I Don't Eat, I Devour

One of Sydney's most exciting new restaurant / bar combo in the heart of Newtown, Odd Culture boasts an excellent wine list and one of the best value banquets I have had. When stepping into the space, the lofty ceilings immediately transport you away from the bustling, slightly crowded streets of Newtown.  The anchovy cigars caught our eye, so we ordered some in addition to the generously portioned set menu. Crispy, delicate and savoury, the already complex flavours of anchovies are enhanced further by the addition of olive and taramasalata.  Anchovy cigars, $7 each The house bread is curiously named "beer bread". It is a house baked sourdough with house butter, which is rich and generously sprinkled with coarse sea salt. The fluffy bread is a wonderful start to the meal - especially if you're also washing the food down with a couple of cocktails.  As a refreshing first course, disks of cucumber is tossed in silky preserved tofu and salted chilli. The contrasting text...

Bar Topa remains one of my favourite spots in Sydney's CBD. A little gem of Spanish corner, it reminds me of the holiday I had in Barcelona where I enjoyed a whole host of pintxos - little bite-sized treats to accompany a drink or two.  The cocktails at Bar Topa are little half-pours, which means you can mix and match to your heart's content. At $8 a pour, these cute little numbers don't make a big dent in one's pocket either. Note, however, that the cocktails are pre-made and therefore you won't be able to make adjustments (for example, they only make a vodka martini, not a gin martini). Mezcal a la moda, Martini Croquetta, $5 each There are three varieties of croquetta - ham (being these ones), spinach and ricotta, and mushrooms. Deep fried and deeply satisfying, they are so fluffy and soft they barely require chewing; and although they are golden brown, they are not greasy at all.  Chorizo, $10 Plump and juicy, with a satisfying bite, the extremely flavourful cho...