Sunday 31 August 2014

hidden gem

Tucked away in the backstreets of Kirribilli and offering uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbour, Anvil Coffee Co encapsulates shabby-chic with extraordinary quality.

Launching late 2013, the cafe literally sits alongside Kirribilli wharf and is small, but oh-so cosy. Sourcing reclaimed materials - anything from wooden planks to old school chairs - cafe owners Paul Makomaski, Alex Williams and Rani Reddy built the cafe from the ground up.

The atmosphere is laid-back and friendly, allowing their key focus of seasonal produce and Fat Poppy (their unique blend of Single Origin coffee) to really stand out.

We ordered coffee, The Antonio and Bircher Museli. Beyond expectations.

Cafe: Anvil Coffee Co
Coffee: Single Origin
Total bill: Approx. $40
Hours: Mon-Fri 6.30am-2pm; Sat-Sun 7am-3pm
Must order: The Antonio







Monday 25 August 2014

living up to the name

It's hard to believe that such a beautiful sanctuary exists in the middle of Sydney CBD. In fact, my husband and I walked past the entrance a handful of times because it's so well hidden.

A member of the Relais & Chateaux family, Tetsuya's Restaurant originally opened in 1989 and has consistently been named as one of Sydney's best restaurant. Over the past couple of years however, I've heard mixed reviews. So of course I wanted to make up my own mind...



From the minute you walk into the restaurant you're completely in awe. The waiters are quick to take your jacket and seat you in the dining room, overlooking the exquisite Japanese garden. 

We had the ten-course degustation menu with accompanying wines. Tetsuya's cuisine is quite unique; a Japanese philosophy enhanced by classic French technique. There were - of course - additional dishes and wines which come highly recommended by the restaurant. And it just so happens that we both have a weakness for Pacific Oysters and fine wines.




From the 340 year-old Sake through to his signature Ocean Trout, the entire dining experience at Tetsuya's Restaurant was incredible and comes highly recommended. Every dish was seasonal, light and fresh; the only disappointment was the final meal. The dark chocolate cake was extremely rich and to be honest seemed a little left field.

Restaurant: Tetsuya's
Total price: Approx $800
Hours: Dinner Tue-Fri from 6pm; Lunch Sat from 12pm; Dinner Sat from 6.30pm
Must order: Some of the additional extras