March 28th, 2013 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Shops | 2 Comments »
My collection box of Easter memories is pretty small. I grew up with Buddhist parents, so I was off the hook when it came to the religious significance of the holiday. Mainly, I remember peeling foil off chocolate, and knowing that the little solid eggs were nowhere near as prized as the large hollow ones […]
December 4th, 2012 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Restaurants | 3 Comments »
One way to conjure up the past is with sugar, cream and fizz. This is exactly what the new Jazz City Milk Bar in Darlinghurst does – it evokes the type of old-school American diner where you sip on shakes or root beer floats and then battle spoons over who gets to finish the banana […]
August 6th, 2012 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Podcasts | 6 Comments »
I’ve started a podcast! Thanks to my amazing producer Alex Watts and FBi radio for making it possible. I’ve had the idea cooking in my head for an embarrassingly long time, so I’m glad it’s now happening. Unless they’re major celebrities, you hardly ever come across long-form interviews with chefs (they’re usually hustled in just […]
December 12th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
The Gelato Messina Lab is finally open. There are no test results or case-cracking white coats on show, just low-temperature patisserie treats. There’s an ice-cream burger, a “villainous” dessert called Mini Me (it deceptively harbours Dr Evil Chocolate, dulce de leche jam and peanut butter biscuit on top of a “grassy” base of pop rocks) […]
September 26th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
If you’ve ever been mesmerised by the blackboard at Cafe Sopra, entranced in a “can I order everything?” spell, then you will want to visit Honeycomb. It’s the new venture for chef Andy Bunn, who is responsible for this city’s dependency on his rightly famous Banoffee Pie. I’m not sure that any dessert could overthrow […]
September 12th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars | 6 Comments »
“It’s like a bar meets a ’50s house party.” That’s Will’s take on Hinky Dinks, which has just opened opposite the fire station in Darlinghurst. The retro-charged design, by Luchetti Krelle, is so convincing that some patrons find themselves mentally propelled back into their grandparents’ home – although, back in the day, it’s highly unlikely […]
June 29th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Bi Bim, To Mix, is a cute little Korean canteen that opened a few weeks ago on William Street, Darlinghurst, a strip better known for its cash-crop of hire/luxury car dealers. There’s nothing fancy about it, but you can get Bi Bim Bap with three sides (I like the caramelly potato and the veg-specked egg […]
June 22nd, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
Why do we love Gelato Messina?For its whipsmart, highly original, fun and incredibly scoop-worthy flavours: Elvis The Fat Years, Tiramisu, Absinthe, Hansel He’s So Hot Right Now, Apple Pie, Risotto Milanese, Yuzu and Pavlova are a few of the cone-perfect creations. Calendar specials have included The Royal Fruitcakes when Prince William married Kate Middleton and […]
January 25th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Uncategorized | 8 Comments »
Dog-eared novels aside, the best summer reading right now seems to be the specials board at Gelato Messina in Darlinghurst. It’s shot through with humour, surprises and unexpected characters – the King even makes a cameo in Elvis The Fat Years: his oversized waistline and appetite inspires a fatty mash-up of peanut butter gelato with […]
December 25th, 2010 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Merry Christmas! I hope your holidays are full of yums, none-too-painful food comas and that the company is good (or if the company = a compulsory obligation rather than mutually enjoyable, then fingers crossed that the food, drink and present-blitz makes it a little easier to put on that poker face). Right now, the air […]