missfattyfoodie*

The Aviary

2012-01-25T13:13:00.000+08:00

Had a nice cold bubbly at Aviary after work

The bar is quite new, I have not tried the restaurant yet. I love all these roof top bars popping up around Perth. The Aviary is definitely more crowded and bigger than the Conservatory but I love both of them.

we were lucky enough to get a table at the corner, with view of the city centre

had a bit of nibbles at the side... fresh fluffy turkish bread

sorry for lack of updates! moving house soon, been so busy

have a great Australia Day

Nespresso Citiz

2011-10-17T23:58:00.005+08:00

This is a very back dated post that I have left in the 'draft' section.

a few months ago we have accumulated enough credit card points to get a free Nespresso Citiz! I am so happy there is a reward for spending :)

This small machine changed ~~my life~~ the way i make coffee (i have not made myself a cup of instant coffee since….)

everyday i will have a cup of nespresso coffee, it costs around 60-70 cents for a pod. some say ground coffee is cheaper, yes definitely, but this is cheaper than buying coffee from the cafe almost everyday which was what I used to do. DIY homemade coffee cannot be compared to barista made coffee.. but this really did change my life.

every morning i see other office workers buy their $3-5 cup of coffee, my colleagues will ask me if I want a cup, i will politely decline because i've already had my wonderful coffee!

and i only made it in 1 minute.

If you are unsure how it works or how it tastes, go to myer in perth city. That is the only nespresso store in Perth which sells the coffee pods, and you get to taste the coffee for free. The staff there are very friendly as well!

After one try and i was sold. My citiz came with the milk aerochinno (automatic frother) that froth the milk in a minute or so, so convenient!

some of our creations

four layered latte

just my usual skinny latte

the good thing is the machine is inexpensive, and the pods are very reasonably priced as well, cheaper than going out to buy coffee. but unless you have the patience to clean up and make coffee with ground coffee beans, this is a good way to go for busy people but wants a good cup of coffee

Must Wine Bar - Margaret River

2011-10-12T21:41:00.002+08:00

First time I've bought the Entertainment Book and it is such a great buy! There are so many nice restaurants and cafes that I did not know about under I found them in the book. It is quite worthwhile for foodies who dine out often, I've saved quite a bit. It is always fun and good to surprise people that you have a 'buy one get one free' mains or 25% off the total meal.

Anyway, Must Wine Bar was a restaurant introduced by my friend, but also happens to be in the Entertainment book. I've heard really good reviews about it, the steak was really good (supposed to be famous too). I also tried their angel hair blue manna crab pasta which had a generous serving of fresh crab. The taste was light and refreshing.

Totally worth the long drive from Bunker Bar to Margaret River just to get dinner (due to bad planning)

They also have a branch in Highgate which is just 10 minutes from Perth.

Time for some photos

Bought my partner's birthday cake from Jean Pierre Sancho which is located in Shafto Lane Perth CBD. I ordered the Luxury Strawberry Cake, and it was indeed really luxurious! creamy but light strawberry mousse, with fluffy sponge and fresh strawberries.

(ignore the writing, it is actually a very affectionate nickname that i call him :p)

Must wine bar

Service was very prompt, once we were seated the fresh bread came shortly after.

had a glass of champagne for the night

Blue Manna Crab Angel Hair Pasta

Angus Rib-eye

I think this was the Creme Brulee with Coconut, it was so delicious

we really enjoyed our evening, it was a nice dinner.

website: www.must.com.au

reservations are strongly recommended, it was so packed that night, and I heard it is a very popular restaurant.

Voyager Estate Margaret River

2011-10-04T21:20:00.000+08:00

I am back! After such a long delay with me starting school and having a new job, my life is so chaotic. I am glad I can find a few extra minute to just sit down in front of my computer and write a blog entry!

It was my boyfriend's birthday last weekend so I booked him a two night stay at Bunker Bay Resort (awesome!). Some photos that I have taken in Voyager Estate.

The food was good, although their winery did not have an extensive list of wines that they produce, it was still worthwhile to go give it a visit. The estate itself was huge, and the service was really good too! I am just going to let the photos do the talking

Buddha Bar - Lunch Special

2011-08-08T19:20:00.000+08:00

been extremely busy lately

finally had the time for a quick post!

I went to the Buddha Bar website and came across their lunch special

the place was situated in the trendy subiaco, i love subiaco with all the nice fancy cafes and restaurants

made a reservation a day before, and was promptly brought to our seat by the window

i was amazed by the simplicity, casual yet chic restaurant!

i ordered the tiger prawns with naan bread on the side

it was delishhhhhh

my partner had the creamy chicken

(sorry i forgot the names of the dish!)

but the food was really good and it costs approx $12 each

too affordable for such a nice place, highly recommended!

website: http://www.buddhabar.com.au/

location: 88 Rokeby Road, Subiaco

Iku sushi

2011-07-09T20:53:00.001+08:00

Was so excited to give this new sushi joint in Perth CBD a try!

There was a special going on where you get 30% discount on everything during certain times, im not sure if this special is over, but i was lucky enough to go there during the right time

The sushi was pretty good, not bad for the price

nothing fills you up better than deep fried food during the blistering winter cold! we had onion rings, karaage chicken and cheeseburger sushi

so we asked : what is cheeseburger sushi???

it is actually sushi roll that is deep fried with batter. warm and crispy sushi, hmm it was a bit different but its not bad! i actually went back and get it again even though i thought it was really weird the first time i tried it haha

the design is very simple yet modern. with artificial grass, and outdoor furniture in the small restaurant. i loved it! always good to see nice places like that pop up in perth

my friend pointed out the ninja stars on the wall which i didnt even notice

loved dining here. my friend and I ordered 3 dishes with 2 drinks and the bill only came up to $20+

very affordable and the staff service is superb. they are very friendly and makes you feel very welcome

go to their facebook page for more information : here

ps when you order, you will see a tip box, press the button on the box and something really cute will happen!

La Galette de France - Subiaco Market

2011-06-26T20:29:00.000+08:00

let the pictures do the talking

typical day in vibrant and cosy subiaco market

flowers to brighten the house

waiting for the legendary croissant

the legendary almond croissant

the turn over rate is so high they don't even display it, they just serve it fresh and hot from the over rack! they will be gone within a few minutes

definitely a warm, crispy but moist inside croissant each time u buy!

filled with yummy custard and dusted with icing sugar, yet it tastes so light and fluffy

their other wonderful sweets

check out their other branches : http://www.lagalettedefrance.com.au/

subi markets: http://www.subiacomarkets.com/

OPEN FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY AND FRIDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

General Merchants From 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Fruit and Vegetables Merchants From 7 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Hello Kitty

2011-06-19T20:28:00.001+08:00

made some sushi over the weekend, and i decided to take out my hello kitty rice mold to make cute rice balls!

interesting addition to my dinner!

Toast - East Perth

2011-06-19T20:25:00.000+08:00

stopped by Toast for lunch one day

I've heard of this place so many times and I was very excited to give it a try!

it was a weekday so it was very quiet, my friends told me it is usually very crowded on weekends

beside the serene and peaceful cove

i loved this area of east perth, full of townhouse style houses, sometimes you can even see dolphins in the cove!

i had my eggs benedict, it was really good! I also had a soy latte, which was pretty good too

my colleague had the crepe

really good food, average price, AWESOME view

what a good place for a quiet lunch, definitely took a bit of stress off work!

Deco Restaurant at Raffles Hotel

2011-06-12T19:07:00.002+08:00

My partner was given a $250 dining voucher at Deco Restaurant (at raffles hotel) in Canning Bridge, sometimes when the days are looking grim, free things are given to people lol. we happily invited two of our close friends to join us too

the bar is very big and classy, it was crowded even though it was a cold rainy night, and that doesnt stop the girls from wearing their super short dresses

maybe it is very cosy inside the bar :P

the blistering cold did not stop the smokers from sitting at the outdoor area, im surprised there is such a huge area for smokers, because most of the cafes/bars here only designate a small area… so this is a good place to note for people who enjoy puffing away

i think the alfresco area will be beautiful in the warmer days

the restaurant was quite empty as it was a sunday night, very classy with a big aquarium near the entrance.

the kitchen is also open so you can view the chefs preparing your food

lots of bottles of wines lined up the wall of the restaurant. they do know their wine/beer, i come to this conclusion due to their massive wine menu. The waitress were very attentive that day without being over intrusive, our glass was never empty and they were always happy to answer our questions.

this was a big bonus to the very enjoyable night

Beef Fillet (250 gm)

char grilled, served with a mushroom & parmesan polenta, sun dried tomato butter & balsamic jus

both beef were cooked to perfection and very tender. i love the rich concentrated sauce that were very well with the meat

Cape Grim Scotch Fillet (350 gm)

char grilled, served with a garlic, caper herb butter, asparagus and a shiraz jus

Special of the day: Cod Fish

my friend said the fish was delicious too

Double Roasted Duck

slow roasted in a rich thai red curry sauce, with lychees, tamarind, lemongrass, fried shallot & coconut rice

foodie no. 2 said the duck was very good and one of the best he's tried

Chocolate Fondant

this was quite average even thought presentation was really nice. nonetheless it still tasted good.

Lemon Lime Tart

this was the tart that we all did not have enough of, the taste was just perfect. i wish we each ordered one!!

very nice and romantic place to dine. the bar is separated from the restaurant and the place is classy and not rowdy at all. i loved it so much i will come back again even though there are no vouchers the next time!! the food is quite affordable too, not too pricey for its standard and ambience of the restaurant.

67-71 Canning Beach Road

Applecross, Western Australia

website: www.rafflesperth.com.au

David Jones Food Court - Perth City

2011-06-05T11:24:00.000+08:00

just stopped by for a quick lunch at David Jones Food Court

the photo quality wasnt good because i used my phone…. but the food is not bad!

Tempura Udon

Salmon Lovers Box

Teriyaki Chicken Box

I heard this food court is very popular during lunch time, the food is affordable and quality is quite high. Good to stop for a quick lunch!

The udon and sushi were yummy!

Lemon Lane - Claremont

2011-06-04T19:12:00.001+08:00

Went to claremont quarter one weekend and bf was hungry. what to do when your bf is hungry and you cant focus on shopping?

had to find a place to eat first so you can shop in peace lol

we wandered outside claremont quarter to look for some cafes for breakfast, was running out of hope until we made a random turn and wind up at an alley. this reminds me so much of those hidden alleys in melbourne

nice cosy cafe with friendly people… we went in immediately

everything is also more interesting and rewarding when they are unexpencted! what a hidden gem that we stumbled upon

eggs on toast and my eggs benedict. my usual soy latte was very good too

the cafe is very spacious and i will definitely return! i really think perth has a lot of nice cafes and restaurants i just need to find them!! now i dont need to envy melbourne too much :)

For more information visit their website at: http://www.lemoncafes.com.au/aboutlemon.html

Sydney - Buon Ricordo

2011-05-17T19:40:00.000+08:00

Have you heard of Armando?

He's a famous italian chef in Australia that appeared on a cooking show. One of my favourite home-cooked pasta was taught by him through his show! see here where i made his pasta

When i heard that his original restaurant is in Sydney and that restaurant pops up everywhere on the internet as one of the 'must-try' places in Sydney, i immediately made a reservation!

We walked quite a bit to the restaurant and it was situated in a very nice suburb

It was a weekday lunch hence it was quite empty. There were a few regulars there chatting with the owner, and then telling me how good the food was, it raised our expectations even higher!

It was a classic italian restaurant, simple yet elegant. The waiter was very attentive and the service was fantastic!

I order the famous fettucine - $34.50

Fettucine with cream and parmesan, topped with a fried truffle egg

This was tossed at the table by the waiter, so i could only get a picture of it post-tossed!

The cream was thick, fresh and heavenly. The taste of truffle with the creamy pasta was just a combination to die for! My friend and I were totally blown away by this dish

My friend's order - Tagliatelle - $29.50

Egg pasta with puree leeks, guanciale, fried sage leaves and parmesan

This pasta was as good as the creamy one and I think it should be given the same spotlight and credit as the fettucine! This pasta was lighter, and suitable for people who doesnt like thick creamy pasta. I loved this pasta, very delicious!

One more picture of the fettucine again!

Give this restaurant a try when you are in Sydney!

OPEN
Lunch - Friday and Saturday, 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Dinner - Tuesday to Saturday 6.00pm -10.30pm

108 Boundary Street, Paddington 2021
(corner of Glenview Lane)

	Telephone: 02 9360 6729

website: http://www.buonricordo.com.au/

Sydney - Queen Victoria Building

2011-05-17T19:28:00.000+08:00

we cant deny that sydney is a big cosmopolitan city!

went for work but had a bit of time to do some sight see

Queen Victoria Building is always one of favourite places in Sydney and a place i truly remember

I remembered going to visit QVB when i was in high school, and i stayed with my friend who lived in sydney. we had so much fun

there is something grand and romantic about this building

settled for a quick drink in one of the cafes on the top level. i chose this cafe because i loved the coloured glass :)

just to share some photos i've taken there!

Little Caesars at Leederville

2011-05-07T23:50:00.001+08:00

World Famous Pizzeria Little Caesars is one of the places I go when there is a special occasion, or where guests from overseas come to visit, I will bring them there. Now I don't have to drive to Mundaring anymore to have a taste of famous pizzas, there is one in Leederville less than 10 min from Perth!

Have a look at the dessert menu! There are too many choices, and i want to try them all

Tip before you go : go in a big group so you guys can order everything on the menu and share. The hardest part of dining here is choosing which pizza to eat

our choice of the day :

Margherita (sauce, mozzarela, sliced tomato, basil)

LC Size (Little Caesars Size) - $10.

Peri Peri Prawns (prawns, mozzarella, olives, roasted mushroom, peri peri sauce)

LC size 0 $15

Margherita is a plain pizza and when it is done with right level of skill it will taste heavenly. It is not easy to make a plain pizza taste so good! Everything about this pizza was perfect. Yummy

Peri Peri Prawns - perfect perfect prawns

Generous toppings, combination of sauce and cheese, with the light crust was really good.

Service was excellent as well and you get to see the owner/chef Theo at work.

Even though it was really crowded, the staff were very friendly and service was quick and prompt.

This is their most famous dessert - Mudhoney

Chocolate mud cake, honey, chocolate sauce, white milk and dark chocolate buttons, icing sugar - $15

Dessert pizzas - sounds weird but taste so good! It is like a brownie that has an extra crust at the bottom. This pizza was really sweet when I tried it in Mundaring long time ago, this time the sweetness was just right. I think they must have toned it down a little.

Little Caesars sells great gourmet pizzas and they are very affordable. I will go back very soon!

Website: http://www.littlecaesarspizzeria.com.au/

Location: 127 Oxford St, Leederville

Ph: 9444 0499

Anzac day at Rottnest Island

2011-04-26T16:25:00.000+08:00

This is not a food entry but just wanted to share some photos i took at rottnest yesterday.

With the 5 day easter break, we decided to go to rottnest for a day of cycling and chilling by the beach

im always mesmerised by the beautiful turquoise water

cycling around the island is not easy feat, we were so tired today. luckily they had reasonably priced food like the rottnest bakery, subway and red rooster on the island. had a slushie at red rooster and went to iga to buy lots of snacks and drinks

can u spot the quokka?

what a nice way to end the easter break, hope u had an awesome holiday too!!

Nepalese Momos

2011-04-14T21:44:00.000+08:00

one of our best couple friends are nepalese. A country with such a rich culture and with friendly loving and warm people.

The couple invited us to their house for Momos (since they know we loved them!).

Momos are Nepalese Dumplings with meat and soup inside of them. These taste very very similar to our chinese Xiao Long Bao except that this has a bit of a curry taste, since curry powder is added to the mince.

So we sat around and chat and laughed while we make these adorable momos. Mine really looked very amateurs, the professional looking ones are the ones made by my friend

After this we steamed them and ate them with a rich spicy sauce! Sorry no photos after this cos it went straight to my tummy

Bintang Cafe at Victoria Park

2011-04-14T21:33:00.001+08:00

Met my good friend for a quick dinner after work at Victoria Park. With too many choices out there but limited fund, we opt to dine at Bintang Cafe, the indonesian restaurant that offer really reasonably priced food. so it wont break the bank.

Each table was given this to write down our order, then we get to write down the total as well. omg they should provide a calculator, i forgot to count by hand. :)

interesting concept…or just too laid back? I dunno.

My friend's Nasi Campur (mixture of side dishes). Comes with chilli tofu, beef rendang curry, satay chicken and fried noodles

this is my nasi goreng special - fried rice with chicken satay, egg omelette on the top

Very simple and quick dinner. Reasonably priced too, i will say the food is average standard but this cafe is quite popular with indonesians. Give it a try if you are around the area!

America Diner - IHop

2011-04-11T18:30:00.001+08:00

One of my 'must-try' in America is an American Diner, preferably with waitress in rollerblades. Unfortunately you can only find that in american movies.

my partner's auntie brought us to IHOP which is a diner and serves diner food. yay!

heart stopping 1000+ calories breakfast, bring it on!

When i asked for coffee with my breakfast, they gave me a big flask filled of it! :)

My calories filled breakfast of hashbrown, bacon, eggs, ham, sausage with a side of pancakes and a flask of coffee. Before this i was on a strict 1200 calories a day diet, so i guess thats all down the drain.

it was really yummy but made me feel a bit guilty after eating…

buttery fluffy pancakes, YUMMY.

there were a lot of different flavoured maple syrup to go with the pancakes.

This was an amazing experience and i was really happy to have eaten at an all american diner

http://www.ihop.com/

Sydney - Ton Ton Ramen

2011-03-28T19:45:00.000+08:00

Ramen is one of my favourite dish. Having tried a bowl of ramen in kobe that was so heavenly, i've become really picky when it comes to the ramen they serve in Australia.

Before I went to Sydney, i did a research online about the best food sydney has to offer, just like any gluttony foodie will do. Forget sightseeing, food is the most important. haha

There were a lot of good reviews of Ton ton ramen online, same as Gumshara Ramen (unfortunately i didn't have time to try that). So we went to the CBD area and walked to tonton, it was so conveniently located, right in the middle of the hustle bustle of city

Ordered the Tonton ramen with extra char siu (grilled pork)

The ramen came in a very generous serving. The char siue was thinly sliced, tasty and soft! Broth was very creamy and tasty. Noodles were towards the chewy kind rather than the soft kind. It was good and we went back twice!

Just beside ton ton ramen there is a small japanese cafe with really nice looking cakes. So we bought a strawberry shortcake. I love asian cakes because the sponge cake is ultra light and fluffy. Go try a sponge cake from an asian cake shop or a japanese cake shop… these are my favourite kind of cakes!

my friend had a matcha latte which looked too beautiful, didnt have a taste but it sure looks good

Tonton Ramen is located at

501 George Street

Sydney

Website: http://www.tontontakeaway.com.au/regent/default.aspx?page=3

Sydney - Bourke St Bakery

2011-03-21T15:20:00.002+08:00

I went to Sydney for 4 days last week and I stayed at Mercure Hotel which was at a good location and reasonably priced. From Mercure, I could walk to Bourke St Bakery in about 20 minutes.

This is one of the BEST go places on my itinerary for Sydney. After some research, there were a lot of people on the internet which recommended Bourke St Bakery.

Started off with a morning walk with my friend, passed by really interesting houses and cafes in Surry hills. My friend and I were so excited when we reached Bourke St Bakery.

Raspberry, Marshmellow Chocolate tart - this was so good it was unbelievable!

The chocolate was very rich, and the combination of sweet dark chocolate with raspberry and marshmellow is too good to be true. you have to taste it to believe it!

My chocolate/hazelnut tart - heavenly! the tart was crumbly and light and the chocolate mousse like cream tasted just right, i love the chocolate bits sprinkled at the top. yummm!

They have a lot of pastries/patisseries/ fresh bread for sale. Within 10 minutes the place was crowded and we were lucky we could even get a seat!

They sell homemade drinks. looks so interesting

The never-ending queue in the small but cosy bakery

Sitting by the roadside outside the bakery was a fun experience.

The coffee was very good too and the food here is quite cheap. Highly recommended if you are in Sydney. We wanted to go back again but we did not have enough time, what a pity!

I really enjoyed dining in this bakery. Good for a quick breakfast and Surry Hills is a very interesting suburb

Location: 633 Bourke St, Surry Hills

(Near Devonshire St)

http://www.bourkestreetbakery.com.au/

Mon-Fri 7am - 6pm

Sat, Sun 8am - 5pm

How to Make Creme Brulee

2011-03-09T11:41:00.004+08:00

Ingredients:

600 ml cream

1 vanilla bean (split in half and scrap the seed)

1/3 cup caster sugar

6 egg yolk

demerara sugar to cover the top

This recipe is really easy! I just followed the steps on youtube, i always thought creme brulee was a very complicated dish.

Check out this short video and you will be able to make your own creme brulee in no time :

made a mess trying to separate the yolks

watching youtube while we prepare

got the creme brulee set (includes blow torch) for $35 from eatdrinkcook fremantle

the result was so wonderful. although it is very very creamy which we suspect that thickened cream should be used instead of normal cream (junior master chef recipe uses thickened cream) but i still loved this!
the hard sugar coating was just magnificent. looks appealing and tastes even better!
I will be making this again, definitely a good dessert to show off during dinner parties

will be going to sydney tomorrow and i will be eating lots too! so stay tuned for more posts on sydney

Australian Day Barbeque

2011-03-07T21:04:00.001+08:00

Long over due post
Had an awesome barbecue by the pool with friends who each brought a dish

we had lamb, steak, sausages and lots of chicken wing

i decided to make something 'asian' and more exotic.
Chicken Satay

with the convenience of google, i can get the recipe with just a click of the mouse!

Recipe: Chicken Satay

Ingredients:

4 chicken legs and thighs or 4 chicken breasts (deboned)

Spice Paste:

1 teaspoon of coriander powder

2 stalks lemon grass

6 shallots (peeled)

2 cloves garlic (peeled)

4 tablespoons of cooking oil

1 teaspoon of chili powder

2 teaspoons of turmeric powder (kunyit)

4 teaspoons of Kecap Manis (ABC brand from Indonesia recommended)

1 spoon of Oyster Sauce (Lee Kam Kee brand recommended)

Bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 2 hours to avoid burning)

1 cucumber (skin peeled and cut into small pieces)

Method:

Cut the chicken meat into small cubes. Grind the Spice Paste in a food processor. Add in a little water if needed. Marinate the chicken pieces with the spice paste for 10-12 hours. Thread the meat on to bamboo skewers and grill for 2-3 minutes each side. Serve hot with fresh cucumber pieces.

Full recipe is here

i love barbecue leftovers
i just had to heat up the lamb, make turmeric rice and some salad
and that makes a filling yet wonderful dinner :)

One Day in Swan Valley

2011-02-26T19:03:00.000+08:00

my friend came to perth for a visit so I took her for a half day road trip to swan valley

First stop : Margaret River Chocolate Factory

neatly arranged truffles calling out my name...

big pots of 3 types of choc, white milk and dark for visitors to taste for free!

have to order their hot chocolate, or for coffee addicts like us, order the mocha as their own margaret river choc chip is added to the mocha, we get to choose either milk, white or dark chocolate

Then we head to my favourite German restaurant in perth

Second Stop : Elmar's in the Valley

had the gigantic pork knuckles with super crispy skin! The sauerkraut is the best in this restaurant, not overly sour and doesnt give your tongue the fuzzy feeling. love it

we ordered the brautwurst platter with 3 different types of sausages, the portion was huge! they sell the best sausage, and i bought some of their sausages for bbq

Third Stop : Maggies Place / Edgecomb Bros Winery

nothing much happened here, we were distracted and made a stop because of the beautiful grapes. Bought a big bag of fruits and veggies from Maggies Place, because it was so cheap and they are very very fresh. I think Maggie grew it? Shes such a friendly lovely lady, do give that place a visit!

nice juicy grapes, perfect photo spot

Fourth Stop : Alpaca Stud

Who won't want to have a look at alpacas? They are so cute! The border collie in the stud is cuter and was showing us around. Owners were friendly too and they have an alpaca garment store which was exotic but a bit on the pricey end... i mean alpaca coat is not easy to get... lol

Fifth Stop : Cape Lavender

By the fifth stop, we were so tired and hot from the weather and decided to stop at the cosy cape lavender cafe for some icecream, scones and drink.

Well someone was so hot he/she does not want to share his/her icecream so he/she ordered one for himself/herself. (shall not be named)

Turns out.... the icecream was the strangest icecream i've tried in my entire life.

for people who love essential oil/soap this might be the ice cream for u. The essential oil smell was so overwhelming i felt like i was eating soap.

BUT their scones were always perfect, love their moist and tasty scones! a bit disappointed about the icecream though, and the person who doesnt want to share was utterly disappointed

the cafe is still wonderful, with great service and a friendly dog to watch the shop!

Beside Cape Lavender there is place called MAGO Coffee which sells cheap freshly ground coffee

there are so many variety as well

Sixth Stop : Sandalford Winery

This is our last stop of the day

I love Sandalford's wines so went to their beautiful winery to have a taste of what they have to offer. I really liked the Dessert Wine ($25), so sweet and perfect for a drink by the pool

Their Late Harvest (approx $14) is also sweet and is also under the dessert wine category

Other than sweet dessert wine, i really dunno much about wine......

What a funfilled trip! I love swan valley because it is so near the city (approx 20 min away) and has so much to offer!

Most posts on swan valley here

Velvet cafe

2011-02-23T20:17:00.000+08:00

i've found the best coffee in Perth!!

As a coffee lover/addict i heed my friend's advice and brought a fellow coffee addict to this place which was well-known for serving the best coffee in Perth.

Very cosy, warm and welcoming place. So unpretentious, just that way i like it. Charming and friendly barista took our order

The cafe is quite small with a few tables outside, as it is in the CBD area most people are in office attire.

These people are so lucky to have such an awesome cafe near where they work!

We had the mocha and latte. No bitter after taste, velvet cafe served coffee that was 'velvety' smooth

It tastes so good, one cup was not enough!
Coffee was of good quality, and reasonably price approx $4 a cup.

stop by for a coffee when you in the city!

Location:

172 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
(08) 9322 5209

Along King St, it is just 1 block down the Prada/Gucci store.

Open for breakfast and lunch Mon - Fri.

On Sunday I had Dimsum and Wine

2011-02-14T12:06:00.000+08:00

Had our dim sum fix at our favourite place, Dragon Palace Seafood.

Our usual order:

Siew Mai - Pork and Prawn Dumplings

Har Gow - Prawn Dumplings

Beancurd Roll - my absolute favourite!

Char Siew Pastry - bbq pork pastry

Spare Ribs

Sticky (glutinous) Rice

Porridge

Wrote about this restaurant here

it was so good and quite reasonable, costs only $25 per person.

Then we went home, had sweet sandalford dessert wine and relax by the pool :)

Hope you had a good weekend too!

Lunch at Satsuki

2011-02-11T13:46:00.000+08:00

Was at Subiaco yesterday during lunch time so we made a quick decision to have lunch at Satsuki.

Had a quick look at the lunch menu and realised the price is so much cheaper than the dinner menu, yay for me!

For entre, we had the Anago Roll - Approx $10

Unagi eel + egg souffle, it was very fresh and delicious

I had the sake simmered mackerel set, the markerel was very tasty, and had a sweet taste. It comes with rice, miso soup and seasoned vegetables. Approx $14

My partner has the Karrage Chicken Set (fried chicken). The batter was light and crispy. One of the best karaage chicken i've eaten. Approx $14

The lunch service was also very quick and we were able to get back to work on time :)

If you are in Subiaco, visit this place for authentic and delicious japanese food. Lunch menu is also significantly cheaper than the dinner menu. Lucky for the people working in Subi!

Location: Shop 1, 50 Subiaco Square

Website: http://www.satsuki.net.au/

P: 08 93819868

Red Spoon Frozen Yoghurt

2011-02-07T11:00:00.001+08:00

so my obsession with frozen yoghurt continues...

so excited to see red spoon sticking out of the crowd in fremantle!

i love the design of the shop with artificial lawn and deck chairs, very casual yet funky

we get to try the flavours first before we choose what flavour we want

apparently it is low fat too!

i got the peach one with raspberry and meringue

my partner got the original one

both were so good!

it tastes a bit sour just like a yoghurt, but the texture was soft like a soft-serve icecream, and i loved the cup!

always a good dessert after dinner in fremantle :)

it was really good

website: http://www.redspoon.net.au/

location: Shop 11, 13 south terrace, fremantle

opening hours: mon- wed 10am - 6pm

thur - sun - 10am - 10pm

Taka restaurant at Shafto Lane

2011-01-25T11:18:00.001+08:00

I am so broke after my holiday so i opted for something cheap, but still yummy.

Went to Taka at Kings St for a no-fuss japanese meal

I had the teriyaki beef set (small) which was really good, although it doesnt look good in the photo

my partner had the teriyaki fish set (large)

We only spent $13+ for these two sets, what a bargain!

There have three locations, click here for their website:
Takas Kitchen

Los Angeles - In N Out Burger

2011-01-21T12:56:00.002+08:00

The first few days of my USA trip were spent in LA. I really enjoyed the cosmopolitan city

We drove around this suburb where the locals call it "candy lane" as most residents there will decorate their house with christmas lights. Some houses were just extreme and over the top, can't believe it's just someone's house

The first dinner we had in LA was the legendary In N Out burger. Almost everyone who went to USA or studied there told me to try this burger.

The burgers were really good! Not much difference than ordinary burgers when i took the first bite, but when i took the second bite...I realised the bun was softer, meat patty was AWESOME, vegetables inside was crisp and fresh

this is a must try when you go to USA

so sad that i didnt have the chance to eat it again

be sure to try it!

a walk in the grocery store

99cents ben and jerrys icecream, what a bargain!

Waikika Moo Cow

2011-01-18T16:40:00.001+08:00

My partner and i were craving for a cup of soft serve frozen yoghurt on a hot saturday afternoon, and we googled using our very smart phones where is the nearest to us as we were in city, and waikika moo cow came up!

Best way to refresh yourself is frozen yoghurt!

This is conveniently located in Hay Street Mall, the link between Myers and Hay St.

We walked straight up and one of the female staff was so nice to patiently explained to us what they have on their menu. We already saw what we want, 'free flow' frozen yoghurt. Just grab a cup and push the handle down, add toppings, weigh it and pay!

The frozen yoghurt was so good i didnt manage to take a picture. This is what it will look like if you put it in the cone.

It is like soft serve ice cream but tastes a bit sour, making it more 'yoghurt' like. Madzoon's frozen yoghurt tastes more like icecream than yoghurt to me. I actually like both a lot!

Will definitely go back to waikika.

French Toast Brekky

2011-01-16T12:01:00.000+08:00

i promise more posts with my new iphone! totally loving it!

The bf requested french toast for breakfast today, so i made it for him.

Really simple, i used 2 eggs (beaten + a pinch of salt) and 5 slices of bread (sliced in half so it is easier to cover it is egg)

add honey/maple syrup on top and it makes a great fulfilling breakfast

Cute Sandwiches

2011-01-16T11:57:00.000+08:00

Found this picture that i thought i might share with other hello kitty lovers. Bought the sandwich mould in Singapore last year and made some nutella sandwiches, so delicious and too pretty to eat!

I AM BACK!

2011-01-08T14:53:00.001+08:00

Hi, i just returned from a longggg trip to china and usa. No chance to blog there but i have a lot of food photos to share with all of you. Will start blogging soon! Hope u had a good and safe xmas/new year's.

Bali - La Laciola

2010-11-20T21:20:00.001+08:00

my holiday begins in 2 weeks so from today onwards, i will try to finish updating all my travel for 2010 before i start blogging on new trips (went to bali,melb and singapore and i have not even blogged about it, there are still thousands of photos waiting to be edited)

i did a lot of research before i went on my Bali trip, and i picked the restaurants according to their reviews and popularity. If you need any recommendations, feel free to see the restaurants i went to under the "Bali" tab on the right side of the page or drop me an email/comment. I really enjoyed Bali and i am planning to go back soon, so cheap, quite near, so friendly, so pampered :)

La Laciola

situated just beside Ku De ta

Very breezy and airy beachside restaurant...totally loved it!

my friend from seychelles commented that this looks like something from her country. haha

very casual with nice ambience. the service was really good too, everywhere i went in bali had good service, made the trip so enjoyable

tried their calamari - well battered, crispy and fresh

Tiramisu

Meringue with fresh mango + sponge cake. This was delightful

can you spot the bird in the restaurant built with natural materials?

view from the restaurant.

I high recommend this restaurant if you are in Bali!

Heartshaped Strawberry Jelly Cheesecake

2010-11-20T16:58:00.001+08:00

one of my favourite dessert is a good rich creamy cheesecake.

i made this probably a year ago, so i forgot the recipe, sorry!!! I think it is one of the recipe behind the phil cream cheese package.

If not any normal cheesecake recipe will do

these are the ingredients i used

use the heartshape cookie cutter to cut the sliced strawberries and place them on top of the cheesecake

this caused a mess! need to pour is slowly (so you dont distort the cheesecake) and ensure that the jelly spreads evenly

left over lovey strawberries + jelly

yummy!

loved how it turned out although i could be neater...need to use a sharp knife and clean it each time you cut

there u go, u have strawberry, jelly, creamy cheese and biscuit all in one bite.

have a good weekend guys!

Strawberry Picking at Wanneroo

2010-11-08T10:54:00.000+08:00

A few weeks ago my colleagues and I decided to go pick some strawberries!

I strongly suggest you call and enquire about the season and make a reservation. The lady actually told us the strawberry field was closed as there were no strawberries left, but after driving for 1 hour to this place, i begged her to let us pick some! and she was kind enough to allow us to do so...

Could still spot some strawberries even though she said the good ones were gone

We went to the strawberry tea room for lunch, there was a huge playground which was perfect for families with kids!

thick and cold strawberry milkshake...yummmy

the waffle did not come with strawberries, these were picked by us!

Strawberry Farm and Strawberry Tea Room

2024 Wanneroo Road

Neerabup WA 6031

Phone (08) 9407 5166

Then we went to Hillarys Boat Harbour for some fish and chips

hillarys was beautiful, havent been there for a long time, and i was surprised at the new restaurants and development of the place. loved it!

The queue at the fish and chips store was insane, but it moved quite quickly. the fish and chips were hot and fresh, perfectly battered. must eat this when u are at hillarys!

http://www.topcatchfishandchips.com.au/home.aspx

Shop 206, 58 Southside Drive Hillarys

tel: (08)9246 1878

Bali - Ku De Ta

2010-10-26T15:39:00.002+08:00

sorry for the lack of post lately as i was going through a very very stressful period with job applications/interviews and organising my next holiday!

im still waiting for the outcome but i've received some good news already :)

im so glad i dont need to study now, but i love to learn, but i hate to study in a 'school' setting.

anyway, right now i've started to focus on cooking healthy food, good fresh ingredients, more organic meat/products and will focus more on blogging!

for people who want to save $$, please download some finance/budget planning apps on your iphone or ipad. i downloaded iexpense on my ipad and we saved so much this month! but that means i have to cut down on dining out as i was shocked how much i spent on dining out! so from now on there will be more home-made recipe posts on this website, healthier and saves me so much money just by cooking at home more.

this is one of the 10000 backdated posts that i have in the 'drafts' category.

Ku De Ta is one of the most famous bar/restaurant in Bali for tourists.

The design of the restaurant was really modern, full of beautiful people. I miss Bali so much, everyone there was so cheerful and relaxed because they are on a holiday, and my trip was really fantastic with so much good food and gorgeous restaurants

The restaurant and bar is situated right beside the beach, and the waves crashing at the background set the relaxed ambience of the restaurant.

very classy beach restaurant and truly one of the highlights during my bali trip

they served us complimentary bread with olive oil dip for starter. the bread was warm and soft

drinks were great as well

the food was seriously good, this steak taste much better than it looks, i dunno why the photo turned out quite bad, lol. the steak was grilled to perfection and tender inside

my AMAZING SEAFOOD grill, fresh, well seasoned seafood with lots of dipping sauces, delish!

the dj right in the middle of the alfresco area

lots of daybeds for people to sip their cocktails and chill out. these day beds were always occupied day and night, didn't get to lie in one

the food was very reasonably priced, i think my seafood platter was around aud$60 which is really good value! Expect your mains to be around aud$30-$60

Simple Puff Pastry Sausage Roll

2010-10-13T09:38:00.001+08:00

Made these yummy sausage rolls with the help of my cousin

All you need is 500g of mince meat (pork/chicken or beef)

3 sheets of puff pastry

For the meat marinate: put in 2 tbspn of ketchup

1/2 tbspn of salt

2 tbspn of chopped onions

2tbspn of chopped carrots

1 teaspoon of worchester sauce

1 teaspoon of olive oil

marinate for about 30 minutes and u can start rolling them!

With the puff pastry, cut them into 4 long and even strips, and place the meat in the middle of one strip, and cover on top another strip and seal the sides with water! Easy peasy!

Put in a preheated oven of 160 degrees celsius and baked for about 20 minutes.

Then brush the sausage rolls with egg wash about 5 minutes before it is done.

Delicious snack and party food for everyone!

Madzoon Frozen Yoghurt

2010-10-06T10:37:00.001+08:00

Yummy soft serve frozen yoghurt!

Fairly new frozen yoghurt stall in Carousel Westfield shopping mall and I am totally obsessed with it!

It is like really really soft icecream, and u put all the toppings that u like onto the icecream (by yourself!), then u pay for it by the weight of the total content of the cup. It costs like $3+ for one cup full or mini marshmellows, nuts, chocolate, sprinkles... most of the things i like!

Healthy alternative to ice cream and it actually tastes better

From their website:

Madzoon Yoghurt gives you:

•a healthy dessert alternative without compromising GREAT TASTE

•an excellent source of protein

•an aid in healing infection

•assistance in digestion

•a boosted immune system

•a rich source of calcium

•aid in lowering cholesterol

•a more stimulated memory.

As you can see, Madzoon Frozen yoghurt is full of health benefits! Madzoon is a good source of calcium, iodine, phosphorous, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin B5, zinc, potassium, protein and molybdenum. These are important nutrients, but the real benefits come from how Madzoon yoghurt is made.

Madzoon Yoghurt is milk or cream that is cultured with active live cultures, which are basically good bacteria that are necessary for the body to function at its best. This type of bacteria can boost immune response, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and help prevent arthritis.

Madzoon Yoghurt also contains lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein that can boost the body's ability to build bone and reduce the formation of osteoporosis, which can help prevent or reverse osteoporosis.

Another benefit of Madzoon yogurt is its ability to increase fat loss and minimize muscle loss.

with gummy bear too!

Perth only has one outlet in Carousel Westfield. Hope they will open more branches soon, love it!

Website: http://www.madzoon.com.au/

Aritagaya Ramen House at Northbridge

2010-09-24T09:00:00.000+08:00

My partner and i went to Aritagaya Ramen House at Northbridge for dinner. The place looks very inviting and 'japanese', it is colourful and japanese characters are sprawled all over the restaurant. I wish i am in japan right now! Had one of my most memorable holiday in japan.

Aritagaya serves complimentary hot green tea and ice water. Love it!

Takoyaki

Wikipedia: Takoyaki (たこ焼き or 蛸焼^?) (literally fried or grilled octopus) is a popular Japanese dumpling made of batter, diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, andgreen onion, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, ponzu, mayonnaise, green laver (aonori), and katsuobushi (fish shavings), first popularized in Taisho-era Osaka,[1] where a street vendornamed Endo Tomekichi is credited with its invention in 1935 [2]. Takoyaki can be found in shops called issen-yoshoku (壹銭洋食), which roughly translates to "one-penny Western food" [3]. Yaki is derived from "yaku" (焼く^?) which simply means "to fry or grill" in Japanese, and can be found in the names of other Japanese cuisine items such as teriyaki orsukiyaki. [4]

This takoyaki was not bad, one of the better ones i've tried in perth, this is one of my favourite japanese dish

~~but nothing beats the real thing in osaka...~~

my chicken karaage tsukemen

this was tasty and it was my first time trying tsukemen (cold ramen noodles dipped into soup). it was quite different to the usual hot broth ramen i had, but it was quite interesting

chicken karaage ramen with miso base soup

I found the ramen noodles a bit too thick in this ramen restaurant, the broth was really thick and full of flavours (a bit too thick for me). My partner said the soy-base soup (Shoyu) is much lighter and tastes better.

I think this place is good for a quick dinner if you are in northbridge area. The food here is average but reasonably priced.

Location: 62 Roe St, Northbridge

ever wondered why there are these guardian lions in almost every chinatown in the world? let me wiki it for you :

Chinese guardian lions, known also as stone lions (石獅, Pinyin: Shíshī) in Chinese art and often (incorrectly) called "Foo Dogs" in the West, are a common representation of thelion in pre-modern China. They are believed to have powerful mythic protective powers that has traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, Imperial tombs, government offices, temples, and the homes of government officials and the wealthy from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). Pairs of guardian lions are still common decorative and symbolic elements at the entrances to restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and other structures, with one sitting on each side of the entrance, in China and in other places around the world where the Chinese people have immigrated and settled, especially in local Chinatowns.

The lions are always created in pairs, with the male playing with a ball and the female with a cub. They occur in many types of Chinese pottery and in Western imitations^[1].

Simple Pizza with Lebanese Bread

2010-09-21T13:46:00.001+08:00

Want to try something different and make pizza using lebanese bread instead of the usual pizza base. It turned out surprisingly good and easy to make!

I spread a layer of tomato paste/pasta sauce on the bread, added sliced ham, mushroom and mozarella cheese on top and baked it at 150degrees for about 15minutes (till the cheese is golden brown)

Need to add barbeque sauce as well, that is the best sauce to add to your pizza to have this sweet/tangy taste. I was trying to copy my favourite double bacon cheeseburger pizza by dominos

Serve it with salad for a simple and quick dinner!

Japanese Omelette Fried Rice - Omu-Rice

2010-09-13T13:31:00.001+08:00

Youtube Omurice recipe! Watched this really good video on how to cook it, so simple as well. and the video was Cooking With the DOG -GU (cooking with the dog) by a japanese commentator. Well, the chef was REALLY cooking with a dog.

I was really happy with the result. I had omu-rice when i was in Kobe,Japan last time and I was so sick i took one bite and went home to sleep for 2 days. Now I can make it myself!

Omurice is tomato ketchup flavoured fried rice wrapped with a thin layer of egg. YUMMY

Watch the video for the recipe! Highly entertaining video and it is short as well.

What you need:

Ingredients for Omurice

(serves 2)
130g Chicken (0.287 lb)
Salt & Pepper
1 Garlic Clove
1/4 Onion (70g / 2.47 oz)
4 Button Mushrooms (50g / 1.76 oz)
1 tbsp White Wine
200g Canned Tomato (0.441 lb)
1 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
1/2 Bouillon Cube (2.8g / 0.1 oz)
1 Bay Leaf
30g Frozen Green Peas (1.06 oz)
Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper

280g Steamed Rice Cooked with Less Water (0.617 lb)
4 Eggs
2 tsp Dairy Cream
Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper
Baby Salad Greens
Parsley
Tomato Ketchup
watch the video for more!

Cooking with the Dog--gu youtube click here!

I only have one comment for the youtube video - PUT THE DAMN DOG DOWN!! Watch it to understand what i mean, it is still very hilarious, but plssss let the dog go

Swan Valley - House of Honey

2010-09-09T00:02:00.001+08:00

This is a continuation of my swan valley weekend trip. Went to House of Honey there which was on the Food and Wine trail guide. We bought this AMAZING honey sparkling drink and it was so good we went back to buy a dozen, good drink to share among your friends during dinner parties! (bringing 2 bottles to my friend's house for hotpot tomorrow)

my friends tried this and all wanted to buy a few bottles off me. it was seriously good. Sparkling drink with real honey in it. Only $8.95 a bottle, refreshing and yummy drink!

House of Honey is a beautifully decorated shop with a cafe, and sells WA honey.

All the honey i saw were sourced from WA. Bought blackbutt, jarrah (apparently one of the best honey with medicinal properties) and karri honey. There is free honey tasting available so you can taste them before you buy. The honey is cheap as well compared to the supermarkets. If you buy your honey here, you can rest assured that it is full of natural goodness!

When i notice some crystallisation on top of the honey, the shop assistant patiently explained to me that that only occurs when the honey is natural and not chemically processed. Lots of honey in the supermarket are processed so they dont crystallise. So if your honey crystallises, it means it is natural and of good quality, you just have to heat it up slightly.

Purchase of the day. bought some natural honeycomb too. I love the cute and tiny honey pot i bought as well.

A small bottle of honey 250ml is about $3-5 which I find more than reasonable.

This is a good place for honey lovers. They serve honey tea and scones too in their cafe (The Sticky Spoon Cafe). They also have free sampling of their honey candy which was absolutely fantastic!!

Website: http://www.thehouseofhoney.com.au/index.html

Location: 867 Great Northern Highway, Herne Hill

Opening Hours - 10am to 5pm Tues - Sun

Hush Espresso

2010-09-05T21:32:00.001+08:00

I wanted a quiet relaxing Sunday afternoon so I decided to check out Hush Espresso. This was my first time there and I've always walked past it but never went in as i felt this place looked a bit 'too cool'

with its very contemporary and modern design. Behind that modern exterior (unlike the cosy cafes in freo) this place is really very HUSH! Very quiet and peaceful place, i totally fell in love with this cafe

Looked into our combined wallets and realised we only had $4 in cash. Cant be bothered to ask if eftpos was available, maybe they do accept, but too l.a.z.y. (i hate it when places dont accept eftpos!) so we just ordered one cup of latte. my partner doesnt drink coffee anyways, yay for me.

Latte - $3.80

very very nice presentation! heart designed frothing served by the barista. So pretty i didnt want to stir my sugar in and ruined it.

Just like the reviews online, the coffee here was indeed good. No bitter aftertaste, they use a synesso machine, perfect combination of coffee and milk without comprising on the aroma/taste of the coffee.

I think this is a great place for a caffeine fix and to hang out with friends and family. It is spacious and is in the heart of fremantle. Hush espresso serves breakfast all day as well. I will return next time for their coffee and breakfast

Location: 32 Market Street, Fremantle

Swan Valley - Elmars in the Valley

2010-09-03T09:50:00.002+08:00

Best weekends are always spent having a picnic with my dogs ~~(yes im lame),~~ breakfast with friends at some nice cafe full of funky people or a mini roadtrip to look for some good food!

So this time we had a mini roadtrip in search of good food.

Having been to duckstein a couple of times, we've decided to give Elmar's in the valley a try in swan valley.

I've heard this cosy restaurant serves the best German Food in Perth.

Made a reservation the day before and the waiter promptly showed us to our table.

The interior is like a warm cosy house with a slight 'canteen style'. People here are just sitting around having a casual drink and they all appeared so relaxed, just like myself.

So relaxed i've decided to get some kickback beer to suit the occasion.

Kick Back Weizen 4.8% alc

A traditional Bavarian Wheat Bier made using 50% wheat malt with a thirst quenching burst of banana. With hints of vanilla and a subtle finish of aromatic hops coming through on the finish -$5.00 for small

I could taste a bit of banana in this it was cold and refreshing!

Pork Sausage (Grilled Bratwurst) with German Sauerkraut and Potato Mash - $17.50

The sausage was PERRRRFECT with fluffy light mash. I even liked the Sauerkraut which was not too sour, and tasted really pleasant. I never liked Sauerkraut but this one was different. The sourness was more subtle than 'full on'.

Pork Shank (Schweinehaxe) -Elmar's Specialty

Pickled and Roasted Pork Shank with German Sauerkraut and Fried Potatoes -$39.90

My partner ordered this, fairly large portion so light eaters should share this. Everything was nice about this dish, the potatoes, Sauerkraut and the tender juicy pork shank with mustard. Yummyyy

Bread and Butter Pudding (Kabinett Pudding)

Homemade Brioche, Layered with Sultanas and Vanilla Pod Custard, Served with Connoisseur Vanilla Icecream - $12.50

We were so satisfied with our meal here, we decided to just have coffee and dessert here as well. Our original plan was to go to another cafe in swan valley for dessert. The Bread and Butter pudding was light and not too overwhelming. The taste was just right, very delicious!

The Bratwurst was so delicious I had to buy some home. Just walked to their 'small goods' section to grab some sausages before we pay the bill. So convenient. These sausages were very affordable and cooking them at home will save us so much money :)

~~Wieners?~~

Bought some spicy ones, garlic and just the original bratwurst. I cooked one of them and it was just as yummy!

To make a reservation online click here: http://www.elmars.com.au/Valley/bookatable.php

Website: http://www.elmars.com.au/

Opening Hours:

Monday and Tuesday - CLOSED

Wednesday and Thursday - 11am to 5pm (depending on trade)

Friday to Sunday - 11am to 10pm (depending on trade)

Contact : (08) 9296 6354

Address: 8731 West Swan Road

HENLEY BROOK 6055

MissFattyFoodie Gyoza Dumplings

2010-08-30T15:54:00.001+08:00

GYOZAS

Gyozas (half soft half crispy japanese dumplings) are so easy to make, and cheap to make too.

So many types of food that I can make myself, i cant justify paying for them outside anymore (except for special occasions or on paydays. haha)

Here are step-by-step instructions in making a simple basic gyoza missfattyfoodie style!

Mix 500g of mince meat (preferably pork or chicken) with chopped carrots, onions and spring onions. Add one tbspn of sesame oil, some white pepper, 2 tbspm soy sauce, 1 tspn of rice wine (optional). Marinate for at least 30 minutes. 500g of meat makes about 50 dumplings, you can store the remainders in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Get dumpling skins/gyoza skins from your local asian store for about $2 a pack.

Place a small amount of meat in the middle and fold it into the dumpling skin. Make sure the edge of the skin is sealed together with a bit of water. Place the dumplings on a surface with plain flour to prevent them from sticking to the bottom.

I dont have the skills to make the dumplings myself so i used the dumpling maker for help! These can be purchased from asian stores too, i bought it for $2 in Singapore.

Makes your life so much easierrrrrrrrrrrrr

wet the edge and press the dumpling together

tadaaa! recommended for beginners like me!

After you have finished folding, boil the dumplings first for about 5 minutes till the skin is translucent. Make sure not to stir it too much as they break easily.

After draining the remaining water, pan fry each side of the dumpling till the side is crispy and brown

yummers

Serve it with soysauce or along some noodle soup!

ALL DONE!

Thank you to all my readers out there, it is a real honour to know that people like my blog and even leave comments on my blog, i loved reading every comment there. I also appreciate the food recommendations that you kindly gave me! Hope you enjoyed this blog too :)

BIG THANK YOU!

Perth - Fremantle Organic Donuts

2010-08-23T15:51:00.003+08:00

Finally got to try the Fremantle Organic Donuts as my 'touristy cousin' bought one. I did not try one previously as it is organic, and to me healthy food = not as tasty

OMG but i cannot get enough of these warm big fluffy sugary donuts!!!!!

The dough is made to perfection, it is very fluffy yet firm - get what i mean?

Very delicious, must try it yourself! We had to go back to fremantle 3 weeks in a row just to get this donut as my cousin will be returning home, and will not be in perth anymore. That is how much we liked it. Not as sweet as Krispy Kreme and being organic and stuff, makes you feel better about yourself after you eat it. hahaha

I only tried the traditional one, ~~as i am on a diet so less calories for me!~~

sooo good and fresh, yums!

Location: Fremantle Market

Rating: 4.5/5

Time for a Taco

2010-08-17T10:18:00.001+08:00

my apologies for the lack of posts, there are so many posts backdated and i actually forgot what i ate. so i will delete all the backdated posts and start from scratch!

my aunt and cousin came to visit for the last 3 weeks hence i've been bringing them around, and no time to blog. have to be working hard and applying for a full time job soon too!

Made tacos - one of my favourite food of all times. I think it is quite healthy don't know why people think tacos are fattening. Depends on the ingredients you use i guess!

Step-by Step instructions

Chop some red onion, the more the better because it adds flavour to your food and it boosts your immune system! trick is wearing your sunnies when you chop onions so you wont tear. haha

marinate some LEAN beef mince with salt pepper, seasoning, ketchup (self made marinate). been in love with these pyrex glass bowls, stainless, and healthier to microwave your food in. ~~convert your tupperwares to pyrex now!~~

chop up lots of fresh tomato and lettuce

cook the mince meat (add tomato sauce/ketchup) and stuff the tacos with all the other fresh ingredients

used the left over meat to make spring rolls with this thin pastry, this is the best type of pastry for spring rolls!

looks freaking ugly but tastes good! half samosa and half spring roll mutants

most posts coming up!

High Tea at Peninsula Tea Gardens

2010-07-28T14:19:00.004+08:00

Think about having afternoon tea with dainty sandwiches and homemade scones at a converted old farm house, tucked away from the city with beautiful views. I have found the perfect place for this and it is Peninsula Tea Gardens.

Walking through the nature

The trail led us to a beautiful restaurant/cafe overlooking the peaceful and serene river. With white furnitures, champagne glasses, cute children running around the garden, it was such a beautiful sight.

I have already reserved a table before hand and the staff was already waiting for us. He was really polite and brought us to our table.

victorian style, soooo beautiful and the ambience was relaxed

Parisian Afternoon Tea

Lots of groups of ladies chatting over their afternoon tea set, over their 3 tiered trays of goodness. This is the perfect place for a girl's day out! (although my partner and I enjoyed it a lot too)

This was what we ordered for $39 per person. It was such a filling and satisfying meal. Perfect sandwiches, moist and warm scones, and gorgeous cakes!

Our afternoon tea also comes with free flow of tea. My partner has Earl Grey and I had Buddha's Tears (white tea)

The white tea was just so FRAGRANT and it goes perfectly with a bit of sugar. I strongly recommend this tea for tea lovers.

The table setting was immaculate as well. Beautiful teapots and teacups. Felt so pampered :)

Reservations are strongly recommended for weekends, high tea at $38 per person, mid-week for $33 per person.

I will definitely go back to this place again, strongly recommended for a romantic day out, girls day out, or just to have some tea and cakes!

Click on this link for their menu: http://www.peninsulateagardens.com/menu.html

Location: Tranby Farm, Johnson Road, Maylands

Website: http://www.peninsulateagardens.com/

Rating: 4.5/5

Singapore - Koi Bubble Tea

2010-07-25T16:38:00.000+08:00

Koi Cafe has taken over Singapore's bubble tea scene recently. Even people who dont drink bubble tea start loving bubble tea after this!

I know that katong, toa payoh, ang mo kio, bishan, chinatown and bugis (iluma) have branches.

The difference between koi cafe and other bubble tea:

lots of tiny bubble tea pearls

more expensive

more "fragrant" as the taste of the tea was stronger

milky!

crazy queue

This was definitely worth the money if there is no queue, i dont know why i lined up 30 minutes just to get a cup! Talk about peer pressure...haha

It is nice though and I love the chewy small pearls, yummmyyy

Location: All over Singapore

Rating: 4/5

Best Chocolate Ever!

2010-07-24T19:54:00.000+08:00

Bought 2 boxes of Royce Chocolate from Singapore. This "mousse" chocolate originates from Japan and there is a branch in Ion Orchard.

When I first tried this chocolate years ago, i was amazed! These soft, rich chocolate cubes dusted with cocoa powder melts in your mouth. It is unlike any other chocolate I have tried before!

Before you buy you can even ask for samples and have a taste. I bought the champagne and original flavour.

Chocolate lovers must try this chocolate if they see Royce!

Location: Singapore, Ion Orchard

Rating: 4.5/5

Singapore - Hainanese Chicken Rice

2010-07-12T22:44:00.001+08:00

Singapore is well-known for their local delicacies and Hainanese Chicken Rice is one of them. This store located on the fifth floor of Far East Plaza is one that i frequent back when I was in secondary school.

Actually the one i used to go was on the second floor, no one knows where they are now

This chicken rice is famous too, plus it is inexpensive!

Here we ordered a plate of veggies with oyster sauce, steamed chicken, roast chicken, with 2 plates of steamy fragrant chicken rice. On top of that, you get your usual dark sauce and garlic chilli sauce to go with the tender and juicy chicken. Total cost - $11 for 2 people

Must try if you are in singapore!

Far East Plaza is in the shopping district Orchard Road, and it is hard to find cheap eats around that area.

Rating: 4/5

Gucce in Applecross

2010-06-28T21:54:00.000+08:00

hello is anyone still reading this blog?

yes i am in the middle of my internship and the longer working hours, hustling bustling of a big city is taking a toll on me. i have no time to blog, shop, hang out etc.

but i found some time today and i dont have to bring work home (who the hell ots during internship!?!) so i can blog! i've totally forgot what i've eaten but i remember the taste!

went to gucce at applecross

(need to cut the long story short as it is a rat race again tomorrow!)

Red Ferrari - $14

what a refreshing and fruity cocktail. i don't drink much but i really like the taste of this, could easily finish it

Martini - $14

oooo im starting to love martinis too!

Tasting Plate

this was alright, the combination was good, food was fresh, nothing spectacular though.

Garlic Pizza

the base was handmade, it was so fluffy and light, and the garlic seasoning was just nice, not overwhelming. please order this!!

their pizzas are awesome

this was some seafood pasta, it was good too. tossed with olive oil and garlic, with heaps of fresh seafood.

Tiramisu

I enjoed the dessert too!

what a wonderful meal and good for people living in south of the river, plenty of free parking too.

Rating: 4.5/5

93169311

36 Ardross St

Applecross

CNR James + Lake

2010-06-11T14:11:00.002+08:00

Short note: Dear readers, i apologise as i have not updated this blog as frequent as before as I was busy with my exams. I just finished my FINAL exam paper in my LLB and my 5.5years of university is finally over. WOOHOO!! However, I will be going to Singapore for a one month internship. Don't worry I still have a lot of perth posts that I have backlogged and i will still continue posting on this blog. I will also share my food adventures in singapore with all of you while I am there! So don't think i've neglected this blog because there are no frequent posts. =) take care everybody and stay warm this winter.

I decided to check out this funky and modern looking cafe in Northbridge one morning before work.

Haven't been to Northbridge for quite a while but this was my usual dinner hangout when i was in high school. Northbridge has changed quite a bit! This area where the cafe is, is newly developed and looks spectacular. Perth's chinatown really needs more developments like that, it looks so neglected and abandoned. There is a large tv screen too for morning news (which no one was watching or nobody cares) and i heard it will display all the world cup matches! I think there is a potential that northbridge is going to be a hip place and people will discover the beauty of it! -- i think it may even be happening now.

This cafe looks beautiful and spacious from the outside, and inside it gives a very casual feeling with modern architecture. Magazines and newspapers were provided and there is also a big alfresco area for coffeelovers to sit and people-watch

can you see the menu on the board?

Once we stepped into the cafe (it was still empty as it was really early) we were greeted by a warm welcome, the owner (i presume) said "good morning", what a friendly dude, great start to the day!

My Latte (Five Senses Coffee)

Heart-shaped pattern on the froth - this is what i need every morning so i will not be so grumpy at work. LOL Anyway, they use Five Senses Coffee ( i was shrieking with joy when i found out because i didnt know they serve that until i saw their menu). I was also watching the barista during the coffee making process (it was very obvious he takes pride in making coffee and everything was really detailed). He poured the five sense coffee beans into the machine (freshly grind beans in your cup every time!) and the milk is good quality too as i used to work in iga, im pretty sure! not the usual milk we buy at home. Then he proceed to make the coffee presentable and plays with the design on the froth. This is definitely a GREAT place for coffee and it was velvety smooth and is of perfect temperature. While we were having breakfast, a few regulars came to take away coffee, obviously with the good service and coffee, this place is a hit. Can't believe i didn't find out about this place sooner.

Hot Chocolate

The hot chocolate was rich and delicious, perfect drink for the cold windy morning

Mushrooms and Bacon on ciabatta bread with fetta on top $15.50

The serving was really generous in this cafe. The mushrooms were big and fresh and was a good combination with the fetta

Eggs Benedict $14.50

One of our must-order breakfast favourites is eggs benedict. The hollandaise sauce was served at the side for this one, and the toast was crispy and fresh out of the oven.

The Sink - $19

Free range eggs, bacon, mushroom, tomatoes, sausage, potato gratin on sourdough toast

My friend's over which is the 'big breakfast' kinda dish where you just want everything onto your plate. haha the serving was really generous, looks much bigger in real life.

This is such a good place for coffee and breakfast. Their coffee was amazing and the staff were attentive and cheerful, it was a cafe bursting with positive energy. Perfect place to start your day :)

I can't wait to go back for my next cup of coffee.

Location: 44 Lake Street, Northbridge (opposite time zone)

Rating: 4.5/5

MissFattyFoodie - How to Make Your Own Sushi Platter

2010-06-06T21:11:00.002+08:00

**this post contains a lot of photos**

Today I'm going to show you how I make sushi. This was the method my Japanese auntie taught my mum, then my mum passed on the recipe to me. Recently, a few of my friends have been telling me that they cannot make sushi, one of them even bought the sushi kit but said she did not manage to make it. So I decided to do a post on making sushi and I hope this post will help beginners like myself who want to try making their own sushi.

I find making sushi really easy and fun! It doesn't have to be the exact shape with those served in restaurants, you can make them anyway you want. You can even use a piece of seaweed, slab some rice on top and add the ingredients -- the japanese do this kind of sushi which was so easy and no skill is needed.

for example, this was the xmas party my cousins and auntie in japan held for me on my last day in japan last year. There were a lot of sandwiches, cake and a sweet potato pie...yummy. and there was a DIY sushi (i forgot the term in japanese) where you just choose whatever you want and roll it up, so easy anyone can make it!

my cousin demonstrating how to make a sushi, get a piece of seaweed, spread it with sushi rice

choose the ingredient you want, here she put some ham and egg, then roll it up and eat it.

that was the EASIEST way of eating sushi, not difficult right? Now i will try to show you how i make my sushi, a bit like the restaurant style without the sushi chef's skills

you will need rice vinegar, or sushi seasoning. For 3 cups of rice, you probably need to add, into hot rice, about half a cup of the rice vinegar (or sushi seasoning), 3 tablespoon of sugar, and half a table spoon of salt. Mix it into the rice in a manner where you do not 'break' and turn the rice into a big mush. The idea is to cool the rice down while seasoning it, and make the rice grains separate from one another. You can then add more sugar/vinegar/salt to taste. I personally like my rice a bit sweeter.

Then prepare your ingredients. I made Teriyaki chicken (just marinate the chicken with teriyaki sauce), crabstick, cucumber, egg custard, corn + mayo. You can add other things that you like, if you have fancy tastebuds you can add high quality caviar, fresh salmon ... or just canned tuna with mayo is yummy too. I also bought a pack of seaweed, and the seasoned beancurd skin to make the beancurd sushi (i dunno the name in japanese)

The egg custard sushi is one of my favourite! It is not difficult to make at all. I will show you how!

Recipe passed down by my auntie during my last trip to japan:

3 eggs, 1/2 tea spoon salt, 1 tbspoon sugar - whisk it all together

Then you need to get a pan to make the egg custard, it has to be squarish or like the one below. I bought mine in japan for about aud$3 =)

I have tried to make this with a round pan before and it works fine, it is the same method, but you dont have to roll the egg, just make it into a semi circle where you fold the 'circle' into halves each time... this is really difficult to explain....but maybe try youtube.

So pour a thin layer onto the pan (medium heat), when it is almost cook (not completely so still slightly wet) you 'roll' the egg onto one side of the pan. Spread oil on the empty side, and pour another thin layer. Then when it is almost cook, roll the 'cooked egg' to the new side. Keep repeating till you get a roll of egg custard the size you want. (I think i only made it with about 4-5 layers)

This is also perfect for Bento or just as a side dish, not just for sushi

To make Nigiri sushi (the kind with the ingredients on top of the sushi not in the middle), i bought this sushi aid from Daiso which is about aud$1+, that shop is amazing, everything costs 100yen or AUD$1+.

Rolled Sushi - step by step instruction.

Spread about 3/4 of the seaweed with a thin layer of sushi rice (make sure the rice has cooled down first (but still warm) if not the seaweed will become really soggy). Line the middle of the rice with the ingredients you have prepared and sliced into long and thing strips. Then roll it with a sushi mat while applying constant moderate pressure - to hold everything together

roll it roll it! then press it gently after each complete 'roll' to make the sushi compact. Use a really sharp knife to slice the sushi, and you can get a glass of water to dip your knife in each time you slice a piece, this is to ensure that the rice won't stick to the knife and each slice is 'clean' and perfect

For the nigiri sushi, cut up the seaweed into strips and wrap it around the rice you have made earlier (you can try to make it with your hands without the aid, but i find it so difficult). Then i add my premade mayo+ corn kernels - one of my favourite sushi! I think japanese mayo tastes better with the sushi too, as it is saltier and more 'eggy' (get your friend/partner/family to help you make this while you make the rolled sushi so everyone can participate, and it is really fun! )

The sweet beancurd sushi, I just have to open the beancurd skin and put sushi rice inside! The marinated beancurd skin can be bought in most asian shops. Tastes exactly the same, and you have to pay 5 times the price if you eat these babies in a restaurant.

Then I arrange the sushi into platter style. The plate is also from Daiso $1+ so cheap. Going back to singapore to get more household items from there!

Pack some into the bento and bring it for lunch the next day~!

Not bad huh? I am quite proud of what I made considering I am still a sushi noob. If you are japanese or an expert in making sushi, please dont laugh at my platter or method. I am very proud of it!!

Hope you enjoyed reading this post as it was my pleasure to share this with all of you

Have a nice longggg weekend everyone!

Fremantle - Soho Burger

2010-06-04T16:30:00.000+08:00

I have walked past Soho Burger a couple of times in Fremantle and I decided to give it a try! The interior is very modern and inviting. Cut the long story short, my main aim was to try their burgers which are the restaurant's specialty.

Bowl of chips with homemade tomato ketchup $7

Ordered chips to go with the burgers. The serving was so generous we could not finish it. I have not tried chips that taste like that, they are apparently double fried, but it doesnt taste oily at all. In fact they are crispy, a bit dry and crumbly, tastes like it has been air fried or something. Not bad!

Beef and Reef -

Beef pattie, crispy bacon, fresh grilled pineapple and garlic mayonnaise - $15.50

The burger was nicely presented with a skewer to hold it together, and a row of grilled prawns on the top. It looked very appealing, and my partner liked the beef pattie which was a bit mushy for me. The bread was warm and fresh too.

Chicken Shroomer -

grilled chicken breast, big mushroom, caramelised onion and homemade coleslaw - $16.90

This was my order, the coleslaw was supposed to be IN the burger and it was nice! The chicken was a bit dry though but the combination of fresh ingredients was delicious!

Looks like the burgers in this place are more towards the 'gourmet' and healthier side instead of the fatty over-the-top burgers that I was expecting (and looking forward too). It was a pleasant meal, the restaurant was beautiful and the service was great. There was an open kitchen too where you can see the chefs in action.

It is a nice place to dine in too with a wide selection of alcohol and other drinks.

Rating: 3.5/5

Opening hours: mon - sun 11.30 am - 9pm

Location: 16 South Terrace, Fremantle (beside timezone)

Website: http://www.sohoburgers.com/

Make your own Harajuku Crepe

2010-06-02T21:52:00.001+08:00

You know when you are just having the television on at the background so the house will not seem so quiet? I was having one of those day, when suddenly this cute chef on the tv was making crepes! Thank god my foxtel iq allows me to rewind the channel so I could write down the recipe (it's so easy you won't believe it, scroll down to see)

The BEST crepe i've ever had in my life was in this really famous Harajuku crepe shop. (angel hearts or something)

I had the one with half baked cheesecake, whipped cream, strawberry and strawberry sauce. This was wrapped with a freshly made, warm and spongy yet thin crepe.

BEST CREPE IN MY WORLD

ok so i tried to make one too following the recipe i've just written down. i mixed the milk, 2 eggs, caster sugar and plain flour all together, hand whipped it till there is consistency.

slice some bananas

watch out for dogs walking around the kitchen, trying to trip you whenever you cook

going to make nutella and banana crepe since i have those ingredients at home, and i have never tried this flavour before (shame on me)

luckily the ingredients were cheap, because the first crepe turned out like this:

this is not good....

second crepe: much better. it was really so fun making this, laughed so hard the whole night because we had zero skills. it was really not easy flipping the thin and soft crepe, so we actually used our fingers to flip the crepe :P be careful not to burn yourself, very dangerous way of cooking but it was worth it -- do it on your own risk yea?

lie it gently onto a plate, spread nutella slowly if not the crepe will break (i obviously learnt this from mistake), place the bananas and spray the whipped cream

YUMMO!

nom nom nom. midnight snack all in my belly

dont throw away the broken crepes because you can practice flipping with them. the chef on the tv just flipped it over with no effort, i cannot do ittttttttttttttttt :(

the crepe has lost its decent round shape mid air - fail!

I clinged wrap the left over and made savoury crepe the next morning. added cheese and ham

cheap and simple. very delicious and it was so fun making it, because crepe is one of those 'good mood' food to reward your taste buds.

go try it! this crepe is soft and spongey, very similar to the harajuku one. the ones i try in australia are quite dry, and it not very spongey, so i am really pleased with this one

use a non-stick pan, i actually use a $5 pan from ikea, which ive used for a few years, and replaced it again because it is so cheap, and the size is just right to make something small. i will try to master flipping the crepe in the air next time

Ingredients (enough to make 6 crepes):

1 cup milk

2 eggs

2tbspoon caster sugar

2tbs cocoa (optional if you want chocolate crepe i did not add this)

1/2 cup plain flour

Method:

just whisk everything together until smooth

heat up a nonstick pan with a bit of oil (medium heat)

then pour a thin layer of batter onto the pan

turn the crepe over when the batter is ready

add any topping you like!

some suggestions off the top of my head :

cream cheese, salmon, spinach

cheese, periperi chicken, lettuce

chocolate cream, cherries and whipped cream

strawberry and cream like the harajuku style

whipped cream, kiwi fruit and honey

Armando Pasta Recipe

2010-06-01T22:25:00.001+08:00

One simple pasta recipe that was introduced by the famous Armando himself on the food channel.

It is so easy to make, yet creamy and delish!

make sure your egg yolk is RUNNY and not like mine, it was overcooked. bleah.

From memory

What your need (to serve two):

a bit of bacon and mushroom

minced garlic

one egg each

1/2 cup of cream

salt

fettucine

Method:

fry the garlic with bacon and add the mushroom last.

pour in the cream and as soon as it thickens slightly, turn off the stove

fry an egg with runny yolk - do not overcook

Strain pasta, and mix it with the sauce

add salt to taste

Top it off with the egg, cut the egg and mix the yolk throughout the pasta

sprinkle parmesan on top

do you like my super simplified recipe? hahaha that was all, so easy anyone can make it! very yummy too.

Quack quack quack...

2010-06-01T16:53:00.001+08:00

Was studying at home when my dogs went crazy outside. My instinct was right, there were intruders in the house! Except these intruders can fly.

there were two of them on the fence and my dogs just couldn't let them go.

Anyway i finished my second last paper of my degree yesterday and I really can't wait to graduate!!

Perth - Phong Vinh

2010-05-31T16:24:00.001+08:00

Phong Vinh is one of the newer Vietnamese restaurants in Northbridge. With so many well-established restaurants around, Phong Vinh still manages to stand out and have people rave about it! So I've decided to give it a try one day to see for myself.

It is located along William Street just next to Dominos. Very well-lit and spacious restaurant.

It is very clean inside too with lots of table. My other favourite Vietnamese restaurant is Tra Vinh. Both restaurants are strikingly similar! With the same variety of sauces available and almost the same menu. I wonder if they are opened by the same owner.

Fried Rice with Crispy Chicken $10

The fried rice was flavoursome, evenly mixed with all sorts of sauces to create this tasty dish. This is not ordinary fried chicken, vietnamese fried chicken is different as they really DEEP FRIED, even the bones are breakable. It was really crispy and went well with the sauce provided.

Rice Vermicelli With Grilled Pork (dry) $9.50

Bun Thit Nuong

This was my order. My friend who recently came to Perth for a visit introduced me this dish (she used to study in perth). It was such a refreshing dish as it is a cold dish, and sort of like a vietnamese salad with lots of lettuce, vermicelli (thin rice noodles) and other vegetables, topped with cut up grilled pork. There is special sauce (sweet and slightly tangy) to drizzle over the pork and vermicelli. The pork was perfectly grilled, with a slightly 'flame-grilled' taste to it. It was well marinated and tender.

I have actually dined here quite often but I did not bring my camera as I always eat the same thing! The food is almost identical with Tra Vinh's except this restaurant is newer, and there is no surcharge for EFTPOS under $30. Parking can be a pain in the ass unless you don't mind the walk. Both are very authentic vietnamese restaurants as they are always full of vietnamese, which is a good sign! They are my top 2 favourite Vietnamese restaurant so far.

Rating: 4.5/5

Tel: 9228 8238

Location: 3/ 323 William St, Northbridge WA 6003

Closed on Thursday.

Mon - Wed 10am - 9pm

Fri to Sun - 10am - 10pm

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