Not Quite NigellaThe cooking, eating and travel blog of a hungry blogger from Sydney, Australia featuring original recipes, interviews and articles on all things food @

Bar H, Surry Hills

Not Quite Nigella — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:00:09 +0000

I’m certain that we’re in the naughty corner. When Gina texted me to tell me that she was sitting in the back of the restaurant at a very small corner table she wasn’t kidding. Just a few minutes earlier at 6pm she walked into Bar H and asked for a table for three people. Asked [...]

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Fisherman’s Wharf Yum Cha, Sydney Fish Markets, Pyrmont

Not Quite Nigella — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:00:22 +0000

Perhaps it wasn’t the wisest move going to the Sydney Fish Markets the week before Christmas. I think I was lulled into a state of denial by hunger and eager opportunism and the compulsive urge to try somewhere new. I was taking my “team” that is my lovely hair stylist and makeup artist Elly and Joel from [...]

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Blue Eye Dragon, Pyrmont

Not Quite Nigella — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:00:26 +0000

Whenever we go out for Chinese food I always feel compelled to take my parents along. For starters, I know that my dad needs to get out more but he only really likes Chinese food and for my mother who likes all food and likes to go out this is the path of least resistance. [...]

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Lynn Shanghai Cuisine, Sydney CBD

Not Quite Nigella — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:00:34 +0000

I must admit that I don’t know much about clubs. I only belong to one association and that’s not really a club whereas social clubs are an area I have yet to explore. So when I heard that there was a new Shanghai Chinese restaurant in the Castlereagh Club in the city I had no [...]

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Nan Tien Buddhist Temple Tea House, Berkeley

Not Quite Nigella — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:00:27 +0000

“If you can answer this question correctly, you are the smartest person in Australia” Mr NQN said looking at me over the top of the iPad. As a child of Chinese parents that was subjected to flash cards before I could talk it is pretty much a given and an imperative that I will jump when [...]

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Fei Jai, Potts Point

Not Quite Nigella — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:00:11 +0000

As Chinese parents who bring up children in English speaking countries are wont to do, my parents gave my sister and I Chinese names as well as English ones. My name translated from Chinese into English means “Little Pretty” (although my mother would often sniff that I had more in common with my English name [...]

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Taste 101 Chinese Restaurant, Auburn & A Most Intriguing Menu

Not Quite Nigella — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:00:57 +0000

I am staring absolutely wide eyed. I have never been as fascinated with a menu in my life. In front of me names such as “Rou Wings”, “Russian Package”, “Beer Duck”, “Pig Leaves”, “Kidney with spicy sauce in Monolithic”, “Great Lunch Meat” and the unfortunately spelled “Vage Meal” dance before me tickling my funny bone [...]

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Twin Peaks, Food Trivia & A Birthday Party, LL Wine And Dine, Potts Point

Not Quite Nigella — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:00:00 +0000

The XXX wall There is one thing that all of my close friends have in common. They are fabulous people – gifted people even and when my friends meet my other friends the common remark is “Your friends are really nice!” It’s absolutely true, I hand pick all of them and they are the brightest and sweetest cherries in the box. [...]

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Dumpling Dash: The Quest to Find the Best Shanghai Dumplings in Sydney!

Not Quite Nigella — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:00:18 +0000

“There are eight of us, that’s definitely a good sign!” Now ordinarily I’m not a particularly superstitious person. It mainly extends to jinxes more than anything else. And whilst Chinese people are renowned for being superstitious, I’d say that my parents were mildly superstitious but not overtly so. The number 8 is said to be [...]

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China Beach, Manly

Not Quite Nigella — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:00:11 +0000

“I’ve been looking for this place for over half an hour!” Blythe wails telling us that she had even asked the convenience store next door for directions here having overlooked China Beach. Located right on the esplanade on Manly beach in prime position with the beach across the road the room it still manages to [...]

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