Stomachs Eleven: Thai dinner

Hot, sour, sweet, salty and bitter, Thai cuisine is renowned for its balance of all five in every mouthful.

Last year, several members of our roving dinner party group, Stomachs Eleven, jumped at the chance to travel to the hometown of Thai local, the G-Man. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it, as I was on my own fooding adventure around Malaysia, but everyone came back with photos and

1m roti tisu - Kayu Nasi Kandar

Remember the one metre tall roti tisu I waxed lyrical over during a recent trip to Malaysia?

Grab Your Fork reader, Winnie, did. She was so intent on hunting down this gravity-defying spectacle she printed off several of my Malaysian posts and packed it in her luggage for a holiday to Kuala Lumpur and Penang.


"My husband and I trekked to Petaling Jaya for a late dinner on January 3, 2011,

Mamak Village, Glebe

Barely two weeks old, Mamak Village is good news to inner west locals keen on a Malaysian roti fix but not quite prepared to brave the queues at Chinatown stalwart Mamak. The set-up is smaller, but a gleaming stainless counter out the front offers a peek at the theatrical display of roti production for passersby.



Only a few tables line the narrow corridor, but most customers are shepherded

Sideways Deli Cafe, Dulwich Hill

You seem them every weekend. Local cafes spilling over with couples, families and friends, escaping the confinement and drudgery of the house for a leisurely weekend breakast.

The click-click of the coffee machine, the smell of fresh espresso and the magical appearance of breakfast placed in front of you. This is the joy of breakfasting out. 



Sideways Deli Cafe in Dulwich Hill is not

China Doll, Woolloomooloo, Sydney

Why does sitting near water make a meal feel so good? The clip-clop of heels on a wooden pier,  the sight of boats in the distance and an abundance of natural light and space could easily trick you into thinking you were still on holiday.

Last night we headed to China Doll to bid bon voyage to Lex, chef and food blogger, who will be heading off to Canada shortly on a working holiday.

It was

A Penang Food Tour: Assam laksa, durian and Penang Road Famous Cendol

Assam laksa. An aromatic swamp of mackerel, tamarind, pineapple, chilli and mint,  I was determined to overdose on it as much as I could in Malaysia.

But first, we needed breakfast before we could hit the road to Penang, where their version of assam laksa is said to be the best. In the quiet town of Ipoh we found a dearth of places open at 9am, eventually settling for the ever-present

Yen for Viet, Marrickville

Is there a more perfect cuisine for summer than Vietnamese? Crunchy salads, sprigs of mint and splashes of sweet dressing, I know what I'm craving for whenever the mercury hits 30C.We turn up at new Vietnamese restaurant Yen for Viet to find a modern airy restaurant, the wall painted a cheerful cherry red, and hung with minimalist line drawings of cyclists and motorcyclists in Vietnam.The