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…

  • Tan Hung Vuong – This is how you roll it!
    Tan Hung Vuong – This is how you roll it!
    Asian Restaurant Reviews

    The food courts in Cabramatta are unlike most food courts you will find in large shopping centres. There is no KFC, McDoanlds, Doner Kebab vendors or fake-chinese stalls. They are mostly fresh and authentic foods from Vietnam, Thailand, China and Laos. In fact, KFC once opened its doors here and only lasted 6 months. The locals preferred fresh and local produce and did not welcome the idea of frozen, msg-laden fried chicken. Our favourite Vietnamese vendor is Tắn Hủng Vướng in AA Supermarket. We come here quite often when we want fast and cheap food. Almost all of the menu items are $10 or less and they make great Vietnamese coffee. Their menu contains a vast array of Vietnamese dishes, mostly specialising in cold noodle items and wraps or rolls. They also have hot noodles like Bún bò Huế and Bánh canh. They make a great Bò kho too. Pizzaboy…

  • Soffritto in Newtown – Oh my! How good is this!
    Soffritto in Newtown – Oh my! How good is this!
    CBD & Inner City

    Have you ever stumbled upon a place and given it serious consideration and then passed it up. Only to find that many days later the curiosity has grown from the size of pea to a giant watermelon? I was gazing into the window of this little restaurant one evening and did just that. It only had 15 items on its menu, the lighting was very low and there wasn't anyone in there at 6pm. However, there was something about it... an air of mystique. It got the better of me one boring Thursday afternoon at work and I rang to make a reservation for Friday date night with the boy. Phone call made on Thursday afternoon "Hello? This is Soffritto." "Hi, I would like to make a reservation for 2 people at 6.30pm on Friday night." "Ahh.... yes, we are able to fit you in. It will be a full…