Picnic Brunch

Picture from YourRestaurants.com.au

After dropping off and picking up our dry cleaning on Sunday mornings, we usually go to Krakatoa for brunch but I'm a bit sick of people staring at me for ordering my lemongrass chicken with rice, or my nasi lemak.... Yes it is oily but when it's on the brunch menu, they make poached eggs and bacon look bland. Anyways, enough is enough... I want to enjoy my brunch where the people are more open minded. So last Sunday, we headed over the road to Picnic for brunch and I was nearly brought to tears by the contrast ...(Hubby wrote: "Bit of an exaggeration don't you think?") .

Everything was healthy no doubt, but there were so many things on the menu, you already start planning your next trip when you're looking through it. After I ordered my eggs florentine, and my husband ordered the breakfast with the lot. I started looking around and thought damn, I should have ordered the lovely glass of fresh organic orange juice that the people sitting next to us were having, instead of my boring skinny hot chocolate. People at picnic were groovy, young and old, optimistically dressed for a wonderful new day. My eggs florentine wasn't too creamy nor too salty... and muffins toasted just enough to be crunchy yet fluffy. My hot chocolate came and my frown turned to a grin when I tasted real chocolate... yum! Would have liked it stronger, next time.

Picnic
Shop 2 / 60 Toorak Rd
South Yarra
03 9866 7988

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

http://www.leuven.co.nz/

Ripe Bananas

Having bought some bananas a few weeks ago... they have been sitting on my fruit bowl slowly going black... Panic set in, I had to do something with it... So I made banana pancake for breakfast.... then I made a banana cake.....all recipes were based on Stephanie Alexander's The Cook's Companion.

Banana Pancake

250g plain flour

60g butter

a pinch of salt

1.5 cups of milk

3 eggs

2 (over) riped banana sliced

Instructions

• Put flour into a large bowl and make a well.
• Warm butter, salt and milk until the butter melts.
• Break the eggs into the well and work in some flour.
• Add warm milk mixture and whisk until smooth.
• Refrigerate for 1 ~ 2 hours before cooking.
• The result should be a mixture like thin cream. If not, add more milk.
• For cooking, wipe the pan with some butter/olive oil, what ever you prefer.

Moist Banana Cake

125g softened unsalted butter
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
2 ~ 3 mashed ripe banana
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
250g plain flour
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
A pinch of all spice
1/2 cup of milk or buttermilk

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 180C.
• Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs, banana and vanilla.
• Sift dry ingredients and add to the mixture, alternating with the milk.
• Spoon into cake tin and bake for 45 minutes or until cake tests clean.

Happy Belated Easter!!

I haven't had such fun for a long time!

I rushed into Easter with all these things that I had planned to do, and ended with a whole line-up of other events... Surprisingly, because of these events I have some of the most unforgettable moments that I will store for the rest of my life...

This Easter break started with a warm Thursday evening out with friends, which I have already blogged. We went to Omah's and had great desserts. It is always enjoyable to catch up with friends over good wine and good food.

For Easter Good Friday, we went out for my Sister-In-Law’s birthday with Michael's family at Sung's Kitchen near the Victoria Market. This is the quirkiest Chinese restaurant that I've been to. The decoration is bright without being unbearable. There was a lot of pastel orange being used. It felt like someone's dining room that so happens to look out on to a side street. If you reserve a table, you will be greeted with a cute little handicraft reservation tab with your name on it. Then there are the bonsai plants, lovingly grown by the owner, that welcomes you on each table. I would have loved to show you photos of what we ate but just didn't think of it at the time. Here is a run down on what we ordered:

Double-Boiled Chicken Wonton Soup
Rare Beef Fillet with Vegetables
Cantonese Braised Duck with Bakchoi
Chili Atlantic Crabs
Garlic stir-fried Chinese Broccoli
Red Bean Fried Pancake
Sesame pearls in Almond Broth
Pumpkin Sticky Rice Cake (Complimentary)

Most of the dishes were very tasty, especially the ones highlighted in purple. Sung’s also has very interesting teas available. We ordered a delicious jasmine pearl tea, which was very aromatic and calming. They also have a wide range of Asian rice wine, if you’re walking home. Yumcha is available as well.

On Saturday morning, two girlfriends, their little girls and I had brunch at Sail on the Bay on Elwood Park... Unfortunately, with the kids in tow we were told off that we were making too much noise - Oops! The breakfast is ordinary ( I even found a small piece of egg shell in my poached eggs :( ) but the view is fantastic. I had so much fun playing on the beach with the girls… They are just adorable… I get to practice my limited Japanese with them as well. Great teachers!

Saturday Brunch at Elwood Park

After that, I began my preparation for my Taiwanese dinner at home. Three friends were coming over to taste my home cuisine. Thankfully, I am less nervous than before about cooking for people. I guess my confidence is growing.

My Taiwanese Menu

Taiwanese Grilled Garlic Sausages
Steamed Salmon Fillet with Skin
Garlic and Ginger Baby Spinach
Tempura Shitake Mushrooms with Tetsuya's Truffle Salt
Egg, Spring Onion and Seaweed Soup
Chili Soya Pipies

Gulf Station Pinot Noir 2006 (Provided by Dave)

Spare - Salty Egg Stir-Fried Prawn Butterflies (too much food so I cooked it to save for M and my dinner on Sunday.

The tempura shitake mushrooms with Tetsuya’s truffle salt was the outstanding dish if I say so myself! The trick is to use a mix of plain flour and okonomiyaki flour mix, cooled in the fridge. Also dip the mushrooms in corn starch before dipping into the batter, this will allow the corn starch to absorb any water in the mushrooms so you won’t get splatter.

Late late Sunday brunch was at Mart 130. I love this place, so easy to get to and so many parking spaces. Time just passes so slow in Mart 130. I swear we spent about 3 hours there having breakfast, waiting for our friends to arrive, watching them eat and chit-chat. After we filled our belly, we headed off to Monards to see what watch bargains we could find. Unfortunately, for Michael, the watches that he wanted were snapped up minutes after we arrived. “Well,” I reassured him “if there are so many people who have the watch, then it’s not that special after all, isn't it”.

Sunday Brunch at Mart 130

After having nothing to buy… we headed off to Yarra Valley for Bella Vedre at Badger’s Brook. Although we were too late for lunch, we met the owner of Cafe Di Stasio who suggested that we go to Medhurst, a new winery and cafe created by Mr. Wilson and his family.

Before Medhurst, we stopped off at Coldstream Winery to buy our Limited Reserve Pinot Noir and Reserve Merlot. Both wonderful treats for special occasions.

At Medhurst, we had long chats with Mr. Wilson about each wine on offer and we had a lovely afternoon "tea" there with olives, toasted turkish bread, smooth blue cheese, camerbert, chedder, crackers, capsicum and pine nuts spread, and BLT sandwich. Having enjoyed such wonderful hospitality, we bought seven bottles of wine, every one exquisite and made with passion and attention to detail.

Monday morning was the long-awaited yumcha with my girlfriends at Tai Pan Chinese Restaurant. My goodness.. What have I been missing going to the city places for yumcha. There were so many yumcha dishes that I haven’t had for ages and they are absolutely divine! Bring on the turnip pastry, bring on the steamed turnip cake, and bring on the silken sweet tofu with rock sugar and ginger syrup! In the end, the bill came to just under $20 per person - what a bargain! Thinking of going every week, LOL.

Instead of Sunday night, because they had other commitments, we went to Michael’s parents’ house on Monday. We were told in advance that we were having home-made Vietnamese spring rolls, which we rolled ourselves. The condiment was sweetened fish sauce (ngoc nam) with crushed and roasted peanuts. Delicious! Ending a long weekend with a warm and full stomach.

Monday Yumcha at Tai Pan / Home-Made Vietnamese Rice Rolls Dinner

Sung’s Kitchen

1180 Franklin Street
Melbourne
03 9329 2636

Summary
Food: Interesting Mix-Region Chinese Cuisine
Top Dish: Double-Boiled Chicken Soup
Atmosphere: Cozy and colourful
Service: Friendly and attentative.
Booking: Essential especially for dinner.

Sails On the Bay
15 Elwood Foreshore
Elwood
03 9525 6933

Tai Pan Chinese Restaurant
239 Blackburn Rd
Doncaster East
03 9841 9977

Summary
Food: Quality Cantonese Cuisine
Top Dish: White Turnip Pastry for Yumcha
Atmosphere: Noisy and crowded
Service: Efficient
Booking: Recommended (especially for yumcha)

Mart 130
107a Canterbury Road
Middle Park
03 9690 8831

Summary
Food: Variety of Australian Breakfast
Top Dish: Corn Frittas with Avocado salsa
Atmosphere: Country Cottage / Playschool
Service: Friendly and helpful
Booking: Not essential

Taiwanese Egg Pancakes for Breakfast

Every year when I go to Taipei, a visit to the local breakfast stall near my Grandparents house in Ximending is essential at least once. There, we usually get a few scorching sweetened soya bean milk in large paper cups or in clear plastic bags to go, Chinese Fried Doughnut sticks (YouTiao) and fried egg pancakes, all made fresh to order. I've gotten my husband hook on these local delicacy as well that he reminds me if we are close to the end of our trip in Taipei and we haven't gone to the stall yet.

In Melbourne, you can get these in Taiwanese cuisine cafes but they are not the same... somehow the Taiwanese ones are more fluffy and floury. I've watched them cook it a few times, and I believe the fluffiness comes from adding a little surplus egg mixture into the pan while the pancake is cooking.

My version is not as authentic as they make the thin pastry from scratch. I use the widely available plain roti bread from Asian grocery stores. The important thing here is to take the roti bread out of the fridge about 30minute earlier so that they soften. Also unfold them to get as thin a roti slice as you possibly can so you're getting more egg than pancake per serve.

Once you have prepared the roti, dip the slices into your egg mix (I used two eggs in this instance). Let it soak for about 10 sec and make sure that the whole of the roti bread is soaked with egg mix. For pan-frying and for Asian cuisine I usually use peanut oil for flavour.




After you've placed the egg pancakes on the pan, add a little egg mixture on time. Preferably more evenly than I have!



End result - fluffy Taiwanese egg pancakes! Usually you should have this with thick soya sauce, but I didn't have any so I had it with Maggi Seasoning, which is just as good. I wished I had a nice cold soya bean milk drink too! Oh well.. two additional items for the grocery list.

At Grand Taipei Restaurant in Box Hill, they serve theirs with spring onion and garlic in their egg mix. I must to make this next time.

Wedding Bellies

Our foodie friend from Malaysian came down for a few weeks mainly to attend a mutual friend's wedding. It's always a treat to hear him talk so passionately about food, in fact, he knows more about the restaurants in Melbourne than I do!!!

The night before the wedding, we met them after their dinner at Taxi and had wonderful desserts there. As M was to drive the bridal party around, B & S agreed to pick me up the next day.

After the ceremony, which we arrived just in time to rush in before the bride, we headed off to have brunch at MART 130 in Middle Park under B's directions. We actually went to Pearl first but were too late for their brunch, which ended at 12pm. It was 12:45pm

MART 130 was a treat! It felt like I was in a lego cafe, somewhere surreal. The location itself is surreal - a tram stop in Middle Park. The breakfast is simple and straight-forward, the service simple and friendly. We ordered 3 of the four breakfast eggs numbered dishes: Poached eggs with bacon and avocado on toasted sour dough; poached eggs with chorizos, onions, tomatoes with a side of bacon; and poached eggs with smoked salmon, chives etc... All delicious and in generous serves. Definitely will go back again to this quirky little cafe

After that, even after a fairly full stomach, we headed off to South Melbourne for some cakes at Let Them Eat Cake. I must say, their special occasion cakes weren't didn't look very spectacular but the bread and butter pudding and dates pudding was fantastic, especially the dates pudding. The brown sugar and the caramelised coconut slices on the cake just danced in your mouth! The atmosphere was nice as well for a summery afternoon. Highly recommended the decorative gingerbread men there as well

Oh yes and there was the wedding reception at Zinc after that....

MART 130
107A Canterbury Road
Middle Park
03 9690 8831

Let Them Eat Cake
147-149 Cecil Street
South Melbourne
03 9686 0077

Grand Taipei Restaurant

Yesterday night ,while my sister was in Box Hill, she offered to buy takeaway dinner for me from the Grand Taipei Restaurant. Of course I leaped at the chance and readily answered "I'll have the pork chop rice please!". Even in a plastic takeaway container, the meal was satisfying and delicious.

Grand Taipei has been there since we were in University (10 years ago) and when Box Hill was really taking off as an Asian suburb. There has been other Taiwanese restaurants that have sprouted around Melbourne, but in my mind, this is still the best one. They are also continuously added fresh Taiwanese hawker style dishes to their menus. And it is always a pleasure to go there. Mind you, the place is a little bit "worn" after so many years and little change to the pink fixtures and furnishing, so it's not for everyone. But the food and their soya bean milk is still fantastic.

They open late as well. I remember getting a meal at 10pm , no other people there thought, but they still gave me friendly service.



Grand Taipei Restaurant
Station Street
Box Hill
03 9898 8860

The Botanical

Wow beautifully presented food, great generous sized mains... we were so full when we left... However, I really expected better decor... our table and chair looked like they were taken from some University Campus somewhere... See picture of where we sat . Perhaps they're are "bring the outdoor in?"

Great selection of oysters, interesting and varied dishes through out... Wish we had enough appetite for dessert though - they look delicious on the menu!

There is a beautiful bar - Bubble Bar in the back of the restaurant. It looks like a happening place .

Our dinner:
Entree
Seafood Bisque (similar to a mild red thai curry)
Warm poached egg with truffles, reggianno & soft polenta (Love truffles!)

Main
Sashimi of yellow fin tuna with roasted prawns, ginger & wasabi (Very light, and refreshing)
Wagyu Marbled Rib-Eye Scotch Fillet wth rocket and onion salad (very tender)

Forest mushrooms bordelaise with bacon & duck fat roasted potatoes

Drinks
A glass of Eric Louis Sancerre chilled white
Lemon lime bitters
A big bottle of St Vitt Sparkling Mineral Water



The Botanical
169 Domain Road
South Yarra
Tel: 03 9820 7888

Choix Creperie Cafe

One of my favourite lunch places - how's french crepes for lunch?? Very luxurious and healthy!

The following info is taken from Melbourne.citysearch.com.au:

A happening little laneway eatery is home to fabulous crepes - both savoury and sweet - and organic tea.

Choix's a frenetic little place of shared benches, crammed tables and a continual hubbub at lunch. They serve crepes of a pale tenderness wrapped around such combinations as tomato, basil and stringy fontina cheese or spinach, mushrooms and taleggio. These are fine assuming that the cheese has melted evenly through the crepe's filling. There is also cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers and rocket; and a particularly good mix of stewed beans with sour cream.

Crepes for dessert are logical, whether served with lemon juice and sugar or stuffed with ricotta, banna and walnuts then sluiced with maple syrup.

To drink at Choix, there is organic tea, Grinders coffee and the usual Italian designer bottles - chinotto etc.


Choix Creperie Cafe
620 Collin Street
Melbourne(in a little lane near Boost Juice)

Georges Restaurant Bar Cafe

When I was living in Kew, at night my friends would come down to Camberwell from Doncaster, Glen Waverley etc.. to come and have dinner and coffee with me. Georges brings back fond memories... hearts spilt over hot latte or cold chinottos.

Since we moved to the city, we don't go there as much any more... but because we still have our shoe repairer and dry cleaners in the area (somethings you just stick to no matter where you live)... I have gotten back to Georges for their fantastic comfort food - Spagetti Bolognese, Chicken Kiev, Steak Burgers... all fantastic.

Last time I could go, I went with a girlfriend and we had a very very long lunch.... The staff don't hurry you... they understand that this is the place for hanging out and catching up... so more lattes and more hot chocolate please!

Georges Restaurant Bar Cafe
819 Burke Road
Camberwell
Tel: 03 9882-8738

Cafe Segovia

Café Segovia...great location in Block Lane off Lt Collins Street. We ordered the salt and pepper calamari, a generous bowl of French fries, porter house steak with balsamic and red wine reduction, margharita pizza (veggie pizza) and a generous portion of seafood tomato based risotto. I got the pizza... which had a nice spongie base but there wasn't enough feeling... 4 basil leave, 4 slices of cheese and thin layer of tomato base... Luckily there were the entrees and the other main. Top of the pops, goes to the porterhouse steak followed by the S&P Calamari.

Then off to Max Brennan (QV) for hot chocolate. Unfortunately, it was closed so went to Three Degrees (the bar opposite) and had the $10 Beer Flight of a selection of 50ml (but we think that there were about 100ml in some of them) beer. Our favourite - Beez Neez, a honey wheat beer that could rival Mountain Goat... Three Degrees is great for a quiet loungy drink if you're around QV way. :]

Cinnamon donuts - the only thing that makes me euphoric is cinnamon donuts from The Fix on Degrave Street. 6 for $3.5 - is that a cheap bag full of joy or what! Let me know if you know of any other "heavenly" cinnamon donuts!

Cafe Segovia
33 Block Pl
Melbourne
Tel: 03 9650 2373