Pier Restaurant, Just Desserts
I’m not sure when it started, but lately I’ve eaten at more than one restaurant for dinner every Friday night after work. It would generally be two dinners with shared dishes and dessert somewhere else. Some people ask me how I manage to look ‘fit’ despite eating so much, little do they know, they just haven’t seen the size of my stomach nor my blood sugar levels. Which reminds me, I need to get myself tested in case I need to watch what I eat. In the mean time, I’ll keep going with my regular Friday night eating routine.
I heard some news on the grapevine that the Pastry Chef of Pier would be leaving soon, and that her creations are something that had to be tasted before she closes up her chapter at Pier. This news was also confirmed in this months Gourmet Traveler magazine. After having dinner at Sake Restaurant & Bar and not being too excited by the options on the dessert menu, we made a quick phone call to Pier to see if they had room for four people for dessert. Since it was a Monday night I didn’t expect any resistance, thankfully the drive to Pier was only 15 minutes away.
This is my first time at Pier, a restaurant which has such high regard and pedigree. It’s funny how my first visit here is for their dessert only, I’ll have to come back for a proper meal one day. But tonight, my focus is on the creations of Katrina Kanetani. We ordered one of everything on the menu, this was in early November so the menu might have changed by the time you read this post.
Soufflé $26
Sadly, soufflé does not get me excited. I don’t mean this one at Pier specifically, but soufflé in general. I’m not a soufflé expert, but this Pier one has what I think are facets of a good soufflé. It’s slightly gooey in the centre with a crispy top and exterior. Each bite is like biting into fairy floss, a melt in the mouth experience.
Migas : crumbs – grains – sauternes custard – mango egg - passionfruit ice cream $25
Ok, so this does look like egg yolk in a cup but it is much more than this. To put it bluntly, it’s one of the most creative and best tasting desserts I’ve had all year. As I’ve mentioned before in earlier posts, it’s got all the elements of a perfect dessert. It has crunchy textures in the form of crumbs and grains, smoothness and creamyness with the custard, the cooling effect of the passionfruit ice cream and then brought together with a mango ‘egg’.
I highly recommend visiting Pier just to have this dessert, just incase it is removed from the menu once the current Pastry Chef leaves.
Spring : pineapple & kiwifruit sorbet – honeydew – vanilla cannoli - mint & white chocolate snow $28
This dessert certainly tastes like spring, with its vibrant colours and refreshing seasonal ingredients. The crunch of the vanilla cannoli was the pick of the dessert dish, contrasting with the freshness and coolness of the fruits. It looks beautiful on the plate, reminds me of the pretty desserts I’ve had at Sepia and Jaan Par Andre (Singapore).
Blueberry Cheesecake - Ice Cream goats curd powder – ash – chestnut crumble - white chocolate yoghurt $27
Don’t judge a book by its cover, this tastes better than it looks. It’s best described as a deconstructed cheesecake. There are a million things occurring all at once with this dish, each scoop with the spoon uncovers a different texture or ingredient. The goats curd powder adds an interesting kick, not something I expect in a dessert but it works so well.
Chocolate and Tangelo salty – sour – bitter – sweet $28
I don’t recall much of this dish, as by the time it made it to me parts of it were all chopped and mixed up. I loved how the layers of chocolate were raised though.
At $28 a pop, these desserts are on the high-end of what I usually pay. In saying that, the desserts are really something special and it’s worth coming here just for them if you can’t fit in a full meal at Pier. With Katrina leaving soon, her replacement has some big shoes to fill.
I forgot to mention I was in the lovely company of lemonpi , Mitch and Yosunita for a late night dessert run, it seems like the dessert got the thumbs up from them as well.
Pier
594 New South Head Rd
Rose Bay NSW 2029
Phone (02) 9327 6561
w : http://www.pierrestaurant.com.au
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By Howard
We started eatshowandtell in 2008, it was meant to be just a journal of where we ate. The first thing I usually do when I'm looking for a restaurant is check out eatability and the restaurant website. But what is usually missing is pictures of the food, how do I know I'm getting what I expect? This blog hopefully plugs that gap.
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This article was written on 22 Nov 2009, and is filed under Dessert, Dinner, Modern Australian, Sydney, East.
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I *love* Katrina Kanetani. She’s my pastry idol! I’m absolutely devastated that she’s moving overseas.
I’ll def have to find the time to come to Pier for dessert this December.
.-= Karen´s last blog ..A C&C Christmas: Mini Christmas Cakes =-.
Thanks for the info, as I didn’t know she was leaving! Luckily I have a booking there in a few weeks, so I hope she hasn’t left by then! The photos are great! Luckily I’m still full from last night’s dinner so I’m not hungry from looking at them! Hehe.
.-= joey@FoodiePop´s last blog ..Confusable Words Of The Day: Nauseous/Nauseated =-.
What was the ash like? I don’t think I’ve seen it to eat before. The spring cannoli are very pretty.
.-= Arwen from Hoglet K´s last blog ..Stardust: a recipe to celebrate Catsplat =-.
Those desserts look divine. I love that Katrina has such a following, she deserves it!
.-= lili – pikelet&pie´s last blog ..Scissor-cut curry rice =-.
Wow I think I’d happily swap dinner in exchange for four courses of dessert! The mango desser looks so intriguing and I’ve always been a fan of soufflé. Love their ethereal lightness. Lots of interesting textures and flavours here. You guys have done well to catch her before she goes!
*drools* everything looks amazing. I especially love the look of the chocolate dessert. I so NEED to go an try some of her fabulous creations before she leaves!!
.-= Betty @ The Hungry Girl´s last blog ..Hopping with Smurf: Making Hoppers (Appa) =-.
Dessert is always my favourite part of the meal. These look amazing, especially the chocolate one.
.-= PlanningQueen´s last blog ..Simple Butter Cake Recipe =-.
So much to try on my next trip to Syd. I have to plan and decide well. but these desserts look amazing and I am so amazed how you do 2 dinners every Friday! WOW!
desserts look and sound AMAZING! love how creative everything is.. and the colours, im a sucker for colourful things =P
You are so lucky to have tried KK’s desserts before she leaves. I wonder if the desserts stay the same when the chef leaves – is there any copyright on them?
.-= Belle@OohLook´s last blog ..Adriano Zumbo Summer range – he thinks and builds =-.
Wow all the desserts look so amazing! I have to get myself to Pier for dessert sometime before she leaves!
.-= Jacq´s last blog ..Shanghai Tang, Haymarket =-.
@Karen : Hopefully her replacement can churn out similiar desserts!
@Joey : Can’t wait to read your thoughts on it.
@Arwen : Ash was nice, powdered crumble comes to mind ?
@Lili : Totally agree! I saw an article on smh about her a few years ago, she is a hard worker and it shows.
@Helen : I couldn’t afford the dinner so had to resort to dessert
@Betty : Do what I did, cheap dinner then splash on dessert
@Planning Queen : I’m not a big sweet tooth, but if I had this everday I would be.
@Penny : 2 dinners, just think of it as a degustation.
@Abercrombie : Yeah desserts these days, more than a creme brulee it seems!
@Belle : No idea, but hopefully they keep the mango dessert!
@Jacq : Just do an impromptu visit, might get away without a booking!
I must say Pier serves great dessert. I haven’t been to Pier for a long long time. The last time I visted Pier, Keanu Reeves was shooting Matrix sequal in Sydney. He and his lady companion was sitting at the next table to us. He ordered a large plate of sorbets! I always have fond memory of the dessert at Pier.
.-= Ellie´s last blog ..Belinda Jeffery’s Flourless Chocolate, Pecan and Raspberry Torte =-.
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