Ricky Ocampo

Ricky Ocampo is from a family of food lovers and has been in the food industry in Sydney since 1992. He has travelled extensively to taste and learn about other cuisines and his curious tastebuds have brought him to some “off the beaten gourmet paths” of Europe and Asia.

Finding out the local's favorite sausage kiosk in Salzburg, the trattoria with the tastiest and darkest squid ink pasta in Venice, a fantastic seafood restaurant in Switzerland, by the lake in Zug (with the Krummenachers!), the spiciest Mee Siam in Singapore, the BBQ pork on rice in Kowloon worth waiting for (but it is one of my favorites!), the“yummiest” macaroons in Paris to sink your teeth into, to the delightful custard filled chocolate coated churros in the streets of Barcelona (as a reward for yourself in taking the train to see Park Guel).

His first cafe in Kirribilii in 1995 was born out of desperation to have a “local” instead of travelling to the next suburb for his lattes in the morning, it was followed by the first Spanish restaurant on the lower north shore in 2001, Carabella was included in the SMH Good Food Guide for four years from 2002, specialising in Tapas and Paella and other Spanish regional dishes.

And after a three year break, Ricky is back with “Ricky’s Under the Bridge” and “Café Manilla”.