EATS | LE COMPTOIR DE LA GASTRONOMIE (Paris, France)

Located in the heart of Les Halles, Le Comptoir de La Gastronomie shines the spotlight on the south west of France. A gourmet grocery store and restaurant famous for its duck foie gras, terrines and cassoulet. With stunning marble bar tops, tiles underfoot and walls laden with gourmet products, a visit here is a must. Get in early and reserve a table and don't miss the foie gras carpaccio with honey sauce and sea salt like we did.

House platter of duck foie gras, chutney and toast

Shepherd's pie with duck and mushroom sauce

Bourgogne snails, very big

Foie gras ravioli with a truffle sauce

BAKED DELIGHTS 🥐🥖 | COLIN REGIS (Paris France)

When my sister’s Parisien friend shared a little insider info… ‘the best boulangerie-patisserie in Paris, in my humble opinion’, naturally it was our first stop. Order up and find a park bench to share your baked goods. Recommend arriving early as stocks were running low in the afternoon.

EAT | MUKKI'S RANTANG (Amsterdam, Holland)

Somewhere amongst the stroopwaffles and pickled herring stalls in Amsterdam’s bustling Zuidermarkt you’ll find Mukki's Rantang. Cooking up honest home-style Indonesian dishes, oh she had me at rendang. It’s discovering gems like this that make travelling more memorable.

EATS | AU PETIT FER A CHEVAL (Paris, France)

Holiday dilemma #496… should your last meal be traditional cuisine of the destination? For us, the answer was yes. So we found a stylishly shabby old bistro, Au Petit fer a Cheval in Le Marais, that has likely not changed the menu since 1963. Soup du jour, Steak tartare, Duck confit and Beef bouguignon satisfied that calling for traditional French fare.  

CHEESE DREAMS 🧀🧀 | LA FERMETTE ​​​​​​​(Paris, France)

Cheese heaven! The best thing about staying in an AirBnb (or in our case Le Apartmentt at Grand Hotel Amour) is finding local produce and creating the ultimate grazing platter. The owners of this fromagerie were incredibly friendly, the gatekeepers of cheese heaven. Buy your weight in cheese and meats then head down the road for plump raspberries and fresh apricots.

EAT 🐽 | OINK (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Who's up for a roast hog roll? I put the call out on Facebook and Oink kept popping up in the 'oh you have to eat this' list. Local farmers Adam Marshall and Sandy Pate started peddling rolls at Edinburgh Farmers Market in 2001 and now have three stores under their belts. Line up and choose your size (piglet, oink or the whopping 250g size dubbed the 'grunter'), bread, stuffing and sauce... and away you go! This pulled pork roll had just the right amount of crackle and toppings... delish! Definitely one for the meat lovers. 

BAKED DELIGHTS | STOHRER (Paris, France)

Paris' oldest patisserie opened in 1730 by pastry chef Nicolas Stohrer, the pastry chef for Louis XV of France and his wife, the daughter of the king of Poland. Centuries on and Stohrer remains one of the city's most distinguished. We stocked up on an eclair, strawberry tart, cannelle and mille feuille and enjoyed back at le apartment.  

STAGGER LEE'S | Fitzroy, Victoria

Proud Mary fans... you'll love Nolan Hirte and Chris Hamburger's little bro Stagger Lee's. Located on the main drag in Fitzory, it's stripped back and a little rock n roll. You can expect great coffee and satisfying comfort food that hits all the right places.

BBQ Beef Brisket Toasty w Stone & Wood beer onions, cheese fondue, fried egg, dill pickles and grain mustard

Say yes to the Bloody Mary no matter whether the hour is appropriate

Special fried chicken and corn bread waffles with maple butter and fried pickles 

No blends, only single original espresso and filter coffee

Good Vibes in this green bowl... Soba noodles, sesame, broccolini, snow peas, hass avo, teriyaki, pickled mushrooms, fresh chilli, smoked trout

🍩🍩 | SHORTSTOP COFFEE & DONUTS (Melbourne, VIC)

Shortstop Coffee & Donuts has become an institution. Drawing inspiration from a year-long donut hunt in the US and Canada, owners Anthony Ivey and Sinye Oo brought fresh ideas back to Melbourne. Donuts are created fresh on site throughout the day, using high-quality, natural ingredients dabbling in interesting flavours. You'll find all sorts... stuffed, cake and the legendary crullers. Get amongst it.

Australian Honey & Sea Salt Cruller. Dipped in a simple glaze made of local honey and organic milk, and then topped with fine flakes of salt.

Stuffed. Peanut butter and jelly.

Stuffed. Lemon meringue.

O.M.G.!!!!

Cake. Earl grey and rose, Spiced pumpkin and Peanut butter chocolate caramel.

EAT | BLACK AXE MANGAL (Islington, London)

Husband and wife duo behind Black Axe Mangal have created something pretty darn special. Dubbed London's 'haute kebab joint' by critics, serving up a rockin brunch (and tidy dinner I've been told too). A unique menu from the woodfire oven features a smash of Asian, with flatbread that wants to scream Middle Eastern and damn tasty cuts of meat. 

Hibiscus soda

Vietnamese scrambled eggs on flatbread

Buttermilk fried madras chicken wings and bombay mix

Charred hispi cabbage and fermented shrimp butter

Pigs cheek, hash browns and fried eggs

Hefty serve of hash browns

EAT 🍗🍗 | BELLES HOT CHICKEN | Fitzroy, Melbourne

Belles Hot Chicken is a celebration of Chef Morgan McGlone's two great loves; natural wine and Nashville Hot Chicken. The drinks list is slick, think skin contact wines, beers and Southern-style cocktails. The chicken gives a nod to proper US Kentucky style and it's real good. Select your cut (dark meat, wing or tenders) and then your spice (mild to really fking hot), three sauce and sides and tuck in. Heaven! 

STAY | AIRBNB IN OLD STREET, LONDON

Often it's the basic creature comforts I crave most when travelling for extended periods of time. To stretch out... nothing beats that delicious couch + Netflix combo after a day of exploring. To create a home cooked meal.... with the bounty of produce I've picked up from the local markets. To open a damn window... and breathe in fresh air (not set at the prescribed 24°C). Plus who else wants to easily throw on a load of washing without hauling ass and undies to a laundromat? 

Booking on Airbnb gives you the flexibility and convenience that only a home away from home can provide. Not to mention experiencing a neighbourhood like a local which is the ultimate way to explore a city.

We started our European summer adventure in London to visit my sister. I wanted a spot within walking distance from Shoreditch, Angel and Islington and close to all her favourite digs. I knew that after our 24 hour transit I wanted to ease into our holiday in an Airbnb, a few days to settle into the time zone, laze about and catch up with friends. I left my booking run pretty late and thankfully stumbled across a 2 bedroom loft-style apartment in Old Street. The photos were catching and although there were no reviews, I took a gamble and bingo! 

The apartment felt like we were staying with old friends from the moment we unlocked the door. Airy and spacious with a lived-in feel. There was something comforting and welcoming about the decor. Eclectic but not cluttered, boasting heaving bookshelves, a fully stocked kitchen (having an actual cheese board and cling wrap for leftovers IS necessary), comfortable beds and a decent sized bathroom for London standards. Plus the clincher, the location! Walking distance from all my fave spots (which I'll share soon in my travel guide).

I found out later that this was owner Shamim's first foray as an Airbnb host (hence no reviews) and handing over the keys to strangers. He was an absolute pleasure to deal with and I'd highly recommend anyone looking for a central location with a bit of space to check it out. It is the perfect accommodation for two couples, a few friends (if you don't mind sharing a bed) or a young family as the shower has a bathtub and only one flight of stairs. 

View the property on Airbnb. Map showing location below (only a heartbeat away from it's closest landmark The Brittania).

EAT | SHELTER (Seminyak, Bali)

Escape from the bustle of the streets below and climb up the stairs to Shelter. This open aired cafe serves up health conscious dishes like Hawaiian inspired acai bowls, salads, smoothies and abundance bowls.  

EAT | SUPERNORMAL (Melbourne, VIC)

If you asked where could you go back time and time again. I'd answer with 'Supernormal'. Here's my playlist of smash hits that I've enjoyed over the last two years heading back and forth to Melbourne.  

Fried rice dough balls with sticky, sweet, sour, spicy sauce and white sesame

A big glass of orange wine

Tuna, avocado, wakame and pickled cucumber

Beef tartare, clam mayonnaise, mustard leaf, shallots

Cobia sashimi, pickled fennel, chilli and yuzu.

Duck bao with twice cooked duck leg, vinegar & plum sauce

Prawn & chicken dumplings, chilli & vinegar sauce

Pan fried pot sticker dumplings 

Ramen is not a regular menu feature. When it's on... run! 

EAT | TWO:BOB (Fitzroy, VIC)

High ceilings and white walls with a pared back Scandi-style feel to it. Two:Bob is housed in a former bank building -- now the name makes sense, right? 

Friendly staff and seriously good coffee, they're using Brunswick roastery Code Black's 3056 blend. A great spot for all-day breakfast with heroes like the Brekkie Bowl or hearty serve of bacon n eggs, plus the lot.  

Brekkie Bowl | braised cauliflower and spiced chickpeas, roast mushrooms, avocado, sauteed kale, quinoa, two poached eggs and sauerkraut

Boy's Breakfast (not real name) | thick cut bacon, sauteed kale, hash brown, sausage, two poached eggs and toast

Chilli peas and fetta with two poached eggs, avo and thick cut bacon 

Legit egg porn...

EAT 🍔 | ROCKWELL & SONS (Collingwood, VIC)

That sweet spot between fine dining and pub grub is where Rockwell & Sons thrives.  Owned by Manu Potoi (ex Attica and Stokehouse) and Casey Wall (ex Cutler & Co. and The Spotted Pig, NYC), the pair can do no wrong rollin' out appetite pleasers with gusto. The burgers and sambos are legit. A highlight for any Melbourne food adventure.

Devilled egg

Pork crackling

Grilled corn

TRAVEL GUIDE | PORTLAND, OREGON USA 🇺🇸

'Portland is where young people go to retire.' Portlandia

For a girl that loves local produce, artisanal purveyors, design driven products and those community feels (did I mention food carts?), Portland was everything I could ever ask for! We spent four nights in Portland based at Ace Hotel over the New Year's break. It was absolutely freezing but we found warmth and comfort in the city's friendly hospitality and incredible offerings. 

STAY | ACE HOTEL
📍1022 SW Stark Street

For me, Ace Hotel is Portland. It's located on the edge of the Pearl District and smack bang in the middle of it all. The lobby is a hive of social activity with people tapping away on Macbooks whilst sipping on Stumptown coffee. We kept going back to Clyde Common (it's just off the lobby), and it's right nearby the Alder Street food cart pod and so many great eateries. 

Loved the personalised touches like the locally crafted cookies with a hand written welcome note on the bed and a list of where's best to celebrate NYE.  The rooms had an industrial feel, a little no frills but super comfy with big fluffy pillows and a hard (enough) bed. Attention to detail was 10/10... honour bar full of the best local brews and wines, Malin & Goetz products (like you actually want to use these!) in the shower and impeccable service.  Check out my blog post here.

☕️☕️ | STUMPTOWN COFFEE
📍various locations

Need coffee in Portland? Stumptown Coffee is the answer. You'll find plenty of locations around the city but my favourite is right next door to the Ace Hotel. Grab a coffee, sink into the green canvas lounge and watch the world pass you by.

EAT | CLYDE COMMON
📍1014 SW Stark St

Clyde Common is also right off Ace's lobby, but that's as hotel restaurant as this place gets. Start your day with a hot breakfast, a hit list of staples right through to more decadent offerings to slam down with a coffee. Stop in for a quick snack, biscuits with housemade jam or pull up a spot at the bar and graze on snacks.  

EAT | TASTY & ALDER
📍580 SW 12th Ave

Tasty & Alder is a trailblazer in Portland's brunch scene, they've even published a cookbook 'Hello My Name is Tasty' that pays homeage to the hits. Much like Clyde Common, we kept going back to this bright and cheery corner eatery. Morning, noon, night.. it doesn't matter just make sure you are hungry.

DRINK | PEPE LE MOKO
📍407 SW Tenth Ave

Right underneath Clyde Common is Ace Hotel's basement bar Pepe Le Moko. An intimate spot for a cocktail or two and late night nibbles. I loved our spot at the bar watching the mixers do their thing. 

---

FOOD CART POD | ALDER STREET
📍Southwest Alder & Washington Streets

Alder Pod boasts biggest downtown collection of Portland’s food carts. Located between Southwest Alder and Washington Streets, from southwest 9th to southwest 10th Avenues. Hot favourite includes Nong's Khao Man Gai and Mac & Trees. 

EAT | NONG'S KHAO MAN GAI

Khao Man Gai. Hainanese chicken. Chicken and rice. Whatever you want to call it, just make sure you get there early and before the fried chicken skins sell out. Nong Poonsukwattana knows chicken rice and it is easily Portland's most popular food cart. So good you'll try and recreate it at home using Munchies recipe when those cravings kick in.

EAT | MAC & TREES

Is there anything better than mac n cheese?! Mac & Trees has been serving up the good stuff since the summer of 2015. Choose from the specials or build your own. I've noticed they started adding vegan cheese to the menu too.  

🍩🍩 | BLUE STAR DONUTS
📍 1237 SW Washington St

Holy smokes! The donuts at Blue Star are mind blowing. The bright hued Blueberry, Bourbon & Basil glaze is a must! Made onsite using fresh blueberries, fresh basil, sugar and a splash of Bulleit bourbon. Now that I'm home wish I'd also had a Hard Apple Cider Fritter.

There is a bit of hype around Voodoo, another donut joint, but a few different foodie sources said not to bother. 

EAT | MOTHER'S BISTRO
📍 212 SW Stark Street

Homely, hearty food just like Mom would make. You'll find no fuss breakfast, lunch and dinner at Mother's Bistro. You won't be blown away but sometimes a little simplicity and wholesome cooking is all you need.

---

---

FOOD CART POD | CARTOPIA
📍1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd

Portland’s late night food cart pod has some of the best. Grab some eats and gather around the fire in winter or find a spot under the marquee.

🥔🥔 | POTATO CHAMPION
📍 1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd

Located in Cartopia is Potato Champion! A food cart dedicated to the humble spud. I would do anything to dive into another serve of the PB&J fries. Fries topped with satay sauce and smoky chipotle raspberry goodness. Bam!

EAT | PBJs GRILLED
📍 1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd

Toasted sandwiches done good.
*Update Jan 2017 - looks like these guys are now closed. 

---

EAT | POK POK
📍3345 SE Division St

No matter how early you head to Pok Pok, you'll still be last in line. But don't worry.. it's absolutely worth the wait! An ode to Northern Thailand street food by US chef Andy Ricker. Opening in 2005, it's the stuff of legends and cemented Division Streets row of restaurants. Order the famous Ike's wings and let staff talk you through the menu. 

EAT | WHISKEY SODA LOUNGE
📍3131 SE Division St

Scoring a table at Pok Pok straight away is unlikely, wait nearby at Whiskey Soda Lounge and order yourself some soda, drinks and try the  Plaa Meuk Ping (toasted dried cuttlefish).

🍦🍦 | SALT & STRAW
📍3345 SE Division St

Salt & Straw is a cult artisanal ice cream shop. Focusing on local produce and seasonal flavours, the team often collaborate with like-minded purveyors. If you only limit yourself to two scoops... go for these awesome collabs Pear and Blue Cheese (w/ cheesemongers Rogue Creamery) and  Arbequina Olive Oil (w/ Red Ridge Farms' Oregon Olive Mill ).

SEE | PORTLAND FARMER'S MARKET
📍 1010 SW Park Ave

Located in the the quintessentially American surrounds of Portland's State University, the Portland Farmer's Market are open all year round. I wish we had travelled during spring or summer as the markets would have been plentiful. Go to stock up the kitchen in your AirBNB and enjoy street food from the stall holders. The money bowl and tamale were two of my fave eats on the whole trip, all the pics are here. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and Portland Art Museum are close by and also worth checking out.

SEE | PITTOCK MANSION
📍 3229 NW Pittock Drive

Built by owner of The Oregonian newspaper Henry Pittock in 2914. Pittock's Mansion is bursting with history and remarkable stories. We were there during the Christmas holidays and every room was adorned with festive decorations. Make an afternoon of it and take in the breathtaking views of Portland.

PORTLAND FOOD GUIDES

I spend more time reviewing food and travel guides than I do on the damn accommodation! Here are some guides and platforms I'd highly recommend you check out before you embark: 
* Food truck nerds can well.. nerd out on Portland Food Carts. 
* Are you a glutard? So is my soul sister Andjelka. If you are into gluten free delights, wholefoods, yoga and a slower style of living you'll love her curated guide to Portland on Life Curator. 
* My good friends at The City Lane are building a gastronomers guide to eats around the globe and have rustled up a nifty guide for Portland (great for beer lovers!).
* Citizens of the States swear by Yelp. You'll find it super handy when travelling for honest peer reviews. 

WISH LIST | FOR NEXT TIME
Le Pigeon
Kachka

If you've got any questions on my Portland adventure, get in touch via comment below. 

Travel Guide | Portland Oregon USA

#MFWF | THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina and Saigon Sally. Three hotspots in Windsor and our three fuelling stations for The Golden Triangle #MFWF. 

We kicked off our roving lunch with Vietnamese canapes at Hanoi Hannah making new friends over cocktails.  Then ventured down Chapel Street with our gorgeously rambunctious hosts to Tokyo Tina for hawker-style mains and wine

The final dash down Duke Street for dessert at Saigon Sally, certainly the highlight. I'd heard rave reviews of pastry chef (and Thermomix fan) Felix Goodwin's gluten free desserts! Thermomix tells me the gluten-free doughnuts are the bomb. Next time!

We ended on the playful 'Tira-mi-Sally'. Layers of condensed milk, coffee parfait and peanut brittle, between two triangles of macaron 'bread'. This dazzling riff on the Aussie Vegemite and cheese sanger, marked the finale of my eating adventure as Thermomix's Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Insider! Over and out (and FULL) ! x 

#MFWF | CONSCIOUS DELICIOUSNESS - GRUB FOOD VAN

A hive of six chefs came together to celebrate pollination to plate on a chilly Sunday night at Grub during #MFWF.  

Grub is an eccentric urban oasis in Fitzroy dotted with bric-a-brac, plants and gnomes. Grub serves up an all-day menu and is a hotspot for breakfast goers. With Head Chef, Scott Blomfield, at the helm, Grub likes to do things a little differently with strong roots in sustainability and farm to plate. 

Conscious Deliciousness shone the spotlight on Melbourne's best sustainability focused chefs and produce suppliers. With ethical farming practices and sustainability at the forefront, each dish was created to ensure little wastage across the board. 

Collaborating chefs:
* Scott Blomfield - Head Chef Grub
* Alejandro Saravia – Owner / head chef at Pastuso Restaurant
* Jesse Gerner – Owner executive chef Anada, Bomba, Green Park Dining
* Daniel Giraldo – Head Chef Maha Restaurant
* Pierre Roelofs – Pastry Chef and creator of the Dessert Evenings
* Thiago Miranda – Finalist on Electrolux Appetite for Excellence and former head chef at Church Street Enoteca
* Paolo Tancredi – Chef and creator of Speak as you Eat
* Cam Smith (3RRR – Eat It) - MC

Kangaroo Tartare - Scott Blomfield

Chickpea clouds, spinach pollen - Alejandro Saravia created ever so light 'clouds' using the Butterfly in the Thermomix

Airdried Hirmasa kingfish, smoked pepper, preserved lemon and native green - Daniel Giraldo 

Carnaroli risotto, cime di rapa, green peppers and grilled scallions - Paolo Arlotta

Tea smoked eggplant with white miso, furikake, rice crisps, mushroom dashi and burnt eggplant puree - Scott Blomfield

Gippsland natural beef bud aged in hay for 30 days - Alejandro Saravia  

Underrated veggies - Alejandro Saravia  

Chocolate, lemon, avocado and raspberry - Pierre Roelofs

Eating up a storm for Thermomix as the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Insider.

☕️☕️ | LITTLE NAP COFFEE STAND (TOKYO, JAPAN)

Each morning in Tokyo we would rise early, grab an onigiri (or two) and set off in search of the perfect coffee. Him a flat white, me a batch, filter or cold drip.

Little Nap Coffee Stand kept popping up in the foodie blogs and has been going strong since 2011. Owned by music lover Daisuke Hamada, you'll find a great playlist and even better coffee. Grab a coffee and small bite to eat and take your goods across the road to take in all that Yoyogi Park has to offer.