Italian Eats; Daria Monticchiello
Staying in the heart of Tuscany, we were spoilt for choice when it came to choosing not only the fabulous local wine, but also the exquisite food on offer. Each region of Italy has its own specialities which use the best of local produce, the Tuscan cuisine being known for its simple, quality dishes often incorporating meat from the land.
Following recommendation from fellow visitors at our villa and rave reviews online, we decided to try Ristorante Daria in the nearby town of Monticchiello. This ancient walled village makes for the perfect setting for this fine dining restaurant serving traditional Tuscan food with exceptional service to match.
Entering through the glass doorway laden with green plants and pots, we are greeted by welcoming staff who seated us to our table tucked away around by the artistic wall display of wine bottles. 
From the moment we arrived, the attentive hospitality and personal service from Daria herself made for a homely ambience. As we sipped on our aperitif of prosecco and browsed the menu, Daria quietly circled the tables making recommendations where sought. 
With an extensive menu showcasing the best of Tuscan flavours served with an elegant twist, I was torn by a number of dishes. For a starter I opted for the goats cheese tomato salad and for secondi the ‘spaghetti di zucchine su cream di piselli’.
After choosing a local red wine from 2010 to accompany our meal, we were treated to a tasty amuse bouche of fish pate alongside a gourmet basket of breadsticks, flatbreads and fresh breads. Served promptly after this, the salad starter I chose featuring plenty of goats cheese in different rinds was a taste sensation.
With a hum of fellow diners including locals and foreigners alike, wine continued to flow as our waiter insured glasses were topped up and Daria came over to have another chat between courses.
Soon our secondi was served and once again presentation made for a feast for the eyes as well as our bellies. Despite choosing an all vegetable based main, my zucchini spaghetti in a veloute of green peas was packed full of flavour. I also had a try of my cousin’s homemade gnocchi which too was delicious.
To finish my Dad and I shared the chocolate cake a la Daria served with custard and chocolate sauce, the perfect end to a perfect meal.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this wonderful restaurant to anyone visiting the region who is looking for authentic local cuisine served with a touch of elegance. Ristorante Daria certainly does epitomise the best of Tuscany – its energy, culture, food and friendly locals.
We strolled the Bondi to Bronte beach walk as we devoured our delicious pots of refreshing acai and caught up on life.
When we reached Bronte it was time to grab an arvo coffee. We went to Huxton’s Cafe on the main drag where it was hard to resist the indulgent array of stunning cakes, fluffy doughnuts and largest lamingtons I’d ever seen!
Of course a trip into the city wouldn’t be complete without a bit of retail therapy too. I visited Newtown to have a good browse of the eclectic mix of vintage and outlet stores where I finally purchased the perfect dress for my brother’s wedding at the end of the month. Opting for an authentically Australian made peice, the dress was only $69 from the Melbourne brand Ache.
One final stop by Paddington for the afternoon and I inevitably ended up in my favourite shoe boutique on Oxford Street. Zomp sells hundreds of covetable designer shoes at a discount price, making it hard to resist adding to my ever growing shoe collection anytime I visit the store. In search of a pair of heels to match the dress for my brother’s wedding, I bought this stunning pair of Senso satin copper pink mules down from $200 to $95.
Going back to where it all started in the Paddo hood was the perfect way to end my last weekend here in Sydney for a while. It won’t be long before I’m back in town again though, no doubt strolling the beaches in the Australian summer sun with an acai bowl in hand and good friend by my side ❤
As a good friend of mine is one of the team behind this new hotspot, we visited the cafe this Friday evening to experience it firsthand (and see our friend in action of course!) Dropping in on a blustery winter’s evening, we were greeted by toy wombats and kangaroos as we took our seats on the wooden benches. At 7pm on a Friday night the place was already packed out.
The menu is super simple with their famous cheeseburger taking pride of place as star of the show. We began with the Curry Roo Party Pie, a novelty for me as I’d never tried kangaroo meat before. Whilst this delicacy has struck a nerve with some customers, roo meat is actually very sustainable as there is an abundance of wild kangaroos which get killed and discarded of anyway.
That’s not to say this restaurant isn’t vegetarian friendly though – the mixed greens served on a smashed potato salad are delicious and the cheeseburger can even be made veggie with a mushroom pattie.
Bush cafe has certainly filled a gap in the market when it comes to traditional and somewhat ironic Aussie fare. Whilst the interiors reflect the outback with sandstone walls and wooden table tops carved by locals, the nostalgic menu feels like you’re in the company of true Australians at home – well done lads, keep it real!
My favourite place for an arvo coffee hit in the south is Highlands Merchant. With its art deco inspired decor and selection of niche cookbooks and kitchenwares on offer, this cafe is perfect for mulling over a book or magazine whilst sipping your favourite hot beverage served to perfection.
The friendly staff are always welcoming and they’re never short of a delectable selection of sweet treats baked fresh daily. Their savoury muffins are a must to try or if you have time, the extensive brunch menu has something for all tastes.
So if you do happen to pass through Moss Vale, it would be hard to miss the pastel hues and rose gold exteriors of Highlands Merchant. From tradies on their way to work to local mums getting their 11am coffee fix, this local gem is known for serving the best coffee in town!
Not only is the food delicious with perfectly matched wine, but the friendly and attentive service is always on point too. When escaping the office during lunchtime in search of a sit-down meal, it’s important to find somewhere you can switch off and enjoy the simple pleasure of good food and company, without feeling the usual rush of lunchtime hour in the city.
The Meat & Wine Co welcomes guests to their upstairs dining floor tucked away from the busy streets of Barangaroo. Choosing the lunchtime menu, we usually opt for the starter and main with a glass of wine for $42 (or three courses for $49). My favourite starter from this menu is the beetroot and smoked labne served with radish, rocket, quinoa crisp, feta and dill oil.
For the set menu mains there is a variety of choice including salmon poke bowl, chicken schnitzel and even a 250g wagyu rump steak. This time I chose the roasted pumpkin and halloumi rocket salad on a bed of quinoa, herbs and olive oil drizzle.
This was all washed down with a gorgeous glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc white wine as part of the lunch menu deal. Once again, the service was excellent and the restaurant humming with that relaxing Friday feeling vibe. This is why The Meat & Wine Co is our go to restaurant for a working lunch and somewhere we can confidently send colleagues who may be in search of a venue when hosting a client lunch or dinner.
Whilst on the face of it my role often appears to be the thankless job, it can be the most rewarding hosting successful events or being of assitance to team members when they are under client deadlines. In my view, the employees in my teams are my clients, so supporting them to reach their full potential and keeping team morale high is my goal.
Our Christmas in July party that evening left the office very bare on Friday for my last day. However my Manager treated me to brekky at Back Row West and that afternoon also put together a delicious cheese board including popcorn, dark chocolate and berries – yum!
I was presented with a huge card filled with so many lovely messages, along with a leaving gift of a gorgeous blue leather KiKi-K planner embossed with my name in gold lettering.
The teams gathered around to say farewell and some very touching words were said about all the hard work I have put in over the past six months. It’s pleasing to know that all the hours and commitment to the job haven’t gone unnoticed and I have made a difference to the agency in my short time there.
From having my head stuck in a spreadsheet for hours on end, to serving up countless platters of food and topping up the team’s wine glasses on a Friday arvo, it certainly has been a blast – Cheers opr Agency!
‘Dream big, work hard, stay focused, and surround yourself with good people.’
In honour of this celebration, my PR firm hosted their very own Christmas party this month with all the tinsel and outrageous festive decor in check. Catching the ferry from Barangaroo to Balmain as the sun set, we made our way to The East Village Hotel to get merry over mulled wine and a pub trivia quiz.
Once sat at our tables, everyone pulled their crackers, popped on their paper hats and the trivia commenced. Plenty of wines down and soon the roast dinner was served. We were presented with a typical feast of turkey, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, brussel sprouts, green beans, cranberry sauce and plenty of gravy. The only missing key component was the Yorkshire puds, but I’ll forgive the Aussies on this one 😉
To finish we were treated to a platter of deserts including mince pies and fruit cake. With bellies full and the trivia over, whilst everyone continued on drinking at the bar, my night cap was an order of a pot of tea…you can take the girl outta England, but you can’t take the English outta the girl!
With plenty of fresh veggies at the start of the week, I made this Moroccan inspired couscous salad bowl served on a bed of salad with some pumpkin I had left from a previous recipe, roasted veg seasoned in paprika, a generous dollop of tatziki and fresh mint leaves for garnish.
I always crave a good bowl of pasta for my midweek dinner, so I made this simple penne pasta using pesto I had in the cupboard, leftover green beans and sautéed courgette with jarred sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
My favourite way to have rice is to make it super sticky by leaving it to cook a little longer, making it more like a risotto. I used some leftover white wine and plenty of garlic to flavour this rice dish which I then paired with roasted veggies, salad, jarred beetroot and some natural yogurt.
To finish the week and use up any fresh ingredients I still had, again I roasted all of the veggies, fried off some chorizo slices and mixed it all in with the couscous, before serving with the last of my salad, mint leaves and the rest of the tatziki dip.
With a delectable menu of modern Australian cuisine and a twist of European influences, it was hard to choose. For appetisers the Burrata, Lobster Tacos and Grilled Corn caught my attention. However we went straight in on mains, so I opted for the Beetroot Salad served with spiced pumpkin, heirloom carrot, roasted sprouts, humous, goats curd and a garnish of flaked almonds.
This dish was not only exquisitely presented, but the roasted veg were served piping hot and seasoned to perfection. I particularly liked the wintery twist of spiced pumpkin and by favourite brussel sprouts, bringing together a colourful plate of delicious food as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the tastebuds!
From the specials board, my collegue went for the Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup served with sourdough, a perfect winter warmer. My manager chose the Sweet Potato Gnocchi served in a pea puree with grilled asparagus, Persian feta, crispy kale and dry ranch. Yet another stunning bowl of food with gorgeous flavour also inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. I would highly recommend visiting Wild Sage for an ideallyic long lunch savouring fine food and lapping up those European al fresco dining vibes.
Friday night I was treated to the best homemade beef burgers with all the extras including cheese, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, gherkin and chilli relish, just what I needed after a long day at work and two hour train journey out of the city. To top it all off, he also found my favourite Malbec red wine with a logo of a Flamingo wearing ballet shoes – it’s like it was made for me! We watched The Graham Norton Show whilst devouring our burgers, making for the perfect Friday night setup.
#BurgerPorn
With such exquisite fish I decided to keep the side dishes super simple; herby buttered new potatoes, steamed green beans, rocket beetroot salad topped with pepitas and a garlic mayo relish mixed with diced gherkins. It was a feast of fresh delights which was as delicious as it was nutritious. Following our meal, we sat back with our Merlot wines and watched a good movie on Netflix, Lost Paradise.
As Sunday rolled around far too quickly, we wanted to meal prep some snacks for the week. Together we made savoury spiced pumpkin feta muffins and peanut butter chocolate date balls which were made of a few basic ingredients; medjool dates, oats, desiccated coconut, peanuts, smooth pb, honey and I swapped the raw cacao for Milo powder, what a game changer! These sweet bites taste so naughty and could easily compete with a chocolate truffle on taste, yet have nothing but natural goodness in them. Enjoy as a healthy snack or crumble over yoghurt or even desert.
It certainly was a weekend of fabulous food and of course perfect wine to match. I have to remind myself that it’s important taking time out sometimes to completely switch off, give my busy mind a rest and indulge in the simple pleasures which nourish my body as well as feed the soul.
Dani Aneka 