Cibo e Vino Castle Hill

My friends and I decided to get together here at Cibo e Vino (Castle Hill) where a degustation menu was on the menu for the night.

We had all decided that we could only experience the great food with the matching wines. Unfortunately some of the photos were a little out of focus due to the many laughs we had over the evening and I was trying to quickly take these photos without too much fuss....my apologies, but I think you get the idea...

The menu:

Roasted marron with her butter and sorrel and cress salad
Forest Hill Rieslng South Coast WA 2009



Salt cod brandade with egg and oregano
Heggies Chardonnay Eden Valley SA 2008



Fennel risotto with proscuitto di parma
La Vielle Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rhone FR 2009



Norther rivers veal crudo
Pirie Pinot Nori Tamar Valley TAS 2008




Char-grilled glenloth squab
O'Leary Walker Shiraz Clare Valley SA




Manchego, quince paste and oat biscuits
NV Elegante Amontillado Jerez SP



Lemon tart with creme fraiche and edibile violets
Frogmore Creek Iced Reisling TAS 2007

We all thoroughly enjoed ourselves with our french friend quoted as saying "the salt cod brandade tasted like it does in France". The ladies loved the Manchego cheese with the homemade quince paste. I loved the squab and amongst us, we decided the best pairing of food and wine went to the lemon tart with the iced riesling.

Will definitely be back next month; where the SMH (Sydney Morning Herald) has their 100 mile sustainable living promotion happening and that Cibo is a part of. It will be interesting to see the produce (from within 100 miles) that will be served for the next dining - degustation experience.

Spice Temple Sydney

We went out in search for some food and we had heard mixed reports in regards to Spice Temple (Bligh St, Sydney).

We love Rock Pool Bar and Grill (right next door in the same building) so it was a eventual choice that we get to Spice Temple...... You enter through a heavy door adorned by a LCD screen simulating a breezy day where Spice Temples sign can be seen just behind it.

Passing these doors you go down the stairs to the basement and you are greeted by dim lighting, busy waiters and behind raw timber partitions you are able to see your fellow diners........welcome to Spice Temple.




There are 2 banquet menus to choose from or order from the menu which is exactly what we felt like doing that night.

We ordered jasmine and chamomile tea to accompany our food. We ordered the pork shoulder with smoked tofu, black fungi salad with fish fragrant dressing. Aromatic duck salad with tea eggs, waygu Beef brisket in Ma Po style with silken tofu and chinese broccoli with homemade oyster sauce.

Pork Shoulder with Smoked Tofu and Black Fungi







Aromatic Duck Salad with Tea Eggs
Beef Brisket with Skilen Tofu in a Ma Po style


Mandarin sorbet, marmalade and candied almonds with chilled almond and soy pudding


sesame (white) ice cream with candied popcorn and chocolate

We really enjoyed all the mains and salads that we ordered. Desserts were a little different and not as impressive as the mains and salads. Overall, we really loved the food here at Spice Temple and would definitely be back to taste more from their salads and mains selection.