Replying to the world *

It is lovely to hear from you all!

Many thanks for your emails. I am extremely grateful that you have taken time to read my humble blog. Apologies for the incredible delay in responding. I have not checked this email for far too long. I will endeavour to reply promptly from now on. In the meantime, take care and we shall continue to be on a "see-food" diet together!

Golden Acoustic *

To my dearest Grandmother, beloved family, close friends, 

and those whom I've had the privilege to encounter:

"Even when you're miles away,
You're always on my mind
And you're in my heart 

even when I close my eyes

While the rain is falling
Golden, timeless as a kiss
I don't wanna miss another perfect moment
To tell you, how you make me feel

Smallest parts of who you are
Are everything to me
From the way you laugh to the way you cry
To the way you love on me

Shadows run and darkness fades
When you come around
My single star amongst the gray
Always shining down."

Joe Black *

"Acelera Comigo! 

(In God we Trust... all others pay Cash!)"

J and B hit the streets for our regular brunch date. Luckily, to meet Joe Black is only a ten minute walk from Sydney CBD. This delightful hole-in-the-wall cafe has an "alternative" interior decor that matches perfectly with the laid back vibe. 

The menu was entertaining to read, albeit offering only a limited selection. It includes: Pilate pancakes (you'll need Pilates after these chocolate covered bad ass mo foes); Bacon and egg brecky sambo (it's French for sandwich); and TRAGIC MAGIC mushrooms and hummus on rye. Delish!

stormin' norman

cherry tomato mix with spanish onion, avocado and a poached egg.. Or a bigger version 2 eggs more stuff

(healthy goodness, our pre-celebrations for cinco de mayo!)

chilli (on the willy) beef burger. comes without fries

(wholesome hearty burger with house-made beef patty. be prepared to get your fingers dirty, but it is definitely worth it!)

We bid farewell to the judges and commonwealth law reports...

then line up through the ages,

following the aroma of Joe Black's coffee

and cheekily take a part of Joe Black with us!

J & B

Joe Black

27 Commonwealth Street

Surry Hills NSW 2010

Trieste & Napoli *

"Inspiration drawn from two coffees emblematic 

of the cities of Trieste and Naples 

in homage to Italy's diverse coffee culture."

Like true artists, the experts at Nespresso have developed 16 Grand Crus with distinctly different aromatic profiles. And recently, there are 2 new limited editions: Trieste and Napoli. What I like about these little gems is that each capsule is completely protected from air to ensure the ground coffee remains fresh over time.

Every once in a while I miss J... and his Nespresso machine. My preference is Arpeggio, the purple capsule with a strong character and intense body enhanced by cocoa notes. The fruity malted profile is characteristic of South/Central American Arabicas. However this time I was invited to try Napoli which has a more subtle aroma. What's more - J's brother, KS, kindly offered me a green tea Kitkat to accompany my coffee! 

Say cheese *

K & I finally discovered a cheesecake (almost) comparable to the infamous baked ricotta cake from Pasticceria Papa. The extra olive oil twist, to what would otherwise be an ordinary lemon sorbet, was quite extraordinary. Small fluffy balls of cheesecake encompassed by a moat of lemon curd. A mix of chocolate and original biscuit crumbs finished off the portrait.

torta al mascarpone

mascarpone cheesecake served with lemon curd, 

biscuits crumb and olive oil lemon sorbet

and something more cheesier is our identical smiles!

GPO Cheese and Wine Room

1 Martin Place

Sydney NSW 2000

+61 2 9229 7701

Grey areas in life *

dear friend, 
many thanks for bringing some colour in my life.
as you know, 
reasons in life are not always black and white.
a kindred mind 
is hard to find 
and even harder to keep...

"Wishing you a rainbow amongst all this grey 
and hope we may cross paths again one day!"

Maenam *

Newest lao/thai eatery joining the ranks - amongst the myriad
of eateries to call Strathfield home.
Note of distinction is definitely the fried ice cream, 
with a peculiar twist to what one generally expects.
= I heart!

fried ice cream

(dense vanilla bean ice cream wrapped in a wafer-thin layer of crispy sponge cake, drizzled with chocolate sauce)

Maenam Lao & Thai

31 The Boulevarde

Strathfield NSW 2135

+ 61 2 9746 5882

Frozen yoghurt *

Given the recent craze of frozen yoghurt stores to sweep sweet Sydney, I feel obliged to write 'something' about this phenomenon. A half-hearted approach is never my intention when it comes to posting about food. But there really isn't much to comment, other than the fact it is a healthier alternative to ice-cream- a creamy cold dessert perfect for the chilly onset of Winter. 

Mind you, it costs a fortune for what it is. K & I paid almost $10 for this tiny cup from Yoghurt World! (My preference is still the mini green tea from Noggi, and Moochi comes a close second).

taro, green tea, mixed berries & original frozen yoghurt

topped with granola and passionfruit jus

Yoghurt World

Level 5, Sydney Westfield

188 Pitt Street

Sydney NSW 2000

GPO Cheese & Wine Room *

"the best news for fromage fanatics

since the invention of the cow"

- smh 06'

Escape to the dungeons underneath Martin Place,
where you are held captive for top-secret knowledge about this city.
Guilty until proven innocent,
that is, for the select few who have discovered the treasure
of superb food & wine, in the depths of the usual so-so.
As punishment for your crimes, be served:
blue cheese fondue and two glasses of Ciao Vino Sangiovese IGT, Tuscany, Italy 09'

the fragrant & creamy blue fondue

this blue fondue brings together two timeless cheeses,

the delicate yet full flavour of Italian Gorgonzola Dolce

and the creaminess of French Secret de Scey

GPO Cheese and Wine Room

1 Martin Place

Sydney NSW 2000

+61 2 9229 7701

Laduree *

Endless lines surround this petite green island, 
whether it be at the front ordering sweet delicacies to take home 
or waiting at the back to be seated for high tea. 

The Marie-Antoinette

delicious china teas mixed with essential oils of subtle citrus fruit, rose and jasmine flowers flavour, scattered with small pieces of dried fruits & honey

Les Macaroons

rose, pistachio, black currant violet, coffee

(signature sweets all the way from Paris 

which are actually frozen during their shipment to Sydney!)

R & I extremely content after our indulgent afternoon

Mum was pleasantly surprised to find these waiting for her when she arrived home!

Laduree

Level 3, Sydney Westfield

100 Market Street

Sydney NSW 2000

(02) 9231 0491

Halloween 2012 *

There is no rest for the wicked, 

especially when darkness is upon us. 

Thank you Kev for being a crazy host 

and organising a haunted gathering at his residence.

An eventful night of weird & wacky happenings indeed...

murdered victim, nurse, school girl

preparing for the worst, hoping for the best

maid, maverick (top gun), nurse, ryan gosling (drive)

team up to ward away evil

female victims

panda vanishes while a psycho watches them from behind

panda

bearing pizza rather than eating bamboo. now that is weird!

murdered victim, nurse

sad to choose between 'trick or treat'

murdered victim, panda & death uncovered

school girl, maid

school girl, nurse

shot with espresso Patrón

painting out to be a strangely colourful night thusfar

murdered victim meats Death

we salute you good bye for now, to be continued...

when I arrived home, I discovered a butcher knife in my car.

how freaky!

Three Blue Ducks *

"Coffee of the highest standard to complement the menu,

while the friendly & lighthearted atmosphere shows

they don't take themselves too seriously

so neither should you."

Take a short stroll up the hill from Bronte beach and any thoughts of ducking down to the beach for a quick mid morning swim are long forgotten. Expect fine dining food served in a casual cafe setting. Chef hat on for black sausage, Iggy's bread, organic eggs and fair trade coffee from Single Origin Roasters.

everything blue including the water bottle

poached eggs, spinach, sauce hollandaise and ocean trout

(pesto & olive oil drizzled on Iggy's bread was a nice addition)

scrambled eggs with black sausage, dill cucumber yoghurt salad and red currant jam

(every element was perfectly executed. fell in love with the black sausage & red currant combo. dill cucumber yoghurt had a refreshing tang)

J all smiles when our food was served

J snaps me when I was too immersed in taking food photos to notice

J's Miss Piggy Key

the ugliest "cute but interesting" girl around!

when we got back to J's car we spotted a parking ranger across the road. 

later we discover he got a ticket, oh no disaster! 

an expensive brunch indeed

Three Blue Ducks

141-143 Macpherson Street

Bronte NSW 2024

+61 2 9389 0010

Retard buddies *

"We will be friends until forever,

just you wait and see."

- Pooh Bear

Life is like photography because we develop from the negatives. Behind the scenes there are plenty of fights, silly kodak moments, shared secrets, lots of laughter and one too many retarded adventures. Ultimately the positives outweigh all the struggles we have encountered by far. For the remainder of our story, many may come and go whilst some stay together until the very end. To bring out the best in each other and accept in spite of all our faults. Anything is possible, nothing we cannot fend.

Sigmund Pretzel *

I ♥ NY is probably the most over-used phrase since it became the 'city of dreams'. So true, yet how about an eatable-twist to keep things interesting?

I recall it was a chilly day in NYC, early February 2012. After devoting our day at The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the appreciation of fine arts, Q and I were starving. Our mission was to locate the nearest food outlet, which is never too far away when one is in NYC. We can always depend on street carts for a decent quick fix before we search for a proper meal.

Soft pretzels and 'hot dogs' served on a pretzelbun are the key offerings from this particular street cart. Soft pretzels were not of the standard kind either. Popular flavours include salted, feta-olive, garlic-parsley, cinnamon raisin and seeded. Or if you feel like super-sizing it as the Americans do then opt for an UBER pretzel available Friday to Sunday, double the price and double the size! Take comfort in knowing the mustard, spiced kraut and SMILES are free.

Sigmund Pretzel

29th Avenue at 3rd Street, East Village

New York City

Disney lands a chef *

Which novice chef has recently converted to the Disney way? This person is none other than... myself! Souvenirs K had gifted to me from her US trip were uber cute and food-related too. Minnie mouse would be proud when I attempt to use these kitchen utensils to create some magic in the kitchen. Serving size for the coffee spoon is perfect for my morning coffee & I can't wait to wear the mitt for baking. 

* Thank you K!

minnie mouse cooking mitten & coffee spoon

Mary Poppins thinks a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down ~

so imagine what two teaspoons of coffee can do

hands up for a delightful afternoon coffee break!

(nescafe green blend, vitasoy calcium+, lindt 70% cocoa, almond cookie)