Dreamy Donut

Krispy Kreme is coming to Brisbane! Yay!

But we are not missing good donuts here in Queensland.

I am one die-hard fan of KK's original glazed but overall I give my vote to Dreamy Donut.

Why? Cos they use Lindt chocolate for all its chocolate topped donuts! Yummo!

Half dozen carry box

Assorted half dozen A$13.XX

You get 2 glazed, 2 topped and 2 filled.

My favourite is raspberry filled donut topped with white chocolate, Princess' fav is white chocolate topped donut and Big King is boring, he always go for the original glazed.

I got mine from Westfield Garden City just outside David Jones on lower ground floor.

Malaya Corner @ Market Square, Sunnybank

Opened in February 2008, Malaya Corner is still located in the same site before it was burnt down last year.


We came for tea after touch down in Brisbane. It's good to be home, air is so much fresher.

Chicken laksa

Peanut toast

Took them bloody 45 minutes to serve us the pre-cooked laksa and cook them stupid toast. Lots of complaints around.

The staff said, 'You have to wait.' What an attitude!

Haven't been back since.

Will be back, I believe in giving second chance.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Il Dolce Freddo

After a frustrated meal at Brunetti, we hope the 'award-winning' gelato will 'extinguish our fire'. Who knows........

We had durian and lychee flavours. The durian smell strong, I could smell it 2 shops away but tasted pretty weak...orz. Lychee both smell and taste weak...orz...more disappointments. I miss Shlix.....

By dinner, I no mood to snap anymore. We had claypot rice and wat tan hor (rice noodles in eggy sauce) at Claypot King on Swanston Street. The braised pork claypot rice was surprisingly good.

Yeah, that conclude our Melbourne trip.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Brunetti

Brunetti
Lygon

Date visited: 16/2/2008 (day 8) for lunch



We arrived tired and hungry at about 12.50pm.

There are cafe and restaurant. We wanted to sit down have a nice meal. Who knows.....

Took the waiter 25 minutes to set an EMPTY table. WHATDAEFF??? Dowan our business issit??

The waiter and waitress stood behind the counter all the time, busy at nothing and sometimes stared into space. Bloody difficult to attempt eye contact.


I had seafood linguini.


Big King had duck risotto.

The food came extra salty till it left a bitter after taste. The duck so dry we could have sworn we were eating duck jerky.

Also had sourdough with olive oil and balsamic dip. The bread came cold and stale?? WHADADAEFF!??

Opera and Nutella Cheesecake

Cheesecake average, Opera is dry and felt it had been in the fridge for 3 days.


Italian cheesecake (ripoff at A$8.XX)

I once read, Italian cheesecake is the KING of all cheesecakes. Eating one is like a revelation. Jokingkah?? Blah. This version is hard and stodgy. *head hit wall* by now.

Total damage A$70 including tips. BIG damage and should have saved the tips.......ORZ.......

Super overrated place.

I simply no mood to snap the very flashy entrance by the time we left.

Fine if you LOVE this place to bits, the above is just our unfortunate experience.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Ichipan Crepes

Ichipan Crepes
Melbourne Central
Melbourne

Date visited: 15/2/2008 (Day 7) for dessert


Situated on ground floor of Melbourne Central near the Swanston St exit/entrance.

The wall is adorned with plastic models.

Big King had one with ice-cream, I had one with nutella, banana, strawberry drowned in custard, YUM!

We had dinner at Dessert House Eatery (again!). I had salt and pepper chicken chop rice (pictured), very nice! Big King had lemongrass pork chop rice (no pic) which is similar to the chicken version I had before.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Cocoro Japanese Pottery & Lounge

Cocoro Japanese Pottery & Lounge
Queen Victoria Market
Melbourne

Date visited: 15/2/2008 (day 7) after lunch at Piadina Slowfood


Nestled unassumingly among a row of brick shops.


Marriage of cafe plus potteries showroom


Green tea parfait A$9.XX

Green tea ice-cream, vanilla ice-cream, green tea pound cake and honeyed adzuki beans topped with cream and garnished with black sesame.

Saw the legendary doughnut van on the way home.


Jam filled donut A$0.80@

I limped all the way back, too much walking the past few days. Princess asked me to carry her midway while also carrying a teapot, a percolator and a bag of hot donuts, orz.....

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Piadina Slowfood

Piadina Slowfood
Rear 57 Lonsdale St
Melbourne

Date visited: 15/2/2008 (day7) for lunch

Still full (gali, more like) from previous night's dinner. I sat in the sun in a little garden on Spring St waiting for tummy to grumble. Princess chased birds and plucked flowers. Finally, it got too hot so we made our way slowly towards then along Lonsdale St.

Came across Madam Brussels Lane first. Housed many hip eateries/bakeries/cafe here. Check out the ultra cool Espressino at rear, very bright and welcoming with drool worthy cakes and snacks in the glass cabinet.

Madame Brussells Lane, 50 Lonsdale St

Cross the road and continue along Lonsdale St and we arrived at number 57. Climb a flight of stairs and Piadina Slowfood with Chinese/Japanese lantern greeted us at its entrance. Super strange, lantern in an Italian cafe which served its food in a Chinese claypot. Fusion all the way....er to Mars, very strange indeed.


Inside, the cafe is tiny. Daily changing menu hung from the ceiling and on chalk board.


I wasn't hungry, so I opt for piadina (Italian flat bread) with ham (I am sure it has some nice name) and rocket. It came with lots of garlic (FRESHLY minced). I like but sure ain't come cheap, total A$13.00.

Princess drank half the latte, orz ><

The place is buzzing when we left, around 12.45.


Signature 'smile' (looks fakey fakey haha)


Princess likes Melbourne very much.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Camy Shanghai Dumpling & Noodle Restaurant

Camy Shanghai Dumpling & Noodle Restaurant
25 Tattersalls Lane
Melbourne
(off Lt Bourke St nearer to Swanston St)

Date visited: 14/2/2008 (day 6) for dinner

A restaurant hidden in an dingy alleyway but enjoy wide coverage by Melbourne bloggers and media.

Dan dan noodle (I know, it looked like something else), Shanghai fish rice (need lots of water to wash down), spring onion pancake (dripping with oil), xiao long (thick skin, strong porky smell) >_<'''

'Authentic' northern style dumpling (as stated in menu)

'Tastiest' food of the night, though still with strong porky smell. Gawwwd.....

High oil, high sodium and 'strong smell' food is simply not our cup of tea.

Paid A$3x.xx

Since on subject of alleyway dining, Hardware Lane (between Queen St and Elizabeth St) is a very happening dining street with live band performing in the evening.

We've never dine there, no mood sitting elbow to elbow with other tourists.


Hardware lane at daytime, comes alive in the evening.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Dragon Boat BBQ

Dragon Boat BBQ Restaurant
Lonsdale St (somewhere between Russell St and Exhibition St)

Date visited: 14/2/2008 (day 6) for lunch after visiting Queen Vic Market

Take circle tram from La Trobe St/Queen St stop and get off at La Trobe St/Swanston St stop. Walk about 10 minutes.


Pork chop rice

Ordered by Big 'Pork Chop' King, surprise, surprise *snigger*


Char siew & soy sauce chicken lo meen

Soy sauce chicken is good, me like. Princess liked the noodles.

Total bill: A$20.10.

[Melbourne 2008] Buy buy buy!

Sam Edelman Carlyn ballet flats (A$95 on sale)

The after effect of jalan-jalan(wandering) around Flinders Lane after tea at Nila.

Shoe details:
Black patent leather upper
Leather sole
Buckle detail at toe
Leopard print lining

Where to buy:
ZOMP shoes at Flinders Lane, just round the corner from Degraves St.

Simply GORGEOUS.

Other accesories scored include black canvas Longchamp tote (the Gucci killed my back, the buckle is too heavy) at David Jones for A$179 and a pair of Voodoo tights from Myer at 20% off (yes, can't stay away from sexy tights), I think A$11.xx.

I have been good, aye.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Nila City

Nila City
13 Degraves St
Melbourne 3000

Date visited: 13/2/2008 (day 5) for afternoon tea

The place is dark and dingy. Photo taken at 1500.


Much awaited/anticipated roti telur A$3.50. Melburnians think this is dirt cheap, if only they know how much we pay at home.......

Disappointing.

Moving on.


Mee goreng mamak A$6.50. Ok lah, canlah.

Too full, no dinner.

[Melbourne 2008] Shopping - Melbourne Central

After lunch at Meiji, we walked over to Melbourne Central. It took us like half an hour, we are slow walkers.......with short legs.......

Saw this love shapes diamond bracelet. Went in to try on and asked the price. It was AUD6,500!!! At 30% off, it was still daylight robbery price!! I said thank you and will think about it (NOT). You should have seen the lady's face, though less 'black' and 'smelly' like Empress Dowager's.

Walked to the basement and saw Krispy Kreme! Woo woo, die die must eat! Bought the coffee deal for AUD5.95 and you get a doughnut and a coffee (duh). The coffee was surprisingly good. Princess drank half the cup, orz, I know I shouldn't let her.....bad mama.

I like Melbourne Central, because there is less crowds here so I can shop leisurely. There are art-deco seats scattered all over the building to rest your tired feet.

You can find Famous Amos(!), allegedly world's smallest tie shop, Cash Box Karaoke (from Taiwan), bowling centre, cinema, creperie (another post!), gelato bar and the usual clothing stores.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Meiji Japanese Cafe

Meiji
105 Lt Bourke St
Victoria
(between Exhibition and Russell St, opp Chinese Museum)

Date visited: 13/2/2008 (day 5) for lunch


Meiji


Prawn, Chicken and five veg pot rice


Spatula and a small bowl provided

I suppose this is way off most tourists' beaten path. Most of its clientele is nearby office workers or locals (cos I overheard them talking about their house and office ><, not intentionally, the place is tiny!).

It's about 15 min walk from Swanston end of Lt Bourke St and 10 min walk from Spring St end of Lt Bourke St. I was actually sweating when we reached Meiji and it was a cool day.

The rice dish came in a stainless steel pot and sure didn't look appetising but it smells very good. I was surprised when I tasted the rice and veg, they were full of flavours, must have been cooked in stock. The pale colour of the whole thing belie the presumption that the rice and the ingredients were bland.

At first I thought I was not hungry, but we finished off the whole pot between me and Princess and it sure was a BIG pot and only cost me A$8.50! Great lunch spot if you work in Melbourne CBD, well, depends where you work. The walk will certainly build up the appetitie for the pot rice!

Again, I was too full and can't manage dinner, though the afternoon tea later was part of the culprit XD.

[Melbourne 2008] Shopping - Melbourne's GPO

Day 5, morning

Melbourne's GPO
Cnr Elizabeth St and Bourke St Mall



GPO gets a special mention because it houses some of my favourite labels; Camper shoes, Karen Millen (from England) and Gorman. You can find Fat (fashion store) here which carry labels like Tsubi, Birds of a feather, Rittenhouse, Lomo (wow!) and etc.

If you are feeling famished, head for the alleyway between GPO and Bourke St Mall where you will find fine Japanese restaurant, Kenzan and good Italian nosh, Nostro Baretto.

Do give it a visit if you are in Melbourne, even just for the spectacular historic and heritage-listed building structure.

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Max Brenner's Chocolate Bar

Date visited: 12/2/2008 (day 4) after dinner

Max Brenner's Chocolate Bar has quite a few locations around Melbourne. We visited the QV branch.


Business is always this good, day and night.


Chocolate fondue for 2 A$16.50

You get a pot of milk chocolate and dark chocolate each. To dip, you get, bananas, strawberries, marshmallows and banana bread.

The melted chocolate was so sweet, a diabetic person will ting tong even from one small taste. Imagine, dipping the already super sweet marshmallow into the super duper sweet melted chocolate....*shudder* even just thinking about it.....

Shop corner selling ready-made chocolates and chocolate related *shudder* 'goodies'.


The devil eats chocolate.

After initial taste, Princess (head shaking vigorously and hands waving vigorously) said (screamed, more like),' Mai liao, mai liao.'

That is Princess verdict, a self-confessed chocolate lover (I ask what her favourite food is, she will say chocolate until she saw ice-cream or cheesecake, haha).

[Melbourne 2008] Food & Drink - Dessert House Eatery 2

Date visited: 12/2/2008 (day 4) for dinner

This is our second visit, because we are crossing the street for dessert later. Yay, oh, so full of anticipation.


Pork chop with dunno what sauce

The sauce ruined the nice pork chop!


Rice noodle with eggy sauce (seafood)

The sauce is 'unnaturally' sweet -_-'''

Can't even remember the price.