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

Sakae Japanese Restaurant in Eastwood

 I start to really crave Japanese food this weekend.  I convinced my friend to join me in a meal at Sakae  Japanese Restaurant in Eastwood. It was jam packed in the actual restaurant which without air conditioning made it really hot. 

Good sized portions at a reasonable price. It is a reliable, average Japanese eatery. It doesn't quite compare to the high standards and value you get at Tatsuya (in West Ryde) but it's open on Sundays and is very popular with the locals.

Tobikko don - three types of caviar, sweet pickles, salmon roe, herb mix, and egg yolk on top of rice.

Eel Bento Box

Takoyaki Balls

Side - Mini Udon

New Shanghai in Ashfield

I caught up with an old friend over a pot of oolong tea and dumplings at New Shanghai in Ashfield. It was jam packed with customers lining up for a table so I had high expectations.

Doughy Pork Fried Dumplings

Soup Filled Pork Dumplings

Shallot Pancake

 He tells me that usually the soup-filled dumplings are plump, juicy and simply melt in your mouth. On the day they were slightly dry but still had the beginnings of little tasty morsels of food. I also had the doughy, fried pork dumplings which went down well and filled you up quickly. The tea was refreshing and washed every thing down well. The shallot pancake was over cooked and looked quite burnt.

I'd like to go back to try a few more things because I think it could rival one of my
favourites - Taste of Shanghai.

Ribs and Rumps

Chicken "Parma"

Steak roll with perri perri sauce

Gia Hoi in Bankstown

Pictured: Pho Tai

Beef Pho

What do you eat when it's a cool autumn day?  A warm noodle dish with flavoursome beef; fresh herbs in a carefully hour long crafted broth.  I love vietnamese food. The Gia Hoi chain is reliable because vietnamese people run the restaurants.

Vietnamese food is full of fresh herbs, filling soups and noodles.

People venture all throughout Sydney to come to bankstown for it's pho.  Well worth it baby!

A big bowl so come hungry!!

XinJiang - Fomerly SeaBay Restaurant Parramatta

I woke up this morning with a massive craving for handmade noodles. I instantly thought of Seabay restaurant in the city but I wasn't willing to make the trip.  Instead I settled for venturing out to Parramatta to visit it's sister restaurant.

When I got there, I realised there was a name change - a sly but swift sticker had been glued over the former Seabay restaurant name.  Everything else looked the same and there were some menu changes.

Some initial thoughts -
Stir fried Handmade noodles with chicken were flavoursome.  They were perfectly dancing in the right amount of oil and melted in your mouth.
Vegetable salad was freshly pickled but oversauced
Dumplings were dough heavy

Oh and be prepared to point at the pictures in the menu as English is limited with the staff.

Cheap meal for two :)

Infinity Sourdough Bakery in Manly

I woke up on a cool Manly morning. It was fresh  and my chai latte cravings were high.  I needed that smooth, creamy chai latte.  This rustic looking bakery (with your fancy over priced bread) delivers that chai latte hit.