Queenie’s of the Forresters

By talesofatrufflepig in Rave Reviews.... hopefully, Sydney, Truffle Pig Watering Holes No Comments Tags: , , , , , ,

The young pub gurus who we can thank for the Norfolk, The Flinders, the Abercrombie and the Carrington are also the brains behind Surry Hills hottest bar (and bar tenders), The Forresters. Women flock here to flirt with the tatt covered owners, while the men are attracted to the rare sight of a pub filled with females… and food – not sure which are better though.

The pub downstairs are a certain non-pub feel to it though, more like a classic Italian restaurant with plasma TVs, beer on tap and the quint essential smoking area filled with drunken fools out the front. But if you’re hungry, looking for an escape from the busy bar or place to start a big night out, Forresters restaurant is just what you’re looking for!

The menu is huge, casual and full of fun fillings. The pizzas are charred to perfection, thinner than Kate Moss and flavoursome. You can also get Rueben sandwiches made from the daily rosisster meat and a basket of crinkle cut fries covered in pulled pork and melted cheese… Just when I thought fries couldn’t get any better.

If Italiana pub food ain’t your thang, head on up to Queenies, the address’s new addition which is the equivalent to taking a holiday to the Bahamas with your grandma…. In a good way. The food is more tropical than a pineapple, and the décor is more retro than a record. But don’t bother packing your bikini on this holiday – the food is fried, plentiful and absolutely delicious.

For mains we shared the BBQ jerk chicken served with jungle slaw and sweet potato fries and the fried pork burger with pinable, both were HUGE, tasty and were washed down well with the tropical beer, Palmer Cristal. But the highlight of the meal was the cevechi made of snapper, avocado, mango and chilli – tangy, fresh, full of flavour and all devoured with accompanies corn chips – if this is what eating in the Caribbean is like, I need to book my ticket!

Oink Oink,

Truffle Pig.

The Forresters, Surry Hills:

Queenies on Urbanspoon

Queenies , Surry Hills:

The Forresters on Urbanspoon

I Like Kitchen By Mike….

By talesofatrufflepig in Rave Reviews.... hopefully, Sydney No Comments

Do you ever have those days where you can’t decide what you want for lunch and you walk around aimlessly for an hour during your lunch break and settle for something sub-par? Ever wish there was a gourmet cafeteria style eatery where you could pick and choose what you wanted from a long list of amazing lunch options made from fresh, seasonal ingredients? Or, ever wanted to relax on a weekend morning surrounded by beautiful home wares while enjoying a long brunch?

If so, you can rejoice, your prayers have been answered! Kitchen by Mike has teamed up with trendy Swedish designers, Koskela’s warehouse to turn it into a retail slash buffet style café headed up by ex-Rockpool chef Mike McEnearney. The warehouse and foodie haven is located in Rosebery and open for breakfast and lunch daily. Unfortunately I haven’t tried either but I had the pleasure of attending their recent dinner when they teamed with up-and-coming wine label, Match Box Wines.

The night started outside in the garden with beautiful sparkling wine and crostinis served with smashed peas and fat anchovies and the other with goat’s cheese… after tasting both, I became even more excited about what was to come for the main courses. Once we were all seated on two large communal tables (60 people on each) the wine started flowing and the good food continued. Firstly, we were served fresh, house-baked sourdough with butter, dutch carrots and sea salt. I know it might not sound like much but the organic carrots lathered in the creamy butter and dipped in the salt were amazing and was the perfect demonstration that when it comes to great quality produce, all you need is the basics to create big, beautiful flavours.

For the entrée we had “lazy sushi”, just as the name suggests the raw fish, rice and seaweed was placed in disarray over our plate and devoured within minutes. After all this food, we were happy to have a break and talk to our new friends/strangers sitting next to us. With the Match Box Wine matched wines flowing like a rapid, the conversation was also flowing and we had the opportunity to talk to the man behind to wine, who informed us his label made it onto the Bible’s (Gourmet Traveller) best wine list as the up-and-comer, and I can understand why.

The main meal was a lamb hot pot full of veggies, rich in flavour and lick-your-plate material. Thankfully there were plenty of bread and butter to do that so I saved myself the embarrassment. It was served with mash potato, and the large pots were placed on the tables so I could keep going back for more, which I did. Just when I thought I was going to explode, we were served house made peach sorbet as a palate cleanser before we got to indulge in cheese, crackers and dried grapes, the perfect accompaniment to the stunning red we were drinking. A meal doesn’t get much better than that….

Follow them on Facebook or twitter or sign up to their newsletter so you can be informed on when their next dinner will be served – no doubt you will see me there!

The bitter: The location – I would eat here every week if I could

The sweet: All of it, from start to finish

The damage: $120 for as much food and wine you could consume….. not bad at all!

Oink Oink,

Truffle Pig.

Kitchen By Mike on Urbanspoon

New Year, New Beer: January

By talesofatrufflepig in Truffle Challenges 2 Comments Tags: , , ,

January the time of the year when everyone pledges to start over, start fresh and start doing things they have never done before. The same goes for me. 2013 will be a year of trying new things, 313 beers and 52 ciders to be exact! A beer for every day of the week except for Sundays which will be the official day of cider. Why am doing this? Well, ever since craft beer became more trendy than hvaing beard and looking like you haven’t showered, I have become intrigued. The fizzy, amber drink has been a constant throughout history, brought people together, helped people make friends, made people more attractive and been the cause of lots of fun, so why not embrace it? It is a New Year, New Beer.

So over the next 52 weeks I will be sharing my taste testing with all of you, and of course, would love any suggestions on where to get the goods. I dare say my local bar and bottleo will run out of new products for me, so share your hidden brewers and crafty creations with your piggy pal.

So below is the run down of month one:

  1. Moo Brew Pale Ale, TAS: The creative folk at MONA have opened a brewery – giving visitors even more of a reason to never leave! The Moo Brew Pale Ale is, crisp, light and has a citrusy flavour. I enjoyed it so much I ordered two.
  2. Moo Brew Dark Ale, TAS: Not as refreshing as its pale friend, I felt like I was back in high school drinking rocket fuel. If heavy beer is your gear, you are in luck.
  3. Ginger Beer, TAS: I love ginger and I love beer – drinking this is like hosting a party on my taste buds
  4. Four sheds pale ale, TAS: Smooth, fruity, subtle flavour, nice after take and brewed in the bottle
  5. Four sheds, TAS: heavy, bitter, almost tastes like coffee
  6. Anchor steam beer, USA: Bitter, super fizzy, awesome label on a  stubby little bottle
  7. Pear Paragon Cider, TAS: As sweet as sugar, 5% alcoholic
  8. Whale Ale, WA: Chewy pale ale that tastes great with blue cheese, what doesn’t?
  9. Melbourne Bitter, VIC: If you like 2-for-1 this tally will make you smile, not sure if they bitter beer will though.
  10. Vale Ale, SA: My favourite beer to date, subtle hints  of passionfruit and glides down the gullet
  11. Moo Brew Pilsner, TAS: Crisp, hoppy beer that proves pilsner doesn’t need to be made in Pilsner
  12. Moo Brew Hefeweizen, TAS: strong, wheaty and foamy. Can’t say I am in love
  13. Sol, QLD: A wannabe Corona that doesn’t tastes as good, but your wallet loves it
  14. Blumers, IR: Often found on tap, isn’t too sweet and often my poison of choice
  15. Stiegl Goldbräu, GER: crisp, hoppy delicious and considered one of the best in the world. Not disagreeing
  16. Asahi, JAP: Clean, crisp, refreshing and typically Japanes, brewed perfectly
  17. Palmer Cristal, CUBA: the perfect beer for a tropical holiday to Cuba, crisp light and frizzy!
  18. Orion, JAP: refreshing, mild taste and made from fresh spring water behind the brewery
  19. India Pale Ale, WA: hoppy goodness and perfect for washing down a curry
  20. 7 Sheds Pale Ale, TAS: An easy to drink thirst quencher
  21. Rekorderlig (Strawberry/Lime), SWE: Great for a hot day, but far too sweet for my liking
  22. 4 Pines Pale Ale, NSW: Fruity with a bitter after taste and brewed naturally
  23. Coopers Pale Ale, AUS: A wholesome natural beer with a chunky, full bodied taste
  24. Reshers, AUS: not a huge fan, taste a bit like metallic
  25. Liberty Ale: Like a Pale Ale but more hops than a kangaroo
  26. Itaipava, BRA: A Brazilian beer that tastes like purity in a bottle
  27. Little Creatures Pale Ale, WA: Fruity, light and flavoursome, and a favourite
  28. Rekorderlig, Pear, SWE: The answer to a bad mood and a hot day, refreshing and delicious!
  29. Peroni, ITA: Crisp and dry, bellisimo!
  30. Little Creatures Bright Ale, WA: refreshing, plenty of flavour and a hint of apple.
  31. Corona, MEX: A flavoursome Mexican party flavourite that always taste better on a hot day with lime.

Oink oink,

Truffle Pig.

Zucchini & Bacon Slice Recipe….

By talesofatrufflepig in Truffle Pig's Recipes 5 Comments

Zucchini & Bacon Slice Recipe….

 

If you’re like me and lost for what to do for breakfast – waiting something healthy, easy, bread free and free of cereal and sweet yoghurt, I have the answer for you. This slice is jam packed with goodness and perfect on-the-go-breakfasts.

Ingredients:

  • 12 eggs
  • 6 zucchinis
  • 1 onion
  • 3 rashers of bacon
  • 60gm grated cheddar

Instructions:

  • Preheat the oven to 185 degrees
  • Chops the bacon and onion into small bits and sauté on a pan until both are soft
  • Grate cheese and zucchini and place in large bowl with all the eggs
  • Grease a baking try and place all mixture, including bacon and onion into it
  • Place in the oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

Oink oink,

Truffle Pig.

Brisbane’s Best Steakhouses…..

By talesofatrufflepig in Brisbane, Rave Reviews.... hopefully No Comments

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The Morrison

The Morrison is without a doubt, my favourite place in Brisbane, possibly the world, to have a steak. Why you ask? I personally don’t think it is too hard to find a good piece of beef and ‘throw it on the barbie’? It is what the steak is served with that really turns a good meal into a great one. And you know what they say, behind every great steak there is a beautiful pile of mushroom sauce lathered chips behind it. At the Morrison you can get a rump, steak, eye fillet or even a fillet minon teamed with a Caesar salad, beer battered chips, a whole bowl of mushroom sauce with a piece of garlic bread on the side. I dream about this meal often, it is death row worthy. There is not one part of the meal that is healthy, it is without a doubt a heart attack on a plate but it is heaven in your mouth.
Morrison Hotel on Urbanspoon

The Regatta Boat Shed

The Regatta, or some may say the “Regretta” is a river-side Brisbane institution known for its cheap drinks and drunk uni students, but also its famous steakhouse, the Boat Shed. After going under during the floods a couple of years ago, the owners decided to revamp it while it was under construction and it looks far more fancy than I remember it from my days of uni Sunday sessions. The service always seems to be fairly poor here, but the atmosphere and venue pick up the slack. The steaks are both “wet” and “dry” aged and can be seen in the cabinets on display. For something different get it served with their blue cheese and port or beer and brown onion butters… amazing!
Regatta Hotel on Urbanspoon

 

Cha Cha Char

If watching overweight corporate men talk about how great they are while stuffing their self-important faces with steaks and beers is your thing, Cha Cha Char is the place for you. Regardless of the obvious deterrent, the quality of the steaks here is undeniable! You can pick and choose your sides here; each cut is served with a unique gourmet offering. My recommendations is to go for the wagyu eye fillet with Asian slaw and nam jim dressing for something different, it is tangy and won’t leave you with the standard beef bloat most others do.. Prepare to pay a pretty penny because this place ain’t cheap!

Cha Cha Char on Urbanspoon

Breakfast Creek

The ‘brekky creek’ is a meeting place for many. With its numerous bars and lively beer garden, there is always some life in this north side haunt. They are also well known for their steaks, but I would say the atmosphere is better than the food. But when you are 6 beers deep and so hungry you could eat the arse of a low flying duck, the steak will be god sent. They also do $10 steak sandwiches lathered in mushroom sauce which is the highlight for me.
Breakfast Creek Hotel on Urbanspoon

Bravo Bar B Que

When Bravo Bar unveiled its beefy brother, Bravo Bar B Que, steakhouses around the city were shaking in their beef covered boots, and it is no wonder why because this Brunswick Street beefery won the best steak award in 2010 and 2011. The steak is char grilled and delicious, but the sides are out of control. My favourites are the heart stopping selection of, cheddar glazed broccoli cauliflower and bacon, black mushroom risotto and the potato, prosciutto and rosemary gratin – dine with a group and order them all!
Bravo Bar B Que on Urbanspoon

The Norman

There is one way to ruin a pre-feast buzz, and that is lining up for ages waiting to place your order. Thankfully for the Norman, their steaks are well worth the wait and this is easily forgotten once you’re mouth deep in a cow’s behind, the chilli sauce is amazing so I usually get it along with my standard mushroom. To top it all off they serve the serves with a huge Idaho potato jam packed with sour cream and bacon bits… prepare to be put in a food coma!
The Norman Hotel on Urbanspoon

Embers

This is where the best black angus beef goes to die…. Literally. This unassuming Park Road restaurant often flies under the radar with locals keeping this best kept secret all to themselves. All the steaks are sourced from the best producers and are tenderly taken care of right up until they end up in your both with chefs lightly basting them through the whole process. Their eye fillet is the most popular menu item, and it melts in your mouth like an icy pole in Africa. All steaks are served with a baked potato, but definitely opt for the chips instead and try there delicious blue cheese sauce.
Embers Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Deery’s at the Story Bridge

Pubs and steaks are like rum and coke – always better when they are together. So what better place is there to enjoy a steak than at one of Brisbane’s best known and loved pubs, the Story Bridge Hotel. Unlike the rest of the refurbished digs, Deery’s has a bit of old Brisbane charm with the walls adorned in tacky steakhouse memorbillia. It is noisy and packed with families, but you’re not at a pub to have a quiet low key dinner. Try the trio of mustards with your steak, and wash the hot one down with a one of their 100 wines founds on their list.
Deery's (Story Bridge Hotel) on Urbanspoon

Other outstanding steak restaurants I have previously blogged about:
Moo Moos Bar + Grill
Vintaged Bar + Grill
Montrachet
Ecco

Oink Oink,

Truffle Pig.

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