The Stray Kitten

I discovered El Amigo when I was looking for restaurants to take my friend, who is visiting from the United States. He is accustomed to cosy, down home eateries such as the Cuban 'Black Bean Cafe' in Miami, which I remember fondly from my own travels in Miami. I did not expect to find an equivalent in Sydney, and had more or less resigned myself to showing my friend our overpriced fancy food restaurants. Enter: El Amigo. Its humble decor evokes the real Peru, not some fancy suit and tie version. This is obviously an entirely family owned and run business, which is exceptional nowadays (I often find that the staff and chefs at restaurants are disconnected from the culture of the cuisine they are serving up). The parents appear to do most of the cooking, while the lovely waitress appears to be their daughter. The food itself is to die for. Authentic, honest food. No chopping boards with fancy squiggles, or drinks served in jam/mason jars. This food is hearty, wholesome, a

Sydney is expensive. Maybe not as expensive as Tokyo, but we're getting there! Perhaps one of the reasons the locals like to get pissed on the weekends is because other activities are just too damn pricey. Recently, Nadia and I have had the pleasure of entertaining a distinguished guest from the United States in our amazing city. As soon as I found out that he was coming to the land Down Under, the psychotic planner in me began writing a comprehensive list of things he must see. However, we soon realised that these activities were sending us broke. Thus, I have revised my list to just a few items that are almost free aka #BallinOnABudget.  1. Bondi to Coogee walk  Bondi is the most iconic beach in Sydney, and a definite must-see if you're here for a short stay. Aside from enjoying the sand and surf, there is a string of eateries across the road, serving up fresh oysters, curries, sushi- even fried Mars Bars! The walk from Bondi to Coogee beach takes approximately