Eating Out - Newbies

Reporter: Lea Wilson

 

Eating Out Competition Sample Sydney’s new Hotspots on us. Sydney Weekender is giving away a meal for two at Efendy and A Tavola. All you’ve got to do to be in the running is call our competition line on 1902 55 77 08 and good luck! M.NET 55 cents max call cost. Mobile phones extra. Lines close 03/07/08 at midnight NSW permit number:  LTPM 07/20585, ACT permit number TP07/05446 Terms and conditions are available by contacting The Seven Network

 

* Winners’ details will be published in the Australian newspaper on Monday 14th July 2008.

 

A Tavola

 

A Tavola opened 8 months ago and is a little Italian restaurant that’s big on family values. Head chef and owner Eugenio grew up in a big Italian family where cooking was central to togetherness and culture.

 

 

The inspiration for restaurant A Tavola, meaning “to the table,” derives from head chef and owner Eugenio Maiale’s childhood where he would play in the backyard of his Adelaide home while his parents slaved away in the kitchen, yelling out “A Tavola” when dinner was ready. On the kitchen table were consistently simple, honest and traditional style classical dishes. Maiale has continued this concept of simple and elegant food with his first Sydney restaurant.

Part of how A Tavola brings guests into their restaurant family is by serving up food on the communal table in the dining room. Before they’re open for business the pasta is rolled out and cut on the same table so the link between creating the food and eating it is very strong and is in keeping the traditional Italian family values.

A Tavola has a mixed demographic of diners with everyone from gourmet foodies to full-blooded Italians turning up for a great feed and judging from the fact that it’s been booked out most nights, everyone’s flocking ‘A Tavola’.

 

 

Some of the dishes you may find on the menu:

Entree

• Salami e Polents fried salami and polenta
• Funghi, piselli e ricotta salata mushrooms, green peas and ricotta salata

Main

• Pappardelle Con Ragu di Agnello e Olive Verdi  pappardelle with braised lamb and green olives
• Pancetta di Maiale, Salsiccia e Lenticchie roasted pork belly, blood made in house sausage and casteluccio lentils

Dessert

• Soffio al Cioccolato warm chocolate Viennese fondant with mascarpone ice-cream
• Ricotta al Forno Melacotogna baked sweet ricotta and slow poached quinces

 

 

More Information A Tavola 348 Victoria St, Darlinghurst Telephone: (02) 9331 7871 Open for lunch on Friday and dinner Monday to Saturday Mains are from $22. Fully Licensed & BYO www.atavola.com.au

 

Prices correct as at 28/06/08

 

Efendy

 

Let your senses experience a taste of Turkey just 15 minutes from Sydney’s CBD. Situated on the corner of Darling and Elliott Steets in Balmain, Efendy is the ultimate culinary trip to Turkey.

Relax & enjoy the Turkish hospitality and ambience surrounded by large oak trees. Housed in a beautifully restored Victorian mansion, Efendy tantalises your tastebuds with a unique combination of traditional and modern Turkish recipes.

 

 

The menu consists of an array of cold and hot mezze plates designed to share, as well as signature mains and desserts. Some of these signature dishes include the lamb shank slow cooked in pomegranate and saffron, chickpea and barley pilaf and the 4 hour braised beef cheeks marinated in red wine, tomato and raki jus with smoked baby eggplant mash. Not to be missed on the menu is the Chocolate baklava with salep ice-cream and port spiked sour cherries.

Open Friday through to Sunday for lunch and Tuesday to Sunday for dinner, Efendy is the ideal venue to dine with family, friends or colleagues all year round.

At Efendy they invite you to enjoy their hospitality and “Afiyet olsun”, which means ‘enjoy your meal.

 

 

Some of the dishes you may find on the menu:

Entrees - all from the meze menu

• Mucver zucchini puffs on garlic mint yoghurt
• Pastirma sun-dried, spicy cured beef backstrap rolled over asparagus

Mains

• Efendy Begendi 4 hour braised beef cheeks marinated in red wine, tomato and raki jus with smoked baby eggplant mash
• Kuzi Incik lamb shank slow cooked in pomegranate and saffron with chickpea and barley pilaf
• Ordek confit of duck leg, Anatolian cheese baklava, poached quince and olive oil braised fasulye

Dessert

• Chocolate baklava with salep ice-cream and port spiked sour cherries
• Turkish coffee

 

 

More Information Efendy 79 Elliott St (cnr Darling St), Balmain Telephone: (02) 9810 5466 www.efendy.com.au Open for breakfast Saturday and Sunday, Lunch from Friday to Sunday and Dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. Mains start from $25.

 

Prices correct as at 28/06/08