Eat. Blog. Play.

Eat. Blog. Play.

Monday 31st July

A revisit to our first, and actually one and only sushi train I've been to. After Sushi Hub, Hotaru seems not as good nor fresh though I'm sure it's cheaper. S It's the sauces and freshness that makes Sushi Hub better - though I've only had their takeaway. Though they weren't around last time we visited Hotaru. Sushi Hub (is down atm 25/9 due to a water leakage that took out half the block) does a $30 all-you-can-eat in 90mins thing.

Tuesday

Hightail Bar Launches!

Thursday

A warehouse in Kensington set the scene of this mornings event, usually cold there were plenty of outdoor heaters though none of the oil drum honour variety fortunately.
Kids and home decor lifestyle trade show. We won the major prize by default? Though I'd be happy with a candle, lunch and coconuts. It was a breakfast meet and greet though we  underestimated how far it was on the other side of the city. 

Lunch at Momo. Lunch goes till 4pm here! The latest I've seen anywhere. We ordered the Wonton Noodle Soup from the $15 lunch menu. Through liven it's $17...

Friday

Checking out a trade event. Workshops, lunch and snacks included! 

The unicorn festival was hectic as expected with no lines just crowds. The girl before us bought the last handful of cookies I wanted!! The unicorn one. Also the stalls signs were pretty low so you had to battle the crowds to just find the right stand. Not great. We spent around $24 on four treats, one a regret.

I didn't like the cakey donuts (Dessert Parlour's I love) though Ray's cake pops had a cake pop-like filling cake with sprinkles and crispy pearls which were awesome! We really need to stop going to these crazy crowded novelty events... 

Dinner at Barolo, excellent service from my favourite waitress. We had the beef and Shiraz ragu with mash. Warm and hearty I loved it! Just a touch salty but ok, melt in your mouth beef accompanied with mash, not the best one ever but still pretty good. I'd highly recommend this dish and would get it again.

Saturday

Treats from the Bakery!

Lunching at Punchbowl Canteen. 

Sunday

Aladdin was just as we remembered with all the music and magic. Unfortunately some were lost thanks to the brat behind me who I had to glare at a few times. Next time we just need to tell on them. *work that assertiveness*

Dinner at Saint Urban was free of kids, thank God. The cheesy gnoochi was awesome! And very filling. With very friendly service. Note the step at the bathroom. Nearly died there.

Sleeping Beauty  - Dir. Ado Arrietta · France Spain (2016). 

• It was weird. Muted as if a filter had been caster upon the entire thing. 
• Edwardian-esque though leaning more towards cosplay fail. What's with the gong and Greek guard dressed like ancient Rome? That or he got the dress code wrong.
• The castle was more like a manor and it felt like a budget film.
• Silence, there was a lot of that. Other than footsteps and the snaps of the camera there was a silence during the exploration of the castle. So it's 2016, 100 years after the curse. There's a modern day prince (not the princely type, but just a 20-something year old boy who happens to be a prince) trying to find her. The challenges are easy, there are no dragons.
• He kisses her, waking her and they're getting hitched. They dance, him topless and her in a modern dressing gown that's way too sexy for a 15yr old. They're about to do it. So we assume they fast forwarded over the wedding especially as we hear Tsiolkovsky famous waltz and there's a 20s radio. Why is there service in a forest? How does he have cell reception?
• The main guy was a bore. And he has a friend but other than singing Amazing Grace to drums and being a shadow we know nothing about this guy.

Ingrid Goes West - It was amazing! A fantastic and hilarious comedy on our obsession with social media and the highlight reel of life. If you're on instagram you need to see this!!

How's your week been?

Another Evening, Another Show. All the Eats.

Another Evening, Another Show. All the Eats.

Monday 19th June

There's a french cafe I've always wanted to stop by, though never have. And now I recall why: I don't feel comfortable shopping at places where you'll find out how much it is at the checkout.

The macaron was bad. Crunchy top, hard and hollow. I've had better ones from the supermarket. Fortunately the Eclair was perfect! So are the potato cakes near the crossing when it's peak hour.




To the lake we went, for lunch. Bad idea. For we were attacked! By a swooping magpie!

Tuesday

Brunching at Poacher & Hound. Dunkka eggs on toast. It was good though a bit much and repetitive for one, perhaps get it to share if you must. Slightly above average though I felt that it was missing something. 

Dinner on the go from Sauced but on Chapel St, beside the new meatballs restaurant.

There's that familiar but strange blue lighting which doesn't seem very inviting.
We had the spicy lentil with penne, for a pasta bar it seems very odd to me that they only have three types of pasta.

It was indeed spicy! As in the apple juice wasn't enough and I ordered a shot of milk at the bar. Too hot for me! And to me that also seems like a good way to have a basic flavour dominate rather than multiple layers and lots of herbs.

Hello Dolly! Another week another arts festival. This week it's the cabaret festival! A preview of some of the headliners we can't wait to see them in full! Tbh I haven't really heard about most of these characters or know to much. But that duck show does look hilarious. Opening Night at the Cabaret Festival.  

Wednesday

Lunch at Rococo towards the end if Glenferrie, the furthest we've been on this road.

Over to the red house good will. Prices have gone up on clothing, we found a cheap looking wear twice evening dress for $100! Normally only wedding dresses are at that price.

$2 books were what we were here for and we found a snail mail book on my list. I love books about the old world, how things used to be. From making preserves to the almost lost art of letter writing.

Funny thing someone asked me to write him a letter about our adventures/journey together as he's moving to b..ham . I think he might have seen the book. I have no idea what to write... for I have very little recollection of him, since we had a big fight a while ago.

Some people are relentless. No. 4 spotted me at the station and latched on. She has asked me over and over again if she can come with me. Uhh where to? Just out of the house she says. But don't you have your own life? Apparently not.
How to get rid of someone fast? Get freaky! 

Meetings over matcha latte $4.50, it wasn't very strong but fine. It's matcha flavoured milk. But good matcha is $$. I like them but reckon they're overrated unlike cronuts! $7.50. Coffee, quite strong, with cocopops on top. This serves at least two. I ate it layer by layer and was slipping away into a food coma towards the end.

We barely had time for a nap before heading to the theatre for a show or two.

Thursday

Pizza at Double Zero on the main street at 2.15pm they were about to close, lunch starts at 11.30am. We had some huge slices of pizza $5 each served very hot, steaming. Thin base as almost all pizzas are, they were very good, not too dry or hard. Saucy toppings the mushroom one was the one I preferred. 

When the lighting and mood of a restaurant reminds you of juvie XD

This place is huge! And empty at 6pm, the location seems to be a secret...

P.S. I was a prefect. I have never been to juvie.

A quick dinner on the way to the theatre.

Friday

We rarely go to Chadstone as we're based in the city, till we were told we're converting to the iPhone which is harder to use and prefers a lighter palette rather than being customized easily. It's a typical girl who likes to wear white and have white airy minimalist flatlays. I'm not that girl. 

The upside was that Scroll lives at Chadstone! At $9 a cup this is a once in a while thing, the cost of living is high... as desserts these days are closer to $10 rather than  $5. I think everything was cheaper back home...

Mother had the matcha which wasn't as sweet as my cookies and cream. No complaints from her which is rare.

Taco Bill - Quesadilla Delgada $12

Beef with [minimal] mushroom, melted cheese and [watery] salsa

What a joke! Taco Bill has really bad reviews, how are they still open? Lured by Liven we had a beef, cheese and mushroom qusadilla a $12 snack. It was average and lacked spices, tastes like something I made and that ain't a compliment when it comes to savory food. The salsa was more like soup, so watered down.

Service was fine, he was disappointed I bought an entree rather than $22+ overpriced main.

Saturday

An hour wait between buses and more time spent lost either due to my lack of an ability to read a map, I couldn't find where I was, or the gps failed. We spent all the time traveling 10.30 till 12.15 wow it took me 2hrs almost to get here.

Ashy's Afghanistan Food. The chicken was delicious! The lamb chewy...

The chicken was amazing and we can't wait to return! We haven't had chicken this awesome since bio guy made that chicken pasta that's still in the freezer.

Service was very friendly and quick.

I wanted to go to a brooch party but no I had to go to a life skills workshop. It took me almost 2hrs to get here, because weekends and buses suck! I spent more time getting to lunch then having lunch (could be me, could be the gps) and then the workshop gets canceled!! .
.
An email was sent out this morning but I'd already left by then. This is not my day. What am I meant to do for the rest of the afternoon?! Spend another 2hrs going home?

I guess since we're here we'll explore the three goodwills, 

not go to the park (magpies), stop by a bakery then continue on with our day.

NRQ stale cookies. Drinks were fine. I'm going to say don't shop here. A real reject shop.

Chicago, all the sequins, black lingerie, razzle dazzle was fabulous!

We saw this show not once but twice! Loved it.

Sunday

Lindt with Freud, we overdosed and even at two hours later I do not feel good. A mouse slice with a sponge layer and a caramel one with a crunchy nut wafer. The macaron was perfect! $3 these days. The hot chocolates were just as I remember, though we had the large size!

A trip to the recital center for solos, surprisingly only one piano act. When it comes to choosing a classic it may seem like an easy note though it's a trap in that everyone knows every note.

Down to the chapel for Motown, which I really liked, including some songs I actually know. I definitely know why people, young people like pop more, it's exciting and flashy. But will it stand the test of time?

Dinner at Laksa King, wonton'ish dumpling noodle soup. A basic classic, could be interpreted as bland without the sambal. But I like it and it's exactly what I needed after a week or rather almost month of dining out daily.

Damn 1.5% card fee, $14.21

Concerts, Seminars & Chessecake

Concerts, Seminars & Chessecake

Monday 3rd April

An afternoon and evening on set at the studio. Bright lights and noises similar to a casino. We're filming a new tv show, a game show. Something light and fun, fluffy and kinda trivial and silly to me though, as someone who finds reality tv and all the loud ads overwhelming. Why would you fill your time and brain with this? Never been one to fit in I don't know why anyone watches these thing. Other than a wind down from work thing, nope.

We got there around 1pm though didn't start till 2pm due to tech issues. Ushered in, seated and taught to respond to cues, when to clap, cheer, stop and make all the noises. Hence the ringmaster and the circus. Stephen K Amos was there and he was hilarious!

Here's a sneak peak.

Tuesday

It took three visits for us to find the pepper in pepper lunch XD our first visit to the Glenferrie branch just up the road from the house. Lured by the student deals we ordered the $7 dish.

To a meeting, then the house and back for a workshop.

Wardrobe De-Cluttering with Dr Declutter

In the age of consumerism, we all have too much and need to let go, but the struggle is real! It's more about organizing rather than styling tonight, here are some tips:

1. Only things you're wearing now live in the wardrobe. This month. Send your wedding dress into storage. This is prime estate.
2. Look at Howard's - for inspiration. But here they're $$$!! Shop at Kmart, stalk Aldi.
3. Use space bags to store seasonal clothing.

I honestly didn't learn much as I knew a lot if it already, as a type A planner kinda girl. But if you have any questions I'm happy to answer them. 

Wednesday

Lunch at Hooked Fish and Chips. Its been on the list for years.

Today we had a meeting nearby and made it happen.

Chatime. Matcha latte. 50% ice. Full sugar. Wasn't that sweet though there's a powdery aftertaste. $5.50 no toppings. Red bean was the recommendation. I won't be getting this one again, matcha lattes with condense milk are my thing. 

Thursday

We made a light cheesecake crossed with a cake, the texture is very interesting, much like another yellow cake I've had before though can't quite name. The next day the top was dry, so pop it in an airtight box! Best served on the day. The first of a few cheesecakes coming up.

Two shows tonight, an adult puppet show at Crown that was amusing. I can't believe people actually do this, as a guy at the tram stop said, you're basically being paid to travel around the world and getting paid to play with yourself. XD

Upright to the Chinese museum in china town we saw an Indian guy from Sydney, who was quite funny. He spoke of being 30-something and not married, and Indian traditions and things white people have taken and given their own twist. e.g. namesta doesn't mean the light in my soul sees/touches yours bs, for those who do yoga; and the karma suta isn't just a sex guide, it's a guide to life and that's just a tiny chapter of it. He said it was like saying hitler was a painter, there's so much more than that.

Friday
An evening at Hamer Hall, it was pretty awesome though they missed Meet the Robinsons there was UP and all three Toy Stories! Here's what you missed.

Saturday

We were going to go to the ballet, but in the blink of an eye and the thought "we still have time for a last hug" mean 10.15 became 4.30pm before we knew it!

After dinner we made two cakes! The first experimented with egg whites, does it get as big straight from the fridge? Yeah it's about the same. 

We made the same mistake (though I didn't figure it out till afterwards) of lining the sides. This causes the cake not to rise perfectly - I think.

Made another cake, despite the similar method and just the addition of milk and flour, the second cake is a cake cake, while the first is a cheesexcake hybrid. Most of it is cottony goodness - I have had this cake from asian bakeries before, but never homemade....

We're only sharing the first cake as it was a success a second time, minus the sides (next time) while it was our first time making the second cake. 

I love that these cakes were pretty cheap to make, it was just a lot of eggs and pantry items I have already as a baker. 

Sunday

A concert at town hall, a performance that was very good though the venue felt too big for such a thing. Le beau was a Fred & Ginger Rogers fan. They were an amazing couple. #dancegoals