Segue into Diet Mode made bearable

 

ome for a tour through some of my favourite eating establishments in the local Potts Point and Eastern Suburbs areas. I love living in this part of Sydney and am happiest when I can walk to a local restaurant.

Thank goodness for iPhone cameras. Click on a photo in this blog to open into larger lightbox for better viewing. You can avoid the verbiage and simply scroll through all the photos by clicking on the arrow at the sides.

 
Bills Woollahra

ow does this look for a healthy lunch? Not too much ‘sacrifice’ at lunchtime at Bills Woollahra today when I found this sushi-grade tuna and avocado with a squeeze of fresh lime on the menu. The sprinkle of sesame seeds, cherry tomatoes,and garnishes of fresh cilantro, parsley leaves and some samphire (delicate sea asparagus) completed the taste treat.

Expansion of the famous Bills enterprise to new locations like London, Tokyo and Honolulu has its benefits back home here in Sydney where the Bills ‘juggernaut’ all started. I look forward to exciting new recipes like this one when the time comes to change the menu again.
 

Avocado and tuna poke - adapted from the favourite Hawaiian Luau recipe - at Bills Woollahra. Click on all photos in this blog to open into larger Lightbox for better viewing

 

It’s the hardest thing to change ‘comfortable’ eating habits at any time, but when I’m putting effort into regular training to improve flexibility, and take my belt in one notch or two, it’s worth the ‘sacrifice’.

 
Flat White Woollahra
 
spare parking spot right outside Flat White opposite the Lord Dudley in Woollahra is enough for me to stop and go see what innovative salads might be on the blackboard. I used to love this place for chicken finger sandwiches (with the crusts cut off and which I’d sprinkle with sea salt) when I lived in Bellevue Hill ten years ago. Barista Chris is still here, even if going grey, and he remembers my coffee choice of those days., In his familiar, breezy fashion as he’s firing up the espresso machine, he says, “skim flat white?”. I settle for the Salad of sumac-crusted flaked salmon with peas. almonds, pomegranate and soft egg. Healthy, light and delicious!

Salad of sumac-crusted flaked salmon with peas. almonds, pomegranate and soft egg. Healthy, light and delicious!

 

Salad versus Sandwich

alad versus sandwich at lunch becomes easier after I’ve sussed out a couple of places that serve up little more than limp ‘rabbit food as a salad. These good finds in Kings Cross area also include Ithaka Kafeneion for the best Greek Salad in town; La Croix for a wonderful poached tarragon chicken salad with toasted slivered almonds (or fresh prawns for a change occasionally); and Wilbur’s for innovative ‘salads’ of the day’.
 
 
 

A TASTE OF THE PELOPONNESE IN POTTS POINT – ITHAKA KAFENEION

ingering tastes of the pungent Peloponnese oregano and sweet red onion in the Greek Salad are constant reminders to go back to Ithaka Kafeneion in Llankelly Place again and again.

The best Greek Salad with Biftekia (meat balls made by Nia’s mum, Maria) with Nia’s own tzatziki of yoghurt, garlic and cucumber, on the side - at Ithaka Kafeneion in Llankelly Place

Of course a splash of Greek olive oil over the vine-ripened, really red tomatoes, chilled cucumbers with a crunch, juicy kalamata olives, and sheep’s milk Greek white feta cheese make for the best Greek Salad.

Also, I can’t go past the Biftekia (meat balls made by Nia’s mum, Maria) with Nia’s own tzatziki of yoghurt, garlic and cucumber, on the side.
 
 

FRATELLI FRESH POTTS POINT

till a standout favourite for selection, taste, generous portions, and value.

Fratelli Fresh Chicken Salad with currants and pine nuts

 
It’s not only the food that’s so fresh here. The staff has such a bounce in their step, so fresh, always extending a great welcome. I ruminated this afternoon while waiting for my fish on how a New Zealand owner can run an operation that appears so culturally Italian; energetic, young Italian personnel, and a huge Italian influence on the blackboard menu.

And after lunch I pick up a basket and do some fresh produce shopping to carry me into next week. I always have bananas and blueberries in the house for my rolled oats at breakfast; and avocado, tomatoes and cucumber are a staple for when I fall back on a can of tuna or red salmon for an unplanned meal.
 

Grilled Swordfish, done to just under the turn, with caponata and rocket salad

 

Grilled field mushrooms - flavours heightened by the olive oil and garlic (I fear some butter too!)

 
THE APOLLO – CONTEMPORARY GREEK IN POTTS POINT

M

y friend of many years, Juanita, announces in the middle of the repast piled before us at Sunday lunch at The Apollo today, that she would walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge any day to enjoy a meal this good!

I only have to walk around the corner, but I heartily agree with her. A glass (or two) of chilled white wine from the slopes behind the township on the Greek island of Santorini, washes it all down so well.

In addition to the baked eggplant and BBQ pork belly, the baby okra with mint and vinegar, and shaved iceberg lettuce with grated sheeps milk cheese made for a perfect meal.
 

Char-baked eggplant with fragrant broad-leaf parsley, diced fresh tomatoes, chopped roast peanuts, chilli yoghurt, with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice.

 

BBQ Pork Belly, green onions and chilli (perhaps not so healthy, but nonetheless, too sensational to pass-up.)

 

Chilled ouzo-marinated, shaved, fresh pineapple with watermelon granita and vanilla yoghurt cream - as light as . .

 
KL KITCHEN KINGS CROSS

ucculent and healthy steamed option – Hainan Chicken at my local Chinese/Malaysian eatery, ‘KL Kitchen’, in the funky back lane Llankelly Place in Kings Cross. Wonderful for a hot summer’s lunch with a glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc.

Succulent and healthy steamed option - Hainan Chicken at my local Chinese/Malaysian eatery, ‘KL Kitchen’ in Llankelly Place

 
 

o to the local Saturday Kings Cross Markets to buy fresh flowers for the week then slip into La Croix next door for one of my favourite salads (thanks to the ever-smiling Jocelyn). Nothing’s too much trouble for “Joss’, and she’s very happy to ask French chef Kevin to adopt the poached chicken in the salad on the menu to fresh-shelled prawns that take my eye on a sandwich at the next table.

Toasted slivered almonds provide not only a wonderful flavour but also a crunch, as does the chopped celery. Surprisingly the tarragon vinaigrette designed for the poached chicken goes very well with the prawns and cherry tomatoes. And I love the capers scattered through it. A squeeze of fresh lemon and some cracked black pepper and I’m away.

Scraping every last skerrick of leftover toasted almonds, capers and celery from the plate is a taste delight!

Fresh Prawn Salad with toasted slivered almonds and chopped celery at La Croix Potts Point

 
 

Bills Darlinghurst

ARSLEY SALAD COVERS A STACK OF DELICIOUS HOME-CURED GRAVLAX AND HERBED RICOTTA at Bills Darlinghurst for breakfast. Fresh taste, presentation, quality and service still hard to beat at Bill’s

Home-cured Gravlax with parsley salad at Bills Darlinghurst

Combining these quality treats with easy ‘at home’ salads with a can of tuna or red salmon ease the transitionary ‘withdrawals’ from less healthy, carb-heavy options.

 
 
Fish Face Darlinghurst
 
till the best fish restaurant in Sydney. Sitting on the footpath makes for an even better experience at this unassuming little restaurant in Darlinghurst. Oysters a la natural tonight were plump and creamy, as of old, even with the buttered thin slices of brown bread.

My grilled fillet of Hapuka arrived at the table on fried dandelion leaves and barley with instructions from the chef to commence eating from one end and make my way to the thicker piece as it continued to the turn. Unusually, Sean suggested a Pinot Noir to accompany the fish this evening. So good!

Oysters a la natural tonight were plump and creamy, as of old, even with the buttered thin slices of brown bread.

 

las, we have to sin on occasion and enjoy really good tucker – sandwiches and sweets!
 
 
WILBUR’S LLANKELLY PLACE KINGS CROSS

Freshly cooked corned beef with sauerkraut and cheese on a Hungarian mustard bialy - at Wilbur's Langkelly Place (at the weekend)

 
Half a suckling pig goes into the oven every day at Bourke Street Bakery in Potts Point (branch of Wilbur’s), and I find it difficult not to go there frequently to enjoy this succulent meat, pulled from the carcass and added to a fresh bread roll with strips of crackling as thin as paper. Dill mayo and crunchy home-made cucumber pickles top it off. The smiling Jean from Dubbo is another reason to drop in for a bite.
 

Wilbur's Suckling Pig with Dill Mayo and Mustard Pickles Roll

 
In a slightly more healthy vein, is the Bresaola with Fig Salad at Wilbur’s.
 

Air-dried Bresaola with Fig Salad at Wilbur's in Llankelly Place

 
FRATELLI PARADISO CHALLIS AVENUE
 

Fratelli is always good for a plate of linguini with sweet scampi and fresh tomatoes for a lazy Sunday lunch. One glass of pinot grigio usually leads to two, and the simple green salad is a perfect accompaniment. Of course, the home-made small bread rolls with imported olive oil should never be eaten with a pasta, but I do. Too good!.

Scampi linguini with fresh tomatoes at Fratelli Paradiso, Potts Point

 

 
NOW BACK TO BILLS WOOLLAHRA

‘m very easily tempted, so when entertaining John T, a friend of 50 years (in a couple of months), who is visiting Sydney from Hong Kong, I opted for a sandwich, and shared a sweet. Delicious.

How could I go past a ‘coconut poached chicken sandwich with cucumber and lime mayonnaise? The old Iceberg lettuce has made a great comeback of late. Restaurants like Bills, La Croix and The Apollo, which serve it chilled, in wedges and with a light dressing are ahead of the pack.

Coconut poached chicken sandwich with cucumber and lime mayo

 
And I won’t mention the pavlova.
 

Brown sugar pavlova, fresh strawberries with yoghurt cream - at Bills Woollahra

 
 

lick on all the photos above in this blog post. They open into a larger lightbox.