Sydney Inner City

High tea or more correctly, afternoon tea is one of my most favourite leisurely activities. During the month of June, Sheraton On The Park will be serving a special royal edition to celebrate Queen's Birthday! You don't have to be... Continue reading Royal Tea Stand at Sheraton On The Park »

Most foodies have a pair of "eating pants" or an "eating dress". These pieces of clothing are tremendously forgiving around the waistline and are perfect for excessively indulgent periods of eating. Admittedly, a decent ratio of my... Continue reading 4Fourteen, Surry Hills - plus your chance to win the ultimate date valued at $1000 »

Sydney's cheap eat scene recently welcomed the addition of Chanoma Cafe to Regent Place (where Azuma Patisserie used to be). Matcha green tea is the focus of the menu here - there's green tea soft serve ice-cream, green tea lattes,... Continue reading Chanoma Cafe »

Fish is rarely something I get excited about. Seafood, yes, but fish specifically, not so much.That was until Fish Place opened up, just one block away from my office! It has since become my new go-to place for lunches or... Continue reading Fish Place, Surry Hills »

As the Miss Eat-out-a-lot in my family and circle of friends, decisions on where we dine at are usually up to me. You'd think that I'd know my family best, but for some bizarre reason, I thought a family dinner... Continue reading Meatless Monday: Bodhi in the Park »

Chinese Noodle Bar may have changed names and gone through a succession of new management in the last few years but it's current offering has lured me back on a weekly basis since my first visit earlier this year. Addicted... Continue reading Chinese Noodle Bar, Haymarket »

I'm going to let you in on a little secret... There's a relatively new concept that has been floating around Sydney that gives you amazing discounts off the total bill at various restaurants. I'm not talking about those group-buying deals... Continue reading Ocean Room, Sydney »

Winter is no excuse for not indulging in ice cream or gelato. Aside from Gelato Messina popping up in Surry Hills, the other talk of the town in the gelato world is N2. Named after the chemical formula for nitrogen... Continue reading N2 Extreme Gelato »

Only the Merivale group could spend $4 million on setting up a restaurant and get me THIS excited about a new Chinese restaurant. There are no shortages of modern Chinese/Cantonese restaurants in Sydney so what makes this one different?Firstly, I... Continue reading Mr Wong »

I was initially saddened when I read that Cafe Ish was closing down. Mainly because it was a cafe/restaurant that I'd always wanted to go to more often, but never did. A week or so later, Josh announced on Twitter... Continue reading The Milk Bar by Cafe Ish, Redfern »

One of the greatest joys of being self-employed is being able to work my own hours - and take long lunches whenever it seems fit. Unfortunately, it's not something I do very often as most of my friends have normal... Continue reading District Dining »

In terms of unassuming eateries, there is no restaurant more unassuming than DY Sizzling Hot Pot. Even though I'm quite adventurous with trying out new restaurants, I must admit that I would have never set foot inside DY Sizzling Hot... Continue reading DY Sizzling Hot Pot, Haymarket / Broadway / Chippendale / Ultimo / Central »

Nepalese cuisine has always been an area of intrigue for me. I love that it showcases the geographical influences from China and India... It always tastes a little bit familar, yet different. I used to walk past The Nepalese Kitchen... Continue reading The Nepalese Kitchen, Surry Hills »

I chose Dan's House because of all the photos of their Peking duck that had been popping up in my Instagram and Twitter feeds. The thought of sensational Peking duck being served at a new Sydney restaurant, and myself, having not tried it yet... Continue reading Dan's House, Haymarket »

Inner-city Vietnamese restaurants have long been satisfying the appetites of those who crave the fresh flavours of Vietnam but don't necessarily want to drive an hour South-West of Sydney to the likes of Bankstown and Cabramatta. Gia Hoi (Haymarket) has... Continue reading Saigon Bay, Darlinghurst »

One of our last meals in Surry Hills as locals was at Porteno. You haven't lived until you've eaten their suckling pig. And brussel sprouts. I still pinch myself every time... Continue reading Porteno, Surry Hills »

I've always been a bit skeptical about the success of food trucks in Sydney. To me, the formula is more than just roaming trucks selling affordable food. I think the magic of eating from a food truck is as... Continue reading Sydney Food Trucks reviewed: Veggie Patch Van and Cantina Mobil »

Date nights have taken Zen and I to all pockets of Sydney. Depending on our moods and cravings, we'll go anywhere from having a cosy night with noodles and dumplings at Ashfield, to driving all the way to Penrith for... Continue reading Caffe Sicilia, Surry Hills »

Weekday lunch specials are a clever thing. Consistency, value and quality is the perfect equation for winning returning lunch customers. I for one, am a sucker for them. My latest find, is at Umi Kaiten-Zushi. I've been here for dinner... Continue reading Umi Kaiten-Zushi, Haymarket, Sydney »

Because I'm in Malaysia this Easter break (taking advantage of AirAsia X's cheap $99 airfares), I thought it'd be nice to share my latest fave Malaysian eat back home in Sydney...New-ish to George Street, is Petaling Street: Malaysian Hawker Food.... Continue reading Petaling Street: Malaysian Hawker Food, Haymarket, Sydney »

In my continued quest for really good deep-fried chicken, I recently invited my sister to join me on a lunch adventure to ATL Maranatha. After reading about this delicacy called Ayam Goreng Tulang Lunak (fried soft bone chicken) here, here... Continue reading ATL Maranatha, Ultimo »

Who isn't obsessed with fried chicken? KFC brought it to the masses but it's restaurants like Mamak (ayam goreng), Tan Viet (crispy skin chicken), ATL Maranatha (fried soft bone chicken), Sushi Bar Rashai (chicken karaage) and Arisun, who have satisfied... Continue reading Korean Fried Chicken at Arisun »

You know what I just realised? I've been eating at Cafe Giulia for several years now and I've never blogged about it! Actually, I thought I had... But my blog archives say otherwise, if you don't include the small... Continue reading Cafe Giulia, Chippendale »

My love affair with my new-ish neighborhood continues as I fall for yet another of its fabulous cafes. I've been meaning to share with you some of my regular haunts, but this one will do for now. Cafe Mint is... Continue reading Mint Cafe, Surry Hills »

There's been quite a bit of kerfuffle in the world of restaurants lately, about turning away customers who are late (or aren't all present). While almost 100% of the time, I've always called in advance, if I was running a... Continue reading Macleay Street Bistro »

How's that for a rhyming blog post title? This blog post takes us back to November 26, the date where for the first time ever, I attended two weddings in one day! Unfortunately, it meant we were only able to... Continue reading Two weddings, one day. And Malay-Chinese Takeaway. »

I've been eating a lot of Italian lately because I've just watched the entire five seasons of Kitchen Nightmares. It's weird that I always feel like I don't have enough time to do things, when somehow, I managed to watch... Continue reading Pizza e Birra re-visited »

Aside from the relatively new Westfield, The Star was Sydney's other most anticipated dining precinct opening. Tenants now include David Chang's Momofuku Seiōbo, Teage Ezard's BLACK by ezard, Chase Kojima's Sokyo and Stefano Manfredi's Balla. Plus you'll also find Adriano... Continue reading BLACK By Ezard at The Star »

Despite 2011 being a year of astonishing restaurant openings, Ms G's which opened in late 2010, is still crowded as ever. Thankfully you can get around the no bookings policy by turning up a bit earlier when it is still... Continue reading Ms G's, Potts Point »

I am the queen of hot foods. You see, I'm from a family where spicy foods are enjoyed from a young age. My dad has been known to bite into chillies at the markets to test their heat, and my... Continue reading House Thai »

I was talking to a friend about Fei Jai recently and he too agreed that this restaurant was the type of place ABCs (Australian-born Chinese) would go to, but probably not take their parents. I guess it is knowing how... Continue reading Fei Jai, Potts Point »

52 Waterloo Street is quickly becoming one of the hottest eating and drinking destinations in Sydney. In the same complex as Orto Trading Co and El Capo, Kenji Maeneka (ex-Bodega) has created Izakaya Fujiyama, a fabulous spot for any night... Continue reading Izakaya Fujiyama, Surry Hills »

Monday isn't usually a day anyone looks forward to, so I thought I'd tease you with Monday night's dinner. This is what I had on Monday night this week, and it's what you could be eating in just three days:... Continue reading Trinity Bar - Monday $10 sirloin steaks »

Not much of a celebrity chef groupie (not that Jamie Oliver is ever physically at this restaurant), I thought I was going to wait this out one. I mean, who really has the time to wait an hour and a... Continue reading Jamie's Italian, Sydney »

With a new home to decorate and a new neighbourhood to explore, I haven't cooked at all in the last three weeks. All my energy has been sucked into packing and unpacking, and my creative juices have run a bit... Continue reading Il Baretto »

It's the eternal question for any Asian. Rice or noodles? Well, now you have to make that decision even before you reach for a menu because Menya Oiden (which specialises in rice bowls and kushiage) recently opened up next to... Continue reading Menya Mappen & Menya Oiden »

I've been having some pretty awesome days. Some involve me being in the same room as my heroes Anthony Robbins, Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki and others have been just pure indulgent. I'm all about slowing down in life lately... Continue reading Cafe Sopra »

I've eaten at Charlie & Co way too many times for it not to have yet made an appearance on this blog! So here it is my fellow food lovers - quite possibly, the epitome of all burgers. Although I... Continue reading Charlie & Co Burgers »

The talk of the town at the moment is Cafe Cre Asion. Tucked within a Sydney laneway, this tiny cafe produces scrumptious sandwiches with housemade breads, fabulous Single Origin coffees, and a very exciting range of macarons. Their macaron flavours... Continue reading Cafe Cre Asion »

Flying Fish Restaurant has always been a place for special occasions. I've celebrated many fabulous milestones here including my five year anniversary with Zen, my first year as an entrepreneur, and the birth of a dear friend's daughter. A few weeks... Continue reading Sushi and Sashimi Masterclass, Flying Fish Restaurant »

I got a tip-off from a former work colleague that one of our suppliers, Josh Logue, had recently opened a new restaurant. So when Laura and I finally set a date for our overdue meet-up a couple of weeks ago,... Continue reading El Capo »

Some restaurants, you leave, with the greatest intentions of revisiting soon. That was how I felt after dining at LL Wine & Dine in August last year. But somehow, eight months passed before I finally had the chance to savour... Continue reading LL Wine & Dine, re-visited »

There are a few things that instantly strike me at Home Thai. The first being its visual similarities to Chat Thai, and the second being the trendiness of the waitresses. Where else am I going to find waitresses that carry... Continue reading Home Thai »

Meet Fresh has been open in Sydney for about seven months and is just next door to Mamak. No matter what time of the day or night I passed it, there seemed to be constant queues out the door! I... Continue reading Meet Fresh: Taiwanese Dessert House »

The March Into Merivale festival made another great return this year and included some really interesting events such as a series of Masterpiece Dinners which were held at various Merivale restaurants. I was intrigued to learn that there was one... Continue reading Thai Street Food, a Masterpiece Series Dinner at Sailors Thai Ivy »

It's not every day you get to use an atomiser at the dining table. But then again, Tomislav isn't your everyday type of restaurant. Nor does it fit into the usual molecular gastronomy restaurant profile. You see, when I first... Continue reading Tomislav Restaurant, Darlinghurst »

There's a certain satisfying pleasure that comes with eating good food in a food court, and it doesn't get better than this. Singapore Shiok in Chinatown's Eating World food court offers an authentic taste of Singaporean / Malaysian style hawker... Continue reading Singapore Shiok »

I was recently invited to attend Fat Noodle's first birthday celebrations and was so impressed by the food at the event that I just had to return a few days later. Fat Noodle sits on Star City's gaming floor and... Continue reading Fat Noodle »

I was at Tharens recently for Smily's hens night. What can I say... It was one unique dining experience! It's not quite the restaurant you would go to for an intimate dinner for two, but it hits the mark for... Continue reading Tharen's Restaurant & Bar »

It's true. I work from home and I am my own boss; yet I still find that I don't have time for the important things in life. You would think that I'd have my work/life balance all figured out by... Continue reading Chefs Gallery and a choc giveaway »

Remember back when every weekend was spent partying at somebody's 21st or 25th birthday? Well, now I've hit that stage in life where everybody around me is getting married. The latest wedding celebration was Grace and Henry's, and I'm still... Continue reading Grace & Henry's Wedding »

I have long been a fan of Uchi Lounge's modern Japanese cuisine and knew a re-visit was a must after learning that chef and owner Takashi Ohuchi had strengthened his team; appointing his brother Wataru Ohuchi (who has trained at... Continue reading Uchi Lounge tasting menu »

Have you always wanted to travel to the culinary delights of Malaysia but haven't for one reason or another? Well, now you can because Malaysia has come to Sydney! Following the footsteps of successful events in London and New York,... Continue reading Malaysia Kitchen Food Market »

Since leaving the corporate ladder, I nowadays rarely dine in the CBD on a weeknight. But on this particular occasion, I was invited to check out the newly opened Vessel Italian which sits on the ground floor of the Macquarie... Continue reading Vessel Italian »

My last visit to Kobe Jones in 2006 didn't leave that great of an impression, but seeing it was four years ago, I decided to give it another go after spotting a 50% off deal on Spreets to enjoy the... Continue reading Kobe Jones' Luxury Menu »

Golden Century is one of the few Chinese restaurants in Sydney which has been awarded the one chef's hat. So I felt quite embarrassed when I realised I had never dined there! My sister had raved on about how good... Continue reading Golden Century Seafood Restaurant »

I must admit, I'm not very good at avoiding temptation (especially when it comes in an edible format). On Wednesday morning, I was reading about Regal King Salmon and as you do, I booked a table for two at Fix... Continue reading Fix St James »

Yes, this is another celebratory meal. I am not one to overlook any excuse for a celebratory meal and the completion of the first project of my new food marketing agency seemed like a good enough excuse as any other.... Continue reading Ripples, Sydney Wharf »

Choosing a restaurant which will satisfy my parents' palate is a tough job which I am often left in charge of. It's an easy choice if we want Chinese or Vietnamese cuisine but when it comes to celebratory restaurants, there... Continue reading A celebratory dinner at Flying Fish »

Who would have thought that a TV show like Underbelly would enhance a dining experience? I was recently catching up with some friends at one of the relatively new hot spots in Kings Cross, Llankelly Place - LL Wine &... Continue reading LL Wine & Dine »

No buffet has ever gotten me as excited as this one. This restaurant has broken the 'quality over quantity' golden rule by giving us both. You heard right... Quality AND Quantity. Lovers of pork crackling can now rejoice at the... Continue reading Vivaz Buffet Restaurant & Nightclub »

Guess what? The winners of my recent Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream giveaway have just been announced and I already have another fantastic competition lined up for you! The lovely people at Wasamedia and Alio Restaurant have invited me to... Continue reading WIN pasta making classes at Alio Restaurant! »

I think by now, all Sydneysiders have at some stage either heard of, or been to four month old Japanese restaurant and karaoke, Mizuya. Thanks to this month's sponsors, Silver Chef, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the... Continue reading Mizuya & the entrepreneur behind it »

Yesterday marked the last day of service and closure of one of Sydney's finest restaurants. I was lucky enough to have dined there not too long ago, in celebration of my seven year anniversary so here is a tribute to... Continue reading Forty One Restaurant »

On the dining out scale, we have cheap eats on one end and fine dining at the other. But what goes in between during those weekdays which you feel like a bit of indulgence without milking your wallet? What if... Continue reading March Into Merivale 2010 & the Cointreau Blush cocktail »

Childhood memories of Chinese New Year have always featured elaborate homemade banquets on the eve of the New Year followed by a day witnessing the roaring of firecrackers and drums as the lion dance parades through masses of crowds in... Continue reading Chinese New Year 2010 and our suckling pig »

While on my maid of honour duties (bridal dress shopping for my sister), the bridesmaids, my Mum and I had an hour to kill in between appointments so I decided to introduce everyone to the $2.50 shop on Clarence Street.... Continue reading My shopping frenzy at the $2.50 (100 yen) Shop »

In celebration of the new year, I thought it would be suitable to look back at all of my best eats in 2009. Here, I've included some of my most frequently visited restaurants as well as a few memorable favourites.... Continue reading Top 10 list of the best I've eaten in 2009 »

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... Continue reading Badde Manors revisited »

How lucky are we in Sydney to be able to taste so many cultures? Within an hour's radius of the city centre, we have access to scrumptious and authentic ethnic cuisines. For Vietnamese, there's Cabramatta, Bankstown, Marrickville or Surry Hills;... Continue reading Malaysia Festival 09 »

After a series of strange coincidences involving the random discovery of connections between friends, clients and the chefs at Marque, I just knew it was where I had to take Zen on his birthday. Thankfully Mark Best and Pasi Petanen... Continue reading Marque »

Once upon a time, we discovered 'what's hot' at the office water cooler... Then there was email followed by SMS messages and calls from those on unlimited mobile plans, forums, blogs and instant messenger. Today's obsession with realtime micro-blogging... Continue reading Gumshara Ramen »

Cafe Du Coeur was a little French cafe on Bay Street which recently went through a brand revamp. The result being Cafe Qube. The menu, the scattered collection of random retro furniture and the iMac slideshow of staff polaroids are... Continue reading Cafe Qube »

I don't care what you call it (or how you spell it): slushee, slushy, slushie, slurpee or granita. But this has to be the world's best tasting and looking slush. Served on large martini glasses, LNC Dessert House offer over... Continue reading The world's best slushee »

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... Continue reading The best of Sydney, according to Time Out »

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... Continue reading Ash St Cellar & Merivale Winter Feasts »

Burgers are made across Sydney every day -in homes, at the corner milk bar, in fast food joints and pubs. Over the last few years, we have seen more gourmet burger restaurants pop up to glamorize the bun and patty... Continue reading The best burgers in Sydney »

I think Uchi Lounge is the perfect place for a first date. Now, I've been with Zen for almost 7 years and can't quite remember what first dates are like, but how can an equation which includes awesome sake cocktails,... Continue reading Uchi Lounge »

Apologies for the lateness of this post. As some of you will know, I am currently eating my way around Europe -with London and Barcelona done, I will be flying to Paris tomorrow afternoon. Last Monday, I was invited to... Continue reading Chophouse's roast dinners »

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... Continue reading Etch »

The Taste festival is every foodie's dream... and it's coming to Sydney! I was thrilled to be invited to attend the media launch this week (free food!!!) and it has only left me feeling more excited about the upcoming event.... Continue reading The launch of Taste Of Sydney »

Zen knew that there was no better way into my heart than a night out fine dining. Last week, on Melbourne Cup day, he took me out to one of my most favourite restaurants. (Psst, I'm feeling rather spoilt now... Continue reading Yoshii »

One of the perks of working in the service industry is free food (and booze, but I like to focus more on the food). Last night, we took one of our clients out to The Malaya.... I had pre-booked the... Continue reading The Malaya »

There was no better place to meet a close girlfriend's baby girl than at one chef's hat Flying Fish. It was her first fine-dining experience and I am proud to say that she was very well behaved. At only 5... Continue reading Flying Fish »

I didn't do any Sugar Hits this year (previous ones back in 2006 are here, here and here) nor did I attend any Hats Off dinners... what I did do during this year's Good Food Month, was grab a quick... Continue reading Good Food Month 2008's Night Noodle Markets »

When you're starving, any food is good food. But watch what happens when you put one hungry person, a busy day at work -meaning lunch at 3pm, and this divine salad of smoked trout, roast potatoes, capers, roast red onion,... Continue reading Smoked trout salad, Bourke Street Bakery »

Perfect skies, live music, good food and great company. The City of Sydney's Dank Street Festival was back again yesterday and attracted thousands of Sydneysiders. I was one of the many who took up on the free shuttle bus offer... Continue reading Dank Street Festival 2008 »

I was going to wait until I had eaten all 5 salads this week before I blogged about it, but why wait? The best thing about blogs is that you readers get the latest pics and info with minimal turnaround... Continue reading Bourke Street Bakery's daily salads »

It has been 2 years since my first and last meet-up with other Sydney food bloggers so I was thrilled to receive the email invitation to a yum cha meet and greet at East Ocean. Who was there? Suze from... Continue reading Sydney food bloggers meet up at yum cha »

This place is exactly like the street stall its owners had enticed the Chinatown Friday Night Market goers with last year. It's fast, there are still queues and the food remains scrumptious. While I can't pronounce "Mamak" like a true... Continue reading Mamak, Malaysian roti and satay »

I took my family out to Rise this week for another celebration of my birthday! Once upon a time, I filled out a membership form which was hidden beneath the bill. And earlier this month, I received an email from... Continue reading 24th birthday at Rise »

Considering I celebrated my last birthday at Tetsuya's, the only worthy restaurant for my 24th birthday would have had to be Quay; recipient of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide's three chefs hat since 2003 and Restaurant Of The... Continue reading Quay »

Talk of Din Tai Fung's perfect xiao long bao aka soup dumplings (or steamed mini pork buns) has been all over town. And as a result, it has been reviewed by almost every food blog and lifestyle magazine in the... Continue reading Din Tai Fung, World Square Sydney »

Open for a couple of years now, Una's franchise on Broadway still generously serves the classic (and gigantic) schnitzel that the other franchises have been serving for over 30 years. They're served in 7 different ways, and all come with... Continue reading Una's... hospitality from the heart »

I can relate with anyone who gets hungry in the wee hours of the morning. So I've put together a top ten list of my fave restaurants for late night dining... Continue reading Top 10 late night dining spots in Sydney »

I'm not sure there are many restaurants out there with a Facebook page of more than 700 fans. Chinese Noodle Restaurant is a cheap and cheery place, popular with students, grads and just about everyone else... and has 719 fans... Continue reading Chinese Noodle Restaurant »

On the weekend... I found myself at the Buddha's Birthday festival in Darling Harbour. I was there for the vegetarian food fair ofcourse! The Chinese Garden Forecourt was filled with hungry families and volunteers from BLIA (Buddha's Light International Association) and IBAA (Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple). Continue reading Buddha's Birthday vegetarian food festival 2008 »

I celebrated Valentines Day a day early this year because the man had a work thing on the next night. That makes this post exactly 41 days late. Nonetheless, the 'Yoshii Course' degustation was truly memorable and simply marvelous. Even just reading through the menu, I can recall the taste of the black cod marinated with blue cheese flavoured miso. Ah, and the milk fed sashimi served with forest mushroom dressing was divine also... as was the blue swimmer crab and goats curd avocado roll. Continue reading Valentines Day at Yoshii Restaurant »

Every time I'm in the Broadway area, which isn't often... I cannot resist stepping into Bourke Street Bakery. Yesterday was no different. However, I think I ate the bad batch. Is there really such a thing, you ask? Continue reading ginger and pistachio brulee tart »

This is the view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from my seat. Fabulous aye? Flying Fish is located in a warehouse along Pyrmont's Jones Bay Wharf, just off Pirrama Road. The story hasn't changed much since Zen and I celebrated... Continue reading 5 year anniversary at Flying Fish »

Eugenia is the first of B.DesComp's 2004 grads to get married... woohoo! So here we were on Saturday night, to congratulate the bride-to-be. Continue reading Eugenia's Hens Night »

Machiavelli needs no introduction. It's reputation has been flourished by the high rollers and politicians of Sydney and with that, expect to pay the high prices. Continue reading Machiavelli »

I love this place with passion. Bourke Street Bakery has delicious savoury breads, sourdough of all sorts and my favourite tarts. Continue reading Bourke Street Bakery »

This post was due a few weeks back when I was craving Yakiniku. Nagoya doesn't compete against Iwa in terms of class, style and presentation... but hey! It's a buffet. That's right -all you can eat for 1.5 hours. Continue reading Nagoya Yakiniku »

Calinere's sophistication is evident upon a glance. The light bulb installation is a modern day chandelier. And the floral wallpaper completes the glamour of such a small restaurant. Continue reading Caliniere »

One of the perks of being a food blogger is the exposure to hidden treasures. Thanks to the openness of some who are just as passionate about good food, I have recently discovered a fabulous Greek restaurant. The ironic thing is, it's not so much hidden... as there's a huge neon sign... and I do only just work next door! Continue reading Diethnes Greek Restaurant »

I've been working across the street from Mother Chu's Vegetarian Kitchen the last 9 months. So I jumped at the opportunity of finally lunching there when 2 workmates mentioned that they were planning on trying something new. The elderly Chinese have a respect for this place, and I can totally understand why. They serve delicious vegetarian alternatives and the Buddhist culture is truley brought out in the casual decor, genuine service and hearty menu. Catering for strict Buddhists means that there's no alcohol consumption on the premises. Sparkling juices are prepared in replacement of wine and beer. And tofu or soybean of all shapes and textures are served looking and sometimes even tasting like the meaty variation. Continue reading Mother Chu's Vegetarian Kitchen »

At work, the production team had our first afternoon-out last week. What was planned as a long lunch at Wildfire turned into a quick bite at Equilibrium. Ah, the things you have to sacrifice... Continue reading Equilibrium »

Work kept me back at the office late on Friday night... but here's what I managed to eat while everyone was sculling their 1 Litre jug of beer: Continue reading Lowenbrau »

I've been waiting for the perfect excuse to spend $185 a head (plus drinks) on Tetsuya's 10 course degustation. And here it was... the first birthday of jenius.com.au, which also coincided with my very own birthday! As the countdown begun, I eagerly read up and drooled over every review online. The week before, I started fantasizing about Tetsuya's signature dish. How it intrigued me... the texture and taste of what lay beneath the crusty konbu (kelp). Continue reading Tetsuya's »

I feel like I'm right at the heart of Seoul. There's a lot of clatter as staff follow the ringing of table bells. It's such a lively room. Hungry people join the queue every couple of minutes. I scan the room, and large majorities of the crowd appear to be Korean. Ah, perfect... an authentic Korean restaurant. Families, students, large groups and working couples all look content with their meals. Food really does soothe the soul. Continue reading Seoul Ria »

Sunday was gloomy, dull and wet. There were pelicans, seagulls and lots of tourists! I'm a regular at Christie's Seafood. They have the biggest and most tastiest lobster mornay... the prawn cutlets are always battered and fried to perfection... and the same old man is there every day of the week, carefully shucking fresh juicy oysters. Continue reading All battered up at the Sydney Fish Markets »

...it doesn't mean I like getting ripped off. Passionflower does not serve free tap water. They have a minimum $10 spend per person on Friday and Saturday nights... and for 3 scoops, you're looking at paying at least $12. Now that I've got that off my chest... for the good stuff! Continue reading Just because I eat ice-cream at Passionflower... »

There isn't a worst feeling than being cheated... and I would least expect it from a place as renouned as Kingsley Steakhouse. It started off well, as with all relationships. Kingsley appeared popular and I was intrigued. It's menu boasted lavish prices... so I set my expectations right up high. Continue reading Kingsley Steakhouse »

Vanilla Sundae cupcakes from Cupcakes on Pitt Continue reading On my way to lunch... these cupcakes caught my eye »

And for my favourite of the three... Lindt's version of the black forest cake. Rich dark chocolate with kirsch infused cherries... mmmmm.... Continue reading sweet tooth... Lindt cafe »

Winnie was back in Sydney. Here we are at Ichi ban boshi. Nothing much has changed since my last visits. Continue reading everybody loves ramen »

It was Friday lunch, but I felt the weekend vibrations already. Or perhaps it was an early Three Thirtyitis attack. Whatever excuse it was... feel free to drool. Continue reading eye candy: Cupcakes on Pitt »

Girls love pampering, chocolate and gossip. To finish off my heavenly weekend (keep in mind this was wayyyy back at the beginning of this month), I had a manicure and a pedicure... and then arranged for high tea with the girls. I love high tea. All of us turned up in pretty summer dresses and stuffed ourselves with enough sugar to last a year. We spoke about uni, work, family, partners, holidays and aspirations. Nora then joked about it being called 'high tea' because we were so high on sugar. But who could resist? Everything was mouth-watering goodness. Continue reading High tea @ Swissotel »

What better place to celebrate Valentine's Day than at the top? Astral is a one-hatter from this year's SMH Good Food Guide. This was something we had booked months in advance. From within a glass elevator, we were greeted with 270 degree views of Sydney Harbour. Oooo... ahhh... the interior is also rather stunning. The furnishings were plush and sophisticated, the chandeliers were rich... and around us, couples in love admired the gleaming city skyscrapers. Continue reading a blast from the past... Valentine's Day 2007 @ Astral »

Way back on the 9th of February, the Chinese New Year festival was officially launched... Continue reading Launch of Chinese New Year festival, Belmore Park »

On Friday night, Dianne, Florence and I celebrated an early Christmas at the Corn Exchange Restaurant for a $70 seafood and dessert extravaganza. As you can see, the variety was endless! *drools* Continue reading Corn Exchange Restaurant @ Four Points by Sheraton »

Port Orient Restaurant transforms into a karaoke bar after 9pm. So while we were really here to embarrass ourselves, the food was surprisingly impressive. For $59.90 per person, we had the 'Special Christmas Banquet' with two entrees (four pieces for $10). And what a great night it was -there was plenty of laughter, great entertainment and fablulous views which overlooked the harbour. Continue reading Port Orient Restaurant (and Karaoke) »

I had the duck as my main dish. The duck was coated with a coarse mixture of pistatios, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, macadamia nuts and sesame seeds, then panfried to a perfect pink, and the falafel cake was rich and crunchy. This was topped up with a sweet pilaf which was a heavenly marriage of figs and caramelised onion. Continue reading Sumac Restaurant »

Zen and I have now been officially dating for four years. I love you babe! But I lied... about having made a reservation... and then I got caught out! So instead of going to Astral, I made an eleventh hour call to Aria Restaurant. They had one table available if we promised to finish by 7.45pm, or another available from 9.30pm. I frantically took the earlier table, and convinced Zen to speed into the city. Forty minutes later, we were parked on Macquarie Street, and wondered why the restaurant was only 60% full. So we took our time and admired the stunning Harbour views. Continue reading 4 Years at Aria Restaurant »

The service was awesome... they were extremely willing to cater to our needs. The ambience of the restaurant was also really soothing. Peaceful rhythms, a funky interior and great casual alfresco dining! Continue reading Chinta Ria - The Temple of Love »

Jet Bar/Cafe is neatly tucked into the front of the Queen Victoria Building. After confirming there was available seating, we soon crawled up a steep twist of stairs, and were led to a poorly lit table. The service was cold and unattentive... it must have been at least 40 minutes before our lunch arrived. Continue reading Jet Bar/Cafe, QVB »

Cellini's Bar and Restaurant offers cafe style food inside the glorious (and historic) QVB. We ordered the fettucine carbonara and a roast capsicum and zucchini melt to share... The fettucine carbonara was the perfect serving size for one. The pasta was al dente, and was intertwined with a sublime creamy pesto sauce. Continue reading Cellini's Bar and Restaurant, QVB »

It's been almost a year since I've last seen Tracey. We were 'bum chums' a couple years back... and then we grew apart. So, graduated and working - we decided it was finally time for a girly catch up. Who could believe -she's entered the working life as a primary school teacher! Anyways, craving some infused Japanese food; we headed towards King Street Wharf's Kobe Jones, and were led outdoors to a romantic candle-lit table for two. We sat facing the wharf and soaked in the glorious sunshine (I love daylight saving!). Continue reading Kobe Jones »

Yay! I've been counting down since last week to dine at the sensational Yoshii Restaurant. This was literally a life changing experience... I learnt anger management; and then I did some self-exploring... and ofcourse I tasted some fine food, which has set new standards. Continue reading Hats Off @ Yoshii Restaurant »

After the Night Noodle Markets, the remaining six of us Foodies strolled down to Sofitel Wentworth for a Sugar Hit. Continue reading Sugar Hit @ Sofitel Wentworth »

Last night was the second last night of the Night Noodle Markets, and it was also my first time hanging out with other Sydney Food-Bloggers; which meant I finally got to put a face to their websites... I met Helen... Continue reading Night Noodle Markets, Hyde Park »

Woohoo! After 3 attempts, we finally prepared ourselves mentally to wait in queue. It's amazing how quick 50 minutes could fly while you're salivating over the menu. Giant bowls of ramen were constantly being brought out from the kitchen as time kept ticking away... It was only 12.30pm, and already, the first waiting list was full. Inside was such a contrast. It was airy with plastic furnishings...and like all the others whom were quietly slurping up their ramen, we managed to finish ours in a record 10 minutes. There goes the 1 hour lunch break. Continue reading Ichiban Boshi @ Galleries Victoria, Town Hall »

In search for some late night sweetness, Zen and I hunted down Sugar Hit at Westin, Sydney... and to my surprise, only one out of the three concierges knew what Sugar Hit was (and where it was at). The armchairs were big and comfy -however, not so practical for dining. One small but tall ramekin of the brulee, a tiny spoonful of the sour-cherry compote, and a pint-sized biscott lay on each of the corners of a large glass plate... what happened to the portion-size to plate-size ratio? Continue reading (Sugar) Hit me baby one more time... »

Bookings are essential, says the website. But are they really? I scored fabulous window seats, with a stunning view to Sydney Harbour and the Opera House -without a booking. The waiter introduced the Sugar Hit tasting plate, took away our dying candle for replacement, and ensured us that he would "remove" the cockaroach which was creeping beneath my seat. A good ten minutes later, he turns with a bottle of Brown Brothers Moscato. No candle, and no removal of the pest. The Moscato was beautiful, it was so refreshing, sweet and fruity. Continue reading Sugar Hit @ HarbourKitchen & Bar, Park Hyatt »

Eat In @ Piccadilly is my new lunch destination. It is much smaller than the food courts in Mid City, Imperial Arcade, or Sydney Central Plaza... but there are plentiful seats, so there's no longer a war to fight for tables, and whilst we were limited to about 7 outlets, the quality and freshness of this place was a great change from the usual chaos. Continue reading Eat In @ Piccadilly »

On a breezy spring evening, Zen and I strolled along King Street Wharf seeking a warm dinner to satisfy our grumbling stomachs. Casa Di Nico looked so warm inside, and the idea of hearty pasta and seafood locked in our choice. Continue reading Casa Di Nico »

Early this week, the office headed down to Bar333 to welcome Jo to our team... Upstairs, the restaurant (Infusion333) is seperated from the lounge area. The interior glows with vivid red furnishings and loud energetic lights. We sat in the lounge area and ordered from the bar. Continue reading Lunch @ Bar 333 »

Mother Chu's isn't a place you go to for service or cleanliness... The seating is crowded, but nonetheless, we ordered, and paid upfront. The food was fairly cheap, and as expected, very greasy. Passbyers can watch these starchy goodies being made from scratch by a family of women in the kitchen... rolling, kneeding, wrapping, steaming and frying. Continue reading Mother Chu's Taiwanese Gourmet »

Lunch at Ichi-Ban-Boshi failed because of the large crowds lining up outside. Plan B was Wagamama. A little pricier, but seats were guaranteed. Inside were long wooden benches, funky lights and a sleek open kitchen. I ordered the vegetarian Moyashi Soba which featured courgettes, snow peas, mushrooms, beansprouts, garlic, leeks and fried tofu... the wholemeal noodles were stuck together in clumps and the broth was a litttle too peppery... Continue reading Wagamama »

It is always such a challenge to capture a great shot indoor, especially when it is dark. So I set my exposure... ISO at 400... turn off the flash, and on the macro, and thought I was ready. The photos turned out quite disappointing, but the food was too good not to post. So here they are... nothing a little bit of Photoshop can't fix right? Continue reading French Yum-Cha at Eat City »

Miyabi Sushi Bar is conveniently located next to Crown Karaoke and only 1 minute walk from Central Station. At only $2.50 per plate every night, there's no need to carefully calculate the number and colour of plates you end up with! However, the variety was limited and the quality was only average. A relatively peaceful and cheap experience with one of the most affordable soft-shelled crab handmade rolls ever! Continue reading Miyabi Sushi Bar »

Chocolate is a girl's best friend... So suffering from Tuesdayitis, my chocoholic workmates and I power walked to the Lindt Concept Store and Cafe at Martins Place during another lunchtime adventure, with the hope of reviving our mentality. The store emphasized the royal nature of chocolate with glass cabinet displays, marble columns and sky high ceilings. The windows reach far up and create a heavenly atmosphere. I thought I was fantasizing, but perhaps this explains the glowing menu. Continue reading Lindt Concept Store and Cafe »

Another day gone, means another day for Jap! Further to my consistent cravings for true Japanese food, my sister took us to Ramen Kan. These noodle houses are plentiful in Japan and are found almost as often as McDonalds. As soon as you enter from the shabby elevator (where I'm informed of its tendency to break down), you're immediately exposed to a tight well-decorated space. The decor consists of pebbles, bamboo shoots and wooden furnishings... an absolute contrast to the fugly entrance. Continue reading Ramen Kan, Haymarket »

Eyeblaster has finally made the move. That's right... we are in the city! This means more shopping, more food and more importantly, better food. So for our first Friday Lunch, we strolled down to Masuya. The restaurant was full-to-capacity. Note to self: must make booking next time! The waitress politely handed us a menu each, and informed us of a 5 minute wait. I salivated at all the nicely presented food that was being brought out. Continue reading Masuya - Japanese Seafood Restaurant »

Back in March this year, when Zen was still working at Horwath, we had dinner at the James Squire Restaurant. I remember feeling very agitated... this being fuelled by the slow service, stiff wooden chairs and my grumbling stomach. Our order was a little overpriced and lacked the extra 'oomph'. Continue reading James Squire Brewhouse & Restaurant »

On the 31st July 2006, I turned 22. All week, my 4 year-old brother Bryan, has been asking me to draw a picture of a cake I'd like for my birthday. Christina helped him buy this Green Tea Mousse Cake from Breadtop. Continue reading Breadtop birthday »

We chose the Spanish Tapas Restaurant because of it's capability to cater for large crowds. Here, we had a reunion of 20 from Strathfield Girls High School, class of 2001. I hadn't seen most of these girls since 2001! The staff were really helpful and ensured that we had a variety of tapas and paella. The atmosphere is rich and lively. We also got to enjoy a performance by the flamenco dancers! Continue reading Spanish Tapas Restaurant (Glebe) »

Una's has an amazing warmth to the place. The home-style cooked meals are served in enormous portions and are utmost satisfying. For entree we all shared the freshly baked pretzels. I was immediately addicted to the rock salt on them. Half way through our main's, I knew that there was no space in my stomach for dessert... Continue reading Una's at Broadway »

Unique flavours, with an interesting a la carte menu that is updated regularly. Continue reading Bistro Lilly, Observatory Tower »

Tomodachi to me, means a quick Japanese/Korean lunch or dinner after work. It is often our adventure on a Friday lunch (we all crave the tempura and love the satisfying serving sizes). Situated in the Broadway Shopping Centre means plentiful parking, and quick food. I love it -what's better than a bare 5 - 10 minute waiting time? Continue reading Tomodachi, Broadway »