I had just been testing out a new digital camera I got for Christmas – and obviously I didn’t really know how to use it at the time, so I apologise for the quality of the below photos.
The atmosphere at Bannister’s was romantic, with sweeping ocean views during sunset. With exceptional service from staff that love being in hospitality, this is considered one of the best restaurants in Mollymook

Cured ocean trout

carpaccio of angus beef with fig, beets and chive creme

Special of the day: Roast duck with shaved black truffles

Pan fried barramundi fillet with pea puree, zucchinni flower and “lemon air”

Side of tomato bocconcini and basil salad

Dessert – sorry but I honestly cannot remember what this was – but you cannot go wrong with chocolate!

Petit fours

And the view we wake up to from the spa retreat balcony – absolute bliss!

Smoked mussels in thai marinade served on cos lettuce leaf

Chilled Blue Swimmer Crab & Crystal Bay Prawn Remoulade with Pickled Cucumber

Greenwell Point Rock Oysters natural

Seagrass Kilpatrick with Fresh Lemon

Special of the day: Ocean trout

Grainfed Eye Fillet with Lyonnaise Potatoes and bernaise sauce

Rocket, Reggiano Parmesan Salad

Jaffa Affogatto

Wicked Nutty Belgian Chocolate Terrine with Chocolate Ice Cream

• 13 Currambene St
  Huskisson 2540 NSW
• Phone: (02) 4441 6124
  
• Show street map

The Berry sourdough bakery is a perfect spot for a stop-off if you’re driving down south for Sydney. Owned by Joost and Jelle Hilkemeijer – their philosophies and influences are “Quality ingredients, time and simplicity”, and they couldn’t be more correct. Set in a rustic country house with terracotta floors and old wooden furniture, this isn’t your average bakery. All the breads here are handcrafted organic sourdough loaves, made from local organic food products without the aid of moulding machinery. The cafe menu is also packed full of interesting food, using as much local produce as possible – and always at their freshest. I was most impressed with the dishes created here – it’s possibly one of my new favorites! The service was also very relaxed, friendly, yet extremely professional. I never give ratings but they are at least 8/10 in my books!

Local Oysters with red wine and eschalot vinegarette

Homemade chicken liver parfait with sourdough toast with papaya salsa

Zucchini, haloumi fritters with cured ocean trout, roe and cucumber


oozing with deliciousness… oh my god.

Spinach and ricotta ravioli (?) with Mittagong tunnel mushrooms – perhaps my memory will come back to me, as this was an amazing dish

I have been searching for Mittagong tunnel mushrooms everywhere as I’ve heard such raving reviews about how tasty they were. And they were right!

Address: 23 Prince Alfred Street, Berry, NSW, Australia.

Phone: (02) 44641617

the(sydney)magazine
Food Hall of Fame Dinner
Tonight’s menu incorporates seafood from Christie’s Seafoods, vegetables from Fratelli Fresh and cheese from Jannei Goat Dairy.

Canapes
Freshly shucked oysters with shallot vinegar
Pistachio and goat’s cheese pesto tartlet
G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge NV champagne, France

Menu

Duo of Hiramasa kingfish and ocean trout
with Victorian white asparagus and wasabi emulsion
2007 Bloodwood riesling, Orange, Australia

West Australian marron
with braised fennel, tapenade, figs, tomato and balsamic vinaigrette
2005 Jean Manciat Macon Charnay “franclieu” chardonnay, Burgundy, France

White River veal rack roasted on the bone
with speck, broad beans, spring garlic puree, pomme parisienne, truffle and jus gras
2006 Rusden “Driftsand” shiraz cabernet, Barossa Valley, Australia

Raspberry soufflé
with pistachio ice-cream and raspberry compote
2005 Grande Maison “cuvee des anges”, Monbazillac, France

A perfect location for a lazy weekend lunch – we sat at one of the outdoor tables under the warm sun on a winter day, with a bottle of Spanish grenacha rose. The lunch tapas menu gives you an option to share small plates with friends, either for a quick snack or a long lunch. We opt for the latter.

Rumour has it that the owners of Delicado have strong connections with the Spanish consulate, which helps them import and sell beautiful Spanish products such as signature cured hams Jamon Iberico de Bellota y Jamon Serrano; fresh marinated white anchovies (boquerones) & dried salted cod (bacalau); Ortiz and Entreislas anchovies (anchoas); ventresca white tuna (atun) and quince paste (membrillo); not to mention a wide selection of wine.

Spanish Olives: varieties incl. Arbequina, hojiblanca, sevilano, manzanilla $8

Pimenton cured Ocean Trout, marinated belly, goats cheese, avruga caviar $16

Seared Scallops, morcilla, roasted jerusalem artichoke $18

Jamon Serrano, La Jabuguena Gran Res., arbequina extra virgin olive oil $15

Confit Pork Belly, spanish onion puree, maize crusted squid, green olive $20

Yes, this dish was cured in duck fat for 24 hours. Please don’t lecture me – I only had a small half… and it was worth it! The crackling was dry and crisp on top of the soft warm pork belly The squid was perfectly dusted with the right amount of maize and it was probably the most tender fleshed squid I’ve had – there was no chewiness to it like the usual squid, it almost melts in your mouth.

Churros con chocolate, dulce de leche $12

Arbequina olive oil ice cream $10

I really quite liked the olive oil ice cream too – it’s florally fragrant but very creamy, and garnished with a small amount of salt and dried tapenade.

Such a cute wine store – we bought a few more bottles of the Grenacha rose for home.

Rissoto Al Porcino e Zucchine Bianche Di Trieste
(Porcini and Trieste white zucchini risotto with Truffled butter) $19

Spaghetti Chitarra Allo Zaffrando Con Pesce Di Acquadolce
Saffron Chitarra spaghetti with Barramundi, prawns, chilli, capers, garlic and Pinot Grigio White Wine ($22)

Trota Salmonata Al Dragoncello Con Mostrarda
(Steamed ocean trout with Escarole, raddicchio and mustard fruit salad, Tarragon salsa and salmon caviar) $34

Zuppa Di Crostacei e Molluschi Veraci
(Crustacean and mollusc fish stew with half shell scallop, black mussels, clams, prawns, saffron potatos and Fregola) $36

Semifreddo Di Torrone Alle Mandorle
(Nougat, Ligurian Honey and almond milk semifreddo with candied Almond) $14

Affogato Tradizionale (expresso Coffee with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Liqueuer) $14

Most dishes are available in two sizes and virtually all the wines are available by the glass and in very European-style carafes at different sizes – the prices directly proportional to the bottle price, which means extraordinary value for money in a relaxed, yet refined, setting. A table of six with 500ml of wine gave us a bill totalled at $301, and we were all well and truly satiated.

Cauliflower veloute with confit chicken wing and white truffle oil (Beautiful Flavours)

Croquettes of salt cod and pimento

Terrine of smoked ham hock and pork cheek, ear beignets and remoulade
(Online Australian Gourmet Pages Dish of the Month for February 2008)

Spaghetti with clams, serrano, parsley and chilli

Bream with a potato and rosemary ‘pizza’

Fillet of ocean trout on spiced caponata with toasted almonds (My FAVORITE)

Roasted spatchcock with green olives, lemon and thyme

Braised lamb shank with a ragout of beans

Bitter chocolate marquis with pistachios

Eton mess with rhubarb and strawberries (So Amazing!)

‘Catalan’ Bread and Butter Pudding

Burlington Bar and Dining is located at 6 Burlington St, Crows Nest NSW 2065. Book far ahead to ensure a table! (02) 9439 7888

Highlights included:

* A Yogalates class in Bangalow (yes, where the sweet pork comes from!) in a beautiful open space facing the forest… you can probably tell that was my idea. I figured my entire company should really stretch out our tired muscles.

* Snorkelling with sea turtles – we bought one of those disposable underwater cameras. Apparently in order to see those pictures, I have to get this thing called F-I-L-M developed. And it’s supposed to cost money. Whaaaat the! This was arranged through Byron Bay Dive Centre. [edit] Photos developed!!

* Jumping into the ocean at 7am when you open your eyes in the morning, the water was especially warm even though the waves were very strong. In hindsight that was probably a little dangerous, to be alone in the ocean while the storm was coming in, but it was so beautiful and inviting I could not help myself.

Tempura of eggplant and feta cannelloni with lemon zest polenta, capsicum coulis and basil

 

Sugar cured ocean trout with beetroot remoulade, caper crumbed oyster and fennel slaw

 

Mushroom and herb gnocchi with pecorino, peas and a sage beurre noisette

 

Aged beef fillet with Jerusalem artichoke fritts, caf?de Paris butter and leek and beef cheek ravioli

 

Assiette of pork ?crispy Bangalow pork belly with honey glazed pork cheek, hoisin marinated rib, spiced pumpkin and apple sauce

(this one was SO SO SO good)

 

Finger lime and yoghurt tartlet with pinenut crust, Midori and finger lime sorbet

 

Macadamia nougat glace with blood orange and brandy snap

 

Chocolate fondant with Sichuan and quince ice cream and a Barbadillo Pedro Ximenez syrup

I will definitely visit again… hopefully the weather would be better next time!

Celebrity sighting of the week:

leather seats… leather man

Tags: basil, byron bay, Est., ice cream, mushroom, ocean trout
]]> http://www.spreadmybutter.com/shark-bait/feed/ 4 http://www.spreadmybutter.com/christine-manfield/ http://www.spreadmybutter.com/christine-manfield/#comments Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:18:00 +0000 Amanda http://127.0.0.8/?p=5 Got a table at Universal restaurant tomorrow, which I’m very excited about!

And the company was even better.