Agave Restaurante Mexicano, Surry Hills

What does 'agave' mean? You probably wouldn't know, but if I used the word 'Tequila', I can completely imagine a grin surfacing on your face. Confused! Well, blue agave is a plant through which Tequila is derived. Tequila is synonymous with Mexico and so is the restaurant Agave.

I have no idea what authentic Mexican food tastes like, after all I've never been to Mexico. But I do know that a place that offers more than 15 different flavours of margaritas, decent portion sizes and doesn't heavily hit your pocket is worth trying. Believe me, order the right dishes, visit this place in a big group (the place is a bit loud at times) and you will end up having an awesome time. The feeling of Mexico right in the heart of Surry Hills.





We were about ten of us and with the happy hour on from 6-7pm ($10 for margaritas), it was worth having a couple. The right blend of salt, ice, sweetness, the look and of course tequila.

To get the multiple chats on the table going we needed something crunchy and the house made totopos (tortilla chips) with guacamole and Frijoles Refritos (beans) just did that for us.

I love both spicy and hot food and the 'Enchiladas Verdes' (Chicken) was fitting this description without a doubt. The tongue popping flavours of spicy tomatoes, chilli rubbed chicken, coriander and green chilli salsa with soft tortillas went into the making of this mind boggling dish. Simply loved it.

The other dish I tried was the 'Molcajetes'. The saltiness and tanginess of feta, the freshness of avocado in the guacamole combined with seared king prawns and a mexican spice blend, served with rice and soft tortillas packed the right punch.

Agave is a place for a casual dinner with mates where you can get loud (margaritas can do that to you) without having to worry about your etiquettes or the people sitting on the table next to you. Just have fun!!

Agave Restaurante Mexicano

406-410 Crown St, 

Surry Hills NSW 2010


Tel No: +61 2 9326 9072

The China Kitchen - New Delhi, India

On a business trip in Delhi? Want to take your girlfriend out on a date? I exactly know where you need to go. Offering a five-star dining experience with a range of Chinese delicacies and the most delightful desserts, you will enjoy every second of your time spent here.


As soon as I pulled the gargantuan doors of China Kitchen, I was ready to soak up the ambience. A night of an extravagant dining experience awaited as I walked through the warm wood paneled rooms. I had the option of sitting next to the open kitchen and watch the food preparation or enjoy the offerings in the dining room. I chose the later as it allowed me to observe and appreciate the different aspects of the restaurant. If in big groups, the private dining rooms are a must to book for special occasions. I was told that these rooms are named after the provinces of China.

At China Kitchen you need to know what to order. Whether its a bottle of wine or a dish from its extensive menu. For first timers, don't worry, the polite and attentive staff will be very pleased to help you.

Not in a mood to drink with a flight to catch in the next couple of hours we decided to go with a glass of wine each and went for something we didn't try before. Chilean wine Concha Y Toro Frontera Merlot (2011) was the first pick. A fruity wine with aromas of cherry, pepper and a pinch of cocoa. The other pick was the Italian Antinoi Santa Cristina (2010). It was semi-opaque in colour and offered aromas of vanilla, flowers with loads of black cherry flavour.




We started out our meal with the "Vegetarian" lotus root fritters and steamed chicken 'Siew Mai' with spring onions dim sims. While the dim sims melted in your mouth, the fritters provided the perfect crispy blend to balance it out. The sweet and sour sauce with the appetizers provided the right amount of kick to make things interesting.













                              

Even though their Peking Duck is one of the best in the country and for large groups their in house speciality 'Beggars Chicken' is a must have, we decided to go for something that satiated my spicy taste buds. And this spice calling made me order the crowd favourite 'Kong Pao" chicken with ginger and chinese vinegar. My wife (who loves to experiment) went for the "Claypot" braised bean curd with garden vegetables and chestnuts. The freshness and the flavours of the dish made it a complete winner for us.

Another quintessential accompaniment was the hand pulled "dan-dan" noodles with spiced Sichuan pickle and smoked bamboo shoots. A bit oily but great on textures and flavours again and good enough to be have on its own.

After a sumptuous meal it was time for the most important element of the dining experience, the dessert. Whenever you leave a restaurant you want to leave with lasting memories and we ended our evening with the delightful Jasmine Tea Tiramisu and champagne raspberries on the side.














The China Kitchen

Hyatt Regency Delhi
Bhikaiji Cama Place, Ring Road
New Delhi, India, 110066
Tel: +91 11 2679 1234

Website for more info: The China Kitchen