Mary's, Newtown

I'm trying to wean myself off of racing around trying to get to all the new "hip" places that open up in Sydney. Let's face it, it's tiring, costly and I'm getting kinda fat existing on a diet of sliders, tacos, fried chicken and cheesy fries (I think I've just listed my death row meal right there).

But when I saw a picture on Instagram of the cheeseburger at Newtown's newly opened Mary's -- part pub + part greasy American diner -- I just could not resist the junk food lure. I'd had heard talk that the cheeseburger at Mary's was as close to my beloved Shake Shack burger that you could get here in Sydney.

Mary's is located on Mary Street (no guesses where the name came from). It's a street I've walked down a thousand times before yet I've never really noticed this building before. Apparently it's had a million previous lives but I'd go out on a limb and say that this is by far the tastiest.

The space is fairly large, made more so by the addition of a mezzanine level that offers table services. We decide to sit downstairs (where you order at the bar) as it's closer to the bar for my beer loving companions (and closer to the loos for me)! I love that the place is still a bit rough around the edges and hasn't been tarted up too much -- it gives it that slightly Melbourne edge that we all love so much. It reminds me of what Newtown "used to be like" before the Max Brenner's and Gloria Jeans moved in.

I'm proudly told by Mr Shawn and Miss Chicken that Mary's serves Young Henry Beer - a local brew.  I feel pleased I can reply that Parramatta now has its own brew house and The Boy has given it his tick of approval. I have a sip of the Young Henry's - it tastes like...beer.

The menu is fairly small which makes ordering a breeze.  I get heart palpitations just looking at all the fast-food (but done in a kinda slow way) goodness. I'll have one of everything please!

First order up is a plastic basket lined with greaseproof paper that somehow manages to contain the pool of creamy, oozy Mash + Gravy ($5.00). It looks a bit like something The Colonel would make but it's WAY beyond anything he could ever serve up. The mash is so creamy it's almost liquid and the gravy is nice and peppery. The thing with mash + gravy is that it's perfect for dipping things in to -- like Fried Chicken ($16.00 for half a bird). This chicken was great! The peppery note in the batter is what really made it for me along with the combination of moist meat and crunchy outer.

Our burgers arrive snugly wrapped in greaseproof paper. The basket is piled high with hot, crunchy chips that have the perfect amount of salt on them (FYI, chips dipped into mash + gravy = an OMG moment).

I opted for the Cheeseburger ($14.00) and Miss Chicken went with the Mary's burger (also $14.00) that comes with a bit of salad on it. Mr Shawn embraced his inner vegetarian and ordered the 'shroom burger ($12.00) which I had a bite of - loved the big, juicy, meat field mushroom that they've used in lieu of a meat patty.

Now onto the cheeseburger.  It's wrong  of me to compare it to Shake Shack as it's really nothing like it (I'm told that honour goes more to the Mary's Burger which I'm going to try next time).  If I had to make a comparison I'd say it's similar to a McDonald's cheeseburger - soft bun (though Mary's is a buttermilk bun) with a thin patty, tomato sauce, melty cheese, onion and my beloved gherkins. Unlike Macca's though the patty has real flavour to it -- it's quite smoky and peppery and the super soft bun is like biting into air.  As soon I finished my last mouthful I was wondering if I could order "just one more"?

Mary's is at 6 Mary' Street, Newtown.

Matterhorn, Wellington (NZ)

Matterhorn seems to be the coolest "too cool for school" bar come restaurant in windy old Wellington...which is funny considering that it's been kicking around since 1963.  It's older than both The Boy and I, and about 1000 more hip too! 

Matterhonrn has a recent makeover giving it a sleek, hip new interior that reminds me a lot of Melbourne's CODA.  A revamp of the menu helps to brings this old joint right into the 21st century. It would be interesting to see some photos of what this place was like back in the 60s. I can't quite imagine it.

We were quickly running out of time in Wellington and a quick pit stop seemed like the best way to squeeze in a visit to Matterhorn.  Proving that we are in too uncool for anything we arrive right on opening time (3pm) for a spot of afternoon tea (how very nana chic of us). Of course at 3pm they are not serving the full menu so we grab four out of the five of their bar snacks and sit back and enjoy our snacks.

I really enjoyed the white bean + lemon dip that came with shards of crispy pita bread and a spring onion relish (NZD$9.00). The dip was zesty thanks to a hint of lemon, quite creamy yet lighter in texture than the more popular hummous.  The pita bread chips were super crispy and certainly seemed like a more healthy alternative to chips. I found a really simple recipe for this dip + chips and whipped it up to take to a BBQ recently - I was a bit heavy handed on the garlic, but other than that it was good.  The nori salted potato crisps, house soured cream (NZD$7.00) on the other hand is something that I'd never be able to replicate at home. The crisps we so thin and wonderfully salty with hints of nori flavour  throughout. The were perfect just on their own so we left the sour cream to its own devices.

The bit sized morsels of crispy fried corn fed chicken (NZD$15.00) was served with a really interesting sour peanut sauce.  Interesting in a good way of course, still very peanuty yet slightly sour at the same time - like it had been mixed with vinegar.  The salt cod croquettes with lemon and saffron aioli were as soft and pillowy as mashed potatoes yet quite strong in flavour - probably not great for people who don't like their fish fishy, but we devoured them in minutes.

Mattheron can be found in the Cuba Street Mall - 106 Cuba Street, Wellington, New Zealand.

The Croft Institute + Double Happiness, Melbourne

I am completely obsessed with Melbourne laneways. I'm not sure why, but it's probably the thrill of possibilities. Of walking down what looks a derelict laneway full of garbage bins only to find the best damn bar...ever!

We'd walked down Croft Lane quite a few times over our previous trips to Melbourne - lured by it's awesome graffiti.  I knew there was something good at the end (the bench seats in the lane gave it away) but the place was NEVER open. This time The Croft Institute had kindly put up their opening times outside their door.

We pay them a visit after our dinner at Movida and arrive right on opening time - the best time I say as you can grab yourself a comfy seat, people watch, sip your cocktails and relax.

The Croft Institute looks a bit like a high school science lab - complete with beakers, test tubes and science benches fitted out with basins. And, of course drinks served with syringes.  It sounds a bit naff - but it's not. It's fun and down to earth - the staff are cool and the crowd seems relaxed.  The cocktail list is small - but the bar staff will make you whatever you want.   Let's just say I was VERY happy when I left here.

Double Happiness is another great, quirky hole-in-wall bar that you'll find on Liverpool Street.  It's not as "hidden" as the Croft Institute but the fact that the signage is not in English gives it a certain "hidden feel" (to me anway as I can't read Chinese)!

In the inside is a nod to all things Chinese + the fit out is quite old school "oriental". Statues of Chairman Mao are dotted around the place, Chinese murals adorn the walls and colour red features prominently. We particular loved the locked liquor cabinet behind the bar that houses booze bought by the regulars. Each little locked cupboard has someones name on it.

There are plenty more hidden bars to visit in Melbourne - if only we had more time. We poked our heads into The Toff in Town in the glorious Curtin House so that's on the list for next time.

The Croft Institute is at 21 Croft Alley, Melbourne (off little Bourke Street).



Double Happiness is at 21 Liverpool Street, Melbourne (also off little Bourke Street).

Freda's, Chippendale (maybe)

You know I actually have no idea what suburb Freda's is actually in. I mean, it's right near Railway Square at Central, but is Central even a suburb? Is it technically Redfern? But how can it be Redfern if it's basically on the doorstep of Central station? Actually now that I think about it Freda's is probably in Chippendale...maybe, but probably not Surry Hills.  Wherever it is, Freda's is TOPS!

My fellow workers at the cubicle-farm where I spend my weekdays decided it was high time we ventured out for a lunch together and whoever picked Freda's picked a winner.  Freda's is a large-sized "small bar" that doubles as a Canteen during daylight hours. It's housed in what looks to be an old loading dock and fitted out in the standard retro/shabby/industrial that is all the rage these days.  It's cool and I like it. A LOT!

The lunch offerings seem fairly basic upon first glance - just sandwiches + salads.  But these are not just any old sandwiches + salads.  Sandwiches fillings like Muscovy Duck or Wagyu Corned Beef takes things to the next level. Teamsters that had the Muscovy Duck sambo were beyond impressed at the wonderful flavours and all muttering words of lunchtime delight. And...all the sandwiches came with a little bowl of olives...cute.

We're told that the meat is all free range, but I'm still not 100% convinced (or even 50% convinced) that Bungalow "Sweet" Pork is actually pasture-raised. So whilst the Roast of the Day, Porchetta with Crackling, is pretty tempting (esp when it arrived on the table for somebody else) I decided to go for the Smoked Trout Salad with Kipfler Potoats + Roasted Peppers which was DELICIOUS.

From middle photo: my trout salad; Porchetta; Corned Beef Sambo & the Muscovy Duck Sambo.

Freda's has a lunch special - where you can choose a glass of wine OR dessert for an extra $5. The sweet tooth's in the team couldn't go past something sweet to finish up the meal.  And because I'd just had a salad for lunch (ok, with a kinda oily dressing, but it was a salad none-the-less) I enjoyed a taste of both desserts.  The enormous slice of Jaffa Cake was big enough for everyone to try, but it was the moist apple torte, caramelised full of fruit + nuts,  that was the favourite.

Freda's is a great Friday lunch spot - big, relaxed, with really friendly staff and a cool vibe. The great tasting food makes it a must re-visit I think.

Freda's is at 107-109 Regent Street, Chippendale/Central/wherever.

Izakaya Fujiyama, Surry Hills

After having such a great experience at Izakaya Den in Melbourne with The Boy I was as keen as mustard to try at Sydney's newest Izakaya. Izakaya Fujiyama is hidden in the back streets of Surry Hills - but still a hop, skip and a jump from bustling Crown Street - and is located in an area that seems to be an up and coming foodie hub - with El Capo and Orto Trading (two other hot new eateries) located right next door. Just around the corner you'll find Vini, Cotton Duck and 121BC - is this area my new happy place? I think it could be.

Izakaya Fujiyama has only been open for a short time but it's certainly caught the attention of Japanese food lovers and I'd heard great reviews about the place. I'd also heard it gets very crowded so Miss Chicken, Mr Shawn and I agree to meet up for an early dinner and beat the crowds.

When I rock up at 5.50pm on a Thursday night the place is empty...I was SURE I'd encounter Mamak like queues of people all waiting for the 6pm opening time. Nope. We have our pick of tables in the restaurant and have the sole attention of the wait staff until things get busier about an hour into the night.

In Japan an Izakaya is a small bar where you go to drink beer and sake...the food is just meant to serve as stomach liner until you leave the Izakaya for the night and go in search of a more substantial meal. In Australia the Izakaya is more restaurant like - go along, have a few drinks and share plates of food with friends - dinner and drinks so to speak. This is fine with me as I like to be as full as a goog with a leave a restaurant - I'm not that into 2nd dinners really.

Miss Chicken and Mr Shawn order some Japanese beers and I just stick with water until we order some sake to share later in the evening.  I didn't get a shot of the sake as The Sake Man was quicker than lightning in pour the drinks and choofing off with the nifty little cup the sake came in.

Once drinks are sorted out we consult the menu and also the cute hand-written specials menu and decide on about 6 dishes to share between us. 

We start with a light and refreshing dish of Pickled Cucumber ($5.00).  This is a simple dish with hefty chunks on cucumber marinated in sweet ginger soy sauce.  I love this dish, but Mr Nikon seems to be having "issues" with green coloured food on this particular night - groan!

Next up is Miso Cured Tofu ($6.50).  This is another simple dish that is packed with flavour -pieces of hard tofu topped with an almost beer-like tasting miso paste. 

As soon as I see the Kenji Fried Chicken ($13.50) on the menu I know we have to give it a try and oh my it is GOOD! Kenji is the name of the owner/chef of Izakaya Fujiyama and what's the point of owning a restaurant if you can't name at least one dish after yourself.  The chicken is amazing - good crunch on the batter and tender chook on the inside. The homemade Kewpie mayonnaise is pretty dang good too.

Agedashi Tofu ($13.50) is something I always like to order when I'm eating Japanese and I really like the twist on the traditional version that they serve here.  You still receive your standard deep-fried tofu pieces in a light bonito broth, but the addition of fresh pieces of Okra and slivers of mushroom is stellar. The additon of these two ingredients gives the dish a wonderful textural balance that I love...soft tofu + soft mushroom + crunchy okra = win win.  I actually thought that okra would be something I wouldn't like - for some reason I thought it was really bitter tasting, but it's actually not at all (or this version at least is not). 

Pork Belly with Miso ($18.50) is another winner - really the dishes here just get better and better. We're all impressed by the freshness of flavour and just how good the food is.  Mr Shawn and Miss Chicken - my Japan-o-phile friends - happily tell me the food here is as good as any they've had in their many trips to Japan.  I take their word for it and am glad they are in a happy place.

The next dish is the one we've all been waiting for, and the one we've been told to order by friends. The Tuna Jaw ($28.00) is a sight to be behold - the jaw is HUGE and looks mouthwateringly good. It's hard to get a good photo of the Tuna Jaw as it is so large and we all get a chuckle when one of the waitresses comes over and asks to look at my photos and then suggests taking the photo from a different angle - now THAT my friends is service.

Once the photo shoot comes to an end we flip the jaw over and start picking at the meat on the bone - the meat is flavoursome, quite fatty in places and has a nice char to it.  The jaw comes with a zesty ponzu dipping sauce that is a nice counterbalance to the fatty parts of the meat.  If you come to Izkaya Fujiyama I'd say this is one dish worth trying - for novelty's sake perhaps, but also because it's so beautiful to eat.

Before...and after.

After the richness of the fatty Tuna Jaw we order one last dish - something light and refreshing is what we are after and the Three Bean Salad is just the ticket. Thankfully it is not the standard Three Bean Salad ($10.00) we've all had at Aussie BBQs (Three Beans from a tin = blah), but a mixture of fresh green beans, snow peas and peas in their pod.  Although a last minute order we all agree this dish is a winner (but not Mr Nikon who won't take infocus shots of GREEN food - sigh)!

Izakaya Fujiyama is at Shop G09, 52 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills.

Grasshopper Bar, CBD

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a bit of a nana. I don't really like pubs (too noisy), I don't drink very often (I'm a one pot screamer tho I do like cocktails), I don't drink coffee after midday, I like to be in bed by 9.30pm and I NEVER go out on a Monday night...or a Tuesday night if I can help it. Call me boring, but the main reason for my nana-ish traits is my insomnia. I have incredible trouble sleeping so I figure all of the above might help me enter the land of nod...hopefully.

So what would entice me out to a bar...on a Tuesday night...where I got home at nearly 10pm?

A blogger catch up of course! The lovely Mel had taken pity on fellow blogger Crystal and I and our photographic woes when it came low lighting. We all agreed to meet up in a dark restaurant, cameras in tow and show Mel our the worst of our photographic abilities.  After a few emails back and forth we settled on Grasshopper Bar hoping it be darker than dark.  Grasshopper is also a place that intrigued me as it is tucked down a little laneway off George Street.  A piece of Melbourne's laneway chic right here in my beloved Sydney.

Crystal and I arrived a bit early so we took a seat downstairs in the REALLY DARK bar and ordered a drink each (soda water for me - it IS Tuesday night after all). We were both as pleased as punch to see our drinks served in jam jars and beakers.  We whipped out our cameras and snapped away - fuzzy, blurry, dark and out of focus. Weeee - Mel has her work cut out for her tonight I tell you! 

When Mel arrives we head upstairs to the cutter than cute "eating room". The room is decked out with wooden table, chairs and wooden floorboards give the restaurant a warm tone. There are interesting nic-nacs dotted throughout the room - the collection of gnomes at the staircase wins all our hearts.  The upstairs room is a bit lighter than the downstairs bar so we don't have quite as much trouble with the cameras as I'd hoped for...damn!

At the table next to ours are a group of "real nanas" and I'm sad to say the group of 70 years olds at the adjoining were still happily dining away as we left for the night.

We decide to order a few small plates to share as this seemed the most economical way to dine. Mains were a bit more pricey than I was expecting and we were trying not to spend to much money.  Our small dishes were really tasty, but we probably could've done with more food. The girls went for a Congee run afterwards and I hit the Macca's drive through on the way home.

From the specials board we order Duck Terrine with Onion Confit ($19.00).  The terrine was lovely - smooth tasting and very morish.  The bread was nicely charred - but tasted a little like someone had gone made with a blowtorch in the kitchen. 

Next we have a plate of Crisp Chicken, Roast Garlic And Tarragon ($15.00).  This was a great dish - tender strips of chicken lightly coated and deep-fried. The roast garlic and tarragon dipping sauce was tasty too.

The Roast Scallops with Jerusalem Artichokes ($19.00) was a big hit with all of us - and three scallops on the plate means we have a scallop each. The scallops sit atop a buttery sauce - delicious! The Jerusalem Artichoke is pureed and a highlight of the dish - the puree has a sweet, nutty flavour.

I really enjoyed the creamy and silky smooth Smoked Salmon and Green Peppercorn Pate ($14.00).  The saltiness of the crispy olive bread was a nice counterbalance to the creamy pate. It is a toss up between this dish and the crispy chicken strips as to which was my favourite plate of the night.

Last dish of the night is Octopus, Prosciutto and Saffron ($19.00) - what a pretty dish this was. I wish my picture did it more justice (and that there were three quail egg halves to go around - dissecting a quail egg into even Steven pieces is really hard)!  The combination of prosciutto and little croutons gave the dish quite a salty hit, but the quail egg and soft octopus offset this somewhat.

Ooops - nearly forgot the Seasonal Vegetables ($10.00) - a plate of broccolini drizzled in a lovely buttery sauce.

Grasshopper Bar is a great space in the city - if more bars become like this I could possibly head out more often on a Tuesday night - not every Tuesday night mind you - a nana would NEVER do that!

These guys will protect you on your visit to the loo!

Grasshopper is at 1 Temperance Lane, Sydney (the entrance to the lane way is right next to RM Williams). Phone them on 9947 9025.