Sushi Sushi, Chadstone MELB

When Chadstone opened its newly renovated doors to consumers last year, I decided to head over on my weekend off. Boy, was that a big mistake.

Not only did parking proved to be a challenge on its own but finding a place to eat is yet another task to accomplish, except it was much more difficult that the previous mission. Just about every restaurant or cafe was full of customers and there's even a queue patiently waiting to get a table.

And so, I made my way to a takeaway sushi shop located in the older side of Chadstone which was not overly busy due to its highly efficient self service concept.

Sushi pack - sushi packs start from $12 upwards and comes with the usual side of pickles and salad. We decided on one that had a good mix of salmon sashimi, chicken karaage rolls and nigiri pieces. Quite a decent feed.

Also had an extra serve of seaweed salad and salmon nigiri.

Lastly, we each had a piece of aburi scallop nigiri that had been glazed with a sweet teriyaki sauce.

In short, for a quick fix, this takeaway place is pretty decent. Select your preferred sushi option followed by making a transaction at the till and off you go. Happy days.

Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart, Chadstone MELB

The much loved Japanese cheese tart has finally arrived in Melbourne, exciting fans with not one but four outlets across different suburbs. Having only tried Pablo cheese tart in Japan almost a year ago, I have seen quite a few people rave about this place and decided to give it a try myself.

The verdict? At $3.90, it is reasonably priced in comparison to tarts produced by different bakers. The crust is buttery soft and has the right crumbly consistency aka not too fragile but still able to disintegrate at the slightest pressure applied.

As for the cheesy filling, it was indeed decadent. Texture is runnier compared to a normal cheesecake and so, be careful of dribbling if you leave it unattended for too long! Right amount of sweetness and caramelization on the top.

Overall, would certainly reconsider buying it again for cheat meals #worthit

Chocolateria San Churros, Malvern East MELB

Was depressed to note that my favourite Max Brenner shop in Glen Waverley had recently stopped operations for the sake of renovation. Where oh where will I go to get my sinful cravings sorted..

Felt a bit peckish for cake the other day whilst at Chadstone and decided to head to San Churros to get my fix. Not many cakes available but then again, I guess I am probably in the wrong place to get my fix haha.

Interior wise, it has a very chic, modern decor and has ample of space for families wanting to wheel in their prams or grocery haul.

Lemon cheesecake - as I wanted a rich item to sink my teeth into. It was indeed rich but sadly, verging on the dry side and in my humble opinion, felt as though its been sitting in the cabinet for a good week or more. At $8.95, I doubt I will be coming back for this.

Iced chocolate - was lacking good quality chocolate in this and tasted more like a milk drink instead.

Churros with a side of chocolate dip - pretty standard and probably one of the better items we had here.

Zero95 Wood Fire Pizza Bar, Doncaster East MELB

The first time I walked pass this restaurant, I was taken aback by how busy it was - fully seated tables, waiting staff twirling past diners as they attempt to deliver food to the table and a small queue building up at their door.

My curiosity was peaked by the thought of how an Italian establishment became so popular in the neighbourhood, considering that it is an Asian dominated suburb. And so, I dialed in and made dinner reservations.

Zero 95 special pizza - fior di latte, figs, gorgonzola, walnuts, prosiutto and balsamic vinegar reduction. Pizzas may range from $23 to $28 for a medium sized version that can feed 2 to 3 people. The pizza base was very light and thinly rolled which allowed it to retain a good amount of liquid from the figs and cheese. I can easily polish off one pizza myself and found it hard to stay away from reaching out for subsequent slices.

Salina - truffle paste base, fior di latte, mushroom and prosciutto. The truffle paste was truly sensational and paired well with the generous slices of button mushroom spread across the pizza. The addition of prosciutto gave the dish a meaty type of savoury taste on the palate which, thankfully, did not overpower the subtle flavours from the truffle and mushroom.

Tagliolini prawns - black prawns with cherry tomato and pistachio pesto. Can't decline a nutty pesto sauce that had generously coated every strand of pasta. Bonus points for having fresh prawns too!

Cannoli Siciliani filled with ricotta mousse, cinnamon, chocolate and cherries - did not see any cherries which may have been replaced by the chopped pistachio. The ricotta cheese was certainly freshly prepared and was not overly moorish at all. Highly recommend ordering this dessert for a lighter way to end the meal.

New Shanghai, Malvern East MELB

I am a sucker for dumplings and being assigned as the person responsible for choosing a suitable place to dine at with friends (on most occasions), I often fall back on picking this delicacy. For one, it is affordable and secondly, there is surely something for everyone out there.

Having opened a second Melbourne branch in Chadstone, this restaurant has been consistently flooded by customers for lunch and dinner. No, they do not take reservations and have a first-come-first-served policy.

Iced lemon tea - very sour it was and could do with even a teaspoon of sugar.

Crab meat xiao long bao - Hesitant by the price of it. we still went ahead and ordered it but sadly, disappointment loomed in the corner. It was a very small xiao long bao and we could hardly taste any meat in it. For $14, it does feel like a ripoff.

Prawn wontons with chilli oil, peanut and sesame sauce - I liked how its subtly spicy and the peanut and sesame sauce added a pleasant nutty flavour to the overall dish. I wouldn't mind ordering this again despite it verging on the pricey side of the scale.

Braised beef noodle soup - this dish took a good 30 minutes to arrive at our table, of which, we had a strange suspicion that staff may have forgotten about our order at some stage. The noodles had a good bite to them and that's where it ends. Beef was tough and broth lacked flavour. About an hour afterwards, I found myself to be extremely dehydrated, a sign of excessive use of MSG, according to my body that is.

Kedai Satay King Street, CBD MELB

Last Saturday's weather could not have been any kinder, considering that it is still summer here in Australia. A cool breeze greeted me the moment I stepped out of the train station and at every turn into the little city alleys.

What may seem like a long stroll to our foodie destination turned out to be a calming walk down memory lane as I slowly recalled my first few steps in this unknown city.

Stories aside, we got here a bit before the dinner crowd appeared, just in case, and placed our orders on a few dishes that were too tempting to pass up.

Bandung - I love anything with rose flavour in it and this was no exception. A nice drink to have with all the spicy food that follows suit.

Chicken satay skewers - chargrilled meat, generously coated in a sweet, savoury peanut sauce, served with a dollop of spicy chilli sauce and a serve of vegetables. Simple delicious.

Grilled lamb ribs with rice - I think the same sauce used for the chicken skewers may have been used here but nevertheless, it was a sauce that I could easily polish off from the plate so no qualms from me. Flawless piece of protein we have here that easily pulls apart with a light tug and extremely flavourful too.

Soto ayam aka Indonesian chicken soup -  A popular dish among diners as just about every table had ordered this for sharing. Lightly flavoured chicken broth that comes with a generous amount of shredded meat and a while boiled egg. Again, something that I could easily polish off and to be honest, it does fit into my eating regime!

Ayam kremes - I like how the little fried bits add a pleasant textural element to an otherwise plain dish of fried chicken with rice. Cannot fault how the chicken is cooked at all.

Danny's Kopitiam, Glen Waverley MELB

I have visited Danny's countless of times and could not believe when I realized how I have missed blogging about this quaint little outlet. I sometimes take nearby conveniences for granted and only awake to reality in needy times such as when I am craving for hearty meals after an intense day.

Friendly staff who are always attentive to our needs and never fail to put a smile on my face after a weary day.

Prawn noodle - robust flavoured, mildly spicy and topped with a generous assortment of goodies, I have opted for this light meal as a pick me up.

Curry noodles - on the other hand, the sister opted for a heavier type of broth which often utilizes coconut milk to make the broth creamier. Aromatic and generous, this is one meal that can satisfy anyone especially on a cold evening.

Last but not least, a mug of teh tarik (tea with condensed milk) added for extra warmth. Can't get anymore satisfying than this for a restaurant located only 3 minutes away from where we are.

Rice Workshop CBD MELB

The sister and I were in town for a quick catch up with a high school friend and seeing as I have an early start to work the following day, having a meal in the food court does not seem like such a bad idea.

Afterall, we get to choose what we want to have be it Indian, Japanese or Chinese - endless of options, really. Ordering is done at the front counter followed by making a payment and then waiting until the buzzer rings.

Tori karaage in tonkatsu broth - broth had a good hit of pork essence in it and chicken pieces were crisp to bite.

Tempura prawns in udon - a measly serving for the price I've paid but at least it tastes decent!

Royal Stacks, Malvern East MELB

I am slowly, but surely, finding myself around the new Chadstone and have my eyes on a few places that I wouldn't mind having a meal at. For now, I have settled myself with a quick snack as it's one of those moments whereby its neither lunch nor dinner.

The plus point of having a snack at ungodly times is being able to avoid queues and so, less waiting time for food to be prepared. Having been to and enjoyed my experience at Royal Stacks in the city, it was the obvious choice for a pre-dinner snack.

Peanut butter and chocolate frozen custard - can never go wrong with peanut butter and this was a brilliant treat on a hot summery day.

Prince Harry - beef patty, lettuce, cheddar, swiss cheese with shallot and gherkin mayo sauce. Not as flash as the real Prince Harry but still a decent meal that is not too heavy nor light. Juicy patty, oozing melted cheesy goodness and crisp greens - sounds like a pretty balanced meal to me!

Malaysian Kitchen, Doncaster East MELB

Towards end of the week, the bulk of food in my fridge would slowly diminish, resulting in less options to choose from by then. When this happens, the thought of dining out can be rather appealing seeing as it also gives us an opportunity to hit the supermarkets and replenish our food supply.

Oh what excuses we humans come up with - really, I just want to treat myself after a week at work. And I usually crave for good ol' Malaysian food whenever this happens. Drove up to Doncaster again!

Teh tarik - Malaysia's answer to caffeine calls. Just the right amount of sweetness to keep me buzzing until bedtime!

Char kuey teow - fried noodles were decent tasting and hit all the right spots for me.

Seafood laksa - topped with a generous amount of seafood and has a good hint of spiciness in the broth.

Lemon pork chop - I was dubious about the sister choosing this for sharing as the pork chop dishes that I am familiar with often, comes with thick pieces of bones attached to a pathetic amount of meat. Surprised to note that this dish contraindicated my perception and was actually pretty tasty on top of that! Recommended in my books.

Little Cupcakes, CBD MELB

I very rarely do crave for cupcakes although I cannot help but admire how much detail goes into decorating each piece. From piping the right amount of icing to layering it with generous dollops of cream to practicing restrain when sprinkling on other bits of decorations.

Stopped by Little Cupcakes for a couple of mini versions as our post- lunch treat. Got the passion fruit flavour and raspberry and white chocolate version. Fluffy and light thanks to the right amount of whisking when preparing the batter. Icing on the top had an even distribution of sweetness and tartness from the sugar and fruity flavours used.

Overall, two thumbs up for these little treats and perhaps, I should find myself other reasons to reward myself with the bigger versions;)

Europe: 24 hours in Berlin GERMANY

Among all the European countries that I have travelled to in 2015, Berlin without a doubt, would be one of the few that had left me awestruck. A vibrant, bustling city that has it's radars buzzing in the technology world and one whereby any item produced locally has an irreplaceable value in keeping users organized/ efficient and most importantly, practical. 

A long way since it's less than glamourous World War II stories, I cannot help but ponder on how a city that saw it's economy struggle to keep afloat in the earlier days, is now a leading force to be reckoned with.

24 hours in Berlin? Here's a list of things we did:

1) Television tower

Enjoy a panoramic view of the city here if time is not your friend. Try spotting a few monuments if you can and better still, try coming here at night and feast on a different view of the city.

2)Berlin cathedral (Berliner Dom)

Breezed past the biggest Protestant cathedral in Berlin and as we did not have much time on hand, did not manage a visit. However, do feel free to visit this cathedral that began constructing in 1465.

3) Brandenburg Gate

Also known as the victory gate that saw Napoleon of France wanting a piece of it after invading Germany. On the night of the broken glass, German troopers marched through these gates and thus begun the slaughter of Jews across Europe.

One can easily stroll past this gate in less than 10 minutes and continue on to other locations as many monuments and museums are located within close proximity of each other.

4) Museum island

For the architects, historians and artists out there, this is the place to be - choose from the Altes, Pergamon or Bode museum and do spend at least 2-3 hours getting lost in what these museums have to offer.

5) Berlin's Jewish history

No travel to Berlin would be complete without a bit of insight into it's Jewish past. The holocaust memorial has stone walls representing the Jews massacred during the war and for more history, why not visit a Jewish synagogue? 

6) Food

Food will always be the heart of every travel destination and one that can make or break a holiday. A day is not enough to tuck into everything delicious that the city has to offer but at least we managed a glimpse of it!

Spaetzle - I have a strange obsession for doughy textured food and actually did not mind these noodles coated in a creamy, cheesy sauce.

Beer and meat - while we did not manage to drink to our hearts' contents due to our packed schedule, we did enjoy a refreshing glass of beer with dinner, followed by a hearty serve of meat. Oh and topped with traditional German music in the background.

What's next on my bucket list to Berlin? Christmas markets for sure!