The Chefs Office

Can anyone tell me what restaurants are recognised as the best of the best in Arabic fine dining either in the region or Europe/Worldwide?

http://www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au/ might be worth a look whilst here

Give Chatswood a miss, a bit far. My first choice would be king st wharf, then york st. Chinatown is Chinatown. Try Bayswater Brasserie for something different www.bayswaterbrasserie.com.au beef cheek pie...mmmmmm Also Eat City is very very much worth a visit for the food. www.eatcity.com.au

My back yard on a Sunday afternoon in Summer.... mmm meat!! I did my shopping on Sunday and have had the following so far: Roast Pork Rack Monday Roast Lamb Rack Tuesday Roasted Pork Fillet Wednesday

Some other helpful links: http://www.theage.com.au/ffxmedia/2005/08/30/goodfood.gif http://theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/29/1125302510082.html http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/toug...5167596604.html

Look forward to try his food very shortly. What's his name and profile? I enjoyed both food and service at Vu and most importantly is the fact that I can smoke my cigars in peace as the restaurant is geared for cigar smoking with both special ashtray and matches. In fact I enjoy more Vu than Verre as at least the view is so much better. I am not too enthusiastic about the bar at Vu as it tend to be overcrowded and over boisterous to my taste. ← James Viles Just left http://www.mintbaranddining.com.au/html/ (Intercontinental Sydney) Very personable, look for a menu that is a little more contemporary. Comes from a good background around the Sydney scene. Nancy Kinchela was the previous chef (in my eyes, she is absolutely awesome) and has left to Shanghai

Watch out for a new chef coming to Vu's at Emirates Towers in Dubai, young Aussie loaded with Talent. Starts there next week.

Darren has been on board a couple of months now. Location: not so sure... Previous reputation: thank god for the refurbishment and Darren arriving New potential: they are certainly spending a lot of $$ there on this project and as long as Darren is left to do what he does best (cook) and there are no owner's syndrome issues, it will certainly be at the top of my list. PS Chopper, did you ever work with Darren, if so where at? In the kitchen/on the floor?

Lets be clear on one thing. They are both excellent but Marque is nowhere near as highly awarded as Tetsuya. By SMH yes, the rest of the world no...

Just back from Dubai. Ate everywhere as it is my job to do so. Absolute high light - Retro, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Restaurant is a bit dated and they are set for a renovation. Food is by far the best in town. Be ready for an adventure. Stephane (ex NYC) and Ex Chef Anston are powering Best all around experience - Vu's at Emirates Towers Excellent experience, excellent food, just a little classical compared to Retro. Nancy is doing an unbelievable job there. Big let down - Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab Dated service, generally very average food. New Chef de Cuisine on the way soon, they have been without one for several months Nice surprise Zheng He at Madinat Worth a visit if in the area Rib Room at Emirates Towers Excellent but basic steakhouse style food. Very good service. FYI - all outlets in Royal Mirage have high standard food, the Arabic Court in the new section is a very nice place to hang out, drink tea, eat fruit and smoke Sheesha. It's full oflocals and that is always a good sign.

I think you will find it more sensible to leave your appliances behind. With an outlay on transformers, etc. you are likely better off picking up what is needed when you are here. Food into the Country: Australian customs will NOT ALLOW ANY food stuffs at all. Have a look at nburgess@accucom.com.au

That would be my all time favourite movie, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.

Too funny (not the part about you getting robbed of $500). I know exactly what Senor Bourdain is talking about.

Dined last night. Service was fantastic, relaxed but on the ball. Not pretentious. Food was technically brilliant and executed absolutely without mistake. David Pegrum is doing a seriously good job down there. One or two flavour combinations/choices that I thought were a little off base but obviously this is a subjective area. As I mentioned, on the technical side of things 110% so maybe my flavour journey preferences can take a back seat for the evening. Too many favourites to mention. Go if you can. Around $500 for two (we are only light drinkers), worth every cent. When comparing to European restaurants of a comparible level, Tetsuya's is fair and reasonable value for money as well.

Don't cringe too soon! http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/2548.html "Bugs" are one of Australia's great little secrets!

(Live from Sydney!) Kangaroo meat/emu/etc. is certainly not what it is all about here. Far from it. Style, influence and the passion/drive of the Australian food scene is what is the real key to the level of skill and focus here. Although I am a noted non supporter of "name" chefs over here, check out some of these links for what may be seen to be examples of great modern Aussie restaurants: http://www.ariarestaurant.com/main/index.php http://www.guillaumeatbennelong.com.au/ http://www.flyingfish.com.au/ http://www.rockpool.com/rp_home.aspx http://www.merivale.com/establishment/est/ http://www.tetsuyas.com/ http://www.becasse.com.au/ http://www.users.bigpond.com/marquerestaurant/ the list goes on....

What exactly do you wish to learn?

Eat City By the guys from www.eatagencies.com upmarket casual and nice brasserie style softly opened yesterday food is amazing still sorting the menu out but in this first week or so it is a nice time to walk right up to the (open) kitchen and talk to the chef about where he wants to take the place and the food. By him a drink, see where that gets you! upstairs at the city hotel, cnr king and kent in the city (I think it was the old pizza mario premises) Chef and owner is Jeff Schroeter.

I think that's Water's Edge rather than Watermark. Yep Darren is still there and harvesting awards. He's a good boy.

If in Sydney, check out Bayswater Brasserie, Kings Cross (I think they like to call it Potts Point now). Very nice in the back corner of the front room with the windows open.Fantastic oyster selction and many other great dishes. Their olive bread is always a must. I used to work with the owner in London, true professional.

Showing my age! There are certainly other legendary hawker centres, I just couldn't remeber all the names. There is one that sticks in my memory with the best roast pork (char siu) that I have ever tasted, just can't remember. When you go to a hawker centre, get something to eat from the stall that has the biggest line. What happened to Alkaff?

As someone who used to live in both locations I can give a small update as well: Bali - Ku De Ta http://www.kudeta.net/ Singapore - You have to go to Newton Circus for the local food or I recommend you check out the other end of the scale at Alkaff Mansion http://www.rmgtours.com/tours/incentives/a...nsion/intro.htm

There is a nice little place in Rose Bay that has what you are looking for, I'll find out the name and come back to you.