What I Ate in Australia as a Carnivore
Posted by Mira on July 3, 2025 in stories
First time in Australia! After leaving Japan (see my post What I Ate in Japan as a Carnivore), I was ready for some other types of big cut meats, since in Japan the meats are mostly sliced. Let me see what I can find in supermarkets.
Contents
- July 2, 2025
- July 3, 2025
- July 4, 2025
- July 5, 2025
- July 6, 2025
- July 7, 2025
- July 8, 2025
- July 9, 2025
- July 10, 2025
- July 11, 2025
- July 12, 2025
- July 13, 2025
- July 14, 2025
- July 15, 2025
- July 16, 2025
- July 17, 2025
- July 18, 2025
- July 19, 2025
- July 20, 2025
- July 21, 2025
- July 22, 2025
- July 23, 2025
- July 24, 2025
- July 25, 2025
- July 26, 2025
- July 27, 2025
- July 28, 2025
- July 29, 2025
- July 30, 2025
- July 31, 2025
- Takeaways
July 2, 2025
- Breakfast: on the airplane
- Lunch: none (fasted)
- Dinner: lamb loin chops
- Snacks: banana and greek yogurt
We took a Singapore Airlines flight from Tokyo to Sydney, with a 7-hour layover in Singapore. The food on the plane was amazing—steak and lobster! We also met up with family in Singapore, and the food there was incredible as well. I tried to eat clean and stick to meat as much as possible, though there were a few slips.
After arriving our Airbnb in Sydney, the first thing we did was go to the supermarket and stock up the fridge. I was surprised to find that lamb and steak are about the same price as pork—lamb is surprisingly cheap here. I guess I'll be eating more lamb during our stay.
Meat section at supermarket in Sydney
Meat section at supermarket in Sydney
Lamb loin chops on sale
For dinner, I pan-fried some lamb loin chops with butter, salt, and pepper. They were delicious.
Dinner: Pan-fried lamb loin chops
I hadn’t planned to make my own yogurt in Sydney, but I found some high-quality yogurt at the supermarket—no additives, and the bacterial strains were listed on the label.
July 3, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: pork bone broth with pork bones, 3 poached eggs
- Dinner: pork bone broth with pork bones, 2 sunny-side-up eggs, lamb loin chop
- Snack: banana and greek yogurt
I couldn’t find pork bones in Japan, so when I finally got some, I cooked a rich pork bone broth for two hours and poached a few eggs in it. Divine!
Lunch: Pork bone broth in the making
For dinner, I had the same pork bone broth with pork bones, two eggs, and a lamb loin chop. It was delicious!
Dinner: Pork bone broth with pork bones, sunny-side-up eggs, and lamb loin chops. The snow peas were for the family.
July 4, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 4 boiled eggs dipped into the laksa broth
- Dinner: beef steak, braised pork bellies
- Snack: apple
We had a walking tour today to learn about Sydney’s history and stories. At the end of the tour, we stopped by a Malaysian restaurant to try some laksa, which is my husband's favorite. I brought my own boiled eggs. I loved the flavor of the laksa so much that I scooped some soup from my husband and my son, and dipped the eggs in it. It was a new combination—but a great one!
For dinner, I seared some beef steak, made traditional braised pork belly, and stir-fried okra for the family.
Dinner: Beef steak, braised pork belly, and stir-fried okra for the family.
July 5, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: beef burger with bacon without bun, a taste of crocodile, kangaroo and emu meat, and shucked oysters with sea urchin, caviar and salmon roes
- Dinner: beef steak, braised pork belly, avocado, and 2 eggs
- Snack: banana, apple and greek yogurt
Today we visited two markets: The Rocks Market on Saturday and the Sydney Fish Market.
We heard from the tour guide yesterday that we could try kangaroo, crocodile, and emu meat at The Rocks Market—so of course, we had to. Nowhere else in the world offers all three of these meats.
Lunch: Kangaroo, crocodile, and emu skewers at The Rocks Market in Sydney
Kangaroo meat is said to be the leanest meat in the world—high in protein and iron. To me, it tastes a bit like beef, but much leaner.
Crocodile meat tastes like chicken, but juicier than kangaroo. It was my favorite of the three.
Emu meat is hard to describe. It doesn’t taste like any other meat I’ve ever had.
My ranking: crocodile > kangaroo > emu.
Sampling the meats was far from enough for lunch. We stopped by a burger place called Betty's Burgers. I ordered a beef burger with bacon—no bun. Beef and bacon is always satisfying.
Lunch: Beef burger with bacon without bun at Betty's Burgers
Still, I wasn’t quite full. We took the ferry and tram to get to the Sydney Fish Market. It was an amazing market—lobsters, king crabs, all sorts of fish and shellfish. They even cook it for you on the spot.
We tried shucked oysters topped with sea urchin, caviar, and salmon roe. Wow—what a great combo of sea flavors! Just A$22 for six.
Lunch: Shucked oyster with sea urchin, caviar, and salmon roe at the Sydney Fish Market
July 6, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 1 banana, 1 tangerine, a slice of brie cheese, butter seared perch, 1 sunny-side-up egg, some lamb loin chops, and a half of avocado
- Dinner: 1 tangerine, braised silver bream (fish), fried beef fat bites, and Chinese tomato egg stir-fry
- Snack: matcha latte
For lunch, I had a little bit of everything. We got perch fillets from the Sydney Fish Market yesterday, and I seared them with butter, salt, and white pepper. They were so good—soft and full of flavor. I think we’ll get them again from the market. They’re cheaper than in the US, about $10 for 1 lb of fillet!
I also bought more meat from a butcher called The Butcher Empire in Sydney. I love this shop. I got beef shanks, beef fat, beef ribs, pork mince, and pork bones. I really missed the big cuts of meat when we were in Japan last month, where most meat is sold in thin slices.
Beef shanks, beef fat, beef ribs, pork mince, and pork bones at The Butcher Empire in Sydney
Beef ribs at The Butcher Empire in Sydney
For dinner, I braised the silver bream we got from the Sydney Fish Market yesterday. My family loved it. I ate some fat bites left over after rendering tallow from the beef fat. I also made a big plate of Chinese tomato and egg stir-fry. It was delicious as always.
Dinner: Preserved duck eggs, Chinese tomato and egg stir-fry, and braised silver bream at The Butcher Empire in Sydney
July 7, 2025
- Breakfast: beef fat bites
- Lunch: 3 eggs, Asam Laksa soup and cod liver
- Dinner: lamb skewers, fried beef strips, and chickens
- Snack: 1 banana, 1 apple, and greek yogurt
We went to the Blue Mountains in Sydney with my friend's family.
In the morning, I noticed my skin felt drier, likely due to reduced fat intake. So I ate some beef fat bites to moisturize my skin and hopefully boost my energy for the long day ahead.
For lunch, we stopped by a restaurant called Katoomba Unique Patisserie. I ordered the Penang Assam Laksa and ate it with the three eggs and cod liver I had brought. The laksa was sour and sweet, and I regretted ordering it because the noodles made up a large part of the dish—and I couldn't eat them. My friend ordered Bak Kut Teh, and it looked delicious. It had braised pork belly in it.
Lunch: Penang Assam Laksa at Katoomba Unique Patisserie in the Blue Mountains.
For dinner, we went to a Chinese restaurant in Sydney’s Chinatown that my friend recommended (Chinatown Noodle Restaurant). It was a great choice.
We ordered:
- Grilled Lamb Skewers (羊肉串)
- Xinjiang Chili Chicken and Potato Stew (新疆大盘鸡)
- Crispy Honey Beef (香脆牛肉丝)
- and a few other dishes
Dinner: Grilled lamb skewers at Chinatown Noodle Restaurant in Sydney
July 8, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 4 sunny-side-up eggs in butter, half an avocado, a small slice of brie cheese, 1 tangerine and 1 banana.
- Dinner: Pork dumplings (cheated a little bit)
For lunch, I cooked up some easy eggs for myself, paired with avocado, Brie cheese, and some fruit—a little of everything.
Lunch: 4 sunny-side-up eggs in butter, half an avocado. Australian avocado is HUGE!
I also rendered a second batch of beef tallow, since I used up the first batch for the dumpling-making party tonight. I saved the beef fat bites, sprinkled some salt on them, and stored them in the fridge. They’ll be perfect for high-fat snacking.
Uncooked beef fat
Beef tallow in cooking
Rendered tallow
Beef fat bites
For dinner, I invited my high school friend and his family to my Airbnb. We made pork dumplings. For the filling, I used my homemade beef tallow, and my guests asked where the great flavor came from—haha!
I ate some carbs: the dumpling wrappers. Just a little bit, and they were al dente and delicious.
July 9, 2025
- Breakfast: flat white coffee
- Lunch: Chinese lion head meatballs, braised duck
- Dinner: pork patties from the dumplings that I made yesterday, pork pancakes (cheated a little bit), half an avocado, brie cheese, cherries
- Snack: greek yogurt with raspberries
In the morning, we visited Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters in Chippendale, Sydney, which was just crowned The World’s Best Coffee Shop at the inaugural World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops Gala in Madrid, Spain. I haven’t been a heavy coffee drinker for a while, since my illness, but with a reputation like that, I had to try their famous flat white.
For lunch, we stopped by a Shanghainese restaurant called A Bowl of Noodles. I ordered the Shanghainese Lion Head meatballs (狮子头) and braised duck legs(酱鸭) —nothing else. These dishes are typically meant for sharing, so it was probably unusual for someone to order them solo and eat them without rice or noodles. I imagine the waitress was a bit surprised to see me enjoying them that way. Perfect! (They even gave me ideas to try making Lion Head meatballs and braised duck legs at home.)
Shanghainese Lion Head meatball at A Bowl of Noodles in Chippendale
Braised duck leg at A Bowl of Noodles in Chippendale
Dinner was quick and easy. We had leftover ingredients from yesterday: pork mince and dough. I made bigger pork pancakes for the family. For myself, I made some pork patties directly. I wanted to try how the wrappers tasted (like what a chef would do 😉). I did have some carbs from the dough, but it was still delicious.
Dinner: pork patties and avocado
Pork pancakes for the family. But I did have 1 piece.
July 10, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 2 eggs, brie cheese, beef fat bites, 2 pork patties, 1 tangerine,
- Dinner: braised beef ribs, 2 tbsp butter, 1 apple, 1 tangerine
For lunch, I had some leftover pork patties from the pork pancakes I made yesterday.
I attempted to make Malaysian half-boiled eggs, but they turned out too watery—especially the whites. I currently warm the eggs in hot water for 7 minutes, but I need to tweak the timing. This time, I had to heat them in the microwave for another 15 seconds.
As a treat, I had an Australian tangerine. I have to say, Australian tangerines are huge and so much tastier than the ones I get in the US (like those tiny Cuties).
For dinner, we had the beef ribs I cooked for three hours in a pot. I initially started cooking them in the oven, but the fumes were insufferable, so I transferred them to the pot and cooked them for another two hours. Beef ribs are one of my favorite cuts of beef—they were so tender and flavorful. I paired them with some butter, which made them even better.
Beef ribs I marinated with salt and cumin.
Dinner: Beef ribs I braised for three hours in a pot
I overate on tangerines a bit (I ate two) because tangerines in Australia are just too good. I told myself to practice moderation in the future—maybe one at most per day.
July 11, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: Hainanese chicken, 2 boiled eggs, and laksa soup
- Dinner: 2 eggs poached in pork bone broth, perch seared in beef tallow, and half a big Australia tangerine
- Snack: flat white coffee
For lunch, we went to a Malaysian restaurant called Sayong Curry and Laksa, as my husband was craving Southeast Asian food. I ordered their Hainanese chicken rice with chicken leg specifically (they also offered chicken breast). I packed the rice to take home for my family’s dinner and instead ordered two boiled eggs to go with the dish for my own lunch.
My husband shared some Laksa soup with me so I could dip the boiled eggs in it. The Laksa soup was very authentic—it tasted great and infused the eggs with rich flavor and nutrients.
Lunch: Hainanese chicken with rice at Sayong Curry and Laksa in Sydney
I made my favorite pork bone broth, but unfortunately had to use pork neck bones instead of shank bones.
For dinner, I poached two eggs in the pork bone broth. I also seared some perch fillets we bought from the Sydney Fish Market today in beef tallow. Abundant and delicious!
July 12, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: approx 6 poached eggs in pork bone broth, brie cheese, half an avocado, 1 apple
- Dinner: braised beef shanks
- Snack: matcha latte (from T Totaler)
We visited Paddington Market in the morning. By the time we got home at noon, everyone was starving. I grabbed some Brie cheese and an apple for a quick energy boost. I’ve noticed that my kids get hungry easily, even though they eat breakfast—unlike me. Kids just have faster metabolisms than adults.
For lunch, I made some pork bone broth and dropped in 8 eggs. It was supposed to be for all of us, but my daughter decided not to have any, so I ended up with 6 poached eggs. I felt stuffed until dinner.
Lunch: Avocado and pork bone soup
Eating 6 eggs didn’t used to be a problem. I wonder if my stomach has shrunk.
For dinner, I braised some beef shanks in a pot for three hours using Mimi Morgan's famous recipe. This recipe never fails. The meat fell off the bone, and the fat and bone marrow melted into the broth. It was incredibly nourishing.
Dinner: Beef shanks braised for three hours in a pot
July 13, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 2 1/2 beef patties, 2 slices of cheese, 1 sunny-side-up egg, half an avocado, and 1 kiwi
- Dinner: 4 chicken satay skewers, 2 beef satay skewers, some lamb curry, and yogurt with raspberries
In the morning, we went to the Sydney Art Museum before heading back home. My son was craving American burgers, so we bought some beef patties from the supermarket—organic, of course—and picked out the best buns we could find (brioche buns!). My son approved of the burgers. As for myself, I skipped the buns and added avocado and cheese on top. I was so full afterward.
Lunch: Beef patties with avocado and cheese
One thing to note: avocados in Australia are huge, smooth, and incredibly tasty.
In the afternoon, we went to watch an opera at the Sydney Opera House. It was a beautiful performance, and we had a great time.
After that, we went to a super popular Malaysian restaurant in Chinatown called Mamak Haymarket. We discovered it last time we passed by and saw a huge line outside. Today, we finally tried it—and no wonder it draws such a crowd!
We ordered chicken and beef satay skewers, lamb curry, roti, and nasi lemak. Woah. I had six skewers! They were so good. I may have overeaten today—I was absolutely stuffed afterward. This makes me want to visit Malaysia one day!
Dinner: Satay skewers at Mamak Haymarket in Chinatown
July 14, 2025
- Breakfast: picciriddu (espresso drink)
- Lunch: half an avocade, 6 chicken wings, some beef shanks from leftover, and 1 cup of raspberries
- Dinner: floured rainbow trout, 2 eggs, 2 slices of swiss cheese and 1 apple
I run every day around the CBD area of Sydney and often look at the different coffee shops. I just learned about the strong coffee culture in Sydney (I also heard that Melbourne's coffee culture is even better). I passed by a coffee shop called Tessuto and wanted to try their Italian espresso shot, Picciriddu. Today was the day.
Early in the morning, I had a coffee date with my husband. It turned out that the Picciriddu was very sweet. Since I’m on a low-carb diet, it wasn’t the best drink for me. Well, well, well—I had to try it once in Sydney, but not twice.
Breakfast: Picciriddu at Tessuto in Sydney
The Picciriddu is quite a creation. Pistachio cream is layered at the base of the glass, followed by a single espresso shot made with Vittoria coffee. Milk froth is added on top, and the rim of the glass is coated with a pistachio crumb for extra texture and flavor.
The drink is named after the Sicilian term for "little boy" and reflects the heritage of Tessuto’s barista, Salvatore Messina, who grew up on a small Sicilian island famous for its pistachios. The result is a visually striking and indulgent coffee that blends creamy, nutty, and robust espresso notes—showcasing both Italian tradition and creative flair.
For lunch, I braised some chicken wings. Using some beef shanks from the day before and a few Australian avocados, I made a big plate with everything. Very filling!
Lunch: Chicken wings with beef shanks and avocados
For dinner, to improve my fish-frying skills, I coated some rainbow trout in flour (instead of frying it directly) and seared it in beef tallow. This time, I managed to keep the fillets intact without breaking them apart. I also fried two sunny-side-up eggs.
Dinner: Floured rainbow trout and sunnyside-up eggs. I ate more fillets than in the photo.
I did have a bit of tangerine after dinner. Australian tangerines are humongous, sweet, and juicy. They must be some of the best tangerines in the world. Right now, it’s winter in Australia—the perfect time for tangerines.
Austrilian tangerines we got from the supermarket. They cost about A$3.5/kg, which is about $1/lb. Isn't it a great price?
July 15, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: probiotic yogurt with raspberries and walnuts, 3 sunnyside-up eggs and braised pork ribs
- Dinner: Red snapper fish stew, half an avocado, and half a tangerine
- Snack: flat white coffee
The slow cooker finally came, so I could optimize my meat prep even more. My first try for the cooker are the pork ribs. High heat for 4 hours, meat falls off the bone, and flavor soaked in to the meat. It came out better than I expected.
Pork ribs braised for 4 hours in a slow cooker
Lunch: Pork ribs braised for 4 hours in a slow cooker with sunnyside-up eggs. I ate more ribs than in the photo.
I picked up a new yogurt I was excited to try—Jalna Pot Set Greek Natural Yoghurt Plus Prebiotics. It’s probiotic, and I topped it with walnuts and raspberries. Chef’s kiss!
Jalna Greek Plus contains five probiotic strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus casei, and Synbio 100 (L. rhamnosus + L. paracasei). The Synbio 100 strains have been shown to reduce bloating and improve digestion. It provides over a billion CFU and 3g of prebiotic fiber per 100g.
Probiotic yogurt (Jalna Pot Set Greek Natural Yoghurt Plus Prebiotics) with raspberries and walnuts
For dinner, we still had red snapper fillets in the freezer from the Sydney Fish Market. Since I just fried fish yesterday, I was a bit tired of all the grease. So I asked Perplexity for a recipe using what I had on hand: red snapper, tomatoes, salt, pepper, some beef bone broth from the previous beef shanks, and soy sauce. It gave me a solid fish stew recipe.
I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but my son gave it a solid 10! I thought the fillets were too thick, but my family loved it. I’ll take the 10—haha.
I had some fish with avocado for extra fat. I love that combination.
Dinner: Red snapper stew with avocado
Here is the red snapper stew recipe by Perplexity for future reference:
Red Snapper Tomato Stew
Ingredients:
- Red snapper fillets, cut into 5–7 cm pieces
- 3–4 ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1–2 cups beef broth (adjust to desired stew thickness)
- Salt, to taste
- White pepper, to taste
- Soy sauce, to taste
Instructions:
- Season the snapper pieces lightly with salt and white pepper.
- In a pot, combine the chopped tomatoes with beef broth. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 10–15 minutes until the tomatoes soften and start breaking down into a sauce.
- Add a splash of soy sauce, salt, and white pepper to the tomato broth, adjusting seasoning to your taste.
- Gently add the snapper pieces to the simmering tomato broth. Cover and simmer on low heat for about 7–10 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed before serving.
This simple stew brings savory richness from the beef broth, balanced with the freshness of tomatoes and delicate snapper flavor. It's perfect as a comforting, one-pot meal.
July 16, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: Malaysian Beef Rendang, 4 boiled eggs, tiny bit of roti, greek yogurt with raspberries and walnuts
- Dinner: braised lamb shoulder, butter, brie cheese, and tangerine
- Snack: apple
Sydney is a great place for Malaysian food, which is hard to find in America. My husband wanted to try another Malaysian restaurant called Ipoh town On York. I ordered Malaysian Beef Rendang, a beef stew with coconut milk and spices. It came with roti. I had a tiny bit of roti just to try it. I brought four boiled eggs with me and dipped them into the stew—gorgeous, a meal with a lot of protein and limited carbs!
Lunch: Malaysian Beef Rendang at Ipoh town On York, with the boiled eggs that I brought
Probiotic yogurt (Jalna Pot Set Greek Natural Yoghurt Plus Prebiotics) with raspberries and walnuts
I prepared dinner for the whole day: I started braising the lamb shoulder in the slow cooker in the morning for 9 hours. By dinnertime, the meat had completely fallen off the bone, and the flavor had deeply infused into it. Paired with a bit of butter, the lamb was amazing. I also saved some lamb tallow and bone broth for future use.
Braised lamb shoulder in slow cooker
Dinner: The lamb shoulder all fell off the bone
My friend in Australia told me that lamb pairs best with mint sauce—a sauce made from fresh mint leaves, butter, and vinegar. That will be my next experiment for another day.
July 17, 2025
- Breakfast: flat white coffee at Infusion on Clarence
- Lunch: 4 eggs poached in lamb bone broth, some braised lamb shoulder and brie cheese
- Dinner: braised beef ribs, butter, kimchi, brie cheese and a cup of greek yogurt with walnuts
My husband heard about another place known for its great coffee beans: Infusion on Clarence. So that’s where we went for our morning coffee date. This shop is the flagship store of Danes Roaster. I had a flat white. I'm not an espresso expert, so coffee usually tastes great to me. ;)
Breakfast: Flat white coffee at Infusion on Clarence
With some leftover braised lamb shoulder, I made my go-to reset meal: four eggs poached in lamb bone broth. I topped it with some bonito flakes I brought from Japan to add a boost of umami. Mixed with the tender lamb, it was nourishing and delicious.
Lunch: 4 eggs poached in lamb bone broth with some lamb shoulder, with bonito flakes
With the new slow cooker, I braised the beef ribs for 8 hours! By the time they were done, the meat had completely fallen off the bone, and the flavor was deeply infused throughout. I also added onions at the bottom of the slow cooker to enhance the umami, but I didn’t like the smell at all—so next time, no more onions.
Dinner: Braised beef ribs with onions
July 18, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 3 pan-fried buns (水煎包), brie cheese, kimchi, and some golden kiwi
- Dinner: lamb skewers, lamb offal soup
For lunch, I made some pan-fried buns (水煎包). They were pretty special—the filling was pork mixed with lamb tallow, and I pan-fried them in beef tallow. A combination of three kinds of meat!
Lunch: Pan-fried buns (水煎包)
I did eat some of the wrapper, as I'm gradually adding back some carbs—just not too much. But I won’t be adding back ultra-processed carbs. I believe many health issues are caused by them; they’re addictive, make people crave more and more, and offer little to no nutritional value.
Dinner was disappointing. We went to the Chinatown Noodle Restaurant for the second time, as I remembered the lamb skewers being great. This time, everything—from the menu books to the utensils—looked unclean. I ordered lamb skewers and lamb offal soup. The lamb skewers were good, but the lamb offal soup had almost no offal—just vermicelli. My family was disgusted.
I just hope we don't get sick from it. Tomorrow is going to be a reset day.
Dinner: grilled lamb skewers and lamb offal soup at Chinatown Noodle Restaurant in Sydney
July 19, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 1 avocade, 1 apple and braised beef ribs, brie cheese
- Dinner: beef brisket with tomato sauce and potatos, and 1 cup of greek yogurt with walnuts
Lunch was easy: some leftover braised beef ribs and one whole avocado. Australian avocados are different from the ones in the U.S.—they’re a lighter green, the flavor isn’t as strong, and they taste fresher. I had a whole one today, and it actually made me feel energetic for the rest of the day.
Lunch: 1 avocado and braised beef ribs
After lunch, we took a ferry to Manly Island. Lots of walking today—over 20,000 steps for me. I spent the whole afternoon thinking about the beef brisket in the slow cooker. Hahaha.
Beef brisket in slow cooker with potatoes
Beef brisket cut into pieces
Dinner: Beef brisket, potatos, tomato sauce that I made from fresh tomatoes
It was my first time cooking beef brisket with potatoes. The flavor soaked into the potatoes beautifully. I always feel beef needs some tomato to balance it out, so I quickly made a tomato sauce using fresh tomatoes I had on hand. It was a great success—my son, who doesn’t usually compliment my cooking, loved it! I was so happy.
I recorded the recipe here.
July 20, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: beef brisket, 2 eggs dropped in beef broth with bonita and dried seaweed, Queensland blue pumpkins, tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes, and brie cheese
- Dinner: perch seared in butter, Queensland blue pumpkins, 3/4 of an avocado, and brie cheese with walnuts
- Snack: flat white coffee at Stitch Coffee QVB
The beef brisket yesterday left quite a lot of tallow and bone broth. For lunch, I dropped two eggs into the broth and added bonito flakes and dried seaweed for umami and omega-3s. I also had some of the beef brisket with a tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes.
Lunch: Beef brisket, with tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes
Lunch: Eggs poached in bone broth with bonito flakes and dried seaweed
Today, I introduced a new food to my diet: Queensland Blue pumpkins. I slow-cooked it with some water for three hours. It was moist and delicious. I’ll keep monitoring whether it affects my platelet count or body weight.
Apparently, I didn’t have enough fat at lunch. I felt very sluggish in the afternoon and kept thinking about food or coffee while we were visiting Woolloomooloo.
For dinner, I seared the perch we got from the Sydney Fish Market. Oh my goodness, this fish never failed to deliver the tender texture. I tried to flour some fillets but it turned out the same effect with without. I found the perch is very easy to break into pieces, so had to be very careful when searing it.
Dinner: Perch with avo! (like how Australians say it)
July 21, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 3 1/2 braised chicken legs, half of an avocado, 1 tbsp of butter and an apple
- Dinner: braised lamb shank, tomato egg stir-fry, greek yogurt with walnuts and a kiwi
Today, our slow cooker pulled double duty.
For lunch, I braised chicken legs in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours. But since we were in a rush, I had to transfer them to the stovetop to finish cooking. Unfortunately, the meat didn’t quite reach that “fall-off-the-bone” tenderness.
On the bright side, my son playfully put some dried seaweed on my avocado—and we accidentally discovered that avocado and dried seaweed (焼き海苔 / yaki nori) make a surprisingly great combination. Creamy meets umami!
Lunch: Braised chicken legs and avocado
Besides the braised chicken legs, I also upped my fat intake to boost energy. I had half an avocado, a tablespoon of butter, and an apple for quick energy. During our trip to Featherdale Wildlife Park, I felt noticeably better than yesterday—alert and energetic, even without coffee.
Around 1 p.m., I started to feel a bit sluggish, but the apple helped pick me up. By around 4 p.m., my energy felt more stable—maybe because my body had shifted to fat-burning mode.
Here’s what seems to be working for me so far (though I’m still experimenting): for the first meal of the day—especially after a heavy workout—I need to replenish energy with a mix of carbs and healthy fats. For the second meal, I can focus mostly on protein.
Oh—and last night, I came up with a fun new goal: I want to cook my way through all the big meat cuts sold in Australian supermarkets that I’ve never tried before.
So this morning, my daughter and I went to Woolworths and scored some lamb shanks and lamb leg. The price was amazing—four lamb shanks for A$22, which comes out to about $3 USD per shank!
Four lamb shanks bought at Woolworths
For dinner, I slow cooked the lamb shanks on high for 6 hours. They were perfectly tender—the meat literally fell off the bone, just in time for us to come home from our trip to Featherdale Wildlife Park.
Dinner: Braised lamb shanks
Four lamb shanks for the whole family
I’ve really fallen in love with slow-cooked meats lately, but I need more simple and delicious sauce recipes to go with them. Right now, I only know how to make one tomato sauce. Time to expand my sauce game!
July 22, 2025
- Breakfast: cappuccino from Gumption by Coffee Alchemy
- Lunch: 3 boiled eggs, 1 avocade, some laksa soup
- Dinner: seared red gurnard fillets, tomato sauce, 1 boiled egg, brie cheese, 1 apple, 1 tbsp of butter, and 1 cup of greek yogurt
My family had lunch at an underground Asian food court. I brought my own boiled eggs and an avocado—perfect for a high-fat, nutritious meal. I’ve just discovered that avocados are an excellent way to carry healthy fats without worrying about them melting. I might even bring one on the airplane next time!
As usual, my husband shared some laksa soup with me so I could dip the boiled eggs in it.
Lunch: 3 boiled eggs, 1 avocado (vs. my husband's laksa, top),
For dinner, I seared some red gurnard fillets from the Sydney Fish Market in tallow. I found that red gurnard is a high-protein, low-fat fish, so the texture came out a bit dry compared to fattier fish like perch. Nutritionally, though, it’s great—it’s also rich in omega-3.
Red gurnard fillets from the Sydney Fish Market
Seared red gurnard fillets
Dinner: seared red gurnard fillets with tomato sauce
Tomato sauce is once again my go-to for pairing with lean fish. My son helped me make it this time—we added some butter to make it creamier. I also learned that tomatoes on the vine are better for making sauce than gourmet tomatoes, which tend to be chunkier and less saucy.
July 23, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 2 beef patties, 2 slices of cheese, 3 tbsp of butter, 1 banana, and 1 apple
- Dinner: beef ribs slow cooked with tomatoes, greek yogurt
We wanted something quick for lunch, so we picked up burger patties and cheese from the supermarket and made them at home. I skipped the buns and added some butter for extra energy.
Beef patties and cheese, ready to cook!
Lunch: 2 beef patties, 2 slices of cheese, and 3 tbsp of butter
For dinner, we had beef ribs that I had slow-cooked for 9 hours. I experimented with braising them in tomatoes, since tomato sauce usually pairs well with ribs. But after such a long cook, the tanginess was completely gone. I won’t try slow cooking ribs with tomatoes again—unfortunately, I wasted four tomatoes, and they’re not cheap in Australia (around A$10 per kg!).
Beef ribs slow cooked for 9 hours
Dinner: Beef ribs slow cooked with tomatoes
We did some meat shopping today: pork bones for bone broth, beef fat for tallow, beef shanks for slow cooking, and mince for dumplings.
Meat shopping at the Butcher Empire in Sydney
I quickly rendered the beef fat into tallow, which produced some delicious, crispy beef fat bites. This time, I used a sieve to separate the solids from the liquid, and the tallow came out much clearer.
Beef tallow rendered from beef fat
Beef fat bites rendered from beef fat
July 24, 2025
- Breakfast: flat white coffee from Gardenia Espresso
- Lunch: 3 eggs, 1 avocade, and 1 apple
- Dinner: 4 beef dumplings, 1 boiled egg, beef ribs from yesterday, and some beef fat bites
I wasn’t in a good mood this morning—just irritable for no obvious reason. I know it’s related to my physical condition, but I couldn’t pinpoint the cause—maybe a lack of sunlight, or possibly coffee withdrawal. We had planned to go to Luna Park, and it would’ve been a letdown if I stayed in that mood. But once we stepped out into the sun and my husband bought me a flat white, everything turned around. Literally everything felt better—my perspective shifted completely: how I saw my kids, my husband, even my own thoughts. I’m still not sure what worked—the sun or the coffee—but I’ll keep experimenting.
We had a great time at Luna Park Sydney. My family picked up some bánh mì for lunch, while I stuck with my boiled eggs and avocado. I was surprised by how little I was tempted by the Vietnamese sandwich—clearly, my microbiome has shifted. I genuinely love my eggs and avocado now.
Lunch: 3 boiled eggs, avocado, and apple with my Himalayan salt
For dinner, we made beef dumplings together as a family. I love dumpling-making nights—they’re full of laughter, jokes, and just being present with each other. Even though my kids haven’t quite mastered the art of shaping dumplings yet, none of theirs broke during cooking, which was a big achievement for them!
Making beef dumplings with my family
Beef dumplings we made together
I had a few dumplings with the wrappers, though I’m still trying to avoid gluten and carbs. I also finished off some leftover beef ribs from yesterday—heated them up in the microwave, and they were still delicious!
July 25, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: pork bone broth with 3 poached eggs, beef fat bites, 1 banana
- Dinner: 2 lamb loin steaks
- Snack: greek yogurt with walnuts
We went to the Government House in Sydney in the morning after I went for a run. The Government House, where the NSW governor resides, is open to the public for free on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It’s such a treat—both the exterior and interior are stunning, and we learned a lot about local history.
Interestingly, in the dining room of Government House, we saw a real menu from a state dinner with the President of Hungary in 2009. We opened it and read through the courses—there were no carbs at all. For the rich and powerful, it seems that carbs play only a minor role on the table.
State dinner menu cover with President Hungray in 2009
State dinner menu with President Hungray in 2009
For lunch, I had pork bone broth with three poached eggs and dry seaweed (焼き海苔 / yaki nori). While cooking, I snacked on some beef fat bites—such a delicious treat.
Lunch: Pork bone broth with three poached eggs and dry seaweed (焼き海苔 / yaki nori)
For my dinner, I tried to recreate a meal we made when I first arrived: seared lamb loin steaks. Unfortunately, it was a bit disappointing this time. The steaks were quite chewy and not as tender as before. For my family, I made the tsukemen version of tomato and egg noodle again, which has become my family's favorite.
My dinner: Lamb loin steaks
My family's dinner: Lamb loin steaks with tomato and egg noodle tsukemen
July 26, 2025
- Breakfast: flat white coffee from Industry Beans York St
- Lunch: 10 lamb skewers (lamb muscle cut, lamb fat cut, and lamb kidney cut), 1 avocado
- Dinner: Slow cooked leg of lamb
- Snack: desserts at Koi Dessert Bar (cheated)
This morning, my husband and I had a coffee date at Industry Beans York St. I ordered a flat white, and he ordered a piccolo. It always amazes me how coffee can instantly make me feel giddy after just one sip. My approach is not to rely on coffee for energy, but to enjoy it occasionally.
Flat white at Industry Beans York St
Piccolo at Industry Beans York St
We visited Burwood Chinatown in the morning. It’s full of traditional Chinese food. Most Chinese dishes are carb-focused and can easily include additives—especially MSG. But there’s one food that’s carnivore-perfect: lamb skewers!
They’re packed with protein and fat, and when fat is heated, it makes the meat taste heavenly. Add a bit of cumin, chili, and salt, and you really don’t need anything else. Lamb skewers were my childhood favorite—and they still are.
Today for lunch, I had 10 lamb skewers—some made with lean muscle cuts, some with fatty cuts, and some with kidney. All were absolutely delicious. The kidney skewers gave me a nice boost of minerals, and I also brought along an avocado to round out my fat intake.
Lunch: Lamb skewers at Burwood Chinatown
We heard that the famous MasterChef Australia contestant Dessert King Reynold Poernomo has a flagship dessert bar called Koi Dessert Bar. Reynold is considered one of the best dessert chefs in the world, and Koi is known as one of the top dessert spots in Sydney. Since it was so close to us, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try it. That meant I had to cheat a little on my diet—but for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it was totally worth it.
Four of us shared two desserts: the famous White Noise and Pink Garden. Each dessert was a piece of art—beautifully presented with a perfect balance of textures: crunchy, airy mousse, and bright fruity flavors.
Desserts at Koi Dessert Bar: White Noise (left) and Pink Garden (right)
Dinner was highly anticipated. It was part of a personal challenge I set for myself—to cook meat cuts I’ve never tried before. Today, I tackled a leg of lamb.
I added rosemary, a head of garlic, an onion, salt, pepper, and a cup of water, then slow-cooked it for 9 hours. To pair with it, I made the classic Australian mint sauce using fresh mint leaves, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
I bought the lamb roast at Woolworths
Leg of lamb before cooking
It was a huge success! Both my husband and son gave it a 10/10. The flavor from the rosemary and the mint sauce made the lamb taste completely different from my usual cumin-style lamb. It was a brand-new experience—and a new favorite!
Leg of lamb after 9 hours slow cooking
Dinner: Leg of lamb with mint sauce
July 27, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: shredded lamb in tomato sauce, fried flathead fillets, 2 tbsp of butter, half of grapefruit, 1 banana, and brie cheese with some walnuts
- Dinner: Slow cooked duck with tiny potatoes
- Snack: flat white coffee from Gumption by Coffee Alchemy
I had some leftovers from yesterday’s leg of lamb—it was a little too lean on its own. So I shredded the meat and added some heirloom tomatoes and butter, inspired by what I just learned about the magic of acid, fat, and salt from the book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, which I browsed today at the Dymocks bookstore in Sydney. Surprisingly, it turned out to be really delicious—even though it was mostly leftovers!
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat I saw today at Dymocks bookstore
Lunch: shredded lamb in heirloom tomatoes
I also fried up some flathead fillets we got from the Sydney Fish Market—seasoned simply with salt and white pepper, then pan-fried in beef tallow. My husband loved it!
Flathead fillets from the Sydney Fish Market
Lunch: seared flathead fillets
I bought a duck yesterday for today’s dinner. I added a head of garlic, some rosemary, salt, pepper, and a cup of water, then layered in tiny potatoes and slow-cooked everything for 8 hours. By the time it was done, the duck was falling off the bone, and the potatoes were tender, soaked through with fragrant duck fat.
A whole duck I bought yesterday for today’s dinner
Ingredients for the slow cooked duck with tiny potatoes. Doesn't the duck look sexy with the rosemary? 🤣🤣🤣
To pair with the duck, I made a sauce using the rich fat and liquid from the slow cook. I reduced it down, added some salt and a splash of rice vinegar (for acid). That idea came straight from the book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, which explains that the four fundamental elements of good cooking are:
- Salt (enhances flavor),
- Fat (delivers flavor and creates texture),
- Acid (balances flavors), and
- Heat (determines texture and drives transformation during cooking).
How to make salsa from Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
Dinner: slow cooked duck with tiny potatoes and a sauce made from the fat and liquid from the slow cook
July 28, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 6 chicken satay and beef satay, with peanut sauce from Mamak Haymarket
- Dinner: Pork bone broth and slow cooked duck
- Supper: Braised beef shanks
With leaving Australia soon, we wanted to visit some of our favorite places in Sydney. One of them was Mamak Haymarket. Every dish was delicious. Today for lunch, I ordered their mixed satay: beef and chicken. I knew their peanut sauce must have some additives and sugar which explains the tastiness, but today i cheated a little.
Lunch: mixed satay with beef and chicken at Mamak Haymarket in Sydney
My husband's Mi Goreng at Mamak Haymarket in Sydney. I didn't eat it, but I liked the presentation.
We went to an improv class and then an improv show in the evening, so we had an early dinner with some leftovers from yesterday: pork bone broth and slow-cooked duck. I also cooked some Brussels sprouts for the family.
Dinner: Pork bone broth and slow-cooked duck with Brussels sprouts
By the time we got home from the show, it was almost 9 p.m., and the kids were hungry. Luckily, the beef shanks (osso buco) I had cooked earlier that morning were perfectly done and kept warm in the slow cooker. I made them using the braising technique from the book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: seasoned the night before, seared them well for the Maillard effect, and added just enough water to cover one-third of the meat. Even after hours of cooking, the browning was still beautifully visible, and the sauce had a rich, sticky texture. This was by far my most successful attempt at beef shanks!
Beef shanks seasoned the night before
Beef shanks seared well for the Maillard effect
Beef shanks seared well for the Maillard effect, ready for slow cooking
Beef shanks braised for 8 hours in a pot
July 29, 2025
- Breakfast: flat white coffee (from Toby's Estate Cafe and Roastery in Chippendale)
- Lunch: pork bone broth, duck and beef shanks leftovers from yesterday
- Dinner: perch fillets with scrambled eggs (3 eggs), an apple
- Snack: greek yogurt with walnuts
As we wrapped up our trip in Sydney, Australia, we made sure to revisit our favorite places at least twice—Toby’s Estate Café and Roastery in Chippendale was, of course, one of them.
After trying so many coffee shops in Sydney, this one still ranks #1 in my husband’s heart. I ordered a single origin (from Guatemala, Tinamit Cooperative), and even as someone who knows very little about coffee, I could tell it was really good!
My single origin (Tinamit Cooperative, Guatemala) flat white coffee from Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters in Chippendale
This is the profile of my coffee:
- Flavor: Lemon-Lime, Praline, Chocolate Truffles
- Region: Atitlan
- Coffee Variety: Bourbon, Caturra, Pache, Anacafe 14
- Producers: San Lucas Tolimán Smallholders
- Coffee Type: Espresso Single Origin
If you’re ever in Australia, no matter your taste, you have to try Vegemite at least once (it’s the dark brown spread in the photo below). Vegemite is a spread made from fermented yeast extract, which is why it has a strong, savory flavor. Personally, I couldn’t get used to it—haha! I imagine it’s how foreigners feel when they try century eggs or stinky tofu for the first time!
Sourdough bread with jam, peanut butter, salted butter, and Vegemite (left to right)
This “best coffee shop in the world” is also surprisingly great value: if you order a coffee and buy a bag of beans, your drink is free. Such a pleasant surprise!
May the cozy, joyful moments at Toby’s stay in our hearts forever. 🥰
For lunch, we had the same meal as yesterday: pork bone broth, duck, and beef shank leftovers. We wanted to finish all the meat before leaving Australia—wasting nothing.
For dinner, I pan-fried some perch fillets using beef tallow. Every time we went to the Sydney Fish Market, perch was the one fish we always bought. We haven’t found another fish with the same texture—so soft and flaky when cooked.
Perch fillets at the Sydney Fish Market
We still had a lot of eggs in the fridge that needed to be used up before we leave, so I made some scrambled eggs for myself. Unfortunately, they turned out a bit too salty. 😢
Dinner: Perch with scrambled eggs
July 30, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 1 poached egg, 1 boiled egg, 2 scrambled eggs with tomatoes, 1 avocado, and some duck leftover
- Dinner: 7 course meal at Restaurant Moon
- Snack: greek yogurt with walnuts, flat white coffee from Skittle Lane
We were clearing out the fridge and used up 12 eggs for lunch, cooked in three ways: boiled, traditional Chinese-style (scrambled with tomatoes), and my first attempt at poached eggs (Eggs Benedict style). My poached eggs weren’t very successful—too much clouding—but I’ll keep practicing!
Fun fact: after I learned how to open an avocade with bare hands, i cannot go back to using a knife.
Australian avocado: one of my favorite things in Australia
Since we were leaving Sydney the next day, we wanted to go out one last time to properly conclude our trip. My husband did some research on molecular gastronomy restaurants in Sydney and found only one: Restaurant Moon.
Dining there left us with such a unique memory. Every dish in the seven-course menu was a hit, each one delivering layers of flavor that danced on our tongues. The flavors were bold and distinctive, and the presentation was both intricate and stunning—truly a feast for the senses.
Dishes we had at the Restaurant Moon
- Row 1 Left: The candle was edible—it was actually chicken liver pâté.
- Row 1 Right: Black pepper pork served in a terra cotta pot. The cream inside was packed with rich umami flavor.
- Row 2 Left: Steamed egg custard with Thai tom yum, served in eggshells. You’re supposed to pop the bubbles on top before digging in.
- Row 2 Right: Two five-spice pork tortellini dumplings. Omg, so delicious! It’s hard to describe just how layered and complex the flavors were.
- Row 3 Left: Jack’s Creek Black Angus striploin steak with Moon’s signature crab butter, served alongside charcoal-grilled bone marrow. My favorite of all! The steak was incredibly juicy, and the sauce took it to another level. The sauce was the true star.
- Row 3 Right: Dessert—a beautiful mix of textures in one stone bowl. Matcha, chocolate, mango, pineapple, vanilla, shortbread crumble, and ice cream—every dessert texture you can imagine in a single bite!
Menu at the Restaurant Moon
July 31, 2025
- Breakfast: none (fasted)
- Lunch: 1 avocado, Moroccan Tagine Chicken from the airport lounge, 1 egg in the Thai curry soup
- Dinner: brie cheese (whole wheel), airplane meals
We are leaving Sydney, Australia today! Thank you for everything, Australia — your coffee and avocados are the best!
I brought an avocado to the airport lounge. Same as usual, using my hands to open it.
I brought an egg in Thai curry soup to the airport lounge
I absolutely love their brie cheese, so I’m bringing a chunk of it from Coles onto the plane, just in case the airplane food is inedible. We bought this so many times while we were in Australia. This is my version of a protein bar!
Front of the brie cheese at Coles
Back of the brie cheese at Coles
Takeaways
Sydney has absolutely exceeded my expectations. I really hope I can visit and stay there again in the future—seriously. It also makes me want to visit Melbourne, too.
About Australia & Sydney
- Australia is a great place for carnivores 🥩. They have locally raised beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and more. Beef and lamb, in particular, are very reasonably priced. In contrast, lamb is extremely expensive in the U.S.
- Sydney, being a harbor city, offers plenty of fresh seafood 🐟. I found all kinds at the Sydney Fish Market—we went there every Friday!
- Australia has tons of locally grown fresh fruits 🍎 and veggies 🥬, and they taste way better than the ones in the U.S., which are often imported—like tangerines 🍊, kiwis 🥝, avocados 🥑, etc.
- Sydney has a lot of Malaysian restaurants, which are hard to find in the U.S. Their chicken satay is absolutely delicious!
- Coffee ☕️ culture in Sydney is pretty serious!. You can find espresso bars everywhere—on almost every corner.
- Australia has better and more options for dairy 🥛. You can find unhomogenized milk, A2 milk, and a wide variety of probiotic yogurts and cheeses. There are also many kinds of butter, including grass-fed butter and even animal fats available for purchase. (In contrast, in the U.S., it’s hard to find unhomogenized or A2 milk. Most yogurts are quite sugary, and butter often contains additives—unless it’s from New Zealand or Ireland.)
- All brands of free-range eggs 🥚 in Australia are labeled with the number of hens per hectare. This gives an idea of how happy the hens are—they can roam freely in the sun and catch worms as they please.
- No tipping in Australia. I love that tipping isn’t expected here—it makes dining out feel more relaxed and less stressful. We can enjoy any restaurant without the pressure of calculating a tip.
- Fewer strict rules or dining etiquette in Australia. Because of my stricter diet, I often bring my own boiled eggs when dining out with my family—just in case I’m not comfortable eating what’s on the menu. In Sydney, not a single restaurant seemed to mind. But in Japan, there were several times I was called out for doing that, or even refused entry if I brought my eggs—even when I was planning to order something. Once in Tokyo, I was told I could only dine in if I ordered noodles, not anything else. In Australia, I feel welcomed and at ease.
About Diet
- It’s addictive to be surrounded by food and coffee all the time. I didn’t use to drink much coffee, but in Sydney, I constantly feel the urge to have some. Even my body doesn’t feel energized until I’ve had coffee.
- Fat intake is very important for the first meal of the day. I reduced my fat intake after arriving in Sydney. If I don’t have enough fat at lunch, I feel tired and sluggish in the afternoon.
- Avocado is a great source of healthy fats and easy to carry around when not overripe. I used to bring butter, but it melted on me. At home, though, butter—especially if grass-fed—can be a more concentrated source of certain nutrients like vitamins A, D, and K.
- Fatty lunch can make you feel sluggish in the afternoon. When I increased my fat intake at lunch, I noticed I often felt sluggish afterward. I later learned that fats take longer to digest and have a slower onset. Now, I either take a quick nap or have some coffee to help pick me up.
About Cooking
- Slow cooker is a lifesaver. I can throw in any cuts of meat, and let it cook for 8-9 hours. The meat is tender and flavorful!
- You can open an avocado with your hands! In fact, after I learned how to open an avocado with bare hands, I cannot go back to using a knife.
About Coffee
My husband and I had a lot of coffee dates in Sydney. Just for fun, here’s the espresso ranking—based on quality—by my husband, a coffee bean enthusiast:
- Toby's Estate (in Chippendale)
- Influsion on Clarence (Serving Danes Coffee)
- Gumption by Coffee Alchemy (inside the The Strand Arcade)
- Industry Beans York St
- (tied) Stitch Coffee (inside the QVB), Skittle Lane Coffee
“To find good coffee, always go to a shop that sells its own beans,” my husband always says.
