City Hotel & Red List: Vintage Burlesque Showcase, Sydney (15 Sept 2010)

347 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.cityhotel.com.au

Tease, glamour and canapés

The last time I visited nicely renovated Kent Street Living Room was for Chocolatesuze's Birthday but this time Red List and the City Hotel lured me back with free canapés and a showcase of three Sydney Burlesque performers. Ms. Brianna Bluebell (Miss Burlesque NSW), Danica Lee (Miss Burlesque Sydney) and Holly Ja'Doll (The Peel) all performed twice to a fully rsvped event. The Vintage Burlesque show thankfully kept on time to it's schedule and $10 cocktails were on offer which unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try. Risotto-style arancini balls were excellent which seemed to be crumbed with crunchy panko and I think used pumpkin inside. Marinated prawns on cucumber were tasty and reminded me of 70s style cucumber base canapés. A fair amount of Pizza came out later in the night and to finish off the delicious Chocolate truffles hit the sugar spot. To keep in the loop with exclusive offers and free events check out Red List.

Other visits to Kent Street Living Room:

• 15 Sept 2010 - Red List Vintage Burlesque Showcase

• 29 May 2010 - Chocolatesuze 27th Birthday

• 19 Feb 2010 - Launch Party

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Nice venue, Free canapés, Free entertainment, Event was on time and well organised

CONS: RSVPs book quickly, Arrive early to grab a seat

MUST TRY: Arancini balls, Chocolate truffles

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The canapés

Risotto-style arancini balls

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Marinated prawns on cucumber

Pizza

Chocolate truffles

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

The performers

Holly Ja'Doll

Danica Lee

Ms. Briana Bluebell

Guests and decor

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City Hotel Kent Street Living Room: Chocolatesuze 27th Food Blogger Birthday, Sydney (29 May 2010)

347 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.cityhotel.com.au

Happy Birthday chocolatesuze!

Beware of cheerleaders wielding long sharp knives with a big smile.

With 73 confirmed RSVPs on the guest list for this birthday event it was set to be Sydney's biggest food bloggers meet up — and it certainly was, with 59 confirmed attending roll call. The dress theme was BACK TO SCHOOL and the tempting prize for best dressed was a 2.26kg giant gummy bear. I arrived fashionably late at 4.30 pm as all unruly school kids would and ended up miraculously able to fit into my final year school shirt which I'd kept as a personal memento since leaving. Matched with a striking afro and Christian Dior nerdy looking sunglasses complete with backpack I thankfully didn't miss out on any of the yummy food provided by Nuffnang which was just starting to be served as I arrived. It was great to meet up with some familiar faces of the food blogging community and to also finally meet other food bloggers which I follow and read. Time went quickly (too quickly) and I wished I could have stayed longer to chat with many more of the food bloggers but hopefully next time in future events.

Drinks were purchased from the bar and my choice tonight was a refreshing Japanese Asahi beer ($8). The Kent Street Living Room seem to be producing some very nice party food at the moment and stand outs for me tonight were the Chicken Satay, Grilled Prawn Skewers and Salt and Pepper Squid. The Mini Wagyu Burgers had potential although unfortunately didn't quite match teppanyaki's very impressive looking and tasting version at Launch Into Merivale. I'm not sure who made the chocolate cake but it was massive and very noice. Chocolatesuze looked very comfortable and a little scary at the same time with the very large birthday cake knife in hand. If you'd like a copy of your photo in this blog post please drop me an email and I'll email a copy back to you :-)

So I'm wondering who won best dressed in the end?

Other visits to Kent Street Living Room:

• 15 Sept 2010 - Red List Vintage Burlesque Showcase

• 29 May 2010 - Chocolatesuze 27th Birthday

• 19 Feb 2010 - Launch Party

Other blogger reviews of the Birthday:

• Star Loz

• Aficionado

• Foodchaser

• Nom Nom Nibblies

• The Ninja Review

• Three Wise Pigs

• Chocolatesuze

• The Creamy Middles

• Crunchy Tiger

• Heidi Loves Food

• Sugarpuffi

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Nice venue, decent canape party food, friendly people

CONS: Was too short on time to meet up with everyone

MUST TRY: Prawn Skewers, Chicken Satay, Salt and Pepper Squid

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Me and the Birthday Girl aka Cheerleader Chocolatesuze

Food bloggers unite to celebrate

Asahi Beer $8

The Party Food

Potato wedges

Salt and pepper squid

Cheese and spinach triangles

Antipasto

Chicken satay

Samosas

Mini Wagyu Beef Burgers

Grilled prawn skewers

Chocolatesuze birthday cake

Chocolatesuze cutting birthday cake

Food bloggers

Laura (StarLoz) and Me

Sara (Belly Rumbles), Yee (Brunch, Lunch & Munch), Desmond (YaYa's Yum Yums) and Me

Rose (LesbianHam) as the chalkboard

Cathy X (Aficionado) and Me

Sheryl (One Bite More) and Me

Anita (NoRedMeat) and Me

Richard aka FFichiban (Here Comes The Food) and Me

Phouc (Phuocndelicious) and Me

Steph (raspberri cupcakes), Betty (The Hungry Girl), Leona (Pigged-Out) and Me

Lisa (Spicy Icecream), Simon (The Heart of Food) and Me

Jade (Pass The Peas), Yasmin (About The Food) and Me

Maria (Aamukahvin ääressä), Betty (Sugarpuffi) and Me

Billy (A Table For Two) and Me

Denea (Gourmet Rabbit) and Me

Sara (Belly Rumbles), Rita (Spoon, Fork & Chopsticks), Rachel (The Creamy Middles) and Me

Fouad (The Food Blog) and Me

The sponsor

Sarah and David (Nuffnang) — So can you pay for my next birthday party too? :-)

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City Hotel: Kent Street Living Room Launch Party, CBD Sydney (19 Feb 2010)

347 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.cityhotel.com.au

New Renovated Function Space

It was only last May in 2009 when a friend had her 30th Birthday at this 1st floor function space in the city centre. Back then it was fully decorated in a Mexican theme with an abundance of Corona bottles along the walls. It's now all changed and features tasteful crystal chandeliers, flock wallpaper and chesterfield couches providing an elegant character. I was a little doubtful about the free food that was going to be served but was pretty impressed with the quality and variety of options provided. I was expecting deep fried spring rolls and party pies but instead received freshly cooked and tasty BBQ Prawn Skewers and juicy BBQ Lamb Cutlets which reminded me of the ones I cooked for my recent 39th Birthday. The nicely presented Smoked Salmon Canapés were also good along with the Vegetarian Vietnamese Fresh Rolls. I liked the presentation of the Duck and Mango Salsa canapé but a bit more prized crispy skin goodness inside would have been welcomed. The raised mezzanine seating area is quite plain and undecorated which unfortunately doesn't have the cosy atmosphere of the main lounge area.

Other visits to Kent Street Living Room:

• 15 Sept 2010 - Red List Vintage Burlesque Showcase

• 29 May 2010 - Chocolatesuze 27th Birthday

• 19 Feb 2010 - Launch Party

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Central location, Nice canapés, Private bar for functions

CONS: Limited parking

MUST TRY: Prawn Skewers with lime leaves and shallots

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Taltarni sparking and Vodka cocktail

Prawn Skewers with lime leaves and shallots

Duck and Mango Salsa canape

Smoked Salmon canape

French Trimmed Minted Lamb Cutlets

Fresh Vietnamese rolls

Bar and lounge area

Mezzanine seating area

Bar

Stairwell

Lounge area

DJ

Previous decor – May 2009



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