Gemelle Ristorante Italiano, Liverpool

Such a long time no blog. I'm going to be a better blogger in 2014. One of my New Year's Resolutions! So this has been sitting in drafts for a very long time...

Way back in September I did a google search for a restaurant close by to where I live for Father's Day lunch. My dad wanted to eat somewhere we haven't before and he wanted seafood. My google search led me to Gemelle Ristorante Italiano. And I love Italian food and I don't get to eat it enough when I'm out because I don't know where to go. And I don't really go to Leichhardt and I don't think I've really eaten Italian in the city. I think.



So, yes, Gemelle. I made a booking because it was Fathers'Day. It was pretty full. Lots of little kids, which is good because I was worried it'd be too fancy and stuffy or something. Nice clean interior though I think the tables were a bit too close to other tables. We had a lovely waiter whose name I didn't get and when I eventually thought to ask him, he was on his break. In other ways, we had an awesome waiter who knew the menu, recommended wine and beer and was generally friendly which is awesome.

So drinks. I had the beer that the awesome waiter recommended, Menabrea. Very smooth, not bitter. If I recall, I think I said to my family that it tastes like Peroni.



And to the entrees!


Fiori Di Zucchini

I finally got to eat zucchini flowers after seeing it all the time on MasterChef and it was amazing. Filled with ricotta and parmesan cheese and fried! Fried thing with cheese inside is one of my favourite things! I could eat a bowl on these on my own. I could only have 2. My local takeaway needs to sell this alongside their fried chips. XDDD


Gamberi All' Aglio

These are garlic prawns served in Napoletana sauce. So good. Though not enough prawns but more than enough sauce to dip the sides of bread in.


Suppuli

Lightly crumbed cheesy balls served on a Bolognese sauce. I loved cheese. I love cheese in a ball so this was so right for me.

Onto the mains...


Pappa Osso Bucco


Gnocchi Arragosta

I had the gnocchi and it was so good. From memory. I loved the sauce and the chewiness of the gnocchi. Much different to store bought gnocchi and sauce. So good. Damn it, I'm craving Italian food now.


Kingfish Fillets

And this is what my dad had for his Father's Day lunch. He wanted to eat seafood so this was one of the specials. It looks small but he didn't even finish so I guess that's a pretty big portion.

It was quite busy when we were there, understandably. Lots of families and the tables are a little too close together for my liking but there was great service and good food so I would definitely go again. Especially for those zucchini flowers.

• Find Gemelle Ristorante Italiano at 79 Bathurst Street, Liverpool NSW 2170.
  

Green Peppercorn, Fairfield

So this is my new favourite local place. (Oh, hey, now you can sort of geographically figure out where I am XD)I've been to Green Peppercorn twice. Once for my brother's birthday in June, and we did takeaway, and then in July for my dad's birthday. For my dad's birthday we got to eat in. Yay!





Green Peppercorn is located near Farifield train station and it is a really pretty and friendly restaurant. The staff is nice and helpful and friendly. My brother is friends with one of the waitresses and I totes thought he was trying to flirt with her every time she came to our table. But generally great customer service which, as you know, makes the dining experience better.


They do serve alcohol at this restaurant which pleased me greatly.


CHARCOAL BBQ OX TONGUE - Marinated ox tongue, grilled over a charcoal bbq. Served with mum’s special sauce - $10.90.

This was the first time I've had ox tongue. I'm not great with animal parts like tongue, liver, hearts and brains just because of the "ick" factor. Like "omg I can't believe I'm eating a tongue". But it didn't taste as tongue-like as I thought. It wasn't chewy like I imagined it would be. It was pretty soft and pretty amazing. All my hesitance from the fact that it's tongue was gone as soon as I tasted a piece of it. Would totes recommend.


SALT & PEPPER CALAMARI - Deep fried batter squid seasoned with salt, pepper, chilli, shallots served with mum’s special sauce and sweet chilli sauce - $16.90.

I ordered the soft shell crab but they had run out of crab so this was the alternative suggested to us. I've had lot of salt and pepper calamari in my life and they all generally taste about the same for me. It was good but I would have loved to try the crab. Maybe next time!


GANG PANANG (PANANG CURRY) with beef - Thick red curry with vegetables and shredded kaffir lime leaves.​

Beef panang curry is my favourite. I loved this. This was my favourite dish. I think it may be my all-time favourite Thai dish. I can't believe it took me so long to try this. Like, I've had it before but for years I was only a green curry person. But this is my fave. Forever.


YUM TALAY (SEAFOOD SALAD) - Mixed hot and sour seafood and fresh herbs dressed with chilli, palm sugar, mint leaves, shallots, lime, fish sauce tossed in a mesclun salad - $16.90.


NAM TOK (TIGER BEEF SALAD) - Thinly sliced charcoal bbq beef mixed with herbs and spices, toasted ground rice powder, red onions, chilli, mint leaves, kaffir lime leaves, coriander, shallots and lemon grass - $12.90.

I love me a good salad. For health reasons. Both salads were very good. I don't understand why my homemade salads are not as good!


PAD KEE MAO with chicken - Spicy Stir-fried flat rice noodles with oyster & soy sauce, garlic, egg, chilli and basil.

I'm pretty sure it was pad kee mao. Feel free to correct me! I love flat rice noodles and I love that fried taste that comes with the dish. I would have preferred beef because beef is my preferred meat but my brother wanted chicken.

And dessert. FRIED ICE-CREAM. Oh hello best thing ever.


Fried Ice-cream - Deep fried ice-cream wrapped in pastry, served with a coconut muesli and caramel sauce - $13.90.

Admittedly, I've not really eaten fried ice-cream. So I don't have much to compare it to but this was amazing. It's a pretty big serving and coming after a pretty big dinner this was a perfect serving size. It was shared amongst 3 people and it was so good. The outside was crunchy and the ice-cream still pretty solid inside. I love all the caramel and museli. SO GOOD.

I really recommend this restaurant if you're area and craving Thai food. It's really good and maybe just a little bit pricier than some other Thai places but you're worth it every once in a while.

Some FYI from Green Peepercorn's website:

Opening hours

Lunch
12:00pm - 3:00pm (Mon - Sun)
​
Dinner
5:30 - Last orders at 9:50pm (Mon - Wed)
5:30 - Last orders at 10:50pm (Thu - Sat)
5:30 - Last orders at 8:50pm (Sunday)
Friday & Saturdays Dessert Bar opened till 11:30pm

All guests must be over 18 or accompanied by a parent or guardian as the restaurant is part of Fairfield Hotel.

Also, food descriptions in italics are copied and pasted from the menu online at Green Peppercorn's website.

• Find Green Peppercorn at 1 Hamilton Road, Fairfield.

La Rosa Bar & Pizza

So my trip to this Italian restaurant was 2 months ago, after I was admitted as a lawyer. I had made a reservation for 1pm because I wasn't sure how long or short the Admission Ceremony would be. On the morning of my reservation they called me to confirm, which was nice. I then called them back to change the time of my reservation to 12:30. Already, I was kinda impressed by the thoughtfulness of the first call and then being accommodating to me changing my reservation.




One of the things I've always wanted to find in the city is good pizza. Like, I'm in love with the idea of the giant slices of American pizza. Anyway, this was pretty good pizza. I don't even eat Pizza Hut or Dominos anymore. I call Crust and that's pretty expensive for home delivered pizza so it's not an everyday thing.

I also had Peroni beer for the first time. That is NICE.



And since I'm a bad food blogger (something I explained to an acquaintance of mine who is like a proper food blogger), I forget what I ordered so enjoy the delicious-looking photos.





I think it's a pretty good Italian place right in the middle of Pitt Street mall, in The Strand in fact. The restaurant has a nice vibe and I'm totally going to revisit for more pizza.

• Find La Rosa Bar & Pizza at Shop 133, Level 2 The Strand Arcade, 193 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

We're going to Brazil! #gosocceroos

I don't know if you can tell but I'm super excited about this! Last night I got to see the Australia v Iraq game at ANZ Stadium. I don't know football terminology so my friend was kindly pointing out what had happened and why everyone was clapping (i.e. corners, feigning injury then getting straight back onto the field, calling for the whistle).

We had General Admission tickets and we could sit anywhere. We arrived just before 7:30pm because of horrible packed train. It had been raining beforehand so there was a section of empty seats close to the ground that were empty just because they were wet and that's where we sat. Right behind the goal. I loved going and I totally want to see them play again. Tim Cahill. Schwarzer. Lucas Neill. I wish I had a job so I could book tickets to Brazil. ALSO, that Peter Allen "I Go to Rio" song was the PERFECT SONG CHOICE at full-time. I loved the elation when Kennedy scored and everyone did the whole stacks-on thing. And then the team on the side shoulder-to-shoulder while waiting for full-time to be called and the running onto the field. AND I saw on FoxSports later at a pub that Tim Cahill piggybacked by Holger. THE ADORBS. IT NEEDS TO BE GIF'D. SHOW ME VIDEO!

Anyhoo, some low quality photos from my phone and BONUS TIM CAHILL from Customs House earlier today!!!







And handsome Tim Cahill!



I arrived at Customs House just before 12:30 (it started at noon) and there was still a bunch of people there and I couldn't squeeze to the front so had to hold up my camera up high which is still pretty short for me because I'm short. I was pretty close and saw him in real life through the people in front of me. He's so cute and so nice!

BONUS TIM CAHILL EXPRESSWAY!



SO YAY! BRAZIL 2014! So glad I went to the game despite being rain-soaked all over! Still so happy!

The Argyle, The Rocks

The Argyle! I went there sometime last month for random $5 drinks. We got there around 5 and it was pretty empty so we got to sit down and have a waitress bring our drinks.







Such a really lovely vibe inside. Love the chairs.


Gin and tonic with a wedge of lemon - $5.

I loved the look of the interior and the fact they have $5 drinks between 5 and 7 and if I was still out in the city every weekday I'd be so going there for after work drinks. It was this trip to The Argyle that made me book a space for a thing this Friday (I'm getting admitted as a solicitor but I'm still unemployed!). Especially since my friend and I didn't get to try any of the amazing sounding food on the menu. So, see if you can randomly spot which one I am, if you care to!

• Find The Argyle at 18 Argyle Street, The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000.

Stitch Bar

I finally got to drink and somewhat dine at the much-hyped Stitch Bar.



I arrived just before 5pm. It was pretty empty. However, a lot of the booths were reserved. I was waiting for my friend, alone. And I am very awkward when I have to sit somewhere on my own when there are people not on their own. I just played with my phone and whatsapp'd my friend telling her that I'm already there ON MY OWN. I didn't have to wait long. She was there in about 5 minutes.



We sat next to the amazingly stocked alcohol cabinet which I clearly want in my life.



And the drinks:


Prudence - $18.50, though I could be mistaken. Feel free to correct me! I'm not really a cocktail person since they're quite pricey compared with a beer or wine but it was nice.

Ginger Collins - $17.00. Once again correct me if I'm wrong. This visit was back in April so my memory is a bit fuzzy. This was the cocktail the waitress recommended.

And the thing I was most looking forward to ... CURLY FRIES!




They sprinkle this chilli powder on it as well which makes it even more amazing. It was so crunchy when served and then like all fries, the colder they area the less crunchy they become. SO EAT THEM FAST!

When we ordered the waitress asked for a credit card to hold while we were there. This wasn't a problem for us, it's just this was something I wasn't aware of so FYI for anyone else. I don't know what they do if you don't have one handy. And I don't know if this is standard for the bar.

By the time we left at around 6pm the place was pretty full. Lots of standing around at the bar. So go early or book in advance!

• Find Stitch Bar at 61 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000.