We all crave a certain comfort food when we are feeling down, under the weather or just looking for a pick-me-up. It is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value and is quite often characterised by its high-caloric nature and association with childhood or home cooking.
Ultimate Aussie comfort food choices include everyone’s fave chicken parmigiana, barbequed snags, lamingtons, a burger with the lot and the humble meat pie…here are five venues to get a comfort food fix:
Social Enterprise Cafe
On a mission to improve the earth and people’s lives through a spirit of generosity and hospitality, head to social enterprise café the Darcy St Project on Victoria Street in Epping to refuel while helping the homeless and unemployed through food. Every week this business provides free meals to shelters, food pantries and charities across Sydney, you can assist as every meal you purchase is paid forward to someone else doing it tough.
Stop in early for a comforting big breaky of poached eggs, crispy bacon, grilled chorizo, hash brown, grilled mushrooms, roasted tomato, grilled halloumi, tomato relish and artisanal sourdough, washed down with a cold-pressed juice.
Frozen and Fresh Meals
Those seeking café fare with flair along with fresh and frozen meals head down Lambert Road in Indooroopilly to find In House Food & Catering. Along with housing CK’s Café, this Brisbane venue delivers easy takeaway meals for a weeknight family dinner as well as catering options for your next corporate event or family celebration.
Early risers can stop in for a caffeine fix paired with a ham and cheese croissant, or a gourmet meat pie; don’t forget to take home an eye fillet roast dinner or veal meatballs in stroganoff sauce to satisfy midweek family cravings.
Exotic Dining Experience
Treat tastebuds to an exotic dining experience at Paste Thai restaurant, tucked away on Kearns Crescent in the Applecross shopping and dining precinct in Ardross. Upon entering this alluring venue, diners are met with an earthy interior adorned in sophisticated aesthetics from dark timber floorboards to a brick feature wall, while warmly glowing lights are covered in fittings comparable to cray pots.
Chef’s specials such as finger-lickin’ good pork spare ribs, marinated in brown sugar, treacle and spice, are sure to tempt, served with crispy chips; or devour slow-cooked massaman beef in a rich coconut curry sauce, with a side of steamed rice.
Korean Charcoal BBQ Meat
Those seeking generous platters of Korean charcoal barbequed meat head along Lyons Street to find Jang Ta Bal Strathfield. This authentic Korean eatery with tabletop BBQ grills for cooking your protein and vegetables, is filled with tantalising aromas, smoky flavours and a lively buzz of conversation, as diners treat themselves to all manner of temptations.
From premium cuts of Wagyu to ox tongue, pork jowl and belly, duck, chicken and seafood – there is something to satisfy all cravings – along with sides like stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables.
Tantalising Aromas Waft in the Air
Discover famous slow-cooked ribs and delicious pizza at Pizza & Ribs on the Run on Bent Street in South Grafton. This well-loved Northern Rivers dining destination boasts a bright red and green façade, while indoors the tantalising aroma of pizza cooking in the oven wafts in the air tempting all who pass through the doors.
Start with your comfort food fix with crispy chicken crackles and dipping sauce, or a super spud topped with bacon, prawns, pineapple, capsicum, onion, mozzarella and sour cream; pizza lovers pick up a slice topped with BBQ sauce, pepperoni, cabanossi, ham and bacon.
