Served From Abroad

Kangaroos and koalas make people think of only ONE thing

(or place for that matter)...

DOWNUNDER AUSTRALIA!!

My recent trip to MELBOURNE proved to be more than just the animals! They have a variety of excellent food!

Because I love both COFFEE and CHOCOLATE so much;

I will start with exactly just that! =)

MAX BRENNER;

is a chain store all around Melbourne town that has earned its popularity by the fine chocolates they have to offer. All the way from Venezuela; the most popular hot chocolate sold there are served in a hug-mug shaped like a teardrop that fits perfectly into cupped palms for a cold day.

      Yes! It IS that deliciously creamy!

And the variety of chocolate indulgence may look like the usual, but they sure don't taste like the usual!

Belgium Waffles with Milk Chocolate drizzled all over it served with bananas, strawberries and a scoop of creamy vanilla (or coconut) ice cream. Banana cake, marshmallow, fresh bananas and strawberries served fondue style with two types of chocolate! Dark chocolate for those who enjoy the slight bitter-sweet flavour  and Milk chocolate for those who prefer the typical rich creamy sweet chocolate.

And not forgetting. "The Bald Man" (on the napkin!) This infamous logo of the man who started it all! A contented look, plastered over my sister's face.

Melbourne's famous CROWN CASION looks pretty much like just another building in the city with bright sparkly lights. If you walk round the building, however you will find that along the river, there are rows of restaurants, cafes and hang out spots. All worth a try; but this caught my attention as I waltzed pass. This place is called Gerco...pronounced Grek-co.

Nose pressed up the glass window, peering into the shop's counter, I decided that I HAD to try some!

and so I asked for a slice of chocolate cake...and I got a HUGE-a** slice! Whipped cream and all!

Two attacked one slice...and some was still left!

It was very rich and G-O-O-D!

And what harm is it that the scenery is a bonus and plus!

ST. KILDA BEACH

 

Row and rows of window display, showing racks after racks of MORE sweet cakes and delicious treats.

But we didn't head to St. Kilda for more sweets. This time its for fresh seafood, cooked in front of you at your request.

Looking at the variety to choose from, the decision was made; SCALLOPS it was! Pan fried with fresh salad. Abit pricey , but the SIZE and the freshness! AWESOME and worth every penny spent.

And then, THE ULTIMATE!

Fresh Oysters!!!

Half a dozen wasn't enough, and we went back for more!

GRILL ON THE HILL

The Best Steakhouse in Melbourne!

That is an expression of pure content on my face! Why?

THIS! This is no ordinary sausage! This is top class duck sausage! Even if hot dogs aren't your thing; this you will surely love! Utter bliss!

This steak may look plain. But mind you, it is juicy as a juicy steak can be. Done perfectly as requested (medium-rare)..bloody and tender! All 300 grams of it. Although it cost a bomb, every bite is worth the dollars and cents!

"I'm so full but my wallet is so empty now!"

Prices that make a hole in the pocket for a meal usually make you think twice about going back. This place however has me craving to go back; ignoring the hefty price tag!

MARCADANTE

Along Lygon Street, one may find that it seems almost impossible to choose and pick from the many choices of restaurants available. Ranging from Italian to Greek, Thai to Indonesian. Marcadante, however, is a gem among the varieties available. This is simply because of the quality of the food and its authenticity. 

That is one happy baby!  He was as excited as we were when our food arrived.

Seafood Paella served with Seasonal Vegetables.

Rich and creamy like any Paella dish should be!

My sister had a heaping serving of Calamari Rings served on a bed of fresh Salad. The sauce that came with it was especially delicious, not the regular sauce that's usually served along with seafood.

And what I absolutely LOVE about Melbourne is; wherever I go,
I always (I mean always!) get a fantastic Caesar Salad. And that is what I got here too =)

Steak with Mushroom Sauce and Seasonal Vegetables. Looks pretty average; but trust me, flavour wise; it is anything but average! It is BEYOND!

CHOCOLATE BUDDHA

Right in the middle Federation Square there are several hang out spots which serve good food. Chocolate Buddha is just one of them. With such a name, one would expect it to serve something more along the lines of chocolate or Chinese-y. However, this place serves up what they call new-age fusion style Japanese cuisine. Interesting yes?!

Miso Soup? Seems like it to me! It was delicious, hot, steamy; exactly what I was looking for on that cold evening! And a bowl of Beef Noodles; something quite unconventional! The broth was superb and the beef was delicately rear and the bean sprouts were crunchy! Perfect!

Gozya =P

Avacado and Chicken Sushi served with preserved ginger slices and a lime wedge? Unconventional, as I said. Something in the combination was utterly mind-blowing! I don't mind having some now as I reminisce the flavour hahaha =D

GARAGE CAFE AND BAR

An Indonesian restaurant, with a very odd/interesting/peculiar concept. Set in a garage (literally), this place doesn't spell romance or expensive, but who cares when the food is GOOD right? And this place is all about good food I'd say!

The Baby is happy again! And sucking his thumb!

         

He must have spotted this Nasi Ayam in Lemak! The gravy is pure coconut cream (how fattening!). I was apprehensive to try this as it looked plain, but when the gravy touched my lips, an explosion of flavour hit my tongue and I took a 2nd, a 3rd, a 4th and more ..

Ayam Penyet served on a heavy cold stone. The sambal (right in front) is lethal but delicious all the same. Second helping costs too! And then the meal comes with a side dish of other fried delicacies! A whole fried hard-boiled egg, fried tempeh (made of soy), fried firm tofu and more!

NORTH MELBOURNE

I got to be honest here and admit that I forgot the name of this place! But it is worth mentioning, so that if you do happen to be in the area, you could keep an eye open!

This little rustic cafe is tucked neatly away along a row of shop lots. It serves nothing but CREPES!!!

Savory Crepes: choices of Smoked Salmon and Spinach, Sausages, Cheese and many other delicious varieties are offered as the main course. Sweet Crepes; dessert of course! Banana and Chocolate anyone? Or fresh Strawberries and Chocolate? A swirl of ice cream comes with it, buts its never enough; so ask for moreee =P

RIVERSDALE VILLAGE

Cafes line the main roads where the tram lines run along this village. Any cafe you walk into, you'd be able to find a selection of pies, sandwiches, quiches and salads. 

And since it was my last day there, we decided to take it a notch down and enjoy some fun in the sun and took a stroll to a nearby cafe and had some grub.

This is my Lamb Wrap; slices of juicy and tender lamb folded neatly in a pita bread with fresh salad and a delicious mix of dressing. And a Vegetable and Cheese Quiche was what my sister had. Served along with a helping of fresh salad.

I looked intensely at my wrap; savoring the beautiful sight as I knew it would be my last meal there for a long time to come!

After stuffing our faces and tummies; and having to head back home (and reality) soon, we took a really slow walk back to my sister's place. It did help that the sun was out and bright! All in all the trip there was fantastic and the food was double the happiness. THIS is probably why so many Malaysian students go to Australia to study and not come back! Malaysia is a food nation, and a food adventure in Melbourne is always something so diverse. Almost a new experience everyday!

And then it was time to say GOODBYE. So there!! I've posted my memories and adventures (especially with food) through their Post, by EXPRESS nonetheless =)

Written by,

Jody Wong

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When you're done drooling over Jody's exclusive photos, let me know.

Because I would very much like to bring you on an Asian trip to another part of Australia known as, BRISBANE!

Let's catch a glimpse of.. Hanaichi (from their very own kitchen)! Seriously.

You can of course know more about this place with accompanying photos of what they serve at their official site but at Just Fork It, nothing beats the REAL DEAL! I personally must thank my dear friend who juggles his studies with his part-time job at this place for his help in reviewing Hanaichi. So without further ado, these were the photos that have travelled from the heart of Brisbane to fill my inbox.

Beef Yakiniku

     For the record, Beef Yakiniku is NOT yucky ok? This colourful and tasty dish is mainly made up of tender beef slices cooked with capsicums, bean sprouts and onions. These are all then mixed with some Japanese beef sauce. It comes in a bowl of rice, showered with a layer of beef slices, together with a handful of vegetables and is topped off with the ingredients; sesame seeds, yellow pickles, shallots and coriander leaves. It goes for the price of AU 6.80 for a small bowl and AU 8.30 for a large one. I don't know about you but I'm quite yakin I'm getting hungry just staring at this dish.

Chicken Hanaichi

     Chicken Hanaichi is very much like a salad. The juicy pieces of chicken in this dish are first battered before frying. After it has been fried, it is mixed with a delicious sauce known as, "Hana" sauce and placed on top of a layer of rice. A tomato chopped neatly into four slices, along with some tartar sauce, shallots and corriander leaves grace this dish as the finishing touches. The price, depending on the size of bowl you want (and your appetite) is the same as Beef Yakiniku. Overall, a simple and healthy dish to chow down with no regrets.

 Chicken Katsudon

     This dish has rice covered with fried chicken breasts pieces all over. If you're wondering where the rice and chicken are, look under the egg that has blanketed the surface of the dish. The egg you're looking at was carefully pan fried with Japanese Katsudon sauce before serving on top of the layer of chicken pieces. The price? AU 6.50 for small and AU 8.00 for large. Can you imagine the sweet pieces of chicken melting in your mouth? I know I can =)

Chicken Miso Katsudon

     No questions asked on why Chicken Miso Katsudon does not look anything like Chicken Katsudon. The one word that makes the difference between these two dishes happens to also be the source of flavour to this dish -Miso sauce! Chicken Miso Katsudon is a yummy dish that is served rice, salad, chicken pieces and of course, Japanese miso sauce! Lastly, the dish is sprinkled with some sesame seeds and yellow pickles at the side. For a small bowl, it's AU 6.50 and a large one is AU 8.00. In case you didn't realize, the pricing is the same as Chicken Katsudon. A must-try when you're over at Hanaichi!

 

Teriyaki Chicken

 

     Ah.. a very common dish. There is nothing much to highlight about this dish as it tastes alot like any other ordinary Teriyaki chicken dishes you can find in Japanese restaurants. However, there is nothing wrong about ordering it if you're craving for it. The Teriyaki Chicken comes with huge chunks of Teriyaki chicken and rice. Teriyaki sauce is then added to define the flavour of this dish well and lastly, it is served with yellow pickles, sesame seeds, seaweed and shallots. It costs AU 6.50 for a small one and AU 8.00 for a large one. Again, same price as the previous two dishes! So which will it be for you?

  Ramen Noodles    

     Ramen Noodles are egg noodles that are boiled in hot water and mixed together with a special sauce (that unfortunately, my friend is not told of). It is only cooked by the chef and the staff there has no idea what are the true ingredients to this delightful dish. A layer of pork  is then placed on top of the noodles and soup, together with some seaweed and shallots. There is only one size and price for this. That is, AU 6.90. It's best to reveal the secrets to this dish by eating it!

Tempura Udon

     For the same price and size as the Ramen Noodles, you might want to try the Tempura Udon. This dish is basically Japanese Udon noodles that are boiled, and served with a big tempura shrimp, seaweed, shallots and fishcakes. Just as good as the Ramen Noodles but with a slight twist to it ;) The sight of it is enough to make me as hungry as a wolf, whatmore with the descriptions!

Although these photos are not of the best quality (The batteries of his camera ran out so he was forced to use his camera phone), this post wouldn't be possible without it. The photos my friend has sent were taken during his work shift and were actual customers' orders before serving them. I hope the variety of dishes Hanaichi offers has managed to tempt your tastebuds (or at least, it has to mine!). Now you know where to drop by if you happen to be in Brisbane, Australia ;)


To Jin Han,
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to snap these photos. Really appreciate it. Hope to see you back in Malaysia soon. Keep in touch! =)

Written by,

Melissa Teh [with the help of Tang Jin Han]


Note: This blog was part of Assignment 2 in the subject Newswriting for Electronic Media (MCD3024) for a Diploma in Mass Communication course at KDU College, Petaling Jaya. Our group has chosen Food as our weblog topic. In terms of the assignment, this will be our last post. It has been a great experience doing this assignment.  A debt of gratitude to our lecturer, Ms. Sheila for the wonderful opportunity and all who have participated in our small food discussions.

THANK YOU

The best is yet to come!