Siana satisfies

I have been incredibly slack / sick / Christmassing / juggling a new job so they are going to be my excuses for why I haven't posted in quite some time! That's not to say I haven't been doing a hell of a lot of eating out lately- I have! It has just been harder than I anticipated to actually put pen to paper...or should I say fingers to keyboard...or whatever...you get the point. ANYWAY, I'm back with a gigantic backlog of gluttonous adventures to spill, so get your forks out!

Siana Long Island Green Iced Tea

Almost a month ago now, I had the enjoyment of a whirlwind trip to Brisbane for the weekend. My good friend Miss D's partner had planned a surprise birthday dinner at the iconic riverside dining spot, Siana. I had read mixed reviews about it so was quite apprehensive about what to expect from my dining experience. The stately staircase leading upstairs to Siana's entrance made a dramatic first impression and to add to that drama, we realized Miss D and her other half were an arm's length behind us - leading to a brief frenzied panic among those of us whom were supposed to be surprise guests at the dinner! Fortunately we escaped being spotted and scurried into the bustling bar area before any unwanted case of premature surprises.

Not ones to mess around, four of us girls went straight for the hardest, strongest thing we could find on the exquisite menu of cocktaily deliciousness: the Siana Long Island Green Iced Tea: a lethal yet mouthwatering combo of Tanqueray Gin, Belvedere Vodka, Bacardi Rum, Sho Chiku Bai Sake, Herredura Silver, Ginger Liqueur, lime & lemon juice, ginger, lemongrass, topped with ginger beer and piled into a chilled glass almost ginormous enough to swim in. Boozey heaven. Thinking it wise to perhaps line our stomachs with something a little more substantial than spirits, we picked a bunch of scrummy looking items to share for dinner. First up, six delicate bite sized rice paper rolls ($13) crammed full of yummy fresh herbs, pickled vegetables and served with a little dipping pot of chilli & vinegar. Delish.

Rice paper rolls

Next up was the Gyoza ($15) five lightly fried dumplings filled with chicken, water chestnut, coriander & spices - definitely my absolute favourite dish of the night. Miss D & I demolished four Peking Duck Wraps (Traditionally Rolled Chinese Pancake w/ Cucumber, Shallots & Hoisin Sauce $19) between the two of us in a matter of seconds! Miss C ordered the Chicken & Prawn Pad Thai (Rice Noodles stir fried with Chinese Chives,  Tamarind Sauce, Roasted Cashew Nuts, Chicken & Prawns - $27) however was left a little underwhelmed with the dish. Fortunately most of the dishes exceeded expectations, which I suppose perhaps compensated for the one dish we didn't enjoy so much.

Peking duck wraps

Whether it be for a cheeky cocktail by the river, or a full blown Asian-fusion feast, Siana is certainly worth checking out on your next trip to Brisvegas. Whatever you do, just don't do what I did and go suss out their website beforehand. I'm sorry to say but it is cringe-worthy, daggy-central! Now I know the first thing you want to do is Google that shizz and see what I'm on about.

Siana - City
Upper Plaza Level
Riparian Plaza
71 Eagle Street Brisbane, Qld.
ph: 07 3221 3887

Jeremy's gives Melbourne food a run for it's money

Last weekend when I was back in Brisbane to celebrate my birthday with old friends and see Fame with my parentals, I was delighted when Dad suggested doing dinner at Jeremy's Espresso Bistro in Albert Street, near the Brisbane botanical gardens. A family favourite for many years, Jeremy's never fails to impress me and stand out from what is unfortunately still a city with relatively sub-par CBD dining. I have eaten at Jeremy's for breakfast, lunch and dinner over the last few years since discovering it way back when I first moved to Brisbane for uni. Not once have I had an unpleasant experience. The food is outstanding and the service is beyond excellent.

On this occasion, we rocked up at an early 5.30pm with ravenous appetites after having a late Saturday breakfast and skipping lunch. We were welcomed immediately by our delightful waiter who had the thickest Italian accent I have heard. He ensured us the best seats in a cosy corner of the restaurant (I do love cosy corners!) and gave us his undivided attention all evening - I suppose one of the benefits of getting in super early! To start, I had a glass of pinot noir (I can't remember the rest of the details) and we were presented with a complimentary appetiser, a spoonful of tender marinated lamb and pinenuts atop a creamy parsnip puree. It was an explosion of flavour in one tiny mouthful...what a treat!

For entrees, we shared a plate of melt-in-your mouth seared scallops on potato blini with sauce veirge along with some crusty toasted sourdough, a generous helping of juicy kalamata olives and a fruity Italian extra virgin olive oil. As if on cue, our waiter launched into an animated story about his family's olive oil business back in Italy and his love of one of my favourite things in the world: olive oil with bread. Yuuuum. I could totally live off that delightful little combo. None of this butter business, I'm all about the olive oil.

Our mains were served quickly after, and proved yet again that Jeremy's can do no wrong. Dad and I ordered the special: Beef Eye Fillet with Truffled Mash, Roasted Beetroot and Beef Jus. The thick cut of steak was cooked perfectly medium rare - we suspected first in the steamer and then in the pan to seal in the juices - and the buttery mash had a beautiful, silky consistency that complimented the sweetness and texture of the roasted beetroot wedges. Mum, who has a restricted diet due to health issues, had a generous helping of Chicken and Vegetable Scotch Broth and an enormous plate of fresh and colourful stir-fried vegetables. Yet another reason I love this place: the staff don't cringe when Mum has to explain that she is unable to eat most of the items on the regular menu. Many restaurants put her in the 'too-hard basket' and she ends up going hungry to avoid making a fuss. But Jeremy's chefs embrace the challenge and give her extra special treatment rather than complaining that she is a difficult customer. By all reports, both her meals were fantastic.

For the final course, I lashed out and went chocolate-crazy with the Chocolate and almond brownie with Valrhona chocolate sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. It was as decadent as it sounds and every bite to die for. The brownie was moist with a slight crispiness on the outside, and the perfect nutty texture inside was just the way I liked it! The chocolate sauce had a very dominant cocoa flavour and virtually no sweetness at all. This was unexpected at first but after a few more mouthfuls I decided it really balanced out the sweetness of the icecream and brownie itself. Jeremy's is elegant and sopisticated without being pretentious. This combined with the relaxed vibe and friendly atmosphere makes this Brisbane restaurant a winner in my books!

Jeremy's Espresso Bistro
93 Albert Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
(07) 3210 6529‎