OZ-licious food
i want to blog about my trip but am unsure about how much of it i can finish.
let me just kickoff with the food and i will see how the progress goes.
Of Pies and Hotdogs
i doubt i told anyone about this, but part of the reason i wanted to go Sydney was because of the pies from Harry's Cafe De Wheels at this place with an ultra cool name: Woolloomooloo. Silly reason it may be but totally true! If you dont already know, Anthony Bourdain is my favourite food channel personality and I remember this particular episode a few years back when he went Sydney and he ate at this place. Somehow, it appealed to me so much that I told myself I want to go there someday.
And I did.
Believe it or not, I actually looked up the street directoy to search for directions from our hotel to the place (ok I am THAT desperate, nah - determined to eat that pie). They have other outlets at more accessible places e.g. the airport, but Anthony Bourdain said nothing beats woffling down the pie by the pier and I believe him... haha actually my friend who used to stay at Sydney told me so too.
With some enormous stroke of luck, my friend and I managed to find the place on our first night... dont ask me how we did it.. we just did. And... drumrolls...
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1. view of the Woolloomooloo store (taken from the web coz we have bad camera skills): People either stand around the store or sit by the harbour to eat it. Very unglam but who cares when the pies are sooooo good.
2. the pies: apologies for the bad picture as we were too hungry. it is chicken/beef pie slapped with enormous scoops of mashed peas and mashed potatoes then covered with yummy gravy. i felt so touched i almost cried when i had my first bite.
3. the hotdogs: by sheer coincidence (i promise!!!), we ended up back here for our dinner on the second night again. We were just strolling from Opera House down to the Royal Botanic Gardens when we found ourselves in the Woolloomooloo area during dinner time again. Except for a few overpriced pubs in the area, there was only one clear choice.... But why fight with fate especially when it deals you such a good set of cards? We happily ordered their second speciality - HOTDOGS! Again, the portion was huge... stuffed with layers upon layers of yummy-i-can't-remember-stuff beneath that hotdog and toppped with best buddies cheese and ketchup!
Of pancakes and rocks (Part 1 of 2)
We did our homework before heading over, and was told by the same friend who recommended the pies above to try "pancakes on the rocks". So we happily went over to THE ROCKS area for our first breakfast where we can shop at the weekend market after breakfast. Thinking we were as lucky as the night before with finding Harry's, we could not believe our extreme good fortune when the first cafe we saw at the place was called "THE ROCKS CAFE". So our friend must mean having "pancakes at THE ROCKS CAFE"? Nevermind the preposition...
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1. THE ROCKS CAFE: there was this little story on their menu about how they were here since eons ago etc etc... which made us more certain that this must be the place which our friend was referring to.
2. pancakes with strawberries, whipped cream and maple syrup: obvious choice as it was the only pancake selection on the menu and turned out to be very yummy too! All the more convincing from someone who doesn't touch whipped cream at all ever!
3. eggs benedict: poached eggs on top of ham and some bread topped with yummy hollandaise (i think it is spelt like this) sauce.
Of pancakes and rocks (Part 2 of 2)
So after the very satisfying meal and feeling very pleased with ourselves for finding the recommended place so easily, we walked about the weekend market and saw THIS ->
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1. the queue outside the real deal - PANCAKES ON THE ROCKS: Our Singaporean instincts tell us that this is something not to be missed and managed to fit this in for our last day of breakfast.
2. Strawberry pancakes with vanilla ice cream: yes, ice cream for breakfast...
3. Pancakes with egg and hashbrown: the savoury option, superb when drizzled with the maple syrup!
Of ribs and beach
Moving on with our quest for good food, we timed our itinerary so we were at Bondi Beach for lunch. This time, after the pancakes boohoo, we were extra careful about finding the right restaurant for good food. Our same friend recommended pork ribs at Bondi called Hurricanes. The cafe opens for business only during dinner so we verified that Hurricanes Express (for takeaway only) is the same as Hurricanes before placing our orders.
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1. me in front of the takeaway counter: no queues as no one in their right state of mind would go to the beach in winter.
2. half-chicken and 8 pieces of ribs: yummy ribs but chicken was a little dry. set meal comes with delicious fries too. oh and halfway through our lunch, a dog came by our table and greedily eyed our half eaten mess of meat and bones. luckily the dog-owner came by in time before the dog pounced on our food. what a scare but now you know how good it is!
3. lunch with a view: nice little hut which faces Bondi and the Pacific. you smell the sea and feel the breeze against your face as you savagely devour your carnivorous lunch. What more is there to ask? .. except not to grow fat after that...
Of fish & chips and the uninvited guest
If you have not eaten fish & chips during your stay in Australia, don't count yourself having stepped foot on the land. The best fish & chips in town is of course touted to be at the Sydney Fish Market.
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1. me with my fish & chips by the harbour: my verdict is that the first bite of the fish tastes good. i don't know how subsequent bites went... coz... haiz. Minutes after the photo was taken and just after my first bite, one seagull actually flew to my table, grabbed my fish and flew away with it!!! Like what -censored-! Totally demonic behaviour!
2. me with my fish & chips at Nicks: determined not to end my trip with such a bad experience, i decided have a nice sit-down seafood dinner on my last night by the "Clarke Quay of Sydney" - Cockle Bay Wharf. Nice setting and fresh seafood... with prices that are more than triple normal ones. but hey, at least i get protected from barbaric birds. i think it is worth it.
Of hot chocolate and heaven
It is known that chocolates release endorphins that make people happy.
Of course i barely need that when i am there.
But nothing beats a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day.
Add the fact that work is literally miles away from me.
Add the fact that i am at Australia's most iconic and famous beach.
Add the fact that i am looking up at the clearest blue sky.
Add the fact that i am listening to the loveliest symphony of the waves hitting the beach.
Add the fact that i am lying on a soft, dry patch of grass that does not have yucky creepy crawlies that will climb in my pants.
Add the fact that the hot chocolate is a swiss-branded foreign import.
That is the formula for heaven.
Don't ask me why I actually came back.
