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!

Minh Vietnamese, Dulwich Hill

Minh is our local Vietnamese joint. It’s closer than (but not quite as good as) the Viet places in Marrickville and makes for a decent low-key meal. Plus, they are licensed and BYO and serve a decent glass of house wine as well as a few old favourites by the bottle such as Oyster Bay sav blanc.

Dragon Den, Darlinghurst

I recently organised a birthday dinner for two of my loveliest friends at Dragon Den, near the Green Park Hotel in Darlinghurst. Planning a dinner for 20 odd people is not always easy, but the staff at Dragon Den were amongst the most helpful, accommodating and flexible I’ve encountered (along with Javed and the team at Delhi O’ Delhi).

Bò Kho (Vietnamese lemongrass beef stew)

I made this recently as the main course at a dinner party, although I’m told that in Vietnam it is usually eaten as a breakfast dish. I’d happily eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s so good. As with most stews it improves overnight so it’s best to start it the day before for maximum flavour and tenderness.

Hope month dinner party dish: Banana flower salad

I’ve always adored the banana flower salad at Spice Market in Kirribilli. It’s fresh, yet creamy, packed full of delicious rich flavours and a tang of citrus, beautifully presented in the banana flower’s outer leaves.

May is Hope Month

During May, aka Hope Month, I encourage you all to host a meal for friends to raise awareness and funds for HopeStreet.Register your dinner party at http://www.hopemonth.com/ and invite guests to buy a seat at your table. You’ll be helping the homeless and those living in poverty in Sydney while enjoying a delicious meal with friends!

Bo La Lot – Beef in Betel Leaf

I adapted this recipe from Luke Ngyuyen’s recipe. Bo la lot make a fantastic finger food which can be eaten either piping hot, or just warm. I should call my version ‘roo la lot’, as I actually used kangaroo mince instead of beef.

Fish & Co., Annandale

I was very excited to hear about a sustainable seafood cafe/restaurant opening up, and even more excited to find it was opening up in my hood, the inner west! So tonight I took my mum (an Annandale local) to try it out as one of our weekly dinners together.

Thanh Binh, Newtown

Ah, Thanh Binh. I love the food here! I love all Vietnamese food, and usually it’s the cheaper the better – but on occasions I need to come here to order their green papaya salad and caramel claypots, which are unsurpassed in the inner west.

Tra Mi Vietnamese Restaurant, Marrickville

I tried takeaway from Tra Mi the other day while doing a spot of grocery shopping in Marrickville. As soon as I saw my old favourite, Go’i Bo Kho (a green papaya and carrot salad with herbs and dried strips of beef) I had to order it. This was the first dish my friend and I ate in Vietnam, squatting on little plastic chairs on the streets of Hanoi. We had no idea what it was or what it was called, so for the rest of the trip we called it “nom” because of the sign above the restaurant. So appropriate!