I Don't Eat, I Devour

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...

I have always known that Harris Park is the place to go for some authentic Indian cuisine - and I had read a glowing review of Chatkazz which really piqued my interest - a bustling restaurant serving the kind of street food I had seen on Youtube. I may have gone a bit too excited and over-ordered. Dahi puri, part 1, $8.40 Dahi puri, Part 2, $8.40 I have seen videos of these crispy little babies being served on the street where you use the delicate, crunchy, paper-thin shells as a spoon to ladle some liquid, and you're supposed to pop the whole thing in your mouth in one go. They are filled with boiled potato, and various chutneys accompany them - let me tell you, my first attempt was not pretty. Liquid spilled everywhere, as I tried to take a delicate bite. You have to really be all-in for this one. I particularly enjoyed the yogurt and chutney covered dahi puris - they are savoury and chilled and sweet, perfect for a hot summer's day. I would also add that this d...

The first time I tried Ho Jiak, I traveled to Strathfield and ate at their little hole-in-the wall joint, teetering my milo-infused laksa (yes, you read that correctly) dangerously on a little stool. Since then, Ho Jiak has opened a decent-sized restaurant in Chinatown, and it has come a long way from its humble street-eats roots. It even boasts two tasting menus - one omnivorous, one vegetarian. My friends and I, of course, had to try both. Get ready to carry a food baby by osmosis, because this is going to be a huuuuge review. Ho Jiak Tasting Menu  Nasi Lemak in a Bite This may only be "a bite", but it sure packs a punch. Arguably the national dish of Malaysia, nasi lemak is rice cooked with coconut milk and in pandan leaf, which gives it its enticing fragrance - it is topped with crushed peanuts, sambal and accompanied by a rich shot of laksa broth. Kiam Ah Nui Kay Perfectly fried chicken bits on the bone in salted egg-yolk coating. Salted egg yolk has go...

Two Chaps is a from-scratch bakery / cafe that also make their own pickles, pastas and a range of other pantry goodies. I can't wait to go back for dinner. As a prelude to what I know will be an amazing dinner extravaganza, here's a sneak peak at their lunch menu. But first, a beverage. beetroot iced chocolate, $4.50 Apart from being absolutely beautiful and infinitely Instagrammable, the taste of beetroot iced chocolate is pretty magical. The natural sweetness of beetroot adds an oh-so-light, non-cloying sweetness to cocoa that is perfect for a sweltering summer's day. Jackfruit burger with potato skin and salad, $21 Two Chap's version of burger is as creative as it gets - no thank you, tempe; no thank you, tofu; no thank you, mushroom. Two Chap's meat-substitute is pulled jackfruit, which is a pretty special south east Asian tropical fruit that has a distinctly "meaty" texture, so I guess it actually makes a lot of sense. Rested on a fluf...

Yulli's introduction on Google kind of makes you want to poke your eyes out: 'creative vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes, plus craft beers, served in a quirky dining room'. When I see description like this, half of me wants to say 'hell no', while the other half absolutely longs to try it out. Given last week was vegan week, the longing, pining half won. (read about my unsuccessful attempt to be virtuous at http://idonteatidevour.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/amber-tries-veganism.html ) Mixed chips of lotus root, sweet potato, taro and beetroot served w/ aioli, hot salsa and rosemary salt, $12.50  Although this dish is technically not vegan because of the presence of aioli, a vegan can still have it. Lightly battered tempura-style, the very first dish proves my point in my vegan post about how being vegan or vegetarian doesn't automatically make you healthy: this dish is pretty salty and oily. Was it good? Absolutely. I like that Yulli's has take...