Manmaruya Revisit and 85°C Bakery - Hurstville *Recommended*

Manmaruya became our recent favorite Japanese. It's located in Hurstville, a bit far out of the town, well, for good food we sure go extra miles.

Lunch Bento with Rice is around $16

For extra $5 dollars with lunch bento you can get a full size ChaShu Ramen

This Grill Eel Roll is fabulous!

More details of Mamaruya please visit previous post: http://aroime.blogspot.com/2011/10/japanese-noodle-bar-manmaruya.html

We met one of your good friend there today, after lunch we were looking for somewhere you can sit down and chat. 85°C just newly open on the main Forest Road. 

They are similar to Bread Top selling attractive bakeries, patisseries and bubble tea, of course and coffee. 

Surprisingly, this is a family friendly place. Their sitting ares is very comfortable, catered for all age range. Great franchise indeed!

Store design is very spacious, modern and clean.

So many choices of breakfast, I need to take some extra time to decide now.

After a huge lunch, all my friends gave up on desert. ^^

That's not me! I picked this light fruit sponge cake. Yummy!

Where is it?

85°C bakery and cafe

Hurstville Address:  246 Forest Rd Hurstville NSW 2220

Tel: 02 9580 8889    

Other Store Location: Kingsford, Chatswood, Sydney CBD, Parramatta

Find them on http://www.85cafe.com.au/html-au/store-locations-au-6.htm

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Phoenix Yumcha - Rhodes

If you have not been to Rhode or only had time to check Ikea in the building previously. Upstairs of cinema, there is a fabulous Yumcha place called Phoenix.

Yumcha is traditionally Chinese morning tea, in Australia, it's more of a popular good lunch choices. Small Dimsim dishes will be served in food carts which circles around the restaurant until closing time and tea will be served with the meal.

Perfect place to try a lot of small dishes at the same time and learning the fun of sharing. Really Yumcha is catered for anyone.

Everyone has their favorite in Yumcha, or sometimes you wasn't sure what to order. Coz they are all looking so good!

Let me quickly show you my routine.

Sweet and Sour Pork or Beef

Deep Fried King Prawn on Toast served

Steamed 3 Mixed Vegetables Wrapped in Deep Fried Bean Curd

This is a perfect dish for vegetarian! 

Well seasoned and Steamed Beef Tripe

Beef tripe steamed for a good amount of time, taste nice and tender, enhanced by an extra touch of chili and spring onion.

Truth or Dare?

Here is something to challenge yourself. Personally I love chicken feet, it's very soft, gelatin, and full of flavor. 

Must Order Dish - Prawn Dumpling

Handmade thin dumpling pastry wrapped with chopped fresh prawn and bamboo shoot (different between restaurants) = heavenly taste

Prawn + sprouts Dumpling 

Traditional Chinese Pork Dumpling - Shumai or Dimsim

Steamed Rice Noodle with options of your choice - BBQ Pork, Beef Mince, or King Prawn 

Free dipping sauce - Fresh chili with soy sauce

Booking is essential, otherwise, you might need to wait more than 40 minutes. 

Booking only can make for arriving time before 12:00pm or 12:30pm.

Where is it?

Phenix

Address: Rhodes Shopping Centre

1 Rider Blvd  Rhodes NSW 2138

Tel:           (02)9739 6628 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (02)9739 6628      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      

Other Location: Parramatta, Sydney CBD, Manly

http://www.phoenixrestaurants.com.au/

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Chili Cha Cha - Authentic Thai, Sydney CBD *Recommended*

If you have never complain about the long queue in front of Chat Thai on Campbell street or Home Thai on Sussex Street and looking for alternatives? Here is the article you should read.

Chili Cha Cha is situate the end of Campbell street in Sydney CBD. (near Central station)

They serves authentic Thai cruising. Might not be as fancy as ChatTai, but definitely the taste and originality beats some of ChaThai's dishes. Price range is very reasonable and the potion is very generous. They open for dinner and lunches 7 days a week. 

Dinner 

Salted Deep Fried Pork Skin stirred with Chili, Garlic and Chinese Broccoli, seasoned with fish sauce

Deep Fried Barramundi Topped with Thai  Sweet Chili Sauce

You can choose to have barramundi fillet or whole fish (market priced).

This is one of my favorite!

Papaya Salad with Pork Neck Skewers and served with Thai Sticky Rice, Under $20 buck!!

Ta-da, there is the sticky rice hidden under the fresh banana leaves. 

Lunch

Lunch at Chili Cha Cha is $9.90 with most of noodle and stir fried dishes plus a soft drink of your choice.

Super Cheap!

Yen Ta Fo + drinks $9.90

This a surprise funding. I have always been calling this THE PINK NOODLE.

Yen tafo (Thai script: เย็นตาโฟ) is a clear broth with very silky wide rice noodles, fish balls, sliced fried tofu, squid, pork, mince pork, onion, coriander and phak bung (also known as "morning glory" or "water spinach"). The pink colour comes from the special sauce made from preserved red bean curd and/or tomato ketchup. The dish is mildly sweet, salty and sour.  (source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yen_tafo.jpg)

Such complex flavor of this dish, I couldn't resist to eat it all. If only I knew the PINK noodle is so nice, I would have ordered everyday when I was in Thailand.

Just like in Thailand!

Boat Noodle + drinks $9.90

More than 10 ingredients to just make its soup, goes to show how difficult and complex this dish is. 

Thin rice noodle served in long hours cooked broth and mixed with number of spices and big blood. If you are afraid of any unpleasant flavor, trust me, this is one of the most comment dishes in Thailand. Say goodbye to your fears, and embrace the heavenly exotic flavor of boat noodle!

Pad Kwee Maow + drinks $9.90

Stir Fried Flat Rice noodle with holy basil, eggs and meat of your choice

They even made the effort to deep fried the holy basil! Just like the way in Thailand....Yummmm!

Desert Special

Where is it?

Chili Cha Cha

Address: 40/50 Campbell Street, Haymarket, NSW, 2000

Tel: 02 9211 2025

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Scenic Drive - Wollongong back to Sydney

Our pleasant road trip to Wollongong was a great and I can't to wait to share with you.

If you or your friends have a car, this is a great low budget trip to follow.

A must visit spot in Kiama - Blowhole

Under the right conditions, the large wave enters in the Blowhole, compress the air within the inner cavity and accompanies the water spout.

It was a calm day when we visited, so action wasn't so impressive. 

Here are some great moments someone else captured. (google source)

Discovered by Surgeon George Bass in  December 6th, 1797

Beautiful light house right next to Blowhole.

Famous Jersey Lookout in Fitzroy Fall

Tracks are very easy to follow, here we are -Fitzroy Fall

Some pleasant surprises of exotic flower that lives in the forest

There are 5 different scenic drive from Fitzroy Fall back to Sydney.

We picked #2 via Burrawang 

Highlight to us was Belmore Falls

Beautiful little creature

Carrington Falls

Barren Grounds Nature Reserve is a great place to stop for a picnic lunch near the river. A lot of friendly birds lives around the park, very entertaining for young families too.

Useful info to planning your trip:

1.http://www.kiama.com.au/ 

2. http://www.highlandsnsw.com.au/nature/fitzroy_falls.html

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District Dinning - Surry Hills * highly recommended*

The first time I heard of District Dinning was during a conversation with Sarah who had the same interest as me in food. The key word of that conversation was "Pork Belly"! I have been craving for some decent pork belly for a while. So decision has made to head to the city!



They offers 2 set of sitting: 6:30pm or 8:45pm. At first, we thought 8:45pm for dinner is a bit late, turn out, just right for us.
Due to recent menu change, pork belly has been removed. very disappointed to me!!
Anyways, let me walk you through their well-planned food sharing menu.

Sichuan flavored deep fried Pig's ears $10

Crispy School Prawn served with lemon and mayonnaise $16
The small prawns are crunch from inside out, perfect starter to share with everyone. It's well seasoned and flavorsome. 

Veal Tongue served with homemade pesto sauce, seasonal vegetables and almonds $19  
Their pesto sauce was superbly done, and the veal tongue melts in your mouth bursting with flavor.
This is my friend Andre's favorite dish of the night. He walked out District Dinning with a big smile on his face and kept on saying "their tongue was so good!"
Given that testimonial, I guess only thing I will add here is ORDER it!

King Salmon, green harissa, moghrabiah cous cous served with lemon $28

12 hour Roasted Lamb shoulder, cauliflower salad, moroccan spices $30

This dish is highly recommended even for peoeple usually don't eat lamb. Great combination of spices!

Herb Gnocchi, summer vegetables, parmesan cream, pangritatta $27

This is one of the best homemade gnocchi we had. If you only tried them from supermarket brand, expecting a shocking discovery - yumminess!
 

King Fish 

Steak tartare, aioli, french fries, sourdough $20

This is another highlight of the night. Well cured steak tartare served with french fries (who would thought?) and toasted crunchy sourdough. Do you like Tabasco? Mix Tabasco with the steak tartare and layered on sourdough, mouthwatering flavor is coming your way.

They offer a very long list of wine.
If you like me found difficult to read 6 pages of wine list. Our way of choosing a wine was oddly simple, firstly pick a type of wine you usual like, such as Pinot Noir, Shiraz, then pick a state or a country of choice. If multiple options available then draw down to your favorite city, voila, you got your wine.

Our jackpot of the night is Joseph Chromy Pinot Noir, very nice wine!



For white wine - Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Gris
This is very subtle white wine with hint of fruity flavor

Desert Time
I can't believe it's 11pm and we are still ordering food.
Reading the menu just getting too much for us, so we pick the top 4 lines on the menu to share.
When the desert came, was surprisingly good!

Meringue, berries and cream, raspberry sorbet $14
Freshly made Meringue topped with generous amount of berries and homemade raspberry sorbet,  yummo!

Cookie sandwich, coconut and chocolate, honeycomb parfait $14

Chocolate mousse, hazelnut brittle ice cream, hazelnut crumble $14

Passionfruit Brulee, honey, madeleines $14

Thank you all for a great night out! Loved every bit of it!

Where is it?

District Dinning

Address: 17 Randle Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
1 minute from central station
Tel: 9211 7798
Website: http://districtdining.com.au/

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