storm in a tea cup

Holiday sweets :D

2011-07-21T13:06:00.008+10:00

More new and yummy discoveries were made during this winter break! Kinfolk (673 Collins St, Melbourne) - directly opposite Southern Cross station) is a small but buzzing social enterprise-cafe located at the heritage Donkeywheel building. At the end of a meal, one can choose to donate to one of four community projects e.g. education for indigenous communities by dropping a coffee bean into the preferred jar :)

Cute, Brunswick St-ish with a hodge podge furniture collection. Diners share table-space often, creating a warm, cosy atmosphere.

The old, English pub and perhaps boys club like Belgian Beer Cafe Bluestone (557 St Kilda Road, MEL)... where a collection of alcohol drinks and delicious mussel pots await!

All that sweet buzz about Burch & Purchese (647 Chapel St, South Yarra), thanks to one of its chefs appearing on Masterchef 3 meant that we too, had to check out its amazing desserts/petit cake creations!

The strangely princessy pink logo :)

Coconut/ginger/passionfruit/mint creation - my favourite bit was the salted oat and ginger crumble at the bottom :D

To complete my *sugar-ed out* experience, the much talked about Asian inspired macarons from LuxBite (38 Toorak Rd, South Yarra) were next on my list :P

Opened by two Malaysians (chef and lady boss) at the French cafe end of Toorak Rd cnr Punt Rd, LuxBite serves up a bit of everything - brunch, macarons and dessert/petit cakes (very similar to B&P actually!). I came home with (from top to bottom of photo): creme caramel, watermelon, kaya toast, kaffir lime and mandarin/saffron macarons... hopefully they will take my suggestion to heart and experiment with some durian flavoured macarons one day!!

Lakes Entrance!

2011-07-21T11:53:00.006+10:00

Lakes Entrance is a coastal town about 3-4 hours drive east of Melbourne. A scenic drive through the farming communities of East Gippsland suddenly opens out into a lovely view of seascapes and a harbour full of fishing boats :) The name reflects the geography of the area, as an extensive water system where the ocean meets the freshwater lakes.

We also explored the neighbouring town of Metung, known for its luxury yachts and waterfront views :)

Seafood is a MUST and the local restaurants serve a good array of beautifully fresh seafood, cooked simply. I enjoyed my first meal of pan-fried blue eye, potato/shrimp cake and orange/fennel salad at Miriams :D

Shut indoors thanks to the terrible weather on our second day, we managed to find Wyanga Park Winery for their yummy homemade desserts and dessert wines ($4.50 only!).

Another seafood highlight of the trip - super delicious Scallop Tortellini at the one hatted The Boathouse - definitely a touch of Masterchef there!

We were rewarded with a sunny morning on our last day and finally made it up the beach for some unforgettable views :)

Mart 130!

2011-06-11T15:05:00.007+10:00

We were all rewarded with a perfect winter's day (+sun, of course) after the second cold snap of the season.... even the grand dame, Flinders St station dazzled in her royal yellowness :)

Today's brunch was at Mart 130 (Tram stop 130 on Tram 96, opposite the Middle Park shops on Canterbury Road). Imagine alighting to the aroma of fresh coffee, warm bread and sizzling bacon :D Needless to say, the place was buzzing with lots of "well to do" Asian students... so the food must be good!

It was a 30 minute wait for a spot and they served our coffees in the meantime. This reminded me of the yummy mamak stalls at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station back home!

We were given 2 seats at the back veranda along a long bench.

Mart 130 is famous for their cooked eggs and the pretty waitress recommended us her favourite - Smoked salmon, poached eggs and pickled onion dressing on sourdough.

To be finished off with scrumptious French toast (organic brioche), pear, walnut and vanilla mascarpone cheese.... hmmm, HELLO long weekend!!

Farmer's market!

2011-05-07T12:14:00.004+10:00

Finally made my way to the monthly Farmer's Market (first Saturday from 8am to 1pm) at Westerfolds Park :) A nice mixture of stalls selling both beautifully fresh local produce and processed products e.g. cheeses, relish, pastes, etc.

This music man winding the toy box certainly entertained us as we munched on our breakfast.

C's A$7 sausage roll with lots of toppings :D

Green Sage :)

2011-05-06T17:49:00.004+10:00

Discovered a new addition to the lovely cafes in my 'hood today :) Green Sage Cafe (118A James St, Templestowe) is decked out in nature colours - brown, green and white. Simple with a homey atmosphere about it, a perfect place to chill on a lazy Friday arvo...

It serves brekkie and lunch. Dinner menus are coming soon. The fare is healthy, maybe with a little organic theme too - you can buy your wholegrain, seeded bread here :) Fairtrade coffee (yummy Jasper!) is used here. There are also environmental themes - BioCup plasticware and KeepCup available for sale.

A fresh orange-ginger juice and homemade passionfruit cheesecake tart for afternoon tea :D

Lovely use of ceramics... some japanese influences too :)

Things I get up to...

2010-10-12T18:04:00.003+11:00

Catching up over a delicious 2 course lunch at Cafe Vue, Heide Museum of Modern Art.

Admiring my garden blossoms during this beautiful season!

Taking in the views of the stunning Yarra Ranges with good friends :)

At the many stair-ed hallways of Domaine Chandon, Coldstream.

And of course, baking! Here's my very first Baked Lemon Cheesecake... bon appetit!

Mùa xuân

2010-09-05T23:21:00.004+10:00

It's that time of the year again when these gorgeous pink and white flowers blossom to herald the arrival of a new beginning :D (Mùa xuân is Vietnamese for spring).

Old Town Kopitiam :)

2010-06-09T11:46:00.005+10:00

I guess this covers it. Half boiled eggs, kaya toasts and thick kopi in authentic looking coffee cups! They've even listed "ham cheen pang" and "butterfly" in their fried pastries section :D Old Town Kopitiam (Mamak) at QV Building (L2, Shop 11, QV Square) has been collecting favourable reviews. I had a really tough time but finally decided on sharing ban mian, satay and fried carrot cake...

Fried carrot cake was yummy but pricey (A$9.90).

Half a dozen of chicken and beef satay.... craving satisfied! Satay sauce was the real deal :D

And of course, one "Cham" (coffee/tea) to wrap up my night off with the girls :)

Pinwheel puffs!

2010-06-01T14:55:00.004+10:00

An easy way to use up leftover puff pastry - pinwheel puffs with store bought Apple and Raspberry filling :)

Fall 2010!

2010-05-19T13:44:00.003+10:00

It's that time of the year again where the maple trees adorn the streets with their beautiful reds, yellows and golden leaves :) Mornings are foggy and the fresh, cold air stings a little... the sun sometimes makes an appearance around noon, making an outdoor lunch an enjoyable time.

Been a while since I had brunch! Tried the polenta fingers recipe from Donna Hay's "Seasons"... and what better to accompany it than eggs, bacon, tomatoes and brown mushrooms? :D

Off the beaten path...

2010-05-16T20:15:00.003+10:00

Headed to the Brunswick end of Lygon St again for some exotic fare ;) Rumi (116 Lygon St, Brunswick East) offers Middle Eastern cuisine in a comfy, modern setting. I liked the wooden screens with Arabic calligraphy and the cute water jugs!

We started with their popular sigara boregi (thinly rolled filo "cigars" filled with fetta and spice) and a fish tartare... similar to cerviche. Yummi-ness, check!

Quail kebabs with barberries, honey and pistachio sauce.

I mistook this for the recommended yoghurt soup.. this was cold yoghurt soup instead, not unlike raita but with raisins and walnuts!

Another exciting discovery, Dawan (895C Canterbury Road, Box Hill) serves homestyle Xinjiang (Uyghur) dishes. The tables filled up quickly in this tiny shop and service was slow, but the lone cook made up for it with her humour and tasty cooking. I enjoyed the spicy chicken and potato on homemade noodles, tiny dumplings in soup and lamb kebabs... :D

Sunday night sushi

2010-04-12T21:51:00.002+10:00

My last hurray before the end of the Easter holidays ;) Plus miso soup for the sudden onset of winter!

Lavandula bliss...

2010-04-08T22:28:00.006+10:00

HURRAY for long weekends :) Meaning another trip to my favourite country town of Daylesford/Hepburn Springs; and this time we explored Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm. The lavender harvest ended a few months ago but there were still some left in the garden.

The entire farm stayed true to its roots, with rustic touches and a cosy atmosphere.

An early lunch at La Trattoria - serving seasonal European food under the ash trees :) Lavender lemonade, anyone?

We shared 3 mains between 4 so as to make space for desserts...! Duck Maryland with herbed potatoes, fig and orange salad.

Refreshing Salmon roulade with cheese and crouton salad.

Hearty Tagliatelle with osso bucco tomato sauce.

We spent another hour exploring the vegetable and fruit gardens... it was truly a gorgeous day with the autumn sun and the leaves already changing into yellows and reds.

Weekend dining :)

2010-04-01T00:21:00.004+11:00

Emi and Chris finally swung by my place and I decided to whip up dishes using ingredients which, erm had been sitting in my pantry for a while ;) We had Tagliatelle Nero con Gamberi (squid ink pasta with prawns). Recipe. Really simple to prepare but boasting of fresh flavours. YUM!

Another slightly unusual but easy dessert - Greek and honey yoghurt with pomegranate fruit :)

Inside Movida...

2010-03-30T21:14:00.004+11:00

The funky exterior of Movida at Hosier Lane. We actually walked past the entrance on the first try!

Some unusual menu items - black truffle concoction and potato crisp in a bed of salt.

Spicy steak tartare of grass fed wagyu...!

Yummy desserts - homemade ice cream (pineapple, raspberry and date) with fig bread.

Our favourite creme caramel served with spiced sherry pastries... easily the smoothest and freshest creme caramel I've tasted :D

Hosier Lane

2010-03-21T18:40:00.003+11:00

Ahh.. the graffit-ed alleyways of Melbourne city :D I even found one named after the band "ACDC"!

Our dinner venue - Movida at Hosier Lane. Interesting tapas and raciones selection... but the desserts especially the creme caramel and home-made ice cream were fresh and yummy!

A fiery red Ferrari bike and matching graffiti.

Laksa Friday :D

2010-03-19T18:35:00.002+11:00

Fresh yong tau foo in laksa broth - my idea of a Friday treat :D

Elwood

2010-01-31T00:15:00.003+11:00

Gorgeous view of the city from Point Ormond.

A very tall man standing next to the lookout point :)

Emi and I enjoying the cool water in the 34 deg C heat.

My trusty sandals!

Avocado goodness!

2010-01-18T00:09:00.004+11:00

I decided to whip up an avocado smoothie to accompany my lemon muffins :) Blend avocado, condensed milk, milk and chai spice... voila, it tasted just like the ones sold at NUS science canteen.

Sydney Chrissy :)

2009-12-31T12:31:00.004+11:00

Christmas without the family this year but I still had a lovely one with the company of friends and their extended families in Sydney :) For fans of the SBS cooking/travel show "Luke Nguyen's Vietnam", I made a "pilgrimage" to his Red Lantern restaurant (545 Crown St, Surry Hills, Sydney)! True to its upmarket address, the resto serves contemporary Vietnamese cuisine and its vintage decor is reminiscent of the '50s/'60s era.

We started with a beautiful duck and enoki mushroom rice paper roll; "Bo la lot" - Grilled beef in betel nut leaves.

"Bo luc lac" - Black Angus beef sirloin cubes with vietnamese salad. Yes, this was featured in his last episode! The beef was simply perfect, tender and juicy :D

A spicy wok tossed seasonal vegetables with Red Lantern's signature curry paste. Somehow this felt more Thai than Vietnamese to me!

Best way to wrap up a meal - with a rich Vietnamese coffee!

The foodie trail continued and we headed towards Adriano Zumbo's French patisserie (296 Darling Street, Balmain). Yes, Adriano of the croquembouche dessert in Masterchef ;) I especially like the local touches he gave to his yummy creations!

Take 3 Eggs!

2009-11-20T11:56:00.005+11:00

Thanks to Clare, hmm... actually her husband, I found myself at a cooking workshop titled "Take 3 Eggs" last night :) The venue - Wild Oak Restaurant & Cooking School up in the Dandenongs (Ridge Road, Olinda)! Here we are posing in our decorated aprons, the ingredient du jour and our teacher, restaurant owner Ben Higgs.

We had a small and cosy class of 4. Which meant more food for us all!

It was a fun class as Ben whipped through 5 recipes (2 savoury and 3 sweet) in 2 hours. All recipes used... you guessed it, 3 eggs :) We got down to work, cracking eggs and cutting out pastry, while trying to look professional at the same time.

Delicious smoked salmon and goats cheese quiche, topped with tomato relish.

Portuguese egg tarts! Looking a little different from those sold back home.

Lemon curd on a crisp meringue with raspberry coulis :) We also learnt how to make cheese souffle, which was more filling than the usual dessert souffles. And then it was a nice drive down the mountain in the cool evening air.

Wesley Anne :)

2009-11-15T23:41:00.002+11:00

I managed to explore a little of this quirky suburb called Northcote :) A mish-mash of modern Greek cafes, family owned Lebanese grocery/kebab shops, Italian pizzerias and cutesy vintage shops line the main streets. We walked down High St in the search of an outdoor cafe to enjoy the cool evening air and found.... Wesley Anne (250 High St, Northcote Hill). A former church now converted into a music/bar/restaurant, Wesley Anne also has great outdoor area . We've been having an unusually hot weather this spring and what better way to cool down than with a beer; or for today, vodka lemon lime bitters ;)

We shared some salt and pepper seared calamari and a light and yummy platter. Food here is supposed proudly organic and also supports the Free Trade label. Now I know where to head to when the hot summer nights swing by!

Spring blossoms

2009-11-04T14:56:00.004+11:00

These miniature roses (a housewarming gift) are almost a year old and I'm glad that they survived the winter :) I suppose my garden and the lonely garden gnome could do with more plants!

Mee pok ah!

2009-10-24T22:26:00.002+11:00

Finally got to try the bak chor mee at Singapore Chom Chom (188 Bourke St, MEL) :D For A$9.50 a bowl, the famous SG dish looked authentic - meepok, braised mushrooms, meatballs, fishcake, beansprouts, lettuce, pork mince and even... pork liver!! But there was an egg on the side and the taste was a little too light for me... probably healthy even ;) Oh well, toss in a few spoonfuls of black vinegar and it felt like I was back home at Food Republic!

Feast!

2009-10-13T21:24:00.003+11:00

My lovely housemate decided to throw a feast! Assam fish (salmon), chilli crabs, scallops with scrambled eggs and veggie stir fry. YUM :D

Ballarat :)

2009-10-04T21:35:00.004+11:00

Margie and I made our way to Ballarat, Victoria's largest inland city (about 1.5 hours west of MEL) during the week. Ballarat is famous for it's gold rush history, as seen in the period theme park, Sovereign Hill. We spent the night at this picturesque city at the Mercure and also indulged in their Goldfield's Spa Package :)

Before leaving for MEL, we drove to the next town called Buninyong and had morning tea at this flower shop/cute cafe called the "Cupcake Cafe".

Everything from the furniture to the decor and crockery has a pink and cupcake theme!

Our morning tea of hot choc, lemon tart and freshly baked cupcake... YUM!

Their Botanic Gardens isn't very big but was full of beautiful and bright tulips :)

Colourful poppy flowers that herald spring's arrival!

Cravings...

2009-09-15T12:47:00.003+10:00

In true Emi style, I decided to fulfill my pancake craving this morning using whatever I could lay my hands on at home ;) Chilli chocolate pancakes topped with this season's strawberries and the last of my vanilla ice cream! Plus a new find - cinnamon frangelico coffee in my little red plunger.

YAY :)

2009-09-10T12:39:00.002+10:00

With my FUN classmates at the TESOL course last month... best wishes for your teaching and travelling careers!

C'est Lindt, bebe...

2009-09-07T21:37:00.004+10:00

Saturday afternoon and we were at the newly opened Lindt cafe on the very chic Collins St :) It was a good 20 minute wait for a table, but the staff were savvy enough to reward us with complimentary Lindt chocs. The whole place is decked out in white and browns a la European chocolate salon.

Perusing the range of Lindt boxed chocolates.

Or the tempting petit gateau selections ;)

I had the Lindt dark chocolate and a slice of Montreux - hazelnut pecan brownie base, chocolate and a vanilla mascarpone cheese topping. Rich!

Sarawak Eats!

2009-08-31T21:52:00.005+10:00

The hornbill, iconic state bird of Sarawak, East Malaysia.

An introduction to Iban (native ethnic group in Sarawak) cuisine and culture! Iban kueh (similar to pancake) and crispy vermicelli.

Monica with a sourish fruit called "ke-dongdong", fresh from the tree!

The Ibans live communally and meals are taken in the common corridor of the longhouses. Their rice is of the red/purplish type and accompanied by lots of vegetable dishes. Meat was a luxury cooked for us guests!

We certainly feasted on the famous Sarawak "kolo mee" :)

My first taste of Sarawak laksa - not as rich as the sg style.

A new discovery! Sarawak is famous for their "bidin" (fern) dish fried with spicy sambal belacan. YUM!

And to top our experience, fresh raw honey from a smoked bee hive. Imagine that dripping down your throat!

Spring Haiku

2009-08-25T12:01:00.004+10:00

Spring Haiku

"Sakura dances to our song" by John Tiong Chunghoo

sakura petals
twirl and swirl
to our spring song

sakura petals
swarm down to greet
our spring song

below the sakura tree
the dainty steps
of a girl

****

National Day weekend :)

2009-08-15T17:20:00.003+10:00

A few of us gathered in our reds and... mini sg flag pins! at Malaya Inn for lunch last Sunday. And a true blue sg lunch must include oyster omelette!

Carrot cake...

and rojak! Safe to say, we ordered too much food :D

Endang's birthday BBQ - another round of food, cocktails, great music and wonderful company :) Probably my first BBQ of the season!

Le weekend

2009-08-01T22:46:00.004+10:00

My favourite starter - banh cuon with prawn/pork and assorted "meats".

Caught up with Jocelyn today - we watched "My Sister's Keeper", a movie adaptation of the popular Jodi Picoult novel. Imagine Cameron Diaz playing the aggressive mother of a cancer stricken daughter! Headed to Victoria St at my behest... for more yummylicious Vietnamese cuisine at Thanh Ha 2 (120 Victoria St)!

Jocelyn had bun cha (grilled pork on rice vermicelli) while I tried mi quang (a noodle dish from the central Quang Nam province) for the first time! Prawns, quail eggs, sauteed pork and rice noodles are served up in a tasty turmeric broth and topped with sesame rice crackers, herbs and nuts. I'm definitely returning to have the beef in betel leaves table BBQ ;)

A tale of two breakfasts

2009-07-26T16:32:00.004+10:00

Apart from chilli crab, crisp kaya bread and teh tarik usually welcomes me back to sg :)

And in MEL, a hearty Big Breakfast full of fresh, local produce like the one from Watt's Cooking (Surrey Hills) does the same trick :)

KPO

2009-07-20T11:52:00.002+10:00

No, KPO isn't another acronym for "kaypoh", but the newly opened cafe/bar at the Killiney Post Office in SG :) One of the many changes to the Somerset MRT area now - new shopping malls and older ones given a makeover. KPO has a hip exterior and the contemporary, minimalist look continues inside. A pity the place is a tad tiny but a convenient location for after-work drinks in town.

I finally tried Pimm's and found it to be like lemon, lime and bitters ;)

An iced dessert for the tropical afternoon - sorbet with hints of Chivas!

OH mamak!

2009-06-16T20:56:00.003+10:00

Dropped into Rich Maha (Vermont South, Burwood Highway) after a long time and I was stoked to see that they expanded their menu to include... maggi mee goreng and a whole host of dessert roti pratas!! Here I am trying to recreate my typical meal at Niqqi's back home ;) The maggi mee goreng was done in the usual mee goreng style but I preferred Niqqi's way... sigh. Banana & Honey roti prata was ok and the teh tarik is always good!

Prices have increased at Rich Maha and I paid double (ok, portions are 1.5x) of what it would cost in sg. But the highlight of my lunch would have to be a "cultural lesson" given by the mamak cashier when ordering.

Me: "I want teh tarik and hot tea."
Mamak: "Huh? So two teh tarik?"
Me: "No, teh tarik has milk. I want plain tea."
Mamak: "Oh, teh O!" (and was that a smirk I saw?!)
Me: "Ah hahaha... yes, teh O" (what's wrong with calling it "plain tea"?, have I lost it?!)

This cost A$10...! Wonder if Niqqi is still the same?!

Congrats Kevin & Huiyi!

2009-06-09T17:58:00.003+10:00

The cutest couple ever and a wedding that was full of love and laughter... big hugs for Kevin and Huiyi :)

The weather held in the morning and us girls were able to throw off our coats for the photo shoots outside the beautiful old church at Hawthorn!

A last burst of red

2009-05-13T17:10:00.004+10:00

As the weather cools considerably, the lovely maple and beech trees give off a last burst of glory :)

Red, gold and yellow... they never fail to lift one's spirits!

A veggie called Kohlrabi...

2009-04-20T14:52:00.002+10:00

The latest addition to my kitchen repertoire ;) - a stout looking veggie called kohlrabi! According to Wikipedia "The name comes from the German Kohl ("cabbage") plus Rübe ~ Rabi (Swiss German variant) ("turnip"), because the swollen stem resembles the latter." The texture and taste is similar to broccoli stem, crisp with a slight bitterness.

Kohlrabi can be prepared in many ways and I decided to do it the Asian way ;) Stir-fried with beef in black bean sauce.

The Vietnamese serve kohlrabi salads (goi) as an appetizer or an accompaniment to meat and seafood. Toss shredded kohlrabi with fish sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, fried shallots and coriander - my favourite style :)

Third, as a soup vegetable with mushrooms, seafood cakes and soft tofu. Bon appetit!

Mornington afternoon :)

2009-04-13T19:34:00.004+10:00

Early fall and the weather is incredibly lovely :D Cool afternoons with the right touch of sunshine... perfect conditions for a drive! We headed southeast to the Mornington Peninsula and enjoyed the sight of rolling hills along the freeway.

A feast of Fish & Chips on a picnic blanket facing the water, while white boats bobbed gently and children played near the shore :)

Finns Reserve

2009-03-29T19:07:00.003+11:00

Finally made it to the nearby park on another glorious Sunday evening :) Finns Reserve has a cute playing space for kids called Wombat Bend and a bridge that leads to the Yarra Trail. A favourite for bikers!

View of the Yarra River - wish I was in that canoe!

Setting sun on the multi-coloured trunk of the gum tree.

Vignettes of Northern Vietnam

2009-03-26T16:13:00.006+11:00

The famous yellow facade of the Hanoi Opera House.

Freshly made banh cuon - rice flour rolls with mushroom and pork mince. Served with a tangy and spicy dipping sauce.

A row of drip coffees!

Fishing boats on a cloudy day in Lan Ha Bay.

Fresh and sweet BBQ clams, served with local chilli sauce or wasabi if you like :D

The main road through Cat Ba island.

Street-side coffee shops a la Paris - perfect for an afternoon spot of people watching.

Yummy seafood parcels with vermicelli.

Water buffalo meat grill with local beer and sesame crackers!

Summer wedding

2009-03-15T23:06:00.003+11:00

The day started blustery and cold, but the sun appeared for a few hours at least! Location - Mambourin Sensory Garden in Werribee.

Walking towards the pergola.

Congrats to Kimmi and Huili on their special day and best wishes for a new life together :)

Gateau coco :)

2009-03-09T00:16:00.003+11:00

Living in a four season country allows one to indulge in the luxury of yummy seasonal fruits; and these were the last of the summer berry season :) The cake was made using Chubby Hubby's recipe for Gateau Coco Framboise... dark and moist with a gooey centre!

Happy "Niu" Year :)

2009-01-27T22:59:00.004+11:00

Well, it seems that everyone's really into the Peranakan theme this year because of TCS 8's drama serial "The Little Nyonya" (highest viewership ratings in 15 years!)... and I'm not about to complain because I've seriously missed this cuisine :D For our CNY reunion dinner this year, Aunt prepared the hearty Fish Maw Soup (He Peow Soup)!

Mom's famous Beef Rendang.

The must have "Chup Cai" or 10 types of vegetables stir-fry.

Uncle's Assam Prawns - voted No. 2 Dish of the Night :)

Aunt's "Ngoh Hiang" or 5 spiced rolls with pork prawns and water chestnut.

The No. 1 Dish went to Aunt's "Ayam Buah Keluak" aka. Chicken with Black Nuts (Pangium edule)! The licorish tasting meat of the nuts were first removed, then stuffed back into the empty kernels after being mixed with prawn and pork... hard work but oh so yummy!

At Grannie's place - a couple of my favourite CNY goodies :D

To end on yet another Peranakan note, Grannie proudly showed us her handsewn beaded slippers before we left :) Grannie started to stitch them for extra income when her children were little. It is hard work as the beads are incredibly tiny. A piece of art, for sure!

Chinatown

2009-01-22T15:34:00.004+11:00

In my quest to soak up more of the local atmosphere, I ventured down to Chinatown just days before the Lunar New Year :) The crowds were out and about as people hurried with their last purchases, while tourists braved the heat and tackled persistent sellers.

Stalls selling CNY goodies and decorations line the street. A myriad of reds, pinks, whites and colours compete for one's attention :)

Instead of live cherry blossoms, we have pussy willows for sale here.

Not forgetting the ubiquitous twisted bamboo and... is that a lingzhi (Ganoderma) plant in the background?! Always something new each year :P

Mei Xiang Yuan Dessert was the perfect antidote for the sunny afternoon. Business was brisk with many office workers stopping to get takeaways.

A soothing combination of smooth almond paste and mango/pomelo ice :) YUM!

I'm back!

2009-01-20T18:28:00.003+11:00

What better way to celebrate my return to SG than with a helping of Grandma's Mee Siam?

Steaming hot Kopi O and two crisp slices of kaya toast... I'm home :)

Spa Shiok!

2008-11-30T22:55:00.004+11:00

Emi and I finally made it to our long awaited and much talked about spa date at the lovely 104 year old Melbourne City Baths, located in the tiny strip between Swanston and Franklin St :) The spa (Smooth Relaxation Studio) is actually a year old business set up by an enterprising Greek lady called Mari-ann. She saw the potential in restoring the original baths and changing rooms, including some very interesting ones such as a Jewish marbled "mikvah bath".

After a nice soak in the ancient bathtub, Mari-ann gave us her signature "De-stress Express" back, neck and head massage with homemade lemongrass and myrtle oils... and it was VERY good :) It was 9pm when we left, blissfully relaxed and hungry for French crepes!

Tasting Melbourne :)

2008-11-07T21:37:00.007+11:00

Inspired by the London Taste festivals, MEL and Sydney started their own this year... and I certainly had to be part of the action :P "Taste of Melbourne 2008" was held at the magnificent Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, one of the world's oldest remaining exhibition venues and the first non-Aboriginal site in Australia to be listed as World Heritage.

It was the last day of the 4 day event and crowds were already waiting 20 min before doors opened at 12pm. For $8 - $12, you could sample a selection of dishes prepared by 13 of MEL's fine dining restaurants. There were also stalls showcasing local produce, wines and a large Moet & Chandon pavilion for that glass of bubbly :)

With my list of "must tries" in hand, fellow food kaki Jocelyn and I headed straight for Interlude. I was buzzing with excitement to see what these "molecular gastronomy" restaurants would offer and I was not disappointed. Their version of "Bacon & Eggs" conjured up a perfectly poached egg in bacon consomme and topped with roasted rice for that burnt flavour! Definitely a promising start to the day ;)

Slow cooked Tasmania Petuna ocean trout with wasabi dressing from Jacques Reymond. Yum, yum, yum!

Another winner from Jacques Reymond, Saddle of Highland venison tataki and soft parmesan polenta.

Crowds galore, thank goodness ticket sales were controlled for a positive dining experience!

Longrain opened a cocktail bar and chill-out corner with plush sofas.

I had a tropical cocktail with passionfruit and lychee pieces :)

An absurdly tiny Wagyu Burger from The Botanical, but oh so tasty!

Verge offered a modern European/Japanese menu, as seen in this Slow cooked Pork Belly "nan ban zuke" with shiitake and seaweed soup. It reminded me of the famous Okinawan pork belly soba!

This was my other favourite from Three, One, Two - Roast quail in vine leaf, cracked wheat, almond and poached lemon :)

We took a break from our mains and checked out the cooking demos sponsored by Smeg and ABC's Delicious food mag. Chefs from the restaurants featured demo-ed a recipe or two.

Time for dessert :) A most interesting example of molecular gastronomy from Circa, the Prince seen with their Cheesecake, crispy brik pastry, poached rhubarb and toasted barley froth. Take your time to figure out which is which!

Saint - Émilion au Chocolat Amaretti syrup and créme fraiche from The Courthouse.

Two more slices of heaven from the Lindt chocolate shop to end the day :)

Watt's Cooking?

2008-10-22T23:19:00.002+11:00

And we have a new brunch discovery! Watt's Cooking (147 Union Road, Surrey Hills) can certainly add "yummy food" to its catchy name :) This small cafe is located along the maple-leafed street and appears to be a brunch establishment for the locals.

Huiyi's Smoked salmon, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce on muffin was honestly the best I've ever eaten. The eggs were beautiful and fresh while the hollandaise impressed with its tastiness! I went vegetarian and had the yummy Field mushrooms and feta cheese on polenta, topped with avocado and capsicum pesto :D

And polished off the meal with a Frangipani raspberry tart to share. Although I must admit that the chai latte was too milky; which means that I just have to return to try the coffees!

Singapore Day 2008 :)

2008-10-04T23:10:00.005+10:00

Today was yet another beautiful October spring day! The day began overcast, but the sun soon emerged as we made our way to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. We passed the magnificent Shrine of Remembrance as we went passed the Royal Botanic Gardens :)

You know when you're around a SG event when you see long lines of people snaking about everywhere! And this was a sign of things to come for the entire event :P About 10,000 people were expected to attend the second SG Day in MEL!!

As we neared the gates after a 30 min wait, volunteers made sure that we had our "e-tickets" - Cheng forgot hers and was issued a registration form :P The famous SG efficiency at work indeed!

The all important goodie bag in hand, we headed for the nearest group of stalls set in an area called "Newton Circus" :P Most of the local favourites were available for free but the queues were enough to discourage all but the true blue SGs, who appear to have the gene for "queueing endurance". I was fortunate enough to collect my bak chor mee (thank heavens!) after a half hour wait :D

How I've missed the taste of black vinegar, pork and stewed mushrooms in these yummy-licious noodles!! Plus a bowl of partially melted ice kachang for dessert :)

Does this look like 10,000 people?

SG's favourite contractor, PCK entertained the crowd by poking fun at 10 sporting individuals, including a boy who imitated him by turning up in an afro wig and mole!

Another round of the food stalls yielded some dry kaya toast, good teh tarik and the last of the Hainanese curry rice... sigh! Most of the crowd started leaving after lunch, but they saved the best bits for the last - Hady Mirza, who serenaded the crowd with a Malay ballad and U2's "Beautiful Day". Hmm... his voice is still as smooth as ever :D

Hady singing "Beautiful Day".

Dick Lee and all the artistes closed the show with the heartfelt song "Home", and it certainly reminded me of the people and places that I've missed!

Ta Da! A rather impressive goodie bag and take home gifts worth at least $50. Featuring edible favourites e.g. Glory's Kaya, Myojo Mee, NeWater!!, vouchers from Charles & Keith, OSIM, Martin Heng designed T-shirt and tote bag, "Voting for Overseas SG" brochure!!, canvas picnic mat, etc.

Hello, Geelong!

2008-09-25T22:35:00.002+10:00

Sunday afternoons in spring are some of the best times to go for a long drive and that's what we did! The sun was dancing on the blue water when we arrived at the coastal city of Geelong, an hour's drive west of MEL. I finally had a chance to become better acquainted with Victoria's second largest city after hearing many good things about it. Like most coastal cities, Geelong has a long esplanade and lots of waterfront development, such as these cute stick figures at Cunningham Pier :)

We found a very busy cafe called Sailor's Rest that served all day brunch and the usual fish & chip favourites. Here's my order of Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon on muffins :D

This was the reason for our trip - the OM Doulos! This 94 year old Christian missionary ship is also known as the "floating bookstore". The Doulos is staffed with 350 volunteers from 50 countries and has been sailing around the world on humanitarian projects. This is her final voyage downunder and possibly my third and last visit.... farewell!

It was soon time to head home after a most fulfilling afternoon.Till the next time, Geelong :)

Sydney memories

2008-09-19T12:44:00.008+10:00

Back in Sydney after 6 years and I was warmly welcomed by one of my favourite buildings, the Queen Victoria. And it still stood as regal as ever :) The warmer temperatures in June were a nice change from freezing MEL!

More grand dames on famous George Street.

Tears of joy flowed from my eyes when I chanced upon the newly opened Ding Tai Fung at Liverpool St :D Check out the innovative wall decor using bamboo steamer baskets!

I honestly haven't found another dumpling restaurant that can rival DTF in terms of their xiao long bao! DTF proudly states that every xiao long bao has 18 delicate folds and the portion size is just perfect for a mouthful of goodness :D

Mel and Wendy took me around their little suburb of Eastwood in Sydney's north the next day. It is starting to fill up with migrants and I found it rather interesting to see Chinese and Korean shops lined up on opposite sides of the train station! Here I am making a bold claim that "I'm not afraid of chilli"!!

That weekend was also Mel's 30th birthday and we celebrated with his family and close family friends at Spanish Tapas on 26 Glebe Point Road. I loved the ambience and the staff were also helpful with recommendations.

We found that it was cheaper to order from the menu instead of having the tapas banquet - imagine yummy seafood paella, garlic prawns, fried calamari... ;P

And then it was off to a certain secret location (for Mel at least) with his friends :) We joined the Pacific Highway heading north for a good 5 hours before arriving at the beautiful coastal city of Port Macquarie! It wasn't the best weather for outdoor water sports so we visited two wineries. Cassegrain, where most of us purchased a fruity dessert wine called Noble Cuvee.

Bago Vineyards, which involved some country driving and where there was a small jazz band playing that rainy Sunday afternoon.

Back at the beach house to prepare for the BBQ, we took a long walk along the coast. The winds were blowing crazily but it felt so invigorating to be out there, far from city life :)

Hundreds of colourful stones littering the beach like jewels.

After a fun night of food, games (Wii!) and more laughter, we packed up and headed home.

Brekkie on my last day in Sydney at a tiny cupcake shop/cafe along Liverpool St :)

A short visit to another well remembered haunt, Darling Harbour where there was a cute exhibition of French toy boats from the 50s, "bateaux jouets" at the Maritime Museum.

Mel and Wendy certainly made sure I was well fed - farewell lunch at a Japanese bento restaurant before it was off to the airport and back in ... yes, freezing MEL :D

Mooncake fun!

2008-09-16T21:13:00.003+10:00

Thanks to Margie who opened her home to host our gang's first ever mooncake party :) I must have been 10 when I last played with paper lanterns during the mid-autumn festival!

Preparation for the party - a variety of pretty paper lanterns, cheap grade lantern candles (now I know why lanterns burn after 10 min!) and sparklers!

I was amazed to find that shops here sold an impressive range of mooncakes from different countries. We enjoyed the Meixin brand of snowskin mooncakes with refreshing flavours e.g. lychee, strawberry, blueberry, tiramisu, etc. But of course the prices were higher than back home!

Childhood memories of fun with paper and cellophane lanterns!

And a wish for love and world peace to end our lovely party ;)

Liar Liar!

2008-09-06T16:56:00.004+10:00

Liar Liar (90 Kinkora Rd, Hawthorn) is another refreshing take on MEL's brunch scene :) Located off bustling Glenferrie Rd, it is a small cafe that boasts a former barista champion from WA. A perfect way to spend a barmy spring afternoon!

There were a few other menu options apart from the usual eggs and bacon. I had a lovely serving of Smoked salmon in scrambled eggs and some high fibre toasts :)

And finished off with an absolutely scrumptious lemon slice and... a specialty filter coffee called "Clover". Served in a brandy glass and meant to be have a weaker texture similar to tea! Something different for me but I'm sure true coffee aficionados would not approve :P

Little bits of love

2008-08-28T22:50:00.002+10:00

Love is all around... an exceptionally yellow omu curry rice (thanks to Catriona's free range hens)!

My craving triggered in an instant, I attempted to recreate another brekkie/lunch favourite. No longer a simple walk down to the hawker centre for a $3 bowl ;P

Nobu!

2008-08-23T18:42:00.003+10:00

Nobu opened to much acclaim last year as another addition to Crown casino's waterfront restaurants and the ever evolving foodie scene in MEL :) To add more fanfare to the event, Robert de Niro also made a special appearance as one of the partners! Endang's birthday certainly warranted a unique celebration so there we were, ready for an amazing Sunday lunch!

Nobu has two levels done up in warm shades of brown. After divesting us of our coats, the staff led us to a table on the ground level which overlooks Southbank.

Emi getting creative!

The bar with ubiquitous bottles of sake :)

A funky looking waitress attended to our table and made the requisite recommendations. Nobu's menu goes from cold to hot (oven/grill) dishes, sushi/sashimi, a special category for it's Japanese-Peruvian dishes and finally dessert. We started with my all time favourite, some very fine tuna tataki with ponzu dressing :D

Baby tiger prawn tempura served with 3 types of dipping sauces, including jalapeno!

A beautiful scallop with mushrooms and asparagus dish in wasabi pepper sauce.

This dish was named squid pasta but it turned out to be very fresh calamari sliced to resemble pasta!

Roasted cauliflower with jalapeno salsa.

Anti-cucho chicken and salmon skewers. Anti-cucho is a Peruvian sauce and the taste is rather similar to Nando's peri peri sauce :P But the salmon skewers were grilled to medium and totally delicious.

This is probably my first time eating wagyu and it truly melted in my mouth!! Wagyu intercostal (the tender meat between the ribs) with pea puree and wasabi salsa.

We cleaned our palate with a chef's selection (omakase) of sushi and sashimi. We almost played a game of Russian roulette to see who would get the choice sushi :) They certainly tasted as beautiful as they looked!

And now for the dessert! The tasting platter had four items including Suntory whisky cappucino and homemade Nobu beer ice cream!

A Japanese trifle consisting of yuzu custard, pione grape jelly, cherry foam and walnut sponge ice cream :)

Chocolate and shiso leaf harumaki (rolls) with fresh passionfruit sauce and coconut sorbet!

My favourite - goma trio. A sesame delight served 3 ways - white, dark and toasted seeds with sake jelly and green tea ice cream :D Even the the presentation demonstrated the ikebana element! Ahh... I'm already plotting my next visit!

Pink blossoms

2008-08-19T18:08:00.003+10:00

Amidst the wintry cold, the pink cherry blossoms herald Spring's arrival :)

Bakwan kepiting!

2008-08-07T23:32:00.005+10:00

It's winter soups galore and I've been craving for this, especially the version made by my grandma :) Bakwan kepiting means crab and pork balls in Malay and is a popular Nyonya dish. I followed this recipe loosely but also added taupok (beancurd puffs) and Chinese cabbage for a more complete meal!

Apple fever!

2008-07-24T10:24:00.002+10:00

The new iPhone - better than guitar hero! We had crazy fun playing beer games and checking out the varied applications unique to iPhone... shazam! Emi, enjoy your new toy!

Daylesford, again :)

2008-07-20T17:12:00.004+10:00

It appears that I would have to make Daylesford an annual getaway - I can't get enough of it! The lush forests, autumn colours and country charms plus rejuvenating hot springs are just an hour and half away :) I brought Danie there on her last visit and we also included a night's stay at the lovely Shizuka Ryokan. Our lunch at the deli cafe on Vincent St - prawn linguine lightly seasoned with cheese and lime zest.

Good ol' pumpkin and veggie soup with thick slices of garlic toast.

Shizuka Ryokan is an authentic and award winning Japanese guesthouse/day spa right in hot spring country :) A B&B package for two is at least $200 and all the 8 rooms are always sold out on weekends.

We were the only guests that Tuesday evening and we loved every minute of the silence as we flip flopped in our yukata and room slippers :) The tatami room is traditionally designed with a small garden, veranda and...

... a jacuzzi in the bathroom!!

A sweet Japanese girl called Michiyo showed us around and served us green tea and shortbread sakura cookies :)

The guestrooms surround a zen garden and is beautifully lit at night.

We ordered a 4 course kaiseki dinner served in our rooms - very Japan Hour! First course - a selection of sashimi, sushi and soba.

Second - tempura moriawase.

Third - beef sukiyaki set.

Fourth - dessert of green tea and azuki bean ice cream :D

During dessert, Michiyo prepared our futon beds. Sweet dreams!

We left Shizuka Ryokan, relaxed and full after a traditional Japanese breakfast and headed to the Convent Gallery. A former Catholic boarding school, the historical building was renovated and turned into a gorgeous art gallery, cafe and bar.

A lovely view of Daylesford from the attic window!

We loaded up on some yummy scones and decadent hot choc at Locarno before the drive back to crowded MEL!

Hako!

2008-07-18T16:58:00.000+10:00

Finally, the wild goose chase ends :D I joined Emi and her ex-TP coursemates for dinner at Hako Japanese (310 Flinders Lane, Melbourne). The single page menu lists the usual favourites, while the specials are pasted on the restaurant's windows. A must have, is their signature ebi tempura :D

Wicked!

2008-07-14T21:16:00.003+10:00

Emi and I indulged in a lovely dose of Broadway magic by catching "Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz" :D

The musical is showing at the gorgeous Regent Theatre on Collins St where every nook and cranny is reminiscent of the Moorish architecture in Andalusia :)

The stage was not very big but the views were good enough from where we sat in the cheapest category :P I loved the strong vocals of the lead actress who played Elfaba, the "wicked witch" and the way they weaved it's namesake movie into the story.

Back onto the cold streets of MEL in winter!

Ipoh Jaya

2008-07-08T22:16:00.004+10:00

Do not be put off by Ipoh Jaya's (90 Queensberry St cnr Lygon St, Carlton) "eclectic" decor; for it is a Malaysian restaurant/hen's night party venue/karaoke lounge rolled into one :P If and when the place is open for dinner, one enters by a small door set under a dim signboard. Twin merlion statues decorate one wall while a disco ball, CDs and sequinned curtains hide what must be the hen's party set :D

But the food is simple, homecooked and amazing. The menu is limited to the usual local favourites and the auntie serving speaks gently; as though you are truly blood relatives :) We deduced that it is also possibly Chuckee who is the chef/cocktail mixer. Here's my special order of Seafood Mee Goreng in it's lip smacking kecap glory... YUM!

They also serve authentic Penang hawker dishes such as this delicious Penang laksa. Definitely a must try when in Lygon St!

The Miele Guide

2008-07-02T23:20:00.002+10:00

No, it's not a manual for using Miele's range of products, but "Asia’s first truly independent regional restaurant guide when launched in October 2008". A little trivia for food bloggers, this publication is led by Chubby Hubby and his team. And they want to hear from you!

A short introduction from the Miele Guide's website:

"The Miele Guide will be Asia’s first truly independent regional restaurant guide when launched in October 2008, and also its most authoritative—we do not accept free meals or advertising from restaurants. Written by food lovers who know and love Asia, The Miele Guide will rank and profile restaurants across the region’s major cities, categorised by country, city and cuisine, in a slim, indispensable volume.

The 2008/2009 edition will evaluate restaurants in 16 Asian countries—Brunei, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Unlike most guides, there will be no arbitrary, secretive selection procedures, and your vote plays a big part. Now’s your chance to shape and mould culinary history. A shortlist has been drawn from the region’s top food critics and we want you to vote now and tell us which restaurants you think are the best. And if your favourite restaurant is not on the shortlist, you’ll have the option to nominate and vote for it too. From these results, a list of Asia’s top restaurants will be drawn. We will rank and profile in detail the top 20 in Asia. The rest will be categorised by country, city and cuisine.

Your participation, through voting and feedback, is important to The Miele Guide and we warmly invite you to vote now. When you register, please have a valid Visa card handy. Voting is open only to Visa cardholders."

Voting ends 31 July 2008 so be sure to support your favourite Asian restaurants!

The Red Centre

2008-06-28T17:53:00.012+10:00

Highlights from my trip to the Red Centre in March!

While walking around the small shopping strip in Alice Springs called Todd Mall, we came across a handy tool for surviving those nasty outback flies :D

Bart Push Ups for a cool afternoon treat :)

For our first dinner in the Red Centre, we followed the outback theme and went for game meat at the Overlanders Steakhouse! :P Croc vol-au-vents, emu, roo and camel steak... YEE HA!

The town centre is bordered by the MacDonnell Ranges and our accommodation at the Heavitree Gap Lodge was on the other side of the ranges. Every evening, these cute and wild black footed rock wallabies would skip down to the lodge and wait for guests to feed them. Not so wild anymore I guess!

Leaving Alice Springs, we drove southwest towards Ayers Rock. The 500km plus journey whizzed by as we took the dusty roads at 130km/h!! There were only a few petrol stations/settlements along the drive and some were named "Springs", (more of a water stop than actual water springs I think)! Sure reminds me of my literature text "A Town Like Alice" :)

We nearly missed our Ayers Rock base tour at dawn! There was a marvelous silence as the line of tour buses drove into the national park, heading towards the dome shaped rock rising out of the plains. At the sunrise lookout, we collected our coffees and chairs and sat in awe while the first rays of the sun lighted up the rock. The base tour included trips to the myriad of sacred sites, waterfalls, pools and rock paintings located at Uluru and the "dreaming stories" weaved around these sites. We also learnt more about the Aborigine culture and saw how "removed" they are in this modern world.

More walks to follow - Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta National Park!

The Olgas or Kata Tjuta - dome shaped by the wind over thousands of years.

One of my favourites - the Sounds of Silence dinner. This award winning dinner is held right on the desert plains itself with views of Uluru on one side and Kata Tjuta on the other. We started with a cocktail party while enjoying the sunset behind Uluru :) Pity the ladies who got red sand in their heels!

Followed by a three course buffet dinner with delicious Aussie delicacies and game meat, of course :) It was truly romantic with the only lighting coming from candles and a didgeridoo performance in the darkness.

Four magical hours ended with some an introduction to astronomy and some stargazing. FYI, Saturn looks like a sticker complete with it's rings!

Yummy and healthy camel burger (more protein and less fat than beef)!

Woo! This was definitely worth the 6km Rim walk at Kings Canyon!!

Our last walk at Stanley's Chasm just before our return to Alice Springs :)

Momo!

2008-06-27T18:23:00.000+10:00

Momotaro Ramen (392 Bridge Road, Richmond) is the place to go to for cheap and good ramen! They serve about 10 types of ramen and some small dishes.

It's also an annual favourite in the Cheap Eats food guide - just check out the "small" serving size :D

Teh tarik & cheese prata ;)

2008-06-15T15:55:00.003+10:00

We lunched at Taste of Singapore (162 Clayton Road, Clayton) before the original mamak boss handed over management. Hm.. mm... I satisfied my craving for good ol' lontong and potato bergedel :D

This is how Chris looks before he attacks his favourite dishes!

Of course, Emi is "helping" him with his lunch.

The best teh tarik in town! I had two glasses that day.

And we actually returned in the evening for cheese prata drizzled with condensed milk :P

Going into the city...

2008-06-13T15:40:00.003+10:00

Behind the grand facade of Flinders Street train station lie the old and often dirty (character?) train platforms :P

To my delight, I found a Beard Papa shop along Elizabeth St. And a "beard papa" manned the shop by himself too! He did a good job of filling my chocolate puffs with vanilla cream before packing them away in a clumsy but charming manner :)

Hweiling's visit

2008-05-31T13:52:00.005+10:00

Hweiling came to visit one fall weekend and what more charming place to bring her then Mt. Dandenong? :P Even I discovered a cluster of tiny shops selling more antiques!

Second hand books, anyone?

This gentleman sells homemade fudge on weekends only.

Dinner at Montezuma's (462 Bridge Road, Richmond) with Jocelyn. Yummy Mexican food at reasonable prices! Mole Poblano - "Centuries old chicken dish invented by nuns of Puebla for the bishops visit, served with a spicy Aztec sauce, 32 herbs and spices, coconut, banana and pineapple."

A few blocks down, we dropped into Olmec's for some chocolate profiterole tart... too bad it had been in the fridge for a while :P

A leisurely brunch at Fraus Crepes & Choc the next day (345 Victoria Street, North Melbourne).

Nice high ceilings, similar to Brezioz Crepes in Williamstown :)

I had their hot chocolate with orange. Thick and foamy...

And a savoury galette with "Big Breakfast" ingredients - tomatoes, eggs, ham, cheese and spinach. YUM!

Stoked!

2008-05-26T21:23:00.003+10:00

Another well loved pancake place in MEL, Stokers (1033 Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe) is a good place for some winter warmers now that the winter is starting :) The non-descript shopfront opens into a cosy and warm parlour with a number of tables and benches. There is a cheery fireplace in the centre which is stoked every now and then - hence the name!

Some ingenious soul painted an interesting picture on one of the walls that depicts how pancakes are made... from scratch :D

To add to it's funky feel, there is even a "reversed" clock!

Dessert du jour - Rum & Banana pancakes with vanilla ice cream ($12.50) and a mug of hot choc with melted marshmallows. Prices are a little steep, probably because the place opens late till 3am.

Recipes...

2008-05-10T23:19:00.000+10:00

I came across these old and totally charming recipe boxes in Megan's kitchen :)

They contained decades old recipe cards penned by her mother and recipe clippings from old magazines and newspapers filed according to the dish. Sure beats trying to recall grandma's recipe by memory!

Lemons!

2008-05-09T21:30:00.003+10:00

Early fall and the lemon trees in almost every Aussie backyard are heavy with the tart but sweet, yellow fruit. I tried my hand at two recipes using the lemons from Cheng's backyard :) Lemon pudding didn't turn out so well - I misread the recipe :P

Olive oil tea cake with lemon rind and juice turned out to be yummy - a perfect treat for afternoon tea :D

Viva latina!

2008-04-27T20:30:00.003+10:00

I don't think I can ever get enough of Spanish/South American cuisine! The totally addictive tapas culture of taking little bites here and there, the invigorating flavours and the sweets... :D We discovered Churrisimo (839 High St, Thornbury), a newcomer to the never-ending row of long time pizza shops and Greek cafes while searching for coffee one Saturday afternoon. The cafe only serves tapas and desserts for now and tries to recreate an atmosphere of Spain and her flamenco culture.

A yummy afternoon snack of freshly made churros and thick Spanish hot chocolate!

La Plaza de Mercado is a popular Spanish/South American festival held around end April at the Queen Vic Market. There are performances aplenty and a Brazilian batucada band was working the crowd when we got there :)

Of course, our noses led us to the food stalls - we shared Seafood paella and Potato pancake.

Leche asada - a sweet milk and cinnamon custard pudding similar to creme brulee.. YUM!

Lots of churro stalls, all claiming to be the original! I also found a stall selling homemade Argentinian alfajores... sorry, no pic!

J Cafe

2008-04-20T21:57:00.004+10:00

Another cheap and good authentic Japanese bento cafe in the city. J Cafe (167 Exhibition St) seems to be rather popular as the cafe was packed at lunch time Saturday. I had the Sushi Burger set with prawn & avocado, korokke and miso soup for A$15 :D

Manic weekend!

2008-04-17T21:46:00.008+10:00

What a weekend :P Here's a peek into what I get into (sometimes!) when the weekend rolls by... Friday evening - I caught up with Hui Yi at Kimchi Lunchbox (652 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn). The food is cheap and good - yummy Sundubu jigae (thick kimchi soup with tofu) and a Pork Bulgogi set.

Saturday was a very big day for Felix, Endang, Eka and myself :D We flexed our stomach muscles and started with lunch at Kota Raya (Shop 12/ 2107 South Princes Hwy, Springvale). Apparently this is one of 3 or 4 Kota Raya restaurants in MEL serving cheap, hawker style Malaysian food. Everything about the place feels like it's stuck in the 80s!

Most of the dishes are priced at $7.90. I had Roast Chicken Rice, a dish that delights the senses when one has a mighty craving for it!

Time for afternoon tea! Following Emi's blog entry, we visited one of my favourite suburbs - Fitzroy :) Babka (358 Brunswick St) which means grandmother in Russian, has cute matreshka dolls painted at the entrance.

The cosy cafe/bakery has a most inviting atmosphere and I'd wished I had the time to sit and people-watch after a satisfying meal :)

Babka has a womanly feel with pretty waitresses in black aprons and a gorgeous flower display at the coffee counter.

The menu features mainly Russian and a little Hungarian/Polish fare. Here's our order of Blintzes filled with cottage cheese, honey and lemon... YUM!

Horses on the road when we stopped at the lights!

Dinner at TGIFridays at the Jam Factory (Chapel St). Bring on the margaritas! Unfortunately, they were pretty weak margaritas :P

Jack Daniel specials - steak and sampler including chicken, shrimp and ribs. Jack Daniel refers to the dark sauce, which tasted suspiciously like kecap manis :P

Let's not forget Sunday - the weather turned cold and we returned to Coco Lounge at Kingsway (Glen Waverley) for their cococino (hot choc with coconut). Coffee and cake go together and I couldn't resist the white choc cake :P

Cheng Teng

2008-04-08T21:43:00.004+10:00

I missed this soup/dessert big time during the Chinese New Year celebrations here :D Finally got down to making it at Margie's kitchen - another taste of home for us!

Made with the hearty goodness of home - a bowl of longans, dried persimmon strips, barley, lotus seeds and gingko nuts.

Hausfrau Bakery

2008-04-06T17:35:00.004+10:00

Saturday afternoons at Yarraville in Melbourne's west must be the best time to explore it's many delights :) A small but hip suburb with a touch of bohemian, one can find unique fashion labels, the art deco themed "Sun" theatre and yummy shops tucked into tiny corners. We decided to have afternoon tea at Hausfrau Bakery & Cakes (32A Ballarat Street, Yarraville). And yes, that is an apron hanging at the entrance :D

The locals undoubtedly know where to head for their tea fix, as the cafe was buzzing and the smells of freshly brewed coffee drew us in. They even have giant sized cutlery!

Everything is kept quaint and old fashioned from the staff's head scarves to the cute crockery. Popular Austrian/European cakes such as sacher torte, madeleines are sold.

Cheng is just about to dig into her warm ginger pudding with devilish glee!

I couldn't resist the cute sacher torte cupcake and madeleine with my mocha :D

Yet another cafe to be added to my "Good Fun Guide" :D Hmm... satisfied!

Alfajores

2008-03-26T21:54:00.006+11:00

Ahh... I remember the day I had my first taste of alfajores, "two delicate biscuits filled with a delicious rich, creamy, milk caramel sauce (dulce de leche)" and I thought that I discovered gold :D These enormous cookies are popular throughout South America, but the premium Havanna brand is something of a "must buy" when in Argentina. A perfect tea time snack!

Freycinet

2008-03-09T20:35:00.001+11:00

Part 4 of my Tassie vacation - Cradle Mountain to Freycinet.

Moving eastward, we left the rainy alpine atmosphere of Cradle Mountain and headed on the popular Bass Highway towards Launceston. The scenery along this stretch was remarkably similar to the gentle rolling fields and moo-moos one sees in New Zealand; there were even charming chocolate/cheese shops to stop by and sample :P Our tummies were still full of fresh Tasmanian cheeses and Valhalla ice cream when we stumbled upon a cute tearoom called "Serendipi-Tea" in the town of Westbury. Lunch was delicious lamb stew, quiche and salads - all made by the friendly owner. I couldn't resist the last serving of trifle - an English dessert made of layers of sultanas, nuts, orange jelly and ice cream :D The carrot cake was equally satisfying... burp!

Freycinet National Park is located right at the end of a strip of land branching out from the main island. It's famous for stunning coastal landscapes, gorgeous bays and isolated beaches. I was really anticipating this stop to be the highlight but the weather refused to cooperate on our first day!

I was cheered up by the sight of our accommodation at least ;P Freycinet Lodge was the priciest but my favourite by far; the rooms were designed for maximum relaxation - instead of a tv, there was a nice stereo and lots of comfy couches.

With a full schedule planned for the next day, we went in search of a good meal :P Only the hotel restaurants were opened so we checked out the neighbouring resort, "Edge of the Bay" and what a dinner we had :D Fresh oysters with pickled chilli and cucumber dressing.

A tasting plate of yummy seafood.

Duck ragout with parpadelle pasta.

Mushroom penne.

My fave - Pasta with lobster bisque!

Seafood pasta.

Blue eye trevalla fillet with rice.

We were greeted by a gorgeous blue sky and calm sea across Coles Bay the next morning - that's the view from my balcony!

We were able to fit in some walks around the coast and then kayaking at twilight... YAY! for Freycinet :D

Nihon ryori :D

2008-03-08T14:00:00.005+11:00

We indulged in all things Japanese for last night's dinner - tempura ramen, takoyaki (1kg pack for A$12.50) and a selection of yummy sushi from Japanese wholesaler, Suzuran (1025 Burke Road, Hawthorn).

The Eastern

2008-03-01T20:16:00.004+11:00

The Eastern freeway is part of the route that I take to work every morning during the week. It's usually smooth flowing at 100km/h until I have to exit at Chandler's Highway where I end up moving like a snail for 15 min :P It was pouring cats and dogs and the clouds were just letting up when I snapped this. Can you see the beautiful rainbow? A consolation, at least :D

Harvest Picnic!

2008-02-28T20:57:00.000+11:00

Ahh, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is finally here :D There are foodie events galore - "World's longest lunch", "A taste of Slow food", masterclasses taught by famous chefs, dinner under the stars with menus featuring fresh seasonal delights at local vineyards, etc. etc... but I have to tighten my purse strings and choose only ONE event :P

So I settled for The Age's Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock. I read about it from shewhoeats and it appeared to be a great place to sample the region's best gourmet, beer and wine products in a country setting. It was a cold Sunday morning when we left MEL with more showers expected. Thankfully, the weather improved as the afternoon wore on and everyone enjoyed the sun's warmth while lolling about in their deck chairs or picnic blankets :)

There were about 30 exhibitors displaying their wares - half were selling beer/wine and only a small handful had the good stuff - food! The ones doing brisk business included this Turkish stall selling gozleme - a pan-fried pastry (similar to naan/roti) with cheese, spinach and meat within.

We shared the yummy gozleme, seafood paella - apparently a regular fixture at 20 years of Harvest Picnic history but sadly, the rice was undercooked this year :( yabbie burger and bisque, BBQ calamari/prawn and kebabs. One could rent a wineglass for $5 and sample the mind-boggling variety of wines :) I also did a little shopping - a homemade bottle of limoncello, spiced rhubarb jam from Tasmania and a sampler of Red Duck beer (I was sold on the cute packaging!)

Here's Cheryl doing her best impersonation of a Korean tourist :P

Babycakes! Yet another cupcake business to hit town - this brand specialises in bite sized cakes.

They actually made a special cupcake to celebrate the 20th year of Harvest Picnic!

Hanging Rock turned out to be a rather famous attraction in the Macedon Ranges because of a mystery novel (subsequently made into a movie) called "Picnic at the Hanging Rock" written in the early 1900s by Joan Lindsay. In it, a group of schoolgirls vanish and it certainly lent the Harvest Picnic an air of mystery and intrigue :P We decided to follow the walking trails to the summit of Hanging Rock to see what the fuss was all about... the towering rock formations did have a forbidding feel about it...

Nearly there! A fantastic view of Mt. Macedon and the surrounding plains. It was easy finding the summit although we had to clamber onto the large rocks at the top! Finding the way down was trickier and we actually got lost! "Help!"

We arrived in MEL tired and sleepy... but I left my heart at the Hanging Rock!

Bibimbap!

2008-02-26T23:16:00.003+11:00

The last time we shopped at our favourite Korean grocery (Jireh) in Clayton, we noticed a Korean cafe next door called Hudadak with a logo of a chicken :) We returned yesterday for dinner - they were selling chicken wings and the usual cafe fare... somewhat like the chicken and beer shops in Korea I guess!

I went for my all time favourite of Dulsot Bibimbap (tastier than the usual bibimbap as it is served in a heated stone bowl). The taste was simple and the best part - the burnt rice at the bottom :D

Comfort food

2008-02-22T23:22:00.004+11:00

The days are getting shorter and the nights colder - what better to wrap up the tired week than with a good meal? :) I was craving for a taste of home and a dish which I missed at this year's CNY - my grandma's ngoh hiang, vegetarian beehoon and achar. The ngoh hiang/loh bak (5 spice meat rolls in beancurd skin) were reasonably easy to make but a tad salty because of the beancurd skin. These little gems were saved over from my CNY dinner... precious! I used cucumber pickled in vinegar, sugar and chilli in place of achar. Yummmm :D

Backyard BBQ

2008-02-21T22:12:00.005+11:00

Felix spraying the hotplate with canola oil.

In keeping with the Aussie love of "barbies" during summer, we decided to have one in our own backyard last Sunday :) The 35 deg C heat started to cool down after 7pm and daylight savings meant that we could enjoy two more hours of light. Out came the foldable table and chairs, gas cooker and a special hotplate - time for our favourite Korean BBQ!!

"Is the meat ready yet...?!"

We dropped into Jireh, our regular Korean grocery in Clayton and snapped up ready cuts of pork, kimchi, vegetables and the all important soju (rice wine). I also found Melona, a sweet and refreshing ice cream by Binggrae there :D Endang prepared a tasty version of kimchi jigae (soup), kimchi pancakes and sesame/garlic dipping sauce. My contribution - eggplant marinated in miso and ice calamansi tea :P Once the meat (bulgogi/wine marinade) was cooked, we ate it sambap style.... big mouthfuls of yumminess!

Endang, Felix and Eka steaming up the backyard - till the next summer!

Nyonya Hut

2008-02-16T14:46:00.004+11:00

Lazy Saturdays are here again :D Hui Yi and Kevin came by to explore the southeastern suburbs of MEL and I suggested going to Sue's Delights for lunch. But they were closed for a long CNY break so we went to Lim's Nyonya Hut (240 Blackburn Rd, Glen Waverley) instead! Always another good eating place around the corner :P

I have yet to find a restaurant that only serves Peranakan food (e.g. House of Peranakan in SG) as most serve the usual Malaysian delights with Nyonya specials. Lim's Nyonya Hut is a tiny outfit with 8 mismatched tables, a funny collection of Nyonya furniture and plates for decor; even a framed lilac coloured kebaya top to match the purple walls! We happily ordered drinks from our childhood - chin chow, Kickapoo! and MJ Drink (chin chow in soybean milk; black & white like Michael Jackson!)

I wasn't craving for Mee Siam but ordered it since it was their Saturday special. It was very, very good - the sauce was unusually thick and had a generous helping of taupok. Kevin gave thumbs up for their Penang char kway teow :)

Here's Hui Yi excited about her Assam Laksa - I could smell the scents of mint, basil, hae ko (prawn paste) and onions while taking this pic!

It seems like this place makes an impressive range of Nyonya kuih too - there were at least 10 types on their dessert menu. I went for my favourite Kuih Kosui (never as good as my grandma's!) and Ang Ku Kuih (hmm... I miss the "half salty-sweet" version :P). There, the perfect recipe for an afternoon siesta.

West Coast Wilderness

2008-02-15T15:42:00.000+11:00

Part 3 of my Tassie vacation - Strahan to Cradle Mountain: most tourists visit Strahan to experience the West Coast Wildnerness Railway, a replica of the rack and pinion locomotive that plied the mountains and valleys between the mining industry of Queenstown and the port of Strahan.

The attractive looking red and green steam engine at our lunch stop :)

Our 3 hour journey was filled with magnificent west coast landscapes - here's the awesome King River Canyon cutting between mountains filled with giant Tasmanian pine and fern trees.

We continued our road trip east towards alpine country (the heart of Tassie) and the weather followed accordingly! It was pouring cats and dogs and we had to stop for directions before doubling back to find our accommodation for the night. Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village lived up to its name as we easily found native wildlife outside our doorstep :) These two pademelons were just metres away!

The famous cradle shaped peak (partly obscured!) and boathouse at Dove Lake - this was the coldest leg of our journey ... a little of the Christmas/winter feel!

Chinatown!

2008-02-13T22:18:00.004+11:00

I certainly put in more effort to recreate the CNY mood here - I would never have made the effort to join in the crowds at Chinatown back home :P Each year the local Chinese associations would organise a huge celebration and it was rather enjoyable on a sunny 24 deg C day. We certainly had lots of fun with the deafening firecrackers!! Watch Margie's video capture here.

We only caught sight of the dragon making its entrance and of course, how multicultural MEL is :P

My first good look at the firecrackers - small in size but crazy in bunches (reminds me of chilli padi!) hung along rows of businesses along Little Bourke St. A couple of lion dances were taking place at the same time outside the shops and once the lion had "eaten the greens", the firecrackers would be lit and explode in all angles :P

An interesting looking Chinese church held an open day with la mian (noodles) making demos!

Right in the centre of Little Bourke St, the carpark was filled with food and CNY decor stalls; there was even a stall promoting city apartment investment (hehe). A huge tent was also showcasing a Cantonese opera performance :)

While Margie indulged in her A$2.50 slice of honey glazed bak kwa/BBQ pork, I was eagerly anticipating the famous egg tarts from Maxim's... perfectly made, the egg custard and pastry had the right amount of sweetness and firmness :D

The aftermath of one too many firecrackers on the streets!

Red fun!

2008-02-12T20:49:00.002+11:00

It was finally time for my own tuan yuan fan or "reunion dinner" traditionally eaten on the eve of Chinese New Year :D A bunch of us "displaced" SGs gathered at Margie's place for... steamboat! Saturday came and we got down to lots of action at the Springvale market.

BBQ pork - selling at $2++ per piece at one of the roast meat shops; daylight robbery!

Margie and I treated ourselves to an afternoon snack of frozen Mornthong "seedless" durian from Thailand (A$5 for a 500g packet) before the dinner prep started. Hmm.. hmmm... finger licking good!

Margie and me posing with some dried vermicelli! in her kitchen - RED is colour du jour :)

A fun twist to the yu sheng - we took turns wishing each other something good for the new year before adding an item to the dish. Seen here - Corrine, Chris and Emi.

Check that out! Thanks to Endang (who lent us the gas cooker and pot!), we managed to stuff ourselves silly with a variety of fishballs, meat, yong tau foo, mushrooms, noodles and veggies in yummy ikan bilis and soybean broth. There was also ngoh hiang (made by yours truly!) roast duck, char siew and siew yoke from the popular Pacific BBQ restaurant in Toorak/Richmond. Dessert was a funny fusion of Emi's famous cupcakes and tang yuan (glutinous rice balls filled with black sesame/peanut). Burp :P

Agung Indonesian

2008-02-08T21:52:00.001+11:00

With the large presence of Indonesians living in MEL, its easy to find cheap and good Indo food - even Esteler 77 exists here! Craving for the exquisite contrast of sweet kecap manis on fried food (tauhu telur!!), Hui Yi and I headed down to Agung (789 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn) - located near the student friendly belt outside Swinburne Uni. The small restaurant can only accommodate 20 diners at one time and the cosy atmosphere is enhanced by the use of batik tablecloths and Indonesian paintings. Well, they didn't have tauhu telur (deep fried egg and tofu ring), so we ordered their Tauhu terong instead :P which was pretty similar apart from the lack of egg!

Rated their No. 1 dish, the Beef Rendang was different from the Malay style in that they used a sirloin type of fillet cut into bite sized pieces. The gravy was also tasty and rich, with no oil whatsoever floating about :P

But the winner for both of us was the Pecel Lele - catfish marinated in yummy spices and totally deep fried to the point where even the bones were crispy enough to be devoured :D Slab on a good dose of kecap and fresh belacan... I could eat this everyday! The meal came up to $40 for two including drinks, which was pretty reasonable :)

Xin nian kuai le!

2008-02-06T09:50:00.000+11:00

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!! "WAN SHI RU YI" :D

BBQ Pork

2008-02-04T22:36:00.001+11:00

I'm slowly getting there! Another piece to the whole "recreate the SG Chinese New Year experience" :D The recipe for making "bak kwa" wasn't difficult (I used char siew sauce as the base), but it was hard and HOT work baking them in the sweltering afternoon.

Munch munch, crunch crunch!

2008-02-02T20:40:00.000+11:00

L to R: Mini popiah with shrimp/pork floss, Pineapple tarts, Kuih Bangkit, Peanut cookies.

Margie and I made use of the Aussie Day long weekend to start our baking mania for Chinese New Year - it was almost mission impossible as we decided to include Kuih Bangkit and Peanut Cookies to Mini Shrimp Popiah and the ubiquitous Pineapple Tarts!! Click on the links to get the recipes. Having to spend CNY away from home, the least I could do is to recreate the second most important ingredient after "family & friends" - the FOOD :)

Our first attempt at baking these goodies were not without trial and error - we had to change the recipe after our first batch of pineapple tarts turned out too soft, buttery and crumbly (but is now melt in your mouth after a week in the fridge)! We also used macadamia and pine nuts for the peanut cookies instead, which gave them a richer texture.

The scene of our baking challenge - Margie's kitchen has a retro Malleys gas oven and our "vacuum cleaner" was none other than Harvey :D

Bake, pack and munch - we rewarded ourselves with a good helping of chicken congee (leftovers of our charcoal chicken dinner).... and started munching on our favourite CNY goodies :D

Happy Australia Day!

2008-01-26T21:37:00.000+11:00

Got my piece of the Aussie Day action when we went to Williamstown on the eve :) The weekend atmosphere was in full force as the locals chilled out at the rows of restaurants and ice cream shops facing the harbour. There was also a short fireworks display (too short, actually!) at the jetty that left us wanting more...

...which was thankfully satisfied by Breizoz Crepes (139 Nelson Place, Williamstown), authentic French crepes with the chef/boss hailing from Brittany itself :P The creperie used to be the town's Seamen Mission and its beautiful architecture lends a charming air to one's dining experience.

We ordered a round of dessert crepes each, keeping the flavours simple i.e. butter and sugar and chocolate with red wine and plum sorbet for me :D A glass of cider complements the crepes too. I'd heard so much about the crepes and I finally understood why they were so addictive - spread thin, crisp on the edges and soft in the middle, the fresh flavours simply made us crave for seconds :P

Chocolat

2008-01-24T21:20:00.000+11:00

One of my prized kitchen possessions is New York's famous Mariebelle "Aztec Hot Chocolate" - seen here with its "predecessor", Dagoba's Hot Chocolate with chillies and cinnamon drink :D Mariebelle appears to be an establishment in the New York chocolate scene and other food bloggers have raved about its designer tins and chocolates... very Tiffany's I might add!

This Aztec Hot Choc is proudly made from "single-origin Colombian cacao (63%)" and is so rich that it comes in "granules" instead of fine powder. It certainly makes a good accompaniment to the banana smoothies that I've been blending up lately :D Gracias, Min!

Hobart to Strahan

2008-01-22T23:04:00.001+11:00

Tassie holiday Part 2 - We left Hobart after a hearty brekkie of meat pies, fruits and cheese croissants and took the road to Claremont, where the famous Cadbury Chocolate factory was located on "Cadbury Road" :P Alas, the factory was already closed for the Christmas holidays! Our journey westward took us through a myriad of landscapes, starting with miles and miles of farmland as seen above.

We entered the first of two National Parks in one day (!), "Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair". Serious hikers tackle the famous "80km Overland Track" from the southern to northern part of this park but we were satisfied with a short bushwalk and a nice view of the lake on a blustery and overcast day :D

The second national park "Franklin Gordon-Wild Rivers" was a strange revelation of the vast landscapes that Tassie has - we would be amazed at the views of mountain valleys (one was aptly named "Surprise Valley!"), followed by flat plains with lakes all around. Needless to say, they were a sight for sore eyes and we loved every minute of it :) We also drove through Queenstown, a town built to serve the copper mines (one of Tassie's main industries) - cool and barren looking slopes, almost as if we were on the moon!

Finally, after nearly 6 hours since leaving Hobart, we arrived at the tiny, two street village of Strahan. It was built so that boats could get to the copper from Queenstown in the last century and now serves more as a rest stop for tourists. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful shot of twilight - the last of the setting sun at 9pm :D