Cat & Calmell
Vyvanse is my coffee <3
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Cat & Calmell are a pop duo from Sydney, Australia.
Where do you live most of the year?
Sydney, Australia baby.
What do you look for in a restaurant when you walk in?
Cat’s ticks:
A mean Asian lady who doesn’t care if I live or die (food guaranteed to hit)
A nook to tuck away into, I like to feel cozy and protected when I’m eating… like a dog.
Calm’s icks:
Not enough pictures on the menu (I need pictures)
Uncomfortable seating. My butt hurts please stop giving me weird things to sit/lean on. I don’t care that it looks cool if it’s not functional… don’t pmo.
Weird atmosphere… The vibe is crucial, I don’t want a space to feel like it’s intruding on me and I don’t want to feel like I’m intruding on a space. If you get it you get it.
What is your final meal?
Calm: Mi Goreng with a fried egg & enoki mushrooms + a cold glass of lemon iced tea. I’m a simple gal.
Cat: A classic Chong Qing hot pot somewhere local with my family. I grew up in China and Chong Qing is my home town so it’s important that I return to the motherland for this. Must have: quail eggs, sweet potato starch noodles, fried beancurd skin rolls, enoki mushrooms, my mum’s marinated beef and chicken strips, spam, pissing beef balls, a self-serve sauce and condiments section with fresh spring onions, sesame seeds etc. A half n half soup base, one side a mushroom chicken broth and the other a classic 麻辣 (ma la) Chong Qing hot pot. I want the scalding steam and spice filled air to make our eyes water so we can all pretend like we aren’t crying. And then near the end I’ll share a jug of fresh watermelon juice with my little sister as I try to impart as many.
3 dream guests for dinner? Why?
Calm: Off the top of my head - 1. Trisha Paytas 2. Fergie 3. Suni (YT famous baby)
1. I’d love some insight on how to get out of this manic depressive identity crisis whilst being a public figure online, like that’s twin.
2. My icon, my god, *cartwheel* “whoah ohhhh”
3. Dikadikadoooo
Cat: Bjork, Nietzsche, and Aeon Flux
I’m both curious to pick their brains individually (they’re my idols), but also curious what kind of conversations would be had amongst the four of us (I don’t think we’re very traditionally personable people lol). Lowkey nightmare blunt rotation but I’m kinda all in for that.
C&C’s Taste Maker Guide
Breakfast:
Cat: Pantry Story, Sydney - A beef rendang n potato pie + their signature iced tea is the go to, they’re also constantly swapping out menu items and a personal fave of mine was their mi goreng and green sambal pie.
Calm: Kowloon Cafe, Sydney - Spam and egg fried rice & a HK super thick french toast w PB and condensed milk (dinner for breakfast always)
Coffee:
Cat: N/A — Vyvanse is my coffee <3
Calm: Cocoa & Coffee, Sydney - Large extra strong lactose free latte w/ 1 sugar (my poop is cominnnnggg)
Lunch:
Cat: 小杨生煎 Yang’s dumplings (obvs), it’s literally the best shit ever, I would have it at least twice a week after music lessons when I lived in Shanghai, I miss it so much </3 I don’t usually eat a lot for lunch but if I’m feeling especially starved, I’ll also get a shredded chicken noodle soup + a deep fried pork cutlet on the side, and a raspberry hawthorn iced drink for the beverage.
Calm: Tom Yum Tum Gang, Sydney - This is Cat and I’s go-to cheap lunch spot cuz they do a lit lunch special — you get a generous serving of the best Thai food in Sydney for like $11, c’mon. I love a chicken pad see ew and Cat endlessly raves about their tom yum fried rice. Coke zero for the drink.
Special dinner:
Calm: Chinese Noodle restaurant (DO NOT get it twisted with chinese noodle house oh no) (both eat tho i just gotta stay loyal to my day 1s). She is such a chill and welcoming (the staff want me dead) establishment but it’s the restaurant I went to on my first date with my <3 it’s my go to when I wanna show someone from out of town the best Sydney spots! Never misses AAAAND BYO
Pan fried pork & chive dumplings, xiao long bao pork & chive (obvs), if we’re feeling cheeky a braised eggplant 2 share w/ the table.
Cat: I don’t go to nice places tbh :p But it’s kind of a tradition that whenever we have a big group of people or friends visiting from out of town, we’ll take them to Spicy Joint.
I’m on home turf here, it’s a classic Sichuan restaurant so I’m typically entrusted with ordering for the crew. Here’s what I get for the table:
- Starter/cold dish - chilled cucumber with chilli garlic dressing, bo bo chicken
- Main - deep fried green beans with pork mince and chilli, fish flavoured shredded pork, stir fry potato Sichuan style, stir fry braised shredded cabbage with pork lard, red chilli oil wontons
- Dessert: deep fried buns w/ condensed milk & fried rice cakes w/ brown sugar
- Beverage: a jug of the house passionfruit juice and Tsingtao beers for all
Casual dinner:
Cat: Fried Brothers - I get so gluttonous the minute I step foot in that establishment. My go-to is a Nash Box + Cheesy Bar (best mozzarella sticks ever), and if I’m feeling particularly insatiable I’ll get a soft serve cookie dough for dessert. It’s just genuinely the best fast food I’ve ever had, it’s seasoned to perfection AND they made me a pickle convert. Bruh this is making me want Fried Brothers so bad…
Calm: Baba Wu Dumplings - Okay I’m letting y’all in on such a hidden gem, this is hands down the cheapest dumpling spot you’ll ever find in ur life ESPECIALLY if you go irl and pick up (uber eats is cheap too tho). Pack of 12 dumps for $5 are you kidding me. Could not tell you if they use human meat or not but idgaf it’s so cheap n tasty.
Special shoutouts
Andiamos (specifically their Tartufi gnocchi)
Delisia Panino & Espresso (insane deli style sandwiches)
YIN Viennoiserie (their pastries go nutty)