Dude Food Deg - Lotus, Potts Point

This year has definitely gone by quickly, and I can't believe it's mid October already.  Cheesecake Boy knows that when October comes around that he's sure to be taken to some out of the ordinary Crave event that has sparked my interest.  This October was no different, and Dan Hong's "Dude Food Deg" was the only event that really caught my eye.  What was meant to be a one-off five course degustation has stretched over to three different weekends due to its popularity, and who can blame them when inspiration for this crazy meal comes from Dan Hong's love of junk food and hip hop tunes.  This was the perfect lunch for Cheesecake Boy and I as we really do love our junk food, especially Cheesecake Boy who can easily polish off a box of Pizza Shapes in one sitting, if I left him to his own devices.

Gastro parK, Potts Point

Cheesecake Boy has an uncanny way of guessing all my special occasion surprises, be it for his birthday, for Christmas or for any of our anniversaries.  It is majorly frustrating at times, I even playfully threatened I would return his birthday present this year, if he kept guessing where we were going to lunch for his birthday.  I knew that I had to be extra tricky with his birthday lunch and chose a place that Cheesecake Boy had been curious about and didn't want me to try without him first, but at the same time I had not harped on and on about how much I wanted to go.

That's how we ended up at Gastro parK, and to my delight Cheesecake Boy had no idea that this place was going to be my choice this year.  It was definitely the first time that any of my surprises have worked in my favour.  The only problem was that Cheesecake Boy's early birthday breakfast turned into a late birthday breakfast, so we were a bit stuffed for our lunch booking much to my dismay.  However, running late stresses me out a bit, so it burned off a few calories so by the time we got there, I was starting to feel slightly hungry again.  It's hard to miss the stunning building that Gastro parK is in, but the only issue was that it was hard to find parking around there.  Nothing was going to deter me though, as I was totally looking forward to our experience.

Ms. G's, Potts Point - Dumpling Girl's Birthday Finale

 

The end of my birthday adventures stops at Ms.G's.  I had been meaning to come for a while but had been too busy munching elsewhere, so it was only fitting that I book a table, and with family in tow we celebrated the end of my birthday week.

I truly love the decor and relaxed vibe of this place, it's imperfect, quirky and fun.  We are seated at the table with the lazy susan and the menus come, they have different covers of fat ninjas and cherry blossoms on them, but we were hungry so we had to make some quick decisions.  Now, don't be alarmed by the amount of food to come, just bear in mind there were eight starving souls dining that night.

The lights

Our table

I love gimmicks and all things adorably cute and my packaged cocktail was all these things with the bubble tea cup and the kokeshi doll on the top.  I couldn't resist, I had to slab her in the eye with that bubble tea straw.  It's a real novelty for me, as I don't drink bubble tea.  This cocktail is refreshing and more so for Ms G's Famous Yuzu Slushee that I get a taste of from my cousin. 

Good Morning Vietnam package cocktail

In that straw goes...and slurping away  

The boys on the other hand were happy with their beers.  I took a sip of Cheesecake Boy's 333 and I am pretty fussy with beer but loved this one. If anyone knows which bottle shop stocks it, please drop me a note as I've been trying to find it. 

Our food comes so quickly, first the mini banh mi they are delicious and the majority on the table vote this as their favourite of the night.  Cheesecake Boy and I order one pork and a chicken between us and share,  I think I was the only one on the table to prefer the chicken katsu but don't get me wrong, they were both fantastic.  Unfortunately, the mini banh mi are bite size and they're gone after 2 bites ok may be 3 but it's making me wish we ordered more.  However, we had to prepare ourselves for all the food to come and I really need to leave room for dessert. 

Mini banh mi - crispy pork belly and chicken katsu