7 years with the Mrs - Meraki Merchants + Restaurant Hubert

I can't believe that it's been 7 years exactly since the Mrs and I started dating. The 25th happens to be a really special day for the Mrs and I since it's the day that we've always devoted to each other without fail. Despite our tradition of celebrating monthsaries, the annual ones do signify a lot more than the monthly ones since they represent the fact that we've made it through another year in each other's lives. Even better, this year, the 25th of February falls on a Saturday! Meaning I didn't have to leave for work and I got to spend the whole day with the Mrs.

We woke up and had a lot of potential plans in place but due to the weather, most of them went out the window. So we lazed around until we decided on the next best thing: breakfast. Thing is, neither one of us really wanted to go too far so we quickly agreed on a local cafe. Both the Mrs and I have been to Meraki Merchants previously but we both went separately and I had never had the opportunity to stay for food. We parked the car right outside (we could have walked but got too lazy) and quickly ordered since both of us knew exactly what we wanted.

I ordered the Sultan's Jaffle which the Mrs had previously had before whereas the Mrs ordered the Mackerel. It's really, really hard not to like a jaffle...crunchy, toasted edges sealing in some form of hot filling like a flat dumpling but even so, this particular jaffle was out of this world delicious. Filled with this tomato based sauce with sujuk, feta and olives, the meal makes for a perfect light lunch/breakfast option as the tart, refreshing and savoury sandwich helps awaken your tastebuds, giving you energy to tackle whatever comes next (be it actual work or just lazing around).

Despite my enjoyment of the jaffle, I do have to say that the Mrs ordered the better (and more substantial) meal with the Mackerel. Slices of toast are served with half an avocado, some labneh and a can of delicious mackerel for a make-your-own-adventure kinda meal. I reckon if we were forced to stick with our own meals, I would end up still craving more food after (I am a massive glutton) whereas if I had ordered the mackerel in the first place, I'm confident I would have been somewhat satisfied...no matter, since I still ended up eating most of the Mrs dish anyway! Also, we got to sample some complimentary sweets which was totally unexpected but very much welcome! If you're in the area, well worth checking these guys out!

So, after getting our tummies filled with delicious food, the Mrs and I went back to the apartment to take some well deserved naps before getting ready for dinner. At roughly 4:30pm, we made our way out to the city by car and were fortunate enough to quickly find some street parking pretty close to our dinner destination: Restaurant Hubert! The Mrs originally had no idea where I had planned to take her, though, she was rather close to finding out when she questioned me on why we'd never gone after seeing that a friend of ours had recently dined there. I tried desperately to brush it off and utilised a bit of misdirection to ensure she didn't find out until the day. I would have also tried to make a reservation for the night but unfortunately, Hubert doesn't take reservations for groups less than 6 so we had to go pretty early and hope that they could accommodate us.

We obviously weren't able to get a table immediately but we did put our names down and were promptly directed to the bar where we were free to grab some drinks and some food first whilst we waited for our table. This actually worked out a lot better for us since we could pace our meal a lot better. We settled down with a glass of rouge for the Mrs and a Nikka Taketsuru for me (somewhat obsessed with Japanese whisky at the moment, I must say) as well as some food to snack on: the Malakoff and the Prime Beef Tartare.

First, I'll start with the Prime Beef Tartare...two words: unbelievably good! I am a sucker for tartare (I see tartare, I order tartare) but this was on a whole new level. There's this unabashed savoury, moreishness to it since it was rich and packed with flavour in classic french fashion. No joke, the dish literally reminded me of some of Sydney's best cheeseburgers. Tender chunks of sliced and diced raw beef that is covered in a classic french-style dressing served with some very well seasoned fries...seriously, nothing better to start your meal with. I know raw meat can throw some people off but if you're game enough to push your boundaries, this is definitely the place to try it.

The Malakoff was another outstanding yet simplistic dish. Literally, when it arrives, the dish can seem a bit underwhelming since all you see is a small brown fried ball on a plate with two slices of pickles but there's actually much more to it. In it's original state, it yields barely any aroma which means you don't really know what to expect but cut it open and the melty gruyere cheese oozes out of this magnificently decadent fried ball of goodness and each bite yields the same rich taste and creamy sensation you'd expect from fondue...magnifique!

We were slowly nibbling on the dishes so as to ensure maximum enjoyment and to spend as much time as possible and near the end of the tartare, we were informed that our table was ready. I quickly shovelled the remaining tartare into my mouth and we moved over to where we would enjoy the rest of our meal.

Quite frankly, I was originally planning on ordering the Cote De Boeuf which would have been a massive 1kg steak but in discussing it with the Mrs, we opted against it since we had already had beef earlier and wanted more dishes to share between us. So between us, we ordered the baguette to start, the Le Grand Aioli, the Lobster Spaghetti and the Bavette Steak to share. Almost immediately after ordering, a basket of warm baguette slices were placed in front of us which was great because at this point, our appetites were in full gear. The baguette was intensely soft and doughy with a really nice yet mellow yeasty flavour to it.

After the baguette came the Le Grand Aoili which consisted of a plate of four mussels and some seasonal vegetables served with a massive plate of aoili. At first, the Mrs and I were somewhat confused about whether or not the vegetables were edible but after trying some, we realised that the vegetables were cooked and definitely edible so we chowed down and finished almost everything. Absolutely everything on the plate went well with the aoili...especially the pickled mussels. There was a certain spiciness to it that made the entire dish rather pleasing and appetising.

Next, came possibly...nay, hands down the BEST lobster spaghetti I've ever had (and I've had a lot). My reaction was literally like this when I had it:

The flavours presented in this dish do not yield at all as the perfectly al dente spaghetti carries lashings upon lashings of this luxurious, velvety bisque-like oil and sauce into your mouth, As the sensation of the flavours start to meld into your tongue, you first taste the butteriness of the sauce and then, you get overwhelmed by the intense savouriness of the lobster based sauce. You bite into each meaty chunk of lobster and find that it's cooked to perfection...not rubbery in the slightest but soft and tender.

To finish, the Mrs and I shared the Bavette Steak and a side of Pommes Anna. In a similar fashion to the Lobster Spaghetti before, this steak does not hold back on flavour. The outside is seared to a perfect brown crust and is seasoned ever so thoroughly. The rich, beefy flavour of the flank steak is only accentuated by the richness of the bordelaise butter and each bite is this wonderfully balanced mix of beef, fat and salt. Pair that with the crispy layered potatoes and creamy sauce of the Pommes Anna and you have, literally, heaven on a plate.

Overall, I think that today has been one of the best anniversaries the Mrs and I have had. We've come a long, long way since we first started dating...being married and living together has only made us closer and better as a couple. We share an equal sense of adventure when it comes to our food and I anticipate (or hope) that we can continue to eat like gluttons very far into the future.

To the Mrs: Thank you for staying with me all these years and thank you for all the good times and happy memories you've given me. Happy 7 years my love....may you stay by my side for many more years to come.

ACME - Rushcutters Bay, NSW

One of the benefits of being a couple is that you can have a differing opinion from your significant other and it can be totally okay!....most days. This logic applies almost in every superficial facet of your life: clothing, music tastes and of course, food. To give you a little context on why I'm going the #deep introduction: I can get somewhat salty (sensitive) when things don't go my way...for example, when I put a lot of effort into planning and thinking about where to take the Mrs on a special day and when it doesn't turn out to be absolutely perfect. In retrospect though, after thinking about it for a few days, our differing opinions about our meal actually helps me to appreciate my experience a lot more.

Such is the case with our recent visit to ACME. Now, to make things clear: I'm not trying to say that we had a bad meal at ACME. In fact, we had a comparatively good time and were very well taken care of but throughout, there were a couple of things that did throw the Mrs off (more on that later). I've personally known about ACME for a while now but the Mrs only really found out about it when we watched the first Sydney based Chef's Night Out video from MUNCHIES. In the video, you sort of get a glimpse of head chef, Mitch Orr prepare the signature dish: the macaroni with pig's head and egg yolk (which he described as sorta being like filipino sisig). Being the proud Filipina she is, she became rather interested in the dish and thus really wanted to try it. Since then, I guess the idea of eating at ACME just kept stewing in our heads, slowly but surely getting us more and more excited about eventually eating there. So, sure enough, the perfect opportunity came up when I was tasked with finding a venue for our Valentine's day dinner.

Unfortunately however, the only option for night was a pre-paid $100 per head dinner for a special chef's "crush me" menu. Not deterred by that fact that we wouldn't be able to try the dish that we'd been craving, I quickly made my reservation and paid for the meal, thinking that "hey, if they're so highly rated and well liked...no matter what they serve, it's gotta be good!". Valentine's day being a Tuesday, the Mrs and I decide to meet in the city after work and head over to Kings Cross station where the restaurant is just a short walk (do not ever try to find parking in the area...near impossible)

We're one of the first couples seated as we walk in 6pm on the dot. To my surprise, we're given an almost ideal position at the restaurant: this little island in the middle of the dining room right by the stairs where we get a perfect spot to watch the dishes come off the pass. The staff are super attentive and make us feel right at home where we quickly get settled, order some drinks and quietly anticipate our meals to come.

First course to come was a small appetiser called Jat'z Amore (such a punny name...I love it!) which consisted of basil pesto, sliced bocconcini, a slightly roasted half of a cherry tomato on a Jat'z cracker. I personally loved this dish as I could see the humor and ingenuity of the name and the pure simplicity of this dish but I believe this is one of the things that threw the Mrs off a bit. As she puts it, she felt it little odd to be served Jat'z biscuits on a $100 per head meal when a box of Jat'z costs $2 at Coles.

After that, the second course to come was fried chicken wings ala Moon Park. Now, I never got to try Moon Park before they permanently closed down but if this was any indication of how good they were, I had a definite feeling that I would have loved to dine there. The outside coating was crunchy and savoury whilst the inside was succulent, juicy and very flavoursome. The coating was intensely umami packed which led me to believe there may have been some sort of soy-based glaze used....or it could have been the sesame seeds.

The third course consisted of figs, stracciatella cheese and wakame. Compared to the previous course, this dish was milder but creamier and in terms of overall, each individual component and flavour profile is allowed to be more pronounced. It was at this point that I was able to identify a bit of an ongoing theme for that night's dinner...the composition of each dish had been thoroughly thought out with each element engineered in a way which highlights the individuality and natural flavours of the ingredients. This alone, to me, justified the premium I paid for the meal.

The course after had to be the absolute highlight of my night: marron with tomato butter and caviar. I mean, come on...how could you not love marron? Truly, it's the royalty of the crustacean world with flavours so intense it rivals the mud crab and with flesh so tender and meaty, you would almost believe that you're eating lobster or scampi. I guess that's why any restaurant who's doing anything spectacular with food is currently serving this stuff....never comes cheap either but always totally worth it. The butter had a really intense and almost bisque-like quality to it which was really accentuated by the herbaceous flavours of the chive and the luxurious yet mellow salinity of the caviar.

The next course was another great dish...spaghetti and meatballs alla "Lady and the Tramp". Perhaps the most impressive part of the dish was how incredibly well prepared the pasta was. Al-dente is not even apt enough to describe the amount of spring and chew the pasta had. The sauce of the pasta had a simplicity and purity about it...sweet, tangy and refreshingly tart. Finally, the meatballs were rich and deliciously meaty...sorta wished there were more of them.

After the carbs came the protein...unfortunately, this is probably why the Mrs didn't enjoy her dinner as much as I had anticipated her to. I made the assumption that she genuinely liked duck meat since she never seems to have a problem eating peking duck at my Parent's place. Turns out, that's the only duck that she seems to like. Traditional western preparation of duck (medium rare) is a bit too gamey and chewy for her liking. As a result...I ended up eating both pieces of the duck but I actually have no problems with it since I'm accustomed to eating French cuisine. I actually found this a rather interesting dish as I could have sworn that there was some Chinese black vinegar used in the sauce....it had a rather familiar pungent fragrance and taste to it which I found really enlightening!

Dessert happens to be where I was a little bit let down. Dessert consisted of two dishes: assorted fruits with champagne jelly as well as a chocolate fudge slice. I'm guessing the intention of the first dessert was to replicate the taste of a flute of high class champagne but I found the jelly to be a bit heavy on the alcoholic flavour. Have it with the fruits though and you start to appreciate the natural sweetness of the fresh produce. The chocolate fudge came as a welcome bit of richness as the deep, bittersweet flavour of cacao really helped round off the meal in a nice way.

Without a doubt, the Mrs and I had a wonderful meal at ACME. Despite not being able to try the dish we had anticipated for some time, it was our (my) choice to proceed with the dinner plans and I can definitely say that I wasn't disappointed in the slightest with the quality and presentation of the items. For the Mrs, I believe that it was truly the duck dish that threw her off and being the frugal, value conscious consumer she is, she's reached the point in her life where it takes more for her to justify the cost of eating out at slightly fancier venues. For me though, I think every dollar I paid at ACME was well justified. In the video Foraged, Mitch explains the difficulties and costs of running a restaurant. Coming from a family raised on my father's hard work as a chef and myself having worked a large portion of my younger years as kitchen staff....I understand the hardships of running restaurants and how little the staff get paid comparative to how hard or how many hours they work. We do live in the 2nd most expensive city in the world so even if it seems like a high premium to pay, I just think of it as paying for the hours of hard work and dedication Mitch and his team put into getting to where they are.