all day buffet

Our good friend and ex-housemate Dr Shogo (now at Manchester U) is in town for a conference on East Asian security architecture. While the intellectual discussions will be stimulating, Malc & I know that what Dr Shogo is really excited about being back in Australia (aside from the weather) is the FOOD.

Shogo arrived early in the morning after a 10-hour delay in Los Angeles because, well, Qantas decided to cancel his flight and though he did not need to know about it in advance. So to make up for our national carrier, we took him to Bondi Beach for brunch.

Brunch was at SoBo (70a Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach NSW 2026 ph 02 9300 8898). The restaurant is right at the edge of the beach and has an airy and laid back atmosphere. When we got the the restaurant, we were seated quickly and our drinks arrived in no time. Shogo has been so deprived of proper coffee that he had to have 2 cafe lattes.



We took our time deciding because all the dishes on the menu sounded really delicious. In the end, I chose scrambled eggs with fetta and it came with oven dried tomatoes, haloumi, prosciutto, chorizo and sourdough bread. This was such a hearty breakfast with first rate ingredients. The fetta gave the scrambled eggs a nice bite and mixing the eggs with the meats reminded me of longsilog (Filipino breakfast dish), how I wish it came with fried rice instead of bread . . .

Malc had eggs bénédict with smoked ham and a side of fruits. I noticed that a few other diners ordered this dish too, so it must be one of popular ones on the menu. Malc said that it was a very well done take on a standard dish.


Shogo had potato rosti with free-range poached eggs, oven dried tomato, mushroom, bacon and sourdough bread. When his order arrived, Shogo proceeded to demolish his food with determination, pausing only for brief grunts when we asked how his food was.

After breakfast, Malc & Shogo had a quick dip in the ocean while I guarded our stuff on the beach. After the beach, we went home to shower and throw our beach gear in the wash.

* * *

Next on the agenda was shopping. So off we walked to city to check out Shogo's favourite shops and on our walk home, Shogo quietly suggested afternoon tea at Lindt Chocolat Cafe (Shop 104 Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour NSW 2000 ph 02 9267 8064. The cakes were, as usual excellent, but service was, also as usual, lacking.

* * *

After taking a bit of a break, we were on the move again. This time for dinner at Azuma. Malc & I have been telling Shogo how we really like the food at Azuma and promised to bring him there when he comes over.

So after months of anticipation, here is a rounddown of our Azuma experience:

Our first choice on the menu was silky tofu with spicy pickled mustard greens. The tangy-citrusy dressing really pepped up the tofu and the the accompanying greens were mouthwatering.



Next was finely sliced white fish with chili ponzu dressing. This is Malc's all time favourite dish and no visit to Azuma is complete without this dish. The white fish is so succulent and the dressing is out of this world, a citrusy-soy flavour first hits the palate and then followed by the nice burn of the chili.

Then we had a serve of fresh pacific oysters and salmon roe served with ponzu dressing. The oysters were so plump and juicy. They had a nice clean ocean taste that was enhanced by the salmon roe.



Next came smoked sliced pork salad, we were initially sceptical, but this dish turned out to be a revelation. The pork was full of flavour with a hint of sweetness and the accompanying tomatoes and greens brought freshness to the dish.


And then the piece de resitance, the special sushi place made up of the freshest tuna, salmon, salmon belly, salmon roe, prawn, scampi, scallop, oyster, eel and white fish. This dish was incredible.



Then at last, dessert. Dr Shogo and I had red bean zenzai and Malc had caramel ice cream affogatto.



Heaven, heaven, heaven.

double take

A few weeks ago, I took Malc & Khariss out to celebrate my new job. Khariss was the one who told me about the job opening, which turned out to be a dream job! So, to thank her, we headed off for one of the best Japanese restaurants in town . . . Azuma (Chifley Plaza 2 Chifley Sq Sydney ph (02) 9222 9960)

Reading through the menu, Malc could not contain his excitement . . . "white fish with chilli ponzu sauce, white fish with chilli Ponzu sauce" he kept repeating, as if in a trance. So, with not much choice, white fish with chili Ponzu sauce was first on the list. No wonder this is Malc's favourite, the sweet flavour of the fish first hits the taste buds and then the hot/spicy sauce kicks in creating an explosion on the palate.

Next we had the special sushi platter consisting of tuna, salmon, salmon belly, salmon roe, prawn, scampi, scallop, oyster, eel and white fish. The sushi were all first rate, the fish were incredibly fresh and sweet. Malc's description of the scallop sushi was "the flavours of the ocean exploding in your mouth."

Next we had seafood and vegetable tempura, served with a dipping sauce and a set of Tempura salts. The dipping salts were rather interesting, we had a choice of regular salt, curry salt and green tea salt. This dish probably scarred Khariss for life, let me explain. There is tempura and there is TEMPURA, the latter being the freshest fish and vegetables, perfectly coated with thin, light and fluffy batter. And, by experiencing exquisite tempura, Khariss will no longer look at any old tempura (oily and thickly battered ones) the same way.

Then we had the luxurious wagyu beef steak with Azuma’s garlic soy sauce. This was incredibly tasty, the beef just melted in your mouth and the sauce was pefectly balanced, just a little bit salty and a littly bit garlicy, if we were in a not so classy restaurant, I would have poured every last bit of the sauce onto my rice.

We were pleasantly contented . . . but there were desserts to try. Malc begged off and only had coffee, but us girls were not about to miss the best looking desserts ever. Khariss had caramel ice cream affogatto with cigarette cookies, the best she ever had. I had green tea cake, and it was the best I ever had, too.

Azuma was so good, that Malc & I kept talking about the sushi the next day, and the next day . . . and three days later we were back re-living and re-tasting our Azuma experience.