Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market

The Parkway Hotel
5 Frenchs Forest Road
Frenchs Forest
Hours: Every Sunday 8am - 1pm
Website: www.organicfoodmarkets.com.au

The Organic Food Markets in Frenchs Forest offer the perfect weekly opportunity to stock up on the week's fruit and veg. The market comprises of a variety of stalls such as certified organic fruit & veg, natural therapies, eggs, breads, fresh meats and crafts.

There are the occasional gourmet food items such as salt bush, exotic mushrooms and fancy sourdoughs however, the main bulk of the market does centre around organic fruit and vegetables.

A selection of stall names included:
- Atomic Popcorn
- Robins Mangrove Mountain Eggs
- Hand 'n' Hoe
- Guava Gourmet
- Arlingtons
- Spring Hill Beef
- The Mushrooms Depot
- David's Larder
- Pasta Gallery
- The Organic Food Network
- Shepherds Bakehouse
- Honest to Goodness
- Pet Food 2 U
- Hemp Gallery

Not all of the stalls are organic so if you are specifically after certified organic food, look for the stalls marked by a yellow sign stipulating so. Other conventional stalls included:

Freshly picked strawberries.

 Gourmet Sourdoughs, chocolate flavoured! I kid you not!

Mouthwatering fresh sausages.

Solar Powered Toys. Genius!

After looking at all of this delicious food, I couldn't leave without trying a samosa. If Indian isn't your thing for breakfast, there are plenty of pastries, rolls and coffee stalls to choose from.

An interesting market, ideal for those specifically after organic food or the perfect place for a casual Sunday morning stroll.

Twenty Eight Espresso

151A Sailors Bay Road
Northbridge NSW 2063
Hours:  Mon - Fri 7am-3pm; Sat 7am - 12pm
Ph. (02) 9958 2829

What makes a good coffee? A good coffee is one that is smooth, not bitter nor weak. A good coffee is one which is satisfying, indulgent and a conversation facilitator. A good coffee gets me up on a Monday to fight off those work demons.

But what makes a GREAT coffee? Well, that comes down to passion. The passion of a Barista is easily measured in their ability to consistently deliver the perfect cup of coffee. So what determines the perfect cup of coffee? The extraction. Extraction involves forcing around 30mls of hot water, under pressure through well packed, finely ground coffee, if you want to get technical. To be able to do this successfully, one must have the passion and skill, and no doubt, patience to do so. One such Barista is Andrew Harrington from Twenty Eight Espresso in Northbridge.

Listening to Andrew talk about coffee and watching his face light up everytime he mentions the word 'coffee' is a sign of his true dedication. This is a place where not only one coffee will do. You will definitely need at least 2 or maybe 3... 

Andrew's choice of bean is Campos and his focus, extraction. This is definitely the best coffee on he Lower North Shore. Forget Mosman and Neutral Bay, Twenty Eight Espresso sends these guys to the grinders (forgive the pun)!

Why not try a ristretto? It is absolutely wonderful, but completely satisfying when followed up by a piccolo latte. The menu, while not extensive, is fresh, light and quick. Twenty Eight's variety include a range of healthy sandwiches & wraps, toasted banana bread, muffins & friands.

Beer Can Chicken

What is it?
A chicken which is roasted with a can of beer inside its cavity. This ensures the chicken is succulent and juicy. A true blue Aussie recipe!

Ingredients
1 Large Roasting Chicken (around 2kg)
3 Tbs Portuguese Sauce (Pirri Pirri Sauce or equivalent)
3 Tbs Greek Style Yogurt
1 Can of Beer, a 500ml can works best
1 Roasting Tray

Method
Three hours before cooking, in a large bowl, combine the Portuguese sauce with the yogurt. Lay the chicken breast side down in the mix and liberally massage the mixture over the skin and inner cavity of the chicken.

Return the chicken to the fridge to allow the marinade to penetrate into the meat. For best results, try and repeat massaging the mixture into the chicken every half hour, for the next three hours.

Preheat a hooded BBQ to 220 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile remove the chicken from the fridge. Place the baking tray on a level surface, open a can of beer and place it in the centre of the baking tray. Carefully lift the chicken out of the marinade and place over the beer can, ensuring 75% of the can has been inserted into the chicken's cavity. If done well, the chicken should stand unaided with the tips of the drumsticks just touching the surface of the baking tray.

Carefully place the baking tray into the centre of the BBQ and close the BBQ hood.

Bake in the BBQ at 220 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes (2.1kg Chicken). Check chicken at 10 minute intervals to ensure that the browning of the skin is even.

After 45 minutes, carefully remove the tray from the BBQ and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before removing the can, carving and serving.

Succulent and juicy chicken



Maruyu

Basement & Ground Floor
283 - 285 Clarence St
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph. (02) 9267 0882
Website (in Japanese): http://maruyu.go-jin.com

From the outside Maruyu looks like a typical Japanese store, though if you've never travelled to Japan, you'd probably mistaken this store for a mobile phone outlet. Maruyu stocks a good range of Japanese food ingredients and it even has its very own floor dedicated to a $2.50 section similar to the 100 Yen shops in Japan.

What you'd expect to find:

Dried and Instant Noodles

Sauces, Stocks and Salad Dressings

Japanese Sweets

Chips and Rice Crackers

Natto, Frozen meals and Asian Vegetables

Other items include rice, Japanese drinks and bread.This place is perfect if you work or live in the city.

We also love the idea of the Japanese recipes that line the entrance, a helpful last minute dinner solution! Be sure to also check out the monthly discounted products at the entrance of the store.

Once you've got all of your groceries, don't forget to visit upstairs, the $2.50 section! This section has a great range of Japanese household products, stationery, toys and cosmetics.  

What we purchased from the $2.50 section: Tupperware, eye shadow brushes, a sponge to clean the cat's bowl and spherical ice trays.

Victoire

451 Miller Street
Cammeray NSW 2062
Ph. (02) 9929 3434
Hours: Tue - Fri 7.30am - 6pm, Sat 7.30am - 4pm, Sun 7.30am - 2pm

We've found it! The best bread in Sydney is definitely, the Rustic Loaf from Victoire in Cammeray. If you are lucky enough to get there when they pop out fresh from the oven, you will know what I mean. The bread is perfectly crusty on the outside and oh so soft and chewy on the inside. And the taste, divine!

Victoire indeed have a new much larger store in Rozelle - 660 Darling Street. Their hours are: Mon - Fri 8am - 7pm; Sat 7.30am - 6pm; Sun 7.30am - 4pm.  

They also do a Wholegrain ($5.00), Sun-Dried Tomato ($5.50) and an Olive Rustic Loaf ($5.50) baked fresh on site. Other items include croissants, pain au chocolat, custard flans, levain and bennalong loaves to name a few.

Our personal favourite is the plain Rustic Loaf ($4.00). A day old Rustic Loaf also makes for a fabulous bruschetta base. Beware, they are so good that you will need to purchase 2 loaves as one is guaranteed to disappear before you make it home!

EQ Village Markets

The Entertainment Quarter
122 Lang Road
Moore Park 2021
Ph. (02) 8117 6700
Hours: Wed & Sat 10am - 3.30pm
Website: http://www.eqmoorepark.com.au/

Calling all gourmet foodies, the EQ markets every Wednesday and Saturday are definitely worth a visit! This undercover market is situated next to the SCG (the old Fox Studios) and offers two hours free parking on site.

The EQ markets are perfect if you are hosting a dinner party and looking to impress your guests. French cheeses, foie gras, saucissons and wood fired sourdoughs are a mere selection of what is on offer here.

What we loved about these markets was the opportunity to discover the latest gourmet products just hitting the market. Why not have a chat to the local producers. There are also plenty of samples to try.

What to expect from these markets? A European inspired fresh produce market which is very gourmet food focused. Don't expect a cheap bulk vegetable market or an organic food market. While there are some on offer, there are other better suited markets elsewhere in Sydney if this is what you are after.

Some of the names at the market included:
- Naturally Falafel
- Julian's Gluten Free Pizza Bases
- Pasta Emilia
- Belle River Estate
- Shepherd's Bakehouse
- Roche Bros Fruit
- Nuts By Nature
- Springhill Beef
- Rio Barra
- Sonoma
- Ocello
- Pahara
- The Cupcake Princess
- Mirool Creek Lamb
- Tobys Estate
- Pastabilities

And don't forget the flowers! I've never seen such a fantastic selection of flowers. Feed all of your senses at the EQ markets!

While you are here, grab a bite and a coffee. Our choice for the day was a chorizo roll with salad and salsa verde.

Markets

There are so many new markets popping up around Sydney at the moment that it is difficult to work out which is best suited to your needs. Sacrificing a sleep-in on a weekend to go to the markets can be disappointing if the market ends up being nothing as you expected, so us 2 Little Piggies have decided to lend a helping hand.

Over the coming months we'll hit a selection of popular markets across Sydney and give you the low down on each market, the producers and of course, the food! 

Zucchini Flowers Stuffed with Prawns

Ingredients
12 Large Green King Prawns, peeled & deveined
1 Chopped Garlic Clove
1/2 Small Brown Onion chopped
1 Tbspn Freshly Grated Ginger
1 Tbspn Fish Sauce
1 Tspn Brown Sugar
1 Tbspn Vegetable Oil
1/4 Tspn Salt
1/4 Tspn Pepper
10 Zucchini Flowers
1 Cup Flour
250ml Icy Sparkling water
1 Medium Zip Lock Bags (for piping mixture into each flower)
1 Litre Vegetable Oil (for frying)

Method
Rinse and pat dry the zucchini flowers and put aside. Place the prawns, garlic, onion and ginger into a food processor and blend for 10 seconds. Then add the fish sauce, sugar, oil, salt and pepper. Blend the mixture for a further 30 seconds or until combined.

Place the mixture into a piping bag or a zip lock bag. Cut approximately 1cm off the bottom corner of the bag. Gently pipe the prawn mixture into each of the zucchini flowers.

In a large mixing bowl, prepare the batter by whisking flour into cold sparkling water.

In a wok/deep pot/deep fryer, heat vegetable oil to 180 degrees Celcius. Batter the zucchini flowers in the cold batter mix and carefully place each one into the hot oil.

Please note, only fry 4 flowers at a time. Cook the flowers in oil between 6-8 minutes.

Carefully remove the zucchini flowers from the oil and place them on absorbent paper. Serve Immediately.

Serving Suggestions

The flowers go well with sour and pickled foods. Serve them with lemon, cornichons and some pickled feferonies.

Toriciya

18 Cammeray Road
Cammeray NSW 2062
Ph. (02) 9904 2277
Hours: Mon - Sat 6pm - late
Website: http://www.toriciya.com.au/

This is undoubtedly one of our favourite restaurants serving an incredible range of Sake and Shochu, with the most authentic Japanese food you will find in Sydney. Toriciya is an Izakaya style restaurant which is best described as a Japanese tapas bar, whereby the menu revolves around enhancing and complimenting the vast varieties of Sake and Shochu on offer.

With four pages of Sake & Shochu to choose from, you are sure to find something to your liking and if you are unsure, just ask the owner Sakae, who is happy to assist you. He has an extensive knowledge of Sake and Shochu and has just begun his very own blog site. Check it out at: http://sakewajunmai.blogspot.com/

The Sakes on offer are Junmai-shu (pure rice wine) and Junmai-Ginjoshu (which are fermented at a low temperatures for a longer period). Each have been hand selected by the owner from small boutique sake breweries across Japan. Jumai sakes are also best served warm however you can choose to have it either hot or cold.

Shochu is a distilled spirit. Toriciya have barley, sweet potato, rice, sugar cane and Thai rice varieties on offer. It can be served with ice or with cold or hot water. Glasses of Sake and Shochu start from $13 per glass. For those who like their beer, Toriciya serve Japanese beers: Yebisu & Sapporo.

If any of the Sakes or Shochus do take your fancy, Sakae also has an online store http://www.sakenet.com.au/. He is also currently supplying several Japanese restaurants across Sydney.

We just love the decor and the atmosphere of this restaurant. Traditional Japanese music, old 1950s posters on the wall and the warm friendly service always make us feel like we are back in Japan.

The food is also very authentic. The small tapas style portions are served to enhance the flavours of the Sake and Shochu. Some of their signature dishes include:

- Crab Brain (Kanimiso) $5.00
- Grilled Mackerel (Saba) $13.50
- Deep Fried Calamari Legs (Ikageso) $8.50
- Angler Fish Liver (Ankimo) $11.50
- Japanese Style Potato Salad with Spicy Cod Roe (Mentai Potato) $8.50
- Sesame Salad (Goma Salad) $10.50
- Rice & Grilled Salmon in Soup (Sakecha) $10.00
- Riceballs (Onigiri) $5.00

Crab Brains (Kanimiso) - salty, fishy and has a creamy paste like consistency. Perfect with Sake.

Marinated Wasabi Stem - Absolutely amazing. This was one of their daily specials which unfortunately is not on their regular menu. 

Deep Fried Calamari Legs - Always a crowd pleaser.

Toriciya's specialty is Yakitori, the first Yakitori bar in Sydney and we believe it can take merit for being the best Yakitori in town. Yakitori is traditionally grilled chicken parts on skewers. Their selection includes (prices are per skewer):

- Thigh $2.50

- Wing $3.00

- Meatballs $2.50

- Skin $2.50

- Quail Eggs $2.50

- Giblets $2.50

- Liver $2.50

- Thigh & Shallot $2.50

- Pork $2.50

Thigh Yakitori

Chicken Wing Yakitori & Pork Skewers

Toriciya is perfect for Sake and Shochu connoisseurs alike. If you know your Sake and Shochu, and if you appreciate traditional, authentic Japanese Izakaya style food, this is the place for you. We've even spotted Tetsuya dining here! 

Please note that there is a minimum charge of $50/person and that the portions are tapas sized. Seating is limited so we'd recommend that you do make a reservation ahead of time.

Kanpai!

Scores
Food: 9/10
Ambience: 8/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Service: 8/10
Value for Money: 7/10
Suitability: Small groups of up to four is best suited. An outside table can cater for up to around 10 people.
Payment: Cash and Major Credit Cards