Origin Dining

Origin Dining

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Posted 2016-06-06 by Seafarrwide follow


The rain was pouring down and the winter chill had set in. It was the perfect weather for some warming comfort food. There was a time when I preferred going out to big noisy places and popular high end à la carte restaurants. Now I prefer to find the quaint hole in the wall place that offers a cosy ambience while serving exceptional food.

is nestled amongst a strip of similar small restaurants offering the local diners everything from classic comfort food to upscale seasonal inspired contemporary menus.



Chef Weyman Leong opened his first restaurant just a couple of years ago after an extensive career at different well-known restaurants. In 2002 he won the Sydney Morning Herald Josephine Pignolet's Young Chef of the Year award then took off to work in Europe. He gathered more experience at David Thompson's Michelin-starred restaurant Nahm and the River Cafe. He returned to Australia, continuing to work as Head Chef at several top notch restaurants and also entered the corporate world as Head Chef for Deloitte Touche Tomatsu and later at AMP. With his diverse experience, he finally decided to open his own solo venture along with his family members.

The small narrow restaurant is simple in decor with an open kitchen on one side and a line of tables on the other. Enticing aromas waft from the open kitchen where two Chefs busily produce eye-catching dishes.



After being greeted warmly, we were seated at the rear near a heater which delighted me as it the kind of bad weather night only crazy food devotees would venture out in. We had our favourite BYO Wine in tow and ordered from the share menu.

The menu consisted of modern contemporary dishes with an Asian twist.



I ordered the Prawn Watercress Dumplings with Garden Peas and Chilli Soy. The dumplings were cooked al dente containing big chunks of prawn and herbs with crunchy broccoli covered in a sweetish chilli soy sauce.





My partner ordered the Garlic and Leek Prawns with Tomato and Spring Onion. This dish was more savoury with a lovely mild garlic flavour that enhanced the large prawns and fresh vegetable slivers.





Next came our mains. Herb-crusted Pork Loin with spice apple and Fennel. The ideal pork to me is juicy, a little salty with some crunchy fat. But as it was loin, the herb crust was a tasty coating. I tend to like my pork slightly pink inside and this can be a challenge. My pork loin was cooked slightly longer than I personally like, this issue was quickly overcome with the addition of the juicy roasted apple and fennel sauce. Deliciously sweet and a good pairing for the herb crusted loin.





Grain Fed Beef Meatballs with Tomato, Garden Peas, Pecorino and Semolina. If you were looking for a good winter comfort dish, this was it. Large meatballs like my grandma made and I thought I could taste cumin and garam masala. Of course, the bed of cheesy semolina was the ideal accompaniment for soaking up the flavoursome sauce.





I like my hot chips and I think it came from my English father's love of hot chips. When I was a child he would order a side of hot chips every time we ate out. Several years later, he now owns his own resort with restaurants, and still insists on ordering hot chips on the side. He will often complain about the price of the chips if they aren't up to scratch. I have to give Origin's hot chips the thumbs up. Old fashioned thick cut chips, not greasy and perfect with the aioli dip.



The fresh steamed vegetables were neither mushy or too crunchy, perfectly tender and full of flavour. Nice thick bright chunks of carrot, cauliflower, spring beans, broccoli and peas.





We both felt our stomachs expanding but welcomed the next taste sensation of desserts.

Winter to me means warm puddings. I chose to indulge my sweet tooth with Origin's signature Apple and Ginger Pudding with custard. I loved the texture of the pudding, similar to sticky date with a caramelised crust soaked in the spiced ginger apple sauce.



The Banana Banoffee Meringue Mess was delicious. My partner, not usually a fan of banana, demolished his serving professing he now liked banana. Banana slices topped with whipped cream, chocolate flakes, toffee sauce and crunchy meringue pieces. This dessert though it looked rich, was actually quite light and refreshing to the palate. I felt it was the ideal choice to finish the off the meal.



We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and were pleased we fought the bad weather to keep our booking. I could see why this small restaurant was a local favourite and one of the few that are revitalising the Willoughby dining district.

Check them out next time you are in the area.

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211950 - 2023-06-16 06:41:10

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