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. 

Shortstop Coffee & Donuts, CBD MELB

On my second last day working in the CBD, I pondered on how shall I make it a memorable one and the only thought that came to mind was the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. But wait...I don't always have to order coffee, why not one or two delectable sweets as well?

Having walked past this shop for a few years now, I finally made time to pop by and order a few doughnuts to take away. My first encounter with doughnuts was back in Malaysia at a shop called Dunkin Donuts, located next to a massive supermarket. And ever since then, the sight of colourful, iced doughnuts never fails to make me stop in the midst of my tracks.

Ordered a latte to takeaway because, why not? I am in the mood to treat myself >:) Also gave me time to observe the bakers working their magic on preparing the doughnuts.

Top left to bottom: Earl grey and rose, sticky date and gingerbread, tiramisu, cinnamon, cardamom and sugar; and maple walnut and brown butter. My favourite was the pretty combination of earl grey and rose which had a really pleasant robust aroma of earl grey against a subtle, floral rose aroma. Tiramisu was probably my second favourite among the lot being that it was well packed with caffeine.

In a separate box, I had the triple matcha cake. Would have liked a stronger matcha aroma in it but still tasty nonetheless. Found the sticky date and gingerbread a little too sweet to my liking tho:(

Dukes Coffee Roasters, CBD MELB

Last few days in the CBD region and one of the few tasks on my bucket list would be to visit popular coffee hubs. After all, I would get my caffeine fix which lead to better work outcomes? How can this not be a win-win situation.

I did note that a cup of coffee in the CBD costs at least 50 cents more compared to coffee spots in the suburbs. A small price to pay for convenience and also to help out with the CBD's crazy rental fees I suppose.

Good coffee, to me, is all about that faint roasted coffee bean aroma inviting you into the establishment, slowly getting prominent as you near the destination. Whilst having latte art is a bonus, the real deal is all about having a good balance of creaminess, sweetness and bitterness. I usually tend towards skinny milk or even soy milk but with coffee, I do not beat around the bush.

Almost impossible to walk out without a brown paper bag containing a glistening piece of pastry, but I managed somehow. My verdict on the coffee? Definitely one of the better ones around the CBD and worth that extra few minutes waiting in line. Perfectly roasted, rich and satisfying.

Sensory Lab, CBD MELB

Mondays can be such a drag, knowing that the week would be challenging and potentially taxing considering the amount of late shifts I have lined up for the week. Which brings us to my dependence on caffeine as a mood lifter when the need for brain power kicks in.

The aroma of freshly roasted and grounded coffee appeases me in the wake of the rush hour despite the frequent whiff of exhaust fumes from vehicles bypassing the narrow Little Collins street. Muffed in my sweater, I made my order at the counter and stole a few glances at the rather tempting plate of glistening, golden pastries that heavily reminded me of my travelling days in Paris.

Soon after, the barista called out my name, albeit incorrectly, and I was greeted by a cup of warm latte, warming my cold fingers as I made my way into work. Just what I needed to start another week solving mysteries in the chemist.

 

Little Rogue, CBD MELB

After my recent trip to Japan, I have been converted into an avid matcha fan and am seeking new ways or places to get my fix satisfied. Upon stumbling at a friend's Instagram post, I bookmarked Little Rogue on my little notebook of new places to try and managed to pop by one weekend.

There is not much seating place here and can possibly squeeze in about 10 individuals at most. We were lucky enough to secure a couple of comfortable seats by the window. My matcha latte had a good amount of frothing on top and presentation reminded me of a similar experience in Japan. The companion ordered an iced matcha.

Both drinks did not disappoint - we loved the intense matcha flavour incorporated into our beverages and I suspect, good quality matcha powder has been used to craft each drink. Highly recommended if you love matcha as much as I do:)

Oh and did I mention we ordered seconds? Both of us brought reading materials along and were engrossed onto what we were reading. Sunday well spent I daresay.

 

Padre Coffee, South Melbourne MELB

I tend to visit South Melbourne's market at least a month of so and would visit Agathe Patisserie when I am there. Having passed by Padre coffee a few times, I decided to give it a try as a pick me up.

The queue was insane and kudos to the 4 troopers standing behind the counter, manning the shop. I loved my cup of latte - fragrant aroma, right temperature and amount of milk added.

Note to self - get a bigger cup next time;)

Hong Kong: Central explored

Despite returning to Australia a couple of weeks ago, I finally have time to sit down and blog about my recent trip to Japan and Hong Kong..well, Hong Kong first because it was a shorter trip compared to Japan (more on that in separate posts!).

Having been to Hong Kong in 2013, I wanted to revisit familiar sights and to explore a few new eateries that have mushroomed over there.

The Cupping Room ~ coffee is the name of the game and where better to play this game than at The Cupping Room. Coffee costs around $6 and albeit being slightly more expensive than the Australian version, they still did serve an excellent cuppa. Fragrant roasted coffee beans? Check. Feathery light milk foam? Check.

Breakfast was also available but perhaps on another trip - for now, we are on the hunt for smashing Hong Kong fare.

Shirt - Armani Exchange, white skirt - Zara, Shoes - Zara, navy blue hairclip - American Apparel.

When I first visited Central, it was one of the major highlights of my trip..bustling, loud and has a good mix of old and new world paired with different classes of individuals. And I still feel the same about this place 3 years onwards.

L'atelier de joel robuchon ~ We stumbled upon Joel Robuchon's cafe that is conveniently situated in one of the main malls in Central. Coffee was good and we managed to squeeze a cherry pistachio cake into our tummies whilst we utilized the mall's free wifi.

Oh and for those wanting a cheap, delicious sweet fix, head over to Tai Cheong bakery and grab yourself a warm egg tart. Buttery soft tart crust that holds one of the smoothest and bright yellow custard mix I have laid my eyes on. Gone in less than a minute. Life is good

Mobile uploads: February drinks

February came and left in a blink of the eye. Despite being snowed under work and assignments, I am thankful that the fun events on happened towards the end of February and so, I was able to get most of my work done prior to playing!

A close friend of mine visited Melbourne a couple of weeks ago and being such an amazing friend (ha ha...), I allocated an entire day to spend with her. Here are snippets from my iphone:)

Waffee ~ waffles + coffee. Always a sucker for waffles and am slowly beginning to appreciate caffeine, this is my favourite morning stop when I need an instant pick me up. The buttery scent of freshly prepared waffles is enough to make me slow down the day's pace. Call it zen, maybe?

For dinner, we dined at Om nom dessert bar, a swanky little place tucked along Flinders Lane and probably where you want to impress your date at. Savoury food here is decent but the desserts are the standout dishes here. Lots of effort went into constructing these treats and so..best enjoyed slowly:)

Tired face from lack of sleep in the last few days but thankful that I am still pumping with adrenaline :p #nofilter so #dontjelly hahahah

Made Ipoh kai si hor fun and decided to give it to someone. Said person was happy and so am I:)

Decided to try out a different type of Korean instant noodles. Mild flavours it was.

Leftover hor fun and so, fried hor fun was it for dinner.

Dropped by Goldilocks with a bunch of friends and was introduced to the term speakeasy bars aka hidden bars. Good concept and definitely worthy of a bar crawl haha.

Hihou ~ yet another speakeasy bar inspired by Japanese flavours. Not bad although wished I had sampled their food.

Lastly, here's a good way to end February: $2.50 for a large cup of Gong Cha bubble tea. Choose from chocolate, taro or coconut. Each comes with toppings and such an amazing bargain. I need more of these now.

Black Flat Coffee Brewers, Glen Waverley MELB

Growing up, I knew I was never a morning person. Without fail, I was always the last one out of bed and probably the one that struggles the most to accomplish simple tasks such as brushing teeth and dressing prior to school/ college.

With what little time I had to prep myself in the morning, I skipped breakfast. Yep, I was guilty and not ashamed of it. Fast forward, this became a habit that I stick to throughout university and my work life. Not that it affects my performance but perhaps having a source of energy in the morning would have provided me with a much more positive outlook for the day.

One morning, I needed to drop off some keys to my house agent which led me to getting out of bed early as I had to do this before I head to work. Subsequently, I had a few extra minutes to kill and decided to grab a cup of coffee at a nearby coffee shop.

Coffee was indeed aromatic from the different blends of beans used and in my humble opinion, this little cup of caffeine made the rest of my day positive. I must have been buzzing from the caffeine kick but seriously, it was a good cup of coffee nonetheless.

The coffee was so good that I decided to drop by the following week! This time round, I tried the latte instead of cappuccino and got myself a danish as well. Talk about having treats in the morning - the perfect start to the day. Staff were friendly and service was efficient so no time wasted on waiting.

These guys open at 6am on weekdays and slightly later on weekends - a feat worth applauding for considering that the timing suits us peeps who need a quick fix prior to work.

My overall verdict? I would not get out of bed if it was not a good cuppa so you have my satisfaction approval here;)

 

On a side note, here are some updates on what I have been up to lately! It's been a while since I have blogged on pictures from my phone.

Night noodle market ~ went there for Black Star Pastry's watermelon cake and Gelato Messina's kickass gelatos. Amazing treats worth the hype.

Having watched numerous Youtube videos on this notoriously spicy Korean instant noodles, I decided to try it out myself. It is spicy (8/10) but tolerable and tasty. Worth a try if you can handle the heat.

I jumped on the tea craze bandwagon. Made a few purchases during a promotion and I think that will last me for a few months. Now for cooler weather to come forth.

Like it or not, summer is here to stay so what better way to enjoy this season that keeping yourself covered with a hat and a good glass of wine.

Lastly, Christmas is just around the corner! Few more days until the public holidays roll in!!

Le Carpe Diem Cafe Creperie, Grenfell St ADL

Been yolo-ing whenever I am in Adelaide, just to round up the weekend which gave me a good reason to indulge in sweets. And so, without further ado, here's yet another sweet post from yours truly:)

This place had probably appeared in quite a few publications and conveniently located near Rundle Street, I did not see a reason to not pop by for afternoon tea. Yes, I have been growing fond of afternoon tea sessions aka a great pick me up moment.

Menu wise, everything consisted of crepes (as indicated by the cafe's name) and diners have a choice of having two crepes or a single crepe with their choice of filling. Both sweet and savoury options are available and prices do vary. Oh, and there is also a selection of pastries and tarts sitting at the front counter, just to tease;)

Lemon meringue tart ~ sufficiently tart to my liking although the bits of piped meringue were a bit err....whipped off? Nevermind that.

Le Augustine aka crepe filled with nutella, banana, chocolate and topped with strawberry ice cream. This is heaven for any nutella lover out there. So much nutella enclosed in that crepe and I like how the crepe appears on our table warm, a good indication that it is made fresh to order but not too overwhelmingly hot that it cooks everything it touches.

La Adele ~ chestnut puree, chocolate and whipped cream. Chestnut puree taste was a bit faint although it was probably not a heavy option when compared to the other crepe we had. This was just enough for me. Yums.

Overall, Le Carpe has a good location and probably one of the more comfortable cafes around in Adelaide. I wouldn't mind sitting around with a book or magazine on hand!:)