dom's favourites
This is where I get to disclose all my favourite places to shop, eat, eat, and pamper and eat (and that's shopping for food of course!). If you come across somewhere you think I would love, let me know and I will add it to my list.
shopping for organics/health foods
Mrs Flannery's, Annerley Road, Wooloongabba
Wray Organics, Ennogera Road, Newmarket
The Natural Food Store, Mons Road, Forest Glen
Northey Street Organic Markets, every Sunday
The Meating Place, Organic Butcher, Paddington
Sun and Earth Whole Foods, Brunswick Street, New Farm - And Nereda is sensational: when I come down with a cold or am feeling run down, she gives me a magic potion in a bottle. A couple of days later, I am back on my feet. She is great.
And of course the Power House Markets - I am so glad they don't take credit.
pampering/organic and natural makeup
Most pampering I do myself - natural, nourishing body food recipes to come
Perfect Potion, Vulture Street, West End
Hand Made Naturals, Gladstone Road, West End
favourite restaurants
Breakfast
Cirque, Brunswick Street New Farm - Although get in early; I never understood lining up for breakfast ... is there a niche in the market at New Farm there? It is always excellent.
Green Oven Whole of Soul Food, Samford Road, Alderley - Fabulous organic breakfast, although they weren't open that last time I rocked up on a Sunday morning, so ring first.
Fundamental Foods - I can't go past the organic eggs. They make my day and I love them for breakfast.
Northey Street Markets - Beautiful day, organic sausage, egg and onions on bread, while shopping and juggling a chai latte. It's a challenge but there is something so wholesome about it, especially when the sauce starts to drizzel down your arm ... it really makes me smile for the whole day.
Cheapish eats -
Most of the Asian fare along Hardgrave Road, West End
The Hari Krishna Cafe next to Perfect Potion, Vulture Street, West End - Tuesdays is discount day and the vegetarian food is great.
Best Dahl: at the Bombay Dhaba, West End Central
Best Palak Paneer: at Sitar at New Farm on James Street - Yes, it is addictive!
Best Pizza: Vespa, Arriva, New Farm and Neo's at West End - Yes, maybe I need to get out more and move beyond New Farm and West End ...
Byblos, Portside - Great Lebanese, fantastic cocktails and lush seating. I usually go when it's a little quieter rather than on Friday or Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons with a little sun shine is lovely. (There is a lot of cement, though.)
Cou Cou Lounge, Lytton Road, East Brisbane - Very affordable inner-city dining, fantastic cocktails, lovely service always, great diverse menu which is very tasty and satisfying. Great relaxing atmosphere with comfortable lounging couches.
Bretts Wharf - The man himself, always a gentleman, Alastair, and with views to match the food. No wonder it's a huge success.
Dining- Brisbane
Mondo Organics, Hardgrave Road, West End - New amazing chef of course! The food's always fantastic and it's organic!
Alto at the Power House - Bold wonderful flavours and excellent consistency with quality.
Salon Bar Dining, Macquarie Street, Teneriffe - Always loved Salon. Small tasty morsels of well-designed and creative food combinations. A great place for first dates.
Simpatico Bar Bisto, Given and Latrobe Terrace, Paddington - Again, wonderful morsels on tasting plates if you wish. Great to go with the girls, share an array of dishes, a couple glasses of wine, and no sharing on the desserts!
Liquorish Bistro and Bar, Oxford Street, Bulimba - I obviously have a thing for the tapas style of eating; I think its because I can't stand to miss out on tasting something, so I love anywhere that I can taste at least four or five (even six, if I am really hungry) different dishes, flavours, textures. It's like I'm taking my palate dancing.
Tiramisu Bar Ristorante, Paddington Shopping Centre - Simple uncomplicated Italian and the beautiful Rose on the floor.
Isis Brasserie, Brunswick Street, The Valley - For most of my special occasions. Always a delight.
Brents, Miskin Street, Toowong - Amazing degustation, artistic presentation and a wonderful evening of new food sensations.
Dining - Sydney
Glass Brasserie, Hilton Hotel - Had dinner with a funny stranger: I got my nights mixed up and ended up on my own and so was he. Food was beautiful; decor, stories and laughter was better.
Sub Solo, King Street - Fantastic Spanish tapas, sexy decor of dim lights, lots of different textures in the furnishings, and an amazing charcoal bbq with table skewers. Great cocktails as well.
Bilsons, Radison Hotel - Yes, Manu from Ready Steady Cook. Had a beautiful French degustation where I really needed to sit and wait till I could move. Some unusual dishes and flavours but wonderful light and shade with the food and each course almost like a different symphony.
Pony Lounge and Dining, The Rocks Centre - As real as the man Damian. Great place to catch up for a bite before heading out.
(OK, yes. When I head down to Sydney to film, I do make a habit of going out to a different restaurant everytime I am there. I am a chef after all and I love to eat. It's a given that the first to visit are the restaurants of all the kids on the show.)
Il Piave - Real Italian run by this gutsy chick and her brother. Can't remember where it was but the food was real, she was real, and, god, she loved it. So did I.
Vinnies Restaurant, Hume Highway, Casula - Again somewhere in Sydney. All I know was that it took 1 1/2 hours to get there from Star City. We may as well have travelled to Italy, the food was sensational. Classic rustic Italian, home-made olives, home-made rock bread with olive oil and tomatoes, home-made pasta: everything was unbelieveable. I almost made it to the end but threw in the white flag when the tenth platter came out and we were asked after that if we wanted desserts.
The Red Lantern - Again somewhere in Sydney. Beautiful Vietnamese. Book early; even the well known have to wait in line at this place.
The Press Club, Melbourne - George what can I say: an experience of the most amazing culinary proportions. Your staff, the food, the flavours, your ideas ... I wouldn't have wanted to shared it with anyone anyway.
Sweeties
Giotto Gelato, Sydney - And available here in Brisbane from selected stores. Okay, so after the tenth platter I did have a tub of gelato, two flavours. "There is always room for gelato", Peter Giotto, the gelato king himself.
Gerbino's, Brunswick Street, New Farm - For the assortment of biscotti that is great to take as a dinner offering and it always blows people away.
Any great gelato; I'm always there with a spoon in hand.
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