Gigi's Restaurant & Bar, Wollongong

It's been a while since we've been to Gigi's. It's also been a while since I've blogged. So going through my draft posts, I came across this picture and my tummy started rumbling thinking about the yummy Italian food that this restaurant offers. Hence, over 12 months later, this blog is finally going up!

I like this restaurant for it's simplicity. Although it seems to easily cater for everything from a quick coffee & cake, or pizza & beer, or romantic evening dining, it feels classy and sophisticated and welcoming all at the same time. It can be described as comfortable family friendly atmosphere which is child friendly and affordable, yet casual and unpretentious and perfect for the first date. For my husband and I, the park and beach is a short walking distance away which means that we can go for a stroll and not feel guilty afterwards even after ordering pizza and pasta and our toddler can run free.
    

GIGI'S MEDITERRANEAN PIZZA artichokes, mushrooms, zucchini, tomato & mozzarella cheese (without pancetta)

Libronz Tapas Spanish Restaurant

It was about six months ago that we dined at this restaurant (a girlfriend and I) and I have been wanting to go back again but haven't quite found the right occasion for it. It's a noisy restaurant (so not really suitable for a romantic evening out with hubby, not on the weekends anyway, maybe on a quieter night perhaps?). Also, another time when I went in a large group with my family, I remember waiting ages for my meal. And it's not cheap either. I think we ended up paying something like $45 each. So, why do I want to go back? Because it's yummy! First of all, it's salty (the worst is eating bland tapas). Yes, I like places that don't skimp on the spices! Just the right amount of herbs and lemon. Although a bit expensive for two, I guess it's like going to yum cha so definitely worth your while if you can share with a couple of friends (possibly a table of 3 or 4 would be ideal). And no young children (unless they aren't eating or can still stay in their prams). They don't have high chairs and the meals are not very toddler friendly. It's the kind of place you want to enjoy with a few friends when you need a night off from the kids. And have a designated driver for the group (preferably not yourself).

Piato Coffee & Fine Food, Wollongong

Piato's has always been a favourite either for breakfast or lunch. Hubby typically orders the chicken burger for lunch, and this time I tried the special of the day. This summer salad was refreshing with the season's best mangos and avocado, it was a healthy alternative to my usual menu choice. 





Chargrilled Chicken Burger 
topped with avocado, roast tomato, cheese,
lettuce and aioli, served with fries









Smoked Salmon
with mango, avocado and cous cous salad





The Lobby Bar, Novotel North Beach, Wollongong



Having a good catch up session, over a coffee & dessert, after an awesome night out!

Yes, that is chocolate mousse hiding behind my soy latte!

Antonio's on Crown, Wollongong

This is our new favourite place for breakfast. Although the stairs are were a bit hard to climb with a pram, and  eating out is never easy with a toddler, we find ourselves coming back here again, and again. Maybe it's the friendly service. Maybe it's the awesome coffee. Maybe it's the way I am able to be very specific with my order and they not only oblige, but remember everything without writing it down. "Eggs benedict please, can I have smoked salmon instead of ham? and the spinach slightly wilted (yes, I mean blanched) and a flat white, extra shot, on soy". They get my order right every time. I know it's not hard to remember but you would be surprised how many people have gotten it wrong even when they do write it down. That's what I like about this place, they get it right every time.

Eggs Benedict for me
(with smoked salmon and spinach, blanched) 

Big Breakfast for hubby

Food World Gourmet Cafe, Wollongong

I am a bit biased when it comes to Food World. After all, I have been dining there since 1995 and saw the expansion from a small little takeaway shop with too few tables and the usual long line of customers queuing outside, to the size it is today. I do miss those days when they were open 7 days a week and I could buy a bowl of delicious suy kao or wonton soup for $5. Alas, their prices have increased over the last 15 years (not surprisingly) and their menu expanded considerably.

Spring Rolls (with pork and prawn)

Char Keow Tew (stir fried flat rice noodles)

I still order my old favourites (being a creature of habit) and Char Keow Tew and Spring Rolls being the first on my list even though I eat everything else on their menu. Their spring rolls remind me of the ones my mum makes with pork and prawn and they even look hand-made in that they are not perfectly shaped. That's what gives spring rolls their character! 

Their stir-fried noodles are always a hit. I have found myself asking for "less less oil" when I order though (just a little tip for those healthy conscious) but nothing beats the "char" taste of a stir-fry coming from a very hot wok. You just can't get that taste at home (never mind the sticky-oily feeling on the floor and walls and the smell in your clothes when you do try to cook it yourself).

This is the place to go if you're looking for affordable meals, generous sized servings and an extensive menu to choose from including entrees, soups, rice and noodles as well as a variety of drinks and desserts.

Peter Sheppard's Cookery School, Wollongong




main: roasted pumpkin & fontina tortellini with rosemary beurre noisette



entree: confit salmon with cauliflower puree

 

dessert: vanilla and apple pain perdu, apple sorbet and blueberry compote

For anyone who hasn't tried a cooking class before, I would highly recommend this one. My husband bought me vouchers as a Xmas present and I was very excited as I had eaten at the restaurant before and could not stop raving about it.

The cooking class was heaps of fun and easy. I even got to make home-made pasta and promptly went out to buy a pasta machine afterwards.

"Peter Sheppard's Cookery School is a hands-on, fun afternoon of learning, making and eating! It runs between 11am and 2pm, where you will cook and eat 3 fabulous dishes. Cookery schools are run with 15-16 people, with dates and menus planned to suit interested parties. Cost: $90pp including GST, includes coffee at the start and the recipes to take home."

Watch the Caveau Film

Trang Vietnamese Restaurant, Wollongong

I have to admit that I’ve only ever been to this place once and I doubt I will ever be going back. I was expecting traditional Vietnamese food and was disappointed by the quality and lack of knowledge of ingredients required for even the simplest dishes. To make matters worse, they couldn’t even cook the food properly. My friend ordered combination noodle soup and the chicken was still raw and the noodles soft, soggy and overdone.

Fuji Yama Tepanyaki Restaurant, Wollongong

This is a place which I go for the entertainment. The food itself is too bland for my tastes however I like the idea of your personal chef cooking right in front of you. It's also fun to see him spinning the salt and pepper shakers when he's seasoning the food and then throwing food into your bowl for you to catch. I've been here on several occasions and each time I enjoy myself and think "it must be healthy" because there isn't much flavour. And I have room for dessert.

Oxford Tavern Bistro, Wollongong

I have to be honest, I haven't actually eaten at the Bistro. The reason why I'm mentioning this place is because I had a great time when we went for New Year's Eve drinks. With double shots on the house and everyone having a wonderful time getting intoxicatingly happy, this had to be my best new year's eve yet. I wonder if they still do double shots?

Duck Inn & Unibar, Wollongong University

My boyfriend suggested this venue for my birthday. I didn't take him seriously. It was back in the uni days when we were on Austudy. In the end we ended up going somewhere else not too much classier, but I do remember this place was good for it's chips and gravy. I would skip lectures and have chips and gravy and a Stoli with lime. Ahhh, the good old days.

Food World Gourmet Cafe, Wollongong

This place was always packed. I remember when they hadn't expanded yet there would be queues lined up outside the door every night. After the expansion they only got busier! This was my favourite restaurant during my uni days. The crispy chicken is a favourite amongst the students (only one other place makes it better, and that's in Cabramatta). I usually tried to order something different each time I went there and was never disappointed (I still haven't tried the whole menu). My boyfriend typically gets the dry beef rice noodles and satay chicken sticks.

Co May Vietnamese Restaurant, Wollongong

This is the place to go if you are looking for traditional Vietnamese food which is cooked and prepared authentically and not trying to pretend it's something which it's not. I ordered rice paper rolls for an entree and they were delicious. (Nothing beats my home-made rice paper rolls, but these do!). The spring rolls are also yummy. So are the noodles. Actually there hasn't been anything which I didn't like. This is the best Vietnamese Restaurant I've tried in Wollongong.

King's Chinese Restaurant, Wollongong

My dad absolutely loves this place. It's traditional chinese food with a handful of western dishes available. For a family of six, it's very affordable dining. One of my friend's even has his wedding reception here. This is the default restaurant we go to when we don't feel like trying something new and just want a good feed for a decent price. I have to recommend this but I'm not exactly sure what the dish is called. I just remember we ask for the tofu with the seafood on top.

Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Wollongong

The best thing about this place (back in those days) was being able to eat peanuts and toss the shells on the floor (unfortunately we can't do that now). The food was fairly priced, the service was friendly and we had so much fun throw peanuts at each other. I remember my friend complaining that "these peanuts are making me thirsty" and yet he kept eating them! I don't think there was a time when we didn't enjoy ourselves. They had so many delicious entrees and side dishes that we end up ordering a few starters and skip the main. Amarillo Cheese Fries, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Texas Prawns, Sauteed Mushrooms, Baked Potato, Baked Sweet Potato & Pumkin Soup! Of course we couldn't finish it all, but at least we had lots of fun. *sigh* If only they let us throw peanuts again!

Roppongi Japanese Restaurant, Wollongong

This was my first experience with Japanese food. I was delighted to find out that there was much more to it than raw fish. Sushi and Sashimi was interesting and then I discovered Wasabi and I fell in love. I always order the BBQ octopus and the fried bean curd.