Down Memory Lane

AU2012 - Ramen Kan

2012-01-26T07:28:00.000+11:00

After a long absence, we stopped by Ramen Kan for a revisit.

Since we noticed the redesigned menu, we did wondered if the management or chef was also changed?

Thus, we decided to stick to our usual orders of Shoyu Ramen, …

… Tempura Udon, …

… Kaisen Don, …

… and Chicken Karaage Don.

Our lunch was also accompanied by the Capri Lychee …

… and Green Tea Milk.

While we couldn’t really tell if there was a change in the chef, but at least, we were glad that the food tasted as good as before.

Ramen Kan
90, Hay Street, Haymarket, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 9211 6677

AU2012 - Yong Jing’s Kitchen Enlightenment

2012-01-24T07:49:00.001+11:00

While we weren’t really sure what kitchen enlightenment was supposed to mean, at least, the Chinese characters read Taste and Kitchen.

While there, we had the Long Beans with Olive …

… Black Pepper Beef …

… Stewed Eggplant …

… and Crispy Skin Roasted Chicken.

After our meal, I did wondered if my taste buds were supposed to be enlightened too?

Yong Jing's Kitchen Enlightenment
430, Anzac Parade, Kingsford, NSW 2032, Australia.
+61 2 9697 0011

AU2012 - Janus

2012-01-21T07:08:00.000+11:00

While having a stroll around Sydney’s newest and most vibrant community precinct, it was the two macaron towers that got us attracted to Janus.

While most macarons are filled with buttercream, …

… Janus offers mini macarons with jam fillings.

At the price of $6 per box for 8 mini macarons, which consists of blueberry, vanilla, lemon, and strawberry flavours, …

… we felt that the price is a little steep. It may be worth the price if they change the jam filling to buttercream!!

Janus
Shop 15, Darling Quarter, 1-25 Harbour Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 9267 9644
http://www.janus-sydney.com.au/

AU2012 - Via Del Corso

2012-01-19T07:12:00.001+11:00

With the on-going macarons craze, suddenly, almost everyone is selling macarons. And one of our favourites is from Via Del Corso.

Among the flavours on offered include (first row) Gianjuga, Dark Chocolate and Peppermint, Orange and Honeycomb, (second row) Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter, Green Tea, and (third row) Strawberry Shortcake.

With Adriano Zumbo calling their macarons Zumbarons, maybe Via Del Corso can start naming their macarons Corsorons!! LOL!!

Via Del Corso Pasticceria e Caffe
Level 5, Westfield Sydney, Corner Pitt Street Mall and Market Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 8072 8000
http://www.viadelcorso.com.au/

AU2012 - Adriano Zumbo

2012-01-17T07:02:00.002+11:00

A new addition to Adriano Zumbo’s stable is a Patisserie and Dessert Train at The Star, Pyrmont.

This new concept store by Adriano Zumbo showcases fun and playful interiors, such as neon lights …

… desserts on turntables …

… chocolates in a bath tub …

… and their famous macarons locked inside red boxes, connected through Mario-styled pipes.

I think most customers are fascinated by the “in case of emergency break glass” concept.

But of course, the most interesting thing about the concept store is the introduction of a Dessert train. Unfortunately, as we were “too early”, we did not managed to give it a try. Instead, we went home happily with twelve zumbarons, including (from bottom to top), cola, mango and sweet corn, lychee, watermelon, coconut lavender and chilli, blueberry lavender, chocolate banana, salted butter caramel, mango and black pepper, milo, and passionfruit yogurt.

Now that we have sushi trains and a dessert train, can we see a dim sum/yum cha train next?

Adriano Zumbo
Shop 1, Cafe Court, The Star, 80, Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont, NSW 2009, Australia.
http://adrianozumbo.com/the-star-pyrmont/

AU2012 - Sakura Sushi

2012-01-14T07:05:00.000+11:00

A new addition to Wollongong’s Corrimal Street food precinct, Sakura Sushi is rumoured to be opened by an ex-employee of Roppongi.

Since they called themselves a Sushi restaurant, I guess, it is a must to try out their assorted sushi tray, …

… and the interesting Mini Maki Tri-Color Roll.

While there, we also managed to try their Chicken Cutlet Curry Rice, …

… Chicken Teriyaki Udon, …

… Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box, …

… and Deep Fried Chicken Cutlet Bento Box.

Other than the slow service and a very limited seating space, I think Sakura Sushi did quite well. And with their recent gain in popularity, it is getting harder and harder to secure a seat without any reservations!!

Sakura Sushi Japanese Restaurant
Shop 8, 121-125, Corrimal Street, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
+61 2 4226 6282

AU2012 - Thai Carnation

2012-01-12T07:12:00.000+11:00

Although Thai Carnation has been around for quite some time, we never really tried it. So, this time, we decided to check it out!!

Spotting contemporarily-designed interiors, the restaurant had a relaxed ambience. If it had been quieter, like in Crystal Thai, it would be perfect.

For something slightly different, we had the Pumpkin Curry Chicken, one of the Chef’s special, which consists of chicken breast cooked in red curry sauce with pumpkin, capsicum and basil.

We also had the Gai Lao Dang, a dish of pan fried lightly battered chicken breasts, topped with red whisky sauce, cashew nuts, water chestnuts and dry chilli.

And when we thought that we would have tried almost all of the Thai restaurants in Wollongong, a few new ones had just popped up!!

Thai Carnation
50, Crown Street, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
+61 2 4228 4102
http://www.thaicarnation.com/

AU2012 - Ha Long Bay

2012-01-10T10:23:00.000+11:00

Besides Mylan, another Vietnamese restaurant that is extremely popular with the locals is Ha Long Bay.

Named after the magnificent World Heritage Site in Vietnam, we wondered if the food tasted as magnificent too?

While there, we had the Crispy Spicy Pork Chop, which unfortunately, wasn’t crispy at all, and the Lemongrass and Chilli Chicken, which is literally just chicken and a whole lot of lemongrass sauce.

I guess, if one is looking for an Asian restaurant that caters to the Western palate, Ha Long Bay may be a suitable candidate. But for something more authentic, I would suggest they give it a miss.

Ha Long Bay Vietnamese Restaurant
52, Crown Street, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
+61 2 4225 0338

AU2012 - Zilver

2012-01-07T07:53:00.000+11:00

After trying their newly-opened largest and contemporary Chinese restaurant, we went back to re-visit the owner’s previous achievement, the award winning Zilver restaurant at Haymarket.

Similarly, their Yum Cha menu is now known as the Dim Sim menu. Among the dim sims that we tried during our visit included the usual Har Gow (King Prawn Dumpling) …

… Siew Mai (Prawn and Pork Dumpling) …

… and Crispy Wonton.

Other interesting dishes also included the Roast Pork Belly …

… Ham Sui Kok (Fried Glutinous Dumplings with Pork) …

… and the Fried Prawn and Chives Dumpling.

With similar food offerings, but at a cheaper price, I reckon we liked Zilver better!!

Zilver Restaurant
Level 1, 477, Pitt Street, Haymarket, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 9211 2232
http://www.zilver.com.au

AU2012 - Zensaki

2012-01-05T07:17:00.000+11:00

Our very last meal in Perth before our flight back to Sydney was at Zensaki, a contemporarily designed Japanese restaurant.

At first, we did hesitate a little on whether we should enter the restaurant, since it was quite empty, even at dinner time.

But since most of the restaurants were closed due to the public holiday, we decided to take the plunge. While there, we had the Original Udon, served in a uniquely designed tray …

… and the Tori Karaage Ramen.

While the Udon and Karaage generally tasted OK, the Ramen was not. Is that probably why there were so little customers?

Zensaki
83, Barrack Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
+61 8 9221 7577
http://www.zensaki.com

AU2012 - Utopia

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000+11:00

How many flavours of tea could one possibly ask for?

While Chatime offers 36 flavours and Easyway offers 24 flavours, Utopia top the list with a total of 40 flavours.

And I guess the best way to introduce ourselves to Utopia is to try a flavour that’s not available from either Chatime or Easyway. For that, we chose the Lavender Black Milk Tea.

Besides tea, this Perth icon also offers gourmet desserts, such as cakes and tarts.

For those looking for more than just drinks, desserts and a wishing wall, …

… consider checking out Utopia Karaoke at their Square and Myaree branches.

Utopia
71, Barrack Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
+61 4 3088 6066
http://utopia-aust.com

AU2012 - Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T10:09:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

AU2011 - Insan’s Cafe

2011-12-31T07:57:00.000+11:00

Claiming to serve authentic and popular Malaysian hawker fares, it did confuse me when I learnt about the owners’ origin, the Christmas and Cocos Islands. Should I then expect a fusion of Malaysian, Indonesian and Indian cuisine?

While there, we ordered the Nasi Goreng Kampung, one of the dishes recommended to us, …

… and the Steamed Chicken Rice, sort of a Malay-styled Hainanese chicken rice.

Of course, a visit to a Malaysian restaurant is not complete without a serving of Teh Tarik.

The verdict, Insan’s is definitely generous with their portions of rice, but the dishes are a little lacking in terms of taste. I guess, that is the result of serving Malaysian food with an added twist from the owners’ homeland.

Insan's Cafe
113-115, Murray Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
+61 8 9241 0588
http://www.insanscafe.com

AU2011 - Merry Christmas, everyone!!

2011-12-25T07:17:00.000+11:00

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

AU2011 - Seizan

2011-12-08T07:58:00.000+11:00

Claim to serve the best Teppanyaki in Perth, Seizan is a popular Japanese restaurant and karaoke bar on Hay Street.

However, instead of having teppanyaki, we went for their Sashimi Sushi Bento …

… and Tempura Udon instead.

Despite the price, we were actually quite surprised by how small the portions were. Luckily, the food made up for it.

Seizan Japanese Restaurant and Karaoke Bar + Club
566, Hay Street, Perth, WA 6000.
+61 8 9325 5980
http://www.seizan.com.au/

AU2011 - Bell Tower

2011-12-06T07:33:00.000+11:00

The Bell Tower, also known as the Swan Bell Tower, houses a set of eighteen change ringing bells in Perth.

Collectively known as the Swan Bells, they are one of the largest sets of change ringing bells in the world, with twelve of the eighteen are historic bells from the St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, London.

Besides learning, observing, or even participating in the ringing of the bells, visitors are also offered an unparalleled 360 degree views of the Swan River and the city of Perth.

But instead of paying $13 for that, we got a free Perth skyline view from the nearby Kings Park!!

AU2011 - Louis Vuitton George Street Maison

2011-12-04T07:01:00.000+11:00

Louis Vuitton had just opened (3rd Dec) their first Maison in Australia on Sydney’s George Street.

And it seems that the store’s window display could actually be considered a new tourist attraction for Sydney.

Featuring Billie Achilleos’s Australian SLG Animals, a set of animal sculptures, made entirely out of Vuitton handbags and accessories, are on display.

Let’s see if you can figure out what they are?

P/S: I think all of them are quite obvious except for the crab!!

AU2011 - Charm

2011-12-03T07:07:00.000+11:00

One of the very first restaurants that we visited in Perth was Charm, which serves both Korean and Japanese cuisines.

While there, we had the Steamed Wontons for entree. However, we just did not expect the size to be so minuscule.

Then came their house specialties, their very own home made noodles!!

More specifically, Black Bean Noodles with minced pork, cabbage, and zucchini.

Another specialty that we ordered was Charm’s Special Fried Rice.

The only difference between Charm and other Korean restaurants, we were not served any side dishes except for a few slices of pickled radish!!

Charm Restaurant
2/369, Hay Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
+61 8 9218 880

AU2011 - Pan Pacific Perth

2011-12-01T07:01:00.000+11:00

Considered a new addition to Perth’s hotel arena, the Pan Pacific Perth (rebranded from Sheraton Perth) was officially opened in January 2011.

During our recent trip to Perth, we decided to give it a try. While the 5-star hotel’s lobby looked classy and grand, …

… we were a little disappointed with the rooms. Basic and extremely dated.

Now that they are done with the refurbishments of the lobby and ballroom, I think they should consider refurbishing the rooms too!!

AU2011 - Jasbelle

2011-11-29T07:23:00.000+11:00

While Yum Cha is generally enjoyed indoors in a crowded space with four surrounding walls, Jasbelle brings the dining experience a notch higher by offering Yum Cha with a sea view!!

To be honest, our very first impression of the place was that it is probably more appropriate to be having fish and chips, than drinking tea!!

Offering the Yum Cha menu only on weekends, we decided to check Jasbelle out. Among the dishes that we tried during our visit included the Prawn Dumplings, …

… Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, …

… Sesame Balls with Sweet Red Bean, …

… and the Pan Fried Gyozas.

Unfortunately, we also tried some of their less impressive dishes, such as the weirdly tasting Dim Sims …

… the extremely unfresh Scallop Dumpling, …

… and the Steamed Flour Rolls with huge chunks of BBQ Pork.

Since Jasbelle is the only restaurant in the Illawarra that serves Yum Cha, I do hope that they will be improving on the taste and quality of the dishes soon!!

Jasbelle
3/13, Addison Street, Shellharbour, NSW 2529, Australia.
+61 2 4297 8998
http://www.jasbelle.com.au/

AU2011 - Chateau Blanc Macarons

2011-11-28T18:37:00.000+11:00

Looks like the macaroons craze had finally reached Woolworths with their offering of the imported Chateau Blanc Macarons.

Sold in a standard assorted pack, one could sample six flavours of the macaroons, namely Cafe, Pictache, Framboise, Chocolat, Vanille and Citron.

Priced at AUD$8.98 ($7.98 introductory price) for a pack of 12, they are really a bargain!! (Note: The same pack was sold for USD$9.95 in Starbucks in the US)

But of course, for a refrigerated product that got shipped 17000 km, just don’t expect the freshness and presentation that you will get at Lindt, Via Del Corso, or Adriano Zumbo!!

AU2011 - Sugar Cube

2011-11-27T06:58:00.000+11:00

We are back to Sugar Cube again for some freshly made to order Belgium Waffles!!!

But this time, its for some late night snacks with the Wafflepops, a.k.a waffles on a stick!!

Offering a total of 12 flavours including Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, Rainbow, Coconut, Strawberry, Passionfruit, Icing Sugar, Cinnamon Sugar, Toffee Sauce, Maple Syrup, M&Ms and Nutella, we were really spoilt for choice.

So, we ended up with, in clockwise direction from the bottom, M&Ms, Rainbow, White Chocolate, Toffee Syrup, Passionfruit, and Nutella. On hindsight, we should have ordered all 12!! LOL!!

The Sugar Cube
13, Crown Street, Wollongong, NSW 2500.
+61 2 4227 3888
http://www.thesugarcube.com.au/

AU2011 - Bangkok Balcony

2011-11-25T06:40:00.000+11:00

The newest addition to the already crowded Thai restaurant scene in Wollongong is Bangkok Balcony.

Located at the western end of the city, this isolated tiny joint seems popular with their take-away orders.

With the non-stop action of phone ringing and the four chefs busy cooking away, this is not the place for starving customers.

When entering the premise, we were actually warned that there’s a 40-minute wait for our orders.

But soon enough, our platter of Mixed Entrees was served. And guess what we ate the entrees with?

Two huge bowls!! LOL!!

While there, we also get to try their Bangkok Balcony Noodle, one of their specialties. Consisting of thin noodles with fried chicken, fried vegetables and peanut sauce, it was as though we were eating a whole jar of peanut butter. Maybe they should consider cutting down on the peanut sauce.

The real highlight of the night is the Pad See Ew. Definitely one of the best egg and sweet soy sauce seasoning combination that I have ever tasted. It also reminded us of the same dish from Old Siam Style (now closed), before realising that they were cooked by the exact same chef!!

Bangkok Balcony
497, Crown Street, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
+61 2 4228 4248

AU2011 - Four Ways Grill and Seafood

2011-11-23T20:47:00.000+11:00

Four Ways Grill and Seafood is one of the latest addition to the vibrant Keira Street in Wollongong.

Inheriting the bright and spacious premise of Nirand Thai, I am sure the ambience would be a lot better if they had kept the carpets and aquariums intact.

Offering a similar menu to that of Outback Steakhouse, one can choose from succulent and juicy cuts of steaks, ribs, poultries, and fresh seafood. For us, we chose the Calamari for entree, …

… and the Skewer Chicken with Baked Potato …

… and Peri Peri Chicken with Chips for main.

Yes, they messed up our ordered and served us the Skewer Chicken with Chips and Peri Peri Chicken with Baked Potato instead.

Fourways Grill and Seafood Restaurant
155, Keira Street, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
+61 2 4226 1333
http://www.fourwaysgrillandseafood.com.au/

AU2011 - Delima

2011-11-21T07:05:00.000+11:00

While most of the Indonesian restaurants that I have tried so far kept things simple, from the interiors to the menu and to the dishes, I think Delima can be considered one of the rare few that offers a fine dining experience.

Proudly claim to bring their customers through a journey of diversified Indonesian culinary experiences, the menu on offered is probably too diversified that its just too hard to tell its authenticness.

During our visit, we decided to try the Ayam Goreng Kalasan, …

… and the Sup Sayur Asam.

We were also served a complimentary plate of Prawn Crackers for entree and a plate of Watermelon for dessert.

Among all the dishes that we tried at Delima, I guess, the only thing more commonly associated with Indonesia is …

… the Bintang beer.

Delima Restaurant
Shop 69, Level 5, 1, Dixon Street, Syney, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 9267 7045
http://www.delimarestaurant.com.au

AU2011 - Chatime

2011-11-19T12:59:00.001+11:00

Celebrating the opening of their new store at INMARK Tower, CHATIME is offering an Opening Special promotion of Buy 1 Get 1 Free!!

So, we decided to join the queue …

… for a refreshing Hawaii Fruit Tea and Red Bean Pearl Milk Tea.

But, guess what’s happening across the street?

EasyWay is also offering the same exact promotion!! LOL!!

Chatime
Shop 2B, INMARK Tower, 710, George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 9212 6868
http://chatime.com.au/

AU2011 - Adriano Zumbo

2011-11-17T20:17:00.000+11:00

Made famous by Masterchef Australia and dubbed as ‘Australia’s most effective croquembouche salesman’, Adriano Zumbo is a chef with a passion for sweets and the art of pastry.

Dropping by his Balmain Patisserie, we decided to try several of his unique creations, such as the Passiondor, What A Great Pear Of, Yuzu No a Nothing, and Youranuse.

Not forgetting also, are Adriano’s signature macarons, which came in passionfruit, fig and burnt honey, mandarin, rice pudding, coffee creme brulee, butterscotch caramel and blackcurrant flavours.

While we enjoyed the desserts very much, it was also a record spend for us. Never spent that much on desserts before!!

Adriano Zumbo Patissier
296, Darling Street, Balmain, NSW 2041, Australia.
+61 2 9555 1199
http://adrianozumbo.com/patisserie-balmain/

AU2011 - Hom Thai

2011-11-15T18:05:00.001+11:00

Like most Thai restaurants who claim that they serve authentic Thai cuisine, Hom Thai differentiates themselves by offering something that is quite different to the others.

Besides the standard fare of Pu Cha for entree …

… and Gai Yang for the mains, …

… we decided to also try one of their specials being recommended, the appropriately named “Welcome to Hom Thai”, which is a platter of king prawns cooked with curry paste, coconut milk, beans, chopped peanuts and herbs.

Well, I am not exactly sure how authentic the dish was, but definitely something quite different!!

Hom Thai Restaurant
1/17, Cnr Market & Corrimal Streets, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
+61 2 4228 1184

AU2011 - Boom Bi Na

2011-11-12T09:52:00.000+11:00

While walking around Sydney’s Spanish Quarters, Boom Bi Na was an unexpected find.

There, we tried the Dak Bulgogi and the Spicy Seafood and Tofu Stew.

Although tasting quite “common”, I am sure vege lovers would be glad to know that the Dak Bulgogi comes with lots and lots of veges. As for the Seafood Stew, I reckon that it is something not to be missed!!

But the highlight of our meal was really, their generous portions of side dishes!!

Boom Bi Na Korean Restaurant
Shop 2, 545, Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 92833322

AU2011 - Mizuya

2011-11-10T21:55:00.000+11:00

Arguably Sydney's most glamorous Japanese restaurant and bar, Mizuya offers over 200 traditional and contemporary Japanese dishes in Izakaya-styled dining and karaoke entertainment rooms.

Instead of visiting during the busy lunch or dinner hours, we decided to check out the place during their “snacks” hour.

For a start, we ordered the Crispy Salmon Skin, something so popular that we always failed to have at Kasumi.

Then came the Cheese Potato Mochi …

… and the Mizuya Chilli and Shallot Crocodile Karaage.

Yes, you heard it right, crocodiles!! Also not to be missed is the Mizuya Dessert Trio, which consists of the Green Tea Creme Brulee, Japanese Baked Cheese Cake and Strawberry Pudding (??).

Last but not the least, we ended our snacks session with the Mizuya Test Tubes of Daily Bartender Selection.

For somewhere quiet, I reckon that the non-busy-snacking-hour Mizuya is a great place to hang out with friends!!

Mizuya Restaurant and Bar
614, George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 9266 0866
http://www.mizuya.com.au

AU2011 - The Eight

2011-11-08T22:29:00.000+11:00

Interestingly, unlike most Chinese restaurants that offer Yum Cha, and thus calling their menu the Yum Cha menu, The Eight’s menu is more appropriately named the Dim Sim menu.

Claim to be Sydney’s largest and most exclusive contemporary Chinese restaurant, we decided to check out this newly opened Yum Cha or Dim Sim venue.

In addition to the pot of Chrysanthemum Tea (otherwise, it wouldn’t be Yum Cha without the Cha), …

… among the Dim Sims (or Dim Sums, since Dim Sim is actually a Chinese-inspired Australian food) that we ordered included the Lo Mai Gai, glutinous rice with chicken wrapped in lotus leaf, …

… Won Ton, steamed dumpling with pork, prawn and mushrooms, …

… Chun Guen, deep fried spring rolls, …

… Siu Mai, traditional Chinese pork dumplings, …

… Har Gow, traditional Chinese prawn dumplings, …

… and lastly, the Char Siu Bao, Cantonese barbequed-pork-filled bun.

Since the main focus of a Yum Cha restaurant has shifted to the food, and no longer the tea, I reckon every restaurant should just rename Yum Cha to Dim Sim or Dim Sum. LOL!!

The Eight
Level 3, Market City, 9-13, Hay Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
+61 2 9282 9988
http://www.theeightrestaurant.com.au/

AU2011 - Swissôtel

2011-11-05T20:57:00.000+11:00

Swissôtel Sydney is a deluxe five star hotel located in the heart of the city.

Decorated in a contemporary and sophisticated style, and featuring breathtaking Sydney skyline views, all of Sydney’s famous landmarks are within walking distance of the hotel.

But for those who are looking towards locking themselves up in the room, Swissôtel do offer a range of leisure facilities such as an outdoor pool, spa and gym.

Access to the Executive Club Lounge is a plus too, especially with free Internet access and food!!

Although considered one of the finest, unfortunately, the interior is a bit dated.

In addition, like other hotels in the area, their “convenient” location just couldn’t cope with the busyness on the streets. Maybe its time for an upgrade!?!

P/S: Executive Club Lounge access is available to Executive Club guests only. Special thanks to Swissôtel for our complimentary access.

US2011 - Pak Yue

2011-11-03T08:02:00.000+11:00

Like Pepper’s Cafe, Pak Yue is another place that I frequented for my dinner take outs. Besides friendly services, Pak Yue also offers consistent and cheap meals. A maximum of $7.25 to be exact!!

For those on a budget, one couldn’t go past their dinner platters, which come with a choice of 23 dishes, served with roast pork fried rice and an egg roll.

Among the dishes that I would recommend is the Sesame Chicken …

… Sweet and Sour Pork, …

… and General Tso’s Chicken.

Those are the typical cheap Chinese dishes found in Western countries that’s not really Chinese!! So, for something slightly more special and creative (and if you don’t mind paying an extra few dollars), do check out their House Specialties. Among the recommended ones are the Chicken in Two Styles, a combination of lemon chicken and stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts, …

… Dragon and Phoenix, a combination of lobster in white sauce and chicken in chef’s special sauce, …

… and Lover’s Shrimp, prawns cooked in white and red sauce.

Seriously, I think all the Western Chinese restaurants need to come up with something better sounding than just white and red sauces!!

Pak Yue
2347, Haverford Road, Ardmore, PA 19003, USA.
+1 610 642 3514

US2011 - Eastern State Penitentiary

2011-11-01T10:17:00.000+11:00

The Eastern State Penitentiary is a former American prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was operational from 1829 to 1971.

When the building was erected, it was the largest and most expensive public structure ever constructed in the US. Its design later became a model for more than 300 prisons worldwide.

Today, the prison is a National Historic Landmark, and is open to the public as a museum for tours seven days a week.

During its glory days, notorious criminals such as bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone were held inside its unique wagon wheel design. What a luxury life they had!?!

Besides tours, the prison is also used as a location for filming, due to its ominous appearance and gloomy atmosphere. Among the most famous include Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, where the prison yard serves as an abandoned refuge in the movie.

But the highlight of our visit was really the treasure hunt for the Ghost Cats, an art exhibition by Linda Brenner that showcases 39 cat sculptures that once lived in the prison. Scattered around the prison’s compound, the sculptures were purposefully made of a material that slowly dissolves over time.

And I think we did quite well with our find of 10 out of the 17 remaining sculptures.

Reflecting on this visit, I guess the saddest thing was, while USA proudly showcases their dark histories, Malaysia decides to remove them!!

US2011 - Penang

2011-10-29T08:51:00.000+11:00

After trying most of the must-eat main courses, we were back to Penang again, but this time, for the desserts and snacks.

Our visit started off with the Roti Canai.

Then came the Chicken Satay …

… and the hardened and slightly burnt Loh Bak.

Unexpectedly, the Popiah came covered in a sweet and spicy sauce (which were kind of weird and disappointing).

Luckily, we had the Ais Kacang that made up for all the disappointments!!

Penang
117, North 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
+1 215 413 2531
http://www.penangusa.com

US2011 - Quincy Market

2011-10-27T09:06:00.002+11:00

Quincy Market is a historic building in downtown Boston, Massachusetts.

Constructed between 1824 and 1826, the Market was built to provide an expansion of shopping spaces to cater for Boston’s commercial demand.

Covering a total area of 2,500 square metres, Quincy’s east and west facades exhibit a strong Roman-style architecture, with its triangular pediments and Doric columns. In contrast, the sides are more modern and American, with rows of rectangular windows.

With its rectangular-shaped building, vendor stalls occupy both sides of its long hallway, down in the middle of the building.

While browsing through, The Monkey Bar caught my attention.

Serving a range of fruit salads and juices, …

… I ordered their sugar free Tropical Blast, a Frappuccino that consists of fresh papaya, mango and pineapple juices.

It was indeed my very first take on caffeine-free and non-Starbucks Frappuccino. What a refreshing end to my trip in Boston!!

US2011 - Yangming

2011-10-22T08:41:00.000+11:00

Housed within a 1765 building that is also home to a Terracotta warrior, Yangming is known as the number one Chinese restaurant in America!!

Also ranked by USA Today as one of America's "Ten Great Places to dine on fine Chinese food," and twice selected to prepare a banquet at the celebrated James Beard House in New York City, Yangming serves authentic regional and innovative fusion cuisine in a gorgeous setting.

After browsing through their menu, we decided to have the Crispy Spring Rolls as appetizers. Funnily, we had two tiny spring rolls served on a huge plate.

Then came our entree, the Spicy Fish (??) …

… and the Spicy Szechuan Sesame Chicken …

… that were served with a choice of brown or white rice.

A pot of tea also accompanied our dinner. Due to the dimly lit environment, I only realised the stains on the teapot after using flash.

For a moment, I did question its cleanliness!!

Lastly, our dinner ended with the serving of Lychee …

… and Fried Banana.

And just before we left, we were served something that each and every Asian restaurant in America will provide. Fortune Cookies!!!

Hopefully, in the future, we will also have the chance to check out Michael Wei’s other award winning restaurants: Mandarin Garden, NECTAR and CinCin.

Yangming
1051, Conestoga Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, USA.
+1 610 527 3200
http://www.yangmingrestaurant.com/

US2011 - Samurai

2011-10-15T20:40:00.000+11:00

Searching for a sushi restaurant along the Main Line led us to Samurai Japanese Restaurant.

Claim to serve the best sushi on the Main Line since 2000, we decided to check out their Sushi and Sashimi Combo …

… and Sashimi Sampler.

Served with a choice of either House Salad …

… or Miso Soup, …

… the sushis are fresh and are indeed one of the best around the area.

In addition, we also tried the Chicken Teriyaki bento. We then ended our lunch with the Green Tea Mochi …

… and Tiramisu.

Yummeh!!!!

Samurai Japanese Restaurant
1201 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, USA.
+1 610 525 8000
http://www.yoursamurai.com/

US2011 - Du Jour

2011-10-13T23:25:00.000+11:00

Du Jour, which translates to “of the day” in French, is a cafe that offers something special, everyday.

Some even exaggerated that their menu changes almost every hour!!

While we did not experienced the hourly-menu-changing scenario, we did managed to try some of their finest dishes.

We started off our dinner with the Chicken Panini …

… and the Salmon, …

… before ending with the coffee ice cream …

… and the apple pecan pie (??) with vanilla ice cream.

Du Jour
379 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19041, USA.
+1 610 896 4556
http://www.dujourmarket.com

US2011 - The Breakers

2011-10-08T09:30:00.000+11:00

The Breakers or Breakers Mansion is a Vanderbilt mansion located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States.

Listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1994, it is now the most-visited attraction in Rhode Island with approximately 300,000 visitors annually.

Constructed between 1893 and 1895 at a cost of more than $12 million, The Breakers was built as a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, a member of the wealthy United States Vanderbilt family.

Due to their excessive wealth, this 70-room mansion with approximately 65,000 square feet of living space is only one of their “summer cottages”.

Since photography is not allowed inside the mansion, you can have a sneak peak of the interiors in the Wiki page.

And for those who are interested, they can also visit the other eleven Newport Mansions managed by the Preservation Society of Newport County.

US2011 - Wingers

2011-10-06T21:45:00.000+11:00

Besides Campus Corner, Winger’s is another fast food restaurant that is famous among Villanova staff and students. As the saying goes, “every college student on the Main Line have undoubtedly made a 1 AM phone call to Wingers one time or another”.

While most would order Winger’s specialty Boneless Wings and Buffalo Wings, I prefer the healthier Chicken Platters that come with a side salad, a dinner roll, and two side orders: French fries, fresh cut fries, onion rings, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and potato salad.

Now, can you guess which is the Chicken Gyro, Grilled Chicken and Honey BBQ Chicken Melt?

Winger's
819 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, USA.
+1 610 519 0300

US2011 - Yale University

2011-10-01T21:50:00.000+10:00

Yale University is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States of America. Founded in 1701, Yale is an Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut.

Incorporated as the Collegiate School, the institution traces its roots to 17th-century clergymen who sought to establish a college to train clergy and political leaders for the Colony of Connecticut. In 1718, the College was renamed Yale College to honour a gift from Elihu Yale, a governor of the British East India Company.

Besides being the first US school to award the Ph.D. degree, Yale has also produced many notable alumni, including five U.S. Presidents.

The most interesting thing during this trip is to learn about Yale’s “caat haai (in Cantonese)” culture. Literally, that translates to, to shoe shine (or in the proper English equivalent, to brown nose, to ass kiss, or to suck up).

Notice the gold-coloured shoe on the statue? It is said that, whenever a student rubs the President’s shoe, it is considered good luck and he or she will do well and graduate from Yale.

US2011 - Outback

2011-09-29T23:33:00.000+10:00

One of the funniest things during my US trip was to hear about the general impression of Australia. The moment I mention Australia, words like the outback, desert, and kangaroos will pop up. It is as though Australia is just a huge desert with kangaroos.

My visit to the Outback Steakhouse made things even more interesting, especially with the “waiter” alligator and the kangaroo with bindle logo.

Other than that, the menu is pretty much the same, but with some local additions. Surprisingly, the servings are also smaller in portion.

Like in Australia, a honey wheat bushman bread is first served.

Then came my Grilled Chicken on the Barbie from the “Outback Favourites” section of the menu.

Lastly, my dinner was ended with a “collapsed” Chocolate Thunder from Down Under.

Outback Steakhouse
299, East Swedesford Road, Wayne, PA 19087, USA.
+1 610 687 6023
http://www.outback.com/

US2011 - Little Saigon

2011-09-27T23:08:00.000+10:00

Considered one of the best Vietnamese restaurant in Philadelphia by most, Little Saigon is also my favourite dine in place for noodle soups.

While there’s nothing special about their Chicken Pho, …

… their Banh Canh Tom Thit (special noodle soup with shrimp and chicken) is something not to be missed.

In addition, customers also get to savour a complimentary salad with every order.

And the best of all, Little Saigon is possibly the most friendly restaurant that I have ever visited.

Little Saigon
113 Fairfield Avenue, Upper Darby, PA 19082, USA.
+1 610 352 1002

US2011 - Sakura

2011-09-24T19:40:00.000+10:00

While our initial plan was to visit Kansai Japanese Restaurant, we ended up at Sakura Japanese Cuisine, thanks to a local who guided us the opposite way.

Since we had walked quite a distance, instead of walking back, we decided to check Sakura out. Here, we had their Nabeyaki Udon (spelt Nabi Yaki Udon in the menu), …

… Christmas Roll (??), which is part of their Chef’s Special Rolls, …

… and the Salmon A La Carte Sashimi, served in a martini glass. Yes, instead of drinking, we were eating Martini!!

Although it wasn’t what we originally planned, nevertheless, Sakura was a great find for us!!

Sakura Japanese Cuisine
1521, Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA.
+1 215 569 3838

US2011 - Susanna Foo

2011-09-20T18:49:00.000+10:00

With two cookbooks and two internationally known restaurants, the two-time James Beard Award winner, Susanna Foo, is widely recognized as one of America’s top Chinese chefs.

Although Chinese, almost one full page of Susanna’s two page menu consists of sushi and sashimi. So, I guess it was inevitable for us to order the Sushi Sampler …

… and the California Maki.

The only disappointment though, was the extremely “Chinese-styled” Pad Thai.

I guess, we will just have to assume that it was part of her Modern Chinese Cuisine concept!?!? Luckily, our order of the Coconut Creme Brulee …

… and the Trio of Sorbet (lemon, raspberry and mandarin orange) …

… for dessert made up for our disappointment!!

Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen
555, East Lancaster Avenue, Radnor, PA 19087, USA.
+1 610 688 8808
http://www.susannafoo.com/

US2011 - Azie

2011-09-13T23:39:00.000+10:00

Azie on Main claims to serve a distinct, multi-cultural and contemporary Asian cuisine that is coupled with global influences, thus offering a modern twist for those who hunger for diversity.

While I was excited about the “multi-cultural” offering, I was somewhat disappointed after browsing through the menu.

Just one page with a choice of either fried rice, fried noodles or sushi rolls.

Well, since half of the menu consists of sushi rolls, what better to order other than the sushi, right?

So, I went for the Combo Sushi Set which comes with a complimentary miso soup and salad.

I guess, Azie do need to diversify their menu to keep up with its claim.

Azie on Main
789, East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, USA.
+1 610 527 5700
http://www.azieonmain.com/

CA2011 - Waves

2011-09-08T20:48:00.000+10:00

The final stop of my culinary tour of Vancouver was at Waves Coffee House for some authentic hand crafted coffee.

With its “hottest brand in Canada” and “best of brands” recognition, Waves may soon be known as the Canadian’s equivalent to USA’s Starbucks.

While there, we had the Mocha Frappe and Matcha Frappe…

… before bidding farewell to Vancouver!!

Waves Coffee House
120-12231, First Street, Richmond, BC V7E, Canada.
+1 604 448 9283
http://www.wavescoffee.ca/

CA2011 - Pajo’s

2011-09-06T00:17:00.000+10:00

Having served fish and chips for the past 25 years at Steveston’s Wharf, Pajo’s claim to serve the finest and tastiest fish and chips in the west coast of North America!!

Offering three types of fish, we went for the Cod and Halibut.

And frankly speaking, I couldn’t actually differentiate between the two!!

Halibut?

Cod?

But I guess, what’s more important is that both tasted equally good!!

P/S: I found that the hole in the table is a useful way to secure the meal from very strong wind. I reckon Levendi should do something similar!!

Pajo's
3500, Bayview Street, Richmond, BC V7E, Canada.
+1 604 272 1588
http://www.pajos.com

CA2011 - The Old Spaghetti Factory

2011-08-27T21:28:00.000+10:00

Located in Gastown, 50 yards away from the birth place of Vancouver, The Old Spaghetti Factory that opened its doors in 1970, includes many authentic memories that was part of Vancouver as decorations into the restaurant.

Right in the middle of the restaurant is also the famous Street Car that was originally built in 1904. After working as a passenger car, travelling thousands of miles on Vancouver’s streets, the car was saved from destruction to be displayed at the restaurant.

Customers can even choose to dine inside the Street Car.

In order to stay “old”, their newspaper-styled menu also included advertisements for a $4 carriage, $3.50 wood box wagon, $1 corset, $1.40 leather shoes, and a $4.25 dress, all from the 70s.

After browsing through their interesting menu, we settled for their Clam Chowder, …

… Teriyaki Chicken Wings …

… Penne with Chicken …

… and the most unexpected, Red Thai Curry Linguine with Prawns.

Our dinner then ended with a serving of Spumoni ice cream each.

I really wondered if the restaurant was also known as “Old” back in the 1970s!!

The Old Spaghetti Factory
53, Water Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1, Canada.
+1 604 684 1288
http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/

CA2011 - Trees Organic

2011-08-23T23:51:00.000+10:00

Continuing on with our culinary tour of Vancouver, our next stop was at Trees Organic Coffee and Roasting House for their cheesecakes.

Voted as Vancouver’s best cheesecake, …

… the Orange Cream Cheesecake …

… is indeed one of the best cheesecakes that I have ever tasted!!

Trees Organic Coffee
450, Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6C, Canada.
+1 604 684 5022
http://www.treescoffee.com/

CA2011 - Cupcakes

2011-08-18T23:26:00.000+10:00

Globally recognized as the original cupcakes bakery, we decided to drop by Cupcakes for a little treat after our lunch at Japadog.

Offering 18 flavours of cupcakes in three different sizes, we decided to go for the mini Blue Hawaii and Koo Koo.

Can you guess which was which?

Cupcakes
797, Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3V5, Canada.
+1 604 974 1300
http://www.originalcupcakes.com/

CA2011 - Japadog

2011-08-16T20:52:00.000+10:00

Started off as a street food vendor in Vancouver, Japadog had since expanded to three stalls and a storefront around the downtown area, bringing Vancouvens more hotdogs with a Japanese twist.

Offering a range of rolls with a mystery meat topped with Japanese ingredients, we decided to try their Okonomi and Tonkatsu hotdogs.

Much like the name implies, the Tonkatsu consists of a fried piece of pork in tonkatsu sauce topped off with shredded cabbage and mayo. The Okonomi on the other hand, was a black hog pork with okonomi sauce and bonito flakes. And we reckon that both tasted pretty good!!

We also tried their curry flavoured Shaked Fries, which was promoted as new. Other interesting flavours on offered included the Teriyaki, Aonori, Japa Shio, and Butter and Shoyu. Maybe next time.

But, if there’s a next trip back to Vancouver, I will definitely try their Sweet Dogs!!

Japadog
530, Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada.
+1 604 569 1158
http://www.japadog.com

CA2011 - Empire Seafood Restaurant

2011-08-13T22:06:00.000+10:00

With the typical so-called Chinese restaurants in the Western countries that prepare their food using instant sauces, the dinner that I had at Empire Seafood Restaurant was probably my very first proper Chinese cuisine in the American continent.

Among the dishes that we had during our visit included the lobster with noodles, …

… fried chicken, …

… and braised bean curd with eggplant, …

… before ending our meal with the red bean soup.

Empire Seafood Restaurant
7997, Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC V6X, Canada.
+1 604 249 0080

CA2011 - Gelato Express

2011-08-09T23:06:00.001+10:00

Like the railroad restaurant in Kansas City, Gelato Express fitted out their gelato bar with train tracks too. But instead of trains serving us ice creams, it was real humans this time.

With 42 flavours of gelato and sorbet to choose from, it wasn’t an easy choice to make.

But the green apple sorbet did remind me of the desserts at Caveau.

Nothing better than having a delicious ice cream on a cool summer day!!

Gelato Express
4379, Gallant Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7G 1L1, Canada.
+1 604 929 6289

CA2011 - Lonsdale Quay Market

2011-08-04T17:27:00.001+10:00

Located on the former site of North Van Ship Repair, a major shipyard during World War II, Lonsdale Quay is today, a major transit hub for Vancouver's North Shore municipalities, as well as a public market and tourist destination.

The best view of Vancouver can also be found here!!

Featuring a large number of food retailers, restaurants, and a second level consisting of small specialty retail shops, this was also where I had my first meal in Canada.

After savouring Screaming Mimi’s fresh steamed mussels and seafood chowder, and The Soup Meister’s seafood chowder, we ended our lunch with McDonald’s $1 Iced Coffee and Caramel Iced Coffee.

While it is common to see a “Contents may be hot” warning, this is the first time I see a “Cold! Caution” warning. Also, did you realised that there is a maple leaf within the golden arch?

Lonsdale Quay Market
123, Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver, BC V7M 3K7, Canada.
+1 604 985 2191
http://www.lonsdalequay.com/

US2011 - Harusame

2011-08-02T08:24:00.001+10:00

According to the locals, Harusame has gone through many transformations in recent years - from Sapporo House, which was mainly a beer place, to Lotus Cuisine, before transforming into a full-service Japanese restaurant. And recently, I think they changed their official business name to New Harusame. New management again?

Although considered one of the best spots in town for sushi, I have never tried a single piece of it. I guess the main reason is just because sushi in USA is expensive and not filling. Really missed Takumi!!

However, Harusame has been my go to place for Japanese take outs, from Teriyaki Chicken to Tempura Udon.

And I think their best entree would be the Chicken Katsu Don!! (Note: entree in USA would probably mean main meal in the rest of the world)

But food aside, another main attraction of Harusame is its beer and liqueur offerings.

Surprisingly, they even offer the Singapore Sling!!

Harusame Japanese Restaurant
2371, Haverford Road, Ardmore, PA 19003, USA.
+1 610 649 7192
http://www.harusamerestaurant.com/

US2011 - Noodles and Company

2011-07-30T10:17:00.001+10:00

While checking out the stores at Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, I stumbled upon Noodles and Company, a fast food chain that allows one to travel the globe without leaving the table.

Creatively, they serve classic dishes from around the world, all under one roof. And by classic, I meant noodles.

Since noodles and pasta are part of almost every cuisine, from Pad Thai in Thailand to Lo Mein (yes, that’s how they call noodles in America) in China and to Mac and Cheese in Wisconsin, famous dishes from around Asia, the Mediterranean and America are served.

Now I wonder, when will they bring Penang’s Char Kuey Teow to the menu?!?!

Noodles & Co
540, Nichols Road, Kansas City, MO 64112, USA.
+1 816 561 6100
http://www.noodles.com

US2011 - Crayola Cafe

2011-07-28T10:43:00.001+10:00

Since Crayola is well known for its crayons, relating crayons to food didn’t sound quite right. But as a tribute to Hallmark's Crayola brand, the Crayola Cafe in Kansas City offers fun and exciting food for kids of all ages!

Sporting bright, colourful decor and placemats that serve as blank canvasses, it was just unfortunate that they did not serve crayons with the meals. On hindsight, maybe I should have drawn with the mustard and ketchup!!

Boasting a menu that has "something for everyone", I decided to their their Any-Way-You’d-Like-It-Crayola Burger with Root Beer!!

By priding themselves as "kids friendly", I think they did a good job to include the big kids too!!

Crayola Cafe
2450, Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64101, USA
+1 816 398 4820
http://www.crayolacafe.com

US2011 - Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant

2011-07-21T18:36:00.001+10:00

A Kansas City tradition since 1954, patrons may dine in at Fritz’s for its novelty of the train, but usually ended up going back for the food!!

For me, it was all about the train!!

In addition to the eye-catching and attention-grabbing train that is being displayed at the entrance, model trains also choo-chooed around the whole restaurant.

It all started back then, when the founders developed an interesting food delivery system to help with the shortage of labour. 60 years down the road, the system still remains as the main attraction at Fritz’s!!

Instead of ordering the food through a waiter or waitress, …

… customers are required to dial in from the telephone attached to their table.

The order would then be delivered in a box by an overhead train, which is lowered by an elevator system.

See video here:

Since Fritz’s is famous for old fashioned hamburgers made with 100% choice ground beef, grilled onions seared in the meat, toasted buns and is always cooked-to-order, I decided to try the Gen Dare, a Fritz’s favourite!!

Consisting of a single hamburger topped with hash browns, grilled onion, melted cheese, ketchup, mustard and pickles on a seeded bun, it may looked oily and unhealthy, but the taste was superb!!

I guess, it can’t be denied that customers are always returning for both the fun with the train and the taste of the food!!

Fritz's Railroad Restaurant
2450, Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
+1 816 474 4004
http://www.fritzskc.com/

US2011 - Kabuki

2011-07-14T13:20:00.001+10:00

Opened in 1985 at its current location inside the Crown Center plaza, it is said that Kabuki had retained its original Japanese ownership and tradition for the past 25 years to provide the most exquisite Japanese cuisine in Kansas City.

Kabuki is also possibly one of the only few Japanese restaurants that serves such huge portions (the portions served are probably double what you usually get at Japanese restaurants)!!

After realising that Kabuki was voted the Best Sushi in Missouri in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009, on hindsight, I should have tried their Sushi instead of the Chicken Katsu!!

Kabuki
2450, Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
+1 816 472 1717
http://www.kabukikansascity.com/index.html