Edit: CLOSED Hai everyone how was your weekend? Lots of chilling out and relaxing I hope! It was the boy and my 1 year wedding anniversary yesterday and since moving to the Parra area we’ve missed visiting the local restaurants we went to when we were first going out in the Baulko area. Eurolounge (Shop 21 The Piazza, Old Northern Rd, Castle Towers, Castle Hill) is an old favourite of ours, the staff are always lovely and the food is almost certainly delicious. We like sitting outside for lunch but wish they had a separate area for smokers and non smokers.


The Entree Tasting Plate for two ($35.90) is a winner for me as I love small portions of different kinds of food. Bite sized is the way to go yo! The oysters were topped with a slice of smoked salmon, salmon roe and a dab of creme fraiche, it looked a bit off-putting as I am an oyster purist and hate any form of topping on oysters but surprisingly everything worked together.

The crab tower with layers of avocado and tomata was so freaking cute sitting so perfectly in its tiny dish waiting to be smashed apart; the square of pork belly was a lil tricky to navigate as it was just a tad too large to eat in one bite and the dish a tad too small to cut the pork in half but the crackling was crispy and the meat tender.

The standout of the platter was the chilli salt squid, the batter lightly coating each squid curl and sitting atop the most delicious aioli I have ever had in my life. Fo shizz this stuff was gold I could eat the aioli with a spoon from a giant never ending bucket! edit: the cups held super fragrant broth topped with a lobster wonton.



My Duo of Grimaud Duck Breast Fillet & Confit Leg ($34.90) was for lack of a better word, perfect. Oh confit of duck how I could wax lyrical about the magic that is cooking meat in its own fat mmm fat. The boy had asked if I was going to pick up the leg and start gnawing away but I refrained. We are grown ups now I reply. The strips of duck breast were juicy and tender and delicious, but I was not a fan of the parsnip puree. The cubes of roasted potato and beetroot were a nice touch but I found myself wanting more greenery than that single leaf of rocket placed as garnish.



The Creme Brulee ($9) was being cooked and wouldn’t be ready any time soon said the waiter and as my face dropped he quickly replied but hey we can make you 3 small portions instead! Awesome oh yes as small cups equals higher sugary caramelised layer to smooth custard ratio woot! The spoonful of raspberry sorbet was tart and cut through the richness of the custard and the heaviness of the meal leaving me happy and full.

Only 1 more day left to win double pass tix to the Taste of Sydney 2011! Enter now by clicking here



And 6 days to go to win 1 of 3 awesome Moccona Coffee Packs! Click here for your chance to win!

Dear Noods
Happy 1 year anniversary! 1 year ago we were standing in a garden with mismatched socks and sneakers, declaring our love to the world. It was hot, oh so very hot and the day just flashed by in seconds. I remember fairy floss, lollipops and your cheeky smile. You are the cheese in my cheeseburger, the caffeine in my energy drinks, the salt on my fries. You are my everything and I love you til infinity and beyond!
Love Suze

OH HAI! Can you believe it’s almost March? And so begins March Into Merivale where all Merivale restaurants are offering a $33 lunch and dinner menu for the month of March. As in previous years, a launch party was held at the ivy to showcase the restaurants menu offerings however this year there was a $20 cover entry which got you 6 tasting coupons + 2 drinks. We three had scored some vip tix so we could have a good wander around and partake in some especially tasty cocktails teehee


We start our journey at Ash Street laneway and having glanced at the menu I knew I first had to try Felix’s Chicken Liver Pate with Currant Relish. Look at them boats all lined up in a row! Oh pate why must you be so smooth and delicious with splodges of juicy currants making everything right with the world. Word on the street is that Felix does a mighty fine Reuben sandwich too woot Monday dinner locked and loaded. Hihi Lauren and Steph!


Ms. G’s Chilli Cheese Dog Spring Rolls looked so normal and innocent had you not known what they were but it was the first bite into the crisp, flaky pastry that had me hooked as the melty cheesy innards ooze out oh baby totes would be perfect as bar food with a beer or two.


In case you had used up your 6 tasting coupons there was the option to purchase more from beautifully adorned models which I ended up stalking to take a photo with heh lookit a pineapple!


A row of Pulled Pork Burgers from Lotus is soon calling my name. Squidgy soft burger buns filled with super tender porky flesh and a slathering of coleslaw is a winner


Dan_Hong in da house yo! Could not resist greeting him with a balllzzzz ahahahaha


Ash St Cellar’s Choripan


Mad Cow’s Beef Tartare


LOBSTER HAT! SQUEE! Just like Britney’s lobster headpiece in Glee!


We migrate from the laneway and stumble up to the ivy Room


Sushi E’s Chef Nobuyuki Ura hard at work


Loved Sushi Choo’s Astroboy deco!


Of course we all had eyes for this giant piece of crackle at The Beresford Hotel safely placed far away from reaching arms


Heh she’s got a bread fan! And garlic shoulder pads! We adjourn to the Felix bar and bump into Simon, lamenting the lack, nay, absence of desserts so we drown our sorrows in Spiced Pink Grapefruit Vodka Martini’s which awesomely tasted like gingerbread. But pink. Mmm pink.

Chocolatesuze attended the March Into Merivale Launch as a guest of Stellar Concepts.

What’s the time Mr Wolf? It’s SCONES TIME! SCONES TIME! So last week I had a crazy hankering for some freshly baked, just outta the oven scones slathered in fresh jam and cream. Thanks to the power of the twitterverse, scone heaven was to be found at The Tara Tea Room The Tea Cosy, behind the Irish Design Shop (33 George St, The Rocks) which only opens Sat & Sun 10am-5pm for their famed devonshire tea.


There it is! The boy and I found ourselves navigating the morning crowds at the Rocks Markets searching for the scone clock perched outside. If you miss the scone clock then listen out for the lilting melody of Irish tunes being broadcast over the speakers. Make your way to the back of the shop to order and pay before finding a table either outside in the courtyard, inside the shop or out front to watch shoppers amble on by.


OH HAI! Tee hee the teapots are all nice and snuggly and kept warm with their very own psychedelic looking woolen teapot cosy.


Lol Noods photobombing. The menu is so cute! Instead of going with the $9.50 scones set (2 scones, 1 pot of jam, 1 pot of cream, 1 serve of tea), we decide to try all the scones flavours available as well as multiple jams and cream. We were hungry 😀


A short moment later our tier arrives and I chortle with anticipation at finally appeasing my scone hungry soul.


Scones yo! I was stalking their twitter account (@taratearoom) who tweeted their flavours for the weekend and got sad there was no cherry ripe or cheese scone but luckily the 4 flavours were date, raisin, plain and pumpkin which intrigued me as I’d never had a savoury scone before. And they were all deeeelicious! Warm pillows of scone-y goodness!

I had high expectations for the raisin scone and was not disappointed with the juicy, plump raisins found in abundance hiding in its depths. The date scone was a bit on the sweet side when paired with a jam so I just slathered it in cream mmm cream. I saved the pumpkin scone to last as I knew the sugar overload from all the jams would kick in and make me go nuts haha the quince jam was recommended for the pumpkin scone but I reckon just a nice slather of butter would be awesome. The plain was just in case Noods rebelled and wanted a normal scone flavour haha


Jams yo! We kinda ordered too many pots of jam but the jam flavours on that menu was just so enticing haha we got the raspberry, quince, and pawpaw, lime & passionfruit as well as thickened cream and clotted cream. We weren’t big fans of the clotted cream but oh boy the thickened cream with jam = bliss. The pawpaw, lime & passionfruit jam was surprisingly my fav as I usually have issues with mixed fruit jams but all the elements somehow came together to produce a not too sweet, slightly sour concoction.


Ok not an entirely appetising pic of scones but ahaha this is not my cream to jam ratio. I usually double layer the cream and jam and then another layer of cream and jam heh and I have to admit I was defeated after halving all the scones and sharing with Noods lol stomach why you so fail?


YUMMEH