Down Memory Lane: November 2011

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

AU2011 - Jasbelle

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/

Monday, November 28, 2011

AU2011 - Chateau Blanc Macarons

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!!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

AU2011 - Sugar Cube

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/

Friday, November 25, 2011

AU2011 - Bangkok Balcony

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

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

AU2011 - Four Ways Grill and Seafood

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/

Monday, November 21, 2011

AU2011 - Delima

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.