I Don't Eat, I Devour

 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...

Since I Left You might be the ultimate bar name: if the leaving left one sad, one could drink one's troubles away; and equally, if the leaving liberated one, one could drink in celebration. This charming little courtyard bar lets you drink under the stars, beneath a colourful mural and heating lamps. It calls itself "a destination for discerning drinks and easy going foodies", and I think that rather sums up the vibe of the menu quite well.  Let's begin with a cocktail.  Meringue-O-Tang, $20 SILY's signature cocktails are fun, creative, and rather difficult to choose between, so I asked for a recommendation from the bar staff. The Meringue-O-Tang is the barman's favourite, and I can see why. It is a mouth-watering combination of Licor 43, Vodka, Frangelico, Lemon, Caramel and Whites. Though it is distinctly fruity and easy-to-drink, it has a perfectly caramel smoothness and packs quite a punch.  So, what about the easy-going food menu?  Classic American hotdog...

 Everyone who knows me knows of my obsession with Mike's famous bread. From about middle of last year until the beginning of this year, I embarked on a lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful mission of purchasing an entire loaf of bread from the restaurant.  Then came Kitchen By Mike at Home, the home delivery service that Kitchen By Mike created to combat the COVID19 shut downs - and guess what? The bread is part of the menu! I won't spend this entire post sighing over the bread: I have included it in my  review  dedicated to the topic.  I have a great deal of respect for the business for adapting its business model so quickly in what is an incredibly difficult time for the hospitality industry. Kitchen By Mike is known for creating fresh, produce-driven meals for office workers in the heart of Sydney's CBD. It is the "smart casual" of restaurants. Every lunch time, long lines form to get a hit of Mike's homey, comforting and delicious school-lunches-for-adults....

 A couple of years ago, I tried a form of intermittent fasting: the inaccurately labelled "Wolverine Diet". I say it's inaccurately labelled because the 16:8 fast (as it is also known) is not strictly a diet: it does not dictate what food you can and cannot eat. You could be on a vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher, halal...or any other sort of diet while practicing intermittent fasting. It is more accurately described as an eating schedule whereby you eat during an 8 hour window and consume no calories for the remaining 16 hours of the day. Thankfully, sleeping counts as part of the 16 hours.  Since my post on the 16:8 fast , I have intermittent-fasted intermittently (ha!). The reason I found daily intermittent fasting difficult to keep up is the fact that it didn't fit in with my lifestyle. During the week, my profession ensured long hours in the office and the ever-present temptation of stress-eating; on the weekends I found 16:8 really messed with my social lif...

 The Hong Kong tea house is home to some of my favourite Asian bites. Usually a nostalgic mix of Eastern / Western food, the Hong Kong tea house immediately brings to mind scenes from my favourite film, In the Mood for Love. If you haven't seen this moody, darkly-romantic and bitter-sweet 2000 masterpiece directed by Wong Kar-wai (who also brought us, notably, Brokeback Mountain), take this as my strong recommendation.  Kowloon Cafe more directly translates as "Kowloon ice house". It serves street food as well as more filling items like a beef brisket noodle that looks to-die-for. In this review, however, I will be looking at its casual street food items.  Hong Kong Style milk tea (hot), $5.80 This is my favourite drink, ever. Pulled through mesh stockings for that velvety smoothness, the milky taste of a HK style milk tea is from evaporated milk. Some people like to add sugar to sweeten this warm, toasty and oh-so-satisfying hug-in-a-cup, but I prefer it just the way it ...

Bread - worshipped or demonised, full-of-virtue or decadently white, there is no denying that it is, and will most likely continue to be, a true staple of our Western diet. Winds of diet fads and artisan obsessions may come and go, bread remains something eaten by a large portion of our population. Personally, I have never been an advocate for the ketogenic diet. It might work for some people, but from what I've read, carbs are important for the fueling of our brains, so I will continue to enjoy carbs for as long as I live. Of course, one can make choices which are more nutrient-dense or prefer carbs with a low GI; but for me, carbs also nourish my soul, so I think all kinds of bread: white, brown, full grain, pillowy-soft...could be enjoyed in moderation.  Having established my love of carbs (including bread), I have been scouring some of Sydney's most famous bakeries for the below non-comprehensive review of breads. You might note that some famous bakeries are missing in my l...

You can't talk about venerable modern Italian fine dining restaurants in Sydney without mentioning Otto. Situated along the same Wharf that brings you famed eateries such as Aki's Indian, China Doll and Manta, it attracts a very well-heeled, wealthy-retiree type of crowd on the weekend with its relaxed vibes and fine dining service. Zucchini Flowers, $31 per serve (a serve = 2 flowers) The zucchini flowers at Otto come encased in the most delicate, tempura-like batter, and is filled with ricotta and pecorino. A delicate romesco sauce provides the flavour hit to this otherwise extremely mild dish. I could taste the freshness of the produce, though it was not quite as exciting as one had hoped - mainly due to the fact that the very mild flavours failed to give the requisite pop. Spaghetti, $55 The pasta at Otto come in two sizes: entree and main. Pictured is the main serving size.  Spaghetti is served with Western Australian blue swimmer crab, chilli, garlic, and fini...