Sydney Observations

So far, so good in Sydney. In order of preference...

• Four in Hand Dining Room: lime-cured kingfish, avocado, radish & ginger jelly; corned beef, peas, feta & celeriac; roast ocean trout, ham hock, lettuce; braised pigtail, corn and crab salad, lobster chowder.
• Icebergs: kind of a River Cafe on Bondi beach; lovely with a half dozen oysters, a simple John Dory and sauteed spinach.
• Sean's Panorama: cute little no nonsense restaurant with the tastiest sauteed clams ever, using local firm-fleshed pipis and a combination of finger lime, fennel, white wine and toasted fennel seed; an absolute gem of a dish..I think my favorite of the trip; need to write them to get the recipe for their malt bread.
• Longraine: great idea making miang with smoked trout & fish eggs.
• Marque: best chef of 2010, but reminds me of a mini-me version of Habiscus: trying way too hard to be original and falling flat; enough of those gelatins, foams and bursty pearls!