Recently in European Category

Being self-employed means working from home for the majority of the week. Or if i feel like getting out, then from a cafe. Those who follow me on Twitter will have seen my latest find: Laptop Friendly Cafes. It is a site which conveniently tags cafes so readers know if power is available, and if wifi is free.

Badde Manors doesn't have either but its cozy atmosphere, long trading hours and
moreish vegetarian food and desserts makes it the perfect study spot for late night cramming, or an ideal place to get work done.

I've been to Badde Manors a few times before. The first visit was documented here.

They're known for their generous serving sizes and I'm glad to see that they still live up to the name.

My eggplant schnitzel ($15.50) is served with an enormous amount of Irish mash, some steamed vegetables and garlic toast. The eggplant is thankfully not soaked in oil, which is a common mishap with this delicate sponge-textured vegetable. I enjoy the cajun spiced breadcrumbs coating the silky eggplant. The mushroom sauce and creamy mash are the best parts though. They're the core ingredients to my definition of honest comfort food.

K has the chef's salad ($12.50) which essentially has all the goodies one would want in a salad! Mixed greens, chick peas, runner beans, artichoke, grilled haloumi and roasted almonds are tossed in with a minted tahini sauce which she mentions is strangely bitter.

An hour goes by and we both shamefully can't finish our meals due to its sheer size but walk out eyeing the tempting cake display. Perhaps the next visit will have to be an afternoon "working" tea.

Badde Manors
37 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, NSW
Web: www.baddemanorscafe.com
Phone: (02) 9660 3797

Opening hours:
Monday - Thursday, 11:30am - 11pm
Friday, 11:30am - midnight
Saturday, 1pm - midnight
Sunday, 1pm - 11pm

View Larger Map

Rice and pasta are kitchen staples I can't live without. And now, thanks to Blu and the team at Haystac, I can add Pearl Couscous (also known as Israeli couscous) to my list of must-have versatile ingredients.

You can win 1 of 5 packs of Blu Gourmet Pearl Couscous to trial in your very own kitchen. Keep reading to find out how!

Peal couscous takes its name from its unique pearl-like shape and size. They're around 3mm in size and made from hard wheat toasted in an open flame oven, which gives them a rich, nutty flavour and a smooth texture -perfect for absorbing sauces, stocks and spices!

I put these to the test and made both a savoury and a sweet dish.

1 small fennel bulb
1 tablespoon butter
1 small leek, rinsed and finely sliced
3 ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
1 litre fish stock
½ litre water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4x 100g smoked cod fillets
4 tablespoons aioli
10 basil leaves, roughly torn
¾ cup Blu Gourmet Pearl Couscous

Trim the fennel bulb, reserving the feathery tops, then cut the bulb in half and finely slice it.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, add the leek and cook until soft, then add the tomato, sliced fennel and stock. Bring to the boil, add remaining water then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the lemon juice and fish and cover. Cook for 7 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.

Lift out the fish and add the pearl couscous, stir well and simmer for a further 8 minutes.

Add fish back in and simmer for a few minutes. Divide among four warmed pasta bowls. Ladle the broth over the fish and top with a spoonful of aioli. Garnish with the fennel tops and basil.

Serves 4.

Smoked cod and fennel soup with pearl couscous

I love the simple flavours in this soup. It is almost a bouillabaisse but not as rich. The broth tastes delicate and light and the best thing about this recipe is that the pearl couscous makes it a meal!

I also wanted to play around with spices so poached a cup of pearl couscous in a divine syrup of fruit juices, lemon rind, cinnamon sticks, star anise, vanilla bean and honey, and then once chilled, I mixed it with some fresh strawberries and blueberries. The result was a sublime fruity dessert.

Sweet pearl couscous with berries, French vanilla bean ice-cream and pineapple jerky

Juice of 2 oranges
Juice of 4 apples
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon butter
2 - 4 teaspoons honey, to taste
1 cup of Blu Gourmet Pearl Couscous
2 whole star anise
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean, split
water, as required
Handful berries, according to personal taste
4 scoops vanilla bean icecream

Combine the juices, zest, honey, butter, star anise, cinnamon and vanilla bean in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir every few minutes until honey has dissolved.

Bring to the boil, then add the pearl couscous. Simmer for 6 minutes and add water if necessary.

Remove the pan from the heat and cover with a lid. Allow the couscous to remain covered until cool; fluff with a fork occassionally.

Remove spices and mix through berries (I've used quartered strawberries and whole blueberries). Serve chilled with a scoop of ice-cream.

Serves 4.

I've served these with a slice of pineapple jerky as well, as I've been slightly obsessed with my fruit dehydrator lately... more to come on that shortly!

Blu Gourmet Pearl Couscous

Win 1 of 5 packs of Blu Gourmet Pearl Couscous
To enter, simply leave a comment below in 25 words or less and tell me what you would use pearl couscous for?

Sorry, for Australian residents only. Competition entry closes on 8/12/09 11:59pm; winners will be announced on 9/12/09. Please use a valid email address so you can be contacted for your mailing address, shall you win.

Good luck and happy eating! x

For more information on pearl couscous, visit Blu's official website.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED.

All day breakfast - coffee and fresh juice

What I've been doing a lot of lately, is surrounding myself with other motivated and passionate individuals who have left their secure full-time jobs and are doing their own thing. There seems to be more and more friends doing 4 day working weeks or even changing careers completely. The inspiration must be contagious.

On this particular day, I had brunch with the fabulous Mel (aka Fooderati). With both of us coming from advertising backgrounds, our passion for food and appetite for new experiences led us to leap towards new opportunities. As we caught up on each other's recent ventures, we soaked in a bit of sun and munched on a delightful breakfast at Pieno in Surry Hills -which is a relatively new little place adjacent to The Winery by Gazebo and opposite Thomas Dux Grocer on Crown Street.

I started off with a freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. It was intensely citrusy and bitter sweet which was exactly what I needed.

I spent longer than usual browsing the all-day breakfast menu and finally put my new waistline reduction obsession aside and ordered the blueberry griddle cakes which were served with melted butter and maple syrup and dusted with icing sugar. They were moist and hearty and generous in serving size too as I only manage to finish off half the plate.

Blueberry griddle cakes (pancakes / hotcakes) with butter and maple syrup

Mel's sauteed mushroom bruschetta with an extra side of bacon was as enormous and hid beneath a promising garden of rocket. The scent of the toasted bread which had been lightly coated with garlic oil was divine.

Breakfast bruschetta of sauteed mushrooms with rocket and garlic oil and a side of bacon

Sometimes, there's nothing much better than a late morning start with a good breakfast!

Pieno
11/285A Crown St, Surry Hills, NSW
Phone: (02) 8354 1303

Gazebo Wine Garden's girls' picnics are such a wonderful offering. They're exactly my type of thing -a picnic where all you have to do is round up the girls! The food and wine is catered for, there's no worrying about picking the perfect spot or getting dirt on your pretty sundress. It's a bit like camping really. I enjoy the great outdoors but would never go camping au naturale... In fact, the only time I have ever gone camping was at Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay where we were steps away from electricity, toilets and BBQs. Brilliant I say!

The Girls' Picnic must be booked in advance and are available from noon til 2:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For $35 per person, you're greeted with a glass of bubbly and three tiers of delicious goodies.

At lunch with the girls -Maggie, Karen, Emma and moi

Glasses of bubbly

We decide to also share two jugs of Pimms & lemonade which are $25 a pop. The jugs are full of Pimms No1, Gordons gin, Rosso sweet Italian vermouth & strawberries, mint, cucumber topped with lemonade & dry ginger ale. It is refreshing, fruity and sweet.

The quirky furnishings and whimsical decor come complete with cute waiters dressed as lifeguards. Ours happily posed for us :)

Our lifeguard

Pimms and lemonade

Quirky decor

The picnic theme is brought to life with a wicker picnic basket, warm French baguettes and a convenient wooden chopping board and knife. Accompanying the bread are delicious marinated olives, an avocado and pistachio dip and a corn relish.

French baguette and picnic basket

Marinated olives, dips and relish

It was lovely to bask in the sun whilst feasting our eyes on a garden filled with beautiful vines, old Victorian chairs and cushions and enlivened with fresh flowers.

In the garden

Three tiers of delicious goodness

The first tier was salads. They were served room temperature which suited us well as we felt we were beginning to roast in the heat ourselves. There was pumpkin & feta, roasted almond salad, chat potato salad with mustard mayo dressing and green onion, mushrooms with pesto and a simple ratatouille with chunky pieces of cauliflower.

Salads

The second tier were meats and seafood. There was smoked honey ham with fresh iceberg lettuce leaves, cherry tomatoes and chunks of cheddar cheese; piping hot deep-fried soft shell crab; cooked prawns, smoked Atlantic salmon, lightly peppered pastami, steamed mussels and pickles and cornichons on a bed of rocket -plentiful to go around.

Meats and seafoods

On the side we also add a rocket, pear, pinenut and parmesan salad which is a combination that can never go wrong.

Rocket salad

Finally, we ate our way up to the top dessert tier which we had been eyeing from the start. Moist chocolate brownies went hand in hand with fresh pieces of rockmelon, strawberries, watermelon and marshmallows.

Dessert

Leave the picnic rug at home and hop on down to Elizabeth Bay...

Gazebo Wine Garden
2 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay
Phone: (02) 9357 5333
Web: www.thegazebos.com.au

Two months ago, I turned 25 and there was plenty to celebrate. In between all the drama of a quarter-life-crisis, I'd resigned from my day job to pursue the free-spirited life of an entrepreneur.

So the last thing I wanted to do was organise a function. But I did it anyway.

Velero sits on Woolloomooloo Wharf and offers sexy alfresco dining. Their fuss-free function menu featured various options including the $55 set menu which is what I went for.

Sourdough with marinated olives and my cocktail (I forgot what it was...)

Tapas to share
Marinated olives with herbs, garlic, chilli, lemon, orange and fennel seed
Freshly shucked Sydney Rock Oysters dressed with lemon
Croquetas de Jamon
Roast mushrooms with chilli, garlic, herbs & Manchego
Deep-fried cuttlefish served with smoked chilli aioli
Pan-fried chorizo picante with chickpea puree and peppers

Mains, a choice of
Roast wild barramundi with chorizo, roast peppers, chickpeas, herbs and olive oil
Grilled Jindalee sirloin with patatas a lo pobre and roast garlic and paprika butter
Roast spatchcock with pan fried wild mushrooms, cavalo nero and tozino
Fettuccine with portobello, pine and porcini mushrooms, parmesan and parsley
Seafood paella with prawns, mussels, cuttlefish, chorizo and saffron

Sides to share
Rocket and manchego salad with herbs and PX balsamic
Patatas Bravas: fried potatoes with salsa picante and aioli

Sydney rock oysters, deep-fried cuttlefish and roast mushrooms

The Sydney rock oysters were served au natural -they were tasty and seductive. The cuttlefish was my favourite of the tapas. They were cooked to perfection... Piping hot and not too chewy.

Croquetas de jamon and chorizo

The croquettes (or in Spanish: croquetas) were scrumptious too. Inside the lightly breaded fritters was a fluffy smooth mix of mashed potato and ham. It was just what we needed to combat the cold breeze.

Rocket and manchego salad with herbs and PX balsamic

As for the mains, strangely enough, everyone pretty much ordered either the paella or the sirloin. However, the unfortunate thing about fusion restaurants is not knowing what you'll be getting. Velero, being a mix of Spanish and Italian, was supposed to give us the best of both worlds. And it did, until the paella was served. Because it wasn't served on a traditional paella pan, we didn't get the crisp bottom layer of golden rice and the half of a lemon was most definitely more than enough. According to my guests, the serving size varied from one to another as well.

But the good news is that everyone who ordered the steak (including me) gave it the thumbs up. The paprika butter was so flavoursome, it added another whole dimension to my Jindalee sirloin -which by the way, was a perfect medium.

Side dish of patatas bravas

Seafood paella

Grilled Jindalee sirloin with patatas a lo pobre and roast garlic and paprika butter

Overall?

Hit: We had really lovely service matched by the beautiful waterside views of the city skyline and promenade.

Miss: The food was a slight let down and there was a $5 per person cakeage fee.

Group photo

P.S. There's still 6 days left to bake a tart for your chance to win a $175 Julie & Julia prize pack. 5 runners-up will also win double passes. Click here for more information.

Velero
Shop 2, 6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo
Phone: (02) 9356 2222
Web: velero.com.au

I'm a big fan of Time Out. I would never visit a city without first consulting the local Time Out guide.

Time Out Sydney's Food Awards 09 winners were announced this week, so let's see who made the cut:

People's Choice
Winner: Glebe Point Diner, Glebe
Runners-up: Bodega, Surry Hills; Quay, The Rocks; Marque, Surry Hills; Longrain, Surry Hills

I'm a bit ashamed that I haven't yet dined at Glebe Point Diner. There are all round positive reviews from other food bloggers, namely, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry, Double Cooked, Lemonade Land and Steph's Food Journey and along with mountain loads of press and editorial reviews, Glebe Point Diner is an obvious people's choice.

Best New Restaurant
Winner: Rockpool Bar and Grill, Sydney
Runners-up: Sepia, Sydney; Spice Temple, Sydney; Etch, Sydney; The Beresford, Darlinghurst

Rockpool Bar & Grill in Melbourne is an absolute favourite. While I haven't been to its Sydney sister, can anyone tell me if it's any different?

Etch is simply full of pretty spaces and their macaroni is to-die-for. The revamped Beresford trattoria is also a clear winner (runner-up in this case) with the locals.

Best Cafe
Winner: Cafe Sopra, Waterloo
Runners-up: Deus ex Machina, Camperdown; Wall, Surry Hills; Ruby's Diner, Waverley; Kazbah, Balmain

Anyone who has been to Kazbah's breakfast banquet will be an advocate. Hmmm, why isn't Dank Street Depot a runner-up?

Best Desserts
Winner: Universal, Darlinghurst
Runners-up: Pier, Rosebay; Quay, The Rocks; Longrain, Surry Hills; Rockpool, The Rocks

I haven't been to Universal, nor Pier or Longrain. But if Quay is any benchmark for the winner, I have to get myself to Universal. I adore Quay's eight texture chocolate cake and their pear creme caramel, sauterne jelly, pear icecream and caramel cream!

Best Steak
Winner: Fix St James, Sydney
Runners-up: Bistro Moncur, Woolahra; Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney; Tabou, Surry Hills; Mad Cow, Sydney

Wow, I haven't been to any of these places. What about Prime? Chophouse?

Best Fixed Price Menu
Winner: Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Surry Hills
Runners-up: Assiette, Surry Hills, Atelier, Glebe; Vini, Surry Hills; Marque, Surry Hills

Best Seafood
Winner: Sepia, Sydney
Runners-up: Tetsuya's, Sydney; Manta, Woolloomooloo; Fish Face, Darlinghurst; Pier, Rose Bay

Am I the only one who hearts Flying Fish, Masuya and Ocean Room?

Best Burgers
Winner: Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney
Runners-Up: Plan B by Becasse, Sydney; Ruby's Diner, Waverley; The Burger Joint, Darlinghurst; Paul's Burgers, Sylvania

You will have no doubt seen my recent list of where to find the best burgers in Sydney. I still stand by it -although from reading the comments, I need to get myself to Rockpool Bar & Grill and Counter Burger!

Best Cheap Eat
Winner: Black Star Pastry, Newtown
Runners-up: Din Tai Fung, Haymarket; Guzman y Gomez, Newtown; Mamak, Haymarket; Gumshara Ramen, Haymarket

Seriously, how can anything beat Mamak? OK, maybe #chronic ramen is close, but a pastry shop? It must be bloody good, and I have yet to try. But the bigger issue here, is how 6 xiao long bao (soup dumplings) for $8.80 can be considered a cheap eat!

Best Sandwiches
Winner: Malibu, Surry Hills
Runners-up: Pilu Kiosk, 'On the Beach', Freshwater; Big Bite, Sydney; Hong Ha, Hurstville; Plan B by Becasse, Sydney

Best Patisseries
Winner: Adriano Zumbo, Balmain
Runners-up: Croissant D'Or, Potts Point; Yellow, Potts Point; Bourke Street Bakery, Surry Hills; Sweet Belem, Petersham

Ah, Zumbo. Post-Masterchef, Zumbo appears to be the real winner with endless queues and requests for his macarons, croquembouche and the chocolate mousse cake.

Best Noodles
Winner: Gumshara, Haymarket
Runners-up: Pho An, Bankstown; Twisted Noodle Bar, Sydney; Menya Noodle Bar, Sydney, Tan Viet, Cabramatta

I think ramen should be in its own category. But regardless, you'll still find me every fortnight slurping up $7 noodles at Dong Ba in Bankstown.

Best Thai
Winner: Spice I Am, Surry Hills
Runners-up: Longrain, Surry Hills; Sailor's Thai, The Rocks; Chat Thai, Sydney; Crocodile Senior, Sydney

Best Yum Cha
Winner: Fisherman's Wharf, Pyrmont
Runners-up: Marigold, Sydney, Sunny Harbour Seafood Restaurant, Hurstville; Sky Phoenix, Sydney; Golden Unicorn, Maroubra

Best Tapas
Winner: Bodega, Surry Hills
Runners-up: Ash St Cellar, Sydney; Delicado, McMahons Point; Sean's Kitchen, Pyrmont, Catalonia, Kirribilli

Bodega, can anything beat it? I think Spanish Terrazas, Velero and Cantina may be close contenders for runners-up.

Best Pizza
Winner: Lucio Pizzeria, Darlinghurst
Runners-up: Pompei's, Bondi Beach; Rosso Pomodoro, Balmain; La Disfida, Haberfield; Pizza Mario, Surry Hills

Errr, Pizza e Birra anyone?

So what do you think? Are these the winners or losers?

Merivale's Winter Feasts have many talking -about its irresistable value for money and its risqué adverts. It is of course the follow up to the March into Merivale campaign where Justin Hemmes first convinced his top chefs to get their gear off. This time, they were back and just as naked beneath their winter coats.

At the launch party back in June, I was très impressed with plenty of dishes, but it was Ash Street Cellar's creamed snapper and fennel soup with gremolata that had me captivated.

Without much persuasion, Wynn and her hubby John met Zen and myself there one night after work. Tucked in a laneway behind the The Ivy, you somehow fall into a European fantasty of intimate outdoor dining complete with gorgeous French cafe chairs. It's a pity Ash Street Cellar doesn't accept bookings because I would have otherwise had dined here many times before.

Ash Street Cellar's Winter Feasts offer was 3 courses for $35 including a glass of wine or a James Squire.

Spanish Jamon Iberico

However, we were quite hungry tonight and with my recent return from Barcelona, I felt it was only necessary to satisfy my cravings with 2 plates of Spanish Jamon Iberico. I was glad we topped up on the $35 Winter Feast because once the food had arrived, I noted they would be sensational for lunch but left you yearning for more at dinner.

The first plate of jamon iberico was generous which made the second look some what rushed and incomplete. The melt-in-your-mouth texture was beautiful.

Creamed fennel soup with leek and gremolata

My first course was naturally the creamed (not sure if there was snapper) fennel soup with leek and gremolata. It was exactly the way I remembered it to be, only this time, in a much larger serving -hooray.

The boy has the whitebait, forgetting his dislike of eating a fish whole. Their barely there crumbled batter makes them delicious and flavoursome, even though the remains of a small plate of fish heads may tell you differently.

Fried whitebait with chilli mayonnaise

My main course of Italian pork sausage had a gorgeous aroma but looked like it should have belonged to a banquet of tapas and not served solo. It was presented on a small bed of cabbage and caramelized onions and garnished with fresh parsley leaves -all of which turned a sausage into a hearty meal.

Italian pork sausage with caramelized onions

Meanwhile, I didn't hear much from my dining companion regarding his smoked salmon which can only mean good things.

Smoked salmon with garlic potatoes

Chocolate pretzels with caramel sauce

Gorgonzola piccante with quince and fruit bread

The desserts were all simple items but executed brilliantly. My crumble was divine. The tangy fresh orange segments were balanced sublimely with lemon curd and rich shortbread crumbs.

Fresh orange segments, lemon curd and short bread crumbs

While we ended up spending more than $35 per person (on additional drinks, bread and jamon), I still think it's fabulous value for money.

Here's also a sneak peek at the offers around the other Merivale venues. Special thanks to Melissa at Merivale for inviting me to the Merivale Winter Feasts launch party as VIP! (Yes -it was awesome not having to fight over food with the general public, whilst balancing a DSLR!)

Bistro CBD

Simun Dragicevich's gougeres -cheesy choux puffs, duck rillette with beetroot, cornishons en croute and white chocolate tartlettes

Est.

Peter Doyle's avocado, king crab and mint on lavosh; tartare of ocean trout, cucumber, ponzu and coriander and tuscan bean stew and braised beef cheek tarts

Lotus

Dan Hong's tuna tartare with sweet wasabi

Mad Cow

Christopher Whitehead's goat's curd, pear and rocket mini tart, our signature beef tartare and chocolate brownies

Sushi e

Ura San's ocean trout sashimi

Teppanyaki

Akira Urata's king fish skewers with Asian salsa, mini wagyu penny burger and Beijing duck 'ivy style'

Uccello

Massimo Bianchi's prosciutto san daniele and grissini and tiramisu

Merivale Winter Feasts are available as 1, 2 or 3 courses with a glass of wine or a James Squire, Monday to Friday, 12 noon - 2pm and 6 - 8pm. Go to merivalewinterfeasts.com for Winter Feast menu options and more info.

Ash St Cellar
1 Ash St, Sydney
www.merivale.com/#/ivy/ashstreetcellar

Santorini was like a flawless movie set. The sunsets glowed immaculately day after day and the white washed buildings were ever so impeccable. A panoramic view from any angle was breathtaking. I was sold as soon as I saw a travel brochure of this Greek island, but to see it in person was something different altogether.

So, to the start of it.

We hopped onto this tiny Olympic Airways plane where my fear of heights and sensitivity to G-force had me gripping onto the arm rest.

Zen in front of the teeny Olympic Airways plane we were about to board

Here I am beside the astonishingly compact Smart car. The norm would have been to rent a quad-bike or scooter but we didn't want to be one of those annoying tourists! Besides, we had way too much luggage and wanted to explore the whole island from Oia to Akrotiri to Perissa. We soon learnt that the bonus of forking out a little more for a car was the shade it provided from the scorching heat and the strength it had to pull us up and around mountains.

Me next to the rental Smart car

We stayed at the Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites which was tucked away behind the busy streets of Fira but still in walkable distance to the shops, restaurants and views -I thought it was well deserved luxury. We read beneath the outdoor four-poster day beds, sun-baked on Milano wicker pool chairs, dipped in the pool and ate up big. The buffet breakfast was grandeur, featuring traditional Greek items, homemade Santorinian jams and treats, fresh fruits, juices, breads and so much more. The serviced poolside bar was so convenient, the service was top-notch and the food did not disappoint. Eating by the pool with a background of jazz music in a spectacular retreat like this is an unforgettable experience.

Lunch of fried meatballs with housemade French fries, bread with tsatsiki and grilled chicken with basmati rice and mastic white sauce at Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites

On another day, we ate at Ouzerie which serves up traditional Greek dishes. The moussaka (lasagna with eggplant and potato), Greek salad and chicken souvlaki were scrumptious! It was a hearty and satisfying lunch.

Homemade style Greek food of salad, moussaka and chicken souvlaki from Ouzerie Greek Mezedes

I couldn't resist getting a massage at the beach. The black pebbled sand wasn't very exciting to rest on but I did love the widely available chaise lounges. This is me getting a foot and leg massage ;)

Getting a foot and leg massage on Kamari Beach in Santorini

Santorini is truly a honeymooner's playground. I witnessed several weddings and lovebirds flourished the streets, adding more demand to the stunning sunset views. Many restaurants had amazing terraces on the cliff, offering gorgeous caldera views. One of them was Spinx Restaurant...

Dinner over sunset at Spinx Restaurant in Santorini, Greece

Fine dining in Santorini was interesting. Koukoumavlos Restaurant was experimentally creative with introducing Asian flavours to traditional Greek cuisine. I started with the Santorinian fava which is a delectable local bean, served with smoked trout and salmon tartar in mandarin sauce and roasted almonds. And for mains, I had the fresh papardelle with scampi and shrimp sauteed in ouzo and anise with fresh tomato and light cream flavoured with orange zest. The view of course was beautiful but once the sun has set, you're left in a nice but average restaurant with pitch black views of the sea.

Santorinian fava from Koukoumavlos Restaurant

I think I much preferred the cheap and cheeful, such as this grilled seafood platter of freshly caught calamari, gilt-head bream, octopus, shrimps, mussels, fried potatoes, rice and salad from Argo.

Seafood platter from Argo

Me at the south of Santorini with volcanic caldera view

Shores of Santorini near Fira

Now, where do I start with traditional Santorinian delicacies? Well... there were the fried tomato balls which taste exactly as it sounds and are totally addictive; zucchini fritters, fried salted cod served with skordalia (dip made of garlic, potato, vinegar and nuts), grilled squid or calamari or bream, gyros (the kebabs we're all used to eating at 2am after a night out) and keftedes, which are meatballs with parsley. Creme caramels, baklava, kataefi and panna cotta were also popular desserts across Santorinian menus.

Tomatokeftedes (Santorini tomato balls)

Zucchini fritters / fried baby marrows

Creme caramel from Atlantis Island Restaurant

Dinner of meatballs and fresh bream at Naoussa Restaurant

Seafood marinara spaghetti at Thalami Restaurant, Oia

Deep fried salted cod from Thalami Restaurant in Oia

Oia in Santorini

Overall? Santorini definitely sits within the top 2 of my favourite places visited during this trip to Europe. I was lucky to see its real deal, right before it would be flooded with summer tourists.

You can read about my trip to Monaco, London and Barcelona, France and Italy here; or stay tuned for the next post on Dubai (the last leg of the trip).

I've been back in Sydney for almost a week now and if there was one country I wish I had spent more time in, it would be Italy. Due to the train strike in France, I spent an extra three days in Nice and subsequently, three days less in Italy. So we threw out our plans to see the Amalfi Coast and Rome and flew to Greece a day early, leaving three days to eat our hearts out in Bologna!

On the first night, we accidentally over-ordered -forgetting the difference in serving sizes between France and Italy. Research showed that plenty of visitors and locals considered Pizzeria Nicola as one of the best. With decent prices, a menu which covered all bases and massive serves, I couldn't agree more. We had the bruschetta, prosciutto melone, riso ai frutti di mare, pappardelle ai funghi porcini and the quattro stagioni pizza; yes, all of this for two.

Bruschetta from Pizzeria Nicola

The prosciutto was so fragrant... sweet, slightly salty, delicate and paired brilliantly with fresh rockmelon.

Prosciutto melone from Pizzeria Nicola

The risotto was served generously with mussels, prawns, vongole and calamari; the rice was moist and al dente. My pasta was fresh and creamy, perfect with the rich and slightly nutty porcini mushrooms -delectable!

Riso ai frutti di mare from Pizzeria Nicola

Pappardelle ai funghi porcini from Pizzeria Nicola

As for the pizza... let's start with the crust. It was thin, its edges were crisp and brown and there were plenty of gorgeously textured air bubbles. The wood-fired base was topped with a tasty balanced combination of tomatoes, mozzarella, ham, mushroom, artichoke and pork sausage.

Quattro stagioni pizza from Pizzeria Nicola

The next day, we checked out Trattoria Tony for its Bologna specialty of ragu (bolognese sauce). Traditional bolognese is actually less tomatoey than its international adaptations of which I'm used to. The meat sauce was an aromatic mix of uniformly chopped carrot, onion, celery, garlic, porcini mushrooms, mince, tomatoes. We loved it ladled over the homemade tagiatelle and green lasagne.

Antipasto misto from Trattoria Tony

Lasagne verdi al forno from Trattoria Tony

Tagiatelle al ragu from Trattoria Tony

Fragole con gelato from Trattoria Tony

Creme caramel from Trattoria Tony

A quick trip to Venice

Pizzeria Nicola
Piazza San Martino, 9
Bologna 40126, Italy
Phone: +39 51 23 2502

Trattoria Tony
Via Augusto Righi, 1
Bologna 40126, Italy
Phone: +39 51 23 2852

More on food from Santorini and Dubai soon! :)

Etch was a beautiful space. It was decorated like my dream walk-in wardrobe. Massive mirrors, lush floral wallpapers, stunning upholstered lamp shades and gorgeous framed artwork. If there was such thing as casual fine dining, this would be it. The menu wasn't fancy but the dishes were beyond well prepared and gorgeously presented.

We started with refreshing cocktails (Endless Summer was a mix of Bacardi, passionfruit, pineapple, mint and lime, and my Goodie Grapes was made up of muddled grapes, topped with cranberry juice and lemonade) and some appetisers of shaved Serrano gran reserva with peppered melon, chilli and mint, and crispy spiced local squid with sweet paprika mayonnaise. Strangely, I had expected rockmelon or honeydew instead of watermelon... it was different, quirky but greatly scrumptious. We all gave the squid and sauce the thumbs up.

Dining room interior

Goodie Grapes mocktail

Slightly disappointed at my prawn cocktail, I envied Bec's playful ensemble of kingfish sashimi which was spiced with something which tasted like a Thai / Vietnamese sate sauce. It was paired with the natural crunch of either apple, pear or radish. Zen and Jonno had the same entree and left me yearning for their crisp pork belly and sublimely flavoured scallops. I continued to munch through my shaved iceberg, mixing it with the delicious crisp croutons and king prawns. It was good but didn't match the deliciousness of what my dining companions were having.

Bec and I disappeared off to the bathroom with her baby girl and walked past another amazingly decorated room at the back. There were so many pretty spaces... I'm considering it as the venue for my upcoming 25th birthday party. Maybe.

Endless Summer cocktail and crispy spiced local squid with sweet paprika mayonnaise

Shaved Serrano gran reserva with peppered melon, chilli and mint

Me, Bec and Natalie

Caramelised pork belly, roasted Queensland scallops, sherry gel and sweet corn puree

Kingfish with Bangkok flavours

Prawn cocktail

Since this is a food blog, I usually wouldn't post photos of the bathroom but this was too lovely not to. Check out the deep-bucketed sinks and angel-winged dressform.

We came back to find the mains waiting for us. Luckily, they were still hot and didn't show any signs of the wait. Bec and I both had the cauliflower, cete and macaroni cheese, which was exactly what I had been craving. Yes, my recent creamy pasta obsession has finally been satisfied. The cepe (French for porcini) added a rich earthy elegance to the dish.

Both Jonno and Zen had the 6-week dry aged organic roast and braised Gundooee wagyu beef with morel butter. They demolished it in glee.

Meanwhile, the fried provencal potatoes was my absolute weakness.

Fried provencal potatoes, aged proscuitto and garlic mayonnaise

Mashed potatoes

6-week dry aged organic roast and braised Gundooee wagyu beef with morel butter

Cauliflower, cepe and macaroni cheese

Then being smart parents, Bec and Jonno quickly signaled the waiter for the dessert menu.

We ordered, admired, ate (and in my case, spoon-licked the addictive earl grey tea syrup) and left.

Caramel date tart with burnt butter ice cream and earl grey tea syrup

Market fruits, jubes, gels and sorbets

If Etch was this tasty, I must really get myself to Becasse!

Etch by Becasse
62 Bridge Street, Sydney
Phone: (02) 9247 4777
www.etchdining.com.au

From first appearances, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was just an average senior's bowling club bistro. Oh, how wrong I was!

Zen's workmate DC has been a local at the club for decades and even celebrated his 50th birthday at this family-run restaurant on its opening day some time last year. When we agreed to stroll down the street to Wiseman Park Wollongong City Bowling Club for brunch, I went sans-camera, not expecting anything photo-worthy. (Pictures below taken with my brand spanking new iPhone)

Imagine is more of a bistaurant (bistro & restaurant). Its menu is down-to-earth yet slightly fancy but sticks to a traditional Mediterranean fare. The prices are higher than a $10 pub steak but its food has many talking. On a Friday or Saturday night, expect to find the place booked out, with regulars even taking the food out to a different seating area.

Zen and I share the seafood paella which was about $56.90 from memory. We're advised that it will take about 25 minutes to be cooked so we start off with some garlic bread.

The Turkish bread was piping hot and buttery and could have had a little more garlic. However, it was delicious to the boyfriend, the non-garlic eater who eats garlic occasionally.

Our meals were thoughtfully brought out at the same time.

DC has the lamb casserole which is served with a side of steamed seasonal vegetables. He compares it to his mother's cooking which is a good sign, although stating that it's missing a crucial ingredient which he can't pinpoint. I think anything substantially close to one's mother's cooking is bloody good.

The seafood paella smelt scrumptious and included a generous spread of mussels, moreton bay bugs, king prawns and baby octopus. The rice was of the perfect consistency and I simply loved the tomato and saffron colours which stained Zen's fingers, hehe :)

Garlic bread

Lamb casserole

Seafood Paella before waiter served it

My plate of seafood paella

Make a booking and be surprised.

View Larger Map

Imagine Restaurant
Wiseman Park Wollongong City Bowling Club
Foleys Rd, Gwynneville, NSW
Phone: +61 (2) 4229 4132‎

You know you're in Melbourne once you've eaten breakfast or brunch out, more than dinner.

Madame Sousou is a Parisian cafe/restaurant on busy Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. They have an amazing breakfast menu which stretches from housemade toasted fruit and nut museli to baked eggs with basque style tomato sauce, chorizo and fresh mints. I adored the alfresco street seating and gorgeous French decor indoors.

Street seating

Interior Parisian decor

Cappuccino

My English breakfast tea was served on a pretty vintage tea tray. And good tea, it was.

English breakfast tea

Zen's big breakfast was a gourmet adventure. We appreciated the artfully cooked double smoked bacon which had crispy edges but was not overdone and the scrumptious array of organic sausages, housemade hashbrown, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and ciabatta toast. I was green with envy until my zucchini and sweet corn fritters arrived. Topped with Tasmanian smoked salmon, avocado salsa and chive creme fraiche and served with a side of rocket, the flavours were so well refined and simply delicious.

The Sousou big breakfast

Zucchini and sweet corn fritters

I'm eating

On the street

Madame Sousou
231 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Victoria
Phone: +61 3 9417 0400

Recently, I've noticed that Zen and I are ordering the wrong foods. He asks for the salad or iced coffee and they're always served to me. Excuse me, because I enjoy big hearty meals and may occasionally order as a man would.

On this extremely late Sunday afternoon, we decided to brunch at Bello. I've been here a couple of times before and have loved their generous servings and location. It's a fabulous excuse to impulse shop, although you might not be in the mood after paying almost $10 for a bowl of wedges with sweet chilli sauce and sour cream. So here is Zen's iced coffee with lots of ice cream (which was initially served to me). And below is my frothy hazelnut latte.

Our orders take a while to arrive... I'm suspecting it was the cafe's near full capacity... and hopefully, they were preparing our dishes, fresh. The risotto does not disappoint. It's a rich mountain of creamy flavour.

However, I was more impressed with my stack of corn and zucchini fritters.

There was a $3 surcharge for the bacon but considering there were 3 - 5 strips, browned perfectly with most of the fat trimmed, I was happy. The tomato and avocado salsa was lovely too; it had cut through the pan-fried fritters and bacon so elegantly.

Cafe Bello
Level Ground, Shop 172, Burwood Westfield (100 Burwood Rd)
Phone (02) 9745 1545

I was down at Wollongong this weekend for a race day at Kembla Grange. So, watch this space for a few more Wollongong posts :)

Saturday morning was cold... and that's the best excuse for a big greasy breakfast. Zen and I strolled down the street to the Mall. Cino Cafe has plentiful seats outside which was already starting to fill up at just 10.30am. We decided to step inside, away from the breeze, and placed ourselves in round leather booth chairs. The tables were slighly high... but this could have been the result of my slouching posture. On my left was a glass cabinent full of delicious treats. There were portugese custard tarts, cakes of all sorts, pasteries and more. Mmmm...

I controlled my temptations and ordered a hazelnut latte. This did not disappoint. It was served in a tall glass with a piece of almond biscotti.

Zen ordered the iced coffee and again we were impressed with the generous serving size.

The breakfast menu was expansive too. Cino's have pancakes, croissants, french toast, full or half breakfasts, omelettes, sourdough and jams... you name it. I opted for the full breakfast with my eggs sunny side up. They were cooked perfectly... with the yolk still runny, I lathered it all up on the buttered toast. There was also a plentiful array of mushrooms, bacon, sausages and hash browns.

Naturally, Zen preferred his eggs scrambled... light and fluffy.

Now that I was all nourished and warm... it was time to battle the wind & bets at Kembla Grange!

Cino Caffe
161 Crown Street, Wollongong Mall
Ph: 4226 1699