Crave SIFF: Sugar Hit 2011 - Azuma Kushiyaki, Spiedo and Tomislav

Are you guys doing your fair share of Sugar Hits this year? I know I am! Massive post about not one, not two, but THREE Sugar Hits (plus dinner :P) below. 

Please scroll down and enjoy! You're very welcome to salivate over your screens. Just make sure it doesn't go into your keyboard cause that might cause some problems :)

Azuma Kushiyaki

As usual, Azuma Kushiyaki - Bar and Grill did a East meets West dessert tasting platter. I really like their creativeness and they come up with weird but delicious combos using Western desserts with Eastern elements.

 

Azuma Kushiyaki Sugar Hit Menu

The Sugar Hit is served with a 2010 Brown Brothers Orange Muscat and Flora but you can also change that to either a Hennessy Cognac or green tea.

Anmitsu

Assorted seasonal fruits, tapioka pearls, shiratama rice dumplings covered in kinako powder served with a Japanese brown sugar syrup. I loved every element in this small bowl. The sweetness of the fresh, ripe fruits, the bounciness of the tapioka pearls and the soft, fluffy texture of shiratama rice dumplings was almost heavenly.

White Sesame Ice Cream

I didn't particularly like the ice cream as I found the flavours to be really subtle and has a raw sesame taste. It would've been much better if they toasted the sesame beforehand.

Sake Sample

A delicately sweet sake with yuzu. I was so cut that other tables got a wine glass full of it and ours was so tiny :(

Sake Sponge Bites and Handcrafted Chocolate

Two bite sized butter cakes soaked in Japanese sake held together with a decorated toothpick. On the right is a handcrafted dark and milk chocolate praline with chocolate ganache, enrobed in dark chocolate with hidden poprocks.

 

Green Tea Tiramisu

Shochu soaked sponge fingers layered with mascarpone, fresh cream and matcha powder.

Spiedo

We originally planned for Ocean Room Sugar Hit but it was sooooo far from Tomislav so Spiedo it is! We sat at the Stuzzibar but the full dinner menu is available.

Spiedo Stuzzibar

Pirlo $36/Jug

It is only natural for Miss K and I to get cocktails.  We love our fancy alcohol *^-^*. We chose their specialty cocktail...in a jug :D

It contains a blend of Prosecco and Aperol, lengthened with sparkling mineral water and finished with orange. The cocktail was a little bit diluted, mainly consisting of mineral water but it's still a refreshing and citrusy drink.

 

Salad of Baby Beetroot $14

Salad of baby beetroot, pumpkin, goats gorgonzola, mint and walnuts.  It's the first time I've seen baby beetroots! I never knew they were orange before they turned purple when ripen.

Homemade Potato Gnocchi $18

Homemade potato gnocchi with gorgonzola and green peas. The gnocchi was covered in a layer of gorgonzola making it extra delicious. It is a very hearty and filling dish...a little too filling... so this was left mainly untouched :(

Salumi Selection $23

I had my eyes on this dish from the very start. The people that knows me know my love for jamon, proscuitto and salami. The dish is a selection of salami with marinated fennel, olives, artichoke and crackers which I shared with Miss K.

The Sugar Hit and Spiedo starts a little bit earlier and I've seen some desserts being brought out since 8:30pm. I had been letting out squeals here and there every time it went past me and tried to rush my dinner so I can get my hands on those babies as soon as possible.

Sugar Hit at Spiedo

Since Spiedo is a new restaurant, this is the first time they've participated in the Crave SIFF events. Their Sugar Hit certainly looks promising with beautiful presentation and vibrant colours. The Sugar Hit is coupled with a 2010 Brown Brothers Orange Muscat and Flora.

Buttermilk Panna Cotta, Strawberry Granita and Basil

A very light and delicate buttermilk panna cotta with strawberry granita, crumbs, deep fried basil and a swirl of white chocolate to decorate. The panna cotta was nicely coupled with the buttery crumbs that brought contrasting textures to the mouth. The strawberry granita was full of fruity flavour and was my favourite. I could certainly be content with eating it alone. I thought the flavours in the granita was a bit overpowering for the panna cotta as I couldn't taste it when eaten together.

Tomislav

I was enjoying my food so much at Spiedo that I lost track of time. When I finally remember to check the time, it was already 9:30pm. Crap. We made a booking at Tomislav at 9:45pm so we quickly polished off our food, paid and ran out of Westfield to grab a taxi.  Made it! but just.

Tomislav offers 4 different desserts for Sugar Hit. Since we got there at near closing time, they only had the apple crumble left.  It's fine with me; I was going to chose the apple crumble anyway but I would really like to photograph others too :(

Sugar Hit at Tomislav

 

2009 Belgravia Gewurztraminer

The wine is not a Brown Brothers dessert wine but a 2009 Belgravia Gewurztraminer which had a musk,citrus and spice taste.

Peppermint Tea

The service was flawless at Tomislav with the waitstaff very friendly and approachable.  Miss R does not drink alcohol and they went out of their way in offering an alternative to make her experience more enjoyable. In the end, Miss R opted for a Peppermint Tea which they happily gave.

Warm Apple Crumble with Rhubarb Sorbet and Macadamia Sponge

The description said caramel ice cream but we were presented with a rhubarb sorbet. We really did come very late haha!

The macadamia sponge was moist and squishy. It is then topped with baked apple slices and sprinkled with apple crumble coupled with a rhubard sorbet and macadamia powder which are rolled into balls. Finally, it was drizzled with a ring of honey to complete.  A very fine dessert and I couldn't ask for more.

Azuma Kushiyaki - Bar and Grill

Location: Regent Place, 501 George Street Sydney NSW 2000

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday from 12pm, Monday - Sunday from 6pm

Phone: 02 9267 7775

Website: http://www.azuma.com.au/kushiyaki/home.php

Spiedo

Location: Shop 6004-6005 Level 6, Westfield Sydney, 188 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 11pm, Saturday - Sunday 10am - 11pm
Phone: 02 8072 9999

Website: http://www.spiedo.com.au

Tomislav

Location: Level 2 / 13 Kirketon Road, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 6pm - 10pm, Friday 12pm - 3pm

Phone: 02 9356 4535

Website: http://www.tomislav.com.au

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