The Lord Nelson, The Rocks

Praise The Lord (Nelson)

Let’s start with some facts about the man. Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson (1758 - 1805) – what do we know?

• At the Battle of Copenhagen he ignored orders to cease action by putting his telescope to his blind eye and claiming he couldn't seen the signal to withdraw
• He was a womaniser
• He was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar by a French sniper whilst leading an attack on the combined French and Spanish fleet.

What is nonsense:

·         Nelson wore an eye-patch.

·         After death at Trafalgar, Nelson was stored in a barrel of brandy. True. His men then drank from the barrel and the phrase "Tapping The Admiral" was made. Not true.

• Nelson's last words were "Drink, drink, fan, fan, rub, rub!" Any reference to "Kiss me, Hardy" is completely made-up.

But Nelsons will be best remembered for giving Napoleon a damn good thrashing. Because Napoleon was - and let’s be honest here - a bit of a bell-end.

And for that Lord Nelson – we honour you as a posthumous SupperClub member.

SupperClub

Excellent photo bomb by this chap!

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Distinctly average = ●

Dismal = ●

Food rating: ● (how we voted: red - 1, orange - 8, green - 5) 

Now to business: gorgonzola risotto with radicchio toasted walnuts – historic. The gorgonzola was bitey and a contrast to the creamy risotto; pork and prawn momo - light soy fresh chilli – very nice, but chop-sticks would had added to the eating experience; cloudy bay clams in xo – delicious and perfectly presented; ortiz anchovies – esp with toasted wood fire bread – nice and salty and meaty and not at all furry!; himalayan spiced kingfish curry - traditional nepalese spices black mustard seed rice – this looked like the winner on the menu – but the tasty sauce masked a kingfish that tasted out-of-the-bag; butchers choice of chargrilled sirloin or scotch fillet - cafe de paris butter creamy mash or fries – oh dear, this was the leper on the menu. T’was noted that the steak was terrible. And that the chips were undercooked . However, they still tasted surprising nice! Every cloud and all that.

The winner was a ‘special’ Spaghettini with Prawn and Lobster – absolutely delicious and full of flavour. Get it on the main menu, Nelson, quick!

All this was washed down with bubbles from the Yarra Valley and copious amounts of delightfully cheeky Pinot Noir.

Gerry with gypsy eggs with rodriguez brothers chorizo - bloody nice!

Service: ● (how we voted: red - 1, orange - 10, green - 3)

The staff were excellent. Bravo! They were attentive and friendly and changed all the tables around at my whim. The bubbles and wine just never stopped! Foolishly, the lovely waitress kept approaching me to ask if we needed more wine – to which my habitual response was always the same: “Yes, we’ll have lots more please”. Not really sure why this got an orange? You are a fickle bunch indeed SupperClub!

Why Jeff loves SupperClub

Why Nat loves SupperClub - Man sandwich – not on the menu!

Atmosphere: ● (how we voted: red - , orange - 2, green - 12)
Once the table re-arrangement had happened and the rest of the restaurant had filled up – the place was buzzing! The rotational dinner seat movement worked well and stimulated lots of fantastic, albeit, inappropriate banter. Upstairs at the Lord Nelson feels like your own private dining area. Apart from the other diners. The waiting staff. The kitchen. And the bar area. But apart from all that, it feels like your own private dining area.

The many merits of being SupperClub CEO...

Get your vote on....

Cost: $100 per person.

Incredibly ugly or sexy pony? You decide!

Quote of the night: “I’m as useless as the buttons on your shirt Rusty!”

This is the type on nonsense I have to decipher at the end of every SupperClub...

www.lordnelsonbrewery.com

The search for Sydney’s best restaurant, continues...

La Rosa - The Strand Arcade

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Keith Floyd was England’s most loved celebrity Chef. He was famed for his eccentric manner and his love for drinking far too much red wine whilst cooking on air. If it happened, it happened to Floyd: cancer, emphysema, strokes, falling out of bed and concussing himself...

 

To celebrate his recovery from cancer, he held a huge, gourmet dinner party for his close friends. Ironically, it was at this party that he had a massive heart attack and died. At least he went the way he lived; a celebration of lavish food and glorious wine - and for that Keith Floyd, SupperClub salutes you.

Hola!



Food rating: ● (how we voted: red - 0, orange - 4, green - 10)
Dishes of note include: Bruschetta of Vine Ripened Tomato and Black Olive with Italian Salted Ricotta – fresh and delicious; Prosciutto e Rucola Pizza - Tomato, Mozzarella, Prosciutto Crudo and Rocket – all the pizzas had lots of extra garlic, cheese and the bases were thin and crisped to perfection – someone mentioned that the pizza’s were ‘intimidating large’; Rigatoni Verdi Di Spinaci con Gamberi - Green Rigatoni Pasta with King Prawn, Minced Calamari, Olives, Tomato, Chilli – intense flavours that left you wanting more – a delicious meal (thanks Jeff!).

Perfectly complemented with more than a few bottles of La Farra Extra Dry DOC – Prosecco, a few cheeky Peroni’s and the wonderful 2011 San Nicola – Syrah – well chosen Yatsey – a Gent with a touch of class.


Liz, Yatesy and Rusty. Tasting a little Spanish Syrah – yes, that’ll do nicely.

Service: ● (how we voted: red - 3 ,orange - 8, green - 3)
A touch pompous and haughty at times perhaps. They did the job, but it wasn’t extraordinary.

They may have been slightly miffed by me ordering bottle after bottle of wine as if prohibition was about to start.

Peta wanted me to mention about the ‘confusing toilet situation’ - a fantastic phrase. The toilets were located outside the restaurant – but if you didn’t see them, had to walk down the Arcade to find them.

Atmosphere: ● (how we voted: red - 0, orange - 6, green - 8)
Dark, sensual and a little bit sexual. Sort of. We had lots of new SupperClubber members at La Rosa and the chat was feverish. Moral dilemma conundrums about global overpopulation and sex – well, the two go hand-in-hand after all.

The company was, as always, delicious.



It wasn’t only the food that was hot...

Overall rating: ●

Go there for the wonderful food and wine. Leave there and try not to fall drunkenly down the stairs on the way out.

www.larosabarandpizza.com.au

The search for Sydney’s best restaurant, continues...

Bloodwood - Newtown

Bloodwood

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Food rating: ● (how we voted: red - 0, orange - 3, green - 4)
Bloodwood is nestled within the frenetic King Street of Newtown. King street reputedly follows an ancient Aboriginal track and Bloodwoods first customer, back then, was an Aboriginal who ordered a serving of polenta chips for his hungry tribe. (may have to check this fact...)

What is great about Bloodwood is the three chef owners, Claire, Jo and Mitch continue to work in the kitchen. Creating decent, modern Australian cuisine design for sharing. Holding firm the belief that if you want something done perfectly, do it yourself.

Roast heirloom vegetables - lentil vinaigrette, samphire

We had a set menu. Particular dishes of interest include; the Mushroom & Leek pâté, the Chicken liver parfait and smoked ham hock terrine. The surprise for me was the actual edible Polenta chips with gorgonzola sauce (yes, I believe a chip should be potato), the Seared tuna (historic) and the Sticky barbeque pork ribs – tender and flaked off the bone.


The chocolate near death experiences dessert was ‘orgasmic’ according to Rachael and Jane.

All this was washed down with some delicious French red and the winning Willie Smiths organic cider – made in the classic French farm house style. Not too sweet and devilishly moreish.

 


Ding dong!

 
Service: ● (how we voted: red - 2, orange - 4, green - 1)
It was definitely there. I saw it. They served the food, they poured the wine. They smiled. The reason it gets an orange is because it never went above and beyond. I mean. Really. Don’t they know who we are!?



The food was hot - and so were the guests.


Atmosphere: ● (how we voted: red - 0, orange - 0, green - 7)
We came, we ate, we all shared hair raising near death experiences stories. Ducky’s boat and Rusty’s abseiling. Bloodwood was abuzz with noise, stories and good cheer.

WOW factor?: ● (how we voted: red - 0, orange - 3, green - 4)

It was a treat to have Willie Smith as a beverage option. It also had an eclectic wine list. I’ve got ‘tats’ written down, but have no idea what that refers to. I also have the phrase ‘delectably intoxicating’ – which I think came from Rachael. But really, that could apply to the company, the food and the booze!

www.bloodwoodnewtown.com

The search for Sydney’s best restaurant, continues...


 

Ms.G's - Potts Point

Ms.G's

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Heston Blumenthal is renowned for enigmatic and unconventional cooking. His restaurant, ‘The Fat Duck’ in Berkshire, England, has a food philosophy based on molecular gastronomy; which has given the world such incredible or utterly ridiculous (depends on your point of view) dishes such as: egg and bacon ice cream, mock turtle soup involving a fob watch dissolved in tea, and a dish called the ‘Sounds of the Sea’ which includes an audio element. It’s either genius or stark raving bonkers.

Food rating: ●

Although Ms.G’s is nothing quite as experimental as crazy old Hes,  we were treated to some distinctive dishes such as Kingfish sashimi, buttermilk, compressed rhubarb, jalapeno, quinoa $16 – deliciously delicate and delectable fish, yet powerful (don’t ask me what that means – it’s from my drunken notes), Dan Hong’s Crunch Vegetable Salad, white soy & ginger vinaigrette $14 – a mine-field of flavours, the ‘crunch’ part coming from strategically placed corn flakes!

Other dishes to mention include: Mini bánh mì- crisp pork belly or chicken katsu $6 – most guests favourite part of Supper, Prawn toast, yuzu aioli, herbs $14 – prawn toast that actually tasted of prawn - a first for civilisation, Ms G’s grilled corn on the cob, parmesan, lime $4 – incredible, nothing short of historic and the Crispy pork hock, pink lady apple kimchi, 5 flavour sauce, lettuce and ‘erbs – this was an extraordinary chunk of meal not dissimilar to what kings of Medieval England would have eaten with their bare hands –before tossing to some hounds.

The food was incredible and each dish, with different blended flavours , complimented each other seamlessly. It was also endless. I had to ask the staff to stop bringing food out at one point. Such a feast to behold!

Desert was: ‘Stoner’s Delight 2.0’ doughnut ice cream, peanut butter, raspberry jam, candied bacon, potato chips, mars bar slice, banana fritter $12 – this was regarded by all as an absolute winner. Sam Fuller actually jizzed in his own pants in happiness.

Lots of Bia Ha-noi $9 was consumed, along with bubbles and a variety of fantastically named cocktails including: Hanoi Hooker #2 and Monkey Magic . Delightful.

Service: ●

Friendly and reasonably attractive. However, at one point 37 staff members were hovering around our table and not one of them would bring  a new bottle of bubbles to our table. Gerry had to take the initiative and get our bottle from the bar himself. No one seemed to mind, so happy days.

Atmosphere: ●

This blog is quite long, soooo. Atmos was good. Buzzing. Lively.

Unconventionally, Yatsey and Michelle did the SupperClub oration at the end of the night. It included a nice little speech from Michelle followed by a great pub quiz from Yatsey. Ripping up the oration rule book and making their own. Rebels.

www.merivale.com.au/msgs

The search for Sydney’s best restaurant, continues...