Sydney Food and Wine Fair & Norton St Festa 2010

Boo to this horrible temper-mental Sydney weather! One minute the sun is out, and the next - you are stuck in a downpour, it really does play havoc with your health! I have been feeling rather unwell for nearly a week and poor Demos has had to bear the brunt of my whinging. Lucky for me though, the only way he knows how to fix a broken, iron-defficient, and flu struck girlfriend is by offering food..and lots of it!

It was bright and beautiful on the Saturday morning in Hyde Park. Although I hardly had the energy nor motivation to do anything, we decided to head to the Sydney Food and Wine Fair - food fixes everything right? It took a bit of convincing for me to get out of my PJ's and with a bit of flu relief from trusty panadol, we were ready to take on this event with much gusto. Demos' decided that we were guaranteed a good feed here and more importantly, it was for a good cause. The sun was sweltering, and the crowds were well and truly present. This event benefits the AIDS trust of Australia, and organised as part of the Sydney International Food Festival. In its 20th year, very generous restaurants, bakeries, bars and cafe's donate their time and signature dishes to hungry patrons. Upon entry, a sheet of 5 coupons can be purchased for $19 - these tokens are then exchanged for delicious dishes, sweet treats or a refreshing drink. All proceeds of course, are donated to the AIDS trust of Australia and i'm all for eating for a cause!

We did a quick round to see what was on offer, bumping into fellow food bloggers Jacq from Penguin says Feed Me and Simon from The Heart of Food. Demos and I were quick to ask them for their suggestions as to which stalls to attack as we arrived at 1pm and stalls were starting to sell out. I was dizzy with hunger so Demos and I found our first selection - A delicious Chorizo roll from Brasserie Bread. This was a perfect start because we could multitask by eating and browsing the other stalls. This gourmet sandwich was worth 2 coupons and we did not even have to line up! 

Its never fun when you have the stay away from the fruity cocktails but finding the Aids Trust Bar stocked with Greek Metaxa Spirit, Demos had to try the fruity concoction. Metaxa is a traditional Greek cognac and they mixed it with Orange juice and tonic water, providing much needed refreshment.

 Ninja Domo also had to tag along to provide protection against... now that I think of it I'm not really sure why he tagged along.

 The crowds were out in full force - what better way to spend the day than indulging in delicious food at Hyde Park. It sure beats staying in bed and watching Kardashian re-runs on the E! Channel, right?

 Everyone was out enjoying the sun, such a beautiful day! Hyde Park is so picturesque in the Springtime!

Our next dish was the Gnocci with Napolitana Sauce from Mezzaluna. I would not usually order gnocci, I find it very starchy and not exciting at all (which is weird because I love potatoes and pastas..) The sauce was not a standout either but we were honestly running out of options of food to buy because everyone was running out of dishes!

 One of the dishes that Simon had recommended were the Duck Spring Rolls from the Hungry Duck. I was really excited to try this but unlucky for us, the sold out sign went up as soon as we found the stall!

The Bourke St Bakery stall next door provided a sweet consolation. I order the Pear tart and Demos has the Chocolate tart. I absolutely love the biscuit base and it is a very light dessert. The pear is not sickeningly sweet at all, as I was worried it would make me feel a bit queasy. I was so hungry, my piece disappeared in a minute flat! I was able to sneak a bite of Demos' Chocolate tart and really enjoyed its gooey pudding-like filling.

 The Longrain stall had a very long line. I think most of the crowd, like us, were tempted in by the delicious aroma of their Berkshire Pork Yellow Curry. The pork - amazingly tender. The cuts would just melt in your mouth and the curry was not too spicy at all, although it was a bit too hot for the meal. It would be comfort food for a cold day.

We were down to our last tickets, but at this stage most of the stall holders were cleaning up and leaving, and I was still craving some comfort food. As we walked past the Guilliaumme at Bennelong stand, I notice some fresh crepes being prepared. The chef told me this Nutella covered dessert would cost me three coupons, but since I was down to my last two, he was happy to give it to us anyway! What a lovely gesture. It really made me happy that all the restaurant workers that donated their time and efforts on the day were all in a very cheerful mood, I must say it really lifted my spirits!

 After only an hour out and about I was ready to call it a day and get back to sick bay. However, we saved the best for last. After lining up for a short while we were given a free scoop of Ben and Jerry's Ice cream - and lucky me, we get my favourite cookie dough flavour too! We headed home with our full tummies, it was a bit too much excitement for my sick self and I didn't leave my room until the next day!

Of course we had to eat on a Sunday too right?...

 The Norton St Italian Festa has to be one of my favourite annual community festivals, and I was happy for an excuse to leave sick bay once again. My professional medical opinion was that I was hungry, but as I mentioned before, I am committed to eating. Since I had to visit my GP anyway - we detoured via Leichhardt and met up with our awesome and equally hungry friends and "Mangiare!". We found a spot at the Barilla stand, which offered a $5 meal deal with 2 serves of pasta and a San Pellegrino drink - breadsticks included too!

A food festival wouldn't be complete without the "Chips on a Stick" and for those who are not familiar with this, its basically a whole potato, cut spirally, deep fried on a stick and seasoned with different flavours. I usually order plain salt but the bbq and cheese flavour is just as addictive! Deep fried goodness.

For something more substantial, we share some Calamari and BBQ Octopus from the seafood stand. No name in particular, just some delicious calamari fritti and perfectly seasoned baby octopus. 

 Just hanging outside nonna's house like the good kids we are! Unfortunately for me, my appetite could not be as enthusiastic as I was, so I had to pass on the Nutella Crepes, Gelati, Granita and the Ricotta Canolli - yes, you know you are sick when you pass up the Canolli.

We head to Vanilla Room to escape the heat, my forehead literally felt like it was on fire! They were serving jugs of Sangria for $15, and originally I had passed it up - but the heat got the better of me of course! Lucky for me, my very patient and caring Demos takes me home, I had enough excitement for a sick person - but it just shows that nothing can keep me away from my food! Besides, it was the last day of October - what better way than to end October, aka Good Food Month?

Despite feeling Deathly and getting approximately 4 hours of sunlight, it was still a fun weekend. The best part of food fairs and festivals is the way that it brings friends together, and you can sit on the sidewalk sharing a plate of food, love it. Here's to making every month Good Food Month! Until the next post everyone, Happy Eating!

House, Thai Northeast Street Food - Surry Hills

There is one thing that my eating companions really don't understand about me. No, its not the obsessive need to try new places or treating food the way paparazzi treat Lindsay Lohan - what confuses them the most is my inability to tolerate spicy flavours in food. You see most of my friends, especially Mr Empty Fridge, eat chilli like it was popcorn. I on the other hand, am a wussbag. Personally, I do not enjoy a severe burning taste sensation at all and I try to order everything "Mild" where I can.

"You are not going to enjoy this" My Mom (aka Mrs Fridgemagnet) tells me, as we walk towards House. "Everything will be spicy and everything will be covered in coriander so get your antihistamines ready" (Yes, my random allergy to coriander manages to attack me at every new restaurant.)

Mrs Fridgemagnet is a huge fan of Spice I Am, and when I read that the Chef Sujet Saenkham had opened up a street-food inspired eatery, we were both eager to try it. We arrived at about 4pm after a big brunch and some shopping - so this was our version of afternoon tea. House is not your ordinary Thai Restaurant. The dishes on offer are from the North-east region of Thailand, and there is not one Money Bag or Pad See Ew in sight. A Thai and English bilingual menu was provided and it conveniently contained pictures of each dish to tempt eaters, with quite a substantial number of small dishes I might add. These menus made ordering a breeze as you could not rely on the waiters for recommendations, they were however happy to advise that "No, very Hot if you don't like Hot" about the dishes I was pointing to.
I think they were judging my chilli handicap.

We decide to try two small dishes, a small sample of what was on offer. We order the Mackarel salad with fresh vegetables and the barbeque pork skewers.  Mrs Fridgemagnet was not too happy about having to request that the dish not be too spicy, but hey - sharing is caring. She told me the last time she had tasted anything this authentic was at one of the food stalls in Bangkok's Chatuchak market. My pork skewers also take me back to my trip to Thailand as well and I can distincly remember the smell of the smoke comming from the food vendors at Lumpini Night Markets or the street stalls in Phuket. All I needed was a cold Singha beer and we would be back in beautiful Thailand.

The fresh and crisp bamboo shoots are a great contrast to both the fishy-ness and oilyness of the Mackarel salad. I have never tried Bamboo shoots previously but it really cooled my mouth after trying the salad, as it was still hot despite us requesting minimal mouth burning please.

 Mrs Fridgemagnet was quite happy not to share after I had a small taste, and continued to enjoy her Mackarel salad.

The serve of pork skewers were just enough for this small food break. Man they were delicious! They were not too thick which makes the crunchy charred bits a great contrast. The sauce is not too sweet but it contains the right amount of chilli keep to make it seem less boring..afterall, they were just mini skewers. However, they are very lean cuts and perfectly cooked whilst still keeping the meat very juicy and flavoursome. 

Now I'm not sure if you guys have herd about this dessert. I think its had quite the cult status of late, but with a name like "Better than Sex" I would think that severe diners are keen to challenge the comparison. 

This dessert was absolutely delicious, to the point that Mrs Fridgemagnet and I were just about ready to order a second plate. It consists of a sugary sweet toasted brioche, a scoop of the most awesome pandan flavour ice cream, and then covered in a dark palm sugar syrup. Thinking about it now makes me want to drive there this very second! The thick slice of brioche is light and fluffy with a very strong eggy flavour. I thought it may have even been a slice of brioche french toast. The pandan ice cream was a standout dessert in itself. This was the first time I  had tried this flavour and I feel like I found what was missing in my life. Yes, dramatic I know, but I have only tried pandan in drinks, jellies and other desserts - never in ice cream form. The sauce just brings it to another level, I enjoyed the contrast to the sweetness of the ice cream and brioche, adding almost a dark and even more sinful layer to the dessert. 

I would honestly go back there just for the B.T.S dessert. Its not listed on the menu but i'm sure if you ask it will be available. The dessert is supposed to be a "special"  but I can only imagine the uproar if they decide to take it off the menu. Consider this a warning, House.

Id like to try a larger selection of the dishes when a return, and will without a doubt leave room for dessert. I think that with an awesome sweet dish like the B.T.S. on offer, I should be able to try my hand on some mouth burning epic dishes - I can use "recovery" as an excuse not to share dessert. Price wise, it is reasonable compared to the more "posh" thai eateries around the area. I think if your eating what is essentially street food, it would not feel right to be charged an arm and a leg. Besides, the portions are not large at all.

So if you are up for a casual night out and keen to venture out of the Pad Thai takeaway box, then House is definately a must visit. As we left content with our afternoon tea, the early dinner crowds were starting to arrive. For those Balmy summer nights in the horizon, I can't think of anything better than sitting in the beer garden and downing copious amounts of Singha to stop the burning of spicy thai in my mouth. Until next time, House.

House - 202 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. 02 9280 0364

Cash Only but there is an ATM at the Pub next door.

Orange Chicken and our 5 Minutes of Fame

If there is one thing that I love as much as food, its fashion. Yes, it is a shallow cliche but I am drawn to pretty things and shiny objects. One would think that very manly other half of The Empty Fridge would be uninterested in all this but that is not the case. Demos is one heck of a fashionista. Yes - I just called my bloke a fashionista. Our overseas holidays consist of as much shopping as they do eating, and most of the time it is spent in men's stores. Demos actually has a bigger closet than I do and takes much longer to get ready when we go out, he says its because he is indecisive - I think he is just a fussy dresser. 

So, imagine both of our excitement when we found ourselves in a window display for the French luxe brand Hermes. Yes folks, my life is now complete. I was lucky enough to be spoilt with a very special "Little Orange Box" on my birthday this year and thanks to some fun happy snaps taken during Vogues Fashion Night Out, our mugs have been on display at the Sydney store.  I plan to break in and steal the portrait once our 5 minutes of fame is over.

Hermes Orange bags and boxes aside, lets get back to food quick smart! This is not a well known dish in Australia but it is one of the dishes I love to eat when I visit the USA - and we can stick to the "Orange" theme Here is my take on...

Orange Chicken!

It is a similar concept to Honey Chicken, that dish you usually get in Chinese takeaway shops or seedy varieties in food courts. A very popular version that I crave is from Panda Express, a chain of Chinese takeout in the USA. How can you resist sweet citrusy goodness and some fried chicken? With the abundance of Oranges in the shops at the moment, I wanted to try my hand in replicating this. I googled some recipes and followed this simple version from Rasa Malaysia with a few adjustments. Firstly, I had no ginger or scallions at home.. and as I have previously established I am still trying to find my kitchen prowess.

Mmm..Orange guts. I love freshly squeezed oranges and for this dish I used 2 large navel oranges. It produced more juice than needed so I had a nice drink too! The recipe calls for just 1/4 cup of juice but I added 1/2 a cup . I figured I would just reduce the sauce longer to get a stronger orange flavour.

I diced up more garlic than the recipe required, and again to add to the orange bite, I finely chopped up some orange peel instead of just using the grater. I also added 2 teaspoons instead of just 1.

I used about two large chicken breasts, but unfortunately I didn't think to coat the chicken pieces with flour before dipping it into the batter. Silly me, another cooking fail. This resulted in the batter not "sticking" onto the chicken pieces, so I didn't get that outer crunchy crust. 

We did not have any fresh chillies readily available either, but because it is a partly greek kitchen, there is always a container full of homemade marinated chillies in the fridge, and boy did they bring the heat. As you can see, my batter didn't stick at all when I was frying.

When I was adding all the ingredients together for the sauce, the smell of the orange peel, juice, garlic and chilli just took over.

I was very disappointed that my chicken did not have a crispy crust to coat and soak in the sauce. However, the dish was full of flavour and tasted really exciting compared to the usual stir -fry's. Although the sweet, citrus and spicy flavours sound a bit much together in one dish, Demos and I really enjoyed the end result. It was very different to the takeaway version but I was happy to discover a yummy new stir fry with a kick. I served the chicken over some brown rice, but it would go well with some steamed bok choy or snow peas for a crisp taste.

There we have it, another attempt in the kitchen - not the ideal end result and yes I did get a bit upset and emotional about the batter and coating not sticking. At least I know for next time. Now I have two coping mechanisms when things dont go right in the kitchen, the first being Ben and Jerry's cookie dough ice cream. If that doesnt fix it then I can wander down to the local Hermes store and be that crazy lady that yell's out to the tourists walking by..

"That's me in the window..That's meeee".