I Don't Eat, I Devour

Part I: Useless Preamble The myriad of reasons to go vegan can loosely be divided into four camps. Among these camps, three are ethically-based: animal welfare, environmentalism and responsible consumption; and the other camp is 'health'-based. Let me get one thing out of the way: I am very skeptical about claims that say 'a vegan diet is good for your health, full stop'. While it may be true that a vegan diet is comparatively  better for you than a typical Western diet full of processed animal products, high in saturated fat and cholesterol, that doesn't mean veganism is by default the healthiest way to live. Some of the main nutritional problems associated with veganism are iron, calcium, Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin D deficiencies. While it's possible to be healthy while on a vegan diet, it requires a lot of education and planning; and veganism isn't the best option for every person at every stage of their lives. Personally, the most compelling reaso

Disclaimer : I am in vegan week right now, and I just want to announce that I consumed this meat-heavy meal last week. I didn't cheat (yet). I go to New Shanghai for cheap eats, I go to Din Tai Fung for the real deal. First up, drink. Most people of non-Asian descent may be unfamiliar with the idea of using avocado in sweet dishes - but it is absolutely heavenly. This is a seemingly-impressive but absolutely easy to make drink: simply combine avocado, milk and condensed milk in a blender; then drizzle the glass and the top with some chocoalte sauce. I used to make this high-energy smoothie at home, and even without the chocolate sauce it is amazing. Not the healthiest of 'green smoothies' though - it is really full of fat and sugar, but completely worth it. I would highly, highly, highly recommend trying. Avocado and Chocolate Shake The Shanghainese soup dumplings ( xiao long bao - 'little steamer buns') at Din Tai Fung simply cannot be beaten - I have

Part I: Useless Preamble Health trends come and go, each promising to make you fitter, happier, more productive, just like the Radiohead song. If nothing else, the myriad of diets and eating patterns we're bombarded with have certainly helped the economy: eating in weird and non-intuitive ways is a multi-billion dollar business. In this series, creatively named 'Amber Tries', I put my weak, unfit and pocket-sized body to the test so that you, my stronger, fitter and normal-sized readers, don't have to. Part II: Method Just a few years ago, the commonly accepted wisdom is that one should fuel the body with small portions throughout the day: instead of having 3 meals, have 6 smaller ones, because every time you eat your body needs to use calories to digest the food; thereby keeping your metabolism high.  Seemingly suddenly, the fitness gurus of the world have done a complete 180 degrees back flip: now you're not supposed to eat all day long. You&#

The Rice Den used to be situated in Chatswood, and I remember it quite fondly. It has since moved to St Leonards, a mere couple-minutes walk from the station. Instead of being a hole-in-the-wall place competing with all the other eateries, it has expanded to quite a nice, roomy neighbourhood gem. The menu has changed accordingly - finer foods at a higher price point, with a decent cocktail list. The cuisine is modern Cantonese - think Hong Kong style food but with more of a mainland swing. Shanghai Sling, $18 This citrusy, boozy number bears the name of my hometown, so of course I had to try it. I don't taste anything particularly Shanghainese about it, but it is pretty delicious. I can't even remember what was in it! It must have made me happy and blurred my memory. Mushroom Pancakes, $11 (or $5.50 a piece)  A simple dish of shitake mushrooms and garlic chives, this dish immediately won me over. I don't know how, but The Rice Den has managed to make an entir

Tucked away in the closest thing Sydney has to a Melbourne lane way - Angel Place, INDU is an Indian / Indonesian fusion restaurant that elevates a cuisine which Sydneysiders usually associate with cheap eats to a new level. The option INDU really tries to push - on their website, when you book and in person - is their 'feast' menu. It is a pet peeve of mine when a restaurant has a set menu but does not tell you what you're in for. In some situations I can understand, for example if the set menu is chef's selection which changes day to day, or if the menu is dependent on what fresh produce the restaurant was able to obtain that morning, but I don't think this was the case at INDU. When the wait staff introduced the set menu, it sounded like you only get 3 courses at $65pp and 4 courses at $80pp, and without trying it out myself I don't know whether it is worthwhile. My gut instinct is to think while not over-priced, the feast menu is not a great value option

Good wine + good cheese + a charcuterie board + good company = the perfect night.  What about adding to that recipe a moody, hidden, cozy setting? Perfect just got more perfect (not that there are degrees of perfection - something's either perfect or not. You can't be a little bit perfect, just like you can't be a little bit pregnant). Hidden underneath the lobby of the Westin at No 1 Martin Place and only reachable by meandering through throngs of diners at the bar, is the GPO cheese and wine room. Upon entering this hole-in-the-wall establishment, you are immediately hit with the sharp, comforting smell of a good cheddar which envelops the entire room. We're off to a good start.  Cheese and Wine Flights The Cheese and Wine room offer a range of 'cheese and wine flights', which pairs three wines with three cheese from different regions. You can go on an Adventure flight around the world, an Australian and New Zealand flight to stay close to home,