I Don't Eat, I Devour

Newtown appears to be the home of low-key vegan Mexican restaurants serving cheap and cheery set menus and good time margaritas. Since my visit to Calle Rey , I have found another restaurant cut from the same cloth. So, let them battle it out, shall we?  Within walking distance from one another (but not so close as to be breathing down each others' necks), both Calle Rey and Vandal serve $30 set menus filled with guac, tacos, corn and all the good stuff one expects at a casual Mexican restaurant. Except everything is vegan - not that those restaurants shout it from the rooftop. Both are what I'm calling "sneaky vegan restaurants" - the kind where the strong flavours and sauces disguise, rather than advertise, the fact that none of what you eat came from an animal.  Is a Mexican meal even complete without guac? Always a crowd-pleaser, this is a simple and refreshing way to start the meal.  Spicy and juicy, with a generous shaving of vegan shredded mozzarella (I'm g

Since its opening at Crown Sydney, I have had several foodie colleagues recommend A'Mare to me, so when I finally found a fitting occasion, I was excited to try their degustation menu.  First, A'Mare is a beautiful restaurant. During the day it is bright and vibrant, overlooking the waters. At night, it transforms into something elegant and sleekly intimate. Another aspect that sets A'Mare apart from other restaurants is that there are a lot of table-side service, which adds another dimension to the dining experience.  Burrata caprese The burrata is presented whole and cut open at the table, then drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with pepper. It is a rich, creamy burrata with very little salt; accompanied by green tomatoes and salsa verde.  Focaccia The bread is, of course, served warm. Springy and pillowy, with a satisfying bounce, it is accompanied by Pugliese extra version olive oil and an aged balsamic that tastes mildly bitter - presented by staff and drizzled tabl

 As any Sydney foodie would tell you, the best place for Indian cuisine in all of Sydney is Harris Park. A short walk from the station, one is spoilt by choice - I have visited a couple of the local favourites ( Chatkazz and Dosa Hut ), and now I add another review to my growing list.  As a lone diner, the best thing to order is a thali. A thali is a plate consisting of a grain (rice and/or flatbread), lentils, a seasonal preparation of vegetables, chutney, and a couple of curries. It is a god-send to someone like me, who wants to try a little bit of everything, with eyes enormous like the moon but a stomach the size of that of a small household pet.  Non-veg thali, $19.90 All those deliciousness for under $20 - what an absolute bargain! A generous serving of tumbling long-grain rice and two pieces of naan (each cut in half) with which to enjoy a chickpea curry, daal, butter chicken and what I think was a goat korma. Nothing is too spicy - truly a plate for everyone. The chutney has a