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.

Universal Restaurant: Good Fork Week Launch, Darlinghurst (11 Oct 2012)

Republic 2 Courtyard Palmer Street, Between Burton & Liverpool, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

http://www.universalrestaurant.com

Life's too short to eat bad food

“Good Fork Week encourages all food operators to commit to making small tweaks to their menus to provide more nutritious options to their diners and in turn take a step forward in tackling the obesity epidemic.”

Thanks to Dayle Sellars from PPR for inviting me to the media launch of the inaugural Good Fork Week (22–28 October 2012) held at Universal with ambassador Chef Christine Manfield. The first time I dined at Universal was back on 13 February 2010 during a very rainy night which made for some interesting theatrics of waiters removing water from the awning above. I preferred the desserts over the savoury dishes except for the fish curry which was a favourite. Christine's Good Fork Week dish of Curry fish salad, green mango and cucumber once again becomes a winner for me with great flavour pop and a nice balance of ingredients. The dish had a healthy tweak of steaming the fish rather than frying. The Steamed veal fillet, beetroot spelt risotto, horseradish and goats curd had good flavours and tender meat but the fish curry would be my go to dish. For dessert the beautifully presented 'Little Miss Sunshine' was very good. I liked the nice subtle crunch from the nougatine and the flavour combinations worked well with highlights of mint. I thought a bit of mint granita might have worked as well. Christine's speech was a great insight into her food philosophy of eating healthier and lives by 'Life's too short to eat bad food'. She strives to make the humble vegetable the star of a dish rather than a side and is passionate about using herbs and spices to achieve flavour pop. Her speech was so inspiring its made me want to revisit Universal again.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Quality ingredients, Flavoursome dishes, Well-presented dishes, Nice decor, Chef has a very healthy food philosophy with a strong emphasis on vegetable dishes

CONS: Menu isn't cheap, During wet weather expect to see waiters brooming down water from the awning above your head

MUST TRY: Curry fish salad, green mango and cucumber; 'Little Miss Sunshine'

—

Chef Christine Manfield 'Life's too short to eat bad food'

Event menu

Bread and olive oil - good

Curry fish salad, green mango and cucumber — great flavour pop, good depth of flavours, not to heavy, good balance of flavours
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Steamed veal fillet, beetroot spelt risotto, horseradish and goats curd — good flavours, enjoyable, tender meat
WORTH TRYING :-)

'Little Miss Sunshine' - Passionfruit cream, mango, pineapple and papaya, passionfruit banana sorbet —  good flavour, nice crunch from nougatine, mint nice highlight on palate
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Wines on offer

Yezdi Daruwalla, Managing Director of Unilever Food Solutions

Levi Walz, CEO of Obesity Prevention Australia

Chef Christine Manfield, Universal Restaurant

The Hon. Katrina Ann Hodgkinson, MP

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