Tounoya Japanese Restaurant and Karaoke, Eastwood

As part of the recent revamp along Rowe Street, Eastwood, a new Japanese restaurant has emerged (replacing the old Direct Shoe Warehouse store). The exterior (and interior) is covered with distinctive wooden planks so it's hard to miss the store when walking along the street.

As you enter the restaurant, you'll notice the large eating booths that span along majority of the right-hand side of the restaurant. At each of these booths, there are touch screens for ordering:

Touch screens for ordering

A friend previously visited Tounoya and raved about it so my dinner companions were eager to test it out. We booked an eating booth a day or so in advance and were lucky to get one.

Beef Sukiyaki (S: $15; L: 32) with Udon ($3)

Chicken Karaage ($7.50) with Two Dipping Sauces  (Wasabi and Sweet Chilli Mayos)

The sukiyaki was served in a clay pot - filled with beef, tofu, mushrooms, spring onions and onions drowning in soy-based broth - placed over the smallest (and cutest) gas stove I have ever seen! A raw egg was also provided on the side so you can cook (or not cook) the egg to your preference. We ended up ordering two extra servings of udon to go with the sukiyaki and make use of the broth.

The chicken karaage was hot when it arrived at our table, and cooked well - the meat was juicy and tender, encased in a thin crispy layer of batter. Two dipping sauces were provided as well - the wasabi flavoured mayo sauce was definitely interesting and exactly a combination that you would put with chicken but it worked.

Soft Shell Crab Inside-Out Roll ($14.00)

Spicy Salmon Cucumber Inside-Out Roll ($9.50)

Realistically, the sushi was rather mediocre - there wasn't much filling in either and the salmon wasn't very fresh. Considering the price tags for both, you would expect something bigger and spectacular...

Takana Chahan ($10.50)

Kimuchi Chahan (Pork) (12.50)

The Takana Chahan fried rice (with picked vegetables, topped with seaweed) tasted better than the Kimuchi Chahan fried rice (with pork and kimchi, topped with seaweed) - mainly because it tasted like it had more.. "wok air" (i.e. flavour from being cooked in a wok).

Yaki Soba (Chicken) ($12.50)

Nothing out of the ordinary for this noodle dish - soba noodles stir fried with chicken and vegies.

Green Tea Iced Drink ($3.50)

The drink was full of green tea flavour (as you would expect), topped with a large scoop of green tea ice cream, but half the cup was filled with ice, which is sort of an overkill but I guess refreshing on a warm night.

Tounoya utilises technology for simplifying the ordering system and creating a novelty aspect for the diners, but personally fails to deliver on the food. I would much prefer to make the effort to go out to the city and visit Wagaya or Mizuya, which have a similar concept of touch screens, Japanese food and karaoke rooms (for Mizuya) but provides better quality food for similar prices.

If you decide to visit Tounoya, it's best to make a reservation for the eating booths, especially if you're part of a large group and/or are planning to drop by during peak times.

There are limited karaoke rooms (one of which is decorated in pink and filled with Hello Kitty!) at the back of the restaurant so I would book ahead for those as well. The karaoke rooms are sound-proofed well - the sound is LOUD when people open the doors to enter/exit the rooms but reduces to a low/unnoticeable hum once the doors are closed.

Pier One Sydney Harbour, Walsh Bay

After attending the wedding of Mr&Mrs W at The Garrison Church Sydney (lovely church btw) and then bumming around The Rocks for several hours, we gradually gravitated towards the reception location at Pier One Sydney Harbour.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with drinks, amazing canapes (e.g. seared tuna, pot pies), and spectacular northern views of Walsh Bay (but no view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from our allocation section of balcony =( ).

Balcony Outside the Dawes Point Room

Table Setting

Entree

Vodka-Cured Ocean Trout, Fennel, Celeriac, Caviar Vinaigrette Veal Mushroom and Asparagus Tart, Hollandaise, Veal Jus

The cured trout dish was awwwesoommmeee - fish was fresh, served with a light salad and caviar -  whilst the veal tart, though steeped in liquid, fortunately held its shape and the base (very buttery) wasn't soggy.

Mains

Atlantic Salmon, Crab and Lemon Oil Risotto, Asparagus, Mussel Emulsion

Pan Fried Tournedos of Beef, Pomme Puree, Cavolo Nearo (Kale), King Brown Mushroom

The Atlantic Salmon was a bit of a letdown as it didn't have a crispy skin, barely seasoned, and was cooked through, rather than cooked till slightly pink (but at least it wasn't overcooked and dry). The risotto rice was a slightly crunchy (i.e. not quite cooked) and therefore had a bit of bite to it but packed a punch in flavour.

The beef served was cooked perfectly for me - cooked medium with the meat still slightly pink - but I did notice my neighbour being served medium rare beef (with centre of piece closer to rare, which she doesn't like).

The mains were served with two additional sides: french fries and a rocket salad:

French Fries (in background)

Rocket Salad topped with Parmesan and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Kudos to the aunt of the bride whom made the awesome table centrepieces and bouquets!

Dessert

I always find that the dessert is the highlight of the meal at wedding receptions and this place doesn't prove me wrong:

Pistachio Panna Cotta, Caramel Pineapple and Fairy Floss

Mango Trifle, Peanut Brittle and Coconut Sorbet

It was general consensus amongst friends at the table that the pistachio panna cotta was the better dessert out of the two. The panna cotta wasn't too sweet and therefore went well with the (Pashmak?) pistachio fairy floss and lightly caramelised pineapple.

On the other hand, the mango trifle had a bottom mango layer, which was overly tart and sweet, and topped with layers of thick cream, coconut sorbet and peanut brittle. The bottom mango layer basically killed the dessert for me since I'm not a fan of the tart/citris-y taste that can be found in many fruit sorbets.

After dessert, the wedding cake was served, along with chocolates, coffee and tea.

Wedding Cake - composed of choc marble cake and poppy-seed cake,
coated in vanilla icing and decorated with fresh flowers

The location, setting, and quality of the food here is somewhat similar to an earlier wedding held at Sergeants Mess in Chowder Bay. I did a bit of background research into this location for weddings - given that the dinner reception packages start from $145 (eek!), it ain't for those with tight purse strings.

* Credits to Moose's Digest for letting me kidnap her camera to take photos throughout the night and allowing me to post them here =)

Ryo's Ramen, Crows Nest vs Manpuku Ramen, Kingsford

Uncle G may eat a lot of meat, but don't confuse that food group with his single favourite food of all time. RAMEN! So I intend to dedicate a number of posts to Japanese noodles which we love.

Ryo's (Ryotei) Ramen, Crows Nest.

If every restaurant in the world closed down and Uncle G could only choose to keep one, this would possibly be it. Rain, hail, shine, through the good times (and the bad), despite queues and random 'closed periods', this little joint keeps us coming back.

Modest decor you would expect with authentic ramen

It's nothing fancy, but it keeps us coming back.

Special Ramen [mix of #1 & #3] $13.50

Not to be mistaken for ramen's on the 'special's board'. Regular patrons ask the waitress' (or Ryo the man himself) directly for the off menu "special ramen". Its the perfect blend of #1 (salt flavoured tonkotsu base) and #3 (spicy tonkotsu). You will find it less spicy & oily than #3, but more 'umami' & flavoursome than #1 alone. This is our staple ramen of each visit.

Ramen in sour salt flavour soup with fried prawn balls and vegetables $14.50

This is one of my personal favourites because I love a sour tangy zing to everything! The broth is also lighter and less sticky than most of the other menu items, so perfect when you feel like something less heavy! And loaded with chinese cabbage, which makes me feel its health(ier) - hehe.

Japanese style beef curry rice with chicken cutlet $16.00

Aside from ramen, Ryo's does a mean jap curry! The curry gravy is wonderful and flavoursome - the katsu itself has always been a little dry unfortunately. I love this dish except it leaves the ceiling of my mouth sore after each time I've eaten it.

Gyoza $7.00

My favourite side dish. Gyoza!! These are especially juicy, lovely when dipped in vinegar. Sometimes I just eat a plate of these and a kids ramen.

Tips:

Other favourite menu items (tried & tested numerous times): #3 Ramen in spicy hot flavoured tonkotsu; #12 Cold dipping noodles (great for hot summer days); #18 Roast pork rice ball (highly recommended); #24 Karaage chicken (fresh fried, one of the best kaarage chicken's around). Also you must have the soy sauce flavoured eggs (comes with some ramen, can also side order).

If you have a small appetite, kids ramen is terrific too (same as #6 Tokyo style soy sauce chicken stock based but with corn) but you can also try asking for other ramen flavours in a kid's size. The special ramen is definitely available in kids' size.

For big eaters; refill of noodles available for $3.50.

Manpuku Ramen, Kingsford.

Business isn't as easy as 10 years ago, when there were little contenders for good ramen spots. Another one of our favourite ramen places to visit is Manpuku Ramen in Kingsford (near UNSW). This joint has more modern decor, order at the counter than eat system and a nice selection of complimentary condiments.

Gara Shoyu $11.90; [background] Chicken wing gyoza $6.80

I wanted a light option on this day so I ordered the Gara Shoyu, and it was delicious! And check out the customized seaweed - how cute! But the REAL deal here is there chicken wing gyoza. At almost $7 for just 2 wings, its not cheap but its a crunchy deep fried chicken wing, deboned, stuffed with pork & vegetable gyoza filling then covered in tonkatsu sauce & mayo (with optional spicy dip). Meat stuffed in meat!!! How can you not be excited? Admittedly I was so excited I forgot to take a photo. Sorry guys - you'll just have to take my word for how amazing it is.

Manpuku Red $13.90 (choice of normal or extreme spicy)

When Manpuku says "extreme" spicy, they mean it. So its not for the faint hearted! Uncle G gets this everytime and loves it. The noodles here are a different texture to Ryo's but the overall meal isn't compromised.

You will find Manpuku soups are less heavy but still full of flavour. They also have a wider variety of choices on their menu - although some of them are a bit of hit & miss. Ryo's menu may be smaller but they've really perfected each item.

Manpuku is probably more reasonably priced. If you have a student card, you can also get a free noodle refill, great for hungry students! But the prices haven't stopped the queues outside Ryo's. It may be nostalgia? But Ryo's is hard to beat in our books.

So dear readers, what's your favourite ramen joint? Care to share?

Cafe Topiary, Epping

Across the road from Epping Coles/council carpark, Cafe Topiary is a solitary building surrounded by gravelled car parking areas servicing the businesses along the busy Beecroft Road. It's not exactly situated in a location you'd expect to see a cafe but it sure is convenient to get to by car/public transport.

The cafe has an open street-facing balcony shielded by plants and umbrellas, and is surrounded by an ornamental fence, turning the balcony into an idyllic environment - the ideal spot on a nice and sunny spring morning for breakfast/brunch.

Topiary Sourdough Special ($17.40)
Toasted sourdough bread topped with avocado, bacon, camembert cheese, tomato, 
oven roasted pumpkin, mushrooms and fresh basil

I thoroughly enjoyed my meal - there was a healthy serving of mushrooms, (slightly burnt) roasted pumpkin, tomato (roasted in half), melted camembert (mmmm....), crispy bacon, avo and rocket (instead of basil =( )... all served on top of 1.5 slices of sourdough bread. Normally I'm not a fan of pumpkin (unless coated in tempura batter and/or deep fried), but I actually liked eating it.

Other items ordered to the table include:

Topiary Breakfast Trifle ($14.40)
Layers of pistachios, pecans, honey, yoghurt & muesli, topped with berries 
& fresh banana and strawberries.

Eggs (poached, scrambled or fried) ($9.40)
With buttered thick cut toast + side of chorizo sausage (+$4.90)

The breakfast trifle sounded tempting (especially for a health fanatic) and came with an ample serving of fresh fruit. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection and topped with a single large basil leaf.

The quality of the food here is relatively consistent and their prices are comparable to other local cafes (expect to pay up to $20 for breakfast/lunch), but the food doesn't hold a candle to places like Element6 in West Ryde.


P.S. It's most definitely a sad day to eat a meal with two guys and find yourself, as a girl, having the most substantial plate of food out of the three ordered... awkwarrrdd...

La Ricetta Italian, Cow & Moon Gelato, Enmore

Aunt-T is a year older again! Uncle G has chosen to treat me to an Italian feast in Enmore. I haven't been to the Newtown area in a while. It was great to see the hustle and bustle of King St & lap up the smell of Thai radiating from the 342 million Thai restaurants there (each sustained by hungry uni students on a budget).

La Ricetta

La Ricetta recently became my father in-law's favourite restaurant. Its dishes are "authentic and flavorsome" we've been told. Well I like to keep things real - I'm not Italian, I don't know what's 'authentic', but the food was quality, full of flavour and overall enjoyable.

Frozen Strawberry Daquiri $13.50

Now, I'm under the impression (unless stated otherwise) Daquiri's are alcoholic? The specials board certainly didn't say anything about 'mocktails'. Never the less it was DELICIOUS! Was there alkie? That's questionable, but you could taste fresh crushed strawberries, it was so lovely and refreshing we wanted more!

Calamari e gamberi fritte $18.90/ 28.90 [Entree pictured]
Calamari & prawns floured with salt & pepper, shallow fried w garlic aioli

If there is only one thing you need to know about Uncle G, is that he is a creature of habit. So I consider myself in a good position to judge a good 'Salt and Pepper Calamari(or squid)'. These ones were definitely decent. To be honest I couldn't remember too well because they were outshone by the prawns. These were fresh, plump & juicy with just enough crunchy coating (so its not too heavy/oily) and perfectly seasoned. As good as the ones from my favourite takeway shop at the Fish Markets! The most unfortunate thing was there were only 2.

Pappardelle ragu con porcini $17.90/ 23.90 [Entree pictured]
(Egg pasta with ragu of pot-braised beef, porcini mushrooms & napoletana)

I've had many 'ragu's and this is definitely one of the most outstanding. As you work your way through the perfectly al dente ribbons, you will find it generously latticed with slow cooked beef, falling apart with a gentle twist of the fork. Uncle G and I demolished this in no time! 

Risotto granchio $18.90/ 24.90 [Entree pictured]
(Risotto with fresh blue swimmer crab, basil, barlic, chilli, cream & napoletana) 

We were served one course after another, so by the time this arrived I had forgotten what I ordered. I looked at the risotto with small white pieces of protein popping throughout and thought "I wonder why I ordered chicken risotto". It wasn't until I had a spoonful that I realised they were indeed, generous portions of crab meat. Enough said. This risotto was divine and generous! I would definitely order this again. 

Grigliata mista di mare $37.90
Grilled king prawns, scampi, calamari, fish, mussels (and clams)

I initially wanted the 'hot pot misto mare', but father-in-law recommended this version instead. The seafood was once again fresh. Especially the prawns, fish and clams. I felt the hot pot version may have been a better choice though, as the mussels and calamari could do with more flavour. And we were only given half a scampi (boohoo), so you'll have to fight for it if there's two of you.

Cow and Moon Gelato

Queues have been going around the block since this article was published. Just five minutes down the road from La Ricetta was the best gelato in the world, so how could we refuse? 

Mesmerised by the exciting array of flavours, we eagerly choose 4 to sample: Malto Bliss, Mandorla Affogato, Cookies and Cream, Hazelnut Roche.

If I have to be honest, I hyped myself up too much for this "world best gelato". Certainly it was good, but I would be reluctant to wait in a 30 min queue for it. My favourite was Malto Bliss. I can't explain what the flavours reminded me of, but the solid choc bits and light chocolatey flavours really worked for me. The award winning Mandorla Affogato was good and had plenty of texture throughout. But as a coffee fan, I found it a little sweet for 'Affogato' and think I prefer more intense, less sweetened coffee flavours eg Movenpick's Cappuccino. Uncle G monstered down his Cookie and Cream and Hazelnut Roche. These were pretty good too. I guess overall they were very good gelatos so long as your not expecting a mindblowing experience.

A big thanks to Uncle G for organising this dinner. It was lovely and I'd definitely return to La Ricetta and Cow&Moon again. It's not the cheapest but its quality Italian.

Note: Cow and Moon Gelato is in the Sydney, Sydney North Entertainment book 2014