I Don't Eat, I Devour

Cuckoo Callay Surry Hills boasts a kitchy-bright interior and a big outdoors seating area, serving a menu of creative, East-meets-West dishes that are what brunch dreams are made of. In the era of covid, the outdoors seating and the in-app ordering are particularly appreciated. There is also a Cuckoo Callay Newtown serving a slightly different menu that I'm yet (but excited) to try.  Watermelon mimosa, $5 Weekend brunch, of course, starts with mimosa. In addition to the classic version with orange juice, Cuckoo Callay serves a watermelon version. It is a pretty watered-down, weak drink, but at $5 a pop, there is little to complain of.  Ask a chilli question and you’ll get a chilli answer, $24 The names of the dishes here are all cheeky, fun and punny. I was geniunely torn between a few options, but settled with this gorgeous soft scrambled eggs with fermented chilli, mushroom and eggplant xo, with a roti paratha on top. This rich and savoury dish is flavoured with fried curry ...

First of all, the décor and serving ware at Edition Coffee Roasters are the wabisabi style of my dreams. Moody yet calming, simple yet elegant, they certainly elevate the dining experience.  Best known for their coffee (as the name suggests), the food served at Edition Coffee Roasters is best described as Japanese-Scandi-fusion, and will be reason for my numerous return trips. It is unsurprising that it won best café at the Time Out Food Awards 2018. Wagyu meatball don, $23.10  Most of the savoury options on the small but curated menu are sandwich-like options, therefore the wagyu meatball don (rice bowl) immediately caught my attention. Served with crunchy, marinated cucumber, crispy nori, and a soy-cured egg yolk, the konbu rice was a real highlight. Umami, gently savoury and utterly moreish, this is a rice bowl I couldn't imagine easily replicating anywhere else. Each component is so skillfully created (particularly the soy-cured yolk: truly inspired), its simplicity is dec...

 I found out about this little neighbourhood gem from a series during Sydney's lockdown, where a bunch of Sydney hospitality heavyweights were interviewed about the food spots that inspire them. Kepos Street Kitchen, the tiny, unassuming Middle Eastern eatery tucked away among the leafy streets of Redfern, was named by the owner of Nour (one of my favourite restaurants - read my review here ).  Fish burger, $22 Vibrant and beautiful, yet somehow still utterly simple and unfussy, this is perhaps one of the best fish burgers I have had in a long time. The fish part of the burger is more like a fish cake (the soft kind, not the bouncy Thai-cuisine kind), crumbed and fried until golden, the fish completely mashed rather than flakey and seasoned to perfection. The bright magenta and green pickles were pleasantly tart but sweet, cutting through the grease of the patty. The fresh dill - generous sprigs thereof - was an inspired touch.  Smoked Salmon Salad, $24 I usually never or...

After months of lockdown, we are finally back, just as the weather started to warm in the Southern hemisphere and the beaches filled with revelers. Calita is on the waterfront of Bondi beach, and has the kind of bright, relaxed vibes associated with long, lazy and boozy lunches.  Various margaritas, $19-$20 Pictured are the classic margarita, the feiry-rimmed jalapeno magarita and the dainty, pretty violetta margarita. The violetta is an easy-to-drink concoction of butterfly pea infused tequila, elderflower, lime and agave. The acidity of the lime has turned the blue butterfly pea flower a pastel shade of violet.  El Pastor Cerviche, $26 Being a marisqueria (seafood restaurant), the freshness of the seafood is a huge drawing card at Calita. The kingfish is thickly sliced and very lightly acid-cured, topped with grilled pineapples and crispy canchitas. Sweet, fresh and moreish, this is a perfect way to start a meal.  Blue Swimmer Crab Tostadas, $28 Recommended by the ...

 Battery Point is a wonderfully quaint, quiet, picturesque suburb dotted with vintage shops and wonderful cafes, bursting with an old-world charm. The name on everyone's lips is Jackman & McRoss: purveyor of scrumptious light meals, coffee, baked goods, chutneys and preserves. A couple of hours of people watching in its brightly lit rooms while enjoying the simple yet delicious menu offerings is a lovely way of spending a relaxing afternoon. An item that I would not have considered ordering but for the online reviews is the scallops pie. I love scallops, but I don't much like pies. They remind me too much of school lunches or the frozen food asile: something one picks up and heats, with a heavy sign, because one had been unprepared or too busy.  Oh, was I wrong. As one would expect, a freshly made pie crust is not in the same league as those frozen stuff. The pie crust is flakey, dense and hearty; and the curried scallops inside are bouncy and fresh. A most satisfying meal...

Brunch is one of these meals where one eats with one's eyes as well as mouth. Some say all meals have some aspect of this, but I think brunch, out of all the meals we eat, is particularly suited to an aesthetic that's vibrant and colourful, as though one could eat oneself happy.  Either Or is a place where great coffee, innovative dishes meet aesthetics.  Take the affogato for example  - ice cream with coffee is enough to bring plenty of joy simply as a standalone concept, but when the espresso shot comes in a mini crystal skull and rose petals adorn the snow white vanilla ice-cream, the joy is amplified. The coffee at Either Or is very good: the espresso robust and deep, keeping its dark roasted bitterness even when mixed with ice cream.  Affogato, $5 The most fascinating item on the menu is the congee. I am very familiar with this typical breakfast staple: it's like a savoury rice pudding. A well-known variety served at Chinese restaurants may include some pork pie...

 Labelled one of the most instagrammable cafes in Sydney, Two Sis draws a crowd. Not a crazy, line-wrapping-around-the-street-corner kind of crowd, but there is always one or two groups of people hovering nearby, waiting for tables.  What could they be waiting for? Well... This is the omasake noodles - and I think, the best thing on the menu. Scallops, seared salmon rosette and a soft-boiled egg-yolk lay on top of a bed of soba noodles. The fish roe adds a wonderful crunchy texture, and the edible flowers are dainty and pretty. It is served with a pit of piping hot soy-based sauce. Not only is it beautiful, it is really quite delicious. When I was served my food, the people the next table over became visibly, and audibly, envious.  Is this not the most appetising-looking nourish bowl you have ever seen? Looking utterly, gorgeous balanced, positively popping with nutrients.  The drink at Two Sis are equally beautiful.  Piled high with rosewater-flavoured Persian ...

Though it calls itself a cafe, this cute little eatery close to Redfern train station has some seriously good bites which are moe than enough to fill the belly. Its impressive but curated menu features all sorts of delectable dishes with distinct regional influences: some Middle Eastern flair here, some Thai heat there, but delicious food everywhere.  Little bit shellfish, $22 The cutely named "little bit shellfish" features a generous serving of plump, juicy scallops tossed in a Thai-inspired chili jam base, served with snow peas, Thai eggplant and fresh chili. All that goodness rests on a bed of squid ink pasta, which is cooked to perfection. I am a huge fan of this kind of fusion meal, and I was seriously impressed with the value.  Bangkok breakkie eggs, $18 What a way to spice up boring ol' fried eggs! 2 fried eggs are served with ham, chorizo cherry tomatoes, a lathering of sirracha sauce, and to help all that flavourful goodness go down, a couple of slices of sourdo...

 The Pastizzi Cafe has a distinctly homely feel: groups of diners sharing traditional Maltese pastries which are the namesake of the cafe, big bowls of hearty pasta, and freezers packed full of frozen goodies to enjoy at home. The regulars know the drill: they confidently march up to the freezers, grab what their hearts are after, and pay at the counter. The warm, homely feel extends to the wait staff: friendly, kind, not afraid to make a recommendation when asked.  Chicken and procini mushroom ravioli, $14 (entree size) Speaking of welcomed advice, I couldn't go past the homemade ravioli. With 5 fillings and a choice of 5 sauces, I asked the staff for her favourite way to enjoy the chicken and procini mushroom variety. "Chili and garlic oil, I think, definitely." she responded. She knew what is up! The chili and garlic oil is light so it does not overwhelm the delicate flavour of the chicken and the musroom (which is umami in its minced glory), yet the chili has quite an...

The first thing to know about Ona is that it has some serious coffee pedigree. Its founder, Saša Šestić, was World Barista Champion 2015, and the team has some heavyweight accolades under its belt: ‘Australian Barista Champion’ (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), ‘Australian Brewers Cup Champion’ (2017, 2018, 2019) and ‘Australian Coffee in Good Spirits Champion’ (2018, 2019). The second thing to know about Ona is that its aesthetics is on point: clean, minimalist, soothing, with the baristas working right in front of you. Nothing hurried or chaotic about this place. The third thing to know about Ona is that it has some of the most reasonably priced and interesting beans to take home. The staff are extremely friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the art of the brew, and will not hesitate to give you brewing tips and make recommendations based on your preferred brewing method. During my last visit, I took home an El Salvador La Esperanza, a natural processed single origin b...

Yellow is the best vegetarian restaurant in Sydney, hands down. Yes yes, I know I should be more circumspect - "one of the best", "top three"... but I'm going to throw caution to the wind and say that Yellow is the best. Part of the Bentley group, you know you are in safe hands. Oh and what a feast we had - so delicious and satisfying that I'm pretty sure if all vegetarian meals were like this one, I would never miss meat again. Charred sourdough, $3 each  The first thing on the menu immediately is a surprise - when I ordered bread, this was not what I had expected - but I am so very happy with this oiled, charred and steaming hot morsel. This immediately sets the tone for our meal: expect the unexpected. Fig + chipotle + coriander + buckwheat, $22 This is a flavour bomb. The sweetness of the fig (which is in season right now, praise be) is perfectly set off by the slight tartness of cherry tomatoes, earthy buckwheat and smokey chipotle - this is...