Eat Like Ushi

After an afternoon of horse-riding in the rain, I needed a snack to bide me over until the planned lamb dinner at Vesta. One of the staff at the riding place mentioned a pie place on the main road that she couldn't remember the name of. Something about a black sign with white or yellow writing. Gatsby's fit the description and I manage to sneak in about 5mins before closing time. I had hoped that this coincidence meant the leftovers would be discounted (as many places do) but unfortunately not.

A vibrant orange pie with thin mince topped with sweet potato mash was a bit different to the usual and quite impressive. The sausage roll was quite standard, as was the croissant.

Overall I personally prefer the very nearby Bakehouse on Wentworth, but this place is fine too.

I had read a few articles about the best pies in the Blue Mountains. Practically all of them rate Mountain High Pies along the highway as the best. Considering I had eaten pies at Bakehouse on Wentworth and Gatsby's (both in Blackheath), I wanted to know what the best reputed were like for comparison.

It made for an easy pit stop (without having to deviate from the highway) toward Sydney/Canberra.

- Breakfast Pie – bacon, mushrooms & onion in a tomato sauce with mashed potato & a whole egg on top;
- Beef & Red Chilli Beans - tasty filling but surprisingly spicy and hot. Slightly painful to eat so I would probably get something else next time;
- Sausage Roll - some nice mince with still some homogenous coarse texture.

Overall the fillings are very good. I would prefer the pastry to be a little less flaky and a little thicker and buttery, but can't complain. Bakehouse on Wentworth was possibly better for me for that reason.

Riding down the 19 tram reminded me of the old days coming back from Melbourne Uni. Luckily for Melbourne (and this generation of uni students) the food options have vastly improved over the past 10-15 years. So has mobile phone technology, which allowed me to search for a ramen joint other than Hakata Gensuke (which I visited on my previous two trips).

Mugen is known for tsukemen - a method of eating ramen where the noodles are served separate to the broth and only dipped in before eating straight away. I first saw this type during a documentary by David Chang. To be honest, as much as he raved about it as the best ramen type available, I never saw the joy of it. But I may as well try it once.

I ordered the Wafu Tsukemen (dashi & soy sauce broth, housemade thick noodles served with slow-cooked chashu, bamboo shoots & seaweed) 360g $15. When ordering this, I wasn't exactly sure what 360g referred to. Now I know - it's the noodle serving (I think) which is twice the standard cooked noodle weight for one. The noodles are excellent - thick, chewy, excellent texture but are cold. The soup is heavily flavoured and served hot - it's quite nice, albeit strong to drink on its own.

The method of eating means dipping and swishing cold noodles into hot broth. Thus lies the dilemma - each time a dip occurs the soup becomes colder and colder. At the end of the noodles, a small teapot of dashi is given to add to the remaining broth to drink as a lukewarm finisher. There's one slice of chashu, a few bamboo shoots, and an added $2 marinated egg which is really excellent and great value.

So my two issues - the best part of almost any noodle dish (eg. ramen, pho, laksa, assam etc.) is the broth. I know many others think it's the noodles, but not for me. The time-consuming, impossible to replicate broth. It almost seems unfair to have such a small amount of broth compared to the large serve of (admittedly excellent) noodles. Secondly cold broth isn't the most appealing thing to eat (I've been told tsukemen is more of a summer dish, but still).

I still like tonkotsu better. I think I always will. However the ramen itself at Mugen is outstanding and so I'll try again for a bowl of the wafu ramen (although the noodles are thin, not thick - maybe I can make a request?)

03-2016

After a late work finish one evening I felt the need to splurge of some flavour as a reward. Driving through the city and finding a carpark was the first order, and after success selecting a late night dish in the area.

Mugen was close (conveniently being away from the masses area even on a Thursday) and the downstairs was relatively free. 7 Samurais was playing in the background.

After checking my previous review, I ordered the Wafu Ramen (soy sauce & dashi broth cooked over 48 hours, house made thin noodle served with chashu, bamboo shoots & seaweed) $15 - as suspected I did enjoy this hearty warm delicious bowl of broth more than the tsukemen style. I had the standard thin noodles (which really aren't that thin at all) and didn't miss the thicker version of above. Perhaps next time I'll request the thick ones just to mix it up a bit. The miso ramen also looks a good bet to try.

I also tried the Salmon Yaki-Foil (braised on the grill with Mugen special Miso, spring onions, shiitake and enoki mushrooms) $15 which had strong umami flavour and nice texture but seemed uninspiring compared to the identically priced ramen brother.

Oddly enough, when researching the Blue Mountains, the fine dining places didn't appeal that much to me. I think Ashcroft had a decent sounding menu (but in the end couldn't get a walk-in table on a Saturday), Darley has accolades (but is expensive) and Silk's wasn't all that interesting (other than the lamb brain and sweetbread entree). After rejection from Ashcroft and no availability at Pins on Lurline (with its udon and Italian menu), resignation hit and the car was directed toward Sanwiye.

I would never have really considered a Korean restaurant in the Blue Mountains, as this reminded me of the token Chinese restaurants you find in small rural towns all over the world, with the standard dishes and sauces and MSG (much like I expect the South Park City Wok restaurant represents). However Sanwiye had good ratings, there didn't seem to be many other options, and the other ones were probably already full.

I've had the cinnamon drink sujeonggwa at Bistro K before and so eagerly ordered it again. It was extremely potent in cinnamon. Perhaps a little too much.

- Mandu (crispy lightly fried half-moon dumplings) $10 - nicely fried dumplings with thin fillings and a soy to add extra flavour;
- Duk-bokki (rice cake & vegetables in sweet & spicy sauce) $16 - an excellent textured gooey set of rice cakes in a mild chilli sauce;
- Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup (prawn, calamari, fish cake, carrot, capsicum, onion, sliced cabbage, mushroom) $13 - beautiful broth with (what may have been instant noodle) ramen cooked to retain spring, some average pieces of seafood (very small prawns, but I suppose you don't expect much for the price up in the mountains) but an excellent warming soup that tastes exactly how a Korean/Chinese noodle broth should. They asked if I wanted spicy and I said yes, but it wasn't too much.

Other than what was tried, the platesized pancakes looked like a good bet also.

Overall the prices are reasonable, the food is good quality and it appeared to be a family run place (Australian male and a Korean female heading the show). Well worth supporting. If you are dining for 2, I'd try to call and book the little table at the front which affords more privacy and a view of beautiful lighting and flowers.

After checking out from Season of Mists in Blackheath, I was looking for a breakfast to energise for the horrendous rain, fog and truck weather conditions that would greet me on the drive back to Canberra. I actually wanted to try Anonymous cafe in Blackheath but it was unfortunately closed on Tuesdays for some reason. Hence the drive to Leura where I had noticed a couple of cafes the afternoon before.

They actually served a very good chai tea (which was served with milk) with strong hints of ginger and spices. I was surprised and how nice it was.

- Grilled Haloumi Salad (with green beans, avocado, braised chickpeas, rocket, fried egg) $18 - quite simply one of the best salads I've had. The grilled salty squeaky cheese, mild crunchy beans, more crunchy chickpeas, soft avocado, bitter rocket and cherry tomatoes and a paprika fried egg (which probably didn't add much but was good on it's own) on top;
- Salt Cod & Potato Fritters (with poached egg, hazelnuts, iceburg lettuce, aioili) $18 - mainly potato with occasional chunks of cod topped with a nice salad and texture of nuts.

Next time I'm at the Blue Mountains, The Red Door will certainly be on my list for breakfast. The house-cured ocean trout or duck maryland also sound like great options.

Staying in Blackheath of course led to the online search for restaurant recommendations. The final list of 2 fell between a highly awarded and finer dining Ashcroft's (which was obviously too full for an attempted walk-in on a Saturday night) and Vesta. In the end Vesta won out simply due to what I had read about the roasted lamb shoulder and it being a Sunday and so most appropriate for a roast.

- Complimentary exceptional housemade sourdough with macadamia nuts, very grassy local EVOO and a tangy labneh. What a wonderful combination;
- Truffle Souffle with (Jannel goats cheese, parmesan and thyme) $28 - a smooth lightly truffle-flavoured souffle with a mild cheesey sauce and a strong parmesan crisp that was melting over the hot pan on arrival to the table;
- Lamb Shoulder for 2 (braised for 12 hours in the scotch oven with local organic vegetables, baked potato & red wine jus) $80 - the masterdish was a mildly flavoured lamb with some soft delicate parts and a few slightly more stringy areas. The skin had a bit of firmness but there was a reasonable amount of fat to separate. The vegetables were crunchy and fantastic and the lamb/wine jus was nice enough to drink by the spoon or drizzle over things;
- Bombe (dark chocolate parfait, bitter lemon sherbet, white chocolate & cardamom ice cream, hazelnut & orange praline) $15 - a multi-layered slice of effectively ice-cream cake with different textured layers. The praline added textures and additional flavour.

Overall the meal was excellent and satisfying. I'd happily go back (even though there probably isn't much else on the menu that particularly interested me).

The meal has inspired me to make a classic Sunday roast with lamb and all the trimmings, reminiscent of my greatest one of all at The Harwood Arms (http://eatlikeushi.posthaven.com/the-harwood-arms-london-10-2013).

On a cold raining afternoon, the incredible amounts of fog and mist prevented any kind of sight-seeing or outdoor activity. All that really leaves is exploring nearby Leura and finding food around Katoomba. I made my way to Hominy Bakery for the reputed sourdough and after a brief dalliance with the menu of a nearby Mexican restaurant, I ended up finding a gem at The Yellow Deli.

The place reminds me of something like an ski lodge with wooden furnishings, a fireplace, a slight hipster-marijuana vibe and a waitress wearing a cool retro American type dress. It's got something for everybody.

- Mate $3.0 - apparently it's a kind of tea that is turned into a coffee-type latte drink. It's a little odd but not necessary bad;
- Green chai latte (with almond milk) $4.5 - a sweet smooth drink that helped keep warm on a cold raining afternoon;
- Bowl of Pumpkin Soup (served with artisan bread) $10 - outstanding smooth blended soup with a mild pumpkin flavour but deep warm satisfaction;
- Bowl of hearty kettle cooked Beef Chili (served with artisan bread) $10 - the Deli's staple meat soup is chilli with minced beef chunks. Very good indeed.

The breads served with each soup were fantastically soft and delicious. The delicate homemade butter served with it was fantastic. The mate was not charged after they asked and I said it was unusual. Even though I was happy to (since I ordered it), the waitress wouldn't. Definitely worth the tip.

The menu isn't all that extensive (most of the rest of it is burgers or sandwiches) but the overall setting, staff caring and fireplace warmth make it an excellent and recommended stop in Katoomba.

There weren't many places open to eat on a Monday night at 915pm. Most of the ANU area had shut down already and Red Chilli Sichuan wasn't taking anyone new. Across the road from it, in a prime corner of Northbourne Avenue was a new(ish) Viet place that I had heard mixed things about. Bistro Nguyen's probably brings a little hesitancy to the avid eater on paper (especially one with some familiarity with Vietnamese food) considering the prime location, the restaurant name, and the decor attempting to fuse old school Vietnamese charm in a more modern setting. The only modern Viet places I've tried are The Slanted Door (which is exceptional) and Red Lantern (which is good). There's also a chef's hat called Dandelion that I've always been interested in but never made it to. But with limited options, a few other people eating inside and the cold weather setting in, it seemed reasonable to try and see what Bistro had to offer.

The first thing that hit me walking in the door is the strong aroma of pho broth with tones of Thai basil filling the air. It was unexpected, stronger than those encountered in dedicated pho places along Victoria Street, and intoxicatingly welcoming and homely. The staff are Vietnamese too which adds some authenticity.

The menu has fun caricatures (as does a wall in the restaurant) and has all dishes with the Vietnamese name listed first. I wonder if it's to help some of the staff know what customers are ordering, but maybe there is a hidden faction of Vietnamese speakers in Canberra that I haven't come across. On a cold night the order of the day was warming comfort foods.

- Nem nuong (grilled pork mince skewers, vermicelli, salad, fresh herbs, rice paper & nuoc mam cham) $14.5 - there's essentially ingredients set out of 4 rolls - 4 rice papers pre-wet onto a platter, 4 skewers, 4 rice noodle squares etc. The meat is very good minced texture, well grilled with great aroma and taste. The nuoc mam isn't too strong and has a little hint of chilli. I think it would be better to get additional rice paper to make 6-8 smaller rolls with the same ingredients, because it gets a little messy eating fat rolls as the rice paper breaks with the moisture;
- Pho thit bo Nhat (wagyu beef sirloin 5+, brisket, tendon, beef meatballs) $16.9 - I usually get pho tai nam as my standard but the wagyu sirloin allured me. The broth has a mild medicinal edge and subtle spices but is actually satisfying and fantastic (and that's something coming from me who usually definitively prefers spiced over medicinal). The wagyu has mixed bits of raw/rare/cooked (which I like) and has good tenderness, brisket isn't overly fatty, meatballs add texture, and the tendon and tripe isn't for everybody but gives another layer (although I expect many people wouldn't be used to eating that);
- Che ba mau (red beans, jelly, mung beans, coconut syrup & crushed ice) $7.5 - they call it rainbow dessert, everywhere else calls it 3 colour drink. It's a little expensive for the bowl size (usually served in a large tall glass) but the jellies and coconut milk mix well and the ice is reasonably well blended. (To the inexperienced, shaved ice is the best for this as it dissolves upon mixing, rather than you eating large chunks of crunchy ice).

Overall I was much more impressed than expected. The menu has the classics which I certainly will come back to try - goi, bun bo hue, bun nem nuong (although I will ask them here to add bun thit nuong and banh xeo). The sharing plates do seem a little pricey ($28.5 for canh chua seems a little excessive) and the generic sauce options where you pick your own protein has never sat well with me. Additionally banh mi for $8.50 makes my face twitch but this is Canberra (and I have paid £5 for a catfish version to Banhmi11 at Broadway Market). But who knows - they could well be good. And while my Luke Nguyen, Andrea Nguyen and Charles Phan cookbooks gather dust on my shelves, I'd be happy for these Bistro guys to cook for me.

10-2015

I returned another evening for the pho again. This time was a little more disappointing - whereas the flavours and broth still satisfied, unfortunately the meat had dropped in quality. The wagyu slices were much thinner and overall less than previously meaning they were more heavily cooked and less tender.

I also tried the green papaya salad with prawns which had a nicely balanced nuoc mam dressing, and the bun bo hue which was also quite good but could have used more depth of flavour and chilli.

Once upon a time I used to frequent Fitness First in Spitalfields. As much as I didn't enjoy the 10min run there, the weights, the X-trainer HIIT routine and the panting recovery on the mats afterwards, I always was happy to know I would have a good lunch on the way back. In fact the place I probably ate most frequently out of anywhere in London was probably Kastner & Ovens (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kastner-and-Ovens-Spitalfields/247714511943824).

Kastner & Ovens had a fantastic range of fresh salads made and varying daily. On top of that, two daily hot foods were also on offer, and for £5.50 the option of a large box of hot food + 3 salads or 5 salads soothed my aching muscles. I often wondered if somewhere that offered high quality salads could prosper in Australia. Unfortunately I hadn't seen anywhere that did it in either Melbourne or Canberra.

Walking through Westfield Woden I noticed this new food option - lots of fresh salads, some baguettes and hot drinks. $10.90 for up to 4 salads isn't a bad deal so thought I'd try it out. My combination this day was pesto barley, signature bean mix, Mediterranean salad, chicken schnitzel salad. Other than the nicely textured chicken schnitzel (more schitzel than chicken), the rest was relatively plain. The salads are fine for a lunch, but unfortunately not K&O level. The (complimentary with lunch) soy chai latte was quite syrupy and topped with a ridiculous amount of cinnamon powder. 

Oh well, I haven't found my K&O replacement yet, but this was a step forward Australia.

Woden is also soon regaining Kingsley's chicken - I can finally try their chips soon.

After the rumours, the photos and the reputed waiting times, I finally made it Patissez. I did a walkby the day before around 1pm and was told the table wait was 2.5 hours. On a Thursday 10am, it was luckily 25mins. Upon leaving at 1130, it had stretched out to 1.5hours. They take your number so you can wander around and come back (an excellent system), which means you can actually go elsewhere for a coffee first (eg. ONA), do you grocery shopping at Coles, banking or shop browsing, or laze on the lawn outside. They also do takeaway freakshakes (the wait time being approximately 25mins) if you want to sit outside and work out how to eat them cleanly.

The food menu is actually quite impressive, with promoted sandwiches (I saw one with a huge amount of pulled pork) and brunchy options, making Patissez more than just a dessert/sugar-high cafe.

- Cheeky (slow cooked beef cheeks, black eyed beans, baked egg centre, crusty bread, kale pesto, parmigiano reggiano) $19 - an excellent rendition of a baked egg/cazuela/shakshuka dish, replacing the usual smoky chorizo with soft cheeks and thus a milder tomato and bean sauce. The cheese, minimally runny egg and touch of greens added texture and flavour. I wondered why the pesto was so mild and now I see - kale, not basil. I'd prefer a traditional basil but it might overpower the dish;
- Salmon Dance $21 - the menu has changed and Sea Pea has been replaced. This dish had a reasonable grilled piece of salmon, sitting on roast potatoes, runny poached eggs, spicy chorizo, tomato, green beans and topped with tangy Hollandaise sauce.

Toward the end of the food, the freakshakes came out ($11.50 each). They are indeed a sight to behold. Interestingly the two shakes ordered on this occasion are actually served with the liquid very hot so the tops melt down and everything overflows like a cascading volcano threatening to spill onto the table.
- Muddy Pat (warm fudgy choc shake, chewy fudge brownie, more chocolate fudge, whipped cream, toasted housemade marshie) - from the top, the marshmallow is outstanding, the brownie is moist and slightly thick, the choc shake itself is remarkably mild. I don't think that's a bad thing and perhaps mixing the brownie and marshmallow into the drink will balance it out. As my usual preference, perhaps a twist of dark chocolate or coffee in the shake would make it more my taste? But each to their own;
- Salty Nutz (warm salted caramel & pecan pie shake, slathers of salted butter caramel, chewy wedge of pecan pie, vanilla bean whipped cream) - the immaculate pecan pie topped a (too me overly) sweet, buttery caramel drink.

As they do takeaway shakes, it was easy to get a cup to carry the remaining butter caramel drink home for a later time. The insides have a variety of decadent cakes of which I'd certainly like to try someday.

Overall I think the shake parts of the drinks could be thicker at the expense of serving less of it. I couldn't finish either of them and neither did any table in the area I was. Sharing one between two is probably the best way of countering this, but at the same time I think the liquid part didn't match the outstanding toppings for quality. Nonetheless the food is actually very good which makes coming to Patissez ideal for meals, photogenic drinks and overloading your day with calories. Just be prepared to wait or have some things to do around Manuka.

Next time I would order any of the food items (particularly the Cheeky again, Get Pig'd or The Field) and probably to suit my taste the French Vanilla freakshake (let's be honest, partially for the shake, partially for the photo opportunity). Otherwise one of the 'standard' shakes with banana, matcha, dates, Greek yoghurt, honey and granola sounds like something I'd order at any other place.