March 17th, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Podcasts | Leave A Comment »
In the year since I first talked to Andrew Levins on my podcast, he’s notched up some major achievements – such as becoming a dad and accidentally ending up as the face of the opposition to Barry O’Farrell’s lockout laws. He also closed The Dip (where he found himself making 200 burgers in an hour) […]
March 10th, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars, Latest | 3 Comments »
Even before the team from Hartsyard opened its new bar in Enmore, I think we were all already pre-enrolled in The Gretz Fan Club. Owners Naomi Hart and Gregory Llewellyn have deservedly gained a huge, unshakeable following for their original venture in Newtown – where Hartsyard’s supersized flavours (and charms) can still conjure a wait […]
February 25th, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Podcasts | Leave A Comment »
A good restaurant doesn’t have to be a stuffy one – Dan Hong has highjacked traditional expectations of fine dining in Sydney, and as executive chef at Merivale, re-engineered them so that a strong voltage of fun charges through the places he oversees. He looks after Ms G’s, Mr Wong, El Loco and Papi Chulo and there’s […]
February 23rd, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Podcasts | Leave A Comment »
A princess cake and a corporate job in banking seem like unlikely ingredients for a macaron company, but they each played a part in kickstarting MakMak Macarons. Carlos Heng and Dan Pigott began their venture in DIY style, with Carlos overtaking Dan’s kitchen and selling his sweets in an underground fashion. Eventually MakMak went legit, […]
February 18th, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Restaurants | 3 Comments »
The team behind Arcadia Liquors has opened an all-day Euro-style diner across the road in Redfern. Not only does a visit feel like an express stop to the EU, the menu is refreshingly straight-up and gimmick-free. The daytime offerings include Panini with Eggplant Parmigiana ($10), which is as comforting as you’d want; Chicken Schnitzel ($20) with good garlicky blocks of […]
February 3rd, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Podcasts | Leave A Comment »
Here’s a podcast that I recorded on the night of the Electrolux Appetite For Excellence Awards last year. For this episode, I got to talk to chef, competition judge and total legend David Thompson about everything from his collection of century-old Thai cookbooks and the painful hunt for tropical produce – to his recent triumph […]
January 22nd, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Restaurants | 7 Comments »
Bang recently fired its opening shot, offering a smart and attention-drawing introduction to Bangladeshi street food on Crown Street, Surry Hills. This restaurant is full of target-hitting appeal, thanks to how it translates a cuisine that’s relatively underexposed in Sydney. The head chef is Tapos Singha (Est, Gowings Bar and Grill, Lucio’s), and his menu […]
January 10th, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Podcasts | Leave A Comment »
Massimo Bottura is considered to be the greatest living Italian chef. He runs Osteria Francescana in Modena, in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, which is currently ranked #3 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards list. His brilliant new cookbook, Never Trust A Skinny Italian Chef (out through Phaidon) covers 20 years of his […]
January 6th, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars, Latest | 2 Comments »
Just opened: Tokyo Bird in Surry Hills. Having followed this yakitori bar on Instagram for nearly a year, it’s nice to see that it’s transformed from small-screen pixels and eatery-in-progress to an establishment you can step inside and happily sink a few hours. It’s still early days (it only opened on Boxing Day, after all), […]
December 31st, 2014 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Restaurants, Travel | 2 Comments »
If you’re gonna compile a 2014 highlight reel of Sydney dining, Mary’s CBD outlet has to score a top-ranking spot. Broadsheet was dropping intel about the new takeaway branch way back in July, and anticipation was as supersized as the mega Breakfast Burger ($12) that made it onto the eventual menu. Mary’s city branch opened […]