“You know, I lived in Japan for three years but I’ve never tried ramen”, my grandpa tells me as we walk down Whateley street in Newtown. To be fair, he lived there post-World War II and the army were pretty strict with what soldiers were eating. Forbidden from eating the local fare, he was stuck…
Roasted Brussels sprouts salad
Brussels sprouts often have a bad reputation because they’ve been boiled to hell and back until they’re grey and mushy and devoid of any flavour. I’m a big fan of chopping them up finely and giving them a quick sautee in a pan with butter, white wine maybe some rosemary and bacon or speck….
Sunday afternoon Gyoza
I’m a big fan of stuffing meat and veg into some kind of pastry form. Wontons, dumplings, pupusas, and now gyoza. There’s something incredibly therapeutic about performing the same fiddly task over and over. Gyoza has always been a favourite of mine, especially at Ramen Ikkyu in Sydney, so mine are never going to compare,…
Turn Down Pho What
I first tried my hand at making pho a couple of weeks ago with Dan Hong’s chicken recipe which was a great success. However this weekend I decided to give Pho Bo a crack. I actually learnt to make Pho Bo back in 2002 at an exhibition called ‘I Love Pho’ at Casula Powerhouse curated by…
Ramen Ikkyu, Sydney
Eating ramen has an effect on me that makes me just want to eat more and more and more ramen. After visiting Ryo’s Noodles last night, what else did I feel like having for lunch but a big ol’ bowl of ramen from Ikkyu. I’ve gotta say, Ikkyu is my number one ramen pick in…
Ryo’s Noodles, Crows Nest
Sydneysiders tend not to make a habit of crossing the Harbour Bridge, whichever side you happen to live on. However, I’ll happily make the journey with the promise of a delicious reward on the other side. But when you’re paying a visit to Ryo’s in Crows Nest, crossing the bridge is just the first hurdle, waiting…
Pâté, you stay
There’s nothing like having a stockpile of pâté in the fridge. A few generous spreads of this stuff is almost a meal in itself. Plus you can layer it on almost anything you fancy. At breakfast the other day my friend decided to marry some of this pâté with a crispy rasher of bacon. Chicken…
Campana de Leon, Madrid
How does some tortilla de patatas with marinated capsicum and sardines sound? Pretty good, huh? Well at Campana de Leon, this is just the complimentary snack you get if you order a drink. And this is exactly why I love Spanish dining. Even if you’re only ordering a cañas (small glass of beer) there’ll be an…
Amorino Gelato: Malaga, Madrid, Paris
Even though this is a chain, it’s a damn good one. I first stumbled across a branch in Malaga but it’s also available in Madrid and a couple of other European cities including Paris. For €3.50 you can get a small cone with 3 flavours, each forming the base and petals of a delicious gelato flower….
Taberna los Huevos de Lucio, Madrid.
Not only have Fergie (the duchess, not the Black Eyed Peas singer) and Tom Jones eaten here, Taberna los Huevos de Lucio has a pretty amazing specialty. Picture this: a plate of perfect patatas fritas (chippies) AND gloriously fried yet soft, gooey eggs on top. The combination is a drunk’s dream that dismisses any thoughts of a…
Bodega de la Ardosa, Madrid
I’d had this place written down because Anthony Bourdain makes a visit here on No Reservations. My rule for travelling is to hit up as many Bourdain spots as possible, and they never, ever disappoint. Bodega de la Ardosa sits on Calle Colon in Malasaña, an area full of bars, tattoo parlours, vintage clothing shops…
La Casa del Abuelo, Madrid
Before I got to Madrid I think I’d imagined that garlic prawns would just be lining the streets- available in every single bodega. But they were a little trickier to find that I first thought. My dad had been raving about this place for ages but I only made it there on my third last…
Happy Chompo To Me 