New Middle Eastern, Seafood, Mediterranean and Asian Fusion

“My dad’s always been in the industry with food, so now he said it’s time to open my own and see where it goes. Me and my dad are here everyday. Wetobviously have employees here that help us, and my mum comes in whenever we need some extra help”, Pardi said.

Jijos Grill is known for its Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine inspired meals, with Pardi recommending the shawarmas as the “top thing on the menu.”

“[We have] the lamb and the chicken [shawarmas]. For me, it’s the chicken because I’m obsessed with chicken but everyone’s been loving it”, she said.

“Everything is really nice … for example, the burgers are so juicy and flavourful”, she added.

Jijos Grill, Crows Nest

Pardi Bojkian and her father George always had a dream to own their own restaurant, and three months ago their dream became a reality when Jijos Grill opened its doors.

Originally from Syria, the family left the country because of the threat of war and came to Australian shores around eight years ago.

George has worked in restaurants but it has never been his main job, rather working in a store making jewellery. But he has always had a passion to share his Armenian culture through food and so the family called the restaurant ‘Jijos’ – his nickname.

A recommendation for any plantbased locals out there is the mujaddara or itch.

“Itch is an Armenian dish, there’s no other restaurants that have it. It’s like bulgur pilaf which is like wheat, some tomato paste, onions” she said, whilst “Mujaddara is a rice and lentil dish with fried onion that you have served with salad and some pickles.”

Another much-loved item on the menu is the cheese fingers - pastry filled with cheese and parsley - which Pardi says “hits different”.

Coined an eatery offering “good vibes and great food”, Jijos Grill’s fivestar reviews seem to speak for themselves.

Petermen Seafood, St Leonards

A seafood new restaurant has made its mark on St Leonards, bringing a sophisticated take to some much-loved platters.

Chefs Josh and Julie Niland, owners of the Saint Peter ensemble, opened the doors to Petermen on February 23.

The 60-seat restaurant and bar at 66 Chandos Street is the couple’s sixth venue but their first in Sydney’s north. Petermen caters for a middle of the line dining experience, sitting between the duo’s sleek “fin-to-scale” eatery Saint Peter in Paddington and the more laid back takeaway of Rose Bay’s Charcoal Fish.

“It allows us to showcase a broader spectrum of Australian seafood that goes beyond the very focused offering of Saint Peter and the primarily casual offering of Charcoal Fish,” Josh Niland told the Daily Telegraph.

“Also, this space is far bigger than Saint Peter which allows us the freedom to cook larger cuts of fish that are more conducive to sharing.”

Niland said St Leonards was the obvious location for Petermen.

“Living locally on the lower north shore, Julie and I know how deprived the area is of restaurant options,” he said.

“We also love the space positioned on the corner of Chandos and Darvall Streets with its floor-to-ceiling glass windows and open kitchen.”

In a social media post, the Nilands said the idea behind Petermen was to “champion the growers and producers that seek to elevate the standard and change the culture of how we consume food”.

"Petermen's menu will highlight the very best of Australian seafood and vegetables,” a post by the couple to social media read.

It is Niland’s first venue to offer a la carte dining, with a range of raw, preserved or charcoal-grilled dishes to choose from.

All dishes are created to share, with the dinner menu including a succulent

Mooloolaba yellowfin tuna chateaubriand, Coffs Harbour line caught hapuka green curry or a Manjimup Marron with curry butter and fried bread.

For any drink connoisseurs out there, 2021 Bartender of the Year Evean Stroeve will be working his magic on the taps. He can craft up delicious refreshments such as a whisky highball with mango, vanilla, blood lime, milk and soda or a house Negroni with yuzu, coconut and koji.

As well as evening sit-ins, Petermen is open for Sunday brunch offering a lavish spread of breakfast favourites including the fan-favourite St Helens long spine sea urchin crumpet.

“I think there’s at least one customer every week at Saint Peter that mentions the crumpet!” Josh (pictured) said.

“Sydney loves brunch and we are excited to reintroduce Sydney to our very favourite dishes that helped Saint Peter in its early days.”

The venue was designed by Julie Niland and boasts a stylish, minimalistic interior with a marble bar, timber tables and chairs, crockery by Bendigo Pottery and original artwork by Aus- tralian artist Ken Done.

The restaurant’s name, Petermen, is a nod to 1400s colloquial term for fisherman in the tradition of their patron Saint Peter.

St Siandra, Mosman

Due to open in March is the North Shore’s own little slice of the Mediterranean.

St Siandra is a multi-level beachfront restaurant complete with access to a private beachfront at The Spit, named after a Middle Harbour-based yacht which won the Sydney to Hobart yacht race double in the 1950s and 60s.

Fittingly, the Lower Parriwi Road venue will have access to two private moorings for diners arriving by private boat or water taxi.

Sam McCallum, former head chef of contemporary Surry Hills’ restaurant Nomad, will be serving up dishes celebrating local seafood with a Mediterranean flair.

There will be luxurious platters of food such as Moreton Bay Bugs, woodfired flatbread with smoked garlic chickpea hummus or skewered Skull Island tiger prawns available for diners.

The restaurant will be open for lunch on Wednesday to Sundays and evenings for Thursday to Saturday sittings as well as serving breakfast on weekends.

Drinks wise, the venue will have spritz on tap, glasses of European vino and signature cocktails named after famous local yachts available.

A hole-in-the-wall cabinet will serve coffee and takeaway food every day of the week. St Siandra was set to open on March 9.

Mani, Milsons Point

Mani Restaurant is a new project from the owners of Sidando Café in Milsons Point which reinvents authentic Chinese and Asian cuisine to create something billed as an unique and exquisite, Asian fusion dining experience.

Named after the Sanskrit word for

WHAT’S ON

Friday March 17th, 8pm

Celtic Beat - Legends of Ireland

Venue: Norths Cammeray

A nostalgic journey back to the homeland of Ireland, showcasing traditional Irish instruments such as fiddle and bodhran. ‘

Sunday March 19th, 11am

Concert and Cake Sundays: A Sandy Sydney Carnival of the Animals

Venue: The Independent Theatre, North Sydney

An unforgettable concert showing off the exceptional talent of Australia’s hottest rising stars and one international marimba sensation as they take us on a whimsical journey culminating with The Carnival of the Animals.

March 19th - March 29th

Philip Quast: The Road I Took

Venue: Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli

What a chance to see musical theatre royalty Philip Quast in the intimacy of the Ensemble Theatre. Audiences will be treated to stories, thoughts and events that helped shape the country boy turned international performer’s life.

Thursday 6th April, 7pm

Kirribilli Club Comedy Night

Venue: Kirribilli Club

Watch stand-up comedians perform against the backdrop of our iconic Sydney Harbour. The lineup includes MC Peter Meisel (USA), Ruven Govender (sold out Edinburgh fringe), Jack Wright (Sydney comedy festival), Sian Symth (Brisbane comedy festival) and Sam Kissajukian (Sydney fringe best comedy award).

Saturday 8th April, 1pm

Basement Jaxx

Venue: Greenwood Hotel

The BRIT award-winning electronic duo Basement Jaxx return to Australia in 2023, bringing their dance floor classics to the Greenwood Courtyard.

Saturday 15th April, 7pm

South Asian Music Fest

Venue: Big Top, Milsons Point

A South Asian musical journey is coming to the Big Top in Luna Park, featuring Raju Lama from Mongolian Heart and Neeraj Shridhar from Bombay Vikings.

NORTH SYDNEY RESIDENTS have been alerted that the Medibank x parkrun Road Trip will be making a stop at St Leonards Park on Saturday, 18th March at 8am. The event is part of a six-month national community tour that aims to encourage Australians to get active and connect with their local communities through physical activity, including volunteering.

The Medibank Live Better Lounge, which features umbrellas, seating, massages, giveaways, and refreshments for parkrun participants, will be set up at the St Leonards Park location. Whether you identify as a runner or not, parkrun is for everyone. The event has become increasingly popular among walkers, with approximately 13% of Aussies who take part in parkrun doing so as walkers..

“flawless jewel”, Mani Restaurant is devoted to providing distinguished customer service paired with unique dishes made from the most fresh and premium ingredients.

Mani’s head chef Yuri began his culinary career at Pudong Shangri-la in Shanghai China, honing cooking techniques from around the world whilst mastering the use of traditional Chinese ingredients. That experience and passion for creative food making, using widely sourced premium ingredients, ensures every dish transcends the traditional, and delivers an exceptional culinary journey.

The restaurant has a seating capacity of 60 people with coming outdoor seating, and a private room which accommodates up to 7 guests.

The décor is elegant with shades of jade that pay homage to the restaurant’s inspiration and background. Customers are treated to a bright and immaculate environment whilst at night the dim lights provide a relaxing restaurant bar vibe.

New anthology from Stanton writers

Seven North Shore writers have contributed 17 stories to a new 276-page anthology entitled Standing Out or Fitting In. The anthology reveals 17 diverse characters finding the right balance between personal expression and conforming with social conventions.

The stories in this collection feature fictional characters who try to live life on their own terms while still meeting social expectations. Like most people, they want to fulfil their dreams, yet also make a difference in the lives of the people they care about.

These stories explore the tension between becoming our best self while also fitting in. In these stories, the characters straddle vastly divergent expectations: from an architect who moonlights as a lighting designer using materials sourced from junk yards; to a retired international drug smuggler living incognito in Artarmon; to a transgender woman reconnecting with her traditional, migrant father; and a shepherdess in Dalmatia who changes her destiny after her father takes her out of school; to a young woman struggling with her family history and genetic misfortune.

The 276-page anthology is available in selected local bookstores including Novella in Wahroonga. RRP $25. The anthology is also available on Amazon for $25.

The Stanton Library Writers Group is based at Stanton Library, North Sydney. Since 2014, they have met each month and shared their work to improve their craft for publication. The group writes and reviews short fiction, creative non-fiction, flash fiction, personal essays and poems. Standing Out or Fitting In is the group’s second anthology. In 2017, they published Pieces of North Shore, which is available on Amazon.