tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72882289638580606532024-03-15T19:13:10.787+11:00omnomnomnom & more .....brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-67453490789641830492011-03-03T21:28:00.001+11:002011-03-03T21:33:44.828+11:00Attica - Ripponlea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>There were only 4 Australian restaurants that made it onto San Pellogrino World's Best Restaurants list last year and having had the honour of dining at <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/06/quay-rocks-sydney.html">Quay </a>(ranked #27 in the world and the highest ranked restaurant amongst the 4 Australian restaurants) last year, the boy was keen to visit Attica (ranked #73). Me, however, not so keen. The idea of another degustation menu, long waits in between....just threw me off.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">But am I glad I went!</div><div style="text-align: center;">On weekends they only offer the 8-course degustation so that's what we had.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJORI4QRpK2-N1uk4wOnpLkHUmu1IAJO79bWjgdDOtheohQUudJB4CAgGcZzBUu92b3-QBYaGiY2SXL8bexeOQGUIJVqQNW8w5yxyH8YfRMi8TBdVbHnGN4kMTmgYqFwaZg50RCv-z4o/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJORI4QRpK2-N1uk4wOnpLkHUmu1IAJO79bWjgdDOtheohQUudJB4CAgGcZzBUu92b3-QBYaGiY2SXL8bexeOQGUIJVqQNW8w5yxyH8YfRMi8TBdVbHnGN4kMTmgYqFwaZg50RCv-z4o/s400/IMG_3879.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Butter and smoked olive oil with black rock salt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcV_DmzqgKZDqZPZqqyaYlK2vA-XP1YYikEoP1G7muAL9rav85T4CZtTI3f1pjpZ1cS8b57lKiQ7hga2aaC6_A5orE20uoCIWzi7doQ8DcYor2xEipT_co41qsSr9Ymzccypyhc3IPv4/s1600/IMG_3882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcV_DmzqgKZDqZPZqqyaYlK2vA-XP1YYikEoP1G7muAL9rav85T4CZtTI3f1pjpZ1cS8b57lKiQ7hga2aaC6_A5orE20uoCIWzi7doQ8DcYor2xEipT_co41qsSr9Ymzccypyhc3IPv4/s400/IMG_3882.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was delegated the *cough* tough *cough* choice of choosing the wine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Uv_82qDQWQx1NYgSNUgnxr4quwPKj4qzMSPhsucSVrwaZoK_x_jhouRxdVtx99N5grCcgiq1saufNV0nsuXZCOVlbsBW9_WtfIDsty9tVkLRONrqzvr4zBU_H-EkX9K1nwKZ2MI1X_8/s1600/IMG_3885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Uv_82qDQWQx1NYgSNUgnxr4quwPKj4qzMSPhsucSVrwaZoK_x_jhouRxdVtx99N5grCcgiq1saufNV0nsuXZCOVlbsBW9_WtfIDsty9tVkLRONrqzvr4zBU_H-EkX9K1nwKZ2MI1X_8/s400/IMG_3885.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meanwhile I was delegated the even tougher task of having to eat the bread. O woe is me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykCTI6f_JlGg9pEiklTupdiywfGQekanrv5CvS7VjT9UuedUMTrgbc5cOVaaUXD4SSfwBy9aGeF6go_azsC-2JvSpz5PCeCPbzLVwVZwkmqKadDETBe_9GN7ogZf6OPY-aLtGRD0cgpk/s1600/IMG_3886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykCTI6f_JlGg9pEiklTupdiywfGQekanrv5CvS7VjT9UuedUMTrgbc5cOVaaUXD4SSfwBy9aGeF6go_azsC-2JvSpz5PCeCPbzLVwVZwkmqKadDETBe_9GN7ogZf6OPY-aLtGRD0cgpk/s400/IMG_3886.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sashimi of prawns (complimentary appetiser). Yum. So fresh and refreshing. It truly whet my appetite for the next few courses. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZmQJzVO6ywmicjfAvQ7_ZXhHGaKa_2ZSNwRBg_HAbW6mpiHfCkqRjSFnfaiBEK7fNPBUFjLd_XHYDJyzW8QG8-jKDgD26fXYEYWfeTIcv_D3jBykiwbz7OLuk-ODxQSgQUQsKXdlFcY/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZmQJzVO6ywmicjfAvQ7_ZXhHGaKa_2ZSNwRBg_HAbW6mpiHfCkqRjSFnfaiBEK7fNPBUFjLd_XHYDJyzW8QG8-jKDgD26fXYEYWfeTIcv_D3jBykiwbz7OLuk-ODxQSgQUQsKXdlFcY/s400/IMG_3887.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The science lab for molecular gastronomists!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VveTZ9Ys2yN3Osxng8R1cLwmMmz8Q11tNmLD3sU3tDavQX1gerq8a7cHOL2Zn2iQHTFArNNZuv5LBxgZxOef9EWSHxFW-9VPjcSFIfoH9Vn6ZM2W6Zu8zYQSs4wrKZipDBIJsoqall4/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VveTZ9Ys2yN3Osxng8R1cLwmMmz8Q11tNmLD3sU3tDavQX1gerq8a7cHOL2Zn2iQHTFArNNZuv5LBxgZxOef9EWSHxFW-9VPjcSFIfoH9Vn6ZM2W6Zu8zYQSs4wrKZipDBIJsoqall4/s400/IMG_3888.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Molecular magic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SnlBDCsnbXZjfGIjhXXBepwyyS-CC7DSbB4Q4WpcxJPNu1VW2k3KKJs2uqMBnHmqoCy4_V_ma88vzGz2tQcz-oq1m3uLQncLCeRFB1AF_56zhtPaTxjXMaM-Ii8FjuBmNQdmeEbKJxs/s1600/IMG_3890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SnlBDCsnbXZjfGIjhXXBepwyyS-CC7DSbB4Q4WpcxJPNu1VW2k3KKJs2uqMBnHmqoCy4_V_ma88vzGz2tQcz-oq1m3uLQncLCeRFB1AF_56zhtPaTxjXMaM-Ii8FjuBmNQdmeEbKJxs/s400/IMG_3890.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tada! <b>Snowcrab with horseradish powder, roe, puffed rice, pomelo</b> (I think!) and many other ingredients I'm sure. This dish set the bar very high- this was such a textural tease! Every spoonful tasted different because of the different flavours and textures embedded in the clever play of ingredients. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdcr0RWvhs_NBpUJrULErZD6gX-cLvCPaQY359yUMpQB-oFvtNZ6Ff8zJAsm5sl_IojXB8foX-bRgp1roQQ_edsAMJHwoMLfLiXhdz7Q9ndQauTQd-mFYq7SbDdLFFYTApzWigIWiwz8/s1600/IMG_3891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdcr0RWvhs_NBpUJrULErZD6gX-cLvCPaQY359yUMpQB-oFvtNZ6Ff8zJAsm5sl_IojXB8foX-bRgp1roQQ_edsAMJHwoMLfLiXhdz7Q9ndQauTQd-mFYq7SbDdLFFYTApzWigIWiwz8/s400/IMG_3891.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Marron tail with leek, egg yolk, garlic. </b>The freshest seafood I've tasted in a while<b>. </b>I didn't think it'd work with the egg yolk, but the pairing was beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_Mlx7x_2rUbZD6sy6mjnKQAOBIdeJEFH55pLPO9-oTBhy2Uo34iXYyjwQKeLCU6HnGDoSU9YT-rdcpmK89GrbbASd0QzZviWE49nKtAO8lmAhe2sF8YGz8M7BLvw3Esi3SHeQNhyphenhyphen9XA/s1600/IMG_3892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_Mlx7x_2rUbZD6sy6mjnKQAOBIdeJEFH55pLPO9-oTBhy2Uo34iXYyjwQKeLCU6HnGDoSU9YT-rdcpmK89GrbbASd0QzZviWE49nKtAO8lmAhe2sF8YGz8M7BLvw3Esi3SHeQNhyphenhyphen9XA/s400/IMG_3892.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>' a simple dish of potato cooked in the earth it was grown'</b> I was very keen to try this dish, but unfortunately it just reminded me of a very well cooked potato. It probably didn't help that when I was younger and still in primary school my mom would always pack boiled potatoes for my lunches haha. I didn't exactly like the goats cheese cream it was sitting on either.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd9eDX6epHg0SCp6JUrUU1D0kZ7XJhk6nE5uYcHzRzZ8eBSMnmPvHmfJDTmilEPH791ADfyjDYXiYLsgqeybObZt0eIC776w0S2i-mia1zw9N-vCwDznXlOHUK0vakxQNciwfpmWw4f4/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd9eDX6epHg0SCp6JUrUU1D0kZ7XJhk6nE5uYcHzRzZ8eBSMnmPvHmfJDTmilEPH791ADfyjDYXiYLsgqeybObZt0eIC776w0S2i-mia1zw9N-vCwDznXlOHUK0vakxQNciwfpmWw4f4/s400/IMG_3894.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Bass grouper, shitake, quinoa and raw brocollini flowers in dashi broth with slivers of radish</b>. I enjoyed everything but the fish (but that's because I don't like cooked fish that much....I reckon it's boring :x .. unless it's salmon or cod- then we're talking! )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgal2Vsvd5Y-kJZ5mzSuGVWjUzTbc9-_EcikiPlbMUr8UxajrQQgv7C95B0TQBM98vHxLq5krjx1omaBPrQEAiWGiz9hjRAuDV0NXTnYISwm2AuPZ3vM0yjXGlE9B_gI8CRIDYkmS9B8U/s1600/IMG_3895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgal2Vsvd5Y-kJZ5mzSuGVWjUzTbc9-_EcikiPlbMUr8UxajrQQgv7C95B0TQBM98vHxLq5krjx1omaBPrQEAiWGiz9hjRAuDV0NXTnYISwm2AuPZ3vM0yjXGlE9B_gI8CRIDYkmS9B8U/s400/IMG_3895.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Pork tail, black pudding, pickled onion sauce, beetroot watermelon, dune spinach and flowers! </b>Delicious- the pork tail was made to resemble something like deep-fried taro (always seen at yum cha) but still kept it's lovely, flavoursome taste. And beetroot infused watermelon? Who would've thought! I ate all the flowers on my plate too haha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU_4jibfcGujQSD0RWn1uyXI0rxe9zCJu6cPzUxbQAZnCA8SRFXohc_FuLVzR6pAnLRLC2nxsJfDM7bz856OXsuPaHZrG6xaBTYiUT7XCiGXElNbZcFByFPBeXu4x8C5pQSeFHK6PvbU/s1600/IMG_3897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU_4jibfcGujQSD0RWn1uyXI0rxe9zCJu6cPzUxbQAZnCA8SRFXohc_FuLVzR6pAnLRLC2nxsJfDM7bz856OXsuPaHZrG6xaBTYiUT7XCiGXElNbZcFByFPBeXu4x8C5pQSeFHK6PvbU/s400/IMG_3897.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think somewhere in between this and the previous dish I was starting to feel stuffed to the brim with food. This was beef cooked 3 ways- <b>Wagyu beef</b> (very good), <b>smoked ox tongue</b> (so tender, and literally melts in your mouth), <b>cured beef with tomatoes</b>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiSSsm_8Z7jgBkbpdxSFXNNGd85zV3VOZ73rOpURlJ8VSrzEjmyWrkGDfn9F0YHxcdajMKAK06PW11qL9A1nyxlsuZ7dpwn4ycDRgGBMJxtqwYe39y-Fw3mkxcZmTC9nhNaFdz41VHvo/s1600/IMG_3898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiSSsm_8Z7jgBkbpdxSFXNNGd85zV3VOZ73rOpURlJ8VSrzEjmyWrkGDfn9F0YHxcdajMKAK06PW11qL9A1nyxlsuZ7dpwn4ycDRgGBMJxtqwYe39y-Fw3mkxcZmTC9nhNaFdz41VHvo/s400/IMG_3898.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I needed a hot glass of water with lemon to digest all that goodness I had just consumed. What's quirky about this glass is that it's tempered so even though the water was BOILING, we couldn't feel it on the outside. Kinda tricky, if you ask me....imagine if I'd been impatient and gulped everything down yikes. But that's ok, it came with a warning from the waitress to be careful so I was saved that night haha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEts-48hBjszXqUjQO-xlkcKPrt_sR6rufcmD5UrFtzJJz0heCatdCj9mYD0l0Nnfj6p-Hw5ntLSYcIrTXt8OF3bSzQfhxiCUsVoDZIgafC3ti8FaOX13HSvztL2lKbK573c6-UYKq2wQ/s1600/IMG_3901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEts-48hBjszXqUjQO-xlkcKPrt_sR6rufcmD5UrFtzJJz0heCatdCj9mYD0l0Nnfj6p-Hw5ntLSYcIrTXt8OF3bSzQfhxiCUsVoDZIgafC3ti8FaOX13HSvztL2lKbK573c6-UYKq2wQ/s400/IMG_3901.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW6Ubk9zr_wcNdCKcPST57ySiTLXFiyAG3z-MG7EClGbe9iQKmpPPkOFTkEtPwPevAQ-EkvD5d0_OBjs3KHxXxALnBieFgkKtwPhhYqkBpcMS7qYEC7HpGs9tRswcRu6dLDyEXyruU0M/s1600/IMG_3902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW6Ubk9zr_wcNdCKcPST57ySiTLXFiyAG3z-MG7EClGbe9iQKmpPPkOFTkEtPwPevAQ-EkvD5d0_OBjs3KHxXxALnBieFgkKtwPhhYqkBpcMS7qYEC7HpGs9tRswcRu6dLDyEXyruU0M/s400/IMG_3902.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>honeydew, peach sorbet and blackberries. </b>A great way to finish the meal- this felt like a palatte cleanser.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdr7-LXw0NXoX6rCu2Sfq5a6kTTnQOjXRzERpyu2ESm2PKw_RqV4RTbsIjiMjpvgL0MZbQtBejEgAS2RPcpPpZQWF6kuEjQKwHTaXH8TbiQB2B63Cm4J6cC_rL5lgezHLxLR1ZvBcvkg/s1600/IMG_3905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdr7-LXw0NXoX6rCu2Sfq5a6kTTnQOjXRzERpyu2ESm2PKw_RqV4RTbsIjiMjpvgL0MZbQtBejEgAS2RPcpPpZQWF6kuEjQKwHTaXH8TbiQB2B63Cm4J6cC_rL5lgezHLxLR1ZvBcvkg/s400/IMG_3905.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Strawberries, brown sugar, cream</b>. Imagine this dish without the cream. Now imagine one of the chefs coming over to your table to introduce this dish, and to also pour the sour cream over the strawberries. Cos that's what happened! How often do you get chefs coming out of the kitchen during meal prep time? If I wasn't full to the point of bursting I would've eaten everything...but sadly I could only manage 3 or 4 so the rest went onto the boy's plate :D</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jz005SsK4nIGDsOACpSXgqeQLLpTyxWQBB4N54ruerCq_2N4aNQMP1btlJxguKar9jcsLrpzdxc3JkBZl7UljtmnnpBmbDVz_cGG-KpprwgOTPEyiqc9WLaIUK9M7U8aShawI0KzSII/s1600/IMG_3913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jz005SsK4nIGDsOACpSXgqeQLLpTyxWQBB4N54ruerCq_2N4aNQMP1btlJxguKar9jcsLrpzdxc3JkBZl7UljtmnnpBmbDVz_cGG-KpprwgOTPEyiqc9WLaIUK9M7U8aShawI0KzSII/s400/IMG_3913.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We thought the strawberries were the end of the meal, but we were presented with <b>two salted caramel filled white chocolate eggs with brown chocolate speckles</b>. How pretty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was very impressed with Attica- almost all the dishes were amazing. Would I go again? Definitely...but I'd opt for the 5-course menu instead of the 8 so that I can enjoy the food better :) Oh, and I have to tell myself not to wear such a tight dress the next time so all the food can go down!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-18874620359276886412011-02-14T21:25:00.002+11:002011-02-14T21:26:33.458+11:00Andrew's Hamburgers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbA6KQqt7t7m_T20pbMlWwIArpxgJqahMxcBBmLa5keM6uSlZt1W03vM2tFZ5YBvOjxZeXbPqcfTpQrQnEXbPsEzwZhsF_nJwQ8dH-HUQUAcgY7Ifsnblfwin5wWrdj461piz7TwhG2c/s1600/IMG_7577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbA6KQqt7t7m_T20pbMlWwIArpxgJqahMxcBBmLa5keM6uSlZt1W03vM2tFZ5YBvOjxZeXbPqcfTpQrQnEXbPsEzwZhsF_nJwQ8dH-HUQUAcgY7Ifsnblfwin5wWrdj461piz7TwhG2c/s400/IMG_7577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyXkvpHAu_B24nLE6FxX37HAhJLQEETYZq6d0-J0orR77Pu45zxpBLyY0DjVmmzyr0ryLCh7J8JKIqYrxqpJFz74Rc0KMZZmJTskc2AFQ8xhtPxm23yv-qVqcNnP1tez2OrCq5fyN9nc/s1600/IMG_7579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyXkvpHAu_B24nLE6FxX37HAhJLQEETYZq6d0-J0orR77Pu45zxpBLyY0DjVmmzyr0ryLCh7J8JKIqYrxqpJFz74Rc0KMZZmJTskc2AFQ8xhtPxm23yv-qVqcNnP1tez2OrCq5fyN9nc/s400/IMG_7579.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsqtq0BOBownybOkYQk4W7TfWnLI8AmHLnAIdDIyoiU4szVhSBSBTRchL7yVXzO7yNd3kYl_vVeE6Nx4jpChjjn1tltLuXcVgQh3Q4VcawsPX-WA2mKm-WRM__VOQtsFoHBdSAK7THKE/s1600/IMG_7580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsqtq0BOBownybOkYQk4W7TfWnLI8AmHLnAIdDIyoiU4szVhSBSBTRchL7yVXzO7yNd3kYl_vVeE6Nx4jpChjjn1tltLuXcVgQh3Q4VcawsPX-WA2mKm-WRM__VOQtsFoHBdSAK7THKE/s400/IMG_7580.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.....words aren't required for something as succulent and juicy as a burger with the lot- thick beef patty, tomato, onions, lettuce, egg, bacon and gooey cheese- i'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Andrew's Hamburgers has been around for decades and constantly ranks high on hamburger-aficionados' lists so head on down quick and taste for yourself....</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-13690916116833289172011-02-06T18:10:00.003+11:002011-02-06T18:19:23.634+11:00Cafe Rosamond - Fitzroy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An article in last week's Epicure caught my eye- it was a story about Cafe Rosamond and how Thursday evenings are special. Special because it wasn't like any other evening, or any other weekend. No, Thursdays are their <a href="http://www.pierreroelofs.com/Site/rosamond.html">dessert-only evenings</a>! :) Dessert maestro Pierre Roelofs creates a new menu each week so no two weeks are the same. This is dangerous, because it means I have something to look forward to each week, only that it really isn't that practical (or healthy!) for me to be ingesting so many sweet dishes in such a short span of time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a cosy little cafe situated just off Smith Street. I was puzzled whist walking along Smith Street because I couldn't locate a 191 anywhere- when on a whim I just looked into the laneway between two blocks and there it was- Cafe Rosamond nicely tucked into the side of the building. Having heard that the place didn't take bookings I thought it would be a good idea to arrive at around 7.30-8pm (I'd had an early dinner with the boy) and not have to wait too long to be seated. I was wrong, there was already a waiting list and we only got a table around 9pm. Maybe I just picked a wrong week to go, I mean, the place was just featured in Epicure two days ago! Good thing was that once you left your name on the list, you're free to go do whatever to kill time and the lovely staff keep you in mind by calling you to let you know how long more you have to wait. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You have a choice of a one, two or three-course degustation ($20, $30 and $40), and the boy and I picked the three-course degustation to share.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgNuS1F5UsdARHdAtmHHz5tCk_lC6j-XBh5C07gGDnTfr1vPzrAF-oZLPXX0j6Tfbasyo5nP0DqrsRKuPIaFF4Dlt-RmbH1zGk0zJGOT_iFZjmzCIhfLH2gzPzErU53xR4zl5HFm59Po/s1600/IMG_7516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgNuS1F5UsdARHdAtmHHz5tCk_lC6j-XBh5C07gGDnTfr1vPzrAF-oZLPXX0j6Tfbasyo5nP0DqrsRKuPIaFF4Dlt-RmbH1zGk0zJGOT_iFZjmzCIhfLH2gzPzErU53xR4zl5HFm59Po/s400/IMG_7516.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Uk51f2t2cvdBLTwfULSSEkHVinY6s-ex4xrfxfuwo1CkHyBTtd3M07bvXVU0aNM0_-DbfHrtuMpIiiBjYxVG-LkzEHYGIDpoyGbSHj8u2cmQPotcExIuEfiSxIbfKKsZ9yCPh3kylfw/s1600/IMG_7517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Uk51f2t2cvdBLTwfULSSEkHVinY6s-ex4xrfxfuwo1CkHyBTtd3M07bvXVU0aNM0_-DbfHrtuMpIiiBjYxVG-LkzEHYGIDpoyGbSHj8u2cmQPotcExIuEfiSxIbfKKsZ9yCPh3kylfw/s400/IMG_7517.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr4Qn6WSsypJKiF1tSAqzOCD5wkXsV1yc_KRScetl8ue9TaomSVpISKEevMHH2kfbHm_zBtD22rbeYBNn88fXvIdqYmiVdjIDQCOfyI2rjmQVgjK50uiAPVkHVlScA8O_kJkbzdk5rH8/s1600/IMG_7519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr4Qn6WSsypJKiF1tSAqzOCD5wkXsV1yc_KRScetl8ue9TaomSVpISKEevMHH2kfbHm_zBtD22rbeYBNn88fXvIdqYmiVdjIDQCOfyI2rjmQVgjK50uiAPVkHVlScA8O_kJkbzdk5rH8/s400/IMG_7519.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPxS_ntG-sSAVbjoWgEhiqKh5odzzAfF-Hnj0FSCvkWQxwir6x-wBRoNowOqArPXyie9XSDt4Ror2gy4IMQnlPpA8-qSFHwdL0DukoE6oeAIdvWZN1aMBDTUjQpwz09n3l7m2_sX6VoY/s1600/IMG_7527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPxS_ntG-sSAVbjoWgEhiqKh5odzzAfF-Hnj0FSCvkWQxwir6x-wBRoNowOqArPXyie9XSDt4Ror2gy4IMQnlPpA8-qSFHwdL0DukoE6oeAIdvWZN1aMBDTUjQpwz09n3l7m2_sX6VoY/s400/IMG_7527.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmLVaSV68uH6rFhIGVRoOxLEBhd1ZkC9YcZH3PaRBsKlwG3cC-cmc5eiHX8W2d_FyMMaiLRPPCQdTcN6M7NQhALFPxb0f3laP8tYsxBRFNA541u83506nziCYyXNLIZ_phW93OxA-3fo/s1600/IMG_7526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmLVaSV68uH6rFhIGVRoOxLEBhd1ZkC9YcZH3PaRBsKlwG3cC-cmc5eiHX8W2d_FyMMaiLRPPCQdTcN6M7NQhALFPxb0f3laP8tYsxBRFNA541u83506nziCYyXNLIZ_phW93OxA-3fo/s400/IMG_7526.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">#7 in the series- <b>salted chocolate fudge pudding</b>. I regret not buying a packet, oh well, maybe next time when it's closer to winter. I can imagine whipping this up as a comforting snack when the weather turns colder. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBccBOFe0TsY_Z5ZzLobvfLQ__x368i7NdJS0TI2Hp0ytrZfAQdfKZUjxjNvUAXfb2s82fDwjtBUxaAxH9nWXXgIn3zq9l5IkAexTLRQRPQ1UKnLticbCRG7tTC-4SrR2JCpdhoO5O4E/s1600/IMG_7525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBccBOFe0TsY_Z5ZzLobvfLQ__x368i7NdJS0TI2Hp0ytrZfAQdfKZUjxjNvUAXfb2s82fDwjtBUxaAxH9nWXXgIn3zq9l5IkAexTLRQRPQ1UKnLticbCRG7tTC-4SrR2JCpdhoO5O4E/s400/IMG_7525.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Test tube ($9 each)- filled with raspberry jelly and custard. Fun, but taste-wise it was nothing special. I couldn't even get it all out at once haha.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzNAsRhIos-kk0TDTzCc1LSCGfjWYAZ3UcNA2S9MTBVjZCXcuy2R5K8lbVY5G12hZzeFTOJP68ymiAi-UOjWGYhc-n_o1MdtbiblHzfSSYovLLNzjrjf0an5IXNcNPL6PTBUr3Go5_A8/s1600/IMG_7530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzNAsRhIos-kk0TDTzCc1LSCGfjWYAZ3UcNA2S9MTBVjZCXcuy2R5K8lbVY5G12hZzeFTOJP68ymiAi-UOjWGYhc-n_o1MdtbiblHzfSSYovLLNzjrjf0an5IXNcNPL6PTBUr3Go5_A8/s400/IMG_7530.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_J7WH4TlRmpnM2z9sCVgpThSr8qPDvQ9edLgXO4y3bTYkzvUIHJUc-S-0WO-WOQKbmCE_4f-6ZHZDpz-D58CAOiFWjo5dGcLM8X5BRQBciDIxFsCWdTacOj4bi6-9T-pxoQJFWGZlzg/s1600/IMG_7531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_J7WH4TlRmpnM2z9sCVgpThSr8qPDvQ9edLgXO4y3bTYkzvUIHJUc-S-0WO-WOQKbmCE_4f-6ZHZDpz-D58CAOiFWjo5dGcLM8X5BRQBciDIxFsCWdTacOj4bi6-9T-pxoQJFWGZlzg/s400/IMG_7531.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look how pretty it looks. Caramelised peach, blackberry and tea. I couldn't remember what the rest of the ingredients were. There were also a couple of pieces of something that resembled cake, and something else that tasted like cream cheese. I didn't think this was too special, having had better desserts elsewhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJS0hOJmqtq7tbAhUbUPC-QnZ3tGDGyfxGcRwrrRJqrN7nFa25AfdWqtIaYlyNYpntdZgNJudCm97wKeWemGO96QMGGcLo1gXOP98RO6CrYpoc3yPhDqWsgIUaEU6trc0cMX0PXaC15CU/s1600/IMG_7535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJS0hOJmqtq7tbAhUbUPC-QnZ3tGDGyfxGcRwrrRJqrN7nFa25AfdWqtIaYlyNYpntdZgNJudCm97wKeWemGO96QMGGcLo1gXOP98RO6CrYpoc3yPhDqWsgIUaEU6trc0cMX0PXaC15CU/s400/IMG_7535.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This, however, I absolutely loved! I have to warn you though that this is an acquired taste. You need to like (on their own) rose, turkish delight and musk sticks to be able to enjoy this. The boy didn't like this very much, which suited me just fine because it meant I could have everything to myself! Hee. I believe the ingredients included a delightfully refreshing grapefuit sorbet, lychee (maybe?), rose-flavoured ice-cream, turkish delight and musk pieces. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqrID_ZB40d4G5QN9KwxoXAXNMYlkNmTt-aRXfvH6qT5Z2Or5bEECt9bjF0gR2Uw_-3La5ehJD9tF_nuoPNP7CGq6GfCw8Ps87CrARyMEbJMnVvCgfzJPxdyghY4lWd7TMcNb_J5Ym-k/s1600/IMG_7542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqrID_ZB40d4G5QN9KwxoXAXNMYlkNmTt-aRXfvH6qT5Z2Or5bEECt9bjF0gR2Uw_-3La5ehJD9tF_nuoPNP7CGq6GfCw8Ps87CrARyMEbJMnVvCgfzJPxdyghY4lWd7TMcNb_J5Ym-k/s400/IMG_7542.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznwIv9VVT8MGBB3oLghyFgpLIRmUb0XvYcjP-ThJOH2aNYCUqQ09k1FPCOW1y_GF7IlW3yM8fPAGl6SXSIzTnrHFvmZ6VqiW9NzD3ljQ2WyuHmX16TYSa3a0t-1eDa8D2FMkOjXrgQiI/s1600/IMG_7545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznwIv9VVT8MGBB3oLghyFgpLIRmUb0XvYcjP-ThJOH2aNYCUqQ09k1FPCOW1y_GF7IlW3yM8fPAGl6SXSIzTnrHFvmZ6VqiW9NzD3ljQ2WyuHmX16TYSa3a0t-1eDa8D2FMkOjXrgQiI/s400/IMG_7545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grape, olive oil, walnuts....this reminds me a lot of carrot cake as it also has some cream cheese-like ingredient. Not a fan, unfortunately. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Overall, I was a little disappointed with the night's menu because I expected greater things or had higher expectations, or maybe the courses served weren't suited to my tastebuds as I like to be a bit more adventurous. Having said that, knowing that the menu changes every week is enough to tempt me to give it a second chance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760349/restaurant/Victoria/Collingwood/Cafe-Rosamond-Fitzroy"><img alt="Café Rosamond on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/760349/biglink.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-9265496375749959632011-01-27T23:30:00.000+11:002011-01-27T23:30:01.821+11:00Quickie<div style="text-align: justify;">*yawn* quick post before heading to bed with a book. Let's play a guessing game.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was in Forever New with the boy (believe it or not the bf is my unofficial fashion stylist lol. He approves or rejects what I wear, and I do ask for his opinion a lot) trawling through clothes when we chanced upon a skirt with a floral print and a bow tied around the waistband. He looked at me and said, 'This looks like something xx would wear.' I was surprised, I know I shouldn't be but I always am when he takes notice to what someone wears.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sitting next to it was a white cardi with flowers on the neckline. Again he said, 'This looks like what xx would wear too!'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then we put the cardi on the skirt and said, 'This is the total outfit she would put together and wear!' Oh snap, we were totally thinking the same thing at the same time hehe. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Can you guess who it is? She's a character from a TV show....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAPRezz9aqJ2a3r6Sqj6HqgXM4-ajDd_2a498QzA5qqgZi_n1lpc2iX2_R_kIZ9M1LThekkVvGRd_utP53p4viqezfNTT-YKBz5BZA8fP2WGErxIRQ8GkD-Z3Lq__TFDReBtqQy1FSso/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAPRezz9aqJ2a3r6Sqj6HqgXM4-ajDd_2a498QzA5qqgZi_n1lpc2iX2_R_kIZ9M1LThekkVvGRd_utP53p4viqezfNTT-YKBz5BZA8fP2WGErxIRQ8GkD-Z3Lq__TFDReBtqQy1FSso/s400/IMG_0786.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's Rose from Two and a Half Men!!! :D</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-70430482985844283142011-01-26T15:01:00.002+11:002011-02-06T18:16:57.523+11:00Cornershop - Yarraville<div style="text-align: center;">Happy Australia Day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who doesn't love mid-week public holidays? It's been a busy few weeks for me at work, with more busy weeks to come, so a break in the work week sure was welcomed with wide open arms. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Instead of heading into the city or frequenting our usual suburbs, the boy decided to head out to Yarraville for brunch at the Cornershop. I always forget how suburbs look like outside of the CBD. As you head further out of the city the apartment buildings disappear, slowly replaced with level crossings, old single storey or two storey buildings, milk bars, the local cinema where families gather, family-run establishments....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was packed when we arrived, however the wait for a table wasn't that long. I had my usual soy chai and it was served in a giant teapot (only half-pot though, phew). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWziRe8JDRI9uCkdm_cAFTUO0jPyGxVoI-DLvZ3sIgj-nnfGV5dkjCUVwatv_u4sH7uyJPlSmP5Ov-ow0Mo_JNS5M4M2Zbn3zHnP9deCZqNaCWFDtsHwFD81ZAgCvVzGZ9_2O607BxrRY/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWziRe8JDRI9uCkdm_cAFTUO0jPyGxVoI-DLvZ3sIgj-nnfGV5dkjCUVwatv_u4sH7uyJPlSmP5Ov-ow0Mo_JNS5M4M2Zbn3zHnP9deCZqNaCWFDtsHwFD81ZAgCvVzGZ9_2O607BxrRY/s400/IMG_0827.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Pro: Endless supply of chai; brewed with real chai spices, served with a pot of honey!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Con: Watered down :( I guess that's what you get when the pot's a lil too big.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT6DQYoxLJQU4EGfj5rzaVWnXyf09JZQ3YjBKoaHXCnGuB4Rx0hL236SAbXLjPdAio1BjBJ-cn4shCg0ovbGjJ_93SnbfoEsE7b0QjEhEaxUez8I8rwgTqBaqqelNRVUUZV57qbYhmxs/s1600/IMG_0828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT6DQYoxLJQU4EGfj5rzaVWnXyf09JZQ3YjBKoaHXCnGuB4Rx0hL236SAbXLjPdAio1BjBJ-cn4shCg0ovbGjJ_93SnbfoEsE7b0QjEhEaxUez8I8rwgTqBaqqelNRVUUZV57qbYhmxs/s400/IMG_0828.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Spanish baked beans with paprika and chorizo</b>- the one we had at <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2011/01/capital-kitchen.html">Capital Kitchen</a> was yummier.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJJbcLX-bPrM0glYfN03GZumJbzdc47OhZJ8Ba4Nw6bP11TasksD6J0m8ILPNqRWSyi4GISls9sJ0_NKiVHSzRWTXLVsgW8l77fcn-XgBQS3FQYwexNMQSwR4p1hITSOQy-UwzUlNkRo/s1600/IMG_0829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJJbcLX-bPrM0glYfN03GZumJbzdc47OhZJ8Ba4Nw6bP11TasksD6J0m8ILPNqRWSyi4GISls9sJ0_NKiVHSzRWTXLVsgW8l77fcn-XgBQS3FQYwexNMQSwR4p1hITSOQy-UwzUlNkRo/s400/IMG_0829.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><b>Eggplant Kasundi Relish with Feta and Parsley</b>- I had this and it was good. The eggplant was spicy (with spice, not chilli) and sweet, I can't quite pick what spices were used but they were familiar. The feta provided the savoury aspect this dish needed and the parsley I couldn't really taste- let's just assume it was there to look pretty lol. Once again I seem to have ordered food that comes in a skillet so that means you need toasted + buttered sourdough bread to mop it clean! Mmmm...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1432520/restaurant/Victoria/The-Cornershop-Yarraville"><img alt="The Cornershop on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1432520/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-30135253113482380802011-01-24T18:30:00.068+11:002011-02-06T18:17:58.799+11:00Luxbite!<div style="text-align: justify;">After drinking a whole jug of <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2011/01/madame-brussels.html">Prussian Iced Tea at Madame Brussels</a> I wanted to EAT. So it was decided by the chief executive decision maker (me!) that our next stop was to be <a href="http://www.luxbite.com.au/">Luxbite</a> in South Yarra. We actually walked past this place when we visited <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2011/01/cafe-gaia.html">Cafe Gaia </a>for my birthday brunch as we'd parked somewhere on Toorak Rd that day. It was packed to the brim on a weekday but we thought it was just another cafe hence we paid it no heed then.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What clinched the deal for me was the fact that they had <b>macarons</b>. If you've been reading me for a while you'd know I could live on macarons alone if I had to. They have a huge array of unique flavours (amongst the more normal flavours like strawberry etc) and being one who never really orders the same thing twice I just had to try everything that sounded weirdly wonderful. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The decor was beautiful- all white and French (am I right?). It transported me to another world, one that was serene and relaxing, one where time stood still and traffic jams never existed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0815.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0818.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0814.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0820.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even the water jug had flowers on it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_0817.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The lovely St Honore cake with rose, lychee and raspberries. How pretty does this look? The icing had a delicate, perfumed rose flavour which paired so well with the tartness of the raspberries. The pastry on the other hand could have been a little bit more flaky, I felt as though it wasn't as fresh as it should've been. I still devoured every last piece of this in the end- I'd never come across such a strong yet subtle rose flavour before this. It was beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_3868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_3868.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's get down to business, people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_3864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_3864.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_3863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_3863.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_3862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Luxbite/IMG_3862.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last picture from top to bottom:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><3 <b>Pina Colada</b>- I couldn't taste anything that resembled pina colada in this one</div><div style="text-align: center;"><3 <b>Blueberry</b>- Nice blueberry flavour, not one of my faves</div><div style="text-align: center;"><3 <b>Watermelon Yoghurt</b>- Unique flavour for a macaron, oddly was quite nice, in an artificial flavour kind of way. Props to Luxbite for decorating this with black sesame seeds to replicate watermelon seeds.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><3 <b>Peanut butter and jelly</b>- One of my favourites, this is one YOU HAVE TO TRY. So good. SO GOOD.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><3 <b>Kaffir Lime</b>- when I was younger my grandma used to have a kaffir lime leave plant in her house and whenever I wanted my hands to smell nice she'd ask me to get a leave and rub it in my hands. The smell is divine, and is perfectly recreated in this macaron. It brings back memories of when I was small and used to frequent my grandmother's house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><3 <b>Kaya Toast</b>- first bite tells me it really does taste like kaya. A few more bites reveals a small chunk of butter in the middle! What a genius idea. It really does taste AND look like kaya toast. Brilliant flavour.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><3 <b>Black sesame</b>- black sesame is black sesame.I used to love this flavour as it wasn't prevalent except in Japanese cuisine, but now it's everywhere.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><3 <b>Vegemite</b> (for Australia day!)- Love at first bite. I am a huge Vegemite fan (vegemite and butter on sourdough toast is the best breakfast ever) so I really, really liked this. Only try IF you like Vegemite, otherwise I can guarantee you won't like it! Who in their right minds would have thought to create such an awesome, out of this world flavour? Only the brave I guess- and in this case, the bravery pin goes to Luxbite.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pay this place a visit someday, who knows, you might come away with something YOU would like :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">p/s: Yes I bought 8 macarons today. How did I have time to taste test so many macarons? Cos I ate most of it in less than half a day....and took a bite or two or three out of the others. Hahaha. And nope- I don't feel guilty!<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1562816/restaurant/Victoria/South-Yarra-Toorak/LuxBite-South-Yarra"><img alt="LuxBite on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1562816/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-45584457637279839632011-01-23T21:58:00.003+11:002011-01-23T22:03:14.506+11:00Madame Brussels<div style="text-align: justify;">We were originally meant to spend Sunday afternoon chilling out on the grass lawns of Melbourne Park, taking in all the excitement and buzz of the Australian Open but like all best laid plans of mice and men, they oft go awry. I had no complains, having been two years in a row <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/01/summer-lovin-summer-life.html">*click</a> for last year's post*, plus it didn't help that it was perhaps 1 degree too hot so instead of comfortable weather, it felt like a scorcher at times with the sun beating down relentlessly on our heads.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So imagine the irony when we ended up at Madame Brussels where drinks in jugs are served according to respective tennis terms ala 'Two players' and 'Playing doubles'. Oh well, when life gives you lemons and takes away your Sunday plans- make lemonade and throw that back with some El Jimador, right? ;) I guess some mint leaves and peaches wouldn't hurt either.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0797.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mmmm, ready for that ice-cold hit on a hot summer's day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0794.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Itchy hand syndrome ok? There were pretty paper umbrellas within easy reach so I just HAD TO pick one up haha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0792.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0805.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yum-mmmmmmmmmmmmmy! If you compare the level of alcohol in the jug in the top picture with the bottom picture you sort of get a sense of how fast the drink disappeared!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0791.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There was some BBQ action going on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0809.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at how carefully thought out the decor was</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0810.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">See- I wasn't the only one with itchy hand syndrome! Ok maybe they had a valid reason as they were sitting where the sun was shining whereas I was sitting underneath the stairs butbutbut the brollies were just right.in.front.of.me....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0807.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There were this many- how could you not pinch one?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Madame%20%20Brussels/IMG_0811.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now kids- let this be a lesson to you not to finish one whole jug of alcohol so quickly. We were seeing things by the end of it all....how can this person have 3 hands?!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-90013252218761119192011-01-22T22:40:00.003+11:002011-02-06T18:22:21.244+11:00Capital Kitchen - ChadstoneThe cafe in Elsternwick that was meant to open after 19th January (see my post *<a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2011/01/cafe-gaia.html">here</a>*) was open today alright- it was open for renovations! Garh!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since we were both hungry and I was planning to force the boy to head to Chaddy after brunch for a day of shopping (hee) I decided to kill two birds with one stone and have brunch in Chaddy instead. First place that came to mind was <a href="http://www.capitalkitchen.com.au/">Capital Kitchen</a>. I'm glad we didn't go anywhere else- the food was so yummy! I loved the layout and decor as well- high ceilings, exposed brick walls, light airy space, long communal tables, comfy sofas, big giant wall clock 20 times the size of my head.....The Iphone doesn't really capture the beauty of the decor, I felt like I was sitting in an industrial warehouse somewhere in health-conscious LA!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0780.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0764.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0763.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0765.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There weren't many choices on the breakfast menu, but what they had were tried & tested goodies. For the first time in brightcopperkettle brunch history, we both ordered the same thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0783.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0784.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Spanish eggs with tomato sugo, egg, chorizo and buttered sourdough</b>. The sourdough was a tad crispier than I would've liked it to be but it was good for mopping up all that tomato goodness. I would have preferred the egg to be more runny too- the yolk was cooked through :( - but the chickpeas and kidney beans in the tomato sugo- they were so hearty. And I don't really like chickpeas OR kidney beans in the first place so you can imagine how tasty this was!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0785.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And the soy chai was so good, I believe it was made with true blue spices- the empty glass deserved a picture on its own to showcase the deliciousness that was the chai.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Capital%20Kitchen/IMG_0770.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mmmm- I was surprisingly very satisfied with Capital Kitchen overall. Next time we're in Chaddy we know where to head to for brunch! There's banana bread with maple mascarpone calling my name :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1498434/restaurant/Victoria/Malvern-East/Capital-Kitchen-Melbourne"><img alt="Capital Kitchen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1498434/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-14221418452115616482011-01-21T18:30:00.048+11:002011-02-06T18:23:10.404+11:00Cafe Gaia - South Yarra<div style="text-align: justify;">I once wrote about <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/04/dead-man-espresso.html">Dead Man Espresso</a>, and Laurent Hoffarth who used to run the kitchen there and has since moved on to be head chef at <a href="http://www.cafegaia.com.au/home">Cafe Gaia</a>, posted a comment and invited me to follow along on his food adventure at his new cafe. So I did just exactly that today :) The second time I visited Dead Man was disappointing- the pork belly sandwich was dry and for lack of a better word, uninspiring. It was time to move on to new cafes!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were meant to visit another cafe in Elsternwick but it was closed till 19th Jan (today!)- just my luck huh? Anyways, since we were around that area we didn't want to travel back to the city or South Melbourne and were looking for cafes around the St Kilda/Prahran/Toorak/South Yarra area. A quick peek on Urbanspoon listed Cafe Gaia and I thought, 'Hang on a minute, this place sounds familar'....and the penny dropped! I read it in my comments once! And off we went to South Yarra, excited about the discovery of a new brunch place for us.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Soy chai- not sure if the syrup was used. If it was, real spices would have been way better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7357.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enjoying the weather (ok, I lie- it was chilly and cold that morning!). It's just that pictures look better in natural daylight :D</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7359.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Haha I thought this picture was funny. Someone didn't look too happy with me, in fact, he looked like he was ready to stab me with the butter knife. But but but what did I doooo?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7358.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's better :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7363.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I ordered the <b>breakfast piadina</b>- purely because the waiter told me it included bacon and after that all I could think about was bacon, bacon, bacon! This was so delicious! In between the toasted Italian flat bread is scrambled egg, bacon, relish and rocket leaves. Fresh tomato salsa sits on the top, as you can see. The first bite of this transported me back to when I was 13, back to when I was in Europe for a holiday and had ordered a flatbread sandwich to satisfy my hunger pangs. Just like how certain smells evoke a certain memory, the same goes for food. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Cafe%20Gaia/IMG_7364.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The boy ordered the <b>potato and rosemary rosti, with crispy pork belly, tomato & chilli relish and poached eggs</b>. This is another win for Cafe Gaia- absolutely yummy! The hint of chilli in the relish gave it just the kick it needed to differentiate itself from being an ordinary relish. The roast pork belly was so tender it literally fell apart on your fork. Only gripe was that the crackling wasn't crispy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Ahhh- birthday brunch totally exceeded my expectations!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A quick glance at the specials board today listed french toast with chai mascarpone...if I wasn't so full and satisfied from my piadina I would've ordered that for dessert. Maybe next time ;) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760292/restaurant/Victoria/South-Yarra-Toorak/Cafe-Gaia-South-Yarra"><img alt="Cafe Gaia on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/760292/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-55472703072154247592011-01-20T18:30:00.083+11:002011-02-06T18:23:55.692+11:00Izakaya Den<div style="text-align: justify;">Hidden in the basement of a building on the corner of Russell and Little Collins St lies <a href="http://www.izakayaden.com.au/">Izakaya Den</a>. Descending the stairs takes you to Chiodo, but that's not why we're here. At the very bottom of the stairs a black curtain hangs ominously on the left. If I wasn't with the boy I'd think I was at the wrong place. Push past the curtain and you'll find a glass door leading you to a restaurant bustling with patrons, chefs and waiters. Welcome to Izakaya Den. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3792.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Drinks and food menu</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3793.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3794.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There was a wait even on a Tuesday night so we ordered a couple of drinks whilst waiting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3803.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I ordered the <b>Hyakunen Umeshu</b>- plum soaked in honey and brandy. Absolutely delicious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3797.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The bar, and further along the bar is a stonetop area for dining. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3796.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Perusing the drinks list which by the way, seemed quite extensive to me. Sake, wines, shochu, beer, cocktails, umeshu...everything under the sun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3818.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hello</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3817.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Er, too many choices on the menu made it difficult to order? (no, not really)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Open kitchen concept whereby the chefs cook everything in front of you. The wait to get a table was around 20 minutes or so, but once your order is put through, they come flying out of the kitchen at top speed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3821.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Fresh salmon roll with pickled konbu</b>- pretty ordinary, but the salmon was very fresh!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3824.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Spicy tuna with taro chips, daikon and nori</b>. I have to say- Nobu does something similar, and it <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/05/nobu-crown-melbourne.html">does it better</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Deep fried sweet corn with green tea sea salt-</b> was so good! It's a unique dish and the sweetness of the corn greatly complimented the salt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3827.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cocktail potatoes with anchovy butter</b>. A squeeze of the lemon wedge and you're ready to rock and roll. I loved this, but it's because I like savoury food and you can't get any more savoury than anchovies!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3833.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wagyu tataki with wasabi cream</b>. This could be the first time I'm saying this about any of the food I've had...I absolutely hated this! I think it was cut too thickly and as a result it ended up being too chewy and raw. Moving on, moving on.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3837.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was the star of the night! <b>Char-grilled duck with leek</b>. It was beautifully cooked, tender and moist. I loved this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3841.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Special fried black rice</b>- nothing special but after the first few bites I tasted a little bit of sweetness coming through. Its texture is quite similar to wild rice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3842.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Apple mille feuille</b>- as the name suggests I thought I'd be served an apple pastry but no...out came this tower of apple sorbet on apple chips, drizzled with honey! It was refreshing but next time I'll pick the black sesame creme brulee over this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Izakaya%20Den/IMG_3846.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We shared 7 dishes and 1 dessert and came out walking instead of having to roll ourselves down Lt Collins St. Pretty good result for an unexpected, unplanned night out on town ;)<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1488070/restaurant/Victoria/CBD/Izakaya-Den-Melbourne"><img alt="Izakaya Den on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1488070/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-17109725751208111932011-01-19T17:10:00.003+11:002011-01-19T17:17:32.956+11:00Birthday photostory...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The apartment smells BEAUTIFUL- thanks to the lilies given to me by my manager. She even went through the trouble to decorate my desk with balloons and ribbons!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm not big on celebrations- so like last year *<a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/01/montalto-restaurant-mornington.html">Montalto</a>*<a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-birthday-is-tomorrow-and-ive-already.html">Botanical</a>*<a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/01/press-club-experience.html">Press Club</a>*, I kick-started my birthday a lil bit earlier. The night before my birthday, the boy and I made an impromptu decision to pay <a href="http://www.izakayaden.com.au/">Izakaya Den</a> in the CBD a visit. On the actual day itself, I took the day off work since I have an unofficial 'no-working-on-birthdays' policy and spent it doing whatever I felt like! Days with no plans and time constraints are the <b>best</b>. I <3 it! Short post for now- reviews on Izakaya Den and Cafe Gaia to come in the next couple of days :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7370.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Paid the newly refurbished Myer a visit- came away with two pairs of Leona Edmiston Luxury Opaques. Nothing, I repeat, nothing can top these. They are the best (imho) :D Stocking (no pun intended, hee hee) up for winter and nothing wrong with keeping a spare pair for the confused a.k.a chilly summer days Melbourne seems to be experiencing so far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7377.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bally surprised me with a handwritten birthday card! Who does this anymore? It entitles me to 10% off full price items for the month of January. I don't see myself using it- any takers?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7387.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7394.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cupcakes from the heart, for the soul. Most delicious cupcakes in town- you have to try them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7383.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every girl needs a large cocktail ring. And pastel purple tips- gorgeous colour!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7401.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My shoes arrived two days ago- great timing, right? They are a half-size too large but nothing insoles and heel grips can't easily fix! Call me crazy, but the colour is hard to come by....I'm not willing to wait forever for them to pop up in my size!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_3792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_3792.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Izakaya Den</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/Birthday%202010/IMG_7351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cafe Gaia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Till next time, xoxo!</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-28181106905929506562011-01-13T21:42:00.001+11:002011-01-13T21:43:48.015+11:00Fill me up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The past week or so the fuel tank had been near empty many times. The light would blink slowly, and then quickly and then slowly again when he topped it up with $5 bucks worth of petrol. The reason? Fuel was more expensive than usual! So today was the cheapest we'd seen it all week and we went in to fill the tank.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Result? HAHAHAHAH- the tank is still not full!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJP9V_77mfwkcl6PqQXVCPyWj-WUf1UwUQ5s_jR9Qn6TDn68k5xgI8A8_t5EjJ9mNBHu6KFAtoLks1LllDy7ILRePT222bb9K6EjIHJI3Cw_MmP4W_0T4XqjiJx5HuJlbhv6cUicuFWA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJP9V_77mfwkcl6PqQXVCPyWj-WUf1UwUQ5s_jR9Qn6TDn68k5xgI8A8_t5EjJ9mNBHu6KFAtoLks1LllDy7ILRePT222bb9K6EjIHJI3Cw_MmP4W_0T4XqjiJx5HuJlbhv6cUicuFWA/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He got in the car and literally went, 'Ehhhhhhhhhhh, why not full tank!' Hee hee hee, what a noob.</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-56774124545216031462011-01-12T23:09:00.001+11:002011-01-12T23:09:24.261+11:00Summer berries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiXHdIiL7Z4AHFKbRD2pv8jHSIbw3Bv7jfCiu8XuLJyD_ibX4bonndfJ26tssUoUO5yMamiODGpkO6sV76GCvGK7Yh74X1TiHSGZqlRq3hyphenhyphenIRw1bTHj1qjk5T9vAajFgOOcLnuzgGGek/s1600/IMG_7344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiXHdIiL7Z4AHFKbRD2pv8jHSIbw3Bv7jfCiu8XuLJyD_ibX4bonndfJ26tssUoUO5yMamiODGpkO6sV76GCvGK7Yh74X1TiHSGZqlRq3hyphenhyphenIRw1bTHj1qjk5T9vAajFgOOcLnuzgGGek/s400/IMG_7344.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The last time I had <b>superdupersweet</b> strawberries were 5 years ago (yes, it could have been that long!!) when I went strawberry picking with my family at <a href="http://www.sunnyridge.com.au/">Sunny Ridge Strawberry</a> farm- and my mom lost her sunnies in the midst of picking but that can be a story for another day haha, so I was really happy my visit to Queen Victoria Market on the weekend ended up being fruitful- har har. Pardon the pun :D I got 3 punnets for only $4! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love that summer is when my favourite fruits come into season- white fleshed nectarines, strawberries, persimmons, fresh figs, oh yum! I also went apple and peach/nectarine picking last year at the farms in February and they were very, very sweet as well. I've never been able to buy fruits from the markets or supermarkets that were that delicious ever since tasting the freshness and juiciness of fruits coming straight from the farms. I can't wait for the little weekend excursion to QVM to see what fruits I can add to the menu for next week!</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-75470076250228456022011-01-10T22:13:00.020+11:002011-01-10T22:13:00.344+11:00My window to the world<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was an avid reader of books. I remember mentioning on this blog sometime ago that I used to go through a couple of books a week (does anyone remember the 'Sweet Valley' series?). I believe I READ.THEM.ALL. I would always visit the bookstores once a week and dad would always get me the books I wanted. I'd read my afternoons and nights away, curled up in the black leather two-seater which has now been given away, replaced by a comfy L-shaped couch in the living room. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I graduated from Sweet Valley to novels and would borrow books from this corner store in Subang Parade, until I became roommates with the storeowners' daughter here in Melbourne during my first year of uni. Once uni began, nothing else seemed to matter. I would not touch a book as often anymore. Twice a year, if I was lucky.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I found it hard to get back into the habit of reading, of letting myself be transported to another world. The Internet, with all its instant answers replaced books as thick as 500 pages each. That changed recently however, I picked up Jean Sasson's 'Princess' and have just purchased two more books- the sequels to her first book. It tells the story of the plight of Saudi Arabian women. What makes it interesting is the fact that it is told from the point of view of a Saudi Arabian princess and is a true story. Go on, I urge you to pick this book up. It will open your mind and eyes to another world unknown to us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL11uL28m7MpPu0-DqpykcoltgCtzu26GTAOiPR_H_IqxS3MTY4nhri9IMVIrSt_5CxH5qPl6Nx5Os98YGGL4_5ho9UOr6FxGS-Dzh7zC4YAE10f1t6Ywf5Icu1elGVIAuO4LSLPptTc/s1600/9780553816952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL11uL28m7MpPu0-DqpykcoltgCtzu26GTAOiPR_H_IqxS3MTY4nhri9IMVIrSt_5CxH5qPl6Nx5Os98YGGL4_5ho9UOr6FxGS-Dzh7zC4YAE10f1t6Ywf5Icu1elGVIAuO4LSLPptTc/s320/9780553816952.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-59952280317795471072011-01-09T22:09:00.001+11:002011-01-09T22:13:17.789+11:00Only in KL...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If I didn't do this now I'd never do it in the next week, so here goes- my trip back to KL in pictures! :D Everyone loves pictures, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6tT87yxwShIMElasLmsG8n-IA5ZlpvV8XgSzZNrwP9NIcqgBf6xppLtkXPWTx5Ic2mAOwDOfUMjYBbMO-ijNMnUDk7KQmCyM8Bt01Krt4sUFUqTBxJOVB98ESoG81jN7x_MUFC8WmW8/s1600/IMG_7257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6tT87yxwShIMElasLmsG8n-IA5ZlpvV8XgSzZNrwP9NIcqgBf6xppLtkXPWTx5Ic2mAOwDOfUMjYBbMO-ijNMnUDk7KQmCyM8Bt01Krt4sUFUqTBxJOVB98ESoG81jN7x_MUFC8WmW8/s400/IMG_7257.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Roast chicken rice- </i>delish!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqOZyN8466y-xGf58UDqSRoOBXaO2qIhUsNFLYInLC0P9DX7IrGm2BqshqlRtZ-AXIQHPgNng0vfIemNVQWTf3c65NQbk3MS51CsqE_ZgW89QfTPrbFpCsMnzWxBG590heavnkxnVNdI/s1600/IMG_7264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqOZyN8466y-xGf58UDqSRoOBXaO2qIhUsNFLYInLC0P9DX7IrGm2BqshqlRtZ-AXIQHPgNng0vfIemNVQWTf3c65NQbk3MS51CsqE_ZgW89QfTPrbFpCsMnzWxBG590heavnkxnVNdI/s400/IMG_7264.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>'Lui cha'- </i>the best vegetarian dish ever</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTleIYMLZGIWKRk9UqH31AhiLwugw8L0YP4rXWczmhladQu57-3Ypam7X1u4XDt33ceYy7Drjm97kACjOhbi7xQ1Ze01JF0wqZlkkqG7JhT5Cd7ESF_YamW0CpJsP-zcjCbRh4yh4m4c/s1600/IMG_7285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTleIYMLZGIWKRk9UqH31AhiLwugw8L0YP4rXWczmhladQu57-3Ypam7X1u4XDt33ceYy7Drjm97kACjOhbi7xQ1Ze01JF0wqZlkkqG7JhT5Cd7ESF_YamW0CpJsP-zcjCbRh4yh4m4c/s400/IMG_7285.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Snowflake </i>(fine, this is Taiwanese but mmm 'gui ling gao'...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNEpf_mx59OhlNaQI0pkT8wWzor4-92hHbIqQ9dCnn020fmB4-Qy5ssaQNKW7Sg9Iy-cxgZQCfCYuiKUV19rXeYnZLUImrWjvVSQDymGyB328Usw_-PxmU_wxk2aKCevXdcsMJf4pQzU/s1600/IMG_7282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNEpf_mx59OhlNaQI0pkT8wWzor4-92hHbIqQ9dCnn020fmB4-Qy5ssaQNKW7Sg9Iy-cxgZQCfCYuiKUV19rXeYnZLUImrWjvVSQDymGyB328Usw_-PxmU_wxk2aKCevXdcsMJf4pQzU/s400/IMG_7282.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But really, nothing to shout about...they almost always use the same ingredients in every combination</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKC_mqlybt29qaj_ZcNTv8wpCrxA5BAhJ7mvI47puZDHVyEQRDg-1Yu1Q-qt5EVXrtfChlX5GWuH_SnkhuU9XMlzbbkUmyjjDy4f4zonsK0_R5nuTVgLso6cGBf8aOhszcuLEcd9b_5w/s1600/IMG_7286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKC_mqlybt29qaj_ZcNTv8wpCrxA5BAhJ7mvI47puZDHVyEQRDg-1Yu1Q-qt5EVXrtfChlX5GWuH_SnkhuU9XMlzbbkUmyjjDy4f4zonsK0_R5nuTVgLso6cGBf8aOhszcuLEcd9b_5w/s400/IMG_7286.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The best<i> 'rojak' i</i>n SS15....been around for years and there's always a queue...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOux7NQ1im3SDziM9scJ00odX8ae6mcz8-iQdKCgkVCXfXP7Ea-P1l_AbALbAdQC3egDzlRqOpZfa2L7ccrtDVLMDfEjrfKEm2DBG-ut9hfxx_83HNRohLRtF_-CCty99mAn7Jt9dKLRk/s1600/IMG_7294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOux7NQ1im3SDziM9scJ00odX8ae6mcz8-iQdKCgkVCXfXP7Ea-P1l_AbALbAdQC3egDzlRqOpZfa2L7ccrtDVLMDfEjrfKEm2DBG-ut9hfxx_83HNRohLRtF_-CCty99mAn7Jt9dKLRk/s400/IMG_7294.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Proof.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLiCQRZzLQXTw4DWDPLSODh8nVyMvjDOgWxm4lIUo8lqUZC3Q9tv78NDduayuGnnWHMAzjgLXCYTMaz3ub6cXAuGPRkxJu8Ysc4pEmhS0WFp4x52-q3Ae78wqUQWEsJ-wRBFNvfqkKZE/s1600/IMG_7340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLiCQRZzLQXTw4DWDPLSODh8nVyMvjDOgWxm4lIUo8lqUZC3Q9tv78NDduayuGnnWHMAzjgLXCYTMaz3ub6cXAuGPRkxJu8Ysc4pEmhS0WFp4x52-q3Ae78wqUQWEsJ-wRBFNvfqkKZE/s400/IMG_7340.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nothing in Melbourne can ever compare to the <i>'mee hoon ker' </i>I had...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG4h3C175sSp0sgGmrIf4hq7Oi44dTni_H2wVKmHzQpFfGpRC9R0D1Nf9HPKCBL9fftNHxJ4zyQJZFSOqXWw1p0rvaUJGv3l8IjU8Cdjc4kP3T1QRnb5P5CIU3GuLqUmQNdIUuLr0K8I/s1600/IMG_7307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG4h3C175sSp0sgGmrIf4hq7Oi44dTni_H2wVKmHzQpFfGpRC9R0D1Nf9HPKCBL9fftNHxJ4zyQJZFSOqXWw1p0rvaUJGv3l8IjU8Cdjc4kP3T1QRnb5P5CIU3GuLqUmQNdIUuLr0K8I/s400/IMG_7307.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carebear came with me... and she says hi</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNJUwi7TFZOQsEpfxiTaBv8x93nWrDz4qktPong0Z1Jv4r9fZddf5Xs5W-2b7yGBEjLEVBGaiWAL4y1ipCbipMl528mRZZX506I6S2ny0BRAuV54_hGfLGUyFgqTmECZhnA3ih9_3q-s/s1600/IMG_7308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNJUwi7TFZOQsEpfxiTaBv8x93nWrDz4qktPong0Z1Jv4r9fZddf5Xs5W-2b7yGBEjLEVBGaiWAL4y1ipCbipMl528mRZZX506I6S2ny0BRAuV54_hGfLGUyFgqTmECZhnA3ih9_3q-s/s400/IMG_7308.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Aloe vera</i> plant- thriving in my grandparents' garden. If only I had one here too, it's great for soothing sunburns, itchiness...and tastes delicious when boiled with rock sugar and red dates, or eaten raw with honey. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQA78o6c4Dp6tdrnFz_x4x6T01xa7CX6A1Ifz5RS2YtAezMkL8PeLJjQTjYp1YTYfINtgHQvueiznqth1pX5HEY52vSojFxDcA088K5_McfI8LNGs3sIkzW-N8Jp6MqQnNDXOZfM54eI/s1600/IMG_7310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQA78o6c4Dp6tdrnFz_x4x6T01xa7CX6A1Ifz5RS2YtAezMkL8PeLJjQTjYp1YTYfINtgHQvueiznqth1pX5HEY52vSojFxDcA088K5_McfI8LNGs3sIkzW-N8Jp6MqQnNDXOZfM54eI/s400/IMG_7310.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4Z-2dvp7WU0Xsmn5PDX0Uq4aB72zoKusd11rEmPSK9uZFMAHx4bS-nYHp-QtP2Lpq_9e3ueXTKnwtC4REQGzH0xeIIpaHxECav835Y9ZmKbtakhVlyOv-JYDZJIIVu_Vy1eP_eqEx5Q/s1600/IMG_7314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4Z-2dvp7WU0Xsmn5PDX0Uq4aB72zoKusd11rEmPSK9uZFMAHx4bS-nYHp-QtP2Lpq_9e3ueXTKnwtC4REQGzH0xeIIpaHxECav835Y9ZmKbtakhVlyOv-JYDZJIIVu_Vy1eP_eqEx5Q/s400/IMG_7314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Potted plants galore- how does her garden grow so green?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIMFcW8bCUDYgqox89M6A5fghs4vTPx5Z6C2cKrcEC81XesydkZZ9YVR-FkhI4hmuS2384yHzmsAFi2ZHZMqoT_9M5sfwLMyyZGRYaQiYplsXatAqszucTcn3yk_spCdP6WeRQo5xiTw/s1600/IMG_7312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIMFcW8bCUDYgqox89M6A5fghs4vTPx5Z6C2cKrcEC81XesydkZZ9YVR-FkhI4hmuS2384yHzmsAFi2ZHZMqoT_9M5sfwLMyyZGRYaQiYplsXatAqszucTcn3yk_spCdP6WeRQo5xiTw/s400/IMG_7312.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Home of caterpillars. When I was young we used to torture caterpillars. Bad, I know.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI24oZhV1A-xmmqaBgnqgqFSSqj2_JzAhSAWakA64eR3yNz9UTatP4OegeU93vXYG9w-xQ1KN1LAjoABZWsfEm4faU_WOQGN96GEfZR00qUw3BfuELIWsGeAx1TdoRpcw3-LmM0gROQZo/s1600/IMG_7316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI24oZhV1A-xmmqaBgnqgqFSSqj2_JzAhSAWakA64eR3yNz9UTatP4OegeU93vXYG9w-xQ1KN1LAjoABZWsfEm4faU_WOQGN96GEfZR00qUw3BfuELIWsGeAx1TdoRpcw3-LmM0gROQZo/s400/IMG_7316.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mangoes everywhere!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpyzooHae843ZphdOIOUp61_vB3iYxKkGc3YfaXf3CxHMaFcn6otQ7Ad7gJmJ5o_gdPJoCgNCD-4_iIyAXxgToShXsCMZYLyQplKn_nlKUIbFhgQi67jzkoroRQyQAbu9-l1O5O9ftkI/s1600/IMG_7317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpyzooHae843ZphdOIOUp61_vB3iYxKkGc3YfaXf3CxHMaFcn6otQ7Ad7gJmJ5o_gdPJoCgNCD-4_iIyAXxgToShXsCMZYLyQplKn_nlKUIbFhgQi67jzkoroRQyQAbu9-l1O5O9ftkI/s400/IMG_7317.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even high up in the air...These are for the squirrels, my grandmother says.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPf7TXZEz0WvRm_6dPG8PYcL4SSdHAKELFY0I4g43u4jfzfPgZ4VUbgYyx_8XJv2yLMy6uIK0BhMPQg-P6u_G4n0L_xwLe_Dn6PXhsv5KfWlwPpRmaLA-Y64_oNldpFYVZu0kz1T46FS8/s1600/IMG_7321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPf7TXZEz0WvRm_6dPG8PYcL4SSdHAKELFY0I4g43u4jfzfPgZ4VUbgYyx_8XJv2yLMy6uIK0BhMPQg-P6u_G4n0L_xwLe_Dn6PXhsv5KfWlwPpRmaLA-Y64_oNldpFYVZu0kz1T46FS8/s400/IMG_7321.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then we have these- unique to the Chinese culture.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bGa9S9T0P9ZQFp8Ufq-qz5CYjC-FjJGsutQVJCN8_FVcRE74WPhB4-h0j4uci9LzW5tpxHzEnyJrTHGec16ZO5VZUGzzGM1iLEEshaYlns7A35LFPCi1AJap7Y6Re2nI9A8jwCaK8NI/s1600/IMG_7327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bGa9S9T0P9ZQFp8Ufq-qz5CYjC-FjJGsutQVJCN8_FVcRE74WPhB4-h0j4uci9LzW5tpxHzEnyJrTHGec16ZO5VZUGzzGM1iLEEshaYlns7A35LFPCi1AJap7Y6Re2nI9A8jwCaK8NI/s400/IMG_7327.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wok.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahyphenhyphenuqeBXJ7mdsLJAjwbWD-ptH6DVvo-0LtIV7BOk94mAuoF81m-YjRHr5gqnr6Yr79eEE7W2gW9dfFRNqXkHu59iaVgo5nM7DwNKu7iHJSJdaBUvZirmEojglnwSbEpa5DIG-V8E63hs/s1600/IMG_7329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahyphenhyphenuqeBXJ7mdsLJAjwbWD-ptH6DVvo-0LtIV7BOk94mAuoF81m-YjRHr5gqnr6Yr79eEE7W2gW9dfFRNqXkHu59iaVgo5nM7DwNKu7iHJSJdaBUvZirmEojglnwSbEpa5DIG-V8E63hs/s400/IMG_7329.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>What would you call this (no, not the stool)?</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7418ppFPTJdO8ecXoEfIa94JIqSbxftG0qiawEw7Nzb_jwuBOm7_Pcxj96h3971oLu86_ATxpphg1mVE70ER9t7IBCEcO3xfj62ADnBgBdvBGUj8ti1AAMdnmT97GBJ7mMV6QfrBe0wM/s1600/IMG_7331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7418ppFPTJdO8ecXoEfIa94JIqSbxftG0qiawEw7Nzb_jwuBOm7_Pcxj96h3971oLu86_ATxpphg1mVE70ER9t7IBCEcO3xfj62ADnBgBdvBGUj8ti1AAMdnmT97GBJ7mMV6QfrBe0wM/s400/IMG_7331.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoJ3_0dfeHkLgJxPN-0gEpcs7byDM8dTg9n-4DW9vo5OhFQQNqZqZnkYQVlie1xv0vzbZwcyZQX_vZCtpcBnxU9k_-RGAhEe_fbwo_udPNyCGaLg9AVOlKYmkLJmE9Tqyc9iMqj6Orag/s1600/IMG_7334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoJ3_0dfeHkLgJxPN-0gEpcs7byDM8dTg9n-4DW9vo5OhFQQNqZqZnkYQVlie1xv0vzbZwcyZQX_vZCtpcBnxU9k_-RGAhEe_fbwo_udPNyCGaLg9AVOlKYmkLJmE9Tqyc9iMqj6Orag/s400/IMG_7334.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Nothing. Can. Beat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrqhcE5oXt1Ploj56fNp4pIggCQqBTMx91aF2Ms4i3r-e2vtJNh47Q3HF-2WasiTe_w61AdFCU7Jvwwo0fqCDcIQ1HCnpGrxiHK6wvKwq5WmRPS9Ou0Jr3XTb5RMjYChFFJz0xxVZ-8g/s1600/IMG_7335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrqhcE5oXt1Ploj56fNp4pIggCQqBTMx91aF2Ms4i3r-e2vtJNh47Q3HF-2WasiTe_w61AdFCU7Jvwwo0fqCDcIQ1HCnpGrxiHK6wvKwq5WmRPS9Ou0Jr3XTb5RMjYChFFJz0xxVZ-8g/s400/IMG_7335.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My. Grandmother's. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QHPKxpEsZrIWgMVIbZnTjETqAVsp54dEkVyzF2MKXRmc4W412Et82R_zk7jGn-6kaS0QeNzp2D5tAKVt-z9Sh6c4Er3Js1qOH851pWAbUCC78NK2f41yDXdy6s_mmGdEaCRrNUQZZms/s1600/IMG_7337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QHPKxpEsZrIWgMVIbZnTjETqAVsp54dEkVyzF2MKXRmc4W412Et82R_zk7jGn-6kaS0QeNzp2D5tAKVt-z9Sh6c4Er3Js1qOH851pWAbUCC78NK2f41yDXdy6s_mmGdEaCRrNUQZZms/s400/IMG_7337.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Home-cooked. Food :)</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-59432772849491425862011-01-04T14:47:00.002+11:002011-01-04T14:54:45.998+11:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spent a week back in KL with family and I had a great time. I'm still on KL time so I've been sleeping at 3am and waking up at 1pm everyday since I returned to Melbourne, and I didn't manage any sleep yesterday night when I tried to be good and went to bed at 11pm! Did I mention that it was the first day of work today too? FML. Even though I didn't get any shut eye I feel alarmingly alert and normal today. Now I'm feeling a little tired, maybe this calls for a nap. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyways- with the strong AUD (yeah, my excuse for doing so much unnecessary shopping *shifty eyes) I nabbed myself another pair of Salvatore Ferragamo Varina flats, this time in the ever elusive beige! They're slowly making their way to me....anytime now :D They are unbelievably comfy, I didn't even need to break them in that much when I first put my <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/11/absolutely-lovin-strength-of-aud-right.html">other pair</a> on.<br />
<br />
I'm trying to justify this purchase as I've been making many impulse purchases (not to mention my impromptu trip back to KL which came with the cost of a return air ticket) and when the boy wanted to stop by Chapel St yesterday to 'treat' himself since it was the New Year, I shall deem this to be my very own New Year treat! Yay *justified!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLnQKbnT_eDWpsRHC8ewu95w_OjAjhAnYSBtoVySkaVEVI2egtiIDCvBUTvizz41MiXy1clj5ylZz-Bcm7KR8CSR8OJVH_uM8eBNxMV4Vnol-XSYMtPwzxhv1PbhEylbJdqvCPEozlPM/s1600/0442318852894R_300x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLnQKbnT_eDWpsRHC8ewu95w_OjAjhAnYSBtoVySkaVEVI2egtiIDCvBUTvizz41MiXy1clj5ylZz-Bcm7KR8CSR8OJVH_uM8eBNxMV4Vnol-XSYMtPwzxhv1PbhEylbJdqvCPEozlPM/s400/0442318852894R_300x400.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture credits: Saks Fifth Avenue</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will post later this week with highlights of my KL trip!<br />
<br />
P/s: will you believe me if I said one of my resolutions this year is to save $$$?</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-70062631825127831622010-12-24T10:05:00.001+11:002010-12-24T21:37:37.588+11:00The end to another year gone by....<div style="text-align: justify;">Hi everyone, Christmas has really snuck up on us, hasn't it? Feels like I was just celebrating Christmas last year with my family in Melbourne, eating a delicious roast turkey prepared by mom and opening presents gifted by the boy :)<br />
<br />
This year I only decided 3 days ago to head home for Christmas to celebrate the holiday with family and I'm off tonight! Can't wait :D . And since I made such an impromptu decision, I spent today hunting down presents and wrapping all of them up. Ok, one was bought a month ago and I was eye-ing a couple yesterday, but I can't believe I managed such a monumental effort in such a short time!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_IN6B_exwv9E29gbRE9Pb49GW1vhyphenhyphen9KDOdvIxrZEZfcgWMCbmSo4mj-1IDneILZoXO5ePC9HeoBCBA4_8-bVtHxt4TZTO-71vHDPVFdJX20S4e1akZs-n-DkRstU_KyC1laLGdocDKg/s1600/IMG_7252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_IN6B_exwv9E29gbRE9Pb49GW1vhyphenhyphen9KDOdvIxrZEZfcgWMCbmSo4mj-1IDneILZoXO5ePC9HeoBCBA4_8-bVtHxt4TZTO-71vHDPVFdJX20S4e1akZs-n-DkRstU_KyC1laLGdocDKg/s400/IMG_7252.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, enjoy the New Year celebrations, be safe on the roads when travelling (drinking and driving is a big NO-NO, in fact it's downright stupid) and I'll see you again next year!</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-34964174058300790742010-12-20T16:12:00.002+11:002010-12-20T16:16:57.228+11:00Burnt .... out.<div style="text-align: justify;">Having left the professional services industry to work in commerce, I must say that the deadlines are few and far between. I've been lucky to leave work at 5-ish everyday but as the company I currently work for has a 31 December year-end, it means that I'll be lucky to see daylight when I leave the office for the next couple of months. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Add into the mix a merger to complicate reporting requirements- a merger with a listed Hong Kong company, no less. So that means I'll have to take into account HK Listing Rules and Disclosures when I prepare the accounts. Whee. Not so fun when I've been sick for the past week (2nd time in 2 months! Urgh.) and I think I've got the flu this time. *sniffle. Body aches, headaches, blocked nose, cough, sneezing...everything! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately there hasn't been time for bedrest, I've had to work from home (no, working from home doesn't really sound as fun as it does) and last Thurs/Fri were late nights :(. But I guess it was good that I was home, because that meant I was logged onto my Hotmail and I received an email to place pre-orders for <a href="http://www.syrupandtang.com/201012/pre-orders-available-for-the-monday-before-christmas/">Macarons by Duncan!</a> Yay! In my groggy haze I ordered 10 macarons for myself *teehee. Picked them up today on the way home from work and I can't wait to get better so I can devour all of them! Being sick means I've had to say goodbye to my tastebuds so there's really no point getting into them right now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Look how tempting they are........mmmm......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOZqk5vDcCP8F-kPv0UpG7wM2LLqZkEuXxoPWsVG1my8Je_5mxDr0_m-hyv_u4-QxVqnAsjBrQvXzscfodcq0rfam6TYMLj-AQCTxJLCI28zYKYGvGVGeZUFEEnN6yzXHjO1oG1yP-o4/s1600/IMG_7223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOZqk5vDcCP8F-kPv0UpG7wM2LLqZkEuXxoPWsVG1my8Je_5mxDr0_m-hyv_u4-QxVqnAsjBrQvXzscfodcq0rfam6TYMLj-AQCTxJLCI28zYKYGvGVGeZUFEEnN6yzXHjO1oG1yP-o4/s400/IMG_7223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out the sparkly Christmassy stars</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXYFKAXR_fCRUrB1KPHdquMnyUI3ruK53XkYM74dwkIF5GOALjOGNiw9C2wxwnebbIcueRyNZWg2wnOXn60VTIwJY34GjFN0uQoUrz9C7kA8C_OZkM8w5D2CjzCultsRr9d9g-PTNy1E/s1600/IMG_7226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXYFKAXR_fCRUrB1KPHdquMnyUI3ruK53XkYM74dwkIF5GOALjOGNiw9C2wxwnebbIcueRyNZWg2wnOXn60VTIwJY34GjFN0uQoUrz9C7kA8C_OZkM8w5D2CjzCultsRr9d9g-PTNy1E/s400/IMG_7226.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even the red ones have glitter on them</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExvN7njEhbe7q1q9ANLoOPh2ub6oaqmx6b6KbNeVsc5qHfwfv6TcaECnfmFOdHfkLyX4kg1xxTjvI_IaKrQalZe4o8DbdFpPo5V0t4-uSmndkt4PDugFbzhaYT1WCgbd1LP5-l2a5Y0Y/s1600/IMG_7231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExvN7njEhbe7q1q9ANLoOPh2ub6oaqmx6b6KbNeVsc5qHfwfv6TcaECnfmFOdHfkLyX4kg1xxTjvI_IaKrQalZe4o8DbdFpPo5V0t4-uSmndkt4PDugFbzhaYT1WCgbd1LP5-l2a5Y0Y/s400/IMG_7231.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pIFuRdroqa-X4-xM5IVUwQrM-gQMEMNfReo66tyIMd1TOUu9XssWXurWFCMPs482HZwWSCdBs9DYaqgLkRSDVZke-36dzBh4CT5GUQd5ZAC-iZ4lxVxOGCNC6_oKt2PvmOSc8CvnFtY/s1600/IMG_7233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pIFuRdroqa-X4-xM5IVUwQrM-gQMEMNfReo66tyIMd1TOUu9XssWXurWFCMPs482HZwWSCdBs9DYaqgLkRSDVZke-36dzBh4CT5GUQd5ZAC-iZ4lxVxOGCNC6_oKt2PvmOSc8CvnFtY/s400/IMG_7233.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">How can you resist them?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I couldn't resist them in the past <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/09/macarons-by-duncan.html">*here</a> & <a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-more-more.html">*here</a>, and I'm back to my old, greedy ways ;) Oh let's be honest, I've never been able to resist good macarons (unless they were absolutely horrible, and trust me, you know a bad macaron when you see one). </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-234894442793464352010-12-12T12:32:00.002+11:002010-12-12T12:55:45.895+11:00Roast Pork...with Crackling!!!<div style="text-align: justify;">Who doesn't love a good 'siew yuk'?. When I was young I steered clear of this because of the layers of fat in each perfectly cut column of meat but as I grew older I began to appreciate this more and more. Suffice to say, I've come to love a good roast pork paired with crispy crackling- you can't have it any other way ;). I never thought to attempt this dish at home but one day I just felt like making it. Sure, I could've gone to Pacific House (who do a really good 'siew yuk') but nothing would've curbed my urge to get busy in the kitchen experimenting and trying to get it right.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Internet is my cookbook when it comes to looking up recipes but a search for 'Roast Pork with Crackling' turned up more variations of how, what, when, why to do it than I could count on both hands. So I did what I did best- opened up a couple of recipes and combined all the sensible bits together. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before I chopped up the pork belly...see how juicy and moist it looks! Of course you can trim the fat before placing on a serving plate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ema2iQZvajLZqRtq0MObi_sOBIpahJEanwWthym-LPAYqkLqXJ6J1LVwicki9TEHLgr8Cj3BP-wCvgjLeDxavSyJAL8v2AUOT2-eVxWUoCsyX2dBW9orZUj4gvhYXgdoir6HjcHv5x8/s1600/IMG_7176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ema2iQZvajLZqRtq0MObi_sOBIpahJEanwWthym-LPAYqkLqXJ6J1LVwicki9TEHLgr8Cj3BP-wCvgjLeDxavSyJAL8v2AUOT2-eVxWUoCsyX2dBW9orZUj4gvhYXgdoir6HjcHv5x8/s400/IMG_7176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOSmWW3Cj5Udx_DjJSjIVSvLb1vwkOOufoqHo10fiz1OR0xChlfZvcQ0MhWlpae10lhfb1c_JuFk2ThSGRydVrs9gkWQApER0721VRXWSyUnhNqWe_1ocqrMm-KEf7_HpcFYlp4-JdEE/s1600/IMG_7178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOSmWW3Cj5Udx_DjJSjIVSvLb1vwkOOufoqHo10fiz1OR0xChlfZvcQ0MhWlpae10lhfb1c_JuFk2ThSGRydVrs9gkWQApER0721VRXWSyUnhNqWe_1ocqrMm-KEf7_HpcFYlp4-JdEE/s400/IMG_7178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMJBKCPtzlIY69TblOqqsMZLJAEYVOHL-NSxhJZhdEruwvya9X1DqeAca2DqIQO4PHyK1RHimCB9d1gEOemDs93doES3S4Y38UWLa-hbZiJ3w8nqY__T7qH6SjzsxtrValxP8PcU3-40/s1600/IMG_7181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMJBKCPtzlIY69TblOqqsMZLJAEYVOHL-NSxhJZhdEruwvya9X1DqeAca2DqIQO4PHyK1RHimCB9d1gEOemDs93doES3S4Y38UWLa-hbZiJ3w8nqY__T7qH6SjzsxtrValxP8PcU3-40/s400/IMG_7181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And after- yum!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibd7pr8du5uH24C2NUloC6gp-sborfsglzgatb5uY4rm_wCyYHkYa7eZjUn9AD4807hV2yeSRd6z_6JjzUvmsoTpr4pYqEae-wT_4p_9P1d1Xz3dnKRpymwZi8utuMlqxk1ySvr-kGxm8/s1600/IMG_7182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibd7pr8du5uH24C2NUloC6gp-sborfsglzgatb5uY4rm_wCyYHkYa7eZjUn9AD4807hV2yeSRd6z_6JjzUvmsoTpr4pYqEae-wT_4p_9P1d1Xz3dnKRpymwZi8utuMlqxk1ySvr-kGxm8/s400/IMG_7182.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, it's not complete without the crackling..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxYKCXY_qgsTCG1kZCOt1CZfvb7nZMuKenNQgkmUM8ftlBT7nBUDVKSn_tBcBpXorpLjfzqew5i4LC9ZzPVM5MGVggj_T58Za6be1Mpy9q6lvgy12kmT-IFLevlUrptDd0o4d6k64M44/s1600/IMG_7202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxYKCXY_qgsTCG1kZCOt1CZfvb7nZMuKenNQgkmUM8ftlBT7nBUDVKSn_tBcBpXorpLjfzqew5i4LC9ZzPVM5MGVggj_T58Za6be1Mpy9q6lvgy12kmT-IFLevlUrptDd0o4d6k64M44/s400/IMG_7202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And last, but definitely not least, bird's eye chillies to bring everything together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr6VD3_LbWZwPpdLcic9HO6jzTMTrgei_j8548sf2O6pk4QfT9kTTEbDfjkNIIQdbyrkRktvheRo48giDkXZwLw7aU_0RBLVHWGKPsZSKyE-2PxSq-Aau0QCA77RGwFzoo2XV2YJ_O2M/s1600/IMG_7197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr6VD3_LbWZwPpdLcic9HO6jzTMTrgei_j8548sf2O6pk4QfT9kTTEbDfjkNIIQdbyrkRktvheRo48giDkXZwLw7aU_0RBLVHWGKPsZSKyE-2PxSq-Aau0QCA77RGwFzoo2XV2YJ_O2M/s400/IMG_7197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Ingredients:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 kg pork belly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Copious amount of sea salt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 tsp of five spice powder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 tbsp of light soy sauce</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A pinch of sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few teaspoons of olive oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Method:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1. Preheat oven to 200<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">°C (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">fan forced).</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Rinse pork belly under cold running water. Pat dry. Using a sharp knife, score the skin all the way across (approximately 1 cm apart for each incision), repeat until the whole skin layer has been scored.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Rub a copious amount of sea salt into the skin and incisions (the more the better as salt helps draw out moisture from the skin). Prepare the marinade by mixing together five spice powder, soy sauce and sugar. Stir well and coat meat with marinate. Be careful NOT to let this touch the skin as you want the skin to be dry. Place uncovered in fridge for 2-4 hours, depending on how much time you have. Some people recommend leaving it overnight to completely dry out the skin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Remove pork belly from fridge, wipe away excess salt and let it warm to room temperature. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. In a bowl, mix a handful of salt to olive oil and rub this mixture all over the skin, and into the incisions. Remember, the more salt, the better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. If you have a rack, place the pork belly on a rack and put this onto a baking tray and into the oven. I just used a baking tray as I didn't have a rack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. Let it roast on 200<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">°C </span>fan-forced for 20-30 minutes; drop the temperature to 180<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">°C (non- fan) and roast for a further 40 minutes, or until pork is moist and tender in the middle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><b>Tip for a good crackling:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">When I cooked this I opened the oven a couple of times to keep adding salt to the skin but what I learnt was that you can slice the layer of skin off the meat once the meat is cooked, brush some olive oil and sea salt onto the skin and pop the skin back into the oven at </span> 220<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">°C (fan-forced) for 10 minutes- please hover around your oven and keep an eye on the progress...I will not be responsible for any fires started by this recipe! While you are waiting you can chop up the meat and place on a serving plate. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">The sound of the skin crackling is like music to your ears. When this happens you know you've done it right! You have to constantly watch the oven as you are cooking on high heat and there is a lot of smoke involved. Make sure your windows are open when you open the oven doors, otherwise your smoke detectors will have a field day. Once the crackling has been cooked to your desired crispiness, remove from oven and let cool in a warm place. Slice and place on top of the meat. Ta-da! All done, and easier than you thought ;)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">Enjoy!</span></div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-36792636154546270392010-11-30T19:00:00.058+11:002011-01-26T14:26:18.797+11:00Three bags full - Richmond<div style="text-align: center;">Do you remember how the nursery rhyme goes?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'Baa, baa black sheep have you any wool?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full'</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Haha the name of the cafe just reminds me of that. Now you can't get the rhyme out of your head either, right? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the weekend the boy and I resumed our brunch outings and headed to <b>Three Bags Full</b> in Richmond. We were lucky to get a table inside (and we didn't have to wait! yay!) because halfway through our meal it started pouring and everyone sitting outside got drenched, or had rain-soaked food!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFsXuWejX-haB1CHNtgFn0Xrh_kzVeAfKNJTOPUl1cqDMl9-iGBxoFX3zubmB1XmikfeICxhmkNmUX5NF5oAbAHlq4xB7NSYes0XWEKns9xI5JZTLs60ay1ri1yqtaMZIJojUJkaVO7A/s1600/IMG_7150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFsXuWejX-haB1CHNtgFn0Xrh_kzVeAfKNJTOPUl1cqDMl9-iGBxoFX3zubmB1XmikfeICxhmkNmUX5NF5oAbAHlq4xB7NSYes0XWEKns9xI5JZTLs60ay1ri1yqtaMZIJojUJkaVO7A/s400/IMG_7150.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Supposedly famous for coffee- but the cappuccino the boy ordered was lukewarm. Is there a reason why coffee is sometimes served tepid? I like my beverages relatively hot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUZglaQJGUlB-v8ZIGmzclxmFRVx4ZZBXU-5cfiCVVyA0rj2yOgYf7N_jsj47rNana_2vjEYG-gN8LJ0F3MA9MbMbKvHmOyGtAYJdQvVLZqpUr9xMv5EPHJVOycdVBLWtoTKhju5orB8/s1600/IMG_7159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUZglaQJGUlB-v8ZIGmzclxmFRVx4ZZBXU-5cfiCVVyA0rj2yOgYf7N_jsj47rNana_2vjEYG-gN8LJ0F3MA9MbMbKvHmOyGtAYJdQvVLZqpUr9xMv5EPHJVOycdVBLWtoTKhju5orB8/s400/IMG_7159.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Baghdad Omelette</b>- potatoes, yoghurt, avocado, herbs. The boy loves potatoes (he could eat it all day everyday) and was disappointed there were only 2 pieces lurking in his omelette. Tastewise this was yummy though, can't go wrong with avocado and a surprisingly delicious sourish note from the yoghurt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg481LrPsIZsUe3-aqEUqFeQvTEGTKm8wBVaFuOlSrIsx6KHojOeTRQokYUrDjcZQp5Vs8ZbaVNdpOqVjlLSuUrnWOXDeRkImWKRom3Cd0x8hRrVOb0VBV_UM6FFzoz15Jq_Q9AiSg0Kmk/s1600/IMG_7160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg481LrPsIZsUe3-aqEUqFeQvTEGTKm8wBVaFuOlSrIsx6KHojOeTRQokYUrDjcZQp5Vs8ZbaVNdpOqVjlLSuUrnWOXDeRkImWKRom3Cd0x8hRrVOb0VBV_UM6FFzoz15Jq_Q9AiSg0Kmk/s400/IMG_7160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The girl who enjoys life's little things ie. me went for the P<b>armesan</b>. Poached eggs, prosciutto, parmesan, truffle oil, served with organic sourdough bread to mop it all up. Decadent? Yes. Indulgent? Yes. I finished this feeling like I had overindulged for my first meal of the day but I enjoyed it. Only complain was the poached eggs didn't have yolks that were runny enough; which meant this dish was a little on the dry side. More sauce or condiments might've lifted this dish up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOOAI5GZIbMCaZ6bf13_bY6K2mubgcn_JXCNhx6_cIyZQMSVBIGmpTbupN6h4k-xQm-yNcn9mT0bHTekH2MbAPRrGChDc4g-wAFfpnC1BhKGCG4_e0JRia0i9JLAA9wwj4C6yy6zUA4c/s1600/IMG_7162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOOAI5GZIbMCaZ6bf13_bY6K2mubgcn_JXCNhx6_cIyZQMSVBIGmpTbupN6h4k-xQm-yNcn9mT0bHTekH2MbAPRrGChDc4g-wAFfpnC1BhKGCG4_e0JRia0i9JLAA9wwj4C6yy6zUA4c/s400/IMG_7162.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We were both still hungry after our egg breakfast so we ordered something sweet to share. <b>Raspberry, coconut and fig bread</b> with vanilla mascarpone, fresh strawberries and passionfruit sauce. The bread was warm and yummy, not overly sweet and was perfectly balanced by the sourness of the passionfruit and the neutral creamy taste of the mascarpone. Don't be fooled, it might look like a small portion but it sure did fill us up! We were too stuffed by the end of the meal and it was a struggle trying to finish this. All in the name of dessert :D</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w1o98knrXYQa_b1yeu-mu8BmLJ-TSG1utPZ_a321CaFqWzI8TfkHhVkmULNmdii9WUhZUtpYALkrEJlFTVNzD_xdlxiKv2dd6P7gYfq9B_8aFAj92FOyM_D75h4J13TwS3YliNFEE1g/s1600/IMG_7157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w1o98knrXYQa_b1yeu-mu8BmLJ-TSG1utPZ_a321CaFqWzI8TfkHhVkmULNmdii9WUhZUtpYALkrEJlFTVNzD_xdlxiKv2dd6P7gYfq9B_8aFAj92FOyM_D75h4J13TwS3YliNFEE1g/s400/IMG_7157.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Quirky signs doubling up as table tops. The cafe itself has an industrial feel to it ala Seven Seeds, St Ali etc., with exposed bricks and steel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwGCxmGBaFVVrIfPedCmm6zsOSDdKDHH6dzoOsSOrtZtiuU1ICEtAYoWRSKYx7R39mqw41eAZfL1IS8wTmWmIACCLV1mbvJhwFscr6xl32dOn3OFLX8itXTyG7kQ3deZRy3CBOBD61Aw/s1600/IMG_7145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwGCxmGBaFVVrIfPedCmm6zsOSDdKDHH6dzoOsSOrtZtiuU1ICEtAYoWRSKYx7R39mqw41eAZfL1IS8wTmWmIACCLV1mbvJhwFscr6xl32dOn3OFLX8itXTyG7kQ3deZRy3CBOBD61Aw/s400/IMG_7145.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eagerly waiting for my brekkie!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeE2pMWHQZGp9QGCNTd3-7Y3bJ0MEg6A9M9S2TY0zfZSmISsFwugPKQqPC95d7HI-U_3dwrrKqV9fwqENyiJIBfAn2ZG8-Zxj2Sp6iyNJJDNEwYbjb_ydcrsbFBAtxAhhJr90d6gO_cU/s1600/IMG_7156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeE2pMWHQZGp9QGCNTd3-7Y3bJ0MEg6A9M9S2TY0zfZSmISsFwugPKQqPC95d7HI-U_3dwrrKqV9fwqENyiJIBfAn2ZG8-Zxj2Sp6iyNJJDNEwYbjb_ydcrsbFBAtxAhhJr90d6gO_cU/s400/IMG_7156.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perfect weather one second, raining cats and dogs the next second. That's Melbourne for you, great coffee culture and famous indecisive weather. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1506665/restaurant/Victoria/Richmond/Three-Bags-Full-Abbotsford"><img alt="Three Bags Full on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1506665/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-58409534842062028162010-11-29T22:55:00.003+11:002010-11-29T23:04:30.114+11:00Keeping to promises<div style="text-align: justify;">Oh HI, it's been a while (I've lost count of how many times my posts contain 'it's been a while') so let's move on from that, shall we? :D Skip the unimportant stuff I say!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember how I promised a few posts back that I'd post up pictures of some of my online purchases? Well I received ONE package so far so I'll treat your eyes to some pretty dresses! All pictures from ASOS of course, no way did I morph into a leggy brunette overnight. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRqs5Qp-FgtVhnDbzMF6VI0VZNCxgy5xPNjdCQI_wSObk_TfgMyI1yfh-WZMk5UC0OFkeL3eVjGIznCdZgowS23WjL5o8d4G82PfZPUHRQbvpTgTQIMjM2OKSS6XAoYtMwjcfWGawJ5w/s1600/image1xxl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRqs5Qp-FgtVhnDbzMF6VI0VZNCxgy5xPNjdCQI_wSObk_TfgMyI1yfh-WZMk5UC0OFkeL3eVjGIznCdZgowS23WjL5o8d4G82PfZPUHRQbvpTgTQIMjM2OKSS6XAoYtMwjcfWGawJ5w/s400/image1xxl.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How gorgeous is this? Look at the beautiful pleats and the rich navy colour! Absolute <3 It is a nightmare getting this dress on and off though, I feel like there's no easy way but to constantly wiggle for 10 minutes to put it on/ take it off. At least I burn some calories doing that. Why don't they make a size 7? A 6 in this is a teeny bit small for me, but an 8 would be too big. :\</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbv0LgvqUuus-ZaBj37A6VRhWyhBP3yyX0PZ0RLCa2nniPSpOTd_2JRoDrgx22XV2MBPe2c_b-YfpPmGLjdNLp3iitGhCDiZdMzvQXiNVx9Y6n4IN4s8ZYzC-suLKV_AeLn6ut3YEkRA/s1600/image1xxl+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbv0LgvqUuus-ZaBj37A6VRhWyhBP3yyX0PZ0RLCa2nniPSpOTd_2JRoDrgx22XV2MBPe2c_b-YfpPmGLjdNLp3iitGhCDiZdMzvQXiNVx9Y6n4IN4s8ZYzC-suLKV_AeLn6ut3YEkRA/s400/image1xxl+%25281%2529.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This dress has a whimsical peter pan collar, tutu underlay and scalloped lace hem. Could it get anymore perfect? Yes- the back is awesome too! Highly pixelated pic but you get the idea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0iB6LcC8D2gzSSYw7TgLXQYOPDDxiBRnOOObJ41U99GG7J6cG1Pz6WpVIy0GN7u_FyQT8VYEI22riIzIu_8eT8CXROhAknCzP7_Zdtp_7qf9Kxuy5gU9BMDgGWAqlalEiLCu1l2gQ_A/s1600/image2s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0iB6LcC8D2gzSSYw7TgLXQYOPDDxiBRnOOObJ41U99GG7J6cG1Pz6WpVIy0GN7u_FyQT8VYEI22riIzIu_8eT8CXROhAknCzP7_Zdtp_7qf9Kxuy5gU9BMDgGWAqlalEiLCu1l2gQ_A/s400/image2s.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And for work I thought this would be perfect....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6b9UlJuCKcMS6Kvk-FGcM7MiVo8Lzm9gYFEnEAKH_zMQ48Chi3gee3DUE9C9JjAKhehxGsLFeIOZgEsRZsJHDivOByrXEy-d3DCuaoZ0Cu7ZRr2ir_6ASnpCdFxZgLjW0HmNc7YFe10/s1600/image1xxl+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6b9UlJuCKcMS6Kvk-FGcM7MiVo8Lzm9gYFEnEAKH_zMQ48Chi3gee3DUE9C9JjAKhehxGsLFeIOZgEsRZsJHDivOByrXEy-d3DCuaoZ0Cu7ZRr2ir_6ASnpCdFxZgLjW0HmNc7YFe10/s400/image1xxl+%25282%2529.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S3vCH-oHMn5EruAbfgZCczexiisZ2C2Xmji0ioR6Z_Nc5XGEKNwOH5KXLh59iyvxbKz4d6duyh290b36i_IVIMb-T1MI7jmLRNRZekDg3fqJfoIPRmfRjlPnZfI5soSyAHWswoxFKeM/s1600/image2s+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S3vCH-oHMn5EruAbfgZCczexiisZ2C2Xmji0ioR6Z_Nc5XGEKNwOH5KXLh59iyvxbKz4d6duyh290b36i_IVIMb-T1MI7jmLRNRZekDg3fqJfoIPRmfRjlPnZfI5soSyAHWswoxFKeM/s400/image2s+%25281%2529.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Sure it looks short, but since the model is Amazonian and I'm on the other end of the spectrum, fingers crossed it'll be a-OK for work. I haven't received this yet because this was delivery #2 which consisted of 2 packages, and guess what? They delivered only one package, so they'll re-deliver the second package tomorrow. Argh *refer below for story*. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Now let me tell you a story. I only started work in the last week of September and on the FIRST day of work, I got my <b><a href="http://bright-copper-kettle.blogspot.com/2010/09/red-soles-got-to-me.html">Louboutin babies</a></b> delivered. To work. Cos someone had to sign for it and no one would be home during working hours. Which I then showed my manager. To which she later asked, 'How in the world are you going to walk in them?' So first impression I reckon I made was- 'this girl likes to shop'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And I'm always heading out to the post office to post stuff/ collect packages so I more often than not have a carry bag containing a package. I'm trying to limit the deliveries made by the postie or courier so I re-route them to my residential address and get the boy to fetch them from the post office since it's a 5 min drive and he gets home before they close. But as luck would have it, they upgraded my package to courier/express delivery so someone has to sign for it. So how now brown cow? Only option was to get it delivered to work. And what do they do? Stuff up and deliver one today, and another tomorrow! I have to figure out a way to sneak the package to my desk without anyone noticing *thinks ninja thoughts. It has come to a point where my colleague has called me over to her desk to look at shopping emails and discounts thinking I'd be interested...cos that's all I do, rriiight?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh and I also bought a mouse ring because it looked cute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqIx2TjMAj93wFewEaEIjDmKlK_-LAiDDmQlC_VqI7C7OSaUJp31WyChL-36rt4w4P8VPpJZtevLq4QfiJTN6IDw7TY6a58GImx31ZESv4G9RV1-oWpRut2qNWFdzClFK2hs9v7-wh5U/s1600/image1xxl+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqIx2TjMAj93wFewEaEIjDmKlK_-LAiDDmQlC_VqI7C7OSaUJp31WyChL-36rt4w4P8VPpJZtevLq4QfiJTN6IDw7TY6a58GImx31ZESv4G9RV1-oWpRut2qNWFdzClFK2hs9v7-wh5U/s400/image1xxl+%25283%2529.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I get to work I can introduce him to my computer mouse. 'Mickey, meet Minnie'! HAHA. Now, excuse me while I pick myself up from laughing so much till I accidentally rolled onto the floor.</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-19066996582045830672010-11-23T18:48:00.000+11:002010-11-23T18:48:45.457+11:00A bone to pick<div style="text-align: justify;">Sorry for the lack of pictures lately, maybe when my packages arrive I'll post up my shopping buys <3. In the meantime however, I blame the HOT weather for turning me into one giant ball of moodiness. I was just chatting to the bestie earlier and we started talking about holidays (yes, she goes on like 5 a year- well at least that's what it feels like to me!), and of course Air Asia and Tiger Airways naturally popped up in the convo. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And it made me realise I've never ever talked about my dissatisfaction with Tiger. They really suck- yes, very mature of me to use such an elementary expression. But really, I have nothing complimentary to say about them. Let's play a word association game now. When I say Tiger, tell me the first thing that pops into your head. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tiger.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ALWAYS DELAYED @#$%^& . That's two words + cursing, but who's counting?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been scarred from my previous experiences and I can safely say never again will I even think about flying with them. I don't care if prices are ridiculously cheap, they are cheap for a reason and it's always <b>not worth</b> the low prices.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Take my recent trip to KL, where the family and I were due to fly Tiger from KL-Singapore. Flight was at 12pm so we were at the airport by 11am to check in. What do we see when we arrive at the check-in counter? Confused looks on passengers' faces and a sign on the check-in counter notifying us that our 12pm flight had been delayed to 4pm! Cue another round of cursing. It still makes my blood boil to this very day. Imagine having to wait almost 5 hours at LCCT- an airport where there's NOTHING you can do. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why did they delay the flight? Who knows, we weren't even told. We didn't even receive an apology when we checked in for the 4pm flight. Of course, everyone's guessed that it was because the 12pm flight was empty and it wasn't economical to go ahead and depart when you can cram everyone onto the later flight and decrease operating costs that way. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seriously, Tiger is rubbish. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The other time was when I had to fly from KL-SIN to catch a flight from SIN-MEL. It was my first time flying Tiger and looking back now, I shouldn't have been surprised it was delayed too. Imagine if it was delayed for 5 hrs and I missed my flight from SIN-MEL and had to figure out some other way to get back to Melbourne. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not happy, Tiger. I whole heartedly agree with the Air Asia ads. If you were meant to fly, you'd be born with wings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-91335436548350755582010-11-22T00:15:00.000+11:002010-11-22T00:15:17.266+11:00...(speechless)...<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I.Have.6. Packages.Coming.In.The.Mail. O.M.G. (plus one shipped to KL). GULP. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*at least I'll get some credit card points? *consoles self.</span></div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-40981179805424082612010-11-20T22:44:00.000+11:002010-11-20T22:44:33.234+11:00OK, so...<div style="text-align: justify;">...lately when I'm out (or online) shopping I've developed this habit of checking the inside label or description of each garment to see what material they're made out of. 90% of the time it's polyester, acrylic, viscose, something that probably starts melting when worn more than 10 times etcetc. I never used to care but I'm starting to realise I prefer clothing made out of natural fabrics...and it's so difficult to find these! Where are all the 100% silk, leather or cotton clothes? Where are they hiding. Not that I'd ever wear a leather dress. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And it's disappointing to see that even the more expensive clothing brands for example, <a href="http://www.sretsis.com/">Sretsis</a> also use a lot of man-made materials. Would you fork out $600 bucks for a polyester dress? That makes me think twice. I guess it's good in a way because it's curbing my horrible shopping habit. Seriously, I don't really need a wardrobe half-full of disposable fashion! Skin should be able to breathe naturally, so my quest going forward I guess is to be able to slowly change the contents of my wardrobe. Really liking the sound of cotton clothing already, so comfy!</div>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288228963858060653.post-1926859493409844462010-11-17T21:20:00.002+11:002010-11-17T21:25:33.826+11:00'The only thing we do in pots is mussels...yummm!'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/bck/Belgian%20beer%20Eureka/IMG_0692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spring is well and truly warming up, some days the sun will decide to make a rare appearance, and appear it did last Sunday! We just HAD to take advantage of the warmer weather to do some *ahem* dining outdoors and what better way to wash down food on a warm day than to have it with icy cold beer? Remember how in my last post I didn't have a camera with me? Well I brought mine for a walk but guess what? I left my memory card in my laptop! Good work, me. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/bck/Belgian%20beer%20Eureka/IMG_0690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/bck/Belgian%20beer%20Eureka/IMG_0690.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Satisfied after devouring a pot of mussels with a friend who was visiting from Sydney. This was cooked in lemon and orange zest with Hoegaarden and coriander. Yum.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/bck/Belgian%20beer%20Eureka/IMG_0692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/bck/Belgian%20beer%20Eureka/IMG_0692.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oh <b><i>I lied</i></b>. Did I say my cravings were satisfied? :D We had ANOTHER pot of mussels- this time cooked in white wine broth with onions, celery, thyme and leek. Delicious!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And the best part was? They were all half priced pots. :D Score!</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/bck/Belgian%20beer%20Eureka/IMG_0689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/bck2/bck/Belgian%20beer%20Eureka/IMG_0689.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Camera stares forlornly back at me. Who knew Peach Beer could taste like <b>10 KINDS OF AWESOME</b>? </span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Can't wait for the weekend again- weather will be p-e-r-f-e-c-t and that spells visits to the Rooftop Bar ;) There's just so much more to do in summer, I can't wait!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760179/restaurant/Victoria/Belgian-Beer-Cafe-Southbank"><img alt="Belgian Beer Café on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/760179/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>brightcopperkettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15544576110745210663noreply@blogger.com0