Simon Food Favourites: Cuban

Showing posts with label Cuban. Show all posts

16 October 2012

Coco Cubano: Cuban-inspired bar and cafe, Darlinghurst (24 Feb 2012)

191 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

http://www.cococubano.com

Mojitos in Taylor Square

Thanks to Georgia Gilson from DEC Communications and Tony Melhem from Coco Cubano for inviting me as a guest to sample the cocktails and tapas at the Cuban-inspired bar and cafe. Nearly nine months has passed since I visited but the place still remains as one of the prime locations in Taylor Square for people watching. I'd strongly suggest trying to grab a seat on the raised deck level. Not only does it have a better vantage point but you'll also feel a bit safer if the local crazies start singing to you with an unbuttoned shirt. There's a good variety of mojitos to choose from but it's hard to go past the original Mojito ($13.90). I noticed the Sangria by the jug ($28) was a popular choice around the tables. Large slices of fruit make it easier to pour and you don't end up with small bits of fruits that generally get stuck in your glass. I'd skip the Blueberry & Vanilla Cosmopolitan ($14.90) which reminded me too much of the taste of Benadryl cough mixture and try the Ray King of the Valley ($13.90) instead. Simple flavours of Barcadi Superior with ruby red grapefruit juice and fresh lime works a treat although it's a pity you don't get much to drink and be careful it doesn't roll off the table.

It's probably a good thing the menu is tapas because the small tables won't really give you much room for your drinks as well, let alone your cutlery. I'd recommend the Grilled chorizo with warmed olives ($9.90) which were good and easy to eat with toothpicks and Fries with chilli salt ($7.90) although I was hoping for more chilli flavour. The Calamari, chilli salt and roasted garlic sauce ($12.90) were flavoursome and had a decent crisp coating. Grilled haloumi, charred peppers, capers and herbs ($10.90) unfortunately seemed to be more peppers than haloumi. I was hoping the haloumi would be the star of the dish like at The Spanish Fly. The Patatas bravas crisp potatoes with spicy tomato sauce ($9.90) was more like wedges with sauce on top and my least favourite dish of the night. Perhaps if the sauce was on the side I would have liked it better. For those with serious sugar cravings the desserts will surely push the boundaries. Revolution Waffle ($13.90) was smothered with strawberries, ice cream and chocolate — where's the waffle? Thankfully the Choc Cinnamon Churros ($13.90) was cooked quite well with crisp outer coating and soft inside. It would have been even better with a scoop of ice cream. Warm double chocolate brownie, chocolate sauce & vanilla ice cream ($13.90) was very decadent — only for the die hard sugar addicts as it was too much for me.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Great spot for people watching, Variety of mojitos available, Interesting decor, Relaxed and fun atmosphere

CONS: Watch out for the crazies, Limited table space, Watch out for the sugar overload from the desserts, Music was very loud

MUST TRY: Sangria, Grilled chorizo and warmed olives, Fries with chilli salt
VERDICT: The perfect spot for watching the world go by, well Taylor Square anyway.

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Mojito ($13.90), Coconut Mojito ($14.90), Strawberry Mojito ($14.90), Lychee Mojito ($14.90)

Sangria by the jug ($28) — quite popular around the tables, only large slices of orange so you don't get little annoying pieces in your glass
WORTH TRYING :-)

Blueberry & Vanilla Cosmopolitan: Vodka, blueberry liqueir shaken with blueberries, cranberry, lime juice and a hint of vanilla ($14.90) — wasn't particularly liked and unfortunately reminded us of a subtle Benadryl

Mismo: Barcadi Superior built tall over ice, topped with soda and fresh lime ($8.90) — quite light on taste and flavour

Ray King of the Valley: Barcadi Superior with ruby red grapefruit juice and fresh lime ($13.90) — simple flavours that seem to work, quirky and fun presentation, you don't get much to drink though

Margarita: Cazadores Resposado shaken with triple sec, fresh lime served up in a salt rimmed cocktail glass ($13.90) — pretty lethal, bought by a friend passing by

Mini beef burger sliders with grilled cheese, onion jam ($9.90, 2 pieces, received 3) — I couldn't really taste the cheese

Grilled chorizo with warmed olives ($9.90) — flavoursome and easy to eat with toothpicks with limited table space
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Fries with chilli salt ($7.90) — tasty but not very chilli in flavour
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Calamari, chilli salt and roasted garlic sauce ($12.90) — easy to eat, decent crisp coating and flavoursome
WORTH TRYING :-)

Spiced chicken, jalapeno, guacamole and warm tortilla bread ($10.90) — jalapeno chunks were really hot, perhaps too hot for me, bread was a bit too crisp and firm so wasn't that easy to wrap chicken as hoped

Grilled haloumi, charred peppers, capers and herbs ($10.90) — presentation wise didn't look like a haloumi dish, flavours OK but would have preferred more haloumi and less peppers

Patatas bravas crisp potatoes with spicy tomato sauce ($9.90) — probably least favourite because more like wedges with sauce on top, wasn't quite what I'd expect for this dish

Revolution Waffle: Belgian waffle, strawberries, ice cream, chocolate ($13.90) — where's the waffle? Quite sugary and decadent and a bit hard to eat with any grace

Choc Cinnamon Churros: Cuban churros, chocolate, cinnamon, strawberries ($13.90) — churros cooked quite well and still a bit soft inside with crisp outer, very sugary though, some ice cream would have been good

Warm double chocolate brownie, chocolate sauce & vanilla ice cream ($13.90) — very decadent and rich of sugar, only for the die hard sugar addicts, probably didn't need the extra chocolate over it

Flat white ($3.60 small) — not too bad, didn't need sugar to drink, roasty and a bit watery for me; Single Origin Hot Chocolate: Venezuela 72% cocoa ($6.50) — quite chocolatey, would prefer more creamy though

Limited table space for drinks and food, let alone cutlery

Cocktail menu

Tapas and dessert menu

Coffee menu

Iced Chocolate and Coffee menu

Limited leg room

Powerful hand dryer — I like

Cigar selection

A busker that needs to keep his shirt buttoned up

Prime spot for people watching

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30 April 2012

La Bodeguita Del Medio: Cuban Restaurant & Bar, CBD Sydney (19 Oct 2011)

125 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.lbdm.com.au

Rum your way into Cuba

Thanks to Tony Maia (Venue Manager) of La Bodeguita Del Medio for inviting me as a guest to sample some of the dishes by Head Chef Danny Parreno and a few rum-based cocktails from the bar. You can’t go too wrong with the Mojito ($14) which is probably what LBDM are best known for but the Blood & Sand ($16) had well-balanced flavours which I probably enjoyed even more. The Ernest's Breakfast ($17) was pretty strong on the alcohol, the Clover Club ($16) was more subtle and the Nacional ($15) had fruity overtones. For a selection of cured meats the Embutidos ($22) did the trick. The chorizo was very spicy although I couldn’t work out where the pickles were as listed on the menu. The Half shell scallops, queso fresco & lime dressing ($21) were covered with plenty of topping which probably made the scallop secondary in the dish. The Empanadas ($17) of slow cooked oxtail were quite good although I would have loved the pastry to be a bit thinner to appreciate the filling more. A favourite for me was the Taro croquettes served with aji de gallina sauce ($15) which were very tasty and cooked with a crunchy shell. The Peruvian style ceviche ($15) was also very good although I would have loved a bit more salsa on top of the dish. The Ropa vieja ($24) seemed pricey but the braised lamb neck had good flavour and tenderness.

I was impressed with the amount of meat in the Langostino ($42) although the vanilla sauce was quite unusual and maybe an acquired taste for some to appreciate including myself. The chocolate sauce in the Pato con chocolate ($36) was noticeable yet subtle enough to still appreciate the duck flavour from the meat. My favourite main was the Bife Ancho 400g ($37) of tender and flavoursome meat helped along with house made condiments for extra taste bud enjoyment. I wasn’t a fan of the Tostones ($8) which I found a bit dry and tasteless although the accompanying Cuban aioli was really nice and actually went well with my potatoes on the steak dish. For dessert I mostly enjoyed the mocha dome in the Café y caramelo ($14) but didn’t really enjoy the salted caramel ice cream and would have preferred just a simple vanilla ice cream instead. The La Lechera ($14) was quite rich in flavours although I found the shape of the chocolate swirl a little disconcerting and unappealing — perhaps a quenelle shape instead. For afters a selection of the bartenders and waiters rum choices were offered. My preferred out of the three sampled was the El Dorado 12 YO ($13) which I found more drinkable over the Diplomatico Reserva ($12) and Havana Club Barrel Proof ($16.50) for my innocent rum palate.

Other visits to La Bodeguita Del Medio:
• 19 Oct 2011 – Guest review of food and drinks
• 16 June 2011 – Mojitos and rum cocktails

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Lively atmosphere, Interesting and cosy décor, Friendly service (Lisa), Live entertainment although makes it quite loud, Extensive rum menu

CONS: It's hard to stop at just one cocktail in this place, Probably best to book ahead for a table as they seem to be quite popular

MUST TRY: Mojito, Blood & Sand cocktail, Taro croquettes, Ropa Vieja, Bife Ancho 400g

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Table setting

Mojito ($14), Blood & Sand ($16), Ernest's Breakfast ($17), La Bodeguita Nojito ($6.50)

Clover Club ($16), Nacional ($15)

Mary Pickfair mocktail version: Pineapple juice, Maraschino liqueur served Martini style ($6)

2010 Santa Ines Savignon Blanc, Chile ($8.50), 2009 Altozano Tempranillo Castilla, Spain ($8), 2008 Perez Cruz Reserva Cabernet Maipo Valley, Chile ($12)

Embutidos: A selection of cured meats, arrollado & pickles ($22)

Vieiras Cubanas: Half shell scallops, queso fresco & lime dressing ($21)

Empanadas de carne con pebre: Slow cooked oxtail with tomato salsa ($17)

Croquetas de malanga - Taro croquettes served with aji de gallina sauce ($15)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Ceviche del día: Peruvian style ceviche ($15) — would be great if served with something like prawn crackers to put on

WORTH TRYING :-)

Ropa vieja: Tomato & yoghurt braised lamb neck, Cuban rice with black bean vinaigrette ($24)
WORTH TRYING :-)

Langostino: Tropical lobster, baby leeks, watercress & vanilla sauce ($42)

Pato con chocolate: Duck breast, sweet potato & spinach croquants & chocolate sauce ($36)

Sudado de Pescado: Market fish (Blue-eye Trevally), yucca, bugtail and roasted cherry tomatoes (MP) - seasonal scallops included, yucca replaced with potatoes