Tetsuya's: My first 3 hatted degustation, Sydney (26 April 2006)

529 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.tetsuyas.com

My first degustation

Degustation ($180) + Wine ($75) + Oysters ($9) = $264

In 2006 Tetsuya's was listed as the 5th best restaurant in the world by The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants and during that time I had the chance to dine there as a special 30th birthday for my brother with five other friends. It was my first ever degustation and I still compare my dining and food experience to all other degustations I have. I think it was also the first time I photographed my food except for those times I travelled overseas and photographed weird and wonderful dishes because they were so different. I didn't have a food blog at the time but its been one of the most memorable meals I've had to date because of its simplicity in presentation, interesting flavours that challenged my palate and was one of the most expensive meals I'd ever had at $264 (excluding tip). Gee does anyone else squirm when they still feel they need to tip on top of an already expensive meal?

I fondly remember the expensive oysters ($9 each) which to this date have been one of the best oysters I've tried. The dressing was so delicious and enhanced the oyster so well — and it's great you can now buy it in a bottle too, but freshly made is even better. The oysters at Muoi's Feast in Byron Bay come a very close second for me but a lot cheaper. The signature dish at the time of Ocean trout kelp radish was sublimely soft and melt in your mouth. The delicate Crab ravioli was presented so beautifully — I wanted a whole plate of them. For dessert the Beetroot sorbet played with my mind and at first I thought how could beetroot work as a dessert but it was lovely. Tetsuya's was a turning point for me to realise there was more to life than 'meat and three veg' and my taste buds were up for the challenge.

In 2010 it's now ranked 38th and I hope to return one day after perhaps trying a few other restaurants that have been in the food media and blogging community limelight like Quay, Marque and Sepia.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Interesting and innovative dishes, Oysters with Tetsuya's dressing, Nice dish presentation, Simple yet effective flavours

CONS: Very expensive, I remember sheets of paper on the table

MUST TRY: Oysters and revisiting one day

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Gazpacho sorbet

Oysters with Tetsuya's dressing $9 each

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Tuna avocado caviar

Scampi salmon tuna

Ocean trout kelp radish (Signature dish)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Crab ravioli

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Spatchcock

Wagyu beef mushroom

Beetroot sorbet and cheesecake

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

White truffle sorbet

Meringue

Tea, hot chocolate and chocolates

Bill for 7


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