A weekend away in the Blue Mountains for Mother's Day, Mount Victoria (11-13 May 2012)

Sunset Rock Lookout, Mount Victoria, Blue Mountains, NSW 2786

Fresh air, views and sunsets

A weekend getaway with friends brought me to Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains for some R&R. The views from the holiday house we stayed at were amazing which overlooked a valley and towards the mountains. Champagne, cheese and a fireplace made for a homely first night plus some Lindt chocolate blocks I hadn't tried before which went down a treat. In the morning I learnt how you could cook eggs in a small bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds to achieve a fat-free sunny side up. Went well with some bacon on a bun for some bushwalking energy during the day. Sunset Rock Lookout in Mount Victoria is a nice spot to be during sunset — check it out if you're ever in the area. The next day was Mother's Day with pancakes on the breakfast menu and my attempt at making some potato hash browns which turned out OK. I used flour and egg to coat some shredded potato I prepared the night before but I'm hoping to work out a way to cook without using egg so the potato flavour will be better. I want to be able to cook them like Baffi & Mo.

Champagne, cheese and fireplace = WIN

A few tasty pleasures

I learnt you can microwave eggs for about 30 seconds to make a sunny side up egg

Bacon and egg rolls for breakfast for lots of bushwalking energy

Homemade potato hash browns

Amazing balcony views of the mountains and valley

Sunset Rock Lookout

Sunset Rock Lookout

Sunset views from the balcony

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Vulcans: Modern Australian, Blackheath (17 April 2011)

33 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath NSW 2785

Phone: (02) 4787 6899

Open: Friday, Saturday & Sunday for lunch & dinner

Blue Mountains long time stayer

Starting with dessert I visually remember the famous Chequerboard ice cream ($19) being one of the signature dishes of this restaurant by Chef Phillipe Searle. It's appearance is subtle and less striking in appearance to what I was expecting. I asked whether it had changed over the years but apparently has remained the same for its 26 year dish life. It's an intricate pattern of star anise, pineapple, liquorice and vanilla anglaise where your taste buds try and work out the flavour subtleties. For entree the Three Tofus in 3 ways with ginger and sesame dressing ($19.50) is a tasty dish for vegetarians and those who aren't simply carnivores. If visiting Sunday the restaurant does a duck special which I believe needs to be ordered in advance but I was lucky some extra ones were made available. The Twice cooked steamed simmer duck breast on the bone spiced with star anise and black pepper ($40) comes at a premium price but my favourite was the generous sized Oyster blade of beef pot roasted with lemon grass and kaffir lime ($36) for its tender meat and lovely flavours. A good dish to have on a cold day and would go well with some Organic Sour Dough ($2) to soak up the juices.

For dessert I thought the Bombe-Milk chocolate & macadamia ice cream and cherry sorbet ($14.50) delivered more punchy flavours for your dollar than the Chequerboard ice cream ($19). The Macchiato ($4) and Cappuccino ($4) were pretty decent. Overall an enjoyable meal worth visiting the Blue Mountains for. It was expensive and I wished the seating was more comfortable and less crowded which would have made it more pleasurable to sit for an extended amount of time. My visit definitely left me wanting to try the other dishes but being located so far away it might be a while until I find the time. If you dined with a party of four you'd probably be able to order everything on the limited menu. With no signage and visible street number on the restaurant I think I must have passed it 3 times in the car trying to work out where it was in the street. It wasn't until I parked and walked down to the street that I finally found the restaurant.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Tasty dishes, Interesting although limited menu, Long standing restaurant, Plenty of street parking, House wine reasonably priced but limited range by the glass

CONS: Expensive, Seating quite basic and felt crowded in parts of room, Possibly no air con, All the way out in the Blue Mountains

MUST TRY: Oyster blade of beef pot roasted with lemon grass and kaffir lime, Chequerboard ice cream at least once

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Three Tofus in 3 ways with ginger and sesame dressing ($19.50)

Sunday duck special: Twice cooked steamed simmer duck breast on the bone spiced with star anise and black pepper ($40)

Sunday duck special bone factor

Oyster blade of beef pot roasted with lemon grass and kaffir lime ($36)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Green beans ($9)

Bombe-Milk chocolate & macadamia ice cream and cherry sorbet ($14.50)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Chequerboard ice cream with star anise, pineapple, licquorice and vanilla anglaise ($19)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Bantry Grove Orange Sauvignon Blanc 2008 ($8), TSG Canberra district Tempranillo Shiraz Graciano 2008 ($8.50)

Macchiato ($4), Cappuccino ($4)

Bill $171 for two, Chef Phillipe Searle in the kitchen

Menu — nice handwriting. Note credit card payments incur 2.5%

Wine menu

Drinks menu — Single beer choice so hope you like Fat Yak Beer

Cosy seating is bordering on a little squashed

Table setting

Side passage to the toilets — nice walk in Autumn when it's not raining

Extra kitchen area at the back

Seating is perhaps a little classroom — maybe it is or perhaps I've just insulted the furniture designer?

Aesops in the toilet is always a winner when matched with hand towels and pretty flowers

Homemade jams

Understated restaurant front of Vulcans

View down Govett's Leap Road towards Vulcans


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The Red Door Cafe, Leura, Blue Mountains (18 Sept 2011)

134 Leura Mall, Leura NSW 2780

Popular with tourists & locals

Upon recommendation from my remedial massage lady I checked out this cafe whilst visiting the Blue Mountains. It's located not too far from Josophan's Fine Chocolates and was pretty much full when arriving for a 1 pm Saturday lunch. Inside was buzzing with the open kitchen in full swing and there was a more quieter outside courtyard semi-hidden from the main pedestrian thoroughfare. The Freshly squeezed orange juice ($3.50 small) was pretty small and when it arrived I wished I had ordered the large instead. It's the first time I've tried Phoenix organic cola ($3.80) and it didn't seem to give me that sudden hiccup I usually experience with normal Coca-Cola, although I rarely drink soft drink unless it comes with alcohol.

The Ham off the bone, tomato, cheddar cheese and chutney toasted turkish sandwich ($13.50) was decently sized although a little messy to eat due to some softness caused by I suspect the tomato. Quite nice in any case. The Sirloin steak sandwich with beetroot relish, caramelized onion, rocket, fresh tomato and horseradish cream ($16.50) was quite nice as well. Nothing too special but nothing bad as well. Some hot chips on the side would have been good. Thankfully the steak was fairly tender and not too chewy as can sometimes be the case. There's a little bit of competition around the area for simple cafe food but this place seems to have its fans and the decor is nice enough for a fairly pleasant experience. At times due to being busy it did seem a little frantic inside and I could tell service was kept on their feet.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Prices won't break the bank for a simple easy lunch, Courtyard seating available although it'll probably be accommodated by the smokers

CONS: Limited menu, Can get a little noisy near the kitchen, Toilet is unisex although nicely set out

MUST TRY: Other cafes around the area to compare

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Freshly squeezed orange juice ($3.50 small), Phoenix organic cola ($3.80)

Ham off the bone, tomato, cheddar cheese and chutney toasted turkish sandwich ($13.50)

Sirloin steak sandwich with beetroot relish, caramelized onion, rocket, fresh tomato and horseradish cream ($16.50)

Inside seating

Outside courtyard seating

Unisex toilet out the back — not sure if the cloves mixture was doing much

Lo and behold it does have a red door

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