Yen For Viet, Marrickville – Take 2

Mr Black and I first visited Yen For Viet when it was brand new (see my first post here). Since then we’ve been back a few times – when we can get a table! Even on a weeknight they’re pretty busy, and deservedly so. Their food is excellent quality and, while not as cheap a most places on the Illawarra Rd strip, is still fantastic value. They are both BYO and licenced, which is great because there are no bottle shops anywhere nearby!

Feature dish: The Eathouse Diner’s beef cheeks

The Eathouse Diner, Redfern

Earlier this week we returned to The Eathouse Diner in Redfern, where our very fantastic and talented friend Kieran Day is a chef. The menu is dominated by American-style offerings such as delicious southern fried spatchcock with creamed corn and “slaw”, truffle mac ‘n’ cheese with taleggio, cheddar and grana padano (as good as it sounds) and the beautifully simple okra fritters with tomato and lime salsa.

Spaghetti Pollanaise – a recipe inspired by Michael Pollan

Recently, we saw Michael Pollan talk at the Opera House. He was awesome.

The things he spoke of were not new to me. Ideas about eating locally grown produce; not eating too many refined “white” foods; avoiding foods so artificial that our grandmothers wouldn’t recognise them as food… But there was one line which stuck with me above all others:

Pork and eggplant adobo

This is one of my absolute favourite comfort dishes. It’s perfect for when you have no fresh vegies, and are feeling unwell or tired, and need something warming and hearty. (Tick, tick and tick!) The ingredients might not sound exciting, but trust me, this dish is more than the sum of its parts! 

Eggplant and goats cheese involtini

These delicious little parcels make a perfect canape, or they can be baked with a peperonata sauce for a hearty vegetarian main. The recipe has also been featured in Oxfam’s new cookbook Stop Hunger Start Cooking. If you make it, post a picture on Twitter, tag it with #stophungerstartcooking, and you could win some delicious Oxfam prizes!

Moussagne

Sometimes when I go grocery shopping I get very confused. I have too many ideas for things I’d like to cook, and after a long day of teaching I often lack the mental capacity to decide on just one. Tonight I managed to get all the ingredients to make either moussaka or lasagne… But how to decide which one?

Dumpling King, Newtown – Take 2

It had been a while since Mr Black and I had paid a visit to Dumpling King. We were looking forward to some old favourites: eggplant in chilli sauce and northern style fried dumplings.

Eggplant cannelloni recipe

I invented this recipe to use the mixture leftover from making spinach and ricotta gnocchi.

Dumpling King, Newtown

When this place first opened a couple of years ago, Mr Black and I were sooo excited. We were also anxious that it might not survive, being one of Newtown’s gazillion restaurants on King Street. Happily, Dumpling King is still there and (deservedly) busy!

Nakashima, Circular Quay

This is a cute little restaurant tucked away on Cambridge St, off the main drag of shops and restaurants. It is decent value especially considering it’s in Circular Quay, costing about $8 per entree or $15 per main. We usually fill up for about $25 each. It has an outdoor seating area with a pleasant atmosphere and the staff are always courteous and attentive. Below are some of our favourite dishes, but we’ve found that pretty much everything is good!