FORKING AROUND SYDNEY

WHERE: On The Grand Parade in Sans Souci opposite the beach. WHY: For extremely well executed cafe food that presents and tastes fantastic without leaving a big dent in your bank account. MVP: As much as we enjoyed the Fried Chicken & Waffles and Fish & Fries (those superb waffle fries!), the Panna Cotta + Latte won our hearts, eyes, and stomachs. Stunningly presented in a glass, the ruddy and velvety panna cotta wobbled like Santa Claus' belly and its combo with chocolate dust, mascarpone, and seasonal berries was a wonderfully light and refreshing contrast to the savoury dishes. And to top it off, its pairing with a red velvet iced latte keeps the cool going on a hot summer's day. WTF: There is nothing more frustrating than having a conversation about behavourial economics interrupted by the constant roar of lorries treating The Grand Parade like an F1 track. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your POV) in this day and age, some people prefer staring a...

WHERE: Inner city area of Waterloo. WHY: For the most Instagrammable food you are likely to find anywhere in the harbour city. MVP: The Taro Hotcakes ticks all the right boxes when it comes to Instagram. The plating is beautiful and precise, the colours are kaleidoscopic, and the textures are alluring. Thankfully, it tastes great as well, with the sweetness of the gorgeous fluffy hotcakes and black sesame ice cream balanced nicely by the tartness of the various fruits and edible flowers. However, I'm guessing the inclusion of so many types of fruit (strawberry, dragonfruit, mango, blackberry, raspberry) is more colour palette-related than a function of their taste. WTF: Ice cream atop the Taro Hotcakes is not exactly healthy breakfast eating. IN A NUTSHELL: One of the prettiest and most well-decorated cafes in Sydney, Social Hideout is a must for Instagrammers. The wall mural featuring an iconic Audrey Hepburn image should have you whipping out your camera in a heartbeat,...

WHERE: Inner west suburb of Wolli Creek, a short 5-10 minute walk from the train station. WHY: For excellent Modern Asian cuisine which recently received a well-deserved hat in the latest Good Food Guide (2019). MVP: Can a side of rice be the best on a menu loaded with impressive dishes like the fried squid and smoked katsu chicken? You betcha. Yan's olive rice is a unique winning blend of rice, olives, sesame seeds, and spring onion. Our aversion to olives is totally forgotten as they work wonderfully here and the rice pairs brilliantly with everything else on the menu. Oh, and if you don't like it (which is unlikely), bad luck, as it's the only rice on their menu. WTF: Their side of crispy brussels sprouts is so good it will convert any non-believer. Hard to believe but trust me. IN A NUTSHELL: Yan is the Chinese word for 'smoke', and most of the dishes here are permeated with a delicate smokiness that gives the restaurant its uniqueness. Every dish is ...