We were wondering where to go for a meal and a gathering on this second day of Chinese New Year and called up a few restaurants to find out if they are opened for business. When we got through to Chef Low Organic Kitchen, we were delighted to know that they open from 6pm onwards and immediately made our booking for 4 people.
We arrived at 6.30 and were glad that the place was only half full and was not rowdy with the CNY crowd.
Without delay we quickly placed our orders which include the "Fatt Choy Yee Sang" which I normally will not miss. It is not that I wish to be prosperous after eating this dish but that I like the accompaniment of the different raw salads that goes with the dish. However, this yee sang is not delectable to my taste buds and as such, do not think I would like to recommend it.
The Beancurd Winter Melon ( Dong Bor RO) was special and tasted really good but portion was a little too small. Nyonya fish was good and the Xiao Bai Cai's portion was more than enough for the four of us.
After settling the bill, it was so nice of the boss to present us with a plate of ''wor tip'' on the house. Thank you. This dessert is normally deep fried but we got was baked and I like it very much as it was light and fluffy and the sweetness was just right.
Baia THE ITALIAN, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney, Australia
Sydney used to be more known for its beaches while Melbourne is more known for its food, cafes and culture. However, Sydney is fast catching up and in recent years, more and more restaurants and cafes have sprouted around the city, making it a city that has everything under the sun. Well, nestled somewhere in the heart of the CBD, we visited Baia, THE ITALIAN on Cockle Bay Wharf. Having the impression that nothing could beat the restaurant standards of the famous Lygon Street in Melbourne, we were not expecting a lot when we decided to dine there. However, we were thrilled to be proven wrong. Read on and I bet that you'll be drooling before reaching the end of this post.
Risotto ai funghi - mushroom risotto $25 Pan roasted porcini mushroom risotto with chives, black truffles and cream fraiche This was a real gem. I normally dislike risottos as I normally find them a little overwhelming in terms of the cream that is used in the dish, however, I am pleased to say that this is one of the best risottos I have had so far. Will have to go to Italy to try out the more traditional and authentic ones before I comment any further :D
Pappardelle alla vegeteriana - $25 Homemade pappardelle with pan-roasted cherry tomatoes soft goats feta, baby spinach and cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. Pappardelles are extra large fettuccine and this is actually our first time trying it. Until today, I think italian pastas only vary in shapes not that much in taste, unlike chinese noodles which is very varied in all color, shape, taste and texture. Apart from the noodles being a little fatter than the usual fettuccine, I did not find this dish to be anything special.
Traditional Tiramisu - $17.50 The famous Italian Tiramisu is really just layers of homemade mascarporne and lady fingers soaked in coffee liquor and served on a lattice of vanilla bean anglaise and dark chocolate. Tiramisus are one of the most easy DIY cakes but I always would like to explore new and different versions to see if there are any rooms for improvements when I next make them. This is a little drier than my tiramisu recipe and is more of a cake than my serve-in-a-dessert-cup-and-eat-with-a-spoon version. So, I guess the art of dining really depends on the individual which version a diner prefers and there isn't really a perfect recipe that would satisfy everyone. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this version of the tiramisu, though I really do prefer like my own version where the cake drowns in coffee liquor as then the aroma of the coffee is so much stronger which then makes it more indulging than the drier version.
Passionfruit Souffle - served with lemon sorbet and fresh passionfruit - $17.50 OMG! This was definitely a dreamy dessert. The souffle arrived at our table feather light and airy. The crispy outer made it almost something to crave for every single day. Served with a dollop of icy lemon sorbet, this dessert is something to die for. Only downside is that I might not want to pay $17.50 for another one in the near future.
Address: Baia THE ITALIAN, 114 Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour, 2000 Sydney, Australia Tel No: 9283 3434
Madeleine's Original Portugese Egg Tart & Puff- Singapore
I had these pictures taken sometime ago when I was in Singapore and we passed by this egg tart shop that does not look impressive at all but was told that they sell really good and tasty egg tarts. So we stopped to buy some to try out. Unfortunately, as it is quite late in the afternoon, only a few tarts are left and we just bought whatever that are left in the trays. We could not wait and once in the car we started eating them immediately and could not agree more with what comments we hear about their tarts. The pastry was so soft and flaky and melt in the mouth as soon as you bite into them and the egg custard was just to the right sweetness.
Name: Madeleine's Original Portugese Egg Tart & Puff Address: 198 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 436997 Tel: +65 6247 9363
No visit to Sydney is complete without dining at the famous Pancakes on the Rocks
No visit to Sydney is complete without savoring the famous pancakes at Pancakes on the Rocks. Conveniently located at the famous "Rocks" of Sydney, about 10 minutes walk from Circular Quay, and open for 24 hours a day, you have no excuse for not being able to make time for the sinful pancakes, but be sure to make a reservation especially if you are planning to dine on a Friday night.
For all the chocoholics out there, this chocolate pancake is definitely a must-try. Two thick pancakes are topped with generous amount of walnuts and drizzled with a sinful amount of chocolate sauce and chocolate ice-cream. This will most certainly complete a chocoholic's visit to Sydney. For those that do not have a sweet tooth for dessert pancakes, fear not, Pancake on the Rocks also serves savory pancakes and I must say this Fresh Mushroom Crepe has got to be one of the best savory pancakes I have ever tasted. The crepes are packed full of fresh mushrooms and goes tremendously well with the fresh cream and spinach sauce. If you are ordering the savory pancakes, make sure you ask for some wedges too. However, you should be aware that having sour cream and sweet chilli on the sides cost an extra $1 each.
White and Red wine that goes perfectly with the pancakes :)
Address: 4 Hickson Rd, The Rocks, Sydney Trading Hours: 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK Phone: 02 9247 6371 | Fax: 02 9252 2900 Email: therocks@pancakesontherocks.com.au Website: http://pancakesontherocks.com.au/home
I have developed an immense love for France. The culture, the food, the breathtaking sights, the people, and the list goes on.
And of course, the french dessert that tops my favorite list is the French Macaroon. They now come in a variety of flavors, pistachio, chocolate, vanilla, blueberry, etc. I opted for the traditional flavor, chocolate. Macaroons are all about their texture. The crispy outer and soft inside instantly combined and melted in my mouth and coated my tongue with a layer of delicious chocolate liquid. This macaroon is not overly sweet, unlike many of the macaroons I have tried back home and makes one craving for another almost instantly. Unfortunately, I was still full from lunch and can only make room for one macaroon this time.
Look at how big it is!
The perfect macaroon
Look at all the delicious French Pastries! I wonder how the French can stay so slim!
Address: 85 Rue Saint Domnique 75007 Paris, France Telephone: 01 45 51 88 77
Deliciously sinful chocolate French Crepes at Au Petit Creux,
Paris - the land of delicious but sinful desserts. If you choose to visit Paris, forget about your dieting plans, it can wait.
The French are so known for their desserts that many actually flock to Paris just to savor all the well known desserts at their native land.
Located at Sacre Coeur, is a little cafe that serves the famous French Crepes. You can choose from a variety of crepes, from crepes that are oozing with melted chocolate to crepes that are packed full of fresh fruits to savory crepes. All crepes are available for takeaway so that you can continue your tourist adventure while savoring the delicious crepes in the busy tourist streets of Montmartre. :D
Look at the chocolate oozing out at the bottom!
This is the famous and breathtakingly beautiful Sacre Coeur and the streets of Montmartre- a free attraction, but make sure you go early to avoid large crowds
Green gourmet St. Leonards Vegetarian Restaurant- Sydney, Australia
Came across this eatery when I was googling for vegetarian food on the Internet, and I must say that it is an awesome find and is a must visit for fellow vegetarians in Sydney. It is actually a vegan Chinese restaurant and offers plenty of healthy and wholesome Chinese food.
On our first visit we had item #38 on the menu, the Lion King claypot comes with heaps of veggies and "fish cakes", not exactly sure what the restaurant calls them, but it tastes like vegetarian fish cakes to me, so don't quote me when you order this dish at the restaurant. We particularly enjoyed this dish a lot and will definitely order this again.
Item 38 on the menu: Lion King Pot - AUD 15.80
The second dish is the Golden Fish which comes in a sweet and spicy sauce. We find it quite tentalizing as this is not the usual type of vegetarian fish we get in Malaysia. It is coated with a layer of yam, which makes it rather special and unique.
Item 40 on the menu: Golden Fish - AUD 15.80
The third dish is recommended by the staff as we requested for a very spicy dish on the menu and he told us that they can make anything in the menu into a spicy dish. So we agreed to order the Spicy Sichuan Eggplant thinking that it would be just eggplant cooked in some Sichuan spicy sauce but regretfully we the dish arrived we were very disappointed as the eggplants were coated with a thick layer of flour and deep fried .... a method which we always disliked. It is our mistake for not enquiring how the dish was to be prepared. We did not like this dish as there was really only a tiny piece of eggplant in the very thickly coated flour. We would rather the chef just cook the plain eggplants in the spicy sauce.
Item 47 on the menu: Spicy Sichuan Eggplant - AUD 15.80
Green Gourmet St. Leonards Address: 538 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW, Australia Tel: 02-9439 6533 Buses that travels on the pacific highway, like M20 will get you to the doorstep of the restaurant :)
Two avid vegetarians are here to share some insights to the world of vegetarianism.
Hopefully, through this site, the lives of some animals can be spared. Always remember, animals have feelings too, they are our friends not our meal.
Name: Madeleine's Original Portugese Egg Tart & Puff
Vegetarian Party
Pot Luck Party