Penny's Cheese Shop, Potts Point (2 Oct 2018)

4 Roslyn St, Potts Point NSW 2011
https://www.pennyscheeseshop.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/pennyscheeseshop/

One-potts-point-cheese-shop

Was lovely to meet Penny Lawson, a self-diagnosed curd nerd with 20 years experience in the food industry sourcing local and international cheeses. You can smell the cheese as you walk into this small but very tempting cheese shop stocked with plenty of variety to please. Move over 3 and 5 cheese toasties. Penny's Cheese Shop prefers to do an 8 Cheese Toastie ($12) this week using sourdough from Pioik Bakery and Cheddar-VIC, Raclette-VIC, Gruyere-NSW, Mimolette-France, Reypenaer VSOP-The Netherlands, Tilsit-NSW biodynamic, Caciocavallo-Italy and Raclette-France. I've chosen the Quattro Stelle ham option but they also do a fresh chilli option for those who like it spicy — I might have to try next time. So much cheesy goodness that a pickle on the side would be awesome to help refresh the palate. Most good cheese toasties will have buttered bread on the outside to form a crust but this one differs with replacing the butter with more cheese instead that's melted to form a cheesy crust. The cheese shop has been open about 2 months and Penny is slowly transforming the space that used to be the Leo cafe. I spy eggs, olive oil, crackers and honey from various artisan producers on offer. Parking can be a challenge in the area but it's worth the trip.

Bistecca, CBD Sydney (6 July 2018)

3 Dalley Street, Sydney NSW 2000
https://www.bistecca.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/bistecca.sydney
https://www.instagram.com/bistecca.sydney/

Bistecca steaks its claim

Sydney's latest underground bar and restaurant is looking great with mood lighting, friendly service and a bar menu that set for some tasty bar snacking. Martini ($19) with Tanqueray gin was well made and poured in a cute small glass which I first thought was going to be for my olive pits. A tasty bite sized chicchetti of Truffle cream cheese ($3.50) was gone in seconds for the pleasure. Fritto Misto ($13) came with crispy school prawns, tender calamari and salty sardines. The squeeze of lemon went well although a tartar sauce or chilli mayo would go great as well. Their main attraction of Bistecca alla Fiorentina is next door in the private restaurant area. Only diners are allowed to have a looksie but there's a service window from the bar for an obscured stickybeak. Looking forward to trying the steak on my next visit.