Traveling Tummy: Grill'd

Grill'd in Darling Harbour (They also have other branches)

Ala's cheeseburger with bacon in a traditional bun

My burger- exactly like Ala's but in a different bun

Hand Cut Chips tossed in salt, pepper and oregano I think. So good!

The words "Healthy" and "Burger" are never to be spoken in the same breath, and those that do are probably lying. Seriously, how can a quarter pound of ground beef, gooey cheese, bacon and condiments be healthy? No matter though, because for people like me, it's all about the flavor and general satisfaction food gives me. At my age, I should probably be more conscious of the health benefits I get (or don't get) from the food I eat, but before you crazy fitness freaks start preaching--I DO have my share of salad and fish marinated in nothing but lemon, pepper and garlic, but WHY would I write about boring things like that?

Anyway, this burger joint Grill'd in Sydney claims to have healthy burgers. Whether or not this is true really doesn't matter to me. They have yummy burgers in creative flavors like "Kung Fu Fighter" (with shredded carrot, satay sauce, herb mayo and coriander) and "Hot Mama" (with roasted peppers, tzatziki, cheese, salad and harissa paste) as well as a wide selection of Lamb, Chicken and Veggie burgers. You can even choose between a panini or traditional wholemeal bun and please don't miss out on their hand cut chips- they are awesome with the herbed mayo dip.

More on Grill'd here---http://www.grilld.com.au/

PS. To be fair, both my sister and I agreed that the burgers didn't give us that sick feeling after we ate it and it wasn't oily...I still don't know about "healthy" but I would go back :)

Traveling Tummy: Bacco

Prosciutto

Taleggio, dried apricots, walnuts and honey

Italian Meatballs---SUPER spicy

Italian Rice Balls

:)

One of my favorite people in Sydney asked me to dinner a couple days before I left for Manila. We went to a Wine Bar named Bacco located on the top floor of QVB in the city. We ate good cheese and prosciutto and ordered way to much food and drank too much wine. It's about 30 minutes on the train for me to get home and I had to pee the whole way home. Haha. Worth it though. Good Times, Good Food, Really nice server--he let us stay until QVB was practically locking their doors.

Current Cuisine Obsession

My next two projects/obsessions--> Moroccan and Spanish Food

Traveling Tummy: Mamak

I can never resist ROTI. I think our Indian friends actually created the PERFECT bread when they invented this one. It's nice and flat, crispy then chewy and a perfect accompaniment to food, but also good eaten alone with nothing but dips.

When we planned a Ramen night in Crow's Nest last week that didn't push through because the place was closed for the holidays (I don't remember Australia having so many, It feels like the Philippines with all the holidays and long weekends!)my friend Geraldine suggested we go to Mamak in Chatswood instead. The original Mamak branch is in the city and apparently people line up outside for over an hour sometimes to get a seat. It's been touted as the best and most authentic Malaysian restaurant in Sydney.

I am very picky with my Malaysian. I usually find it too spicy. I spent a week in Kuala Lumpur looking for chicken rice for each meal because my weak tongue couldn't take even their "mild" heat.

I originally wanted the Nasi Lemak with Ayam Goreng (Malaysian fried chicken) but guess what, they were out of chicken----WHAT!!!!! So I got it with lamb curry instead. We got a few orders of Roti Canai as well w/ curry and sambal dips.

My adorable little god daughter Kala...hungrily but patiently waiting for our food (Our order came mad quick by the way!)

World Bites: The best chicken you've never tasted!

I know I used to talk a lot about Bon Chon on Facebook and Twitter, but the true love of my chicken life is El Jannah, a hole in the wall Lebanese Charcoal Chicken place located right outside the Granville station here in Sydney.

I first tried it at a party and it instantly raised the bar for all chicken ever to enter my life. I'm not being dramatic. It's the truth.

Up close and personal

Eat With...

Hot Chips. The best ever, liberally sprinkled with Chicken Salt.

Yes, I call "fries" chips when I'm in Australia.

Tabbouleh to cleanse the palate

and...this. OMG. This is what makes this chicken a winner- forever.

Garlic Sauce. I could eat this alone. With a spoon. Disgusting I know but really, I could.

This is what I miss most about Sydney. (Sorry Friends)

Traveling Tummy: Welcoming 2011, Aussie style

If you are thinking that New Year's celebrations where you're at are good, then you obviously haven't been to Sydney to ring in the New Year.

Aside from being one of the first cities to welcome the new year, Sydney also has the biggest and best fireworks display in the world. If you haven't experienced a New Year's Eve here, I suggest you put it on your bucket list. Now.

No food in this post. Just awesome fireworks.














...and of course...what I wore. My new favorite necklace ;p

Happy New Year Everybody! 2011, are you ready for us?

Traveling Tummy: Cupcakes and Champagne

Loose Leaf tea and tea bags


Cupcakes!


Make shift tower by Ala, made of plates, tea cups and mugs-and sticky tac.


Trish's Banana Cupcake--half eaten *teehee*


Spinach Dip. *drool*


With fellow baker, Trish


With spinach dip maker cam---> We're both inked by Ricky Sta. Ana, with designs by my sister, Ala Paredes!

*Oh yeah, have I mentioned I love tattoos as much as I love food?*


and just because I love rings...


My friend Trish here in Sydney (sugarlace.com) and I decided that while I am here, we needed to have some sort of get together with us baking cupcakes. It was an Afternoon Tea party, with actually tea, but most of us were drinking wine.

On the menu:

By Me--

Barnaby
Red Light Special
Will you marry me

By Trish--

Banana cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting
Scones

Lisette brought dukkah, eaten with bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic, Cams brought spinach dip in a bread bowl, Geraldine, Miguel and Pete brought a cheese platter---aaaaand Awafi Lebanese Chicken (woohoo!) The chicken was a bit out of place but in my opinion, there is never a wrong time to eat Lebanese chicken with garlic sauce. Never.

People brought wines, mostly whites like Chardonnay, Riesling and Moscato and some Sparkling Roses. The day ended at almost 2 am. It was great catching up with friends!