Good food comes to those who wait

Let me be honest here. I used to look down on people who showed up at public courts wearing the newest Roger Federer collection. They usually have the full gear, too, headband, wristband, hat over headband. Whatever necessary to show in clothing that you keep up with tennis and are ready to cook anybody who dares to oppose you. Here’s the thing: These guys are normally the worst players at any given tennis site. You shouldn’t be afraid of the one wearing Novak’s crocodile over his heart. You should fear the guy who shows up with a plastic bag and one racquet in his hand. No water, holes in the shirt, clay court shoes on a concrete playing field - that’s the one that scares the living hell out of me.

The reason why lately I started feeling empathy for these newest-collection-wearers is a day in my kitchen in late September. I was standing there with a new light installed, finally able to see everything I own and I realised one thing. I am the newest-collection-wearer in terms of cooking. I have all the gadgets - the Thermomixes and kitchen aids, the trendy pans and removable handle pots, the juicers and smoothie makers, the Japanese knives and all sizes of spoons - what I don’t have is skills. I can’t cook to save my life. I can follow recipes, oh yes, but to make something out of leftovers is a task so tasking that I have to bow down and cry into my food delivery app. I am wearing a crocodile over my heart but it’s toothless and old.

As I’m an optimist and blessed with enviable work ethic, I have made an art of not being able to cook. What does that mean exactly? It means I am able to share with you the best restaurants in the world. Tested and given the stamp of approval by yours truly. And don’t worry, none of these restaurants have a Thermomix in their kitchen. This is my ultimate restaurant guide to the four Grand Slam cities.

Melbourne

My favourite restaurant in the kick-off city of Grand Slam season is Cumulus Inc. It’s a beautiful place in Flinders Lane with a great bar to sit at and fresh dishes on a frequently changing menu. “A great bar to sit at” is one of the most important aspects for me personally because I love going to restaurants alone since I discovered a rare little thing inside myself (it’s called confidence). It still feels a little weird to sit at a table alone so sitting at the bar where you can order the full menu will always win my heart (one of the many reasons why New York is my favourite city in the world). The items on the menu are meant to be shared but who wants that? Joey doesn’t share food. Their lamb shoulder is probably the best in the world. Cumulus Inc. also makes great breakfast which is something Aussies are obsessed with. If you want to seduce an Aussie, get them a coffee at Vacation Coffee CBD while watching Melbourne’s elite dressed sharply in black get ready for work and then take them to Cumulus Inc. They will be all yours.

Paris

While Cumulus Inc. is not a secret destination by any means for anybody who has ever been to Melbourne, this little hidden gem in the North of Paris is a restaurant I actually only discovered this year during the Olympic Games. Normally located a little more central when Roland Garros is on, the Olympic Games sent me to a new part of Paris. I’m not going to lie, it’s a bit dodgy around so make sure you wear a black hoodie. Criminals don’t attack other criminals and wearing a black hoodie will do the trick. But trust me, it will be worth it. One of the greatest things about Paris is that you can find GREAT food for reasonable prices almost anywhere and Rosette should be at the very top of this food chain. I payed 36 Euros for a 4-course set menu and a glass of white wine. It was delicious, it was beautiful and for the first time ever I sent cod-pliments to the chef (because the main course was cod). I might’ve hoped it was the hot guy from Emily in Paris but I never caught a glimpse. A girl can dream.

Bonus tip for Paris: If you find yourself more central and on the run: Grab a bizarre Sushi square (it’s the only way I can describe it) of fish stuck in sticky rice at Omusubi. There is a line but it moves quickly and the bizarre sushi squares are definitely worth the line.

mousse au chocolat at rosette

London:

This restaurant’s food has been in the TOP 3 of my best taste experiences for years now. Every time I come back, I think my expectations are too high, it can’t be THAT good. And I’m wrong time and time again. Gymkhana is the best Indian food I had (which doesn’t say a lot as I wasn’t in India very often, only once), maybe in the world and I also saw Dua Lipa there. Win/win, I guess? To be fair, the real ones don’t bother eating dinner in London. While I was still an active tennis player on tour, I would never have done that but when I work for TV or play the invitational doubles event at Wimbledon, I regularly just go to a pub have two pints and a pack of crisps and call it a day. That’s basically a nutritious meal, right? RIGHT?!

a glimpse of dua comes with dessert

New York:

Now listen, I could write an entire newsletter on New York alone. My city of choice, always has been, always will be. I don’t care that it’s technically an inhabitable place with too many people and not enough space plus on an island. Why? But let’s move on. Unfortunately, and it truly breaks my heart, my favourite restaurant in the entire world has just closed its doors for good. It’s a scandal and deserves days of protesting. Mary’s Fish Camp in the West Village had the best vibe and lobster roll in the city and that’s all a girl would have needed to be happy for the rest of her time on earth. I blame my melancholy streak on Mary’s. Credit where credit’s due: It was discovered by Rennae Stubbs and it remained our favourite place to go to until this year. Don’t you just love a place where you can order a glass of their house wine and it’s always good? I know. May the lobster roll and the tiny little fries it came with rest in peace.

we will always have mary’s

In the meantime, go to Taqueria Ramirez for the best tacos in the city and I have to admit, I still enjoy Balthazar in Soho very much. I like the eclectic mix of locals and tourists and their Martinis. Let’s be real, it’s just the Martinis. They have the dish I always order (shoutout to Pastis as well in this regard) on any menu which is moules frites in a garlicy white wine sauce. Thank you for your service.

TIMM (tacos in my mouth)

Foodwise, you’re covered for next year’s Grand Slam season. And I hope I didn’t make it too obvious that my dream job is secretly to be a food critic in a major city. Don’t tell LinkedIn.

Things that make me happy

Remember the most important tournament of the year in Luxemburg? Well guess what, I won my first match and it was the most fun I had in a long time. And I have fun all the time. I’m a fun-having person. Being able to compete without the stress of a loss meaning I will feel like I fell off a tall cliff for three days is liberating. It helped that I won LOL but I think I would have said the same if I had lost. I truly do. Just my lower back, glutes and hamstrings would have felt even tighter this morning. They always do after a loss.

on the court again

Things that make me unhappy

It was really my own fault. I have nobody else to blame for this but myself. I wanted to watch a movie that was dumb and quick and fun. So, I picked Suicide Squad. It was dumber than expected, unfortunately not quick at all and the fun was narrowly focused on the Australian guy who had a total screen time of 40 seconds. I take full responsibility. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn at least was acceptable.

I hope this finds you well and in a complete weekend mood already. I will have to play my semifinal match tomorrow but that won’t stop me from possibly having the best weekend of my life. I told you, I’m an optimist. See you all very soon again!

Yours truly, Andrea