At the end of the laneway behind Po's Atelier, you'll find Cafe Deadend right in the thick of 'PoHo' hipster foodie heaven. A bit of a trek to find but certainly worth those extra steps. Enjoy their take on a modern breakfast from the West and good coffee.
EAT | MOTHER'S BISTRO (Portland, Oregon)
Homely, hearty food just like Mom would make. Lisa Schroeder is at the helm of Mother's Bistro, a bright and cheery bistro on Stark Street. We sat at the bar and ordered a comforting breakfast with a mandatory Bloody Mary. You won't be blown away with culinary genius but sometimes a little simplicity and wholesome cooking is all you need.
Mother’s Famous Bloody Mary | house-infused pepper & jalapeño vodka with our secret bloody concoction
Eggs benedict
Omelete de Jour
Stuffed with seasonal vegetables
☕️☕️ | COMMON GROUND (Central, Hong Kong)
Common Ground is part slow-paced cafe, part indie design store, with a wellness skewed menu. Set on the steep hills in 'PoHo', this eclectic little coffee joint features upcycled furniture and has coffee loves spilling out on to the stairs enjoying some of Central's finest. Grab a coffee and enjoy people watching.
EAT | MEDINA (Vancouver, Canada)
When hunting for breakfast joints in Vancouver, Medina kept popping up on the list. Take a trip to sunnier shores with a Mediterranean style brunch. Favourites include spicy Moroccan lamb meatballs, tagine and paella. Interesting cocktails and waffles take breakfast to the next level. Head in early to avoid the lines.
Waffles
Liege Style Waffle
With the one true topping...
swimming in maple syrup
Les Boulettes | Poached eggs, spicy Moroccan lamb meatballs, roasted pepper, black olive and tomato stew, raita, grilled focaccia
Moroccan Maria | Reposado tequila, fresh tomato juice, celery bitters, fresh lime juice, house spice mix, pickles
Wolves Breakfast | house cured peameal bacon, smoked medina bacon, parisienne a l'ail, andouille and merguez sausage
Tagine | Poached eggs, spicy merguez sausage, seasonal vegetables, stew of chickpeas, black olives and preserved lemon
Paella | sunny egg, orzo, spicy chorizo, seasonal vegetables, grana padano, avocado and spicy charred tomato salsa
EAT 🍝 | ASK FOR LUIGI (Downtown Eastside, Vancouver, Canada)
I couldn't imagine anywhere else to enjoy our last meal in Vancouver. I mean we've been solidly eating for 21 days straight.. why not fill up on pasta?
Ask for Luigi is a little off the beaten track in Downtown Eastside. Pasta steals the show and co-owner and chef J.C. Poirier has a legion of fans. You'll find them waiting in line as you line up behind to nab your table. Handmade fresh pasta, Luigi's meatballs and olive oil cake are an absolute must. Seriously good food and worth the wait.
Luigi's meatballs
Crispy bucatini and fontina crocchette
Saffron penne, mussels, clams and leeks
Olive oil cake
EAT | PEAKED PIES (Vancouver & Whistler, Canada)
Whistler may be a mighty strange place to find an Aussie meat pie, although judging by the amount of Australians enjoying the snow... perhaps not. Peaked Pies is the lovechild of Australian born Kerri and Canadian local Alex. You'll find homemade pies in all kinds of flavours, good coffee and sweets in the heart of the Olympic village.
Update April 2017: Fast becoming a cult, Peaked Pies has now opened a second location in Vancouver's West End. Delivering deep-crusted, delicious flaky pies all hours of the day.
🥐🥐 | PO'S ATELIER (Tai Ping Shan, Hong Kong)
Po's Atelier is a boutique bakery focusing on artisan breads and sweet treats. Oh that divine aroma of baking wafting through the air... bliss! From baguettes to brioche, palmiers to madelines and all sorts of pastry and wonder. Enjoy it fresh outta the oven and don't forget to take some back to your hotel for later.
EAT | TACO FINO (Gastown, Vancouver)
From humble beginnings slinging Mexican street eats from a food truck in the beachside town of Tofino. Taco Fino is now the stuff of legends with four locations and two trucks hittin' the road. Casual eats with swagger. Don't forget to try the Burrito Bar.
EAT | ONE DIM SUM 點心 (Hong Kong)
When you see the line it’s hard to believe One Dim Sum was once a low-key dim sum joint. But with a Michelin Star and plenty of press, it’s now impossible to fly under the radar. I’ve been to this joint every time I’ve been to Hong Kong and it’s a tradition I’ll be happy to keep up.
Steamed Pork Dumplings or Sui Mai
Fried Dumpling with Salted Meat or Harm Shui Kok
Glutinous Rice Steamed in Lotus Leaf or Lor Mai Gai
Steamed Shrimp Dumpling or Har Gao
Steamed Rice Sheet Rolls or Cherng Fun
EAT | THE VERTUE OF THE COFEE DRINK (Carlton, VIC)
Walk through the petrol station car park, past an aging terrace and look the old street lamp outside the stable doors. Within you'll find Vertue Of The Coffee Drink roastery, coffee bar and mighty cafe dishing out interesting brunch items.
EAT | CITY COUNTRY CITY (Shimokitazawa, Tokyo)
Owned by Shimokita folk music legend Sokabe Kenichi , City Country City, is fondly referred to as CCC by locals. CCC opened its doors in 2006 bringing a medley of vintage records, beers, pasta and coffee to Shimokitazawa.
北沢2-12-13
細沢ビル4階
Setagaya, 東京都 〒155-0031
Japan
Phone number+81 3 3410 608
Only a minute’s walk from the South Exit of Shimokitazawa Station; take a left at McDonald’s and walk down the street for thirty seconds until you see the CCC sign on the right. City Country City is on the 4th floor of the building. Walk up the short flight of stairs and take the elevator on your left.
EAT | PISON COFFEE (Petitenget, Bali)
Avocado with your coffee? Sure why not! 🥑🥑
You'll find this little cafe in the same 'hood as Texan Smokehouse and Taco Casa in the upcoming Petitenget area.
EAT | SMOKEHOUSE (Seminyak, Bali)
Every night the firepits are cooking tomorrow's brisket and pulled pork. You'll find BBQ that's low and slow... Texas style here at Smokehouse. Try all the meats and stock up on sides, it won't disappoint. Get in early as it often sells out.
TRAVEL | 'SHIMOKITA'
Just a couple of stops away from the mayhem of Shinjuku is a little place where Tokyo's flickering tempo slows right down to an almost lazy pace. Here the bright lights fade into two storey pastel buildings dotted with vintage shops and record stores. Its easy to lose yourself in the intricate labyrinth of tiny lanes beckoning you to explore. The cafes are kitsch, hidden in basements or up an unassuming flight of winding stairs.
'Shimokita' as it is affectionately known has a charming, untouched organic vibe, a haven for artists, musicians, Tokyo-ites and travellers wanting to tap into hipster Tokyo. By day the streets are peaceful but as dusk settles, the laid-back alleyways come alive with Shimo's vibrant bar and rock n roll music scene. Do yourself a favour on your next trip to Japan, book a homely airbnb and spend a few days uncovering the gritty magic of Shimokitazawa.
TRAVEL | HAKONE, JAPAN
TRAVEL | AKAKUSA, TOKYO
Asakusa (浅草) is located in the heart of Tokyo's shitamachi (literally 'low city'), one of the districts where past decades still echo in the atmosphere and landscape.
The main attraction is Sensoji , a popular Buddhist temple built in the 7th century. Enter the temply by Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with delicious local snacks, souvenirs and tradition for centuries. Try the seasonal mochi and dorayaki.
EAT | RAMEN FESTIVAL (Odaiba, Tokyo)
'What? We are going to a Ramen Festival?'
'Yes, a Ramen festival!'
Odaiba (お台場) is a strange little entertainment district on a man made island in Tokyo Bay. Home to a random replica of the Statue of Liberty and a food hall called Ramen Festival at the Aqua City Mall.
The map of ramen!
EAT | CAFE OKIDOKEI (Shimokitazawa, Tokyo)
The grungy streets of Shimokitazawa have that rustic, peaceful feel yet only a few stops away from the craziness of Shinjuku. A popular escape for Tokyoites, musos and uni students, full of record shops, vintage stores and great little bars and cafes. I love the ramshackle feel of the landscape here.
We stumbled upon Cafe Okidokei by sheer chance. The shop sign had a vintage look and the blackboard menu was scrawled with care. I usually get a feel of a place through its signage, its like the font talks to my tummy, telling me its a safe place to eat. So we ventured up the stairs and found ourselves in a cool little bar with smiling staff and the warmth of a little wooden cabin.
Okidokei is actually the Japanese translation of clock and, of which general manager, Taikan Nagai, seems to have a soft spot for. Although, not to be confused with okie dokie (we all had a giggle about this). Clocks and vintage farming bric-a-brac dot the walls and the woodwork gives it a charming edge. We escaped the rain and grey skies of an Autumn afternoon in Japan and nestled in for a set lunch.
For ¥1000 you can choose from a beef curry, baked chicken or a garlic pasta, served with a salad, rice and a drink. It can be a little tricky ordering food in Japan as you will be pressed to stumble across an English menu. It kinda adds to the charm of the whole process.
We settled in with a few beers and enjoyed the cheap and cheerful eats that Okidokei has to offer. It really was like being invited into someone's home and made this little meal all the more special. All I can say is always look up, you never know what wonders await as you climb up those stairs.
An odd marriage of chicken parmigiana and curry sauce. I love the Italian skew that cafes in Japan take.
Braised beef curry, garlic pasta or baked parmigiana chicken with curry sauce. Set menu with rice salad and a drink for ¥1000.
Shimokitazawa is known for its unique Japanese soup curry. This is Okidokei's approach to that notion. A little island of rice sitting in a shallow sea of slow cooked beef curry.
Look out for this sweet little sign and journey up the stairs.
This is Taikan Nagai. He is the curator and manager of this little abode.
SEE | STUDIO GHIBLI MUSEUM (Tokyo, Japan)
Searching for things to do in Japan that are a little off the beaten track is near impossible. We stumbled across this cool site called Voyagin where you can attend workshops or tours with English speaking hosts. From doing your makeup like a Harajuku girl, taking a traditional cooking class and tuning up your ninja skills.
Whilst you can purchase tickets to the Studio Ghibli Museum from its official website you may find buying from Voyagin just a little easier.
I am so excited for our little adventure to Mitaki for a dose of Ghibli wonderment, I am jumping up and down like Totoro!
LELLO LELLO GELATO (Seminyak, Bali)
Imagine a life without gelato? That's right ... you can't!
*Sadly Lello Lello Gelato is no longer open*
Lello Lello Gelato is the sweetest little gelato shop in Seminyak. The good folk have been operating for over six months now and always scoop with a smile. You can tell that Lello has been a long labour of love. Gorgeous little sayings adorn the walls, beautiful mosaic tiles lay cool under your feet as you peer into the length of the freezer bursting with bright colours and seductive folds. With plenty of room to lounge about, you choose your weapon, find a pineapple cushion and snuggle on in.
Flavours range from traditional Stracciatella (vanilla and choc chips) to the stunning flavours of local fruits, see the pretty hues of my scoop of Dragon Fruit below. You can dream away the afternoon with a bowl of Mojito or Gin & Tonic or drop in for an outrageous dose of Green Smoothie (yes, gelato - parsley included) after your morning yoga.
Coconut, Tangerine & Mint + Dragonfruit
A true taste of Italy, with a Messina twist, on the busy streets of Bali. They even serve a shot of water with your gelato to cleanse the palette. Next time I am definitely going to stop in for a roti at their pop up curry stall and end the night with a gelato degustation. Life just ain't complete without gelato.
The gorgeous little curry pop up at Lello Lello. Next time I am definitely hitting up a serve of roti.