Posts tagged cheap and cheerful

Gyros? Yeeros? The Yeeros Shop, Marrickville

Review
Lamb Gyros, The Yeeros Shop: Sydney Food Blog Review

Lamb Gyros, The Yeeros Shop: Sydney Food Blog Review

“So the other day, Simon and I went for lunch…”

“Do all your stories start out with food?”

Sam got a smack in the arm for that, but you know what? He’s not wrong. All my stories DO start out with food and I’ve got the waistline to show for it. I wear it like a badge of honour, on my…belly.

ANYWAY.

Simon and I DID go out for lunch one rainy afternoon, making a special trip to Marrickville to visit Blackforest Smokehouse for their cured goods, on the same morning we found out that cured meat was bad for you. Like really really bad for you.

Talk about timing, huh?

So packets of bacon and chorizo later, we found ourselves standing outside The Yeeros shop in Marrickville, because it seemed just a little too on-the-nose to just rip into our newly-bought cancer meats like the starving food bloggers that we were.

What’s the difference between Gyros and Yeeros, anyway?

Whatever it is, all I know is that it means for me spiced meat with fresh veggies, rolled in a soft wheat wrap. A thin sheet of baking paper tries its darndest to hold together a straining roll of lamb and sauce, but it really serves little structural purpose, like a woman’s negligee. This meal was designed for you to get messy with it, and messy with it we shall get.

Lamb Gyros, The Yeeros Shop: Sydney Food Blog Review

Chunks of browned lamb and shreds of lettuce spill out between my fingers with every bite, and I had the pleasure to lick it off with garlic-vinegar-dipped chunky chips that smelled intensely of potatoes. No no, this wasn’t just the “deep fried chip” aroma that follows you lovingly like a besotted suitor, no. This was some serious potato black magic, and the chips just tasted intensely of the actual vegetable, with every steaming bite that we took.

And it was many many bites, too, because the serving was so large that neither Simon nor I could actually finish it in its entirety. And that’s on top of us sharing one small order of chips. Great to share, although I’m not sure how it would go down with the ‘authentic’ service – I really don’t know what is it about good, hearty food like this that requires brusque service and people who talk to you like you don’t know anything Jon Snow, but I’m happy to sign up to the experience.

I am Asian, after all.

Definitely drop by for a shared lunch if you’re in the area, or make the trip out with friends and go on a food crawl! I heard that there’s a really good pickle shop in the area…

This meal was independently paid for.
The Yeeros Shop
431 Illawarra Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: +61 2 9559 1167
Website: theyeerosshop.com.au/

The Yeeros Shop Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Momo Brasserie, Sydney CBD

Review 1 Comment
Momo Brasserie Review. Sydney Food Blog Review

Momo's Wagyu Brioche, $20, Momo Brasserie: Sydney Food Blog ReviewMomo’s Wagyu Brioche

I’m not the kind of girl that needs her coffee in the morning to operate. In fact, I’m not the kind of girl to operate in the morning at all.

But that’s besides the point.

Cappuccino, Momo Brasserie: Sydney Food Blog ReviewCappuccino

Unlike so many sleep-deprived 20-somethings out there, the caffeine in coffee doesn’t actually have an effect on me, so I’m extra picky about how my coffee tastes. Di Bella Coffee blends and roasts their own coffee out of Queensland. From what I’ve tried at Momo Brasserie, it’s actually a pretty good cuppa. It was aromatic without being burnt and bitter, and unlike many of the coffee places I’ve been to, this didn’t require the cloak of milk and sugar to mask badly handled beans. Very slightly acidic and fruity, with lots of body without a burned aftertaste.

The food was a bit hit and miss for me. The Wagyu Brioche (pictured above), $20, was dry and somewhat uninspiring – not the two words you’d wanna hear in the same sentence as “wagyu” and “brioche”. It was saved entirely by the chips on the plate, though, with just the right amount of crispy to fluffy ratio, and a salty bite that keeps you going back for more.

The New York Pastrami, $19.50, makes all the WHO cancer warnings worthwhile. I love me some cancer meat. A heaping mountain of house-made pastrami lay atop toasted rye with pickles and mustard, and a refreshing slaw and cut through the brininess of the meat. A serving large enough for two, but only eaten by one.

Momo's New York Pastrami, $19.50, Momo Brasserie: Sydney Food Blog ReviewMomo’s New York Pastrami, $19.50

It’s mine, ALL MINE Y’HEAR?!

So good coffee, and okay food. But what about the service? Well, the service was incredibly attentive – I pre-ordered because Sam was on a ticking lunch break, and they paid attention to when he arrived and made the coffee and food accordingly. Very meticulous, and very seamless. Definitely somewhere to go on a lunch break time pump, if only for the coffee and the service, just maybe avoid the burger and get anything with that house made pastrami in it.

Mmmmm. Delicious cancer meat.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Di Bella Coffee.
Momo Brasserie
65 Elizabeth St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9233 8838
Website: www.momobrasserie.com.au/

Momo Brasserie Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sponsored Review: Soul Origin, Rhodes

Review
Soul Origin, Rhodes: Sydney Food Blog Review

Smoked Salmon Benedict, Soul Origin, Rhodes: Sydney Food Blog Review

What IS fast food, really? Is it any good that’s just fast? Or does it have to be a food that’s bad for you? For me, it’s always been more of the latter. It doesn’t matter how the Food Giants spin it, it’s always been bad for me, and I like it.

What can I say? I’m a sadist like that.

In the more recent times though (omg I feel so old!) there’s been a shift in the perception of fast food. No longer a shorthand for greasy artery-clogging food, it’s now more about light, healthy, and that eastern-suburb-coffee lifestyle. Well, like Soul Origin is offering up with its many kiosks popping up around Sydney.

I went to the newest one in Rhodes, greeted by the effervescent Loula, who’s the franchisee. Staff swarming around her, looking to her for direction..all classic signs of first-day-training for a brand new food outlet. We select a range of food – Sam happily has Soul Origin for breakfast, so it’ll be interesting to compare the consistency across outlets – and take our little brown bags away to unwrap our brunch.

Smoked Salmon Benedict, Soul Origin, Rhodes: Sydney Food Blog ReviewSmoked Salmon Benedict

On the breakfast front, we chose the Smoked Salmon Benedict and the Chorizo and egg wrap. The eggs in the Benedict are cooked all the way through – an unfortunate by-product of health and safety rules for pre-cooking eggs – and the bread is soft. I’m not a big fan of the hollandaise: if it can’t be made fresh, hollandaise can come off as a tepid, slightly tasteless cousin of mayonnaise. In these cases, I say, just use Mayo and call it something else, and your life will be much better for it. There was an adequate amount of smoked salmon though, which is much better than many takeaway breakfasts out there.

Chorizo and Egg Wrap, Soul Origin, Rhodes: Sydney Food Blog ReviewChorizo and Egg Wrap

The Chorizo and Egg wrap was a much MUCH better option, especially when eaten warm. The cheese melts around the salty chorizo, and the soft wrap just holds it all together. Sam says that the wrap isn’t as generous here as his usual order at Town Hall, but I still think that flavour-wise it’s very balanced, and a pleasure to eat.

Achiote Chicken Panini, Soul Origin, Rhodes: Sydney Food Blog ReviewGrilled Chicken Panini

The Grilled Chicken Panini is flavoured with an achiote paste: a Mexican marinade made with citrus, annato (also called achiote) paste, a touch of chilli, garlic and herbs. As far as a chicken sandwich goes, it’s pretty good, but not quite as good a filling to bread ratio as the wraps. Now if only you can just get the filling on its own…

Variety of Salads, Soul Origin, Rhodes: Sydney Food Blog Review

Oh wait, you can! Soul Origin serves up a selection of salads, with many of the ingredients overlapping with the wraps and paninis, in case you want the low carb option. The individual components – roasted veg, beans, beef, chicken – are made in a satellite kitchen off site, and delivered to outlets all over Sydney and assembled on the day.

We got to try a little bit of everything available, and the chicken schnitzel was actually a favourite, followed by the roast veg. Usually, cooked chicken breast doesn’t hold up so well in terms of texture, but they’ve done well with the schnitzel, keeping the crust crisp, around a thin layer of chicken.

At its core, Soul Origin doesn’t pretend to be anything fancier than it is: it’s providing an alternative to the fast food that we love to hate, and maybe give you something a little different for a weekday lunch. Does it have the most amazing sandwiches in Sydney? No, but it does pretty well in the takeaway category.

Oh, and one last thing: if you’re looking for a little afternoon pick-me-up that’s not your normal coffee, try a suggestion from Loula – a dirty chai is a shot of coffee in a chai latte, and it’s pretty darn good. Soul Origin already has a reputation for its coffee, and hopefully now, a little something different.

Insatiable Munchies dined as a sponsored guest of Soul Origin, Rhodes.
Soul Origin
Kiosk 5, Rhodes Waterside
1 Rider Boulevard
Rhodes NSW 2138
Phone: 02 8765 1162
Website: http://www.soulorigin.com.au

The Asian Equation: Pappa Rich, Parramatta

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Pappa Rich, Parramatta

Sydney Food Blog Review of Pappa Rich, Parramatta: Char Kway Teow

Chain restaurants are really a double edged sword. If they’re good, you know that you’ll get it consistently good no matter where you go. But if they’re bad, then well, there’s no saving that relationship.

At least you know that you can always trust them one way or the other. So at least there’s that.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Pappa Rich, Parramatta: Satay

I’ve been to Pappa Rich a few times before, and well, they are consistent. Bad news is that they seem to be consistently average – childhood favourites get the slightly-more-authentic-than-western-but-less-consistent-than-asian treatment – but at least you know what you’re getting going in.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Pappa Rich, Parramatta: Char Kway Teow

Which doesn’t exaplin my temporary amnesia everytime I choose to walk in when I’m feeling nostaligic. I mean, I know that I’m not getting the hit of home that I want, but for some reason I can’t help myself. The Char Kway Teow didn’t have the wok hei that I wanted, but the satay was tender and properly spiced.

You win some you lose some I guess. Maybe I should stick to ordering fried chicken skin.

Mmmmm. Chicken skin.

This meal was independently paid for.
Pappa Rich, Parramatta
Shop 220, Westfield Parramatta
159-175 Church Street
Parramatta, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9633 3387
Website: http://www.papparich.net.au

PappaRich Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Tenkomori, Sydney CBD

Review 1 Comment

Sydney Food Blog Review of Tenkomori, Sydney CBD

You know how some brands have a luxury line and a everyday line, but basically sell the same thing? Like Lexus and Toyota, for example, are owned by the same parent company, and on a smaller scale…

Menya and Tenkomori.

In fact, Menya, Mappen, Oiden, Tenkomori, Chanoma and Dera Uma are owned by the same people, and they specialise in bringing you quick, tasty food in a no frills sorta way.

In other words, self service is pretty much the name of the game.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Tenkomori, Sydney CBD: Tonkotsu Beef Ramen

But before you start thinking you’ll have to slum it like a budget airline, the Menya group of restaurants have been pretty good at serving up tasty, value-for-money food. Especially in the CBD. I’ve long been a fan of Mappen and their $5 udon bowls, so it was good to have a look at what Tenkomori had to offer.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Tenkomori, Sydney CBD: Chilli Pork Tsukemen

I’d previously been quite unimpressed with Tenkomori – the ni-tamago didn’t hold the sexy ooze that it was meant to, and the sides were all rather uninspiring. Mind you, I went on opening day, which carried with it all the teething prolems, but is a runny yolk really too much to ask for?

I can’t comment on the yolk this time because I chose to get something else, but I’m happy to report that the new menu items – like the Cold Chilli Pork Noodle with Sesame sauce (pictured above) were moreish and delicious. Al dente noodles and tangy sauce, savoury pork mince with my favourite onsen egg? Yes please!

The ramen, not so much. Especially when Menya is just round the corner.

Oh and before I forget, Washoku Lovers Members get a free side dish! So if you’re a loyalty card holder like me, you’re in luck.

Now if only I can get a one stop shop for all my Udon, Donburi and Ramen needs..

Washoku Lovers is a free membership programme that gives you perks to many Japanese restaurants in Sydney! We also have visited other restaurants participating in the Washoku Lovers programme, like Suminoya and Oiden! To find out more about the programme and sign up, visit www.washokulovers.com.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Tenkomori.
Tenkomori
16/501 George St
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9266 0660
Website: http://tenkomori.com.au

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Newtown Thai II, Newtown

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Newtown Thai II, Newtown

Sydney Food Blog Review of Newtown Thai II, Newtown

Memories are a funny thing. Every time I feel like Thai food, I have a strong compulsion to hike it down to Newtown, back to the days of long uni lunch breaks in between classes.

So naturally, when I happen to find myself in Newtown, I head for Thai food! The math works out.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Newtown Thai II, Newtown

Newtown Thai II is a favourite amongst students and hipsters alike with their fast service and turnaround, and super duper cheap lunch deals. Their Pad Thai is something that fills me with nostaligia..and also fills me with MASSIVE portions.

Not the best around necessarily, but ticks all the right boxes of cheap, quick, convenient and easy. It’s the sequel, for a reason! If you’re in Newtown, and decide to walk down memory lane, I would totes recommend stopping by, just for that povo Uni student experience. I know I will be.

This meal was independently paid for.
Newtown Thai II
105 King St
Newtown, NSW
Phone: +61 2 9519 1197
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newtown-Thai-II/188586414499482

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When the moon hits your eye: Pizza Design Co., Parramatta

Review
Review of Pizza Design Co., Parramatta | Sydney Food Blog by Tammi Kwok

Review of Pizza Design Co., Parramatta | Sydney Food Blog by Tammi Kwok

Subway has copped a LOT of crap, but you know what? They’ve got a good system going. People get to pick what they want for a single price point, and it’s quick and easy. The illusion of choice, without too much going on.

If only life was that easy.

Now what if you can apply a system like that to, say, pizza?

Review of Pizza Design Co, Parramatta

Pizza Design Co. in Parramatta has applied just such a system. The steps are simple: pick your base, sauce, cheese, toppings, and you’re all done! $15, and see you later.

Exactly like Subway, without the cookie at the end.

Review of Pizza Design Co, Parramatta

The pizza was actually surprisingly good. There’s something to be said about things hot from the oven, but even then, the base was a great chewy texture, the toppings light and relatively fresh, and it was a fairly good portion for $15. The service was polite and fast, and by people who generally look happy to be there.

We all know that this isn’t some top notch gourmet experience, but really, you weren’t expecting that were you? I know I wasn’t, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Not bad. Not too bad at all.

This meal was independently paid for.
Pizza Design Co.
279 – 281 Church Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone: 02 9687 6667
Website: http://www.pizzadesignco.com.au

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