Blancharu

The draw card here is the chance to experience the cuisine of Chef Haru Inukai in a less formal bistro setting located at the old Sebel Townhouse site. Among his many claims to fame, Inukai has cooked alongside Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai at his old haunt Galileo, and worked under the famed Joël Robuchon. Don’t miss the delicately seared ‘Aburi’ Ocean Trout ($17) with spinach and white sesame sauce, and the Pork Rillettes with Walnut Bread ($15). The gorgeous hand-made Fettuccine alla Carbonara ($22) with raw egg sauce is my pick of the pastas. Of the mains I found the Fish of the Day ($26), pan-roasted Moonfish, flavoursome and texturally interesting but I wasn’t fussed on the accompanying sautéed vegetables and ginger infused tomato sauce. A great way to sample the menu is the eight course Degustation Menu ($75), but if they give you the option, leap to include the fluffy Coconut Soufflé ($14) over the pleasant ‘Peach, Peach, Peach’ ($15) trio of peachy pleasures including a jelly, sorbet and poached white peach. One of the most pleasant surprises was finding a great, easy drinking Spanish import, the 2007 Torres Vina Esmeralda Moscatel/Gewürztraminer ($28) for under thirty dollars. Inukai works the floor frequently too.

Blancharu
Shop 1, 21 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay
Ph: (02) 9360 3555
Japanese/French $$$-$$$$