Where better to hunker down for a feed this winter than in a cosy waterside eatery with panoramic views of the storm-tossed sea? North Bondi Fish has you covered. In partnership with Hunter Valley’s Krinklewood Wines, Head chef, Zac Sykes, is laying on Zac’s Table, a fortnightly communal feast of seasonal and sustainable seafood and fresh produce.
With a nod to Chinese and Japanese cuisines, the menu will feature loaded sashimi platters, scallops and tofu in a rich mushroom broth, and whole, succulent mud crabs dressed with ginger, shallots, soy and parsley.
We were invited to an exclusive menu tasting in anticipation of the dinner series launch, which included a roasted pork belly and a luxurious deep-fried salted caramel ice-cream stack for dessert. Don’t worry — these will be also available in the upcoming banquets, alongside a decadent crème brulee.
Speaking to Zac on the night about his impetus for curating a fusion menu, he said he was excited to diversify the offering at North Bondi Fish with a little creative license. His experimental melding of oriental cooking styles with seasonal Australian produce has delivered cuisine that is both fresh and hearty.
Organic wine from Krinklewood is also available on the set menu. We were treated to their crisp and lightly fruity 2016 Francesca Rose, but if you love a white with seafood, the Verdelho is not to be missed. We also tried fruity cocktails and prosecco. For a boozier degustation dinner, classic cocktails and the wider wine and beverage list are also available.
The social aspect of sharing a meal and a conversation is championed here, even more so when Sykes joined us at the table to talk us through the dishes. The communal table was candle-lit and flower-strewn beneath white Chinese lanterns. Such intimate shared dining was a riot.
Bring a friend and be prepared to make a couple of new ones over cracking into the crab. It’s hard not to voice your appreciation for Zac’s food to your dining companions, right down to the moreish fried rice.
– Lena
Arts journalist and skillful mud-crab cracker, Lena Hunter likes good music, trips to the mountains, and a sweet Manhattan.
Zac’s Table banquet dinners run fortnightly from 7 June–2 August 2017 at 6.30pm. Reserve your seat now.
Zac’s Table @ North Bondi Fish
120 Ramsgate Ave
North Bondi NSW
www.northbondifish.com.au
