Greek Salad (dressed with Cretan Minos extra virgin olive oil) – $11
It had to happen didn’t it? After we were amazed, mesmerised and nearly killed by our last massive Greek banquet, we knew we had to return to Perama. It’s amazing to think that even after the marathon of last time (where there were apparently 35 dishes!), there were still things on the menu that we didn’t get to try!
So with that in mind, we had to finish the job. By we, I mean me and a handful of hungry lovely ladies who were present at Feast Numero Uno. Our agenda was clear. Attack the dishes that we didn’t try the first time as well as to feast on as many repeat performances and old favourites…until our guts tell us to stop or the elastic in our pants snapped.
Trio of dips – Tarama (Taramosalata), Tzatziki and Split Pea
I was reluctant to re-blog this restaurant seeing as our last visit wasn’t that long ago but the simple fact is that this food was too good to hide! It was a fantastic night with another 5.5 hour marathon of delicious food and fabulous company. Forget fine dining, there is much joy to be had in honest and unpretentious comfort cooking and Perama has comfort oozing in spades. The only problem is since I’ve now been spoilt too much with long, drawn out dinners, any meal that goes for less than 3 hours just feels too short!
Now that the wine is flowing and the starters and salads have been nibbled on, here are 23 reasons you should get yourself to Perama (but as if you needed more convincing!).
#1 BBQ Haloumi Cheese
Chargrilled Cypriot haloumi cheese served with freshly chopped tomato & shallot, olive paste and honey peppered figs – $17.20
#2 Graviera Crumbed Haloumi – $6.50
L: BBQ Haloumi, R: Crumbed Haloumi
#3 Sheftalies (Cypriot Sausage) – $6.50
#4 An off-the-menu dish of tender lamb rolled in grilled eggplant
#5 Zucchini Fritters – $5.50
#6 Crab and Calamari Patties
I’m in love! It’s seafood and it’s fried! *froths at the mouth*
#7 Chick Pea Patties
Not a big fan of chickpeas but this has converted me (but then again everything tastes better fried!).
#8 BBQ Marinated Artichokes – $5.50
#9 Chicken Zagora
Pan fried chicken served with roasted apples, chestnuts, served silverbeet and a spiced prune puree. Named after a city famed for its apples and chestnuts – ent 16.70 main 26.90
I’ve always loved the combination of savoury meat and sweet fruit – especially apples and prunes!
#10 Pork Belly Baklava
Layers of filo pastry, pork belly meat, date and pistachios topped with crackling and served with a date and mastic sauce – $17.80
Oh my god how I love this dish which had all of us groaning without inhibition. Try taking a bite of the crispy pastry and nuts and enjoy how it melds with the sweetness of the dates and the pork, before ending the mouthful with a crunch of the ultra salty crackling. That my friends, is magic and one plate of magic just isn’t enough.
#11 Handrolled Filo Pumpkin Pie
Baked village style hand rolled filo and pumpkin pie served with a roasted beetroot, leek and mustard puree – $26
#12 Mulloway Kakavia
Mulloway fillets cooked in a seafood tomato broth with barley, carrots,celery and fennel – $27
#13 Lobster Moussaka
Layers of potato and artichoke dauphinoise, grilled eggplant, poached lobster and a lemon and saffron bechamel. Served with minted ribbons of cucumber – $35
Ah the dish that we were all itching for and it didn’t disappoint. The only minor gripe I had was that the lobster was absent of that ocean, briny taste that I love in my seafood.
How’s the waistline doing? Well undo another button on your pants because there are still the desserts to come!
Red Wine, White wine and Glasses of Greek Muscat Dessert Wine
#14 Lemon-Egg Ice Cream
After a bit of research, I found out “egg-lemon” in Greece is called an Avgolemono and is a typical sauce to use on dolmathes. Perhaps that’d explain the next dessert dish? Whatever it was, it was seriously good! Embarassingly this brought out the most spontaneous animalistic groan that I had no control over. But soon enough Lis joined me and we were moaning together after every spoonful. So much so that even the remaining desserts tasted just that extra bit special with a topping of lemon ice cream. True to form, I took to drinking up the puddles of melted icecream with my spoon.
#15 Dessert Dolmathes – rice pudding wrapped in mint leaves
A future accompaniment to the Lemon-egg ice cream? I actually didn’t mind the mild taste of the rice pudding with the mint leaves (then again I’m not a rice pudding afficionado per se). A touch of cinnamon or extra spice would’ve added a tasty kick but the simplest solution? Dip it in the melted lemon ice cream. Oh baby.
#16 Caramel Baklava Ice Cream
Sliced layers of vanilla bean ice cream, caramel sauce and baklava.
#17 Bougatsa
Mandarin flavoured milk semolina custard wrapped in filo. Served with a tahini and mint cream sauce (both $13.50 each)
Oh the caramel baklava ice cream – how I love thee!
#18 Turkish Delight
#19 Olive Oil Ice Cream
#20 Ekmek
Oven fired brioche soaked in a spiced sugar syrup and served with kaymaki (clotted cream) – $13
#21 Rice Pudding
Milk, vanilla and cinnamon rice pudding served with rhubarb poached in sweet brandy syrup – $13
#22 Pears in Red Wine Syrup
Pears poached in a spiced wine syrup,
served with fresh strained yoghurt and pasteli (sesame honey biscuit) – $13.50
#23 This is the Greek maestro himself, Chef and Owner of Perama, David Tsirekas – friendly, warm and loves to talk. If he’s not too busy, don’t be afraid to say a quick hi!
It took two different Friday nights and about 11.5 hours of feasting but finally we got through the entire menu of Perama - the very first time that I’ve literally eaten my way through a restaurant. It’s a fine testament to a great venue if I’m already looking to do it all again in the near future with great excitement. Heck, I was even thinking about future return trips even before desserts were finished! Fabulous food, a fabulous host and great company. What’s not to love about it all?
Yes we were all smiles that night!
- – -
Read about my other feasts:
The other lovely ladies in attendance (in no particular order):
- Lisa – Spicy Ice Cream
- Lorraine – Not Quite Nigella
- Trina – Foraging Otaku
- Leona and Lis – Pigged Out
- Lili – Pikelet & Pie
- Steph – Raspberri Cupcakes
- Betty J – The Hungry Girl
- Betty P – Betty’s Bites
PERAMA
(now closed)
88 Audley Street
Petersham, NSW 2049
(02) 9569 7534
Open Tuesday to Saturday 6- 10:30pm
B.Y.O. wine $6 per bottle.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Hehe how odd, I was just wondering on my way to work when the Perama posts would start appearing. I found this time around much more satisfying for some reason! And all the dishes we were trying for the first time were all really good. I'm already counting down until we can go back again!
fantastic photos yet again Karen
the night was fun (and filling) hehe
& you're right, i wouldnt mind a 3rd trip!
Hehe. You & your ice cream seriously needed to get a room! Lol. Gorgeous pics as always, and lovely to dine with you again :)
Karen, wow this looks like the perfect dinner. Fantastic food, lots of it, friends, good conversation, indulgence and a nice warm location. That is something typical to the Greek culture.
I haven't been back for a couple of years, but think this time I definitely need to go in a group for the banquet as I only went with one other person and tried few dishes.
David is such a genius. I have been craving his quail and his pita for the past month actually.
hmmmmm I'll have to book soon
thanks for making my cravings even stronger!
Hi!
We stumbled across your blog while searching for what people in Sydney thought about dining out in this city. Our latest copy of Time Out magazine features the Food Awards; a detailed listing and review of the top restaurants, cafes, burgers, Thai food, etc. and your blog is really relevant to what we're trying to do.
We would really like for you to take a look at it (through the magazine or online here http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/restaurants/sydneyfoodawards/) and let us know what you think. Do you agree with our winners? Or did we get it totally wrong? Is there something great that we missed?
Love it or hate it, we would really like to hear your thoughts either way.
Have a great day, and happy dining!
You couldn't squeeze just one more course in?
Wow the lighting looks so much better this time! Did they install “foodblogger-friendly” lights? :D
Mmmm again, everything looks so good and yet again, another epic feast!!!
OM Freaking Gawd. You went through the entire menu?!? LOL. I had actually wondered, when you tweeted about it, whether you were there the same day as I was but I was there on a Tues. I haven't yet made my way through the menu so you've set me a challenge! I also got to try some of the Avgolemono Ice Cream. Loved it.
Awesome post Karen! Reliving the night through your words…
Gee, yes, I really needed a couple more reasons to visit Perama. Thanks for providing them! And 5.5 hours – you must really have great stamina.
Karen, after seeing this post, I know I should try Perama out!
What a fun night that was! And yes as if we needed any more reasons to visit Perama but here you are presenting everyone with 23 more! :)
“squeaky haloumi”… that's funny. it really is squeaky, but i love it.
Great pics. They all look so delicious. I'm especially mesmerised by the Pork Belly Baklava and the Bougatsa.
omg once again, soo jealous. Hopefully we'll get a booking for Perama soon.
Hmmm this place is definitely on my next to-visit list!
hey i just noticed, im the 'all smiles' girl!
haha :)
i was hoping to find out, what that little alcoholic cup of drink was, that we got towards the end of desert???
email me! :)
{ 1 trackback }