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

Tostones: Fried plantains with Cuban aioli ($8)

Bife Ancho 400g: 120-day grain fed dry age rib eye steak served with Rosemary & Garlic roasted potato & house made condiments ($37) 

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Café y caramelo: Mocha dome with candied peanuts & salted caramel ice cream ($14) 

La Lechera: A classic ... LBDM style ($14)

El Dorado 12 YO, Guyana ($13)

WORTH TRYING :-) 

Diplomatico Reserva, Venezuela ($12) 

Havana Club Barrel Proof, Cuba ($16.50)

Head Chef Danny Parreno (middle) with kitchen team 

Rum Tasting Sets 

Mojito time = Good time

Musicians — pretty loud though for talking over

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The Time Out Shout with Little Creatures Beer at Spiedo, Westfield Sydney (9 Nov 2011)

Shop 6004-6005, Level 6, Westfield Sydney

Cnr Market and Castlereagh St Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.spiedo.com.au

Free beer pulls a thirsty crowd

If you're a Time Out weekly newsletter subscriber then you would have known about The Time Out Shout. It's free to subscribe so why wouldn't you to keep posted on hopefully the next free shout. Tonight's shout was free Little Creatures beers, two to be exact, at the newly opened Spiedo. The casual seating outside the restaurant made for a nice venue to sit back and relax after a days work. Some tasty arancini balls and focaccia canapés were served around but the event was probably more focussed on the beers at hand. Dan from Beer Snobs loves his boutique beers and now works for Little Creatures. He recommended the White Rabbit White Ale for me which was an easy drinking and refreshing style of beer. It seems the demise of Coogee Cafe's After Dark is now Little Creatures gain. Other drinks on offer were the Borgo Frare Prosecco Treviso Brut, Little Creatures Pear Cider and White Rabbit Dark Ale. For those that arrived around 5 pm it was easy pickings for a seat and no queues for their drinks but by around 5.45 pm it got much busier at the bar. My advice is arrive early, relax and enjoy.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free beer shout, Free canapés, Free magazines, Nice relaxed environment

CONS: Have to subscribe to Time Out newsletter but it's free

MUST TRY: Watching out for the next free event

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The golden ticket for a free beer

Borgo Frare Prosecco Treviso Brut, Little Creatures Pear Cider, White Rabbit White Ale, White Rabbit Dark Ale

Little Creatures Original Pilsner on tap and my White Rabbit White Ale

Pouring the Borgo Frare Prosecco Treviso Brut

That's a bit of a head on those beers

Spiedo canapé and kitchen

Casual seating and popular event

Dan from Beer Snobs (centre left) and the Time Out crew

Free Time Out Sydney magazines

If I had an iPhone I'd probably download the app

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York 75: Sports Bar serving spirits by the bottle, CBD Sydney (23 Dec 2010)

Hotel CBD, Level 2, 75 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.merivale.com/#/cbd/york75
http://www.york75.com



Spirits by the bottle — game on!

“Now watching sport doesn't mean compromising on comfort, service or atmosphere – sit back in our leather booths that seat 8 and also include full waitress table service. Or simply enjoy watching the game on one of the 20 screens throughout the bar.”

I never knew this bar existed until some friends invited me along for a casual drink and meal. It's tucked away on level 2 from the busy street below. They do have promotional advertising around the ground floor of the CBD Hotel but I'm sure most people like me have just walked past thinking it was for the ground floor bar. I like the sporty decor even though I'm not really a sporty person because it's something a bit different and interesting. If you like your sports then the abundance of screens will surely please including one at your table if you get a booth. Keep in mind once you're seated at a booth you're pretty much stuck unless your companions get out to let you out. For an American-style bar it's surprising to see no American beers available but you can buy spirits by the bottle which I've come across in Las Vegas nightclubs. Fancy a Belvedere Pure Vodka ($190), Tanqueray Gin ($168) or Hendricks Gin ($210) served with ice, citrus fruits and mixers or perhaps go-hard-or-go-home with Hennessy XO Cognac ($426).

The BBQ chicken wings ($8.50) is a generous serving although for my taste buds it could be more spicy and preferably with a crispy coating. The Spicy potato chips, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce ($8.50) is as hoped and for extra bite just add some Bone Suckin's Sauce Habanero sauce from the condiments selection. The Eggplant lasagne ($16) sounded like a healthy option on the menu but there's a lot of cheese in the dish. Perhaps a better balance of eggplant might have been better. The Chicken schnitzel, salad and french fries with roasted garlic mayo or gravy ($16) and The biSTRODE burger ($18) is pretty standard tasty fare to fill the stomach, especially if you're challenging your liver with a 1.5 litre Carlsburg jug ($20).

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Spirits available by the bottle if you dare and can afford it, Beers available by the jug, For the sports fanatic, Interesting decor and reasonably priced bar menu

CONS: No american beers available (although perhaps that's a good thing?), Female toilets on different level (doesn't effect me though), Can't get out of booths easily

MUST TRY: Spirit by the bottle

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1.5 litre jug Carlsburg beer ($20)

BBQ chicken wings ($8.50)

Spicy potato chips, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce ($8.50)

Eggplant lasagne ($16)

Chicken schnitzel, salad and french fries with roasted garlic mayo or gravy ($16)

The biSTRODE burger ($18)

Table condiments including Bone Suckin's Sauce Habanero sauce

Bar menu

Tap and bottled beer menu — where's the Budweiser though?

Sparkling and white wine menu

Red and Rosé wine menu

Spirits by the bottle — now we're talking!

Bar philosophy

Sports memorabilia and table condiments

Snooker table and sports screen at your table

One way of getting in and out of the booth

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