One Hatted (2013, SMH), One Star (2013, Gourmet Traveller) and top 100 in Australia - what more convincing do you need to make a trip to the beautiful Rose Bay. Perhaps one of the best geographically positioned restaurants in Sydney (nothing can compare to The Quay), with a food and wine list to make you drool. Catalina has been a family run restaurant since its open in 1994. In 2008, it went through refurbishment to include an outdoor bar area and menu. I'm fairly certain Catalina was 2-3 hatted in its earlier years, however I can say for certain its decline in hats are not due its decline in quality - more due to everyone else's incline.
Complimentary Bread & Still Mineral Water ($12 p/bottle)
Mocktails (L to R): Apple Pilar; Ruby Raspberry $12 each
Two very contrasting flavour drinks, both delicious. The Apple Pilar is refreshing with a hint of mint with cloudy apple juice. The Ruby Raspberry is a sweeter concoction, very fruity and girly. Both would of been excellent cocktails!
Daily Special: Chirashi Sushi - slices of raw fish served on bed of sushi rice $32
Today's daily list comprised various Japanese-esque dishes prepared by the master sushi chef, Yoshinori Fuchigami. The chirashi suushi was served with various slices of raw salmon, tuna, and kingfish. Also on the plate was a large cooked prawn cut open, fish roe, Japanese pickled ginger and wasabi. Was very much like a de-constructed sushi sans nori. Very light (surprisingly) way to start off our lunch.
Pan Seared Sea Scallops w Black Truffle, Spanner Crab and Leek Tortellini $34
Scallops were seared beautifully, full of flavour and not chewy at all. The tortellini dumplings had a nice thin pastry filled with crab meat and leek. I think the orange thing it carrot purée, not too sure what the green sauce was, however it was all quite aesthetically pleasing.
Daily Special: Sushi - salmon, tuna, whiting, BBQ eel, prawn and Catalina roll $37
Beautifully prepared nigiri sushi - fat slices of raw fish on a small heap of sushi rice served with soy and wasabi. Ah, fresh seafood galour to start of!
Sydney Natural Rock Oysters w Eschalot and Red Wine Vinegar (min 6) $4 each
Australian seafood is renowned for its freshness, and fresh oysters is just something you cannot surpass. Decent sized oysters full of flesh with a tangy vinegar. I would of been satisfied with just lemon and pepper but the vinegar was a nice change.
Open Lasagne of Moreton Bay Bugs and Avruga $35
This was my dish, and my favourite out of all the entrees. I contemplated between this and the signature house smoked salmon with soft boiled duck egg, but I thought I would enjoy the bugs better. Good choice, Em! The creamy broth was light and full of flavour. It was infused with an array of herbs, with the Moreton Bay bugs swimming in it soaking up all the flavours. The lasange sheets were similiar to that of the tortellini and added some texture to the dish. I especially liekd the big dollop of avruga - made from herring and used as a substitute for caviar - gave a slight saltiness to the dish. Definitely a must have!
Pan Fried Snapper w Potato and Galic Mash and Lemon Caper Butter $46
Snapper is perhaps one of my favourite types of fish to eat (yes, above salmon!). The fish was well cooked with a crispy skin with each bite accompanied with a dollop of garlic mash. The butter balanced the dish perfectly with hints of lemon - a hit all around the table.
Daily Special: Whole Pan Fried Flounder w Olive, Tomato and Almond Salsa $40
This fish was also cooked beautifully, with a very crispy skin and flaky flesh in the middle. There is a bone in it still, but very easy to lift and remove. Salsa perhaps was a bit of a decorative word to describe the fluster of diced tomatoes, sliced olives and almonds. Very different is all I can say...
Daily Special: Hand Made Potato Gnocchi "Quattro Formaggi" (v) $36
Fluffy hand made potato gnocchi is perhaps one of my favourite Italian dishes, and this was nothing short of exceptional. The serving size was relatively small for price as compared to the other dishes, but it was delicious and perhaps one of the best I've had. The creamy sauce was infused with lots of herbs to dress it, and absent of cheese or pepper it was still seriously delicious.
Crispy Skin, Olive Oil Poached Salmon w Braised Baby Cos, Prosciutto and Soft Poached Egg $45
Poached egg, salmon and prosciutto is not your average combination (at least I don't think so). However, just like all the previous fish dishes, the salmon was cooked to perfection with a crispy skin and slightly pink in the centre. The proscuitto and braised cos was somewhat decorative, but all added texture to the fish and egg. Egg, of course, was beautifully poached with a golden yolk oozing out. Not too certain what sauce but it all went together like pieces of a puzzle.
Smoked Duck Breast w Confit Duck Maryland, Orange Marmalade Tart & Sautéed Cavolo Nero $48
The orange marmalade tart was simply amazing, especially when eaten with the duck. The flavours fused together, a slight smokiness and hint of sweetness, simply made my taste buds dance. Confit duck is usually made with the leg of the duck, and is cooked in the duck's own fat for hours. This process makes the duck super juicy and falling of the bone (sort of like a French braising technique), and it is ridiculously delicious. This was hands down one of the stand out mains for me, but I do love my duck!
Catalina Signature: Roasted Suckling Pig w Apple Puree, Braised Red Cabbage and Raisins $99
And how can we surpass this Catalina signature, praised by so many bloggers and foodies everywhere. Catalina's suckling pig is slow roasted for hours so that it maintains its juicy tenderness, while the skin crisps up to a nice crunch. Pork and apple is always a winning combo (we learned well from the Germans), and a little goes a long way. Manu Fidel (MKR) may be pleasantly surprised by how good this dish is sans "where's the sauce?" The cabbage made a decent accompaniment, but would of preferred someone more refreshing and raisins seem to be absent. Nevertheless, a signature (and for the price) is a signature for a reason.
Green Beans w Garlic and Almonds $11
Broccolini w Garlic, Chilli and Parmesan $12
Chips $8
Much needed greens as sides, and of course how can we not carb-y potato goodness that is fries. Was disappointed when fries didn't come with aioli. Broccolini with parmesan was definitely the best, though lacking in any sort of chilli heat. The green beans needed some sort of sauce/dressing so the almonds would of been easier to eat the beans with.
English Breakfast Tea w Milk $7
Passionfruit Crème Brulee, Macerated Strawberries and Strawberry Sorbet $20
Hardly do you ever see brulees out of their ramekins, guess it makes it easier for 5 spoons to dig in though. Break through the caramelised sugar top to the silky smooth custard with a distinct but not overpowering paassionfruit flavour, it is real hard to just stop at one bite. Sorbet was refreshing touch but not necessary, while the macerated strawberries were more decorative than anything. One of the best crème brulee's I've had to date!
Lime and Vanilla Bean Tart w Fresh Mango and Mango Sorbet $20
I really cannot decide whether I prefer the brulee or tart more. They were both such outstanding desserts, and it really doesn't help that I'm not bias with desserts - I love them all! A home made (I'm presuming) short crust pastry shell filled with this vanilla bean custard thing with a hint of lime. The fresh mangos made the dish come together and the sorbet was excellent on it's own and with the tart.
I have nothing but nice things to say about my experience at Catalina, really. The food was worth its dollar, the view for Sunday brunch was spectacular, and the service was on its A game. The food came out at a decent pace, waters were continually topped and waiters seemed genuinely friendly. I definitely recommend for a nice birthday brunch or romantic date, or any occasion where spending a bit more seems worth it.
Food: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Interior: 3/5 (The chairs were hideous and horrible to sit on)
Labels: food