Little Lauren adventuring on...

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Marvelous March!

March in Sydney isn't everyone's favourite month, for one the holidays are officially over and it tends to rain a lot. But people who like food - read as EVERYONE - can now delight because this depressing month is depressing for everyone - even restaurants!

I know this sounds like a bad thing but believe me, it's brilliant! For you and very much so for me.

Like retail slugs after Christmas, restaurants slug after summer and to help them get over that low patch the Merivale conglomerate have created a food sale called March into Merivale! Through out the month they hold numerous foodie and drink events at each of their venues. One of my favourite is the $33 meal deals at ALL the restaurants including the 3 chef hat wonder Est. I've already taste tested est. and Palings for you.


But it's not just through tickling your frugal funny bone that Merivale have lifted March - they also have some pretty spectacularly kitsch and therefore amazing ways of show casing their restaurants.


Earlier this week, we trotted off to the European Laneway. Upon entering you were presented with your food passport which had 8 tokens so you could explore the culinary delights of the UK, France, Italy, and Spain. Most foods and drinks are 1 token and for the "mains" it was a whole 2. It was a brilliant, if not crowded night of food and drink. I love any opportunity for prosecco and empanadas. Next cooking dumplings with Mr Wong!


But this March is even more marvelous because the Argyle Exchange has launched and is fighting back with even more meal deals. REVEL in this food war people, it is nothing but good news for us!
Argyle is offering $25 lunches and $35 dinners at it's group of venues all cozied up together in the Rocks.


I'm off next week to trial Sake's $35 dinner.. I can't wait!

Happy eatings xx

DIY Valentine Cards

Valentine's day is just around the corner! To be honest, I'm not really much of a Valentine girl... mainly because it's the day before my boyfriend's birthday so it's generally pretty low key. Usually I get a little joke present or hand made trinket. This year I decided to opt for something a little more traditional a home made card.

Harry has been dabbling in paper cut recently so I stole his equipment, added my essential glitter and got to play with my new stamp set!

All you need are some plane cards, some craft glue, glitter, and a sharp craft knife. 

I opted to do something really simple as I'm no good with the knife, so I cut a heart window using a "stencil" I found online. I used the same stencil to cut out a heart shape with some spare scrap-booking paper. I glued the heart into the window and stamped on a little "love" message (these ones are for my bestie's)

As you can see my cutting was a little shabby so I decided to cover the the edge with some glitter.

The final card is for Harry so I decided to bling it out! For that card I cut out the stencil just this same then carefully painted glue through the window. I put the glitter on the outside of the card first and then applied the glitter with the card open so not to mix it with the front glitter.

I plan on pairing these cute little cards with some sweet sweeties.

Hope your Valentine's Day is all you wish!

xx

Business Time!

Something really exciting is happening. It's happy dancing time!

Movida

I was very excited when I learned a few months ago that Movida had opened in Sydney. Obviously I was even more excited to actually eat there!

Pedron Peppers

Next to Mumm Mann, Movida Sydney has a sleek interior with cheeky touches. Cookie cutters provide a silver accent (although I'm not sure you are meant to notice they are cookie cutters) to the mostly dark wood and black interior. There is a central bar area with tables floating around the island. The service is super attentive and very friendly, full of fun facts, suggestions, and remarkable knowledge of the dishes. There is usually a bit of a wait, so you may need to pop around to one of the nearby wine bars while you wait.

We started our night with some Pisco Sours, served in the cocktail glass with three drops (literally) of bitters it provides a bit of bite to start out your night - BOOM rhyme. To accompany our drinks we ate the mixed meat platter and the pedron peppers. I LOVE THE PEDRON PEPPERS! So addictively good, you can pop them like pop corn - be warned about 1 in 10 are actually a bit spicy all the others are very, very mild.

We then followed up with this amazing prawn and scallop dish - which was substituted with mussels on our visit**, the lamb shoulder Cordero Moruno (Whole shoulder of Lamb marinated in Moorish spices cooked in our Josper Charcoal Oven), and Cecina (Air cured Wagyu Beef with Truffle Foam & a Poached Egg)

The stand outs: Prawn and Mussels

Stand out: Cecina

The prawn dish and the Cecina were true standouts, such beautifully made food with so much taste and texture. I had to stop myself from slurping up the sauce of the prawns. The dish was light and filling.

The Cecina was not so light but gorgeously silken and rich. You eat it similarly to a steak tarte and it is a messy delicious glob.

By the time I got to the lamb I was feeling a little sluggish, and while it was rich and perfectly cooked,  I was dying for some fresh salads and green leaves... this is probably where the menu was lacking. They have some very good salads but when you are eating such rich mains it would be nice for just a simple green salad so you don't feel so blergh.

As the blergh feeling couldn't be prevented, I went all out with dessert ordering the churros.

The churros themselves were surprisingly light, considering they were fried. The chocalate sauce is like a really dark and bitter chocolate soup. I personally would have preferred a little more milk/sugar but I'm not a dark chocolate person...

I had only heard good things about Movida in Melbourne and Movida Sydney did not dissapoint. Each dish was near perfect. I would go back to Movida in a heart beat, but would opt for a series of small dishes unless we had some big eaters with us!



To catch my most recent culinary adventures head on over to littlelauren.com

**Confession, I cannot for the life of me remember what the prawn dish was called... I really want to say it was on the specials as I couldn't find it on the menu - a thousand apologies! Better note taking next time... 

Catch of the Day!

I love seafood, but I've never been a huge fan of the traditional fish and chips... When I say never, clearly I mean since I could no longer eat all the fried food I want without caring, but same, same. So I was ecstatic to discover (or re-discover*) Fishmongers (Mongers) Byron Bay!

In my mind Mongers is fish and chips with a Japanese inflection. The food is fresh, service fast, and the servings generous. At first I was a little overwhelmed with the menu but it soon became clear that each main comes with the choice of three or four side options, as in you can get the BBQ octopus with chips or salad or rice etc etc. 

We ordered grilled prawns, BBQ octopus with veggie tempura, salt and pepper squid, and one of the fish of the day with a pepper crust. 

I'm a sucker for sauces and loooved their octopus, the tempura is super tasty and full of nice surprises... corn on the cob tempura... Super duper mushroom Tempura - COME ON GUYS!

The serves come with loads of chips so we ended up ordering only side of chips between four and it was plenty! The salads also came with corn and everything was sprinkled with the most awesome "kumera"(layman's translation: sweet potatoe) chips. 

I was excited to find the Monger also has cafes in Bondi and Manly, so can't wait to try them on for size!

Happy eating! xx

*I had many moons ago stumbled across Mongers on a fam holiday.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2013! How exciting! I love the new year, it's full of hope and ambition! 

This year my friend's and I started our year out relaxing in Byron Bay, unfortunately I was smacked in the face with reality today after sitting an exam for my summer school class. 

I promise to be back next week with more tid bits and food stuff! yum! 

xx

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all have a very happy holidays! Merriment and joy abound!

xx

Best meals in the House!

Yum Pla Duk Fu

House is the sister restaurant of one my all time faves - Spice I Am. I have been a couple of times before and each time is enjoyable, although I am the first to admit that I find their menu daunting. 

Unlike it's sisters House serves the unique food from north-eastern Thailand. The restaurant is relaxed and approachable, butted up with Triple Ace bar behind central, almost next door to Spice I Am, Surry Hills. Because House is effectively in the bar's beer garden it doesn't do BYO but you can buy drinks at the bar and bring them to your table - which for groups has the added bonus of beer jugs! It also instantly eases the initial panic from reading "Cash Only” on the menu, as like any good local Triple Ace has an ATM - triple bonus!

House is not a place to go if you are expecting run of the mill Thai food. Its menu is versatile and has an extensive list of soups and salads sure to please. Like its sisters House is sure to set your mouth on fire so if you can't handle heat... I'd probably stick with the grilled and fried portion of the menu. 

Although this is the third time I've been here the menu still scares me, so I cast my mind back to my copious research, which I generally conduct before heading out (unless the name is stellar like Bling Bling Dumplings - but I later came to regret that decision) and remember heaps of chatter about some bird soup. There was no bird soup, so we went for the next best option egg embryo soup aka Tom Yum Powng Kai. Part of the reasoning was neither of us knew what egg embryos were but wanted to seem culturally aware.... 

Harry chose our second dish based on a previous experience, Yum Pla Duk Fu (The Cat Fish Salad). 

Upon ordering the waiter mentioned a number of times spice, so I was prepared... or so I thought. 

Tom Yum Powng Kai

Thinking I had outsmarted my previous mistake of ordering a papaya salad almost too hot for me to enjoy, I was shocked with the first mouthful of the salad. Lucky there was some rice to cool my girdle. That aside, the Catfish salad was honestly my favourite thing I have ever tried at House. It was akin to delicious, fried, catfish fairy floss that you can't stop eating... ever. Despite the fact that your lips are burning and your tongue is momentarily enlarged. 

The soup was not nearly as frightening as images conjured up when you tell someone you are going to eat embryo. Turned out just to be egg yolks... perhaps fertilised egg yolks with the beginnings of a tiny animal - so a vegetarians worst nightmare. The soup was beautiful and fragrant. It had copious amounts of ginger and those delicious mushrooms, I want to say Enoki but I could be wrong. Ultimately the yolks weren't my favourite things in the whole world... I didn't love the texture, I was expecting something more soft boiled but that did nothing to stop me from eating/drinking the whole bowl! 

The great thing about House is you can go crazy and order unique and exquisite dishes like the Tom Yum Powng Kai but you can also cater for the less adventurous with their less frightening fried and grilled options. Although we didn't order these last night - as there were only two of us - we've tried them before and they are consistently delicious. Ultimately I think this was our best ordering so far.

Of course if you are going to House for the first time (and have a huge appetite or big group) you must try the Better Than Sex (discretely referred to as BTS) for dessert. It is a party in your mouth... seriously gasp worthy... I can't think of anything else to say that can't be interpreted as a sex joke so... yeah

  Happy eating xx


To catch my most recent culinary adventures head on over to littlelauren.com

Secret Santa!

Hello all!

So very excited to share with you my most amazing Secret Santa gift everrr!! Check it out! At a very festive Christmas party in my very festive handmade snowflake outfit. 

Last night I put them to great use with individual lasagnas - DELICIOUS! I love Christmas! xx

Weekend wrap up

Life lessons 1

I'm not one for me time. It always seems like an amazing idea before I get bored, watch a terrible movie, and end up moping about all the lies Hollywood feeds us...

This week I have been helping out one of my  auntie's by dog sitting her lil' pups and house sitting. It's a great house, like a palace for one with all the perks 35 years of hard work can buy you, so although not a realistic depiction of what my life will be like when I move out it's still pretty fun.

Although I only finished up exams a couple of days ago I have begun to really enjoy my alone time... (read alone as me, two pups, and the kardashians...) It's nice not having any expectations, doing things in your own time. I've become rather responsible. Without prompting I do loads of washing, water the garden, clean up copious amounts of dog poo, and of course it has given me an oportunity to practice my cooking.

Turns out I'm ace at a lamb roast, not so ace at the accompanying potatoes. My salads are getting stellar, pasta is pretty good, and I am handy with nearly turned vegies... grilled zucchini saves the day again!

But mostly, I feel a sense of accomplishment. This feeling is slightly dampened by the fact I paid $200 to do a diet and exercise program of which I have done nothing yet... but still acomplished.

Yesterday, to celebrate my 4 days of freedom before summer school I went to the beach. By myself. I even swam. I felt so relaxed and rejuvinated it totally didn't matter that my entire back was burnt!

Oh boy...

This has been my last two weeks... 

What diet?

How to survive whilst studying on a Saturday....night.

Study Splurge

A few weeks ago I signed myself up to take part in a fitness challenge in the hopes of developing a long lasting love for athleticism that will nearly match my love of food... you know to balance things out. 

The challenge hasn't started yet, but I decided I should start watching what I eat anyway... then I went to Gowings (twice), and ate hot chips for 6 meals in one week (note I said for not with). To add to this snowballing disaster I am also studying for exams... and we know what that means. Although I have nearly completed all my Christmas shopping without leaving my desk I am aaaalways hungry!

Last night after a pretty pathetic "day" of study, I decided to wallow in self pity and fry me up something tasty!

To make these takes I'd estimate about 15-20 minutes, with prep, cooking and  some cleaning time included. Gather your ingredients and go to town. 

Ingredients: Zucchinni flowers, fetta, mascarpone, parsley, corn flour, plain flour, soda water and possible Parmesan if you are feeling cheeky!

1. Roughly chop about 50 g of fetta.
2. Mix it in a bowl with two generously heaped tablespoons of mascarpone and a handful of roughly chopped parsley
3. Add salt and pepper to taste. 
4. Open up the zucchini flowers as delicately as possible and stuff in the mixtures (I found using my hands was the most efficient, and messiest) - you only need a small teaspoon of filling in each flower leaving a little room at the top to twist the flower close.
5. In a separate bowl make a tempura batter, which I found by googling, all the recipes are pretty much the same and call for 1/2 cup corn flower, 1/2 cup plain flour, whisked egg, and a cup of chilled soda water, mix the soda water and egg together before adding the dry ingredients - I also grated some Parmesan cheese into the mixture.
6. Heat a generous amount of oil in a deep fry pan, please not I pan fried not deep fried but the choice is yours - also I would consider baking but I'll have to try it out first and report back to you. 
7. Dip and fry! Yummy, yummy, yummy

 

I paired these with more fried food, but that wasn't my fault... I promise! They would be also fair well as a meal in themselves or with baked chicken. 

Happy eating! xx

Secret admission: my soda water was not chilled... naughty me.

Weekend Wrap Up

Saturday....

Sunday....

Check out my study hair... HOT!

  Riveting weekend

Melbourne Cup Lunch at Gowings Bar and Grill!

I cannot begin to describe my excitement when I found out that we were heading to Gowings Bar and Grill for Melbourne Cup! Firstly, it was my first ever Melbourne Cup celebration - due to the bittersweet fact that my exams have not even started yet! and IT WAS AT GOWINGS BAR AND GRILL!!!!!

When you arrive in the hotel you are whisked up to the restaurant by the VERY attentive staff. The lifts have sensors that change music depending on the "crowd," I was soon reminded I was alone when the lift started serenading me with a rendition of "All by myself." Luckily I met up with my friends upon exit to alay that creeping feeling of utter uselessness... you know this one:

After a short tour of the facilities we entered the Gowings Bar and Grill. We started our lunch with some exquisite bubbles and a selection of entrees. Actually, we had all the starters! My favourite by faaar was the House Made Ocean Trout Gravlax Tartare. It was delightfully fresh with the surprising pops of Trout Roe in every mouthful! The Steak Tartare Pasture Fed Ox/Beef was a close second - it was just soooo morish! Although not a starter per se you are offered bread and butter, which I know is a rookie's trap but I love bread so I fall for it every time... anyway side track the butter was actually amazeballs. I mean really it was like cheesy or something, moral of the story it deserves an honorable mention and a picture!

For my main I chose to have something off the grill, partly to be healthy and partly because the waitress recommended it. The meat was lovely and tender and cooked perfectly. As with all more, how shall we say, fine dining(?) restaurants they tend to cook meat a lot pinker than we do at home so I asked for medium which came out to be what I would consider medium-rare, which was exactly what I wanted. The steak itself is served quite bare with cheesy onions (amazing! just don't bank on picking up later on) and condiments such as mustard etc. I paired it with a hand full of shoe string fries, wilted spinach, and the Iceberg, Red Peppers, Ortiz Anchovy, Seeded Mustard Dressing side salad.

I could eat that salad forever! It was fantasticly sour and generally delicious BUT if you don't like anchovies, don't even go there as they provide a fair chunk of the flavour.

Steak with the sides - yummay yummay

Finally we shared a number of desserts. As I'm not a huge sweet eater I settled to taste just one. The German Doughnuts. To be frank you could give me a piping hot cinnamon Dunkin' Donut on a plate and I will cry tears of joy so I was pretty chuffed with this dessert. It looked rustic, home made and most importantly had a the crispy edges. The only thing I missed was a glass of milk for dunking!

Gowings Bar and Grill is lovely but it is not a cheap place you are looking at spending upwards of $51 per person for two courses plus drinks. They also have an extremely limited number of vegetarian options, especially for those of you that don't eat creatures of the sea (although, I'm sure if you called in advance you could get something sorted). 
 
Overall it was a lovely experience. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the decor, and the food. If I could go again I would, but I would order something I couldn't make with ease... The Beef Bouginion! My dinning neighbour gave me a mouthful of hers and tell you me I will be packing away those pennies to try the whole dish! Yummy!

Oh and as you may expect the whole excitement of the Melbourne Cup led to some photos being less than amazing quality but I hope you can still see all the deliciousness!

Happy Eating xx

To catch my most recent culinary adventures head on over to littlelauren.com

Jap's Table Don

I know it's a little unconventional to do two write ups on one place but I have since returned to Jap's Table an embarrassing amount of times and just HAVE to share it with you!

I think, if possible, I am more in love with this little place then I was before. Upon returning - in costume no less, I trialled the rice dishes (or don). 

These little babies set you back $11.50 and are nicely presented like little presents. They arrive in a neat lunch box and half the joy is just anticipating what's under the lid! We tried both the Salmon don and Pork don - delicious!

The salmon is served sashimi style and cool on top of a bed of warm rice with salmon roe. The pork is grilled and fresh with a yummy marinade. Both are amazing! Our friends tried the Yakitori don which is the chicken version which is essentially the yakitori skewers (sans skewer) on a bed of rice!


If you are lucky enough to go when they have Wagyu yakitori order as many as you can! They are gorgeously succulent and tender! 

Rave, rave, rave!

Happy Eating xx


To catch my most recent culinary adventures head on over to littlelauren.com