When my favourite T.V show of all time ended nearly 10 years ago, I thought life just wouldn't be the same without my F.R.I.E.N.D.S. It's never easy to see your favourites go, and with that we bid a farewell to Universal. After graciously bracing the Sydney eatery scene for 6 years, Christine Manfield announced the closure of one of Australia's finest with Saturday 27 April 2012 being it's last trading day. Many of you may have already heard of Manfield from cult cooking show, Masterchef Australia, who presented one of her signature dishes 'Gaytime Goes Nuts' for a finale challenge. It has long been delayed, but it was finally my turn to check out what this two-hatted restaurant was all about.
Unfortunately I will not be doing a review of the restaurant as it is closing, so this will mainly be a picture post.
Drinks Menu featuring burning fire light and table water
[L to R]: Turkish Apple Rose - Rose Vanilla Bean Syrup, Square One Organic Vodka, Apple Liqueur and Lime$18
Geisha Girl - Sake, Plum Wine, Square One Cucumber Vodka, Elderflower and Lemon $18
Geisha Girl - Sake, Plum Wine, Square One Cucumber Vodka, Elderflower and Lemon $18
Complimentary sourdough bread and olive oil
Braised Octopus, Watermelon and Potato Salad $28
Sichuan Spiced Duck, Seared Scallops, Lychee Salad $32
Ocean Trout $31
Smoked Tofu and Shiitake Mushroom Sandwich w Yellow Beans, Tempeh and Chilli Caramel $30
Haloumi w Onion Rings on bed of Saffron Rice $29
Pork Belly w Wild Mushrooms $31
The famous Gaytime Goes Nuts w Honeycomb Ice Cream, Caramel Parfait, Chocolate Crunch and Salted Hazelnut Caramel $25
Snap, Crackle and Pop $20
The stand out dish of the night was the smoked tofu and mushroom sandwich. It was full of flavour and textures and I will start drooling every time I think about it. The pork belly is definitely my second choice. Moist melt in your mouth belly with crunchy crackle, with the most mouth watering broth.
The Gaytime Goes Nuts is everything I imagined when watching the finale on Masterchef. Breaking into the crack of the outer layer to reveal the ice cream inside. Toffee hazelnuts and that mousse. Worth getting fat for.
Unfortunately this is a delayed post and the menu has changed since and it is closing already, but here's in hopes that Manfield will open up another restaurant real soon similar to Universal, or that an equally as brilliant restaurant opens up in its place. This has been by far one of the most wonderful dining experiences. Each dish just as good as the last with no fault to any of them, and staff were very friendly and attentive. I bid thee, Universal, good bye. Hopefully we will meet again some day.
Labels: food