Where do you go, then, if you want to avoid finding yourself all
over the tabloids the next morning?
Icebergs, which is also on
Bondi Beach, but is more on the Italian
side. It's quite rich, actually. Again, these are beachfront
restaurants and, again, much of the experience is about more than
just the
food. It's what you're looking at and where you are. There
are a number of great places in the city, too, especially on the
wharf near the
W Hotel. The one I go to is called Otto, which is
also Italian. They make great risotto and do a great bellini. Then
there's a landmark called Harry's Cafe de Wheels. He has always
sold meat pies. I don't know if it exists anywhere else in the
world. I'm not a meat lover, but it's a huge thing in
Australia, so
you go for the meat pie.
How would you define a meat pie to someone who's never had
one?
It's sort of like a sausage roll. When I was a kid, the first thing
we would do after school is grab a meat pie. You could probably get
them then for 25 cents. Harry's used to be a rather low-rent place,
but over the years it's become a landmark. Now they write about it
in books and everything.
Any other restaurant recommendations?
Some of my favorite restaurants are in east
Sydney. All I keep
telling you about is Italian restaurants, but they're all great,
like Bill & Toni's and another one called No Names. I remember
going there as a kid. There are only a few things to choose from,
but it's really, really cheap and full of atmosphere. I might be
biased, but I rate Australia as having some of the best food in the
world. Yeah, other than
Italy, I'd say it is probably the best food
I've ever had in the world. Because everything is fresher and the
tastes are much stronger and purer.
What are your favorite places to shop?