Four Ate Five - Surry Hills * recommend*

Is it just me or people are all confused with Four Ate Five name with Art Ate Five? Maybe just me. After a quite search for addresses, I am finally here.

It's always nice to take a slow stroll on the street of Surry Hill. Its street over with decent restaurants, unique cafes and boutiques, record shops, book stores. It's a place mixed with culture, food, art and laughter.

Four Ate Five is on the 485 Crown street in Surry Hills, and quite crow in front of the shops all the time. It's hard to miss.

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Farewell Choices - Lucetta,Sydney

It's always a difficult task to organise farewell lunches. 

Often it's information overload, and hassle to find something to suit everyone's taste, make the order, paying the bill. (you name it!)

Lucetta is a inner city Italian restaurant. During lunch time, this small restaurant is slowly fill up with customers. 

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Tasty Fried Rice

It's been really cold lately. I am not in a mood of washing veggies nor cleaning dishes afterward. This is a very easy recipe and very tasty.

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An Restaurant Pho noodle - Bankstown * recommend*

Bankstown is quite out west, is worth the trouble and travel that far? ABSOLUTELY!

Where is it?

An Restaurant 

29-33 Greenfield Parade 

Bankstown NSW 2200

Tel: (02) 9796 7826

Opening hours: 7 days 7am - 9pm

General Price
Entrees $7.70-$18.00
Mains $8.80-$9.40

Breakfast
$10.70-$12.40

Lunch
Mains $10.70-$12.40
Desserts $3.00-$5.00

Dinner
Mains $10.70-$12.40
Desserts $3.00-$5.00

If you have not been to Bankstown, It is a great place to find Asian groceries and herbs, fruits, deserts and more. Here are some overview.

There are wide range of Vietnamese deserts available in store. Check it out at the end of restaurant before you make any decisions.

Look at the quality beef tender......yummm!

I do notice some Vietnamese love to put both chili and oyster sauce together in their noodle soup. You can give a try.

2 must order special beef noodle soup + chicken noodle soup

I love special beef noodle soup, so hooked up and never tried anything else in the An. (In my defense, this meal got everything I needed)

Let me walk you through what's in it.

An use 4 different cuts of meat - raw thin sliced beef, braised beef, beef tripe, and beef tender.

Their broth is just full of flavor and goes perfectly with generous amount spring onion and coriander. (please tell you waiter if you are not a fan of those herbs) After it's been served, you can then add preferable amount of basil and bean sprouts.

We drove so far to get there, ordering a small pho just does not do the justice. Of course, LARGE! ^^

Something to take note here, majority of customer are returning regulars, so in An, they do not give out English menu unless you ask them. The enlarged menu is on four sides of their walls, written in Vietnamese and Chinese only.  

Also, they do not promote sharing. If you come with your children, there is a $1 surcharge for extra bowl (age 15 or under) or $3.50 (for 15 or over). 

Generally, everything is about $12 (small size) and $13 (large size)

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Great Party Starter Takoyaki (Japanese Octopus Ball)

Takoyaki (たこ焼き) is literally fried or grilled octopus. It is a popular ball-shaped Japanese dumpling or more like a savory pancake made of batter and cooked in a special takoyaki pan. It is typically filled with diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takoyaki) 

Obviously in modern life, we are way too busy to make a transitional Takoyaki at home. It is nearly impossible. I have learnt this from a friend's party. Great party starter and on BBQ! 

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Simplest Japanese Miso Soup

Miso soup is also served in all Japanese restaurants and it's so simple to make at home!

Miso soup is also served in all Japanese restaurants and it's so simple to make at home!

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Chabuton Ramen & Coffee beans by Dao- Bangkok

When you are in Bangkok shopping so hard, you will surely need some energy reboot. 

Chabuton is a popular Japanese Ramen restaurant located in center world. 

They price very reasonable and giving the customer choices of having a small or large size ramen.  (considering customer's are on diet properly) 

Personally, I love Takana.

Takana is a pickled vegetable mixed with salt, soy sauce, chilli powder and sesame. Lovely side dish or appetizer.

Rahmen with traditional pork broth, Takana and Shio (roasted pork) $11

There are many choices at the resturant level and we couldn't really decide where to go first until we see Chabuton's food miniature. They're are so real and delicious looking. So we decided to give a try.

We were very satisfied with our order.

First Stop, Chashu Don!

Karaka Shio with Ajitama Egg

You can choose Miso, Soy, pork or fish broth. I had pork broth, it's very thick but not too salty. The touch of sesame gives pleasant harmony to this soup. Shio (roasted pork) is very tasty and soft - melt in your mouth. I also love the bamboo shoot comes with ramen.

Gyoza

After a nice meal, of course next stop is desert shop.

Bic recommended Coffee Beans by Dao. A chain store located in the same building as Chabuton.

Coffee beans by Dao is a  a casual, cozy yet trendy, dining place for all and its signature chandelier found in every outlet. They also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. (we didn't have chance to try) 

Store specialty - Caramel Nut on Chocolate Mud Cake with Custard (Must Try)

Highly recommend this cake: Chocolate Banana Cake

Fresh cut banana layered between cakes with chocolate icing on the top. Superb combination I must say. With $14 per kg banana price in Sydney, do not miss this cake!! (must try)

Chocolate cookie base cheese cake with shredded coconut  and cream on the top

How to get to Central World:

By SKY TRAIN Start at BTS: Chit Lom station.Then, go on sky walk between Chit Lom and Siam station. For more information on:

http://tourist.cpn.co.th/en/howtoget.aspx?category=1&lang=en&id=7



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Japanese Mis

Feeling some hot soup lately, and miso soup stock at home is running short. So we quickly went the near by Japanese store and bought some more.

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Somtam + Mango Tango Siam Square Bangkok

Siam Square is close to Siam Center/Siam Discovery Center, MBK Center, Siam Paragon, Ratchaprasong at center of shopping district. A great place for shop and eat, especially popular for young people. There are hundreds of stores in Siam square, great mix of customer needs. From branding stores, local boutique design shops to elegant handmade jewelry to affordable clothes. If you wondering where to shop? Siam Square is my choice. Occasionally you might see some shocking prices, but generally should be reasonable. 

Okay, enough of shopping, let back to today's topic.

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Rahmen Genki - Artarmen * recommend*

Is it just me or all of you are sick of the pouring rain these day?

In a mood of hot noodle soup? I have some good recommendation.

Rahmen Genki is located in Artarmon, right next to the train station. Very honest Japanese meal they serve here, not too fancy just nice and satisfied.

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Gelato by Gelatissimo * recommend*

Annual Death by Chocolate by Gelatissimo is on again, as part of chocoholic family, how can we miss that?

This year 16 different flavors of chocolate is available in all stores.

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How to Make Dumpling? Simple!

Simple Dumpling Making

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Lunch Buffet@ Grand Haytt Erawan Hotel (Bangkok) * recommend*

This is properly the fifth or sixth time I am visiting Bangkok Thailand and each time is been a mind opening experience. Thailand is known by their culinary specialty and eatery culture, of course, superb services.

Aunty invited us to a brunch with her at 5-star Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel.
If you have been to Bangkok, you would know it's a very busy and crowed tropical (hot) city. As soon as we step into the hotel the cold breeze and classic piano playing at the background embraced us. Suddenly, the heavenly like calmness lay on us, we're relaxed. The hallway is very spacious and covered by European interior designs. 

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Top 10 Sydney Eatery for Travelers

Recently we had some family visits, there has been heated discussion as where should we bring them to......well, here is the our list you might want to take a look for inspiration.

Most of below restaurants are in downtown Sydney, shouldn't be a problem to book or just walk in.

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Red Chili Chatswood 水井坊 * recommend*

Red Chili is my favorite SiChuan food in Sydney, let me emphasis this first - the Chatswood store is the best of the best.

Why? because they use the most tasty Sichuan peppercorn.

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