cafe DOV

There are certain things that make a cafe worth visiting; namely good food, good coffee, good service and good vibes. Cafe DOV is a perfect example of all of the above, and is just the right place for a breakfast meeting, lunchtime catchup or casual dinner.

I have been here a number of times, most recently for brekkie before work, and as always the meal was simple, fresh and fabulous. For dinner choose from tasty share plates including mussels and steak salad.

It's only a short stroll from Kings Cross train station, so next time you have a little Monday morning blues, a pre-work pit stop at cafe DOV is my recommended cure!

Where: 130 Victoria Street, Potts Point 2011
When: Mon 7am-3pm, Tue-Sat 7am-11pm & Sun 8am-3pm
Contact: (02) 9368 0600
More Info: www.cafedov.com.au

Picnic Perfection: Akuna Bay

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there really is no limit to the number of amazing picnic spots in Sydney. Akuna Bay may be one of the slightly more inaccessible ones, but it's also one of the most peaceful.

To get there you have to take around a 45-minute drive from the city centre, but it's well worth the day trip. Situated in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, you'll get to wind your way through the bush before popping out onto the water near a marina. After paying a minimal entrance fee, pull over at the first grassy bay and get ready for some zen time.

If fishing is your thing, then this is definitely your place! I think it would be fun to take a hand reel next time, although who knows what I'd do if I actually caught anything (I mean who really wants to touch a live fish).

Picnic tip: don't forget to take lots of water, it can get pretty hot and you aren't going to be that close to a corner store! A good old cooler pack is a great investment.

Where: Liberator General San Martin Drive, Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, 2084 
More Info: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkPicnics

Spaghetti Bolognese

Sorry I have been completely slack in blogging over the past two weeks, I am going to make up for it this week!

I come from a big family, and when it's my turn to cook dinner I often find it difficult to find something that's easy to make in large quantities, but that still satisfies everyone's taste-buds. And I have to say that, while I hate the nickname 'spag bol', it certainly meets both those requirements.

I used the Donna Hay recipe here, with a few slight adjustments.

I didn't happen to have a bay leaf, so that was omitted, as was parsley given that it's not a personal favourite. I did add a lot of pepper and not so much salt. It's pretty simple to fry up the onions and garlic, add the rest of the ingredients and stir.

Don't freak out about adding all the liquid, it will reduce. The bolognese will need to simmer for an hour, giving plenty of time to make a salad or a sneaky chocolate slice for dessert!

Don't forget to serve with a bowl of grated parmesan for sprinkling on top.

I used 1.5 times the quantities in the recipe and comfortably fed 8.

Buon appetito!

Jamie's Italian

Jamie’s Italian is pretty great, but despite what the website says it is not so easy to just ‘come along' whenever you feel like it. Having been open for nearly a year already, the average one-hour queue can act as a pretty strong deterrent for this fashionable food fiesta, but on the other hand the queue must say something!

It's best if you go super early and grab a drink at the bar whilst waiting for the charming English waitstaff to take you to a highly coveted table. Alternatively bookings can be made for parties of 6 or more.

The restaurant offers exactly what it promises, fresh, hearty and reasonably priced Italian goodness. The entrée platters are a winner, especially the vegetarian option at $10 a head. The autumn bruschetta of pumpkin and beetroot was another favourite.

For secondi try some fabulous fresh pasta or a huge veal saltimbocca with cherry tomatoes and capsicum. The ‘posh chips’ with truffle oil are also a winner.

I was too full for dessert, but the panna cotta looked incredible, as did the tiramisu.

The other excellent thing about this restaurant is the open kitchen, which allows a glimpse at just what it takes to serve up oh so many delicious meals.

Whilst I wouldn’t wait in the queue again, I will be rallying a group and re-visiting sooner rather than later!

Where: 107 Pitt St, Sydney 2000

When: Mon-Sat 11:30am-late

Contact: (02) 8240 9000

More Info: www.jamieoliver.com/au

Ovo

The circus seems to be taking over my life right now, and I'm certainly not complaining! Firstly I went to the movies to see Madagascar 3 (highly recommended, I didn't stop laughing from start to finish, and oh those sneaky penguins...)

However on a slightly more sophisticated note I also had the pleasure of seeing Cirque du Soleil's latest masterpiece, Ovo, in the big top at Fox Studios.

Out-of-this world, insect-inspired costumes combined with funky tunes add to the mind-blowing acts. Think crazy contortions, terrifying trapeze and riding a unicycle upside down on a curved tightrope.

Photography during the show is forbidden for the performers' safety, but I wish I could have snapped the gorgeous 'ladybird', who enticed a 'fly' with her sexy curves.

Tickets are still available and the show runs in Sydney until November 25, so get in quick for three hours of magic.

More Info: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ovo