Food

12/4/2009

Less is more

It is so easy to get lost in Twitterverse, with Tweetdeck managing both Twitter and Facebook status updates. I might never have to launch a browser again, micro-blogging is the new blogging, and everything kept under 140 chars make keeping i touch so much easier. With the widespread use of social networking media, it’s hard not to imagine what it would eventually come down to. As if the world needs to get any smaller, but it has and I am loving it! So much that I have been neglecting my blog, other people’s blogs and even logging into Facebook has become a weekly, not daily, affair. Hehe.

My family is here in Sydney with me right now. It has been fantastic having them around, and there will be more of them arriving through the next week, because cousin Tim is getting married next weekend in Bondi. I am excited. It is always fun to see the rest of the fam that I only see when there are big family events.

I have to drop by the gym for a quick run before lunch – ever since dad arrived I have been living large. Mom’s diet is extremely conservative, which probably balances out how extreme ours can be.

Happy Easter! x

11/3/2009

Days like these

The best things in life are free. Or so they say. In the past few months though, I have found many things that make me happy which ironically doesn’t cost anything except an investment in time and energy to see it through.

Seeing Miss T here has been the highlight of 2009 thus far. I’ve missed her and it was so good to properly catch up. We’ve never been out of Malaysia together!

I have been very busy with trying to keep on top of things. Tonight is the first night since I’ve gotten back from KL that I’ve had time to sit in front of my laptop and download pictures, think about blogging, catching up with people on Facebook and writing all those emails I owe. I’m so excited about the prospect of the upcoming couple of months; my cousin is getting married in Sydney and the family will be here.

It’s been helluva month! I did so many things I wanted to do with the people I wanted to do them with. I even managed to make that trek into KKB, and the amazing thing is that I haven’t stepped into a club for the longest time.. except ONE night in KL for a Catcha event.

I had a few nice surprises waiting for me when I got back to Sydney. Di sent me a birthday package in the mail from Melbourne. That was the nicest thing ever! The only other things I got in the mail were bills, flyers and a Vitamin A bikini bottom I bought on eBay because my old ones were getting a little small – heh. I also went to the Cat Empire gig on the same day I arrived. They are such awesome live performers. It started with a Balkan gypsy band, that had the most amazing violinist ever. They even played a few songs together. The energy was absolutely mad – most people were on their feet despite a sit-down area on top. Soooo much fun!

I also had a surprise birthday dinner at Pendolino, at the Strand Arcade, which I’ve been meaning to check out for the longest time. I had the most amazing pasta dish ever, the papardelle, that tasted too good to ever forget the experience. Am sooo going back again. Another place I got to check out recently was Universal, the night before J left for Adelaide and we met up with some of this friends here. It had such a fun concept: create your own degustation from the exhaustive seasonal selections. The desserts were particularly good. And of course, I made a visit to my staple Spanish, Kika, with Miss T and we totally rocked the Sangria :)

It was also nice being back at work. I can’t stay away from it for too long. It’s something I really enjoy, no matter what I’m designing, or perhaps I just like being surrounded by Macs :)

I also participated in the Mardi Gras parade this year – that crazy, fabulous, over-the-top gay and lesbian carnival at the end of the event. Am glad I could volunteer with the rest of the guys. What an experience! It was way more fun than actual work, and I got to take some crazy pictures. They are on my Facebook account, unfortunately there are too many of them to post up here. And Miss T & J were in town on that day too – what fantastic timing guys!

Mardi Gras 09

Mardi Gras 09

Can’t believe I’ve been here for 9 months already.

26/2/2009

I will definitely miss your lame-zone, EE

It has been a great 2 weeks or so being back in KL. Not sure what the initial apprehension was all about – perhaps it’s kind of like the first date follow up jitters, where the first few minutes are awkward before you are reminded why there is a follow up. Anyway, as expected, it is a tad hard to leave the comforts of home once again, for another place I must think of as home also.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and thanks to the people who’ve made time to catch up with me. As always, it is great seeing all you guys!

Looking forward to T and J coming over in a mere couple of weeks. There are SO MANY THINGS I want to show you guys!

Oh – by the way the kayu nasi kandar last night was a fabulous finale to my eating spree. Must get back to the gym again, now I have a very big bet riding on my (currently awol) ability to shed off the kilos. If things go well I will finally get to go to Rio, fully sponsored! Talk about motivation.

Must get packing!

24/11/2008

Little distractions that come at a price

I keep writing, and deleting, and rewriting, and saving, and I never seem to be able to finish this post I started almost a month ago. Different things are important to me now, I guess, and although this blog has never been a priority I like having it around. Even more so now that it seems to be one of the small links to life before Sydney. I just can’t seem to put my thoughts into words.. sorry. It really is easier talking about food.. heheh.

I’ve been here for almost five (now six – wow) months now – how time flies. However different life may be from the one I left in KL, I feel like I’m meant to be here. It’s hard to admit I don’t miss home much except for family and friends (and local food). Sydney wears like a second skin.

Last weekend (three weekends ago now) was the annual Food & Wine Fair at Hyde Park North, a charity event by the top restaurants and wineries around, and a stone’s throw away from where I live. I had a pretty good time hanging out with my friends, and meeting not one but four gorgeous Malamutes, and discovering new establishments to further expand my waistline in. I have three upcoming bookings for restaurants I’m keen to sink my teeth into.. one of them being a Franco-Viet joint in the neighbourhood! (For the record, it was very good)

It was also the same day I saw the aftermath of a suicide jumper, from the top of the building next to mine. It wasn’t very pretty.

I’ve been eating out a lot these days, where I used to stay in and cook when I first got here. I finish work every day at 6pm, something I never thought would be possible in this line of work, which leaves me plenty of time to round up one or two unsuspecting friends for dinner. Everyone keeps telling me how amazing it is that Malaysians (and I think Asians in general) love their food so much, and putting two Malaysians together anywhere and the conversation inevitably steers to the subject of.. food! What can I say.. I’m not biased. I like drinks too.

Anyway, a couple of my fav haunts so far.. obviously a work in progress :)

Thai
Undeniably, Spice I Am on Wentworth Ave. A Tony Tan recommendation, and one that has impressed even the most unimpressionable Thai I know: one that makes the best Thai in Malaysia. Must haves: Fried whiting, steamed fish cakes (otak-otak style) basil pork, moo pa, green curry, red duck curry and my absolute fave.. the som tum. No one has done it better. Chat Thai on Campbell St does a great pad thai, but doesn’t score as well on the rest.

Tapas
Kika Tapas Bar on Victoria St. Really, really good Sangria; Must try: the chorizo omelette with garlic aioli is absolutely divine, so is this dish with blue cheese in between two cuts of beef (can’t remember what it’s called) and their patatas bravas are a staple favourite. Also fabulous: Raquel’s on Oxford St and Encasa on Pitt St. For upmarket Spanish, I like Subsolo; their house creation cocktails are delicious.
Want to try: Velero.

‘I miss home’ food
Alice’s in Thornleigh does bang-on Assam Laksa on the last Sunday of the month, BKT for dinner and better nyonya kuihs that the stuff I used to have in KL. Except it is quite a journey to travel just for some (very good) kuih. Mamak on Goulburn St. What a no-brainer concept. Even the tableware has been purchased in PJ old town. My only gripe is that the roti pisang is served with ice-cream, but otherwise the fish curry and sambal is pretty decent. And the roti planta is made with planta. Can’t go wrong there.
Want to try at some point: Lee’s Malaysian for curry laksa, Ginger & Spice and Temasek.

Sunday morning brunch
Forbes & Burton, corner of Forbes & Burton Streets. Great coffees; particularly enjoy the croquet monsieur and their bubble and squeak. Bill’s in Woollahra/Surry Hills. Best scrambled eggs ever. Great aged cheddar, mushrooms, bacon, grilled roma tomatoes and salmon for sides. They are also famous for their ricotta hotcakes which I lurrrrrve! Except breakfast for two costs somewhere in the region of $70-$90, which REALLY hurts. Scrambled in Newtown. Manor eggs – scrambled eggs with with grain mustard seed, is seriously amazing. Also really, really liked their chocolate milkshakes (and I’m not really a fan of chocolate milkshakes – I don’t like the taste of chocolate that’s not somewhat pure).

Italian
A Tavola on Victoria St. Love the house-made pastas, and the Panna Cotta is absolutely divine!! Light Brigade does an authentic and very tasty classic beef lasagne, without all the modern-day mods. Have yet to really explore this side of Sydney. I liked Buona Sera on Norton St in Leichhardt. They made the best bruschetta I’ve ever had. But unfortunately it’s closed down since.

Australian
Oscillate Wildly in Newtown; hard to get booking but well worth the wait. Universal in Republic 2. Heavily Asian-influenced menu. Sublime desserts. Must try: Veal with foie gras, lobster and tamarind soup. But menu changes every now and then. Café Sydney at the Customs House overlooking the harbour. Loved the green pea soup with roasted yabbies, crusted lamb rack, grilled swordfish, strawberry and lime tart.. pretty much everything. Oh, and the fabulous views. Rockpool(fish) at The Rocks. Lovely fish, but not quite sure if it’s worth the price(y) tag.
Want to try: Strangers with Candy, Le Pelican, Sands on Coogee

Mexican
Flying Fajita Sisters, Glebe.. great enchiladas, burittos and the spiciest chili I’ve ever had in my entire life. Pacifico makes some serious Margaritas at $70 a jug.. pricey but worth it.


We love our margaritas…

Wine
Time to Vino, Stanley Street. Who would’ve thunk the simple addition of meringue crumble to a cup of fresh masticated strawberries swimming in Chantilly cream would result in the most glorious dessert ever?? Also a great wine list, nice chill out joint and two sibling sommeliers.


Latest obsession.

I think Hurricane’s is so overrated. Decent, but overrated.

I know I’m missing a few from this list but it’s past 1am (and as of tomorrow I start work at 9am instead of 9:30am so I really should get some sleep.. soon).

Going to slow down on the chow down in the next couple of weeks. Working freelance hurts when the company you’re working for is closing for two weeks year end – no billings for me :( Probably a good thing, I need to kick start my savings since I’m going to be in KL for three weeks in February.. and then there’s that TV I’ve been meaning to pick up but never got round to..

You know, it really is kind of strange that I feel normal not having a TV. Last week, Zona and Lee gave me their old one and it took me two days to get it hooked up and another day before I turned it on. Didn’t do much.. I listened to the news then went to sleep. But I guess all that will change WHEN I BUY A PLAYSTATION3!!!!

Dying, dying to play some games again. Urgh. Especially since I’ve been working on gaming magazines at work – Holy Batman them upcoming games like RE5 (not that I will play it), MK vs DC, Tekken 6 (but I think on Xbox) look really good.. currently playing Assassin’s Creed. On my DS. Not as fun as playing it on the Xbox with a 40″ at MJ’s but I will get round to it.. eventually. All this will cost me a cool $2k. Ouch. Things are expensive here.

Good night for now. And wherever you are, I hope things are well.

28/7/2008

Pass the cheese, please

It’s 5am and I’m wide awake. I don’t know how many times I’ve made mental notes about not having coffee past 10pm but I still do it on occasions. This time my excuse was that watching Dark Knight on a huge IMAX screen was so fun that err.. well.. wait, I think it’s the freezing temperatures upon exiting the cinema that persuaded me to go “Hey, let’s grab a coffee!”. Although in hindsight the cinema was probably colder than being outside at 11:30pm.

[Six days later]

The past two weeks have been pretty full on. Mom was in town for a bit, and we were doing a fair bit of exploring all over Sydney and beyond. Including a 40-minute trip to Thornleigh to check out this Malaysian restaurant my cousin’s hubby is going to work at. He’s a chef. Anyway, the food was well worth the journey, so much that a return trip for the monthly assam laksa special was made on Sunday. I was blown away, it’s the nicest I’ve had in months and not just because I’m here. It’s better than the one I always have during my local pasar malam that I’ve had since forever! Didn’t manage to take any pictures.. forgot about that when the food arrived. Haha. Anyway, the restaurant is called Makan @ Alice’s and they make really good nyonya kuihs and do BKT for dinner.

I wish I had some pictures to post. Must remember to use camera when I’m out. That’s if I remember to bring it out :P

Have been enjoying the food here quite a bit. And really, really enjoying cooking it at home! I made grilled lamb cutlets with coriander pesto and mint leaves, garlic sesame prawn fettucine (turned out awesome.. although most people would find the garlic overpowering, I like it that way) and I made lamb backstraps with lemon myrtle couscous from a DJs recipe because mom bought macadamia oil and peppercorn steak with cheddar mash potatoes and asparagus cooked in a butter sauce and baked herbal chicken. Yum. Of course I enjoy eating out also but I have to watch my expenses :/ So many restaurants so little money.. kek.

Oh err.. almost forgot to mention the wine too. Went in search of my fav wine, the St Clair whites, and so far no where I’ve been to stocks this.. which is strange since it’s an NZ export. Finally met someone who was able to tell me where to get it here. Apparently it’s the only place that sells this stuff here and this guy, Michael from Dan Murphy’s, seems to be a big fan :) He recommended something quite decent with the same flavours as the St Clair, but if I wanted a bottle of St Clair I have to travel about 30 mins to get it. They do city deliveries but minimum order is 12 bottles.. GG.

I miss Vintry! And I’m jealous of all you people (you know who you are) who can drink this whenever you want :P Oh BTW its in the $23–27 range here.

Oh and here are some long overdue pictures from Good Living Growers’ Market in Pyrmont that I went to with Nick last month. The next one is this weekend and it happens only once a month :( I got some really super awesome to die for lamb patties there the last time, so I’m praying those guys will be there this weekend! Also awesome gourmet potatoes and hopefully I save enough money to buy an eye fillet. And cheese! Must remember to drag Zona along.

This is not turning into some food blog. I’m still giddy over the food choices here. Not that there’s not a lot of food in KL, dammit I’m Malaysian I don’t need to justify my love of food :) Also, to be honest I haven’t been up to that much else. There’s still a million things on my to-do list but I haven’t felt compelled to tick those boxes so fast. Am looking forward to this weekend though, working whole of this week so I haven’t had much time to run around.. not even at night because I’m catching up on Boston Legal. Dammit Roy <3

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