KitchenSlut

Dined with a girlfriend on Friday night. Her firs...

2010-07-18T09:59:53.228+10:00

Dined with a girlfriend on Friday night. Her first visit, my second. Chose the banquet.
Entrees - vege samosa with lime, calamari and a third item I have forgotten (oops). The samosas were an absolute standout and I'm sure that's why I've forgotten the third item.
Mains of spanish mackeral with a curry temura style batter (hard to describe) that were amazing, chicken green curry with that great sweet and sour bite, and beef randang that was very tasty but a bit tough. Lovely fresh greens and condiments on a side platter beautifully presented.
Desert (we were stuffed but couldn't turn back :)...) was lemon grass brulee (devine), coconut rice pudding, and those little green pancakes they do at Bay Leaf, with the sweet rice stuffing. Yummy!
The desserts were a bit slow coming and the coffee was nearly finished before they arrived but well worth waiting for.
We took our bottle of NZ Sav Blanc and received fast, attentive service although they were packed.
$38 head plus the coffees. Fantastic value for money. Next time I would share two banquests between 3 people and then we could have eaten everything - always feel guilty not clearing my plate :)

entrees sublime. but mains not so. fish cooked wel...

2010-07-17T17:13:16.304+10:00

entrees sublime. but mains not so. fish cooked well and very tasty. lamb not so: dry and dull. great splodges of orange sweet potato is not good enough. the orange variety is the least of the sweet potatoes as well. service a bit more than satisfactory.

i love the naked nut. i'm an edge hill local, and ...

2010-06-12T18:22:19.870+10:00

i love the naked nut. i'm an edge hill local, and i take all my cairns visitors there. i've never been disappointed.

devastated- here on my six weekly trip and just we...

2010-06-09T20:48:09.175+10:00

devastated- here on my six weekly trip and just went down to lumiere for dinner and it is GONE!!!!!

was so excited about some amazing french cuisine. this place was just fantastic, had eaten here many, many times and they always treated me so well. i haven't been here since march so am not sure when it went under. must have been recent as the menu is still in the harbour lights compendium in my room. very, very big loss, have no idea why this place wasn't more popular. breakfast, lunch and dinner it excelled! a huge loss.

There is some great jazz funk swing music every we...

2010-05-25T20:05:22.243+10:00

There is some great jazz funk swing music every wednesday night 7-10 with Paris Texas.
http://www.entertainmentcairns.com/lily-pad-live2-event.html

It seems this post and comments are now irrelevant...

2010-05-20T12:37:44.120+10:00

It seems this post and comments are now irrelevant with Sammy and Yama to depart The Edge at the end of May according to their latest Club Relish email:

Press Release:

Yama @ the edge to close at the end of May
Our decision to end Yama has been a difficult one, however it is an important business decision that had to be made. We would like to thank Sammy, AK and the whole Yama team and of course you our customers. Be assured that The Edge Food Store will continue to delight you for years to come.
Yama @ the edge
Open for dinner
Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings
last evening
Saturday 30 May.

Also up by The Tanks, I came across a new website ...

2010-05-15T12:30:18.053+10:00

Also up by The Tanks, I came across a new website www.cairnscookingschool.com.au
which sounds interesting but unfinished. Has anybody been to any of this lady's classes and were they any good?

Not a fan of Fettas, try Adelfia Greek Taverna Cnr...

2010-04-30T21:22:28.673+10:00

Not a fan of Fettas, try Adelfia Greek Taverna Cnr of Aplin & Grafton Street, Devine food, great staff, they also do a set menu which is to die for and bellydancing, plate smashing and zorba dancing with the patrons friday and sat nights, BIG THUMBS UP!!!!

Other business failures continue unabated while ne...

2010-04-12T12:14:30.184+10:00

Other business failures continue unabated while new ones rise in their place.

The Subway just next to Cocoa Amour on the Esplanade has closed (it was owned by Taipan Gary Boodnikoff). The Cold Rock just up the street is for sale and nearly done, but for a corner with FOUR ice cream shops this was inevitable. And the Coffee Club just outside BiLo at Cairns Central is closed, and completely gone. Several more food businesses at Cairns Central are also close to collapse after having their shop rents raised 30% and more.

It isn't a good time for Cairns.

Yes, sorry Anonymous I have now updated this post....

2010-03-29T11:08:37.331+10:00

Yes, sorry Anonymous I have now updated this post. Cafe Lumiere closed for dinner at the begining of March. I posted this separately under the heading "a sign of the times". Thanks for the comment.

Seems to be non operative at the moment. Shame! Op...

2010-03-28T15:12:30.482+10:00

Seems to be non operative at the moment. Shame! Open for breakfast and Take Away only (according to the board out the front)

Maybe in April??

Sounds like the boss is back in Darwin...

2010-03-26T22:29:18.979+10:00

Sounds like the boss is back in Darwin...

Was so happy to hear this. Will make it there soon...

2010-03-26T22:14:37.432+10:00

Was so happy to hear this. Will make it there soon. All I hope is that they will advertise their evening opening hours better and market themselves better this time! Maybe someone should send Andrew Griffiths round?

Good to see you tried it KS - this is the real dea...

2010-03-26T22:11:32.727+10:00

Good to see you tried it KS - this is the real deal. Anyone's tried this will never have the junk served elsewhere. Make sure you try the falafel as well. Even a meat eater like me makes an exception for this! Nothing like the stuff you get at the other places (do they just mix up one of those packets?).

I agree. I must have also ordered all the wrong th...

2010-03-26T21:54:42.881+10:00

I agree. I must have also ordered all the wrong things or Sammy was not cooking, because to me it tasted like Japanese food adapted for European taste. And grossly overpriced (especially for someone with assumably low overheads). I will just stick to Kampai myself for a quick, fresh and friendly Japanese bite.

Your latest experience mirrors ours. We arrived ...

2010-03-25T13:21:33.214+10:00

Your latest experience mirrors ours.

We arrived at opening, a group of employees were clustered around the entry area some still in street clothes. When someone finally noticed us standing there, they looked at their watch and said "oh, I guess we're open". We were seated and then waited while one of these employees changed into a (disheveled) uniform and reappeared.

Food also was not what it was previously.

I'm not surprised that a Cairns restaurant can't maintain consistency from one week to another - that's sadly typical here. I am surprised that this collapse in standards has occurred in one of our "flagship" hotels, however.

For your info - bottleshop next to Iga in Aplin st...

2010-03-17T18:37:47.188+10:00

For your info - bottleshop next to Iga in Aplin street is now open. Also dined at Lemonade tree last wednesday evening, was a truly fabulous meal. Beautiful fresh flavours and great sized meals. Dessert was amazing - Lemongrass infused Creme Brulee,an absolute must. Also love the BYO, a shame other restuarants don't offer this option, they are all too bloody greedy!! Keep up the great work Ray. Kellie & Allan

You're going to have to tell me what "secret hands...

2010-03-13T23:46:58.184+10:00

You're going to have to tell me what "secret handshake" you've used at the Edge to get quick service. While Sammy (Cairns longest open restaurant owner at Yama) is fabulous as always, we've found the surly and non-Japanese style service at the Edge so abusive we've given up on it. And sadly, we've found this surly nature is from the top down!

Any idea when the Woolies bottle shop mentioned wi...

2010-02-17T16:26:51.885+10:00

Any idea when the Woolies bottle shop mentioned will be open - be up there in May and looking for a bottle shop near the esplanade with resonable prices.

I LOVE this restaurant. I was a HUGE fan of these ...

2010-02-01T12:31:35.471+10:00

I LOVE this restaurant. I was a HUGE fan of these guys when they ran Star Apple at Yorkeys and devistated when they moved.

The food is gorgeously fresh, and wonderfully aromatic and perfectly compliments a hot tropical eve. Matched only by service that is attentive, personalised and engaging . Alleluia! They're back.

My family ate their last night and we had the pork...

2010-01-29T11:39:16.723+10:00

My family ate their last night and we had the pork belly curry (amazing!), the penang curry (spicy!), the lamb shanks (tender!) and the salmon.

All of the meals were of an adequate size and the $25 price tag was of excellent value for money.

Highly recommended as per the author's views.

Decided to try the "Tandoori Oven" restaurant at t...

2010-01-13T20:55:10.232+10:00

Decided to try the "Tandoori Oven" restaurant at the Mercure Rockford Palm Cove hotel.

While it was a little pricey (Indian food is usually not a high-priced item), the food was I though exceptionally good. The curry's weren't just spicy but a great balance of flavours that made it something special. Even the naan were cooked to perfection.

One item marred the experience however. The restaurant and/or hotel has a large air handler/air conditioner in the building just above the outdoor dining area. The ROAR of this unit made talking with my partner difficult, and completely destroyed the quiet ambience that one usually expects at Palm Cove.

The restaurant denied it was theirs, and the hotel manager was unhelpful.

Why don't people pay any attention to details? This is a serious flaw in this restaurant that, despite the great food and service, will stop us from going back to this restaurant.

There is an "opposite" book currently out on the m...

2010-01-05T09:22:50.383+10:00

There is an "opposite" book currently out on the market called Meals Men Love. Check out www.mealsmenlove.com.au for details.

Coco Amour on the Esplanade? Nice change from wha...

2009-12-30T17:38:44.510+10:00

Coco Amour on the Esplanade? Nice change from what was there before. However they're making a terrible mistake - selling "fish & chips"?!?!?! WTF??

The greasy smell of fish put me off completely from ordering a piece of cake. Someone's real stupid idea is this - stick to your knitting. Ain't no one going to a chocolate shop for fish, and the stench from the fish makes a horrific mix.

Regarding the comment dissing the Salt House becau...

2009-12-30T07:40:36.682+10:00

Regarding the comment dissing the Salt House because they didn't handle an epileptic seizure well. . .

I don't judge a restaurant based on how they handle medical issues. I also don't judge the Cairns Base on how good the martinis are.

Sounds more like a disgruntled restaurateur.