Ba'get, CBD MELB

On days whereby I just want to have something light and fresh to bite on, I turn to Vietnamese food for two reason - one being it is affordable and secondly, I can get a decent fix of veggies in one plate/ bowl.

Ba'get is conveniently located on Russell Street in the CBD. The shop's layout is catered more towards a takeaway concept but of course, there are seating areas for customers wanting to dine in. For $10, you will be well fed.

Pork broken rice ~ for $10, it was a good deal especially considering its location in the CBD area. Sure there are other plates of broken rice that would fare much better than this but really, that's just being overly picky. I would be happy to have this as a meal if only I stayed nearby:)

Grilled pork vermicelli bowl ~ loaded with heaps of veggies and dosed with crisp shallots, peanuts and slices of chilli, I was a very happy girl after this meal. Simple and light, perfect for a late lunch or dinner or if you're a health nut like myself.

p.s: they do serve banh mi which is the Vietnamese version of subway - definitely a healthier option that what most places in the city has to offer.

 

Mobile uploads: Food ventures in May

Last day of May and what better way to be thankful for the month that had just passed than a blog post dedicated to all the exciting things that happened this month! Lots of random snapshots and wandering thoughts included.

Being healthy is the new fad and I forecast a lot of food companies jumping on the bandwagon. Didn't mind Red Rock Deli's sweet potato chips - less salt included.

Was a bit skeptical about this one but loved how they managed to pull off this treat ala Italian style.

So...I did purchase a couple of chips from Red Rock Deli's special reserve range. Not too keen on the saffron flavoured one but the wagyu beef and wasabi cream was spot on. Brought back memories of when I was having a wagyu fest with the sister:)

On that day, I have learnt two things - footy and how to take panoramic shots haha!

Kyoto's cinnamon biscuits. I have about 30% of Japanese snacks left from my trip and gosh, how I wished I had bought more:(

If you want a taste of Japanese kit kats, there is an Asian grocer that stocks a few different types of this snack. Only thing is I paid $8 for that box and so, be prepared to fork out more than double if you are really keen.

Le petit gateau - a cake shop that I can't frequent as much because it only operates on weekdays:( Had to make a special trip to the city before I head to work just to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Chokolait's mudcake - there are days where I crave for rich chocolate desserts. Sadly, at the expense of getting pimples or breakouts:/ Oh wells, a little spot every now and then won't hurt anyone:)

I have been dedicating my weekends to catching up on a few educational magazines. With a good cup of coffee on hand.

Finally got around to getting this YSL lip tint. Not the cheapest one but it does make your lips feel great with each use - jojoba oil, almond kernel oil and a couple others that I can't remember. Mine is mon cherie because I wanted a brighter pop of colour on my otherwise pale lips.

Coffee in Burwood shopping centre - free cinnamon coated doughnut with each cup of coffee. Win.

After a few months of religiously eating a blended smoothie consisting of pears, avocados, spinach and cucumber slices, I can see an improvement in my complexion. Am also using the Clarisonic face brush and staying away from heat-y types of food that can make my skin flare up such as chocolate, excessive sugar and spicy food.

Dined with a friend in Clayton on a rainy and cold day - If only there was a Korean fried chicken shop nearby:/

Thai Garden Restaurant, Glen Waverley MELB

As winter draws nearer, it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to drag myself out to scavenge for food, let alone cook a decent meal. Hence, my attempt at feeding myself with minimal effort aka visiting nearby restaurants that offer ample of parking area and quick service.

Green curry chicken ~ kudos to having an assortment of veggies in one bowl and for generous chicken portions as well. Only downside was it was verging on the sweet side for me as opposed to being very aromatic in terms of spices.

Pad see ew with chicken ~ one of my favourite Thai dishes and I found this one to be decent for a quick fix. If chicken does not tickle your fancy, you can opt for the beef or pork or prawns version.

Campari House, CBD MELB

I was craving for Italian food last week and decided to venture into Hardware lane, easily one of the busier lanes in Melbourne CBD but on a Sunday night, we managed to avoid any crowds.

There are two parts to this establishment - upstairs for those seeking the bar and downstairs for a more laid back dining atmosphere. The waiter was kind enough to let us try an assortment of wines available on their menu.

Truffled tallegio arancini, aioli, roquette and parmesan ~ well seasoned arancini balls that are filled with risotto rice.

Shaved prosciutto, tomato, roquette and parmesan ~ the pizza dough was neither too think nor thin to my liking and has a sensational crisp that compliments the creaminess of the pizza sauce very well. Would have liked a little more prosciutto on the pizza but it was a good feed nonetheless.

Gnocchi with braised duck, mushroom and shaved parmesan ~ I cannot say no to gnocchi and this plate was worth the extra run around the block. Pillowy soft, caramelized exterior and smooth textured, just the way I like it. Paired with another two of my favourite ingredients, duck and mushroom, this made my night.

Japan: Iphone snippets in Tokyo

Hi guys!! I have blogged about my rendezvous around Tokyo (check out the Japan link on the right side of the page!) but here's a little glimpse through my Iphone's lens - just a different perspective that sometimes is a little more convenient compared to having to whip out my bulky camera:)

The sister and I departed Melbourne at the stroke of midnight via Singapore airlines. No meals during that time but did get breakfast before we touched down Singapore!  Love having apple juice on the plane and the omelette that I had was so delishhhh

So this was my meal from Singapore heading to Tokyo. Did not quite enjoy the chicken dish - made me nauseous.

As per usual, the sister needed a quick fix at Singapore airport whilst we were in transit and so, we spent our remaining Singaporean dollars on a combo meal which comprised of toast, soft boiled eggs and coffee at the food court. From memory, this costs us SGD$5.

Tokyo Narita airport was crazyyyy. We didn't know where to catch the bus but still managed to track down the bus that would take us to the city. It was probably cheaper for us this way as we then had to just catch a taxi to our hotel. Some people take the train to the city but as we still had to take a different line afterwards, we figured it's probably easier for us to take the bus. Don't really want to lunge a heavy bag around!

Our first mission in Tokyo after we checked in was to head to the local convenience stores for dinner. Yes, we heard a lot of people rave about convenience food there and true enough, it was decent food at bargain prices. And a good variety too.

I love how there's matcha coffee and Starbucks drinks easily available in convenience stores. How I wish we have this here in Australia.

Our hotel toilet was so..technical? Well not really - I do get easily amazed at the silliest things, really.

Breakfast was included in our hotel deal and here's a snippet of what we would have on a daily basis. Vegetables or fruit was not cheap and so, we took advantage of what fiber we can get from the hotel. Miso soup was well, miso soup. Not pictured was a bowl of porridge, topped with pickles and seaweed. Gosh, how I miss having that. Oh and in the middle of the picture is a piece of tamago (egg), deep fried onion rings, deep fried lotus root and a piece of deep fried glutinous dough.

Zara denim jacket, Topshop skater skirt, Zara lace dress worn as a top and Guess watch.

Finding our way around Tokyo!

Advice from the shrine.

Sushi prices in Tsukiji fish market.

Entire outfit from Zara.

Toy galore in Akihibara.

Pablo is a must in Japan. Look at all that cheesy goodness.

Claw machines 1, team sisters 0

Cheap thrills. Oh how I miss this too.

1% alcoholic from the vending machine for $2

Melon pan at Ueno Park

Taiyaki at Asakusa

Octopus skewer at Asakusa.

Zara denim jacket, Adidas for Stella Mccartney t-shirt, Bershka shorts.

Calbee chip stand.

A pillar of candy. Dreams do come true in Disneyland.

Our adorable Disneyland tickets.