Those that know me know that I have a shameless obsession with the king of olive oil, Jamie Oliver. His rustic approach the cooking, love of fresh produce and generous serves of lemon juice, chilli and oil have led me to believe that he is God. The 5 course extravaganza I had at Fifteen, his flagship restaurant in London, was one of the best I have ever had – I can still taste that Monk fish wrapped in speck to this day… mmm….

So, after many attempts I FINALLY got to try his high anticipated Sydney restaurant, Jamie’s Italian. At 12:15 the place was already packed and thankfully, we got ushered to a seat straight away, a miracle. But by the time we left an hour later there was a huge queue outside, one which I have avoided during my 8 months of living here. I love Jamie, but not enough to stand around for 3 hours, I am far too hungry for that.

The restaurant is huge despite is unassuming presence and narrow George Street frontage. It spans over metres and metres across two bustling floors. It was dark, frantic and didn’t have that warm atmosphere that Fifteen did, but perhaps my expectations were too high, Fifteen is Jamie’s first child and his Jamie’s Italian franchises are like long lost cousins he sends Christmas cards to. Regardless, I was still stoked to be somewhat, unofficially, in the presence of my God.

Given it was a Sunday, and just past breakfast time I decided to kick off with a delicious concoction of Italian presseco mixed with grapefruit and orange juice. It went down like liquid gold and furthered my excitement for the meal to come. Our feast started with a basket of assorted house-baked bread and Jamie’s Signature olive oil and balsamic which was dangerously good but I showed restraint and made sure it didn’t ruin my meal. From there we had a fairly uninspiring but tasty dish of calamari, flash fried and served with lemon and aioli. Then for the headline act we decided on sharing  a prosciutto salad and traditional bolognaise made with pork and beef (the way any bolognaise should be!).

I think the more appropriate name for the salad would be prosciutto platter, it was absolutely huge. The plate was lined with lashings of freshly sliced meat and was generously heaped with perfectly dressed greens. I was happy to be sharing because I think I would have gotten over it fairly quickly if it was my only main. But it did act as a great, light accompaniment to the bolognaise, which was rich, full of flavour and made from freshly made pasta. The pasta, unsurpingly, was the highlight of the meal but sadly, despite my love for Jamie, won’t have me waiting in line for a second round.

The Bitter: The space is dark, cold and doesn’t scream “Jamie”

The Sweet: Nothing beats a good ol’ fashion bolognaise

The Damage: Drinks, mains and a shared started for two, will cost about $40 each

Oink Oink,

Truffle Pig.

I fell in love with this place as soon as I drove past it hunting for a close car park on a rainy Saturday morning. A few steps below ground level, I knew it would be the perfect place to hide from the hideous weather and refuel for a day on the couch. Although it has a very cosy vibe, the space itself is completely open on one side with the rest of the walls painted with 50’s diner nostalgia inspired art and filled with retro furniture that looks like it has been ripped from the set of Grease.

But, it is unlike a diner in many ways – the food is gourmet and of course, being close to beach, has an organic twist for the more image and health conscious. Amongst the bacon and eggs, benedicts and burgers there are things like pistachios crumbled over yoghurt and fruit and “super food muffins” which I was told sell like hot cakes, speaking of which they have buttermilk ones of those on the menu too.

Given it was a rainy day and a kale muffin wasn’t getting my motor running, I opted for some comfort food. And what is more comforting than a croque monsieur? It was everything a French toastie should be, buttery and crisp on the outside and gooey and warm on the side, and the optional poached egg on the top was a great addition to top off the meal. My friend’s bacon and eggs didn’t look overly inspiring but he was more than satisfied with it, and his banana smoothie wasn’t too  shabby either.

Despite the dismal weather, there were people still willing to stand around and wait for a table, so be prepared to wait. Or if you’re an impatient pig, you can get a take away coffee and some famous Iggy Bread and feast at home while the crowd dies down.

Ruby’s Diner – Shop1/173-179 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction, NSW

Oink oink,

Truffle Pig.

Tin Pin Bakery is more than just a bakery, it has a plethora of gourmet goodies that are perfect for breakfast, lunch and even dinner all of which can be enjoyed inside their cosy little cafe space. Their bread comes in all shapes and sizes and they make one of the best gluten free options I have tasted to date.

The cabinets boast a large range quiches, pies, bread sticks and more which you can take home or enjoy inside their cafe and watch the world (Bondi Road) go by. Some highlights include the lamb, sage & red wine and prom, fennel and apple sausage rolls or the ham and Brie baguette. They also do a killer coffee so if you’re on a budget or looking to binge on more bread than you can poke a baguette at, this is the place for you.

Tin Pin Bakery – 296 Bondi Rd, Bondi, NSW -  www.tinpinbakery.com.au

Oink oink,

Truffle Pig.