So I’ve always loved Spice Alley in Chippendale but have always thought something was missing. Specifically, a bar. Last year the Poernomo brothers (of Masterchef and Koi Dessert Bar fame) opened Monkey’s Corner on the end of Spice Alley, just across from Koi. The menu is short and sweet, the idea being grazing on snacks and getting some more substantial dishes later to go with your drinks.

Rice bowls are only available on the weekends which seems a shame because I would kill to have a rice bowl for supper during the week. Or lunch. Or a snack… ANYWAYS. A must order is the Spicy trout belly rice bowl ($14). I didn’t want to spend $45 on the Uni rice bowl but instead opted for the additional uni ($15), four beautifully briny petals placed ever so delicately on top. It had the perfect spice level for me and I thought the amount of fatty trout was pretty generous.

The Soy braised pork belly rice bowl ($18) is the perfect comfort food. Fat slices of pork belly with layers of quivering gelatinous fat oh baby oh baby! The fluffy rice underneath was perfect for soaking up all the juices though I kinda wished the egg yolk was more gooey.

Those that know me will know I have issues with ox tongue. Flavour wise I don’t mind it but I hate when it’s sliced lengthways and still looks, well, like a tongue 😛 Luckily I’d seen on IG prior what the Ox tongue ($15) looked like so I was fine ordering it.

The ox tongue has been slow cooked, sliced thinly and is then drizzled with beef fat. That’s right, beef fat! And yes it was glorious! It did get a bit rich but thankfully the lime and the smattering of chives helped cut through the richness.

The Kingfish Collar ($16) is an absolute must order but not one for people who have issues with bones. I reckon half the fun of eating the kingfish collar is carefully excavating out the delicate flesh and working for your meal 😛 I loved the crisp, blowtorched skin and the rubble of shichimi and furikake seasoning.

There’s a couple of desserts on the menu or you could bounce next door and press up against the glass display featuring cakes in all the colours of the rainbow.

Monkey’s Corner
40 Kensington St,
Chippendale

Trading Hours:
Tues – Fri: 5pm – 11pm
Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10pm

Not my top9 but what 2017 was to me: making new friends, losing old ones, finding new restaurants but returning to old favourites.

There were new jobs (yep plural), many memes, swims at the beach and a whole bunch of songs that hit me in the feels.

There was less dancing this year but more quality hangs over pasta and wine. There was a trip to Europe (and Malaysia, Japan and Melbourne) and realising exactly how small Sydney is.

There were many burgers eaten this year (71 to be exact), fried chicken and scones, too.

My hair colour stayed relatively the same for once, a new dinosaur tattoo was added to the collection and I realised how important my friends are to me.

I didn’t bake as much as I would have liked this year and I sure as hell didn’t cook at all. And while IG never shows the entire truth, I’ve actually been eating healthier (though a little more exercise would probably help my cholesterol).

Goodbye 2017, I’m really looking forward to 2018. I hope you guys have an awesome year!