GOOD FOOD MONTH SPECIAL: Sugar Rush at Azuma
This year, the theme of Azuma's sugar rush concoction is 'a recreation of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory: an innovative combination of Eastern and Western sweets'.
I recall in the past few years, Azuma has also delivered an 'East meets West' themed dessert.
On the left we have the 'Western' bento, named 'Enchanted Forest'; and on the right the 'Eastern' bento, named 'Zen Garden'.
From the top, the Enchanted Forest consists of a raspberry log with a chocolate mushroom perched on top, and a mango sorbet sitting on a bed of chocolate biscuit 'soil'.
The raspberry log is alright, and the cream in the centre is neither too sweet not too dense. The mango sorbet is predictably refreshing, with a chocolate on top. The chocolate mushroom I have had from a packet in Asian supermarkets.
The Zen Garden consists of Asian crackers dipped in chocolate, dried mango dipped in chocolate, matcha mouse and orange cake. The combination of the crackers with chocolate is quite innovative, though nothing you can't recreate yourself at home.
The entire affair comes with your choice of Yulumba dessert wine, house green tea or Nespresso coffee. Was it alright? Undoubtedly. Was it impressive? No, and I'll explain why.
Every single item in these boxes have a 'I am a hostess-with-the-mostess who watched some videos on Youtube, went to the Asian grocery store and arranged some items in a pretty manner' feel. I am disappointed because Azuma has a very good reputation, and the way the dessert has been described on the website far exceeds the reality: there is something rather insincere about slapping together a bunch of store-bought / store-buyable items in bento boxes, and passing them off as something amazing with names like 'Enchanted Forest' and 'Zen Garden'.
Frankly I could do this myself.
Additionally, when they are being compared to, say, Signorelli Gastronomia, who have created that amazing 'Under the Sea' concoction which one has absolutely no way of recreating at home, Azuma's offering is rather embarrassing, particularly for a restaurant with such a high reputation.
Score: 2 / 5
'I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.'
If I didn't have wonderful company, I would have been thoroughly disappointed.
This is a case of style over substance.
Cost: $20 pp
Address: Level 1, Chifley Plaza
Website: http://sydney.goodfoodmonth.com/details?deal=909444#
I recall in the past few years, Azuma has also delivered an 'East meets West' themed dessert.
 |
 |
| Enchanted Forest Bento |
The raspberry log is alright, and the cream in the centre is neither too sweet not too dense. The mango sorbet is predictably refreshing, with a chocolate on top. The chocolate mushroom I have had from a packet in Asian supermarkets.
 |
| Zen Garden |
The entire affair comes with your choice of Yulumba dessert wine, house green tea or Nespresso coffee. Was it alright? Undoubtedly. Was it impressive? No, and I'll explain why.
Every single item in these boxes have a 'I am a hostess-with-the-mostess who watched some videos on Youtube, went to the Asian grocery store and arranged some items in a pretty manner' feel. I am disappointed because Azuma has a very good reputation, and the way the dessert has been described on the website far exceeds the reality: there is something rather insincere about slapping together a bunch of store-bought / store-buyable items in bento boxes, and passing them off as something amazing with names like 'Enchanted Forest' and 'Zen Garden'.
Frankly I could do this myself.
Additionally, when they are being compared to, say, Signorelli Gastronomia, who have created that amazing 'Under the Sea' concoction which one has absolutely no way of recreating at home, Azuma's offering is rather embarrassing, particularly for a restaurant with such a high reputation.
Score: 2 / 5
'I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.'
If I didn't have wonderful company, I would have been thoroughly disappointed.
This is a case of style over substance.
Cost: $20 pp
Address: Level 1, Chifley Plaza
Website: http://sydney.goodfoodmonth.com/details?deal=909444#
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