FoodieChat

I first came across this italian eatery and delicatessen when we held a function at the Waterside, Homebush Bay, and someone came in with these amazing woodfired pizzas.  Crispy thin base, and with topped with fresh ingredients to savour the base and not piled one inch high like some pizza joints these days.   So on another sunny birthday day off (why do they only come once a year?), we set out to find this pizza again.  It’s actually in a little piazza hidden away between the apartment blocks - I’m sure the locals would like to keep their secret to themselves!  I’m torn - do I shop first, or eat first??  Well stomach won as usual, and we sat ourselves at one of the tables on the street - strangely enough, all enclosed in a plastic awning despite being a gorgeous day.

I had to have a taste of the pizza again - from a plate not a takeaway box, and it did not disappoint.   For lunch, there is only a limited specials menu, and I selected the salamari, olive and chilli pizza ($15).  Just enough for one person - the base was as crispy as I remembered - not merely the vessel for a mountain of topping, but as much as star as the toppings itself - which complemented it, not over powered it, the real way it’s meant to be done.  None of the processed plastic cheese either - real slices of mozarella melted into the fresh tomato base, and scattered with just enough salty salamari and torn olives.   The review on Sydney Morning Herald recommended the calamari fritti ($16) which my friend ordered - and I reluctantly swapped a slice of my pizza to try.  It wasn’t the oily greasy rubber bands that I expected (who am I to disagree with Simon Thomsen!)- but the flash fried, and ever so slightly battered rings were much lighter than most versions, and served with chips and salad.

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You’ve got to be an early riser or a very dedicated foodie to make the monthly Good Living Grower’s Market.  It’s only open from 7 to 11am on the first Saturday of every month. Our efforts were well worth it as it was a sunny and unseasonally warm August morning, and the glimmer of the sun on the ocean front spot in front of the casino provided the perfect setting to spend the morning.  There are around 85 stalls with fresh produce straight from the growers; artisan bakeries selling their wares;

Even herbs and plants available - I bought a 50cm chilli plant for only $7 - brimming with baby chillis ready to be nurtured.

A honey stand provided some sweet tastings for the morning - but the main reason why I was here was to eat breakky.  Popular stands include fresh (huge) pancakes cooked to order; wagyu beef steaks; indian samosas, and for me today - “confused eggs with bacon” - that is, BBQ cooked scrambled egg omelette served with crispy bacon, caramelised onions on a roll with rocket and the secret creole BBQ sauce ($5).

OMG it was so good - I didn’t even pick off the fat as I would normally - the sticky sweet BBQ sauce providing a pleasing tangy sweet finish.  No wonder why the queue is always so long!! Some freshly squeezed organic blood orange juice ($4) to wash it all down.

Or, if you’re in a rush, buy some fizzy organic juice to go.  And of course, organic vege stalls (such as the one selling freshly picked parsnips) about.  Also popular is Toby’s Estate coffee - but I’m not a coffee drinker.  See you there next month?

A gift from my boss from Harrods - this posh round golden edged pink (my favourite!) box contained 8 perfectly rounded dreamy powdered strawberry and vodka flavoured white chocolate truffles…mmmmm

Keep walking around 15-20minutes until you hit the Chelsea Markets.  A former factory has been converted into a strip of gourmet wholesale and retail food stores and cafes.  You’ll find some interesting produce including a plethora of exotic mushrooms including lobster mushrooms, fresh porcini (a bargain at US$26.50 per pound! gulp..); as well as donut peaches; baby sweet pineapples; fresh white asparagus and some gorgeous bakeries and homeware stores.   (more…)