Simon Food Favourites: Dips

Showing posts with label Dips. Show all posts

13 April 2012

Xanthi: Greek, $30 Lunchtime Express Menu, Westfield Sydney (12 Apr 2012)

Level 6 Dining Precinct, Westfield Sydney
Cnr Pitt St Mall and Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9232 8535
http://xanthi.com.au

Express without cutting corners

A casual monthly club lunch with friends brings me back to Xanthi to try their Lunchtime Express Menu for only $30 per person. It’s served between 12 and 2 pm and includes a glass of house wine or beer making it very good value. Started with some fresh crusty bread and Dips selection which was good. The Tarama (salted and cured cod roe) and Tzatziki were my preferred favourites although I wondered if a small dish would have been handy to pour the Creta Farms Extra Virgin Olive Oil into for dipping the bread. The fresh Greek salad had decent sized pieces of feta and a flavoursome dressing although a spoon with the supplied fork would have been handy to help serve it out of the bowl perhaps. I enjoyed the BBQ Haloumi last time and this time it’s served with figs which works well in the dish. The Vine Dolmathes had nice flavours with melt-in-your-mouth soft texture. I really enjoyed the tasty white sauce it was served with too.

Last time the Fried Calamari were a little bit disappointing but this time they’re thankfully very tender and flavoursome with noticeable pieces of deep fried onions working a treat in the dish. I thought the tiny tongs were a bit stiff and awkward to use so perhaps a small fork and spoon would have been easier to use for me. The main dish of Lamb Skaras was very tender and flavoursome and very much enjoyed by our table. I thought some tzatziki on the side would have perhaps gone well with it to add some extra moisture. For dessert the Caramel Baklava Ice Cream I had last time was good again but perhaps a smaller spoon would have been better to eat with and maybe a fork to help scoop up from the plate. If served in a bowl a spoon would have been fine though. Chef-owner David Tsirekas was in the kitchen and mentioned they’ve discontinued their twitter account and getting back to old school kitchen dedication without the distractions. Also plans to reopen Perama are back off the cards to better focus on Xanthi which is probably a sensible decision.

Other visits to Xanthi:
• 12 Apr 2012 – Lunchtime Express Menu $30
• 25 Oct 2011 – Ouzomezedakia

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Flavoursome dishes, Quality ingredients, Lunchtime Express Menu was good value, Friendly and professional service (Rachel)

CONS: I thought some of the cutlery could be better chosen to be more user-friendly for the dishes, Toilets are located outside the restaurant

MUST TRY: Fried calamari, BBQ Haloumi, Revisiting to try other dishes like Seared Scallops, Xanthi Fried Chicken and Pork Belly Baklava

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Lunchtime Express Menu $30

2007 Lyrarakis Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Peza, Crete

Craft Microbrewery Red Ale

Bread and Creta Farms Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Dips selection - Tarama, Split Pea and Tzatziki

Greek salad

I think if the salad was served with a spoon as well would made it easier to serve

BBQ Haloumi

Vine Dolmathes

Fried Calamari

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Not sure about the tiny tongs which were a bit stiff to use — maybe just a small spoon and fork to serve?

Lamb Skaras

Caramel Baklava Ice Cream

Perhaps a smaller spoon to eat the ice cream would have better suited with a small fork. It just seemed to be at odds having such a big spoon to eat a small slice of ice cream.

Bill $120 for four

Chef-owner David Tsirekas in the kitchen

In case you're curious what Xanthi means: 1. Town on the north-eastern corner of Greece, 2. Mythological name given to the blond-haired, blue eyed children of Zeus

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18 November 2010

Rowda Ya Habibi: Lebanese Banquet, Newtown (9 Sept 2010)

101 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042

Cheap lebanese banquet

When a family run business has been going for 33 years they must be doing something right. The service counter looks very much like a take away shop but there's lots of seating out the back for large groups as well as upstairs where you can sit on a cushion in your own private room — although I find it quite uncomfortable to sit for any length of time. The reasonably priced Deluxe Mazza Banquet ($25 per person) comes with your typical banquet dishes you'd expect which won't leave you hungry. The Baba Ganooj and Hommos are decent but perhaps not the best I've had. The Tabouleh is maybe a little of the dry side tonight but still fine when mixed with the dips. You'll also receive the more substantial dishes of Ladies Fingers, Shis Kebab and Garlic chicken. I judge a Lebanese restaurant by their Falafel and these had a nice outer crunch but they're not as flavoursome as say Jasmins or even Lebanon & Beyond for that matter. If you've got a sweet tooth then containers of Turkish delight ($5) are available from the downstairs counter to take home. I've heard if you find the elusive yellow turkish delight their really good — unfortunately none were available. The no-nonsense service was a little hard to get used but the dishes were efficiently prepared and served quickly.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Plenty of seating, Take away available, Decent amount of take away choices, Vegetarian friendly dishes, Reasonably priced

CONS: No-nonsense service, Uncomfortable seating upstairs when sitting on a cushion with no back support and leg room, Toilet only had cake of soap

MUST TRY: Apparently the lemon turkish delight

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Deluxe Mazza Banquet $25 per person

Baba Ganooj, Hommos, Bread

Tabouleh

Ladies Fingers

Shis Kebab

Falafel

Green beans

Garlic chicken and rice

Downstairs dining room at the back

Seating in front of the service counter

Counter display

Sweets display — Turkish delight ($5)

Toilet only has cake of soap available

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12 November 2010

Belgian Beer Café Heritage, The Rocks (25 Sept 2010)

135 Harrington Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
http://www.belgian-beer-cafe.com.au

The home of mussels and beer

A surprise birthday for a friend brings me to this wonderful looking Heritage-style restaurant which has a good selection of European beers on tap. Around 50 family and friends were generously treated to a 3 course menu including a selection of entrees to share. The Dip Plate of Baba Ganoush, Tzatziki, Taramasalata and Olives was served with lavosh bread and crackers. Large slices of Garlic and herb bread quickly started to fill the stomachs including the tasty Small meatballs which were actually quite substantial in size. I really liked the Cheese balls with their gooey centres and outer fried casing.

There were three mains to choose from and my Twice cooked crispy pork belly served with mash potato, sauerkraut and apple sauce was enormous — could have easily shared. I struggled to finish it but was so glad it had a really good crispy crackling. The Mussel pot with chips and mayonnaise Provencale served in a tomato, herb and garlic sauce was a popular choice and apparently on their half-priced wednesday special they go through about 400-600 kg and usually a tonne a week — that's very impressive. An easy drinking Hoegaarden ($10.30, 330 ml) or Leffe Blonde ($10.50, 330 ml) is a good way to start of your night and the slightly more expensive Duvel ($12.20, 330 ml) isn't too bad either. Service was pretty efficient considering how busy the restaurant gets and if you're not a fan of lining up at the bar it's a lot easier getting your drinks from the table service if they're available.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Heritage decor, Decent sized portions, Plenty of European beers on tap

CONS: Can get very noisy, Very crowded at the bar when busy, Limited street parking in the area

MUST TRY: The crackling on the twice cooked crispy pork belly, Cheese balls, Any of the beers on tap

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