Vui Va Say! Say what ?

Vui Va Say! Here's to something new I haven't tried before. Probably the most upmarket Vietnamese Restaurant I've been to other than your stock standard pho joints. Located in hispter suburb of Newtown, it is just one of the countless number of restaurants that line the quirky stretch of King Street.

If left to my own devices, Vietnamese cuisine is not one I would usually go out for, since Vietnamese to me means rice paper rolls, pho, pork rolls or nem nuong (Chargrilled pork sausage skewers).But hey, I was pretty wrong about that :) .

We booked for 7 PM, and were seated at Table #1 at the very edge of the restaurant. I personally found this more spacious and having a better view, but others may prefer a seat further inside more absorbed into the atmosphere of the restaurant, although it felt a tad cramp. The atmosphere was very chill and relaxed, with a nice red theme painted across the entire venue, with jazz music playing in the background. And right near the front, a chalkboard sign of the top picks Vui Va Say.

We were attended to quite swiftly and ordered an entree to share, two mains and two cocktails. I was fairly surprised at their included vegetarian menu and extensive list of cocktails, from their "Nek Minut Long Island", to their "Venom", which was  Jagermeister, Blue Curacao and Cranberry Juice. Such an interesting concoction, who would've thought of mixing Jagermeister with Cranberry Juice! For drinks, we ended up getting a Taco Cat ($10) and a Blue Jube ($15), which were "Tequila, Bitters, house-made lemongrass syrup & ginger beer" and "Vodka, Bunderberg rum, Gin, Chambord, Triplesec, Blue Curacao & pineapple juice".

I found the Blue Jube tasting very average in terms of cocktails. It was nice, but just had the subtle flavour of Curacao (similar to Alize) with a stronger alcoholic aftertaste. However, the Taco Cat was a clear winner. Bitters, Ginger beer and Tequila is something I have never considered, but mix together so well as completely mask the flavour of the Tequila. Somewhere halfway between a Lemon Lime Bitters and Ginger Beer.

Lime, Chilli & Lemongrass Crocodile Skewers  3pc. $12.00

Feeling quite adventurous today so decided to try some Crocodile skewers. Where else can you get crocodile skewers? Friend wasn't too game to try but I ended up convincing her to give it a shot. The crocodile itself was a bit tough and chewy, but the Vietnamese style undertones were quite evident, with the lime, chilli, and lemongrass being distinguishable with each bite. Which is the type of food I enjoy; that lets you enjoy the dish without excessive amounts of flavour or sauce.

Vietnamese Braised Caramel Pork Belly         $15.00

Traditional Vietnamese slow cooked pork belly, marinated in Chef's special herbs and spices,
then caramelized with quail eggs and served with steamed rice. Funnily enough, I was expecting a crispy pork belly but instead I was pleasantly surprised with melt-in-your-mouth pork belly drenched in a sweet caramelized sauce. In my opinion, I would have preferred more fatty pieces of pork, but I cannot complain that there was an abundance of lean pork belly. The quail eggs were nice and mellow too, similar to the Japanese style of  Soft Boiled Eggs but miniature and provided a strong contrast to the bite-sized pork belly in terms of texture and flavour.

Vui Va Say
127 King Street, Newtown
02 9517 2446
admin@vuivasay.com.au

Monday - Wednesday          6pm -10pm
Thursday - Saturday            6pm - Midnight
Sunday                                  5pm - 10pm


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The Grounds of Alexandria: Lunch and Dessert (Takeaway)

Another one of the most talked about cafe's in Sydney. Initially I assumed that it'd just be another cafe, like every other. However, it was so much more interesting that I had imagined to be, so much more than just a cafe. The Grounds is quite famous for its coffee, as they roast their own beans inside the complex and produce exceptional coffee.

We arrived at the venue just after 2PM. As usual, the actual restaurant was packed and had a waiting line for seating. As I have heard recommendations that sitting outside in their gardens is more relaxing and less hectic, we decided to find something to buy takeaway and sit outside in the garden. I guess for the entire restaurant experience I would have to try inside, but I'll write about what I tried.

Looking at the takeaway menu it was fairly straightforward. They have four menu boards, two with breakfast and two with lunch. If I am not mistaken, buying lunch takeaway is significantly cheaper than eating in, but I'm not entirely sure if there is any difference in terms of the food you receive. However, I am assuming the eat-in menu is far more extensive and is a more complete experience. The atmosphere is fairly typical of a cafe, although being perpetually busy.

After a bit of pondering I decided to try their steak sandwich, which suprisingly only cost $8.50. Was quite tempted to order either their Chicken Burger or Fish Burger, either for $13, and looked delicious, but felt like trying their sandwich. On the other hand, my friend decided to eat healthy and ordered some Quinoa. Ordered it at the takeaway bar and fairly soon after it was ready, and we walked off to find space to sit down and enjoy our lunch.

Lunch: Quinoa

Lunch: The Steak Sandwich.

I am very new to food blogging and food photography, so apologies if my writing and photos are somewhat subpar. I only realised that I should have spread the sandwich a bit to show the inside, but it was already too late. It was a very nice sandwich, with great texture, mild but complementing flavours that melded together exquisitely. The steak itself was well done, and of the perfect size to fill the entire sandwich. Not too thick and not too thin, which made the sandwich enjoyable to eat. The bread was very light and fluffy, with the lettuce providing the refreshing crunch with every bite. I am not entirely sure what sauce was used (possibly garlic aioli), but it was light and creamy and melded with the caramelised onions perfectly. Also just the right amount of sauce, not too little which would leave the sandwich dry, but not too much which would overpower the steak completely. And not to forget the tomatoes too. However, the presentation was a bit meh, but understandable considering it is takeaway. Overall, a very enjoyable takeaway steak sandwich, which I would not mind coming back for.

Dessert: Hazelnut Cake

Unfortunately since I ordered take away, the presentation of the meals were not of the higheset priority. Regardless, the Hazelnut cake was very rich and sweet, and just a delight to eat. I was very keen to try this with the famous coffee of Grounds of Alexandria, however it was just a bit too warm in the afternoon to justify purchasing a hot drink. The texture was perfect, with equal amounts of hazelnut filling, icing and sponge cake creating a very pleasant experience from the first bite to the last. The strawberry on the top finished it off, with the last hint of refreshing fruitiness to linger in your aftertastes.

Dessert: Strawberry Custard Tart

According to the cashier, the most popular dessert to be had at the Grounds of Alexandria. And for good reason. The crown of glazed strawberries sat gloriously upon custard in a chocolate coated tart. And the resulting taste sensation is droolworthy. The custard isn't excessively sweet, but the chocolate covered base more than makes up for it.

Very impressed with both the venue and the food, will defitely be back for more.

The Grounds of Alexandria
Building 7A, No. 2 Huntley St, Alexandria, NSW, 2015.
Tel: +61 (02) 9699 2225

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Ryo's Noodles - Japanese Ramen from Crows Nest

Ryo's Ryo's Ryo's. All I've been hearing over the last few years is how amazing Ryo's Tonkotsu Ramen is. It's always been a bit far out of the way since I'm not a North Shore kid, and pretty much never venture past Milson's Point, but today was a day for adventure, to try something new. I've heard many good things about this small busy restaurant, and it's about time to see if it lives to what people say about it. Most of the people that rant about how amazing this place is went to either North Sydney Boys or North Sydney Girls High School, which is conveniently right next to Ryo's. If only there was some amazing cuisine near my high school whilst I was growing up!

We decided to visit roughly around 6, as my friend had heard stories that if you visit too late, you may be turned away if they've sold out of ramen. Which in my opinion is quite preposterous, if they specialise in ramen and do not have enough supply to meet demand, that's just economic inefficiency and wasted economic surplus! But away from my commerce train of thoughts, this restaurant was quite convenient to get to, a few minutes away from North Sydney towards Crows Nest. We easily found parking nearby a block down from Ryo's and walked back up. Arriving there at 6:20 PM, there was already a small line outside waiting to enter the restaurant, as visible in the photo above. As we approached the front of the line about 15 minutes later, the queue had pretty much doubled!  Guess we arrived just in time before the rush :).

Menu outside the shop, also displaying the recommendations of the restaurant from various sources, such as TripAdvisor and Good Food Guides. Chicken Soup Ramen sounds quite interesting, but seeing as I came here for the Tonkotsu (Pork Soup) that everyone talks about, maybe another day. Nothing much else really caught my eye, maybe the Fried Chicken sometime else, since I really do love my Chicken Kaarage.

Panoramic photo of the inside of Ryo's. Fairly small restaurant that felt quite authentic. Fair enough, it isn't as fancy or upmarket as Ippudo, but it has a nice homey cosy feel about it. I went with a friend, and we ended up sharing a table with another group of three people but no hassles there. However it may be problematic if you are visiting with more than a few friends, as  you may be waiting awhile until there is available space inside. 

And up on the wall, the Top 5 dishes of Ryo's, written in both Japanese and English. Guess I've never actually realised it but there are different flavours of Tonkotsu broth available. I've just always ordered the tonkotsu broth with miso paste at Ippudo, which is pretty much miso flavoured after you mix it in. After seeing the Top 5 menu hanging from the wall, we decided to try the top 2 ramens available, as well as Ryo's very own pork buns. 

Firstly on the entree, we tried the new pork bun. ($4.50). Coming from Ippudo and the talk of the town, I just had to try Ryo's version of the pork bun. Funnily enough, what I had in mind was an Ippudo-esque open ended pork belly bun but better, also costing more than Ippudo's $4 Pork Bun. What was delivered, was a Chinese Style Pork Bun, similar to a Char Siu Bao from a Chinese or Yum Cha restaurant. 

The hints of ginger were very evident in the generous amounts of pork packed into the fresh bun, providing it with a very unique flavour. Certainly better than what you'd get at most restaurants in terms of the filling generosity. However, I feel that the Ippudo buns have a bit more wow factor, in terms of texture, taste, and overall satisfaction derived from the bun. The pork bun came out at the same time as the ramen, but I guess for a small busy local restaurant like Ryo's its nothing too significant.

Finally the moment of truth; How does the Ramen of Ryo's stand up against its competition?

Ramen in Soy Sauce Flavoured Tonkotsu (Pork Soup) w/ Roast Pork, Nori, Egg and Shallots. ($13.50)

This soy flavoured tonkotsu stock was a fair lightweight and a tad salty. The Bok Choy had been cooked just enough to leave it a bit crispy, which I found quite enjoyable. The roast pork was nice and tender with a bit of melt-in-your-mouth fat, which contributes to the wholeness of the dish and leaves you wanting more. For this, an additional serving of Roast Pork slices can be order for an additional $6.50.  I feel that it is somewhat too light for my tastes, as my taste buds desire a slightly heavier broth. The dish lacked texture and depth, leaving it without the wow factor I was looking for with Ryo's noodles. But don't get me wrong, it is a very nice soy sauce Tonkotsu, however I believe that this isn't the ramen I have been looking for.

Ramen in Spicy Hot Flavoured Tonkotsu (Pork Soup) w/ Roast pork, Egg and Shallots ($13.50)

Personally, I found this spicy tonkotsu a lot more engaging and flavoursome than the soy sauce tonkotsu. It was quite a mild variation of spicy which tingled your senses without causing too much distress from the spiciness, which I found very pleasant to consume. I felt that the noodles further enriched the dish, providing a hearty medium for the spicy broth to be enjoyed upon. And don't forget the tasty soft boiled soy egg!

I am not sure if such a traditional ramen restaurant such as Ryo's can be compared against a more modernised ramen restaurant such as Ippudo, but I have heard that Ryo's provides the most accurate representation of authentic Japanese Ramen at a very reasonable price. Will also have to compare the same dishes across both restaurants to attain an accurate representation of which restaurant is truly better. Comparisons aside, I would wholehearted recommend Ryo's for those who are after a slightly lighter ramen :) Will definitely be coming back for the Spicy Tonkotsu when I have the time.

Ryo's Noodles

Address: 125 Falcon St, North Sydney NSW 2060

Phone:(02) 9955 0225

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Hou

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Sunday	12:00-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm
Monday	12:00-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm
Tuesday	12:00-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	12:00-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm
Friday	12:00-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm
Saturday	12:00-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm

Ippudo - Japanese Ramen in Sydney

My favourite Japanese restaurant! Originally a restaurant founded in Japan in 1985, opening their first overseas restaurant in New York in 2008, followed by other Asian destinations, and in later in Sydney in December 2012. It is located on Level 5 of Westfields Shopping Centre on Pitt St, Sydney in a very prime location. As expected, their prices are also a bit fancier than normal ramen joints.

I quite enjoy the ambiance and atmosphere of the restaurant, all of the staff being very friendly and welcoming from the moment you enter the restaurant. It is classier and more upmarket place, themed simplistically with cutlery and bowls, themed in red, black and white. Have yet to try Ryo's, of which I have heard of so much. But save that for another food adventure. :)

The waitress who served me was very helpful and polite, explaining the menu and suggesting the cheap happy hour drinks. Also warned me not to use the sesame seed grinder upsidedown! I tried a bottle of Sapporo for $5 (Normally $11), which was a light and refreshing lager. I figured a glass of soft drink would cost about the same so why not have a Japanese Beer with my ramen. There are a number of other beers, whites and reds on the list, presenting quite a variety of choices. Out of curiosity, I asked  her what her opinion on which main was the best. She said the Akamaru Tonkotsu was the international favourite, where as the the more classic Shiromaru Motoaji was the more popular choice in Sydney. Comparatively, if I was after something a bit more spicy, I should try Ippudo's Karaka Men with spicy miso paste.

Had a fabulous Ippudo pork bun for the appetiser, with amazing texture and taste. The softness of the flower bun contrasted the crisp lettuce and the melt-in-your-mouth pork belly fat, which results in a very interesting composition together. The Ippudo original sauce also complements the pork bun, providing a slight spiciness to the further the completeness of the dish. $4 each, and therefore $8 for 2. Not exactly cheap but a totally worthwhile experience.

Followed by the main, the international favourite, the Akamaru Tamago ($19). I think this is the third time I have visited Ippudo and the third time I have ordered this dish.

Absolutely delicious. The tonkotsu broth is perfectly balanced every time, not too light, like Tenkomori at Regents Place, and not too heavy, like Gumshara at Eating World Food Court in Chinatown. We chose to order the noodles 'hard', similar to al dente, which juxtaposed beautifully with the slippery black mushrooms. Turned out to be extremely enjoyable, as I personally enjoy noodles with more texture rather than soft. The pork belly was soft and tender, and topped of the dish very nicely.

"IPPUDO original tonkotsu broth enhanced with special blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil. Served with thin noodles, pork belly, black mushroom and shallots. A refined, modern-style ramen."

Well presented, satisfying tonkotsu ramen that always has me coming back for more.

Ippudo Sydney

Shop 5021, Level 5, Westfield Shopping Centre/188 Pitt St, Sydney 2000
(02) 8078 7020


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