Pony, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia

Pony seems to be all about location and design - they have 3 Australian locations, and we were lucky enough to visit the Rocks establishment. Nestled in the historic cove of Sydney harbour, you can't find a much better place to take out-of-towners for a great meal. The restaurant is surrounded by souvenir shops (you need to walk through the mall to get to the Ladies, so as you step out of the cool tones of the Pony bar area into the fluorescent space of the mall, surrounded by ugg boots, didgeridoos, and opals, you get a sudden reminder of where you are! The ambiance is starkly contrasting on the trip to the loo!) ~ but despite all this, Pony manages to channel historic Australia, modern dining, and a touch of horse all at once.  

The drinks menu is inviting and unique - we all enjoyed cocktails as we settled in for another big night of eating! My Husbands Sister and her Fiance were meeting us there, having traveled up from Melbourne ~ Pony was recommended to them by some foodie friends, and we figured that if a Melbournite was willing to recommend a Sydney restaurant, then it must be good! (Read: wounded pride). We weren't disappointed, albeit a tad underwhelmed.

Our starers were flavoursome and fresh, and for a main - can you believe it? CARROTS! This was my 2nd veggie meal out in Sydney, and s strangely enough, it was the second carrot meal I'd had. Was this a trend? Is someone making a joke about vegetarians being carrot-munchers? I'm sure it's not an organized conspiracy, but quite an uncanny coincidence. Perhaps the carrot is making a comeback ~ it hasn't been seen outside of the dip platter since the 1970's, and a return to the center stage is well-deserved. However as this was my 2nd carrot-themed meal, I could only compare it to the other at Bentley the night before. Sorry to say Bentley's carrots whipped those of Pony (see salad above).

Desert is always a pleasure ~ what can I say?

The service was smooth and discreet, and our waitress was consistently there with us. We sat on a long dining table for 6 in the middle of the gun-barrel room, with the Pony-hide covered bar, housing an  open air stainless steel kitchen at one end. The exposed brickwork and warm lighting suit the feel of the Rocks perfectly, while bringing a modern, if not industrial feel to the place. The decore of the establishment is definitely it's defining feature.

I can't put my finger on why I was underwhelmed - perhaps the Pony hides might have given me a hint that vegetarian food wasn't their forte? Ha ha! Well - the food was fresh and very nice - we're in Australia, so you can't complain about freshness and quality here! But it was missing some kind of oumph that only a veggie food-star can notice. I will go again - we had fun! But not my top. . . 

Address: 15 Argyle Street,The Rocks NSW

PH: (02)9252 7797

Web: http://www.ponydining.com.au/pony_the_rocks.htm 

Original Sin, Singapore

It's not fine dining, but it's certainly vegetarian, and a great night out (depending on who you're with!).

I'm studying with INSEAD in Singapore at the moment, and during each visit I get the opportunity to eat out with my fellow students. On this occasion I chose the restaurant from a short list of options ~ since even the local Singaporean meat-eaters were rating Original Sin, I had no hesitation in signing my study group up for dinner here!

Original Sin is situated on a leafy row of restaurants in terrace houses -  the precinct has a local warmth about it, but obviously frequented by the international set within Singapore. Italian, French and other restaurants are lined up, with open-air terrace seating all along the quiet street. The area is a-buzz with friendly chatter and bird life, and the Singapore heat hangs in the air.

Original Sin is 100% vegetarian. You can't go wrong with any option, however I particularly enjoyed my meal which was a quinoa and mushroom pattie with plum sauce. The menu options were inventive and filling, and each has an Asian flair.

The service is fine and I found the alcohol expensive (actually - this applies to all of Singapore! Minus duty-free!!) and the decore is dominated by the pleasure of sitting outside in the warm evening air. I'll happily eat here again ~ I like the ethos and the imagination that has gone into each meal. 'Vegetarian food' screams out as their catch-phase, rather than a pleasant, subtle surprise - which is fine! I think plenty of meat-eaters will be happy to eat here - it's filling and flavoursome. It's not trying to be fine-dining so I wont benchmark it as such. Please enjoy!


Address: Blk 43 #01-62 Jalan Merah Saga Holland Village, Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65.6475 5605
Web: http://originalsin.com.sg/

Bentley, Sydney, Australia

Having grown up in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, I always enjoy visiting! Sydney has been getting a reputation for snobbery lately, and definitely there are more places to 'be seen' now then there used to be (according to my memory!) however it's true to say that the quality, genuine design, and unique eating experiences to be found there are world class.

So after driving in circles for a long time (parking in Surry Hills is even more scarce now than it used to be) and then walking in stilettos for 20 minutes, we finally found our place at the table at The Bentley. It was worth it to find this little gem of a dining room. 

We sat at a large round dining table that felt like it was in someones home, or at least a meeting place for good friends - the restaurant was busy and full, but cosey and dim as well, with lots of warm wood tones. The bar and restaurant are distinct, but merge into each other effortlessly. The room has a mix of bar and brasserie feel, with a distinct Australian post-war flair. To me this means simplicity, something about the paint, and a distinct use of glass. It also means hallways and sitting rooms. I can't pinpoint the decorations - it just felt SO SYDNEY. I loved being back there.

The Bentley has a vegetarian tasting menu which looked amazing - this menu was one of the reasons my friend had booked. Amongst her chef friends they suggested it was one of the best veggie upper-end dining experiences in Sydney, so we were eager to enjoy! However as we were a table of 5 people and only 3 wanted the veggie tasting, we weren't able to take advantage and support the initiative (the whole table needs to order it so that the meals come our in unison - fair enough), but we still got to enjoy some of the delicacies!

In all my years as a vegetarian, carrot has usually been served as a side dish to some other main event. So I was so surprised and delighted to have a main meal paying homage to this every-day vegetable. The grains were a welcome support act to the caramelised, salty carrots. We had a side of chickpea fries which filled us up nicely too.

You wont feel like you're being processed through your dinner here, or rushed along in favour of bigger drinkers. Despite being disjointed to miss the tasting menu, we got the chance to enjoy a great meal where veggies were well respected and not treated as a begrudging after-thought on the menu. Desert was particularly good, but Bentley deserves cudos for the imagination they have brought to the veggie movement. The service is warm and assertive, but not over the top. I'll come again!

Address: 320 Crown St, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia
Ph: +02 9332 2344
Web: www.thebentley.com.au

Flutes at the Fort, Singapore

Sometimes when I visit Singapore I'm left wanting for more eating options. There are plenty of great street eateries, but when I want something special I only have a hand full of ideas. Then I found Flutes at the Fort!

In an old colonial bungalow on Fort Canning, Flutes is the most uniquely Singaporean experience I've had. We started with drinks on the balcony, watching fruit bats speed in an out of the leafy canopy above us. A warm Singaporean breeze moved past us before the mandatory dusk rain started to pour down on us. We made our way indoors, weaving in and out of the white linen tables. You can easily imagine Futes as someones home - the rooms seem to have been opened up but largely kept in place, giving the dining room a private and personal feel. Several people commented on the unique artwork - it's obvious that someone has put a lot of thought into decorating this beautiful venue.

As a main I had risotto and for desert a chocolate tart. Beautiful salads and breads seemed to be continuously coming and going from the table. We were there are part of a large party (30+ people) and I was impressed that the veggies amongst us were so well-fed (usually function vegetarian is an after-thought!). I'll definitely be going back on my next Singapore trip! Flutes suits a romantic dinner for 2 or even a small to medium sized work event. Finally I've found the soul in Singapore.

Address: Fort Canning Park, Entrance through the Singapore Philatelic Museum’s carpark at 23B Coleman Street, Singapore
Tel: 6338 8770
Web: http://www.flutes.com.sg/