Food Society: Modern Eastern European, Darlinghurst (10 Aug 2012)

91 Riley Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

http://www.foodsociety.com.au

Vodka society

“Food Society opened its doors in August 2011, with a trip back in time to the 1950s – it was like stepping into grandma’s comfy lounge, where an eclectic mix of modern European fare awaited. ”

Thanks to Kim Veverka from Magnet PR & Events for inviting me to sample the new menu at Food Society by the new Chef Ali Bahmad. Self proclaimed as The Vodka Specialists it also gave me a chance to sample the vodka menu which I never investigated on my first visit when they first opened. If you're a fan of Polish vodka or want to gain a better appreciation then I've now realised this is the place to be. My favourite discovery is the Zoladkowa orange and clove vodka, Poland ($9) with excellent flavour that holds it on just with ice. If you're a fan of campari like me then this is an easy one to drink. The Chopin Rye Vodka ($15) was also a revelation that you can actually drink vodka straight without pulling a face. Very smooth and refined but comes at a price that might break the bank a bit too quickly if you're shouting your mates.

There were three stand out dishes for me that are a must on my next visit. The Crispy pork crackling with pink salt ($7) was super crunchy as hoped which shattered loudly with each bite. Not the most romantic sound if you're on a first date unless you're both crackling fantastics, then you'll be in heaven. The pieces are big and bold but my preference might be smaller so they're easier to share and eat. The Fried cauliflower with paprika, parsley, water cress and red wine vinegar ($11) had great flavour with crisp batter and the red onion sliced thankfully nice and thin adding a bit of flavour highlight. It's dishes like this that make you consider being a vegetarian is achievable. The simplicity of the Cucumber salad with sour cream and smoked paprika ($7.50) worked a treat for me also. Maybe my part-Lativian Eastern European heritage was craving this one.

I love my oysters and the Pacific oyster with spiced beetroot and red wine vinaigrette ($4 each) was something different to the norm which worked quite well and thankfully retained most of their brine to wash it down. The Pork belly pierogi with speck, apple cider vinegar and chervil ($3 each) were nice and the Crispy skinned Blue eye cod ($22) had a crisp skin as hoped with enjoyable flavours although the extra oil on top of the puree might have been a bit heavy handed and unnecessary. For a stomach filling lunch time option the Slow cooked pork roll, fried onion rings, smoked mozzarella and bacon jam ($18) had morish flavours although I liked it even better when I added the pickles for extra moisture and flavour.

Other visits to Food Society:

• 10 Aug 2012 – Guest review

• 5 Aug 2011 – Dinner

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Cosy and interesting decor, Extensive vodka menu, Casual atmosphere, Interesting menu options, Maybe best crackling in town

CONS: Street parking is limited due to all the restaurants in the area, Quality vodka doesn't come cheap, Coffee & tea is unavailable

MUST TRY: Crispy pork crackling, Fried cauliflower, Cucumber salad, Orange and clove vodka on ice

VERDICT: A character filled vodka loving den where you can drink and nibble on a few tasty dishes or settle in for the night with a feast of European inspired dishes

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Complimentary pickles and bread sticks

Crispy pork crackling with pink salt ($7) — super crunchy makes them very noisy to eat
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Pork belly pierogi with speck, apple cider vinegar and chervil ($3 each)

Fried cauliflower with paprika, parsley, water cress and red wine vinegar ($11) — great flavour, crisp batter, nice thin slices of red onion works well
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Pacific oyster with spiced beetroot and red wine vinaigrette ($4 each) — nice presentation, interesting flavour, shucked well which retained brine

Crispy skinned Blue eye cod served with turnip puree & wilted greens, dressed with a herb & eschallot vinaigrette ($22) — crisp skin, flavours work well together, puree had extra oil though on top which probably wasn't needed

Green beans with almond butter ($7.50)

Slow cooked pork roll, fried onion rings, smoked mozzarella and bacon jam ($18) — morish flavours although liked it even better with pickles added for extra moisture and flavour

Cucumber salad with sour cream and smoked paprika ($7.50) — so simple yet so tasty with enjoyable flavours 
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Perla beer

Jago Quince vodka ($10), Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka ($9.50)

Jago Juniper & Herb vodka ($10)

Chopin Rye Vodka ($15) — very smooth and easy to drink but pricey

Zoladkowa orange and clove vodka, Poland ($9) — excellent flavour, a bit like campari, well-rounded taste, easy to drink
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Vincent Van Gogh Espresso vodka ($10.50) — good hit of coffee

Vincent Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate vodka ($10.50) — good flavour

Menu

Vodka menu

New Chef Ali Bahmad (left) and our host

Kitchen counter seating to check out the action

Homely and eclectic decor

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My home cocktail bar is now reorganised (9 July 2011)

Cocktail bar on standby

As a big fan of making and drinking cocktails I've managed to collect a vast amount of different spirits and liqueurs over the years. I'm no stranger to the duty-free shopping which scores you the big one litre bottles and being a G&T kind of guy I received the occasional bottles of gin for my birthday. It's got to the point where I simply can't fit anymore in the cupboard so a friends BBQ event tonight and perhaps another friends birthday tomorrow will be a great opportunity for me to share a few to make more space. A bottle of Plymouth Gin, Bombay Sapphire Gin and Tanqeray Gin are kept in the freezer for emergencies when G&T friends pop over. One may quite rightly get the wrong impression of me with all this alcohol at my finger tips but I've never drunk alone at home, and don't intend to, and only drink during social occasions with other people — I promise.

A few opened bottles to bring along to a friends BBQ tonight to share

Plymouth, Bombay Sapphire and Tanqeray Gin kept chilled in the freezer

Stoli Vodka 'Original' Blogger Event at Sol Lounge Bar, Darlinghurst (23 June 2011)

239 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
http://www.solloungebar.com.au

Being infused with Stoli Vodka

Thanks to Beau from Polkadot PR for inviting me to this very intimate event of around 20 bloggers to sample some original Stoli Vodka cocktails by Bartender Luke Ashton and tasty canapés by Chef Matty Bee. It was quite a relaxed event and due to the small number of guests it allowed most people to have a seat which was nice and there was no worries about easily sampling the food and drinks stress-free.

Chef Matty Bee apparently used to work for Longrain and he’s cooking skills were evident. His Bloody Mary Oyster Shots with Asian Celery was brilliant using Coffin Bay Oysters which are one of my favourites. Great flavours which punch that didn’t hold back until the last drop — I eventually stopped myself by the fifth one, I think. The nicely presented Rare Seared Tuna with Stoli Vodka infused Black Bean, Cucumber and Ginger Dressing was a melt-in-your-mouth sensation and the Blue Cheese Balls with Walnut Dust with Stoli Vodka macerated Cherry Tomato was certainly well-flavoured by the blue cheese. I openly declared the Szechuan Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings better than District Dining and still stand by my decision — they were seriously wicked and I want the recipe please. My childhood pyromaniac tendencies were excited with the Torched Marshmallow Skewers although I can’t remember seeing the Melted Chilli Stoli Vodka Chocolate that was listed on the menu. Unfortunately Sydney will now miss Matty’s cooking as he was about to jet set off the following week to New York to work in a fine dining restaurant — I hope it all goes well for you there.

Bartender Luke Ashton looked comfortable making cocktails and first up on the menu was the Twist on the Classic Dirty Martini. Quite alcoholic as you’d expect although I couldn’t quite get used to the dehydrated smoked olive and licorice ash rim — I like it dirty but perhaps not that dirty. His signature cocktail of the The Tsarina was much more to my liking which used Stoli Razberi. The Vodka and Soda with a bespoke spiced rhubarb soda was the easiest cocktail to drink and the most refreshing. My fourth cocktail was a special request for something different. With the available ingredients at Luke’s disposal he made me a Lemon & Mandarin Gimlet. Lethal on the alcohol but worked quite nicely with the lemon and mandarin notes. It probably would have gone well with a bit of Cointreau to round the flavours with some extra sweetness.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Interesting and intimate venue space, Excellent canapés by Chef Matty Bee, Relaxed atmosphere, Generous goodie bag of delights

CONS: Was a school night, I didn't get to try a straight shot of Stoli out of the freezer to appreciate its smoothness, Chef Matty Bee cooking has gone to New York

MUST TRY: Getting the recipe for Chef Matty Bee’s Bloody Mary Oyster Shots with Asian Celery and Szechuan Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings — please!

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Bloody Mary Oyster Shots with Asian Celery

SIMON FAVOURITE :-) — OMG BLOODY GOOD!

Chef Matty Bee plating up with Yarra Valley Caviar

Rare Seared Tuna with Stoli Vodka infused Black Bean, Cucumber and Ginger Dressing

Blue Cheese Balls with Walnut Dust with Stoli Vodka macerated Cherry Tomato

Szechuan Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

SIMON FAVOURITE :-) — OMG BETTER THAN DISTRICT DINING!

Torched Marshmallow Skewers with Melted Chilli Stoli Vodka Chocolate + homemade Macarons

Canape menu

Megachef Premium Fish Sauce, Premium Oyster Sauce — Chef Matty Bee swears by this brand

Bartender Luke Ashton

A Twist on the Classic Dirty Martini: Smoked olives steeped in Stoli Vodka then topped with straight Stoli, with a dehydrated smoked olive and licorice ash rim

The Tsarina - Stoli Razberi, Mandarin Napoleon, Luxardo, A dash of Peach Bitters, fresh lemon juice and fresh pink grapefruit juice. Garnised with a mandarin twist

A play on the popular Vodka and Soda - Stoli Vodka combined with a bespoke spiced rhubard soda

Look at the size of those ice cubes

Lemon & Mandarin Gimlet — Something off the menu

Cocktail menu

Fee Brothers 1864 Peach Bitters — haven't seen this one before

Photographer captured 4 ways

Stoli bar

Upstairs seating and decor

Cheeky Stoli drinkers

Sharing a Boy Moments

Downstairs bar

Stairs between downstairs and upstairs

Goodie bag including bottle of Stoli, Sami's Kitchen Falafel Spice Blend, Blackbird Chocolate Hot Chocolate Spoon, Guylian chocolates, Byron Bay Cookies Museli Cookie, Franc Essential body care, Yankee Candle, Lunch Voucher for City Hotel and double movie pass to The Trip.

Outside Sol Lounge

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