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Postcards and Morsels Sydney Trip Day 2

11/1/2012

 

Postcards and Morsels Sydney Trip Day 2

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One of the biggest, plumpest figs I have ever seen!
Continuing our postcards and morsels from a recent trip to Sydney. Here is a wrap up on day two. A sunny Sydney Saturday and we were up and ready early. Once again, our knowledgeable taxi driver and tour guide, Ms Lateo @VanityFare1, picked us up and whizzed us across to the Orange Grove Markets in Leichhardt, which she advised would be much quieter than usual due to the Christmas/New Year break. So much to see, taste, smell and explore for this pair of market aficionados. The day would end up with the first ever #twEATup! Where to start...
Karen is one of the regular stall holders at The Mushroom Depot at the Orange Grove Markets. The stall owner, Peter Hood, is away on his honeymoon, which was opportune in that it meant Karen was free to escort us on our tour! After meeting a couple of Karen's neighbouring stalls and investigating the biggest fig I have ever seen, we made our way to meet the lovely Jackie M.
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Such a pleasure to meet my Twitter buddie, Jackie M, and taste her divine roti! Um, why didn't someone tell me to lose the sunhat!?

It didn't take long for Peter to have a box of Jackie's Roti Kaya in his hand, so I quickly stepped in to help him devour them! Divine. Absolutely divine. Must order some Nonya Kaya from Jackie's online store. Moving on... we visited a number of the stalls at the Orange Grove Markets and I have posted some of the highlights under my Market People. I would have been happy so spend another couple of hours, but Karen had planned lots of other Good Things for us.
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Beautiful berries and produce aplenty!
Our next stop was The Urban Food Market in Marrickville, where we met Tim Elwin, who is passionate about sustainable produce. Tim explained that everything Urban Food Market sources is ethically raised and sustainably produced. 'The fundamental reason I set up this business was my strive to search for really great tasting food. I started with organics, but some organic meats chew and taste like a boot!'

'We deal direct with the farmers,' he said. 'We give back to the farmer and have pre-requisites in that the meat must be ethically raised and sustainably produced. The farmer is looked after, the land is looked after and the animal is looked after,' Tim added. Urban Food Market supplies grassfed Saltbush lamb; grassfed Wagyu beef and organic beef; free range pork and poultry; as well as artisan free range sausages; wild rabbits; free range cured and smoked meats; and organic dairy and a range of dry goods. 'Our core business is supplying hatted restaurants in Sydney (such as Red Lantern). We are also open to the public on Saturdays, when we do a sampling menu. This is where we cook three or four dishes and provide take-home ingredient packs, complete with recipes'. Urban Food Market is a great concept and a must-visit.
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Tim Elwin from Urban Food Market, passionate about sustainable produce
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Dry goods are also available, including Herbie's Spices. 'You don't need to be a chemist to understand the ingredients in the products'.
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Urban Food Market is open to the public from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays only
The Bourke Street Bakery, just across the road in Mitchell Street, Marrickville, was our next whistle stop and we did stop for a breather and a bite to eat. We also met up with fellow food enthusiast and Tweep, Ester @DairyGoodness. Readers, you may already know Ester from the Country Valley Dairy stall at Eveleigh and also Marrickville Markets. Ester sells a special 'dairy pack' containing fresh butter, yoghurt and a litre of milk for $15.00!

At the Bourke Street Bakery, we sat and chatted with Ester over coffee and I enjoyed (really enjoyed!) a slice of Prune and Vanilla Custard tart. Meanwhile, Peter tucked in to a Lamb and Harissa sausage roll, which didn't look particularly sexy in the photo here, but I am assured it was very tasty.
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Bourke Street Bakery's Prune and Vanilla Custard tart - sublime!
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Lamb and Harissa Sausage Roll
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Chatting with Twitter friend and fellow food enthusiast, Ester @DairyGoodness
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Artisan breads at the Bourke Street Bakery
Our expert Sydney tour guide, Karen, also took us to some parts of the city that most visitors may not see, such as the East Balmain Ferry Wharf, where we not only had a wonderful view of the Harbour Bridge and the ferries arriving (fun for us, but something Sydney dwellers will take for granted), and we also had time to stop and admire the Strelitzias!
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Arrival of a ferry, fun for visitors from interstate
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The uninterrupted view from the East Balmain Ferry Wharf
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Admiring a Strelitzia or Bird of Paradise flower
We spent the rest of the afternoon touring 'Little Italy' in Haberfield, where, after investigating the wonderful grocer and stocking up on good panettone (essential for wintertime bread and butter puddings) we sat in the sunshine outside Dolcissimo to chat about the events of the day and cool off with a gelato.

And on to Red Lantern...

On Saturday evening, we joined Karen and Ester to dine at The Red Lantern with a group of like-minded, food enthusiast Twitter friends for the first #twEATup. It was a great pleasure to meet well-known nutritionist, Catherine Saxelby, Mel @Miss Piggy Eats and her husband Dave ('The Boy'), and author, Joy Hopwood. 

The Red Lantern is (of course) the acclaimed modern Vietnamese restaurant in Crown Street, Surry Hills and is a collaboration between Luke Nguyen and his sister Pauline Nguyen and Pauline's husband, Mark Jensen. We were accommodated for a 6.30pm sitting, which meant we could enjoy the Tasting Menu. Pierre Issa (Pepe Saya) and Merna Taouk (Homemade Fine Foods) joined us later for dessert. Here is a snapshot of some of the food we shared (with sincere thanks to Mel @MissPiggyEats, whose photos mostly turned out better than mine, see credits). 
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The twEAT up at The Red Lantern... cheers!
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Goi Cha Cuon
: Soft rice paper rolled with pork and duck terrine,
 vermicelli, cabbage and pickled carrot (photo by Mel)
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Muc Rang Muoi
: Lightly battered chilli salted squid
 served with a fresh lemon and white pepper dipping sauce
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Bo La Lot: 
Pasture fed Wagyu beef with lemongrass and shallot
 wrapped in betal leaf and chargrilled (photo by Mel)
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Goi Du Du
: Twice cooked pork belly, tiger prawns, 
green papaya, perilla and mint (photo by Mel)
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Ga Chien Don
: Crisp skin Burrawong pasture raised chicken
 poached in master stock with ginger and oyster sauce (photo by Mel)
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Cai Xanh Xao: 
Mixed organic Asian greens wok tossed 
in preserved bean curd sauce (photo by Mel)
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Red Lantern Dessert Platter sensationally good! (photo by Mel)
The verdict: Our delicious two day adventure had drawn to a close. We would like to thank Luke, Pauline and Mark and their team at The Red Lantern. It was all so delicious. In fact, every mouthful was exquisite! We cannot wait to return! 

Thanks again to Mel @MissyPiggyEats for sharing her photographs. Pop in to Mel's blog for a comprehensive wrap up on the meal.

Many, many thanks to Karen Lateo @VanityFare1 for her warm hospitality. Should you have the opportunity to take a Sydney gourmet tour or dine with Karen, do it. You will enjoy it from beginning to end!
Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy link
10/1/2012 03:56:04 pm

I am still yet to try Red Lantern. You must have had souch a wonderful time Lizzy. Loving the look of that prune and vanilla custard tart too :)

Lizzy
10/1/2012 04:12:00 pm

Hi Anna... Red Lantern has been on my wish list for ages. We are so grateful that they were kind enough to squeeze our group in! The tart was amazing!

Melinda link
10/1/2012 04:03:08 pm

What a fantastic recount of both days! I am glad you were able to go to some of the foodie places in Sydney and my favourite Eveleigh Markets! I cannot believe how big that fig is!!! I wonder if mine will get that big he he. Hopefully next time you are up we can catch up 

Melinda @ The Pickled Cumquat link
10/1/2012 04:04:33 pm

Forgot to say I was The Pickled Cumquat! What a fantastic recount of both days! I am glad you were able to go to some of the foodie places in Sydney and my favourite Eveleigh Markets! I cannot believe how big that fig is!!! I wonder if mine will get that big he he. Hopefully next time you are up we can catch up

Lizzy
10/1/2012 04:12:48 pm

Hi there! Thank you... would love to visit Eveleigh Markets one day, we didn't make it this time around!

Jane @ Shady Baker link
10/1/2012 05:49:06 pm

I now have serious Sydney envy...Bourke Street Bakery is one of my favourite places (& cookbooks!) Exciting to see my friend Miss Piggy enjoying the Red Lantern!

Lizzy
10/1/2012 05:53:33 pm

Hello Jane! What a time we had.... and Mel is lovely!

Erin @ she cooks, she gardens link
10/1/2012 06:02:47 pm

Oh my, this is making me hungry. Sounds like I need to visit Sydney, asap! :)

Lizzy
10/1/2012 06:11:44 pm

Definitely... so delicious.

Hotly Spiced link
10/1/2012 09:58:27 pm

I love the look of the fig in the first image and who doesn't love Red Lantern! Glad you had a wonderful few days in Sydney.

Lizzy
10/1/2012 10:00:55 pm

Oh, the fig, how wonderful! But nobody on the stall could tell me where it was grown, which was disappointing! Thank you!!!

Mandy - The Complete Cook Book link
11/1/2012 12:20:26 am

WOW - what a magnificent fig! I never knew they got that big! Beautiful photos of a fabulous trip to Sydney!
:-) Mandy

Lizzy
11/1/2012 09:53:46 am

Hi Mandy, neither did I, it was quite heavy too! We were in a rush, so I didn't get the chance to buy it. Spent more time asking stall holders where it was grown.

Sous Chef link
11/1/2012 06:23:48 am

What a wonderful time you are having! and that fig?! I shall have to make time to come and read some of your previous posts. Thank you very much for visiting my blog, lovely to meet you.

Lizzy
11/1/2012 09:54:28 am

Hello there! Welcome. Please do pop in more often. Love your blog too!

Lisa link
11/1/2012 07:34:11 am

what a wonderful fun, friend and food filled day!

Lizzy
11/1/2012 09:55:02 am

Indeed, and this was day two! Make sure you read about day one too. Delicious.

celia link
11/1/2012 09:19:47 am

Sounds like you've had a wonderful time! Orange Grove Markets can hold some great treasures, but I've never been to the Urban Food Market, so thank you very much for the headsup! :)

Lizzy
11/1/2012 09:56:12 am

Hi Celia... loved those markets and would like to go again when all the stall holders are there. So vibrant! Yes, do go to the Urban Food Market, visit their web site too. I had to keep the snippets brief (time poor).

Liz link
11/1/2012 10:15:17 am

Wow, you squeezed in a whole lot of fun in one day! What a marvelous market...and your dinner looks fabulous!!! I'm longing for summer already~

Lizzy
11/1/2012 10:26:45 am

Hello there! It was a two day event... make sure you see that post too. Oh, we are longing for summer too. The temperatures have dropped dramatically here and we are now seeing snow in some parts!

Lizzy
11/1/2012 10:28:32 am

Thanks so much once again to Miss Piggy Eats (Mel) for the beautiful shots of some of the dishes at Red Lantern. Was darkish in there and my little Canon captured slightly fuzzy images. Mej's pics are lovely.

Nic link
11/1/2012 01:28:00 pm

Wow! Looks like you had an amazing trip. I'm ashamed to say I haven't been to many of those places, and I live in Sydney! Lots of them are on my wishlist but I find you just don't make the effort when you live somewhere as there is always another day :( I am determined to put this right in 2012 though!

Lizzy
11/1/2012 02:07:30 pm

Hello there! It was a great trip... we tend to do that here in Canberra too. Especially me, since I am no longer a co-owner of a cooking school, I am not so well versed on what chefs are where and who is doing what at which restaurant. We all tend to be a little parochial when we get busy. And, frankly, I prefer cooking and dining at home, though I do love a treat once in while! Thanks for popping in!

muppy link
11/1/2012 04:56:38 pm

What a great post! I should do that tour ;)

Lizzy
11/1/2012 05:28:43 pm

Thank you... it was very enjoyable indeed.

Sara @ Bellly Rumbles link
12/1/2012 11:53:23 am

I love your hat! What a great feast at Red Lantern.

Lizzy
12/1/2012 12:28:05 pm

Sara, thank you. LOL! I like the hat too, but I think I look a little daggy in it. Oh, Red Lantern, I would go back in a heartbeat!

The Food Sage link
14/1/2012 05:10:01 pm

What a gastronomic-packed few days! I'm glad you got to Orange Grove markets - it's my local and a great way to kickstart a weekend!

Lizzy
14/1/2012 05:38:08 pm

Hello there Rachel! Welcome back. Orange Grove Markets, love them! I am delighted to know that this is your local. Wish you were there to meet me! I would love to show you around our Farmer's Markets one day!

reyah link
23/1/2012 03:52:11 am

This is a wonderful trip!...and the bread, wow...i am now craving for a custard tart!

Lizzy
23/1/2012 09:54:19 am

Hello there... it was a great trip, I am now amazed at how much we packed in. And that custard tart... OMG!


Comments are closed.

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    Photo of Liz Posmyk, Food Writer, Cook and Traveller

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