Chef's Gallery - Sydney

salt and pepper spinach tofu

Handmade noodles wok fried with prawns in chilli prawn paste

This place is refined city for hand made noodles and other chinese delights.  It's very popular so I suggest you get in early or book.

I went with my friend Mel and we had the salt and pepper spinach tofu and the hand made noodles with prawns. The tofu was delicious, a great dish to share.  The noodles were tasty but I think I prefer chinese noodle restaurant in China Town. Delicious after my horrible matchu experience.

It's refined but comes with the slightly higher price tag. It still has it's place; being tasty and being able to compete with the other hand made noodle, dumplings and other chinese eateries in Chinatown.

Chinese Noodle Restaurant - China town

Hand made noodles with beef

Lamb and chive dumplings

Pork and celery dumplings

This is my absolute favourite place for hand made noodles.  The dumplings are thick and doughy but very tasty as you put into the hot filling.  The noodles are hand made and are super delicious.

I've probably been here over a dozen times and tend to eat mostly noodles and dumplings but have tried a few other dishes too.  I once had the eggplant dish which was super tasty.

I usually call this place - "the place with the fake grapes on the roof" but more recently; when I went on a Friday night, there was also an eldery man playing the violin outside.  Jane knows what I'm talking about.  It's a bit cosy so I'd only suggest going with a very small group.

Chanoma - Regent Place, Sydney

Wow, this place is random and I have no idea what this "matcha latte" is meant to taste like but my drink was so non-yummy tasting that I piled it with sugar.  I had two little sips and gave up and walked out.

I went with my friend Mel and she struggled through her watery drink while mine was full of "matcha" taste which seem to be a cross between salty medicine and "uergh" taste.

Luckily we were going to Chef's gallery where my tastebuds would recover.

I will have to go back to try out their random hot dogs and desserts but I would steer clear of this "matcha" business.  Mel was highly amused by my facial expressions

Home Thai - Sydney

Kao Kreab Pak Mhor: Steam rice flour with sweet peanuts, palm sugar and pork mince

Pad Thai 

Home Thai is the perfect thai place.  Buzzing atmosphere, quick food, value for money and most importantly yummy thai dishes.  Best washed down with a Corona surrounded with good company.

I love thai food. It gets a bit addictive.  Best to share dishes so you can try a bit of everything.

 

Taste of Shanghai - Eastwood

Deep fried dough with condensed milk (they taste like donuts)

Shanghai Xiao Long Bao: Dumplings with soup that burst into mouth

Poached Pork Dumplings in Chilli Oil

Rice Cake with Pork and Cabbage

I love Taste of Shanghai because it just has a splatter of morsels of deliciousness of dumplings, noodles and other delights.  It's consistent with fulfilling that dumpling hit.  I tried the sweet buns with condense milk for the first time, a nice change to the menu folks.

I also had my usual dumplings with soup, poached dumplings in chilli oil and rice cake with pork and cabbage.

Not the best dumplings in Sydney but a good consistent eatery.

This is somewhat of a regular venue for me.  I've been to the Eastwood one and the one in World Square.  On this particular occassion, I went with my old friend Andy.

 

The chocolate room - Sydney (NOW CLOSED)

Hazelnut hot chocolate

Banana split

I went into the Chocolate Room for a dessert hit.  I ordered a hazelnut hot chocolate and a banana split.
 I like chocolate. But sometimes you order with your eyes and are less aware of your chocolate limits!

A sometimes venue - for me at least.  I left feeling chocolate "rich" in a very bad way.

Maybe I should have stopped at the Hazelnut hot chocolate.  The banana sundae almost gave me a heart attack.

 

Tasca Tapas - Gladesville (NOW CLOSED)

Sometimes I don't expect grand things from tiny surburban restaurants but so your expectations will be exceeded by 10 fold when you go to Tasca Tapas.

It's this little place which looks a bit dodgey but the food is amazing.  I think the owner does all the cooking.  One man show - but it's a damn good show.

Yummo! Tapas should be tasty mouthful of homely food and that's exactly what you get at Tasca Tapas.  It's a tiny restaurant so you have to book or turn up early or late.

Fried Eggplant w cheese 

I ended up eating most of the food before I remembered to take photos!  Each and every dish was awesome.

Sliced rump with salsa

Saffron prawns