The Quirk and the Cool is me - Inga Scarlett from Sydney Australia.
I'm a cook. I read and talk food, and of course do a lot of cooking and eating.

The blog is mostly food: a forum where I can share dishes, recipes, techniques, trends. It's a place to record the eclectic and the eccentric, but also day to day experiences.

I’m documenting my journey for people who have a passion for food, who seek cooking advice and for those who share similar pursuits.

I'm fascinated with the art and science of food, and curious about food history, and you can read more about my approach to food in Food Philosophy. Family cooking, recipes and traditions are a big part of what I cook and eat.

The name The Quirk and the Cool references “the quick and the dead” from the Apostles' Creed, and the radio segment The Quirk and the Dead, on Overnights on ABC Radio. It's excellent radio if you're ever listening in the wee small hours.

I love exploring food and there is so much great grub in Sydney.

Some of the best food comes from local restaurants and even pubs. And as a Sydney sider I love coffee culture - it’s obligatory!

I live in Rozelle, a diverse suburb in the inner west. Ten minutes from the city, Sydney Harbour at the bottom of my street, it has quaint old sailors' cottages and commercial premises as well as dazzling new architecture. Rozelle and nearby suburbs Balmain, Balmain East and Birchgrove on the Balmain peninsula are famous for their historic pubs, and the area may well contain the most pubs per capita in Australia…

Add to that a cafe or restaurant on every corner, craft beer and a gin distillery and you have a vibrant food and wine scene! And the Orange Grove Market down Balmain Road are some of the best in Sydney for local farmers' produce.

While clearly this is a food blog, I like to include posts about some of my other interests - music and performance, travel and history. After all - food is the perfect accompaniment to any interest or hobby or cultural activity.

I hope you enjoy this glimpse into my foodie life in the inner west in Sydney.

Inga