Would you expect to find good food at a Perth CBD underground bar named after a Kalgoorlie Show Girl? The answer is yes. Let me introduce you to Lalla Rookh, downstairs on St Georges Terrace near the William Street junction.

Walking in, I was immediately impressed with the circular space of the outdoor courtyard complete with vertical gardens framed like expensive artwork.  The spacious bar area included a large screen TV but has enough nook and crannies to feel cosy and intimate, and the restaurant has a classy yet welcoming fit.  Despite covering 800 square metres, the place didn’t feel big and empty. The different areas flowed from one to the other nicely and on a Friday night, it was busy with city’s after work crowd.

Our party of five was seated in the restaurant, sans booking, without any drama.  My chosen aperitif, a Sloely Surely cocktail ($16) with aperol, gin, sparkling wine and soda was not too sweet, not too sour, and didn’t have a strong alcoholic taste. It was smooth, balanced and delicious. Another friend’s margherita had an overly salty taste, and it wasn’t just coming from the salted rim. The wine list has enough options by the glass to suit most palates.

The menu is divided into small share plates, pizzas, pasta, main, and dessert. It promotes  two chef’s choice banquets, available for the entire table only at $39 and $49 per person.  One of our party has shell fish allergy and is pregnant, so we asked if four could have the chef’s choice for $49 each and the fifth just order a pasta dish.  Since we were sitting on a table designed for four, with an extra chair tacked onto the end, we thought our request was reasonable. The kitchen refused and our request declined. With a shrug of the shoulders, we chose a few dishes from the menu to share that ended up costing us $25 per head. Their loss – they could have doubled their money with us had they played nice. Not to worry.

The specials for the night were lard wrapped prawns with aioli, and buffalo mozzarella with mushroom compote. The prawns were cooked perfectly and the aioli complemented them beautifully.  The buffalo mozzarella balls were fridge cold and not as soft as others I’ve had. The mushroom compote was deep with mushroom flavour and lusciously smooth, however, none of us felt it was a good accompaniment to the buffalo mozzarella. The mushroom compote would have been lovely with penne pasta.

The baccala al latte with ricotta gnocchi ($16) was a winner. The mix of textures of the soft light dumplings topped with stewed cod fish that was beautifully seasoned was interesting to eat and was our table’s dish of the night.

We also ordered a main pasta dish, pappardelle with wild rabbit, chestnuts and prunes ($25) sounds as interesting as it tasted. The pasta was perfect – silky and al dente. The sauce included small chunks of meat, and sadly, a little bone.  The chestnut and prune flavours were blended beautifully but were not pronounced. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The service was adequate and polite. I felt a little sorry for the waitress who had to repeat everything she told us because those at the other end of the table couldn’t hear her. The atmosphere is buzzy, if slightly noisy. Perhaps the interior could benefit from soft furnishings to tone down the bouncing noise?

Verdict:  A great choice for an after work drink and dinner in the city. Order the ricotta gnocchi with bacala.

FACT FILE

Lalla Rookh Bar and Eating House
Lower Ground Floor, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth 6000
Tel: 08 9325 7077

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner until late.

For other posts by Travelletto, visit www.travelletto.com. Follow me on Facebook to stay up to date

Burgers by the sea…

As soon as you step off Manly’s esplanade South Steyn St and enter MOO Gourmet Burgers’ relaxed and rustic upstairs eatery, you know you are in for a treat. The friendly staff instantly makes you feel right at home and it is clear that the concept of their vast selection of burgers, the best chunky chips anywhere and a cool selection of Tasmanian craft brews all concoct into a delicious pit-stop, so successful in fact that MOO Gourmet Burgers quickly expanded to five locations.

My choice of the Wagyu on a sour dough bun laden with caramelised onion, mixed lettuce, slowly melting Tasmanian blue brie and home-made mayonnaise meant that the sweet, creamy and smoky flavours played a symphony to my taste buds, beyond what any burger had ever done before.

Also not to miss is the Muscovy duck and bacon burger with its gamey flavour punctuated by the homemade orange jam, nested on a generous bed of lettuce and tomato – simply divine!

While at first I was a little unsure about the mix of bacon and duck on the same roll, yet once I bit into the mouth-size-challenging burger, I quickly realised why it is Katinka’s favourite choice. The Swedish front-of-house manageress brought not only the warmth and presence to our dining experience, but a handful of good suggestions, including the duck burger and the fries. When it came to choosing, with over 20 different burgers and additional choices such as vegetarian, vegan and gluten free, it was not an easy task, so ask your waitress or you will simply have to eat your way through the menu. Which is not a bad option either…  Take a look at the menu here.

Another interesting feature at MOO Gourmet Burgers is the interactive menu. Punters can fill out a form for their own burger creation, stating their preferred choice of ingredients and then name their dream burger. If your personal burger is selected as the ‘Burger of the Month’, it is featured across all five locations with the winning burger designer going down in history on MOO’s own wall of fame plus on facebook of course.

Katinka also steered us toward the grilled salmon burger, which resting on a bed of rocket on a gluten-free bun graced with a generous dollop of MOO’s classic aioli and a surprisingly well-working splash of pesto, which gave this unique fish burger a twist making it our runner-up fav to the duck winner.

With the rustic timber interior and funky branding, cool yet simple decor and wide range of refreshing drinks from craft beers to organic ginger beer and lemon, lime and bitters plus their special cocktail ‘Cow in Mud’ (don’t ask, just try it) we felt completely nurtured, well fed and watered.

It is no wonder that the busy upstairs eatery sells oodles of burgers take-away that then get devoured across the street on Manly Beach, but they also enjoy a strong local dine-in following, while their top-floor party room makes a great venue for birthdays, sports teams or to catch up with a bunch of friends to fling down a few burgers and beers.

All of their locations Bondi, Newtown, Cudgee, Crow’s Nest and Manly have the same menu offering and in the few years they have been around MOO Gourmet Burgers have already cemented their place on Sydney’s culinary landscape, this is largely due to the clever concept and vision of MOO founder Adam Gerondis.

Adam comes from a long line of entrepreneurial gastronomes with one grandfather opening the first ever milk bar in Sydney in 1932 (which later expanded to milk bars in three states) and starting a milk bar trend that grew to over 4 000 milk bars across Australia. His other grandfather had restaurants in New Zealand and ran a milk bar featuring the first ever espresso machine, so the seeds for visionary hospitality were laid very early for Gerondis and MOO’s success stands testament to that heritage.

In any case, if you have not tried a MOO Gourmet Burger yet, you don’t know how good a ‘slow food’ burger can taste! I promise – you will be back for more…

Location: MOO Gourmet Burgers, Manly, NSW
Web: www.moosgourmet.com.au
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Burger Buns

Lido Vietnamese restaurant is situated in the heart of Perth’s quasi China Town in Northbridge.  Walking in, my eyes had to adjust to the brightness of the lights.  The restaurant is big and on a Friday night, the place was packed.

Roast duck rice paper spring rolls

Within seconds of being seated, we were given tap water and handed a menu each.

The menu was big; eight pages of food choices.  As we were on a quest for authentic Vietnamese cuisine, I consulted a waitress who pointed out the traditional dishes.  For entrée we opted for boneless roast duck rice paper rolls ($8.50) and medium rare veal salad in tamarind sauce ($17).

The two rice paper rolls, served with a peanut hoisin dipping sauce, were fresh and tasty. The duck was tender and the addition of vegetables added some crunch while the mint and coriander intensified the freshness.

The veal salad was delightful.  The balanced dressing is what really made this dish stand out.  The tender veal was sliced very thin and the crispy salad added texture.  It felt healthy to eat and it had me going back for more.  The serving size was generous – big enough for a lunch for one.

For main course, beef stewed in five special herbs with mild chilli (19.50) was pleasant enough, but lacked intensity. The beef was tender, however, it was completely overshadowed by our other main dish.

The Patagonian tooth fish with ginger and shallots ($30) was one of the pricier dishes on the menu, but well worth it. The flaky fish texture just melted in my mouth and the flavor of the sauce, which was poured over the fish by our waiter at the table, gorgeous – the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and sour.  The sauce had me filling up my bowl with steamed rice ($3) several times just so it could be topped with more sauce.

Whilst not the cheapest Vietnamese / Asian restaurant, the food makes paying a little extra worthwhile and the service was attentive and helpful. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience.

For more delicious travel adventures, follow me on www.travelletto.com or on Facebook www.facebook.com/travelletto

FACT FILE

Lido Vietnamese Restaurant
416 Williams Street, Northbridge WA 6000
Tel: 08 9227 5545

Open Monday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Fully licensed, BYO wine only.

The Fine Dining Progressive Dinner as part of the Eat Drink Perth food festival happening in WA’s capital city during the month of March, is a great way to experience three of the city’s finest restaurants.

Led by Perth’s popular walking tour specialists Two Feet and Heart Beat, the progressive dinner itinerary featured entree at the Print Hall, main meal at Lamonts Bishop House, and dessert at The Terrace Hotel.

Firstly, before a decadent dinner, Two Feet and a Heart Beat owner Ryan took our small group of seven on a short secret art walking tour.  It’s secret because we saw some art in a secret city alley way that hardly anyone knows exists. I’m not sure I should give Two Feet and a Heart Beat’s secret away by telling you where it is? You might have to message me on Facebook and ask very nicely if you really want to know.  We found it  interesting and eye opening.

Onto the Print Hall. This was Zorba’s first time to Brookfield Place and he liked it. Thank God. Trying to get him to agree to a night out in the city is a challenge.  I think it’s going to be a bit easier from here on. He loved it.

We were spoilt with two entrees; two types of freshly shucked oysters – South Australian (bigger and delicate flavour) and Albany (smaller more intense flavour). It was interesting to compare the two types.  My allegiance to WA was put to one side for a moment as my taste buds preferred the South Australian oysters for their delicate flavour.  Others preferred the creaminess of the Albany oysters.  The two vinaigrettes were beautiful, but I still prefer just a squeeze of lemon when the oysters are as good as these.

Print Hall has an oyster special on Tuesdays, two dozen oysters for $50.  That’s just over $2 per oyster. A bargain. Zorba (who loves a bargain) and another tour goer Barry decided to get another two dozen to share. Totally indulgent – I love it!

I thoroughly enjoyed a glass of Pinot Noir from the USA. I know, I know, I should have chosen bubbly or white wine, but the red just sounded (and tasted!) so good. I broke the sacred wine with food rule. Oh well, rules are made to be broken.

The second part of our entree at the Print Hall was a tasting platter featuring a gorgeous pistachio and pork terrine, jamon serrano, air dried shaved beef, salami, a chorizo like sausage, pickled vegetables, and yummy rye grissini bread sticks as well as fresh bread. The house made butter was a little cold and hard to spread at first, but boy was it creamy and delicious after a few minutes.

The terrine was an absolute standout. Firm texture with the added crunch of the pistachio made it something really special.  Beautifully flavoured. Everything on the platter was gorgeous, but fairly standard fare in our house, besides the terrine.  It was so good.

Next stop, Lamonts at Bishop House.  Bishop’s House is tucked away behind Rigby’s Bar between Mill Street and Spring Street in the city.  Many moons ago, a fresh spring once ran under neath where the house is built, hence the name of Spring Street. The heritage listed house was built in 1859. It is so lovely and who ever did the interior design really did a outstanding job – it’s beautifully furnished.  It has a warm and welcoming ambiance – the vibe the building exuded made me feel instantly comfortable, like I had been there before.  We sat on the balcony overlooking the gardens that provided a natural shield to the traffic on Mounts Bay Road.

The food at Lamonts, at any Lamonts Restaurant, is unbelievably good. Tonight was no exception. Barramundi with a fried zucchini flower and roast pepper and tomato salsa. The zucchini flower, that wasn’t stuffed, was delicate and crispy – as good as any I’ve had in Italy. The barramundi was gorgeous, flakey and soft. The roasted pepper and tomato salsa was amazing. Everything worked beautifully. And we got two pieces of bread and house made butter also. The Germans in our group were very excited about the quality of the bread, saying it was just like bread they got back home.

The Lamonts Shiraz was delicious. Yes, I know, again I had red wine with seafood.  Seriously, with red wine this good, I’d have it with cereal. Perfect Shiraz.

Off for another short walk. Tour guide Ryan pointed out some more interesting pieces of art on the corner of the St Georges Terrace and Milligan Street, before leading us into The Terrace Hotel.

Italian waiter Antonio explained the complex process of how the fortified wine was made; the wine is distilled in one wine barrel for a set time before being moved to a series of older barrels, until it reached the oldest mother barrel, which was made in 1927, which was also the name of the wine.  He said it could be called a sherry. Call it what ever you like – but can I have another glass? It was yummy, like a light port.

The dessert wine accompanied a cheese platter.  By far the blue cheese and the quince jam was my second favourite. My favourite was the dessert wine, whilst not technically a food group, I’d happily skip dessert just for the wine.

We sat in a private dining room surround by a gazillion dollars worth of wine and champagne.  I had cellar envy for sure.

If I was to make any criticism, it would come from my sweet tooth. Cheese I love, but not as much as chocolate. It would have been a fitting end to a delicious and delightful night to have a chocolate dessert or petit fours.

It was 10.15pm and our night came to an end.  We were grateful that we had a good group that chatted and gelled well together. This was helped along by tour guide Ryan, a Canadian, who has a really lovely way with people. It’s no surprise that his tourism business is doing so well.

It was a terrific way to experience three of Perth’s newest fine dining establishments in one night, at the cost of having just one night out at one of these venues.

Don’t delay, the progressive dinner is only on again next Monday and Tuesday. It costs $140 per person.  A glass of wine or beer is included with each course.  The wine was most generous at Lamonts as the friendly waiter continued to top up our glasses. Thanks Lamonts.

We hope Tour operators Two Feet and a Heart Beat are able to continue the Fine Dining Progressive Dinner as part of their tour offerings as planned. A great idea and it was fun to be tourist in my own city. Try it, like me, you might discover some new secrets.

We paid for our own tickets to this event.

FACT FILE

Eat Drink Perth runs for the month of March in the City of Perth.

Two Feet and a Heart Beat offer interesting walking  and small bar tours in Perth and Sydney.

The West End Deli on Carr Street in West Perth was our cafe choice for a Saturday lunch. I was thrilled to see breakfast dishes on the lunch menu.

It is a popular place, which isn’t surprising given its great reputation.

I was tossing up between slow cooked egg, peas and anchovies or the two crab omelette. The helpful waitress recommended the omelette and that’s what I chose.

It was an excellent recommendation. The omelette was fluffily and light, the crab meat was sweet, the coriander gave it a zing and it was seasoned just right. I loved it. I could have eaten two of them and in fact had to make a conscious effort to slow down and savour it rather than scoff it down.

As a side dish, a girlfriend ordered vine ripened cherry tomatoes with goats curd. They were delicious. Intense tomato flavour complemented beautifully with the salty goats curd. I was polite and only had one. Again, I could have easily wolfed down the whole plate.

A good coffee was the perfect finish to a light lunch. I was very tempted by the potted cheesecake with dulce de leche for dessert and even ordered it, but when my girlfriends resisted dessert, guilt got the better of me. I cancelled the dessert order.  I’m on a quest to drop the extra kilos that have crept on in recent months, and as anyone knows, losing weight ain’t easy.  I felt happy that I was strong enough to say no.  But OMG did those desserts look amazing!  I will be back when I’m skinny and will try that potted cheesecake, and that’s a promise.

I’ve eaten at West End Deli a few times in the past for dinner (BYO, no corkage, brilliant), but never for lunch. It was a winner.

For more of my delicious travel adventures, please visit to www.travelletto.com.

FACT FILE

West End Deli
95 Carr St, West Perth
Tel 08 9328 3605

Walking into Rockpool at the Crown Perth is Hollywood. A long corridor lined with candles in glass urns makes you feel like you are about to enter somewhere special.  And you are.

The five star service is attentive, efficient, friendly and unobtrusive.  I mean, when you are having an intimate dinner, the last thing you want is a string of waiters constantly asking, ‘is everything alright?’.  I feel like saying sometimes, ‘it was until you interrupted my train of thought and our conversation, now please go away and let us enjoy our meals in peace.’  This is not the case at Rockpool.

We started the night with a bloody mary cocktail each ($18).  It packed quite a bunch with a bit of heat and lots of spiciness. I had to eat the celery garnish to cool my mouth and it was crunchy and fresh. I then at husband Zorba’s celery too (I have a low chilli tolerance). It woke me up from champagne lull that was starting to set in.

The gorgeous bread was still warm and the fresh butter was really creamy.  I love freshly baked warm bread.

Choosing a wine was difficult. The wine list is very comprehensive – there are five pages of just Sangovese wines! The sommelier offered to assist with a wine choice. I described my ideal red wine – smooth, velvety, quite a bit of body like a Shiraz, but little or no tannin. He deliberated for a few minutes, flicking back and forth through the wine list, before finally recommending the Timaeus, a Grenache blend from the Barossa in South Australia ($80).  The recommendation was spot on, after it opened up and breathed for ten minutes or so. Zorba kept commenting on how delicious the wine was.  There weren’t many wines on the list under $50, plenty well over $100, and more than a few over $1000.

For starters we both shared Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare with Moroccan Eggplant and Cumin Mayonnaise ($34) and Warm Wood Fired Quail Salad with Roasted Peaches, Endive, Watercress and Pecans ($33).

You know what I am going to say, right? Yes, they were both delicious.  The tuna was fresh, light, and I loved the smoky eggplant with the Middle Eastern flavours.

The quail was exquisite.  The skin was slightly charred outside and the meat carried the wood fired flavour and was so juicy. So beautiful with the roasted peaches.  The quail was an absolute standout dish.

We were offered more bread and butter; yes please thank you very much.

For main course, we shared the Grain Fed 300 Day Dry Aged Rib Eye 450g on the bone ($75) cooked medium rare with a side serve of potatoes cooked in Wagyu fat with rosemary and garlic.

The Rib Eye was served cut up on a board and it was amazing. It just melted on the tongue – so tender and cooked perfectly. Zorba loved it.  I actually cringed when Zorba ordered the potatoes cooked in Wagyu fat, but when I tasted them, I was so happy he had.  They were crispy on the outside and creamy inside with a subtle beefy after taste.  They were yum and hard to stop eating.  When the cut Rib Eye was eaten, Zorba and I both eyed each other off for the bone. In the end, because it was our anniversary, I surrendered and let him take the bone for a good old gnaw. I promptly excused myself to use the facilities and left him to enjoy his caveman urges.

What a satisfying meal. One Rib Eye was definitely enough for two people to share.

The friendly waitress asked us if we were celebrating a special occasion and I explained it was our anniversary.  Next thing you know, we were given a complementary chocolate devils cupcake – yum, thank you Rockpool.

For dessert, I couldn’t go past the chocolate mousse with peanut butter ice-cream.  OMG, heavenly.  The peanut butter ice-cream was slightly salty, creamy, and peanutty in flavour, as you would expect. The salty ice-cream with the sweet and rich mousse that was light and delicious was a perfect marriage.

Our bill came to $311. If we didn’t drink cocktails and red wine, it would have been $100 less.

Verdict:  Yes it’s quite expensive, but for our special occasion, it is worth it. I was so full at end of the night. A fabulous experience with first class friendly service. I couldn’t fault it. Very impressed.

For more of my reviews, check out www.travelletto.com

FACT FILE

Rockpool Bar and Grill
Crown Perth
Great Eastern Highway, Burswood WA 6100
Phone : + 61 8 6252 1900
info@rockpoolperth.com

With our luggage and appetites in tow, we sped off to the popular (award-winning) Elkhorn Road House restaurant in Wallington. This charming, homey country café is a treasure trove of handmade goodies including jams, tomato chutney, cranberry granola, gifts, country wares and more. But as we quickly discovered, the real treasure is in the food.

Specializing in generously portioned, reasonably-priced homestyle food, it is a favorite for locals and travelers alike for their outstanding breakfasts and a la carte lunches. With a menu featuring items such as organic Zeally Bay sourdough toast, Moriac free range eggs, Istra bacon and pork sausage, corn fritters with goats cheese fettina, waffles with berry coulis, and handmade chicken pot pies, we had a very hard time deciding.

The sourdough toast was unusually good – crunchy and chewy, something I could really sink my teeth into.  Along with my poached egg with spinach and hollandaise, it was an authentic, down-home breakfast I won’t forget anytime soon. Add to this the relaxed atmosphere of the garden setting, genuine friendly service and a commitment to local, organic and well concocted flavours that seems to be carried by all – owners and staff alike, it is not surprising that Elkhorn has already collected a number of industry awards and has been highlighted in The Age’s food guide. Well worth the drive any day!

The Elk Roadhouse is located at 420a Wallington Road, Wallington, VIC 3221, near Geelong and serves brekky, lunch and afternoon tea from Mon – Sun (8.00am – 5.00pm). For bookings and menu details log onto www.elkhornroadhouse.com.au

[Rating 3 out of 5 Forks]

Tried, tested and experienced – then written about by Erik Bigalk, freelance writer/photographer and tourism/hospitality reviewer – www.ErikBigalk.com

For a real treat in the heart of downtown Melbourne, you cannot go past a stop at the Heirloom restaurant for a late lunch.

Specializing in Japanese-French fusion cuisine, the Heirloom is an aesthetic experience as pleasing to the eye as the palate, the interior reminiscent of a large, many-faceted, sparkling piece of origami.

We started with Slow Roast Duck Gyoza. A dish traditionally made with pork, the duck was an interesting twist, adding the “fusion” that is the Heirloom signature. The Beetroot and Vodka Soused Rainbow Trout was more akin to a salad, with the yogurt pearls adding a rather fascinating visual mystery.

The Rare Seared Yellow Fin Tuna was a tad overdone, probably due to a miscommunication with our waiter, but was beautifully presented with white anchovy tempura, laced with a very unusual black olive crumb and gel.

The menu at Heirloom is intriguing to say the least. I was presented with gustatory combinations never before pondered, let alone tasted. So if you are looking for a truly sumptuous, exotic, and adventurous dining experience, Heirloom in downtown Melbourne is a great place to visit.

As suited for a scrumptious lunch in between meetings, as for a few sensational dishes intercepting your favorite cocktails after work or to impress him/her or a whole group of game diners, the experience is likely to linger on – as the name suggests.

The Heirloom is located at 131 Bourke Street Melbourne and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 days a week, log onto www.heirloom.com.au for menu details and bookings

[Rating 4 out of 5 Chop Sticks]

Tried, tested and experienced – then written about by Erik Bigalk, freelance writer/photographer and tourism/hospitality reviewer – www.ErikBigalk.com

One of Byron Bay’s top chefs, Tippi Heng, is no stranger to the culinary delights of Asia. With a colorful mix of Laos, Chinese and Thai ancestry, he jokingly refers to himself as a ‘Lao-sy-Chinese‘. But it’s no joke that he’s been cooking up a storm for the past 15 years, garnering a local following as enthusiastic as his dishes are spicy.

We had a chance to catch up with Tippi recently, whose soft, understated demeanor and ready smile made us feel right at home. He revealed to us that he began his chef’s ‘training’ when he was a mere five years old, helping his mum to grind spices and prep veggies in their traditional home in Laos. Unlike his siblings, Tippi found his feet in the kitchen, rapidly displaying a culinary precociousness that would later take him far and wide.

Fast forward nearly two decades and several adventures later and you will find him in his restaurant, the Orient Express, located on Fletcher Street, one block over from the Beach Hotel. Orient Express is a casual, yet warm and inviting eatery featuring some of the best modern Asian cuisine in Byron Bay. On the walls you can spot his original ink brush paintings that flow from the same well of creativity and inspiration as the ‘harmony of flavours’ in his food.

One dish that seems to have found such inspiration is the Crab Salad a towering and mouth-watering dish combining rich green avocado and tangy mango on a slab of sushi rice, layered with crab meat drizzled with miso dressing, sprinkled with four kinds of seaweed all frolicking among razor-thin slices of cucumber and spicy wasabi mayonnaise.

It was exactly as head waiter, Rohan described – “a harmony in texture and contrast in flavor.” Accompanied by a dewy glass of Marlborough (NZ) Pinot Gris, it was a perfect blend of yin and yang.

Also recommended is the Laos crunchy rice salad entrée. It’s a different kind of dish that weaves the texture of crunchy fried rice dumplings with a piquant mixture of lime, smoked chili and cilantro that will definitely keep your fork busy.

The wide-ranging menu also includes traditional dishes such as Vietnamese Pho, mouth-watering delights such Crispy Chicken with Tomato Relish or Seared Pepper-Crusted Tuna; duck, seafood, and pork dishes, as well as several vegetarian temptations.

My partner was seduced by something more simple and traditional – Laksa. Yes, perhaps a peasant dish, nothing you could not imagine picking up at a corner shop on the way home from work in a paper cup, but this was not just any Laksa, it was Tippi Heng’s Laksa. The flavours rich, with the right amount of noodles and vegies lazing together with fresh prawns in a rich sambal-coconut soup and topped with smoked chillies, which added a great nuance and their fair share of heat to the meal. I tasted it once and could not resist sneaking a few more spoon-fulls.

Generosity is one of Tippi’s trademarks and shows in the portions served. Tippi gives through his food, which is his passion, his life and his art. As Tippi says, “For me, preparing food is not just about cooking and eating, it has a much deeper and more intimate meaning. It is about generosity, hospitality and friendship.”

In keeping with that spirit, we finished off our evening with a generous slice of mocha tart set on molten chocolate with a mountain peak of choc- vanilla ice cream towering over it like the contrasting elements of nature (but far more delicious!) Also hard to resist was the honey comb semi-fredo with mixed berries and brandy snaps, which rounded our culinary ride on the Orient Express off perfectly.

Orient Express Byron Bay is open 7 days and booking is advised. Living here, I often get to hear ‘You’re so lucky to live in Byron Bay”. When I hear this, I think of the great food and hospitality that Tippi serves up and I smilingly agree. Check out www.orientexpressbyronbay.com when you are next in the Bay.

Reviewed and written by Erik Bigalk and Kat Aoki www.ErikBigalk.com
All photos by Erik Bigalk copyright 2012

O-Sushi restaurant has done it again, scooping up the title of ‘Australia’s Favourite Japanese Restaurant’ by the national ‘I Love Food’ awards for the second time running, with each of their three locations, Byron Bay, Coolangatta and Broad Beach winning individual awards.

With this latest accolade firmly cementing their place as the favourite Japanese eatery in Australia, it’s only the most recent ‘icing on the cake’ for O-Sushi, who has won nine previous industry awards over the past eight years.

Clearly, they must be doing something right.

I recently paid a visit to their iconic restaurant in Byron Bay, popular with both locals and tourists alike. Located in the heart of downtown Byron, it’s a warm and inviting eatery decked in rich red walls and high ceilings, mixing elements of Japanese decor with the funky, modern vibe that is uniquely Bryon Bay.

Their comprehensive dining menu offers everything from gourmet sushi, sashimi and hand rolls to tapas, tempura, and kushi-yaki.  Or if you’re like me, you’ll enjoy simply selecting from the tempting array of meat, seafood and vegetarian sushi as it rolls by on the ‘train’, presenting you with a real ‘help, my eyes are bigger than my stomach’ dilemma.

Outstanding presentation of food and flavour is key to the success and popularity of O-Sushi, with their highly trained chefs consistently creating some of the most beautiful and innovative sushi to be found anywhere.

I was particularly intrigued by a unique combination of salmon, cream cheese and avocado sushi rolled in a lovely orange-coloured mixture of rice and tobiko, topped with prawn and Japanese mayonnaise. The prawn and mayonnaise was torched at high heat, producing a gorgeous smoky flavour and tantalizing caramel brown colour on top – pure genius.

Fully licensed, their drink menu is extensive, offering a large selection of premium beers, red and white wine, plum wine, cider, and of course, sake. Highly recommended is the Hakushika Namachozou. Best served cold, it is refreshingly light and clean, and the perfect complement to any sushi.

For the health-conscious, you can even choose from a selection of sushi made with biodynamic and organic brown rice. All of the soy used is gluten-free, and all ingredients are MSG-free. It’s an obvious reflection of their commitment to listening to their customers.

Co-founder Dan Regev believes that the foundation of O-Sushi’s success is based on an open dialogue with their customers.

‘We’re fortunate that our customers give us feedback, both good and bad, because this allows us to carry on doing things that work and try and improve things that don’t. We are especially proud of our excellent chefs that create the extensive menu that keeps finding the liking of so many of our customers. Without them, we would not be where we are now.’

O-Sushi now has three locations – their flagship restaurant in Byron Bay, which opened  in 2004, joined by a second restaurant at Coolangatta in 2007 and a third at Broadbeach, which opened just last year and already collecting the state award for Queensland.

To celebrate the triple ‘I Love Food Award’ win, O-Sushi is ‘Sharing the Love’ by offering Food Wine Sleep readers a ‘10% off’ special across all three locations!

The I Love FOOD Awards are unique in that they reward Australia’s favourite places to eat out as chosen by the Australian public. The 2012 Lifestyle Channel’s I Love Food Awards were the “biggest yet, with over 130,000 votes from hungry Australian’s recorded”.  The winners can be viewed on the Lifestyle Food website here.

For more information on O-Sushi, log onto www.osushi.com.au, or visit any of their three eateries.

Erik Bigalk is a passionate freelance food/wine/travel writer & photographer – www.ErikBigalk.com