Kindly Yours

The omelette above turned out better than I anticipated, with tasty bites of several ingredients embedded in the rewarding fresh egg mix. There was a hint of spice, a bit of Italian, generous servings of tomatoes, snippets of mushroom and flavourful ham bites.  The accompanying buttered bread cuts may seem simple but did provide a contrasting lightness. There can be some drama on the walls but I must say the service is very good and friendly. Whilst waiting for three friends, the staff came to engage in naturally warm chat, something which perhaps some Sydney based cafes have forgotten or intentionally avoid.  Family groups, couples and mates can be seen inside or outside, seated beside the pavement tables, at this cafe, which neighbours the Sugar Cube along lower Crown Street in Wollongong CBD.  The location is also good for shopping, the beach is not far away and is worth considering if you are also catching a show at the WIN Entertainment Centre or a game at th...

Straits Chinese fish curry - Balgownie NSW Tofu with mince pork and crab meat - Aunty Kui Chan's, Penang Marinated pork ribs ala Cantonese - Aunty Kui Chan's, Penang South Indian styled chicken curry - Aunty Kui Chan's, Penang Light snacks to ponder - Balgownie NSW Prawn stock noodles with pork slices, hard boiled egg and vermicelli - Jen Young, St Ives NSW Roast pork with crackle - Jen Young, St Ives NSW Mee goreng Indian style - Aunty Kui Chan, Penang Tofu snacks - Susan Chan, Carlingford NSW Walnut cake - Lai Tan, Carlingford NSW

The A rrosto Di Anatra Con Cavofiore Al Vino Rosso - or simply slow roasted duck leg with Sicillian red wine braised cauliflowers, puree and Fava beans, black olives and duck and thyme sauce. It is a restaurant named in honour of a special olive tree, dear to the heart of those who hail from Tuscany and Umbria.  It is tucked away at one corner, the western one, on the second floor of the Strand Arcade, right smack in Sydney City Centre, the one joining Pitts Street Mall and George Street. make it past their cafe and you then enter the inner sanctum. Pappardelle pasta flavoured with beetroot and garnished with fresh goats cheese, dried black olives , red onions and Italian parsley exemplify the rustic charm  and feel of the Pendolino.  What caught my eye was their attempt using pork , veal and tomato ragu , served with a Gramigna pasta.  The Trota , a fine name for a basic Russian inspired sandwich, places ice berg lettuce with smoked trout and zings...

The Miang Kham, a delicate appetiser with betel nut a the star. Texture, taste and twist - is that what we anticipate in any cuisine? Perhaps we also appreciate the clever and subtle use of ingredients, how they blend together in the dish presented to us and how they make an impact on our palate and overall dining experience. Some city centre establishments face constant pressure on space, costs and turnover. Some may take short cuts in pre cooking some of their menu items but such a practice can impact on a discerning diner.  The variety of multi-cultural items on the food scene in Australia means customers may compare with their experiences from traditional settings back in the source countries.  The subtleties of ingredients produced in Australia can make a difference.  Some resort to experimentation and fusion, thereby bringing diners a new dimension and a whole new world of possibilities.  Some diners do not care so much for the food as the qualit...

A Bridge too near - over a creek running beside the restored Suffolk House. The Captain came from not the aristocrat, but from an adopted middle class family in mid 18th century England. His second son as a Surveyor General was responsible for  the beginnings of what was to become modern day Adelaide.  The life of Francis Light is not very well known, but his legacy impacted on at least three nations.  To me, Light's skills in political negotiation, dealing well with unknown cultures and sense of adventure were the most important things about the man.  My primary school attended was named after this founder of Georgetown, on a tropical isle whose value located along the trading routes was not realised until a Brit guy seized the opportunity, established a settlement out of the jungle and never looked back.  Captain Francis Light embraced the unknown, seized the future and worked on advancing an opportunity not just for himself but paved the way for immigr...

Scallops on the shell, flavoured by mayonnaise and miso - one of my favourites, looking good as well, like golden fans .-  My favourites at Tao's remain rather consistent I must say - soft shell crab karate, unagi , California maki rolls, age dashi tofu, salmon papaya salad and salmon sushi. Recently I had the opportunity to try these again at another outlet of Tao's on the island of Penang. The feel and bite of Japanese cuisine in a tropical climate can vary with the source of their ingredients and the regional fashion of where the cuisine is based originally.   Sure, Tao's has the grilled stuff, the noodles, the rolls, the fried, the cold cuts and steamed dishes, but I do somehow remain of the view that Tao's menu is somehow geared for the local diners instead of anything more else. I am curious about the pumpkin korokke and may go for this the next time.  Otherwise, every time I am in Tao's, it is with people I am familiar with, and we can all let our h...