Apologies for the radio silence here on Spicy Icecream for the last few weeks, I was extraordinarily busy finishing up the design on the second issue of GourmetRabbit! The good news is that it’s in the capable hands of our printers now, and will be on shelves in newsagents around the country from March 7th! Stay tuned for a sneak preview over the next few weeks, Denéa and I are so proud of this one, and think it may be even more beautiful than the first issue. I can’t wait to show you! 🙂
One of the things that Sydney does exceptionally well is stunning, waterfront dining. With one of the most beautiful harbours in the world for a backdrop, it’s no surprise that both locals and tourists alike want to soak up a quintessentially Sydney experience. Until recently, the only time I had been to Bungalow 8 on King St Wharf was after dark when the venue was packed and the music was pumping, but its daytime ambience is much more laid back and absolutely stunning.
I took the family out for my Mum’s birthday, back in December on an absolutely stunning day for a long, lazy lunch. We take a seat under one of the giant umbrellas, and after a quick visit from my cousin who works in the kitchen, we order a glass of wine and a serving of pork dumplings ($13 for 4), to share. While I’ve definitely had better dumplings before, it’s still a nice start to the meal.
Choosing a main was a hard task, with the menu consisting of a great variety of salads, steaks, and fresh seafood. Mussels are a specialty here, and every Tuesday they host All You Can Eat Mussels.
The birthday girl picked the Crispy Skinned Atlantic Salmon Fillet, which was served with a roast corn salsa and Asian salad ($26.50). The salmon was perfectly cooked, and the corn salsa was a great accompaniment giving the dish a nice fresh flavour. I almost wish I’d ordered it for myself!
Dad chose the red meat option, of course, the Prime Sirlon, served with bacon and potato rosti, kai-lan, grilled field mushrooms and miso butter ($26.50). The steak was served at an almost-bloody rare, as requested, and he really enjoyed his meal. The potato rosti was a nice alternative to the usual chips or mash you usually see served with a steak.
My sister picked the Crispy Skin chicken with green papaya salad, Szechwan salt and chilli caramel ($25.50). The chicken was delicious and the skin was beautifully crispy however Beth wasn’t a huge fan of the salad that accompanied it.
I chose the Milanese style Crumbed Veal with potato salad ($25.50). I really enjoyed it, especially the awesome potato salad. It was a very filling dish, however and I couldn’t finish it all!
After a nice break, enjoying the sunshine and enjoying the awesome blast-from-the-past 80’s music, we decided to order dessert. I mentioned to the staff that it was mum’s birthday and the Double Chocolate Tart ($13) came out with a sparkler while we sang happy birthday. The tart itself was decadent and rich, served with a quenelle of double cream and hazelnut biscotti.
But my favourite dessert was the Passionfruit Pannacotta served with tropical fruit salad spiked with Caribbean rum ($13). I was actually a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this dessert, but for me it was the highlight of the day! I hope Mummy had a lovely birthday! There are so many more dishes on the menu that sound absolutely delicious so I think another visit is in order soon!
Bungalow 8 – No 8, The Promenade, King St Wharf, Sydney
