by Luke Nguyen, As Told To Sarah Henry This Argentine-inspired grill is cool and kitschy. The decor is a mix of cowhide, faded South American posters, and leather furniture. Whole pigs or lambs roast slowly over an open pit, and the bar upstairs has a killer cocktail list.” 358 Cleveland St., 61/(0) 2-8399-1440, porteno.com.au Photo by Petrina Tinslay. See all of Luke Nguyen’s favorite places in Surry Hills, Sydney. This story appeared in the November/December 2011 issue.

by Luke Nguyen, As Told To Sarah Henry Luke Nguyen says: “Our restaurant’s dining room is rustic, and we hope it feels warm and inviting, like you’re visiting our home.” 545 Crown St., 61/(0) 2-9698-4355, redlantern.com.au Photo by Petrina Tinslay. See all of Luke Nguyen’s favorite places in Surry Hills, Sydney. This story appeared in the November/December 2011 issue.

by Sarah Henry Name: Luke Nguyen Neighborhood: Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia Occupation: Luke is co-owner of the award-winning Vietnamese restaurant Red Lantern. He also hosts a culinary travel show called Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam, which airs on the Cooking Channel. There is so much to do in Surry Hills— theaters, galleries, cafés, and pubs—and yet it’s got a small community feel. Everyone knows each other. The area is what’s known in Sydney as an inner-city suburb, which means it’s a residential area close to the city center. Surry Hills is near everything Sydney has to offer, from the Central Business District to beautiful Bondi Beach. I live with my partner, Suzanna Boyd, and our two cats, in a three-level Victorian-era home. The architecture here is fantastic. From my house, I can walk to my restaurant, Red Lantern, which is also in a renovated Victorian building with an ornate, cast-iron fence. There is a thriving food scene here. I would argue it’s one of the best in the world. You can find fine-dining establishments such as Marque, which has a French feel, or the Bentley, which is modern and creative, with a touch of molecular gastronomy and a great wine list. We also have casual, sunny, and stylish cafés, such as Bills, which is famous for its creamy scrambled eggs and ricotta hotcakes. There’s a fantastic performance space right around the corner from me. The Belvoir Street Theatre is run by one of the most respected theater companies in the country. Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett have been on stage there. The best part? I can go see a current Australian play or a European classic for a bargain price on cheap Tuesdays. I’m an Aussie with a strong Vietnamese heritage, and I communicate my culture through my food. I grew up in Cabramatta, in Sydney’s southwestern suburbs. This is the area where my family and many other Vietnamese migrants, or “boat people,” as we were called, settled and set up businesses. After my parents spent a year in a Thai refugee camp, where I was born, they eventually opened a restaurant in Cabramatta called Pho Cay Du. I worked there as soon as I could walk. I swept floors and served coffee. Luckily, I enjoyed the restaurant world. I always knew that one day I would have my own place. Today, food is how I connect with my family. In 2002, I opened Red Lantern in Surry Hills because nobody here was doing authentic, modern Vietnamese food, like shaking beef (bo luc lac) and salt-and-pepper squid (muc rang muoi). And I wanted the kind of place where my mates would come for a meal. Surry Hills used to be a ghetto, but now it’s hip to hang out here. These days, I spend a lot of time in Vietnam and other Asian countries because of my TV series. The cities there are busy and vibrant and crazy and energetic, and I love it. But I also love coming back to Surry Hills. People think Sydney is a busy city. I guess it is. But it’s also a great place to chill out. Read more about Luke Nguyen’s favorite places in Surry Hills:Brett Whitely Studio Mao and More The Norfolk Twig Café at Garden Life Surry Hills Library and Community Centre Dolly UpPorteñoRed LanternWafu Photo by Petrina Tinslay. This story appeared in the November/December 2011 issue.

If you're a beer drinker (or drinker in general), you'll fit right in down under. Here is a pretty well-rounded assortment of brews - from vintage Resch's to the popular low carb Super Dry and Pure Blonde to the staples VB and Carlton. Bluetongue is a brewery located in NSW's wine country, Hunter Valley, and serves as a nice addition to your wine tasting itinerary. Down on the end are a variety of Schwartz beers. Dr. Schwartz owns this hotel, The Sebel Surry Hills, as well as a handful of others. The Macquarie Hotel is located just down the street and is where these ales are brewed. As a matter of fact, I believe it has been renamed since I've been there The Schwartz Brewery Hotel. Not only can you visit where the beer is made, but they have a great happy hour - $3 schooners - and a live music venue, The Mac. Go to the Sebel Surry Hills for a killer lunch special. Each week there are three meals to choose from (the steak sandwich is always on the menu due to its demand). Your choice plus a schooner of beer or a glass of wine for $10! Hard to beat in Sydney. The suburb of Surry Hills was one of my favorites in Sydney. The pub culture alone makes it an eventful place to walk around and explore.

Banana bread: a staple in Sydney's cafes. This was one of my favorites -- warmed banana bread with ricotta and honey. Served with a perfect latte. Simply delicious. (Unfortunately this particular cafe closed while I was there, but like I said, you can find this anywhere in the city.)

First things first,....breakfast at Bill's. I have visited Sydney three times now, and two of three have begun at Bill's. Yes,...it's the ricotta pancakes with banana and honeycomb butter with a side order of chewy thick cut bacon that keep me coming back. I am excited to say that last year I was able to introduce my "sweetie" to Bill's during his first ever trip Down Under. He cosigned by saying that it was a pleasure for "Bill" to have made his acquaintance. I knew they'd get along. A match made in heaven.

It was a beautiful evening for a walk down Paddington St. in Sydney. A great place for inexpensive gourmet dinner is "A Fish Called Paddo" at Five Ways, a junction of streets in the heart of Paddington.

I do not recommend going to Sydney for the Mexican food. It has pretty much nailed every other cuisine, but in the year that I lived there, I didn't ever satisfy my South of the Border cravings. I did, however, quench my tequila thirst - and then some - thanks to this lovely gem, Cafe Pacifico. It has almost a hidden feel as it's located down one of Darlinghurst's side streets. When you get inside, you walk up this dark stairway and find yourself in a chaotically charming restaurant with sombreros, maracas and every kind of Dia de los Muertos decor you could imagine. The bartenders know their stuff here. It was the first time I had "tasted" tequila as opposed to taking shots. They have over 100 to choose from (pictured above), some over 100 years old. We sipped on all kinds of agaves, as well as tried some inventive cocktails, including one that tasted like coffee! Delicioso, mate!

by Luke Nguyen, As Told To Sarah Henry Luke Nguyen says: “My wife absolutely adores Dolly Up and its owner, the lovely Erin Paige Hutchings. She offers vintage fashion at its best—a carefully curated collection.” 361 Cleveland St., 61/(0) 2-9699-8181 Photo by Petrina Tinslay. See all of Luke Nguyen’s favorite places in Surry Hills, Sydney. This story appeared in the November/December 2011 issue.

Eau-de-vie in Darlinghurst is regarded by many Sydneysiders as the best bar in town. I was there on a quiet night, but still loved the place and people. The bar tenders rock, and the drinks are spectacular. Perfect place to start or end a good night. http://eaudevie.com.au Join AFAR Experiences and discover the REAL Sydney–May 6-9, 2013: http://www.afarexperiences.com/

Growing up in Mexico, I would get all my haircuts from my grandfather's old-school barber. He would cut my hair and finish off the session with a mock shave using warm shaving cream and the dull edge of his blade. Three decades later - now with some facial hair to shave, my memory instantly flashed back to those times in Mexico when I saw QT Sydney's retro Barber Shop. Outfitted with imported American vintage barber chairs and a solid menu of men's treatments and Cut Throat Shaves (make note of the Mr. Bond and The Don), the Barber Shop at the hotel's SpaQ is a must-do while in Sydney.

The meat pie is synonymous with Australia and no place is more iconic in Sydney than Woolloomooloo's Harry's Cafe de Wheels. What started out as a stand turned into one of the first food trucks when local ordinances dictated that mobile food carts had to move at least 12 inches every day. There are now dozens of Harry's around Sydney, each serving up their famous pies. "The Tiger" is the most well known: a pie topped with mashed potatoes, gravy and mushy peas. There are no tables to speak of, but rather a counter attached to the truck. Hundreds of celebrities, politicians and locals have flocked to Harry's for their pie fix. They're also open until 2 a.m., making this a great late-night spot.

Sydney’s small bar epidemic is at its peak and no lane or alley way is safe from its symptoms. Needless to say that Sydneysiders are finding it hard to keep up with the dizzying number of small bars opening after recent changes to the city’s historically strict and expensive licensing laws. One bar though is setting the pace for the rest, and with crowds still flocking in the masses for over a year, there’s no doubt she’s a stayer. The Baxter Inn can be found down a nondescript Clarence Street alleyway where New York-style steam rises from the footpath and an always classily clad bouncer greets you. Down the fire escape you go and find yourself in an intimate American-esque saloon with blues in the background, photographs of boxing legends on the walls and one of the most extensive libraries of alcohol you may ever see (the bartenders use ladders to reach some of the more expensive offerings). This dimly lit haven attracts all types but is a special favourite of those who love their scotch, unique beers and/or classic cocktails made by people who know what they’re doing – and they do. At The Baxter Inn it’s all about the bar - you’ll find complementary pretzels here but that’s about as far as the culinary offerings go, but for the drink devotees (of which Sydney has many) that’s the best kind of bar.

Firstly, go directly to the eight-course degustation menu (often with an extra course thrown in for good measure), and organise yourself a side helping of the triple fried fries. Secondly, loose fitting clothes are optional but strongly recommended. Thirdly, do not try this at home. If the everyday food enthusiast attempted to serve up grilled Blackmore’s tongue with sour beetroot, malt ice cream (yes, you read it right) and grilled white onions, it might not go down so well – literally. Tomislav is one of Sydney’s most experimental chefs and his creations are best left on the (often wildly oversized) plates of his restaurant. He doesn’t just blend sweet with savoury and fine granita with hot dishes; he manages to offer his guests five-star food without the pretentiousness that often ruins the great meals on offer at other Sydney eateries. Here, the atmosphere is relaxed, the service is impeccable and the food speaks for itself. Oh, and it’s right on the trendy cusp of Darlinghurst and Kings Cross meaning that wherever your night leads post-dinner – from classy cocktails to first-class debauchery – you won’t have to travel too far.

Whilst walking the pathway that leads from Bondi Beach to Coogie Beach myself and a friend saw a glimmer in the light. Exploring what this could be we saw this glimmer in the sunlight was in fact a spider web. Taking a closer look we saw this exotic spider that resembled to me some aboriginal painting so I started snapping away and came away with this brilliant shot.

Wendy Whiteley's secret garden is an unexpected treat tucked away just behind Luna Park near Lavender Bay in Sydney. The land was once a dumping ground of the NSW railways; an unsighlty waste land. But in 1992 Wendy's husband, famous Australian artist, Brett Whitely, died, and Wendy turned her grief and passion to creating a living artwork - the "Secret Garden". The enchanting garden is not the usual, run-of-the-mill city park. It has a certain magic that takes passion and love to create. The park drips with blossoms and ferns that fall across winding pathways leading to intimate picnic spots that overlook Sydney's magnificent harbour.

Our visit to Australia was coming to a close, so we thought we'd wander over to the harbor for some fresh fish. On the way there, we just happened to glance down a side street, and saw a sign proclaiming "Uighur Cuisine." The Uighur people of China had just recently been in the news, due to some riots & ethnic violence in Xinjiang province. We sure weren't planning a trip there any time soon, so why not try it in Sydney? I was really craving seafood, but decided I'd be able to get it back in the states. What a great decision! We were the only non-Asians in the place. The whole restaurant was decorated with wall murals depicting some sort of concert. The ancestors of the Uighurs were Turkic nomads, so the people are a beautiful mix of Turkic and Asian features, and so is their food. We asked our server to recommend her favorite typical dishes. There was warm, pita-like bread. The highlights were the lamb and the beans, which showcased the blend of regional styles. The lamb came as a plateful of thin skewers, tender & bursting with cumin goodness, but not spicy. It was served with a salad reminiscent of tabouleh, without the grain. The green beans were flash-fried with a red chili-garlic paste, definitely more Chinese in nature than Turkic. This ended up being not only one of the best meals of our vacation, but one of our most memorable travel meals ever. Had we not glanced down Dixon Street, or been unwilling to veer from the plan, we would have missed it entirely.

Only a mere snapshot into the charm that is The Rocks - Sydney's historical suburb. Although sprinkled with expensive boutiques, brand name shops, and high end restaurants, the cobblestone alleyways, old pubs, and hidden cafes gives a feeling of escape and wonder in the midst of all the Circular Quay craziness. The weekend markets are great to visit with beautiful local jewelry, art, and crafts. If you're a fan of pancakes, Pancakes on the Rocks is a fun place to go for every kind of pancake you could think of. Although the Harbour View Hotel no longer gives the best view of the harbour due to the massive bridge that was built over it, its deck is a great place to sit and have bloody marys and watch what's happening down below. Although I recommend visiting The Rocks during the weekend when there's a lot going on, I also highly recommend walking through The Rocks in the early hours of the day before the city really wakes up and the tourists stampede Circular Quay. It's such a magical part of the city and when you're there before the noise, it's like you have the Opera House to yourself.