The Norfolk on Cleveland: Pub bistro, Redfern (1 Sept 2011, 14 Apr 2012)

305 Cleveland Street, Redfern NSW 2016
http://www.thenorfolk.co

Tempting bar snacks menu

The Norfolk is probably one of those pubs you'd wish to have closer to home with such a tempting bar snacks menu and weekly specials for the budget conscious. The Spiced Norfolk Fries ($7.50) seem to be a reliable side to any drink. I'm sure they're pretty basic fries but it's the spices they add which make it something a bit more special for the taste buds. For those a little more adventurous the Deep-fried pickles with ranch dipping sauce ($7.50) are possibly an acquired taste. Moist on the inside with a crispy batter. I liked the Fried chicken wings ($12.50) and the BBQ'd sweet corn with chipotle mayo ($5.50) had a smokey char flavour and were quite tasty. The Beef soft shell taco ($5.50 each or 4 for $20) was OK but unfortunately the meat wasn't as finely shredded and moist as hoped and toppings were pretty plain flavoured. The Veg soft shell taco ($5.50 each or 4 for $20) wasn't liked with uninteresting and one dimensional flavour. Ribs and chips ($12 thursday night special) was a bargain although quite fatty and I'm not a fan of my chips getting soggy from the sauce.

A return visit for a friend's birthday brings me to the Trophy Room which is reserved just for the party. Being a saturday afternoon there's cocktail jugs for $30 which included a bar snack. The Endless English Summer ($30 jug) was quite refreshing but the alcohol was quite subtle for my taste considering there wasn't really much of a non-alcoholic mixer on the ingredients. The Bloody Mary menu took my interest to try the Bloody Asian ($15) served in a quirky tomato can with noticeable wasabi in the mix. I think I'll stick to the original Bloody Norf next time or a good Hendrick's Gin & Tonic ($10 each) which always hits the spot for me as a reliable thirst quencher. I hope to return again to eat my way through the bar snacks menu and try a few more of their cocktails.

Other visits to The Norfolk:
• 14 Apr 2012 / 1 Sept 2011 - Bar snacks, Tacos, Ribs, Jugs of cocktails, Bloody Asian

• 18 Mar 2011 - Tacos, Schnitzel, Fries, Chicken Caesar

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Reasonably priced meals and weekly specials, Interesting menu and décor, Garden courtyard at rear, Trophy Room cosy for a private function

CONS: Can get very crowded and loud, Bloody Mary menu may possibly offend

MUST TRY: Deep-fried pickles at least once, Spiced Norfolk Fries, Fried chicken wings, Other bar snacks next time

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Visited 1 Sept 2011

Lemon, Lime & Bitters — served in wrong glass (left) and correct glass (right), consistency from new bar staff required

Spiced Norfolk Fries ($7.50)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Potato skins with bacon, cheddar, ranch, scallions ($9) — tasty

Deep-fried pickles with ranch dipping sauce ($7.50) — moist on the inside, quite tasty, crispy batter, something a bit different

WORTH TRYING :-)

Fried chicken wings with hot sauce and red eye mayo ($12.50)

WORTH TRYING :-)

BBQ'd sweet corn with chipotle mayo, queso cheese and lime ($5.50) — smokey char flavour, quite tasty

Hot Toddy ($8) — wasn't particularly liked

Beef soft shell taco: Beef brisket, queso fresco, scallions & lime, salsa mojo ($5.50 each or 4 for $20) — was OK but meat not as finely shredded and moist as hoped, toppings were a bit one dimensional

Veg soft shell taco: Seasonal mushrooms, braised red cabbage, almond pico de gallo, pickled cucumber ($5.50 each or 4 for $20) — more like a vege wrap, flavours uninteresting and unfortunately one dimensional for me, very disappointing

Ribs and chips ($12 thursday night special) — quite substantial although ribs quite fatty, chips soaked in sauce on bottom, needed more char smokiness

7 hour lamb sandwich: Slow cooked lamb, caramelised onion jam, alfalfa magic, greens, sourdough bread ($17) — tender and tasty flavours

Hot sauce and pepper sauce table condiments for those who like it spicy

Bar snacks menu

What's On menu

Soft shell taco menu

Decor and seating

Visited 14 April 2012

Endless English Summer: Gin, St Germain, Passion Fruit Pulp, Cucumber, Topped with Processo ($30 jug, includes bar snack Sat 3-6 pm) — Quite refreshing but alcohol quite subtle for my taste

Hendrick's Gin & Tonic ($10 each)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Bloody Asian: Vodka, Wasabi Reduction, Lime Juice, Mary Mix, Tomato Juice, Cucumber, Sesame, Ginger ($15) — very strong on the wasabi, might stick to the normal version

Jugs & Snacks $30 Sat Arvo 3-6 pm

Bloody Marys menu

A bit of cheeky sporting pics

Everyone needs a little change — too funny

View to the Trophy Room — great spot for a private function

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Mad Mex: Launch party of new store, Ultimo (7 Sept 2011)

815 George Street, Ultimo NSW 2007
http://www.madmex.com.au

Another Mad Mex opens

“Mad Mex offers authentic Mexican cuisine with a Baja Californian-inspired menu of delicious and nutritious burritos, nachos, quesadillas and more all prepared with only the freshest ingredients and served in a fast casual format than can be preapred to dine in or takeaway”

Thanks to Stuart Fyfe from 6dc for inviting me to the store launch of the new Mad Mex on George Street near Railway Central. Director and Founder Clovis Young was on hand to demonstrate a few cooking techniques on how they make a flavoursome salsa. Essentially roasting/burning tomato, onion and peppers over fire will provide a smokey flavour. Blend together then add your favourite chilli for heat and flavour plus salt and lime juice for taste. The freshly made salsa was quite nice with some warmish tortilla chips. He mentioned a good supplier of Mexican ingredients is Fireworks Food which is the same place Barrio Chino use. Some tequila tasting and education was also in order. I learnt that tequila just has to have 51% agave to be classified as tequila. So hence the 51% agave Jose Cuervo Especial didn't smell or taste as good as Hornitos or Tres Generaciones which were 100% agave. As Clovis says, 51% tequila means 49% hangover — I think he may be right.

For my dinner I ordered the Crispy tacos with black beans, cheese, lettuce & sour cream with choice of filling ($9.90 for 3) so I could try the pork, beef and chicken in each of the tacos. The service was very efficient, although perhaps a little too fast and scary for someone who wasn't particularly familiar with the menu. I sort of felt I had to make my mind up quickly on what I did and didn't want on my order as ingredients were quickly thrown on top. In the end I couldn't even see my crispy tacos under the mountain of lettuce, cheese and huge dollop of guacamole (add $2). I guess they don't skimp on the toppings which might make it better value for money. I noticed Churros with melted dipping chocolate ($5.90 for 2 pieces) on the menu which I always thought was Spanish but soon learnt it's also traditional in Mexico. The churros were decently sized and cooked to a nice crisp although coated in a thick amount of cinnamon sugar which might be welcomed by some. The warmish dipping chocolate was good but be careful of any unfortunate drippings — a few seemed to make their way to my shirt and pants. The churros seemed to be pre-cooked into shape and then deep fried to order unlike Chocolateria San Churro which cooked the fresh dough to order making for a slightly less dense texture inside, although they were definitely better than the dry version I had at Cafe Hernandez.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Quick and efficient service, Ingredients seem pretty fresh, Portions are quite generous, Seating available

CONS: Quick service can also be a little scary and overwhelming if you don't know what you want, No public toilet available, Guacamole is $2 extra, Tacos a little messy to eat

WORTH TRYING: Churros with melted dipping chocolate, Tortilla chips with salsa

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Crispy tacos with black beans, cheese, lettuce & sour cream with choice of filling ($9.90 for 3)

Nachos ($10.90) add guacamole ($2)

Churros with melted dipping chocolate ($5.90 for 2 pieces)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Picture menu and spicy beef option

Choose your style menu

Choose your filling and salsa

Sides, drinks and churros menu

Director and Founder Clovis Young in demonstration and relaxing with the crowd

How to burn vegetables to make a salsa

Time to blend the burnt vegetables then add salt, chilli and lime juice

Different types of chilli appreciation

Tortilla chips with salsa of your choice

WOTH TRYING :-)

Jose Cuervo Especial (51% agave, 49% hangover)

Hornitos 100% agave, Tres Generaciones

Taste testing: Jose Cuervo Especial, Hornitos, Tres Generaciones

Seating and decor

How to eat a burrito napkin

Corona bottle chandelair

Wall graphics

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