Becca Johnstone

Freda’s

109 Regent Street

Chippendale

Last Wednesday night saw fab new bar Freda’s officially open it’s doors for the first time. Danny and I were lucky enough to attend with a bunch of our mates to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Freda’s is the beloved baby of Simon Cancio, Marty Campaign and Ibrahim Kasif. The boys will be slinging high quality sandwiches during the day and at night Freda’s the bar comes alive, with bangin’ cocktails and tasty Mediterranean morsels to match.

Now there will be a full Freda’s write up in the coming weeks, but for us Wednesday night was all about celebration. I did manage to bring the trusty camera along however, so please take a look and enjoy the little photo journey that was the opening night of Freda’s! And more importantly get down and check it out yourselves, these guys are open every day (the saying ‘no rest for the wicked’ springs to mind!). They are really easy to find too (I won’t bring up my poor direction giving to some friends… there’s really no need) - look for the giant tongue (not a set of lips, as I assumed it was in my ‘Brooklyn’ state of mind) on Regent Street, then go down the little driveway - BOOM, you’re there! Order a Brooklyn, the superb pickled octopus and for God’s sake, mop up everything with some of the best bread in Sydney - so delicious!

Beautiful Freda’s - who doesn’t love open beams?

I don’t think there’s much more comforting than a really well stocked bar…

Chef, Ibrahim Kasif, doing what he does best.

The Brooklyn aka Becca’s Ruin: Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, Luxardo Maraschino, Rosso and house-made amer picon.

Cocktail master Marty mixing a Brooklyn for yours truly.

Happy diners, being oh so happy!

Even more happy diners - a good lookin’ crowd at Freda’s that’s for sure.

Warm trout salad.

Pickled octopus.

Smoked eggplant salad.

Arguably the happiest of diners - so many smiles!

What Freda’s is all about - good people, with good drinks, sharing good food.

Smoked mussels - our table’s favourite, unbeatable with a chunk of bread.

From what we saw at Freda’s the other night it is going to be the hotspot over summer, so get in now before all the hipsters find it! Chef Ibrahim Kasif is on Twitter, so get following kids. Freda’s can be found on Facebook also. Don’t forget to check back in a couple of weeks for the full Freda’s experience as seen through the eyes of this Bon Vivant. Viva Freda’s!

Have you been to Freda’s yet? Let us know what you think on Twitter or feel free to shoot me an email, becca@thebonvivant.com.au. All of these photos, plus many others are also up on our Facebook, so feel free to pop in and say hello.

Becca Johnstone

302 Crown Street

DARLINGHURST

302 Crown Street. Is it Surry Hills? Is it Darlinghurst? Who knows? Who cares! All one needs to know is that this is the home of the wicked Low302. I confess, Low302 lives in my mind in glorious infamy – there may have been a period a couple of years back where every Friday night either began or ended in this fine establishment. It’s your birthday? We’ll go to Low. Exams have ended/begun/are halfway through? Low302 it is. Your colleague’s sister bought a hamster? Low302, hustle! It’s a trendy spot and you will no doubt see a few of those pesky celebs (or people who wish they were) in there from time to time, but don’t let that deter you. My first ever trip to Low saw me drinking on Daniel Johns’ tab all night after he overheard me utter a horrendous expletive, entirely unbefitting a lady. I occasionally run into him around Darlo and I’m still met with, “HEY! You’re that girl who said #$%! at Low302!” But I digress.

After chatting with friend and Low302 manager, David Hernandez, about their new chef and new direction as a restaurant as well as hot cocktail bar, I knew it was time to revisit this old favourite. Like a fine wine I was glad to see that it had matured well with age. The design and general ambience of the place was still as cool and inviting as ever, with lush leather, hardwood floors and glorious down lighting (a gal’s best friend after a long day). The bar is absolutely stocked with premium spirits and is so damn tempting it fills me with a combination of joy and fear. With a cheeky grin from the bartender, you know this place has mischief written all over it. And with a revolving door of great local live acts and hot DJ’s, chances are you’re going to hear some pretty bangin’ tunes, whichever night you decide to go.

After a tiresome day of being Becca, I decided to meet a dear friend of mine for a few drinks and a bite to eat a couple of weeks ago. The worries of the day were soon washed away with a Creole Gimlet ($16). The ‘Creole’ness was coming from the inclusion of falernum, which added this fabulous dimension of spice. Along with gin, lime juice and lime syrup I found it an interesting take on an old favourite of mine. If you’re feeling fruity give the Cuban Cooler ($18) a go. Served tall, it combines Havana rum, Lairds Applejack Brandy, pomegranate syrup, lime and soda. On a night that didn’t know if it was hot or cold, it made me sit back and dream of summer.

My partner in crime was sticking to beer and the selection at Low is certainly of note. A great mix of local and international, they have some truly fabulous ales on show. The Hitachino White Nest Ale ($12) from Japan is a serious favourite amongst my buddies. Plus there are a couple of great dark ales to tempt you if you’re that way inclined, including the White Rabbit ($8.50) and the Little Creatures Dreadnought Stout ($12.50). The wine list at Low has a bit more of a local feel, of particular note a few seriously impressive Pinot Noirs. If you can splash the cash pick up a bottle of the Hans Herzog ($80) – it may be a Marlborough wine, but it’s liquid gold… don’t tell the Kiwis I said that.

Octopus and Potato Carpaccio

With all these delicious beverages coursing through us, some food was definitely in order. Share plates are, yet again, the name of the game in this neck of the woods. I couldn’t go past the Octopus and Potato Carpaccio ($15), purely out of curiosity. Pressed octopus and just cooked potato are thinly sliced and dressed liberally with preserved lemon, herbs and olive oil – served up with toasted pumpkin bread. It’s a dish of strong flavours, that’s for sure and the crispy bread is essential from a textural standpoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it though, but I respect anyone that gets creative with a cephalopod.  

Twice Cooked Tempura Chicken Wings

When it comes to fried chicken, my friends and I consider ourselves somewhat connoisseurs.  In this area of the city alone you have a couple of hot contests for the best fried chicken – namely Kenji’s Fried Chicken at Izakaya Fujiyama and of course the delicious treats put forward by the crew at Gardel’s. I can, however, say that the Twice Cooked Tempura Chicken Wings ($11) at Low302 blew both out of the water. Served up with lashings of chipotle mayonnaise, these wings were moist on the inside and incredibly crisp and delicate on the out. Thank the good Lord above that we were served an even number – this dish could tear apart even the best of friends I suspect. Congrats Low302 – you have won the 2011 Surry Hills ‘Dirty Bird’ Award!

Smoked Chilli Crusted Seared Tuna with Tamarind Sauce

From the delicious gluttony of tempura chicken wings we moved on to the ethereal beauty of seared tuna. The highlight of the meal, Low302’s Smoked Chilli Crusted Seared Tuna with Tamarind Sauce ($15) has got to be reason enough alone to pop in for a meal. Seared to perfection, with a fantastic blush of red in the centre, the tuna is not at all lost against the sweet chilli smokiness of its crust. Paired with a zippy tamarind sauce, this plate was gobbled so quickly we contemplated ordering another straight away. Take my advice – do it. David personally recommended this one to us. What can I say? The boy has good taste.

Chocolate Assiette

Not being much of a dessert girl (I’m sweet enough… *boom tish*), it really wasn’t essential to finish our meal with a sweet treat. Not essential, but entirely welcomed! I was very keen to try the Low’s take on the Wagon Wheel – but alas it was not available that night. Must get back to try though – who doesn’t love Wagon Wheels? We eventually settled on the Chocolate Assiette. A combination of dark chocolate ganache, chocolate sorbet and a seriously wicked brownie this dessert is really one for the chocoholics. An incredibly rich thing though, the two of us struggled through it (but we are wimps).

What can I say? I was always going to feel at home in a bar where the motto is ‘Aim high, go low.’ I’m glad to see Low302 is still the welcoming, elegant but always-playful nightspot I remember it to be. Moreover though I was impressed: impressed at the quality little restaurant it’s become. Well done guys, you really are on to winner. A big thanks to David for having us in, gracias hermano! So if you’re looking for a new place to try head to 302 Crown St, Darlinghurst…. Or is it Surry Hills? Aaah hell. Just go.

Been to Low302? What do you think? Let me know on Twitter @bonvivantblog or shoot me an email becca@thebonvivant.com.au And don’t forget to stop by our Facebook to get a few extra tidbits!

Level 1

169 King Street

Newtown

By Becca Johnstone

As soon as I walked in to Madame Fling Flong I knew this was a place that I was going to dig. First and foremost it was empty! Dylan Moran once said, “there’s nothing more enjoyable than an empty bar,” a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with I’m afraid. I must stress, it wasn’t empty because of anything lacking, more that we were the first people through the door on a Wednesday afternoon. We got a good feel for the place, very retro, very funky, dotted with all too welcome mix of Victorian and 70’s lounges. All that with a killer cocktail list and jazz standards in the background…. Oh yes, this is Becca’s kind of place.

The air-conditioning provided some much needed relief from a sweltering King Street at the peak of summer, but our saviour came in the form of the daily special: 1 jug of Pimms and Lemonade for a mere $18. The pitcher arrived glistening, full of mint and orange and as is the danger with Pimms, easily slurped by Danny and I. The jug served us three glasses each, and was just what the doctor ordered for that muggy afternoon.

The cocktail menu was inspired. As a cocktail gal, I sincerely felt a bit like Alice down the rabbit hole. Brilliant names and flavour combinations jumped out, such as ‘Hunny Bunny’ – guava, peach Schnapps, lychee liqueur and Cointreau. Being a ginger fan I couldn’t go past ‘Little Miss Ginger’: white rum, ginger wine, triple sec, lime juice and honey syrup. And there was a host of others that tempted such as Raspberry Truffle, Tortuga Queen and the elusive jug of Back Porch Lemonade… but someone had to remember her Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate and not get carried away! Admittedly, they do all sound a bit female driven, but all of the classics were there as well. I saw a Tom Collins being made with Tanqueray and was rather envious of the hipster patron it was going to.

The wine was an interesting mix of local and imported options, from France, Spain, Argentina and Italy – with only one or two options per varietal. A few familiar local names, Willowbridge SSB and Cable Bay Marlborough Sauv for example. But all in all the white selection seemed better than the reds. The selection was larger in general, and nothing really seemed to jump out at you from the red side of things. Local beers were available but there was again a push for some imports – the well known’s of Becks and Kronenbourg, and a couple I’d never heard of, Schofferhoffer (I just like saying the name) from Germany and Cintra from Portugal. Fun to say and to drink I’d imagine!

Feeling a bit peckish, we decided some tapas was in order. After we had made our selection, the first to come out was a steaming plate of Patatas Bravas – a favourite classic between us tapas lovers. They were rich with garlic, and had quite a firey tomato sauce. A very generous serving, blisteringly hot, so eager were we that I’m sure a few minor burns were sustained – but definitely worth it.

Next out was a plate of Haloumi, grilled, doused in olive oil then finished with fresh oregano. I’ve never been to Santorini, but I imagine this is what it’s like. The Haloumi was primo, juicy and oozey – not like some that you get that have that ghastly, bouncy textutre to them.

Immediately following was a plate of polenta cakes, one each flavoured with parmesan, tomato and spinach and basil. Each topped with toasted goats cheese and toasted pine nuts. I’m a classic kind of girl, so the parmigiano one was my fave, while Danny preferred the tomato. I felt the spinach/basil was just that bit too metallic, and somehow the texture didn’t seem as right as the other two. They were still some very tasty morsels that did a good job of soaking up some of the Pimms.

In a quick succession out came our prawns and a plate of chorizo. The chorizo was simply grilled, olive oiled and served with a small side of pickled vegetables. The chorizo was quite firm and well made – though I could have done with a little more heat. I’ve never had pickled vegetables with chorizo before, even though there is constantly an enormous jar of them in my fridge. It was a surprisingly delicious accompaniment. The sharp vinegar flavour of the crunchy vegetables contrasted really well with the oily, smokiness of the chorizo – something I’m definitely going to replicate at home.

The dish of the day had to be the Manzanilla prawns though – large king prawns that fried with garlic, saffron, I think a bit of sherry vinegar and some tarragon. The prawns were exceptional – but I haven’t had a bad one all summer, what a great season it’s been! They just carried so much flavour and were so juicy and sweet. And again, a generous serve – 4 prawns, but 4 mammoth prawns! I certainly would have paid at least $20 for that as an entrée in a restaurant, and happily!

The best part of the day came when we went to pay the bill – I noticed that a jug of Pimms and 5 tapas dishes came to a whopping $58. For me, that’s an absolute bargain – especially given the quality we were presented with. I can highly recommend Madame Fling Flong, have a chat to the staff and be sure to check out the funky bathrooms. Just get in early, before the trendies come and take it over!

Overall rating: 4/5

Have any other favourite watering holes along King Street? Let us know @bonvivantblog on Twitter, The Bon Vivant Blog on Facebook or email us directly: thebonvivantblog@gmail.com

Gin, gin, gin. I LOVE gin. And while many of my male friends tut and snicker ‘you back on the old Mascara thinner Bec?’ when I order a G&T, I just can’t get enough of the stuff. Obviously the reputation gin has as a depressing drink isn’t unfounded. But I think the old Mother’s Ruin deserves some love – it’s a truly delicious spirit! I’ve always had a love for bitter and herbal flavours, so that’s probably why I go for gin given all of its juniper and orange peel characters. I think it also has something to do with my Mumsie. She’s a hardworking lawyer type and when I was a little girl she’d come home every night and we’d have a G&T – before you call DOCS my gin and tonic was a glass of tonic water with a squeeze of lemon and one of the ice cubes from my mother’s glass. This did backfire on her once though when we attended a Christmas Party and when asked what I wanted to drink a 4 year old Becca replied, ‘Gin and tonic please, easy on the tonic.’ I guess it was always just a drink I associated with being a cool, elegant, grown up – like my Ma.

Nowadays I think it’s the aroma that gets me more than anything – if there was a gin perfume, it’d probably be the only one I’d ever own. It is my poison, no doubt, I’ve been known on stressful days at the office quietly mutter to myself: ‘ginny, ginny, ginny.’ I wish that were a fib, but unfortunately true! To take a quick breather from all the delicious wines we’ve been showcasing over the past few months, I thought this week I’d show you my three all time favourite ways with gin. Being a gin fiend, I’ve experimented a fair bit and am not always successful – the memory of Bombay Sapphire and Riverina Semillon still turns my stomach. But trust me, having these in your repertoire will make this summer all the more enjoyable!

Gin and Tonic – The Best Way

 Now it may seem silly to give you a ‘recipe’ for a G&T but I think there are some essential dos and don’ts!

• DO use the best quality gin you have available. Hendricks for me, or Magellan if you can get your hands on it. You will get what you pay for, so if Beefeater is your thing I can guarantee you a sore head the next day.
• DON’T you dare try and use Diet Tonic Water. All you will get is a mouthful of chemically artificial sweetener, and none of the delicious botanical gin flavours.
• DO cut the mix with a bit of acidity – for me it’s got to be lime.
• DON’T forget to stir. As delicious as gin is, you’ll be in a lot of gin trouble if you forget to stir.
• DO order a double. Come on, it’s the right thing to do.

I make my gin and tonics as follows:

Fill a highball  with ice. Add two measures of gin. Top with tonic water. Cut the cheek off a lime and squeeze in to your glass. Add the cheek and stir, stir, stir.

Negroni Martini

A classic Negroni aperitif is a mix of gin, vermouth, Campari and a dash of soda – a very tasty drink indeed. I change it slightly, to more of a martini style cocktail. The splash of pomegranate juice and sugar syrup lifts the drink a little but still lets it pack a punch. In my experience it’s the perfect opener for a night on the town.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 1 measure of gin (I use Bombay for this one), 1 measure of Campari, ½ measure of vermouth, ½ measure of pomegranate juice, ½ measure of sugar syrup and a squeeze of lime. Shake to combine. I like to serve as is, but it’s also great with some burnt orange rind as a garnish.

PIG – a la Neil Perry’s Spice Temple

The cocktail list at Spice Temple is enviable, with one named after every animal of the Chinese Zodiac. Pig is served in a carafe to share and is just divine. I must issue a disclaimer with this one: watch yourself, because it tastes divine and you don’t feel like you’re drinking a cocktail. My mother and I made a jug of this on Sunday afternoon and before we knew it, it was gone, and we had great difficulty preparing dinner. It’s not exactly as Neil serves it, but this is just our take:

Drain a tin of lychees (feel free to use fresh as well, we just use what’s on hand), reserving the juice, and add to a large jug. Add the pulp of 4 passionfruit and the juice of 2 limes.

Add 4 measures of gin (Bombay again), 2 measures of vermouth, a couple of tablespoons of lychee juice (or sugar syrup) and stir to combine.

Top this mixture with a bottle of whatever Sparkling Wine you have at hand (we used Emily Redbank Pinot Chardonnay). Stir again and add a couple of big handfuls of ice. And now you’re ready to go! BEWARE!

Are you a gin fiend like me? Or is something else your tipple? Let us know at thebonvivantblog@gmail.com.

Harbourside Shopping Centre

Darling Harbour

There is something bizarre about parking your car in a multi-level car park, walking through the blaring halogen lights of a Mirvac shopping centre, past souvenir stores and odd boutiques, to get to an actual ‘sit-down’ restaurant. It just feels like you should be queuing for popcorn and choc-tops, instead of behemoth steaks and dinosaur ribs. But I figured, ‘It’s Hurricane’s! It’s gotta be worth the hype.’ I have been to the Bondi restaurant a few times, and had some not too shabby takeaway from there as well, so when Hurricane’s Darling Harbour was picked for our next ‘Dinner Club’, I was keen.

We arrived at 7:30 to a throng of people waiting outside (at least 30 I’d say) – I do find it odd that you have to queue to get in, even with a booking (doesn’t that defeat the purpose of making said booking?). We had a 10 minute wait for our table, which was ok, we were a party of 18, arrangements had to be made. The smell of chargrilled meats and barbecue sauce was all too enticing, not to mention the impressive array of interesting spirits behind the bar! We were fine to wait, and take in what was about to happen.

We were seated on the balcony, with a not too shabby view of Darling Harbour. All 18 of us eyed the 14 or so chairs that were set up, and knew we were in for a squishy night. Seats were added, an extra table was promised, drinks were served and menus studied. The table never came, the drinks did their job and the menu excited! As I decided between more ribs than I’ve ever eaten in my life, or a steak the size of my face, I supped a gorgeous concoction that under-promised and over-delivered: The Rose Blossom Martini. A combination of vanilla vodka, Pimms, rosewater and a splash of red grapefruit juice, it was simply delicious. It is definitely one I will be making when the summer months roll around. But I am a complete sucker for anything with rosewater – the fact that it was Martini strength was merely a bonus.

The menu features all your classic steaks, in various sizes. From the baby sized 200g short cut steak, to the 350g rib eye… all the way to The Goliath: 1 kilogram of T-bone steak in all it’s calorific glory! Hurricane’s are known for their ribs, in pork, beef and lamb (full or half racks) and that seemed to be the most popular order of the night. Though a few of our party were game for a couple of the combos: short cut steak and a half rack of ribs, or half a chicken (no joke) and a half rack of ribs. The menu also features a selection of burgers (which, based on past visits, I can more than vouch for), lamb cutlets, a few seafood items and even fewer vegetarian options. They also offer boerewors as a shout out to the chain’s South African heritage. 

Rump is my absolute favourite cut for a really good steak, so I went with the 350g option with pepper sauce and a baked potato. As mammoth plates of meat and carbs rained down on our table I must say I noticed the absence of anything green. I’m by no means a girl that cries without salad, but I honestly missed it. And I feel that if you’re forking out anywhere between $30-$56 for a steak, a complimentary bowl of vegies or salad wouldn’t go astray. It was cheeky enough asking for us to fork out for sauce on our steak, but charging $17 for a mixed salad is a little nuts I think.

But the evening was not about vegies. My rump arrived, with a pot of sauce, a foil adorned potato that wouldn’t have fit in my sizeable handbag and a pot of sour cream that must have had a Napoleonic complex.  My Queensland beef was ordered rare, but came more on the medium rare side of things. This made me glad I’d requested it rare in the first place, which isn’t something I expect to be saying at an upmarket grill. It was a beautiful piece of rump though, very tender and the sauce was that perfect balance of peppery heat and soothing creaminess. One thing I didn’t enjoy though was the marinade on the steak. I’ve had this problem at other South African inspired steak houses as well, so it’s my fault, I should have said something. All their steaks come pre-marinated in a sweet, almost barbecue style glaze. I find that detracts from the real flavour of the meat and certainly doesn’t pair well with your optional sauce. But hey-ho, it was enjoyable nonetheless. I ate about a third of my perfectly fluffy baked potato and then had to call it a night. My dining colleague did offer me one of his lamb ribs though – how could a girl say no? And it was simply delicious! Talk about massive food envy.

The wine list was actually pretty impressive, though ridiculously over-priced (but what else is new?).  It wasn’t a ‘wine’ evening though, and I was on to a winner with my martinis. After 2 hours of battling with our inner carnivore, the bibs came off, the fingers were licked and the bill was settled. Boys left men, women left…well, men too.

All in all I think Hurricane’s is a good night out. The service was decent, especially given our large group (well, except for the forgotten extra table). The food is what it is – MEAT! I don’t know if I’d be ordering a steak from them again, but the ribs and burgers are out of this world. The décor is inner city chic, with funky fire features dotted around the place. And while the location is convenient and central, I just don’t think it has the same vibe as the flagship in Bondi. There’s something magical about walking out on to Roscoe Street, the smell of the Pacific Ocean and the knowledge that the Bondi Hotel is only feet away. But give Hurricanes a go, it’s certainly an experience.

Overall rating: 3/5 

How do you take your steak? Let us know! thebonvivantblog@gmail.com