After 44 years the Summit is no longer.  An evolution has taken place on level 47 of Australia Square with the launch last week of Michael Moore’s O Bar & Dining.

Sydney’s finest including Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Lizzie Lovett, Layne Beachley and Kirk Pengilly and James Kerley and Laura Dundovic  gathered atop the famous Australia Square building to celebrate the opening of O Bar and Dining.

Guests enjoyed a delicious range of canapés and sampled items from the new restaurant menu including quinoa crusted crab and chickpea cakes with lemon yoghurt, buttermilk organic chicken with buckwheat crust and apricot mustard and kingfish pastrami with coriander, citrus and cumin as they moved throughout the vast, circular space, famous for its revolving floor that provides 360-degree views. The new venue now features two bar areas, one a part of the building’s stationary centre floor, the other a large lounge bar that makes up part of the revolving outer section. Read more →

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It’s early on a Friday evening and I am finishing my working week at a quaint and cosy wine bar in Chippendale.  The entrance is in a small lane off Abercrombie Street. Not exactly a venue you would stumble across without knowing it is there but the Owner Zigi Ozeri has boosted his chances by covering the surrounding lanes with chalk messages to draw you in.

Wine and cheese are always calling me, but it is thoughts of two very special cheeses that have brought me here tonight.  I want to taste the cheeses I helped make the previous Sunday.  I will divulge more about Zigi’s cheese class a little later.

It really is a cosy venue. About 15 can fit into the main bar room.  There are also rooms upstairs which are available for group hire.  And there is a possible expansion in the works, with a large section being opened so that more substantial meals can also be served.  At the moment, cheese, nibbles and wine are on the menu. Read more →

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The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards were announced last week.  Who retained, who gained and who lost their hats?

In the three hat category, Bilson’s obviously didn’t make a showing as they are out of business.  Est, Marque, Quay and Sepia all retained their hats, and were joined by Monofuku Seiobo and Rockpool on George, who gained a hat from their previous two.  Sadly none of the regional restaurants received three hats, but they didn’t last year either.

Missing from the two hat category this year was Becasse, Berowra Waters Inn, again sadly due to closure.  Bristro Ortolan and Lucio’s lost a hat and moved down to one.   New to the two hat category, The Bridge Room and Buon Ricordo.  In Regional NSW three establishments received two hats this year, with Aubergine and No 2 Oak Street retaining their hats.  Biota Dining moved up the ranks from one hat to two this year, but sadly Lochiel House lost both its hats.

New recipiants of one hat this year, The Apollo, Arras, Balla, Bar H, Black by Ezard, China Doll, Chiswick, Clareville Kiosk, The Devonshire, 4Fourteen, Ms.G’s, Sixpenny, Three Blue Ducks, Ume and Xanthi.  I was sad to see District Dining lose their hat.  There were a few new Regional recipients this year, Courgette, Flooded Gums, Restaurant Mason, Subo and Zanzibar all gained one hat, with Terrace losing their hat from last year. Read more →

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Mr Wong is the latest gem in Justin Hemmes’ Merivale crown.  The old Tank nightclub has undertaken an amazing transformation into a Cantonese restaurant with a 1930′s shanghai teahouse look and feel.  On entering you are instantly transported from the downtown business district of Sydney, to another place in another time.

With three chefs wielding their knives, Mr Wong’s kitchens are packing a lot of talent.  Executive Chef Dan Hong (Ms. G’s & El Loco), Head Chef Jowett Yu (Ms. G’s) and Dim Sum Chef, Eric Koh, from London’s Michelin Star Hakkasan.  There isn’t one kitchen, instead placed around the two floors of Mr Wong you will find a dim sum kitchen, main kitchen and roast meats counter upstairs, and downstairs the bar, giving the area a Chinese speakeasy vibe. Read more →

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Happy Friday and gorgeous weekend to be to all.  I am now back from Tokyo and have some fun stories to share with you guys.  Lots of food fun of course, but I also got to check out the newly opened Tokyo Sky Tree which is the tallest tower in the world!

Congratulations to the lucky readers who scored a free credit with restaurant.com.au.   Gaby, Jack, Vegetaraian, JasmyneTea & Miss Piggy, I will be in touch soon to send you details for your restaurant.com.au credit to try the system out.

Whatever you do this week, just make sure it is a delicious one.

Sara xxx

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