Author Archives: foodvixen
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BBQ King, Sydney
I have been back on dry land for just under a week now but haven’t had a chance to put up a post until now. MS and I flew down to Sydney the day after I got back from sea for my cousins wedding on the Central Coast. I think I mentioned in my previous post that we have both started a meal plan with me looking towards a particular, but as yet unmentioned, goal come September and basically MS just wanting to be bigger and leaner. That does have certain implications for me and eating out unfortunately since we can only have one ‘cheat’ meal a week, a far cry from the three meals a day that we used to do. But after over 5 weeks eating ‘clean’ we decided to go all out and eat whatever the hell we wanted for the 4 days that we were there. We had buffet breakfasts with all the trimmings, fish and chips, pizza, wedding cake, a plethora of canapes, waffles from the Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe, Panna Cotta from the Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe and even Hot Chocolate from the Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe. But what trip to Sydney isn’t complete without a stopover to China Town?
I had spotted BBQ King a couple of years ago when I was in Sydney for work. A crew mate took my crew and I to some pub across the road that apparently had the best Laksa she had ever eaten. Stubborn old me didn’t order the Laksa since I was a little skeptical ordering it at a pub but hey it looked good. Laksa just wouldn’t do and I longed for the ducks and large bits of pork crackling hanging in the window across the road at BBQ King. Not long after that I read about it on a Perth food blog that was my inspiration to start foodvixen in the first place. The Food Pornographer and her many photos of Suckling Pig and Roast Duck had me at ‘hello’ so I vowed that next time I went to Sydney I would go to BBQ King. So with MS in tow we made our way down to Haymarket from our hotel on Pitt Street.
I must admit both MS and I have developed a bit of a penchant for Roast Pork and Duck of late but the only place that we can really go to satisfy it in Cairns is Cafe China on Spence Street or the one at the Casino (for a quick feed anyway). Cafe China on Spence Street is really nothing special, the food is pretty ordinary and I also question the hygiene of the place but we continue to go back there for some reason. I guess because it’s cheap and you can pretty much always rely on it to be open. We arrived to a half full restaurant at about 6.30pm and were ushered to a table by one of the many Chinese wait staff. The restaurant is very dated with yellow stained walls, drapes and old framed Chinese ‘artworks’ but it works and I actually felt like I was in one of those old school Kung-Fu movies with the really bad dubbing. Going to a flash, new Chinese Restaurant just wouldn’t feel right to me. Cheesy decor and yellow fluorescent lighting is all part of the experience surely. In the corner was a large Chinese family tucking into a banquet, some Police that were by all accounts still on duty next to them, a couple of seedy guys that looked like they were doing some Underbelly type business deals and then a couple seated next to us. MS and I overheard a little bit of their conversation… Not because we were listening but more because they were so damn close we couldn’t really help it. The crux of the conversation came to a head when the woman asked the man if he was only interested in her to live in Australia or he actually liked her for being her. Awkward.
The waiter fetched us a pot of Chinese tea and some little cups as well as a couple of menus to look over. The menu was extensive with lots of soup, rice dishes, various types of meat and even Marinated Pork Uteri. Err, maybe next time? MS and I drooled over the Whole Suckling Pig for $480 but you had to give 24 hours notice. Dammit. One day I will have loads of money to spend on Whole Suckling Pigs (notice the plural there) but until that day we stuck to the more reasonably priced part of the menu. MS was considering ordering soup for an entrée but I convinced him that if we were at a place called BBQ King then soup just wouldn’t cut it, even if it was only for the entrée. In the end we (I) chose Peking Duck for the entrée for AU$14, since MS had never had Peking Duck before and I often wondered how I could ever live without it after tasting it for the first time in Beijing about 8 years ago. Well it is the National Dish of China (thanks Wikipedia). For mains we decided we would share a couple of dishes and after much sulking from me because MS didn’t want to the order the Roast Duck because it ‘has too many bones in it’, we chose the Barbeque Pork and the Lemon Chicken (both AU$22.80), much to my dismay. But ‘apparently’ I always have to get my way so I was attempting to be a little less pushy and more open to other suggestions, even if that ultimately meant I didn’t get everything what I wanted i.e. Roast Duck.
Chinese Tea
We waited about 5 minutes until our entrée of Peking Duck arrived. On top of each of our steamed pancakes was a big, juicy piece of duck breast with crispy golden skin. The waiter placed a small bundle of shallots on top of the duck held together by a ring of fresh chilli, drizzled the sweet sauce over the top and placed each of the plates down in front of us. I nearly fell off my chair I was so excited and after a couple of happy snaps we both dug in. The fattiness of the duck, the crunchiness of the shallots, the sweet taste of the sauce and the oh so soft pancake, was just, oh god, it was amazing! I really think that it was one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth. Food wise anyway. Ha. I was expecting gratitude, amazement, surprise or at least a bit of excitement on MS’ face but all he said was ‘that wasn’t that great’ and ‘it just tasted like sauce’. Way to ruin the moment. Had we just eaten the same thing?!
Peking Duck (2 for AU$14)
Onto the mains… It didn’t take long till our table was adorned with plates of Barbeque Pork and Lemon Chicken. We dug into the Barbeque Pork first and I have to say that it was absolutely delicious and easily won the accolade of Best Barbeque Pork I have ever had. The most recent one that I can remember was at Taste of China on Abbott Street where the tough pork was drizzled in a thick molasses type sauce that completely overpowered the entire dish whereas at BBQ King the pork did the talking and not the sauce. The light and sweet sauce soaked into the ridiculously tender pieces of pork made my tastebuds do a little dance with every mouthful. In the end, although it was fantastic, we couldn’t finish it all due to the large serving size.
Barbeque Pork (AU$22.80)
The Lemon Chicken was also delicious! The bite sized pieces of Chicken were lightly battered and deep-fried till they were just crispy and lightly smothered in a lovely tangy Lemon Sauce. Not too tangy though. Too many times I have been disappointed with crappy Lemon Chicken where the sauce just doesn’t taste right or the chicken is way too battered. This was in fact the second best Lemon Chicken I have ever had with the best being Kin Wah on Florence Street of course! Still it was a pretty good Lemon Chicken to come close to that one I reckon! By the end of it we were both pretty full and MS questioned why I was filling up on rice when there was all this other yummy food on the table. Well, because the best part of eating Chinese (in my opinion) is soaking up all the sauce in your steaming hot bowl of rice.
Lemon Chicken (AU$22.80)
Well that was it. My anticipated trip to BBQ King in Sydney was over. But was it everything I thought it would be? Hell yeah! The service was swift, to the point and a little sterile, as you would expect at a Chinese Restaurant. On paying at the counter the owner (I think he was the owner) was more than happy to have a chat with us warning us to keep a lookout for counterfeit $50 bills that were getting around and even imitating what a crayfish looks like when it eats a prawn. Don’t ask. As mentioned the decor was a little dated and I was expecting Jackie Chan to jump out at any second but the food was fantastic and I will most certainly be returning on my next trip to Sydney. The place is hugely popular with Sydney-siders and has been for over 30 years and for good reason. I really wish we had a BBQ King in Cairns but then again maybe it wouldn’t be such a great thing because I honestly don’t think MS or myself would be able to stay away from the place, especially considering it’s open till 2am. We would be Platinum Members in no time and that meal plan would be out the window before you could say ‘Whole Suckling Pig(s)’.
“I like to eat prawns”
BBQ King
18 Goulburn Street, Haymarket NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 9267 2586
Opening Hours: 7 days 11.30am – 2am
Waterbar and Grill, Cairns
It’s 1.25am and I am at work struggling to put pen to paper so to speak but I know that if I don’t get this post done then it could be a good two and a half weeks before I get one up. I figure now is as good a time as any to write about my dining experience at one of Cairns’ favourite restaurants, Waterbar and Grill. A couple of friends and I were pondering over where to go with a group of us for an early dinner on a Sunday evening so I decided on Waterbar and Grill since I had been pining to try this particular dish that my sister had recommended, I knew the food was good and they were happy to split the bill there. It seemed like the perfect suggestion. Everyone else happy with it (not that they really had a choice) and a group of nine of us met there at 6pm last Sunday.
I had already rung up and made a reservation a couple of days before knowing full well how popular and busy Waterbar is on any given day due its waterfront location and great food. I have dined at Waterbar and Grill countless times since they opened around six years ago and have never had a bad meal. In fact if anyone ever asks me where to get a good steak in Cairns I always recommend Waterbar and Grill before any other restaurant. It had, however, been over a year since I last dined there and I was hoping that nothing had changed, in fact I pleasantly surprised because things seemed to have only gotten better since my last time.
It was a bit of a catch up dinner for my friends and I since now ALL of us are in relationships and have our own shit going on we don’t get to catch up with each other as much as we would like (translates to: now we have to be responsible and not go out on the town every weekend till all hours of the morning), plus I work away so that makes things just that little more difficult. Thankfully we were seated inside because it was still stinking hot outside and the air conditioning was a welcoming cool change from having drops of sweat running down your spine. Two of our friends were already seated with drinks and as we sat down the waiter asked us what we would like to drink. True to form MS and I went for the glass of coke and glass of Sauvignon Blanc respectively (Angel Cove I think was on the cards for me tonight). Within minutes the rest of our crew had arrived and promptly ordered drinks from the waiter. About five minutes later our drinks ensued and I was elated at just how quickly the whole event had taken place (drink service that is).
While we chatted and caught up on new ventures, diets, birthday weekends away at Mt Quincan and harrowing tales of Steve Irwin’s final moments (still to this day makes me want to cry like a baby) we had a look over our menu’s and told the waiter what we wanted. Before I start I will say that I’m not going to write a book about everyone’s meal at the table, as there was nine of us in total and to be honest I really just couldn’t be arsed especially since most people at the table ordered a variation of the same dish, aka a steak. A steak is a steak in my book, as long as it’s a good steak and in the case that it’s not then I’ll write about it. I was really only concerned with the entrees and what MS and I were having for this particular post as I don’t want to rattle on too much. MS ordered an entrée of Salt and Pepper Squid with Coriander and Lemon for AU$16 while after a big day of eating and the day before I was to start my new ‘mass gain’ eating plan (the implications that will have on both me and my blog will be explained in a later post but seriously FML). I opted for no entrée figuring that MS would share some of his with me. Unbeknownst to the rest of us at the table my beautiful friend MG, being the lovely and overly generous hostess with the mostest that she is (our own personal one anyway), ordered a couple of dishes as entrees for the entire table to share. I was delighted but also felt bad at the same time. MG chose a Selection of Dips – Walnut and Chilli Pesto, Roast Beetroot and Hummus with Warm Crisp Bread for AU$15 and the Boerwors – Traditional South African Sausage served with Garlic Mash for AU$26.
No longer that fifteen minutes passed before the entrees arrived at our table. The Selection of Dips were yummy but it’s pretty hard to balls up a dip platter unless of course you try to make your own organic dairy free pesto for a Trivia Night like I did, because lets face it, pesto is no good without cheese in it. MS’ Salt and Pepper Squid was probably some of the best Salt and Pepper Squid that I have tasted while dining out for a very long time (Mum and Dad’s squid still reigns supreme though). It was tender and fresh with just a light dusting of flour and was a very reasonable sized serve (much bigger than I was expecting). I managed to snavel a couple of pieces off MS’ plate but to be honest I was way too captivated by the large sausage in front of me to pay attention to the squid.
Salt and Pepper Squid with Coriander and Lemon for AU$16
Luckily for me the humongous Boerwors was placed directly in front of me and with much encouragement from MG to eat it I simply couldn’t help myself along with the rest of the table. MG also ordered a side of Red Wine and Chilli Sauce as a dipping sauce to go with the Boerwors. I have to say that this dish was absolutely delicious and I was deeply saddened by the fact that I had to share this dish with the rest of the table and also the fact that I hadn’t ordered it for my main course. Fail. The Red Wine and Chilli Sauce is so good that I could literally drink it and a mouthful of that ‘oh so smooth’ Garlic Mash with this sauce drizzled over the top is heavenly. Admittedly I’m not normally a fan of mash (I just don’t see what all the fuss is about) but I thought I was off mash for life after tasting my crew mates ‘Mash Surprise’ into which he literally puts anything and everything. Last time he made it not only was there potato in it but ginger, garlic, chilli, coriander, parsley, pepper, spring onions, red onion and at least another three items that fail to spring to mind at 2am on this fine morning. Now you know why myself and the rest of my crew call it ‘Mash Surprise’. Unfortunately I’m yet to convince my crew mate that less is more in the mash department. But back to Waterbar’s Garlic Mash… I don’t know what they do to it, it’s smooth, it’s creamy, it’s garlicky and it must be really bad for you but it’s so damn good that who really cares? I could shower in that shit! The chunky Boerwors curled up in a big meaty pile on the plate also didn’t disappoint in all it’s mouthwatering fleshy goodness. The nine of us (minus one who is a vegetarian) absolutely annihilated the entire dish.
Boerwors – Traditional South African Sausage served with Garlic Mash for AU$26 (shit photo – awesome food)
Next up our main meals arrived and on the recommendation of my sister I had committed the ultimate sin and ordered a salad at a steak restaurant. She insisted that every time she dined at Waterbar she ordered the Grilled Lamb Salad with Rocket, Cous Cous, Haloumi Cheese, Lavosh and Goat’s Cheese Dressing and raved about how good it was. I tend to think that my sister knows what she is talking about when it comes to good food (not as much as me of course but hey) so I went with it and boy did I regret it. It’s crap watching everyone around you chow down on beautiful big, juicy steaks with oozy Red Wine and Chilli Sauce and giant skewers of Espatada when you are munching on slivers of lamb and squeaky bits of haloumi. I’m not going to blame Waterbar for making a shitty salad, although it was, but myself for ordering a salad at a steak restaurant. Both the lamb and the haloumi were cold and there just didn’t seem to be a whole lot to the dish other than rocket. I am a big fan of the Rocket Salad at Waterbar but that’s when I have it as a side salad with a big juicy steak, not an entire bowl of it. Thanks for the bum steer TW. Sad panda. I’m going to liken ordering salad at a steak restaurant to eating Western food in Thailand. You just don’t do it (sorry to all those vegetarians out there).
Grilled Lamb Salad with Rocket, Cous Cous, Haloumi Cheese, Lavosh and Goat’s Cheese Dressing (AU$24)
MS on the other hand was happily munching away on his 250g Prime Rib Eye with Garlic Mash, Red Wine and Chilli Sauce AND Blue Cheese and Caper Butter for AU$34. Apparently the mixture of the Red Wine and Chilli Sauce and Blue Cheese and Caper Butter with lashings of Garlic Mash is a taste sensation according to MS and after tasting a forkful I think I am going to have to agree, but lets face it, everything tastes better with Blue Cheese. To my left everyone’s eyes nearly popped out of their heads when they caught a glimpse of AA 400g Prime Rib Eye on the Bone for AU$42. All steaks at the table were cooked to everyone’s liking, as you would expect at a steak restaurant, but as we all know can not always be expected. MS thoroughly enjoyed his meal, as did everyone else at the table apart from yours truly.
250g Prime Rib Eye with Garlic Mash, Red Wine and Chilli Sauce AND Blue Cheese and Caper Butter for AU$34
Apart from the delicious food (forget about the salad ok, just forget it) what impressed me the most while dining at Waterbar and Grill was the outstanding service. It was, as the website says, exceptional and in my opinion probably some of the best service that I have received when dining out in Cairns in a very, very long time. Our glasses of water were topped up regularly, our water jugs replaced before they were empty an without asking, our drink orders were filled numerous times without us having to summon any wait staff and when our meals were brought out the each member of the wait staff knew exactly who ordered what and exactly whom to put it in front of. It was certainly a breath of fresh air and those that dine out regularly in Cairns know how rare it is to find such superior service. However, this particular Sunday wasn’t a one-off occasion, Waterbar and Grill continues to deliver great food and service day in, day out which is probably why they have been named FNQ’s Best Steak Restaurant numerous times over the last few years (except for last year for some reason). If you are looking for a succulent steak, great atmosphere and service that is second to none then get yourself down to Waterbar and Grill at The Pier if you haven’t already although I suspect most of you have. Just don’t make the same mistake that I did and order salad. Also, watch out for those darn ceiling fans.
Waterbar and Grill
Pier Shopping Centre, Pierpoint Rd, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4031 1199
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 11.30am – 11pm, Sun 11.30am – 9.30pm
Website: http://www.waterbarandgrill.com.au
My friend Baking Myself Happy ordered this Vege Stack during our lunch date at Caffiend early last week and I just had to post to about it. My Quinoa Salad was good but I had serious food envy when her dish came out! How good does it look?! By all accounts it tasted as good as it looks 🙂
Caffiend
5/78 Grafton St, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4051 5522
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 7.30am-2pm, All day breakfast, Lunch 12pm-2pm
C’est Bon, Cairns
Since neither MS or I had time to celebrate Valentines Day on Valentines Day this year we saved our night out till the Saturday after and went and had dinner at C’est Bon together. We called up last-minute after umming and ahhing about whether or not we would get takeaway or go out and if we were to go out then where we would go. In the end MS picked up the phone and dialed the number for C’est Bon (after Googling it of course) and made a reservation for 8pm, much to my delight. He knows just how long I have been wanting to go there because I had never been so he made the decision easy. I was unsure if we would be able to get in on such short notice on a Saturday but luckily enough they still had a vacancy for the two of us.
We arrived on time after I painstakingly made my way from a car park in front of the Casino down the lane way and to the front door in my new shoes that I am trying to break in for a wedding (not my wedding, a wedding). Sadly I think it’s going to take a lot more wears than one night at dinner to break those puppies in. When we arrived we were greeted by a waitress and told her that we had a reservation for two. She gestured towards a small table out the front of the restaurant and told us that it wasn’t ready yet but we could either have a drink at the bar while she set it up or we could take a seat and she could set up around us. We opted to sit at the table while she set up around us although it would have been nice if the table could have been ready when we arrived seeing as MS had called up to make a reservation little more than an hour and a half before. Maybe they had been busy.
As I said earlier I have never once made it to C’est Bon, although I do seem to vaguely remember going to lunch or dinner there before it was C’est Bon. That must have been a very long time ago. Does anyone recall what was there before C’est Bon? Like I said before I’ve always wanted to dine at C’est Bon but just never got around to it. I guess it’s a little easy to forget about the place since it’s kinda tucked away down the end of Lake Street. I have heard only good things about the place and have a friend who regularly dines there with her partner. I also gave my parents a Gift Voucher for C’est Bon last Christmas since I am in the habit of giving them Gift Vouchers for dinner at Christmas time, some may think it’s a little impersonal but I like to think it’s very practical. Plus who doesn’t like going out for dinner to a nice restaurant that is already paid for? Mum and dad thought it was very nice BTW. Although I did study French at school for five years, I haven’t yet had the opportunity to travel to France so I really have no idea what French food is other than frogs legs and escargot. I was however pretty sure that the ‘Sandwich au Jambon’ so regularly spoke about in French class wouldn’t be making an appearance at C’est Bon.
When the waitress was done setting up our table she brought us out a couple of menu’s to look at. We had pretty much already decided that we were going to go with the set menu which includes an entrée, main and dessert for just under $50. I ordered a glass of Pencarrow Savignon Blanc (AU$9) while MS being the grandpa that he is ordered a glass of coke. The waitress told us that the Set Menu changed every month and that the Fish of the Day was Saltwater Barramundi. While we waited for our drinks to arrive we had a look over the menu. There were three options to choose from for each course and in the end we both chose exactly the same thing. For entrée we chose the Seared Squid Served with Sautéed Capsicum, for the main we chose the Pork Belly Resting on Slowly Cooked Lentils, Carrots and Bacon and for dessert we chose the Oozing Chocolate Fondant Served with Vanilla Ice Cream. To be honest I wasn’t too taken with the Set Menu, although squid, pork belly and chocolate would rate high on my list of favourite foods. It just sounded… well… boring. Other options to choose from included Cauliflower Soup or Ratatouille for entrée, Lamb and Saltwater Barramundi for main and Macaron and Creme Caramel for dessert.
Not long after we had ordered the waitress brought out a small dish with two bite sized portions on it and placed it in front of us without a word. The two of us exchanged a ‘what the hell is that look’ and when she didn’t tell us MS asked her what it was. She didn’t seem to know and mumbled something about salmon to us, shuffled around a couple of things on our table and left. MS decided that I could have both of them seeing as he doesn’t like salmon. I tried to convince him that he would surely like it and in an encouraging move I ate mine in one bite so I could tell him just how delicious it was. Turns out it wasn’t so delicious. It was ice-cold having come straight out of the fridge and the crostini type thing underneath was slightly stale from being in the fridge. The salmon tasted like salmon from a tin and the whole thing was so unappetizing that I couldn’t hide my distaste. It tasted like cat food and in the end I just told him it was yuck and not to eat it. I didn’t want MS to use that one little salmon bite as ammo for never trying salmon again.
Salmon Crostini is that you?
Our drinks came out a good 10-15 minutes after we ordered them, in fact they took long enough that I wondered if they had actually forgotten our drinks altogether. MS’ glass of coke was very watered down which tells me that it had plenty of time for the ice to melt while it was sitting on the counter waiting to be brought out to us. My glass of Pencarrow was however very nice and I do love a good glass of wine (or two) with dinner.. While waiting for our entrée’s to arrive a male waiter whom I was most delighted to find was actually French (and not bad looking might I add) served us some warm bread rolls with butter. These were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside and with a slathering of butter the two of us practically inhaled them. Seeing as we don’t eat bread very often, it was a bit of a treat for us.
Warm Bread Roll
Not long after our entrée’s arrived, again with the French waiter. The Squid appeared to be the whole mantle of the squid with the membrane still attached sliced down the middle and seared so it curled up. It was delicately placed on top of a bed of Sautéed Capsicum and beneath it was a small pool of squid ink. The squid tasted beautiful and fresh, although a touch overcooked. I didn’t like the Sautéed Capsicum but then again I don’t like capsicum. I tried to palm the capsicum off to MS but he didn’t seem too keen on it either. By the time he had finished his dish he figured out what the black stuff on the bottom was and asked me if it was squid ink to which I nodded and said I didn’t say anything to him sooner because I wasn’t sure if he would eat it. He didn’t seem too bothered about it but that was after the fact. He really is a big baby when it comes to food sometimes. The waiter then came and cleared our plates and we waited for the next course to arrive.
Seared Squid Served with Sautéed Capsicum
About 10 minutes after finishing our entrée our main’s arrived. The waiter placed a plate down in front of each of us with an enormous portion of pork belly on it. I was expecting far less at such a fancy restaurant but was pleasantly surprised. Sitting on top of the pork was what appeared to be poached pieces of apple and underneath was a sea of lentils. Come to think of it there was no bacon or carrots on the plate as stated in the set menu but then again the apple wasn’t mentioned either. The pork appeared to have quite a large layer of fat between the crackling and the meat but it seems I was mistaken because when I cut it open the majority of it was meat. The layer of crackling on the top was really chewy and although it took me what seemed like an eternity to saw through it with my butter knife I did eventually get there, with hard work and determination. Not MS though, he pretty much gave up and left the ‘crackling’ on the side of his plate. The pork would have been better if it was crunchy and crackly like it was supposed to be. The lentils on the bottom of the dish were very hearty and the two of us found them to be too way too rich. I found the whole dish to be very heavy which is normal for pork belly but a drizzle of some kind of sweet sauce would have done wonders for it since the small slices of poached apple on top were just not enough. We were both disappointed and probably only ate about half each. The French waiter came out to clear our plates and asked if we had enjoyed our meal to which we replied ‘Mmmm yeah’. It was a lie really.
Pork Belly Resting on Slowly Cooked Lentils, Carrots and Bacon
Next up we sat and waited for our desserts to arrive. After waiting a good twenty minutes and our dessert hadn’t yet appeared the French waiter came over and said that there was only one Chocolate Fondant left for the two of us and asked if we would like to choose something else. Neither of the two other choices on the Set Menu (the Macaron or Creme Caramel) excited us so we asked if we could see their ‘norma’l dessert menu. In the end after much “I don’t like that” and “I don’t like this” we both decided to stick with the chocolate theme and ordered a Chocolate Mousse. About 5 minutes later our Chocolate Fondant and Chocolate Mousse arrived. The Chocolate Mousse had a large ‘crisp’ of chocolate draped over the cup that it was sitting it which melted almost as soon as it was walked out the C’est Bon doors and into the ensuing humidity.
Rich Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate Crisp
We shared our desserts but I’ll admit I got most of the Chocolate Fondant to myself and it was definitely the better one of the two. Digging my spoon gently into the side of the fondant sent warm chocolate oozing out all over the plate. I guess that is why they call it ‘Oozing Chocolate Fondant’. It was delicious and we each enjoyed spoonfuls of fondant with ice cream and a little mousse on the top. We were in chocolate heaven and the dessert course was certainly the highlight of our meal at C’est Bon. Shame though that we couldn’t have both had a Chocolate Fondant like was originally planned.
Oozing Chocolate Fondant Served with Vanilla Ice Cream
While we were finishing up our desserts and I was wallowing in a sad sea of my own C’est Bon expectations (aka I was disappointed with the place I had built up so much) a friend of ours, SBD, walked past on his way into town. He stopped and chatted to us asking how our meal was and blah blah blah. I told him that I had thought it would be better and we were both pretty disappointed with the food that we were served during our three course set menu. SBD was surprised since he dined at C’est Bon often and loved the place but he told us that the regular chef was away on holidays and the owner was taking his place in the kitchen in the meantime. That explained why our meal hadn’t been up to scratch but still didn’t make me feel any better about what we had just eaten and what we were just about to pay for on our belated Valentines Day dinner. It was displeasing to hear that the one time I had finally got my shit together and made it to C’est Bon the regular chef was on holidays. I’m not saying that the food was bad but it wasn’t close to good. Again the Oozing Chocolate Fondant was definitely a hit for both MS and I but we had to share it and opt for a more mediocre dessert to take the place of the second one. The squid and pork belly dishes for entrée and main respectively seemed unimaginative and lack-lustre with both of them missing that little something something. The service that we received from the French waiter was standout and second to none. He was friendly, personable and authentic. There is something about a guy with a French accent that just does it for me (and most women I am assuming). The guy could tell me that my dog had just died and I would just smile and nod (PS: I don’t have a dog, I’m a cat person). The same cannot be said for the female waitress who just didn’t seem to be at all happy to be there on her Saturday night. Also, we only had our waters topped up once and no one came to ask if we wanted another Coke or glass of wine. It was frigin hot outside too so more water wouldn’t have gone astray. Having the regular head chef away is really no excuse for serving below par food and the food should be of the highest standard regardless of who is in the kitchen. Still, all is not lost with me (just yet) and C’est Bon and I will most certainly return one day when the regular chef is back from his holidays, though hopefully sooner rather than later. C’est la vie.
C’est Bon
20 Lake St, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4051 4488
Opening Hours: Tues – Fri 12pm – 2pm, Tues – Sat 6pm – 10pm
Website: http://www.cestbon-cairns.com.au
Corea Corea, Cairns
Last Sunday I took my little bro (AW) out for dinner for a bite to eat and a bit of sisterly advice since the whole finishing school/starting real life thing seemed to be getting to him a little bit. After a bit of thought I decided on Corea Corea since it was in town and convenient to where we already were in the city. We headed up the escalators at Orchid Plaza and I was taken aback by just how many people were upstairs. I figured that they must be all spread out along the top floor at the different eateries that are up there but on closer inspection Corea Corea was the only one open. There was about 100 people or more there for Corea Corea on a Sunday night. I couldn’t believe it. And what’s more there was even a line of about 10 to 15 people deep. Not to be put off, we weren’t in a hurry so we headed to the back of the queue which seemed to be moving quickly.
The five minutes or so that we waited in the queue gave us ample time to decide on what we wanted to order from the large menu behind the counter. When we got to the front I asked AW to go and find a table to which he managed to find one up on the decking in the actual restaurant part of Corea Corea. A lot of other people were seated out in the Food Court waiting for or eating their meals. I waited at the counter a couple of minutes while the wait staff sorted themselves out watching them all frantically running around like chooks with their heads cut off as my nana would have said. And when I say running I literally mean ‘running’. One waiter in particular was bringing dishes out to various tables and virtually sprinting back to the kitchen to keep up with the demand. By this stage a man had come to the counter to serve me, I asked him if they were normally this busy to which he replied “most of the time”. Again I was surprised because I do go to Orchid Plaza quite a bit but have never seen it this busy, although I tend to go during the day.
I ordered a Spicy Chicken Pot (AU$13.95) for AW and while I was tempted to order the Charcoal Grilled Beef Ribs (AU$21.95) I had a bit of a craving for noodles so I went with the Spicy Cold Noodle (AU$13.95) instead. The prices at Corea Corea are hardly going to break the bank with only two items on the menu over AU$15.95. I took a seat at our table with the number I had been allocated and we waited for our meals to arrive. In the meantime I gave AW some advice on home, Mum, Dad, our sister, money, work, girls (one in particular), mother in-laws (one in particular), exercise and the future. That took about 5 minutes and then our meals arrived. Nah jokes, it took a little longer than that. Our meals arrived one after the other, firstly my Spicy Cold Noodle with a little container of Kimchi, a bowl of Miso Soup and a smaller container of what I am assuming was lemon juice. It looked like lemon juice and it tasted like lemon juice so let’s just call it lemon juice. Then AW’s Spicy Chicken Pot came out sizzling hot in its own little black pot. I seriously reckon that the Chef’s and the wait staff must burn themselves so damn much working with those things. I know I would seeing as how clumsy I am.
I dug into my Spicy Cold Noodle pretty much straight away although the Spicy Chicken Pot was so damn hot that AW couldn’t start eating it for a good 20 minutes when I was pretty much finished mine. The Cold Noodles (there was even ice cubes in there – maybe they should call it Icy Cold Noodles) were exactly what I needed on such a hot night and I ordered them not only because they taste awesome but also because I didn’t feel like sweating my ring out with something as searingly hot as a Korean Pot. The noodles are really long and a little hard to bite through making it difficult to swallow mouthfuls. I tend to end up with half of them down my throat and the other half in my mouth trying not to choke. Gee these Spicy Cold Noodles sound delicious don’t they. I have eaten them at Corea Corea before and they gave me a pair of kitchen scissors with my utensils assumedly to cut the noodles into more bite size friendly pieces. Maybe they had run out scissors this time around but I managed just fine. Don’t let that put you off especially if you love chilli and noodles like I do because these noodles are damn good! I love the julienned bits of cucumber over the top with the chilli. There also half a hard-boiled egg, a slice of beef and a bit diced chilli on top for decoration. I poured the ‘lemon juice’ over the top since that is what I am assuming you are supposed to do with it. Again my Spicy Noodle Bowl is a really yummy dish and I enjoyed it immensely.
Spicy Cold Noodle (AU$13.95)
It is pretty hard to have a big pot of yummy food sitting in front of you that you can’t eat because it’s too hot and after about 20 minute’s of burning himself with small bits of rice and chicken AW’s Spicy Chicken Pot had finally cooled down enough to actually eat it properly. On the top there was a generous amount of shredded cabbage and underneath a yummy mix of rice, chicken and veggies. The only problem is that because the whole mixture is sitting in the pot sizzling for such a long time it gets stuck to the bottom of the pot and gets a bit crunchy. I personally think that is the best part of the whole dish and AW seemed to agree while MS thought it was gross when I dined there with him once but who listens to him anyway (just kidding my love). AW practically inhaled his Spicy Chicken Pot when he realised it was cool enough to eat and seems he has developed a few family habits, not even leaving a grain of rice behind (I do the same and so does our dad). You could call us gutses but I just reckon we like our food.
Spicy Chicken Pot (AU$13.95)
Corea Corea is certainly a bit of a favourite haunt for locals and tourists in Cairns. Again the place is ridiculously busy for such a little place in the middle of a seemingly barren food court that most tourists probably only stumble across. I’m not sure that I agree with the statement on the Orchid Plaza website (apparently Orchid Plaza has ‘World Renowned Multi Cultural Eateries’) but what used to be a sleepy two storey shopping centre that was mainly just used as a way of getting from Abbott Street to Lake Street or vice versa has re-awakened and it’s a great place to go if you are looking for a Asian meal for lunch or dinner. My only problem with my dinner that night is that I had a bit of an upset stomach the next day. I could blame the chilli but since I’m half Sri Lankan chilli isn’t really a problem for me. AW didn’t seem to have a problem but that is probably because his meal was cooked in a hot-pot in ridiculously high temperatures (sort of on par with the temperatures Cairns has been experiencing lately). I’m not saying that it was the Spicy Cold Noodles but I am not saying that it wasn’t. I do sometimes question the cleanliness of Orchid Plaza as a whole with its open food court and birds roosting above so having sizzling hot meals that you can’t eat for the first 20 minutes can only be a good thing. Still like I said we both enjoyed our meals along with half of Cairns, the food tasty and cheap, and even though I may sometimes question the hygiene of such a place, like The Lillipad Cafe, it hasn’t stopped me going back again and again.
Corea Corea
Shop 32, 79 Abbott St, Orchid Plaza, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4031 6655
Opening Hours: 7 days Lunch 11am – 4pm, Dinner 6pm – 9pm
Ok Sushi, Edge Hill
Nearly two weeks since my last post, gee I am getting slack but in my defence I have been back at work and with work means no phone or internet range, not just for 1 or 2 days like Queensland experienced a little over a week ago (you poor things) but for up to two and a half weeks. That means if I don’t have my posts prepped and ready before I head out into oblivion they don’t get posted. Excuses, excuses, yeah I know but I am back in the swing of things now (for a couple of weeks anyway) so without further adieu…
While having lunch with a friend recently they asked me if I had been to the newly opened Japanese restaurant at the five ways in Edge Hill. Strangely enough it was the first I had heard of it at the time and they told me that it had opened where the old Fruit and Veg shop used to be. I do go to Edge Hill quite a lot when I am home from work but usually down the Red Arrow end so I made a point of driving down towards the Pease Street end to have a look for myself. Sure enough there was a new Japanese place opened up called Ok Sushi. A few days later MS and I found ourselves there for a late lunch on a Sunday. We were greeted by a friendly young Japanese man who showed us to a table and bought us out a menu each. He was very friendly and I am assuming it’s either his parents or relatives that own the place. I asked him how long they had been open for and he said only a couple of weeks (this was a couple of weeks ago, obviously).
He brought (not ‘bought’ thanks TW) us out a couple of glasses of water with ice while MS ummed and ahhed over what he wanted, again. I had already chosen the Kaisen Don – Salmon/Tuna with Rice for AU$14.50 with Takoyaki Balls as an Entree for us to share for AU$6.80. I was just hoping that MS didn’t know that it was Octopus inside the balls or he might not eat them. In the end he went with the Tori Karaage Curry for AU$16 because it looked bigger than everything else on the menu and because he is forever searching for a Japanese Curry to emulate an amazing Japanese curry that he had at some mythical ‘Japanese Curry House’ in Melbourne a couple of years ago. Here’s hoping. When he heard me order the Takoyaki Balls he asked me if that was Octopus Balls to which I replied that it wasn’t. The young waiter gave me a strange look to which I again slowly replied that ‘no it definitely wasn’t Octopus’. I think the waiter got the joke and kept his mouth shut but had a funny, complete give away, smirk on his face to which MS was completely aware.
While we were at Ok Sushi there was probably about two other tables occupied and another two groups of people came in for takeaway. It seems quite the popular little place, particularly for a Sunday. We didn’t wait long for entree of Takoyaki to arrive. It came out piping hot with a generous drizzle of Kewpi mayonnaise and those little fishy flakes that are sprinkled over the top (I forget what they are called). Kewpi mayonnaise could be considered a staple in our household since we go through about one squeezy bottle every couple of weeks and after MS saw it drizzled all over the Takoyaki he soon forgot about its eight tentacled content and dug in. Turns out that Octopus Balls aren’t quite so bad after all and he ate more than half of his fair share. They were crunchy on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside, reminding me of the freshly made Takoyaki that I had eaten from a little stall in Osaka. Obviously nothing compares to the experience but for a little shop at the Edge Hill five ways about 10,000 km’s away these were pretty good.
Takoyaki Ball (AU$6.80)
Next up our main meals came out and what was supposed to be a light lunch had pretty much gone out the window. MS’ Tori Karaage Curry came out with the chicken on one plate accompanied by cabbage and salad, a small bowl of rice and a small bowl of curry sauce. MS was happy with the size and said that the pieces of Tori Karaage were actually nice meaty bits of chicken with hardly any fat on them unlike the Karaage pieces they serve you at Sushi Train at Cairns Central which are pretty much just pieces of fat thrown in seasoning and deep-fried. He did however complain that he needed a separate bowl to put some rice, curry and chicken in a little bit at a time. I thought that this was just a completely ridiculous complaint and told him to stop being a big baby and eat his curry. Good old voice of reason. MS enjoyed his Tori Karaage Curry and although I don’t think it was quite as good as his mythical Melbourne one.
Tori Karaage Curry (AU$16)
My Kaisen Don also had a generous drizzle of Kewpi mayonnaise which for me was probably a little bit too much but for someone like MS wouldn’t have been enough. I am a little bit more traditional with my Japanese food and don’t really like the whole Western take on it. I have been enjoying the delights of Japanese food since I was only small (smaller than I am now) at a little place under the stairs where The Heritage nightclub now is, next door to the Condom Kingdom (I think that’s what it was called). My mum used to take my sister and I there and we would eat Rice Balls to our little hearts content. Does anyone remember that place? Still I did enjoy my Kaisen Don. The generous amount of Salmon and Tuna was fresh and cut in small bite sizes pieces. I think it was ok value for AU$14.50 although the rice underneath was just plain old unseasoned rice not Sushi Rice like I was expecting. That left me a little disappointed with my meal because Sushi Rice is pretty much one of my favourite foods (that and Potato Salad) – some of my tastes are very simple, like anchovies out of a jar for instance.
Kaisen Don – Salmon and Tuna with Rice (AU$14.50)
Last weekend MS and I found ourselves back at Ok Sushi for a second round and while MS ordered the same old thing as last time – the Tori Karaage Curry, while I searched the menu for something a little healthier than I had eaten last time or at least without the addition of rice. In the end I went the Small Mixed Sashimi (AU$12.50) and the Agedashi Tofu (AU$6.80) because I absolutely love raw fish and tofu, so much so that sometimes I forget how healthy it is. Again MS enjoyed his Tori Karaage Curry but it did seem to be a little smaller compared to the last serve that he’d had a few weeks prior. Again, I thought the rice was disappointing and although I wasn’t expecting him to be served Sushi Rice with his Karaage the rice he did get seemed a little… dry perhaps?
Tori Karaage Curry (AU$16)
My Small Mixed Sashimi seemed to be just that… small. The fish was lovely and fresh with decent, thick pieces but I guess it just looked a little bit bigger in the picture on the menu and for $12.50 I thought they could have chucked at least another piece of Tuna or Salmon in. It made me wish that I hadn’t have been cheap and just opted for the Large Mixed Sashimi for AU$20.50.
Small Mixed Sashimi (AU$12.50)
My Agedashi Tofu was delicious and quite a large serve for an entree, then again it is only Tofu and cheap as chips. However, I’m no Agedashi Tofu expert and maybe one of my readers (Vagabond) might have to give me her take on it. Is it better than Kanpai?
Agedashi Tofu (AU$6.80)
It’s nice to see a Japanese place like Ok Sushi opened up at the five ways in Edge Hill to go with all the other fare that is available on Collins Avenue. Edge Hill is certainly becoming its own little Cairns foodie destination in its own right with quite a few restaurants and takeaway’s over that side of town now. I think Ok Sushi is going to be hugely popular, being open 7 days till 9pm with both dine in and takeaway and it’s certainly going to take away a little of the business from other restaurants and cafe’s nearby. I am very interested to see how busy they will be of the evening but there will probably be quite a few people coming off their afternoon jog/Red Arrow climb heading in for a quick and healthy feed (hold the Kewpi). The prices are reasonable (particularly the entrees) and the service is good but I did have a couple of hangups with the food and serving sizes. I’m going to stick with the theme and as the name suggests the sushi is just ok at Ok Sushi.
Ok Sushi
Shop A 139 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4053 5751
Opening Hours: 7 days 11am – 9pm
Frydays Fish and Chippery, Cairns
New on the scene on the corner of Shields and Abbott Street in the Cairns CBD is Frydays Fish and Chippery which has been open for a few weeks now. Driving along Abbott Street it’s a little hard not to notice the bright blue neon signs advertising the new eatery. After driving around and around for a park early last week so I could grab some groceries from Woolies I ended up finding a park near Frydays and went over to have a look at their menu. The menu at Frydays Fish and Chippery is pretty much stock standard for what you would normally find at a Fish and Chip shop with a few more gourmet options like Sweet Potato Chips and Tempura Batter thrown in. There is everything from burgers to salads to Coconut Crumbed Prawns with over 10 different types of sauce to choose from including Nahm Jim and Goats Cheese Aioli (yum!). The prices on the menu at Frydays are also very reasonable and it’s nice to see somewhere not charging through the roof just because of their location.
Looking for somewhere to grab a quick dinner before I flew out for work last Friday and so I didn’t have to rely on the ‘Curry or the Pasta’ on the plane MS and I went to Frydays. We went in for dinner at about 6.30pm, just in time to catch all the bats leaving for the evening much to the delight of the tourists. The corner of Abbott and Shields Street is a very busy corner and certainly a prime position for a Fish and Chip Shop, although obviously not a prime position for just any cafe since the last two (Harry’s and some New York Pizza place didn’t last very long). MS and I sat down at one of the communal type benches on the Abbott Street side of Frydays and had a look over the menus. MS had whinged and complained that he didn’t want to go somewhere with greasy food for dinner but since it was my so called ‘last supper’ he didn’t really have a choice.
In the end he found something on the menu that he wanted and I went up to the counter to order – Two pieces of Spanish Mackerel with Tempura Batter (AU$8 each), two serves of Sweet Potato Chips (AU$5 each) and a ‘Tasty Tempter’ of Lemon and Parmesan Herb Crumbed Calamari (AU$9.50) with some Garlic Aioli for MS and some Cocktail Sauce for me. In the end it came to just over AU$36 which I thought was fairly reasonable. The guy that served me at the counter was helpful and friendly and I noticed about 5 or 6 staff in the back. The place looks to be pretty much entirely run by backpackers and although the owners are locals they weren’t anywhere to be seen. I sat back down at our communal table and noticed a couple of American tourists at the table next to us, a backpacker waiting for his takeaway at the end of our table and a couple of locals (I think) sitting at a small table on the Shield Street side.
After about five minutes a waitress bought out a glass of ice with a can of Coke for MS and then about five minutes later our food arrived – each fillet served on a bamboo cutting board alongside the a bowl of Sweet Potato Chips with a small bowl of green salad. The Lemon and Parmesan Herb Crumbed Calamari came out on a separate board inside a small deep fryer serving basket, a super cute way of serving it. On the side was the small dish of Tartare Sauce and another small bowl of green salad.
Lemon and Parmesan Herb Crumbed Calamari – Tender and tasty with good old fashioned homemade tartare and fresh lemon wedges (AU$9.50)
Firstly, I noticed that both of our Mackerel fillets had the wrong batter. The batter that we had on our fish was more like the other option of Beer Batter rather than the light and crisp Tempura Batter that we had ordered. It was thick and greasy, as you would expect Beer Batter to be but we didn’t take it back since we were pushed for time with me having to fly out in the next hour. It was nice but like I said it was too greasy and I couldn’t finish all of my fish (I always finish my fish) since the grease filled me up too much. The Sweet Potato Chips were beautiful and sweet with just a slight crispness to them. Although I thought the serving size was a little bit small for AU$5 in the end I couldn’t finish them all anyway. The sauces that we ordered were stuffed up and instead we received one Tartare (so that meant we had two because one came with the Calamari) and one Garlic Aioli. I caught one of the waitresses attention as she walked past and off she went to fetch a small dish of Cocktail Sauce. She replaced a Tartare with the Cocktail Sauce and took away the extra Tartare. She could have at least left it. What if I had already dipped one of my chips in that spare Tartare? Was it going to someone else for them to dip their chips in it or down the drain? My guess is the first one.
Spanish Mackerel with Tempura Batter (?) and Sweet Potato Chips (AU$13) (yes I know this photo is crap)
The Calamari was lovely and tender with a really yummy Lemon and Parmesan Herb Crumb enveloped around it. Upon ordering at the counter I asked the guy serving me if it was local squid to which the other guy listening in the background replied that it wasn’t sourced in Cairns but it was indeed Australian squid. That’s all I wanted to know and I was more than happy with that answer. I thought that the serving size for the squid was very reasonable for AU$9.50 and although MS and I did our best to eat it all we couldn’t finish it. I think the fish took up just a little too much room in both of our stomachs. The one thing that I must comment on is the dire state of the three green salads served to us. Each of them looked like they had been sitting in the little bowls all day and looked very withered and tiresome. Neither MS or I touched our salads and I kind of got the feeling that we weren’t the only ones that hadn’t touched those particular salads on that particular day. I had a look at the salads in the window and there are a few other salads to choose from with your Fish and Chips like Potato Salad and Cous Cous Salad. I am pretty sure these ones cost extra which is why we just ended up with the plain old green salad (with an emphasis on old).
Tired Green Salad
Despite the greasy fish and the ordinary salad I did actually enjoy my meal, MS however did not. He claimed that the food was too greasy. I tried to remind him that we did in fact just dine at a Fish and Chip shop so technically it was always going to be greasy. What does he know about tasty food anyway? Most of all I enjoyed the proximity of Frydays in relation to everything that was going on. It’s a great spot to people watch especially, as I said, in the early evening when the bats are flying over. Tourists really are absolutely captivated by them. I like the fresh and vibrant design of the place and the communal benches out the front (there are tables for those that don’t want to sit at a communal bench). The service was good although we did get asked by two waitstaff how everything was within about five minutes of each other. That will all iron out over time. I think with few minor tweaks with the food and service and the owners of Frydays Fish and Chippery are most certainly onto a winner. Up until Frydays turned up Cairns CBD was lacking in the fish and chip shop department so it’s opening can only mean good news for locals and tourists that enjoy a bit a fried food (I know I do).
Frydays Fish and Chippery
Cnr Shields and Abbott Streets, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4041 1918
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun 9am – 10pm
$17.95 Quick Lunch at Dundee’s, Cairns
(^Yes I did use the same Dundee’s photo I have already used). After hearing a few people rate the Quick Lunch Menu at Dundee’s over the last twelve months or so I decided it was about time I gave it a go. I did vow to never go to Dundee’s again after a run of crappy dinners there for various friends birthdays but I figured lunch may be a different story. Another reason I hadn’t dined at Dundee’s for lunch until recently was because I expected the meals to be too small to satisfy my rather large hunger pangs (turns out I was right and wrong). Dundee’s have a $17.50 Quick Lunch Menu available from 11.30am till 4.30pm Mon – Fri, $21.95 Sat & Sun. The whole 5 hours, 7 days a week thing is certainly something I must commend them on since most Cairns lunch specials are only available Monday to Friday and up until around 2.30pm. I almost always manage to miss the 2-2.30pm cutoff for lunch so MS and I end up scouting around for somewhere to have a late lunch sometimes ending up at the Crepe place at Cairns Central because we are out of ideas (or Crape as they like to spell it). Since my first Quick Lunch at Dundee’s just before Christmas I have dined there another two times for lunch. I’ll explain the reasoning for that a little bit later…
Lunch #1
My first lunch date was with my ex boyfriend’s parents BC and JC whom I have remained close with since my relationship with NC ended just over 5 years ago. Some people might think it’s a little weird that I still ‘hang out’ with my ex’s parents on occasion but I don’t really mind because the relationship ended on good terms and I also think they are cool to hang out with – NC now lives in Perth and no we don’t keep in touch. On the plus side MS doesn’t seem to mind either however he does find it a little odd that BC and JC want to have us over for dinner one night. Something we are yet to do but fine with me since JC cooks the best goddamn Steak Diane I have ever had. Enough about my ex and let’s talk about Dundee’s.
So BC, JC and I ended up at Dundee’s on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. We walked in and took up a seat near the back of the restaurant. One of the female waitresses came over and poured us some water and handed out some menu’s while we chatted. There is a selection of 11 dishes to choose from in total with pretty much something for everyone from Pasta, to Seafood to Steak Burgers and Salads. I must admit I was quite happy with the menu and there was certainly more than one dish that I wanted to try. I do however think that there were too many Pasta Dishes on the menu with 5 out the 11 dishes being pasta. I guess it is a ‘Quick Lunch’ menu and what’s quicker to whip up than pasta? BC decided to go with the Steak Burger – Char Grilled Rib Fillet, Fresh Grated Beetroot, Roma Tomato, Balsamic Onion, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce and Paw Paw Chutney in a Toasted Turkish Roll with Chips and Smokey BBQ Sauce. JC went with the Fish and Chips with Aioli Dipping Sauce and although I really wanted Chips and Bread with my lunch I figured since Christmas was only a few days away I would choose a less stodgy option so I went for the Calamari Rocket and Apple Salad which was Calamari Coated in Dundee’s Special Seasoning, Lightly Fried and Served with Tom Yum Mayo and Rocket and Shredded Apple Salad. Prior to ordering this I asked the waitress if the Calamari was local to which she replied that she didn’t know but she would find out. She returned not long after and assured me that the Calamari was indeed local squid. Ok then.
BC, JC and I continued chatting away after our lunch orders were taken whilst exchanging Christmas and birthday gifts (I had celebrated my 21st birthday only a few days before, haha). After about 15 minutes another waitress returned to confirm our order because apparently it had been confused with someone else’s. She assured us that our meals were not too far away. We waited about another 10 minutes and our meals finally arrived. So much for the whole ‘Quick Lunch Special’. Maybe they ought to change it to simply the ‘Lunch Special’? (Sorry about the shitty photos in the post. They either turned out crap or I forgot to take them altogether).
So onto the food… I was extremely surprised at the size of the lunches placed in front of us. BC’s Steak Burger and Chips was huge and looked absolutely delicious giving me a pang of food jealousy. The Onion Rings on top looked so good I was hoping he would offer me one but he didn’t *sad face*.
Steak Burger – Chargrilled Rib Fillet, Fresh Grated Beetroot, Roma Tomato, Balsamic Onion, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce and Paw Paw Chutney in a Toasted Turkish Roll with Chips and Smokey BBQ Sauce
Battered Fish and Chips with Salad
Calamari Coated in Dundee’s Special Seasoning, Lightly Fried and Served with Tom Yum Mayo and Rocket and Shredded Apple Salad
The next time around MS, myself and my good friend MD who was visiting for Christmas from Brisbane went to Dundee’s for lunch on Boxing Day after I had talked it up to the two of them. We arrived to a pretty much empty restaurant and were seated by a very friendly young man that seemed pleased that he had a group of English speaking diners. Apparently Christmas Day had been a very busy day for Dundee’s especially for Chinese and Japanese diners. I asked if there would be a surcharge on our bill since it was a Public Holiday to which the waiter replied that there wasn’t. Something I was most surprised about and apparently they don’t have Public Holiday Surcharges any time of the year. Nice.
We all had a look over the menu and MS being true to form with his current phase of ‘bulking’ or as I call it ‘his excuse to eat whatever the hell he wants’s ordered a pasta dish. He ordered the Bacon and Mushroom Linguine which was Sauteed Bacon, Mushroom and Baby Spinach in a White Wine and Creamy Sauce Finished with Green Eschallots. He ordered Chicken with it as well and was told by the waiter that it would be an extra $5 for chicken. Hmm I guess that is reasonable.
MD, feeling just as crap as me with our post Christmas physique’s, went for a more healthier option and ordered the Roast Sweet Potato and Artichoke Salad from the Entree section of the Main Menu with an extra of Chicken as well. The Roast Sweet Potato and Artichoke Salad came with Red Peppers, Bocconcini and Baby Spinach coated with a light dressing and Toasted Pine Nuts for AU$17.50 (the same as the Quick Lunch Menu but then with an added AU$5 for the chicken).
After overlooking it the last time I dined at Dundee’s with BC and JC and developing a bit of a penchant for Baby Octopus at a pre Christmas BBQ I decided to order the Octopus Salad – BBQ Marinated Octopus tossed in a salad of Sweet Onions, Roast Red Pepper, Black Olives and Wild Rocket with Crumbled Feta. I swapped the Roast Red Pepper for Sundried Tomato since Capsicum is another item on the short list of things that I don’t like to eat along with Celery and (sometimes) Onion. While we waited for our meals to arrive we made small talk about the Boxing Day bargains that MD and I had bought with our Christmas Gift Cards and how our dedication to being at Cairns Central at 8.30am had paid off and meant that we weren’t caught up in the horrendous Boxing Day crowds, particularly at Myer. We also had a laugh about all the silly girls waiting in huge lines to try on clothes in the Miss Shop area while just across the way MD and I had free reign over the children’s dressing rooms with arm fulls of clothes to try on.
There weren’t many people dining at Dundee’s on Boxing Day so we got our meals fairly quickly, only about 10-15 minutes of waiting. Our meals arrived and I could tell that my two dining companions weren’t impressed with the food that I had talked up over the last few days. MS’ Bacon and Mushroom Linguine just looked like it had been slopped into the bowl. The linguine was overcooked, the presentation was poor and MS wasn’t sure if there was even extra chicken in the dish. After careful inspection and calling over the waiter he was assured that yes there was chicken in there somewhere. A little disappointing considering he paid an extra $5 for it. He did eat the whole thing but said it was pretty disappointing.
Linguine with Sauteed Bacon, Mushroom and Baby Spinach in a White Wine and Creamy Sauce Finished with Green Eschallots
Roast Sweet Potato and Artichoke Salad came with Red Peppers, Bocconcini and Baby Spinach coated with a light dressing and Toasted Pine Nuts
![IMG_5151[1]](https://foodvixen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/img_51511.jpg)
BBQ Marinated Octopus tossed in a salad of Sweet Onions, Roast Red Pepper, Black Olives and Wild Rocket with Crumbled Feta
The week after Christmas my mum, sister and a friend of ours went to Dundee’s for lunch after a suggestion from me. Mum wanted to go to Splash but I really wanted to test the waters again and try and get a final yay or nay with my so far 1 for 1 lunches at Dundee’s. We grabbed a table for four and had a look over the menu’s. Our friend VF being a non adventurous diner decided to order the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli while my mum ordered the Cajun Ocean Trout – Ocean Trout Spiced with Cajun Spice on a Wild Rocket, Avocado, Tomato and Red Onion Salad with Dill Creme Fraiche Dressing. My sister (TW) ordered the Calamari Rocket and Apple Salad that I had a couple of lunches ago and I ordered the Roast Duck Spring Rolls – Shredded Roast Duck, Rice Noodles and Mixed Julienne Vegetables Rolled in Spring Roll Pastry with Chilli, Lime and Coriander Dipping Sauce and Asian Coleslaw.
Dundee’s was unsurprisingly busy for lunch time on a Friday but our meals arrived relatively quickly and all together which is always nice. My mum was instantly disappointed at the size of her Cajun Ocean Trout. It was so small that she contemplated taking it back but then decided that she would just eat it. (My mum’s New Years resolution should be to speak up for herself). In the end she enjoyed her Trout and decided that it was indeed enough for lunch although she wasn’t the slightest bit full however after finishing off my side of Asian Salad she was a lot more content.
Cajun Ocean Trout – Ocean Trout Spiced with Cajun Spice on a Wild Rocket, Avocado, Tomato and Red Onion Salad with Dill Creme Fraiche Dressing
Calamari Coated in Dundee’s Special Seasoning, Lightly Fried and Served with Tom Yum Mayo and Rocket and Shredded Apple Salad
Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli – Pasta Filled with Spinach and Ricotta Cheese with a Rich Tomato Sauce, drizzled with Basil Pesto
That’s two out of two meals that were disappointing on conclusion of my third lunch within a couple of weeks at Dundee’s. I wrote about my experience on Trip Advisor under the ‘guise’ of foodvixen around a week ago, along with about 13 other restaurants in Cairns. I was inboxed the next day from the Dundee’s Managing Director apologising for my bad dining experience and offering me a Gift Voucher to make up for it. If I accepted she wanted to know the date of when I would be dining there so she could follow through with the ‘front line staff’. I wrote back and pretty much said thanks but no thanks. It was a nice offer but I wasn’t going to accept a Gift Voucher to dine at Dundee’s again although my sister said she was happy to accept it on my behalf (sorry TW not this time). Also, the front line staff should be up to standard any day and every day not just the day that they were expecting me. It was a nice gesture though.
I dined at Dundee’s for lunch three separate times over two weeks during the Christmas period and each time my fellow diners were left disappointed with their meals. I noticed a total lack of consistency each time between the meals that were served particularly in regards to the serving size. The service still continues to be well below par with up to four waitresses/waiters serving you at once – resulting in our order being misplaced on the first occasion and the staff knowing little to nothing about the food being served by the restaurant they are working in. After my first lunch at Dundee’s a few days before Christmas I was super impressed with the meals and the value for money that the Quick Lunch Special offered so much so that I took my two friends for lunch only a few days later. As a result I was left disappointed and annoyed that I took them there. The third occasion was as I said ‘just to make sure’ it wasn’t all a fluke and to be honest, it seems all a bit hit and miss to me. Some days are good, some days are bad, some meals are good and some meals are bad. I want to like Dundee’s I really do but unfortunately I am going to have a hard time convincing my lunch buddies to go there again.
Dundee’s Restaurant on the Waterfront
*Quick lunch specials $17.95 Mon – Fri, $21.95 Sat, Sun and Public Holidays 11.30am – 4.30pm*
Cairns Harbour Lights, 1 Marlin Pde, Cairns QLD 4870
Opening Hours: Lunch 11.30am – 4.30pm, Dinner from 5.30pm till late
Ph: (07) 4051 0399
Website: www.dundees.com.au
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