The little basil I bought (n_n)/
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
The little basil I bought (n_n)/
Ever since hubby and I started our life in Melbourne, we get many questions from curious friends and family. How is it like there? Is there chinese food? How is the weather like? Is working life more balance? Etc etc etc...
Of so many questions of the curious I received, this is the one I get most frequent...
"Are there durians in Melbourne????"
Well, to answer your question, I'll just let the pictures do the taking.
Ta-da!! Durians on sale. Imported all the way from Thailand. Not so sure it's cheaper than M'sia. It was on sale in an air-conditioned supermarket, i.e. Woolsworth (Jusco/Carrefour/Tesco equivalent). And there's no smell at all. So, from the display saying "Ripe when fruit exudes a strong smell", I think it's not ripe yet.
Ta-da!! Durians nicely wrapped individually.
Durians are heaty. So get some coconut drink!
Of so many questions of the curious I received, this is the one I get most frequent...
"Are there durians in Melbourne????"
Well, to answer your question, I'll just let the pictures do the taking.
Ta-da!! Durians on sale. Imported all the way from Thailand. Not so sure it's cheaper than M'sia. It was on sale in an air-conditioned supermarket, i.e. Woolsworth (Jusco/Carrefour/Tesco equivalent). And there's no smell at all. So, from the display saying "Ripe when fruit exudes a strong smell", I think it's not ripe yet.
Ta-da!! Durians nicely wrapped individually.
Durians are heaty. So get some coconut drink!
On the Friday of my first week of working, I decided to join 2 of my colleagues for lunch. I thought it'll be nice to take some initiatives to bond with them.
They bought me to a Mexican restaurant call Mexicali Rose. But it's not the great yummy food that awed us the most. And, no, not the colourful interior of the restaurant.
It was the SPECIAL chili sauce they're selling...
Super duper HOT & SPICY chili sauce...
So HOT, they called it the "Death Sauce".
Don't believe me?
*ahem*
There's a few level of "deaths", i.e.: Original, After Death, Sudden Death, Mega Death, Death Rain, Ultra Death, etc.
Pure Death. I heard this one is the latest addition.
Closer look. I no like scary skull face (=,=)
Ingredients... super chilies and their seeds. No wonder it's so hot.
Oh ya, they even have a website.
For more information, visit www.deathsauce.com.au
In case you're wondering... no, I didn't purchase any of them... and no, I didn't bother to try to taste either :P
They bought me to a Mexican restaurant call Mexicali Rose. But it's not the great yummy food that awed us the most. And, no, not the colourful interior of the restaurant.
It was the SPECIAL chili sauce they're selling...
Super duper HOT & SPICY chili sauce...
So HOT, they called it the "Death Sauce".
Don't believe me?
*ahem*
There's a few level of "deaths", i.e.: Original, After Death, Sudden Death, Mega Death, Death Rain, Ultra Death, etc.
Pure Death. I heard this one is the latest addition.
Closer look. I no like scary skull face (=,=)
Ingredients... super chilies and their seeds. No wonder it's so hot.
Oh ya, they even have a website.
For more information, visit www.deathsauce.com.au
In case you're wondering... no, I didn't purchase any of them... and no, I didn't bother to try to taste either :P
Yesterday, I attempted to cook my mom's dishes again. This time, I rang her up (I'm using a phone card: DayBreak) to get to know in details of the recipe.
Thus, yesterday dinner was:
1) Sweet and sour, tomato sauce, pork chop.
Mom's recipe:
- Pound pork chop like crazy. Marinate with oyster sauce and a bit of sugar, for 30 minutes or more.
- Before pan-frying, coat pork chop with corn floor.
- Pan-fried porkie till golden brown. Take out from pan.
- For the sauce, stir fry some chopped chillies and onions, and some of those peas and corn bits. Then, pour in the ketchup and water. Add sugar to taste. Add a bit of corn floor to thicken the sauce.
The result!!! Yummy porkie chop in sweet and sour tomato sauce!!
2) Stir-fry leek and carrot with minced porkie
Mom's recipe
- Marinate minced pork with soya sauce, oyster sauce and a bit of sugar for 30 minutes or more.
- Stir fry minced pork till cooked.
- Add in chopped leeks. Stir stir stir. Fry fry fry.
- Add in chopped carrots. Stir stir stir. Fry fry fry.
- Add oyster sauce and water. Stir stir stir. Fry fry fry.
- Put on the lid for about 30 sec - 1 minute.
The end result. I kinda overcooked the vege :( That's because I FORGOT about the minced meat!!! I cooked the vege WITHOUT the meat.. Then I have to scoop up all the vege and then start all over again.
3) Steam eggie with minced porkie
Mom's recipe
- Beat 1 salted egg and 2 eggs in a bowl. Add a little of water.
- Pour egg mixture onto bowl with minced pork.
- Heat wok with water. Once the water starts to boil, put in the bowl onto the stand on the wok. Put on the lid.
- Steam for 15 minutes.
- When done, add in some soya sauce and pepper to taste.
This is my SECOND attempt. And the looks is alot better than my first (n_n)/ However, there's no salted egg in my second attempt. So the taste is not as nice as the first.
First attempt. Look at its super rough surface. And the minced meat kinda hard. That's because I pressed it down unto the bowl. Wrong move. Mom said that the minced meat supposed to be light so that the eggs can go in between them.
Second attempt. Hmmm, looks better. But eggs kinda hard. Lack of water. And lack of the salted egg taste.
Dinner is served!
Thus, yesterday dinner was:
1) Sweet and sour, tomato sauce, pork chop.
Mom's recipe:
- Pound pork chop like crazy. Marinate with oyster sauce and a bit of sugar, for 30 minutes or more.
- Before pan-frying, coat pork chop with corn floor.
- Pan-fried porkie till golden brown. Take out from pan.
- For the sauce, stir fry some chopped chillies and onions, and some of those peas and corn bits. Then, pour in the ketchup and water. Add sugar to taste. Add a bit of corn floor to thicken the sauce.
The result!!! Yummy porkie chop in sweet and sour tomato sauce!!
2) Stir-fry leek and carrot with minced porkie
Mom's recipe
- Marinate minced pork with soya sauce, oyster sauce and a bit of sugar for 30 minutes or more.
- Stir fry minced pork till cooked.
- Add in chopped leeks. Stir stir stir. Fry fry fry.
- Add in chopped carrots. Stir stir stir. Fry fry fry.
- Add oyster sauce and water. Stir stir stir. Fry fry fry.
- Put on the lid for about 30 sec - 1 minute.
The end result. I kinda overcooked the vege :( That's because I FORGOT about the minced meat!!! I cooked the vege WITHOUT the meat.. Then I have to scoop up all the vege and then start all over again.
3) Steam eggie with minced porkie
Mom's recipe
- Beat 1 salted egg and 2 eggs in a bowl. Add a little of water.
- Pour egg mixture onto bowl with minced pork.
- Heat wok with water. Once the water starts to boil, put in the bowl onto the stand on the wok. Put on the lid.
- Steam for 15 minutes.
- When done, add in some soya sauce and pepper to taste.
This is my SECOND attempt. And the looks is alot better than my first (n_n)/ However, there's no salted egg in my second attempt. So the taste is not as nice as the first.
First attempt. Look at its super rough surface. And the minced meat kinda hard. That's because I pressed it down unto the bowl. Wrong move. Mom said that the minced meat supposed to be light so that the eggs can go in between them.
Second attempt. Hmmm, looks better. But eggs kinda hard. Lack of water. And lack of the salted egg taste.
Dinner is served!
After dinner (see: Fifth Birthday Pressie), we went for supper at Brunetti.
Ahhh... heaven for sweet-tooth mammals like myself... Every sight, smell, bite is like heaven on earth...
THANK YOU HENNLEY, DEVIN & HUBBY ... again (n_n)/
Look at those cakes, pastries, chocolates... I can't seem to choose...
*Gasp* MORE cakes and pastries and everything sweet and yummy!! So much yummies, so little me...
This is JUST one row of them.
This is what we had (clockwise from top left): Tiramisu, Royale (chocolate and almond cake with dark chocolate mousse), I-can't-remember-but-it's-sure-tasted-very-yummy, strawberry cheese cake.
For more information, location and menu:
Brunetti's website: http://www.brunetti.com.au/
Oh ya. The next day, I had sore throat, followed by mild fever, cough and flu. Too much chocolates for one day :P
Ahhh... heaven for sweet-tooth mammals like myself... Every sight, smell, bite is like heaven on earth...
THANK YOU HENNLEY, DEVIN & HUBBY ... again (n_n)/
Look at those cakes, pastries, chocolates... I can't seem to choose...
*Gasp* MORE cakes and pastries and everything sweet and yummy!! So much yummies, so little me...
This is JUST one row of them.
This is what we had (clockwise from top left): Tiramisu, Royale (chocolate and almond cake with dark chocolate mousse), I-can't-remember-but-it's-sure-tasted-very-yummy, strawberry cheese cake.
For more information, location and menu:
Brunetti's website: http://www.brunetti.com.au/
Oh ya. The next day, I had sore throat, followed by mild fever, cough and flu. Too much chocolates for one day :P
My fifth birthday pressie are from my dear friends (who're STILL hosting us at the moment) and my hubby (n_n)/
We had Italian for dinner. We went to Papa Gino's at Lygon Street for pizzas and pasta!
THANK YOU HENNLEY, DEVIN & HUBBY (n_n)/
The menu... Yummy pizzas and pasta!
The environment. You can see how good is their business, the place is packed with people. Casual dining ambiance. And you can hear lotsa happy people laughing loudly. BWAHAHAHA~
Complimentary bread and butter. The white bread is really soft. Could be better if they toast them with garlic butter.
Seafood marinara spaghetti. Yummy. But wish there were more sauce.
Mexican pizza. Spicy salami with capsicum and ham. Nice!!
Chicken pizza. Lots of crunchy chicken bits and yummy BBQ sauce.
For more information, location and menu:
Papa Gino's website: http://www.papaginos.com.au/
Address and contact:
221 Lygon Street
Carlton, VIC 3053
Melbourne, Australia
Phone: 03 9347 5758
Fax: 03 9347 5757
We had Italian for dinner. We went to Papa Gino's at Lygon Street for pizzas and pasta!
THANK YOU HENNLEY, DEVIN & HUBBY (n_n)/
The menu... Yummy pizzas and pasta!
The environment. You can see how good is their business, the place is packed with people. Casual dining ambiance. And you can hear lotsa happy people laughing loudly. BWAHAHAHA~
Complimentary bread and butter. The white bread is really soft. Could be better if they toast them with garlic butter.
Seafood marinara spaghetti. Yummy. But wish there were more sauce.
Mexican pizza. Spicy salami with capsicum and ham. Nice!!
Chicken pizza. Lots of crunchy chicken bits and yummy BBQ sauce.
For more information, location and menu:
Papa Gino's website: http://www.papaginos.com.au/
Address and contact:
221 Lygon Street
Carlton, VIC 3053
Melbourne, Australia
Phone: 03 9347 5758
Fax: 03 9347 5757
When we're choosing cookware, the only that concerns us the most if the quality of the nonstick cookware.
There were many questions raised regarding the safety of the nonstick cookware, especially in regards of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (also known as C-8). It is a chemical used to bond the nonstick coating to the cookware. This chemical may have link to causing cancer, birth defects, and so on.
So, before buying any cookware, please do some research on the material and chemical used to make the cookware.
Some interesting sites you may want to visit:
- Common Materials of Cookware
- Choosing Nonstick Cookware - Part 1
- Choosing Nonstick Cookware - Part 2
- Is Nonstick Cookware Safe?
- Top 10 Ways to Ruin a Nonstick Pan
There were many questions raised regarding the safety of the nonstick cookware, especially in regards of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (also known as C-8). It is a chemical used to bond the nonstick coating to the cookware. This chemical may have link to causing cancer, birth defects, and so on.
So, before buying any cookware, please do some research on the material and chemical used to make the cookware.
Some interesting sites you may want to visit:
- Common Materials of Cookware
- Choosing Nonstick Cookware - Part 1
- Choosing Nonstick Cookware - Part 2
- Is Nonstick Cookware Safe?
- Top 10 Ways to Ruin a Nonstick Pan
My fourth birthday pressie came from my hubby.
We went to David Jones and bought ourselves knives set and cookware set. It was on sale, so we got it for a good bargain!
Though they're pricier than home brand products, but it's worth it considering that we're going to use it for a very loooooong time. And a big, great motivation for me to cook (n_n)/
The Circulon Infinite cookware set.
And the Mundial 5100 Black knives set
We went to David Jones and bought ourselves knives set and cookware set. It was on sale, so we got it for a good bargain!
Though they're pricier than home brand products, but it's worth it considering that we're going to use it for a very loooooong time. And a big, great motivation for me to cook (n_n)/
The Circulon Infinite cookware set.
And the Mundial 5100 Black knives set
My third birthday pressie is from the church we're currently attending. No, they do not who we are. And no, they do not know that it was my birthday.
They were launching the church new name and extended the number of services to 3 (1 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday). Thus, they were serving finger foods.. such as... chocolates, cakes, pastries, chocolates, mousse, hotdogs, chocolates, salami, biscuits, chocolates, and so on...
And I had sooooooo much chocolates! It's like a dream come true! And there's even chocolate mousse, which I have been craving for a long time. Yummy! (n_n)/
They were launching the church new name and extended the number of services to 3 (1 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday). Thus, they were serving finger foods.. such as... chocolates, cakes, pastries, chocolates, mousse, hotdogs, chocolates, salami, biscuits, chocolates, and so on...
And I had sooooooo much chocolates! It's like a dream come true! And there's even chocolate mousse, which I have been craving for a long time. Yummy! (n_n)/
Before we came to Australia, my uni-friends wanted to organize a farewell dinner for me. So, my pregnant friend suggested Nandos.
"Nandos is yummy!" she exclaimed, "and you'll going to miss it... because there is NO Nandos in Australia. So better have your last Nandos meal before you go".
Well, we didn't really have Nandos in the end...
But, I did get a chance to eat Nandos in Melbourne. In fact, there're plenty of Nandos restaurants in Victoria alone.
The sauces
His Nandos meal. Pathetic. I wondered if it's really chicken. I think it's pigeon. And there's only ONE side dish, which does not taste great. Malaysia's Nandos has TWO side dishes. With a BIGGER chicken. And BETTER side dishes. Argh...
She was right... I do miss Malaysia's Nandos...
For location of Nandos in Victoria, kindly visit their website http://www.nandos.com.au/.
"Nandos is yummy!" she exclaimed, "and you'll going to miss it... because there is NO Nandos in Australia. So better have your last Nandos meal before you go".
Well, we didn't really have Nandos in the end...
But, I did get a chance to eat Nandos in Melbourne. In fact, there're plenty of Nandos restaurants in Victoria alone.
The sauces
His Nandos meal. Pathetic. I wondered if it's really chicken. I think it's pigeon. And there's only ONE side dish, which does not taste great. Malaysia's Nandos has TWO side dishes. With a BIGGER chicken. And BETTER side dishes. Argh...
She was right... I do miss Malaysia's Nandos...
For location of Nandos in Victoria, kindly visit their website http://www.nandos.com.au/.
One Australian culture that we find hard to adapt is their lunch time. Since I'm still unemployed, it's not applicable to me... yet.
Our friends in Melbourne did warn us about the lunch culture here. We did listen, but I think we took it very lightly.
So, about 3-4 weeks ago, hubby started his first day at work here in Melbourne. He came back home with a tired and exhausting face that screams "FEED ME!".
"Darling," he said, "people here do NOT eat lunch!!".
Well, technically, they DO eat something for lunch. Majority of the people here do not go out and have lunch. They usually pack their lunch from home. They'll have their lunch (usually fruits, salads, sandwiches or light snack bars) at the convenience of their workstation.
OH GOSH... How one normal human being be fed with such LITTLE food. Those to me are just appetizer.
Back in Malaysia, we usually step out of our office, walk to somewhere and have our lunch. Back in HL days, we'll have our yummy claypot chicken rice and soup. YUMS!
Anyway, hubby and I are still adapting to the culture here. What we usually do, is that I'll cook extra for tonight's dinner and pack some for his lunch the next day.
This is his lunch set for today. Made fully with lotsa love!
Rice with cute cherry tomatoes, boiled broccoli, baked chicken and ABC chilli sauce sambal asli (a yummy chilli sauce from Indonesia).
Side view...
Ahhhh~ so much LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE in one lunch box (n_n)/
I'm just so proud of myself!!
Our friends in Melbourne did warn us about the lunch culture here. We did listen, but I think we took it very lightly.
So, about 3-4 weeks ago, hubby started his first day at work here in Melbourne. He came back home with a tired and exhausting face that screams "FEED ME!".
"Darling," he said, "people here do NOT eat lunch!!".
Well, technically, they DO eat something for lunch. Majority of the people here do not go out and have lunch. They usually pack their lunch from home. They'll have their lunch (usually fruits, salads, sandwiches or light snack bars) at the convenience of their workstation.
OH GOSH... How one normal human being be fed with such LITTLE food. Those to me are just appetizer.
Back in Malaysia, we usually step out of our office, walk to somewhere and have our lunch. Back in HL days, we'll have our yummy claypot chicken rice and soup. YUMS!
Anyway, hubby and I are still adapting to the culture here. What we usually do, is that I'll cook extra for tonight's dinner and pack some for his lunch the next day.
This is his lunch set for today. Made fully with lotsa love!
Rice with cute cherry tomatoes, boiled broccoli, baked chicken and ABC chilli sauce sambal asli (a yummy chilli sauce from Indonesia).
Side view...
Ahhhh~ so much LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE in one lunch box (n_n)/
I'm just so proud of myself!!
We had Indian food on Sunday night for dinner in Melbourne CBD. It was niceeee... Kinda different from those mamak food in Malaysia. My friends mentioned that it's really authentic Indian food from India.
Our set meals = chicken curry, massala tikka chicken, naan and long grain rice.
Yum yum chicken curry and massala tikka chicken
Each meal comes with lassi... unsweetened lassi. I don't quite like the sourish milk taste. But it's apparently good when you eat spicy food. It's to neutralize the acid of the spicy food.
Naan is nice! It's not so thick and more crunchy.
My bowl of looooooooooong grain rice. The rice is really, really loooong. It's as long as two normal rice. Like bihun chopped into mini pieces...
See how loooooooooooong is the rice @_@
Our set meals = chicken curry, massala tikka chicken, naan and long grain rice.
Yum yum chicken curry and massala tikka chicken
Each meal comes with lassi... unsweetened lassi. I don't quite like the sourish milk taste. But it's apparently good when you eat spicy food. It's to neutralize the acid of the spicy food.
Naan is nice! It's not so thick and more crunchy.
My bowl of looooooooooong grain rice. The rice is really, really loooong. It's as long as two normal rice. Like bihun chopped into mini pieces...
See how loooooooooooong is the rice @_@
Since I'm soooooooooooooo free (yes, still jobless), I've been trying my hands on new variety of food. My friends' unit is equipped with oven, so I tried roasting some meat (n_n)/
Baked pork loin chop with pumpkin and potatoes. YUM! I love the pumpkins. It really tastes nice and sweet.
Baked chicken breast meat with potatoes and bok-choy. Hmmm... kinda dry... I think I should lower down the temperature.
Baked pork loin chop with pumpkin and potatoes. YUM! I love the pumpkins. It really tastes nice and sweet.
Baked chicken breast meat with potatoes and bok-choy. Hmmm... kinda dry... I think I should lower down the temperature.
After church, we went to have our lunch at Springvale. This place is like a Vietnam town, with many restaurants selling authentic Vietnamese cuisines and markets selling Asian food.
We has our lunch here. Food here is yummy!
The taugeh (bean sprout) that comes with our meal. We're supposed to soak it in our noodle soup.
Hers: Beef ball rice-noodle (read: kuey tiew). Rating: Yummy!
His: Beef slice rice-noodle (read: kuey tiew). Rating: Good!
After that, we went grocery shopping in those supermarkets nearby.
Their supermarkets look like those we have in Malaysia.
Lo and behold.... pigggiiesss !! Stomach, intestines, ears, legs, etc.
Beef! Beef! And more beef!!
Fishes everywhere!!
Kuih-muih and snacks, just like those we have in Malaysia, e.g.: sago, 9-layer cake, rice biscuits, etc.
More seafood... prawns, crabs, sotongs, etc.
Sauces, can foods, etc.
We has our lunch here. Food here is yummy!
The taugeh (bean sprout) that comes with our meal. We're supposed to soak it in our noodle soup.
Hers: Beef ball rice-noodle (read: kuey tiew). Rating: Yummy!
His: Beef slice rice-noodle (read: kuey tiew). Rating: Good!
After that, we went grocery shopping in those supermarkets nearby.
Their supermarkets look like those we have in Malaysia.
Lo and behold.... pigggiiesss !! Stomach, intestines, ears, legs, etc.
Beef! Beef! And more beef!!
Fishes everywhere!!
Kuih-muih and snacks, just like those we have in Malaysia, e.g.: sago, 9-layer cake, rice biscuits, etc.
More seafood... prawns, crabs, sotongs, etc.
Sauces, can foods, etc.
My first home-cooked in Melbourne (n_n)/ We went grocery shopping yesterday and bought some chickens, choi-sam and potatoes. And I cooked dinner today. It wasn't as great as my mom's cooking, but I am contented! The taste really reminds me of home.
Stir-fry choi-sam
My mom's "chicken + potato" recipe. Yums! I hope my mom is proud of me.
Stir-fry choi-sam
My mom's "chicken + potato" recipe. Yums! I hope my mom is proud of me.
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