Monthly Archives: January 2016

Donating clothes to charity, Sydney

Posted on 19 January 2016 by andyq

I come from a family that saves things. Anything that’s useful should never, ever be thrown away. However, of my three brothers, I’m the one who’s the clothes horse. So, it’s important that I get rid of clothes once in … Continue reading →

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Food Diary: La Mesa, Chinatown, Sydney

Posted on 19 January 2016 by andyq

Just around the corner from Dixon Street near Chinatown, and up a flight of stairs is La Mesa, a Filipino restaurant that looks like it’s been comfortably here for a while. Saturday night, we go at 5:30pm or so, super-early … Continue reading →

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Sydney Food Diary: Bentley Restaurant and Bar, CBD

Posted on 16 January 2016 by andyq

I loved Bentley Bar when it was in Surry Hills, and would recommend it to friends for a special meal: upscale but affordable, inventive and with a great vegetarian degustation. While Chef Brent Savage and his crew have been at … Continue reading →

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Food Diary: Kishimoto Japanese Restaurant, Vancouver

Posted on 15 January 2016 by andyq

Kishimoto is a phenomenon in Vancouver with a line-up from right before it opens until it fills up and after. My brother and sister-in-law are obsessed with this place, and I can see why. It’s top-class Japanese food, presented with … Continue reading →

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Food Diary: Royal Dinette, Vancouver

Posted on 13 January 2016 by andyq

Growing up in Vancouver, I knew the local diners, the ethnic restaurants and the special-occasion meals, often in hotel dining rooms. But that was long before all the world became foodies, and everywhere hosts interesting, contemporary and classy restaurants, that … Continue reading →

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Food Diary: Smoke’s Poutinerie, Vancouver

Posted on 11 January 2016 by andyq

The French-Canadian Poutine has gained a mythical status in the last decade or more. Vancouver has a number of different poutine restaurants, McDonalds has its own version, and I think it’s gone far beyond its origins in Quebec. When I … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life

Posted on 11 January 2016 by andyq

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara My rating: 5 of 5 stars *Non-spoiler review* A deeply emotional, beautifully written novel: full, complex and harrowing. It speaks with depth about our relationships of friendship and love, and also our relationship with … Continue reading →

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Food Diary: Playa Takeria, Darlinghurst, Sydney

Posted on 11 January 2016 by andyq

The best thing about Playa Takeria is that they serve, without hoopla, a very authentic Mexican treat called a bandera: a shot of tequila with a shot of lime and a shot of spicy tomato juice, the three colours imitating … Continue reading →

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Vancouver Food Diary: Congee Noodle House

Posted on 11 January 2016 by andyq

Known on menus as ‘Beef Brisket Water Dumpling Noodle Soup’, I think this is basically the perfect food. Of course, I’m biased. It was Dad’s favourite, and now, it is a favourite of all three of his sons. However, I … Continue reading →

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Food Diary: Battle of the Taiwanese Fried Chicken, Sydney CBD, Part 2

Posted on 11 January 2016 by andyq

A few weeks after eating at Hot Star Chicken, looking for something quick and cheap, we come across Taiwan Soul Food (missing an ‘i’). The specialty apparently is to choose a bunch of items like tofu, vegies and weird stuff, … Continue reading →

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