Cookbookmaniac
  • 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…

  • Twelve in King St, Newtown
    Twelve in King St, Newtown
    CBD & Inner City

    Bad luck follows me wherever I go. There is always something that I am missing out on or something that I have overlooked. One rainy evening, Pizzaboy and I make our way to Newtown to try the newly opened and uber-trendy Bloodwood, only to find the windows shut and lights turned off. It is closed on Tuesdays... bummer. We walk along King St, glum faced and with no idea what to have for dinner. We walked past Twelve a couple of times before deciding on dining here. It was really our hunger that made the final decision. After being shown to our tables and looking over the menu I take a closer look at the restaurant and notice it is tasteful but haphazardly decorated. It's retro-italian, Lygon St, high school mural, arty, home furnishing shop, organic cafe style that somehow meshes together well. The restaurant is empty when we sit…

  • Ju Ju at Kings Cross – Best Value Wagyu Steak
    Ju Ju at Kings Cross – Best Value Wagyu Steak
    Asian Restaurant Reviews

    It's Pizzaboy's birthday and I surprise him with a visit to one of his favourite restaurants, Ju Ju. Ever since I've started blogging its been rare that we visit a place twice and even rarer for us to visit our old favourites. Descending the stairs you are forgiven in thinking that you have been teleported to a japanese izakaya in Osaka, Japan. Ju Ju is very charming with its wooden layout and sunken tables. Its huge menu ranges from sushi, sashimi, sukiyaki, grilled dishes, a vast array of japanese beer and a dizzying amount of small plates. Be warned - you must remove your shoes before entering the premises, so wear your nicest socks and if need be, bring along some foot deodorant. Bubble Butt and Miss South Africa (a married couple who keeps us laughing until our tummies hurt) join us to wish Pizzaboy a Happy Birthday. Pizzaboy takes…