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Showing posts with label Bars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bars. Show all posts

Monday, 3 March 2008

A week in the life of ....


These few weeks have been hectic. After our holiday in Hanoi in February, we really needed to catch up with our friends. I realised that I don't really talk about what I eat on a weekly basis... Let's give it a try and see if it is interesting for you or not.


Here is a brief of where we've been in the last week:

Monday: Lunch was a sashi don from Don-Don on Swanston Street. For dinner, I made a beef stew using Harumi Kurihara : Harumi's Japanese Home Cooking cook book. It was a little bit salty, so I think I will cut down on the soya sauce a little.

Tuesday: Lunch was at Groove Train, Melbourne Central. My colleague recommended the smoke salmon salad there, and indeed it was fantastic. Roasted potatoes in a smoke salmon salad - yum!! For last minute dinner out, we were recommended to go to Olive Tree Bistro in South Melbourne for steak. It's near Tempura Hajime. We cheekily went to Hajime to see whether there were any spots before heading to Olive Tree. No luck... The steaks at Olive Tree were not bad... 400g steaks!!! .

Wednesday: Lunch was at Tokio, in the city. Love their ebi-don! For dinner, we ate at home, not very healthy but had roast chicken drumstick, Vietnamese style stir fried mung beans with onion, bean sprout, and mince pork, with fluffy rice. Made a mojito but didn't have soda or lemonade so substituted it with white wine... hehehe

Thursday: Lunch was at A1 Cafe on Russell Street, one of my favourite Chinese cafe. I had the lemongrass chicken and pork on rice. Delicious! For dinner, I had a work function at Centro Ristorante, South Melbourne. It was nice to catch up with my colleagues socially. I had the fish of the day, which was grilled ocean trout. That was followed by banana souffle. I liked to banana souffle better than my main.

Friday: I usually have home-made dumpling in my fridge when we don't want to eat out... So Friday night dinner was simple, boiled pork and shrimp dumpling and edamame with a little twist - sprinkling of sesame seed, dried sea weed and sea salt ... Best edamame so far is from Fuji Mart.

Saturday: Lunch was at Aka Tombo Sushi Bar in Prahran. My sister ordered the Sushi & Sashimi Bento, and I had the Tempura Bento. Aka Tombo can do no wrong :) I think next time I really want to try the special bentos that you have to pre-order... For dinner, my sister was kind enough to cook for me. We bought mussells and other ingrediants from Prahran and she cooked a lovely batch of steamed mussells with a chili coconut tom yum sauce to go with it. She's got magic hands :) I made rosemary and garlic roast potatoes to go with it (following Stephanie Alexander : The Cook's Companion recipe) and some roast corn corbs. Why I made rosemary potatoes for an Asian dish, I don't know. *Sigh*

Sunday: I love the weekend, don't you. Yummy food all day long.... We had yum cha at David's, Prahran. The tea there is really nice. We had the Jasmine and Pu-Er tea. Sometimes the dumpling can be over steamed... but the atmosphere there is just so inspiring. After that my cousin bought a roll for his sister at Amici Bakery Cafe (-love their breakfasts) while I went to look at a few houses around the area before heading off to a baby's 1st birthday. H was very cute and endearing.

That was all for last week.... this week also promises lots of yummy food, good company and good wines.

Have a great week!

Thursday, 20 September 2007

US Flavoured Cola



A few nights ago I picked up a package from my mum's house.. All the information that I initially got from mum was that the box stated that the content were cans. I knew straight away what they were... My friend from US sent me cherry coke!!!!

But instead of finding one type of cherry coke, I found Summer Mix Pepsi, Jazz Caramel Cola, Jazz Strawberry and Cream Cola, Cherry Coke, Wild Cherry coke, Cherry 7-Up and Cherry Dr. Pepper. Can you imagine, my excitment!!! I was really overwhelmed and very touched by the present...
My husband and I really love it. We had the Pepsi Wild Cherry and the Strawberry Cream Coke last night with our take away. Between these two I like the Pepsi Wild Cherry better :)
Thank you thank you, Pat!!!!!! I absolutely love the fantastic surprise!

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Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Borsh Vodka and Tears

Photo: Courtesy of my247

Speaking of vodka brings back memories of a dinner party at a friend’s house, where I unwisely bought a bottle of Absolut Mandarin Vodka. We opened the bottle and the aroma of sweet mandarins escaped deceivingly. A few of us, brave after a few drinks, decided to have a shot of this clear seemingly delectable liquid. Before I knew it, it was burning down my throat and then my insides. Oh boy, never again, until now. ..

From work, I befriended two lovely but crazy Russian and Polish ladies… no names will be revealed. Of course vodka originates from these countries mainly so I hear them talk about vodka vodka vodka a lot. Particular, they talk a lot about this bar / restaurant called Borsh Vodka and Tears. You might say that this is my impending downfall but actually the result is that I have two bottles of half drank vodkas in my cupboard :P

What a romantic vodka bar, it is. Serving modern polish cuisine, with yellowish dimly lit décor… I felt somewhat drunk already when I arrived. I think I prefer sitting outside under the sudden warmth of the heaters. This place is crowded but surprisingly you can book a table even for drinks. Best to do it two weeks in advance if you want to have a table on Thursdays to Sundays. I mean that very much as we have missed out on a few occasions and had to settle for drinking vodka at home… hence my bottles.

Photo: Courtesy of Melbourne Pubs

I recommend the vodka tasting menu offering three 15ml shots of vodkas of your choice, served in delicate little vodka glasses. The vodka liqueurs are the easiest to drink. I am told that the clear vodkas must be chilled; the rest can be drunk at either room temperature or slightly chilled. For me, I prefer room temperature… where the taste is less crisp and sharp.. and the flavours tend to linger in your mouth and throat.

There is a special way of drinking vodka as well. You must breathe out first, drink the vodka while breathing in and then breathe out again to avoid swallowing and tasting the alcohol fumes.

Out of the 100 European vodkas, our favourites are the Polish Sour Cherry Vodka and the Romantic Rose flavoured Vodka.

Now that I’ve told you the technique, I hope you will become a Vodka enthusiast as well.


Borsh Vodka & Tears
173 Chapel Street
Prahran
03 9530 2694

Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Three Days in Wellington


Three days in Wellington already made me fell in love with it. Upon touching down into the Wellington airport, the small plane window showcased a dramatic scene of plunging shores and crashing waves, white foams gathering around the rocks. Amazing.

The drive to the city centre showed me a city that was a mix of Nordic and Urban. Imaginge getting a holiday house here on the hill overlooking the water… Wellington city is so close to the shore! Even walking to work you can see the water.

Upon recommendation by my colleague, I stayed at Holiday Inn Wellington, which reminded me of Central Equity apartments - modern and adequate but not of the best quality. The furniture is modern but Dare Gallery like. My room service was served without a table as my laptop was on the desk, and the kitchette was too tall for eating from. So I ate on the bed with the tray on my knees… hmm... not the most comfortable. But who cares if you’re on a holiday right. Amenities are basic. But the space is very function, with a fully equipped kitchette with microwave, kettle, toaster and lots of storage space. I do like the bathrooms – clean lines and functional. And that is what the hotel is about - functionality.


I got a tour of the gym and spa after I got back from work, and the long thin lap pool looks fantastic. At the end of the room, there was a large spa enough to fit six people. There were a large steam room and a sauna. However, there the gym area was sparse with only a treadmill, exercise bike, exercise ball and a yoga mat…

Typical hotel breakfast was rather expensive – full breakfast at $29. So I went to have breakfast outside on the last day at
Leuven Belgian Beer Restaurant on the way to work. $6 for a poached egg and bacon on toasted French bread, with a hash brown and half a tomato. With a foamy hot chocolate, the meal came to $9.00. Pretty good.

On the first night, it was beers on Featherton Road at Arcadia, followed by
Zibibbo for dinner. I had the Rotisserie Duck with White Truffle and Honey Glaze, and a few glasses of the divine Ata Ranga Sauvignon Blanc 2004. The Zibibbo Tapas Platter - for Two entree was absolutely fantastic. It’s set out on a lovely wooden tapas board with individual nine ceramic square plates filled with savouries from chorizos and beans in extra olive oil to freshy made foie gras. My colleague, who have moved here from Sydney, told us that there aren’t many restaurants in Wellington and to survive they have to be good. So you can’t really go wrong with any restaurants here in Wellington.

For dessert, two of us ordered Tamarillo Creme Brulee with Berry Sorbet. You think that’s good, our other two colleagues decided to share the Dessert Tapas Platter - Tasting Plate for 2, which had small bowls of all six of the desserts on the menu. Ahhhh, I thought they meant the savoury platter! Why wasn’t I listening? The platter looked great….

After that, we went downstairs for some beers, franchelico and their home-made sangria. Boy did the sangria have a kick to it…. That was my night-cap.

…Walking to our client’s site is like walking on a cliff, the wind was so chilly Thursday morning… From the hotel restaurant window through the chain curtains, while having breakfast, I saw people streaming pass in waterproof and wind proof jackets… no one carried an umbrella… hmm…

Second night I had dinner in, and after receiving good reviews from my colleague about Plate, the restaurant downstairs, I was confident that my dinner would be fantastic. I was not wrong… My wood roasted salmon – succulent, with the right balance of fat and flesh, with a sudden taste of capers and the freshest nicoise salad and salsa verde with brushed potatoes, boiled eggs, extra virgin olive oil. So simple, but so so tasty. It really highlights that if you have great produce, what ever you make will be good... just don’t over complicate things.

I also had mandioca fries, a type of potato, which is chewy, paprika and roasted onion like flavours, no sweetness just texture and flavour. It came with roasted red onion flavoured mayonnaise. Fantastic! Last but not least, a caramel flan with rum and raisin syrup. Can you believe it was cold enough in my room that the syrup was solidifying! I didn’t know how to work the air-con… Facing the harbour, didn’t help. Ah well I worked it out in the end…. And it was time to sleep…


“Can you take me to the International Airport”
“Domestic and International, they are all the same place”
“I see…”



Video from the drive to the Airport

Zibibbo Restaurant and Bar
25 - 29 Taranaki Street
Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
(04) 385 6650
http://www.zibibbo.co.nz/

Leuven Belgian Beer Restaurant
135-137 Featherston Street
Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
(04) 499 2939





Monday, 2 April 2007

Cheap Drinking Spots around Melbourne 2007

I just received this via email from Audrey. I am sure this will be an essential guide for many of us :)

Mondays

  • Automatic
    $3 pints (inc Stella)
  • Pugg Mahones
    106–112, Hardware Street, City
    $3 pints & basic spirits 9-11pm, $3 cowboys all night
  • Carlton Hotel
    197 Bourke St, City
    $1.90 pots, 12-2pm & 4-6pm
  • Pure
    125 Smith Street, Collingwood
    $1 pots - Pick of the night
  • The Public Bar
    238 Victoria St, North Melbourne (near Vic Markets)
    $1 pots all night (+entry)
  • The Laundry
    50 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $1 pots 3-7pm.
  • Spinach
    Cnr Brunswick and Johnston Sts, Fitzroy
    $5 jugs, 5-7pm
  • Chameleon/Provincial Hotel
    Cnr Johnston and Brunswick St, Fitzroy
    $5 dollar jugs all night
  • The Evelyn
    351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
    $8 jugs all night
  • The Old Bar
    74 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $2 pots, 4-6pm
  • J36
    36 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $3.50 Local stubbies, 5-7.30pm
  • Big Mouth
    168 Acland St, St Kilda
    $1 pots 5-7, 10-11
  • Prince of Wales
    29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
    $1.20 pots
  • Elwood Lounge
    49-51 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood
    $2 off all alcoholic drinks 9pm-midnight
  • Mentone Hotel
    95 Beach Rd, Mentone
  • $2 pots, 5-6pm
  • The Greyhound
    Cnr Carlisle St and Brighton Rd, St Kilda
    $2 pots, 5.30-7.30pm
  • Geebung Polo Club
    339 Racecourse Rd, Flemington
    $4 pints 6-7pm

Tuesday

  • All Nations Backpacker Pub
    Cnr of Flinders and Spencer Sts, City
    $3.50 pints all night
  • Carlton Hotel
    197 Bourke St, City
    $1.90 pots, 12-2pm & 4-6pm
  • Young and Jacksons
    Cnr Swanston and Flinders St, City
    $4 pints in long bar, 8-11pm
  • Hotel Bakpak
    167 Franklin St, City
    $8 jugs
  • Spinach
    Cnr Brunswick and Johnston Sts, Fitzroy
    $5 jugs, 5-7pm
  • The Tote
    Cnr Johnston and Wellington Sts, Collingwood
    $1.40 pots all night - Pick of the night
  • The Evelyn
    351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
    $8 jugs all night, 8pm-close
  • Parkview Hotel
    131 Scotchmer St, Nth Fitzroy
    $4 pints & $9 Jugs all night
  • Clifton Hill Hotel
    89 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill.
    $4 pints
  • The Old Bar
    74 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $2 pots, 4-6pm
  • J36
    36 Johnston St Fitzroy
    $3.50 Local stubbies, 5-7.30pm
  • Big Mouth
    168 Acland St, St Kilda
    $1 pots 5-7, 10-11
  • Golden Gate Hotel
    238 Claredon St, Sth Melbourne
    $6 jugs (Tooheys)
  • The Greyhound
    Cnr Carlisle St and Brighton Rd, St Kilda
    $2 pots, 5.30-7.30pm
  • Mentone Hotel
    95 Beach Rd, Mentone.
    $2 pots, 5-6pm

Wednesday

  • F4
    Level 2/322 Little Collins St, City
    2 for 1 drinks, 9-10pm, 11-12pm, 1-2am. ($6 entry, students free)
  • Club UK
    169 Exhibition St, City
    $3 pints dogs bollocks beer (free entry before 9pm)
  • Carlton Hotel
    197 Bourke St, City
    $1.90 pots, 12-2pm & 4-6pm
  • Prince Alfred Hotel
    191 Grattan St, Carlton
    $1 pots 9-10pm
  • Spinach
    Cnr Brunswick and Johnston Sts, Fitzroy
    $5 jugs, 5-7pm
  • Commercial Club Hotel
    Cnr Nicholson and Westgarth Sts, Fitzroy
    Paper Scissors Rock all night (what does this mean??)
  • Laundry
    50 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $2 pots 3-9pm
  • The Old Bar
    74 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $2 pots, 4-6pm
  • J36
    36 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $3.50 Local stubbies, 5-7.30pm
  • Big Mouth
    168 Acland St, St Kilda
    $1 pots 5-7, 10-11 - Pick of the night
  • Mentone Hotel
    95 Beach Rd, Mentone.
    $2 pots, 5-6pm
  • Greyhound
    Cnr Carlisle St and Brighton Rd, St Kilda
    $2 pots, 5.30-7.30pm
  • Racecourse Hotel
    Next to Monash Uni, Caulfield.
    $3 Heinekens all day
  • Cato
    37 Cato St, Prahran
    $2 pots, $3 basics, 8pm-midnight

Thursday

  • Billboards
    170 Russell St, City
    $1 pots, $2.50 basic spirits - Pick of the night
  • James Squire Brewery
    115 Russell St, City
    Toss the boss all night
  • Club UK
    169 Exhibition St, City
    $3 pints, all night
  • Carlton Hotel
    197 Bourke St, City
    $1.90 pots, 12-2pm & 4-6pm
  • Spinach
    Cnr Brunswick and Johnston Sts, Fitzroy
    $5 jugs, 5-7pm
  • Laundry
    50 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $1.50 pots, 3-9pm
  • Parkview Hotel
    131 Scotchmer St, Nth Fitzroy
    $4 pints & $9 Jugs all night
  • Pugg Mahones
    171 Elgin St, Carlton
    $4 pints after 8pm
  • The Old Bar
    74 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $2 pots, 4-6pm
  • The Purple Turtle
    166 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $2 pots 8pm -2am
  • J36
    36 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $3.50 Local stubbies, 5-7.30pm
  • Big Mouth
    168 Acland St, St Kilda
    $1 pots 5-7, 10-11
  • The Saint
    54 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
    Two for one drinks all night
  • Vibe
    140 Acland St, St Kilda
    $5 long necks
  • The Greyhound
    Cnr Carlisle St and Brighton Rd, St Kilda
    $2 pots, 5.30-7.30pm
  • Mentone Hotel
    95 Beach Rd, Mentone
    $2 pots, 5-6pm
  • Prahran Hotel
    96 Greville St, Prahran
    $1 pots 8-9pm, $1.50 pots 9-10 pm
  • Cato
    37 Cato St, Prahran
    $2 pots, $3 basic, 8pm-midnight
  • 161
    161 High St, Prahran
    $2 pots, 9-11pm (+entry for bands)

Friday

  • The Loft
    117 Lonsdale St, City
    2 free drinks on arrival
  • Dallas
    195 King St, City
    $1.50 pots, $2.50 basics all night
  • Khokolate
    43 Hardware Lane, City
    1/2 price drinks + finger food, 5-8pm
  • Carlton Hotel
    197 Bourke St, City
    $1.90 pots, 12-2pm & 4-6pm
  • Fiddler
    577 Little Collins, City
    Two for one, 5-7pm
  • F4
    Level 2/322 Little Collins St , City
    Assorted 2 for 1 drink specials/giveaways, free snacks, 5-10pm
  • Concrete
    Cnr Lonsdale and Russell Sts, City
    2 for 1 Heineken bottles, 5-7pm
  • Roo Bar
    167 Franklin St, City
    $2 shots
  • Odeon
    Crown Casino, City.
    4 cocktails for $10, 5-8pm
  • Exchange Hotel
    Cnr King & Little Collins Sts, City
    $8 jugs/$4 pints/$2 pots, 5-7pm
  • Velour Bar
    121 Flinders Lane, City
    $2 pots, $3 wine + champers, $3.50 spirits + free finger food, 5.30-7.30
  • Bliss Lounge
    11 Queen St, City.
    $2 pots 5-7pm
  • Republic Cafe
    299 Queen St, City
    $3 beer, wine & spirits
  • Treasury
    394 Collins St, City
    $3 tap beer, 5.30-9.30pm
  • Spinach
    Cnr Brunswick and Johnston Sts, Fitzroy
    $5 jugs, 5-7pm
  • Trades Hall Bar
    Trades Hall Bar, upstairs Cnr Lygon and Victoria Sts, Carlton
    cheap drinks, 5-7pm
  • The Builders Arms
    211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
    $2 pots, 6-8pm
  • The Old Bar
    74 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $2 pots, 4-6pm
  • Prince Alfred Hotel
    191 Grattan St, Carlton
    $2 pots, 5-8pm
  • Commercial Club Hotel
    Cnr Nicholson and Westgarth Sts, Fitzroy
    $2 pots, free pizza & other drink specials, 5.30-7.30pm
  • J36
    36 Johnston St, Fitzroy
    $3.50 Local stubbies, 5-7.30pm
  • Big Mouth
    168 Acland St, St Kilda
    $1 pots 5-7, 10-11
  • The Greyhound
    Cnr Carlisle St and Brighton Rd, St Kilda
    $2 pots, 5.30-7.30pm
  • Eden on the Park
    6 Queens Rd, Albert Park
    $3 wine, $3.50 botted local beer, $4.00 spirits, 5-7pm
  • Earl of Lincoln
    59 Church St, Richmond
    $20 all you can drink, 7-10pm - Pick of the night
  • Bridie O'Reilly's
    462 Chapel St, South Yarra
    $4 pints, 6-8pm
  • Mentone Hotel
    95 Beach Rd, Mentone
    $2 pots, 5-7pm
  • Hawthorn Hotel
    481 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn
    $2 pots, $3.50 basic spirits, 5.30-6.30pm
  • Lotus
    172 Toorak Rd, Toorak
    $3 basic spirits + beer, 5-9pm
  • Burvale Hotel
    Burwood Hwy, Nunawading
    $3 Crownies
  • Geebung Polo Club
    339 Racecourse Rd, Flemington
    $4 pints, 6-7pm

Saturday

  • Young and Jacksons
    Cnr Flinders and Swanston Sts, City
    'Beer Ambassador': free beer tasting 3pm
  • Roo Bar
    167 Franklin Street, City
    $7 Jugs
  • Carlton Hotel
    197 Bourke St, City
    $1.90 pots, 2-4pm
  • The Greyhound
    Cnr Carlisle St and Brighton Rd, St Kilda
    $2 pots, 5.30-7.30pm
  • Bridie O'Reilly's
    462 Chapel St, South Yarra
    $4 pints, 8-10pm. - Pick of the night

Sunday

  • Young and Jacksons
    Cnr Flinders and Swanston Sts, City
    'Beer Ambassador': free beer tasting 3pm
  • Roo Bar
    167 Franklin Street, City.
    $3 pints
  • The Greyhound
    Cnr Carlisle St and Brighton Rd, St Kilda
    $2 pots, 5.30-7.30pm
  • The Cricketers Arms
    327 Punt Rd, Richmond
    $2 pots - Pick of the night

Always

  • Bar at Ong Asian Food Court
    Basement, 265 Little Bourke St, City
    $3.30 bottled beer
  • Saluti
    525 Collins St, City.
    $7 long necks
  • Cheers
    25 Little Bourke St, City
    $3.80 Crown Lager bottles
  • Normandy Hotel
    139 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill
    $2.50 schooners, $3 bottled beer
  • Queensberry Hotel
    593, Swanston St, Carlton
    $4 pints (Tooheys)
  • Red Eye Bar
    17 Carlisle St, St Kilda
    $2 pots (xxxx) all day. 2 for 1 Tooheys pots 5-6pm
  • Royal Oak
    527 Bridge Rd, Richmond
    $3 schooners/spirits - Pick of the night
  • Hawthorn Hotel
    481 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn.
    $2 pots, $3.50 basic spirits, 8-9pm.

Tuesday, 30 January 2007

Kura Sake Bar

Have I made an entry about this? I must have!! as it is the second time that i've been there..

I always forget about this lovely bar when I am looking for a nice relaxing place to drink and eat with my friends. If you like Japanese sake, shochu (Japanese vodka), plum wine etc.. you must go to this place... it's has a massive selection of Japanese spirits and knowledgeable staff to help you select the right ones for your meals. Dishes are to compliment drink, rather than the other way around. Dishes such as Chigimi - an okonomiyaki with spring onion, teriyaki salmon with mushrooms, tofu and cod roe salad, tako wasa (octopus in wasabi sauce), maguro yukke and much much more...

My favourite dish would have to be: Cod Roe Agedashi Tofu. So delicious!.
Favourite drink: Apple Chuhai.

Kura Sake Bar
1 Malthouse Lane
Melbourne
03 9654 7454

Tuesday, 1 March 2005

Secret Wonderland

Hmm.. I wasn't suppose to tell anyone but this bar/lounge/sushi bar/tapas bar is just beautiful! It feels like you've just stepped into the film set of James Bond! The sofas are lustrious creamy grey velvet, lots of marbles, warm wood furniture and creamy drapes. My favourite space in the L shape lounge is near the glided iron fireplace feature...eminating small strips of blue flame.

Because not a lot of people know about this lounge, it has been a very very comfortable hang-out... and we would like to keep it that way . So all I can tell you is that it is near my house.... Of course you might know this place already. In any case, if you are thirsty, call me and i will take you there! Oh yes, the drink list is extensive!

The Long Room:162-168 Collins St, Melbourne CBD / 9663 7226