Ross James

Sydney's Best Weekends - Jenolan Cabins

2007-04-20T13:11:00.000+10:00

When visiting the Jenolan Caves I prefer to stay at the environmentally sensitive Jenolan Cabins (42 Edith Road, Jenolan Caves ph: +61 2 6335 6239 email: relax@jenolancabins.com.au). The cabins at Porcupine Hill command spectacular 360° views over the Blue Mountains National Park, Kanangra Boyd National Park and the Jenolan Caves Reserve.

Each cabin accommodates six people, one queen bed and four bunks (bring your own linen, doonas and blankets supplied). The combined lounge, dining and kitchenette with its cathedral ceilings and great views, allows you prepare your own meals and relax at your own pace. Each cabin has its own internal bathroom with shower (continuous, instantaneous hot water) and composting toilet. There is a television for when the sun goes down and a combustion stove to take the edge of those chilly mountain nights. If you are leaving the family at home, couples and singles will never find themselves lonely with a vast number of kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and birds right at your door.

Sydney's Best Thai - Balgowlah's Khao Thai

2007-04-10T12:57:00.000+10:00

Often I find the failings of a restaurant can be forgiven by the company you dine with. Knowing full well that I would be thoroughly entertained by my dinner companions, I was not concerned over the choice of venue this particular evening. After a short walk along Sydney Road, the majority was pleased to stop in at Khao Thai (367 Sydney Road Balgowlah ph: +61 2 9948 2925).

When first entering the long dining room you are drawn to the various tanks of decorative fish. This is a nice change from many Chinese restaurants where the tanks of various edible treats swimming that last mile before they "win" the competition to become the centre of attention on your plate. In Khao Thai, the lighting is also dim but still strong enough to read the menu, and what a menu it is. Page after page of clear and enticing items, both in print and full colour images. With many people still exploring various cuisines, this is a great way to help them with their selection. Unfortunately it just inspires me to want it all.

As I mentioned, I was not alone and my fellow diners curbed my desire to sample everything the menu had to offer.

Entree was to be a selection of Curry Puffs, Chicken Satay and Fish Cakes. I must make special mention of the Fish Cakes. For someone who isn't too fussed about the humble medallions, I was very impressed. I never understood how Fish Balls (usually found in Asian soups) could contain so much flavour compared to the rubbery and flavour lacking Fish Cakes. The people at Khao obviously feel the same way and decided to do something about it. Packed with real fish flavour and a great texture, they were a delight. Unfortunately the Curry Puffs were slightly soggy with an over moist filing, but the Chicken Satay was perfectly balanced, and combined with the Fish Cakes, I wasn't complaining.

While I am always happy to try a blackboard special, I very rarely will indulge in a “Chefs Suggestion”. This chef was suggesting a Penang Curry with Duck, my favourite Thai curry partnered with the decadent, if not devilish, rich poultry. Unlike the Fish Cakes, this little black duck was highly anticipated by all concerned. We were expecting something great. To offset the anticipated richness of the Penang Duck we set our sights on a Lemongrass Pork and a Beef with Cashew Nuts all accompanied by Saffron Rice.

Luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you look at it) the Penang Duck was as good, if not better, than expected. The Penang Curry was not as rich as I am used to, but this was a perfect combination with its copious and luxurious pieces of duck combined with the sweetness of stir fried red capsicum and rich coconut. With a fresh and clean alternative to the thick curry, the Lemongrass Pork and the Beef and Cashew Nuts were both flavourful and tasty. I was disappointed with my second serving of the Saffron Rice. It was served on an open platter and, exposed to the air, quickly lost its texture.

We enjoyed our meal with a bottle of Wontanella Sangiovese Petit Verdot 2004, from our own cellar. This is a richly coloured, although soft flavoured wine that goes with almost anything (very handy when you don’t know where you are going to eat).

If you are faced with the prospect of an evening with less than inspiring company, Khao Thai will certainly provide a meal that can conquer the most boring of companions. This is a great place to take family or friends for a communal meal that will inspire and satisfy.

Sydney's Best Cheap Eats - Fast and Friendly Newtown Chinese

2007-04-05T13:32:00.000+10:00

Any Newtown local (or employee of RPA) can tell you where to go when you are in need of a decent meal. If the sustenance you desire is of the Chinese variety, there is only one choice, the Wonton Noodle Inn (153 King Street Newtown ph +61 2 9550 1922). Near the Marlborough Hotel, which is convenient to pick up some BYO (at the corner of King Street and Missenden Road), you will find this small fronted eatery. Don't judge this book by its cover, there is more seating out the back. Singles enjoy eating at the raised stools while watching the traffic of King Street go by, both on foot and on tarmac. Past the open kitchen you will find a small dining room, complete with a TV playing weird and wonderful Asian programming. Continuing out the back door, their largest space is reserved for dining under the stars.

It isn't hard to fathom that the most popular dishes are their signature Wonton Noodle Soups. Cheap, tasty and packed full with their hand made (on the premises) wontons and your choice of beef, chicken, king prawns, bbq pork, duck, fish cake, vegetables or all of the above. For those after something with a little more kick, their Laksa's (with the same choices of meat and seafood) are just the thing to get your motor running. Whether eating in or taking away, a Wonton Noodle Soup is a great lunch, dinner or supper. Speaking of take away, be sure to hang around the kitchen and watch the skill and art of the frantic chefs. If you have just come from the pub and are finding it hard to face more fluid, try a stir fry. Beef and rice noodle is a firm favourite of mine or for a special occasion I go combination.

If your idea of Chinese food is deep fried lemon chicken or bright red sweet and sour pork, the Inn has you covered. For the cautious who are willing to take at least a few steps towards the wild side, try their Empire Chicken or the very tasty Chilli Pepper Squid. Chinese style Omelettes come in every flavour under the sun as well as the standard Spring Rolls and Dim Sims. If you can handle the calories (if not, share with a friend), you need to sample their hand crafted Savoury Shallot Cake. A perfect crescent of buttery pastry encases a sweet and savoury filling that is hard to stop at one.

While living in Newtown, and a regular at the Wonton Noodle Inn for the past ten years, I have seen staff come and go. One thing that never changes is the warmth and tenderness of all that work here. Since my first visit I continue to be greeted by cheers and smiles. This is the place to go when you are in need of a compliment or just a great Fried Ice Cream.

Sydney's Best Coffee - Heaven in a Cup(cake)

2007-03-29T13:08:00.000+10:00

This was to be a review on coffee, but I have to confess I can't give you an honest critique of the java. Truth is there was something distracting me that day, several things actually. Each one a masterpiece of baked goods, topped with a confection worthy of artistic merit. The venue was the small but inviting Cupcakes on Pitt (3/323-327 Pitt Street Sydney ph: +61 2 9264 4644).

Not unlike New York's Magnolia Bakery, this small store pushes out a large number of little cakes. For $5.00 you receive coffee and your choice of cupcake. On my visit I was lucky to sample two flavours (it pays to bring a friend along). I started with Honeycomb, a smooth chocolate cake smothered in honey frosting topped with a huge chunk of chocolate covered honeycomb. Leaving a fair percentage for my companion I was able to swap the remainder for a taste of Orange Jaffa. With vanilla cake, orange frosting and at least a handful of coarsely crushed Jaffas, it isn't hard to justify the name.

At the 2006 Sydney Royal Show, Cupcakes on Pitt took home the Most Successful Cake Exhibitor award as well as taking the Gold Medal (for their Lemon Meringue Cupcake) and all 5 Silver Medals (for Vanilla, Peppermint, Strawberry, Milk Chocolate and Carrot) in the Cupcake Class.

While they certainly make no secret of their passion for cupcakes, you don't have to start with dessert. For those that need to justify their indulgence with something more substantial, why not try one of their pies or sausage rolls. They also have a great range of sweet and savoury muffins, wraps, prepared gourmet salads and fruit salads. If there isn't a cupcake flavour that appeals, they also have mousse! And yes, they do coffee, a great match for any flavour cupcake.

For the sand and surf lovers they also have a branch at Bondi Beach (112a O'Brien Street Bondi Beach ph: +61 2 9300 8306).