I Don't Eat, I Devour

Japanese rice bowls - not to be mistaken with Hawaiian poke bowls, which has a Japanese influence - are something I have been wanting to try ever since I first heard about Juan, a tiny Japanese eatery with a strangely Spanish-seeming name. I knew Juan would be great the minute I saw its simple, focused menu. I have often found that the best restaurants do not have a PhD thesis-length menu (unless, of course, we're talking about a Hong Kong style tea house), but rather know exactly what they want to serve and how to serve it well. That is certainly the case at Juan - the menu consists of 5 bowls with suggested tea pairing, and one single dessert option. Wagyu Bowl, $24 The wagyu bowl consists of a mound of white rice covered by thin, beautifully pink slices of wagyu beef. You would be forgiven to think this is rare wagyu, but that is not the case. Despite its lovely pink appearance, what you see here is actually 2 hour slow-cooked wagyu roast. This impressive mountain is t

Another day, another ramen. Sydney's ramen game is strong, to say the least. The signature dish at this ramen joint has the longest name of any dish I have ever reviewed (or came across). Behold, that Kono Deaini Kenshashite Aijou to Jonetsu Komete Isshoukenmei Tsukutta Uchirano Icchan Sukina Manpuku Shiawase Ramen. Mapuku signature ramen, $14.90 Available nowhere else in Australia (except, I presume, Manpuku's Kingsford location), Manpuku's signature dish is a blend of chicken and pork broth base, combined with medium straight noodles. It also comes with special seaweed imprinted with the Manpuku brand, which is pretty exciting. The signature broth is rich, deep, and hugely satisfying. Not as thick as the soup at  Gumshara , Manuku's soup is more drinkable, though it does not cling to the noodles the same way the Gumshara soup does. The pork and bamboo shoot, as well as the half soft boiled egg are all very good, and the addition of sprouts will no doubt add