Chinese New Year Eve: the build-up

Chinese New Year festivities always involve food. And lots of it. Of course they should!Our family doesn't make a big deal of Chinese New Year, but luckily for me, I have friends who do! Friends who cook! Obsessively! And who think nothing of ordering a whole suckling pig for a modest New Year gathering just because we can!As we raced to Bankstown late on Saturday afternoon for some last minute

Eat Our Words

Australian food bloggers get a bite of the glossy magazine action in the latest issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.Journalist and fellow food blogger Ed Charles from Tomato has written a long overdue article on the Australian food blogging scene, giving some much deserved exposure to our own Aussie-based burgeoning talent.The two page spread includes a lovely glossy photo of the hardworking

Green Mango Salad

Nothing says summer like a green mango salad. With its hot, sour, salty sweet explosion of flavours, this salad is the perfect antidote for those sticky, sweltering days of humidity.I made this twice in two days: the second version was a much tastier success, as I made sure to dress the mango shreds at the last possible moment, minimising any sog factor.I brought the leftovers into work the next

Happy Chinese New Year

Japanese sandwich cakesIt's Chinese New Year tomorrow, which means it's a night of celebrations tonight.Festivities in Sydney's Chinatown have already begun, with the annual Chinatown Markets lining Dixon Street and Hawker Central taking over Belmore Park.Chinese New Year dog mascot in Sydney's Belmore ParkTree festooned with red colanders--surprisingly pretty!Chinese chess players on Dixon

Too Much Information Meme: 10 Things About Me

I'm still working on the sick computer situation, although it's amazing how much free time I suddenly have on my hands though!It's a perfect opportunity to finally post my response to the latest meme going around the blogosphere. I was tagged by Rose two weeks ago, and the brief is to:Write 10 weird or random things about you that most people don't know about. Then tag 5 others for at the end of

Food for Thought

The home computer is currently suffering from indigestion (quiet shriek) so apologies for the lack of posts lately.In the interim, those of you in Sydney may be interested in an upcoming food writing course with John Newton, a Good Living regular contributor and recent gold ladle winner for Best Food Journalist in the 2005 World Food Media Awards.Writing About Food is being run through the UTS

Rose of Australia Hotel, Erskineville

A brief break from the current saturation of New York touristing--here's a Sydney restaurant post for those hankering for some Aussie grub and tucker.Complimentary kalamata olivesOur previous* visit to the Rose of Australia Hotel dining room was a warm, distant memory of good food, plated enticingly in a quiet and refined atmosphere. I headed there again with the same dining companions and a