Hello!
I’m James.. The one behind the food and dining Instagram @food_feels .. I started the account around early 2014, which was around the first time I met Zanita so it’s pretty awesome to now be collaborating with the team!
If you have seen my account before, I take a lot of photos of food. I have been lucky enough to do quite a bit of travelling recently, so you will find a mix of cafes, restaurants, bars, street markets, hotels and destinations along the way. You will quickly notice my favourite time of the day is breakfast and I travel whenever I can.
I currently live in Sydney where we have a constantly evolving dining culture so there’s always opportunity to try (and shoot) something new. I am moving to London in a month, not timed ideally by me as I will be going from Winter straight back into Winter however I have a few precious weeks to take advantage of any Non-London weather!
I thought it was about the right time to write this first post being the first week of Spring in Sydney. It’s clear to see when a bit of warmth hit our shores as the beaches fill up and the outdoor bars and restaurants overflow with patrons beginning Summer early.
What goes well this time of year are drinking and dining outdoors, I’ve named a few venues I’ve recently visited that welcomes this weather.. The kind of places I would take my friends if I had overseas visitors wanting to experience a bit of Sydney.
Watson Bay Boutique Hotel
They have a great menu to share, the soft shell crab sliders and lobster rolls are perfect to pick at.
Right on the edge of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs with a view towards Sydney Harbour - this hotel has one of my favourite beer gardens. Whether it’s a Friday lunch or Sunday drinks this is the perfect venue for lunch and drinks. They have a great seasonal menu that fits everyone from sliders, Mac & Cheese to seafood platters. I have spent many many days here, including their last New Years Eve party and it’s always a great time.
North Bondi Fish
Make sure you get the prawn tacos, lots of them!
I visited here recently with some family and we all greed we could of sat there all evening. We arrived at 2pm and to anyone that knows Bondi.. It’s quite easy to sit back and just people watch with our iconic beach in the background. It also helps being served amazing seafood dishes from one of Sydney’s best chefs Matt Moran.
The Potting Shed, The Grounds of Alexandria
‘The Shed Platter’ comes with cured meats, fruits, picked vegetables & international cheeses
The Grounds of Alexandria has set the bar high in the Sydney eatery world. It’s little brother - The Potting Shed is the perfect addition. An outdoor bar/restaurant serving rustic tapas style dishes as well as wholesome meals and experimental cocktails that suit the surroundings perfectly.
Ottos, Woolloomooloo
For a special occasion the Spaghetti all’Aragosta is a clear winner
I wouldn’t say this is somewhere I eat every week, or every month for that matter, but it is somewhere which is really hard to beat for a long lunch. Not just for the food, but the atmosphere that Woollomooloo wharf brings at lunchtime, packed with boats, bars, people and restaurants. Now the food.. Italian is my favourite cuisine and I cannot fault the food here. I was lucky enough to meet the head chef Richard Ptacnik, his passion for what he does, mixed with his twist on modern and original Italian makes this place a stand-out.
Article by: James Thompson
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