Sydney food bloggers drink up at The Glenmore
then sup it down at Mizuya
Many people could make it, many could not. I made sure I did. Any excuse to end a week with booze, food and a good old chat. Starting off at the Glenmore Hotel roof-top in The Rocks, well-seasoned bloggers caught up once again and for people like me (a relative new comer) got to meet many more food freaks that graze through this city one restaurant at a time. What a perfect venue up there on the roof-top overlooking the Opera House and city skyline: schooners and jugs of beer, big bowls of potato wedges … what a stodgy affair!
Ringleader Billy later leads us down to Mizuya for a spot of late night Japanese. This place really is something plucked from the streets of Tokyo. Descending the stairs from busy George Street into the reception area of this (Australia’s largest) izakaya restaurant, it’s difficult to get a sense of how enormous this place really is. It’s dark and the labyrinthine layout is made up of dining booths and private dining rooms set up with karaoke. Yes, karaoke. What am I getting myself into? We book one of the private rooms, all decked out in holographic shiny black vinyl, video screen and ultra-violet lights … a bit like some kind of coin-operated strip club.
Some of the guys have been here before and know the drill. No, we’re not here to sing badly to one another, thank Christ, but lounge back in the wacky surroundings and take turns ordering what we want from the hundreds of items available on the touch-screen menu. It’s so easy. You tap your own order, sit back, and the staff deliver it when it’s ready.
It all looks and tastes really good and I’m loving the grilled Ox tongue and Eel roll. The Chicken tail is just that: grilled skewered chicken tails – just skin and fat. Not bad with the Lucky Beer in the buddha-shaped bottle I just had to take home! Very good sashimi as well.
Apologies to any bloggers I didn’t have a chat to – there were just too many of us and not enough time!
Great to see Richard, Phuoc and Leona again as well as meeting Billy, Simon, Helen, Karen, Maria, Yee & hubby, Suze, Mark and all of those whose names I can’t remember. I blame it on the beer, cocktail shot and plum brandy!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
What an awesome recap of the night. I had a blast! It was great to finally be able to talk to you. How good were the ox tongue hey? I have an awesome recipe for grilled ox tongue that I would share soon. Mmm… That buddha bottle is so awesome, what are you going to do with it?
Karaoke would have been fun if everyone had a few more drinks into their system. Maybe next time…
sounds like great fun. it’s great to finally read what happened on the night. i think you’re the first to post about it. pity it didn’t include karaoke hehe
great to finally meet you dude! the test tubes were fun though definitely not alcoholic enough haha
Great photos of all the food, sight and sounds of the night. It was great catching up and meeting all the other bloggers.
Ahhh good times… great to finally meet you and all the new faces. I’m still surprised we all got along so well within the mere few hours. I blame the beer, sake and test tube shots too!
p/s: have a safe trip!
A pleasure to finally meet the man behind the hand behind the blog
It never ceases to amaze how much fun these meets are, especially when there are a lot of new faces involved.
Nice to meet you though we didn’t get to chat as much. It’s always hard when there’s a lot of people in one place but then again, that’s what future meetups are for! Great photos btw.
Oh I’m so regretting on missing out on the dinner! I can’t wait for the next catch up! And John, that Cabramatta Eating Tour is being planned!
Ahh so disappointed I wasn’t able to meet you guys. Sounds like everyone had a blast at both Glenmore hotel and Mizuya. You should try the karaoke next time, alot of fun =D
Maria: Haha.. Now the pressure is on me to organise something to wow you guys!
Thanks Billy! Sitting at the airport now waiting to board.
Maria & Phuoc, I look forward to the Cabramatta eat fest, whenever it may happen
A fab nite, and great to finally meet you. I’m so glad I snaffled a Lucky beer bottle too – can’t stop rubbing his belly
Oh man, so bummed I wasnt able to make it! Sounds like it was so much fun. Next time I’ll be making sure to make it. Have been to Mizuya before and know what it can lead to
Sounds like a lot of fun, like you say with good booze and tutti quanti!
awww… looks like I’ve missed out…
oh well.. I’m make sure I stay the whole way through at the next foodies gathering!!
I love Mizuya’s extremely quick service, even when they’re busy! It’s a great place to eat before the theatre or a concert. The food is quite good too although the options are mind-bogglingly extensive.