CLUBHOUSE - ROSEBERY, SYDNEY

Clubhouse
789 Botany Rd.
Rosebery, Sydney

Is it possible to get an indoor/outdoor beachy feel to a restaurant/bar in Rosebery? Well it is if its Clubhouse and it has the added bonus of being right downstairs from Surf Life Saving Australia headquarters!

They've nailed it for casual/chic and beachy/comfortable. Inside with a striking fire burning it's slightly more chic, which then flows effortlessly out onto the balconies that are more informal. Both areas work well and both are popular. Whilst there are subtle differences they also work well together.

Parking is easy too - there are plenty of side streets nearby. The place has a casual/chic feel in its decor and this also flows through into their food and drinks. It's a place you feel comfortable in and where it's pleasant to stay.

Dinner means drinks - that's a kind of no-brainer. Well fortunately there are plenty of options here.

Yes, there are of course plenty of wine, sparkles, cider and beer choices but there is also a great cocktail list which caught our eyes and just didn't let go!

Sir's rum predisposition again shone through loud and clear with his choice of "Rumbunctious" made from 17 Havana Club Especial rum, Frangelico, Bacardi 8yr rum, Coco Lopez cream of coconut and a double espresso, all shaken and poured into a stemless wine glass

Mlady had "Watermelody" made from 18 Corralejo blanco tequila, Aperol, fresh lemon juice, a dash of sugar syrup, watermelon chunks and passionfruit, al served straight up with watermelon ‘popsicles’.

Both were delish.

The swordfish hard shell tacos sounded ideal for our first starter of the night. These things turned out to be both cute and tasty.

The swordfish ceviche (raw swordfish just in case you weren't sure) was packed into the taco's with a celeriac remoulade, tomato and corn kernels.

It was both colourful and sweet and a great mix to have inside a crunchy shell.

Scallops - why do you continue to haunt us and make us keep ordering you - again and again and again!

These tasty devils were served as an entree and were pan seared. Each was nestled on a dollop of cauliflower puree, sprinkled with chorizo crumbs and a sherry reduction.

It was a lovely blend of flavours and textures that worked really well.

The crispy pork san choi bao was possibly the dish of the night. It was bright, vibrant, full of colour and texture and just so extremely tasty. What arrived was four lettuce cups sitting beside a generous bowl of crispy pork coated in a tangy delicious Asian marinade with some kick, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. A bit of greenery for garnishing was also there. The assembly was our easy task - and then we devoured the finished results. It was a winning dish!

Sir isn't big on salads but even he liked this one.

The cauliflower salad came with pomegranate seeds (giving it all a nice crunch), rocket and a lovely tangy dressing. Using cauliflower was a nice touch - almost Middle Eastern a bit - and it was all extremely tasty.

The truffled polenta chips were next, sprinkled with Parmesan and with a nice aioli at the side for dipping. Loved them!

One of the specials of the day was the blue eyed cod - which is a lovely fish.

It was served with a stuffed pepper on top (which reminded us of our trip to Spain), baba ganoush and crispy basil leaves and a basil oil drizzle.

Wow - this was good. The fish lover - Mlady - ate most of this - with Sir only getting the odd taste here and there. Needless to say, we both loved it - hence the fight over it.





















Anything showing on a menu as Clubhouse gaytime is sure to be a hit as we both love Golden Gaytime ice creams. This version didn't look anything like it but it sure tasted the same. It was toffee parfait with honeycomb and caramel sauce and of course ice cream. The second and more elegant dessert we tried was the lemongrass and ginger panna cotta topped with candied ginger and shortbread crumble. It was delicate, pretty and very tasty.





















Clubhouse is a great mix of casual and chic - all in one. It's a pleasant place that draws you in, makes you feel welcome and where you just want to settle in and stay a while.

Most of the people there were clearly staying, but if you just want to drop in for a short visit it would still work just as well.

The food is also relaxed, playful, tasty and tangy. It can be shared or eaten individually - as evidenced by the tables around us.

Sir and Mlady dined as guests of Clubhouse. Special thanks to Gina and Al for looking after us. Big thanks to Claire McPherson from CMP Online Marketing for arranging our visit.

CONTRABANDO - SYDNEY CBD

Contrabando
21 Bent St
Sydney CBD

Contrabando is an underground den that's kind of hidden away.

It's actually where the Noble House Chinese Restaurant used to be (look for the upside down sign - kind of quirky keeping it but it is a landmark), but venture down their enticing and mysterious stairway and you'll discover a hidden world here.

The whole place has been completely transformed - and we mean completely - the decor, the food, the atmosphere - the lot! It's another world - but one worth going to.

The place is Southern Californian inspired and this flows through in the colours, decor, the decorations and furnishings and of course the tangy and tasty food they offer.

The menu said: With your permission I would love to take you on the journey I took through Southern California over the Summer and experience some of the tastes I loved.

With these words we were both enchanted and enthralled - and eager to see what lay ahead.

The food odyssey started with ocean trout ceviche that arrived dotted with jalapeno and coriander and beside a pale smear described as a citrus and soy bath.

Wow - the simplicity of the dish understated the flavours - it all worked so well. 

It arrived on black slate accentuating the vibrant colours - we simply rolled up the trout with the jalapeno then dabbed it in the sauce - it was so tasty!

Next step was the arrival of the yellowfin tuna crudo "mini tacos". Sir was in heaven at the sight of these.

They also included avocado, lime, eschallots and chilli.

It was another simple yet good fresh dish that had colour and flavour in abundance. Seafood and avocado are so good together - and yet again they were in this!

The chargrilled corn was such a surprise. Sir isn't a huge fan of corn yet he devoured this and wanted more.

Perhaps it was the lime, queso fresco and chipotle mayo - giving it bite and tang and a kick - transforming it well beyond mere corn on the cob.

It was a great combination - this corn was a real winner






















Any dish called "Dirty Water Dog" is going to attract some attention. It's a catchy name for a catchy treat.

 So what is it - it's chorizo, habanero mustard, salsa criola and micro herbs all inside a long bun.

It was such a playful, a very cute take on hot dogs that we really loved.

It was also very tasty, with great flavours and combinations and with nothing overpowering anything else there - everything complemented each other.

Anyway, this is a dish that should at least be tried here - and if you do you will probably enjoy it just like we did. Mlady could have eaten a second one, and a third if given the chance!

Don't you love the words "suckling pig" - it makes our mouths water just saying it - even now.

Well this little piggy came in a quesadilla with sumac yoghurt, salsa verde and a chipotle vinaigrette,

Just reading what this dish included was so appetising - then eating it became even better. It's a great cute combination, like a pizza sandwich. 

We were of course pleased to see soft shell tacos make an appearance on the menu.

The Baha fish tacos arrived on a wooden board spread out and ready to wrap and eat. They also had tomatillo, pico de galo, coriander and chipotle mayo

The fish was lightly cooked and the whole colourful looked great. We really loved the chipotle mayo too!

Once one soft taco left we were lucky enough for another to arrive!

These ones had crispy buttermilk coated chicken resting on top of a soft taco and adorned with coriander, carrot, queso fresco and then drizzled with Korean hot sauce.

Hard to know what to say other than - loved it all so much. This was so good, with textures and flavours converging on each other and yet apart.






















The final main course on this epic food journey was the chargrilled lamb rump. It arrived lean and mean on a slate looking so tender and delicious - and it lived up to its appearances. It was served with a smear of spiced yoghurt and drizzled with a tangy habanero vinaigrette and topped with micro herbs. This lamb was so tender and juicy.

Finally a side of matchstick fries with mango habanero BBQ sauce was a great crunchy partner.

We weren't deserted at dessert. In fact it was a cornucopia of taste. We started with apple pie empanadas with a side of creme Anglais. They were cute and oh so tasty.

We then moved on to some delicious churos sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and served with a small jug of warm butterscotch caramel. The churos were so light and fluffy and the sauce was a perfect pairing.

We finally finished with a teaser of desserts from their sister restaurant upstairs - Barrafina Tapas Bar. We also had a long and extremely enjoyable food and restaurant chat with the passionate owner Peter Varvaressos (a chef himself) and the Executive Chef from Barrafina - Ran Kimelfeld.

Contrabando is a gem, hidden away. Some hidden treasures are worth finding and this is certainly one of them. Yes it's hard to find. Yes it's signposting is of a former occupant - and a Chinese restaurant at that (even though it's upside down). It's all part of the quirky, fun, mysterious experience that awaits you as you descend the stairs. Do it though - it's worth it. We loved it.

Sir and Mlady dined as guests of Contrabando. Special thanks to Monique, Katy and Kathia for looking after us so well. Big thanks also to Morgan and Frankie from The Press Site for arranging our visit so professionally.