Heartful Food

One word…Cheesegasm!

Cheese on steroids. Yet, not so in-your-face. Smooth, creamy with a slight crust that spreads easily on Cruskits cracker. To be honest when I first tried it, it didn’t immediately win my heart, I guess as well because (and I don’t know why I did it) I took a whiff of it and immediately regretted it….BUT THEN the magic of cream cheese and truffle made a sensation in my mouth and sends my brain craving for more!

This double cream truffle infused cheese is an absolute dream. You really have to try it, if you haven’t. ‘Nuf said.

A little background note to this pic; yes this is Josie’s table I took the picture on. Please excuse the mess and the almost unnoticeable crumb on it 😀

I was taking a slight little mum-break after giving Josie her snack, enjoying my own delicious little cracker snack. My lil missy wondering what on earth is mummy doing, taking quick, shaky snaps while simultaneously munching away, of which I’m sure she wonders why she’s not being given that too 🙂

 

A quick mid-week dinner last Wednesday.

Chatswood, we are so spoiled by choice. Settling for a place to eat is always something Eric & I find hard to quickly decide, there are countless numbers of choices! Anyone else experiencing this? I mean, “what do you feel like eating?” can potentially spark arguments of who chooses what, where to go and so on!

Not this night, we had promptly decided to try this modern Shanghai-nese cuisine, Lilong by Taste of Shanghai. It’s also very conveniently located top floor of The District, above the train station.

The skin of the dumpling deliciously delicate (maybe I was the rough one…hunger dumbs one down) and both pork and vegetable dumplings have generous fillings, glass noodles that give that little bit of texture.

All our dishes have fresh and gentle flavours, what I love about the dishes are they’re not as oily as you’d usually find Chinese dishes to be, and also quite unlikely, they were very generous with the vegetables! This is both negative and positive in my opinion – my tastebuds are used to wanting to have more meats on my dishes, but my gut is thanking the chef for making me eat more veggos.

Verdict : coming back to try their other dishes ❤

Last weekend we just HAD to lunch at Spago, as the previous time we hadn’t tried one of their signature dish – the squid ink spaghetti.

Know the feeling when what you’re getting into, is gonna blow your tastebuds away, BEFORE you eat it?

Your mouth waters even before food is set on the table. Soon as you step into the restaurant. My brain got automatically excited and all the good feels you get *excited wavy hands dance*.

Al dente squid ink pasta enveloped with scrumptious, perfectly cooked crab meat in every bite, melt in your mouth and just as perfectly cooked squid confit just to die for.

All the elements just work together so well – sweet cherry tomatoes, touches of parsley complementing the simplicity and absolute bliss of aglio olio peperoncino sauce and that squeeze of lime all over the dish just lifts the whole experience – an honest, fresh, delicious meal.

The gnocchi like soft and fluffy potato cloud puffs, dressed in cheesy creamy sauce, just a dream to devour, as shown by the customer in below pic 😉

Definitely coming back for MOAARR…..

This post is especially close to my heart as it features my family’s favourite local food places in my hometown, Malang, in the Indonesian province of East Java.

Even as I start to write, good memories of having those meals with my family flood back in my heart and my tummy yearns to gobble all that yumminess!

Eng An Kiong temple hawker place 

A frequent joint my parents go to is this unlikely hawker that is actually placed IN a small carpark, right next to parked cars, underneath a Buddhist temple. Its a make shift, get in-get out kind of place. Comfort and leisure are not what you would expect from dining here but I promise you would not be left with a bitter taste in your mouth.

The pangsit (chicken dumplings) noodles and chicken satay are their must-haves, alongside are dishes such as bakso (meatball soup), their famous rujak cingur (spicy Indonesian tropical fruit and vegetables salad with peanut sauce).

They also serve some refreshing cool drinks and desserts, my all time favourite (3rd picture below) kolak pisang. I was in Malang culinary heaven indeed!

This bowl of fresh egg noodles are dipped quickly into boiling salted water, then fried alongside the minced chicken, doused in soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper and lots of garlic. Mixed with stir fried lettuce leaves (cooked in the same wok after the minced pork for extra flavour), sprinkle freshly chopped onion leaves and top it all off with crispy fried shallots. Accompanying this, a smaller bowl of clear pork broth and 1 or 2 pork dumplings so that you have the option of having the noodles dry or a little more soupy. Every element plays its part in making this such a simple yet mouth watering dish.

It’s a small bowl with big flavours <3, exactly what I, currently in Sydney, am craving BADLY at the mo 😦 Garlicky, well seasoned, delicious slippery noodles that you can slurp and slurp and not get enough. To counter the oiliness, take a bite of the pickled cucumber or pickled green chilli, waiting at the sideline, at your service to refresh your palate for the next few mouthfuls 🙂

Satisfyingly chargrilled, juicy, sweet and savoury with a nice chilli punch. YOMM!

An actual dilemma I faced : do I wait until I finish my pangsit mi? or do I just dive into this satay? Needless to say, the latter.

Coupled with a pile of freshly cooked, steaming jasmine rice, the classic chicken sate is never to be missed. Add on the stir fried red onions and a dash of lime, you’re good to go. What’s a great sate without some fat on it? Each stick has one or two fat cubes on it – DEFINITELY a guilty pleasure, though it just heightens the flavour all the more!

 

Harmoni Cafe & Resto

My mum and sis in law took us to this lovely restaurant and had ordered some of the popular dishes. How can you explain a table full of good food? Just heaven….
The fried rice full of flavour, be-speckled with fried noodles and stir fried shallots and bite sized meatballs.
Grilled rice was done good and proper, the rice still moist with a hint of coconut milk (I suspect?), the fragrant smokiness of the grilled banana leaf adding that extra something to the dish, and of course, the chilli and lime just ties everything together nicely.

The generous glasses of thirst-quenching sweet drinks we’d ordered on such a humid day is a perfect way to end our hot and spicy big lunch. Es Manado and Es Alpukat are classic crowd favourites : the first is ice blended soursop with basil seeds and coconut and red jelly cubes, and condensed milk – absolutely FANTASTICO! And the second is ice blended avocado with a shot of coffee and chocolate syrup, and of course condensed milk. SUGAR HIGH MUCH? But oh sooo gooooood…

Rawon Rampal

My mum took us to this famous roadside restaurant, Rawon Rampal. You know its good when its on the side of the road. Although not for foreign stomachs, I advice to have anti-diarrhoea pills ready afterward :p

The beef tripe does not look appetising in any way, and its not everyone’s classic favourite but it is for locals (and I) – a must have when eating there. Falls apart when cut into, sweet and flavoursome, it absorbs all the beef broth and spices in every bite, a great side to its main dish, soto (pic below)

The restaurant is famous for its rawon, a spiced beef soup, but also equally famous for its soto. The tasty flavoursome beef soto is delicious and filling for a seemingly small bowl.

Shao Kao Chinese Grill, Tidar

This fairly new chinese-style BBQ place has a semi-outdoor dining area overlooking quite a spectacular view of the Dieng valleys. We had dinner there, so didn’t catch the day view but the night view was quite spectacular 🙂

We had ordered a variety of chargrilled vegetables and intestines – and have the option to choose from 3 grill sauces : BBQ, spicy or plain and we opted for all.

The verdict: sweet, spicy, full of flavours perfect to have on its own, or with a plate of steamed rice. Everything was delicious! Top them up with ice/hot tea or a favourite beer, it’s the place to go for young and old alike for a chilled catch up.

Side note : It’s amazing how food can cause such reaction to your brain. Nostalgic (sitting down for a meal with family), purely pleasurable, hectic (due to speed of eating and humid weather) that can only be described as PRECIOUS. It would be a disaster should any of these dishes not be continued to future generations.

Extra pics : Changi airport stopover dining

On our flight to Surabaya, we had some hours transit in Singapore – which of course meant dining in its food courts! I was excited as a kid trying to choose what to have for lunch….the variety of noodles and rice dishes, which one?! We didn’t have a lot of time and eventually settled for a quick snack of pork bun (not pictured as it was wolfed down before any chance of a snap), $1.90 Old Chang Kee curry puff and $2.50 dry laksa bee hon and $1.50 YinYang mixed hot coffee and tea – We felt like we won a small lottery, delicious and cheap food at an airport – THANK YOU SINGAPORE ❤

You are looking into a small bowl of nostalgic national treasure ❤

 

 

An impromptu birthday lunch together with one of my colleagues, Thi. (Thank you again, lovely!) I had never been a “Let’s go out for lunch today!” sort of colleague but this had been one of my most enjoyable lunch dates, it’s nice getting to know a little bit more about your work mate!

We settled for Cuckoo Callay on Crown St, Surry Hills

I’ve never tasted anything Moroccan that’s bad. So this pulled lamb croquette and its labnah (yoghurt cream cheese) excited me beyond words.

The croquette was perfectly cooked, crunchy out – warm, crumbly and well seasoned inside, the quinoa and veggies salad a really good match of flavours and texture, the creamy and spicy horseradish cream cheese yoghurt makes the whole ensemble sing a harmonious melody. YUM.

I love fusion food, and when you have unusually matched elements such as charcoal and kimchi, you’ve got my attention!

First of all, charcoal sourdough….earthy, slight burn (not texture) yet pleasant taste that’s classic of anything charcoal these days. Modern, playful, not over complicated.

Kimchi and cheese combo was delicious, that spicy, sour, cheesy melded well together. The soft scrambled eggs was like the glue that held everyone together. And the fried goats feta cheese, atop everything else, was an absolute BOMB in my mouth. Eating it gave me a feeling similar to cutting into soft boiled egg where the yolk is golden, runny and gorgeous. So good, I decided to eat it in bits, to save the best for last. It was f***** awesome to the last bite….

I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so when I had ordered the martini, it had surprised Thi, and myself – but I’m always game to try new things!

And boy was I glad that I ordered it! I became a convert that day on and Espresso Martini would be one of my fav cocktails YAY! I love liking new things!!

Definitely coming back to Cuckoo Callay to try other stuff on their menu!

Thankful for my loved ones, all the lovely birthday wishes from family, friends and great colleagues! So because my birthday fell on a Monday, my hubby decided to take me out for a wonderful lunch on the Sunday, then one of my lovely colleagues, Thi (upon her adamant insistence) took me out for lunch on the Monday – lucky me 😛

First up is this charming Italian restaurant Cavallino in Terrey Hills.

Love the rustic decor, playful pics and quite randomly, the tone of the message on the hand soap in the ladies’ room 😆

This is a plate that NEEDED to be tucked into with gusto.

Home-made pasta soft and al dente at the same time, the slow-cooked beef brisket rich and marvellously tomatoey at every forkful, the cheese – sharp, salty flakes of complementing parmesan. Layers after layers of deliciousness! Generous portion too!

 

Mozarella?
Porcini mushrooms??
with TRUFFLE paste??? Mammamia YAASS…….
Never NOT in the mood for pizza, especially fire oven pizza, this delicious pizza caught our attention with its truffle paste….

First bite made my brain go, “Oh, hello there, Truffle! Tasting mighty fine today!”

So satisfying to have well made pizza with that dough bubble and slight burn on the crust….thin, crunchy and crispy at the edges, and soft and chewy in the middle…Molto Bene!

My mouth and tummy are thanking the heavens for this dish.

With such heavy comfort food (and generous portions too!), a nice cool glass of beer and fruity cocktail completes our lunch. Totally in a food comma. I’m not normally a beer drinker, but this Italian beer was uber light, and pleasing in the palate and tummy. To many more foodie adventures!!

 

 

 

Just to show how cute Josie is “helping” mummy bake in the kitchen! ♥♥♥

 

Lil miss very happily volunteered mixing the dry ingredients

 

 

Brunch dates on a lovely weekend afternoon with good company is always a delight.

So when we rocked up to discover this new little cafe, quietly tucked in a small laneway by the Central Park in the city, and after going round hunting for car park, hunger had worked its way in our tummies – perfect timing!

X23 is a Malaysian fusion cafe, serving delicacies involving pandan, rendang (red curry), apam (Malaysian waffle), kaya toast and the likes….YUM!

First up is their kaya toast.

Served on enamel retro style bowl and tray, a simple and nostalgic presentation that brings me back to growing up in Indonesia and Singapore. Unfortunately the niceties ended here for the kaya toast 😦

Taste was so-so : avocado, butter and kaya thinly spread on lacklustre white toast. Where was the fluffy thick white bread, toasted to a nice golden crust that is signature of the Malaysian kaya toast I know of?

Where, oh where was the daring dash of butter and creamy kaya spread? (another reason why the thickness and texture of a proper kaya toast is important – to hold the amount of butter and kaya. Think of them as your dreamcatcher…sandwiches that keep your dreams in a safe place…) Honestly felt a bit sad looking at the kaya toast, it needs to fatten up!

The milk tea served alongside was a notch better than its partner. I liked the idea of having cin cau (grass jelly), and I thought the tea spoons were helpful for consuming the cooling goodness of the jelly – two thumbs up (Josie approved too)!

I also liked the custom wooden tray that came with the tea set.

 

 

 

I ordered one of their “Speciality Menu” dishes – X23 Signature Red Eggs.

Homemade sambal sauce (I mean, who wouldn’t?), scrambled eggs, crab (another WOOHOO!) housed by light, crispy and delicious croissant. The wedge of lime is just the cherry on top.

Presentation-wise, I like what I see but even more how it makes me feel – if it were a painting I’d call it Omelette of Emotion. The story behind it would be that the eggs had a fight with the chilli, and somehow crabs and fried garlic got involved with the mess – splashes and dashes of flavour! What a sight! The croissant and the lime were there to try and cool things down.

As I tuck into it, well-seasoned, perfectly cooked eggs first greeted my tastebuds. Then the sweet and fleshy crab meat, and mind you this is not the “fake crab meat” they use in sushi. This was the real deal, swimming amidst that delicious omelette and each time you bite into it, you feel like you’ve won the lottery (mini version of course). All the while, the chilli just there to remind you of its presence. Not overwhelm, just…there. Sedap!

Over here we’ve got Nasi Lemak Chicken Burger. On paper, it was a BRILLIANT idea. Nasi Lemak – check
Burger – check
Both are popular dishes. Hence the excitement and curiosity in trying this fusion out.

Verdict; another disappointment. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t up to what we had imagined it to be. Nasi Lemak is one of my favourite rice dishes for all of its elements. The fragrant, coconut milk-rich rice, its spicy, savoury sambal, fried anchovies, chicken or lamb curry and even the cooling cucumber – all make a harmonious plate of delicious dining journey.

This burger does not do the dish justice. The brioche buns were nice and soft, the turmeric fried chicken was not bad, though a little dry – WHICH could be helped with lots more sambal (there was, dare I say, just 1 teaspoon of sambal in the burger). Where, oh where was the delicious fragrant rice, which was the NASI to the Nasi Lemak?? Oh, woe… (dramatic, I know, but I can’t help it..)

Would’ve liked the egg yolk a little more sexy – half cooked, shiny and runny – but it wasn’t in the mood, so to say. Meh.

Love the idea of Nasi Lemak Chicken Burger, but hope they keep improving on the recipe 😉

Working up a sweat running around after this active 18 mo after a meal is always a good idea 😀

Can’t wait for our next catch up and dining trip, guys!

There are many things Sydney-siders love;

Sun, sand, sea

Food

A parking spot under a nice shade on a hot summer day, on the way to the beach

Sale – any kind of sale, EOFY, Xmas etc…

and many more

But rocking up to work on Mondays can be a little tricky sometimes, even if you love your job and workmates.

So it is ALWAYS a lovely way to start work on a Monday, when a colleague brings HOMEMADE lemon tarts to share (bless you, Siri!)

The (one and only) photo below doesn’t do it enough justice, but I had to get a piece of it as they were almost gone in a flash!

The filling was a creamy and smooth, refreshing burst of lemon, with sweetness just enough to balance the citrusy tang…and its partner; crumbly, buttery pastry a delicate shell that just melts in your mouth. More please….

What does one look for in a steamed bun?
This steaming hot little handfuls of delicious goodness should have the perfect bun texture – fluffy with the right consistency of chewiness and softness. Just as important (if not more so) – the filling. Too much will break the delicate bun housing it, and too little is just plain annoying (don’t you think so?)

Let me introduce to you (if you don’t already know about it), 4 Seasons Cuisine steamed buns. Located at 84 Archer St, Chatswood, this little joint sells buns big on flavour. It’s been my favourite go-to whenever I crave for these little oriental gems. Very reasonable price, fresh and consistently delicious. Not to mention generous portion as well! Although, I always regretted not getting more of them at one go…

I bought my favourites, the pork bun and the mushroom & vegetables bun (should really try other flavours too!) while shopping around Chatswood. Got home a couple hours later so I reheated them by steaming on the gas stove, instead of microwaving as it may dry out and harden the buns.

Cutting into the chewy soft bun, a saliva-inducing fragrance of sesame oil, mushroom and caramelised onions will greet you gently, as your mind delves into what joy you will find when biting into the delicious juicy goodness.

Mushroom & Vegetable bun
The slightly crunchy baby bok choy pieces marinated in soy sauce, complementing the oiliness of the rich, meaty shiitake mushrooms. The perfect combo just makes my mouth dance!

Pork bun
Succulent, minced pork with shallots – Having a mouthful of the juicy pork bun feels like being embraced by a loving grandparent, simply lovely!

Makes me want to know whose hands are responsible for making these delicious goodness? For surely they are made with love and lots of care…..I imagine kindly aunties/uncles who toiled hard for living, or for the love of food!