[Brisbane] Hanaichi at Westfield Garden City Foodcourt

So I have been home in Brisbane for the past week. Got really sick the day before I left Brunei and slowly recuperating.


Chicken Nanban/Hanaichi

Funny this is one of the many things I missed since away. Foodcourt food? What's up with this rabbit? She shuns fastfood except KFC fried chicken and foodcourt except Hanaichi.

From the pic above you can only see salad dressed in the yummiest sweet salty sour dressing (very appetizing). Hidden underneath the salad is a layer of seasoned fried chicken pieces (Rabbit's weakness) and then rice underneath.

The portion is rather big and easily feed Princess and me (I couldn't finish the rice sometimes) and all for under AUD8, cheap, by Australian standard.

Chicken curry katsu

Now, this is Princess' favourite. 'Food' in Garden City shopping centre means 'curry' to her. The curry sauce is simply decadent, much much better than any other version I have come across. It really puts me off using those pre-packaged curry cubes. Bad.

Hanaichi foodcourt outlets can be found at Wintergarden on Queen St, Westfield Garden City, Westfield Indooroopilly and Westfield Chermside.

Taking a hiatus

Holidaying in Brunei.

Weather extremely hot here. Felt my skin melting away even just sitting still in the house.

Been to Singapore last week for a short shopping and binge-ing session.

Will be stuffing my face silly with roti and kolomee and Indian food and KFC spicy crunchy fried chicken.

Long live good food!

[Life] Ugly and stupid

I had a haircut today at a Korean salon in Sunnybank.

I arrived drab and left ugly.

The mood really hit rock bottom.

Made worse with being treated as a busybody, stupid and lazy person.

Life is officially ugly and stupid and indolent.

Why try so hard to please?

No amount of macarons is going to cheer me up. Unless they are Pierre Hermé ones......

[Brisbane] Dim Sum at Manor

The Manor Chinese Restaurant
6 Angel Street
Corner Gaskell Street & Angel Street
Eight Mile Plains, 4113

My No.1 choice for dim sum!


Located off Logan Road, behind Glen Hotel.

All dim sum offerings are above average.

Deep fried calamari could be a tad too salty.

Siew mai fresh and well-seasoned.

Ham sui kok (deep fried glutinous rice dumpling) skin is crispy yet soft and chewy and NOT dripping in oil (very important).

Seafood dumpling was alright, I detest coriander!

Rice sheet roll is nice without skin being thick and mushy (yes, they can happen together!).

Claypot spare-rib and preserved meat is the star. The spare-ribs tender and fluffy rice cooked to perfection.

Me and Princess absolute favourite, custard bun!

Custard buns are not executed well in lots of restaurant. Manor makes a kick-ass version. Fluffy skin with sweet yet savoury custard. I enter cloud nine with every bite.

[Brisbane] Nougat-ed out

My friend has requested me to buy nougat for her.

'Hard, crunchy type in individual packaging,' she said.

Holy moly, I haven't seen them anywhere. I searched high and low from supermarkets to discount shops to delis. Nada, only saw soft and chewy ones sold in bars. I almost got them online but stopped when I saw the hefty $10 shipping costs.

Then I thought I would try those Chinese 'duty-free' shops in Sunnybank.

Bingo, there they were. Packets after packets of Golden Boronia Original Crunchy Nougat. No.1 in Australia, it says on its packaging. Really, I suaku mountain tortoise never know. Aiyo, who ever shops at 'duty-free' shop, I am not a tourist!

Dang dang in all its glory

Price: 1kg/AUD25, 500g/AUD14, 250/AUD8

On my quest to search for nougat, I came across Bliss 'naked' (cut, unpackaged) nougat at Fresh on Carina and asked to take away 2, 1 original and 1 chocolate flavour.

But my jaw dropped when I heard the price. It's AUD2 each. WT# for an 1 inx1 in little little cube??!!

Anyways, I was desperate so I brought them home.

To be fair, they are quite nice. Not too sweet with a hint of almond essence and packed with macademia and almond. But at AUD2, thank you very much and hope we never see each other again.

I am so glad I found Golden Boronia! I like cappucino crunchy! I am so fighting my bro over them, heh.

[Brisbane] Oishii Sushi Bar

Oishii Sushi Bar
shop2/70 Pinelands Rd
Sunnybank Hills
Brisbane




Agedashi tofu


Omurice

I tasted before feeding Princess. Put spoon in my mouth. Stopped dead in my track.

Oishii!


Spider roll

Chicken katsu sushi wrapped in omelette.

Tasted nice but hate those salty yellow bits.


Dragon roll

As you can tell from the picture, unagi (eel) topped sushi roll. Can't remember the fillings. Orz...

Didn't jot down individual price. Total bill around AUD4x.xx.

[Shopping] Barbie and vespa

Princess' first ever barbie doll (AUD20 on sale at ToysRus)!

[Shopping] Trade Secret again!

I was on my way to Sunnybank for grocery shopping and thought I would stop by Trade Secret just to check out the $5 and $10 racks.

BIG mistake.

I ended up shopping away from the $5/$10 racks. And went away with a mini loot. Hehe.....



Blue Sass peasant dress AUD34.95
Pink Mambo tee AUD16.95
Beige Sass tee AUD19.95

[Home] Lunch at home - East meets West

Lunch


Ham, egg and cheese sarnie

Princess likes lots of ketchup with er, everything.

Rice sheet roll with sesame dressing

Steam or microwave the rice sheet roll and doused with sesame dressing and hoisin sauce. Delish!


Japanese 'Kewpie' sesame dressing and hoi sin sauce


Mariage Frères' Marco Polo tea

How does one go back to drinking Lipton after tasting Mariage Frères?

[Brisbane] A dough, limitless creations

Polish Bakery, Arundel


Pumpkin bread from my favourite Polish Bakery A$5.50

The yellow hue is not from colouring but from pumpkin slowly roasted in oven.

Almond croissant A$3.50

This thing is huge!! Generously filled with custard (proper one not from powder) and topped with flaked almonds.

Brewbakers, Clayfield

Chocolate chip bagel

I can't remember the price, it's either A$1.50 or A$2.50 each.

Dense and extremely chewy. Their bagels actually reminded me of the bread at Flour Power in Highgate Hill. They just share the same texture. Weird.

Parmesan bagel

We also got brioche bread for A$3.50 which is a steal. It's far better than the bagels. Go for the brioche.

Flour Power, Highgate Hill

Rye sourdough

I think it was A$5.50 per loaf. Not the kind of sourdough I like. The crust is extremely hard with the dough very chewy and dense. My ideal sourdough bread should be springy with nice airy pockets with a little chew.

Uncle Bob's Bakery, Belmont

Vienna roll aka tiger roll

Average.

Chocolate croissant

Average.

But what really brought me to Uncle Bob's if the offerings I felt were average?

It's those country sourdough bread (not pictured).

They are one of the best I have tasted in Brisbane. Go on, it's worth the drive.

[Brisbane] Endless Noodles

Endless Noodles 西域拉面
Shop 1, 70 Pinelands Road
Sunnybank Hills

Specializing in hand-pulled noodles

Easily spotted travelling along Mains Rd right next to an 7-11 petrol station.

The whole building lot is dedicated to food, along the same row we have Oiishi Sushi Bar, Chinese Cafe (cha-chan-teng), a butcher and a Korean restaurant on the first floor.

Grilled lamb skewers (with/without chilli)

This arrived about 10 minutes after we finished our noodles after several enquiries. Meat fatty and chewy, me no like.

Spicy chicken noodles

While tasted ok, this is a rather ordinary dish.


Stir fry noodles with chicken

Again, quite ordinary tasting. Do not come with high expectation. These northern style pulled noodles is too starchy for my liking. They sit quite heavy in the stomach for quite sometime.

I am much much more interested in the sushi bar next door. Next Time.

[Cook] Lasagne

My friend SY asked me how do I cook my pasta.

Hmmm, I have only ever cooked pasta in ragu, lasagne and spinach & ricotta canelloni . Oh not forgetting the instant Japanese mentaiko pasta sauce. Delish!

Here is the lasagne I cooked recently.

I am not the greatest cook in the world, nor am I the sort who (die-die) insist on cooking from scratch for every dish.

You need:

Lasagne sheets (I used dried store bought variety - 8 sheets)

A bottle of ragu (I used Bertolli oven roasted garlic with wine)

Bechemel sauce

Mince (beef or pork or chicken)

Parmesan cheese and cheddar cheese (you could use other cheese you like)

Please google up bechemel sauce. They are dead easy. Alternatively you could use store bought one if you are time-strapped.

I think the whole world knows how to brown mince and pour over a bottle of ragu. If not, I suggest you visit the nearest restaurant :P.

Assemble:

1. Oil an oblong dish. Start by layering meat sauce, followed by bechemel sauce followed by cheese followed by lasagne sheets.

2. Repeat until all ingredients used up and finish with bechemel sauce topped with cheese. NOT lasgane sheet, very yucky!

3. Bake in preheated oven at 180 degree celcius for 45 minutes.

4. Voila, serve, enjoy!

[Fashion] Jalan-jalan at Westfield Garden City and Trde Secrets

Window displays at Westfield Garden City


More window displays at Westfield Garden City

Some pickings at Trade Secrets

******
Oi, who said fatty can't wear skinny jeans?


Aiyo, very awkward, don't know how to pose -_-'''

[Brisbane] Dolci Sapori

When I saw Dolci Sapori featured on Great Southeast, I knew I had to visit soon, very soon.

So we found ourselves in the neighbourhood the very next weekend (getting bagels in Brewbakers), shoot two birds with one stone.






Assorted traditional Italian sweets (sold by weight)

We got this lot for AUD11 (inclusive 10% tax).

Ar, mmm, er ...........

Well, er, nice fashionable? neighbourhood, I spotted a man with gel-slicked hair carrying a LV Musette sling XD.

Cool, way to go man.

[Family] Happy Birthday to BB!

Today is one of my beloved sisters' birthday.

Though we look 90% alike, she is also 90% prettier than me!

Many many happy returns!

Princess is only interested in the contents of the bag, hehe, ai sui the chabo.

*********

蕭敬騰 <同名專輯> rocks!

He has the golden touch of making every song uniquely good (other people's song and his own) and I doubt anyone is able to surpass his version.

The 'friendly rival' can balik kampung liao.

The 'rival's' super bling with super weird designer costumes concert, orz, no eye see.........

[Brisbane] Cafe Modena

Cafe Modena
293 Adelaide St
Brisbane QLD 4000
Website: www.cafemodena.com.au

One of the many quaint little cafes dotted around Brisbane's CBD. In fact, immediately next door is a modern industrial looking steel-minimalist decor cafe.

They use a special Dibella blend which I think specially concocted for them, called, yeah surprise, Modena.

Personally I am not really a fan of Dibella coffee. I much prefer Merlo.

But the genius bald barista at Modena is made famous in many coffee forums. So I die die must check out!

When I arrive, a lady is working the coffee machine. No sign of said bald barista. Utterly disappointed. Still, already here might as well give it a try.

Cappuccino

The milk is smooth and creamy. Nice crema colour on the milk giving the cappuccino a nice brown edge. Very well executed.

The coffee itself is good but not amazing.

I am no coffee connoissuer, I just know my like and dislike when I taste one.

Princess enjoying muffins.

Cafe Modena has this promo, a coffee and 3 mini home made muffins/a danish for A$5.50.

The muffins are average, just like those I bake at home.

Nice comfy place for a quick break.

[Shopping] Onitsuka Tiger R55 for Mini

Add some bling into our attire.

Enter the collaboration between two highly unrelated companies, Onitsuka and Mini (as in motor).


Silver R55

Super stylish. Me like (though not a fan of sneakers, these I can tolerate).


Mini logo at rear, hide it by turning down the flap.

These are limited edition. Big King got them online. Get yours quick.

[Princess] Princess in Slippers

Pretty cow print ballerina slippers. Princess loves the ribbon and pink cushy lining inside.

Please ignore the ill-matched purple socks haha!

Pretty strawberry motifs havaianas. She wears them riding bicycle, go shopping in nearby Coles supermarket and to the beach.

I also own a pair of black havaianas with silver metallic thongs. Its for um, market day? Oh ok, I don't know why I got them, I hardly wear them. I prefer pretty girly sandals and flats.

[Brisbane] Gelato @ Bella Donna

Gelateria Bella Donna
Shop 13 Central Brunswick
335-421 Brunswick St
Fortitude Valley




Piazza (some kind of coffee flavour) and some Italian biccies flavour

Can't remember what they taste like orz.........

I am more interested in the Grill'd burger joint next door.............Must try next time.

While waiting for Big King to finish running errands in the City, I brought Princess to James St Market to look see.

She nagged and pulled me towards Quench (juice and gelato bar) while I was browsing in Spoon Deli and seriously checking out Lick's dark chocolate couverture ice-cream.

She insisted on feeding herself.

And I had a hard time wiping after her.


White choc nutella and peanut butter choco chip

We prefer the white choc nutella. The choco chip tasted funny like emulsified oil, eeeeeeeeee........

*******

(Fiction, I am Miss story-writing wannabe)

M never object to children having ice-cream.

Once upon a time, D had this cough for a long time.

Her mum asked the brother why she kept coughing and never get better. Aiya, deity meh, everything also know?

During the day, D must have her daily ice-cream dose after lunch.

At night, she was given cold watermelon for fruit.

M kepoh and told D she should stop eating cold watermelon and have the apple instead.

Dang dang dang dang, D's grandfather straighaway gave M a stern look and said in a raised voice, 'D will (emphasise) have whatever she want, never you mind.'

D's mother came and said nevermindlah kid mah, they want, give lor. And told D next day she cannot have ice-cream and reminded the parents not to give.

M was only concern mah, cheh.

Next day, after lunch, D asked for ice-cream again. M kepoh kepoh again and asked if she remembered what her mum said the previous night. (Will M ever stop meddling into other people's business tsk tsk tsk)

D sulked (and put up a pretended-to-cry face) and went to tell the grandfather.

So young and old, barged back in the kitchen, retrieved the ice-cream and bang the fridge door.

The old said, 'I say D can (high pitch) have her ice-cream. One ice-cream will not do any harm.'

Later that night, D's mum asked if she had taken ice-cream during the day.

Young and old, silence, didn't dare to tell.

M diam diam (no more kepoh kepoh-ing).

Both young and old finally lied and said no.

Yeah, whatever........

*******

(Not related to above story)

You think I had only one opposition force to deal with?

Acceptance is a virtue?

Patience is a virtue?

Silence is a virtue?

Suffering in silence is a greater virtue?