Bertoni Cafe (Balmain)

First came the cronut, then we had the ramen burger...now hold onto your hats, here's the lasagne burger!!

Following the footsteps of previous food mashups, Bertoni Caslinga (Cafe) in Balmain has combined a lasagne and a beef burger. Being a huge lasagne fan, this was one place I simply had to visit.

The famous lasagne burger

The "bun" is made of the lasagne half (lasagne sheets, mince and cheese), which has been fried so that it has a crispy texture. The middle consists of a beef patty, with more cheese. Served with chips, it was very filling. Overall, the flavour was fulsome and it was fun to try another novelty food mashup, however I wouldn't say it was the greatest lasagne or burger beef I've had before.

If the lasagne burger isn't your thing, the cafe also offers a range of salads, pastas and paninis for a very reasonable $15.

Recommendation:

• Very filling (don't even think about it if you calorie count), consider sharing.
• Not the biggest cafe, seats maybe 20.
• Try the coffee.

Bubble Soccer

Imagine running around in giant inflated balls and bumping off everyone in your way...the sensation that is bubble soccer (aka football) has well and truly arrived in Australia. Bubble soccer is fun to play, and even funnier to watch. It almost seems like soccer was the afterthought rather than the main objective.

While you should expect to fall over (a lot), the "sport" is quite safe. There are both indoor and outdoor venues. Usually court hires are for 1 hour, but it is surprisingly tiring so take plenty of breaks. In addition, there are usually different weights for the balls (6kg, 15kg), whilst you get bigger hits with the heavier balls you won't last very long.

Below is a short sample of what to expect:

Recommendations:

• Great for groups of 8 or more.
• It gets very sweaty and tiring quickly, so bring a change of clothes. Sleeves which cover the shoulder are recommended to prevent abrasion from the shoulder straps.
• Remember to film it! It will make hilarious viewing afterwards.

http://www.bubblesoccer.com.au/

Ramen Ikkyu (Chinatown)

Hidden away in the corner of Sussex Centre food court is a superb ramen takeaway. There are some rice dishes, however the ramen is definitely the specialty. There are 16 different ramen dishes, whether you prefer thick, rich broth, lighter broth, spicy or mild, they have got you covered.

For those feeling a bit hungry, get the pork rib ramen. The ribs are literally too large to fit into the bowl are are juicy and flavoursome. If somehow you are still not full you can even get free Kaedama (noodle refill). The Chef Special is also very good - comes in black garlic oil and chilli oil, otherwise if you prefer are lighter broth go with the Tokyo ramen.

Recommendation:

• Good place for lunch, but the food court can get busy, so get there early to grab a seat.
• Those feeling hungry should try the Pork Rib ramen, those less hungry should convince a friend to get the Pork Rib ramen then grab a piece from them.
• Don't forget the free Kaedama (noodle refill).