Julie and I started the weekend with the Bronte to Bondi coastal walk, which has to be one of the best urban-based coastal walks in the world. The surf was HUGE, and watching the aquamarine waves roll in from our clifftop vantage point was entrancing. We rewarded ourselves with beautiful thin crust pizzas at Bondi Pizza (http://www.bondipizza.com.au/) before walking at a somewhat slower pace back to Bronte... I probably should have ordered the small pizza but I just couldn't resist...
On Saturday night Bel had booked a table at The Bentley in Surry Hills (http://www.thebentley.com.au/). After a very bizarre moment where the maitre d' accused us of cancelling the table earlier (all we can think of is that he mistook Bel's phone call letting him know she'd be 10 minutes late for a cancellation instead???) we were able to start enjoying the creativity of the Bentley's chefs. After having the worst duck of my life a few weeks ago (see one of my earlier posts!) it was fabulous to have the best duck ever. It's definitely inspired me to give cooking it a go.
And on Sunday Julie to me to Adriano Zumbo's patisserie (http://www.adrianozumbo.com.au/). Before you die you have to go there! His sweet creations are like poetry on a plate... but edgy, off-centre and slightly surreal verse, complemented by eye-popping colours. The cakes are almost architectural, with layers of texture, density and flavours that you would never think to use together. We bought a bag of macaroons (including Kalamata Olive and Pumpkin Risotto flavours) and three cakes: the Black Pearl, the Ginger and the custard tart. I wish I had written down all the the ingredients of Black Pearl - from what I can remember, there was pear, liquorice, and perhaps basil, which sounds inedible but it was delicious. Kind of like a twisted lemon meringue pie, it had a biscuit base topped with layers that included crunchy pear, maybe a basil jelly, and green and black tipped meringue on top. Zumbo, I'm in love with your patisserie!
Can't wait until you are back again so that we can visit the Absinthe Salon! I hope the macaroons made it safely to Melbourne...by the looks of the pics I'm going to have to pay Zumbo's a visit very soon. x
ReplyDeleteHi Bel! Yes I can't wait to visit again soon, and to visit the Sydney home of the green fairy. Some of the macaroons got a bit mangled on the plane - next time I'm bringing a container to take them back in for sure. When you go to Zumbo's make sure you take photos of what you get so I can see!!!
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