Mordeo Bistro and Bar launched last week in the heart of Sydney’s CBD bringing a slice of Southern Europe to food lovers. The location is nestled in the corner of the awe-inspiring 15 meter tall Assembly of Deutsche Bank building with a high end décor and detailed lighting. Architects MBMO designed five super-sized lamps as the key element of the bistro making you feel you’ve been transported to another part of the world.
Photography* © by Ed Sullivan for Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.
Mordeo means “to bite or devour” and the bistro is owned and run by three brothers George, Nicholas and Stephen Aspros. Owner/Executive Head Chef Nicholas Aspros was trained in a number of Sydney restaurants such as Zigolini’s, Rogues Strattons and Darley Street Thai while Head Chef Marc Gehret has worked in Michelin starred restaurants throughout Europe before moving to Sydney.
Three cocktails were served on arrival, Red Wolf – White wolf cream ale with Campari, Antica Formula red vermouth and a blood orange foam. Jamon and Chargrilled Pineapple Sazerac with jamon and sage crisp had Jamon and Pedro Ximenez butter washed Hennessey VSOP with a chargrilled pineapple shrub and Pechauds bitters. Cold Drip Spiced Rum Old fashioned was a mix of Kracken spiced rum, cold drip single origin coffee, cold drip syrup, Angostura bitters with a twist of orange.
Exquisite canapés were served including pork hock terrine with a fig chutney and pear salad, grilled quail with caramelized red onion salsa, pear risotto with sage and Iberico Jamon, chicken ballotine with pearl barley, spinach and a hazelnut salad, squid ink gnocchi with truffle salumi, Margherita mini pizza with basil and whitebait croquetas with a cauliflower mayonnaise. An extensive cured meat selection from artisan Spanish charcuteria La Boqueria was also on offer.
A savory buffet selection included slow-cooked octopus carpaccio with split green beans and chorizo sausage, BBQ lamb ribs with Pedro Ximenez and two delicious desserts, catalana and loukoumadis. To finish off the night, coffee from two tasting stations by suppliers Gabriel Coffee and Ona Coffee was served.
A selection of French, Italian and Spanish wines were served during the evening such as 2011 Chante Cigal Cote Du Rhone Vielles Vignes, 2012 Inaman Vin Soave from Italy and Vilarnau Brut Cava, D.O. Penedes, Spain. A wine tasting from suppliers Fox Wine and Broadway Liquor Distributors offered guests a selection from Italy, Spain and France showcasing the Southern European genre of the bistro, and beers included the venues own brew “White Wolf” ($7) on tap. Ritmos Latinos and Greek Bouzouki player Telly Andrew provided entertainment with Spanish sounds.
Mordeo is an elegant yet casual and refined venue offering European food and drink in a unique setting. The Southern European Bistro Menu serves Breakfast (such as Classic eggs Benedict $16), Lunch (Wagyu beef burger $22), Dinner (Slow roasted lamb $29) as well as share plates and an extensive drink menu.
Mordeo Bistro & Bar
126 Phillip Street, Sydney
+61 2 9232 4789
www.mordeo.com.au
* Opening photograph Credit, Esteban La Tessa, used with permission
