Chloe just graduated and was about to return home to Hong Kong then. Though I got to know Chloe not too long ago, she’s one of the most unassuming people I know and often brings humour to the table. Innocence personified, she comes complete with a heart of gold. 😉

For the benefit of those who’re not familiar with the drink, Sangria is basically a wine punch that consists of red wine, sliced fruits and brandy. It’s commonly found in Spain and Portugal. I like it because it’s sweet.

The large windows open up into exposed bar counters, letting in warm bursts of sunlight which are a much welcomed relief from the wintry weather.

Le Monde was one of the cafes on our checklist (it had a 3 cups rating in 2011, which means the coffee here is top notch!) and that was where we headed after breakfast at Bills. Latte is JW’s favourite type of coffee and it’s not difficult to see why.

The food menu looked interesting but we were way too full from breakfast to stomach anything else. We’ll definitely make a mental note to come back here for a meal though!

I also ordered the home-made lemonade, but honestly, it’s nothing to shout about as it tastes more like soda water with lemon juice.

I’m not ordering this ever again. Haha.

For more information on bills, do check out their website at http://www.bills.com.au/

Have a good weekend ahead!

The price of the food here is about 3-4 times that of hawker food in Singapore, but the portions are about 3-4 times more too. 😉 I especially like that I can taste the wok hei (the flavour and essence from stir frying with a wok), which in Chinese cooking, is a testament to the chef’s superb culinary skills.

My next favourite dish here is Hor fun. For the record, I don’t even like Hor Fun at all, but this is irresistibly good. I’ll post a photo of it when I next order it. 😉

I don’t usually take tea, because it makes my heart palpitate and caffeine makes me hungry very quickly, but I have never given the Teh Tarik here a miss. I’ve never had Teh Tarik that tastes this good!

I recall that Angela was with me the last time I went looking for Hurricane at Darling Harbour. It took us a while to find the restaurant and in the process, we came across this strange Thai restaurant called Thai Foon Restaurant, which really cracked us up. I guess Australians really fancy typhoons and hurricanes. LOL. Alas, the Darling Harbour branch was fully booked and I didn’t have the chance to step in then.

We shared a full rack, which looks so much larger in real life than it does in pictures, that my jaw dropped momentarily when it was served. I love ribs. It is an absolute joy to tear the juicy, succulent and well-marinated meat from the bones and savour the decadent goodness of it all.

Now, excuse me while I reach for my Krispy Kreme donut.

And of course, it definitely helps when you have newfound friends to share in the joy of eating. 😀 I love getting food recommendations from friends because quality is always assured!

I also love that my hair is now much longer. The best part is, I don’t have to style it at all. It stays arrow straight and smooth all day. YAY!

Reuben Hills is located at Surry Hill, home to most of the hippest cafes in town. As we stood in line for our turn, we realized this is also where the dressiest and most fashionable crowd hang out in Sydney.

Let’s take a peek at the menu, shall we?

The cafe is famous for its coffee, which is rich and potent. Another popular favourite is the salted caramel milkshake. It comes in a gigantic tin cup and one sip is enough to blow your mind.

We shared a table with 2 friendly Australian ladies who not only offered to take a couple shot for us, but also gave us recommendations on places to visit.

The potent concoction. In general, the coffee in Sydney is much better than that in Singapore.

JW had the spice grilled chicken fillet burger. The food here is surprisingly good!

I had the soft baked eggs with shaved jamon. If you’re familiar with Wild Honey in Singapore, this is the equivalent of Tunisian on their menu. I like Wild Honey’s version, but sadly, it pales in comparison to Reuben Hills’.

After filling our tummies, we drove further down the street where all the vintage shops are situated!

Grandma Takes a Trip and Cream on Crown (http://www.creamonline.com.au/) are 2 of the most popular vintage shops in Sydney.

Besides vintage clothes, you’ll also find a record store (http://www.recordstore.com.au/) that specializes in vinyl records.

Even the drivers on the road are polite and always ready to give way when you signal. Everyone’s graciousness is so infectious, it’s no wonder Australia is crowned the happiest country in the world!

I don’t exactly have high expectations of my own cooking, but I must say the 2 recipes that I tried out and improvised upon recently have turned out to be pretty yummy!

Sorry to have gone missing over the past couple of days. Right after we came back from our ski trip at Snowy Mountains , we headed to Canberra for a 2-day trip and I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate Sydney after visiting Canberra.

I love Sydney’s quaint suburbs, complete with quirky cafes and weekend markets. Located south-west of the CBD, Glebe is one such suburb that bursts into life on weekends.

The Glebe Saturday market is a huge attraction. Its wide variety of knick knacks, eclectic clothes, accessories and vintage ware is a feast for the eyes and the main reason why visitors flock here every Saturday!

In an era where brick-and-mortar bookstores are closing down one after another, it is extremely comforting to be know that one of Sydney’s best loved secondhand bookstore is located right at the heart of Glebe, across from the hustle and bustle of the Glebe markets.

It’s not commonly found in Singapore, but essentially, it tastes just like Bouvril, which I used to love when I was a kid. It has since become a staple in my kitchen. 😉