Here is my list of the best dishes in Sydney for 2016. It’s been a big year with a lot to love and these are the dishes I just can’t stop thinking about.
I’ve also been lucky enough to visit some extraordinary overseas restaurants in the past year so, rather than knock out any of my local favourites, you can see my separate list of favourite international dishes for 2016.
Eggplant Parmigiana Ormeggio at The Spit
I tend to be a traditionalist, and don’t like classic recipes messed around with. Except when Alessandro Pavoni fries confit baby eggplants in the lightest tempura batter, dusts them with tomato powder, adds a splodge of buffalo mozzarella cream and a few dots of basil jelly. Then he’s got me!
Strange-Flavoured Burrata Ms.G’s
East west fusion isn’t generally my thing either. Though when Dan Hong and Paul Donnelly pair Italy’s creamy burrata with this intriguingly named Chinese sauce normally seen with chicken (a mouth-filling combo of sesame, chilli, salty, sweet, sour and nutty) – I’m addicted!
Cacio e Pepe Buffalo Dining Club
I love a little theatrics with my food, and I’m rather fond of cheese and pasta too. So imagine how much I adore having this classic Roman dish of spaghetti with black pepper and Pecorino Romano tossed in, and served from, a half wheel of pecorino. Sister restaurant Chester White does just as fine a job (no longer affiliated).
Leatherjacket Sichuan-style Spice Temple
I wish this dish (which is not as spicy as it looks) wasn’t so good, because there’s a lot more on Andy Evans’ menu I really want to try. But these firm, sweet leatherjacket fillets, in a warming broth infused with dried chillies and numbing Sichuan peppercorns, keep calling me back.
Affogato Lucio’s Italian (CLOSED)
Vanilla ice cream ‘drowned’ in espresso and liqueur (preferably Frangelico) appears on café and restaurant menus everywhere. There’s a real art to getting the simplest things just right though – and Lucio has it. I love his special touch of the crumbled amaretti on top too!
Published 24 Jul 2016
