2012 ~ Aroi Me By Amanda Jiang

Thursday 19 April 2012

Kobe Jones - King Street Whalf Highly Recommended

Ah Kobe Jones, it's just nice to even mumble the name. They located in our prestigious King Street Wharf, very accessible even for customer who drives.

I bought this 11 course digestion on http://www.groupon.com.au/, if you are interested in the future, just keep your eye out for the deal. Please read terms and conditions carefully to avoid any unhappy expereience.

NUMBER ONE SPECIAL (Our favorite!!)

Crab salad with avocado and Hiramasa kingfish baked in secret sauce

When the waitress served us the dish and told us this is Number One Special, we were wondering why such infancy name. After we tasted, all the seafood and their secret creamy sauce just exploded in our mouth. It was that good!

SIZZLED SASHIMI CARPACCIO

Salmon sashimi Carpaccio with wasabi pepper sauce

We were still confused as why the Number one special was served before this subtle sashimi carpaccio dish. Maybe it's to wake up our taste buds to experience more of the rest of digestation. It's very tasty and smooth, definitely top quality sashimi.

SEAFOOD POKE

Hawaiian style sashimi cubes in poke marinade

I was too excited by the first two dishes and didn't expecting to follow by a vegitable set. The sashmi was very nice.

TUNA TATAKI KOBE JONES STYLE

Black pepper-coated tuna in special cream sauce

I love this different version of Tataki. It mixed with sweet chili sauce and their special cream sauce, very flavorsome and well thought.

SPICY WAGYU TATAKI ROLL

Wagyu tataki roll with vegetables served with onion soy dressing

I must apologise, I totally I had eaten this after I saw the picture back home. I am sure it was nice just wasn't stand out as others.

ALASKAN CRAB

Grilled Alaskan crab in the shell with fresh lime

This is the highlight!!!

We haven't had crab meat from the shell for a while, imagine the face expression we all had after first bite into this awesome Alaskan crab - soooooo good! Their meat was fresh, sweet and cooked to perfection. The density of the meat was between it still holds together after removed from shell but falls apart and melts away in your mouth. So delicious!

VOLCANO ROLL

Served with oven-baked scallops, crab salad and special cream sauce

If this is your first time visit Kobe Jones, 2 dishes you must try one is Number one Special another on it's Vocano Roll. The complicity of the mixture flavour is fantasic. Every bite you will have bits of baked scalops mixed with crab salad, fish roe and served with loads of cream sauce served and touch of dark soy sauce.

VEGETABLE TEMPURA

Seasonal vegetable tempura served with dipping sauce

CHICKEN KARA AGE

Marinated chicken with teriyaki sauce and chilli mayonnaise

WAGYU HOT ROCK

Self-cooked seasoned Wagyu with two dipping sauces

This is more of presentation win-over-heart dish. You wipe the hot stone with so lard that evenly distribute oil over the surface.

Then place wagyu beef on the stone cook to your preference.

You could cook mushrooms together as well, the touch of residule beef flavor on the stone in BBQ mushroom was just delicious.

OYATSU OKASHI

Executive Chef’s special dessert

Where is it?

Kobe Jones

Located at King Street WharfWaterfront dining with an all weather balcony

Indoor and outdoor restaurant seating

Semi-private areas for groups and functions

Unique and creative menus

Opening hoursLunch: Monday to Friday 12 noon to 3pm

Open for lunch Christmas Day and Mother's Day

(closed for lunch on other public holidays)

Dinner: Every night from 6pm (365 days a year)

Tel: 9299 5290

Follow them on: http://www.kobejones.com.au/sydney/

Cafe Pacifico - Mexican in Darlinghurst * highly recommended*

Before we ever been to Cafe Pacifico, 10/10 people told us "we loved that place!". During new year period, they're all booked out by functions, we had to wait for 5 weeks prior to our visit. Finally today is the day!

You will not miss the red building once you are on the right street.

At first we thought, the restaurant is located next to FOOD SOCIETY? They must be good!

Found out later, Food Society is a restaurant next door.....^^ Anyhow, moving on.

The restaurant is upstairs, once you walk in there are menus display in a small window on your left. That says "You have found us! Welcome!"

As you walk up, the signs will lead you to the restaurant

Don't be scared tricked by their small door way, the restaurant is huge inside.

As soon as you walk in, you're trapped by their intriguing traditional decorations. It feels like a lot of elements been thrown on to one compacted space and slightly overcrowd but thanks to the high ceiling, somehow you feel warmth and welcomed.

Look around, you have beer boxes stacking up on the top half of the ceiling, Mexican hats, signs, paintings, posters, trees, street signs, colors, religious God, they've got everything here.

Their bar is amazing! I am sure you can find all the liquor here......I loved that they kept the tequila tradition, everytime someone having a tequila shot, they will ring the bell. Quite fun!

Nacho with fresh tomato sauce are complimentary as for most of Mexican restaurants.

A jug of Sangria to tick off the party

Inside of the restaurant is a bit dark, my picture is only for your references

QUESADILLAS

GRILLED FLOUR TORTILLA WEDGES WITH MELTED CHEESE SERVED WITH A SPICY JALAPENO SALSA

This is a must try dish, very nice!

Small sauces - salsa, cream cheese, and avocado

FAJITAS
A CHOICE OF MARINATED BEEF, CHICKEN CACTUS STRIPS SAUTÉED WITH CAPSICUM AND ONIONS WITH OUR OWN HOMEMADE FAJITA SEASONING SERVED ON A SIZZLING HOTPLATE AND ACCOMPANIED BY A PLATTER OF LETTUCE, CHEESE, PICO DE GALLO, SOUR CREAM, MEXICAN RICE AND REFRIED BEANS. “ROLL YOUR OWN” FAJITAS WITH FLOUR TORTILLAS

Tender marinated beef, grilled briefly and served on hot plate.

Is this tortillas container cute? keep our tortillas moist and warm.

Forgot what this was, just remember was shredded chicken.

Chimichanga

Deep fried flour tortilla filled with cheese, beans and choiced of shredded beef, chicken or beeans, accompanied with enchilada sauce, guacamole and sour cream.

TOSTADAS

WITH SHREDDED BEEF, CHICKEN AND VEGETARIAN – OR MIXED PLATTER. CRISPY ROUND FOUR INCH CORN TORTILLAS LAYERED WITH REFRIED BEANS, LETTUCE, GUACAMOLE, PICO DE GALLO, CHEESE AND CHIPOTLE SAUCE

TACO PLATTER
CREATE YOUR OWN TACO WITH SOFT CORN TORTILLAS ACCOMPANIED BY A PLATTER OF REFRIED BEANS, RICE, LETTUCE, CHEESE, PICO DE GALLO AND GUACAMOLE. CHOOSE BETWEEN OUR OWN FRESHLY MADE SHREDDED BEEF OR CHICKEN OR SEASONAL VEGETABLES.

Stir fried Cactus

I reckon this is few places where you can have stir fried Cactus on the menu. We found it taste like pickled vegetables.

Couple of menus for your view

Then we went to The Commons nearby for their famous deep fried donuts.

They have a hidden bar at the basement, if you have time, don't forget to check it out.

Small donuts served on chopping board

Still hot inside

Smashed maringe served with seasonal berries and figs - this one is very delicious!

Raspberry Creme Brulee

Great night, great food, and great company, what more could we ask for?

Where is it?

Cafe Pacifico

Address: 95 Riley Street, East Sydney, NSW, 2010

Follow them: http://www.cafepacifico.com.au/index.php?s=food

Phone: (02)9360 3811 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (02)9360 3811 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

The Commons

Address: 32 Burton Street, Darlinghurst, 2010

Phone: (02) 9358 1487 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (02) 9358 1487 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Encasa - Spanish Restaurant in Sydney CBD highly recommended

Encasa is one of most famous Spanish Restaurant in Sydney CBD. To plan your visit, don't forget to book with them earlier. We have tried before as walk in, almost 10/10 couldn't find a seat. Hope you are luckier than us.

I brought some colleague there, Encasa seems to cater for everyone.

My favorite - Patatas Bravas

Fried potato with garlic mayo and spicy tomato salsa - must order dish!

This is meant to be garlic bread, kinda of look like ham burger buns.

Chorizo a la plancha - Grilled Spanish Sausages

I love sausage, specially Chorizo!

We are in Spanish Restaurant, how could we get away of ordering a jug of Sangria.

Sizzling Garlic Mushrooms

This is also must order!!!!! - Garlic Prawn cooked to perfection! super tender and flavorsome.

Seafood Paella - this is a 4 dishes in 1

Even though Paella is quite expensive and need to wait for approximate 30 minutes, but geezz, definitely worth the wait.

There are plenty of seafood on the plate to share, mussels, pipis, king prawns, fresh squids, scalloopsetc etc....with drizzle of lemon juice, total perfection!