Christmas at Shangri-La

Love Martinis?

Love Chocolates?

Love Cake?

If you said yes to the above, this is for you.  From 14 December till 25 December 2011, you can enjoy a Gluhwein Martini with a dessert platter in the Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La for $25pp.

 

In the set, you will get a Gluhwein Martini with 4 specially prepared cakes served on a frosted perspex slab.

 

Gluhwein Martini Set

 

Gluhwein Martini

A deliciously sweet martini with Absolut vanilla Vodka, cranberry juice, reduced Gluhwein and orange zest granish. I don't usually like martinis because I think they are very bitter but this one is sweet and fruity with a faint vanilla aroma. It got my tick of approval.

Gateau Opera

The cakes served was similar to the ones from this year's Sugar Hit. This Gateau Opera has already made an appearance in October containing layers of Kahlua soaked sponge with hazelnut chocolate crunch and coffee butter cream.

 

Chocolate Bavarois

This cake was also in the Sugar Hit but I am very glad to see it again as it was my favourite.  The cake consists of a ring of jaconde sponge with a smooth mousse like filling with a mini pipette filled with raspberry coulis inserted to the dessert which meant to be squeezed into the centre. I squeezed in the rapsberry coulis and it exploded on me with the forces of air blowing the cocoa powder everywhere :(

Rice Pudding and Vanilla Slice, Whisky Candy Bar (Behind)

The vanilla slice cake was a variant of the pistachio slice served for the Sugar Hit. Vanilla sponge with a white chocolate and rice pudding bavarois, pistachio glaze and a decorated piece of white chocolate to finish.

The whisky candy bar is a nicely textured cake with a crispy feuilletine base, topped with whisky infused chocolate. The feuilletine base was so crispy that for a moment I thought I was eating pop rocks! 

Merry Christmas Folks!

They even have Merry Christmas written in chocolate! :D

Walked past Town Hall on the way back and wheeeee! Light show!

Sugarpuffi attended the Christmas at Shangri-la 2011 courtesy of Crystal Ling.

Lobby Lounge, Shangri-La

Location: 176 Cumberland Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 7am - Late , Sun 8:30am - Late

Phone: 02 9250 6144

Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/sydney/shangrila/dining/restaurant/lobbylounge

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Xanthi Bar and Restaurant

PIGGIE BUTT!!

Teehee! :D

Pig on Spit at Xanthi

Btw, I'm soooooooooooooooooo sorry for the late post! Let me redeem myself by showing you my feeble attempts to photograph things other than food...FAIL! Pictures are taken in my community garden :)

Xanthi Bar and Restaurant

Anyway, back to food. Had lunchie with my favourite girls at Xanthi on one rainy/cold/windy day but our love of food let us braved the harsh conditions.

Xanthi Menu

Xanthi is a new restaurant now open in Westfield Sydney that serves authentic Greek food with lots and lots of ouzo :D  The interior decor is filled with Greek elements and I'm in love with this lamp!

Greek Lamp

We started off with some complimentary sourdough with olive oil.

Complimentary Bread with Olive Oil

 

Greek Lemonade (Gozoza) $4

Ouzomezedakia - Small Sharing Plates

 

Tarama Dip $7

Tarama is a salted and cured cod roe which gives it that prettily pink colour. The dip is accompanied with three crisp bread with butter, sprinkled with black and white sesame.

Greek Salad $12

Cucumber, tomato, black olives, fetta, capsicum, Spanish onion, dried oregano with Elea Creta extra virgin olive oil.

Honey Peppered Figs $7

Dried figs prepared in a pepper, honey, balsamic vinegar and spice syrup.

Fried School Prawns $9

School prawns tossed in a honey, fish sauce, sesame seed and flaked almond dressing. This is some great tasting prawns! The prawns are fried till super crisp and the shells are coated evenly with sweet sweet honey. It's like eating crunchy toffee but prawns! Tis crowned my favourite dish of the day.

Zucchini Fritters $8

A mixture of shredded zucchini and haloumi with dill, mint and parsley.

Apo Tin Plastira - From the Wooden Board

 

Pork Belly Baklava $18

Shredded pork belly with a date and pistachio filling and crackling served with a date and mastic sauce. This is a little different from other savory baklavas I've tried as the bottom of the roll contains date and pistachio filling making it sweet, complimenting the pork really well and adds an extra juicy touch to the overall texture. Another of my favourite dish from Xanthi!

Apo Tin Souvla - From the Spit

250g of Pig $40

Meat from the piggie we've seen from the first picture...I'm sorry to eat you little buddy, but you're delicious!

Yia Tous Latreis Ton Glykon - For the Lover of Sweets

No meal is complete without dessert! You should see the horrid face Miss. J made when I suggested 3 desserts instead of her proposed 1. I won. Naturally.

Byzantine 'Ekmek' $12.50

The peasants of Byzantine Constantinople roasted sliced sweet sour dough brioche, served it with kaymaki (clotted cream) and a spiced honey syrup. A super fat slab of yummy brioche with cream. Bliss.

Caramel Baklava Ice Cream $13.50

Sliced layers of vanilla bean ice cream, caramel sauce and baklava. Oh this baby is awesome! It's like an ice cream cake, Greek style! filled with a layer of pistachio crumbs and drizzled with caramel sauce...*drool*

Garden of Aphrodite $15

Such a pretty dessert consisting of sheep milk pudding served with raspberry and beetroot gel. Fresh mandarin segments, crystallised rose petals and ouzo meringues with a dusting of pistachio and dark chocolate powder.

Baroque Bistro

There was also a cheese market that day at The Rocks so I braved the rain, again, to have a look at my beloved cheese but it closed early due to the rain! Argh! To soothe my broken heart, I rewarded myself with 5 macarons from Baroque Bistro<3

Macarons from Baroque Bistro $2.50 ea

They are like, so awesome.

My favourites are the salted caramel and rosewater :D

Xanthi Bar and Restaurant

Location: Level 6, Westfield Sydney, Corner Pitt Street Mall & Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Opening Hours: Friday - Saturday 8am – midnight, Sunday - Thursday 8am – 11pm

Phone: 02 9232 8535

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

Baroque Bistro

Location: 88 George Street (corner of Hickson Road) The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000

Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday Midday - Late, Sunday Midday - 4:30pm

Phone: 02 9241 4811

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

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