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Black Sesame Crème Caramel at Monkey Magic – Crave Sydney Sugar Hit

Following 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 participating restaurants offer a dessert and a sweet wine between the hours of 9.00 pm and 11.00 pm for just $20.

Monkey Magic’s dessert is an unusual creation that raises eyebrows with intrigue then immediately delights. The black sesame crème caramel is served with red wine poached pear, coconut ice cream and pink peppercorn, topped with a crunchy sesame puff pastry twist.

Monkey Magic Surry Hills

You’ve got to admire this dish with anticipation before taking a spoon to it.

Rich, black, creamy, nutty and silky smooth. The black sesame flavour dominates without being overpowering. The coconut ice cream is divine and has a clean taste and isn’t milky. The peppercorns on top add an interesting flavour and the red wine poached pears are deep red and a little firm under the bite.  The puff pastry adds a nice crunch and texture to the entire dish.

Monkey Magic Surry Hills

I find this dish a combination of two desserts, the pears with ice cream and the piece de resistance, the black sesame crème caramel. I could easily enjoy the toffee topped creme caramel on its own yet together, the pears and ice cream aside cuts through the sweetness a little and pleases palates that don’t like rich desserts.

Monkey Magic Surry HillsMonkey Magic Surry Hills

Three drink options accompany this dish including Hennessey Cognac. We opt for the Choya Ume-Chu Plum Wine from Osaka in Japan and a Brown Brothers Riesling. Much as I enjoy a good sticky, the Plum Wine is a far better choice than the Riesling which competes with this dessert.

Monkey Magic Surry HillsMonkey Magic Surry Hills

The concept of going out for a dessert and drink in a good restaurant has always appealed. If only this was possible throughout the year and not just during October SIFF.

With a zesty cocktail that is still talked about and a sensual rich dessert, Monkey Magic has certainly cast its spell on us.

Monkey Magic
3 & 4, 410 Crown Street
Surry Hills
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
Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic
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

About the author

Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars and The Gourmantic Garden. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read the full bio here.

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