Invigorating Il Nido, Balgownie Village

Light crispy texture when you bit into the crust, and yet the fillings remind one of cold sleepy mornings brightened by aromatic ham and tropical sweet pineapple bits. Each evening (except Mondays), Adrian makes up to 45 of such pizzas in varying sizes and gets them piping hot to customers, regular and take away, in the charming restaurant that is his nest - Il Nido in Balgownie Village, NSW, five minutes walk from my house. His warmly made creations are appetising - I could not stop eating them on a cool May night I decided to treat myself with my mates, after working hard at the office.

The Sapore Il Mare, true treasures from the sea, in the uplifting saucy gravy, not overwhlemed by tomato but enhanced by the spices, texture and al dente fettucine. My fav pasta dish from Il Nido, Balgownie.

Australiana fillings on Adrian's pizza. Adrian says he is blessed by the warmth of the pizza oven in winter and gets to shed sweat and pounds in the heat of summer.

Father Guliioopened Il Nido with Adrian's Mum and there is an easy cozy friendly charm about the place, opened for joy and flavour every evening, except Mondays.

An easy feast for the guys on a cool winter's night.

Sydney Sights Too

Chinatown Foods - Sydney

Sugar-cane juice, anytime welcome in the humid countries of South-east Asia and the Caribbean, offers a little presence in a tucked away food court between Sussex and Dixon Streets.

The ubiquitous Asian food outlet, with pictures, trolleys and more.

Glutinous rice dumplings steamed with wrapped bamboo leaves, a traditional must for the Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated by most communities in East Asia, in honour and memory of a wronged public official in China's past.

Simple but tasty snacks - the deep fried wantons from Southern Chinese roots.

Another cooked food stall that caught my eye and which I plan to try tasting at my next visit to Sydney's Chinatown.