Recently in Sydney Inner West Category

Good views don't always have to come with a hefty price tag and The Thai at d'Albora Marina in Sydney's Inner West suburb, Cabarita, is probably one of the most overlooked waterfront restaurants. Simple Thai seafood dishes are freshly prepared as the sun sets on a sparkly Parramatta River, making it the perfect spot for romance on a budget (plus it's BYO)!

Waterfront dining at The Thai, Cabarita

Having booked a table, Zen and I walk right in and take a seat by the calm ripples. There are other tables tucked away beneath a tree in a cottage-like garden.

Takeaway menus and cutlery in little trays conveniently make up the table setting. Soon we are brought these adorable little silver drinking cups which looked so new, they must've just arrived from Thailand.

Adorable drinking cups

The menu is your standard Thai fare with entrees such as chicken wings, spring rolls and curry puffs priced from $2.95. On the heartier end are some classic curries (Penang, green, red and massamun, all $15.95), stir-fries straight from the wok ($13.95 - $19.95) and the starchy favourites such as pad thai, and fried rice from $13.95.

The chef's specials features the more creative options which include some enticing entrees such as fish parcels or soft shell crab, and mains such as chilli jam prawns.

Chef's specials menu

I decide to start with the prawn and crab rice net (five for $10.95) which are golden weaves of a glass vermicelli net holding tightly a peppery wholesome mixture of yam, prawn and crab. Each bite was filled with an addictive flaky crunch.

Prawn and crab rice net spring rolls

Also on the chef's special are both our main dishes: seafood salad ($20.95) and coconut fish ($20.95).

The salad is a tangy and refreshing mix of king prawns, mussels, calamari, deep-fried fish pieces, carrot, onion, coriander, chilli, iceberg lettuce. The deep-fried basa fish fillets are also the highlight of our coconut fish dish. I love that the deep-fry has given the fish a well textured bite. It also allowed the fish to soak in more of the creamy coconut gravy which lightly coated some crisp vegetables.

Seafood salad

Coconut fish

It's hard to believe all the cooking takes place in this tiny converted shed!

Alfresco dining - restaurant in a converted shed

The Thai
d'Albora Marina
138 Cabarita Road, Cabarita NSW
Phone: (02) 9739 6833
Opening hours: Closed on Monday, lunch (Fri - Sun only) 11.30am - 3.15pm and dinner 5 - 9.30pm except for Sun, Tues and Wed which closes at 9pm

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of attending the Sydney Royal Easter Show's showbag launch media event which you could say was like fulfilling a childhood fantasy! Imagine, all 302 showbags spread out in one giant hall... no crowds, no queues and plenty of time to snoop for new showbags as well as old classics. (Yep, I'm one of those people who never leave without a Bertie Beetle bag!)

As like last year and probably the year before, cooler bags seem to be a trophy item with showbags this year such as Dora the Explorer, Dare Iced Coffee, Nova, Dairy Farmers and a heap more including them in their mix. They must have discovered my reasoning pattern as anything functional gets big ticks from me.

Oh, and an exciting new one in the range is the Gossip Girl showbag which comes complete with B's headband! You know you want it!

I've also put together a short video for your very own sneak peek:

Check out the complete showbag catalogue on the official website. What showbags are you gonna get this year?

Sydney Royal Easter Show 2010
When: Only 4 weeks away! 1 - 14 April
Where: Sydney Olympic Park
More info: www.eastershow.com.au

It is a rare occasion for a foodie to feel defeated by food... But for $50, David Tsirekas serves up a banquet that goes beyond satisfaction. It leaves a lasting food coma... So a few nights ago, I introduced Perama to my sister and a few girlfriends who have become instant fans.

These photos are from a Tweet-Up late last year with @CarmR, @CitrusAndCandy, @Reemski, @KristinMoore2, @felixeplody, @GastroPorn and @FionaLaughton.

It starts off slow with a trilogy of classic Greek dips and plentiful bread. There's creamy taramasalata, a refreshing tzatziki, and a eggplant dip which is elegantly smokey.

Dips with bread: taramasalata, tzatziki and smokey eggplant

Small courses then began to roll out, starting with the epitome of Greek salads. Chunky pieces of tomato, cucumber and olives were well dressed with EVOO and oregano. Topped with a handful of rocket, creamy feta and the crisp cut-through of red onion, the salad was vibrant and put many other Greek salads I've had in the past to shame.

Greek salad

The decor at Perama suits the food quite well - homely and comforting.

Interior of restaurant

The graviera crumbed haloumi cheese were sizable bites with a golden deep-fried exterior. I've always adored the squeaky texture and slight saltiness of haloumi but when deep-fried, it is just irresistible. Or that's at least what I thought before the next dish arrived.

Graviera crumbed haloumi cheese

Move over crumbed halloumi 'cause barbecued halloumi is just so much more better! There's a slight smokey aroma that complements the salsa of diced tomatoes and shallots and side of peppery candied figs. The dish is salty, sweet, slightly peppery and so addictive. It is a dish I'm sure I'll try to whip up at my next BBQ... They were a beautiful inspiration of flavours.

BBQ haloumi cheese with honey peppered figs

I discovered zucchini fritters in Santorini and now every time I have them, that's all I can think of! These moreish fritters are divine. Upon breaking the crisp seal, a creamy aromatic mixture is revealed, causing one to pause, admire and reminisce.

Zucchini fritters

Unfortunately, I've always had a massive weakness for anything starchy and ate so many of these chips that I forgot about the meatballs. The chips are conveniently named Rustic Grandma's Chips which I think summarizes it all.

Rustic grandma's chips and meatballs

Now, I've been introducing the next dish as the highlight of any visit to Perama, so beware.

The pork belly baklava isn't a combination you'd fantasize about but upon taking the first bite, I knew straight away that it was what foodie dreams are made of. It's nothing fancy but just bloody good. The crackling is rich and crunchy and inbetween each crisp layer of filo pastry are moist pieces of pork belly, intertwined with a sweet caramel of finely chopped dates and pistachios. Each stack of pork belly baklava sits on a piece of steamed green and a puddle of sauce. Imagine the temptations David and his team have to go through each day just to compile each piece!

Pork belly baklava

The chargrilled octopus is another favourite. I think it is quite hard to fault anything that has the perfect charcoal grilled flavour. Feeling rather stuffed at this stage, we begin to pace ourselves for dessert.

Chargrilled octopus

Not usually a lamb-eater, David has outdone himself by converting me. I often prefer to avoid the stench of lamb but this slow braised shoulder is soft and full of flavour and has become a signature dish for good reason - the lamb is slowly braised with oregano, olive oil, wine and garlic and then chargrilled with a lemon, olive oil baste and served with baked oregano lemon potatoes and string beans.

Lamb skaras

Dessert consists of seasonal mini-bougatsa and caramel baklava ice-cream.

Bougatsa are custard parcels wrapped with filo pastry. They're served hot with a dusting of icing sugar. The custard filling is sweet and is enhanced with the oomph of passionfruit pulp. The seasonal varients sees Perama switching out passionfruit for mandarin mid last year and mango earlier this year. I can't wait to try all the luscious bougatsa flavours of the year.

The caramel baklava ice-cream on the other hand is frozen cold. There are layers of vanilla icecream, caramel and nuts which combine brilliantly in the mouth.

Mini seasonal bougatsa and caramel baklava ice-cream

And finally, because this tweet-up was from back in October 2009, David spoilt us with his Sydney International Food Festival sugar-hit platter. There was an apple and rhubarb rice pudding, an amazing chocolate wafer sandwich with peanut butter ice-cream and a slice of nutty kataifi baklava.

Oct 2009 Sydney International Food Festival (formerly Good Food Month) Sugar Hit platter

Tweet-up at Perama

Perama Greek Restaurant
88 Audley Street, Petersham, NSW
Phone: (02) 9569 7534
Web: www.perama.com.au

Did the title catch your attention? Well, that's exactly what you will get from eating Stra Pocha's chilli chicken. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

While we are spoilt for choice when it comes to Korean cuisine in Sydney, it's not always possible to find a place which hasn't lowered the heat intensity of it's chilli foods to cater for the general non-chilli-eating population. At Stra Pocha, the chilli chicken ($35) comes with a warning of three red chillis on the menu. Back before this new menu was introduced, the warning used to come in the form of "It is very hot, okay? No return if too hot..."

Preempting a burning tongue, we order a bottle of Korean black raspberry wine ($22) which is sweet until it hits your throat. We also have a bottle of chilled water ready.

Soon enough, our star dish arrives on a burning hot plate with a tray of condiments. There's kim chi, pickled daikon, pasta and bean sprouts.

The secret chilli paste coating the chicken and rice cake tastes a bit like gochujang, which is made from dried chillies, salt, water, fermented soybeans and sweet rice powder. It leaves us panting and numbs our tongue, but is tremendously addictive. We eat on, trying not to think about the painful side effects tomorrow. A sore throat? A burning bum? Aww, but it's so good right now.

Thankfully our egg soup ($5) is served bubbling hot not too long after. I find that it combats the heat much more effectively than the water or wine.

We also have the spicy sliced pork belly with cheese ($35), stir-fried in a cast iron pan at the table. The cheese oozes with the chilli paste and pork belly, creating something quite special that words cannot describe.

And because I was here with four other hungry foodies, we add the spicy hot pot stew with assorted sausages ($35), spam, baked beans and vegies. Topped with a block of ramen and cheese, it is pure comfort food.

If you're a fan of charcoal BBQs, then Stra Pocha is also the place to go. There's a wide menu of beautifully marinated meats and seafoods. It's an one-stop-shop for all things Korean, delicious and hot.

Stra Pocha
19-21 Everton Rd, Strathfield NSW
(02) 9534 8117

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.

Most Visited Casual Restaurant: Dong Ba Bun Bo Hue, Bankstown, NSW
I think I have honestly dined at Dong Ba at least once every fortnight in 2009 - joining the regular local slurpers of Bun Bo Hue, a Hue-style spicy noodle soup. It is only $7 and the food (they also serve plenty of other traditional Vietnamese eats such as my second most ordered dish here, the Cambodian Rice Noodle Soup) is served at lightening fast speed. Dining at Dong Ba in Bankstown is always a guaranteed fuss-free cheap and cheerful eat. Another bonus is that the menu caters for all possible cravings of anything Vietnamese so is sure to satisfy everyone. But the best part would probably be their drinks menu which includes the iced black coffee and the avocado milkshake.

Dong Ba
296 Chapel Rd South, Bankstown, NSW

Bun bo hue (Hue-style spicy noodle soup) at Dong Ba, Bankstown - My most visited casual restaurant of 2009

Most Expensive: Le Cinq, Paris
In May 2009, I left home for my first eating extravaganza in Europe. Let me just start off by confessing that I have a really bad habit of not checking prices whether it be shopping or food. My boyfriend almost passed out when he browsed through the 'host' menu at Le Cinq, which I had booked many months in advance. Thankfully I had the 'guest' menu which didn't have the prices so he was able to break the shock to me slowly. We soon justified to ourselves that because we had travelled all the way from Sydney to Paris, it would only be right if we allowed this one splurge and promised to be sensible throughout the rest of the trip. Le Cinq sits within Paris' most luxurious hotel - Four Seasons George V, and is the most elegant space I've ever dined in. Something like 440€ (AU$900 at the exchange rate during that time) excluding drinks and service charge and almost six hours later, we left gleefully with a massive dent on my credit card.

Le Cinq
Four Seasons Hotel George V
31, Avenue George V, Paris, France
www.fourseasons.com/paris/dining

Best Surprise: Wiseman Park Wollongong City Bowling Club
My boyfriend was transferred to Wollongong for six months for work, a few years ago. During a visit to some of his old workmates earlier in 2009, we were introduced to Wiseman Park Bowling Club. Tucked within a senior's bowling club bistro is this spectacular down-to-earth yet slightly fancy restaurant. Think traditional Mediterranean and remember to make a reservation if dining on a Friday or Saturday night as the secret is out, and this place is hawt!

Wiseman Park Wollongong City Bowling Club
Gipps Road, Wollongong, NSW

Favourite City Travelled To: Barcelona
My time in Barcelona can easily be summarized with daily visits to the Boqueria Market - the best market I have ever been to. The vivid display of fruits, seafood and jamon was an amazing sight and simply drool-worthy. The friendliness of locals shouting "hola" and the buzz in eating paella after paella, oh, and the shoes made Barcelona my favourite city visited in 2009. Hopefully I'll get a chance to visit it again soon.

Boqueria Market
www.boqueria.info

Fruit drinks display at Boqueria Markets, close up of paella and tapas in Barcelona

Most Visited Seafood Outlet: Ocean Foods, Drummoyne, NSW
Almost every drive on Lyons Road in Drummoyne has resulted in me stopping by at Ocean Foods. Their floor to ceiling glass walls means there's no running away from the grand display of fresh and ready to cook seafood and salads.

Ocean Foods
154 Lyons Rd, Drummoyne, NSW

Most Visited For Dessert: Mamak, Sydney, NSW
Roti and condensed milk are just made for each other. After countless dinners at other restaurants across the city, Sydney food bloggers, myself included, seem to always end up at Mamak for dessert. The roti tisu is a golden cone encrusted with butter and sugar that tastes heavenly with a swirl of condensed milk and sometimes, even ice-cream. If that doesn't have you drooling, the roti pisang will - with freshly sliced banana that caramelizes within a thin buttery roti. Oh, so good.

Mamak
15 Goulburn St, Haymarket, NSW

Favourite Late Night Dining: Wagaya, Haymarket, NSW
With ridiculous trading hours (Wagaya opens until 2am on most nights), private booths and a quirky touch screen ordering system, late night dining at Wagaya is perfect for those night owls (like me) who want a decent feed. I can't get enough of their soft-shell crab hand rolls, lotus root chips or takoyaki gratin. Unfortunately, all this late night dining has contributed greatly to my growing waistline... Hmm... Did someone say New Years Resolution?

Wagaya
Level 1, 78-86 Harbour St, Haymarket, NSW

Dining at Wagaya - Most Visited Late Night Dining Restaurant of 2009

Best Discovery of a Hidden Gem: Uchi Lounge, Surry Hills, NSW
Uchi Lounge is only a street behind the chaotic Oxford Street but upon stepping inside, you're in a whole new world. It is soothing and peaceful, offering a selection of Japanese sake cocktails and some scrumptious food such as their grilled eggplant with miso and a sprinkle of parmesan.

Uchi Lounge
15 Brisbane St, Surry Hills, NSW

Favourite Bar: Water Bar at Blue, Woolloomooloo
I was introduced to Water Bar after my 25th birthday dinner in 2009. It's the fine dining of bars. As well as offering all the traditional cocktail favourites, Water Bar also features a range of new concept drinks that utilises some surprising and experimental techniques. Elderflower martini with a cucumber air, the kaffir lime dacquiri with coconut foam or the spiced fig whisky sour are just a few to name. The only downside here are their trading hours, closing at midnight on most nights and 10pm on Sundays and Mondays.

Water Bar
6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo, NSW

Favourite Brunch: Rhodes Phoenix, Rhodes, NSW
Yum-Cha, Dim-Sum, whatever two words you use to call the fine art of eating dumplings and other Chinese delicacies over tea with friends or family, is a weekend hobby of mine. Having discovered the Phoenix group in 2007 - there's four of them: Sky Phoenix, Hilltop Phoenix, Manly Phoenix and Rhodes Phoenix, I quickly became a regular at the Rhodes restaurant which is only a short drive from my place. 2009 saw me dining at Rhodes Phoenix more than ever before. I have such a weakness for their prawn toast!

Rhodes Phoenix
1/5 Rider Blvd, Rhodes, NSW

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

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When an Indian restaurant gets the nod of approval from a local Indian resident, it's a must try. Today, Betty excitedly lets me know that Vasandha Bhavan is a restaurant her Indian friend would highly recommend. So we gave the restaurant a quick call to confirm they were open for lunch and off we went.

Vasandha Bhavan is opposite Homebush station. We arrived nice and early and were probably the first customers for the day, which turned out to be a wise decision as soon after our food was served, a few families were seated at the same time and we couldn't help but compare their extensive waiting time.

The decor was minimalistic and can be best compared to an extended old fashioned family dining room. I hoped it was a sign for good homestyle food.

We started with a mango lassi ($3.00) each which was double the serving size of most Indian joints. It's sweet, creamy and fruity nature was deliciously paired with our spicy curries.

Mango lassi

The samosas ($4.90 each) were served piping hot. The crispy buttery pastry was scrumptious and wrapped together, a potato and vegetable mixture which was fragrant with garam masala (a combination of spices including peppercorns, cloves, bay leaves, long pepper, black cumin, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, star anise and coriander seeds).

Samosa

My vegetarian thali ($11.90) included a chef's selection of three vegetable curries, naan, rice and a papadum. My favourite of the three was the eggplant curry which was fried with spices, resulting in a rich but sweet flavour.

Vegetarian thali; chef's selection of three vegetable curries, naan bread and rice

Betty's kashmiri naan ($3.90) was a delightful discovery for me. I loved its savoury and sweet mix of nuts, raisins and coconut. On the other hand, her malai kofta ($9.90) was a vegetarian's blissful alternative to meatballs. The balls of cottage cheese and potato were served in a thick hot curry which went hand in hand with the naan bread.

Kashmiri naan (naan bread stuffed with coconut and dried nuts) and malai kofta -cottage cheese and potato dumplings in creamy sauce

My vegetarian thali also included dessert -a serving of the popular gulab jamun. It is essentially a fried ball of dough, coated in a caramelised sugar syrup.

Gulab jamun

Amongst my favourite Indian restaurants in Homebush, namely Janani‎ and Thousand Spices, I can now add Vasandha Bhavan.

Where do you go for a taste of India?

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Vasandha Bhavan
Shop 19, The Crescent, Homebush NSW
Phone: (02) 9746 5530

Vincent's Noodle House has long been serving Lidcombe locals affordable Asian cuisine. While they no longer appear to be a small family-run business, having moved in to Dooleys Catholic Club, they're still bloody popular.

Their pho dac biet (special beef noodle soup) at $10 costs more than your average Vietnamese cheap eat, but for the extra few dollars comes quality, reliability and consistency. The blanched noodles are slippery and soft and mix freely with tendon, tripe, beef meatballs, thin slices of rare beef and its garnish of sliced onion, shallots, coriander, basil and bean sprouts.

The slowly simmered beef broth is aromatic with star anise, cinnamon and ginger and is a brilliant example of the classic dish.

Pho dac biet (special beef noodle soup)

There's no sauce better to accompany pho than a bit of sate chilli sauce mixed with hoisin sauce.

Vietnamese condiments including hoisin sauce, chilli sauce, fresh cut chillis, soy sauce, fish sauce, vinegar and chilli sate sauce

Another favourite I adore is this simple hu tieu (combination rice noodle soup, $9.50) which is poached chicken, beef, prawn and bok choy with thin rice noodles in a cleansing stock soup. I think this has been westernized as there are no signs of pork liver, Chinese celery, fried shallots or garlic chives. I always add on two banh tom don (crispy prawn cakes, $1 each). The shrimps when eaten whole are crunchy and flavoursome, adding oomph to the noodle soup.

Combination rice noodle soup with crispy prawn cakes

On this particular day, the crispy skin chicken in my mi ga da don (crispy chicken with egg noodle soup, $10) is disappointingly dry. It is the first time from about twenty other occasions where I've ordered this same dish. The skin is usually golden, glossy and crispy, hiding piping hot tender chicken meat beneath.

Egg noodle soup with crispy skin chicken

Vincent's Noodle House also does a mean crunchy noodle ($12.50) which is an off-the-menu special you can request for. It is essentially a beef stir fry with a big slab of deep-fried noodles. They're naughty but moreish.

Beef stir fried with crunchy noodles

I can never leave a Vietnamese restaurant without ordering a traditional iced drink. At Vincent's, they range from $3 - 4. Here we have the nhan nhuc da (dried longans in a rock sugar syrup with shaved ice), che dau xanh (mung bean with shaved ice) and the nuoc dua (coconut). They're refreshing but are pricey at half the cost of a meal.

Icy Vietnamese drinks

Vincent's Noodle House
Level 1, Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club
24 John Street, Lidcombe, NSW
Phone: (02) 8745 6100
Web: www.dooleys.com/joomla/images/stories/documents/vincents_menu.pdf

Last Monday would have been just another girly catch-up dinner at CeCi in Strathfield had I not discovered Hello Happy (to which I squealed with excitement).

As you may have noticed, I'm a regular at Strathfield. With a growing South-Korean, Chinese, and Sri Lankan population, it has become a trusted suburb for authentic Asian cuisine. However, there has always been a missing piece to the culinary puzzle when it came to dessert. There was waffles at Beauty & The Beast cafe on the corner of The Boulevarde, Gelatissimo just outside the plaza and now, there's Hello Happy, offering a cute selection of cakes, pastries and good coffee!

The interior featured hand-draw graffiti characters across some walls and had a really calming and welcoming jungle touch. Hello Happy is only in its second month of operation so everything looked brand-spanking new. It was a breath of fresh air in an aging street.

New to Strathfield: Hello Happy patisserie

My tart was fruit paradise! The thin glaze made each piece look plastic and perfect. It consisted of blueberries, raspberries, grapes, a strawberry, a slice of kiwi fruit, 3 generous slices of sweet pineapple and a quarter of a peach. Beneath the fruit was a beautiful sweet pastry crust which held together, a classic custard.

Mixed fruit tart

Tracey has the strawberry mousse dome which looks more like a work of art. It is sponge cake coated with a light fluffy mousse and wrapped in strawberry slices then strawberry jelly, and last but not least, adorned with crushed pistachios. It was a blissful taste of heaven.

Strawberry mousse dome cake

Our chai lattes were fantastic too. They were frothy and sweet, but not sickening sweet, allowing the natural spiced aromas of cinnamon, cardamom and ginger to stand out.

Chai latte

Korean-chic interior

Hello Happy is a lovely new find that I hope many will appreciate.

Hello Happy
22 The Boulevarde Strathfield (next to NAB)
Phone: 9715 6259

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 still there. You wouldn't have known there was a change unless you looked at the signage.

Inside Cafe Qube

In the Summer, weekday work lunch was always a rotation between Bourke Street Bakery Broadway's (now closed) and Cafe Du Coeur's salads. They were always freshly made which meant there was generally a significant wait. A favourite of mine is the Moroccan salad-a lively combination of fresh orange segments, dried figs, Spanish onion, olives and spices on a bed of rocket.

Although the cafe is also popular with local workers for its reliable morning coffee, I was here today for lunch. Don't get me wrong, their all day breakfast was tempting... I was close to ordering the French Toast which includes a heart-throbbing mix of caramelized banana, ice-cream, mixed berries and maple syrup amongst other things.

North African Flame pasta

I end up with the North African Flame pasta. It is penne tossed in a rich tangy red sauce with harissa, tomato, olives, onion, chicken and fresh herbs. Expecting it be more exotic, I was disappointed by its average Joe taste.

Beef & Guinness Pie

K has the Beef and Guinness pie which comes with a small side salad. I've always felt ripped off paying $9 for a pie that wasn't baked from scratch in-house.

It may not have the best food in Ultimo, but the cafe is airy and its lounge chairs urge you to stay just a little bit longer. It's a lovely escape from the chaotic shopping centre and a breath of fresh air from the office.

Cafe Qube (Formerly known as Cafe Du Coeur)
56 Bay St Ultimo
Phone: (02) 9212 0025

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?

Kammadhenu has a menu which satisfies many Asian tastebuds. They have vast options available, categorically split by starters, curries, vegetarian, goat, egg, lamb, beef, chicken, seafood, rice/noodle, kothu roti, hoppers, breads, desserts and extras! Within the savoury dishes, they've even thoughtfully marked them up with chillis. There's one chilli for mild, two for medium, three for hot and four for good luck!

We started with the gobi pakoda which are cauliflower tips dipped in besan batter (made from chickpea flour), deep fried and served with green chilli sauce. I love the crumbly texture and the tumeric flavour which is enhanced with cumin seeds.

Gobi pakoda, cauliflower tips

Our basmathi rice is served on a thali (big round metal plate) which allows us to mix and match from our selection of dishes.

We have the eggplant curry, prawn sambol and butter chicken and of course a plain roti to mop up all the succulent sauces.

Butter chicken curry with mild, sweet and creamy sauce, hot and tangy eggplant curry and prawn sambol served in cute katori bowls

Plain roti

With such so many options for dessert, we find it hard sticking to one and end up ordering the sago with palm syrup and sweet dosai.

The sago swam in a pond of milky coconut and could have been sweetened with more palm syrup. And within my other hand, the dosai was drizzled with circles of condensed milk. The crisp baked aroma was heavenly.

Sago with palm syrup

Dessert of sweet dosai

A visit to Kammadhenu is like a trip through South Asia. It is cheap, cheerful and crowded.

Kammadhenu
171 King St Newtown
Phone: (02) 9550 2611

Random. The food doesn't stick to a theme. The rich burlesque decor doesn't suit the laid back music. The service was at times slow and rarely consistent. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

It caters for everyone and with influences from all over the world, I love not knowing what I'm going to get. There's an air of spontaneity.

On this Sunday morning, we decide to have brunch here before bargain hunting at Glebe markets which is just down the road.

Good coffee. Tick.

Cappuccino

I'm still half asleep but slightly stressed about the end of another weekend so decide to try the Calmer Karma purely based on its funky name. Thankfully, it was an awakening juice cocktail of green apple, celery and chilled chamomile tea. That's a combination to remember! The menu says it should calm the system and aid relaxation.

I did feel relaxed and I did want another one!

Fresh juice cocktail: Calmer Karma

Today's special was the soft shell crab salad and plenty of diners had the same idea as Zen. The fried seafood aroma which floated past me each time there was another order of the salad was so tantalising. We were surprised at the generous serving which included 2 whole crisp soft shell crabs. I'm pleased because it means there'll be a lot more sharing :)

Today's special of soft shell crab with salad

My big breakfast took a while to arrive but its hearty array of free range scambled eggs, buttered thick cut toast, mushies, bacon, hash brown, slow roasted tomato and sausages did not disappoint. Not every table had the salt and pepper mills which was frustrating because ours didn't and by the time I managed to catch the attention of a waitress my food had cooled down.

The big breakfast

But the randomness was good for us on this day because Zen and I were having very different days and very different cravings.

Roxanne
39 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
Phone: (02) 9552 6087

This is it. This is my favourite fish and chip takeaway shop.

And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Ocean Foods recently won the prestigious Best Fish And Chips In Sydney award (Seafood Excellence Awards).

Battered fish and chips are one of those meals that are better bought than homemade, that is, unless you have one of those commercial type fryers at home. I've learnt that for best results, a double fry is recommended. This is something Ocean Foods has perfected. Their batter is consistently crisp and clean. I've become a fan of their battered mussels, fish and pineapple fritters. The chips are pretty average here (the usual thick frozen type) but the homemade potato scallops are solid gold.

Selection of fresh seafood

Also on offer are gourmet, in terms of price and flavour, salads and a huge display of ready to cook seafood. Barramundi in a myriad of flavours, kebab skewers, salt and pepper calamari, lobster mornay, BBQ seafoods, sushi, sashimi... and the list goes on.

Salads

Fresh ready to cook seafood

More seafood

The counter and part of the extensive wall menu

Honey, chilli and garlic barramundi

Seafood kebab stick with king prawns, barramundi, calamari, scallop

Homemade potato scallops and battered mussels

Cold seafood prawn platter with Sydney rock oysters, smoked salmon, king prawns, seafood salad and octopus vinaigrette

I'm a regular here and have been for several years. While the prices have slowly risen, the quality remains top notch. When you visit, keep in mind they don't take card transactions. So come early to avoid the chaos and grab a seat at their newly built seating area or take it to the park down the street. Just be prepared to wait if you're late :)

Ocean Foods
154 Lyons Road, Drummoyne
Phone: (02) 9181 4336

Madame Fling Flong is a hidden gem. I wouldn't have come across it if it weren't for Karen's 25th birthday. This tiny plush tapas and cocktail lounge bar sits above Soni's at Newtown on busy King Street. The extensive cocktail menu went hand in hand with the comfy armchairs and trendy decor. The churros were a little too sweet and the accompanying chocolate sauce was a little too runny... but apart from that, i adored all the cocktails, mocktails and erm, tapas.

(Quick note: I won't be blogging for the next week or so while I'm off on holidays! No where special, just the Central Coast and Melbourne... but I wish my dear readers, a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!)

And did I mention the free unlimited wasabi peas? LOL

Madame Fling Flong
Level 1, 169 King Street, Newtown NSW
Phone: 9565 2471
Web: madameflingflong.com.au

It has been well over 4 weeks since I was released from hospital with severe gastroenteritis and placed on a strict diet of bland foods. Boring, it was. But now that I'm skipping around as though I've never been sick, my taste buds told me it was time to take revenge... and eat lots of the golden fried foods I had been craving for.

Ginza is a big and bright Japanese/Korean fusion restaurant that sits on a corner site which many restaurants had previously failed at. Being opposite the park and Burwood Westfield, it gives tired shoppers a chance to refuel with a decent meal... away from the food court of course.

I was pleasantly surprised when a complimentary cup of brown rice green tea was brought out to us. Green tea is usually a priced menu item. What impressed me even more was when they carried a teapot around to each table, offering free refills.

Another goodie about dining at Japanese and Korean fusion restaurants are the complimentary condiments. I loved the caramelised sweet potatoes, kimchi and pickled bean sprouts.

Takoyaki balls ($5.90 for 6) are a favourite of mine. I was never fond of them until my trip to Osaka where I snacked on them every day. These were garnished with a generous load of bonito flakes and seaweed.

For just $8.90, we also couldn't resist to order the deep fried soft shell crab. There were four satisfying halves... a light crisp batter held together the spindly legs, juicy flesh and all. The accompanying sauce looked like a glossy soy but was sweet like heaven. There's something about eating the crabs whole that I simply love.

Zen decided to play it safe and ordered the teriyaki chicken bento box ($10.90).

Meanwhile, I was greedy and had the tonkotsu ramen ($11.90) as a set (additional $3.90) with mixed tempura and avocado salad.

The tonkotsu broth was flavoursome but not as good as Ichi Ban Boshi's. There was a stack of bean sprouts at the bottom of the bowl which padded out the noodles to look like more than it actually was... the egg was overcooked and the pork had bits of the fat trimmed? Or maybe it was just lean. Hmm...

Luckily I had the side dishes to change my mind about Ginza. For the extra $3.90 I thought it was a bargain to get a full size tempura and salad! Both were triumphantly good!

The small sashimi boat also crossed our minds but the photograph in the menu pictured tuna and salmon with a little too much grey bits. Ughh! Although when the table beside us ordered it, I saw nothing but brilliant slices of fish, glowing with freshness.

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There's plenty more to try here.

Ginza
35a Burwood Road, Burwood
Tel: 9715 5117

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 time.

I actually had this salad for lunch today... and less than 12 hours later, here you have it:

Since Bourke Street Bakery started the email subscriptions, I have been obsessed! In winter, it was their hearty soups which were reinvented daily. Now, I'm stuck onto their salads -all of which are served with a generous slice of their delicious crusty sourdough. There's nothing better than receiving an email reminder of the daily specials every morning... it keeps my mind set til lunch time!

I found that the dressing in the roast beef salad (I had this last week, pic is above) to be too heavy, but the mix of lentils made it a scrumptious gourmet lunch that was extremely filling. Today's bresaola salad was a lot lighter and just as tasty, although I would have loved more than one zucchini flower...

Are you hooked yet? Here are some of the recent salads that were on offer:

• Pork with chat potato, chick pea, baby spinach, mint, basil and coriander, with a lemon, cornichon and spring onion dressing
  


• Duck with roast potatoes, roast beetroot, goats feta, parsley, celery, lentils, baby spinach, and a red wine dressing


• Roast chicken with white beans, croutons, braised fennel, parsley, and rocket and a lemon dressing


• Smoked salmon with potato, capers, roast red onion, basil, hazel nuts, tomato, witlof and a lemon and verjuice dressing


• Roast pork with chick pea, potatoes,baby spinach, mint, corriander, basil, and a light lemon mayo dressing


• Roast lamb with crispy pancetta, roast pumpkin, green beans, parsley, baby spinach, anchovies, goats feta and a balsamic dressing

Bourke Street Bakery on Broadway
130 Broadway, Sydney

The plan today, was to have lunch along Glebe Point Road. There were these wooden bench seats beside a tall open window which caught my eye... and soon we were soaking in the sunshine. Badde Manors is a small, vibrant and quirky cafe that has grown up with Glebe for over 20 years. They offer typical cafe food with a vegetarian twist.

Think bright red walls, art-deco lights, mis-matched wall decorations and stacks of old books. If there was a cafe to summarise the personality of Glebe, this would be it.

I started with this gorgeous mango smoothie ($5.00). It wasn't the pretentious heavy-on-yoghurt-but-no-fruit kind. The sweetness of the mango was intertwined with the thick creamy goodness.

Next, my workmates and I shared some hearty seasoned wedges which were served with aioli ($7.50). Crunchy and again, they weren't the usual packaged potato you'd expect. The seasoning was so flavoursome and fresh.

There was also this scrumptious looking risotto of mushroom, rocket and white wine, which was served with garlic bread ($15.50).

And I had the fettuccine ($12.50) with basil and pinenut pesto, fresh snappy asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes. I was slightly disappointed it wasn't creamy but it was still refreshing to have a kind-of healthy lunch! (It was also served with woodfired bread.)

This post is short and sweet 'coz now I've got to start packing for Hobart, where i'll be wining and dining over the next week! So, watch this space.

Badde Manors Cafe
37 Glebe Point Road, Glebe NSW
Phone (02) 9660 3797

I recently discovered Sydney Olympic Park Golf Centre's weekend breakfast special and felt ready to retire. Nothing could be paired up so well with golf than a gourmet big breakfast of bacon, eggs, grilled tomato, mushroom, hash brown and chipolata sausages.

Here, I had the big breakfast with my eggs poached -

And Zen preferred his scrambled...

So, what is the special?

Spend $15 or more between 8am - 1pm on Saturday or Sunday on breakfast and get a small bucket of 70 balls free! Woohoo!!

Because I knew I'd be back next week, I did some forward planning and took some pics of the menu.

I think I'll be having the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon next! See you there...

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Sydney Olympic Park - Golf Centre
Olympic Blv. Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney NSW
http://www.sopgolf.com.au

Mmm... I have a new addiction. Pastizzi Cafe in Newtown is the modern day version of 1950's Maltese Cafe on Crown Street in Surry Hills. It is still a family run business and it shows in their friendly service.

They stock and serve hundreds of golden filo pastry parcels... chilli con carne, veggie curry, spinach & ricotta, chicken & mushroom are just some of the savoury ones to name.

And then there's the new sweet variety of cherry cheese, chocolate & ricotta (pictured below) and apple (also pictured below). These were so flaky and satisfying.

For those who just can't get enough of these heavenly things, grab a dozen of frozen ones to take home.

I love cafe! If the cheap and hearty pastizzi are anything to go by, I can't wait to try the pasta dishes. Ravioli, linguini and cannoli, here I come!

Pastizzi Cafe
523 King Street, Newtown NSW
Ph: +61 (2) 9519 1063

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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.

1. Superbowl's (35 Goulburn St & 41 Dixon St, Sydney) menu caters for all your typical Chinatown cravings up til 2am every day. Feel like a midnight splurge? Try the delicate peking duck. Or if you're feeling peckish, I'd recommend sharing a pork and preserved egg congee (with deep-fried bread sticks of course), stir-fried pipis in a spicy XO sauce and one of the best salt and pepper prawns. Definitely give the noodles a miss though!
2. Seoul Ria (Level 2, 605-609 Cnr of George and Goulburn St, Haymarket) beats Superbowl by an hour, opening until 3am daily. This is the place to be for all-things Korean. Their kim-chi pancakes are scrumptious but be prepare to queue up if you're planning on dining here during normal eating hours.
3. Pancakes On The Rocks (4 Hickson Rd, The Rocks)... you can't ask for more from a place that offers breakfast 24 hours a day.
4. Hey Hey Kebabs (Parramatta Rd, Auburn) defies the common kebab and pizza joint by offering sandwich pressed kebabs and crispy fried chips which are seasoned generously with chicken salt, leaving you feeling moreish at 4am. The friendly service and odd jokes makes this place a winner with inner-westies.
5. Harry's Cafe De Wheels (Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo) is the legendary late night eatery that has been serving up pies, peas and mash for decades. Harry's operates til 2am Monday - Thursdays, til 1.30am on Sunday and 4am on Fridays and Saturdays.
6. Mamak (15 Goulburn St, Sydney) makes the local Malaysians feel at home. They serve nasi lemak, roti kaya, cendol & ice kacang all day, right through to 3am.
7. City Extra (E4, Circular Quay & 301 Church St, Parramatta) is a commercial-type cafe covering a little bit of every cuisine, 24 hours.
8. Guzman y Gomez (Bayswater Rd Cnr of Pennys Ln, Kings Cross) makes it possible for you to munch on authentic Mexican quesadillas, tacos and burritos until 10pm Sunday - Thursdays and 2am on Friday & Saturday.
9. BBQ King (18-20 Goulburn St, Sydney) do great Chinese dishes but are a tad pricey. Good thing they're open til 2am daily 'coz where else would you get such crispy glazed BBQ meat cuts this late?
10. Star City's Trophies Foodcourt opens until 3am on Sunday to Thursday and 6am Friday & Saturday. They're a bit like an international food court. Cheap, tasty and umm, fast.

As I'm making my way to Shanghai Night (confusingly, the dumpling / noodle house next door), a woman fiercely slides open the door of New Shanghai and beckons us to sit down.

The menu was practically identical to its rival except this place was cleaner, brighter and dare I say better?

Replacing the torn fluoro menu posters were LCD TV's... and the corner table and chair was transformed into a modern open kitchen. Throughout the night, I watched as the cook effortlessly kneaded the dough and wrapped trays after trays of dumplings and buns.

These are my absolute favourite. They're steamed mini pork buns, which are also known as 'xiao long bao'. I love how they're steamed to perfection... the first bite always lets out a squirt of steam and soup which is ofcourse full in pork, ginger and soy flavour. They were delish!

Soon after, these uber crispy dumplings arrive. They're exactly what we wanted. Piping hot pastry with tender juicy morsels of pork mince and coriander inside.

The Shanghai-style spicy noodle soup with bamboo, pork and beancurd was good too. Although I still preferred the handmade noodles at Northern Noodle House in Haymarket.

The bill came to $25. A bargain for 2 full bellies!

New Shanghai Chinese Restaurant
273 Liverpool Road Ashfield
Call (02) 9797 7284

I've made my own baklava at home plenty of times. While it's fun mixing and matching different nuts, syrup to pastry ratio and wacky shapes, nothing beats walking into a baklava pastry store. The huge display here offers more varieties of baklava than you can imagine.

Here's what I ended up with:

The long ones in the back-right are lady's fingers cashew baklava... these are crispy, buttery and not overly loaded in syrup. Splendid. The round disc of pastry with cream has been an all time favourite of mine... the soft fluffy cream balances out the sweetness so well. Ah, and my second most loved baklava would have to be the king's crown of long kounafa pastry which resembles a bird's nest full of whole pistachios. It's pure heaven.

Auburn Baladna Pastry
Opens 8am - 10pm daily!!!
150 South Parade, Auburn
Phone: 9649 2324

I have found it.

Fresh and cheap seafood that doesn't compromise on taste! Okay, so the service can be a hit and miss at times, but the food is casual Chinese at its best.

On a good service day, you'll be greeted with these salted peanuts as an appetiser. On a bad service day, expect to walk into the kitchen yourself to grab additional utensils or even to refill your own bucket of rice.

Live mud crab can be cooked to your desire for $45 per kilo. From my experience, this is completely below the market price of most decent Chinese restaurants in Sydney! Tantalize your taste buds with a fierce XO sauce or go for the traditional ginger, shallots and garlic.

The best thing about this restaurant is probably the genuineness. You get what you pay for. There's no worrying about the chef cheating you by keeping a crab leg to himself, or by cooking a smaller crab than the one you were showed.

During my recent two visits (funnily enough, they were 3 days apart), the crab was 0.850kg and 0.630kg... this was perfect for 2 people, keeping in mind the e-fu noodles were a must to soak up all the gorgeous live crab flavours. I haven't stopped raving about it since. A seafood dinner for two, for less than $50 in total!

The crab was delectable. The flesh was sweet, definitely fresh (we were shown the live crawling creature and weight) and simply divine. Chunks of shallots, ginger and garlic were braised through a thickened stock sauce.

It doesn't stop there. They have live tanks of barramundi, huge lobsters, king crabs, pipis and oysters... don't let the murky tanks, crowded tables or colourful foreign posters fool you. To be honest, I don't speak or read Chinese either... but have recently been most impressed with the waitress' and restaurant owner's improvement in English.

My other favourite dishes at Auburn Chinese Restaurant include the pork ribs in spicy salt, combination hotpot with tofu (below) and steamed oysters with soy, coriander and shallots.

You know what? You might even find me back there tonight...

Auburn Chinese Restaurant
138 South Parade, Auburn
(Opposite Auburn Station)
Closed on Tuesdays

Read about my previous entry on Auburn Chinese Restaurant.

Some time last week, I was invited to dine at one of Norton Street's new pizza joints... operated by my sister's colleague's brother-in-law. Ha! That was a mouthful.

I was pleasantly surprised at the cosiness of the restaurant; the interior was long and terrace-like. The original rustic steel frames were exposed, complimenting the orange and beige hues. We sat further inside, away from the large mirrors -ensuring that none of us would be preoccupied with checking ourselves out.

While we looked through the menu, I admired the affordable prices and drooled over the blackboard specials. These yummy complimentary tomato bruschettas were brought out on a bed of baby spinach:

Check out these cool pasta colander lights -

The portions here were perfect. Between the four of us, we happily devoured a salad, pasta and 2 large pizzas. The salad was a luscious mix of green leaves, anchovies, sun-dried and roma tomatoes, feta cheese and balsamic.

The fettucine salsiccia (sausage) consisted of thin strands of al dente pasta, tossed in a light tomato sauce with meaty bits of tasty sausage. It was scrumptious with a sprinkle of chilli flakes.

The Campollo was covered with chicken, basil, Camembert and possibly capsicum and tomato.

The seafood was more gourmet and twice as tasty... I found myself finishing off 2 big slices.

Desserts at 7ettimo included cakes and gelato. The mango gelato was delectably coated in a mango chocolate shell! Yummo. The tiramisu gelato and marble cake were a little ordinary... it left me thinking about some cannoli! (LOL, it rhymes. Try to rap that!)

The night soon evolved into random talk of cars, jobs, hobbies, what 'Zenith' meant... and what Christina is like at work versus home! It was past 10pm and Norton Street had just awoken.

Overall, 7ettimo makes delicious & simple home-style pastas and pizzas with a surprisingly affordable price tag. I'll be a regular here, that's for sure.

7ettimo
165 Norton Street, Leichhardt

With my new Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens, I hit the live tanks at the Sydney Fish Markets:

Sydney Fish Markets, Pyrmont
Open 7am - 4pm daily
Web: www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au

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 our 4 year anniversary at Aria Restaurant. Monday morning, I had asked Zen to make a reservation at Ocean Room... Friday morning comes and he finally makes the call, only to be informed that they were booked out for a private function. Flying Fish was second on my list, so off we went to a double booked table.

We arrive early and eager at 6:00pm with a 6:15pm reservation. We're reminded that they must clear the table at exactly 7:45pm for the next table and the waitress also recommends we go for a 2 course, of either entree and mains or mains and dessert. If the weather permits, we can even take our dessert and tea or coffee to the outside deck.

So, it's 6:00pm and the restaurant isn't ready yet. We sit outside on the bar as the lounges have been taken by business suits. I order the cheeky cheeky mocktail which consists of crushed mandarin, caramelised something and ginger beer. Zen has the Peroni... one after another.

It is now 6:30pm and a few new arrivers have been taken in. We signal that we're ready and are swift away, upstairs to the best seat in the house. It's a private table for 2... facing the cloudy harbour. This is my view of the kitchen (raw bar)... I loved the huge timber walls and light features.

The service is kind and efficient. We're brought out warm linseed or white bread rolls, warm butter and sea salt flakes as the waitress introduces the daily specials and live tank.

We order the Seafood Tapas to share as an entree and it arrives in no time. The scampi sushi was fresh and so tasty, it was my favourite of the four. The other tapas included a kingfish sashimi and an eel dish.

My main course was the Humpty Doo barramundi. It was cooked to perfection with soft flaky flesh. The figs were sweet and ripe, and the pear and herb salad was crisp and simply delicious.

Zen had never seen white asparagus before but was delighted with the taste. The Wagyu was char-grilled to a tender medium and was much bigger than it looked.

Now, look at these huge hand cut chips with chilli salt. They were thick, golden, crunchy and so flavoursome.

At precisely 7:40pm, not rushed at all, we asked for the bill and left our gorgeous table view. There were a few seats outside and the rain had cleared... but we were too full for dessert.

Flying Fish is now one of my favourite restaurants. The ambience was stunning, the food was fabulous and the service was sweet.

Happy 5 year anniversary, Zen.

Flying Fish restaurant
Jones Bay Wharf, Lower Deck
19 - 21 Pirrama Road Pyrmont
T: 9518 6677
W: www.flyingfish.com.au

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 have just discovered a local Yum Cha that is comparable to those in the City. Rhodes Phoenix is neatly tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Rhodes Shopping Centre (also home to giant outlet Ikea). It is the 4th child of the Phoenix Restaurants family, the other siblings being Sky Phoenix, Hilltop Phoenix and Manly Phoenix; so I suppose it's success isn't really that surprising.

Marketed to Westerners, among the 500 seats are projector screens of cartoons and sport matches... these are entertaining yet frustrating since the chatter around the restaurant means the shows have to be played mute. The furnishings aren't the usual chandelier with masses of gold and red either... there were dark mahogany cabinets, spotlight lighting and dark drapes. English speaking staff helped a lot also.

First up was the classic Har Gow. These were prepared the traditional way with whole prawns, wrapped in a perfect -not too thick or sticky rice flour sheet.

Another traditional item was the Ham Sui Gok... not as big or crisp as I've previously had, but still it was sublimely filled with a mixture of pork mince, shitake mushrooms, bamboo and black fungus.

The Fung Jeow was absolutely divine. It was so tender and smooth... I think this absolutely exceeded standards... it's the best i've had :-)

Sui Mai... what can I say? It's the usual meaty dumpling... I ordered this dish for the man, as he likes his meats... haha! The prawn toast was a childhood delicacy. Fried on top of toast, I loveee everything about it -the crunch, the prawn paste, the sesame bits... mMmMm...

The desserts at yum cha have evolved in the recent years. Thumbs up to the fusion inspired Green Tea and Coconut Jelly, and the Mango Pudding.

Be sure to go early on weekends as it queues up.

Rhodes Phoenix
Level 5, Rhodes Shopping Centre

Web: www.phoenixrestaurants.com.au

I might as well try break the record and update this site with an astounding 4 posts in 1 day! So what if 2 of them have nothing to do with food?

You may recall, that a couple of weeks back, I went through an obsession with Korean food. Kimchi, soups, fatty pork rashers, BBQ marinated beef, salads of sweetened mash potato, bean sprouts and shallots are some of things I had craved.

CeCi is a small authentic Korean restaurant on The Boulevarde in Strathfield. The interior is adorningly cute with pink walls, floral wallpaper in shades of purple, blue and green and framed cartoon prints.

The pork and kimchi soup was deliciously spicy. Tofu, kimchi and slices of fatty pork floated in a vibrant red soup.

The seafood soup was the exact opposite. It was filled with delicate flavours of blue swimmer crab, red dates, pipis, water chestnut, tofu, prawns and mushroom. The broth was so light and cleansing. Yummo!

CeCi Korean Restaurant
37 The Boulevarde Strathfield
(02) 9746 7710

In welcoming the first couple of cold days, I constantly craved soup... or at least something spicy. It is no wonder there is such a high chilli consumption rate in Asia!

Strathfield is where I go when I want something local, quick and fast. There are Korean restaurants across every main street. Today, we decided to revisit Hyang Won, which is popular for the hot pots or barbeques. I love the spicy octopus, marinated beef, tofu and vegetable hot pot. Priced at $35, it is more than enough to feed 2 people. It is served piping hot with typical Korean condiments (kimchi, fish cakes, seaweed salad and caramelised potatoes).

Hyang Won Korean Restaurant
31 The Boulevarde, Strathfield NSW 2135
Ph. (02) 9746 5750

Ah... the digital age... where my photos are time-stamped.

Think back a couple of weeks. Or even a month. Remember what you spent that Friday night doing? What did you have for dinner?

Well, I've retained all of that info to share with you (now that i'm back in action)... So... many weeks ago, Zen and I feasted on a giant seafood and meat platter at La Vigna Cafe in the Italian Forum. This is my second visit, and I found that the service was just as impressive. Hmm... which reminds me... I haven't read the Waiter's Rant in a while!

Within 10 minutes of ordering, an enormous plate of baby lamb cutlets, barbequed quails, souvlaki, spicy meatballs, Italian sausages, prawns, octopus, calamari, mussels, salad and chips were brought out...

For just $65, we stuffed ourselves silly. Thankfully, all the calories were burnt off by the end of our 7 hour Poker game.

See my previous visit.

Or check out their website.

Cafe La Vigna
Italian Forum
Shop 34, 23 Norton Street Leichhardt
Phone: (02) 9572 8599

It's been a while since I've been to Leichhardt... and there was no better way to spend Saturday night than with a few girlfriends and some tasty pastas and grills. Parking was a breeze inside the Italian Forum carpark, which was $12 flat rate for entry after 6pm.

The Italian Forum was packed with groups of families, friends and couples. It was a cheery atmosphere filled with loud conversations and laughter. The service was flirtatious but efficient.

I had the Linguine with Balmain Bugs... which was flawlessly spiced with chilli and lots of cracked black pepper. I think dried pasta was used, but they were really generous with the Balmain bugs... I counted 6 halves, so 3 whole in total. They were succulent and so tender! I tasted no basil (there were shallots instead), but the olive oil & white wine tied all the ingredients in really well.

Cafe La Vigna also offer desserts such as cannoli, tiramisu, portuguese tarts, and more! But we left for a place more quiet...

Thanks for organising this Sumali! Hope to see you girls soon :-)

Cafe La Vigna
Italian Forum, Shop 34
23 Norton Street Leichhardt
Phone: 9572 8599

Since I just posted on Dooleys at Lidcombe, I thought it was only fair to write about the much classier sister restaurant. Waterview was opened some time in 2005, and targets the business lunchers and families. It offers a cafe oriented menu which features lots of gourmet goodies.

Dooleys at Silverwater clearly caters for the families and although being named 'Waterview'... it actually doesn't have a water view, but features a funky kids toy room.

DOOLEYS SILVERWATER
Cnr Clyde Street and Silverwater Road, Silverwater
Tel: 02 9748 0427

I've always been a regular at Dooleys Bistro. And since they've introduced the $8 rump steak on Mondays and Tuesdays, I can now enjoy a quick bistro dinner at a great price. The kids meals are awesome too... at $8, you can choose from the fish and chips, nuggets and chips, spaghetti bolognaise, or the roast with vegies, and also get a free soft drink or juice, and ice-cream!

This used to be their famous and strongly advertised $5 fish and chips. Gorgeous crunchy beer battered fish with a crisp garden salad and chips. It is now priced at a reasonable $8.

On Monday and Tuesdays, you can get the rump steak for only $8. It is served with vegies and mash, and your choice of sauce - diane, pepper, mushroom or gravy. Out of all the times I've had this, it has never been disappointing.

The size of the pastry purely enticed me to order this... and I was later saddened that it tasted far from what I had imagined. But that's OK, I forgive them... as long as my $8 rump steak isn't taken off the menu!

Dooleys Bistro
24 John Street Lidcombe
Tel: (02) 8745 6100
Website: www.dooleys.com

Early Sunday morning, crowds gather amongst the steps of this restaurant to wait for a seat. Towards the busier afternoon, numbered tickets are handed out to ensure that it's a smooth process (yes, hungry yum-cha goers can sometimes make a scene if the queue is unjustified). Once our number is called, we feel a sense of pride... as though we've just won exclusive entrance to a celebrity fested event. I felt everyone's envy as we were hushed into the busy restaurant.

Immediately, we begun pointing at dishes we'd like order. Today, my yum-cha companion is Zen. With both of us speaking poor Chinese, we naturally order in English. I found that the majority of waitresses were able to describe the dishes with 2 words or less. I was often told that the food was "different" or "very nice".

Overall, we were charged a little over $40... which I thought was pretty pricey for the quality and quantity! I'll be sure to post up the over-due entry on Emperor's Garden - Yum Cha soon...

Crystal Seafood Restaurant, Strathfield
Shop 29/11 The Boulevarde, Strathfield.

Opens for Yum cha from 11am - 3pm on weekdays and from 11am - 3pm on weekends.

It is hard to miss Stra Pocha- a smokey red building opposite the Strathfield railway station (on the quieter side). At 6.30pm, this Korean BBQ restaurant was packed with locals. When we ordered the 'special hot sauce BBQ chicken' the waitress whom had limited-english, warned us that it was very hot and we weren't allowed to make a complaint if it was unedible. This was enticing enough for us to order without hesitation. I love my food fiery hot.

Stra Pocha
Everton Road, Strathfield (opposite Strathfield Station)

Zen's constant craving for Peking Duck drove him into taking me to Sydney Beijing Restaurant, at Ashfield. We chose the Sydney Beijing Restaurant because after a quick search in Google, we couldn't help but notice the number of Chinese bloggers commenting at this restaurant's similarity to the authentic flavours in Beijing.

Sydney Beijing Restaurant
333 Liverpool Road, Ashfield

Phone: (02) 9716 5523