Fiji 2010

Wow, what a fabulous holiday we had in Fiji. One I would recommend to anyone that is willing to listen, especially if you have kids. There are hotels available for people who do not want any children surrounding them (honeymooners I presume), but if you are after kid-friendly staff, entertainment, packages, accommodation, food, etc then Fiji is definitely the place to go.

We stayed in a 3 bedroom villa at The Fiji Beach Resort & Spa Managed by Hilton. It was perfect. I could not find any fault in anything that was provided to us. A snippet of what the villa was like:

As you enter the villa (I should have moved the luggage bags but was too excited)

Our own kitchen. Back right there is the study. The doorway there on the left is a little nook where the fridge, washer and dryer is kept.
Back terrace

Private plunge pool with the Beach about 20m away

And of course the food....

Nachos at Hard Rock Cafe

Beef burger at Hard Rock Cafe

Crispy pork belly salad at Nuku (restaurant situated in the resort)

We ate here most nights because it was so convenient and the food was always so good.

Mahi Mahi (type of fish) cooked with coconut

Tuna with asian greens

Garlic, butter and pepper mud crab at Nuku
$FJD58 = $AUD32
Braised chicken with Ratatouille

Pork loin on a cabbage mash (that cabbage mash was so good, better than the pork. I could have happily eaten just the mash alone, but maybe 2 big bowls of it)

Affogato

Chocolate Fudge cake with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate fudge sauce


Beef in a butter sauce (not sure what greens they were)



Prawn salad

Can't remember what this was. Could have been Mahi Mahi again but cooked differently

Spaghetti Marinara

Chocolate shell with chocolate mouse and vanilla ice cream

Vanilla rice pudding creme brulee

Lemon tart

My little man enjoying some fine dining. Hopefully he'll grow up and appreciate food as much as I do.

Ahhhh good memories.....good food. Now back to reality and back to cooking again.

Aria Restaurant

Sorry for the tardy post. I've been on holidays to Fiji and I'm only just getting back into the swing of things. Before we left for our final HURRAH holiday (with baby due in May, we won't be going on any holidays for at least 2 years....hmmmmm we probably won't be fine dining for the next 2 years either!), we had a lovely dinner at Aria Restaurant. I've been wanting to try it for ages now and when I saw the dessert they made on Masterchef I definitely had to go. It took till now, thanks to my mother in law who offered to babysit Keane. And it was a gorgeous meal....everything tasted wonderful and it was so beautifully plated too. A winner in my books!

Our view to the right

Shame we weren't seated in the Harbour Bridge/Opera House area

Our view to the left

Amuse-bouche:

Something along the line of marinated salmon with dill and miso foam.

I didn't have any of this (being pregnant limits what you can eat ie I can't have the salmon because it's not cooked through and many many other limitations which I won't go into because I'll bore you....and itmakes me sad). Lucky for my husband he got to have my portion and thought it was unusual but very nice

Entree 1:

Roasted spiced scallops with prawn crisps, shaved fennel and a tamarind and date dressing.

Mmmmm I'm a sucker for scallops. There were so juicy and plump only thing letting it down was I thought they were a little over-spiced. But still a lovely dish

Entree 2:

Ballotine of rabbit, foie gras and capocollo with ginger bread, pumpkin and a pomegranite dressing.

I'm surprised my husband chose this one. But he loved it. And it was a very decent portion too especially when you have it with the ginger bread (a whole slice of bread)

Mains 1:

Steamed pink snapper fillet, beetroot puree, kohlrabi, green apple with crème fraîche.

This was perfect. I could not fault it even if I tried. Really beautiful flavours and fish cooked just right. I'm usually not a fan of having fruit with meat but the green apple really works with the snapper.

Entree 2:

Trevalla roasted with glazed witlof, chestnut mushrooms, white beans and a chicken jus.

Aria really know how to do their fish that's for sure. Crispy skin and moist right through.

We ordered a side of truffle mash. So so so good. Creamy and very satisfying.

Dessert 1:

Mango cheese cake with ginger crumble, lime jelly and lime sorbet.
Very light and a great way to finish off a meal.

Dessert 2:

Valrhona Chocolate - a rich chocolate délice with chocolate sorbet.

And of course there was no way I'd miss out on the Valrhona Chocolate. This was everything I expected and more. Totally fell in love. On the other hand my husband didn't enjoy this as much as I. He took one spoon and said that was enough. He could feel it clogging his throat.....amateur!!!!!!! I'm offended on behalf of Mr Moran hahaha!

Petit Fours:

Trying to remember back that far.....lemon curd tart, chocolate truffle and blackcurrent jelly

I can understand and appreciate why Aria was awarded 2 chef hats. The food and service really was right up there and I would not have expected anything less.

Coconut Lemon Slice

One of the easiest recipes I've ever attempted and it tastes good too. Give it a go! (Recipe below)

Butter and condensed milk being melted together

Milk Arrowroot biscuits

Crush crush...

All crushed


Crushed Arrowroot biscuits pressed down into tin

Lemon icing

The slab

EASY!

Lemon Slice

125g butter

1/2 cup condensed milk

250g pkt arrowroot biscuits or similar, crushed

1 cup coconut

1 tsp grated lemon rind (I think I grated a whole lemon instead)

Icing

1 3/4 cups sifted icing sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons coconut

15g butter

Method

1. Place butter & condensed milk in saucepan and stir over low heat until melted.

2. Combine biscuit crumbs with coconut & rind.

3. Add milk mixture and mix well.

4. Press firmly into foil lined 18x28cm slab tin.

5. Place in fridge until firm.

6. Prepare icing - combine all ingredients until smooth. Spread over base. Sprinkle with shreds of lemon & lime rind and toasted coconut if desired.

7.Cut into squares and return to fridge until icing sets.

Ribs & Rumps (Sydney Olympic Park)

We went to Ribs & Rumps for our Christmas Eve dinner. Oh how glorious was the food! In hindsight though, maybe not such a smart idea to eat such a full wholesome meal the day before Christmas haha! Still, I totally enjoyed it and can't wait to go back again.

My choice was the 1kg rack of lamb ribs ($34.95)

The menu had in brackets, these ribs are not lean. That was how I decided on the lamb ribs rather than the beef or pork.....if you are going to go out, you may as well go ALL out. These were awesome!

Ribs & Rump Combo ($40.95)

Surf & Turf ($39.95)

Fish and Chips from the kids menu ($10)
Comes with soft drink and 2 scoops of ice cream for dessert
Great value and the serving was big for a kid

Dessert selection

My choice was the chocolate cake (Menu said desserts were from $10.95). It doesn't look big in this photo but believe me it was huge! The size of my hand, huge!

Lemon tart (Menu said desserts were from $10.95)

Nothing too outstanding

Raspberry tart (Menu said desserts were from $10.95)

This was lovely

El Bulli (Surry Hills)

I had a very bad experience having Spanish tapas one time.....say about 7-8 years ago. It was a lovely meal with my then boyfriend (now husband) but I never made it home....I got to know Central public toilets a little too well......but the good thing that came out of it....I found a keeper who stood by me through the stomach cramps and had to lift me off the ground when I was doubled over in pain and force me to the loo.....too much info kids??

So 7-8 years later I had heard so much about El Bulli and it was only down the road from where I work, I was eager to try Spanish tapas again.

Complimentary bread with aioli

Pineapple and Guava juice ($4.50)

Vegetarian Albondigas de Paella - seasonal vegetables rolled with paella rice, crumbed, fried & drizzled with allioli ($14.50)

The vegetable paella ball innards

Patatas El Bulli - deep fried chat potatoes served with emulsion of fritas & bravas dressing ($10.50)

This was my favourite dish

Chorizo a la Sidra - crispy panfried chorizo & spanish onion in a cider glaze ($14.50)

Pinchitos de Pollo - skewered chicken marinated in chimichurri topped with fresh lemon ($13.50)

Ensalada Iberica - baby cos tossed with garden radish, cucumber, capsicum & shaved manchego cheese drizzled in olive oil & a spanish sherry vinaigrette ($13.50)

Churros - donut fingers rolled in cinnamon sugar, with dulce de leche (caramel), whipped cream & strawberries ($13.50)

Tapas can be fairly expensive. You can order a big variety, but the portions seem really small. But I really enjoyed it. And I thought at first I wouldn't be full but by the end I was totally stuffed and very satisfied. After such a good experience, I'd definitely go to have Spanish tapas again, no way will I wait another 7-8 years till the next time!