Our second foray into Crave Sydney Food Festival‘s Cocktail of the Month takes us to Monkey Magic. Located in Surry Hills across the road from one of our favourite fine dining establishments Marque, this Japanese Restaurant and Bar is headed by chef Hidetoshi Tsuboi who is renowned for fusing traditional oriental flavours with modern western techniques.
The interior is modern and inviting, with a décor reminiscent of a converted warehouse with dark wood and steel. Long tables, subdued lighting and more intimate candle-lit tables occupy the open space with a centrally located kitchen affording glimpses of the chef action.
Fairy Wings is the Cocktail of the Month, made with gin and cucumber, a dash of honey and a little absinthe. The drink is served in a Martini glass with two slices of cucumber like the wings of a fairy.
From the first sip, you feel the fresh clean flavours of the gin and cucumber. There are barely any notes of honey then you get a nice kick from the Absinthe. The taste lingers and you come to appreciate the perfect balance of flavours. This is a zesty cocktail that you goes down very easily. You can easily drink a couple, then ask for another.
The cocktail is matched with a canapé of salmon and avocado roll. Presented sushi-style with a mountain of wasabi and pickled ginger, the salmon is slightly seared on the outside with a bright pink in the middle. More of an entrée size than a canapé, the fresh flavour is a perfect match to the zing of the Fairy Wings.
For the price of $20, this Cocktail of the Month offers top value for money and top marks for taste. We decide to stay for their Sugar Hit dessert, also part of Crave Sydney.
Monkey Magic has a bar area below the restaurant with long benches and flickering candles, perfect for working your way through the inventive cocktail list with a group of friends.
Monkey Magic
3 & 4, 410 Crown Street
Surry Hills
Sydney NSW 2010
http://www.monkeymagic.com.au/
Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic:
Australian Cheese Showcase 2010: The Rocks Market
Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey
Night Noodle Markets
Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar
Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel
Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets
Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets
Sydney Food and Wine Fair
Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa
[…] Sydney events: Australian Cheese Showcase 2010 Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Ms Gourmantic has a strong penchant for packing a laptop, a digital SLR, a large suitcase and […]
[…] Showcase 2010: The Rocks Market Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Ms Gourmantic has a strong penchant for packing a laptop, a digital SLR, a large suitcase and […]
[…] Cheese Showcase 2010 Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Ms Gourmantic has a strong penchant for packing a laptop, a digital SLR, a large suitcase and […]
[…] Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Ms Gourmantic has a strong penchant for packing a laptop, a digital SLR, a large suitcase and […]
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ms Gourmantic and Tuula Mattson, Ms Gourmantic. Ms Gourmantic said: Monkey Magic Cocktail of the Month – Crave Sydney: Our second foray into Crave Sydney Food Festival‘s Cocktail of … http://bit.ly/bYKwpW […]
Wow, you’ve got some much good stuff on the site this week! This cocktail sounds so good – and something that might just give your night a few wings at that 🙂 Also, love the artistry of the cucumber slices, you know that took some thought! Again, you’ve got me craving a nice, elegant cocktail – can only hope we find one this good soon! (maybe Paris??)
Thank you 🙂 So much on with Crave in October that it’s keeping me busy!
I’ve been obsessing about trying to replicate this cocktail. with summer coming up, it’d be perfect after long hot days on the beach 🙂
I love that cocktail! My husband and I make a version of it at home for our periodic “aperitif l” hour each night. I love the fresh lightness of it. We’ll put this on our list for our Xmas trip to Sydney… collecting lots of great recommendations from you site for this trip!
Lovely! I am a big advocate of the aperitif hour. A perfect way to ease into the evening 🙂
Gin, cucumber, & absinthe, wow! RT @Gourmantic Monkey Magic Cocktail of the Month – Crave Sydney: Our second foray… http://bit.ly/bYKwpW
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[…] on from Monkey Magic’s Cocktail of the Month, we decide to indulge our sweet tooth. Sugar Hit is part of the Crave Sydney Food Festival where […]
[…] Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème […]
[…] Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle […]
[…] Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle […]
[…] Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle […]