Cookbookmaniac
  • The Smokehouse – Vintage quirky and mighty delicious
    The Smokehouse – Vintage quirky and mighty delicious
    Australian Restaurant Reviews

    I love to travel. Take me to any exotic place and I will not fear to venture out on my own. There is nothing more exhilarating than to get lost in a city and discovering its many hidden treasures without the aid of a travel book or map. Pizzaboy and I have not been able to travel as much as we use to since we decided to settle down and buy a home. All our savings are now being banked up in a volt for when we find the right place. Isn't it odd that we must save money to borrow money? We have had to give up on a lot of things in pursuit of the homeownership dream, but we are not able to sacrifice the luxury of eating out. The discovery of The Smokehouse had left me with the same joyful feeling as when I travel without a…

  • Plan B by Becasse – Wagyu Burgers
    Plan B by Becasse – Wagyu Burgers
    Australian Restaurant Reviews

    I have a growing desire to work closer to home. I currently live approximately an hour away from Sydney CBD and use to happily travel the distance everyday for many years. I no longer have the patience to be going back and forth for such long periods of time so frequently. Unfortunately, one of the pitfalls of not working in the city is missing out on establishments like Plan B. Plan B is the off-shoot, miniature cafe of Becasse, the main posh restaurant is just next door. It's only open Monday to Friday, 9to5. Grrrr. This is an absolute bummer for a wagyu-obsessed foodie like myself. Plan B serve a much applauded 600-day grass-fed Wagyu Beef Burger. Ever since I read about it in the Sydney Morning Heralds Good Food Guide 2010, I have been daydreaming about when I make pilgrimage to the teeny-tiny cafe. I took a planned day-off…

  • Autumn from the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch
    American Restaurant Reviews

    This has to be the most charming book that I own. It is a recipe book but also includes entertaining and decorating ideas for the month of autumn. The book is filled with watercoloured sketches, hand-written recipes and sentimental quotes. The recipes take advantage of the best nature has to offer and includes chapters on Halloween and thanksgiving. I also appreciate that most of the recipes are time & cost effective and healthy. These are family recipes that you will want to make time and time again.