Bitter Sweet, Port Macquarie

I have posted many times about Bitter Sweet (most of the posts can be found here). The cafe/patisserie is the go-to in Port Macquarie for a sugar fix, or luscious breakfast. And, since moving to Sydney, nothing has changed.
Nathan and I visited Bitter Sweet with his family back in February. Like always, it's hard to find a table, the cafe is bustling with patrons of all ages; young and old alike opt for the sweet, sweet cakes. Not a soul seems to find it odd that it's nine in the morning.

I start with a mixed berry smoothie ($5.50) as I'm having one of my anti-coffee days. My drink shortly arrives, and my am I pleased with the choice: the smoothie is full of flavour and silky smooth.

Yes, Bitter Sweet has definitely not changed. The staff are as pleasing and joyous as ever. But while the cafe retains all its good assets--namely the friendly vibe, and that delectable array of cakes--verging on the negative side, the menu is same-old, too. Sure, this isn't necessarily bad, but I've visited the cafe enough times to last a life time for your average-day cafe goer, and I have tried EVERYTHING. My visit suddenly decreases in excitement.

Nonetheless, we order and end up happy. Nathan's beautiful mother, Yvonne, goes light with the bircher bowl with vanilla stewed rhubarb, prunes and natural Hastings yoghurt. She is overjoyed. The muesli is crisp, bursting with different textures and tastes and the blueberries and strawberries are an unexpected, but all the more welcome, addition. For $11, the meal is a steal.

For the rest of our party of four, it's an Eggs Benny day, two with bacon, the other with premium leg ham ($16). Our Bennies look stunning on arrival, garnished with tomato and a sprig of herbs. The hollandaise is fresh and creamy. The eggs epitomise poached, with the yolk dousing the crisp toast and flavoursome ham upon being sliced. Bitter Sweet does one of the best Bennies I've ever had.

Consistent, friendly and scrumptious. Perhaps the largest downfall to my visit is that I didn't leave with a patisserie good. But nevertheless, our breakfast outing was divine. And will we go back--do you even need to ask? 

Bitter Sweet, 48 Watonga Street, Port Macquarie

Rosebud, Rozelle

My local, Plunge in Summer Hill, has recently been taken over by new staff. Wondering where they all came from, I once asked one of the waitstaff this very question. "I actually worked at our sister cafe, Rosebud in Rozelle," he said. That day, my fate was sealed. I was going to go to Rosebud; I just had to.

A couple of weeks passed before a visit from my father provided the perfect opportunity to do so. The visit landed on a Sunday morning. We pranced into a cafe-restaurant taken over by mothers and their children, but, lucky for us, the local haunt was not quite full.

The decor at Rosebud is quite typical. A blackboard dotted with chalk-drawn specials; wooden furniture; a pinky-red feature half-wall above the counter with "rosebud" scrawled onto it. The lights are a bit fancy; they dangle from draping cords attached to the panelled ceiling. All-in-all, Rosebud provides a unpretentious ambience for either a scrumptious breakfast or romantic dinner, although I wouldn't say it adds much to the experience.

Dad begins with a cappuccino ($3.8). And that's when we determine that the service at Rosebud was not quite up to scratch. I found the waitstaff rude and unaccommodating. They went about their job without so much as a smile and were neither prompt in taking our orders or very helpful. Nonetheless, like Plunge, the coffee is good. 

Battling through one of my very rare the-thought-of-coffee-makes-me-sick days, I opted for the banana and coconut smoothie ($6). It was nice, but I was looking forward to the coconut taste, which wasn't as present as I would have liked. The drink menu is also a bit pricey. A large coffee will set you back $4.80 and an orange juice is $5.

The first couple of times I dined at Plunge, their food wasn't great. However, now, it is simply amazing; something seems to have clicked and I am more excited than ever for the opening of Plunge for dinner (hurrah!). The food at Rosebud causes a similar level of excitement, and they're already open for dinner--lookout Plunge, my impatience is calling. 

The breakfast menu leaves us spoilt for choice. Blueberry oatmeal pancakes with mascarpone and berry compote ($15), a smoked salmon omelette with mustard dreamed leek and fried capers ($17) have my mouth watering, but I opt for organic poached eggs with Sonoma bread, tomato relish and cultured butter ($9), adding field mushrooms and grilled haloumi with Zaatar for $4 each. Phwoaaaar! My food is scrumptious. The toast is crisp, I slice into the eggs and a gooey, soft yolk oozes out. The field mushrooms are presented in equal slices, soaked in flavour and the haloumi, oh my the haloumi. Salty with a bit of bite, thanks Zaatar!

My father couldn't go past the shakshouka: baked eggs, beef sucuk, spiced tomato, pepper, onion and bread. For $17 this was a purely smashing dish. Presented in a neat clay pot, the egg yolk seeped out upon being sliced, like my own poached. Dad savoured the fragrances and seasoning; slightly spicy and yet too good too resist for a man who generally doesn't handle his spice. Also, accompanied with Sonoma toast, this dish was spot on.

So, would I say Rosebud is better than my beloved Plunge? No, but it could be. The cafe-restaurant simply needs to work on showcasing a smiling face, and perhaps needs to develop more of an edge than local competitors.

Rosebud, 654 Darling Street, Rozelle

Raya Thai, Helensburgh

I had quite a shaded childhood, my parents tucked me away in Helensburgh until I was ten years of age, before moving my brother and I to good-old Port Macquarie. From what I remember, Raya Thai opened just before we moved in 2002. I have very fond memories of the restaurant, I even had my farewell dinner there at the tender age of 10.

We have a handful of family friends that still reside in the little, secluded town on the border of Sydney and Wollongong that is Helensburgh. So when my Dad came to visit, we made the one hour trek and discovered that not much has changed. 

Our family friends frequently tell us that Raya Thai is the best Thai restaurant southern Sydney has to offer. I've been informed on numerous occasions that celebrity chef Anh Do is a regular at the restaurant, as well as the host of awards the restaurant has secured since it opened in 2001. Alas, there is no debate about which restaurant will be the venue for our dinner reunion.

We visit Raya Thai on a Sunday night. The restaurant, which takes up a small, typically Thai decorated room, is near empty (at one stage the restaurant continued into the shop next door). We take a seat in the back corner of the restaurant. The table is quite small for our group of 10 but we make do. The restaurant's decor is perhaps the best I've came into contact with in a restaurant of its kind. The walls are lined with bamboo and above us is a thatched roof. The lighting is the perfect degree of dim (I am cheering, as for once the go-to dim lighting of restaurants does not significantly affect my photos). Overall, the restaurant exudes warmth, providing a comfortable setting for a rowdy dinner with old friends.

The restaurant's menu is extensive. Lucky for me, our 10-strong dinner party means that I will get to try an array of dishes. I begin with the beautiful Thai fish cakes served with chilli cucumber sauce ($4). The cakes are the perfect density, light as opposed to heavy, and are flavoured excellently with a hint of coriander. The chilli cucumber sauce is to die for; so much so that once I've devoured the fish cakes, I take to munching on grated carrot dipped in said sauce. 

One diner orders the 98% fat free dumplings with chicken and prawn filling, served with soy sauce, and god am I thankful. For $10 the dumplings are a bit expensive but the taste is certainly there. The soft dough melts in the mouth to reveal a wonderfully balanced chicken and prawn filling.

Nathan opts for the chicken Nasi Goreng ($10). We are a bit put off by the plastic appearance of the star-shaped prawn chips, but in the end they taste okay. The nasi goreng, on the other hand, is light and fluffy with the perfect degree of seasoning. There's not much chicken, as seems to be the case with many Asian restaurants, but Nathan is satisfied nonetheless.

Thai green curry with chicken has long been a favourite of mine and this dish doesn't change that. One of the best I've tried, this green curry has bite and is a decent portion size. Unlike other green curries, Raya Thai's is cream in colour and garnished, like all other dishes at the restaurant, with grated carrot. For $14 (this price is a standard across the restaurant's menu as well as many other Thai restaurants) I am cheering.

I tried a handful of other dishes and all reached my expectations, if not exceeding them. One downside was the Roti Paratha ($2 each) which was doused in oil and came in small portion size.

While I have fond memories of this visit, I don't agree with the over-the-top praise our family friends regularly give the restaurant. The dishes were nice, presented as expected and decently priced, but they failed to amaze. Needless to say, Raya Thai is a consistent restaurant with a lovely vibe making it the perfect haunt for a catch up with family or friends.

Raya Thai, 4/115-119 Parkes Street, Helensburgh

Lowenbrau, The Rocks

Lowenbrau is an institution in Sydney. It can be aptly described using one word: beer. The Bavarians love "bier" so much that it comes in an array of sizes, including a 1L jug, and flavours. But that's not to say that this restaurant should be visited for beer and nothing else. 

In true Bavarian fashion, Lowenbrau has boob-tooting bar wenches, schnitzel, pork knuckle, schnapps and hearty (and slightly annoying) German tunes (accordions and all). Of all the restaurants I have been to, Lowenbrau has the most jovial atmosphere. Part bar, part restaurant with a very pub-like vibe, it's the perfect place to drink, drink, drink and eat, eat, eat. Of course, it helps that there's a bier song to sway your 1L jugs to (the bier menu is also as long as the food menu), and pigging out is not hard when the portions are so huge. Sure, it may be a bit crowded and loud, but you don't go to Lowenbrau for a romantic dinner. It's warm, it's fun and pure Bavarian excellence.

I'm at Lowenbrau with my boyfriend and father, both keen beer drinkers. Before we even order some garlic bread, many beers are downed by the boys, while I, not being too keen on the golden ale, opt for a delectable Magners Irish apple cider. Magners is not my favourite cider--I like mine sweet a la Rekorderlig and Strongbow. I find it a tad on the watery and weak side. Nathan and Dad, on the other hand, are blown away by their biers and consume no less than a litre each. 

Having never had a pretzel before, I can't resist the opportunity to try the famous baked dough goodie. My god does this taste good, mainly because of that very salty taste. Tied in a perfect knot and well-priced, I promise myself I'm going eat Bavarian food more often; it's not fair to deprive my tastebuds such excellence. My only criticism is that the dough was a bit chewy, especially the crisp outer shell. 

The menu at Lowenbrau will result in a headache. Not only are the names of each dish as difficult to pronounce as it is to repeat "Shelley sells seashells down by the seashore", but the menu is beyond extensive. Nonetheless, this adds to the fun that is Lowenbrau, and if you're really keen on pronunciation you can always learn to speak like a Bavarian before your visit. 

Nathan and Dad order the scotch fillet vom Mastoschen (char-grilled scotch fillet served with sauteed potatoes, fresh seasonal vegetables and red wine glaze). It's the most expensive item on the menu at $37.5 but the boys are more than satisfied. The potatoes in particular were a hit and Nathan says the steak was "pretty good"--I would take this as a you-should-try-it, it's not often that he dishes our compliments. The serving sizes were large; Nathan couldn't handle it and Dad only just managed. The presentation, on the other hand, was nothing special and not consistent; chucked on the plate and only one of two was garnished with a tomato. Nonetheless, this casual attitude to dining is what makes the restaurant what it is.

Pork knuckle: does that put you off? I hope for the sake of your tastebuds that it doesn't. Without a second thought, I opted for the Schweinshaxn: oven-roasted pork-kunckle served with sauerkraut,  Lowenbrau Bier sauce and mashed potato ($34.50). The crackling on this mighty chunk of meat was to die for, and the pork was exquisite; more tender with each bite. The sauerkraut and mashed potato were of course the perfect match and the bier sauce drew everything together. And that's a big compliment coming from non-beer-drinking-me. Sh-wines-hux-an. Oh how I adore thee.

Sure, I agree with the usual comment that the meals at Lowenbrau are a tad overpriced, but really, you're paying for the pristine location that is The Rocks, Sydney, the funky atmosphere and hearty, delicious food.

Lowenbrau, Corner of Playfair and Argyle Streets, The Rocks, Sydney

Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse, Cairns

Cairns has its fair share of high quality restaurants; a large quantity of which line The Pier. Exploring the Great Barrier Reef is exhausting. So what better way to wind down following the cruise back to the Reef Fleet Terminal than with reinvigorating food nearby on the marina? 

The Pier is Cairns' hot spot for dining, wining and a spot of shopping. With the Shangri-La and a flock of high class resorts nearby, it's also perfectly situated for tourists. 

Nathan and I stroll along the wooden floorboards, assessing the various menus on display. There are multiple cuisines and restaurant-types to choose from: seafood, Chinese, Thai, Modern Australian, grills... Some are expensive, while the rest aren't exactly cheap but affordable nonetheless. If you're into the drink, on a a Sunday night the northern-side of the marina is home to a bustling bar (with banging bar food to match).

It's the last evening of our Cairns trip and we've spent too much money. And so we opt for the most decently-priced restaurant (that has a burger on the menu of course) at The Pier. This happens to be Waterbar Bar & Grill. 

The menu is extensive: with steaks, salad, a variety of seafood dishes, pork ribs, a vegetarian platter and a lot else. After eyeballing the $30 plus steaks, Nathan, realising the hole in his pockets after shouting me a day at Fitzroy Island, chooses the beef burger featuring 250g lean beaf, smoked bacon and melted cheese. When his meal arrives shortly after he is blown away. The patty is juicy, the bacon crisp with a superb smokey edge and the chips crunchy. Sure, there's no edge to this burger, it's like most others he has tried, but it's smashingly presented and worth the $18 price tag taking into consideration the location and premium prices at The Pier.

It's only 6pm and considering I devoured a hot and cold buffet for a late lunch I am conscious of my waistline. The Thai beef salad of rump steak, coriander, mint, chilli, cucumber, cherry tomato, peanuts and nahm jim dressing ($22) meets all my criteria. And it also met all my expectations. The meat was deliciously deliciously tender; seared to perfection. The salad greens were a diverse and well-matched mix. The mint and coriander definitely stood out giving the dish a tangy flavour. Drizzling the lime over the dish improved it tenfold. The serving size was also generous and by just looking at the picture below, I remember how beautifully the dish was presented. 

Waterbar & Grill was an excellent choice. The food was fantastic, the service friendly and the ambience relaxing after a long day on the reef. Overlooking the muddy water and boats in the marina is a decent view but not the nicest. The decor is in the same class; sophisticated but nothing special. Mainly, Waterbar offers one of the most reasonably priced array of meals on the marina. There's lots to choose from, making the restaurant suitable to almost everyone.

Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse, Pierpoint Road, Cairns 

Tuscan's Table, Cairns

I hate resorts sometimes. The restaurant choices are inevitably limited and for acreage getaways like The Lakes Resort and Spa in Cairns, the great places to eat are a bus ride or 3km walk (in the humid, 32 degrees Celsius weather) away. Alas, we were starving after having spent a great day on the Great Barrier Reef and a walk or bus ride just wasn't going to happen. And that's how we ended up at The Lakes' lone restaurant, Tuscan's Table.

The restaurant itself is modern. Three quarter windows line the 'outside' section. They can be opened, revealing the restaurant to the resort's gardens and central water feature. But it's the middle of Summer and, considering that it's Cairns, no one wants to be exposed to the humid air, let alone outside. Inside is nothing special; I remember nothing of what it looks like.

We wait a while to be welcomed, lucky we have plush cushioned chairs. Various families surround us, all look a bit peckish. The service is not the best. The best word I can think of to describe our waitress is awkward. She seems out of place and confused as she heavily stomps around the restaurant and basically throws the menus at us.

We glaze over the extensive menu for quite a while--there's pasta, pizza, salads, pork, chicken and beef.  A large chunk of the meals are outright Italian and then there's a handful of your standard mains. Nath and I look forward to the duck all' arancia: duck breast served with orange and Grand Marnier sauce ($30) and Pork belly: Slowly roasted pork loin with crispy crackle, served with mixed herb risotto and rosemary and marsala sauce ($26)

Nathan and I both like our pieces of meat. The duck is tender, as is the pork. The duck's skin is crispy, as is my crackling (praise the lord for non-chewy crackling!) And, while Nath's side of vegetables is a bit on the boring side, my risotto is heavenly. For me, risotto is one of those things that tastes good, regardless of its lack of technical skill and creativity. Nathan's sauce was okay; if you are an orange enthusiast you probably would've loved it. However, for both of us (and I admit, I am not the biggest fan of citrus fruits, especially orange) it was way too sweet. And this is where the compliments and small negatives end.

My meal, in reality, was almost inedible. Well, not all of it: just the bits that were covered in sauce. After digging in, I literally questioned whether Tuscan's Table had confused their savoury and sweet sauces, because mine tasted like toffee. It was so sickening and odd, I assumed that this must have been the case. God bless any poor souls who order this meal if it is not. Sickly sweet, thick and overpowering. I was lucky the so-called rosemary and marsala sauce only clipped the ends of my pork.

So, would I go back? Probably not. If you're thinking about going to Tuscan's Table, you are probably exhausted and are holidaying in the resort. I recommend you try get over that tiredness and make the trek to somewhere more worth your while.

Tuscan's Table, The Lakes Resort and Spa, 2 Greenslopes Street, Cairns

Bill and Toni's Restaurant, Sydney

Sometimes I am a complete ditz.

I had been meaning to visit Bill and Toni's pub life in Surry Hills (the one which keeps posting oh-so-tantalising pictures of burger combinations on Facebook) ever since I visited the Balmain Bill and Toni's on September 8 last year. That is a bloody long while. 

On the evening of the fourth day of the Sydney test versus India, finally the planets had aligned and Nathan I ventured to a little terrace near Oxford Street for a scrumptious burger. Needless to say, we ended up at the wrong joint.

Instead of strolling into burger heaven, we strolled into Bill and Toni's, the Italian heaven variety. We had landed upon the Stanley Street store that's been established for more than forty-five years in East Sydney's "Little Italy."

Hungry, exhausted and lost, Nathan and I, although desperately craving a burger, decided to give said Bill and Toni's a try, even though this meant we had to carry ourselves off to a nearby pub and wait for the restaurant half of Bill and Toni's to open at six (there's a cafe downstairs). What seemed like a decade later, we were finally seated. 

The decor at this institutional restaurant is a bit outdated and, dare-I-say, ugly. The tables are tiny - as we would later discover when we could barely fit our food on them - and covered in paper sheets and too close to one another. The restaurant is dominated by a horrible tungsten light and the area on a whole appears a little cramped. Nonetheless, I am sure I would've had a different opinion if say, we were sitting on the tiny, long balcony outside which has exquisite views of the historic, tree-lined street.

The value for money at Bill and Toni's is astounding. Before even ordering we received a complimentary tray of bread and orange cordial. Although the crust of the bread was a bit tough and I am very much past the cordial stage, it is the thought that counts, right?

Nathan ordered the lamb shanks and I, the parmigiana. Five minutes after placing our order we received the above "salad." Now, I'm not sure about you but, personally, a bowl of lettuce leaves doused in watery vinegar aren't all that appealing. I started to get a bit worried thinking it would be just lettuce leaves and meat for us tonight.

Fortunately, our meals came out with some sides; I wasn't eating that "salad."
Nath's lamb shanks were very tender and the sauce was a hit, the spinach accompanying both of our dishes was very tasty. However, the carrots were a bit overcooked. For $16, the serving was very decent.

My chicken parmigiana ($16) was divine. The sauce, the cheese, the eggplant were perfect in both flavour and proportions. The chicken was tender and the serving size, like Nathan's, was great value.

Bill and Toni's is not about fine dining. Rather, as seen from the above picture of the menu board, it's about cheap, value-for-money, simple Italian food, which is made all the better consumed in Bill and Toni's staple environment: homely, with a large side of friendliness and comfort. 

If you want cheap, fast food served with a smile, warmth and genuine care, this Stanley Street institution is for you. For me, the slight venture off course was certainly well worth it. 

Bill and Toni's, 74 Stanley Street, Sydney

Chickpea Stew with Cous Cous and Roti

I've decided I'm going to document what I cook more often. For tonight's dinner I made chickpea stew from scratch, and served it with some roti, heated up in the frypan, and Ainsley Harriot's "Spice Sensation" cous cous. I poached the recipe from a very old issue of Grazia Australia, inspired by a very tasty chickpea tagine I was involved in cooking at a friend's place.

My version of Grazia's chickpea stew was okay, but not great. I should note that I changed the ingredients slightly according to what was in my pantry - omitting the ginger, zucchini and cumin and adding capsicum. Nevertheless, this is a cheap and easy to follow recipe: the perfect meal solution for any student surviving on a very strict budget!

Chickpea Stew

Heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a pan.

Fry 1/4 diced onion, 1/2 crushed garlic clove and 1/4 tsp each of coriander, cumin and turmeric.

When onion is soft, add a pinch of grated ginger, 1/4 deseeded and chopped red chilli, 100g tinned tomatoes, 200g tinned chickpeas (rinsed) and 1 sliced zucchini.

Simmer for 10 minutes.

Garnish with fresh coriander.

Rainforest Cafe, Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie's Sea Acres just underwent a renovation. It's sad that the connected Rainforest Cafe hasn't changed. Rainforest Cafe boasts a prime position, nestled in the coastal town's own luscious subtropical rainforest. If only the food had a point of difference, then this place could be one of the best Port Macquarie has to offer.

We visited the cafe for my Grandfather's birthday. There seated the eight of us at a long table inside. While outside is preferable on a warm summer's day, inside is just as good, with glass windows spanning the entirety of three of four walls. The decor at Rainforest Cafe is refreshing, with soft greens, wood and the rainforest in the background. Sitting among the whistles and chirps of the birds and peculiar sounds of the local brush turkeys is soothing in a way.

This was my first outing with my Canon 600D, so lets just say I was a little bit snap happy. That's not to say that the pictures are great. My current style is more point and shoot.

I can't remember Sea Acres having a different menu. There's nothing worse than getting dragged off to the same cafe repetitively to find that nothing has changed in over a year and that you're stuck with the same-old items.  Rainforest Cafe is in dire need of something new; I am a little bit sick of their sandwiches, terrine and pumpkin tart. Luckily they had a handful of specials so that I could retain my sanity.

I must say that the salad of sauteed prawns, chorizo, potatoes and rocket with salsa verde ($22) of mine was quite tasty. I am a sucker for chorizo and this hit the spot perfectly. The prawns were as prawns should be (if anyone comes up with some appropriate words to describe prawns, let me know). The potato was crisp and the salsa verde brang the meal together.

One thing Rainforest Cafe nails is their presentation. Kyle's girlfriend, Emily, ordered the chicken Caesar salad: cos lettuce, bacon, eggs, parmesan and homemade dressing topped with chicken breast and Sumac ($18.50). The chicken was so tender and a great contrast to the crisp croutons. The Sumac added a lemony tinge, and overall, the salad was lovely.

I've had the roasted pumpkin, ricotta and sage tart with a mixed salad and toasted macadamias ($16.50) before and it was quite disappointing. The pumpkin, ricotta and sage mixture didn't stay together and was a bit bland in terms of flavour. The macadamia element of the salad was also very small. I didn't ask my Grandmother if she enjoyed this but she seemed content.

The wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce ($8.50) were a hit with my brother who doesn't fancy heavy lunches. The sour cream and sweet chilli sauce combination always goes down well.

Rainforest Cafe also does a mean range of cakes and desserts, which go down best with a nice coffee. They have everything from creme brulee (sorry, it had to get a mention - it's my favourite dessert after all) to a variety of gluten free cakes. A lot of their cakes and menu items have a French touch. I've had a sesame seed macaron in the past, and although the texture was a bit off, the flavour was certainly there.

As I mentioned, Rainforest Cafe's coffee is quite good. On a warm day, you can't go past an iced coffee, and theirs is smooth and creamy with the perfect balance between milk and coffee.

The staff here can be a bit unfriendly and distant, but the odd waitress/waiter is a keeper. Orders are taken and come out at a decent rate, but really, there is nothing outstanding about the service.

Also, you should probably note that given its location and focus on the outdoors, Rainforest Cafe isn't the best venue on a dreary, gloomy day. On the other hand, if it is warm and sunny, a visit can be quite rejuvenating, and is made even better if following a stroll along the 1.3km Sea Acres boardwalk.

Sea Acres' Rainforest Cafe, Pacific Drive (near Shelley Beach entrance), Port Macquarie