We last posted about the pending opening of Japanese place, Sushi Yachiyo, back in May 2009.

Well, the location is yet to prove itself un-haunted as we are still waiting for the doors to open for business.

It must be soon though, as I noticed take-away menus affixed to the door, with a voucher for free edamame, when walking past yesterday.

And this morning, a workman was busy inside, before 7am.

A new Japanese place, Harumi, has just opened up on Darlinghurst Road. We dined there on the weekend, and it is pretty good, although what I really crave is a local ramen house. Harumi occupies a space which has seemed doomed in the past couple of years. It was recently vacated by Pasion cafe. Before this, it was a burger joint and further back, a fish and chips place. Let’s hope Harumi can make this work.

In other exciting (and optimistic) news, a second Japanese restaurant, Sushi Yachiyo, is set to open on the haunted corner of Kirketon Road and Craigend Street.

Weirdly, the menu and prices all look pretty similar to that of Harumi.

RAMEN PEOPLE! WHAT WE WANT IS RAMEN!

Call it a new era in community spirit or just foodies wanting to get their fine produce thing on, community gardens are thriving across the city.

Council got a full update on community gardens on November 17:

The City owns two community gardens and provides support for a further eight community gardens. Located at: Angel St, Newtown; Longdowne St, Newtown; three gardens on Raglan St, Waterloo; Moorehead St, Redfern; Ogden & Marriott Sts, Redfern; St Johns Rd, Glebe; Dowling St, Woolloomooloo; and Chapman Rd, Rozelle Bay.

There is strong demand for the additional community gardens to grow food, provide social interaction and involvement in environmental education and projects… in Glebe (Paddy Gray Reserve), Pyrmont (Kid’s Garden at The Knoll), Woolloomooloo (Bourke Street Park) and a City farm at Sydney Park.

In total, a budget of $25,000 is allocated annually to support community gardens. This excludes additional support through grants and sponsorships which changes each year according to requests received and funding allocated by Council..

There’s a new council how-to guide for community gardens, and a new council job for a community gardens officer.

Ever woken up in the middle of a reality TV show?

High density Darlo – with at least half a century’s reputation for great cafes and good food – has suddenly gone deli mad.

The skeletal, winding road that’s occasionally Macleay Street, sometimes Darlinghurst Road and eventually Victoria Street, has mushroomed with fancy providores.

You’ve gotta ask, how long can they last?

Here’s one of the originals: the Continental Delicatessan on Macleay.

They’ve exploded in the past year, Fratelli Fresh has even moved in.

Plus every Saturday morning is the Kings Cross farmers’ market.

You feel spoiled, with so many great, independent shops selling delicious produce. But is it sustainable, can they all last?