Ken’s Kissa Japanese Cafe
I love sampling the best and brightest of Sydney gems as much as the next socialite, but when it comes to seeking comfort and consistency, having a ‘local joint’ is more important than anything. I appreciate that everyone has their own favourite local haunts, and for us, Ken’s Kissa Japanese Cafe is the perfect example.
Grappa Ristorante e Bar, Leichhardt
There are days where you crave carb like no other…then, there’s me. Carbs all day, errrrrday. Having been on an Italian food binge for the last few days, I thought it fitting to up the ante and have a girls night out in Leichhardt. There’s no shortage of options in Leichhardt, but for an intimate group of friends who long for hearty Italian in a beautiful, elegant dining space, it had to be Grappa.
678 Korean BBQ
We love a good Korean BBQ. One that usually involves grilling marinated meats and vegetables, lots of appetising side dishes, great service and a relaxed atmosphere. Upon hearing that 678 Korean BBQ have opened up in a huge spacious lot in Eastwood, we gathered a group of family friends and our healthy appetites to give it a try.
The Legend of Zelda – Breath of the Wild
As a video game novice, playing Breath of the Wild is my first immersive experience into the world of Zelda, and boy, what an experience it has been. Before the release of this game on the new Nintendo Switch (aka “Zelda machine”), my partner has been talking his head off about this game. And it wasn’t just him, the whole gaming world was raving with excited anticipation. So, naturally, I became curious.
Gourmet Destination: Hobart
Jase turned the big 3-0 recently and as he’s usually the one spoiling me, I knew I had to pull out all the stops for his birthday. I wanted to keep the birthday weekend under wraps so I booked everything in secret until we were literally boarding the flight at the gate. Hobart, Tasmania. That’s where we were headed for the birthday weekend extravaganza.
Urban Bites, Newtown
Urban Bites has been around for a long time and I remember visiting the cafe back in my uni days. Back then I was the eager, fresh-faced student hoping to find a cosy place in between lectures for a piccolo to go with my course reading. Fast forward a few years later, returning to this somewhat iconic Newtown hub for a casual business meeting, it summoned a wave of nostalgia.
Ryo’s Ramen, Crows Nest
Every time I visit Ryo’s in Crows Nest, there is a queue outside the bright orange double-doors. I suppose that is the way life is now in Sydney, if you want something authentic and delicious, you just have to join the queue. A quick glance up and down the line and you can see all the ramenous patients experiencing withdrawal symptoms, restless and eager to get their fix.
Gourmet Destination: Melbourne
This holiday season, we decided to pack up our bags and appetite and travel to sunny (ha!) Melbourne for a change of scenery. We were there only for a few days and although the weather wasn’t especially kind to us, we still made the best of our time eating, drinking and frolicking amongst some of the best Melbourne have to offer. Here are some of the best snaps we’ve captured during our visit!
Le Saigon, St Leonards
I love Pho, I’d eat Pho every day. Jin doesn’t like Pho, which means I don’t eat Pho as much as I’d like. After Jin dragged me to Melbourne (sorry Sydney is better) I knew I’d get to redeem some love coupons and eat out what I wanted to eat. Now normally we would go to the “other” Vietnamese joint around the corner but like most Asian eateries around this time of year, they were shut.
Four Frogs Crêperie, Gateway
I remember when I first visited France six years ago. The memories that stick out vividly are morning rituals of boulangerie-hopping and trying to eat my weight in pastries. The lazy afternoons drowned in wine, cheese and the sound of accordions along the Seine. The one thing I regretted not having a lot of was crepes. Luckily for me, four Frenchmen has decided to bring the authentic French crepes and galettes to Sydney! Hurrah!
Cream Espresso, Naremburn
It’s about time Jin & Jase did a review of Cream Espresso Cafe in Naremburn as we’ve been there a handful of times now. This cosy little cafe in the leafy North Shore suburb of Naremburn is open every day of the week, ensuring a great feed and much needed caffeine for those required.
Hu’s Inn Taiwanese Cuisine, Chatswood
My inner Asian got the better of me here and I couldn’t let go of a good deal. For just under $10, I got the braised pork shaved noodles, a small plate of salt & pepper fried chicken, a side dish of sesame seaweed and a housemade ice green tea. My lunchtime companion today is Mama Jin, who ordered the adorably-named “silly noodle” with shredded pork and a side dish of silken tofu with century egg.
BBQ Smoken Ribs, Crows Nest
So we kinda planned our day around this, my best friend wouldn’t shut up about ribs ever since I purchased half a rack at a fair in Crows Nest about a month ago. An afternoon of drinking Canadian Club and listening to music was part of the process in getting our bodies ready for rib town. We opted to walk there possibly due to it forcing a walk back which we anticipated after this massive feast. Here’s what we had.
The Moody Chef, St Leonards
Jin and I have been to The Moody Chef a handful of times, in fact, it’s where we had our first “breakfast date”. There is a lot to like on this massive menu and I’ve yet to be disappointed. I’m going to let the pictures do the talking on this one, I think somebody once said, “a picture is worth a thousand yums”.
LOT.1 Sydney Media Lunch
Today, I was privileged enough to attend a unique event thanks to Food Critics & Bloggers Australia (FCBA) and LOT.1 Sydney – LOT.1’s Summer Menu Tasting. It was a fantastic opportunity for executive chef Adam Swanson and head chef Ricardo Cavuoto to showcase their 2016/2017 summer menu, matching seven signature dishes with Italian wines. But let’s rewind back to the start when we first arrived at this beautiful venue.
Royal Stacks, Chatswood
Royal Stacks opened up its first burger restaurant in the Melbourne CBD and it wasn’t long before our second store opened up in Brunswick. Our burgers have been carefully thought out and all of our ingredients work together in harmony to create a very satisfying burger experience.
Burger Project, Macquarie
If you have ever visited the Jin & Jase Instagram page (and you absolutely should!), you will know how much I appreciate a good burger. It usually comes down to personal taste, but for me, I’ve always been more partial to the American-style cheeseburger with the soft smooth buns, a decent sized beef patty (cooked medium rare), melty intense cheese, pickles and not a whole lot else. I suppose this is why I just had to give Burger Project a go.
