When I was two turning three years old, I was enamoured with Rosita from Sesame Street. If you’re unfamiliar, she was a turquoise-coloured, bilingual Muppet who hailed from Mexico. As mimicry is the greatest form of flattery, I began telling people I was from Mexico too.

A few years later, I realised that I was not, in fact, from Mexico, but from Puerto Rico. I was not born there, my maternal grandfather was. But this was enough to satisfy me and confirm my Latin heritage. It swiftly became an integral part of my identity.

I literally and physically began devouring…

Salt and pepper are the two most popular seasonings for a reason. They may be simple, but in the right ratio, they can elevate anything they touch. Raw tomatoes and cucumbers, fried eggs and even porridge* are transformed by a pinch of each.

“Salt and pepper” dishes (i.e. ones that are coated in the spices and then fried) are a league of their own. Nearly anything tastes good fried, but it’s only when the S&P are thrown in that the perfection of salt and pepper tofu or eggplant or (vegan) calamari can be achieved.

Any time I visit a Vietnamese…

In Melbourne, a city with a relatively recent history of contemporary development, any establishment which exceeds ten years old is considered part of the woodwork. So Old Raffles Place, a Singaporean restaurant which has marked the corner of Johnston and Wellington Street for close to two decades, is almost an heirloom of the Collingwood dining scene.

Not only has this place been around for ages, but it is one of the few dining spots in the area devoted entirely to food from Singapore and its dietary influencers (namely Indonesia, India, Thailand, China and Malaysia, plus some sway from the Brits).

…

I fear that I’ve been professionally blacklisted. It does happen. Your name and email get added to a list of people not to hire or otherwise work with.

The fear isn’t new but it’s resurged recently, stronger than ever. Breaking into cold sweats, armpits dripping, chest tightening… I start planning.

Should I move to a new city? Or does a situation this dire require a national move? I guess I could test out Sydney first. They fund “the Arts”. There are more jobs there anyway. And it’s a less alternative city than Melbourne, so I’ll automatically be cooler. It takes…

Growing up, my Easters were filled with hot cross buns, chocolate bunnies, marshmallow Peeps and hard-boiled eggs (usually for painting rather than eating). Once I came to Australia, Cadbury creme eggs made their way into what I consider a customary Easter treat. A new addition, sure, but not very “exotic”.

While it may seem that Easter is all about lollies and cakes and chocolate, that’s not the case in every country. Certain countries emphasise savoury over sweet when it comes to their Lenten or Easter day dietary habits. …

*Originally posted on Peaceful Dumpling

As a teenager dabbling in cannabis, I was convinced that weed made me a better person. More creative, less uptight, more fun, less anxious. I tried to convince my parents of these redeeming qualities too, much to their chagrin.

It was illegal; my brain was still developing; we tabled the conversation until I was out from under their roof and entitled to make my own decisions.

So I started consuming weed again. Less water bottle bongs, more edibles and eventually a vape. The safer ways to consume marijuana.

And it was good… Until it wasn’t…

*Originally published on Backpacker Deals.

Melbourne is brimming with amazing dining spots, from the cheap and cheerful to the prix fixe fine dining destinations and everything in between.

The dining scene in Melbourne is great for two main reasons:

1. The city is a cultural melting pot, meaning the restaurant options reflect these cultures and

2. We take our food very seriously, meaning you can go just about anywhere and expect a meal that not just tastes great but is also well-presented.

Narrowing down this list to just _ restaurants was tough; as a restaurant reviewer, there were so many…

*Originally published on Bloody Oath

The life of a freelancer is great. We get to work anywhere we want! We get to make our own schedules! We get to show up in pyjamas if we want to! Isn’t life dreamy? I’m not even gonna go into the but… There are no costs that don’t outweigh the benefits. Everyone go do it.

(Just kidding, don’t; I’d like to remain a hot commodity).

If you’ve already taken the plunge and are freelancing on a full-time basis (or if you aren’t but still require external workspaces from time to time), this list is…