tried hers without the accompanying crème fraiche which I feel is vital to balance the entire eating experience.

The last of the entrées and probably my favourite dish of the night was the ‘Glazed Lamb Ribs’ –w/watermelon. $11 two per serve. I was told by fellow FFS’aker Vanessa to order these so made sure we got two servings so we each had a rib. Never in my life would I think to pair these two ingredients together but they work so incredibly well. Firstly they were cooked long and slow, so most of the bones were pulled out prior to serving, the meat was tender and virtually melted upon each bite. The sauce really reminded me of Kylie Kwong’s famous crispy skin duck with plum sauce, playing on both sweet and sour elements.

For the mains we were swayed by the shared plate’s and decided to go with two large mains and a side salad. The first of which was the ‘Braised Whole Lamb Shoulder’ – w/ mustard and herb crust. $72. Easily large enough to satisfy four people, we each pulled and prodded for the best bits, which was quite easy – it was all so good. Having gone to Chiswick for my birthday a month prior and comparing this lamb shoulder to Matt Moran’s, I’m afraid Colin has you beat. Seasoned gorgeously and with the accompanying vessel filled with the valuable pan drippings we unceremoniously dripped it all over our precious pulled apart lamb. It was nice to see some additional veggies thrown in there as well (which wasn’t the case at Chiswick).

We also shared the ‘Pork Belly’ – w/pumpkin, charred onions and prosciutto. $32. It was hard to pick a favourite between the lamb and the pork as they were both so good but I think the pork may have just edged out the lamb with the majority. I was expecting a pork belly with crackling, no idea why, as it wasn’t stated as such on the menu. So I was a little puzzled when a circular mound of pork nestled pristinely on the plate was brought out to us. It was almost as if the pork was slow cooked, shredded then re-assembled and formed into a dome-like piggy fortress – then was perhaps blasted again in an oven. What resulted was a heavenly almost caramelised top with the soft pork below. We also enjoyed the scorched Brussel sprouts

To make ourselves feel a little healthier we also shared the ‘Mixed Grain Salad’ $12.  I’m a big fan of quinoa so I thoroughly enjoyed this, the others were not so keen. I then made the executive decision to pour some of the lamb drippings into the salad. Which made dad and my older brother a little happier. It’s quite a vibrant salad with red and white quinoa, puffed wheat, almond slithers and shaved fennel.

We couldn’t possibly celebrate a birthday without some sort of sweet ending, so we decided to go with the ‘Snickers’ which was not printed on the menu but they alternately offer the deconstructed ‘Bounty’ and the Snickers. Vanessa had also organised through some ‘connections’ to have Colin’s book ‘Four Kitchens’ signed. So they brought that out as well as the dessert with a hand piped ‘Happy Birthday Orestina’, it is of course the little small details that make all the difference. At this point I had well and truly eaten my fill but the show must go on, the snickers is a play on the classic chocolate. Elements on the plate included toffee like shards, a nougatine chocolate component, peanut butter ice-cream and white marshmallow (these were my identifying ‘points’) I could be completely off base.

The family then ordered a round of coffee’s and we were brought four little petit fours, cherry chocolate bites, with a light coating of cocoa powder. Mum ate hers and got cocoa powder EVERYWHERE, which my brother and I promptly photographed and posted to Facebook as any dutiful child would.

And of course no meal in the Surry Hills area is truly complete without lining up and scoring a scoop or two of Gelato Messina. Which is exactly what we did, on my dad’s request surprisingly.

I can’t really fault my meal at 4Fourteen at all, food was excellent, décor is lovely and the staff really went above and beyond organising the ‘birthday’ dessert.

Our next mission is to track Colin down at ‘Four In Hand’!!

Bianca

June 26, 2024

Pony Dining, The Rocks – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

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[invite] Bianca: Tucked away along one of the Rocks many cobbled laneways is Pony Dining. This latest visit marks the third time I have dined under the ‘Pony’ umbrella. Firstly at the now closed Grovesnor Street location and twice at the Rocks. After a recent refurb, they’re back with a new look and a new menu. One of the main draw-cards is the large wood fire grill taking centre stage in the dining room.

But perhaps some of the best seats in the house are on the outside verandah, perfect for a gorgeous sunny day and a spot of people watching.

We began our leisurely long Sunday lunch with the Burrata, prosciutto, charred cucumber, toasted grains and herb oil $17. Without being too emphatic, this was perhaps one of the better burrata dishes I have had in Sydney. The quality of the burrata & velvety prosciutto was unparalleled. But what tipped this over the edge for me were the toasted grains, the texture and flavour in unison with the cheese was mind blowing.

This was also a strategic pick, wanting to mop up some of that glorious burrata with the flatbread. In its own right, the Flatbread, Smoked eggplant & bean dip $8 was equally delicious. The capsicum having that full depth of flavour you can only get roasting over a wood-fired grill.

The Salad of Grilled Vegetables, goats curd, grains and dukkah $17 was everything you could want from a wintery ‘salad’. Ordinarily, I’m not a fan of goats cheese but this dish did benefit from the astringent tartness to cut through the earthiness of the veggies.

Now down to business, I secretly had my eyes on this one and Julian perhaps sensing the targeted brainwaves was also eager to try the Vietnamese pork belly panini, pate, hot and sour dressing w/fries $16.50. This one left us torn, we both really loved the flavours but disagreed on the use of a soft milk sub, I loved it! With the zingy freshness from the julienned veg, to the soft succulent pork belly interspersed with the crispy crackling.

Of course, I was going to get the burg. I had a similar burger my last visit and I remember being pleasantly surprised. The Wagyu Burger -w/cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, aioli and fries $17.50 w/added bacon $3 had it’s positives and negatives. The flavour was there, with the crispy bacon, melted cheese, perfect ratio of sauce and excellent amount of shredded lettuce (big bonus). But there was an overwhelming taste, that of charred meat. The texture of the patty was good but the cooking left a lot to be desired. For the FBAS crowd, a 3.4/ 5 pickles.

Of course, desserts were going to make an appearance. Roasted Pineapple Cheesecake, ginger nut biscuit, caramel, lime & mint $12 is a must order. Essentially a light as air whipped cheesecake, tropical pineapple evoking warmer days. This was our favourite of the two.

But don’t turn your nose up, the Hot Chocolate Pudding, orange compote, house-made hazelnut ice cream $12 was every thing you’d want from a winter warmer. Lava like chocolate flowing once you crack open the outer shell. I’ve never been a fan of hazelnut ice-cream, I love hazelnuts, Nutella… you name it. But hazelnut ice-cream, nein. I found the outer shell of the pudding a little overdone, but a minor flaw.

Considering some of the rubbish being served in the tourist traps in the Rocks, Pony is a real draw-card. Best of all, prices are beyond reasonable for the portion sizes.

Bianca

*For Food’s Sake dined as guests of Pony Dining.

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Bar Luca – Sydney CBD – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

Bianca: Huddle in close children, for I’m about to share with you where you can get some of the best burgers going around Sydney at the moment. ‘Bar Luca’ in Sydney’s CBD is now probably one of the worst kept secrets in the burger world – virtually exploding onto the scene in the last 4 […]

For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog – … one bite at a time!

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About Us – For Food's Sake – A Sydney Food Blog

About us: For Food’s Sake is a food, travel and lifestyle website created by family members Vanessa, Bianca and Alex. Growing up in a traditional Italian household, we, as a family have had the pleasure of constantly being surrounded by delicious food. On this website, we will be sharing restaurant reviews, our favourite recipes (including […]

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