Black sesame bread recipe

I have been on a tangzhong bread making frenzy over the last few months and had gone through more than 15kg of bread flour to date. 

For those unfamiliar, tangzhong is a method used to make those soft, fluffy buns commonly found at Asian bakeries. A gelatinised started dough is added with milk to the dry ingredients to create this texture. 

I have been experimenting with flavours to compliment this type of dough and played around with the idea of a black sesame filling. I may have gone overboard with my filling, a tendency of mine, and will (try) resolve to using less in the future.

I do like black sesame and didn’t mind the extra filling although it was a tad messy haha.

Ingredients for black sesame paste:

200g roasted black sesame seeds (has to be roasted for a more robust flavour)
100g butter
A pinch of salt

Grind the black sesame seeds into a semi-paste and mix in with the butter and salt. One may add sugar but I prefer it as a savoury spread.
 

As there are quite a few reliable tangzhong bread recipes online, I won’t post any recipes for the dough here.
 

Postmistress, Brunswick West MELB

Hello 2021, a year much anticipated by many in light of a rather “uneventful” 2020. Personally, my daily routine is still in motion despite the lockdown (no working from home unfortunately).

First blog post of the year dedicated to a lovely Italian eatery secretly located in Brunswick, known to the local residents. Service was attentive but did decline slightly when the restaurant got busy with the dinner crowd.

E’purpette - pork and veal meatballs. A mouthful of protein generously coated in Napoli sauce. Well seasoned it was.

I can’t recall the name of this dish but I believe it’s the Zio Peppe with pork sausage meat and a hint of chilli. I could easily polish off the entire pizza myself, it was really tasty and worth the extra calories.

Asparagus risotto - on the daily special and one that both the sister and I were pleasantly surprised by. Championing the humble asparagus, this dish was a wonderful celebration of both indulgence and flavour. May be slightly heavy for those who are not used to having cheese incorporated into their meals but worthy of a try in my opinion.

Tiramisu - an Italian meal is not complete without a serve of this caffeinated dessert. The sister too enjoyed this dish as it was not too sweet and had a good cream to caffeine ratio.

Overall a good experience and am looking forward to a second visit in the future.

Kalimera Souvlaki Art, Oakleigh MELB

Every now and then I crave for a high protein meal and when that does happen, I jump straight to looking at a few restaurants that I know would not disappoint.

Highly regarded as one of the better souvlaki restaurants in Melbourne, it comes as no surprise that the bulk of their menu consists of a choice of meat with carbs in the form of chips and freshly made bread. One has the choice of either chicken, pork or minced lamb; each served either in the form of a wrap or platter.
 

My friend had the pork platter whilst I opted for lamb. Both were served with a side of chips, bread, thinly sliced raw onions, tomatoes and a dip. Not accustomed to eating raw onions, I understood it’s role of refreshing one’s palate from an otherwise rich meal after a bite of the combination.

I would like to say that we had tzatziki although it does taste creamier in comparison. Lamb mince kebabs were well seasoned and had a very strong grilled fragrance to it. I was expecting it to be dry but on the contrary, it was juicy. I’d recommend trying this out if red meat is a favourite of yours.

 Pork souvlaki too did not disappoint and had the same amount of juiciness with a notch less smoky aroma to it compared to the lamb. In both instances, I didn’t think the overall meal was too greasy at all and would happily drop by again whenever I need an energy boost.

Bakemono bakers, CBD MELB

I love waking up early in the morning and walking around aimlessly before the city wakes up. Less congestion and lower chances of unpleasant interactions with other individuals. 

Having been to Little Rogue on quite a few occasions, it was only natural for me to visit their sister shop a short distance down the road. We got there 10 minutes before the bakery opens and patiently waited for the doors to fully open.

Hojicha latte - has a good aroma of freshly brewed roasted tea and albeit being slightly sweet, I found it quite refreshing and a good start to the day.

Blueberry crumbled croissant, plain croissant, chocolate croissant and yuzu and almond croissant - Blueberry croissant had a thin layer of jam sandwiched between it's flaky buttery layers and was generously topped with fresh blueberries. 

Plain croissant and chocolate croissant were almost textbook perfect, only downside was the layers were slightly thicker. Yuzu and almond croissant had a good amount of citrus infused into the almond mixture. Overall, very satisfied and am looking forward to being able to dine-in in the future. 

Spicy Flames, Mount Waverley MELB

A little impromptu walk along blackburn road and I came across an Indian eatery that my friend was keen on for their value for money meals. 

At $10 for rice and curry, one would get a good serve of rice with chicken/lamb curry and three small serves of vegetables be it beetroot, kale, potatoes or beans. Slightly a bit more salty for my palate, this portion could feed me for 2 meals.

Chilli squid - priced at $15, I didn’t think I was getting a lot but was surprised when the lady behind the counter was genuinely trying to fit as much as she could into a 500ml takeaway container. Again, a little salty for me but nevertheless, it was delicious and would go well served with rice.
 

Pafu, Melbourne Central MELB

I’ve walked past Pafu a few times whilst commuting around in the CBD and never once did it cross my mind to try it out myself. For those unfamiliar, creamy types of sweets do not appeal to me but rather, receive the opposite reaction. 

I have bought a few for a friend as a treat and after much contemplation, I thought it’ll be nice to bring some home for sharing. Flavours include pineapple, apple, strawberry and a chocolate version; in addition to savoury options for those wanting protein alternatives. 

Priced at $16 for 4 pieces, they weren’t exactly the cheapest snack in my books. I tried the Apple and strawberry flavoured puff pastries that very night after purchasing some a couple of hours prior. 

The verdict? The delicious fruity filling and flaky puff pastry was a winning combination albeit its seemingly ordinary appearance. Despite using jam/preserve as a filling, I was surprised at how fresh and flavourful it was. 

Definitely worth a try and I would recommend getting the ones that came out freshly baked from the oven. 

Axil coffee roasters , MELB

I can be spontaneous on some days and this particular day was no exception. My body refused to let me sleep in even for an extra hour and so, I texted my walking pal to see if he was keen on going for a morning walk.

He replied almost instantly that he was going to the CBD to move a few items into his apartment and asked if I would like to join him. Yes, he threw in the promise of freshly baked croissants from South Melbourne market, a deal almost too good to resist.

So fast forward, we picked up our croissants and he parked near Melbourne central where I intended to plant myself at a cafe and catch up on reading. I passed by Axil on my way to use the lavatory and immediately headed there after using the washroom. 

I was surprised (and secretly pleased) that they have opened a branch in the CBD as this means I have yet another favourite outlet within my vicinity. 

 
Buckwheat and pistachio bircher muesli with rhubarb, strawberry and coconut sorbet - I was not in the mood for savoury options that particular morning and opted to have a fresh and lighter meal to accompany my cup of coffee. 

I rarely do eat muesli at a cafe as it is something that I can easily whip up in the comfort of my own kitchen but I have to admit that Axil does it well. The sorbet was a perfect addition to the muesli and gave it a refreshing boost. Not overly sweet nor bland, I would happily reorder this.

 Croque monsieur - as it name suggests, this dish is basically a pressed sandwich filled with cured meat and topped with melted cheese, fried egg and a small side of salad. As always, Axil did not disappoint. Prepared with utmost care and attention to detail, it was not overly moreish and was cooked to perfection,