mexican
SoCal Sydney #Social Event, Neutral Bay
For a Southern Californian-style restaurant, SoCal in Neutral Bay is the perfect spot to hang if you’re looking for a casual bar with a sunny rooftop that invites enjoyable nibbles and drink offerings that take inspiration from Mexico. The restaurant is in an unusual upstairs space in Neutral Bay, but the ambiance can’t help but make you want to relax. It was SoCal first ever Sydney #Social event for 20 food bloggers and it was an intimate sit-down dinner hosted by the fabulous Head Chef Zac Smart and Bar Manager Joe Worthington.
Starting the night with some some Mexican.
Can you spot SoCal? A hidden bar restaurant.
Behind this door, there’s a party happening.
SoCal #Social Menu
I am liking this bright wall look.
Well what do we have here? 😀
On arrival classic margarita cocktails were being served and Corn chips with Pico De Gallo, Guacamole and Salsas ($12). It’s a fun starter to share with a group of food blogger friends. The margarita sure doesn’t disappoint and instantly reminded me of summer.
Classic Margarita
For our course 1, Crab and Sopressatta Tostadas was personally delivered by Head Chef Zac Smart. The crisp tostadas shells are layered with finely chopped jalapeño, crab meats, sundried tomatoes, red onion and grated zest of lime. It’s quite a supreme version of modern-day nachos and makes the perfect appetizer as it is served individually.
Corn chips with Pico De Gallo, Guacamole and Salsas ($12)
SoCal Head Chef Zac Smart
Crab and Sopressatta Tostadas
Before we devour this delicious bite-size tostadas, Joe Worthington performs a ‘Super Amazing Mystery’ interactive cocktail experience at his mini mobile bar. The demonstration contained a lot of vibrant colours, particularly orange, so it wasn’t so hard to guess what the main ingredient in this cocktail contained.
Bar Manager Joe Worthington
‘Super Amazing Mystery’ demonstration
How adorable is this?
Look who do we have here…Chicken Sliders (4 for $20) – We’ve got our eye on these heavily marinated chicken breast with avocado and chorizo mini buns. Bursting with intense flavours and alluring aromas, I am sure you’d want to use your hands to touch this glazed brioche bun that’s evenly sprinkled with sesame seeds. All the ingredients combined together taste exceptionally good, making it so tender and juicy in your mouth.
Chicken Sliders (4 for $20)
Tempting, isn’t it?
To pair with the sliders, the Frisco Pisco that contains Chili infused Pisco, egg white, elderflower liqueur, lime, sugar and muddled cucumber is a funky favourite of mine.
Frisco Pisco
We move onto our course 3, Seared Salmon ($20) with broccolini, chili and coriander salsa verde. A very pleasant and healthy plate for a protein choice dish. Though the salmon was slightly more seared like heading towards being fully cooked, however the magic off course is the flavour and that took center stage. As for a bed of green broccolini it offers a lovely crunch and to add flavour the salsa was spot on with flavour. If you closely examine, paper thin slices of sweet potato chips made this main even delightful. This main dish matched with Dry Creek, Fume Blanc, Sonoma CA.
Seared Salmon ($20)
Dry Creek, Fume Blanc 2009, Sonoma CA
There are plenty of share plates at SoCal and for course 4 –Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder ($22) with faro, freekeh, quinoa and kale, you’d be blown away on how utterly delicious this dish is. What makes the meat juicy and succulent is the cooking time. It seems like there are many steps to this dish as the quinoa has a long-lasting flavour and I may have snuck in seconds and possibly thirds. With a matched wine to go with was the Bliss Pinot Nior, Mendocino CA.
Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder ($22)
Bliss Pinot Nior 2010, Mendocino CA
For our final savoury main, course 5, we were served with Scotch Fillet ($24) with Chimmichurri. Kids, this fillet was seasoned and cooked to perfection for the medium rare fans. It was a sensational dish that kept please the meat lovers. You’ll savor every bite with matched wine with Dry Creek ‘Heritage’ Zinfandel, Sonoma CA. With a spread of chimmichuri, the texture complemented the beef so well. A slice of lemon is optional for those who like to enjoy that extra zesty kick to the dish.
Scotch Fillet ($24)
Dry Creek ‘Heritage’ Zinfandel, Sonoma CA
Mushroom salad works brilliantly well with the scotch fillet, lamb shoulder or even the seared salmon as it offers fresh mix green spinach salad, Mexican beans and a generous portion of wild flavours of mushrooms. It is so appropriate to have this salad on its own.
Mushroom salad
What a combination of scotch fillet and mushroom salad.
A joyful evening ends with Chocolate, Pistachio and tequila brownie with chipotle cream. You’ll feel some heat with this treat as the chipotle cream is spicy. The tequila brownie will knock your party socks off with the visible pistachio and it adds crunch. The texture of the brownie is soft and moist inside with an outside layer of crisp edges.
Tequila brownie
Party doesn’t end, unless you’ve been greeted with salted caramel expresso martini ($16)- A blend of Ketel one, Galliano ristretto, salted caramel and expresso with honeycomb. It’s a cocktail that’s between salty and sweet. This fashionable cocktail is full of surprises with flavours that create a twist on the trendy treat. The crowd at SoCal is well dressed and ready to take on a drink or two. If you are California dreaming , then this restaurant is a winning hot spot with sandy vibe and feel. The chicken slider, scotch fillet and mushroom salad is a thumbs up for me. As for the salted caramel expresso martini, it’s a cocktail and dessert all in one!
Salted caramel expresso martini ($16)
Photos by Vanny Tang
Disclaimer: Nessy Eater attended as a guest to SoCal #Social Event thanks to Pendulum Communications. Opinions are however, Nessy Eater’s own.
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Memorable Moments in Melbourne (Part 3)
Breakfast is evidently the most important meal of the day and to keep my tummy in a well balanced satisfisfaction I made my way to The Hardware Societe before the morning peak hour. I previously mentioned my last visit here was lunch and it caused such a hype for me to try it again. This time I didn’t have to go behind the line, nor hear out their staff callout names from the scribbled recycled paper.
I’ve always quite enjoyed their thoughtful recommendations and friendly services despite it being a packed cafe. The cafe is surrounded with quirky items, freshly baked bread that perfumed the entire cafe and bottled sauce jars to stock up in your pantry. But my most favourite display is their colourful rainbow French made lollipop stand sitting at the pay counter. It must be the bright colours that caught my attention.
Best barista
The Scrambled Eggs with Ocean Trout ($16) presented in creamy scrambled eggs at the bottom, shredded ocean trout drenched in aioli sauce, garnished with sliced cucumber and organic greens served with a few slices of baguette. This dish was quite pleasing especially when I dipped my warm soft slice of baguette into the centre of the cold trout and warm scrambled eggs; enticing!
Scrambled Eggs with Ocean Trout ($16)
Our obsession for eggs wasn’t complete until we tried their delicious Omelette ($15) . The fluffy omelette served with truffled creamy goats cheese, green peas and decorated in greens with slices of baguette was scrumptious! Ah..That baguette was so addictive!
Omelette ($15)
And oh so heavenly Chai Latte ($3.50) served with a bite size sugar cover donut to balance out my tastebuds.
Chai Latte ($3.50)
Fast forward a few hours and I was in front of a dark narrow staircase that is the entrance to Mamasita for lunch. Due to a number of friends recommending me this place I was quite eager to give it a try. Mamasita offers a large selection of Mexican cuisine such as tapas, quesadillas and bite size morsels. But the real reason was to get my hands on their Elotes callejeros ($4.90) each. The chargrilled “Street Style” corn served with queso, chipotle mayo that looked like graded melted cheese and a wedge of lime to add the extra tasty tantalizing flavour.
Elotes callejeros ($4.90) each
The next recommended dish by my friend was the adorable kids size 2.5 inch fried tortilla with any of the toppings from the menu. Each order was served with 4 tostaditas and so we ordered de Carnitas ($14) that was freaking glorious! Chunks of juicy braised pork shoulder, encurtidos, pickled jalapeño & chicharron felt like an explosion of flavours in my mouth. The de Pollo 14 ($14) came with shredded chargrilled chicken, mashed avocado, a smudge of chipotle mayo & a spoonful of queso fresco added the extra kick.
de Carnitas ($14)
de Pollo 14 ($14)
Now the Tacos , 6 inch soft shell tortilla with any fillings displayed in the menu. We ordered de Camarones ($7) each wrapped inside marinated prawns, slices of large red chili and drizzled in chipotle almond salsa.
We couldn’t just try one taco when we are in a Mexican restaurant, so we also ordered estilo al Pastor ($6) each shredded al pastor-style pork. sweet and sour juicy grilled pineapple, chopped white onion and strands of coriander. It was very refreshing and tangy with tropical flavours.
With the Tacos the waitress also arrived with a small plate of tangy salad to nibble on as well.
Clutching our stomaches we couldn’t leave without giving dessert a try. And so to ease into our de Maíz ($6) sweet corn ice cream with a hint of cameral and topped with salted popcorn. It was more comfortable to ask for a take away and eat while we do some window shopping along the way.
de Maíz ($6)
By the time I finished my toothsome treat and roamed around Melbourne’s CBD I immediately stopped and saw a lovely artistic graffiti wall starring back at me I turned my head left and an alley way was there, crowded with people. Of course curiosity had striked! So I followed my eyes towards the packed atmosphere. I peaked around to see what the fuss was about and the next minute I knew I was in a line at Manchester’s Press Cafe, a hidden cafe tucked right where the entrance is beside a few garage doors. It is such an inner city Melbourne gem, especially a great place to stop by during shopping breaks. It was my third meal of the day in less than eight hours, I questioned if I had any more room in my stomach left.
As we were still in line, new comers started to line up. However I wasn’t pleased with the waiting management system as two couples were escorted in first before us as they had just arrived. Although luckily a group of people had just left and so seconds later we got in.
The place looks industrial and rustic. If you glance around they have a massive bowling ball pin tucked in one corner. I really wanted to go up to it and take a photo, but it was too embarrassing. Next visit I will! Service approach is slightly above average, but I guess the staff were all drained as it was almost the end of the day for them and still crazy packed inside and out.
Amazingly tasty toasted bagels is a must try here! I ordered the 12 Hour Roasted Pull Pork ($14) served in a poppy seed bagel. The warm bagel was well portion size served with freshly cut lettuce, drizzled BBQ sauce and homemade apple slaw that was surprisingly perfect! I think I left this world and landed on a holy land of apples; refreshing!
12 Hour Roasted Pull Pork ($14)
Besides the fantastic bagels and sweet cakes, their coffee here is one of a kind, especially when it comes to presentation. The Flat White ($3.50) was beyond disappointment. Even during busiest hours the barristers sure know how create unbelievable coffee art that pleases many customers, more so on the ladies. Teehee.
Flat White ($3.50)
My first time ever receiving coffee presented like this to me before! Not too sure if it’s a genie in a Bob the builder hat or an Indian man…:P Anyways the Mocha ($4) was indeed my favourite drink of the day. It had a very strong aroma that is overall a very good coffee.
Mocha ($4)
I except my next visit there would have even more creative coffee art!
To sum up Machester Press is an awesome joint to check out whenever you are in Melbourne and need a coffee break or have cravings for bagels.
Till next time Melbourne 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Reuben Hills, Surry Hill
On a sunny day walking along Albion Street in Surry Hills, you may notice many petite hipster cafes along the street. In particular a small narrow wooden door and next to a clear glass open window, it looks tiny from outside and quite cosy but when you walk through their narrow entrance, it becomes three times spacious and fully crowded with people.
It was extremely packed but we were okay with sitting alongside the walls. Felt like a bar because of the stainless steel stools. The waitress addressed us with a warm greeting and served complimentary water in a milk jar bottle that advertise funky cute images. I kept staring at the jar during the entire conversation cause it was that adorable!
One thing I heard about Reuben Hills (61 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW 2010) is their legendary milkshakes. So without hesitation we ordered Lychee Coconut & lime and Salted caramel ($8.50) each served in a tall large stainless steel cups. Both milkshakes were interesting though in my opinion they should serve in an even LARGER SIZE because I couldn’t get enough of the lychee coconut. It had shredded pieces of coconut, chunks of lychee and a hint of lime.
The Ceviche king salmon served with smoked sweet potato, lime, roasted corn, fennel & jalepenos ($19) was refreshingly delicious. Good chunks of salmon pieces and sweet potato confused me whilst eating because of the colour similarities.
Crab Tacos filled with avocado, sweet corn, smoked tomato & rocket ($18) was a bit too pricey. But the corn chips outdone itself. It was slightly crunchy and soft with a kick of spice, which made it worth it at the end.
When we were just about to pay the bill the waiter arrives with complimentary dessert – coconut and blueberry icing mini cake because it was the end of the day for them. Bonus! The cake was really good, it wasn’t too sweet and can really taste the coconut.
It’s best to go in pairs or with a small group just to chill, but I would suggest avoid going during the busy lunch hour. It does get quite packed and no one likes to wait, especially if it’s during winter.
Photos by Vanny Tang
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