Calabur Cafe by DAY and by NIGHT! - Bondi

If anyone asks me about brunch and/or dinner around Bondi Junction area, I usually tell them to try Calabur - the new kid on the block and the fact that it might not be really visible from the main road doesn't hinder their chances of being a hidden gem!

Inspired by Calabur plant in front of their house, 4 friends decided to open this lovely place - not that big but feel so homey and warm upon entering. Serving Western menu with Asian touch during the day and the other way round with additional bar at night, this place has embraced the "sous vide" cooking style - sort of like poaching the meat in its own juice in the plastic bag to get a precise succulent, noticeable juicier and definitely more tender meat. 

Delicious Journey accross MEKONG on Kensington Street - Chippendale

If my school memory serves me right, Mekong is actually one of the longest river in Asia that flows and forms the border between Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and even Vietnam! But I guess enough of the geography lesson for now and let's talk more about this latest addition to Kensington Street and the food they offer~

The Choc Pot HQube - Rosebery

Rejoice Eastern Suburbians! After opening their Chatswood and CBD stores, TCP has now opened a store in Rosebery! This venue is more spacious, provides ample natural light and somehow looks like a glass box with their kitchen also acts as the central especially to do the testing for the upcoming monthly specials.

Winter at Cuckoo Callay - Newtown

Well, tell me how did you spend your last weekend? The weather was so wild all of a sudden with severe storms and heavy rain! But it didn't hinder me together with the homies, Isaac, Michael, and Natalie, from coming to Cuckoo Callay for their new menu. 

After a successful Bacon Festival with all-bacon-inspired menu following right after for 3 months, my anticipation has built up when I first heard about their WINTER MENU. So, without further ado let's talk more about their dishes~

When Street Food Became Trendy @ Hem Nine Nine - Glebe [ Closed ]

Hem Nine Nine, Mama Linh’s new establishment has found a permanent place in Glebe area. Serving Vietnamese food with Mama’s own recipe, you can still taste the authentic flavour but this time they differentiate themselves with a modern touch on every dish.

I bet you have heard about Mama Linh’s Food Truck before, haven’t you? Talking about their Beef Pho Roll (I bet you can’t simply find it anywhere) – the tender, juicy and richly flavoured beef in a soft Vietnamese bread roll – well, they don’t have the roll here but don’t fret as they have the Special Bone Marrow Pho which I’m gonna talk more about it if you still keep on reading~

Hem Nine Nine is nicely decorated with a bold color choices and somehow resembles a hidden gem you can find in a laneway in Vietnam.  It might look small from the outside but they do have more seatings at the back courtyard. 

I always believe double deep fried means double goodness and not double badness (ps: I'm not lying to myself). So, when I see this Lemongrass Pork Chop Bun on the menu, there is no way I'd miss it~ Tender pork chop with a caramel-lemongrass marinade, fried to perfection and served with pickled cucumber, baby radish and chili mayo. The mantou bun is also flash-fried, so you'll get the soft, fluffy and yet crispy bun with flavorful and juicy meat on the inside all in every bite!

Char-grilled Bo Lu Lac aka Black Pepper Beef Skewers is another favorite! The wagyu marble score +9 shines here as each bite of the beef cubes is so tender, juicy and peppery. I imagine putting these cubes over the top of lettuce with a little bit of tangy vinegar dressing will definitely become my must-eat salad combination ever!

Make sure you don't miss this Hem Special Pho every time you visit this place! Bone marrow is packed with rich flavor that is undeniable for pho broth. Simmered for 18 hours, the broth has intense beefy flavor with warm aroma of herbs and the gelatine gives extra richness and mouth-coating texture! Served with tender Rare Wagyu Beef (9+ marble score), sliced brisket,and oven roasted bone marrow.. There's always room for a second bowl!

Another thing you can't miss is this Bun Rieu! This place is doing a great makeover to the traditional look of Bun Rieu by adding squid ink into the soup. Served with crispy Banh Hoi noodles as the base and topped with soft shell crab for extra crunch, the soup gets my attention the most with its comforting and rich taste like it's been simmered for hours.

Hem Nine Nine

Address:

99 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

Opening Hours:

Tuesday - Friday 12pm - 3pm for LUNCH 

Tuesday - Sunday 5pm - 10pm for DINNER

Left of Field - Rhodes

Rhodes is having a major facelift with so many well built housing complex, the bridge and this new cafe called Left of Field! After looking at their menu, I think I get an idea why they named this place as it is - the food they offer is quite unusual especially in general Western Sydney area.

When Haven Does Egg Waffles - Surry Hills

I’ve been following Haven since the first day they opened and surprised me with their fusion yet creative dishes. And now here I am updating my post with so much Egg-citement as Haven recently introduced a new menu series!