Buzo Trattoria, Woollahra

Ok seriously, do you really need to hear more whinging about how disconnected I've been to my blog again? No, of course not! But good news! My kitchen supplies have been restored to heart-stopping proportions, the baking has resumed and The Captain, usually a grateful recipient of baked goods, is practically begging me for reprieve. More importantly, for the first time in months, I actually finished a Daring Bakers challenge! Yes, you heard right!

And of course for the sake of insanity, I always make an effort to escape the dreary confines of suburbia and see the people who matter over fabulous food. It's the weekday therapy that I need to tide me till the weekend.

And tonight, the company was awesome as always, as about twenty of Sydney's Twitterati including some hungry foodies, gathered for an Italian feast at the beautiful and quaint Buzo Trattoria.

You'll also find the lovely people behind Buzo on Twitter's cyberstream, and like me, they are avid football lovers. But sadly they support Manchester United, Arsenal and West Ham. Tragic isn't it? But at least they can cook LOL. And in case you were wondering, I'm a die-hard Liverpool girl.

On the menu for us tonight were a main course and tasting plates of all their entrées and desserts. A lot of food is an understatement as my stomach started an early protest after the entrees. I also made the mistake of wearing a dress that didn't have room to expand. *sucks in stomach*

Salami, goats cheese and parmigiano gnocco fritto

The requisite bread, olive oil and cazuelas of olives helped to keep us from fainting from starvation as we waited for everybody else. We started off with salami, goats' cheese and parmigiano gnocco fritto - deep fried parcels of goats' cheese topped with thin slivers of salami with lashings of parmigiano. As a cheese-phobe, I was relieved at the lack of cheesiness of the parmagiano but that was the extent of my bravery, as I quickly passed on the goats cheese parcels. The deep fried batter, however, was a guilty pleasure.

The Savoy cabbage, pine nuts, raisins, pecorino and pangrattato insalata was like a fancy coleslaw but that's a crude description and it doesn't do it justice. Devour it alongside the Pollo Fritto - deep fried chicken wings with fennel pollen and aged balsamico - and you can understand why I started to get full so quickly.

Pollo Fritto

I also blame the Grappa cured Atlantic salmon with lemon and crostoni. I thought I was smart enough to forego the carbs of the crostoni. The same can't be said when I couldn't refuse a second round of the thick splodges of salmon.

Or a second helping of Pan Fried sardine fillets with crushed chickpeas, chilli and oregano for that matter.

And lest not mention the heavenly platter of Prosciutto Crudo and grilled scallops. My god.

Prosciutto crudo

Grilled scallops on the half shell, chorizo and pangrattato

Vincisgrassi: porcini, mushroom, prosciutto, truffle and parmigiano lasagne

As with the ways of a food blogger, our mains were carefully co-ordinated to maximise tasting and variety (these crazy people). Steph was defeated early with a Vincisgrassi - a lasagne of porcini, mushroom, prosciutto, truffle and parmigiano. It looked menacingly rich on the plate and indeed it was. But it was fabulous, especially for someone who adores her 'shrooms.

Steamed Jewfish and Clams

I went for light and fresh with a steamed jewfish and clams in a white wine, chilli, garlic and fresh herbed broth. My only regret was that I forgot to ask for a spoon. I could've drank from the bowl but I promised Mother Dearest that I would be on my best behaviour.

Rosticciana

My light main also meant that I had room to pick off everybody else's mains like the greedy pig that I am. And these were a winner. Lisa's Rosticciana - tender sticky beef short ribs, vin cotto, agro dolce and lemon - had the makings of a perfect Autumn dish.

Pappardelle in tomato and rosemary ragu

My perennial favourite dish of 'ragu bolognese' had a sophisticated makeover at Buzo with Jen's choice of Pappardelle, pork sausage, chorizo and parmigiano in a tomato and rosemary ragu. One bite and I immediately wished that I ordered it for myself instead. But luckily I have a big appetite so leftovers were devoured with relish.

Sneaky shot of Maiale Brasato

And in a flawless execution of stealthy papparazz-ing, I sneaked in a photo of, what I believe to be, the Maiale Brasato - pork braised with treviso, pancetta and reggiano.

Fried Potatoes

Even though I was dying in pain, I just couldn't let go of the Fried Potatoes - so crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside with the most heady scent of garlic. Dying by spud overdose isn't a bad way to go, come to think of it.

Cannoli

I'm getting full just by writing about it but there are still desserts to contend with! I'm glad that I finally had a taste of proper Sicilian Cannoli, that were filled with ricotta, candied lemon pistachio and chocolate. Amidst the eating, I couldn't help but remember my humorous and pitiful attempt at this delicacy.

Baked Meyer lemon and marscapone cheesecake with preserved plum

I could only manage a few bites of the Meyer Lemon cheesecake and the Torta di Verona because I was on my deathbed and the fact that the cazuela of Warm Baked Chocolate, almonds and vanilla gelato was calling out to me.

Torta di Verona - marscapone, pandoro, blueberry and almond trifle

Warm baked chocolate, almonds and vanilla gelato

To me, Italian food is all about warmth and comfort and on this particular night, I felt it at Buzo in spades. I never usually go out to eat Italian or travel to Woollahra, but I don't think my life will be complete if I didn't return on one winter's night for those potatoes and sticky ribs.