Crave Sydney Night Noodle Market

We paid a visit to the annual Crave Sydney Noodle Market on an unusually warm evening. It was packed with the after-hour crowd when we arrived. Struggled to get a table, we started the evening off with my favourite pork belly with rice from La Mint. We also sampled a variety of dishes from Pad Thai, fish cakes to mini pan cakes. You will find the big queues at the familiar names such as Din Tai Fung and Mamak despite paying a premium for the food. It is worth going once a year given the atmosphere (I suppose?)

Details:
Crave Sydney Night Noodle Markets
Hyde Park North
For 2013, October 3-5, 8-12, 15-19; 5-10pm
http://cravesydney.com/content/night-noodle-markets/gjoc54

La Mint Restaurant (Sydney)

I always thought a workday lunch at Darlinghurst is too much of a stretch given the distance. In fact, it is just a stroll across Hyde Park as close as other restaurants in CBD. The group went to La Mint, a Vietnamese-French restaurant, which is not your typical fusion restaurant.

The menu fully reflects the French influence in Vietnamese cuisine. I had the signature Pavé de Porc. The slow cook pork belly was tender and gelatinous, complimented by the well balanced sweet sauce. Make sure you have plenty of steamed rice to absorb the sauce.

Details:
La Mint Restaurant
62-64 Riley Street
EAST SYDNEY NSW 2010
http://www.lamint.com.au/index.html