Froomes (@frooomes)
Mood lighting, a double cheeseburger and Nigella Lawson
Taste Maker is a food guide from creatives, artists and professional eaters.
Lucinda Price AKA Froomes is a writer and comedian.
Where do you live most of the year?
Sydney, Australia
What do you look for in a restaurant when you walk in?
Mood lighting and a friendly face (no stink eye pls).
What is your final meal?
Double cheeseburger meal with a lemonade and sweet 'n' sour sauce.
3 guests for dinner, dead or alive?
Nigella, Sascha Baron Cohen, Mike Myers! But I'd probably shit cos I love them all so much. Can I have a separate dinner with each of them?
Froomes’ Taste Maker Guide
Breakfast: Controversial but I don't believe in going out for breakfast! Brunch is also cancelled... I like to gear myself up for lunch and dinner. I make the same thing for breakfast every morning. Is that a good enough answer? Banana smoothie with oats, milk, honey and ice. Good gear so I can just not think about food for a bit. It gives me the energy to kickstart my day. I always eat breakfast.
Coffee: Birichina in Bondi. It's a beachside hole-in-the-wall run by really friendly French guys. Sometimes they play hardcore French house and rap really early in the morning which I find entertaining and refreshing.
Order: "Can I please have an almond cappuccino with one shot but please if you can, fill the milk up to the brim only if that's ok."
Lunch: The Shop & Wine Bar in Bondi, Sydney
Order: I always order one of their incredible sandwiches. I oscillate between them – a halloumi number with well-dressed salad and chilli jam is my go-to but I also like the BLT on a hangover. The ham sandwich defies logic cos it's a legit treat and it transcends the memories of primary school ham and cheese sandwiches that went hot and sweaty in my lunchbox. Back to the sandwiches from The Shop – they're on the fluffiest thick-cut bread on earth. It's a secret recipe made by a local who supplies only to them. The vibe in the cafe is really lovely and local too – great decor, good coffee and natural wine. Very cool.
Special dinner: Hubert in Sydney's CBD (I'm such a cliche but it’s my go-to)
Order: I just love that it's like an olde worlde saloon. I've been going since I moved to Sydney six years ago. Back then I used to be super fussy with food but even still, I found room to go hog wild at Hubert. I love the duck parfait and buttered bread. I go just for that, plus a French martini because I love sweet things. My hot tip is to try and befriend some wealthy benefactors in Sydney and get them to book out the private dining room with unlimited cocktails and lobster.
Casual dinner: Mami's Casa Latino, Bondi, Sydney
Order: My sister and I love Mexican food (she makes bastard-style nachos in her air-fryer every second day). We grew up getting takeaway from Nachos Mexican Cantina on Waverley Rd in Mount Waverley (Victoria) and Dad would always make us feel guilty because it was so expensive. For that reason, I didn't think relatively cheap Mexican food existed in Australia until I came across Mami's Bondi. It's casual, kinda more like a takeaway place with seating, and nothing is over $20. I think it's the closest thing we have to those taco trucks in New York that are legitimately authentic. This write-up in good food made me fall in love with them. I legit want my sister to fly to Sydney just so I can take her here.
Special shoutouts
I adore Cairo Takeaway in Newtown, Sydney - Chicken plate or wrap.
The Stuffed Beaver, Bondi - The burgers and cocktails are perfect.
South Dowling Sandwiches, Sydney - In multiple locations... if you live in Sydney you're likely across this but on the off-chance an interstate hottie is reading this – it's a must-go when you visit Syn City!
Gertrude & Alice - A cafe and bookstore in Bondi. Great coffee. You can sit in there and read the books. They have second-hand books, too – I picked up two David Sedaris numbers for $7 a pop this morning.
Alimentari, Melbourne - Specifically the Smith Street location in Collingwood. I drive across the Yarra every time I'm in Melbourne purely for the kale caesar salad.
