Miss Chu has taken Sydney by storm, this isn’t new news.  We can’t seem to get enough of her.  The original store is a hole in the wall on the Corner of Bourke & William Streets in Darlinghurst.  Since the opening of that first store, Miss Chu’s cuisine can be found in three other locations in Sydney and two in Melbourne.  She is doing something right.

Even though I have heard her food is great, I wasn’t excited enough to go out of my way to pay one of her establishments a visit.  Why?  I just couldn’t get excited over something I make all the time at home, rice paper rolls.  It was a visit of a close girl-friend to Sydney that finally got me to Miss Chu’s.  She really wanted to go and I was happy to join her.

Staff at Bondi are friendly and helpful.  If it is a nice day try and secure an outside table, inside is a little dreary.  They have traditional rice paper rolls, but mix it up with non Vietnamese fillings as well.

Beside rolls you can order a choice of steamed dumplings, deep fried spring rolls, warm vermicelli salads, stir-fry dishes, salads and soups. Read more →

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I have been on the hunt for easy sweet recipes.  Actually due to The Sweet Swap, it seems lollies and sweet treats are all that are on my mind of late.  This quick and easy fudge recipe proves you don’t have to be highly skilled in the kitchen to make something that tastes amazing.

This recipe is inspired by one I found on Taste, Salted Caramel Fudge, you may prefer to make that version instead.  It is a great base recipe.  I decided to add walnuts and dropped the salt.  You could even substitute honey for the golden syrup.

I need to give a shout out to Loz, a work colleague of Mac’s.  She passed on this recipe to him to give to me.  She was so impressed with the result, quick, easy and tasty.  When Mac gave me the recipe, I had a bit of a laugh as I explained that it was the same recipe for the fudge he had been eating over the past week. Read more →

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Finally when somebody asks me where to eat in The Shire, there won’t be any deep thought or hesitation on my answer.  It is elementary my dear Watson, Alphabet St.

Located at the beach end of the Kingsway, the restaurant offers views over Dunningham Park, pedestrian concourse and the beach.  A group of us had organised to have a lazy Sunday lunch.  Three of my friends weren’t familiar at all with Cronulla and I was thrilled that it was a gorgeously sunny Autumn day.  If you are going to show off part of your hood, you want it to shine in all its glory.

Alphabet St opened up in Cronulla at the end of 2012, but a restaurant opening isn’t an unusual affair.  What excited me about this particular opening was that Joe Natale and his partner Oriana were behind it.  If their names don’t ring a bell they use to own the popular Rambutan on Oxford St in Darlinghurst.   You will also find ex-Rambutan Chef, Tiw Rakarin, in the kitchen.The restaurant has a modern urban vibe.  Timber box frames on the stark walls representing buildings.  Washed concrete floors giving a pavement feel.  Unclad ceilings with drop down lights representing street lights.  A wall of green behind the bar and astro turf on the balcony is the greenery in the urban sprawl of Alphabet St.  Which just happens to be named after the Prince song ‘Alphabet Street’. Read more →

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Berlei have just launched their new Dig Free legwear and to help celebrate I have a indulgent prize up for grabs on Belly Rumbles.

I have to admit that I am a bit of a Berlei bra girl.  Okay that was probably sharing to much information, but they are one of two brands of bras that are my favourite for the curvy girl with larger assets.

I also have to admit that I didn’t realise Berlei extended their range to legwear.  Berlei’s new Dig Free range (RRP $15.95) is specially designed to hide those natural lumps and bumps that most of us get.  A cleverly engineered waistband and the unique garment control technology, smoothes away those bumps and muffin tops for a sleeker shape which gives you a confidence boost.  Available in a range of colours and denier, which are perfect for the coming Winter.

I have been pretty strict of late with my diet.  I am basically attempting to get in to shape and shift a few kilos before August.  What’s happening in August you ask?  It’s a secret for now, but all will be revealed later this year. Read more →

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The Mahjong room is operated by Hong Kong born William Hui along with former Red Lantern Manager Drew Kohing.  William opened the Mahjong Room with Erika Chan back in 2002, and has been on my  ‘to do’ list for a very long time now.  Mainly to head there on the last Saturday of the month for their popular mahjong lessons which are accompanied with yum cha.  You would think I would have gotten there by now!

My recent visit to the Mahjong Room didn’t see me partaking in a game or two.  Instead I visited to try their new Open Rice Open Table menu.

“Open rice” means to start a meal in Cantonese.  “Open table” is a popular Chinese term which translates as opening up a table for mahjong.  An addictive tile game played in China for thousands of years.  And from what I have seen can end up being quite noisy and a lot of fun. Read more →

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You may have seen that registration opened last week for a new Australian Food Blogger (any blogger that blogs about food) event called The Sweet Swap. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, The Sweet Swap is an online event which results in packages of sweets arriving on your doorstep and a few friendships formed.  All this fun while raising money for Child Fund Australia.  Head over to www.thesweetswap.com to find out more and register.

Cancer Council’s Austtalia’s Biggest Morning Tea official date is Thursday 23rd May.  It is their 20th anniversary so more reason than ever to get involved.  Don’t feel you have to stick to that date, you can hold your morning tea any time through May or June.  For more information on holding your own morning tea head to their website.

Mad Mex’s Big Burrito Challenge is back.  Eat the double size burrito ($22) and be rewarded with a Lucha Libre mask.  For more info check out their website.

The Pyrmont Festival is on again this month from 17th – 26th May.  Wine dinners, lunches and breakfasts are happening around the area.  Plus the main the big free event in Pirrama Park on the 18th and 19th.  Head to the website to find out what exactly is on.

Mothers’ Day is Sunday 12th May.  Don’t forget! Read more →

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Oh wow, I can’t believe that today is the official launch date of The Sweet Swap.  Amanda from Chew Town and I have been working hard to bring this event to bloggers across Australia.  May 1 seemed so far away back in January when we first started to work in earnest on this project.

Last Friday we started to sneakily slip The Sweet Swap details into our social media.  Giving you guys a heads up that it was coming.  We couldn’t help it, both of us are just so excited about this event.

So what is The  Sweet Swap?

The Sweet Swap is an online event for Australian food bloggers which results in packages of sweets arriving on your doorstep and a few new friendships formed.

Each food blogger is matched with three other bloggers and sends off parcels of homemade lollies to their matches. In return three parcels of lollies arrive on your doorstep. Post about the experience and receive sweet inspiration from your fellow bloggers.

Registrations Open – Wednesday 1 May 2013 (TODAY!!)
Matches Sent – Monday 17 June 2013
Swapper Mail – by Wednesday 3 July 2013
Recipe and Experience Posts Live – Monday 15 July2013
The Sweet Swap Event Round Up – Friday 26 July 2013

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Well hello there!  I’ve been quiet, I know.  Belly Rumbles has resembled a ghost town over the past two weeks.  Apologies for that guys, but there has been quite a bit going on.

A family vacation to the Northern Territory,  Kakadu, Nitmiluk, Litchfield and Darwin, conquered and explored.  Stay tuned, there will be lots of sharing in regard to our adventures.

I have been a busy bee along with Amanda of Chew Town working on The Sweet Swap.  It will be officially launched this Wednesday, but please pop over to The Sweet Swap for a sneaky peek.  Be the first to see what it is all about before we officially announce the Aussie Food Blogger event to the World.

Then there is my sweet Sally.  Sal has been back at the veterinary clinic for more surgery to remove, not one, not two but four tumours.  As Josh put it, she looks like she is cos playing as Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie.  Three large nasty incisions, one on either side of her torso and the other down behind her front leg.  Still waiting on results, and fingers are crossed they got them all.

If you have been reading Belly Rumbles for a while, you will know that over the past three years Sally has been under the knife a few times, in fact six, to remove cancerous tumours.  Hopefully this is the last time.

Yes, that dirty evil disease, CANCER.  Sally may have four legs and fur, but she is part of our family.  Loved immensely, and there really isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.  My family is no stranger to Cancer.  A couple of years ago my beautiful mother-in-law lost her battle.  I have lost my grandmother to bowel cancer and an aunt also lost her own battle with the big C.  There have been friends, friends’ children, acquaintances, all having their lives cut short to this disease.

Due to being  up in the Northern Territory, I had to RSVP ‘no’ to the Cancer Council of NSW’s 20th anniversary of The Big Morning Tea celebrations.  It was a shame, as I have a great respect for the Cancer Council and what they are doing.  I also can’t believe that The Big Morning Tea has been going for so long, 20 years! Read more →

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I have had a bit of a love affair with lemon myrtle for a few years now.  First discovered at a local growers’ market.  The stall holder had made up a cheesecake to showcase this Australian native herb.  Very clever marketing, It worked, I purchased a packet of dried ground lemon myrtle leaves from her without hesitation.  Lemon myrtle has been a staple amongst my dried herbs ever since.

Lemon myrtle would be Australia’s most popular native herb.  It has a creamy lemon/lime fragrance and taste.  I adore it.  Extremely versatile, can be used in both savoury and sweet dishes.

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