Emperor's Garden Chinese Restaurant - Haymarket Sydney

A typical spread for a Yum Cha table.

If this is not an establishment, then what is?  The Emperor Garden brand already existed before the significant numbers of migration of Asians to Sydney and Australia in general since the 1990s and especially in the past ten years or so.   Today EG has several divisions in its business  - soya bean products, meat butchers, noodle and roast meat retail, cakes and baking - in addition to yum cha and dining.

EG truly echoed what Chinatown meant and was - southern Chinese, Cantonese culinary and a gathering hub for a minority so far from the Mother land.  Today, Chinatown here means international students, a whole host of cuisines and not just Chinese, plus a whole variety of south-east Asian demographics. There are new entrants, old compatriots and fancy business models for yum cha lunching these days.

Youngsters may these days not be over thrilled at the arrangements whereby they accompanied their parents on weekends, tables seated ten to twelve and the cooking was retro. On the other hand, parents and grand parents find the younger generation members absorbed in their smart phones, social media and game apps, even when seated beside each other.   Taiwan styled dian xin, modern versions of the food like at Tim Ho Wan and ordering without trolleys have also changed the landscape of the yum cha experience.  What may not have changed is the noisy chatter, the tables placed close to each other and those bamboo baskets....
  

A Siew Mai dumpling is held over a congee brewed with century old eggs, ginger and chicken slices.

Emperor's Garden may have been caught in a time warp, but that is how the older customers like it.

A rather rushed visit meant for us us meant there was no way to saviour a whole range of delights like on weekends.  So we had three symbolic tastings - we wanted representatives of slow cooked, steamed and baked dishes.   The steamed pork and prawn dumplings at EG are highly recommended - they are of plump, flavourful and traditional vibes.  Next best that day was the congee, reeking of home cooking with a certain wholesomeness, especially on a cooler day outside.

The front portion of the restaurant on the ground floor.   There is an upper level, with windows overlooking the light rail tracks, Paddys market and weekend crowds outside.

What surprised me was the quality of the pastry  of the Char Siew So.  Now, have I been spoilt by the impeccable creations of THW, not far away now in the city centre, without having to go to Burwood and Chatswood?   Baked stuff are liked by mainstream Australians, so this is an important test product.  I did find the oiliness not acceptable and the outer pastry not sufficiently of the texture I expected.  The meaty bits inside were okay, not salty and a plenty on offer.

Breaking up my baked Char Siew So

What surprised me on another count was that the trolley Dollies did  not move much when we were there, just parking themselves at certain spots and not even approaching most of the seated customers.

Maybe there was not much room on this ground floor.  No menus were given out like at THW.  IT then became a game of guessing cat and mouse - oh lady, can you please show us what you have in your closed up containers and baskets?   A mate teasingly remarked that one must be able to speak Cantonese in order to get the food going.  Or Mandarin as well?

However, once you got their attention, the staff were helpful, walking up and down to fulfil your request.

There is always a queue to this from passers-by who just want a light snack whilst walking around Sydney's Chinatown.

The Emperor's Garden Chinese Restaurant is located at 96-100 Hay Street, Haymarket Sydney.
Opening hours are from 7am to 130am every day.
Contact +61 2 9211 2268 and +61 2 9211 2135

The French House Waterloo NSW

The gilt edge mirrors, chandeliers from another age and the very Euro feel of its Baroque interiors were what captivated us to come in.  It reminds me of plush curtained windows in drawing rooms while the heavy snow piled outside.....hey but the weather was more tropical with the sunny intensity of what can only be in Australia, even if I am told it is already autumn here.

The displays are magnificent, with quiches, pastries,  cakes, tarts, sandwiches, wraps, bread loaves  - delicate and bold creations sitting beside each other and looking pretty.

 I love the ambiance here, though it can be a bit shaded and dark for some others.  I am captivated by the thoughts of sitting on those unmatched cushioned chairs listening and talking to close friends, or just chilling out on what life has to offer, or merely to sit and relax with people we are comfortable enough to not put up with pretensions one may see in other parts of the Big Smoke.

I thoroughly enjoyed my two layered vanilla and custard Mille-Feuille, to me  the Creme Patisserrie was light yet full of taste and texture.   Never mind the sprinkling of icing sugar at the top.  I love this creation perhaps partly because it is not just a chunk of cake but offers different and delicate sensations when I bite in to it, yum.

The coffee is Campos but on this occasion I had the mocha, perhaps in  a vain attempt to transverse both worlds on a day when I already had my high intake of caffienated stuff.   My companions did not speak much about their Chai lattes or hot chocolate - I would have to pursue them further on their impressions.   I had been warned before hand of varying customer service levels here, but we found it was good for us though.  Maybe it depends on who was around working when one drops by -  but I am not sure.

I will not have done justice, to say more at this juncture, about the French House on this quick drop by, but I look forward to at least having the croissants and baguettes on a next more leisurely encounter there.  Again my scouts have asked me to look out for the absence of dryness, freshness of the dough or pastry and the clever use of dressings or garnish in my future judgements - all very handy.

I am not a fan of tarts, but some customers  have gone for their strawberry or Ricota chocolate tartlets, when I did look around then sitting in what I reckoned was a leisurely experience.

On balance, the French House can be considered for a brunch or breakfast session in a more sophisticated surrounding, instead of the usual new fangled post industrial or rustic farmhouse look that seems to permeate the designs and lay out many of the new wave of cafes and restaurants in the greater Sydney area.  Each person must manage his or her expectations versus reality in the foodie world, but also take into account factors beyond the details of food and drink, to evaluate a holistic experience.  The French House does live up to its image as something French in the end - despite Campos being there....



The French House is located at 1G Danks Street Waterloo NSW, at the corner with Philip Street.
Opening hours are from 730am to 4pm from Mondays to Thursdays and from 730am to 5pm from Fridays to Sundays.

Contact +61 2 8399 2770





 

Lettuce B. Frank Wholefoods Cafe - Wollongong NSW

Breakfast laced with Dukkah flavours with roast tomatoes, poached egg and sourdough.

Perhaps this is the Sydney Cornersmith of the Illawarra, or leading to this?  Many of the varied cafes, delis and wholesale providers in this region are on a journey, some half way, others in an eclectic mix between the casual, popular and seriously organic.  Several stand out in their creations put on the table for retail customers, others have niches in baking and more.

Let us be frank - the location of their Wollongong city centre cafe is strategic but can be a bit inconvenient for those driving from the suburbs, southern Sydney or passing through to the South Coast of New South Wales.  Once you manage to get there, it can be a lovely experience, with a casual home feel, many youngsters lounging around, produce and products lovingly displayed and even a view at the verandah to the railway tracks below.  You are then further drawn inside the cafe by no artificiality, no manufactured processing, less gluten, no added sugars and al naturale.

Salads can be much a personalised matter, but it is in the combinations.  You can have your  Nashi pear, walnuts, basil, rocket, snow pea sprouts  and sun dried tomatoes sitting on your kitchen counter - but how does one ensure the right bite, flavours and health combos?  There is a kind of Mediterranean influence in the LBF salad options, with Kalamatta olives thrown in good measure or with tomato Bocconcini  and basil.

An Aussie adopted favourite is the Lasagne, here totally vegetarian or beef -  and the other is the butter chicken with rice.    There is also a traditional Greek salad (the Horiatiki with key ingredients like Feta, onions, tomato and olives)  in addition to seasonal gourmet salad offerings.

What I personally find outstanding are:

 The coconut with Quinoa and pumpkin scones.   The outcomes transcend cultures and are an interesting twist on the Aussie journey to being more multi-cultural and cosmopolitan.

Friands and Paleo banana loaves with fruit bits.

Miniature Brioche and artisan bread with classic Australian fillings like ham, lettuce, egg and BLT.

Choice is definitely a feature at LBF for those who are more careful about their food, but with less variety than Cornersmith in Marrickville, inner Sydney, which is rather a leader in organic pickling and preserve making as well. 

Early bird specials are an option for those early morning commuters at LBF.    There is outside seating but then you may have to put up with the passing traffic.   The staff are easy going but bring your orders quick, often helping customers out as to where they prefer to be seated.  Many lunchers are casually dressed.  This part of town does not have cafes as in a hub, except for the nearby Sandy Goodwich.

Lettuce B. Frank is located at 337 Princess Highway beside the road bridge over the tracks of the Wollongong main rail station, at the southern end of Wollongong city centre near its main hospital.
Opening hours are from from 6am to 4pm every weekday and from 7am to 2pm on weekends.
Contact +61 2 4228 5288
Vehicle parking can be a challenge on busy days and it may be best to take the train or the free Gong Shuttle which does drop by a nearby bus stop. Do choose the correct route taken by this shuttle as there are two loops, one to the south (which takes you to Lettuce B. Frank) and another side of Wollongong CBD.
At time of writing, LBF Wholefoods is being planned for schools, universities and canteens.




 

Il Nido Trattoria Pizzeria Revisited - Balgownie NSW

"Oh yes, there are so many diners now."   It seems the evening had built to a crescendo of aromas, flavours and guests.  The level of chatter was hitting the ceiling.

Outside, on a narrow paved foot path, there was a long table laid out, with white and red check cloth, as if this was in the middle of an olive grove.  Okay, I begun to finally get it - this was a family gathering, a community hub and a place to relax with many people.  No standing around  like cocktail hour in Aussie joints, with customers holding their precious half empty glass, I noticed  - the Italian tradition is to be seated,  and I mean seated close to each other.  The conversation is important, the listening look is critical and the wine is important.   The Giulani family photos are lovingly still on the wall.

The servings are wholesome, cooked well and welcome.  Wine is BYO but there is a good in-house selection of craft beer, Peroni on tap and imported beer as well as Aussie stubbies of VB, James Boags and Tooheys.   Il Nido for many years is well known for its liquors, port, Bourbons, rum and digestives and the tradition is still continued after being embedded by Adriano's parents.

There are three important menus - seasonal, black board and takeaway.  Oh yes, it is still best to phone in for your take away orders and then come at your leisure.

On our most recent visit,  there was a unnerving concentration of people walking in and huddling around the inside of the front entrance  - were they waiting for their take aways, or hoping for an unbooked table, or just undecided what to do next?   I recognised  a person from the past but this chap turned his face away once he recognised me, even under the dim reddish light - how sad, it is his baggage.  

The gradually darkening outside soon became solid night fall.   The headlights of turning and parking cars could be seen through the windows.  The chatter continued.  Breads alternated with wines, pizzas, beers, cured meats and mains.  Village life still flourishes.

Risotto, Ragu, cheeses and antipasto are staples, as from the old country, but now served in an upbeat contemporary style.

I recognise Adriano, busy inside the open but long deep kitchen as usual - and also one of his long time staff, a young man with spectacles and serious about his work.  They are both easy to talk to. My pork belly should be shared by three but I have it all by myself, a tad rich.  A mate has the veal, which was not top notch this evening due to supply variations, but we thought it is good for the staff to know.   The bespectacled young man takes this in his stride and I am impressed.

Il Nido Tratorria Pizzeria is located at Shop 1 of 154 Balgownie Road in Balgownie Village NSW, up the slope from the Balgownie Collegians and adjacent to the Bally Pub across the roadway.
Opening hours are from 530pm till late every evening except Mondays and Tuesdays.
Contact +61 2 4284 8664

Costa Azzura Revisited - Fairy Meadow NSW

The penne with prawns turned out to be appetising and full of flavoured sauce.  Thin shaves of Parmesan topped the act.    A fresh grind of black pepper lifted the game from an already well done offering.  It was not overly rich with the tomato based sauce - just right!  Serving was not over loading but good enough to saviour as a starter.

As a friend  remarked on Facebook, "Now, that is what I call a real pizza!"

A serve of salad that has it all in my mind - salty, sour, savoury and Unami.  The sun dried tomatoes were luscious, the Fetta was solid and the greens soaked in the dressing.   And the salty temptations on top.....

Three wafer like layers balanced like a flowering bloom that has been garnished with love.   Each of us took a layer each.  The result  - light, crispy and full of various sensations.  An excellent way to tease the palate at the end of a three course  meal -  it mellows the heart, it lightens any burdens and pleases the mind.

We had a Toblerone cheesecake slice when the Tiramisu was no longer available from the kitchen pantry.  And what  a good alternative choice.  The strawberry on top off set the light creaminess.  The wafer was a visual focus point.  I loved the nutty feel and taste in the main body of the cake.   When shared amongst the three of us, it was not gluttony but a pleasure.






The Costa Azzura Italian Restaurant is located at 71 Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow NSW.
Opening hours are from 5pm every evening except Mondays.
Contact + 61 2  4285 4520