Adriano Zumbo

Adriano Zumbo

296 Darling Street, Balmain, NSW 2040

Tel: +6198107318

Brace yourselves for some hardcore food porn as I take you on a brief visit to the Adriano Zumbo’s flagship store in Balmain, arguably Sydney’s definitive patisserie.

A 1 metre-wide corridor runs between the glass display of treats and a solid wall.

Be prepared to jostle past patrons gazing in wide-eyed wonder to place your order!

The amalgam of butter, caramelised sugar and layers of exotic flavouring agents was nothing short of spectacular.

It was honestly difficult to choose within the limits of our collective budget and appetite for everything looked so amazing.

The quirky array crammed into the tiny shop was pretty mind-boggling...

There was – to my surprise – quite a number of savoury things on display.

Not to mention staples like bread, so Zumbo certainly covers all the bases.

I, however, resisted the urge to be sidetracked and focused on my initial purpose: the sweet stuff.

Don the Pandan Man ($9) captures Zumbo’s passion for all things Southeast Asian with a robustly flavoured yet light pandan financier slipped into a sheath of coconut cream and yoghurt. Kaffir lime accents in the crispy base lingers subtly at the edge of one’s palate for a delightful finish.

Macrons ($2.30 each) are perhaps what Zumbo’s most famous for and we snatched at least one of each flavour available.

Black Sesame, Licorice and Lime has a crisp outer shell and chewy interior. The dominant, almost peppery Licorice makes for an interesting experience. A warning though, this is a confusing taste profile.

Pandan surprises with a subtle, transient hint of glutinous rice followed by banana before the full-bodied screw pine comes through.

Mint and Chestnut possesses a strong flavour that one either loves or hates, I loved it.

Satay illustrates how Australians have yet to realise peanut butter and lemongrass is no substitute for the real thing.

Chocolate has a beautiful bittersweetness and richness but comes across as too chewy and dense. Perhaps an attempt at mimicking fudge?

Vanilla has the best texture, perfectly blending crisp delicacy and melt-in-your-mouth chewy pliancy. A mildly salty buttercream base forms the perfect stage for rich but not overpowering vanilla from visible vanilla beans.

Japanese Mayonnaise is a risk that pays off in spades. Actual savoury mayonnaise at its centre juxtaposes the sweet shell for an undeniably pleasurable experience. The tiny smear of the stuff renderd it a little on the dry side though.

Coconut and Black Rice triggered an intense bout of nostalgia in me as it is the perfect occidental take on Pulot hitam; perfectly rich and salty-sweet.

Samsung Honeycomb and Gingerbread develops on the tongue, honeycomb first then lingering gingery warmth.

Tastevin

Tastevin

Level 1 292 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst 2010

Tel: +61293563429

Tastevin is one of a multitude of chic eateries lining Victoria Street. The main draw factor would be unparalleled chill-out charm in addition to a lovely dessert selection.

You cannot go wrong with the classic Flambéed Grand Marnier crepe Suzette with Crème Fraiche Ice Cream ($13); sugary alcoholic decadence and honeyed citrus tones presented with a breathtaking pyrotechnic flourish.

Dark Chocolate Fondant with Lavender & Walnut Ice Cream ($15) never fails to satisfy between rich, bittersweet chocolate indulgence and ethereal floral notes intermingled with warm, rich nuttiness.

Lemon Tartlette with Fresh Blueberries & Raspberry Sorbet ($14) embodied delicious, vibrant fruity acidity as illustrated by its vibrant hues and glossy, smooth lemon curd.

I’ll definitely return to sample Twice Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Provencal Vegetables and Slow Roasted Pork Neck with Soused Apples, Chorizo and Shaved Fennel Slaw from this eatery's main menu…

Raquel’s Kitchen

Raquel’s Kitchen

98 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

Tel: +61 9331 6806

As university work has piled on, I no longer have the time to fill pages with my latest exhilarating epicurean discovery. However, Sydney’s amalgam of cultures has resulted in a gastronomic treasure trove that I’ve been exploring over these past few weeks and it pains me not to be able to share it with you regularly.

I shall therefore strike a compromise with a stylistic shift: bite-sized nibbles as opposed to the former course-by-course accounts. I hope this will serve to tantalise, titillate and transport you. So without further ado, here’s my take on Spanish eatery Raquel’s Kitchen, as part of UNSW Foodlover’s $25 Let’s Explore Sydney Lunches (sometime back).

Raquel’s Kitchen is a cosy Spanish eatery just brimming with character like Oxford Street on which it lies.

The Amuse Bouche comprised little crostinis topped with a meat sauce that had luxuriously rich meaty depth and a saline punch that gave my taste buds (and salivary glands) a firm kick-start.

Patatas Bravas had its lovely spice balanced off by a rich, creamy and mildly sweet aioli.

Gambas al Ajillo comprised massive, wonderfully crunchy king prawns in a bubbling spice concentrate of chilli oil, garlic, paprika and saffron.

Pollo al Ajillo had a significantly milder and subtler flavour but was no less satisfying.

Croqueta de Jamon Y Pollo was the undisputed crowd-pleaser with its superb silky-buttery, ham-accented filling cradled in a crisp breadcrumb crust.

Churros con Chocolate rounded the light meal off in a classical fashion. Incredibly crunchy and not the least bit oily, they were divine with whipped cream and lashings of chocolate sauce.