Harrigan's Irish Pub - Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

After our late lunch munchies of potato croquettes and the final packing of our getaway was attended to.  Cheesecake Boy drove us up to the Hunter Valley.  However, we were quite full when we got there around 6pm, and it wasn't until 10pm or so that night we finally got hungry.  We didn't feel like room service and most of the other places were closed, so it was off to Harrigan's the Irish pub as they were opened till midnight for some pub food.

The charming entrance

Fellow diners

Japanese croquettes

We needed some munchies before we trekked off to the Hunter Valley, so I decided to whip up some Japanese croquettes so that Cheesecake Boy would have ample energy to drive us up.  I am crazy about croquettes, but I am particularly smitten with Japanese croquettes due to their sweet but savoury taste.  Not many Japanese restaurants offer this dish and when they do it's a must order for me, so I was super excited when I came up across this fantastic recipe from Sumo Kitchen.

Good Luck Chinese Restaurant, Enfield

Cheesecake Boy and I are back from our Hunter Valley getaway, so it's back to some delayed eating posts, whilst I sort out the photos from our wonderful Hunter Valley trip.

We came to Good Luck Chinese Restaurant for a catch up with some of my friends, and this would have to be our third visit.  This restaurant is really in the middle of nowhere in Enfield, and the specialty is the Peking duck.  The Peking duck must be ordered at least 24 hours in advance.  Otherwise, you'll be lucky if there is a spare duck lying around here.

Pho Sam Noodle House, Epping

Since our last visit to PHD Vietnamese Restaurant, Cheesecake Boy has gone a bit pho tai crazy, but the issue is that Marrickville is a bit of a trek for us, especially when we're both exhausted from a long day at work.  This is how we ended up at Pho Sam in Epping.  Now, Pho Sam is not purely Vietnamese and they do have the Westernised Chinese dishes available too.  However, we had a Vietnamese feed in mind that day.

The entrance

Pasticceria Tamborrino, Five Dock

The holiday eating continued yesterday, when we dropped the car off at the mechanic for some maintenance before our drive down to the Hunter Valley.  While we were waiting for the car, we decided to take a bus down to Five Dock for some sweet breakfast treats.  We both love our Italian sweets and Pasticceria Tamborrino is one of our favourites.

First part of shop

Second part of shop

The counter

District Dining, Surry Hills

I'm on holiday mode already and am getting a bit slack with the posts, least there will be a lot of posts after our eating adventures are done these holidays.  Cheesecake Boy and my holiday adventures continue at District Dining.  I had been wanting to go to District Dining for a while and when Jump On It offered a deal late last year, where for $69 you got a three course meal for two and a bottle of wine. Naturally, I jumped on the deal, and have waited until last Saturday to have a long and leisurely lunch with Cheesecake Boy.

Malabar, Crows Nest

Last night, Cheesecake Boy and I celebrated our fourth anniversary.  Judging from our past choices of Jugemu & Shimbashi in Neutral Bay, Ericyes in Surry Hills and a picnic at Lane Cove National Park, we never really go to any particularly special places for our anniversary, as we like to choose firm favourites.  This year was no different, as we chose my favourite Indian restaurant Malabar in Crows Nest to celebrate.

Thankfully, Cheesecake Boy made a booking, as we saw a couple enter the restaurant before us being turned down, as they hadn't booked a table.  I have even been turned away on weekday nights without a booking at times, as this place is a favourite with the locals.  The only other nuisance, is the lack of parking around this side of Pacific Highway in Crows Nest.  We were lucky and found parking last night in under five minutes, and that was a record for us.

Now, the restaurant was very dim last night and I am very technologically challenged and impatient, so the photos are worse than usual, and doesn't do the food justice.   Also, I was very hungry and just wanted to tuck in.

Shop front