Fish 349 - North Hobart

With friends visiting, it was a good opportunity to try another restaurant on my list. Our friends S & G are both fish fans so this was the ideal choice. This restaurant has a number of eating areas as well as catering for take away. We were quickly seated- they don't take booking for tables under 6 - read the menu and ordered at the counter.

There are two menus; the regular and a chef's special. They are both printed so the specials don't change. They are just a bit more 'up market'

Soon to be an Aussie tradition? The boys didn't think so....

Thai Fish Cakes $6.90

Crumbed Calamari $6.50

Grilled Tiger Prawns on Zucchini Fritter & Yoghurt Dressing $15.90

More like prawns in a pancake - but enjoyable.

Fish 349 $19.50
fish, scallops, calamari, coconut prawns, chips

My husband can't go past traditional fish and chips and he was happy with his meal.

Salt and Pepper Squid $15.90

with watermelon, rocket and pickled ginger salad.

This was my choice and I must admit to being a little disappointed. To me, Salt and Pepper Squid is not served in rings. Although it was fresh and hand cut you can't help thinking of the processed rings from the takeaway shop. Still, a generous and tasty serve.

Pistachio Dukkah Crusted Blue Eye $27.90
on saffron mash, asparagus and roasted red pepper aioli.

S ordered this and it didn't live up to her expectations. It just seemed to be fish and mashed potato.

BBQ Baby Octopus on a Greek Salad $19.50

This dish didn't really live up to expectations either. The octopus was in rather large pieces and didn't have that crunchy, just tossed on the grill taste. They were a little tough and chewy.

Steamed Chocolate Pudding with hot fudge sauce and vanilla bean gelati

$10.50

For a seafood restaurant they certainly excelled at dessert.

Kaffir Lime Panna Cotta with fresh mango & mint -ginger syrup

$10.50

This has to be one of the most amazing desserts I have tasted and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. The panna cotta was so smooth and rich I would hazard a guess it had been cooked like a brulee. The mango was perfect ripeness. But the finishing touch, the basil syrup poured over both the panna cotta and the mango was sweet, but herby, in a deep and meaningful way. It cut through the richness of the custard and the muskyness of the mango and blended perfectly with both.

Turkish Delight Panna Cotta with Pistachio Ice Cream

I have a bit of a 'thing' for panna cotta. Not so much a desire to eat one when I see it on the menu (that would be a creme brulee), but more to make the perfect one. Knowing this, a friend sent me a recipe she had seen in her local newspaper. A reader's request for the panna cotta at the Azafran restaurant was printed, and knowing my desire to create perfection she sent it on to me.

Turkish Delight Panna Cotta

The recipe for the panna cotta was followed to the letter. Even ringing the restaurant and talking to the chef via his wife (he had a sore throat) to check on some details.

Turkish delight melting into the cream

Azafran's Turkish Delight Panna Cotta
Serves 6
300ml thickened cream
1/2tsp vanilla bean paste
160gm rose Turkish Delight
30gm caster sugar
40ml milk
2 sheets titanium strength gelatine
15ml rose water
300ml cream whipped to soft peaks

Put the 300ml cream, vanilla paste, sugar, turkish delight and rose water in a stainless steel pot.
Over a medium/low heat whisk mixture to help it break down.
Soak gelatine sheets in water and set aside.
Once all the turkish delight has dissolved into the cream mix and it has just come to the boil, remove from heat and whisk in gelatine and milk.
Allow to cool at room temp (do not let mix go cold as it will set).
Pass the mixture through a fine strainer to remove any lumps.
Fold mix through the whipped cream. Place into 120ml dariole moulds or similar and set in the fridge for minimum four hours.
Just before serving, dip the mould into hot water for about four seconds but take care not to get the panna cotta wet. Run a small knife around the edge and turn the panna cotta out on to the plate.
Serve with pistachio ice cream, crushed pistachios and saffron fairy floss (available at good delis).

The above recipe was printed in a Brisbane newspaper but I have made a slight change, I soaked the gelatine in water and added it to the cream mixture with the milk.

The finished dessert was very rich with the sweet and subtle hint of roses. Of course I had to play around with it, and with apologies to the Azafran chef, here is my version.

I took what was left of the panna cottas out of their moulds and gently melted half of them and added a few drops of red food colouring. I then whipped in the remaining panna cotta and poured it into two glasses. Once this had set, I topped it with some pistachio praline and the pistachio ice cream, finishing off with saffron fairy floss and a shard of pistachio toffee.

Pistachio Ice Cream

500ml pure cream
40g (1/4 cup) pistachio kernels, coarsely chopped
4 egg yolks
155g (3/4 cups) caster sugar
2-3 drops green liquid food colouring

Combine the cream and the pistachios in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Remove from heat.
Use an electric beater to whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar in a heatproof bowl until thick and pale.
Gradually stir the cream mixture into the egg mixture.
Transfer to a clean saucepan and place over low heat.
Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 10 minutes or until custard coats the back of the spoon.
Set aside for 1 hour to develop the flavours.
Add the food colouring and stir until combined.
Churn in an ice cream churn as per manufacturer’s instructions.

Azafran Restaurant

97 Ekibin Rd

Annerley

(07) 3892 1776