Classic High Tea @ The Tea Room, National Gallery of Victoria

The last time WY and I went to Persimmon for lunch, she's already been keeping an eye out for high tea at The Tea Room. Needless to say that this cafe is conveniently located inside the NGV, where you can walk a few calories off after treating yourself to pastries and sandwiches or rest your feet after feasting yourself on some art pieces.

Naturally, the Afternoon Tea selection is on our list but we are also starving, after skipping lunch (and breakast). We ordered the Silver Needle and Assam tea to complete our afternoon tea experience. Our tier came soon with smallish sausage rolls, chicken and mushroom pie, 3 finger sandwiches, 2 scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam, chocolate tarts, strawberries and cream boat, a small lemon and vanilla cupcake, 2 macarons and 2 eclairs. Overall, I have to say that the tier is better than the one we had at the Hotel Windsor. It has definitely more quality and each bite is just good.

I also had the Croque Monsieur with Rocket Salad. Very simple but well-executed. The crust of the bread has a crunchy goodness to it without being chewy. Lovely cheese is just melting all around. However, I'm missing the bechemel, remembering Le Triskel.

But we're not finished yet. Having tried the macarons on the tier and WY was a bit disappointed. So we decided to order a fresh round of macarons. To our surprise, our server started giving us a long list of flavors. We got the lychee, pistachio, caramel and chocolate. PG raved on the caramel and chocolate macarons. WY sampled the lot and loved everything. I loved the lychee (and rosewater, if I might add) macarons. I can't stop raving about the lychee macarons. I just loved the silver sparkles on top. You see, I've never had anything with silver sparkles before :).

The place was so busy as we left but we were never left unattended. We walked to the dessert display and we were awestruck with the number of macaron flavors. Imagine, they have a BUBBLE GUM flavored macaron! Our waiter also informed but that the pastry chef studied in France while the chef came from England. Did not get their names, however.

Loved the service, the crew, the desserts, the macarons and we'll be back for more!

PS. Pictures were taken from PG's new HTC Desire phone. Oh, and I want one =D

Drinking Party + Good Food @ World Restaurant and Bar, Southbank

I'm glad PG suggested to come to this place for dinner. There is a lot to like about the place. I actually didn't care so much about the interiors. It's roomy and slightly cozy, with enough space that your elbows won't bump into some unknown stranger's and far enough that the people on the other table won't know what you're talking about. Tonight is some sort-of a drinking night for us, because we are looking forward to the end of the work week. FRIDAY FINALLY ARRIVED!

Given that we are really not party animals though we do like our drinks. PG and I will usually share a bottle of wine but tonight is cocktail night. I have no idea how PG spotted Green Tea Party from the list of cocktails. It is meant for 2 people to share but, what the heck, we ordered us each a pot of it. From the description: this cocktail brings together Jose Cuevo Tequila,
Smirnoff Citrus Vodka and the much under-rated yet deliciously divine Zen Green Tea
Liqueur. all are complimented with freshly squeezed lemon and lime and topped with
lemonade. Something new to try out and I have to say, we both loved it immensely. It tasted exactly like well-sweetened lemonade, which, according to the Handbook for Drunks, is dangerous if you can't taste alcohol from a concoction that's supposed to have it.

Food service here is fast. I orderd the Prawn and Chorizo Jambalaya with Corn Bread. I haven't had jambalaya for a while. I really hoped it was just gumbo (sans rice) but it really tasted a lot like soupy paella. Serving is generous, I counted more than 5 pieces of prawns and heafty pieces of yummy chorizo. Thumbs-up for the generosity! Rice is cooked just to the bite, not too mushy at all. Another side to the whole jambalaya fiesta is the corn bread. It's milky with pieces of corn in it but texture is a bit doughy. I think I'm expecting corn muffin texture but overall, it's not bad at all. Dessert is also generous. Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee. How can you go wrong? Fell in love with the crunchy topping at first sight. Taste is creamy and not overly sweet. You'll definitely taste the dark chocolate from the custard base. Good and yummy.After all that, PG and I got Cosmos for our last hurdle. Here's to living the single life and to lovely friends!

Lovely Brekky Burrito @ Las Chicas, Carlisle Street

There is lots to love about Las Chicas. One of the things that I loved aside from BBB and pancakes (wickedly paired with bacon and maple syrup!) is my recent discovery that is Brekky Burrito.

I'll keep this blog short, because it's making my mouth water as I think about it. Imagine a mountain of light and fluffy scrambled eggs, wrapped in a soft tortilla, topped with fresh salsa (not the bottled kind which consists of tomatoes and red onions), fresh cilantro, mashed avocado and, oh, did I mention bacon? Yes, there's bacon in there.

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Isn't that just picture perfect?

Selfishness and Seafood Galore @ The Waterfront, Crown Hotel and Casino

I've been busy with work lately. I started with a new team with a new perspective. But it doesn't mean that I've stopped eating! I have been around too much and unfortunately, been forgetting to bring my camera along. Damn. I have to have better memory. There were some places I must admit that I intentionally forget to bring my camera along, reason being that the place was just too good to share with other people. I have to stop being selfish! Ok. Enough ranting. Moving on.

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One of the more recent places I've been to is The Waterfront at the Crown Hotel and Casino. Sis saw this place last December and she's been wanting to try it. We decided to skip dinner and just go since Crown is less than a block away from where I'm staying.

Sashimi is a must on our list because I did some research and found that this is one of the places where they serve decent sashimi. Needless to say, I was impressed though I still think Yu-u has my vote on the best and freshest sashimi in the city. Not a bad effort. Sis liked it a lot. On our sashimi plate is their sashimi selection: salmon, tuna, king fish.Sis' main is a prawn stir-fry with rice. Fresh but she didn't like the Asian touch to it all that well. Mine is seafood marinara. I have to say that I liked it because (1) it is olive oil based without the oily texture, (2) just enough seafood, (3) well salted, and (4) nice touch of chilli. A well-balanced dish and generous.

Lastly, I would come back here for the view. Sitting outside, the view of the Yarra River was lingering with the light wind playing with our hair. The hotel's infamous torches were also firing up every hour, providing a bit of warmth to the slightly cool evening breeze. What more could you ask for?

Before Fame @ The Italian, Collins Street

I love eating that The Italian because it's always unpredictable. Whenever you've decided what to get from the menu, you're bound to change your mind, after they tell you the specials.


We didn't have wine that night but the waiter offered to whip something up for us, depending on what we like. I told him that I like peach. It wasn't in season anymore but he assures me that the bar tender will think of something. A few moments later, my peach inspired mocktail arrived and I have to say, I'm impressed. The peach drink tasted like candy but not overly sweet. It does tastes something out of a juice box but with that added Italian flare. Try it some time.


For our entree, we had thinly sliced veal with tuna salad. Not really the ideal combination but somehow, it works. I loved the poached veal so much that I just wanted to eat it on its own. The tuna salad at first was out of place with that slightly mayonnaise-y, celery, slightly onion-y taste but all in all, it brings the dish together.

My main is rolled rabbit loin stuffed with pork fennel sausage and a jus. I can't tell exactly what it is, but I can taste red wine and beef stock. Pretty odd pair for rabbit. I would like the jus to be replaced by something lighter, maybe a consomme or broth. I liked the rabbit but one downside, it's not fully cooked inside. Though light, firm-fleshed and given that it has a very tasty filling which I couldn't get enough of!

All in all, it was a good meal. I will definitely come back for their specials.