Slip Inn: Tapas at a Sydney Bloggers Network Meetup, CBD Sydney (2 Feb 2012)

111 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://merivale.com.au/slipinn

Google surprise at Meetup

“Feb 9-16 Is New York Fashion Week, which kicks off the 2012 Fall Season and is followed by Fashion Week in London, Milan and Paris. Bloggers interested in Fashion blogging, styling, fashion photography: show us what you’re up to!”

A casual Meetup named 'It’s Fashion Week Somewhere!' organised by Jordan from Sydney Bloggers Network brings me down to Slip Inn on a rainy night in the hope of learning something about fashion photography. Apart from food blogging I also have a passion for fashion, burlesque and modeling events which I share on Simon Leong Design, which should probably be renamed Simon Leong Photography. I find these type of events very challenging to photograph because lighting is usually varied and the subject can be moving quickly and be very unpredictable. It definitely helps me to learn more about using my camera and I enjoy the challenge of capturing the moment. To help share this with the group I printed out a selection of photos and passed them around the table. Unfortunately I seemed to be the only one that had actually prepared something to show but it was nice to meet new people and find out what blogs they had and what they were passionate about.

A late surprise attendance by two ladies (Inci and Lisa) that work for Google Blogger was very much welcomed and enjoyed by the group. Apparently visiting from Silicon Valley and wanting to meetup with bloggers they welcomed enthusiastic questions and shared as much information as their knowledge could muster. I wanted to know why my blog automatically had 'au' added to the end now and mentioned that my 'quick edit button' function has recently disappeared on my blog and I have formatting troubles when I use the multiple image uploader rather than using the basic single image uploader.

For dinner I tried the tapas menu (3 tapas for $21) which seems to be a new addition to Slip Inn offerings. The Tempura prawns with a wasabi mayo dipping sauce (3 tapas for $21) was worth trying for the fairly decent sized prawns coated in a light and crispy batter. I couldn't really taste the wasabi in the dipping sauce though. The Pork and mushroom tofu skin spring rolls with a spicy miso dipping sauce was a small portion and not as crispy as hoped which made it a bit of disappointment. I was hoping for maybe three crispy fried and tasty spring rolls and the menu did say 'rolls' not 'roll'. The Spicy pork and spinach, steamed dumplings with a soy ginger dipping sauce were OK. Perhaps the pastry could be more silky and softer and the filling a bit more juicy for my liking but they were nice enough as a quick and easy snack.

PS. Also I must apologise if my breathe smelt like garlic and fish sauce as I had a Papaya Salad at lunch at SAAP Thai — I forgot to prewarn everyone.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Get to meet different people and learn new things at meetups, A good opportunity to show & tell and networking with like minded people

CONS: You're never too sure who you might meet and if you're going to get along with them, The venue was very noisy so not the best place to be able to talk and hear other people

MUST TRY: Going along to other Meetups that sound interesting if I have time

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Tempura prawns with a wasabi mayo dipping sauce (3 tapas for $21)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Pork and mushroom tofu skin spring rolls with a spicy miso dipping sauce (3 tapas for $21)

Spicy pork and spinach, Steamed dumplings with a soy ginger dipping sauce (3 tapas for $21)

The Meetup attendees (plus Lather Rinse Repeat had to leave early)

Organiser Jordan (centre) and the Google Blogger Girls Inci (left) and Lisa (right)

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Tapeo: Caff'e and Tapas Bar, Redfern (11 Jan 2012)

82 Redfern Street, Redfern NSW 2016

http://tapeo.com.au

Spanish & Moroccan influences

“Tapeo is a traditional way of life in Spain. It basically means walking from bar to bar while having different food and drinks”

A friends recommendation brings me to check out Tapeo for lunch the following day amongst the gastronomic Redfern block of Baffi & Mo, The Eathouse Diner, Dry Land, Pitt St Diner and long timer stayer Wilson's. My Orange, Apple, Carrot and Ginger juice ($5.50) took a little longer than expected to arrive but was freshly squeezed/juiced and decent in size. Perhaps having a baby on board makes everything seem to take a lot longer than it actually does. I think having a sleeping time bomb that could possibly wake up certainly makes you want things quicker. The salad of Crispy prawn, avocado, greens and honey dressing ($15) came with five nicely cooked and tasty prawns although a few more would have been appreciated to balance amongst the generous serve of leafy greens. The dressing was nice although I probably would have preferred a ranch style dressing to make eating the greens a bit more interesting. My Pan tumaca ($16) came with two perfectly poached eggs and some crispy yet quite salty prosciutto which I still enjoyed. For some reason I was expecting the freshly crushed tomatoes and garlic to be served up a bit more rustically chopped and redder in colour like the bruschetta I had at Candeloris but the noticeable garlic taste was quite a welcomed flavour in the dish. Service was friendly and down-to-earth and the dinner tapas menu looked pretty tempting to want to return and try.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Interesting menu which seems reasonably priced, Fresh juice available, Service was friendly, Wine available, Organic bread and free-range eggs

CONS: Tables seem a little smallish but I guess should be OK for sharing tapas, Watch your handbag

MUST TRY: Revisiting to try the dinner tapas menu — the Calamari with Chilli, Garlic & Mint sounds very tempting

BABY ON BOARD: Limited area for a pram and you won't find a change table in the single unisex toilet

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Orange, Apple, Carrot and Ginger juice ($5.50); Carrot and Ginger juice ($5.50)

Crispy prawn, avocado, greens and honey dressing ($15)

Pan tumaca - Poached eggs, crispy prosciutto, freshly crushed tomatoes and garlic + sourdough ($16)

Breakfast menu

Lunch menu

Drinks menu

Dinner menu

Inside seating

Service counter and wine bar

Service counter and entrance

Outdoor seating

Toby's Estate coffee

The meaning of Tapeo

You'll find Tapeo at the corner of Chalmers and Redfern Streets

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York Lane: Tapas & Wine Bar, CBD Sydney (8 Dec 2011)

York Lane, Wynyard, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.yorklane.com

Laneway tapas and bar

Thanks to Richard Elliot for organising a casual lunch catchup at this laneway café he spotted serving a tapas style menu. It’s quite a cosy place with repurposed items like airline trolleys as shelving, railway sleepers as flooring and furniture offcuts becoming stools. The laneway location, creativity and intimacy oozes a Melbourne vibe to me but the service cheekily says ‘this is what Melbourne would want to be like’, and perhaps he’s right, but I'm thinking we're still catching up. It’s smaller than Grasshopper Bar and around the same size as Grandma’s Bar and joins the growing number of small bars around Sydney.

The hand-written menu seemed quite well-priced at first but you’ll need to order a few things to fill up so I think it’s more suited to side snacking with your wine or beer rather than a reasonably priced lunch spot for one. The Haloumi & Pea Fritters with Tzatziki ($9) was pretty tasty and I wondered if slices of grilled haloumi could be another dish worth having on the menu. Four pieces are served with the Duck Pancakes with Hoisin Sauce ($12) filled with fresh salad. I quite liked the Chorizo Hot Pot with cannellini beans, fresh tomato & basil ($12) although wished it came in a sauce of some description to soak up with the crusty bread included. We’re prewarned the Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Sauce ($10) takes 15 minutes to prepare which are quite flavoursome and the chilli deceptively increases over time on your palate. There were a few stray little feathers on my wing which could have perhaps been better cleaned off though. I’d recommend the Pork Belly with Chilli Jam ($12) if you’re after some decent crackling and nicely flavoured meat. Bite-sized pieces of joy for the pork lovers. My Mocha ($3.50) thankfully had a good balance which helped finish off the meal with a sugar note.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Friendly and accommodating service, Repurposed decor and furniture is done well and good for the environment

CONS: Seating can get a little uncomfortable for extended period of time, The smell of a laneway is sometimes not the cleanest

WORTH TRYING: Pork Belly with Chilli Jam, Buffalo Wings, Mocha

DAMAGE: $73.40 for three

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Handwritten menus — now that's dedication to doing it on the cheap

Drinks on offer including beers, wine and spirits

Haloumi & Pea Fritters with Tzatziki ($9)

Duck Pancakes with Hoisin Sauce ($12)

Chorizo Hot Pot with cannellini beans, fresh tomato & basil ($12)

A bit of sauce would help to dip the bread in

Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Sauce ($10)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Some of the wings had a bit of feather still left on it so hopefully they can be cleaned a bit better next time

Pork Belly with Chilli Jam ($12)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Flat White ($3.50), Mocha ($3.50)

Little plates for a little table makes it feel like a tea party

Seating and repurposed decor

Bar

Furniture offcuts, airline trolleys and railway sleepers repurposed

Crates for shelving


Wooden fruit bowls for lamp shades

Tapas style menu from 12 noon, Monday – Friday

Tips lady

A sign of understanding for the ladies in the unisex toilet

Bill $73.40 for three. Records albums ready to play

End of laneway advertising — although I think it's probably overlooked quite easily

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