"We're a small family-owned business that is currently operating at the Jesmond Bowlo (Heaton Birmingham Bowling Club)," Denise told Food & Wine.

"My father Simon is the chef, my mother Tina is his right-hand woman, and my brother and I are there to lend a hand however we can. Dad's been in the food industry since he was 17 years old.

"My family is originally from Singapore, so our food isn't Chinese food, but Singaporean food. We also dabble in other Asian cuisines, like Korean, Japanese and Thai, but overall, our flavours are very traditionally Singaporean."

The family migrated to Australia in 2008 when Simon "got a job as a chef at a little island called Norfolk Island".

"My parents worked at a motel restaurant for six years before they were presented with the opportunity to open their own business, which is how we ended up with Little Singapore," Denise said.

"We recently moved to Newcastle as I am about to start university, and my parents wanted to keep the family together in one location."

Little Singapore is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 2pm, and 5pm to 8pm, dine in or take away. There are daily and ever-changing $12 lunch specials, and special deals for club members and university students. On Sundays there is a three-course dinner special that costs $16 per person (minimum of four people).

The menu ranges from curry chips to Mee Goreng, laksa or a scotch fillet or schnitzel with chips. Phone 4951 6223 to book.

Yellow Billy Restaurant on Hermitage Road at Pokolbin has a new menu coming up and the teaser on social media looks mouth-wateringly good. Also, they're open for lunch on Wednesdays again.

It has been great to see visitors to Hunter Valley wine country enthusiastically sharing their experiences on Instagram in recent weeks. Harkham Wines, in particular, has featured. Richie Harkham is a good operator with his finger firmly on the pulse.

Bottomless Brunch returns to The Exchange this Sunday, November 15, 11am onwards. In addition to a three-course brunch, three hours of bottomless drinks and a trivia competition there will be drag performances by the likes of Timberlina, followed by live music and a DJ. Tickets are $73 plus booking fee. While you're there, you can check out this month's limited edition beer from head brewer Dane Jones - the John Williams' Pale Ale, named after the Exchange's original builder and owner, John Williams.

Article 24 Mediterranean Kitchen is a restaurant and bar opening at New Lambton soon. Matt Newcombe said: "We hope to provide a place to enjoy flavourful, Mediterranean inspired food paired with an extensive wine and beer offering." Stay tuned.

Something different is coming to Darling Harbour's Cockle Bay this summer. It's called Mov'in Boat and it's a floating cinema experience. A huge floating platform will feature 40 row boats for hire, 65 summer lounge beds and two floating bar experiences, all facing a 4K 15-metre screen with 30 surround speakers. Depending on the package you choose, freshly made pizzas, prawn buckets or fish and chips can be delivered by JetSki to your floating "bed" or boat, plus dessert. The VIP experience allows people to pre-order fine-dining meals from Table For 2, which includes eateries Flying Fish, BLACK Bar and Grill, Sokyo and Fat Noodle.

Up north in the Territory, the annual month-long Darwin International Laksa Festival is under way. Local restaurants are getting creative with laksa and this year's festival has already unveiled delights like the laksa cob loaf and laksa-filled baked spuds. There's even a laksa-slurping competition.

Got a funny yarn to share? Then head to The Wonder Mates Cafe at Islington for Long Story Short on November 23. The theme will be "that was the last straw". It's all happening 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Book by phoning 4049 7016.

Pomelo + Online got in touch the other day to advise the Sydney-based meal delivery service is now delivering Christmas and other meal packs to Newcastle. Festive options include chicken roulade with pistachio and cranberry stuffing, and stuffed roasted salmon fillet.

Redhead's Oz Tukka has been busy spreading the word about native Australian ingredients and now sells Bush Tomato, Native Thyme, Strawberry Gum, Blood Lime and Lemon Myrtle in a grinder. Newcastle cafe Estabar has created a Strawberry Gum gelato and The Happy Wombat's Luke Tilse worked with Oz Tukka earlier in the year to add an Australian edge to his menu, resulting in dishes like the pan-seared Daintree barramundi with lemon myrtle laksa, and the Tasmanian pepper berry terrine. To find out more, head to the farmers markets and have a chat with Linda and Ray about how you can use native flavours in your cooking and, if you're lucky, there will be Wattleseed brownies left to sample.

Speaking of Luke Tilse, his other project The Young Street Hotel at Carrington is coming along nicely. No word yet of an opening date.

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