Music Munchies Review

18th Biennale of Sydney

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:27:00 +0000

I've only been back from New York for 3 weeks and I am clinging onto the last vestiges of that trip and the holiday spirit you only get when you're away from home, traveling. I've downloaded tracks from New York bands, The Drums after seeing them in New York as well as Yeasayer who I did not see over there but wish I did. I love how music can transport you through time and space! By 'holiday spirit', I mean that wonderful feeling you get where you wake up excited about exploring something new every day and you openly talk to strangers. It may sound weird, but there is a lot of joy to be had in conversing with strangers.

Last weekend, I was walking down a street in Coogee to my friend, Sam's house for dinner and a stranger was walking towards me when he sneezed so naturally, I said, 'bless you!' to him. He stopped in his tracks, looked at me in surprised and said, 'thank you, thank you very much' before he continued on his way. That short exchange made my night and I giggled to myself later about it. Hopefully, it made his night too!

Each day, I've taken some time to act like a tourist in my own city. Sydney in Spring time is great for that since the Biennale of Sydney is on. It started back on June 27 this year but I did not get around to seeing it until recently. In the last week, I went to the three main venues, Cockatoo Island, the MCA and the Art Gallery. I must have a thing for free ferries as I kept raving about them in my post on New York).

The installations at Cockatoo Island were the most interesting, creative and clever because they were purposefully created for the unique spaces. It's amazing that this level of quality art is free and accessible to all! I wandered all about the island and took photos of my favourite pieces. Of course, these two-dimensional photos do not do the actual art works any justice and could never capture the impact, size and scope of them, so I strongly recommend you check them out if you can before it all ends on September 16 but hopefully, these photos give you an idea of what is out there, or what you might have missed and if you do make it out there in time, don't forget to tell a stranger how good it was, it might just make both your days!

New York in Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu2) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 01:21:00 +0000

Everyone is either heading to or planning to head to NYC soon and I’ve been asked for some of my recent trip highlights to pass on. I’ve compiled this list of places which I visited in August when it was hot and humid. Bear in mind that this was about my 5^th visit and I was here for 3 weeks so if you are visiting for the first time or a short time then you may want to explore some of the more obvious, touristy places too as they are magnificent (see my earlier posts on New York in September 2010 and July 2009). This list is more for people who want to do something a bit different or just want to hang out and soak up the atmosphere and fun vibe of the Big Apple. It also serves as my own travelogue but hopefully the places I describe will pique your interest in some lesser-known gems.

Staten Island

I’ve caught this free ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island many times and sailed past the beautiful Statute of Liberty but this time I actually got off the ferry with a plan to explore the island. That plan was short-lived. The ‘museum’ looked tiny from the outside and the town near the ferry wharf generally looked old and unappealing. The 9/11 memorial was interesting and you can get some great photos of Manhattan from the other side.

Roosevelt Island

I was lured by the free cable-car ride over but it only lasts about 6 minutes. Still it was fun while it lasted. The island itself is less exciting (for a visitor) since wheelchair-bound hospital patients lined the boardwalk which was rather depressing. I walked half a lap to take photos of Manhattan and then got the subway (F) back.

Governors Island

Of the 3 islands I visited, Governors was the most pleasant and one which locals seemed to hang out on during the weekend. The free ferry only goes from Manhattan on weekends but more often from Brooklyn I hear. You can easily walk around the whole island and check out the outdoor sculpture garden, other outdoor art and visit the outdoor beer gardens and BBQs.

Coney Island to Brighton Beach

I visit Coney Island occasionally because I like the retro element of it. It’s crowded on weekends and takes ages to get to. Definitely get an ‘Express’ subway. Then it’s a nice walk on the boardwalk along to Brighton Beach, when you can get on the ‘Brighton Beach’ subway stop to head back (about 15 minute walk).

Harlem

This was my first visit to Harlem. Get off at Subway, 125 station on the red line and basically walk along 125 St to the green line subway for a taste of what the neighbourhood has to offer. Explore the surrounding streets including the Apollo Theatre and the Friederick something boulevard (I’ve forgotten the name but you can’t miss it), Levain bakery (for their famous and heavy chocolate cookies) and interesting shops.

High Line

I've written about this before but I went again (and again!). It's simply a great space to visit, relax, walk, drink coffee, sunbake, etc. etc and the views down to the neighbouring streets is awesome.

Show on Broadway

I went to 3 shows: Spiderman (for U2’s score which was good but otherwise not worth it), Nice Work if you can get it (for Matthew Broderick who was only ok) and War Horse (for the amazing horse puppet). You can get discounted tickets online for most shows and if you don’t plan in advance, most theatres offer standing room only tickets on the same day. I tried to go to The Book of Mormon (by South Park creators) which was so popular that they have a lottery every day at 1pm – get there before 1pm to fill in a card and go in the lottery for 22 seats only! The #lotterydude was actually very funny and no, I didn’t win.

Parks

NYC has some stunning parks aside from the obvious Central Park. Bryant and Battery Parks are both nice for a walk or rest with a book and coffee. At Bryant you can see businessmen playing bocce and Battery offers nice coastal views. On the other side of the water, Brooklyn’s Botanic Garden and Prospect Park (visit both in one go) are also nice and worth a look in. Tompkins’ Square Park in the East Village was full of more eclectic characters, not to mention some dodgy ones.

Rockerfeller Centre and Top of the Rock

I’ve been to the top of the Empire State Building but never the Top of the Rock until this visit. It’s stunning! From the lift ride up, to the 3 levels on top which you can climb, it impresses. Timed entry only and it’s $25 but you can get a combined ticket with MOMA for $38 which saves you a bit since MOMA is over $20. They charge extra if you want to go at sunrise or sunset. Once you’ve bought your ticket, you can grab a seat in the foodcourt or a fancy seafood restaurant to sit ringside at Rockerfeller – there’s also a Blue Bottle coffee bar down there.

RESTAURANTS:

Eataly

Mario Battali, is a celebrity chef who is feared (on ‘Top Chef’) and revered in this town. His place Eataly is a food emporium and a bit like a gourmet food court / bar where there are counters that serve just cold meats or vegetables or seafood, etc. There is also a restaurant, book store, espresso bar, gelato bar and produce store. I ate at the seafood bar where they had a lunch special: $24 for 2 courses, usually one main is $22. The seafood was squeakingly fresh and cooked perfectly.

Les Halles

Anthony Bourdain’s imprint lives on at Les Halles. It’s not new and shiny or trendy like Bathazar or Pastis but it is one of the oldest and best classic French restaurants around. The roasted salmon fillet I had was served with sautéed red cabbage and a potato gratin which was tender and not oily.

Momofuku Noodle Bar

I visit here at least once if not many more times each time I’m in NYC. Great value lunches and a good way to sample David Chang’s food without the queues if you go at lunch. I always get the pork buns (fatty and juicy in a good way) but this time tried the kimchi jar which was delicious and the smoked chicken spicy miso ramen – highly recommended!

Grand Central Oyster Bar

This place is another famous haunt but obviously not for its’ Manhattan clam chowder which tasted like canned tomato soup. The oysters were fresh and delicious though so stick to them. Everything else on the menu is over-priced but it could be worth it if you want to try eating here and pretend you’re in Mad Men.

Buddakan

This is a NY experience – it’s big, buzzy, flash and fun. The food is modern Asian fusion. Everything we ordered was beautifully presented, tasted delicious and not crazy expensive. Their cocktails were also good. Book ahead on opentable.com a week in advance unless you want to eat at 6pm or 10pm. Try the ‘Lobster Rolls’ and ‘Peking Duck salad’ as entrees.

Real coffee

Don’t settle for Starbucks coffee. Finding real coffee is part of the fun. Check out: Joe the Art of Coffee, Blue Bottle, Café Grumpy, Ninth Street Espresso and Aroma – all have several branches around town. Then there are some one-off places that serve great coffee like Roasting Station (Lower East Side). Look up a list on Foursquare.

Virgil’s BBQ

I recommend this place for dinner if you’re seeing a show on Broadway as there is a lot of touristy crap around Times Square. I had their pulled pork burger with mustard slaw and 2 sides of potato salad and coleslaw for $12 and the meat was so tender. Home made BBQ and chilli BBQ sauces. Messy but fun food as evidenced by the towel you're given in place of a napkin. If you’re in a rush before a show, then I’d recommend trusty Maoz.

16 Handles

There are loads of frozen yogurt places around but 16 Handles is the most funnily-named and one where you can serve yourself by picking one of the 16 flavours including crazy ones like cheesecake, peanut butter and watermelon sorbet. Then you add on your own choice of toppings from fruit, to mochi, jellies, nuts, etc. and sauces and fudges before they charge you by weight. Yum!

GALLERIES

Guggenheim

I nearly always go to the Guggenheim when in town. Their exhibitions are always good as is their permanent collection. Go later in the afternoon when the crowds have thinned out slightly. There is an awesome portrait photographer exhibition currently.

New Museum

This is my new favourite gallery since the exhibition ‘Ghost in the Machine’ was curated superbly and absolutely fascinating. Highly recommended! Don’t miss the holographic display on the ground floor too.

Whitney

Kusama has a retrospective on currently which is incredible. She is a renowned figure in the NY art scene and she also has an exhibition called ‘Fireflies’ which you need to line up early to buy timed tickets too. I missed out on this but still had to queue for nearly an hour to get into the Whitney at around 11am.

Museum of Art and Design

There was a critically-acclaimed exhibition on here when I visited that displayed artists use of sand, dust and discarded materials. It may not sound great but it was.

SHOPS

Opening Ceremony

The bigger store is in Soho and worth checking out for their funky design. I always visit when in town and nearly always find something I love. They have a smaller store in the ACE Hotel that’s great too.

Dylan’s Candy Bar

This big 3 storey-space which includes a café sells their own chocolate and candy as well as brands from around the world. They make retro-inspired treats like Neapolitan Ice-Cream flavoured malt balls, Banana Cream Pie chocolate bars and candy-covered pretzels. Great for gifts and just getting a sugar-overload.

SIDE TRIPS

Albany

Albany is the capital of New York state and it shows. There are stately buildings everywhere. It’s about a 1 hour train ride away on Amtrak. I only stayed for less than 24 hours to see a show at The Egg venue but I did explore downtown (very quiet) and the restaurant neighbourhood (also very quiet).

Philadelphia

I went to Philly for the weekend and 1 night which was good to get a taste of downtown. The Art Gallery was incredible and I spent over 3 hours there. It’s very walkable with outdoor art everywhere. I went to Sampan, a modern Asian restaurant for dinner which was fantastic. It’s pretty cheap for the quality and quantity of food served. Black miso cod served on mustard cauliflower topped with apple slaw - mmmm!

Part of the beauty of NYC is that there are so many places and new ones springing up all the time so hopefully you might like some of these tips but you’ll no doubt have your own adventure when you visit. Live, eat, lounge and enjoy your own, unique experience!

Hong Kong tips

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu2) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:32:00 +0000

Hong Kong My Way

HK changes on every visit. It constantly surprises, challenges and delights me. Here is my pick of the best places I went to in April 2012 and some tips for visitors heading over soon!

Bonjour - look out for this chain of very well-lit chemist-looking stores. They sell discounted cosmetics and skincare from brands like Nivea and Neutrogena to Elizabeth Arden and Clinique. Best of all they sell the mini samples that you often get at beauty counters or 'free' from Clinique if you spend over a certain amount. I bought mini Clinique cleansers, Kiehl hand cream and body wash for HK$25 or AUD$3.30!

Sasa - same as Bonjour but bigger, more variety and more branches.

Crema - serves real, good and strong coffee in Tsim Sha Tsui (or TST as the locals call it!) which is a rarity for HK$25. I had to search far and wide amongst the sea of Starbucks, Delifrance and other chains that serve extremely weak overly-heated milk with a mild coffee flavor masquerading as 'coffee'. As a bonus, they also make cute coffee art! Holly Brown is a local chain that serves real coffee but is HK$36 for a latte, although nice and strong. I'm told that if you're on HK Island, then check out Fuel espresso in the Landmark building.

Lamma Island - is worth going to if you've done The Peak and Lantau Island which are more popular because there are actual sights to see. Lamma is lesser known but charming in its' own way for the natural beauty. A ferry to one end of the island costs less than HK$20 and at Yung Shue Wan ferry terminal, where I started, there are a number of restaurants and shops. The 'Family Walk' takes just over an hour and leads to the other ferry terminal at Sok Kwu Wan, where there are also a number of restaurants but less shops. Seaside dining is cheap here!

Ritz Carlton's Ozone Bar on level 118 - has an incredible view from Tsim Tsa Tsui across to HK Island and it's only the cost of a drink. On Sundays they close at 3pm and re-open at 5pm. We arrived at 2.30pm and convinced them to let us sit at the big corner table usually reserved for a minimum spend of HK$20,000 since it was close to closing.

K11 - describes itself as an 'Art Mall' at Tsim Tsa Tsui and has art displayed on walls amongst the shops, art workshops and even at the toilet entrances. Selected funky designers including Yohji Yamamoto for Adidas, Museum Design Stores, Holly Brown gelato and real coffee, Illy Espresso cafe and a Dymocks English bookstore.

Elements mall - is huge and there's hardly anyone there ever which makes for no queuing at all stores and only a small queue at Zara.

Landmark Cafe at Central - is a pleasant respite inside an exclusive shopping mall full of European designers in the middle of the city. Their set menu lunch for HK$240 is good value for modern international cuisine. See photo of the cafe from above.

Galleries - are all free on Wednesday. The Planet Museum was an impressive dome on the outside but a dated interior and exhibits - not recommended. I also went to the HK Museum of Art which had a good sample of ancient Chinese arts including ceramics, artefacts and drawing. The HK Science Museum didn't open until 1pm so I missed it although it sounded quite good. The HK Museum of History is my pick of the bunch. Good replica displays and English commentary. I learnt the most here.

Sushi Ku - located in the heart of the business district of Central is a popular spot known for its sushi (funny that!). Their lunch sets are varied in price and offerings. I ordered the Chirashi (pictured above) which had cubes of about 5 different types of fish and some pickled vegetables layered over great sushi rice and seaweed. It also came with miso soup for around HK$200. Make a booking or be prepared to wait.

Sky Bar at the Hyatt - has great views of the skyline of HK Island and a good selection of classic cocktails with some Asian twists for around HK$108 or AUD$14. The Yaku Yaku was a mixture of cointreau, vodka, pineapple juice, grenadine and Yakult! Worth it for the view, comfortable seating and free nuts if you feel like it.

Landmark Mandarin Oriental Central - cafe on the 1st floor has a nice selection of iced teas, mocktails, mini cakes and chocolates. I had an iced grapefruit juice, with rose and coconut jelly HK$78 (AUD$10) which sounds nicer than it was but it's still a lovely setting for a girly gossip. They sell a delightful selection of gourmet chocolates, chocolate wafers and nuts packaged as gifts.

Tin Ho Han - is a one Michelin-starred yum cha/ dim sim place in HK and is well worth the award. It's ugly on the outside and inside and probably hasn't been furnished for over 10 years. However, it's all about the food here. The selection is limited to around 20 items and you order them by ticking off a sheet. I tried the steamed prawn dumplings, glutinous rice with chicken and mushrooms, steamed beef balls with bean curd skin, baked bun with BBQ pork, steamed chiu chow dumplings and the tonic medlar & petal jelly for dessert. Each one tasted like it was freshly prepared that day (as they say!) and the BBQ pork bun was up there as one of the best, as well as the beef ball and moreish glutinous rice translated badly on the form as 'glue rice'!

Kenjo - is well known for their exquisite sushi and sashimi and it lived up to the hype. Make a booking and be prepared for pricey but great food. The sushi platter is rather small and included quite a bit of tuna as well as prawn, fish roe, sea urchin, egg, eel and Japanese flounder. In addition, we ordered some of the specials of the day including large oysters grilled with a sweet cream cheese (better than it sounds!), chargrilled giant scallops served wrapped in a seaweed pocket (tasty!), Japanese flounder sliced finely and served with a vinegar and shallot dipping sauce and the medium fatty tuna (luscious as!). We also ordered the seaweed and cucumber salad that was refreshing and surprisingly cut and the agedashi tofu which was soft in texture with a crispy and sticky skin. Yum! You must book since it's a small place.

Nobu - at the Intercontinental has a big reputation that it lived up to on my visit. Lunch can be quite reasonable there, e.g. the cheapest dish of Oyako Don (egg and chicken on rice) comes with miso soup, salad and pickles for HK$130 or AU$17. The Signature Bento Box is where it's at though for HK$328 you get their signature black miso cod on rice that had an amazingly luscious texture and balanced sweet and savoury taste, wonderful seared tuna on salad with a refreshing dressing, 'prawn tempura' which is actually prawn minced, battered and dressed with a citrus mayo, perfect sushi (yellowtail cod was the best), stir-fried vegetables on rice and the tastiest miso soup with tofu and seaweed. Truly wonderful.

Tokio Joe - in Lan Kwai Fong offers good value lunch sets like many other places in HK. The sashimi and grilled cod set was wonderful value for a good-sized plate of really fresh sashimi and the cod had a nice charred flavor although the dark soy sauce lacked taste. A tomato salad cut by the sashimi chefs had the most wonderful soy and sesame oil dressing topped with deep fried leeks. A refreshing platter of fruit and rosewater jelly ended the meal on a high.

Genki sushi - this chain can be found by its distinctive yellow sign with an angry face. It's cheap and tasty with lots of variety and it can get incredibly busy during peak times. The cheapest dishes were just over AUD$1 per plate and went up to around $6 for sashimi. Great value for a quick meal.

Ginza Bairin - specialises in tonkatsu (deep-fried, battered pork) and offers it in about 15 - 20 different ways some with curry, with udon noodles, with rice, with salad and with different sauces, etc. They go into length in the menu about the different types of pork used and the different flavours of each. Everyone loved their meal here! Good value sets that include miso soup, pickles and unlimited rice and cabbage salad (which is nicer than it sounds when doused with the sesame or wasabi dressings on each table).

Agnes B l.p.g. cafes - can be found in the most shopping hubs and like the fashion brand that seems to be more widespread here than its' native France, offers French-influenced, high quality cafe staples such as filled baguettes, quiches, chocolates, desserts and un-French-like, pretty good, real coffee.

Tao Heung - is a chain of high quality restaurants known for their yum cha, seafood and roasted meats I'm told by a local friend and they were certainly right. Each yum cha dish we ordered was so fresh. The roasted duck was particularly juicy.

In summary, HK offers wonderful food and coffee at high and low prices if you look for it. There is such an abundance of choice and variety that if you don't search for something in particular, you may have an average dining and shopping experience but at worst, it's yum cha/dim sum and stir fries, which really isn't so bad a thing! My general tips are to always see if you can make a booking in advance (everyone does it), check out Openrice.com the local equivalent of Urbanspoon for user reviews of restaurants, go to expensive places at lunch where most places have a set menu that offers good value and allows you to try a range of dishes. Note that most places add a 10% service charge/tip to your bill too. Happy travels and fill me in on your experiences!

7 day sushi challenge in Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 05:24:00 +0000

I love sushi! I really do and every time I have great sushi at Makoto in town or somewhere as good, I think to myself, 'I could eat this every day'. So, as it turns out, I was sent off to Tokyo for a few days of work which I (naturally) extended to turn it into a weeklong excursion and thereby set myself the 7 day sushi challenge to see if I would get sick of it after 7 days. Where a sushi restaurant did not have an English name, I've tried to give more details of the location.

Day 1: Daiwa Sushi at Tsukeji Fish Market (breakfast)

My first and best sushi meal, in fact, best meal I had in all of Tokyo was the very first meal I ate. I arrived at 6.30am and checked into my hotel pretty early before the room was ready so I set off for the fish markets with my Lonely Planet encounter that referred to this place. It was hard to find in the massive market, but absolutely worth it. There were only about 12 seats so it was always full. There is no menu. You just pay JPY3500 for the chef's special. All together I was served about 12 pieces of the freshest fish I have ever eaten. Each time I ate a piece off the small wooden board, the sushi chef sliced off another piece, shaped the rice and slapped it on my board. The toro (tuna belly) was noteworthy of being beyond delicious! It was also my first taste of sea urchin which was pretty fishy tasting but the gooey and creamy texture was a bit unnerving and I didn't finish that piece much to the chef's surprise. Even the miso soup was wonderful and filled with baby clams.

Day 2: Sushi restaurant in Kyoto, near the ANA hotel (lunch)

I needed some serious energy to pound the pavement during my 2 day and 1 night visit to Kyoto and I definitely got that if 1 castle, 2 temples and 3 shrines is any measure to go by. The concierge at the ANA hotel directed me 1 block away into the backstreets where I found this small sushi restaurant frequented by a few locals. It was the first and only time that I got to sit on a tatami mat and eat my sushi lunch platter like a real Japanese person. It was only JPY1200 too.

Day 3, part I: Musashi take away, sushi box, Kyoto main train station (lunch)

For the Shinkansen express train back to Tokyo, I grabbed this take away box from the sushi train, Musashi. It was presented in a plastic wooden-looking box complete with fake green grass, so yes, that really is authentic. It tasted even better than it looked. The crab with mayonnaise was the best part.

Day 3, part II: Sushizanmai (dinner)

It disturbed me that I'd already had sushi for lunch but wanted it again, not that I tried to fight it. A wander into Shibuya led me to Sushizanmai about 10 minutes away from that mega crossing. I stumbled upon it and decided to give it a try since it was busy and people were queuing but there's always room for 1 at the sushi bar, so up I stepped. I deviated and ordered a chirashi don for the first time. It was served with a miso soup that came with prawn heads in it from the stock no doubt. Not a 'must try' but it was pretty cheap in an otherwise busy and touristy area.

Day 4: Sushi restaurant on Level 11 of Mitsukuoka Ginza (dinner)

Having exhausted myself with another day of work and browsing the Ginza shopping strip, I struggled to find something authentic looking so I did as the locals did and ate at one of the restaurant filled floors of a designer department store. The chef's special sushi set came with some high quality stuff. This restaurant was pretty quiet as was the whole floor by around 8pm on a Tuesday night. The sushi platter was delicious though and I was given a choice of miso soup - with fish or with seaweed. I opted for the fish one which had fish chunks and bones in it. It was hearty and warming. Sadly, I can't find the photo of the platter for this day even though I distinctly remember taking it. I must have accidently deleted it as I was editing my photos on my camera. Boo!

Day 5: Hanahanrou in Park Tower Hotel, Shiodome Media Tower (dinner)

Again, I had worked a full day and needed nourishment and fast. After work, I explored the Shinjuku area where I inadvertently stumbled into the red light area and was overwhelmed by the size of the area so I headed back to the hotel for dinner. Luckily for me, there were 2 great restaurants in the Park Tower Hotel, this one and also Tateru Yoshini who has been awarded 1 Michelin star, the latter of which was not in my budget sadly. However, the sushi platter I was served at Hanahanrou was one of the most spectacular on a stone dish with a dark red miso soup. It also had a 'type of eel' on it which was all the Japanese waitress could tell me about that spongey looking piece on the plate - tasty though.

Day 6: Sushi restaurant in Shiodome area (lunch)

During the working day, I popped downstairs for a quick sushi lunch. Most office towers have 2 or even 3 levels of restaurants downstairs for minimum time away from your desk. This was nice but rather a quick and cheap lunch for around only JPY1000. It was the first and only time I was given a steamed egg custard with my sushi set. It was creamy and smooth, as it should be with a hidden prawn tucked underneath it all.

Day 7: Sushi restaurant in Top of Ebisu tower, level 38 (dinner)

I had set out to see Mount Fuji on day 7 and came back exhausted but mustered up the energy to explore one more neighbourhood. Ebisu is quite European looking with lots of French and Italian cafes, al fresco dining and boutiques. Up one end was a European style plaza so I went up the tower for the amazing view and a rather good sushi platter, although there was no view from the restaurant. One different piece was an onigiri ball of rice served on a betel leaf.

By day 7, my love had not worn thin but rather had increased for the 'sush'. I had experienced such variety in the types of fish, the presentation, the quality and not having to decide what to eat for one meal a day made life so much easier. So, I even went for one final meal:

Day 8: Tsukeji sushi restaurant in Decks, Odaiba

Odaiba is a man-made tourist mecca but I had to go there to finally try and onsen but before that I had to eat. Decks was the first building next the the first monorail stop on the island. I found the sushi restaurant on level 5 that had been mentioned in the Lonely Planet. There was an awesome view out over Rainbow Bridge and the water from the sushi bar and the platter was fresh and capped off my sushi challenge nicely. This sushi platter came with my first and only handroll filled with minced tuna.

A few take aways:
- All the sushi chefs and waitstaff I met in Tokyo and Kyoto spoke very little English but most places had picture menus and sometimes they had the plastic models on display too;
- All sushi platters come with a big clump of pickled ginger and miso soup but not very often wasabi since this was already smeared onto the rice before the seafood was shaped on top;
- Varieties included tuna, tuna belly, salmon (only 2 or 3 plates had this), octopus, squid, omelette (not always served on rice), sea urchin, fish roe and some varieties of white fish that I couldn't identify. Surprisingly, eel was only on the one platter and it was not unagi style;
- Sushi trains are around but not all that common since the real sushi restaurants make things fresh as you order them;
- I never had a bad sushi platter that tasted funny or wasn't squeaky clean fresh.

Today is day 9, my first day back and guess what I'm thinking of having for dinner...my stomach is calling for it. Arigato Nippon!

Melbourne hot list 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:40:00 +0000

I used to go to Melbourne annually for the sales, the (cafe) scenery and socialising. Unfortunately, it hasn't been as regularly of late given work, life and other trips. The first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year and dear friends, Ange and Alex were enough to drag me back this summer though. Ok, so the sales were not too far behind either.

Here is a list of the places we ate at to ensure that you are informed when you go and don't waste one single meal opportunity to have something memorable and delicious:

Australian Open - I was lucky to be invited to attend this tournament in a 'Corporate Superbox' (it actually said this on the ticket!). The view from the top of the stadium as you can see was much better than I expected. The buffet food exceeded my expectations as well. Appetisers included mixed dips of hummous, babaganoush and diced salmon with baby capers, all served with crackers and lavosh, cold vege frittata. The mains included 3 huge platters, pan-fried salmon fillets, roasted beef with mixed mushrooms and pan-fried chicken fillets with enoki mushrooms. Green salad and beans completed the assortment. Dessert was incredible and I sampled one of everything, meaning I ate about 7 mini-desserts! Quite strange to be gorging whilst watching Federer and Wozniacki sweat it out on court!

Teppansan - This is a small and unassuming little restaurant in Melbourne's CBD. It's the equivalent of Sydney's Don Don. Well, not exactly, more like Don Don when it was good. The best items on the menu are the sushi and sashimi cut by a rather expert sushi chef. The hot food is tasty and good value too but does not stand out unlike the sushi. So order up, it's cheap and cheerful.

Longrain Melbourne - I had to go back here after a great experience last time. The wait at the bar on a Saturday night was exactly what they estimated, 45 minutes. All of that was forgotten when the spectacular dishes arrived. We had salt and pepper tofu which was delicate, silken tofu with a nice seasoning, all of which was enhanced by a tasty dipping sauce, roasted pork belly with calamari and yellow bean sauce being a Thai surf and turf but ten times better and a roasted ocean trout with green papaya salad, all light and lovely. Highly recommended.

Hardware Societe - Yum. The coffee was not memorable but I actually wanted to order nearly everything on the breakfast menu. Every item had a clever twist such as the Bircher muesli I ordered with raspberry 'soup' (unforgettable) and the 'fried bread' being a take on French toast served with poached pear and butterscotch sauce and toasted almonds.

Movida - Is this the most hyped up restaurant in Melbourne or what? I made a reservation for 4 of us about 2 months in advance at the main restaurant. Between the 4 of us, we ordered 5 dishes to share - shaved beef with garlicky potato and poached egg, poached octopus with baby herb salad, steamed cod with more garlicky potato and poached egg, seared scallops with cured salmon. All of these 'racines' were tiny, each one feeding 2 people max. You can order individual 'tapas' so they can rip you off by charging you $4 for a stuffed mussel that you could inhale - you really could probably fit it in your nostril and $7 for one lamp chop which ended up being the hit of the night. Recommended for its' uniqueness and strong flavours.

Kitchen Cat (now closed 2012?)- This place sort of tricked me into booking it as it was the former 'Fifteen' restaurant run by Jamie Oliver until only recently. That aside, it is now more than ably run by Jamie's good mate, Tobie Puttock. Smart, fresh and simple Italian food is presented elegantly with minimal distraction and maximum flavour (see the fish with herbs and butter above). Recommended.

Mamasita - Modern Mexican in Melbourne - hurrah! Worth the wait down a steep staircase. Lots of chilli, spices and lime. See the fish tostaditas below. Highly recommended.

Small Block - This grungy cafe in suburban Melbourne is exactly what you'd expect to find. Old 70s baby chairs and unusual wall-hangings make the setting quirky and fun. The food was not as fun an experience though as the Bircher muesli here was dry and didn't taste like it had been soaked overnight. Further, the yogurt was not stirred in but slopped on top making it even harder to swallow. Others enjoyed their food so maybe the eggs and more standard items were better. Not recommended unless you're in the area.

All up, I succeeded in not having one bad meal the whole time, catching up with Ange and Alex and going to the tennis twice. I did not succeed in shopping up a storm though and left with only one pair of shoes. At least, I had the rest of the summer sales to make up for that. Now, bring on the French Open!

LA Story, part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:53:00 +0000

So how did this LA story end? Answer: with a bang and a thud. I mean that literally and you shall find out why.

In brief, or as brief as I can be are my highlights and well, lowlights (thrown in for good measure):

I stayed in WeHo or West Hollywood as the locals called it. I took up residence at Le Montrose Suites, just off Sunset Boulevard. The place itself was what you would expect from a four star joint. It had a worldly era feel and charm (= real estate agent speak for it was old but nice).

The bedroom was spacious with a super comfy bed and the best bit was that there was a walk in wardrobe that adjoined the entrance to the bathroom. I naturally took advantage of this and laid out my growing shoe collection.

The location was great but as I quickly learnt, it was still difficult to walk anywhere in LA since everything was much further away than it looked on the map. I'd recommend it for a short stay. The rooftop pool had a bit of a view even if a lap of the pool could be done in a stroke or two.

So, onto the good stuff. Food and attractions. Here are some of the key ones:

Tenmasa sushi - This unassuming Japanese restaurant was close to the hotel. It was a nice-looking house with a spacious dining room. It was informal and the menu featured all the usual Japanese fare such as 'spicy tuna' which was everywhere there. I ordered that, the salmon and 2 skewers of the chicken yakitori. All of it was delicious. The strangest part about it all was that there are twin brothers who looked like the owners and waiters. I had to a double take sometimes as I had forgotten what I had said what to. Recommended if in the area for a show. Note it's opposite The Roxy and very close to Whisky A Go Go and the Viper Room.

Boxwood Cafe - This was the breakfast and lunch cafe in The London Hotel where Mr Kitchen Nightmare, Gordon Ramsey oversees all the catering for the hotel. I had pretty lofty expections only to be disappointed. Ok, so I am just judging them by their porridge but it was bad porridge. Watery and with no flavour until I doused it in the side of maple syrup and berries. This was my personal kitchen nightmare. Snobby door bitch too. Even Gordon couldn't serve a decent coffee in LA. I continued to drink Starbucks in the meantime.

Farmers Market - This place was awesome. After my disappointment with the Grand Central Market downtown, this place restored my faith in use of the word 'market'. The fact that it was in Beverly Hills and attached to the trendy Grove shopping centre helped too. A range of cuisines was on offer including Cajun, seafood, crepes, pizzas made from scratch, etc. Check out the great stalls:

Talesai Thai - On my last night, I was pretty lazy and didn't want to wander far. I was also having withdrawal symptoms from not having eaten Thai for 2 weeks and if you're a Sydneysider you can relate to this. This place was given some good reviews. The atmosphere was pretty nice, modern and cosy. I had the green chicken curry (yep, it's a universal dish) which was delicious. It was pretty watery so they must have used coconut milk rather than cream but the sliced peppers added some serious heat.

Urth Cafe - This was my favourite place of probably the entire trip from the perspective of being a place that you could eat at everyday. You can tell from the line up of people, bustling conversation and overly-groomed clientele that this is a place to be and celebrity hang out. In fact, the LP said it was a guaranteed celeb spotting joint. I dined here twice and found it to be like a grungy cum cool cafe in Annandale or Newtown. All the food was organic and brochures strewn on the tables espoused the virtues of this and how much they care about the farmers and where the food comes from. I was like 'yeah yeah, all good, whatever'. However, once the food arrived, I sang a different tune. The porridge with stewed apples and raisins was a revelation. Gordon needs to dine here and taste real porridge. I cannot eat it without sweet, juicy and syrupy apples now.

How was the coffee you ask? Out of this world. They even wrote about it in that damn brochure that I ended up reading in its entirety but the organic coffee was sweet and had so much flavour and aroma. I was in disbelief!

The next morning being my last, I came back here and ordered the poached eggs with salmon parcels filled with baby rocket and topped with lemon creme fraiche and tiny tomato salsa. Did I mention that they have their own pastry chef who also makes all their bread? This was served on crumbly and sweet, toasted brioche with a side of rockmelon. All of it tasted so good that I am converted to the cause of organics more than ever (or where the budget will allow).

Other attractions:

MOCA - The Museum of Contemporary Art has a small outpost near the Pacific Design Centre. The exhibition I saw was crap though and some video art installation that I couldn't run away fast enough from.

Pacific Design Centre - Awesome looking building on the outside but the inside contains nothing but sterile display rooms of posh furniture over about 8 floors. I have no idea how this place survives. There was barely a soul in site that even the security guard looked excited to see me.

Santa Monica beach - This beach was beautiful. There is also a new mall there called Santa Monica place that has a dining deck on the top with views of the beach. It was up there at a place called 'Tutti Fruiti' where I had the most delicious frozen yogurt ever. Ingenius idea. Put together 20 different flavours of soft serve style frozen yogurt, most of it low-fat and then sell it by weight with a range of 20 different toppings all put together by the customer. Wicked! Ate it all!

La Brea tar pits - I promise that I didn't plan to go here. It was an accident. I had walked all the way to LACMA only to find it closed so I innocently stumbled upon this in my vain attempt to find a cab = Fail. Cabs do not roam around LA. In the end I had to get on a stinky bus where I was harassed by a slightly deranged comedian who kept trying to provoke me whilst I ignored him. So the tar pits. Not much to it. They bubbled and for some reason, they have built replica ancient animals to stick in them.

LACMA outside - This was all I got to see. Lesson: don't go there on Wednesdays.

Prada - This was the most awesome shop that I have ever been into in my whole entire life and that's a lot of shops. From street level on Rodeo Drive, there is no door and no sign. A space just opens up and you see a flight of stairs with some mannequins (dressed in Prada) slinking on the steps which are illuminated in their signature green hue. On either side of the steps were bags and towards the back were shoes. Around the back, I realised that the steps also rose from their so that they are sort of pyramid like. I took some sneaky photos inside. The walls were illuminated and puffy. Amazing. It's seductive and gorgeous which is probably how they trick people into paying 4 figures and up for these pink and purple camourflage fashion faux pas':

Amoeba - This was / is the best record store around if you're after a big one that has everything, new and second hand, dvds, blu-rays, books and t-shirts. The Scissor Sisters did an instore here. That's how good it is:

So back to my reference at the start. The bang: I had the most awesome fun ever chasing bargains all around town. My best friends became Nordstrom Rack, Macy's and Barney's where sale racks are a permanent fixture. I left for this trip with 4 pairs of shoes and upon my return, I had 9 in tow.

The thud: I maxed out my credit card and redrew funds from my mortgage.

Would I do it all again? Absolutely and preferably at Prada! Memories are made of this.

New York, New York - September 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 05:02:00 +0000

NYC at the end of Summer and start of Autumn is a wondrous thing. The city is still peaking with activity and sweltering with heat and humidity. It is a chasm of activity, condensed and contained. As always, it presented me with millions of opportunities for new dining opportunities!

Here is my best attempt at a short summary of some of those:

Amber - This mixed Asian restaurant was my first stop in NYC. I had just stepped off the plane at La Guardia and was warmly greeted by Eva and Ben who recommended this place that was within walking distance from them on the Upper West Side. Amber had a lovely warm and modern interior. It could masquerade as a labyrinthe. You can wind from the small front room, through a few twists and bends before a much larger room out the back emerges, complete with a large free-standing Buddha of course. We only had a small supper here and some drinks. The cocktails were strong and full of fruity flavour, although not mixed particularly well. I ordered off the Signature Sushi list and had a sushi with eel, avocado and tuna, sandwich style where the rice is flattened and cut into rectangles rather than rolled with seaweed. The rice was well seasoned but overwhelmed the other 3 delicate ingredients due to sheer quantity. I'd still recommend it for a quick and local bite to eat if you're in the area.

Bar Boulud - Another place in the area is Bar Boulud, one of celebrity chef, Daniel Boulud's eateries in NYC. We had spent a day at the US Open (yes we got to see Federer and Sharapova, just in case you were wondering!). We'd spied on Venus Williams on the practice court, snacked on crackerjacks (they are addictive!) and gotten sunburnt. I never realised that hanging out with a pregnant lady made you eat more - every time she snacked, I would too! So the appetite was there. I ordered the smoky grilled trout with a sweet corn salsa. The trout in the US is a different variety than what we get in Aus. The flesh was white and soft but slightly sweet. The smokiness added in the cooking was delicious with the creamy sauce and fresh corn salsa. There was a long and apparently awesome wine list too but I decided to refrain so that I could attempt a decent sleep. Across the road, outside the Lincoln Centre, there was a large screen where they had broadcast the opera, which was Turandot that night. This added to the festive atmosphere and distracted us from the ridiculous, over the top gusts of wind that threatened to wreak havoc with my hair! Highly recommended restaurant.

Breslin - We knew that we needed some serious fuel for the famous Barneys sale so we went to a place that takes breakfast seriously. Very seriously. The Breslin in the Ace Hotel fit the criteria. It was popular, slightly pretentious, served coffee that they roasted themselves and breakfast worth queuing for. I found out why. I ordered the poached eggs with curried lentils, chilli and coriander. It sounded slightly weird but it was nothing short of jaw-droppingly, saliva-inducing AWESOME! The eggs were poached delicately so that they were only just done and with a runny yolk, perfect for eating with the wood-fired bread that had olive oil drizzled on it. The curried lentils were puy ones that had no actual curry sauce on them but rather were cooked with the spices in curry so that they were a mess of ground coriander, ginger, cumin and cinnamon. The deep-fried red chilli and fresh coriander sprigs, set the whole dish off. I was set to fight those bitches at the Barneys sale like Popeye on organic spinach!

Eva was not disappointed either. Her dish of ricotta pancakes (yes, they must be a global phenomenon!) was served with the lightest, fluffiest lemon ricotta ever, toasted almonds and a sweet blueberry sauce. Since she couldn't finish it, I offered to help her out, being the good friend that I am. There are food perks when hanging out with a pregnant lady too! haha!

The Standard Grill - for Eva's birthday dinner, we went to the restaurant in The Standard NYC. As you will recall, I stayed at The Standard in downtown LA and loved the hotel. The one in NYC had the same aesthetic. It was retro, quirky and oozed designer chic in a young and trendy way. Check out the lounging area just inside the doors and beside the lobby:

The menu is pretty standard (pun intended) and contains all the usual classics that you might expect from a Grill restaurant. There was a mixture of meat and fish dishes both grilled and cooked in other ways. I ordered the Cajun swordfish grill with spiced cous cous and the most delicious salsa sauce. I got so excited that I couldn't hold the camera still enough to capture it because that meant I'd have to put down my fork and stop eating!

Eva ordered the most expensive dish on the menu (well it was her birthday after all!). It was the veal steak with mushrooms. As you can tell from the photo below, it was not a delicate small steak. It was humungous! It was meaty and it was flavoursome. Unfortunately, she didn't feel like a giant piece of meat and was not a fan but she did approve of the mushrooms as well as the side of crispy potatoes with smoked paprika aioli that we ordered. All was not lost! Highly recommended restaurant if you're prepared to wait, even if you've booked but fun and friendly atmosphere and service if you're in the mood for that.

Bathazar - This place is an institution in NYC. It has remained popular despite newer and shinier places nearby. They specialise in classic and basic French dishes cooked well and presented in an authentic-looking restaurant with yellowing stained mirrors just like in Paris. I ordered the tuna nicoise salad and it was the best one I've ever had. Everything about it was perfect. None of that awful canned tuna here. Large chunks of freshly-seared tuna were scattered amongst crispy mixed lettuce leaves, unpitted Kalamata olives, cucumber, blanched beans and 2 halves of a hard-boiled egg. All of this loveliness was dressed with a balanced lemon juice and olive oil dressing. Sublime!

Van Leuuven ice cream truck - This is my first review of food purchased from a truck. You may laugh, but this is big business in NYC. I'm told that these trucks even have websites where you can track the movements of the truck. Only in America as they say! This truck served ice cream with unique flavours such as Earl Grey, green tea and cinnamon. Eva bought some which I tried and I can vouch for the rich, creaminess with depth of flavour. No wonder people queue up at a truck. I would too if I ever saw it again. Recommended.

In summary, I had some amazing food here. I don't think that there was anything that I did not enjoy. My thanks to Eva and Ben for recommending such fabulous places. I was never short of a bad meal or a good laugh! I bid farewell to my friends and NYC and flew back west to the city of angels, LA.

Chic Chicago - Summer 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:29:00 +0000

Following on from my weekend in LA, I got to spend a week working from the Chicago office. The last time I was here was in February this year when it was butt clenchingly cold. This time it was the opposite. Anyone who has been to Chicago in late August can testify that they have lived through the searing heat and humidity. I arrived at 7pm in the evening and all throughout that night I could not leave the hotel without breaking into a sweat.

Wholefoods – This enviable institution has a branch not too far from the Mag Mile. It is like Macro in Sydney on steroids. It would rival the giant Woolworths in Northbridge. The difference is that all the food is organic and wholesome. The best part of it is the wonderful and gourmet hot and cold food bars where you can help yourself and then pay for what you have taken by weight. I really had to restrain myself from buying too much here but the freshly-cut mango and blueberry cups with yogurt were delicious.

John Hancock tower – I read in the increasingly redundant Lonely Planet that instead of paying an entry fee of $15 to go up to the viewing platform, you get an equally wonderful view from the Signature Lounge, one floor beneath for the price of a cocktail. I took the lift up 96 floors and was greeted with a feast for the eyes. The night lights of the city were stunning and lined up in rows that look like beams if you squint your eyes. I ordered the Signature cocktail (a blend of cranberry and peach juice with vodka) and a surf and turf (skewers of beef and prawns). Both were disappointing but then again, you don’t come here for the food or drink. Stick to the cheapest drink I say and then go downstairs and gorge at the Cheesecake Factory at the bottom of the same building instead.

Rivers – this café is just off the West Madison Street bridge to the Loop. It sits on the river as you may have guessed and actually serves delicious food, unlike the Signature Lounge that just traded on its view. They have a whole range of café food on the menu including 5 different salads, sandwiches to more substantial main meals. I suggest booking in advance since there were no spare tables around. I had the delicious seared salmon salad and it was perfectly juicy and tender.

Mortons – Locals here talk about steakhouses like they’re a unique dining experience. I think of the Black Stump, which is enough to turn me off going to one. Why would I want a chunk of dead animal on a plate with little done to it other than it being carved and pay for the privilege of it? Why? Well, because there are steakhouses and there are steakhouses. I went to the first real steakhouse in Chicago and probably my last. They cared about the animal, the cut and the meat so much that you get a full story about it in the menu on the website and when the menu is ‘presented’ to you literally by a man with a platter of cold cuts of fillet, rump, strip, etc. I ordered from the smaller sizes menu and had the Cajun rump. It was mind-blowingly good. The Cajun spices had been on for 24 hours and produced a flavoursome meat which was slightly charred and smokey tasting on the outside with the most luscious and juicy meat in the middle. It was served with a massive damper roll fitting for Shrek. The sautéed green beans with garlic were also great.

I placed my Blackberry in the picture so you can get a sense of the size of the damper that had crispy fried onion flakes on top. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside.

My last steak, well at least until I visit Morton's again.

De Cero: This modern Mexican joint was on a restaurant strip. It served up strong flavoured margheritas and the usual suspects such as tacos, enchiladas and burritos but the specialty sseemed to be the taco platters that came with 8 of your choice of 4. We had a whole range including the duck confit with corn salsa, the flaked salmon, the black bean with radish and green salad and the pulled pork. The salmon and the pork were the best but all were a little dry and lacking sauce and strong flavours, although that may be my personal preference since everyone else seemed to enjoy it.

Café Baci: This was a quick lunch time destination. It looked like a posh bar from the Wacker Street entrance but once I made my way towards the back, I realised it was more like a canteen. I grabbed a tray and opted for the 3 salad special which I selected. I had the tuna salad, Tuscan bean and antipasto salad. Surprisingly, the canned tuna and mayo one was the best. The others were very heavy on oil. They also offered fresh made to order pizzas, soups and sandwiches, all for reasonable prices. Recommended if you order t he right salad.

Wormhole - This little grungy cafe in Wicker Park was recommended to me by Geoff. Why? It has a Delorean in it. I had to look up what that was and bonus point for you, if you realised that it was the time machine in Back To The Future! It is sitting right in the window for all to see. I walked into the cafe and pretended to look for someone (yep, that old trick!) whilst secretly eyeing off the full size car. There were no free tables and it was a pretty basic cafe serving coffee and snacks from what I could tell. I didn't feel like either so I walked out. I did get a photo or two though.

Sunda - This place was awesome. It served delicious Asian food from Chinese to Japanese to Thai cuisines, sometimes blended in various ways. Funky and large interiors. The place was literally buzzing like a hive, there were that many people in there. I ordered the Asian mushroom salad with finely sliced radishes, spinach leaves and dressed with a light, soy and sesame oil dressing, topped with crispy fried noodles to start.

Then I ordered the eel sushi which tasted like fresh eel on a bed of moist and well-seasoned sushi rice and the char siu which was delicious and had more layered and complex flavours than usual. This place was so busy that people queue outside so book ahead or otherwise go in 1 or 2 and you could get a seat at the sushi bar like me. Highly recommended!

Cosi - This is a chain of sandwich, salad and soup joints, one of many including Cafe Baci mentioned above, the Corner Bakery Cafe, etc. I stopped in here for breakfast and ordered the oatmeal which comes with a choice of 2 toppings. I selected strawberries and pistachios. The oatmeal was surprisingly cooked perfectly. It was all gooey, thick and creamy with the natural sweetness of the oats shining through. Yum. Brekky dessert. Otherwise, the rest of the menu and food looked pretty average. I just had to write about the porridge so that I remember it for the next time that I need a quick and cheap fix for brekky.

Mercadito - My last lunch in Chicago, sigh! This is the Chicago outpost of the NYC restaurant of the same name, that dished up modern Mexican to a discerning crowd. The interiors are modern and funky. The Thievery Corporation was probably on the iPod dock or something of that nature. Check out the funky wall of miniature paintings:

It was moderately busy during Friday lunch. I ordered 2 ceviches, 1 of prawn and 1 of monkfish. Both had been cured in orange and lemon juices, herbs, diced tomatoes, etc. Both were so delicious and their house made flatbread was addictive. Highly recommended! I can only dream of what dinner would be like here based on these 2 dishes.

Next stop NYC...

LA Story, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:29:00 +0000

The first leg of my trip began witih 2 days in LA for Ani and Hitesh's big fat wedding and big and fat it was, but I'll get to that.

It all started with my cruisy arrival into LA after a 14.5 hour flight on V Australia's 'new' business class seats. This was followed by my check in at the awesome The Standard Downtown Hotel. After checking out Takami restaurant and the hotel bar that night, I attempted an early night.

I woke up nice and early since I hadn't adjusted to the new time zone. Saturday was going to be a busy day since I had to be at my friends' Ani and Hitesh's wedding by 6pm.

I went to Grand Central Market for breakfast which equalled Grand Disappointment. The Lonely Planet pocket guide wrote about it like a must-see and I expected some gourmet treats. Far from it. This place was like eating in Paddy's Markets with food, worse than what you'd get at a suburban mall. Think cheap and greasy Chinese food, oily American roasted meats and nasty fluorescent Mexican, all of these things cooked unauthentically by weird, shifty looking people. Here's how it looked:

I was starving so I opted for what I thought was a cup of yogurt mixed with bananas, berries and granola. It turned out to be a cup of what tasted like melted ice cream filled with at least 2 chopped bananas at the bottom with a few slices of strawberries and granola only on top. Ok, so it was pretty yummy but ice cream is not the first craving I have in the morning. I didn't finish it obviously!

Next up, it was off to MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art. It was an awesome purpose-built space by some well known architect whose name I've forgotten (how come I only remember what I ate so well but not these important details?). I discovered some awesome new artists that I really liked. Tickets were $10 and entitled you to entry to the other MOCA building downtown near Little Tokyo and a free shuttle bus to it. Check out the awesome exterior of the first building:

I hopped on the shuttle and encouraged the chatty bus driver to take the trip down under which he had been lamenting for some time (this was a common theme!). The Geffen MOCA had an exhibition of art created and curated by screen legend and all round awesome actor, Dennis Hopper. It was interesting but I would not say a 'must see' by any means. He was a painter and photographer before he took acting seriously and there were a number of works on display there. He also met Andy Warhol and was inspired by him to create some pop art works.

After that, I explored Little Tokyo - such a cute name, instead of just 'Japantown'. There were lots of Hello Kitty and KeroKeroKeroppi shops all around. It was also full of Japanese food outlets but I wasn't ready for lunch after that creamy brekky. If I was though, I might have tried this:

Alas, I did not, but instead hopped back on the bus and explored the exterior of the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry. I do remember his name because of his association with designing Tiffany jewellery. It was beautiful:

After all that, I headed off to lunch at an American diner that was owned by a former mayor of LA and a real institution, again according to the trusty LP. The menu was elegantly displayed on the wall:

I went for the Pantry Set-up of coleslaw, soup and bread. The soup of the day was beef and vegetables. The mound of coleslaw I received was the largest I'd ever seen. It was the size of a large take away container. It was also surprisingly delicious since it must have soaked in that sweet mayonnaise for a while and taken on those flavours. The 1/4 of a bread loaf was also way generous. The soup itself was surprisingly delicious. The meaty broth was full of flavour and again, a generous portion. Looking around me, I noticed that most people over-ordered since the portions were know to be massive and then all received large white foam take away trays to take leftovers home in. The couple next door to me ordered pancakes, bacon and eggs, French toast, steak, coleslaw and bread!

Then it was time to head back to the hotel and then set off to Pasadena for the big wedding. Pasadena is miles away even though the taxi only took 20 minutes to get there. He was hurtling along at full speed on those freeways. It was nice to see the hills surrounding LA though. The church was lovely and the happy couple were positively glowing! Congrats again guys! It was gorgeous.

The reception was held at the Dream Palace in nearby Glendale. There were copious amount of food served. More than I've ever witnessed at a wedding by about 10 times. Put it this way, Ani told me that there were 22 appetisers or entrees! Yes, TWENTY-TWO! They weren't just ordinary entrees either, there was a big bowl of caviar, cured meats, 3 types of smoked fish and bottles of vodka and J Walker on each table that was constantly being replaced! My new Indian American friends informed me that it was very common in India to invite Mr Walker to weddings.

After the appetizers I was done. I had had enough to feed a small family. Since my table was graced with the presence of the lovely bride and grooms’ mothers, we were given extra Indian food which I did not see on other tables. Think paneer, dahl, samosas and naan bread for a start. Still, we had not come to the main meals yet.

A short while later, 3 enormous platters were placed on our table, each one filled with mixed meats. There was the schnitzel and quail, the rolled baked fish fillets and the roasted beef and roasted pork platters. I had a tiny bit of each for the sake of trying them and the uniquely seasoned and prepared fish was my favourite.

Dessert lived up to the rest of the meal with 3 options being provided. Incredibly light and delicious little cakes that the bride’s dad had painstakingly prepared individually, soaked liqueur sponge and cream cake and fruit. All that food fuelled everyone up for the fusion of Armenian-Indian dancing which took place all night long. It was an awesome night! Thanks again to Ani and Hitesh!

The next morning, I was rudely awaken by my alarm clock. I had a quick breakfast at the Standard’s Restaurant (original name). The gorgeous lemon yellow interior was sunny and at least woke my eyeballs up a little. I only had time for coffee and toast, both of which were average, before the bus came to pick me up for my flight to Chicago. LA had been wonderful to me and downtown was a pleasant surprise after all the surprised comments I received when I told people I was staying there. There was certainly enough to keep me busy and entertained for 1 or 2 nights so I’d recommend it if you’re after a short and fuss free trip for modern art, a funky hotel and some nice food.

My trip to New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:55:00 +0000

New Zealand in late Autumn on the brink of Winter is a wondrous sight to behold. The leaves are still a rustic combination of yellow, orange and brown. The air has a crispness during the day and a chill during the night. It was a great time to visit the North island (well, mostly).

In 5 short days, we ate, drank, shopped and trekked around Auckland and Wellington. Here is a list of what we did for my own records as much as yours since I've included tips for other visitors:

Auckland

Mezze - East Durham Street, Auckland City - Strong coffee and good, creative breakfasts. The toasted muesli seemed home made and was crisp with a nice mix of coconut, nuts and seeds. It was served with a good quantity of yogurt, poached berries and fresh banana. The parsley scrambled eggs I'm told were buttery but moist and seasoned.

That scrumptious toasted muesli filled with dried fruits, crunchy nuts and tangy yogurt brought to life by soft and ripe bananas and stewed berries.

ParisTexas - Willis Street, Auckland City - This NZ chain stocks streetwear including G-star, Lee and Insight. I managed to score a seriously discounted, funky G-star jacket that masquerades as a warm piece of clothing by appearance but is in fact very thin and will not keep me warm at all but it does look cool.

Kate Sylvester - Willis Street, Auckland City - Great NZ designer. Great store. Smallish selection of her items but go upstairs and check out the men's range to see how they have transformed a small space into a very hip one. Quirky jewellery and accessories too.

Sun World - 2 York Street, Newmarket - My uncle and aunt took us here. Mostly Cantonese style food with a few Westernised items thrown in, including the deep-fried crab claws (admittedly tasty!). Fresh seafood was a highlight but otherwise pretty unexceptional.

Mission Bay - a 10 minute bus ride from Auckland City takes you to one of the most picturesque and most touristy bays. There are a plethora of touristy-looking restaurants on this strip yet it remains quaint and attractive since it is on a small-scale and quite deserted. We opted for fish and chips and had our first taste of tarakihi fish here. I ordered the Pacific oysters which were $1.50 each and then realised that they too were battered and fried. Tasty though.

Mecca Cafe - Chancery centre, Auckland City - Set in an English-looking shopping village, this cafe is one of the few that boast al fresco dining which we did not partake. The coffee was not great but the poached eggs on wholegrain toast with tomato relish made up for that. Thick, crusty bread toasted perfectly.

MyBar - East Durham Street, Auckland City - A smallish bar in this quiet street that has a good but small selection of NZ regional wines as well as beers and cocktails including a whole page of sake cocktails interestingly. Generous pours of wine.

Karen Walker - Ponsonby - Quirky and cute store where the glass doors are painted with big birds' wings. A large selection of this NZ designers' range is displayed as well as lots of her jewellery and sunglasses. I fell in love with lots of things here but held back, for now...

Sky Tower - Auckland City - The tallest tower free-standing tower in the Southern Hemisphere and the tallest man-made tower in New Zealand. They love to advertise that it is the 'tallest' but that needs to be qualified. Nevertheless there is a stunning view from the top after enduring the 18-second lift ride. They also love their stats! The glass floor in parts is an added freaky bonus as is the view of people 'jumping' from the tower to a point on the ground.

Rydges Harbourview - Federal Street, Auckland City - Excellent location 2 streets back from the main drag of Queen St. It has been renovated recently and we got one of the new rooms on our first few nights and then an older room on our remaining night. Both of which were excellent. Very clean, modern, large flat screen TV and toiletries that we actually used. The newer room had a nicer but smaller bathroom and shower. However the older room was larger since it had a couch and bigger windows as well as a bath. I'd request a renovated room in the older section if possible. Highly recommended for value and atmosphere. The downstairs bar is nice too.

Rebel - Broadway, Newmarket - I didn't make it here but J did and I heard all about it. He picked up a pair of his beloved Adidas Gazelle trainers that retail for over A$150 for NZ$50. Don't you love those 'Last Pair' stickers?

Zambesi - Tweed Lane, Newmarket - I stumbled upon this store and to my delight, I found that it appeared to be a factory outlet since everything was on sale. I tried on loads but could not take that next step and make a purchase. Worth a visit for the possibility of getting something functional, modern and fashion-forward at a significantly discounted price. Another Kate Sylvester store is located just opposite so I got another fix of it.

Wellington

Logan Brown - Cuba Street, Wellington - This award-winning restaurant had a special 3 course meal deal for $40 p.p. if you dine early. Ruth booked this for us a few weeks in advance and we got to catch up over some fine Porters Estate pinot noir whilst tucking into some diligently prepared fish cake (singular!) with shaved fennel and baby capers, the pan-fried tarakihi (local fish that was common here) and a baked custard tart with tamarillo (also served in lots of places) with cinnamon ice cream. Excellent value for this quality but it did leave the boys hungry.

Good Luck Bar - Cuba Street, Wellington - I would not have found this place if it wasn't for Ruth. We walked down some stairs and opened an unmarked black door to find this underground, dark and cute bar. Little tables, lit by kerosene lanterns made out of Chinese teapots and a bar backlit in orange. Good wine list and cocktail list which again included sake ones, although I still didn't try one of these.

Kate Sylvester - Cuba Street, Wellington - This store was bigger than its Auckland counterpart and included a larger range of items. Miraculously, it was having a 3 day, 25% off everything sale so I finally picked up the skirt I had been pining after since trying it on in Auckland. In the adjoining shop, with a separate entrance but shared space is the men's collection as well as a few items from Marc by Marc Jacobs and others.

Karen Walker - at the start of Cuba Street, Wellington - Another interesting and quirky store from the unstoppable KW. A huge selection from her range and her 'Hi There' range. I picked up a top here that I'm hoping will not be available at Myer in Aus so I can boast about it later!

Rebel - Cuba Street, Wellington - Located inside a dodgy, old looking shopping complex (not even a mall since it was so small). Here J found a Casio G-shock watch for a bargain NZ$169 but it was scanned for only NZ$99 (We'll take 2 please!). Second biggest bargain of the trip!

Ernesto's - Cuba Street, Wellington - This street is littered with cafes oozing character and charm each with their own personality. This one was decked out as you can imagine with poster of the young Castro and other gear in a tasteful way. We had good coffee here and home made banana bread (that looked better than it tasted) and chocolate brownie (that tasted better than it looked).

Espressoholic - Cuba Street, Wellington - The name of this place says it all. In fact, we stopped here for refreshments only so I can only tell you that the soy latte had lots of flavour although a bigger cup would have been good and the Heineken was well, juicy! They brew the stuff in NZ under licence so it did taste slightly different to the stuff we get in Aus.

Wasabi Sushi - Cuba Street, Wellington - Can you tell that we spent a lot of time on Cuba Street yet? This was the only sushi train we found but there were an abundance of sushi restaurants. We ate here around 3pm so there was little variety. The salmon sushi was amazingly lush but the tuna and other selections below average.

Travelodge - Gilmer Terrace, Wellington - Great location just perched above Lambton Street, the mainstream shopping drag where all the chain stores were found. Short walk to everything.

Rock Shop - Manners Mall, Wellington - We found a Rock Shop in Auckland which was a lot bigger than this one, which is just off Cuba Street. We met a guy called Pete who reveled in the fact that he has worked in all or most of Wellington's live music venues in his time and we heard ALL about it. If you're heading to Welly and you want to find work in the industry this is the guy to meet. He was so enthusiastic that he printed out a map that he had drawn up of venues and cool bars and clubs. He then proceeded to tell us stories about where you go when you wanna pick up (not sure why as he was talking to a couple!), where you go after you've picked up but want to avoid someone that you had picked up before, etc etc. All rather funny. He actually had some good music gear in there including a very rare custom amp for some muso who I've forgotten but there were only 400 made and his was numbered 7.

Gotham Cafe - Chews Lane, Wellington - Modern cafe who serve great coffee and food in generous proportions. Friendly and professional service. The poached plums were succulent and plentiful with muesli and the world's smallest serving of yogurt. The French toast looked perfect with a thin and even coating of slightly-browned egg, maple syrup, poached rhubarb and apple and the world's second smallest serving of yogurt. Highly recommended.

Te Papa - The National Museum , Wellington - This place is very hands-on for kids, so watch as they go crazy here. The exhibits bring to life experiences like volcanos and earthquakes. You can even go into a fake house where they simulate an earthquake but possibly not after you've just had breakfast. Stunning, purpose-built structure with views. Free entry and worth a visit.

City Art Gallery - Civic Centre, Wellington - A large building with spacious rooms for the display of selected works from local and overseas artists. Free and recommended.

All up, it was a great trip. The weather was pretty chilly especially in Wellington where nose transformed into a tap and my fingers into ice cubes. The South Island will definitely be explored in Spring or Summer next trip to NZ. Lots of highlights including catching up with Ruth, my relatives, some unforgettable salmon sushi, delicious wine and awesome shopping as you could probably tell.

Chomping in Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:34:00 +0000

I happened to have 7 whole days in Chicago and planned not to have one bad meal. Let’s just say that plans never do really go to plan. I did manage a lot of great meals but suffered from the traveller’s curse where you have walked all morning/day/night long and sometimes you just need food and you need it ASAP – leading one away from the foodie path.

Here is a summary of the places I visited for those of you who may be planning a trip to this understated city!

Swissotel – I stayed here the entire time and ate within it 3 times. Breakfast in the restaurant of buckwheat pancakes were good if a bit bland but the coffee was terrible. Dinner in the lobby bar one night of a ‘cob salad’. I came to realize that this was a common salad, much like the ubiquitous ‘caesar salad’ that appears on Sydney café menus. The ‘cob salad’ includes 2 types of meat (chicken and bacon), 2 types of cheese (blue cheese and cheddar cheese), egg (in case you haven’t had enough protein from the former ingredients) and then some lettuce, tomato and cucumber. All this was served bibimbap style, diced up in little pieces and served in separate parts of the oversized plate. Yes, it was as terrible as it sounded! The other dinner in was room service because I was immensely jetlagged and couldn’t bring myself to head out into the minus zero temperatures. I ordered a ‘minestrone soup’. It tasted worse than the tinned soup I had as a kid. Enough said. 1/5 (the pancakes gave them a 1 point).

The Gage – This little bistro is opposite Millenium Park. It is smart, yet old-worldly looking at the same time. Slick service and could be pretentious but it’s not. I had a grilled chicken salad which was delicious. Smoky and crispy grilled chicken was served on the side of a huge plate of well-dressed salad that included grapes amongst other salad ingredients. Moderately priced at $15 a salad. A refreshing and balanced dish. 3.5/5.

Blackbird (dinner) - Eva and Ben came to visit me for the weekend and we chose this funky little hotspot even though it was recommended by Lonely Planet whom I do not trust for their food recommendations usually. We booked ahead (fortunately) and turned up in our day clothes of sweaters and jeans. You could dress up to come here as we discovered or not. The food is prepared with care and some flair. I ordered the grilled char, which is a pink coloured fish with a similar texture to salmon, that was served with shaved fennel and celery sautéed as well as an aioli like sauce. It was delicate and tasty. Eva and Ben’s dishes were also considered and crafted. It’s a little pricier being around $25 a main. 4/5.

Milk and Honey – We all made it out to Wicker Park the next morning well before the local residents were up. The main street was dead except for inside this buzzing little Surry Hills-style café. The menu is extensive and has a home-made feel to it. I ordered the oatmeal with dried fruits, nuts and brown sugar, whilst the others had waffles with raisins and banana embedded pancakes (ok, I added the word ‘embedded’ cause they were!). I enjoyed mine but it didn’t dazzle me. I think the others felt the same. I still loved the café though. Their home made baked goods looked amazing and were possibly the big drawcard to this place. Mega sized lattes too. Dishes under $10. 3.5/5.

Eva and Ben with banana pancakes and sultana waffles

Potbelleez – This was our first chain food store. Here they serve huge salads and sandwiches in varying combinations. It’s a cross-between Subway and Sumo Salad. My ‘Italian’ salad was huge and came with chickpeas and 2 types of ham over the usual salad ingredients, grated cheese and croutons for around $5. Come here if there’s nothing better around. 2.5/5.

The Corner Bakery Café – This is a small bakery chain that also serves soups, salads and sandwiches. I had breakfast here a few times. Reasonable coffee. They served this apple and raspberry granola oatmeal which I tried. Who would have thought of sprinkling oats on oats? Kinda worked with the contrast of crunchy granola over the soft porridge. Bagels were good here too. Breakfast for $5 - $10. 3/5.

Grand Lux Café (dinner) - This restaurant is huge and based right on the Magnificent Mile, in fact it overlooks the mile itself. See if you can get a window seat or one in the round atrium. It's a perfect place to rest your feet after a day and/or night of shopping! I did so myself. The servings here are large but delicious. I had the Vietnamese rolls as an entree (it came with 8 large pieces!) and then a barley and vegetable soup for my main which was also large. Decent wine list. 3.5/5.

Vietnamese rolls filled with chicken and veges

Inside the round room of the Grand Lux Cafe

Shanghai Terrace (dinner) - This restaurant is highly-rated by critics and it was recommended by a local. It is a refined Chinese restaurant based in the posh Peninsula Hotel. The setting is lovely. It is peaceful and serene and the pristine service adds to this ambience. The food is also polished and the flavours. I had a lobster consumme (very small serving) and a tasting plate for my main. Beautiful. 4/5.

Inside the elegant Shanghai Terrace

Chipotle (lunch) - In contrast to the Shanghai Terrace, Chipotle is a chain eatery where they custom made burritos. You select your flavoured meat, rice, varieties of beans, veges and sauce. Delicious, cheap and very filling. 3.5/5.

Cheesecake Factory (dinner) - I went to this Chicago institution with another out of towner. The fit out is trippy and fun. Everything is curved. The menu is extensive and the servings massive. I had the grilled salmon with a miso and teriyaki glaze. I requested that it was cooked medium-rare but the waiter didn't think this could be done and looked a bit confused. It was not done medium-rare but rather well-done. We managed to fit in dessert but not cheesecake since the servings of them were gargantuan! We shared a small bowl of ice cream and were told that you get 3 scoops. A giant pasta bowl came out with 3 huge scoops, a mountain of whipped cream and sauce. We were finished for the night! 3.5/5.

The Swirly Surrounds of the Cheesecake Factory

Thai Urban Kitchen – This downtown Asian eatery has a slick feel to it and serves up similarly well-presented Thai and Japanese dishes. I ordered the Sushi Maki Lunch Set that included miso soup and 3 types of sushi (raw tuna, spicy tuna and California roll). I expected 2 pieces of each but no I got 6 pieces of each type, so that I had 18 pieces of sushi for 1 person! Needless to say, I only ate half of it. Lunch set was $15. 3/5.

The very generous lunch set plate

The only thing I missed catching in Chicago was a gig. I had 2 choices, Cold War Kids or La Roux but neither of them were that appealing to me. The draw of food and shopping got me instead! One honourable mention goes to Garrett's Popcorn. This store is located just off the Mag Mile and fuelled my popcorn addiction. Here locals queue up in this shop for a serving of flavoured popcorn. You can choose from butter, cheese, caramel with pecans, caramel with peanuts or a range of other flavours. I understood why people queued up in the freezing cold for this stuff. Worth the wait? When in Chicago...as they say!

NYC - I came, I ate, I left

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:05:00 +0000

New York City - Manhattan

I just got back from my sojourn to the US of A. What a hectic and crazy trip! My tour started with NYC, then onto chilled out Boston and edgy San Fran, or SF as the locals called it. I'll start with the NYC chapter, in a nutshell.

Let me say this first off, NYC rocks! Although it was my second visit here, I discovered new views, restaurants, shops and streets. It really is the city that never sleeps. Everything is open till late, especially the restaurants. On my first night there, I got a restaurant reservation at 9.45pm (a week in advance mind you!) and did not eat until 10.30pm. Surprisingly, it was not that hard to adjust, although the jetlag possibly had something to do with it.

Here is a brief review of my (shared) meals, highlighting the ones that were especially memorable and recommended for anyone heading over to NYC soon.

Balthazar - this is apparently the place to be at the moment. I had breakfast here twice. It's traditional French fare was done well but did not dazzle. My granola with yogurt and fruit was massive and rightly so at US$9 a bowl. It was my first taste of American style granola that's toasted, sweet, crunchy and served with nuts, cranberries and sultanas. Would recommend the waffles with berries and sour cream. Coffee (latte) was quite weak and milky not just here but pretty much all over the USA.

Spice Market - reserve well in advance online through opentable.com that allows you to reserve at loads of NYC restaurants. Very NYC in that, it is huge, cavernous, slick service, large number of staff, funky interiors and music and modern Asian-fare to match. Highly recommended. The tofu with pickled veges was the best tofu dish I have ever tasted! The tuna sashimi was amazing served in a sweet and citrusy soup with fish roe and lime sorbet.

Hudson Hotel Roof Bar - our hotel had its' very own roofbar (there are a few in NYC). Pricey drinks, but nice view and way to soak up the summer sun. There are 3 other bars in the hotel. The one behind the lobby and the one with the illuminated floor both go off at night. With the Philippe Starck designed interior, this place is worth visiting even if you're not staying there. Location near Columbus Circle meant proximity to a subway line, walk to Central Park and Broadway. Recommended hotel if you can deal with small rooms. Not even enough room on the side of my bed for my bag. Also our toilet broke twice on two consecutive days. Good value if you book on hotelclub.com for a discounted rate.

Good Enough to Eat - typical American breakfast diner. Old school style basics. I had the continental breakfast of toast, fruit and yogurt. The fruit was not that fresh. J had Mexican style scrambled eggs served with 2 warm tortillas and salsa. Could have given this place a miss. Forgettable and in a slightly dodgy location. I blame my 2002 Let's Go travel guide for this tip. I threw it away after this discovery.

Cafe Nomi (since closed) - awesome wine bar and tapas restaurant in Gramercy (trendy dining and nightlife district). My Sydney friends, Scott and Sam took us here. Particular standouts were the lamb cutlets that were juicy and perfectly medium rare, salt and pepper squid had a crunch and tangy saltiness and the lobster was moist and oozing freshness. Wine list was awesome too. Dimly-lit and crowded. Highly recommended. Drop by the pub on the same block. S showed us to check out photos of celebs that had been there since it is one of the oldest pubs around.

Whole Foods - this mecca of healthy food is like Sydney's Macro on steroids! The branch at Columbus Circle is huge, the size of a Kmart and stocks everything you would find in a supermarket but instead is organic, biodynamic and good for you. You can also get hot breakfast or cold breakfast in self serve trays that you pay for by weight. Incredible things like granola crusted French toast. They also have a dining area where you can sit down once you've made your purchases. Highly recommended.

United Nations - Delegates' Dining Room - Eva took us here for a buffet lunch. It's great value is you like buffets, US$29. Unfortunately, we weren't that hungry on the day we dined here but still managed to enjoy plenty of fresh smoked salmon, salads, fruit, cheese. I had the freshly sliced roasted chicken that was tasty. Otherwise there were about 6 hot selections of various meats, fish and vege. Unique view of NYC from the UN building but otherwise not a must-do. Note that the general public can dine here but there is a dress code of basically, no jeans.

Rosa Mexicano - surprising find on a main street. This is refined, modern Mexican at its' best. The guacomole made freshly in front of you is awesome. We also had the salmon served with mashed black beans and a dried fruit compote as well as the vegetarian burritos. They both came with rice and extra black beans. No drenching in sour cream and cheese, unlike the crappy Mexican restaurants we have in Sydney. Unique interiors. Highly recommended.

Vegetarian Dim Sum House - the one time that my 2002 Let's Go guide got it right. This delightful find in Chinatown is not much to look at but the made to order yum cha was so good, that it could convert carnivores to vegetarians. The monks' dumpling is a vege siu mau and the snow pea shoot dumpling in a green dumpling wrapper is worth a mention too. They were my 2 favourites. Recommended.

Hearth - Eva and Ben took us to this restaurant on a whim. It is American style which is the same as saying Mod Aus in that they had fish and veges, pastas, meat and veg etc. I had the seared salmon that was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside and J had the cheese tortellini served with spring veges that was light and fresh. The side of mushrooms is a must for funghi lovers. These unusual morels were chargrilled to perfection. The gnocchi side dish is missable unless you like soggy bits of potato in nothing but plain cream. Recommended but not highly unique.

Cafe Luxembourg - this Upper West Side establishment was recommended for breakfasts in the Zagat Guide (sort of a SMH Good Food Guide equivalent). Cute French-inspired interior but the average food, service slip up and lack of patrons let it down big time. Don't be fooled by the US$4 poached eggs. It was literally that without any sides or even a garnish. We had to order toast separately. The coffee was worse than the usual crappy US stuff. Not recommended unless you happen to be in the area.

Eatery - again, I have Eva and Ben to thank for taking us to this place. My fave breakfast was here. I had buckwheat pancakes that was served with real maple syrup, berries and whipped butter. Others had eggwhite scramble served on a potato rosti with salsa and the eggs benn-e of scrambled eggs served on potato rosti with smoked salmon. Very popular and busy for good reason. Highly recommended.

Veloce Pizzeria - this Sicilian pizzeria is also a funky, dimly-lit wine bar. The wine list is long and detailed with many drops to match the 6 pizzas on offer plus 2 pizza specials. The style is that they come out in square pans with a medium thick crust that is crispy and slightly-charred. The margherita was moist whilst the zucchini pizza had garlicky goodness but did not have a tomato base and hence was a little dry. Recommended if you like medium or thick crust pizzas.

NYC - I came, I ate, I left!

About MusicMunchiesReview

noreply@blogger.com (Madam Wu) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:15:00 +0000

Manifesto

I love good food and good music. Quite simply, these are my two passions in life. The two are intertwined like ham and cheese or Simon and Garfunkel. They would not be the same without each other.

Those who eat to fill a hole don't get the point of one of life's simple pleasures. A good meal is like a good album. It moves you, you want to experience it again, you remember it forever and you tell everyone you know (and those you don't) about it.

This blog is for the like-minded and the curious who understand that life is too short for a bad meal and a life without music would not be a life worth living.

Format

I eat out - a lot. I usually rate places in my head all the time so I decided to write my comments down and post them to this blog since friends ask me for recommendations regularly (you know who you are!).

I go to a whole range of places, eat (almost) anything and any cuisine, in a range of locations and prices ranges. I also read a lot of food and music reviews but these reviews do not tell me the things I want to know. So I have set up my own checklist which will tell you things like: whether they have soy milk (and if so, what type!), music played, noise level and most importantly, what to wear!

I will post something at least fortnightly, so check back then, become a follower on Blogger or even better, click 'subscribe' and you will be informed of my new posts.

Bon appetit in food and music!