Cru Bar and Cellar - Above and Beyond

Sometimes I feel like I’m breaking some kind of unspoken rule. “Thou shalt not like thy mother-in-law”

Sometimes when I hear people whinging about how awful, inftefering and just plain mean their MIL’s are – I want to slowly back out of the room – like the prey escaping a pack of wolves.

The truth is – I have struck some kind of “In-Law Lottery”, where I honestly believe that although she is family by default – she has become a friend by choice.

So it was really nice to be able to have a couple of drinks with her this week while we waited for our class at the James St Cooking School to start (a whole other post…).

We ended up at Cru Bar on James Street where I have been a few times but this time I was struck by just how easily they get it right.

Onyx Bar and Restaurant - Cocktails, Tapas and Girl Talk...

I'm always a bit nervous taking people somewhere I love. What if they don't like it? What if the staff are having a bad day and ruin your night? Or what if the food - that is normally awesome - is suddenly crap?

I didn't have any genuine concerns when I met the Journo and the Shrink at Onyx but it's still just a little bit nerve racking. As always - and I have lost count of how many times I have been here - Onyx delivered. I'm not quite sure what it is I like about this place. They just seem to get it right, every single time. And consistency in itself is a damn fine trait to have.

Byblos - Lost for words (almost!)

I love those days when family and friends unexpectedly come into town - and I love it even more when they offer to shout you lunch

Sunday was one of those days, and my favourite Aunty M was in town on her way back from Melbourne. With the sun shining hot, but the recent rain keeping everything cool - it seemed like the perfect day to hit Portside Wharf on the way back from the airport.

We walked aimlessly, checking out all the Restaurants before making our pick - I had read some good reviews about Mahjongg Cafe but when we got there it looked pretty plain, and it was at the back end of Portside, meaning no River Views. Convinced we could get a better offer closer to the water we decided on Byblos Bar, completely won over by the fluro orange table settings - so funky amongst the posh furnishings of Manx, Sono and the like...

Freestyle Tout - the gateway to bigger pants

When I was a kid, my Dad always used to say “There’s a separate stomach for dessert – have you ever noticed that no matter how full you are, you always have room for dessert? That’s because you have two stomachs.” He was my Dad and I always grinned, wide eyed at him when he would tell me this and if I’m being honest, I was well into my teens before I questioned his grasp on biology.

But there’s something to be said for Freestyle Tout – we always go there after dinner at Wagamamas which is just across the carpark in Emporium. And let me tell you, we have rarely left Waggie’s without huffing and puffing about how full we are, rubbing our belly’s like we’ve traded with Buddha for the night… and yet we always have room for Freestyle.

To put it bluntly – the desserts here are phenomenal, in size, flavour, imagination and height. They tick every box possible.

My favourite is without a doubt the chocolate Sundae, loads of ice cream, cream, chocolate sauce and marshallows all served in a dish bigger than my vases at home (I kid you not). It is every child's dream come true.

In winter, when it’s just too teethchatteringly cold to eat ice cream – I can’t go past the Sticky Date Pudding, super moist pudding in a pool of butterscotch sauce, ice cream and cream – you can feel the cavities setting up camp with each mouthful, but it’s so worth it, and funnily enough, it’s not sickly sweet like you would imagine. (My next visit I'm determined to bypass the favourites and try out the White chocolate and raspberry brioche dumplings... *insert drool here*)

Hubby – who isn’t really a sweet-tooth at all – is usually the one steering me towards Freestyle, because he claims he has Pavlov’s Dog syndrome as soon as he sees the sign across the carpark! His favourite? The Satisfaction dessert cocktail – a sinfully delicious and headspinning concoction of Bailey’s, Kaluha, Tia Maria, Franjelico, ice cream and cream, drizzled with honey and layered with a chocolate swizzle stick. For the pure heaven of dessert here, I’m happy to drive home (because God knows how much booze is in that cocktail!)… although the seat does need to go back a few notches to allow for the Buddha belly!

Verdict: Wear your Frank Barone (Everybody loves Raymond) pants and enjoy every monuthful. They do have a "regular" menu as well, but it's just for the minority - you don't come here to eat "regular" food - it's the sugar highway and you're either with us or against us.

My recommendations: Chocolate Sundae, Crème Brulee, Sticky Date Pudding, Dessert cocktail.
Details: Freestyle Tout