Arepas!

No photos this time (to be honest, after making them i gorged on the and my flatmates helped out, so no time to take pics...).

ingredients:
300 ml warm water
1/4 teaspoon salt (i added more, but i love salt. my doctors don't like this fact).
225g masa harina flour
100g manchego (can use generic cheese if you prefer).
oil for frying.

these are incredibly simple to make, even for a slacker like me.

mix salt and flour together. slowly add water, kneading with hands until you get a thick dough. you have to get a bit dirty. then add the cheese. heat the oil, and pan fry for a few (3 or so) minutes each side. (and don't set off fire alarm like i did)

and that's it!

i served mine with some fresh cherry tomatoes from my mother's garden that were a great addition. another alternative is to make a hole in the middle and crack an egg into it. if you choose to do this, cook them for 2 minutes each side to have a crust form, and then make the hole before putting in the egg, and then put them back in the pan for 2 minutes each side.

if anybody has any other suggestions i'd love to hear them. turns out i've rekindled my love affair with masa harina all over again!

exercise of the week

ok, this is something nice to try. it's fun, and feels good. it's the zottman curl.

1. Standing up, grab some dumbbells with a palms-up grip.

2. Keeping your elbows pinned to your sides, simultaneously curl both dumbbells.

3. Once you reach the top, pause and squeeze your biceps hard, then rotate the weights until your palms are facing down.

4. Slowly lower the dumbbells toward your thighs, stopping short of lockout.

5. Pause, then turn your palms back to the starting position. repeat.

The Zottman curl was devised by strongman George Zottman in the 1880s but has yet to receive its due acclaim for its ability to build bigger biceps and forearms. By calling into play the brachioradialis--the prominent muscle on the thumb side of your forearm--the Zottman curl helps to add balance between upper and lower arm mass and should be part of any complete arm program. If this move is new to you, you'll find it a welcome change of pace for your biceps that could kick-start new growth.

And no, the pictures are NOT of me in case you hadn't figured it out.

Next week i'll post my workout for discussions.

i'm baaa-aaack

ok, i'm back. finally.

let's just say that i have had a lot on my plate, but i'm now single.

so now i'll be back to blogging and posting information. this won't just be about eating out all the time anymore. i'm saving for a house and a car and lots of other things, as (sadly), i've taken the plunge and decided to grow up. no more hoodies, singlets in public, excessive drinking.

ok, maybe not the excessive drinking.

but i will be focusing on life, and enjoying it. i'm still staying true to my roots, but i stopped blogging because it had become a chore, and that's no fun. i'd had my fair share of run ins with over-zealous restaurant owners that took offence to me taking photos.

in the next couple of days there will be a brief synopsis of restaurants and bars i've been to and recommend, and those i would never go to again.

but for now, let's focus on the here, the now.

either way, i'm back now, for better or worse.

ribs!

I've had a hankering for ribs (i'm not sure if hankering is actually a word, but i like it), but haven't found any in melbourne.
does anyone know of a good restaurant for ribs? it seems that they are everywhere in sydney (last time i was in sydney i saw them available at each mealtime, each time in different restaurants).

in the end, i gave up and started thinking of making some for myself. the significant other is holed up with her CPA exam, so i figured i'd make some ribs for her.

this is a mash-up of two recipes, because i loved the marinade from one recipe, but i liked the idea of braising the ribs first.

update: these ended up great! i'd add a little bit more chilli, but watch out for the slices of bird's eye - they still have a bit of kick to them.

james' ribs

serves 2 very hungry people (more if you want to include salad, but these are ribs, damnit!)

1 ½ kg American-style pork spare ribs

Marinade
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
½ cup honey
½ teaspoon five spice powder
1 tablespoon brown vinegar
1 small fresh red chilli, chopped
¼ cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon sweet sherry
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, crushed

24 hours before cooking: Place the ribs in a large pot of cold water and bring to the boil, once boiling skim the water and turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and cook for 45mins. Mix the all the marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Remove the ribs and rinse under cold water, pat dry and add them to the marinade making sure they’re well coated. Refrigerate at least overnight/24hrs.

Remove the ribs from the fridge and cook them on a hot BBQ or grill turning frequently until the outside is caramelized, (approx 15-20mins). Otherwise, can roast in oven to cook. Bring remaining marinade to boil; pour over ribs.

waiters - the good, the bad, and the outright psychotic

I have been feeling a certain level of paranoia lately. I think that waiters are out to get me. Or at least, treat me badly. There were the few occasional experiences that left me annoyed, but for the most part oblivious. nobu, for example, where i had to ask 3 waiters (and wait 15 minutes) for a glass of water. but for the most part, i was oblivious.

Until this month, that is. It just seems like the world is against me. I have had some shining lights, but overall service has been dismal. Is it just me? i tip, i am friendly, i don't think i ask too much as a customer, and yet, i get shafted. and shafted. and shafted yet again.

i've had english backpackers serving me, taking my order, and then not passing the order on to anyone else. when i ask what is happening with the meal, they deny talking to me, or taking my order, telling me i was mistaken. then for the rest of the meal, it is an uphill battle. i have to ask them to clear my empty coffee cup. i have to get my own cutlery. napkins? forget it! i can look at the person and ask for something and they would walk past, as if somehow, i had wronged them. i would have gotten up and left, except that the owner is a very nice guy, and i felt sorry for him. he gave me a free coffee for the confusion, but then when i went to pay the bill, there was no free coffee (it was the english girl taking the money). even after he told her it was free, she asked him why it should be free.

that is just one incident. i'm going to intersperse bad with good, because although there are a LOT of bad experiences lately, i'll stick to a couple, as although venting is good, there is only a certain limit anyone can endure.

At movida, i had a very good waitress called natasha. to start with, there was a line of people in front of us blocking the door, that claimed that they had reservations. i waited for a few minutes, then decided to check, to find out that no, they did NOT have reservations and that our table was waiting for us. she was very nice. always filling our water, making good recommendations, warning us not to order too much, being helpful about the meals and which ones worked with others. she had good feel. and that's what is important in my mind. overall, it was a very pleasant experience, which is good. it was for my girlfriend's birthday.

we went to gills diner after hearing so many good things about it. it was not particularly busy (a good thing, as we had a fashion show to attend to). we ordered wine, looked at a menu, and after deciding what we wanted, we waited to be served. and waited. and waited. 20 minutes of us sitting there, having long ago finished our wine. i tried to get eye contact, but it seemed no one wanted to look. finally, i raised my hand. a waiter came over, and asked me why i was in such a hurry? i explained that no, i was not in a hurry, but i didn't want to wait any longer. my tone was apologetic, feeling bad for the dirty gesture of raising my hand (i never know the correct etiquette). his not so apologetic, as he apologised, saying "well, i am sorry that we are not fast enough for you and don't meet your lofty expectations" dd i do something to wrong him? probably, by the way he acted. i asked him to explain the terrine to us (my girlfriend did not know what it was, i only knew enough to understand it, but not explain it). first time, he tells us that it's got pork and chicken in it. that's it. i ask again, this time to explain what a terrine IS. "OH, he says, i didn't know you had no idea" was the terse reply. finally he explains it, but no better than i could have, which disappoints me. we order the meals, and from then on try to find a different waiter. we find a very nice, laidback woman who is immensely helpful. at the end, the girl had left, and i again raised my hand after giving up trying to get people's attention. same guy. "why are you raising your hand at me? are you in a hurry?". 'nough said.

last experience: red spice road. my girlfriend's birthday party. we had an amazing waiter, possible the best i have ever had serve us. the service is amazing, flawless. never saw him unless you wanted to speak to him, and he was extremely polite. my wine glass was always full; the only indication was movement out of the corner of my eye that someone was there. i complimented him, as i was extremely impressed, and he was grateful someone noticed. i will be back there again.

so overall what is it? do i expect too much, or am i too rude? i go for eye contact, and if that does not work after 3 tries, i WILL raise my hand. i know that this is oafish, but if i have to wait 15 minutes to get the attention of a waiter i feel disappointed, and worse still, feel that i am being ignored. maybe i am rude, ignorant, and not deserving of their attention. but i just don't get it. what are everyone else's experiences of this? please, admonish me for doing things wrong, i really want to know how to act correctly when it comes to getting waiters attention. because it just doesn't seem right anymore.

Aix Creperie

Aix Creperie

24 Centre Place
(03) 9662 2667.

This is one one my secret finds. It's on centre place, which in my mind is a continuation of degreaves street, but i personally think this part is better. so if i ever say degreaves street, i actually mean this little part. there is a soup nazi, bars upstairs, and crepes. life is good.


The Significant other ordered this - a soy mocha latte. it looked quite nice, but i can't get used to the taste of soy, so i guess her drink is safe for now. just the same way that friends order gin and tonics when they know i am drunk enough to be a drinksthief, as i don't like the taste. i lovingly call this my "drunkasaurus" stage, which, like the dinosaurs is gradually becoming extinct. However, soy milk is amazing. it's one of those things that transports me back to a different place and time. whenever i have warm soy milk, i always think of the little hole in the wall in shanghai where i would get my daily fix of fresh soy milk and onion pancake. australian soy milk tastes nothing like it though.

peking duck crepe. yes, this is not traditional. and not normally my sort of crepe, but it was very good. the duck meat was tender, juicy, and not too fatty. the skin was not crispy though, which is a shame, but otherwise very good.

YUM! now THIS is my sort of thing. banana, ricotta, and honey. the honey is orange blossum, so is sweet and fragrant and not too heavy.

both of these crepes are $7 (ish) and are quite nice. however, there was a bad side to it, but i'll discuss it in my next post. it just seems that i am having terrible luck with my waiters/waitresses/waitpeoples.


oh, and the owner is a really cool, laidback guy. overall, i like this cafe, and will continue to come here for as long as they have good crepes. oh, and my personal favorite: white chocolate, coconuat and fresh raspberries. (drool).

my life as such

currently, i haven't been eating out as much - i'm currently focusing on being good and trying to put on a couple kilo's of muscle, and as such extravagant food is replaced by bland, boring food and shakes.

i've been taking a whey protein matrix which is comprised of WPI and WPC, and also has BCAA's , and mixing it with cellmass for some creatine as well. it's a lean mix with not a lot of carbs, but it's helping me for now and is kinda tasty too. i finally worked out why i never get a hankering for chocolate - it's because my powders are always chocolate flavour (with the exception of choc mint, which was possibly the best flavour i have had, but not the best protein). overall i am slowly rebuilding muscle as i take the gym a bit more seriously, however i am at the point where i need to consider a personal trainer to push me a bit more. if you don't understand the acronyms, don't worry - they are not that important and only reference points. i'm trying a few other things as well, but generally they sound scary, and so i won't be discussing them in this forum!

i'm trying to juggle this new-found enthusiasm for the gym with squash as well, which is ok, but taking up a heap of my energy during the week. i had to get my racket restrung due to too many bad plays, and got another grip put onto it as well.

i'm still frequenting "the rasoi", the indian restaurant i reviewed a couple of weeks ago, if only because it is so cheap. i've avoided indian for for 95% of my life; i am simply making up for the deficiency!

i've updated my blog roll as well, so have a look - this will be updated with a few more that i frequent as time goes on, simply because i have a lot of blogs i look at, and i don't have the time to add them all at the same time.

i guess that's it. i'll be at the melbourne show on sunday, so if anybody has suggestions for show bags, let me know. likewise if you are too lazy to go/pay the $27, i can grab them for you if it's convenient for everyone involved.

and yes, i know it's boring to read this sort of post, but i figured i'd give you all a bit more info about myself.

Dumplings Plus, Melbourne

Dumplings Plus, 269 Swanston Street Melbourne
9663 8181

*formerly Ye Shanghai Restaurant.

Last sunday my girlfriend had a hankering (i love this word, so please bear with me) for noodles for breakfast, so we went to this restaurant. it's next to the macdonalds on swanston street, and we're picking through the menu slowly. it's gone through a heap of name changes, but really, all you need to know is that they make the dumplings and the noodles on site, and you even get to watch them making them all!

it worked out really well, because i had been trying to find good dan dan mian for a long time now, and it turns out that this restaurant has great dan dan mian. spicy, garlicky, porky, with a generous amount of coriander, i was in heaven. confession time: i am white (and i mean as white as white can be), so spicy food is not my specialty. this dish had me sweating, and making my lips burn, but it was so worth it, i couldn't stop until it was all gone. my girlfriend is malaysian, so she mostly made fun of me!

i'll let the pictures tell the story and then i'll go further on.

xiao long bao, $7.50 for 6.

People making dumplings

fried hand made noodles with pork $9.50.

Szechuan Style Noodles with Minced Pork & Peanut $8.80
(dan dan mian)

another pic of dan dan mian

the girlfriend on drinks duty

the noodles here are very nice, with a great texture and feel to them, no doubt due to being so fresh on site. the xiao long bao are ok, but nothing special. i think that the spicy fish version are better, but that is just me.

just look at the chilli soup of the dan dan mian though! mmm, i love it, just thinking about it now.

the only gripe i have is that they spell sichuan as szechuan. overall, it's cheap and cheerful, and very filling. just right for those lazy days when you don't know what you want!

The Rasoi, richmond

The Rasoi
281 Bridge Road Richmond (corner bridge road and church street)
94280008.

Ok, i have to admit, indian is one of my falling graces. up until 3 months ago, i refused to eat it. the flavours, the spices, the chilli, the smells, none of it appealed to me. to me, it was an aberration on an otherwise perfect plane of asian food.

then my eyes were opened.

it was malaysia that did it, that drew me in. those damned roti chanai for breakfast, at 30 cents a hit. it was like food crack. i was addicted. for two weeks straight, rain, hail, shine, hungover like a dog (and yes, there were many of those days), i still had to get my fix. it took a train ride, a 15 minute walk, and some careful walking (avoiding trucks, bikes, and wild dogs) just to get to my favorite crack den, but oh man, was it worth it! the mango lassi (still a little bit tart), the dahl, the roti. oh my god - the roti. i was in heaven.

so when i came back, i started to look around, to get my fix. i was like a man possessed. and now i've found it.


garlic naan ($2). notice the chunks of garlic liberally all over the bread. ultimate turn off, yes. ultimate flavour, definitely.


palak paneer ($8). cottage cheese simmered in spinach puree. my food testing friend loves this dish, but i have to admit, it was pretty damn good.


lamb bhuna (8) my favorite of the night. lamb cooked with onion, chopped mint and coriander. this was amazing. i love mint and coriander, so this did everything i wanted. there were a few small bone bits, but otherwise great.

Goat karahi ($9). goat cooked with tomato, onion and capsicum. so gamey.

saffron rice ($3). saffron rice. go figure.


this food was perfect, and so cheap - for two people, it was under $20 (with corkage). we ate more too, but by then my hands were shaking with delight, and i didn't want to dirty the new toy (camera).

all the meats were tender, and the service was good - the waiter is the owner, and even brought us water without us having to ask for it (although to his credit, we'd already opened the screwtop wine and started drinking before he came to serve us. no, he wasn't slow - we'd only sat down for 10 seconds before reaching for the bottle).

the tables are all designed for 4 people, and are just big enough (actually maybe a little bit small, but manageable). dark wooden tables, dark wooden seats, oh, and of course, the big widescreen tv playing indian music and bollywood films.

not much else i can say. i'll be back.



and once more:

Tobie Puttock's Osso Buco

I know, I know, I've been slack. Unfortunately when my life gets hectic, certain things tend to suffer. this is also why i am incapable of keeping pets, or growing plants. my cactus is even spiting me. After going all wrinkly due to a lack of water, i put it out one day when it rained. obviously, it started to flower!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand: osso buco (osso bucco? it's spelt "bucco" in the book, but i am unsure of the spelling myself, and since i have no idea, i won't even bother commenting).

I went away to the dandenongs on the weekend, to a nice little cottage in kallista. i thought it might be nice to bring some food, something simple for one night, to share over a bottle of red.

as my girlfriend isn't a fan of cooking and leaves me to it, i thought that i would take advantage of that and make something simple. After trawling around, i came onto this post: sarah cooks: osso bucco

I had already bought the tobie puttock book (myer had a 40% off sale) so i thought that i'd give it a go. i'd add the recipe here, but i am not sure if i am able to? i don't understand copyright laws, and i can't be stuffed working it out. after all, it's osso buco - there are 20 million recipes available. basically, you brown the meat (your choice of veal or beef shins, and probably shanks too), and after removing the meat (in the same pot) add some diced vegies, wine, stock, and throw some carbs onto the plate.

i won't bore you with all the steps, but here's some things i found:

• i like garlic. lots of garlic. so mine ended up loaded with herbs and garlic (initially, the recipe didn't have enough garlic in it. i added a few whole cloves too, as i like the flavour and the sweetness of them.
• same with wine - i added a bit more to it because i liked it (and i felt guilty drinking a whole bottle on my own. ok, no i didn't, but i wanted to act like i did).
• there was a bit of a debate about the stock not reducing on sarah's blog, and so i left it cooking for a while longer (i think 5 hours as compared to 3.5 hours). as a result, after chilling it in the fridge, all the juices turned to a jelly! it wasn't a problem as after reheating it was fine, but kinda funny, and a little bit gross.
  
• For the carbs, i made a polenta mash. i love polenta, but it's so heavy. i ended up making mashed potato with heaps of garlic butter, and then folding it into the polenta, then adding some milk. also, i added chilli powder and a little chicken stock to add to the flavour. it turned out very nice, either reheated, or pan fried, it was like a croquette, and best of all, it soaked up all the yummy juices!

That's all there is to it. if anybody wants to know more, either email me or add a comment and i'll be glad to get back to you!

Bistro Vue

Bistro Vue, 430 little collins street, melbourne.

I went to bistro vue as part of the restaurant express week. last time i went to matteo's, and i thoroughly recommend doing this - for $35 you get two courses and a glass of wine. Bistro vue was no exception and it was a lot of fun for the day.

The entree was a prawn cocktail, which we skipped (i had eyed the cheese off on the way to our table, and had a hankering for some dairy goodness, whereas my girlfriend wanted to brulee, a pistachio version).

braised veal shin 'a la chinoise'

This was basically osso bucco, but oh so good. tender veal, amazingly intense bone marrow, and some ice bismati rice to soak up the juices. I could eat these all day long. The only thing was that we had no choice for the main course (even for restaurant express, you get options people!).

goat's cheese with a rosemary crust, cheddar, and assorted biscuits to carry said cheese to mouth.

The goats cheese was very, very nice, however the cheddar was not so good - it had a yellow crust like it had been left out for too long... i didn't even finish the cheddar :(

pistachio creme brulee

the sorbet was grapefruit flavoured and i loved it - too bad i was warned off it by my girlfriend :(
the brulee was ok, but i felt that it tasted too much of marzipan, and didn't discern any pistachio in it!

Canale

These were nice, but for some reason we felt that there was a bitter flavour to them. However when talking to the waitress, they said that these were only made with rum, sugar, vanilla and something else (flour?). however they were crispy, and nice and soft in the middle, and very good. these were right behind the veal i thought.

All in all it was a good lunch, but not as good as expected for bistro vue.

yes, i understand that it is a cheap meal with the purpose of trying restaurants, however i would assume that the meals would be indicative of what they have and make me want to go back. this did not, as all of it reminded me of foods that i can cook. Matteo's last time was amazingly good, and had some very special meals that i would see on their menus normally - they clearly see things differently to bistro vue.

i guess i would go back again, as the service was amazing and i liked the layout - it wasn't cramped, was easy to hold a conversation, and overall a lot of fun ;)

charles dickens tavern - the best bangers & mash ever?

Charles Dickens Tavern
290 Collins Street, Melbourne Tel. 9654 1821




I've got a confession to make: I have a dark, secret, guilty pleasure.

I love bangers and mash.

There, I've said it. So what do we do about it, now that it's out in the open? Well, I'll let you in on the secret of where to get some of the best ones in Melbourne.

And the best ones I have ever eaten are at the Charles Dickens Tavern. I really don't want to make such a spurious claim for something so simple, but I want to throw down the gauntlet, challenging anyone for what they believe to be their favorites.

How much for this, you might ask? Why, only $10.50. Good to see that some things never change.



The Charles Dickens Tavern is an old-fashioned pub, English themed, with plasma screens for sports. Regardless, it's cosy and quiet. It's the sort of place you can get away to for conversations when you just want to be left alone. They have a restaurant as well (which is also quite cheap), but I've never strayed from the bar area, where they have seating for 30 people with a lot of space between tables. The barman alone gives it a warm, familiar feel - delivering the meals, asking how they were, with a very happy "yum-yum" when he brings the meals over. Yum yum, indeed.

As you can see from the prices, they haven't changed in years. But that's OK, that's just how i like it. This is a nostalgic trip ladies and gentleman, and for a country boy, this makes me feel right at home. It's not going to win any awards, and there certainly isn't any foam or Escoffier meals on the menu, but on a cold winters day, when all you want is a quiet meal somewhere warm with friends and good company, this is it.

Lulo restaurant, glenferrie road, hawthorn.

A friend of mine has just bought a house in Hawthorn, so I'm busily reacquainting myself with the wonders of glenferrie road. i used to live just off glenferrie some 2 years ago, and it seems everything has changed. in a good way.

so far we've been to samurai a few times (i love this restaurant), and a new sichuan restaurant that can actually spell sichuan (instead of szechewan or whatever).

so last night we thought that wed give lulo's a go (it's next to samurai, and looks good).

the decor is nice, with a map of spain drawn onto a mirror, and nice red feature walls. the fact is, that we were there for comfort food, because the weather was typical melbourne drivel (we wouldn't have it any other way, now would we?).

this is what we got to eat:

Banderillas - skewers of olives, guindillas (mild chilli )& white anchovies- $8.00

the first tapas was very large for it's price, however the olives did not have the firm texture i was expecting. i'm not sure why, but i thought that caperberries would have fitted the bill perfectly instead of the olives, as they would have supplied a different texture, and no pit in them either!

Chorizo con Sidra - chorizo sausage sauteed with onions & apple cider -$8.50

the chorizo's in cider were good, and were tightly packed bundles of meat and spices. i liked the balance of them. i feel uncomfortable ordering chorizo, becuase, although i order them every time, i have no benchmark to judge them against. movida? barcelona? i really need to understand what good chorizo is supposed to taste like. regardless, these were nice. the cider was great, having been reduced, and was good on the chorizo and the bread we had.

roasted potatoes with peppers and olives - $12ish.

the roast potatoes were really good, and i liked the balances between the potato, pepper, and olives. the peppers worked well with the potatoes for sure.

Calamari a-la-plancha con dos aioli - grilled calamari with squid ink & garlic aioli- $20.00

the squid was tender, very tasty and fresh. i liked the main pieces a lot, however, i'm not a fan of the tentacles, so i'll leave them alone. i felt that the aioli (i think that spanish aioli is actually spelt "alioli") needed a bit more of a kick, as i love my garlic and didn't get to taste it.

Garbanzos salteados - braised chickpeas with eggplant, tomatoes & spinach - $12.00

and now, onto the dish of the night - chickpeas! these were really good and i loved the texture of the eggplant and the chickpeas, and it all worked well. i would have loved some bread to mop up the juices.


we washed it all down with some wines - an '06 auroch tempranillo that i liked the sound of, and an '06 Bodegas Crianza de Castilla Verdejo at the owner's suggestion. both of these were very good - next time i think we'll just go a bottle of the red! i loved it, yum.

a very curious thing happened however: while taking the photos the owner/manager came and asked me what the pics were for. i'm not sure if this has happened with other people and i'm not sure if there is a time or place to raise this, but the manger raised the issue of bloggers being qualified to review a restaurant while we were trying to eat. i mean really, this is my opinion, and who is better qualified to give my opinion than ME... I raised the issue that blogging is good for restaurants (in my mind) because it gives people an alternative view of the restaurant and pics. it did get me thinking though, what is the impact of blogs on restaurants? i mean, maybe ed's would have an impact, but for the average smalltime blogger i don't see what harm it could do. by the end of the night it was ok, as we chatted about other restaurants with the owner, and the truffles in tasmania, but i think that this is something that all food bloggers will come across at some time or another.

the layout of the restaurant was good. it had some hard surfaces, but was not loud and we easily sat there chatting, sucking down wines. this may change later on in the week - the owner said that mondays and tuesday are quiet, wednesday and thursdays busier, and fridays/saturdays very busy.

i liked the map drawn onto the mirrored surface, that showed the major cities. the only thing i might have done with it was perhaps add where the wines regions are to show people where each different wine comes from. that might have been a nice touch i guess in my mind.

the food was pretty good, and just what we needed on a crappy day. overall i liked this place, and will be going back to try a bit more food there. i'll even bring my camera :P

this week

i had a pretty big weekend so i didn't get to go to any restaurants - friday i had a friend's birthday party at the deck (the pics aren't very special, and are mostly incriminating, so they're not going up on here. if you are on my facebook, then you'll have seen them/ be in them anyway).

drinks consumed:
3 scotch and dry
4 glenmorangie and soda
2 tequila
1 tequila and tabasco (i highly recommend this).
1 quick-something
1 chartreuse

drinks sequestered from others:
white wine (wooded chardonnay)
gin and tonic which i mistook for water
sctoches and bourbons

3 berocca. oh, and eggs benedict, which are my new best friend ;)


as you can see, my detox went very well, thank you very much!

in other news, i'm going to a pub this thursday for the best bangers and mash i have ever eaten (i'll review them either here or somewhere else perhaps, but they really are amazing), cooking eye fillet with baby potatoes friday for my girlfriend, bistro vue on saturday, and then not sure what else.

i have to fit all of that in with gym (3 nights), squash (2 nights), a pushup challenge with a friend, and work, of course. fun all round!

otherwise, i have been having a read of other blogs. i'm only going to post one as it made me a bit curious about freedom of speech and all that jazz, in particular regarding a restaurant review:

http://ieatthereforeiam.blogspot.com/2008/07/anonymous-commenter.html#links

i recommend having a read, as i don't know a lot of the legal ramifications, but i think it's rather interesting and comes at a time when bloggers are getting mainstream attention.

til next time, james

malaysian food - it's no wonder i came back 5kgs heavier!

these are in no particular order, mainly street foods and other goodness. i'll walk you through them ;)


hooters chicken wings, singapore. yes the place is commercial, but i love the wings. too bad these ones weren't so great - i've made these at home from ingredients from the usa food store, and i think mine were better ;)

next couple of pics: no signboard seafood


white pepper crab. this was soooo good, with heaps of pepper, garlic, and other bits.

chilli crab. not as spicy as i thought, but enough to give my lips a tingle. i preferred the white pepper though.

leftover bits and pieces. we greeded too much food and couldn't finish it all!


white turnip cake (carrot cake), i forget the correct name for this...




grilled stingray, at wong a wah, on jalan alor street in malaysia. this is a dedicated food street and has lots of eateries.



grilled chicken wings, also at wong a wah. these were amazing - marinated in soy and other bits, and then roasted over charcoal.




muai ge - a jelly like snack covered with crushed peanuts.

CKT, of course! this was in penang. no blood cockles though. lucky for me - the texture was not so great for me.


of course, no trip to malaysia is complete without satay skewers




chicken drumstick in herbal broth. this was my traditional hangover food in penang. not too bad overall.

penang food court...


assam laksa. think of normal laksa, but no coconut milk. it was a bit bitter, and the stock (prawn) was a bit funky.



jamon serrano with cantaloupe at el cerdo, in malaysia.


half a suckling pig. mmm, piggie!



oyster omelette. the omelette was great, but i didn't like the oysters. it looked so tempting i chose to ignor ethe fact that i dislike oysters. d'oh!

roti chanai - this was our morning ritual while we were in KL - for 1 ringgit (30 cents aussie), you get a nice breakfast.

parathi? i'm not sure - we pointed at something someone else was having, and then they brought one for us. no idea what it was.

durian pancakes. very nice, but a little bitter at the end. needed more durian.

below: yong tau foo.

siew yew - i can never spell this correctly,