McDonald's: Chicken Big Mac, Randwick (16 Dec 2021)

75 Belmore Road, Randwick NSW 2031 

https://mcdonalds.com.au/

Chickenizing a classic

Not sure if you can really change a classic Big Mac and make it work but I'm always up for trying new variations. For me I still prefer the all time classic Big Mac which is my go to burger at Maccas. I can see what they were trying to do but I'm not convinced the pickles and special sauce works in this. It's a more filling burger due to the battered fried chicken patties but I think they also dominate over the other ingredients and flavours so it doesn't quite have the right balance as a Big Mac does for me. But for those who aren't keen on beef patties it might suit as a chicken burger alternative. Chicken Big Mac ($12.20 small meal).

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Home cooking: Raw Brussels Sprouts Shredded Salad (9 Oct 2021)

Light & Healthy Salad

This salad is definitely something new I haven't tried before with the much polarised Brussels sprouts. Raw Brussels sprouts shredded finely with a little olive oil, lemon juice, grated pecorino romano cheese, salt & pepper as per recipe inspiration spotted on @geoffreyzakarian. I'd do this again. So simple and I think tastes much better than boiling the little buggers. I don't mind a well roasted Brussels sprout as well but it's not as time and energy efficient. Personally being a coleslaw fan I think this could be combined with come carrot, cabbage and onion as a variation.

Sponsored post: Chaya Green Tea

Chaya Green Tea 

https://chaya.co/ 

Japan made. Single origin. Small batch. 

Japanese for 'tea shop', Chaya Green Tea is a family run, certified-organic green tea maker, passionate about sustainable production from soil to sip. 

Their organic Matcha and green teas are from a 7th generation, certified-organic, single tea farm in Kyoto Japan, where they have been growing tea since 1858. This is single origin tea. (Who says that term only applies to coffee beans?) Chaya is set up by two Japan born, Aussie tea drinkers Tony & Yuri Fry, and they’re passionate about leveling-up the quality of Japanese green tea here in Australia.  

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[Text and images supplied by Chaya Green Tea #sponsored]

Charcoal Fish, Rose Bay (15 Sept 2021)

670 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay NSW 2029 

https://www.charcoalfish.com/

https://www.instagram.com/charcoal.fish/

Ofishially now open in Rose Bay

“Our mission is to make restaurant-quality, grilled Australian fish more accessible. Just as a BBQ chicken shop offers only one kind of chicken we believe that by focusing on Murray Cod we will be able to put more effort and attention into sustainability, perfecting cooking methods and our hyper-seasonal salad and vegetable options.”

Opening day was hugely popular and welcomed by the locals. My menu choice of the day was the Fish & Chips ($28) with fried murray cod, pickles, yoghurt tartare and chips. Chef Josh Niland's batter is exceptional (and always has been) — thin, ultra crisp and delicate. I suspect working with Heston Blumenthal in the past might have helped to achieve batter perfection in the kitchen. The Aquna Murray cod fish was cooked perfectly, with chunks of flakey and moist meat. 

Good to see fresh hand cut chips are being made instead of resorting to frozen ones — the real potato flavour carries through much better and you can avoid using chicken salt to make them interesting. Zingy sliced pickles that have a nice crunch and a housemade tasty tartare sauce completed the satisfying meal for one with a wedge of lemon. A top-notch looking fitout with friendly and energetic service. The daily seasonal salads and hot vegetable dishes on display looked very tempting. Will definitely need to revisit to try more of the menu. Looking like a great dining addition for the Rose Bay community. A shortage of parking will probably be an issue for most visitors but that's always been the case around this Eastern Suburbs shopping precinct.

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madhousebakehouse.com.au

Australian made. Australian loved.

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