At that time of year when everyone starts to roll out their annual restaurant awards, I like to keep it simple with a list of what I consider to be the best dishes in Sydney in 2015.
These are the best things I’ve eaten in the past 12 months – the dishes that I dream about and, no matter how hard I try, can’t resist ordering whenever I visit these restaurants.
Pecorino Brodo Pilu at Freshwater
I love this broth infused with pecorino cheese, poured tableside over fregola and seasonal bits and pieces – tiny cubes of chestnut and pumpkin in winter, shreds of zucchini and zucchini flowers as the weather warms up – flecked with mint oil.
Chirashi Zushi Rockpool on George (CLOSED)
Curls of spanking fresh raw seafood (such as salmon, snapper, yellowtail kingfish, bonito, and squid), scattered free form around a plate with sushi rice, avocado, kim chi, shiso and sesame seeds – I can’t get enough! Rockpool on George may be a memory now, but you can still enjoy Phil Wood’s cooking at Ursula’s Paddington.
Peking Duck Flavours of Peking (CLOSED)
Crisp skin, juicy meat, slightly sweet hoi sin, refreshing cucumber and bitey green onion on thin warm pancakes. Is Peking duck the best duck dish ever? And is this Sydney’s best Peking duck? Yes on both counts. These days I get my peking duck fix at Mr Fat Duck in Chatswood, join me for a duck & pinot walk soon and I’ll show you why.
Mochi (Tteokbokki) Moon Park (CLOSED)
I’m addicted to Ben Sears’s rice cakes at Moon Park, rolled in chilli sauce and finely ground peanuts. The firm, yet-yielding texture, nice hit of spice and crunch of the coating is more moreish than should be allowed – perfect with a cold OB beer or Romate amber wine. In 2024 Ben joined Public Wine Shop in Melbourne.
Sauternes Custard Marque (CLOSED)
As I work my way through every delicious course at Marque, I find my thoughts increasingly wandering to that little eggshell filled with the most perfect custard topped with bitter caramel – then it arrives and, alas, is gone in just a few mouthfuls. Thank goodness the memory lives on. See what Mark Best is up to these days here.
Published 5 Jul 2015
