Best baguette; best loaves; best cheese cakes; best pain au chocolat; best decadent almond croissant that I've had so far (in Melbourne)! Simply, I love this place!
French Fantasies (next to France-Soir)
15 Toorak Road
South Yarra
03 9820 2818
Another great street to explore is Sydney Road, Brunswick. I must admit I get lost every time I try to get here, even with GPS. I don't know why. I think the best thing is to catch a tram here...
I found Tom Phat from the Cheap Eats Guide, and headed out there with Yuki… What a fabulous place. Wooden everything like a Swiss Alp Chalet. The kitchen was packed with chefs dishing out yummy food. The menu was simple with a few choices for lunch. We ordered the pad thai and a green chicken curry. My curry lacked something and it was curdling a bit.. I actually added sugar to mine to make it more tasty. While Yuki’s pad thai was fantastic – tasty and juicy.
We had mango lassi with our meals, which tasted more like banana shake. LOL Still the vibe of the place, the cool crowd and the pad thai, would make me want to come back…
Afterwards, we hit the pavement for some finds. Great shops here.. There's Olive Grove Studio where you can try your hand at creating your own bags or t-shirts. A bit pricing but good for creative ideas for DIY projects. There's Backup, a funky clothing and shoe shop that gets their stuff from Hong Kong and China. We bought a few tops from here and their coats are gorgeous. Don't mind the eager sales ladies though, they are good fun. There is the Tony Bianco Shoe Warehouse as well, fantastic with fashionable shoes from $20, heaps of other independent labels and little cafes.
Tom Phat
184 Sydney Road
Brunswick
(03) 9381 2374
Having resorted to spending some quality time with me, my husband had to endure a two hour drive to Shepparton on a lovely Sunday afternoon, when he could have played golf, because I wanted to go to the SPC Ardmona factory outlet.
12pm, we ran out of petrol but safely arrived at Coolabah Cafe attached to the Coles Express Shell Petrol Station. Great burgers!
The drive was scenic enough with lots of cows and sheep. We passed the time listening and singing along to Michael's old Chinese CDs, and counting road kill...
We rang them and were then redirected to the town of Mooroopna (The Fruit Salad City - I'm not kidding), about 3 km from Shepparton.
Because of the time, we had to head straight to Burwood for Mother's Day dinner at Gold Leaf (Former Shark Fin). We arrived at Gold Leaf around 6:30pm.
I am envious of people in Asia and Europe for many things accessible only to them, one of those things is.... Muji. Muji Rushi Ryohin, is a lifestyle store selling everyday objects of minimalist beauty. Their ever expanding products ranges from fold-up bicycles, wooden tables, coffe cups, pencils to socks and clothing.
"Muji originates in Japan and translates as “No Brand Quality Goods”. It was established in Japan in 1980 and the company’s basic principle is to develop new, simple products at reasonable prices by making the best use of materials while considering environmental issues. At the end of February 2005 Muji had 285 stores in Japan, 144 of these being licensed stores. Its turnover in 2004 was 117,663 million Yen and it had over 3400 employees. In the early 1990’s Muji opened its first store in London and since then has expanded rapidly in the UK and throughout Western Europe." (Taken from Muji UK)
I think their kitchen range is just timeless. From the ever changing and expanding range, I have the 3-piece microwavable bento lunch box set with cover (pictured below) and two sets of light emerald blue ceramic bowls with tea cup and saucer.
Here are some of my other favourite things from Muji.
The UK range is available for purchase on Muji UKCavallini is such a beautiful cafe... even when buying biscuits I wanted to linger and absorb everything... I could live here, seriously!
The photos don't do it justice.
Queens Parade or what is called "Clifton Hill" shopping strip, in Fitzroy North, is a gem. Park your car at Blondies, stroll the stores along the street and then wonder around the corner to the other quirky stores, from Swords Selection, Cavallini, ........ I could happily wonder around here all morning or all afternoon.
During my drive from Queens Parade to Prahran via a GPS assisted short cut, I passed Smith Street and Church Street, both lined with (as many of you would know) very unique and intriguing shops and cafe. Aren't we blessed, Melbourne...
It's always nice to go out for a proper lunch with good friends. I'm one of the people who just hates having sandwiches for lunch... Lunchtime should be spent indulging your belly and making the day special.
After a few SMS back and forth, Yuki and I finally found time to catch up last Thursday. She loves yumcha, so we decided to go to Oriental Tea House... It use to be called Ay Oriental Tea House (as I have mentioned before)
Oriental Tea House is a little more pricier than your typical Chinese Restaurant with you likely to spend about $20 each, even for lunch. As you can see from the photo, we had a lot.... Never order dimsum when you're hungry... the waiters don't stop you ordering too much either.
I kinda wish they have a tick-it-yourself order form, because the names of some of those dimsums are long and I am sure the waiters would appreciate it too... as they are the same people who serve people buying tea in the tea salon area. Come lunchtime, it can get pretty very busy.
I like Oriental as it's not as nosy as having Yumcha at some other Chinese Restaurants, and no trolleys to worry about. Did you know that at most Chinese Restaurants you can actually pre-order your dimsums before the trolleys come.. This is great if you are in a rush, but I understand that some like the novelty of looking at what's available on the trolley and trying something new.
Every time I've gone to Oriental, there is always people eating alone, nothing wrong with that and they look pretty comfortable as well.
The desserts at Oriental, is pretty standard, i.e. mango pudding, coconut cake etc. Well, Kokoblack is close by and I ran out of chocolate, so we opted to go to Kokoblack for some hot chocolate.
Their menu has extended to include dessert sets. The table next to us had the Belgian Spoil -
which was a chocolate platter with chocolate cake, two Belgian chocolates, a shortbread,
chocolate ice cream and chocolate mousse. Pretty good for $10.00! Yuki had the chilli hot chocolate and I had the creamy plain one. Before we left we had a look at their Easter chocolates. Oh boy, I wanted a dark chocolate bunny for my Aunty... the smallest one was $35 (TT). The little 3 pack dark chocolate bunny ganache was cheaper so I bought a few for my colleagues and they said that they were delicious.
After lunch, I rolled back to the office, content.
322 Little Collins Street
Melbourne
03 9654 8399
Ratings
Food: Freshly steamed dimsum when you order
Top Dish: Marinated Spare Ribs
Our weekends recently seem to be filled with activities to do with other people’s weddings. Apart from celebrations, it’s always nice to catch up with old friends and getting to know new people at these events. But one of my pet grieves is be preached at at church ceremonies… The Ministers always have a way of sneaking in a sermon or two.
The Wedding Season started off in February for us this year, with a lime and white themed modern wedding at Zinc – Federation Square. Then M went off to Singapore for the second wedding of the couple and came back with a cold…Since then there has been three engagements announced, including my sister’s.
Saturday late afternoon, the season continued with a cocktail making course at The Botanical as part of a girlfriend’s Hen’s Night. With loose guidance and written instructions, we made Bellinis, Cosmopolitans, and Mojitos. Practice makes perfect.. lucky we had canapes! It was a lot of fun, and I would recommend it for any girls’ get-together.
While we praised the oysters to our instructor, we were informed that The Botanical has an annual event called the Oyster Frenzy during Oyster Season in May. I had a look at The Botanical’s website and it’s on 28th May this year. You pay a cover charge of $65 and it’s all you can drink for three hours and all you can eat oysters from 6:30 to 9:30pm in the Main Bar area. There is only 200 tickets… so get your hands on them quick!
In between the ceremony and the reception, we conveniently popped into Leo’s to do our groceries. Don’t get to go to Leo’s very often because of their locations (Kew and Heidelberg), so every time we do it’s a treat.
I’m really excited about this week’s wedding. It’s going to be in the Dandenong Ranges… Something out of the ordinary.
I came across Naomi Pastry's cakes two years two years ago at the Japanese Festival at Box Hill… I had the green tea cheese cake - beautiful delicate flavours... rich but not as rich as some overpowering cheese cakes.
I had ordered a strawberry cream cake (see photo) for M’s grandma’s birthday and a green tea cheese cake for my family. Both turned out to be fantastic.
As she lives in Fitzroy, she was able to deliver the cakes to me (Saturday no less) for an extra $2.
These are huge cakes so each is plenty for 4 people!
Her cakes are also available at Torimasu Japanese Restaurant on King Street.
Have a look at her website – Naomi Pastry
Monday is a popular Chinese holiday - Chinese Moon Festival where the largest and fullest moon of the year can be seen from all around the world. The tradition is to go out with lanterns in order enjoy the moonlight and admire the moon. Before you step out, have a lovely cup of tea and a moon cake, which is a pastry that is baked with white lotus paste and more often than not egg yolk. Very rich I know...
It is a tradition to give moon cake although nowadays a lot of people are sick of moon cakes, so many companies have tried to make them more enticing by changing the filling, e.g. with various type of nuts, changing the packaging, adding other items like tea as part of the package.
This year, our favourite moon cakes are from Kee Wah, Hong Kong... who have created such lovely packaging that you just can't resist buying them! They have chinese poetry on them and the packaging can be described as Chinese Minimalism - Ultra modern yet ultra Chinese.
Seriously though I only had a little bit of moon cake this year..... but the tea that came with the moon cake is delicious - tieguanyin tea. Kee Wah has put out a lot of traditional Chinese pastries in wonderful packaging as well, like taiwanese style pineapple cakes, mango cakes and pineapple and walnut cakes. Yumm!
Definitely a must if you want to get some souvenirs from HK!
I bought a box of Hot Chocolat with Orchard Oil (my favourite MB beverage) for my friend in Japan the other day, and found that it was made in Israel?!?! "Manufactured by MAX BRENNER, 3 Galgalei Haplada st,
Kfar Saba, Israel" Funny huh.
Thought you might want to know this even more important fact : Hot chocolates mixes from MB is kosher diary... as it has been produced under supervision of the Nazareth Rabbinate. Hehehehe
I'm enjoying a Max Brenner hot chocolate right now.. Cheers!
PS: My heart goes out to all in London... I'm really glad that I was able to get through to most of my friends there.... hope everyone is okay... Everyone I am sure has been affected by the bombing....
Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
QV Square
Shop 25
210 Lonsdale St
Melbourne
Tel: 03 9663 6000
And
Melbourne Central
Shop OE5
300 La Trobe St
Melbourne
Tel: 03 9662 4442
There is a Japanese tea merchant that I like to go to in South Yarra on Toorak Road called L'Epicier. It opened a smaller shop in the QV building, quite hidden away, behind 3 Degrees Bar on the second floor. The service is still the same and the variety is still there. This is more convenient for me but you can only have a cup of tea and their home made cakes at the South Yarra shop.
My favourite at the moment is the Earl Grey Grand Classic , it's a little bit more aromatic than an ordinary earl grey... but it is at the same time light and full in flavour. You have to try it to understand what I mean !
The store actually originates from Japan. I saw a very crowded one in Tokyo at a mall near a JR station.
20/03/2007 Update: The store is no longer called L'Epicier. It's beeen changed to L'Epicien.
I received a wonderful gift from Hikki yesterday - a whole box of Hiyoko cakes that she bought from Japan! It was a thoughtful belated birthday gift... I was so touched that I set out to have two right away.. and brewed some lovely leong-jing tea to go with it . *sigh* while I was savouring the delicacy, I pondered what a blessed life I have... so fortunately to have a wonderful group of friends that know how to make me so happy!
Anyways about the Hiyoko cakes, they are my favourite cakes in the world.. It is made by a company originated in Fukuoka city, in Kushu. The soft centre ingrediants are hazelnut puree, eggs and sugar.. The outer-layer is a thin fragrant soft pastry. The pastry itself is shaped in a little chick - hence its Japanese name. Every time, I have one I can't help but kiss it before I take a bite. It is too cute!
At "Hiyoko Land", there are a lot of yummy creamy cakes as well.
Hope you get to taste one in your lifetime, because it is a real treat! Or if you are in Melbourne, remind me to let you try one, if I forget!
After a night of delicious rich Chinese dinner and another following it, I craved for something more healthy and lean yesterday for lunch. So in response to my colleague asking whether I wanted to go to Koko Black for hot chocolate... I asked her where does she think makes the best salad. She said "I will take you, if you will walk there" - hahaha okay okay..
Sprout, was much like a sandwich bar but serving only salad, museli and juice. You can select a Salad style, or you can "make" your own salad by first selecting the main "lettuce" that you want, you are then allowed to choose 5 choppings, which includes nuts, fruit, vegetables, cheese, meats etc. Then you select the sauce to go with your salad.
I opted for the easy way out, knowing that there were a few people behind me in the queue. I asked for the New Yorker with tasty cheese. THey then take your name and call you when your salad is ready... The service is a bit chaotic...(I got blue cheese instead of the tasty cheese i ordered)... but the salad is fresh and divine ! I ordered a strawberry and banana smoothy with mine and really felt good after that. I was ready for my hot chocolate at Koko!
If you have never had hot chocolate at Koko Black, you have to! It is definitely better than Max Brenan's, eventhough it is smaller... but it is the quality not the quantity that counts .
I bought some chocolate truffles in a box for my dad as well. These are absolutely one of the best chocholate truffles that I have had so far... They melt in your mouth and leaves you wanting more...
If you are not giving Koko's chocolates as a gift, you can get them in a paper bag, which is cheaper as they are weighed whereas the 8 piece box etc. have a set price.. you're paying for the wrapping effectly. I love their chocolate truffles, I hope Dad will leave at least one for me when I get home today!
Sprout The Creative Salad Company: G 382 Little Collins St Melbourne 3000 / 9602 1063
Koko Black: Shop 4 Royal Arcade Melbourne 3000 / 9639 8911 / Koko Black is one of the attractions for the Chocolate Indulgence Walk, Time:12.15-2.15 pm Saturdays or arranged times for groups weekdays only. Meet:New Zealand Icecream, Ground Floor, Queen Victoria Building (QVB)- Entrance near corner of Swanton & Lonsdale Streets on Swanston St. Cost: $28.00 all-inclusive. Bookings essential through www.cae.edu.au.
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