Outback Steakhouse Australia Event - North Strathfield, NSW

So this sudden resurgence of my motivation to write is...odd. My last post was at the end of August (almost 2 months ago) and though I may have mentioned here and there why I suddenly stopped, I never went into full detail. This sudden hiatus was caused by a multitude of factors but mainly, something had happened between someone else and I that I thought it best not to mention but regardless...it made me lose faith in the community (of food bloggers). Let's just say: try not to meet your heroes...they probably won't be who you expected them to be.

For a while, I was out of it and that, compounding with the increased momentum at work...I became really, really dejected. I really thought it was all over for me...then I got invited to an event by Outback Steakhouse Australia.

I mean, I'm not in it for the events but...it's Outback Steakhouse. That name may only mean an Australian themed American restaurant to most but amongst the Mrs' circle...it's the communal hangout where friendships and good times are forged. People in the north western community gather around the Parklea branch like a community hub...first jobs, gossip, news and occasionally, lunches where you ask for permission to marry people are had there. So I had serious bragging rights when I could say that we were personally invited to attend an event.

We originally assumed that it was just a small event over drinks but oh, we're we so wrong. The turnout was surprisingly big and despite all that, it felt really tight nit. We got to see someone we knew and got to meet a some new people who were really, really nice! Shoutouts to Drool Worthy World! It was really nice meeting the both of you and we can't wait to see you again at another event.

Now, the unfortunate thing is that it's been some time since the event so I can't clearly recall every detail however, I still have the photos from that night and you know what they say...a picture speaks a thousand words:

Needless to say, there was plenty to eat, drink, share and snap so the event turned out to be a really, really lovely evening. We even got a signature Outback Steakhouse mug to take home as a prize which was really an added bonus. Overall, the Mrs and I had a wonderful time enjoying Outback Steakhouse's phenomenal hospitality. Not that we didn't already know they were amazing but this experience really just cemented the spot they had in our hearts as long-time, loyal customers.

Yakitori Yurippi - Crows Nest, NSW

I really can't believe that it's been almost a month since my last blog post...I mean, how did they time pass so quickly? I guess life for us has just gotten that hectic that I hadn't had the time to sit down and reflect but I now find myself in a position where I can sit quietly and reminisce about the most AMAZING (I mean amazing) dinner I had for my birthday. Despite claiming not to have planned anything in celebration of my birthday, the Mrs had actually booked a table for the two of us to go to a place that I've wanted to go to for some time now: Yakitori Yurippi.

I love places like Yurippi...humble, homey and welcoming small eateries that offer amazing food for relatively little money. The decor is like any authentic Japanese izakaya and the eclectic crowd shows it...a family out for a nice dinner, a group of old friends catching up over drinks or a young couple (like us) flirting and enjoying each others company. Everyone is welcome and everyone will be able to find something they enjoy. We arrive relatively early for our booking and are one of the first guests seated. Immediately, I notice the extensive menu of drinks (I'm a sucker for Japanese whisky) and the small but concise list of savoury items you can order. At $2.90 per skewer (most skewers), every item is an absolute steal!

I start off with a glass of Mars on the rocks whilst the Mrs chooses to have the Oolong high. My Mars is crisp, sweet and oh-so-refreshing! I love the fact that so many places are stocking and appreciating Japanese whisky nowadays and it's even better when they serve it with an ice sphere. The Mrs Oolong high is still a bit too strong for her but it is very mellow. The distinct taste of the Oolong tea really helps smooth over the alcoholic content and brings out a very lovely characteristic.

 

Shortly after our drinks came, our food quickly started to arrive at the table one after another. First to come was the chicken karaage. Seriously, I kid you not, I've had my fair share of karaage but this, hands down, has to be one of the best. So juicy and flavoursome on the inside yet crunchy on the outside. It may have soaked up a bit too much oil in the fry but you don't really care because the marinade penetrated the meat so well that you are just overwhelmed by how moreish and delicious the chicken is. No mayo or citrus needed...just pure poultry indulgence.

Then after that came our dish of small oden items. To sample as much as you can, it's always best to order a little bit of everything and we definitely did not hold back. Eggs, chikuwa fish cake and radish with a rather nice broth, all of which were nice to have with a smidge of Japanese hot mustard.

As I said earlier, the items came quick, hot and fast and before we finished our first bite of the oden, our gyoza and first plate of kushimono came! The gyoza had just the right amount for sharing and as you can see in the picture below, had an amazingly crunchy skirt. The crackling-like skirt almost stuck to your teeth as you chewed which makes me suspect they used rice flour instead of plain flour for the gruel.

For the kushimono, we ordered pork belly, chicken cartilage and chicken skin. When ordering certain items, you have a choice of two flavours: salt or soy. We decided to try one skewer of each flavor for the pork belly and to be honest, though the soy was really nice with it's sweet yet savoury attribute, the salt really, really stole the show as the salt helped bring out the natural rich porcine flavour of the belly fat. The cartilage was a great snack as it offered a nice contrast of textures before moving on to the most desirable skewer: the chicken skin. Charred to a perfect crisp yet supple in some parts, each stretch weaved over itself to capture the oils and flavours in the nooks and crevices...if you visit, it is imperative that you order this.

On our second plate of kushimono, we had another skewer of the pork belly, some miso ox tongue and two skewers each of the chicken thigh. The miso ox tongue was really tender and beefy though it could have done with a bit more of the sauce. The way it was applied made it hard for the sweet and nutty miso sauce to stick to the meat. The chicken thigh was cooked really, really well: tender, juicy and so amazingly savoury...I could go all night, skewer after skewer and not be bored.

Then we had something that was surprisingly delicious and I seriously regret not ordering more: the pork jowl. Charcoal grilled until the exterior is crispy yet yielding a gelatinous snap, the three pieces of meat almost taste like pork flavoured butter when eaten as it melts and seaps into each of your tastebuds, overwhelming them with a sense of elation and momentary bliss before you realise...there's no more. Mental note to self: order more next time.

Another interesting skewer we had was the bacon wrapped mochi. Tasted like torched, unsweetened marshmallows wrapped in salty, smokey bacon. Though not my favourite item that we ordered, the Mrs thoroughly enjoyed it for which I am glad.

Another skewer that I had high expectations of but didn't exactly satisfy was the wagyu beef. Very, very tender and rich but...slightly lacking in meatiness and char.

Then came the thing that blew everything out of the water. A few years back, I'd visited Hong Kong and went to Yardbird. I was keen to try their chicken meatball (tsukune) but it was so packed that we couldn't get a table and it didn't work out. Since then, we've been fortunate enough to have many places borrow that formula and open up in Sydney. That said, until that night, I had still yet to try the famous chicken meatballs on a skewer. But when I did, oh man, there was no going back. Soft and juicy chicken mince (with some cartilage thrown in for good texture and measure) that's charred and smokey on the outside but so mellow and crazy delicious on the inside...served with this umami packed dipping sauce that has a 63 degree egg gently floating on top of it. Mix it all up so that the yolk, white and sauce cling onto the meatball...take a bite and literally ascend into chicken heaven. It was so, so, so good that I ordered seconds.

By this point, the Mrs and I were quite full so we ordered some last snacky items to round off the meal. Unfortunately, as they were getting quite busy, we had to vacate our table soon (we were part of the first round on a Friday night) but no biggie! We had so far thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the service was so fantastic that we didn't care. I do admit though...I would have wished I could have spent my whole evening there gorging away. But alas, our last few orders came and it was time to wrap up. The scallops with kombu butter were tasty but could be something saved for the seafood lovers and the veges (although cooked perfectly) could have been substituted for more chicken thigh and meatballs...ok, I admit it, the other items were amazing as well but I just wanted more time to enjoy the meat. The Japanese omelette though is a must order....so warming. Literally, the perfect way to end the dinner.

As I reluctantly left the establishment, I noticed that the outside had quickly formed a rather large line. Whilst I'm unsure as to whether or not the line was for Yurippi or the yakiniku place next door, I'm convinced that if I had such an amazing time there, the line must have been for Yurippi. I have never been more impressed with the decor, service, staff, quality of the food and the value that we recieved. Inclusive of the drinks and almost 40 items between the two of us, our bill only racked up to $140 so in retrospect, I should have gone HAM. No worries, after this experience, I'll take any excuse and any invite to go again *wink wink nudge nudge*

Mama's Buoi - Surry Hills

As winter comes into full swing, we find ourselves at the end of another school term. What this normally entails is a fun filled celebration with the Mrs and her education posse. Last week was no exception as we all got into our 'end-of-term' best and headed out to the Sydney foodie's mecca, Surry Hills. One of the Mrs workmates had suggested we check out Mama's Buoi (which was a very welcome suggestion, always up for some Vietnamese food).

What I neglected to remember was that it was Friday....at one of the most popular restaurants in Surry Hills. As soon as I had parked my car, I headed over early to the already packed out destination and tried my luck. My request for a 6 person table was answered with a playful laugh from the maitre d' which pretty much answered my question, but our story didn't end here as the same party member who made the suggestion had recently enjoyed a lovely 40 pax function there (and she says that's what got us the table)...score!

After being seated at one of the open air tables in the back which really wasn't that cold at all despite what we were warned about. We were promptly served by a delightful service staff member (who we later learned ran the place!). She even offered to get our orders out quicker which was a lovely gesture. I can honestly say I haven't had service nearly as good as at Mama's Buoi. Our drinks came first and then not long after, our food. Our night was off to a spectacular start.

For drinks, the Mrs and I decided to be fancy and order cocktails. I chose to have the Lychee and Watermelon Martini and the I chose the 'A Day in Ha Long Bay' for the Mrs. The Martini was refreshingly sweet yet didn't smother the taste of the alcohol but instead made it a much easier drink to sip and enjoy. I have to admit that on this occasion, I chose the better drink for the Mrs (...as I had intended). The Ha Long Bay had ample tartness from the green mango and lime which was complemented rather well by the green apple liqueur and from memory, a slight fizz that drew out the drink. The Mrs and I were thoroughly impressed with our drinks.

Our friend had ordered Thit Ko which was a pot/bowl of caramelised pork belly and eggs braised in a coconut juice. I unfortunately couldn't bring myself to ask if I could try any (the Mrs and I ordered a lot of food) but couldn't stop myself from staring at it as he ate it. The layered and fatty cubes of pork belly sat in a gravy-like sauce which I could only assume would have been heavenly what with it's abundant amount of aromatics floating around.

The Mrs ordered a Mixed Skewer platter which came with three skewers of beef, pork and chicken. This was also served with lettuce cups, pickles and a dark, savoury sauce called Nuoc Mam. The beef wasn't my personal favorite and judging by which skewers were left till the end, it wasn't the Mrs favourite either. It was tender but lacking in a bit of fat which meant it wasn't really that charred and didn't have a potent flavour of beef. The pork was better though with it's fatty bits of soft meat and delicious lemongrass marinade. The best was definitely the chicken which was grilled to a perfect char on the outside. The meat was delicately sweet and juicy which accentuated the whole dish. I was a really big fan of the sauce (big flavour hit of liver pate in it) but as the Mrs doesn't like liver, she opted to avoid the sauce.

I ordered the Pho (as I typically would...noodles anytime, anyday) and I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much from the Pho but the broth was really aromatic which was a delightful surprise! The Mrs also enjoyed the thickness and the snap of the rice noodles. I would have preferred to have the broth hotter in temperature but overall, it was a decent package. For the price they charge and relative to the size of the bowl, a regular Pho connoisseur might be a little disappointed but take it as an interpretation of the Vietnamese classic and you'll be able to take it for what it is...a great bowl of noodles.

As a side, the Mrs and I also ordered the pork spring rolls which I have to say, were absolutely delicious. The wrapper/skin almost had a dumpling-like consistency with it's springy and chewy texture. This is probably due to the conscious choice of using rice paper is the spring rolls wrapper. This really helped in contrasting the crunch from the fried exterior and also helped to bring out the savouriness of the pork and fillings. 

I won't really go into the details of the rest of the night because frankly, it was just a great night out. But it wouldn't nearly have been as good if we didn't start it off with the delicious culinary delights we were able to have at Mama's Buoi. Absolutely brilliant service paired with amazing food and home-style Vietnamese food done really well makes Mama's Buoi a MUST return destination.