We love eating and drinking, so don’t be surprised to find most of our stories on this page! From restaurants and cafes to home-cooked meals; from slick bars and underground drinking holes to that perfect martini at the bar of Casa de Romance – we talk about it all!
There’s something about waiting for a big breakfast that reminds me of Christmas. Like waiting for that first present. I know it’s coming, I’ve got a good idea what it’s going to look like and I can’t bloody wait to get it. It was Mrs Romance’s idea to head down to Forbes and Burton Café. … Read more
Sydney is well-known for its many and varied eating houses. Us lucky few who live here are spoilt, aren’t we? Well, there’s a new place to try in the City now. And I’ve got to say, it’s pretty good. Palings (rhymes with ‘darlings’) is the latest thing to open up at Ivy. It’s a welcome … Read more
Imagine a Chinese restaurant that has a buffet of all the food you can think of… then imagine that buffet brought to your table by ladies with trolleys. This is heaven. This is yum cha! I’ll let you into a little secret: when it comes to yum cha, I am a total pig. I could … Read more
Whenever someone says “it’s where east meets west”, the phrase conjures up two very different images in my mind. The stupid part of my mind thinks of planet Earth as one of those pyjama holders that zip up at the back – east being one side of the zip, west being the other. The slightly … Read more
Lunch. It’s an important meal and one that Mrs Romance values highly. It’s right up there with breakfast and dinner, and if it looks like she’s going to miss it, Mrs R can get very grumpy. A good old sandwich is not an option any more thanks to the effects gluten has on Mrs Romance. … Read more
There’s nothing quite like the crack and jangle of ice as it tumbles about in a cocktail shaker. Watching a good mixologist is like watching an artist and a scientist rolled into one. They are the da Vincis of our time. I’m not talking about the Tom Cruise types, who throw your drink fifteen metres … Read more
High tea. The cakes, the scones, the sandwiches… the tea! It’s the best way to spend time with your friends and eat delicious things too. That all changed for me about two weeks ago. It’s not that high tea is bad, it’s just it’s not as good as… wait for it… high coffee! It’s the … Read more
Mrs Romance loves corn. She could eat it for every meal, every day for the rest of her life. When she dies, she wants to be buried in corn. Until that day, she dreams of living in a corn house with corn children and a corn dog… hmm that last one’s actually do-able! When Mrs … Read more
There’s something about the hot weather that makes us crave those icy-cold zesty cocktails. Cool condensation that drips from the chilled bottle. The tall glasses, the rattle of ice. A bendy straw or a mermaid shaped swizzle stick… yeah, maybe not. Now, the good ol’ G&T or a Pimms are great tipples, but in Italy, … Read more
There is a champagne tradition I learnt in France when I celebrated my 18th birthday. When distant friends meet, and of course drink a bottle of champagne together, they make a pact. One friend keeps the cork and the other the cage. The next time they meet they must each produce their part of the … Read more