FRATELLI FRESH CAFE SOPRA NEW STORE

WOOHOOO!!! Hubond just sent me an email that Cafe Sopra are opening another location right near my work - now that is dangerous!!! Tomorrow Thurs 10 Nov new store opens at 11 Bridge Street in the CBD. Trading hours M-F only at present (Saturday coming in 2 weeks) the usual: 12 - 3pm for lunch and 6 - 10pm for dinner. Pizzeria, Mozarella Bar open 12noon - 10pm.

MAMASITA MELBOURNE TAKE 2

I love Melbourne. I was there yesterday on a magazine pitch which we won (hooray!) and thought to treat myself to possibly my favourite restaurant in Australia - MAMASITA.

Mamasita is located at 1/11 Collins Street in the CBD, it's upstairs and since normally Melbournians don't que for anything and there was a long line, it has to be good right? Well it is, it's sensational. It should be noted that their entire menu is also gluten free which is so hard to find for my fellow coeliacs so they should be very happy. It has the best tequila menu of any restaurant I have ever been to.

I started with their signature margarita on the rocks, made with Agavero then ordered to accompany the Prawn Taco (de Camarones: marinated prawns, red chilli and chipolte almond salsa) and Ceviche de Yucutan (market fish, green tomato, chilli, mint and coconut milk)... perfect Then finished off with Quinoa Salad (Quinoa, chilli, salsa, corn, coriander and pico de salsa) and the Grilled Prawns with toasted garlic and green almond sauce) love it! Visit them next time your in Melbourne or check out the rest of the amazing menu at http://www.mamasita.com.au/

CENTRAL MARKET ADELAIDE

I had such a lovely weekend in Adelaide with the beautiful Olivia and Stackey! We went for a quick visit to celebrate Stackey's 30th and I'm so glad we went. You can't visit Adelaide and not go to the Central Markets in the CBD, it has the most amazing fresh produce from mainly the local area. The cheese, wine, small goods, bread, fruit, veggies are all so fresh and so tasty. The last time we visited we came here first, filled a picnic bag full of goodies then headed straight to the Barossa for our own food & wine adventure. I love that Adelaide and South Australians are so very proud of their state and what they produce, and so they should be, it is first class.

The markets also hold special events like the above Great Sustainable Spencer Gulf King prawn BBQ. Fri 11 November you can join Simon Bryant as he presents the first ever sustainable prawn BBQ. This event celebrates the Spencer Gulf King prawns becoming the first in the WORLD to be certified sustainable by the MSC www.msc.org matched with some equally amazing and sustainable wine - you can't miss out, I'm sad to not be there!!!

Visit http://www.adelaidecentralmarket.com.au for more information

SYDNEY FESTIVAL LINE-UP

Hooray, it's that time of year again when Sydney comes alive!! I always say to any tourists wanting to visit Australia and Sydney in particular you must come during Jan/Feb - yes yes it's hot but Sydney is the most vibrant and exciting it will ever be all year. They've just announced Sydney Festival Line-up visit http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2012/ get your tickets early to avoid sell out.

THE ART LOUNGE & SUSHI YACHIYO

The Kirketon Hotel http://www.8hotels.com/sydney-hotels/kirketon-hotel/ was the place to be a few years ago, in particularly for Luke Mangan's restaurant 'Salt'. I had attended so many functions and private dinners there, it was fab. Since the closure of the restaurant I've never been back until last night. The beautiful Rone and I met for a drink here and I have to say, I loved it. The setting is just beautiful and my margarita was excellent. In fact, everything was pretty wonderful - service, drinks, food - why haven't I been here before?

After some careful research I find that it has a French Algerian background which is clearly reflected in the menu, highly recommended located at 229 Darlinghurst Rd http://www.theartlounge.com.au

After drinks we meet up with Jackie and complex Dave for a feast at Sushi Yachiyo, again I sit there in total disbelief that again another fantastic NO amazing place like this has passed me by. It's hidden away, located at 1/13 Kirketon Rd in Darlinghurst, around the corner from the hotel down a laneway, it's a super small restaurant but intimate and the food quality is 5 star.

I'm a huge fan of the 'Popcorn Shrimp' at Sake www.sakerestaurant.com.au but have to say (big call) that their version is better! Really well priced, good size portions, super fresh.

We start with a couple of salads: Crunchy Salad (Green salad with crunchy lotus root chips and sesame dressing) and Green Tea Noodle Salad (Green tea noodles and mixed leaf salad with sesame shiso dressing). Divine... it had almost like a Japanese Slaw on the bottom to soak up the amazing shiso dressing.

We then proceed to the Popcorn Shrimp and the Prawn Miso Walnut Roll (Inside-out avocado roll wrapped in prawn with walnut and miso sauce). The Mushroom Agedashi was sensational and the various Aburi Sushi was so fresh. I need to think of any reason to come back here again and again - check out the menu for yourself at http://www.yachiyo.com.au

SHORTGRAIN SYDNEY

Longrain www.longrain.com.au has been an favourite destination in Sydney for some time. Around the beginning of the year, they opened a sister cafe (at the back of the main restaurant) located at 8-10 Hunt Street Surry Hills called Shortgrain ;)

On my travels yesterday I decided to stop in and have a mini feast. I had the Squid Salad with lemongrass, mint and red chilli nahm jim and Chinese Broccoli, which was light and delicious. It maintains the same fresh vibrant flavours as Longrain but in smaller lunch style portions for the people on the go. The Salad was $14 and the Chinese Broccoli about $5 so not bad. The menu changes on a regular basis depending on ingredients in season. Stop in on your next trek through Surry Hills. Some other options included a beautifully presented Silken Tofu with Tamarind and Sesame dressing, Massamam Curry of Beef, Fried Barossa Chicken with Peanut Sauce - plenty of options from vegetarian to the carnivores ;) Visit http://www.longrain.com.au/sydney_shortgrain.htm for more info