Efendy: 'Meze Journey to Istanbul' Food Bloggers Dinner Event, Balmain (4 April 2010)

79 Elliott Street, Balmain NSW 2041

http://www.efendy.com.au

A slice of Istanbul in Balmain

A big thanks to Somer and Asli from Efendy for generously inviting a large group of food bloggers to dine at their restaurant to learn a thing or two about Turkish culture and it's influential cuisine which is so much more than just pide and kebabs. We sampled cold mezes, hot mezes, a main meal and a dessert platter along with a take away goodie bag which included possibly the best Turkish Delight you'll find made in Sydney. I had the opportunity to sample a few of the dishes last week and it was great to try the Midye Dolma this week which had a really nice aromatic rice and is apparently one of the popular street foods you'd find in Istanbul. I again enjoyed the Pachanga Boregi which seemed to be well received by the blogger guests and the acquired taste of the Koc Yumurtasi (Lambs testicles) strongly found the taste buds heart for Gourmet Rabbit and Richard Elliot’s Blog. One of my favourites of the night was again the Kadayifli Karides (Kadayif wrapped Hervey Bay king prawns).

The Kuzu Kuzu trio of lamb dishes included a very interesting Braised lamb neck in traditional wedding soup of yoghurt, trice and chickpeas. Quite a few bloggers seemed to enjoy this one along with the Tandir style Bultarra saltbush lamb shoulder over dried eggplant skin filled with smoky eggplant puree which hit the right taste bud notes for me. I also enjoyed the flavours of the Ahirdagi Salata which used some pomegranate molasses in the dressing. Somer makes his own Walnut Baklava of 42 layers of hand opened thin pastry which is a must if you can fit in some dessert and the Keskul (pistachio, almond, pomengranate pudding) was also well liked.

Thank you to all the food bloggers who were able to make the time in spending their Easter Sunday at Efendy — it was really nice to meet you all. And a special thank you to Somer and Hope in approaching me and giving me the opportunity to help organise and introduce the food bloggers for this event.

Food Bloggers and table guests that attended:

• Simon Food Favourites (Simon, Lorraine)

• Almond and the hazelnut (Yasmin)
• Music Munchies Review (Helen, Jorden)
• He Needs Food (John)
• Phuoc'n Delicious (Phuoc)
• Cookbook Maniac (Amy)
• Ohh, Look... (Bel, Will)
• Gourmet Rabbit (Denéa)
• Pigged-Out (Leona)
• Richard Elliot’s Blog (Richard)

• Asli, Omer and Hope

Other visits to Efendy:

• 4 April 2010 - 'Meze Journery to Istanbul' Food Bloggers Dinner Event

• 28 March 2010 - Turkish Meze, Apple tea, Baklava, Dana Sarma, Fava, Hamsi Marine, Kadayifli Karides, Kazandibi, Koc Yumurtasi, Kofte, Kuzu Tandir, Milky gullach

Pacanga Boregi, Patlican Salatasi, Pilic Sarma, Saksuka, Yeni Raki

• 6 March 2010 - Breakfast Meze, Incir Kaygana, Pacanga Boregi, Sucuk, Turkish delight

• 26 July 2009 - Kiymali, Sucuklu, Omlet, Kaygana

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Authentic and tasty dishes, well presented, nice decor

CONS: Not enough authentic Turkish restaurants in Sydney

MUST TRY: Kadayifli Karides (prawns), Pacanga Boregi, Bultarra saltbush lamb shoulder over dried eggplant skin filled with smoky eggplant puree, Lambs testicles (at least once), Somer's Baklava, Kesbul

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Table for 16 setting

Isot (sundried capsicum), Sumac, Nut mix (walnuts, sesame seeds, pistachio crowns), Nar Eksisi (Pomegranate molasses), Olive oil

Turkish bread

Soguk Mezeler – Cold Mezes

Fava: Broad bean paste, onion and dill pate

Hamsi: Black Sea sardines olive oil confit style

Midye Dolma: Tasmanian black mussels, aromatic rice, pinenuts, currant and spices

Sicak Mezeler – Hot Mezes

Pachanga Boregi: Spice-cured, sun-dried beef backstrap, kashar cheese borek

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Koc Yumurtasi: Lambs testicles, garlic almond tarator

SIMON TASTE CHALLENGE :-)

Kadayifli Karides: Kadayif wrapped Hervey Bay king prawns, walnut, capsicum and roasted garlic muhammara

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Ana Yemek – Main Meal

Kuzu Kuzu: A trio of lamb dishes

Kuzu Kuzu: Mini Iskender of Dorper lamb backstrap, jus soaked Turkish bread crouton, Iskender sauce of tomato, capsicum and parika, garlic yoghurt.

Kuzu Kuzu: Braised lamb neck in traditional wedding soup of yoghurt, trice and chickpeas

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Kuzu Kuzu: Tandir style Bultarra saltbush lamb shoulder over dried eggplant skin filled with smoky eggplant puree

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Ahirdagi Salata: Finely chopped salad of tomato, cucumber, red onion, walnuts, pomegranate molasses

Tatli Tabagi – Dessert Platter

Tatli Tabagi – Kazandibi: Burnet mastic and cinnamon pudding; Baklava: Antep style 42 layers of hand opened thin pastry, walnut; Keskul: Traditional palace recipe of pistachio, almond, pomengranate pudding

Keskul: Traditional palace recipe of pistachio, almond, pomengranate pudding

Baklava: Antep style 42 layers of hand opened thin pastry, walnut

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Real Turkish Delight

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Drinks

Efes Turkish beer

Yeni Raki

Turkish tea

Josef Chromy Pinot Noir 2009 Tasmania, Skuttlebutt Sauvignon Semillon 2008 Margaret River

Efendy

Somer (left) in the kitchen

Food Blogger action shot — heads down, cameras on.

Amy, Phuoc, Leona and Denéa about to try their lambs testicles

A helping hand for Ohh, Look...

Group photo of hosts and food bloggers

Denéa eating/loving her Turkish Delight

Goodie Bag: Apple Tea, Isot sundried capsicum, Pomengranate molasses, Real Turkish Delight

The meaning of Efendy

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Impress Cafe: Turkish, Auburn (12 June 2009)

31-35 Queen Street, Auburn NSW 2144
Facebook website

I really enjoy visiting different suburbs around Sydney, especially if they are generally known for particular ethnic communities and hence hopefully for more authentic cultural food and prices eg Cabramatta for Vietnamese, Petersham for Portuguese, Haberfield for Italian, Kingsford for Indonesian and today Auburn for Turkish.

The Impress Cafe sits under the Gima Supermarket and the kofte was highly recommended to me by a Turkish friend. After perusing the menu I'm keen to try the mixed plate so I get to try a few things. It comes with fresh salad, bread and some rice which has chickpeas in it. The dish is like a meat lovers BBQ and all the meats are tasty and tender. I'm a huge fan of lamb cutlets so this was my favourite meat marinated with delicious spices. The dish is quite large so becomes my combined late breakfast and lunch and quite comfortably fills me up until a later dinner. I'd happily visit again to try other dishes including their Big Breakfast which seems to be only $9.

Cay (Turkish Tea) $2

Ayran yoghurt drink

Mixed Plate: 1 lamb, 1 chicken, 1 Adana shish, 1 lamb cutlet, 1 kofte, salad, rice and Turkish bread $18.50

Fresh salad with dressing

Rice with chickpeas

Chicken and lamb skewers

Adana shish (spiced minced meat skewers)

Lamb cutlet

Kofte

Service counter and display

Chargrill menu

'Scrambeled eggs' ... is that Turkish for authentic scrambled eggs? :-)

Inside and outside dining

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