With a set dish and bit of booze for $25, Sydney Festival Feasts
is a brilliant way to score a table at restaurants that might otherwise be over your budget. Yesterday, Michael and I had the vego option at Wildfire at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay – it was a simple pasta, nothing world-jolting. So I wasn’t planning to blog about it (given my big backlog) but I HAVE to mention it for two reasons.

Even though you can get a similar view for nada just walking around Circular Quay, the vista of the Sydney Opera House is pretty awesome. I did wonder though, whether this view-centric restaurant has a massive bottoming out of diners when a megaship like the Queen Mary docks in the harbour – ‘cos it would probably blot out all the beautiful window scenery.

The other thing was – we got greedy and ordered the Wildfire Dessert Assiette ($17 per person, minimum two mouths ready for six intense miniature desserts). I’m annoyed I didn’t bring my camera, because it was a pretty eye-stunning platter of sweets. There was a cherry-studded creme brulee, which was served in the world’s tiniest (and cutest) one-handle ceramic pot. Tiramisu made a cameo, as did an orange-flavoured cannoli (its appearance was much misused by me, who kept boring Michael with that famous line from The Godfather: “Leave the gun, take the cannoli”). The BEST part of it though, was the box of cinnamon donuts which came with a strange plastic syringe full of gorgeous purple-pink fluid. “What do you think you do with it?” I asked Michael. He suggested injecting the syringe into the donut, so that it oozed with as much jam filling as you liked.

And he was right!

The filling was a gorgeous berry sauce, and the donut piece would have burst with a volcanic eruption of it if I had my way. It was one of the most clever desserts I’ve had in a long time.

Although that wasn’t part of the set menu, I’m definitely going to try a few more Sydney Fest Feasts. Especially at view-centric places where you’re looking at $45 at least just for a main. (I admit, as a vego, you do get a little shortchanged with what lands on your plate, but it’s nice to chance to visit some “dream-on” restaurants.)