Aroi Me By Amanda Jiang

Saturday, 8 October 2011

Cafe Ish - Surry Hills Sydney * recommend*

Cafe Ish is located in Surry Hills, very close to Elizabeth street. My friend Ann's been wanting to visit Cafe Ish in last month, and their dinner is always been booked out fairly quickly. So today, we decided to change plan and visit them at lunch time (based on first in first serve).

Cafe Ish is quite a small loft style building, customers can choose to sit outside as well on a sunny day. We've been told all bakeries are in-house made.

Menu is one of most easy-read one I have ever seen. It's been categories by Small-Ish, Big-Ish, Veggie-Ish etc.....so go with your feels of the day. Just a reminder, Small-ish portion is quite small.

First stop, Coffee!

Such gorgeous coffee.....

Big-Ish - let me tell you, this is gigantic! $24

It comes with 2 slices your choice of house toast, with small hash brown, grilled tomato, 2 eggs (your choice of way to cook it), mushroom, bacon, chili sausage, baked beans.

The highlight to me was the chili sausage. It's very different from Chorizo, very mild as in seasoning, but tasty in flavor.

Small-Ish $14 (Can't remember exact)

2 eggs with tomato and bacon - I think it's suitable for children.....truly, it's quite small.

A bit of schedule for October if you planning for a visit.

Where is it?

Cafe Ish

Address: 82 Campbell Street, Sydney, 2010

Tel: (02) 9281 1688

Bourke Street Bakery - SurryHills Sydney* recommend*

This is the first time I have been to Bourke Street Bakery, but surely wasn't the first time I have heard or recommended by friends. Small buzzing store is located on cnr of Devonshine and Bourke street Surry Hills.

Locals are enjoying a cup of coffee in the afternoon catching up with friends, pit stops from walking dogs or a quick stroll.

As soon as we walking in, the store is filled with gorgeous bakery aroma.We're in heaven!

Famous sausage roll!

We ordered 2 different one - Chicken Sausage and Pork with Fennel seed

I must say pork with Fennel seed was my favorite, the pastry layers and stuffing was very appetizing.

The popularity of this bakery is magnificent. Our short sitting of 30 minutes, the queue into the shop never ends. The next table had properly turn over twice. I love their little historical round table.

I will give another visit next time I am in area, this is our 3rd stops on the day, a bit too full....

Surprising and curious visitors, maybe they are attracted by the wonderful smell....

Where is it?

Brouke Street Bakery

Address: 633 Bourke St., Surry Hills, 2010Website: http://www.bourkestreetbakery.com.au/

Tel: 02 9699 1011

Japanese Noodle Bar Manmaruya - Hurstville Sydney * recommend*

We've been thinking of visiting Manmaruya for a while. Today is been decided, it's the DAY!

We head south to Hurstville.

Manmaruya wasn't too hard to find. It is located on the quite back street of Hurstville train station, a crowed little place.

noodle sign, we were certain this is the place.

They also catering for kids ramen for $3, very considerable!

For $3 with any ramen and rice dishes, you can get japanese salad and gyoza.

delicious gyoza!

Also, the show is finally started!

ChaShu ramen - with pork soup, bean sprouts, bamboo shoot, Japanese black fungus, nitamago (Japanese egg)

Usually for Ramen, you only have 2 piece of Chashu, but in Manmaruya, I think I had properly more than 6 pieces. Talking of value for money, Hello?!!!

Pork soup was very very nice, mild seasoning, not over powering like some Japanese ramen place.

loaded with goodness

A bit of chili powder, I am off to go!

Stir fried beef tongue Bento - $10.80

3* tuna sushi, Japenese seaweed, salad, miso soup, Japanese ginger, and served with Rice

If you are nearby next time, you should definitely try it.

Where is it?

Manmaruya

Address: 20 Ormonde Pde, Hurstville, 2220

Tel: (02) 9586 3117

Kawa Cafe - Surry Hills * recommend*

Kawa is one of artist cafe in the area, we loves its vibe and been dragged into the store by curiosity.

Very cozy setting outside, and inside. Kawa is a bit like Loft style house, you can always sit upstairs and having a bit private time with your friends.

Bakery and fruit juice counter

We were still very full from lunch, so only just dropping by for a quick coffee.

You can always visit here for breakfast, brunch, desert, a bit of smoke, coffee, just about everything. (legal^^)

I love their quirky and cozy decoration. This elephant plant pot hanging on the wall caught my eyes.

The total urban relaxed vibe with a Japanese twist (little lucky cat), is the quirky style this restaurant represents.

Beautiful Surry Hills

Mushu is a quite cute store to check out in the area. Take a quite walk after coffee with friends, have a look around, you will like it.

Where is it?

Kawa Cafe

Address: 348 Crown Street, SurryHills, 2010

Tel: (02) 9331 6811

Tung Tong Thai - Pennant Hills Sydney * recommend*

It's a very small but nice decorated local and high ceiling restaurant. With mirrors on the main wall, it give we us sense of space.

Prawn cracker is the complimentary entree for every table.

Pad Cha - Fish fillet stir fried with Thai green corns and vegetables

This is a very tasty dish perfect served with jasmine rice, fish is very fresh and smooth.

Recommended by the waitress - I couldn't really understand fully, but she said "Aroi" (delicious in Thai), so I decided to have it.

This is a delicate dish using Chinese cabbage wrapped with pork&prawn mince and steam, served with sweet soy sauce.

Let me crown this to be the BEST PAD THAI in town!!

I was wondering why was every table ordering Pad Thai. Then we decided to give a try as well. It's definitely one of the best decision! The Pad Thai noodle was cooked so perfect, very nice and chewy just like the one you can find in Thailand. Well balanced of sourness and sweetness with crunchy raw bean sprouts and tofu cube, of course, meat or seafood of your choice with chili power and slice of lemon on the side, seriously, say no more. You all gotta try it.

Where is it?

Tung Tong Thai Restaurant

Address: 1A Hillcrest Road, Pennant Hills NSW 2120
Tel: (02) 9980 7585

Mr Han traditional Restaurant - Eastwood Sydney * recommend*

It surprise me how many people never heard of this restaurant and yet I still have to queue nearly every visit. Also the restaurant has a quite bit sitting space at the back, so do not be fool by their small front setting.

Mr Han is located on Rowe street at Eastwood, near to all the groceries and other restaurants.

Let me walk you through their menu first.

Chef recommend dish - slow cooked pork knuckle in five spice

UPDATE: My friend just went to Mr Han last night and review on this pork knuckle dish was rathe disappointing. It's seems to be a bit over sweet for some people, and wasn't flavoursome enough to give the wow factor.

Shanghai wonton

Pan fried Pork buns

Sichuang influence cold dish - blood jelly and beef trips in specially spicy sauce

I have been keep on coming back for the same dishes. This superb fish soup is on of my favorite!

It's made of a whole fish with tofu, herbs mainly coriander, and green bean noodles. Indeed, it's a very nutritious but low calorie dish. It's for almost 5 people generous serving. Highly recommend for cold and flu suffer and lady just gave birth. (make sure tell the waiter less salty)