I Don't Eat, I Devour

I tend to overlook the bustling strip in Pyrmont along Harris Street, but every time I go I enjoy myself. Gallon, which looks unassuming and cosy from the street, is actually a large eatery with a front and a back bar, and a garden area. You book by calling the owner on his mobile - and his voice is one of the kindest I have heard in a while. We're off to a good start. Primarily a wine bar, Gallon's wine list is very good, and the pour generous. There is a great variety of Australian and Europeans varieties, though the cocktail list is small. Bowl of Potatoes: $9, sweet chili & sour cream $2 The rustically named "bowl of potatoes" is a winner. Baby kipfler potatoes are squashed mercilessly, flash fried, and tossed in a delicious mix of garlic, parsley and salt. It is crunchy and satisfyingly salty. Napalese Momo Dumplings, $18.50 You know how you know dumplings are the greatest? The fact that so many cultures have their own version. In Napal, dumplin...

Mustang, unlike the car of the same spelling, is pronounced 'moo-stang' and refers to a district of Nepal known for its vast natural beauty, straddling the Himalayas. At Mustang Nepalese restaurant, the Nepalese head chef prepares traditional dishes which were so delightful I am geniunely surprised as to why Nepalese food is not as popular in Sydney as, say, Indian food. As a rule, when I try a new cuisine, I always like to order the banquet menu so that I get a taste of the most representative dishes. At Mustang, the set menu is called 'Kaja', and it's a filling three course meal consisting of a plate of different entrees, a few mains to share, and a dessert. Entree Plate Starting from the bottom and going clockwise, we first have 'aloo chop' - a golden globe of fried potato cake coated with chickpea flour and topped with mint sauce. It was soft, mild and moist in the middle, with the mind sauce adding a welcome tartness to this deep-fried item. U...

Not going to lie, the name was what caught my attention when I was researching for a lunch spot for meeting up with some old colleagues. I'm a big fan of trying food from different cultures; and Sydney is quite good for getting reasonably authentic fare. I did have to travel a bit to get to Himalayan Fusion Cafe, but the good food and good company made the trip very worthwhile. Nepalese fusion food is the name of the game at Himalayan Fusion Cafe, and while I waited for my lunching companions I consulted the lovely waitress about menu items - none of them were familiar to me, so it felt like quite the exciting culinary adventure. Having decided that we shall go for 'medium' heat, we ordered a feast of deliciousness. Entrees Aloo Dam, $6.50 The humble yet delicious aloo dam, boiled down to its simplest, is boiled potatoes stir fried with a mix of Himalayan Fusion Cafe spices (coriander, cumin, cloves, green cardamon, black cardamon, garlic, ginger, salt and bl...