A Most Memorable Experience

By Joel Bevilacqua on September 9, 2020 in Food

French Mussels with Blue Cheese. Photo: Fletcher Moules

Thanks to the opening of Foodie del Mar on Avoca Street, Randwick, locals no longer have to argue over what type of cuisine they want for dinner. In even more exciting news, owners Kristofer and Daphne Taylor may have also changed the dating game in the east forever.
Foodie del Mar began its journey at the Bondi Markets, where the passionate foodie couple would share their love for paella with the ever-thankful locals. Plenty of positive feedback saw them branch out into wedding, private and corporate catering. The opening of Foodie del Mar means they now have a face, and a pretty one at that.
It’s a cool, chilled out space. Old wooden cable wheels have been turned into low-sitting tables and a couch, record player and buoyant tunes make for a relaxed yet fun atmosphere. The location allows the setting sun’s golden rays to stream in through the front windows – perfect for a sundowner.
Foodie del Mar’s catering focuses on creating a memorable experience. You’ll be transported to Spain for Paella, Mexico for tacos, Morocco for berber spiced lamb, the Amalfi Coast for gyros and meatballs or Asia for dumplings and Malaysian curry. The Foodie Bar menu allows customers to enjoy these experiences with a “bowls and booze” concept, all in the one place. Most of these experiences come in bowls, and there are tasty starters on offer too.
I kicked my experience off with a mix of dumplings and an empanada (Spanish pie) before diving into three of the eleven bowls. They were hard to split, so I’ve categorised them based on when they should be enjoyed. The tangy Greek pork Mykonos gyros bowl served with tzatziki is best enjoyed on a warm Sunday afternoon with a few drinks, the Malay Rendang, made with 16-hour slow cooked beef and Asian greens, should be consumed on a cold Friday night, and the Paella Escondido bowl, made with Mexican chipotle chicken and topped with charred corn, salsa and corn chips, should just be consumed as often as possible. This isn’t your typical zero-calorie bowl eatery, but it is healthy, wholesome and delicious food, and you can dine-in, pick it up or have it delivered.
For a bachelor like myself, the most exciting part of my visit was the discovery of the DIY Foodie Kits. Foodie del Mar has joined forces with Get Fish from the Sydney Fish Market to produce a gourmet-style take-home cooking kit, perfect for sharing. I was lucky enough to be gifted one of these kits, so the very next night I invited a petite, long-haired blonde by the name of Jethro (Bondi Rescue), to join me for a romantic dinner in.
We opened a bottle of Pinot and cooked together. Our kit contained a seafood paella, featuring a wild king prawns and premium seafood mix from Get Fish, smoked chorizo and a smoky capsicum and tomato sofrito with rice, vegetable stock and a step-by-step guide. If you’re lucky enough to get a second or third date, other DIY options on offer include Singapore chilli crabs, French mussels with blue cheese, and a king prawn curry laksa (order from getfish.com.au).
Cooking an actual meal was a pleasant, easy and fulfilling process, and the final product was extraordinary. If you’re like me and dates are hard to come by, don’t fret; Foodie del Mar are hosting Foodie Nights, where you can go into the restaurant with a bunch of friends, have the kits cooked for you and indulge. If you’re wondering how my rare, romantic night ended… a gentleman never tells!

Foodie del Mar
133 Avoca Street, Randwick
web: foodiedelmar.com.au
Instagram: foodiedelmar
Phone: 0414 738 155
Open: 5pm-9pm Thurs-Friday 4pm-9pm Saturday, 4pm-8:30pm Sun
Prices: Bowls $17.50-$20 DIY Foodie Kits $39-$55
Licenced BYO (licence coming soon)