Bistro Hulu, Crows Nest

For several months, my work colleagues (hereby nicknamed Catman and Robin) and I have been wanting to visit the new Chinese dumpling store close to work and we finally organised a date to visit. Located on the busy Willoughby Road within the Crows Nest food hub, Bistro Hulu stands out from the crowd with its bright red sign and decor:

Street Appeal

Cooks Busy at Work

Upon entering, there are a series of booth tables along the side wall opposite the kitchen, before the restaurant opens up to a room filled with round tables and comfy red chairs. Given that Robin is vegetarian, we were limited in what we could order and so picked from the few vegetarian dishes available along with some meaty options.

Pan Fried Mushroom Dumplings (6pc) ($9.80)

The mushroom dumplings were a surprise as they were wrapped in a triangular shape (rather than the usual moon-like shape that you normally see) and were filled with various diced Asian mushrooms like enoki, shittake, and straw mushrooms. I initially had issues picking up these with my chopsticks as there was no way to get a solid grip on them and after a while, the dumpling pastry gradually opened up like a flower.

Poached Beef and Pork Dumplings in Chilli Oil (8pc) ($11.80)

These dumplings were placed on a bed of minced garlic, drizzled in soy sauce and chilli oil, before being topped with tenkasu (tempura scraps, a.k.a. agedama) diced shallots and sesame seeds. The tenkasu was an interesting addition to provide some crunch to the dish but I would have liked to have seen more chilli oil/soy sauce so the dumplings were slightly immersed in it, as I have seen at other Chinese restaurants. If you were so (un)lucky to pick up a small amount of minced garlic, it provided a massive kick along with the chilli oil.

Canton Steamed Combination (8pc) ($16.80)
- Prawns/Pork/Vegetarian Dumplings, BBQ Pork Bun

We had to query the waiter about this dish since the description didn't provide much information. The pork 'dumpling' was really a normal dim sim. Catman was surprised that the prawn dumpling actually included a whole prawn inside - obviously has been deprived and been eating at dubious Chinese yum cha places that supplied prawn dumplings filled with just minced prawn. The pork bun was rather big and wholesome so I was full soon afterwards.

Vegetarian Spring Rolls (4pc) ($7.80)

These spring rolls were freshly made (read: served hot!) and filled with julienne carrots, cabbage and Chinese black fungus.

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings (4pc) ($9.80)

We actually ordered outside of the menu - surprisingly they don't offer steamed vegetable dumplings on their own (only as part of the Canton Steamed Combination) -, and given the limited vegetarian menu, Robin ordered four more vegetable steamed dumplings. Given that we were charged $9.80 for these, they were some expensive dumplings.

Bistro Hulu is definitely targeted at local Westerners (which formed the majority of the customers on the day of my visit). Though the dumplings were good, I wasn't particularly amazed by the food and there are probably better options out there at more reasonable prices... but this is what happens when you eat in Crows Nest.

The Choc Pot, Chatswood

Hidden inside the maze that is the Chatswood Dining Precinct (i.e. the food court above Chatswood station), The Choc Pot offers a sanctuary for all chocolate and dessert lover:

The Choc Pot Store

Enter their "My Photo Rules" Competition by tagging
#THECHOCPOT #ADDICTEDTOTCP #LIVECHEEKY

However, whoever chose the individual/couple seating and tables obviously did not have comfort in mind - the table legs are awkwardly placed and the backrest of the seat was uncomfortable if you sat too close to the back of the seat:

Questionable Seating in Store

The Choc Pot make their desserts and drinks on order so everything is made fresh - hence there was a 15min wait before their signature Choc Pot was served at the table:

Mango Ice Smasher ($8)

The "Signature" Choc Pot ($12.50)

Me and my food celebrating Valentine's Day

The freshly-baked choc fondant is drizzled with melted milk choc (such a waste of melted choc on the serving platter...) and served with two strawberries (these weren't so fresh - one was bruised and dubious-looking so it was left untouched). This was definitely an indulgent treat to be eaten in small portions.

The Mango Ice Smasher was just a fancy name for "mango and lychee slushie" that they make on order using a powerful blender, like at Boost - all ice is pulverised so that there are no ice chunks/chips (a definite plus). However, I'd have to question what exactly they're putting into it as I saw them pour liquids from a selection of giant sauce/syrup bottles into the blender before they blended the resulting drink.

The desserts on offer are rather expensive ($12.50-$16.. and more if you include additional sides) so it's best to visit on special occasions or when you want to submit to a guilty (chocolate-y) pleasure.

Simply Sandwiches, Crows Nest

If you've ever walked along Willoughby Road in Crows Nest during lunch hour on any given work day, you would have noticed the long queue outside Simply Sandwiches:

Sign Outside Store

Simply Sandwiches Store

This unassuming store offers a wide selection of sandwiches, wraps and rolls to satisfy any hungry customer:

Inside Store

Ingredients for the Viet Roll

Having experienced food poisoning from another viet roll store (which shall never be named), I like to play it safe and always stick to my standard order:

Viet Roll with Chicken Schnitzel ($6.50)

The roll is filled with pate, whipped mayo, sliced chicken schnitzel that is then doused in special soy sauce, followed by a healthy dose of salad (red onion, cucumber, carrots, lettuce, coriander) and chilli (optional).

Compared to other food options from the local area, the viet roll is a bargain (even after the price rise last year from $6) and fulfills many hungry stomachs, as evidenced by the constant long queues outside the store. If you visit during lunch hour on weekdays, be prepared for a 5-10 min wait - but the wait will be worth it. The staff operate like an efficient, well-oiled machine and churn out these babies, along with a variety of sandwiches and wraps, and food turnover is quick.

I've even converted my work colleague who now also gets the same viet roll on a weekly basis. I seem to have been dubbed his guinea pig for local food - he waits for me to check out new places and orders the exact same food item as me (e.g. the cashew nut noodle with crispy pork from The Tall Lemongrass).

The Sparrow's Mill, Sydney

Across the road from World Square, The Sparrow's Mill is hidden amongst a row of shops, only to be distinguished by the persistent crowd waiting outside for a table. Normally I don't venture along this area and hence would have been lost if I hadn't noticed the crowd.

This restaurant was recommended by a fellow MSGer for its Korean Fried Chicken (a.k.a. KFC):

'KFC' Menu

From the available options, we ordered three different KFC flavours:

Spring Onion Chicken (H: $18; W: $34)

This one was voted the best chicken of the three - crispy chicken covered in a slightly sweet soy sauce and topped with a massive stash of sliced spring onions.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken (H: $18; W: $34)

Next was the sweet and spicy chicken - the sweet yet spicy (hot) sauce clings to the chicken with finger-licking goodness.

Snow Cheese Chicken (H: $18; W: $34)

This one was the least popular of the three - the chicken was coated in a cheese-y powder (reminiscent of Twisties) that just tasted a little weird ...

Seafood Pancake ($15)

The seafood pancake tasted as dull as it looked - it was mostly filled with vegetables and the occasional seafood piece. Nothing spectacular.

Stir-Fried Rice Cake with Red Chilli Paste ($13)

This dish is deceptive - there doesn't appear to be much rice cake and dried tofu strips when you first look at it but as you slowly went through the dish, you would uncover more rice cake and dried tofu within the spicy chilli sauce. Definitely not for those that can't stand chilli!

The Sparrow's Mill offers a variety of flavours for its crispy chicken and is popular amongst Koreans, judging by its customers. I would recommend their KFC but I wouldn't rate the overall dining experience as good as other KFC places like Beschico, Epping or Poong Nab Dong, Eastwood. Like Beschico, they don't offer the usual Korean side dishes unless you order actual non-chicken mains but I found it weird how they only provided us with plates and forks (no knives?) to eat their chicken pieces, which can be rather big and contains bones. Hence you end up resorting to eat with your hands and you discard the bone remnants into a tall metal container (resembling a chopstick holder) covered with a small plastic bag. The overcrowded environment inside the restaurant is also reminiscent of Chinese restaurants that attempt to squish in as many tables as possible.

Vapiano, Sydney CBD

Vapiano is conveniently located on the corner of York and King Street in Sydney CBD so it's a great place to meet for lunch/dinner. However, be wary of the long queues during peak (meal) times:

Pasta Queue

Pizza Queue

Surprisingly, on a Wednesday night, the pizza queue was near non-existent while the pasta queue was loonnnggg - my friend waited in line for ~15min before placing her order. It turns out the wait is because they cook the pasta in front of you and serve it to you immediately, whereas with the pizza, you just place the order and return to the counter when the handheld buzzer rings/flashes.

Kitchen Section for Making Pasta

Pasta

Pesto Basilio ($17) - Freshly Made Basil Pesto and Roasted Pine Nuts

This one was voted the best of the two pastas that we ordered - the pasta is cooked to al dente and mixed with a basil pesto sauce and covered in roasted pine nuts and mozarella.

All'Arrabbiata ($16) - Onion and Garlic in Spicy Homemade Tomato Sauce

Also cooked al dente and then mixed with a spicy tomato sauce infused with onion and garlic - the spiciness is mild so okay for those that can't handle the heat. The All'Arrabbiata was recommended by one of my friends (she always orders this one when she comes) but apparently it didn't taste as good tonight.

Pizza

Verdure ($18) - Grilled Eggplant, Capsicum, Zucchini, Mushrooms
on Homemade Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella

The toppings were rather sparse and I personally didn't notice any/much grilled eggplant in the mix (do I spy a small diced portion near the centre of the pizza??).

Bruschetta ($18) - Garlic Marinated Tomatoes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil,
Fresh Rocket, Parmesan on Homemade Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella

To be honest, the pizza base didn't seem any different from the other pizza. Also, it was rather difficult to eat the pizza by hand as the centre was weighed down by the toppings and the base wasn't crispy (rather limp, really).

By the end of the meal, we were all too full and didn't have any room to try out the available desserts, which do look tempting (I wonder if they do takeaway??):

Dessert Options ($7) - Tiramisu, Tim Tam Smash,
Panna Cotta, White Chocolate Cheesecake, Nutella Cheesecake

Overall, the pasta were definitely better than the pizzas - as evidenced by the much longer queue, I would say that a lot of other customers concur - but the portions are rather small for the (high) price you're expected to pay for the fresh pasta.

WatervieW in Bicentennial Park - Take #2

Fast forward four months, I found myself once again at WatervieW in Bicentennial Park for another wedding reception. However, this time the wedding ceremony was held several hundred metres away at the Treillage Tower:

Wedding Ceremony Venue

The weather turned out to be temperamental on the day and was fine up until the bride started walking down the aisle, at which point it started raining and the ceremony had to shifted to under the tower. Soon after the ceremony, the clouds started clearing and the sun shone through, perfect timing for wedding photos.

After the photo session, we all slowly made our way to the reception hall but everyone arrived too early so we had to linger outside for 30 min until the doors were officially opened. Fifteen minutes prior, drinks and canapes were served to guests.

Random Food Quotes on Reception Menu

Starters

Antipasto Platter and Mezza Platter

It wasn't the best idea to place the anti-pasto platter (with sliced/cured meats) in front of vegetarians, and then place the mezza platter (with vegetarian food) on the opposite side of the table - we ended up swapping the platters around to accommodate the vegetarians. However, everything served was fresh and the dips were good. I loved the triangular crisps on the mezza plate - those disappeared real quick on my table.

Entrée

Grilled King Prawn Cutlet on Herb Risotto with Watercress and Lemon Chilli Oil

Sun-dried Tomato, Chicken and Goat's Cheese Tart,
served warm with Rocket Salad

I was served the prawn risotto again - the rice was once again a slightly under-cooked so some of the rice required a bit of chewing. To me, the watercress branch still remains unnecessary but I liked the cheese shard on top. My friend didn't like the goat's cheese tart.

Mains

Atlantic Salmon with Potato, Chilli Jam, Asparagus & Salsa Verde

Roasted Half Spring Chicken with Thyme Jus,
Creamy Potato Mash, Snow Peas and Dutch Carrots

Unknown Cheese-y Main, topped with Rocket,
Cherry Tomatoes and Balsamic Vinegar (V)

Out of the three mains, I believe the salmon was the best. Once again, the serving was rather large and the presentation of the dishes appear to have improved since my last visit. The salmon could have been cooked a little less but that's more of a personal preference. The salse verde initially looked questionable but I liked the combination with the chilli jam. This time the chicken was served with snow peas but alas only one dutch carrot. The vegetarian option for the main was a little questionable (I don't think we ever figured out what it was) - it was like this melted cheese mass, topped with a rocket salad (leftover from entrée?) and cherry tomatoes. Let's say it didn't end up being fully consumed because it was overly oily/cheese-y.

Desserts

Now here comes my favourite part of any meal - dessert!!

Passionfruit Crème Brûlée with Wafer Stick

Raspberry and White Choc Cheesecake

For some reason, I've always missed out on the crème brûlée at prior weddings so I sort of spent the entire lunch secretly hoping that I'd get it this time round and I did! Definitely a highlight and it wasn't bombarded by passionfruit seeds like the one my friend got last time (limited to 2-3 seeds this time). The cheesecake was well presented with a funky toffee shard stuck on top.

This second experience was much better than my first one. Maybe it was because I wasn't part of the bridal party this time (so much less stress), and I could relax and enjoy my time with my fellow attendees. Everything seemed to run smoothly from the guest-side and food came out promptly at the right times. Food quality was consistent with my first visit. With significantly less people (150 guests vs 300+ guests at first reception), there was a lot more space for people to walk around, and the dance floor was clear so everyone had a good view of bridal table and magic show held when dessert was served. Also, a photo booth was set up in a corner for guests to use, which was rather nifty.

Celcius Icecream Bar, Chatswood

Within the Chatswood Bus Interchange, there are a few unassuming cafes disguised as metal boxes from afar - if it weren't mentioned in online reviews, I would never have noticed these stores.

Amongst these cafes is the Celsius Dessert Bar, which offers liquid nitrogen ice cream:

View of Store

Is Happiness Really Found Here?
Surely Yes if You Are Barricaded by Lollies!

The few ice cream desserts on offer have quirky names (e.g. Queen of Priscilla, Spotty Dog) so unless you're a regular, you won't have a clue what each of them are - fortunately there are menu boards with their descriptions and pics available. With each ice cream, you get to pick three candies from their vast selection. I ended up choosing a grape cloud, a pink choc ball (meant to be "like a malteser" but not) and a red white-choc freckle:

Big Hero (R: $6.50; L: $7:50) - Rich Ovaltine Malt
Chocolate with Ovaltine Crunch Topped with Chocolate Pariya
Fairy Floss, Celsius Candy and Chocolate Wafer Stick

Personally, I thought the addition of sparse fairy floss on top made it look like the ice cream grew hair (ha!). The lollies weren't of good quality - like the ones you get from discount stores - and definitely there more for the novelty/look factor.

As for the ice cream, the one I was served as not good at all. There was ice particles throughout the ice cream that was either caused by insufficient/inadequate mixing in the stand mixer, or potentially from the mass that the person scooped out of a plastic tub. Overall, I was disappointed by the quality of the ice cream given the price, as well as the fact that the ice cream wasn't made from scratch like at N2 Extreme Gelato in Haymarket.

There was a lack of tables or seating outside the store so I ended up sitting at the seats outside Chatswood Station - not exactly the best view ever but it's better than standing around in a somewhat abandoned bus interchange. This place has potential but didn't cut it for me.