I believe most have experienced, or if not, have heard of a Chinese hot pot.  An affair where raw ingredients are placed in a communal steaming pot of soup base.  Each to pick and choose their desired ingredients to be added.  Then the process of diving your chopsticks into the bubbling cauldron in the centre of the table, and chance upon your desired ingredient.  Or fight over that last prawn/scallop/piece of beef.  Communal dining at its best, and lot of fun.

ipot offers Chinese hot pot with a twist.  No need to share as everyone has their own individual pot.  No arguing on the soup base or ingredients, yet maintaining the communal eating/cooking experience.  Definitely a unique hot pot dining experience in Sydney.

Dining at ipot is a fun and entertaining experience.  Firstly choose from one of seven soup bases; Canton, Chinese Herbal, Hot & Spicy, Seafood, Mushroom, Ox Tail & Tomato or Japanese Miso.  Then select from a vast range of the freshest local produce and high quality imported ingredients; meat, seafood, vegetables, noodles, rice, tofu and much more.  If undecided on what to order just ask the helpful staff, they’re more than happy to offer suggestions. Read more →

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Mr Wong is the latest gem in Justin Hemmes’ Merivale crown.  The old Tank nightclub has undertaken an amazing transformation into a Cantonese restaurant with a 1930′s shanghai teahouse look and feel.  On entering you are instantly transported from the downtown business district of Sydney, to another place in another time.

With three chefs wielding their knives, Mr Wong’s kitchens are packing a lot of talent.  Executive Chef Dan Hong (Ms. G’s & El Loco), Head Chef Jowett Yu (Ms. G’s) and Dim Sum Chef, Eric Koh, from London’s Michelin Star Hakkasan.  There isn’t one kitchen, instead placed around the two floors of Mr Wong you will find a dim sum kitchen, main kitchen and roast meats counter upstairs, and downstairs the bar, giving the area a Chinese speakeasy vibe. Read more →

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Actually it wasn’t only Mike Whitney and I doing the eating, it was a group affair.  I was asked to be part of a ‘rent a crowd’ for a special ‘I ate my way through Cabramatta’ tour which was being filmed for Sydney Weekender. 

I will admit I am no stranger to Cabramatta.  I was once, and my first visit years ago felt like I had been transported to Vietnam.  I have since broadened my knowledge of Vietnamese food and am lucky to have a good friend, the lovely Phuoc’n Delicious, who knows Cabramatta like the back of her hand. 

For those who aren’t as lucky as I am to have a friend to give you your own personal tour, this is where the ‘I Ate My Way Through Cabramatta’ tours are fantastic.   The tours are the brain child of Jennifer Lam, Jen is who invited me to join in the fun on this occasion. Read more →

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As soon as the email appeared in my inbox, I made the phone call. “Hello, I would like to book a table for three, for Sunday 18th March, for your 12.30 seating.”  The other person on the phone was very surprised that I was the second phone call in just as many minutes, “the email only went out!” she said.

I will admit, I wasn’t quite as surprised by the speedy response as she was.  It was a brilliant new addition to the Billy Kwong repertoire.  Yum cha lunch on a Sunday, $37.50/person including tea.  What nailed the deal for me was that I could actually book for one of the three seatings on a Sunday.  The one factor that had deterred me so far from visiting Billy Kwong was the no booking policy.  It was on my list of eats, but each time a decision was made on where to eat, it just kept being pushed back over somewhere I could book.

Kylie Kwong, head chef/owner of Billy Kwong, is an advocate of sustainability and ethical eating with a commitment to organic and biodynamic produce.  Her menu changes seasonally according to what can be sourced, with daily specials that reflect what is best at market that day. Read more →

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We should of been heading to Jamie’s Italian for lunch.  Another failed attempt before our eventual visit.  At the 11th hour I realised they aren’t actually open on Sundays.  So on plan B, instead take the family to a Kings Cross to a brothel. Read more →

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The first thing that strikes me about New Shanghai is the decor, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the decor.  I feel like I am transported to a little alley in Shanghai in the 30s.  Sitting on the wood and red accented stools at wooden tables you feel like you are sitting outside shopfronts in a small bustling alley.  The bustling comes from the busy wait staff whizzing by to attend to the full restaurant. Read more →

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Sunny Harbour Seafood is a regular yum cha spot for us in Hurstville.  Even though we have frequented this restaurant many times to partake in various dumplings, we have never had dinner here.  Mum and Dad were down from Queensland for a very brief visit and it was decided a Chinese meal was on the cards.  The perfect opportunity to try Sunny Harbour as we didn’t want to drive in to town.  Let’s face it, decent Chinese restaurants in the Sutherland Shire are hard to find.  Well, sadly, I haven’t found one yet and I have been living here for 19 years.

The restaurant is both licensed and BYO.  Service is quick and attentive.  We notice we are the only caucasian family eating there that evening, so that has to be a good sign that the food is good.  I notice that most of the families dining take advantage of the mud crab special that is on offer.  What that special is, I’m not sure as I couldn’t read the menu.  I didn’t ask as it wasn’t what we were after.  I am very tempted to go back and try it out as the crab looked awesome.

My Mum isn’t a very adventurous eater, so we ordered pretty mainstream dishes.  Not ordered on the menu was chicken with fried bones and tofu stuffed with shrimp, both items I want to try and feel they warrant a return visit.

We didn’t order entrees and instead decided on five main dishes and steamed rice. Read more →

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Our Daring Cooks’ December 2011 hostess is Sara from Belly Rumbles! Sara chose awesome Char Sui Bao as our challenge, where we made the buns, Char Sui, and filling from scratch – delicious!

Sara….. Belly Rumbles…. well hello there, that would be me!

What an honour and privilege to host this month’s Daring Kitchen’s Daring Cooks’ Challenge.   It was also quite nerve wracking with months of recipe testing and trying to make everything perfect. 

A quick explanation for those of you that aren’t familiar with the Daring Kitchen or how the Daring Cooks’ challenges work.  Each month the challenge is hosted by a member of the Daring Cooks’ Group.  The host posts the challenge on a specific date in the members area.  It is kept a secret from the public.  The members participating in the challenge all reveal how they went on a specific date,  through their food blogs, the 14th of the month. 

It is a global community and, to be honest, I was nervous oh what people would think of the challenge.  All feedback was positive, but I can’t wait to read how everyone went.  A big hug and thanks to those who participated this month.  Also a big hug to Lis and Audax for their help. Read more →

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Jackie M has been on my visit list for quite a while.  She has a nice little reputation of offering pretty damn good Malaysian hawker style food.  I have tried her food at various places like the Crave SIFF Malaysian BBQ Madness I recently attended, but I have never eaten at her establishment.

I actually feel a little bad about not paying Jackie a visit before now.  Why?  Well we “tweet” each other on Twitter.  It was a little tweetathon last Friday night that spurred me to make an impromptu reservation.  Jackie and I had not met in person before my visit last and I wanted to be sneaky and pop in without her expecting me.

Sadly no surprising was on the cards, she knew I and tribe were coming.  During busy service if you ring the phone will go to answering machine.  Don’t let that put you off, follow instructions to make a reservation and Jackie will get back to you and confirm. 

Why has it taken me so long to visit?  Pure logistics to be honest. We live a good solid hour away from Concord.  I have no aversion to traveling for good food, but it is so easy to be lazy and stay in your comfort travel areas. Read more →

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