Sponsored Post: Chiptastic eats in Chatswood (May 2023)

https://www.visitchatswood.com.au

https://www.visitchatswood.com.au/Eat-and-drink/European-and-American-food/Chiptastic-eats-in-Chatswood

Chiptastic eats in Chatswood 

One of the most common bar snacks you’ll find in any Aussie pub is the humble bowl of hot chips that’s perfect for sharing the carbs. Joined with my family we discover 5 different styles of chips to be found in Chatswood. I’ve definitely had my fair share of this guilty pleasure as you’ll see on Simon Food Favourites so please let me know if you have any of your own favourite recommendations for me to try. 

Chelsea Hotel

14 Railway St, Chatswood NSW 2067 

Chelsea Hotel provides a tucked away escape in their upstairs bar oasis where you’ll find the quintessential Chips & gravy ($12). A generous serve of hot and crispy chips that will always go well with a drink. For those wanting something a bit more adventurous but equally delicious, you must try the Waffle chips, chilli & sour cream ($12). A lattice work of crisp and tasty addictiveness. These are a personal favourite temptation whenever I spot them on a menu.

465 The Avenue

465 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067

465 The Avenue décor is reminiscent of a 1920’s cabaret and theatre, complete with lofty ceilings and an enormous crystal chandelier in the centre of the restaurant space. For those keen for a more cheesy salty chip be sure to order the Beer Battered Chips, sea salt, aioli ($11) with the option of truffle oil & parmesan cheese ($3).

The Orchard Hotel

455 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067 

Newly renovated and centrally located next to the train station, The Orchard Hotel features plenty of dining areas to suit everyone including a beer garden. A classic style Super Crunch Chips with aioli ($11) is served hot and crispy. The aioli is noticeably soft and creamy in texture and a step up from the usual.

The Great Northern Hotel

522 Pacific Hwy, Chatswood NSW 2067

A local institution on the North Shore for over 100 years, The Great Northern Hotel includes a cosy indoor fireplace area and outdoor beer gardens. Sweet Potato Fries with beetroot aioli ($13) were definitely a crowd pleaser and something a bit different to the usual white potato chip.

Wahlburgers: Burgers, Opera Quays, Sydney (17 Feb 2022)

Opera Quays, 18a/7 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000 

https://wahlburgers.com.au/

The Wahlburger wait has begun 

How many Wahlbergs does it take to make a burger, 3. Actors Mark & Donnie, and Chef Paul expand their burger empire into Sydney this week. Sports bar vibes with most of the menu under $20 and 17 sauces to choose from including a vegemite aioli has the potential to draw in the tourists and office workers with the bonus feature of harbour views. 

I place my takeaway order at the bar as instructed. 'The Our Burger' - Beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles. American cheese, Paul’s signature Wahl sauce ($17.50) and French fries ($6). The 26 minute timing hard to stomach but hopefully they'll improve over time. So as far as Sydney burgers go I'd say it hits at a respectable average and that's because Sydney's burger game and competition has improved dramatically over recent years. Melty cheese, tasty Wahl sauce and the nice formed crust on what seems like a medium to well cooked patty works in it's favour. I found the soft bun a touch dry and slightly oversized working against it. I welcomed the contrasting sharpness of the thin sliced raw onion. While the awkwardly named 'The Our Burger' has the usual elements of a normal classic I somehow wished I'd ordered the 'Make it your Aussie burger' for only $1.50 extra which includes beetroot, pineapple and egg. Next time. 

Seasoning on the fries enjoyable and appreciate the skin-on taste but looks short-changed in the under-filled small container for the price and aren’t as hot and crispy as hoped. Service was friendly but seemed stretched in finding their feet in the opening week but I'm sure they'll be smooth sailing in due course. They're open for breakfast from 7 am with some American and Aussie breakfast classics plus a handheld 'Our Breakfast Burger' which sounds good on the menu. I'm also tempted by the BBQ Bacon Burger with beef patty, tasty cheese, bacon, fresh jalapenos, BBQ sauce & avo spread although I'm not quite sure about the avo spread.

Home cooking: Hand cut chips at home using Cold Oil Cooking Method (1 Feb 2022)

Crispy hand cut chips at home

Using the Cold Oil Cooking Method (which we first discovered in 2010), olive oil and Spudlite potatoes these have so far been the most successful crispy hot chips the Mrs has cooked at home. So yummy. It's amazing of the result considering all you have to do is place your homemade hand cut potato chips in cold cooking oil, turn on the heat to high and watch them cook until golden brown. Take them out when they look good and drain on potato towel and season. Not quite sure how it works but it does.

Jacks East: Burgers, Rose Bay (31 Aug 2019)

Shop 5, 809-823 New South Head Road, Rose Bay NSW 2029
https://www.instagram.com/jackseast/

Jacks Newtown heads east

3 years on and Jack from Jacks Newtown has moved on from the busy Newtown burger institution to set up shop in the more sleepy suburban village of Rose Bay. For those who have enjoyed Jacks Newtown I'm sure travelling to Rose Bay for a Shake Shack style burger fix will be on the cards. It'll be interesting to see what the locals think of the medium cooked 'pink' patties and whether asking for well done patties will suit them better. Beef Cheeseburger ($12) and Fries ($5) is my order of the day. The burger looked smallish due to the soft buns being smaller than the signature medium 'pink' cooked pattie. It held together pretty well with a tasty housemade old bay sauce and nice melty cheese. They possibly might look at a slightly larger bun to match the pattie size which I think could be a good thing to consider to better meet burger expectations and perceived value for money from the older generation locals. Crinkle cut fries are nice, and would benefit from a tasty spicy seasoning option.

There's a bit of seating inside and the ceiling fairy lights border on being a bit too dim I think to show they're actually open when the doors are being kept shut to keep out the cold weather. In contrast to the open kitchen of Jacks Newtown which added to the happening vibe, all the cooking action now resides behind closed kitchen doors so no cooking show to be had here. With previous burger write ups by Good Food, TimeOut Sydney, Broadsheet and The Daily Telegraph when they resided in Newtown the past experience and successes should hopefully help the only dedicated burger shop in Rose Bay become another local gem.