The Two Taste Buds

Hello lovelies!

It’s been a while since we last posted (sorry!), but we’re back, and we’ve moved websites - please see www.thetwotastebuds.com for some exciting new posts (and of course all our old posts!).

We look forward to sharing new food adventures with everyone on our new website!

Lots of love,

By Greedy Financier

So it’s been a while since The Two Taste Buds last posted – apologies! In between trying to keep up with life in general, we’ve just been too engrossed in eating and trying to find a breath in between mouthfuls of food. And it’s taken a serious piece of food to bring us back to the blogosphere. I write today to tell you all about the latest hybrid food craze – the Baoger!

The Belly Bao Burger – Baoger!

Levering off Sydney’s love affair with burgers, the Baoger is Belly Bao’s latest offering and is a cross between a Bao and a Burger. And it is seriously good. Handmade steamed buns sprinkled with sesame seeds hold together a juicy beef patty covered in melted cheese, raw white onions, lettuce, pickled radish and Belly Bao’s special sauce. The sauce is reminiscent of Big Mac sauce and just brings together all the ingredients magnificently. 

The Belly Baoger

But alas, the Baoger is only currently available on Thursdays and you have to be quick – they sell out quite quickly! The first time I went at 7pm and it had already sold out. The second time I went at 5pm to avoid disappointment and the place was heaving by 6pm. I also find service is a bit hit and miss at Belly Bao – they seemed to have forgotten our order and we were kept waiting for over an hour for two Baogers. 

Various Baos

Belly Bao is a new favourite spot of mine and I couldn’t not review their original food offerings. Their handmade steamed buns are so fluffy and soft and just the right amount of thickness.  They have several fillings on offer – and they certainly don’t skimp on these or the sauce. 

Crackling Roast Pork Belly Bao

The pork belly bao consists of a moist piece of pork belly, balanced against zingy in house pickled radish and topped off with crunchy bits of crackling.

Slow Braised Beef Short Rib Bao

The beef bao is filled with tender melt in your mouth beef and plenty of eschallots and hot sauce. It’s a messy one to eat but packs a kimchi punch.

Panko Crumbed Chicken Breast Bao

The chicken bao comes with the option of two sauces – either pesto or a hot sauce. I’ve tried both and I have to say I’m a fan of the hot sauce. The chicken breast is juicy and moist and has a great crunch from the panko crumbs.

Soft Shell Crab Bao

You can’t wrong with deep fried soft shell crab. Topped with watercress and that special hot sauce, the soft shell crab bao is easily one of my favourites.

Crunchy Wings

I love chicken wings and I love deep fried chicken wings even more. These wings seems to be deep fried in a simple salt and pepper batter, but they are super crunchy and moreish.

Sweet Potato Fries

I always think that if you’re going to offer sweet potato fries, at least offer normal potato fries. But these sweet potato fries are a great accompaniment to the steamed buns, and have a tasty balance between the sweetness of the fries and the spiciness of the chilli sauce generously drizzled on top.

Papaya Salad

In an effort to make myself feel a little healthier, I tend to try and order some greens with every meal. Although not quite a traditional Thai papaya salad, the salad is a generous serving and provides a refreshing break from all the deep fried goodness.

Baonana Split

And every good meal must come to an end. The dessert baos are little parcels of heaven – with deep fried buns holding together pieces of fruit and ice cream. The banana bao is drizzled with nutella and takes the traditional bao to a whole new level. Yes, I’m a fan of Belly Bao and if you haven’t yet eaten here, you ought to do yourself a favour and get on down here as quick as you can!

By Greedy Financier

The festive season always leaves me feeling a little worse for wear. One too many parties and one too many drinks mean that I’m constantly on the hunt for the perfect hangover cure. Although abstaining from drinking is probably your best bet, nothing beats a bacon and egg roll – and The Copper Mill in Alexandria serves up a pretty mean one.

The Copper Mill

There usually is a wait for tables at The Copper Mill, but it is definitely worth it. We rocked up one sunny Sunday morning and within 15 minutes were seated at the counter overlooking the busy kitchen. The menu is written up on the blackboard ladder on the back wall and is sure to have something to cater for every taste.

The Blackboard Ladder Menu

But what I came here for was the renowned Peruvian bacon and egg roll. This is no ordinary bacon and egg roll though! Brickfields bread instead of ordinary bread, pork belly and crackling in the place of bacon, salsa instead of tomato sauce, plus a fried egg with a perfectly gooey yolk and lashings of sauce = perhaps Sydney’s best bacon and egg roll (and without doubt – best hangover cure)!

Peruvian Roll – Pork Chicharron, Sunnyside Egg, Kumera, Salsa Criolla & Lemon Mayo

Peruvian Roll - Cross Section

My friend went with what seemed like a deconstructed Peruvian roll. Thick cut slices of pork belly and crackling and a fried egg were accompanied with rice and beans – a hearty meal with plenty of protein and flavour!

Tacu Tacu – Wild Rice, Spiced Refried Beans, Coriander, Pork Chicharron, Salsa Criolla, Fried Egg

To wash down our meals, my friend ordered the juice of the day – a pineapple, watermelon and mint concoction that was super refreshing and quench worthy.

Juice of the Day – Pineapple, Watermelon and Mint

Being hungover, I had to have a coffee. Since it was a relatively warm day, I decided to have it iced. It was a robust yet very smooth coffee.

Iced Coffee

To finish off, I had to try their famous hot coconut chocolate. They were also offering an iced version on the day, but I wanted to try the original hot chocolate. Think coconut rough or bounty but in liquid form, and that is exactly what this drink tastes like. Seriously the best hot chocolate in town! As testament to its popularity, the kitchen had a stockpile of empty coconut milk cans!

Coconut Hot Chocolate

By this stage, we were both too full to eat anymore, which is really a shame because the front counter had many a sweets offering! However, thanks to the bacon and egg roll, I did leave the café feeling a little less hungover than when I walked in. Regardless though - hangover or no hangover, The Copper Mill is definitely a café not to be missed!

  The Copper Mill

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Copper-Mill/630165453660410

Monday to Friday 7.00am – 4.00pm

Saturday 8.00am – 4.30pm

Sunday 8.30am – 3.00pm

Ph: +61 2 9517 3214

Suite B, 338 – 356 Mitchell Road

Alexandria

By Net Geek

BLL!

There couldn’t be a better setting than Manly Wharf for the new Burger Liquor Lobster popup restaurant. Hanging off the side of the Manly Wharf Hotel, it is one of two BLL popups, the other of which is in Paddington. I spent my Sunday lunch looking over the water, scoffing down their delicious lobster roll while sipping on a syrupy sweet Midori based cocktail. Definitely not a bad way to spend a sunny Sydney day.

Noms by the water

First up was the lobster roll. Deep fried lobster was presented on a fresh bread roll with cloudy soft innards, on top of a simple bed of fresh lettuce and red onion. Finally it was lathered in delicious mayo, and they did not hold back. Mountains of sauce seemed to be a recurring theme for their noms and I for one was not complaining (I love my sauce!). However my fellow diner was not a huge fan of the copious condiments, so it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The lobster itself appeared to be flash fried with a crumb and then ripped apart for serving. It was fresh, juicy and sweet; much better than one might expect for a $15 price point!

Big chunks of lobster

To compliment I also ordered a prawn salad. It was the perfect size and once again didn’t hold back on the sauce (much to my delight). Giant and succulent prawns sat in a neat pile on greens and avocado. By this point in the meal I was impressed by BLL’s commitment to quality. They never skimped out on the things I was there for: lobster, sauce and, in the case of the salad, creamy avocado. There was a surplus of generous avocado cubes strewn throughout my salad, playing well with the creamy sauce and sweet prawns.

No shortage of juicy prawns or avo.

Not having a cocktail would be blasphemy while sitting by the water on this lovely day. My “Midori Bliss” was layered with Midori, Paraiso Lychee liquor, orange and cranberry; not much to dislike there.

Syrupy sweet cocktails!

If you find yourself on the Manly wharfs, definitely checkout BLL and their scrumptious offerings. Sitting by the water with lobster rolls and cocktails couldn’t go wrong. Get on it!

The BLL interior

Burger Liquor Lobster, Manly

http://www.burgerliquorlobster.com.au

Manly Wharf Hotel

East Esplanade

By Greedy Financier

If you’re a ramen fan, then I’ve got some great news for you – Ippudo are opening their famous ramen joint at the new Central Park shopping centre development. Due to open on 2 October 2014, this will be Ippudo’s second restaurant in Sydney, in addition to their restaurant at Pitt Street, Westfields.

Ippudo at Central Park

The Two Taste Buds were invited along to Ippudo’s pre-opening day last week where we had the privilege of sampling some of their menu items. Upon arrival at the store, we were greeted the traditional Japanese way and promptly escorted to our seats in a very sleek looking restaurant.

Inside Ippudo at Central Park

To start, we decided to share some salmon sushi. Unlike your typical sushi wrapped in seaweed, this sushi consisted of seared salmon wrapped around rice. The bite sized portions were topped with some diced avocado and the most scrumptious mayonnaise. Each piece was fresh and simply delicious!

Seared Salmon Sushi – Temari Salmon Sushi served with Mentai Mayo Sauce and Avocado

Ippudo is renowned for their ramen and offer several different types of broth. Additionally, they give you the choice of how you would like your noodles cooked – to a soft, medium or hard level of firmness. If you order the “special” ramens, they also come with an additional plate of toppings including a flavoured egg, pork belly, seaweed, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and spring onions.

Additional Toppings included with each Ramen Special

The Net Geek went with the Akamaru Special ramen. This ramen uses Ippudo’s original tonkotsu broth but is enhanced with a special blended miso paste and garlic oil. Surprisingly the garlic oil was not overpowering, but rather added a nice subtle touch of flavour to the well balanced and aromatic broth.

Akamaru Special Ramen

I chose the Miso Tonkotsu Special ramen which uses Ippudo’s signature pork broth infused with red miso. The broth was flavoursome and had a certain level of depth which lent to its richness. Of all the ramen toppings, the pork belly and egg deserve a special mention – the pork was extremely tender and the egg (although served cold) was gooey in the middle.

Miso Tonkotsu Special Ramen

Service is very efficient at Ippudo – we were in and out within forty five minutes! However, that doesn’t mean that quality is sacrificed, as the ramen was exceptional. If you’re after a good bowl of ramen, Ippudo will be sure to hit the spot.

  Ippudo Central Park

Opening 2 October 2014

http://youtu.be/Fr3tEzea3Jo

http://www.ippudo.com.au/

Monday to Sunday 11.00am – 9.00pm

Central Park, Lower Ground Floor (RB07)

28 Broadway

Chippendale

By Net Geek

Be sure to check out the competition at the bottom of this blog post for your chance to win a free meal for two at Vapiano Sydney!

We have reviewed Vapiano before, as the Two Taste Buds can never keep their mitts off some delicious aldente pasta. Naturally, we jumped on the opportunity when they invited us to sample their new spring menu filled with offerings to bring us out of the cold and into the fresh new season!

Our lovely host Clare bestowing upon us some great Vapiano knowledge!

With winter still clinging on, a hearty soup hit the spot! It was extremely pumpkiny and was served to us as the entree with some toasty ciabatta croutons to top it off. Something to note is how so much of Vapiano’s inventory is made on location! The pasta is rolled in their own custom machine daily and the bread baked on site.

The soup was so good it gets two photos!

Another lovely addition to their offerings is the freshest of basil one can imagine! So fresh that you pick it yourself at your own leisure. Their small potted basil plants sit in front of diners adding both herby goodness and a lovely aesthetic. Everything in Vapiano seems to combine for a fresh and modern vibe.

Sharing stories over the communal Vapiano tables

The kitchen is open and always buzzing with action!

To begin the mains was a pizza fresh from the oven topped with premium Aussie air-dried salted beef, rocket, tomato sauce and in-house mozzarella. Oh so fresh! And we’re told the air-dried beef gets tip top marks health-wise compared to other cured meats. Drizzled with truffle olive oil, this pizza is very well paired to lovely spring days!

Drizzled with truffle oil!

As previously mentioned, a good aldente pasta is what we crave; and that is definitely what we were served. The Vapiano experience of getting to see your dish whipped up before your eyes at the pizza and pasta stations adds a new angle to eating pasta; a reason to come at least once even if you’re not the biggest pasta fan! The Risotto Pollo Levanto was creamy and golden with chunky chicken pieces. I picked many a basil leaf off my personal pot plant and it gave such a welcome fresh edge to the thick and rich sauce. Definitely a spring time winner. Second was the Pasta Gamberi Con Rosso; semi sundried tomatoes, plump prawns and pesto with a light chilli kick for good measure! By this point were getting close to our eating limits; but it was all too delicious to pass on!

Freshness levels off the charts!

For dessert our salted caramel cravings were quenched. White chocolate Cheesecake with Salted Caramel & Honeycomb always goes down a treat; and it was served in a charming little glass. The texture was smooth as butter and they were not afraid to make this salted caramel actually salty, while it was all topped off with some crispy honeycomb chunks. We downed every last bite despite how full we were!

Buttery smooth goodness!

Competition time:

Vapiano Sydney was kind enough to offer a free meal voucher to one of our readers and a guest of their choice. To enter, simply describe to us your favourite Italian dish in the comments below! (Make sure we can contact you too!) The best description will earn the writer a voucher shipped to them in the mail. While you’re at it, also be sure to follow Vapiano Sydney on Facebook, Twitter (@VapianoOz) and Instagram (VapianoAustralia)! (Competition closes 30 September 2014)

  Vapiano Sydney

http://vapiano.com.au/restaurants/

Open 11am daily Closes 11pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday to Saturday

Corner of King and York Street

Sydney

By Greedy Financier

I have the biggest sweet tooth. It’s no secret that I’d rather eat dessert for dinner any night of the week – and that’s exactly what happened one fateful Thursday evening last month. The Two Taste Buds were fortunate enough to be invited to sample all things sweet at Mooberry Dessert & Breakfast Bar in Neutral Bay.

Inside Mooberry Dessert & Breakfast Bar

We started our dessert dinner with some frozen yoghurt. Mooberry make their own frozen yoghurt in house and have several flavours on offer, as well as all your typical froyo toppings. We opted to try their original frozen yoghurt, along with the chocolate and salted caramel varieties. As a froyo fan, I have to say I was definitely pleased – the froyo was flavourful and a seamless balance of tartness and sweetness.

Frozen Yoghurt – Original, Salted Caramel and Chocolate

For our next course, we were served some exceptionally smooth hot chocolates. Mooberry have several different varieties of hot chocolate on offer to cater for all tastes. We sampled the original Belgian and salted caramel hot chocolates. Neither too thick nor thin, these hot chocolates would certainly hit the spot if you ever had a chocolate craving.

Belgian Hot Chocolate and Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

We finished our dessert tasting with a hot Belgian waffle drenched in melted milk chocolate. Freshly cut fruit and coconut frozen yoghurt on the side were the perfect accompaniments to cut through the richness of the chocolate and waffle. Mooberry were actually in the process of trialling their own in house made waffles as we walked in, however, unfortunately they weren’t ready to be taste tested.

Wicked Waffles – Belgian Waffles, Coconut Frozen Yoghurt, Strawberries & Bananas drenched with Belgian Chocolate

Even if you don’t have a super sweet tooth like me, I think you will still find something on the Mooberry menu that will be sure to please. They also offer other breakfast/brunch items including bacon and egg rolls and even a healthy Acai fruit bowl. A peanut butter milkshake on the menu caught my eye as we were leaving – so I know I’ll definitely be back for this, as well as to try their upcoming in house made waffles!

  Mooberry Dessert & Breakfast Bar, Neutral Bay

http://www.mooberrydessertbar.com.au

Open daily 8.00am – 11.00pm

Shop 2, 164 Military Road

Neutral Bay

By Net Geek

The Blackbird Cafe at Darling Harbour always has a buzzing crowd and good vibes. Never has there been a night we walk by and it isn’t bustling with patrons for both dinners and larger gatherings. It also sports a nice view of the harbour which is great for a prime Saturday night fireworks viewing.

The glowing bar area

They were kind enough to invite us to try a few cocktails of their brand spanking new cocktail menu. The new menu was created by their mixologist named Mirko Cacciola who touts worldly experience behind the bar.

The Two Taste Buds are suckers for a sweet and fruity drink, so naturally our selections swayed one way. The Apple Lychee Martini was the first up for me; and the smoothest of sugar rushes was more than welcomed. Could barely taste the alcohol in many of these drinks, making them especially easy to throw back! It was topped off with a plump lychee. The “Sweet Emotion” cocktail had a soft peach schnapps backing the fruity sweetness. Another easy one to throw back.

Fruity Goodness: round 1

Next up were the Mojitos Pear and Pina Coladas. The presentation of these were amazing, with the Mojitos served in a charming jar and bursting with greenery, while the Pina Colada was donned with a creamy head and giant slices of fruit. These were also an absolute pleasure to drink; especially the super sweet and tangy Mojito with a twist of pear juice.

Fruity Goodness: round 2 (With lighting help from the iPhone of the Greedy Financier!)

To finish, The Greedy Financier went for something a bit lighter on the palette; the Japanese Green Tea cocktail. This was a much sharper cocktail in which you can actually taste the alcohol. After all the sweetness the bitter edge of the green tea provided a much needed break. 

To top it off! Getting a little tipsy by this point!

Sipping on cocktails while nibbling on wedges in the vibrant Blackbird Cafe was a great way to spend a Friday night. We totally recommend trying out their cocktail menu as a fun way to kick off a big night out, or even just to wind down with mates after work. Thanks again, Blackbird Cafe!

Blackbird Cafe

http://blackbirdcafe.com.au/

Open everyday till late

Ph: +61 2 9283 7384

Balcony level, Cocklebay Wharf, Harbour Street

By Greedy Financier

I recently moved back to the inner city area and have only just started to explore my locality. I am excited about all these cafés in my neighbourhood, and the great coffee and food that is literally just around the corner. One such café that brews up an awesome coffee and not too shabby food is The Wedge Espresso in Glebe.

Inside The Wedge Espresso

The Wedge is located just off busy Glebe Point Road and is seriously the narrowest café I have ever come across in Sydney. Smart use of space is definitely required with several small tables and stools being put to good use. Fortunately on this sunny Saturday morning, we didn’t have to wait too long to nab a table.

Table Décor

The menu is not extensive (which is good for indecisive people like me) and is predominantly made up of sandwiches and coffee – both of which are done very well. All menu items are also reasonably priced.

The Menu

Had the weather been warmer (it was a chilly Winter morning), I would have ordered an Iced Milo – one of their signature drinks. However, I was more than pleased with my cappuccino which warmed me up and was exceptionally smooth.

Cappuccinos

Despite the limited menu, I still “ummed and ahhed” over my selection. In the end, I decided to go with the “Cheeseburgwich” – a cross between a cheeseburger and a sandwich – which did not disappoint.

“Cheeseburgwich”

Toasted crunchy Turkish bread held melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket, cheese, pickles, mustard, onion and plenty of rocket. It was reminiscent of a Big Mac and Cheeseburger, but oh so much better.

“Cheeseburgwich” dissection

My friend went with The Henry sandwich. A hearty sandwich consisting of smashed egg, ham, avocado, cheese, chipotle mayonnaise, basil and rocket – it was super creamy and delightful, and as my friend put it, you will find yourself craving this sandwich again and again.

The Henry dissection

To finish off, we ordered some banana bread for dessert. But this was no ordinary banana bread! A thick cut slice of bread was accompanied with a generous dollop of the most amazing dulce de leche peanut butter. Yes, you read that right – two of the best sweet spreads in this world were combined together with sea salt to form the most scrumptious banana bread “butter” you will ever encounter.

Banana Bread with Dulce de Leche Peanut Butter and Sea Salt Flakes

You’ve probably gauged from my post that I am a fan, and now will be a regular at The Wedge Espresso. Good coffee, fantastic sandwiches and dulce de leche peanut butter will keep me coming back for more. Not to mention the other menu items sound just as divine. If you haven’t discovered this small gem in Glebe yet, you are certainly missing out.

  The Wedge Espresso

http://thewedgeespresso.com/

Monday to Saturday 8.00am – 4.00pm

Sunday 9.00am – 3.00pm

Ph: +61 2 9969 4088

53/55 Glebe Point Road

(entrance on Cowper Street)

Glebe

By Greedy Financier

Ever since Ormeggio at the Spit featured on Masterchef, I have wanted to go eat at this Two Chef’s Hatted Italian restaurant. Having not fine dined for a while, I thought it was about time I pay a visit to this restaurant up north.

Ormeggio at the Spit from the Outside

Ormeggio has a picture perfect location setting, being positioned at The Spit Road bridge. It sits right on the edge of the water with stunning views across the Marina. When you make a reservation, be sure to request a table by the window.

Views of the Marina

We decided to go with the 8-course degustation menu. To start us off, we were presented with some cute little snacks from the chef. A play on the traditional fish and chips – these snacks were a tantalising way to kick start our degustation.

Snacks from the Chefs

The first course of the night was an extremely pretty looking dish. The combination of sweet mud crab with fresh salmon roe and crunchy almonds resulted in a refreshingly beautiful starter.

Hand Picked Mud Crab Meat, Salmon Roe, Burnt Butter, Almond, Tapioca

The next course was a well-known Italian dish, veal tonnato. Essentially not dissimilar to a beef carpaccio, raw diced veal was served with capers, pine nuts and a very delicious tuna flavoured mayonnaise.

Biodynamic Veal Tonnato, Capers, Toasted Pine Nuts

The only pasta dish of the night was next, and it was definitely not a disappointment. Cooked perfectly al dente, the agnolotti was filled with an Italian pork sausage. The tangy sheep’s ricotta and crumbed olives were a superb complement to the dish.

Agnolotti with Asparagus, Aged Sheep Ricotta, Black Olives, ‘Nduja, Watercress

I’m not usually a fan of bonito tuna as I find it can be a little too fishy. However, the confit bonito in this course was exceptional. Melt-in-your-mouth and with no overpowering fishiness, it went scrumptiously with the green peas and herbs.

Confit Bonito, Charcoal Tuna Consomme, Green Peas

Deceptive in appearance, the next course looked like a simple fried egg. Upon delving into it, we discovered a super gooey egg yolk surrounded by a rich creamy pecorino sauce, sitting atop puffed grains.

Free Range Egg Yolk, Puffed Grains, Pecorino Sauce

The last savoury course for the night was a lovely duck dish. Strands of duck meat were pressed together to form what could almost be described as duck loaf but fancier, and was perfectly accompanied by a smoked potato puree.

Pressed Free Range Duck, Turnip, Red Cabbage, Smoked Potato

As a precursor to dessert, we were served yet another aesthetically pleasing dish. This was an impeccable palate cleanser consisting of a combination of fresh cucumber and citrus fruits, with subtle liquorice undertones.

Cucumber, Orange, Lemon, Buttermilk, Liquorice

Dessert was a relatively light dish that reminded me of a lemon tart. Smooth lemon curd and crunchy macadamia shards united effortlessly with the refreshing lemon myrtle sorbet.

Macadamia, Lemon Myrtle

As is customary in fine dining, we concluded a wonderful meal with tea and petit fours. The menu and execution of the dishes at Ormeggio are certainly worthy of their Hats. The degustation was superbly balanced with a range of courses that definitely emphasised freshness. With its stunning location and impeccable food, you couldn’t ask for more from a restaurant.

Ormeggio at the Spit

http://www.ormeggio.com.au/

Lunch: Thursday to Sunday 12.00pm – 3.00pm

Dinner: Wednesday to Sunday 6.00pm – 10.00pm

Ph: +61 2 9969 4088

D’Albora Marinas The Spit

Mosman

By Net Geek

One of my best friends invited me to her birthday in Croydon Park at a restaurant named Shisha. I'm not really one to venture much out of the city, so it was great to see what was going on outside of town. This Middle Eastern cuisine is out of this world, and has opened my eyes to a whole new gamut of flavours! Not to mention, they're amazing birthday hosts and have a wonderful function room with a generous capacity.

A fresh and beautiful cheese board

Watermelon and Feta alongside the KettleTown sampler packs! Tea for afterwards.

To open there were cheeseboards galore and a delicious watermelon and feta salad. The mix of savoury cheese and the juicy watermelon blew my mind; a combo I've been craving since! We were also lucky enough to have our lovely friends over at KettleTown give out tea samples! Be sureto click through and check out their blended tea range.

Our noms were accompanied by fancy pants cocktails every step of the way

Shredded halloumi: amaze!

Oh so tender!

Fatty goodness lathered in tangy sauce

Deep fried, can't go wrong!

Our starters ranged from bruschetta with shredded haloumi, some of the most tender deep fried calamari on the planet with fresh aioli, pork belly smothered in tangy basting, to deep fried chicken wings in the most glorious of spicy coatings.

#datMushroomSauce

Mmmm beef...

By the time the mains came out we were already pretty full; but it is hard to refuse some amazing chargrilled poultry and sliced beef! The offerings were refreshingly simple and boasted the freshest of ingredients. Nothing seemed over the top; and presentation was always charming and casual.

#datKnafeh

Half eaten... but check out that consistency!

The final hurdle was something I had never personally eaten before, so I was unsure what to expect when this humble looking dish came out. I read that the Knafeh is the dish which put this joint on the map; and I can completely understand why. The smooth consistency and subtle sweetness which resided beneath absolutely rocked my socks, and I couldn't get enough! I ended up eating half of the serving allocated to those sitting at the other end of the table...

Some fun at the end of the night blowing bubbles with shisha, or at least trying...

Every step of the way we were greeted with smiles and great service, the friendly banter of the staff adding to the great birthday vibes. There was such an emphasis on everyone just sharing food, getting together and making merry! I can't recommend this place highly enough as a great venue for both sit down meals and events. Wonderful food, drinks and people! #datKnafeh!

Shisha Bar & Grill

https://www.facebook.com/shishabargrill

Tuesday - Friday 5:30pm - 11:30pm

Saturday 7:00am - 2:00pm, 5:30pm - 11:30pm

Sunday 8:00am - 2:00pm, 5:30pm - 11:30pm

Ph: +61 2 9705 7941

61 Georges River Road

Croydon Park

By Greedy Financier

If you’ve been following the foodie news, you would have heard the recent announcement by Heston Blumenthal – the world renowned chef is bringing his three Michelin starred restaurant, The Fat Duck, to Melbourne next February! To mark this exciting news (and also because I promised several weeks ago), I am finally blogging about the extraordinary dining experience I had at The Fat Duck last September. From the moment my friends and I left our hotel in London for the restaurant, we knew we were in for a treat. The entire night can only be described as a surreal gastronomical journey.

The Fat Duck – Staff Waiting Outside to Greet You

After a nerve wrecking reservation process (it’s a 2 month rolling online reservation system and securing a booking can be quite difficult), 20 hours on a plane to London, and almost 2 hours of travel within London (using the London Tube, the overground and taxi), we finally arrived at The Fat Duck. Waiting outside the restaurant was a staff member who greeted us and took us to our table. Being a converted old English style house, the small restaurant was quite quaint and had a cosy home style feel.

Inside The Fat Duck

To celebrate (because it felt like a celebration!), we decided to start with a glass of Moët Rosé each. At the same time we were presented with an amuse bouche (which wasn’t on the menu so I can’t recall the name exactly) of a beetroot and goats cheese ice cream sphere.

Amuse Bouche

Next up were some aperitifs (formally defined as an alcoholic beverage that is served before a meal), however in true Heston style, these weren’t served as liquids in a glass, but rather foam was pumped out of a canister, mixed with some liquid nitrogen and extinguished by a candle – it was like watching a science experiment!

Nitro Poached Aperitifs – Vodka and Lime Sour, Campari Soda, Tequila and Grapefruit

The first real course of the night was a very pretty looking cabbage soup. The use of red cabbage gave this visually appealing deep purple colour. Sitting in the centre was a perfectly quenelled scoop of mustard ice cream – which surprisingly wasn’t overpowering and went superbly with the refreshing cabbage soup.

Red Cabbage Gazpacho – Pommery Grain Mustard Ice Cream

The next course was one of my favourite (of many!). I love parfait and I love truffle. So when you combine the two into one dish, you get a marriage made in heaven. There were three separate components to this dish – truffle toast (which was packed with truffle!), crayfish cream with chicken liver parfait (which was silky and divine!) and a thin film (over which a mist of oak moss scent was poured over).

Jelly of Quail, Crayfish Cream – Chicken Liver Parfait, Oak Moss and Truffle Toast

Heston’s signature dish is his famous snail porridge. Although not a particularly attractive looking or sounding dish, especially with its bright green colour and use of snails, it was actually quite pleasant. Surprisingly, it wasn’t overly slimy, and I found myself relishing the meal within a few spoonfuls.

Snail Porridge – Iberico Bellota Ham, Shaved Fennel

Just when I thought I had had enough of smooth processed offal, out came a pretty piece of foie gras. A side dollop of tart gooseberry coulis helped to cut through the luscious richness of the roast foie gras, and with each mouthful, I felt like I was sinking deeper into a bed full of soft pillows.

Roast Foie Gras – Gooseberry, Confit Kombu and Crab Biscuit

The next course took us to an enchanted place – we felt like we were being entertained at a real Mad Hatter’s tea party! We were presented with a box containing edible gold ‘watch’ teabags which were to be soaked in hot water to create a broth to pour over the cutest looking egg with little mushrooms ‘growing’ out of it - resulting in a mock turtle soup. This was accompanied by delicious salmon sandwiches served on a ‘hat’ stand.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – Mock Turtle Soup, Pocket Watch and Toast Sandwich

The most highly anticipated dish of the night was up next. I had heard so much about this dish and was silently screaming in my seat when a large seashell containing an iPod was placed next to me. Listening to the sounds of waves and seagulls, we ate our beach lookalike dish which consisted of tapioca and sardine sand, seaweed and vegetable stock foam and raw kingfish belly and abalone. Believe it or not, the sounds of the sea enhanced the sea like flavour of the dish!

“Sound of the Sea” – Junmai Daiginjo Masumi Nanago, Miyasaka Brewery, Nagano Prefecture

The salmon course that followed wasn’t as theatrical as some of the previous dishes; however, it was just as scrumptious. I was worried that the inclusion of liquorice would overpower the fish, but the perfectly poached salmon tasted simply beautiful.

Salmon Poached in a Liquorice Gel – Artichokes, Vanilla Mayonnaise and Golden Trout Roe

The final main course for the night was a robust lamb dish consisting of three complementary parts. The first was a plate of impeccably cooked lamb accompanied by some chunks of tasty warm cucumber. Sitting next to this on a sideboard was some pieces of delicious diced lamb with what tasted like deep fried lamb skin, and a bowl of a jelly-like substance. When combined together, this course was a flawless balance of flavours and textures.

Lamb with Cucumber – Green Pepper and Caviar Oil

To prepare us for the dessert courses, we were presented with some tea. However, this was no ordinary tea – the tea was both hot and cold, at the same time. I’m not a chemist, so don’t know how this works, however, when the tea was sipped, we experienced both hot and cold sensations!

Hot & Iced Tea

The first dessert course was in two parts. One component consisted of some mini tea flavoured ice cream cones. Supplementing this was a dessert that looked like vinyl or plastic! A plaid patterned piece of what turned out to be actually white chocolate, sat atop a wonderful mixture of clove caramelised blackberries and a crunchy assortment of nuts and pieces (I wasn’t sure what the pieces were!). It was like eating berries, cookies and cream!

Clove Caramelised Blackberries – Hojicha Tea Ice Cream Cornet

The next dessert was my favourite dish of the night. The name on the menu didn’t give much away and we weren’t sure what to expect. Then out came what looked like a hard-boiled egg sitting on top of a gold nest. At this point, we still weren’t sure what to expect. Then we cracked open the egg exposing the egg white and a runny yolk! Cautiously tasting the egg, I was completely and utterly blown away – this dessert was actually a lemon tart!! A white chocolate egg shell encompassing a cream egg white and lemon curd yolk sitting atop a gold pastry nest! It was pure genius.

Eggs in Verjus, Verjus in Egg

The next course was the start of our petit fours. A picture frame with five bottle shaped lollies adhered to the surface was placed in front of each of us. Unfortunately, the frames weren’t edible, but the little bottles were. We were instructed to taste the whiskey flavoured lollies in consecutive order, as they increased in strength as we went along. If you love whiskey, then you would adore this dish!

Whisk(e)y Wine Gums

And the final course for the night was a bag full of treats! True to the name on the menu – we literally felt like kids in a candy shop! Excitedly we opened our bags to discover four different types of lollies including aerated chocolate with mandarin jelly, coconut baccy (coconut infused with an aroma of black Cavendish tobacco), apple pie caramel with an edible wrapper and a strawberry tart in the form of a Queen of Hearts card.

“Like a Kid in a Sweet Shop”

Of the four lollies, the Queen of Hearts strawberry tart deserves a special mention. Opening our envelopes we found what appeared to be a Queen of Hearts card. Taking a bite into the card, we were pleasantly surprised – the innards contained a thin layer of pastry biscuit and jam, all coated in a film of white chocolate.

The Queen of Hearts – She Made Some Tarts…

The Fat Duck is unlike any restaurant I’ve ever been to. I was left feeling satisfied, bewildered and privileged. Every aspect, from the service to the food, was exceptional, and is truly a unique dining experience. The Fat Duck has been awarded three Michelin stars, defined as “worth a special journey” – and it certainly is worthy of a trip across the world.

  The Fat Duck, Bray, Berkshire, United Kingdom

http://www.thefatduck.co.uk/

Lunch: Tuesday to Saturday 12.00pm – 1.30pm

Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday 7.00pm – 8.30pm

Ph: +44(0) 1628 580 333

High Street

Bray

Berkshire SL62AQ

United Kingdom

Hands up - who loves dessert?!? If you've read our blog, you'll know that The Two Taste Buds absolutely LOVE anything sweet, and we are super excited that Australia's first ever Cake Bake & Sweets Show will be coming to Sydney on 21-23 March 2014!

This is Australia's biggest event for ALL THINGS SWEET - whether you love to cook, bake or eat - this show is for you!

You can have your cake and eat it too - only at the Cake Bake & Sweets Show!

**TICKET GIVEAWAY**

To celebrate the Cake Bake & Sweets Show coming to Sydney this March, The Two Taste Buds are giving away 2 tickets to the show!

For your chance to win tickets, send us a photo of your all-time favourite dessert. It can be something you whipped up yourself, bought or simply drooled over on the net!

Please either post the photo to our Facebook page (The Two Taste Buds) or Instagram (with hashtag #thetwotastebudsdessert), or email us your photo ([email protected]).

The most scrumptious looking photo will win!!!

Hurry, entries close this coming Saturday 15 March 2014 at Midnight AEST. The winner will be notified on Sunday 16 March 2014.

By Net Geek

The Flynn on Bligh St was kind enough to invite The Two Taste Buds along to try their new culinary offerings; a menu by hatted chef Thuong Dang, and an exclusive set of cocktail creations by Luke Reimann. Each dish we had was served with cocktail recommended by the bartender to compliment.

Quiet and sophisticated

The lively Flynn Bar just behind in full swing on a Friday afternoon

Candle lit goodness

Walking in from the street meant edging our way through the lively Friday post-work hustle and bustle. Deeper inside was a quiet and sophisticated dining area flanked with an extensively decked out bar.

Zucchini flowers with a crunch

After perusing the menu, we settled on a pair of entrees to share. The chicken liver parfait and the zucchini blossoms. I am personally a massive fan of zucchini flowers and couldn’t resist them when I saw them on the menu. The fried coating was heavy and crispy whilst the inner cheese concoction oozed out in a light and fluffy manner. Even though it was a gob full of cheese, the flavours remained light and elegant.

Blue Cheese cocktail ingeniously matched to the flowers

The bartender also recommended the Blue Cheese Crystal Head Vodka cocktail to compliment our zucchini flowers. This opening cocktail was the most interesting drink of the night for me; not a drink I would enjoy on its own, but one that was perfectly matched to the dish. The bitter blue cheese notes and vodka were surprisingly entertaining next to the physical cheeses of the entree. I definitely recommend this combo if you’re keen on a unique start to a meal.

A fun combination of flavours!

Following up, the parfait also proved to be a big winner in my mind. The dish was well portioned and left me satisfied yet craving by the end. Combining a thin layer of the parfait on the crisp bread with cornichons and a red grape provided a swirl of savoury, tangy and sweet! A sweeter cocktail complemented this fun dance of flavours well.

A sweeter cocktail to match the parfait. Be sure to ask the bartender for his expert pairing advice!

My delicious tower of lamb

The lamb was my choice of main; I was definitely enticed by the offering of eggplant puree. The thickly sliced lamb was tender and moist as hoped, and the bed of eggplant puree did not disappoint. The rustic pyramid of slices were sided by a delicate cube of potato dauphinoise. The gamey lamb was a great pair with the earthy cocoa aroma of the Rum Chocolate Manhattan.

The strong cocoa vibe of the cocktail matched the lamb perfectly

A beautifully presented fish dish

The final dish was the fish; a beautifully stacked tower of Hiramasa Kingfish, spinach, and julienned apple on a bed of carrot and ginger puree. The helping of kingfish was thick and juicy with a crispy layer of skin to boot. The sweetness of the apple contrasting with the tang of a seed mustard dressing complemented one another well, while a spicy cocktail seemed to match the zesty bed of puree.

The spices of this cocktail paired up well with the carrot and ginger puree of the Kingfish dish

The cocktail and food pairings were definitely the highlight of my meal. They really did add depth to the experience and offered something left of centre. The zucchini flowers paired with the blue cheese vodka cocktail was by far the most intriguing combination of the night. The chef’s new creations surpassed any expectation we had of a bar menu and really does provide a top notch dining experience in a relaxed yet sophisticated bar in the CBD. We’ll definitely be coming back for seconds!

The Flynn

http://www.theflynn.com.au/

Monday to Friday - 10am till late

(Open for private functions on Saturday and Sunday)

Ph: +61 2 9223 0037

2a Bligh Street,

Sydney

NSW 2000

By Greedy Financier

I’ve long held this misconception that good food in London is expensive (at least in comparison to Sydney). However, I was proved wrong when I caught up with a friend in London on my latest European holiday. My friend took me to this little gem of a café by day/bar & bistro by night in the very trendy Eastern London suburb of Dalston.

Ivy’s Mess Hall – No Obvious Signage!

With no obvious signage, Ivy’s Mess Hall is easy to miss – so keep an eye out as you walk down the main strip just off Dalston Kingsland overground train station, as you definitely don’t want to miss Ivy’s!

Inside Ivy’s Mess Hall

For a Wednesday night, Ivy’s was buzzing. And after our meal, I knew why. Ivy’s has a good and cheap cocktail list, as well as some truly mouth-watering dishes, which are designed to be shared. If you’re planning on a dinner visit, I would probably call and book ahead.

Spicy Catalan Chorizo

Just a few days prior, I had been in Spain enjoying chorizo tapas. However, the chorizo at Ivy’s was far more delicious than anything I had had in Spain. The sliced sausage was sitting in a lovely spicy sauce which we soaked up with the side of crusty bread.

Cheese Platter

The cheese platter was a generous serving of various hard and soft cheeses, accompanied by some crusty bread and olive oil/balsamic vinegar dip. The cheese was further complemented by a colourful assortment of shaved zucchini (or as the English say, courgette), sliced tomatoes and sweet figs.

Pork Sliders

I love sliders - there’s something enticing about mini burgers. And let me just say, Ivy’s pork sliders certainly did not disappoint. The pulled pork was tender and bursting with flavour – thanks to several hours of slow cooking and a closely guarded secret family recipe.

Fig, Prosciutto and Mint Bruschetta

A twist on the traditional Italian favourite in more than one way, Ivy’s bruschetta combined salty prosciutto with sweet fig, atop grilled bread. Garnished with mint and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, this was a combination that was simply scrumptious.

Beetroot Gnocchi

And my favourite dish of the night had to be the beetroot gnocchi. This was the last serving of gnocchi available and had been especially set aside for us, as my friend happened to know the owner-chef. The chef had spent several hours that day kneading and rolling out the gnocchi which was pillowy soft, and just melted in my mouth with the delectable creamy sauce.

Latte

Dinner at Ivy’s left me wanting more, and so I decided to pay another visit the following morning. The coffee at Ivy’s is supposedly one of the best in London, and having travelled for nearly five weeks through Europe drinking essentially ‘garbage water’ coffee, I was relieved to finally have a decent coffee by Australian standards!

Eggs Benedict

My friend said I couldn’t go past the eggs benedict for breakfast/brunch. Encompassing two thick slices of grilled crusty bread, two beautifully poached gooey eggs, plenty of ham and perfectly balanced hollandaise sauce – it was an extremely satisfying start to the day.

Blueberry Cakes

Just as we were finishing up our meals, I saw two freshly baked log cakes come out of the kitchen. Having an insatiable sweet tooth, I couldn’t resist having a slice. The cake was super moist and had just the right amount of sweetness, aided by the fresh blueberries and icing drizzle.

Blueberry Cake – a slice dissected!

A place like Ivy’s would be packed out in Sydney with queues running down the street. It’s relatively cheap (in comparison to the same quality in Sydney) and has a fantastic atmosphere. All the raw ingredients are sourced from only the best (apparently the tomatoes are imported from Italy which sounds a world away, but when you’re in London, Italy is not that far away!), the recipes all have a story, and most importantly, everything is cooked with love.

Ivy’s Mess Hall, London, United Kingdom

Monday to Thursday 8.00am – 10.00pm

Friday 8.00am – Midnight

Saturday 9.00am – Midnight

Sunday 9.00am – 5.00pm

Ph: +44(0)20 7254 8006

129 Kingsland High Street

London E8 2PB

United Kingdom

By Net Geek,

There was a lot of hype around the opening of Vapiano; an Italian restaurant on the corner of King and York in the CBD. My good friend who lived in Brisbane was especially excited; as this was one of the places he loved to it when he lived there. Naturally, a trip to checkout the Sydney store’s offerings was in order.

Minimal

... Yet warm!

As I entered Vapiano for the first time, the space really did strike me as unique when it came to city dining experiences. High ceilings, open plan, clean and minimal were words that sprung to mind. The main seating space contains much plant life and wooden textures, giving off a very fresh vibe. I also love the stained glass style windows which are a throwback to the Grace hotel building under which it resides. Upstairs there is a dimly lit more intimate seating with beautiful and personal mushroom table lighting. There is a different table for every group personality.

You can see everything!

That being said, the most interesting point of Vapiano is the open kitchen. You place your order at once of the various stations (Pizza, pasta and salad) and watch the magic happen. Our master chef made casual banter with us while tossing together our meal in front of our eyes; every now and then pausing to ask questions like “Do you like garlic?”. A new and enjoyable experience in a restaurant!

Creamy town with extra 'shrooms! Yum!

With the choice of a sauce and a pasta type, I ended up with Carbonara and Tagliatelle. I got upsold to have extra mushrooms for a dollar; because #yolo! The pasta really is something different. Straight out of the boiler and on to your plate! The moistness is through the roof and it has a definite chew to it (although I wouldn’t really say it was overly aldente). I’ve come to assume that is what pasta tastes like when it goes straight from the cooker and on to your plate. I personally was a massive fan, and thought it went great with the creamy and bacon-ey goodness of my sauce.

Colours!

My dining buddy had the Gamberi E Spinaci, spinach and prawns in a creamy sauce, with spaghetti. He, on the other hand, was not a big fan of the chewiness of the pasta, but was definitely a fan of the rich sauces.

Thin and crispy base

To accompany our pasta, we shared a mushroom and ham pizza which filled the gaps in our stomachs. The base was thin and light with a crispy layer on the bottom. Great for sharing amongst a group.

Refreshing home-style lemonade! Nicely presented too!

The restaurant also sports a bar which usually has a home made drink of some kind on offer. This afternoon it was a home made lemonade, whilst the last time I got a special twist on a traditional Pimm’s cocktail.

A tasteful bar with drinkies and desserts

A creamy tiramisu-esque mouse to top things off!

Vapiano is a beautiful experience and breathes a breath of fresh air into the average lunch or dinner experience in the CBD without breaking the bank. Great interior and seating, a sophisticated vibe combined with value for money have meant I’ve been here 3 times in the past month and I don’t plan on stopping!

  Vapiano

http://vapiano.com.au/

Open from 11am daily

Closes 11pm Sunday - Thursday, and midnight Friday - Saturday

Ph: +61 2 9953 5515

Corner of King St and York St

Sydney

NSW 2000

By Greedy Financier

I’m a big Heston Blumenthal fan. I love watching his quirky creations on TV and dining at one of his restaurants has been at the top of my wish list. Well, that wish was finally fulfilled this September when my friends and I dined at not only at The Fat Duck (to be blogged in an upcoming post in the coming weeks), but also his latest Two Michelin starred restaurant, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (Dinner).

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal Entrance in the Fancy Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Located in the heart of London, Dinner is easily accessible by transport, and because it has a large dining space, gaining a reservation is not difficult (unlike The Fat Duck!). Having said that, it is quite a sizeable restaurant, catering for many diners, so the dining experience is not quite as intimate or “blow my mind” amazing as The Fat Duck. Nonetheless, Dinner was still pretty fantastic.

Fancy Interiors Overlooking Hyde Park

My friends and I had limited time in London, so opted for a lunch time booking. The menu is the same for lunch and dinner, and you can choose up to 3 courses from an ala carte menu. My friends and I all had different dishes, so there will be plenty of food photos in this post, however, as I didn’t taste their dishes, my comments will be bounded by what I gauged from their reactions and remarks.

Starter Bread

I started with Heston’s infamous Meat Fruit. If you’ve watched Masterchef, you will know what I’m talking about. Luscious chicken liver and foie gras (the meat) is neatly sculpted and presented in the shape of a mandarin (the fruit).

Meat Fruit (c.1500) – Mandarin, Chicken Liver & Foie Gras Parfait, Grilled Bread

The end result is this scrumptious combination of rich smooth parfait with a bitter sweet mandarin peel that tastes absolutely divine with the grilled crusty bread.

Meat Fruit – The Inside!

One of my friends started with the cured salmon which had subtle earl grey tea overtones. She commented that it was a fresh and light appetiser.

Earl Grey Tea Cured Salmon (c.1730) – Lemon Salad, Gentleman’s Relish, Wood Sorrel & Smoked Roe

The other friend had the frog’s legs porridge. Although not the most aesthetic dish with its bright green colour, my friend commented that it was indeed quite delicious and flavoursome.

Nettle Porridge (c.1660) – Frog’s Legs, Smoked Beetroot, Garlic & Fennel

For my main, I chose the pigeon. Now I have to admit, although I am Chinese, I have never eaten pigeon before. If there was going to be a first, it was going to be at Heston’s restaurant. The pigeon was perfectly pink and had a nice spice to it. The ale sauce was a tasty accompaniment; however I found it a little overpowering (which is probably why they provide it in a side jug for you to pour yourself).

Spiced Pigeon (c.1780) – Ale & Artichokes

One of my fellow diners also chose a game meat, selecting the duck breast for her main. Once again, the duck was cooked to perfection with a pink middle, and went wonderfully with the fennel.

Powdered Duck Breast (c.1670) – Smoked Confit Fennel & Umbles

The other friend went for a lighter choice, opting for the cod and mussels. According to her the fish was well cooked and very moist.

Cod in Cider (c.1940) – Chard & Fired Mussels

We shared a side of green beans. The beans were obviously cooked in a good amount of butter and had a flavour boost from the shallots.

Green Beans & Shallots

For dessert, I went with Heston’s signature ‘Tipsy Cake’. I had heard good things about this dessert so was expecting quite a lot. The cake was reminiscent of bread and butter pudding except the cake consisted of a sponge soaked in ample amounts of syrupy sauce.

Tipsy Cake (c.1810) – Spit Roast Pineapple

The roast pineapple was sweet and complemented the cake, however, I felt overall the dessert was a tad too sugary, and needed something to balance it out such as a dollop of cream.

Tipsy Cake – Dissected!

My friend loves chocolate, so naturally chose the chocolate cake for dessert. The dessert would definitely satisfy any chocolate craving and combined fantastically with the honey ice cream.

Bohemian Cake (c.1890) – Chocolate, Citrus & London Summertime Honey Ice Cream

My other friend again went for the relatively light option, selecting the strawberry tart. I have to say the dessert was certainly very pretty and had an impeccably quenelled scoop of sorbet.

Tarte of Strawberries (c.1591) – Macerated Strawberries, Chamomile, Orange Blossom Cream & Strawberry Sorbet

To wrap the meal up, we were presented with a delightful little ‘petit four’. A dark chocolate ganache like dessert was served with a delicious biscuit stick, and was a pleasant way to end a scrumptious meal.

Petit Four

Just when we thought lunch had finished, we were given the option of having one last dessert – house made liquid nitrogen ice cream made right in front of you! Having travelled all the way to London to eat at Heston’s restaurant, I couldn’t say no!

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream in the Making!

Vanilla bean ice cream was whipped up in front of us and served in a thin sugared wafer cone. There were 4 ‘dips’ to choose from including hundreds and thousands, popping candy, raspberry candy and hazelnut praline. Definitely a yummy novelty treat!

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream

Usually I have trouble picking a favourite course, but in this instance, the Meat Fruit won hands down. It’s certainly a dish worthy of a return trip (or two). Of course, the other dishes were also scrumptious and flawlessly cooked. Whether it be fine dining in the evening or a laid back lunch, I think Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a restaurant for everyone and all occasions.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, United Kingdom

http://www.dinnerbyheston.com/

Lunch: Daily 12.00pm – 2.30pm

Dinner: Daily 6.30pm – 10.30pm

Ph: +44(0)20 7201 3833

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

66 Knightsbridge

London SW1X7LA

United Kingdom