Battambang, Cabramatta

The whole nose-to-tail philosophy is something I really do feel strongly about. Eating meat is a luxury that comes with responsibilities. Sustainability, humane treatment of animals, minimising environmental impact and using our natural resources efficiently are all issues that should be considered with every food choice we make.

What we must also acknowledge with every mouthful of meat we eat

Pepe Saya Butter, Tempe

Butter makes everything better. Of course it does. Sure you can have a glorious crusty sourdough, but add a good quality butter and life is instantly amazing. I'm talking about butter that's rich, creamy and slightly tangy from culture. It's the kind of butter you can eat with a spoon. Repeatedly.

Today you can't talk butter without mentioning Pepe Saya. This cultured butter is handmade from

Restaurant Review #245: The Counter, Pasadena

Veggie burger

I've been hearing about The Counter for years. It was the favorite joint of a hamburger-obsessed colleague of mine, and everyone seems to rave about it. But I was really underwhelmed. There was nothing special about the flavor of the meat. I could have made a comparable, if not better, burger at home.


Beef burger

The concept behind The Counter is to build your own burger using

Yum cha at East Ocean, Haymarket, Chinatown

Hello. I'll be on your radio. Tonight! You'll be able to hear me on ABC Radio* with Dominic Knight talking live about one of his favourite things - yum cha! Because really, who doesn't love yum cha? Delicate dumplings, fried whitebait, silky rice noodles, quivering coconut jelly and glossy egg tarts... What's not to love?

Yum cha always makes me feel like a kid again. It was probably my first

Kitchen by Mike, Rosebery

Furniture and salads? The incongruous pairing makes perfect sense when you arrive at Kitchen by Mike, hosted within the Koskela design showroom in Rosebery.

A casual passerby on the street would be unlikely to know this huge slate grey warehouse holds such vibrancy and colour inside. High ceilings, skylights and windows let in plenty of warm natural light. The showroom is spacious, showcasing

Restaurant Review #244: Palermo Deli, Granada Hills

Tuna tart - $4.95

Palermo Deli, an Argentinian and European market and deli, doesn't look like much from the outside. It's in a questionable-looking shopping center with cramped parking in an iffy part of town. But on the inside, it's bright, clean and well-organized. Walk to the back to examine the goodies in the deli case or order something off the menu, then grab a table in the front and

The Burlington, Crows Nest

Here's an embarassing confession. When I first heard that The Burlington had opened in Crows Nest several years ago, I thought people were talking about the Asian grocery store that used to reside in the Prince Centre basement in Chinatown. It was there that I used to stock up on coconut Garden wafers, haw flakes and White Rabbit lollies. Memories!

In fact, The Burlington was the newest bistro

Circa Espresso, Parramatta

There's a lot of buzz about Circa Espresso in Parramatta, and all with good reason. This cute and quirky cafe - which opened early last year - has recently recommenced trade after a six week break for holidays and renovations. Changes include an expanded indoor seating area and relocating the cooking station into a separate, albeit tiny, alcove out the back. The magic, however, is always been

Restaurant Review #243: Plusko's, Canoga Park

When we were in the market for a wedding cake, one of the names that kept coming up was Plusko's. Their prices are very reasonable, but unless the only other wedding cake you can afford is one from Albertson's, don't waste your time in this grungy, cramped bakery. (In fact, I think I would choose Albertson's). Plusko's display cakes look sloppy and dated; the real ones are too sweet. Also,

Bo Bay Mon Seven Kinds of Beef at Bach Dang, Canley Vale

Cabramatta might be the current food safari hot spot, but too few people know about its next-door neighbour Canley Vale, and, further up the road, Canley Heights.

It's the promise of beef that has brought us here. Not just any beef. Seven kinds of beef, a Vietnamese banquet-style feast known as Bò Bảy Món that is often served at weddings and other special occasions.   Finding it in on the a la

Hunky Dory Social Club, Darlinghurst

The Hunky Dory Social Club unfolds across three narrow levels on Oxford Street, with most drinkers heading straight for the roof top bar. It's New York industrial chic with exposed brickwork, eclectic furnishings and a drinks menu that's cheekily tucked inside recycled Little Golden Books.

Downstairs you'll find Bruno's, dispatching pizzas throughout the day to the punters upstairs, and

Restaurant Review #242, Little Spain Restaurant, LA Farmers Market, La Brea

Croquetas de Jamon

At Little Spain Restaurant, a stall at LA Farmer's Market, I enjoyed the best croquettes I've eaten since I lived in Spain. They were fried up to order, served hot enough to burn my mouth (which is how I like my food). Unlike most croquettes, the inside was actually moist, not dried out. The fries were soggy and unnecessary, however.






Little Spain Restaurant
6333 West

Freebie Friday: Win a Marc Newson by Noritake 20-piece dinner set worth $595

Didn't everyone's mum or grandmother have a Noritake set in the sideboard? It was the fancy dinnerware that was only brought out for big occasions, creating a nightmare for whoever was on washing-up duty that night! But the good china made everything feel a little bit special, and surely dinner always tasted better?

It's been a while since I've run a Freebie Friday and the first one for 2012