A Taste of Greece with Lyndey Milan

“When in Greece you cook with a Greek heart” declared celebrity chef Lyndey Milan as diners were tantalised with the wafting aromas of Peloponnese cuisine. As jovial chords of live bouzouki music bounce over the twinkling lights of the harbour, it is not a far stretch to imagine ourselves seated in a traditional restaurant on a Mediterranean island.

To celebrate the launch of the Taste of Greece cookbook on the back of her successful SBS series, Lyndey Milan teamed with the George’s Mediterranean Bar & Grill to host a feast drawn from the recipes in the book. Showcasing the highlights of a mother and son food-focused road trip around the Peloponnese, the evening was a heart (and stomach) warming tribute to both the region and Lyndey's late son, Blair.

Lyndey Milan regales diners with tales of the Peloponnese

We begin our culinary journey with a traditional eggplant dip (similar to baba ganoush) and a freshly grilled pita, a tasty portent of the flavoursome delights to come. An exotic collection of mezedes follow, a range of chickpea fritters, BBQ squid filled with fetta and spinach, and zucchini dill and mint fritters.

BBQ Squid with fetta and spinach

Village salad

The main course consists of slow roasted lamb, lemon potatos and village salad. Lyndey introduces each dish with a story, describing how she and Blair stumbled across each. She says that the Hercules Blood cocktail, a concoction of pomegranate seed and tequila, was created by Blair after extensive sampling of cocktails with locals throughout their trip. 

Slow roasted lamb

Matching wines are a carefully chosen selection also hailing from the Peloponnese region, and complement the hearty cuisine. The sweet Kourtakis Muscat of Samos is a memorable finale and dessert is an indulgent cinnamon cheesecake with Samos-soaked muscatels, topping off a mouth watering testament to George’s Executive Chef, Keith Higginson. 

Hercules Blood cocktails

Lyndey reminds us that Greek hospitality is focused on ensuring guests are happy, no matter what it takes. Enjoying a night under the stars with atmospheric music, traditional dishes prepared by a renowned chef and a welcoming host, the mission is well accomplished.  We raise our glasses and toast: Yamas!

Bouzouki player entertains the crowd

Lifeafterfive* was a guest of the event.

Rojo Rocket, Central Coast

“… There’s a track winding back to an old fashioned shack….”

While the sunny Central Coast may be approximately 450km from Gundagai, the famous Jack O’Hagan ditty springs to mind as we wind our way up Avoca Drive in search of the much hyped Rojo Rocket.

A garden of cactus, an artfully painted Mexican door and a friendly welcome are our first encounter with this strangely located oasis. We walk down a path surrounded by tropical greenery while a painted cow statue observes us from a red framed lily pond and a tanned blonde waiter stands by to greet us. We discover a buzzing restaurant full of large table groups, couples reclining on day beds outside and an upstairs taqueria with a cocktail cantina and funky music. Multi levelled and multicoloured, all venues are open to take advantage of the balmy coastal evenings.

Adrian Reed, whose Mexican wife Nigdali came up with the concept, mingles with the holiday crowd, popping by tables and daybeds to ensure punters are enjoying their margaritas, churros and tapas.

“Toto, I do believe we’re not in Sydney anymore” remarks a member of our group, the exuberance, artwork and originality of the architecture placing us in some exotic Latin American locale. Every glance reveals a trinket worthy of scrutiny, from a screen playing silent movies in the garden behind the bar, to fluorescent lit miniature nativity scenes built into the wall next to the skull surrounded fireplace.

We decide to settle in the upstairs outdoor bar, and order guacamole and freshly prepared lamb tacos from the flowery taqueria cart. The tacos are succulent and flavoursome, while the generous guac servings disappear quickly. The cantina delivers a steady supply of shaken margaritas and fruity sangria, while the gentlemen among us can’t resist the opportunity to partake in a celebratory post-dinner cigar.

An infectious holiday spirit, incredibly friendly staff and an authentic and well executed Mexican menu are the substance behind the hype of this seaside town treasure. Catering to all from hens’ parties in search of fiesta, to casual family dinners to special occasions requiring silver service, Rojo Rocket looks set to be the must-visit destination of the Central Coast.

See more photos of Rojo Rocket and the Central Coast on the Lifeafterfive* facebook page.

Steak Night @ North Bondi RSL

Paulo Coehlo wrote that ‘the simplest things in life are often the most extraordinary’. While it’s a slight stretch from profound musings of an exotic Brazilian author to Wednesday night at the local R’ie (pronounced Aah-rie), it is a reminder that the best experiences can be found in unexpected places.

Packed every Wednesday

Prime balcony tables

A generous steak and chips for eight bucks is a mid-week highlight for locals accustomed to paying what is wryly referred to as the ‘Bondi premium’. Cross the Bondi Rd / Old South Head Rd border to find that rent is higher for pokier rooms, coffee is at least $4 a pop, and if you want non-organic bread for less than $8 a loaf you’ll have to venture out of the bubble. 

Breezy ocean views, readily available tables and a cheesy selection of 80’s pop, the North Bondi RSL Steak night is a treasured tradition of locals, maintaining popularity throughout the summer heat and winter chill. The queue for steaks snakes around the tables as the essential decisions are made by patient queuers. Whether peppercorn or tomato basil, mash or fries, vegies or salad, the steak is decent quality and the delivery is super speedy.

Sal Giblin...very excited about her steak

My steak's bigger than your steak

Punters travel half way across the world to enjoy the five star views, shared with the snazzier North Bondi Italian downstairs. Buzzing with young and old, the plastic chairs and RSL paraphernalia keep the crowd casual as they admire the sunset views. In all their simplicity, combining steak, mates and spectacular sunsets on a hump day can turn out to be surprisingly extraordinary.

Jamie's Italian

Executive Chef Dave Clarke

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver famously declared that “all I ever wanted to do was make good food accessible to everyone”. Opening the cutting edge doors of Jamie’s Italian in the heart of Sydney CBD is a step towards turning his words into reality down under. The new establishment is blazing the road in Sydney towards a new foodie phenomenon – ethically sourced food at affordable prices.

Read my review of the new Pitt St restaurant as the NSW Blogger for lastminute.com.au.

Table Talk @ Cafe Mint

“Over the years I have become convinced that we learn best – and change – from hearing stories that strike a chord within us”

Professor John Kotter, Harvard Business School & author of Leading Change

Table Talk is an innovative concept that takes the age-old tradition of discussing issues around a dinner table, and transplants the conversation into a trendy Surry Hills café.

Devised by two experienced counsellors with backgrounds in psychology, training and management, Nadene Alhadeff and Ros Kennedy decided to recreate the ancient art of a meaningful dinner conversation; the original forum where knowledge was imparted, ideas explored and intimacies created through channelling personal stories.

Nadene Alhadeff & Ros Kennedy

Accustomed to running workplace training courses in corporate settings, Nadene and Ros were convinced that removing the conversation away from a stress-fuelled work environment and creating a relaxed atmosphere would allow groups to connect on a more personal, deep level.

It is a Monday night at Café Mint in Surry Hills, and 14 Gen-Ys have gathered to experience the concept first-hand. The topics on the table are mindfulness, stress management and using empowering language, and the facilitators open with a brief visualisation to focus the group.

We open our eyes, the first delicious course is served - and a spirited conversation ensues. Nadene and Ros deftly guide the conversation, coaxing personal stories from each of the participants and drawing in the latest research and providing useful, practical examples. Personal anecdotes, challenging questions and controversial experiences were shared, with a focus on Gen Y’s unique approach to stress management and the link to social expectation emerging as a common concern.

We explore the danger of words such as “should” – as in, I “should” call my grandmother, I “should” be earning x dollars per year, and the effect that this has on our wellbeing. We learn to recognise the body’s unhealthy responses to stress, and are offered practical steps to address them.

Chef Yoni Kalfus of Café Mint serves an exotic array of share plates, ranging from grilled haloumi skewers, chicken kefte ball in tomato sauce to fish and polenta. The shared food creates a convivial sharing atmosphere, with the private space allowing the group the confidence to speak our minds.

Two hours fly by, and there are many lingering questions as we wrap up the evening. With appetites satisfied and our minds inspired, the conversation flows on the journey home. A rare opportunity to discuss challenging personal concepts collectively, Table Talk provides an ideal opportunity for groups of friends or colleagues to gather, unwind and connect.

Table Talk is an initiative of Nadene Alhadeff & Ros Kennedy, in conjunction with Cafe Mint.  It costs $95 pp, and includes 3 x courses, venue hire and a facilitated discussion.   Discussions are tailored to the interests of individual groups and workplaces.

For more information, contact nadenealhadeff@yahoo.com.au or rosken@bigpond.net.au.  

Adriano Zumbo launch at The Star

It’s not often that slender models on a catwalk inspire cravings of cake, macarons and creamy éclairs, but a playful catwalk display of bold urban style matched with even more stylish desserts – the Zumbo Summer Collection of Cakes - had the well-heeled crowd salivating at the launch of Adriano Zumbo’s new patisserie.

Caramel popcorn martinis, bright pink candles and white lights set the merrily decadent tone of the Sex & the City style event at The Star.  Indulgent chocolate cocktails were served with delicate sushi canapés by waiters wearing ‘I Heart Zumbo’ t-shirts, while guests speculated as to the mysterious interior hidden behind white curtains.  The 2011 summer range local apparel brand and IM Boutique were showcased, fusing fashion and food in a vibrant combination that included a chocolate raspberry handbag and Zumbarons – concoctions of chocolate, chilli and cinnamon.

The curtain dropped to unveil a Willy Wonka-esque magical workshop of cakes and candy.  A fluorescent ‘I heart Zumbo’ flashed as brightly coloured wheels, knobs and levers hinted at an army of cheerful, hardworking Oompa Loompas churning out culinary delights behind the scenes.  Fed by multicolour pipes, small transparent safes full of various macaron flavours – including a Coca Cola flavour – warn us boldly to “Break the glass in case of emergency”.  I luckily discover the hidden latch before risking injury.  The illusion of magic is reinforced by the dessert sushi train – a never ending conveyor belt of imaginative treats.

Each dessert sampled was both a visual and tasty sensation; a ‘Water my Melon’ chocolate ball revealed an orange crèmeaux watermelon centre, while tapioca, custard and lychee snowmen (ssnowmanorr) winked enticingly, dressed for the occasion in candy tuxedo collars.

The latest of many newbies, the Adriano Zumbo Patisserie is a welcome addition to The Star.  A whimsical, inventive and fantastic concept that inspires imagination, it will have visitors revisiting their childhood dreams of finding that elusive golden ticket – and maybe picking up a macaron while they search.

This article was first published on Nine to Five.

Mad Mex launch, Sydney Central Plaza

When Clovis Young moved to Sydney from California, he was told again and again that Aussies don’t like Mexican food. Slated as too spicy, too oily, too different, Clovis saw an opportunity to introduce the concept of fresh, healthy Mexican food that maintained quality despite being quick and affordable.

The launch of a Mad Mex restaurant in the revitalised Westfield Sydney Central Plaza was a celebration of a vision that emerged from passion, dedication and a commitment to quality. As Clovis demonstrates firsthand how the salsa is made from scratch, explains the importance of agave to tequila and passes around various raw chillies, it is refreshing to see an owner so involved in the details of production and cooking.

Read more about the launch of Mad Mex in my article on Eat Drink Play.

More photos can be found on the Lifeafterfive* facebook page.