How to Host a Lunch Party

When the lovely folks at Jansz Tasmania offered to send us half a case of sparkling wine, Eric and I hosted leisurely three-course lunches matched to their wine. We’ve hosted casual get-togethers in the past of course, but this was the first time we organized a full sit-down shindig. After two rounds of Sunday lunches,…

Mr Wong, Sydney CBD

I’m a huge fan of Dan Hong’s style of cooking. Watching his #Shelfie series on ABC iview confirmed this further: he was throwing together random but delicious ingredients like instant noodles, corn chips, chilli oil, and kewpie mayo (well, not into one dish – though I feel like that could taste amazing). And I was left feeling…

A Winter Weekend in Bathurst, NSW Australia

Escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney for a change of scenery to explore regional New South Wales. Bathurst is a mere three-hour drive from Sydney, offering a perfectly charming winter getaway. A town alive with history, culture, and a growing food scene, there’s something to see and do for everyone. Two Heads Brewing Within…

Yellow, Potts Point

I love vegetables, so I was pretty keen to find out how Yellow is tackling a full switch to a vegetarian menu. I’ve been to Yellow twice before it went down the veggie route – for brunch (which still has non-veg options now) and for dinner. Yellow’s siblings Monopole and Bentley were my preferred restaurants,…

Chaco Bar, Darlinghurst

I’m a bit late to the party, but Chaco Bar is indubitably excellent for yakitori and other delicious Japanese dishes in a cozy, homely Crown Street space.  Taro chips with aonori are mixed with what we think are potato chips. Half a dozen plump gyoza are served in the pan – they get quite sticky to the…

What To Eat in Newcastle, NSW

If you’re longing for a quick getaway from Sydney, Newcastle is the perfect destination as long as you’re into small towns, food and ocean baths. Most people would probably drive to Newcastle, but we take the train. Within Newcastle we take buses (where Opal also works, FYI) to get around quite easily. Subo The reason Eric…

Boilerhouse Harbourside Restaurant & Bar, Manly

Nestled within Q Station, a heritage retreat and Australia’s first and oldest Quarantine Station, Boilerhouse Harbourside Restaurant & Bar has upped the ante with Matt Kemp at the helm. With an impressive list of lauded restaurants under his belt, Matt Kemp took on the role of Executive Chef of Q Station in March 2016. Formerly…

Willis Canteen, Ultimo

Gado gado is my all-time favorite Indonesian dish. A great gado gado is predominantly defined by the peanut sauce (or the bumbu as Indos would say). In Sydney, most Indonesian restaurants take shortcuts, creating the sauce using peanut butter. But the legitimate way is to make it from scratch using peanuts, grinding it with an ulekan (mortar and…

Restaurant Hubert, Sydney

My expectations were high when we rocked up at Hubert on a Tuesday evening. Every single person I had spoken to (bar one) was raving about the modern French restaurant. Surprisingly, it lived up to the hype. The vibe is like no other in Sydney, teleporting you straight to Europe. And the service is attentive (though we were mystified by…

Interview: René Redzepi

Tonight SBS premieres noma australia, documenting René Redzepi’s journey of relocating noma, one of the world’s best restaurants, from Copenhagen to Sydney. The series uncovers how the Australian landscape informed menu ideas, especially foraged native ingredients. I got in touch with René to find out more about his experiences with the celebrated pop-up, how indigenous produce influenced his approach, his future plans, and…

Is Expensive Food Worth It?

‘You paid $550 for dinner at The Fat Duck?’ is a question I get asked frequently. Yes, without hesitation. And that’s not including flights to Melbourne, drinks or a tip. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Another question I get thrown my way is ‘you go out four times a week to eat?! Wow, well, we know where your salary…