Simon Food Favourites: Citi

31 August 2015

Chef’s Table with Gary Mehigan and Billie McKay at Good Food & Wine Show 2015, Sydney (9 Aug 2015)

http://goodfoodshow.com.au
https://www.citibank.com.au
#citibankdine #citivip #goodfoodie

A rewarding experience

Brought to you by Citi Australia

"Our new and exciting Citi Rewards experience is here. Browsing and redeeming from our huge range of reward options has never been easier. Go to citibank.com.au/myrewards"

Thanks to Citi Australia for inviting me to experience the Chef’s Table ($55 VIP ticket) at the Good Food & Wine Show ($32 general admission) with Gary Mehigan. Upon arrival I was pleasantly surprised to also see MasterChef 2015 winner Billie McKay helping out on the Good Food Theatre stage. She was one of my favourites while watching MasterChef and I was very happy to see her win. As a VIP ticket holder I liked how you got to watch the cooking demonstration in the comfort of a table setting while trying the dishes with their matching wines.

To start the Chicken Larb matched with Villa Maria Private Bin Chardonnay was a light and tasty dish with fresh flavours. Next was the Prawn and Fish Coconut Curry with Okra and Cashews matched with Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoyable flavours combined with a tasty prawn and nicely cooked piece of fish. I would have been fine if the chilli kick factor was turned up a notch to challenge my taste buds. For dessert the Papaya and Coconut Ice Cream, Sago and Sesame Caramel matched with Private Bin Pinto Gris was a crowd pleaser — more please sir. I think the crowd of free audience seats were a bit jealous when we got to try this yummy Asian inspired dish.

After the event the 50 Chef’s Table VIP ticket holders had the chance to get their photo taken with Gary and Billie which was a great opportunity and experience. Everyone also received a generously filled goodie bag that included Gary's Comfort food cookbook which they could get signed. It was lovely to meet Gary and Billie and be part of the Chef’s Table. A truly rewarding experience thanks to Citi Australia.

22 October 2013

Good Food Month: Citi VIP at Night Noodle Market, Hyde Park, Sydney (11 Oct 2013)

Hyde Park North, Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.citibank.com.au/goodfood/night-noodle-markets.htm

Noodles without queues

“We're delighted to introduce Citi Concierge for the first time in 2013, providing customers with the opportunity to avoid the queues. Our friendly concierge team will take your order for our Citibank Dining restaurant stalls and deliver it straight to your table.”

Thanks to Cecilia Koong from Liquid Ideas for inviting me as a guest to check out the Citi VIP area at the Night Noodle Market. Not being a citibank member I've always been curious to know what it was like under the fairy light canopy. Not only do you get a bar that's easy to buy a drink but this year members can use the new Citi Concierge to get their food orders from East Ocean, Din Tai Fung, Taste of Shanghai and Citibank Dining Food Truck (Friday nights only). That alone is a winner for me because I hate how long the queues get at the Night Noodle Market unless you get there early or go late. The concierge don't have to queue but order straight from the kitchen through the back door which can save time unless of course the food stall actually runs out of something you ordered which actually happened for the popular Gary's lamb belly in a bun ($15). But the wait was worth it and I could keep drinking and relaxing while waiting anyway.

Chef Gary Mehigan was on hand for a friendly chat and his lamb belly in a bun menu item was a tasty treat. I'd also recommend the Kingfish Ceviche with Lime & Chilli with Crispy Tortilla ($10) for something a bit lighter and even the Fried rice with shrimp ($12) from Din Tai Fung as a simple comfort dish with large prawns. Another favourite was the Salt & pepper garlic pork ribs and Salt & pepper prawn cutlets to be found in the East Ocean Jumbo Box ($30). I would have loved to just get these separately with maybe a couple of the Duck pancakes which were pretty good too. To capture the moment Citi were also taking free photos of customers which could be printed on the night or emailed — nice idea. I think if the four food stalls on the menu were positioned closer to the Citi VIP it would have helped reduce the travel time for the concierge. Perhaps Citi VIP could think about having their own food stalls attached to the area in the future for even faster turnaround.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Citi concierge available to take your food order which means no queuing for you, Easy access to bar for drinks, Nice atmosphere and fair amount of seating

CONS: Only available for citibank members, Available seating may get full so arrive early, Apparently cash only, Only four stalls on the menu but they're pretty good ones — more choices would even be better

MUST TRY: East Ocean Salt & Pepper Garlic Pork Ribs and Salt & Pepper Prawns, Gary's lamb belly in a bun

VERDICT: If you hate queuing for food then you'll love the Citi concierge service

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Chef Gary Mehigan having a chat with invited guests

Tanqueray Gin & Tonic ($8.50)

East Ocean Jumbo Box ($30) — liked the salt & pepper garlic pork ribs and salt & pepper prawn cutlets the best, duck pancakes quite good too

Gary's lamb belly in a bun ($15) — very tasty, decent size, tender meat

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Taste of Shanghai: Pan-fry pork & chive dumpling ($10) — quite nice with the bonus of prawn crackers

Din Tai Fung: Pork dumpling ($6, 4 pieces) — flavour good but skins sticks to the bottom of paper plate

Din Tai Fung: Pork buns ($6, 2 pieces) — I found a bit firm and stodgy in centre

Citibank Dining Food Truck by EAT: Kingfish ceviche of Sashimi Kingfish marinated in Lime & Chilli with Crispy Tortilla ($10) — nice flavours

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Citibank Dining Food Truck by EAT: BBQ Beef Brisket in a Bun with Kimchi-slaw & Korean Chilli ($12) — quite tasty, found the meat not quite pulled apart enough so got a bit chunky