Things I've learnt from Taste of Sydney 2010

The last four days were all about the food festivals. Melbourne is celebrating their Food and Wine, yesterday saw Hyde Park peppered with NSW wine stalls at Cellar Door Festival and Centennial Park, once again, played host to the city's favourite DIY degustation - Taste of Sydney.

Organic tomato samples

Last year it was a dual attack with The Captain and I on a hot Sunday arvo, where I had plenty of time to meander and eat as I pleased (actually a majority of the time was spent chatting and drinking with Windowrie Wines heh). This time however, I had reinforcements - all equally hungry, all equally clueless with public transport (hehe) and some with even more frighteningly large cameras. And then there was one special gal who only had one thing on her mind - getting her hands on an infamous and naughty dessert...

...Jonah's wondrously creamy vanilla panna cotta that was just as wobbly and boobilicious as last year.

Jonah's at Whale Beach: Vanilla panna cotta with lavender honey and fresh pomegranate

Things I've learnt from Taste of Sydney 2010:

• I never thought beef and watermelon would ever go together in one dish but it seems that Danks Street Depot has shown me the light.

Danks Street Depot: Beef ribs smoked in watermelon with a watermelon and avocado salad

• Something as simple as tender beef and potato mash will always remain a favourite of mine. I would marry Guillaume Brahimi if he promised to make this for me every night.

Guillaume at Bennelong: Wagyu beef daube with Paris mash

• Taste of Melbourne has a better venue (the beautiful Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton). Centennial Park is tedious and public transport can be a bitch. Prepare to walk at least a kilometre to the actual festival from the bus!

• Taste of Sydney has an awesome Producer Market (you can get filled up just from eating the samples!). And miracle of miracles, Taste of Sydney has actual non-alcoholic beverages (Preshafruit Juice FTW). Bottom line, if you go to Taste of Melbourne, you better like wine (or at least bring your own non-alcoholic bevy).

• If you haven't tasted a Fuji apple juice from Preshafood, then you haven't lived.

• Taste of Sydney always seemed to do better meat dishes (Guillaume! Guillaume!). However, Taste of Melbourne offers more sublime and beautiful seafood dishes.

• More tables and places to eat and convene with fellow food-lovers makes for happier patrons.

• Big blocks covered in chic faux lawn turf is a killer impromptu food styling background.

• Taste of Sydney 2010 rocked.

Click for more photos.

Danks Street Depot: 'Saucy Tart' with chocolate mousse and liquid raspberry centre

Danks Street Depot: Organic chicken liver parfait with sweet vinegar raisins and dressed baby herbs

Restaurant Balzac: Saddle of suckling pig with garden peas and smoked bacon jus

Assiette: Miso glazed regal salmon with Japanese radish salad

Bécasse: Chocolate Soufflé

Oh baby!

Guillaume at Bennelong: Pistachio Macarons

Pilu at Freshwater: Risotto with Crystal Bay prawns and zucchini

Pilu at Freshwater: 'Zippulas' - Sardinian donuts with citrus sugar

Plan B: Organic grass-fed Wagyu beef burger

Bird Cow Fish: Braised Cape Grim beef cheek and glazed onion pie in a sour cream and puff pastry case and red wine jus

Aria: Cured ocean trout with cucumber and horseradish

El Toro Loco: Paella de Maestra

Berowra Waters Inn: Quail breast with truffled risotto croustillant

Restaurant Balzac: Crispy Wagyu beef with wild mushroom and truffle foam

And just for kicks... a final look at the notorious 'booby panna cotta' for 2010!

Broken vanilla teat = sadness

Citrus and Candy attended Taste of Sydney 2010 thanks to Stellar* Concepts Australia. All food and beverages were paid for by Citrus and Candy.

Want more Taste?

• Taste of Sydney 2009
• Taste of Melbourne 2009