Dinner @ Chophouse

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 2:37 pm     English  |  日本語

Did you manage to call your mum or send her a present on Mother’s day?
As I’ve been going through such a busy time, I had arranged everything earlier this year. On the Mother’s day, I’ve got an email from her saying “Thanks for the lovely flowers! They were big and beautiful, and I’ve set it as a stand-by wallpaper on my mobile.”

Oh cool, I thought. But I also know this is another one of her “My mobile is better than yours.” followed by her super fast internet connection.

Her having grown up in a food business family, my mum has taught me a few things about food when I was a kid. To this day, I think these two are in my blood.

1: Don’t waste food.
“Children in many countries don’t have food.” I guess this is something mothers would tell their kids. Sounds familiar?

2: When someone prepared food for you, appreciate it.
Meaning, if what you are eating is yummy, express it. The yumminess comes from not only the cooking method and ingredients, but also time and effort spent on it.

I’ve got to thank my mum for #2. I tend to get all perky with yummy food. “Oh I thought you are just being nice!” – some of my friends have said after I had eaten their food and asked for more. It could be a bit embarrassing thing that I apparently can’t control my inner child who’s always hungry, but this brought me many thoughtful and thankful occasions.
“I know you’re going to love this.”, “You’ve got to try this.”, “You’ve got to come for dinner with us at this place.” and they are always right about that!

and recently I was generously given this plate for obviously enjoying eating.

YES!

Billy from A table for two emailed and asked me, “Do you want to come for a new winter menu tasting thing at Chophouse?” OH HELL YES. (Thanks Billy!)

Chophouse is located on 25 Bligh St, a New York style stake house – owned by Kingsley’s Stakehouse. The restaurant looks pretty contemporary in style but we spotted warm old country house-ness in nicely decorated interiors. And the food we were served – “just like Mum & Dad’s” as the invitation says – was their new winter warmer roast dish. Yum! Helen (Grab Your Fork), Susan (ChocolateSuze), Shez (One Bite More), FFIchiban (Here Come The Food), Peter, Steve and myself among other 20 something people invited seated and patiently waited for the dinner.

We had Byron Bay Berkshire pork with crackling, Riverine premium beef and roasted potato and Japanese pumpkin, along with side of green and potato gratin. HMMMM CRACKLING. Of course we had to compare the size of each other’s crackling – who’s bigger and thicker – like a penis contest or something ;p (I kept quiet, but I think I’ve got the biggest in the right side of the table. Hooorraaaaay.)

Oh man, how come roasted meat always tastes great in winter time? Even yummier with their condiment and sauces. I particularly liked the beef roast over the pork – I guess that’s simply because I’m a pork belly and Kakuni type of person when it comes to pork. Oh and I loooved the roasted Japanese pumpkin – I’ve got to give Shez a huge hug next time for giving me hers!

“what’s the housemade chocolate block?” We all wondered. And what arrived our table for desert was literally a house made chocolate block as if the chocolate is saying “I told you, duh.”

*faint* 80% milk + 20% dark = 46% cocoa. You do the culinary math. It was very yummy, rich silky texture with almond toffee inside. I had the urge to just grab it off from the chopping board and SUCK IT. (They are available for purchase!)

Billy pssst-ed and his eyes were telling me to look at the group next to us. Then our wide open eyes looked back at each others – we both knew our eyes were screaming “OH MY GOD, I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY DIDN’T FINSH THIER CRACKLINGS!!” I’d get a bagful of the cracklings for the ride back home.

Thank you very much for Abbe for hosting the lovely dinner, and everyone at the table for great company!

Check out everyone’s blogs for more detailed coverage!

Chophouse
Address 25 Bligh St, Sydney 2000
Phone CALL 1300 CHOP IT (1300 246 748)
Email reservations@chophouse.com.au