Pub meal

When people say that they are heading to the pub, I assume that they were referring to having a fun night out with friends and booze. This is partially correct as for the foodies out there, it may most likely mean heading to the pub's restaurant. I try not to go to any pub restaurant too late at night, just in case I get myself into a bit of trouble with a drunk patron, and on the rare occasions that I do, I have to lure a couple of people for assistance. Not in the form of protection, more so for tummy space!

A standard sized meal at most pubs would be more than enough for someone of my built and hence, meal sharing is a last-resort-option, especially if I had a heavy meal during the day. A pub staple of mine would be the Aussie schnitzel served with a generous portion of fries. A very filling meal on it's own.

I shall now proceed to explain about a particular pub in Murray Bridge, where yet another delicious piece of schnitzel can be found at less than $20 (can't remember the exact price, unfortunately).

This pub restaurant is a bit more classy than the usual ones I have frequented over the years and they have a salad bar. Say whattt??? Yes, you heard me right. And to top it off, you can help yourself to anything and everything in the salad bar countless of times. You can choose from having a simple garden salad, to something heavier like an egg salad or cold pasta salad, to something warm like baked cauliflower in a cheesy sauce and baked carrots. I had 3 servings of salad before my main arrived!

Lamb shank ~ meat that melts easily and loaded with flavour after sitting in a slow-cooker for hours. I have a weakness for mashed potatoes, especially when it's utilized as a flavour carrier as seen in the picture. Good gravy, soft meat and a bed of warm mashed potatoes can be found in my tummy that night.

Chicken schnitzel ~ a good schnitzel has to have 2 important components to it: crunchy exterior texture and juicy meat fillet. This one ticked the right boxes and when it's been served with a few ladles of delicious brown sauce, it has to be the pub chef's picasso. Thumbs up for not being served soggy chips that night too!

I don't drink beer (or booze) but I can imagine any Aussie lad having a good time with his mates over a delicious pub meal whilst watching a footy game on the tv. A good way to end the week!

Bread Garden

As a child/teen growing up in Malaysia, I can be found at home most of the time, usually because my hectic school/college schedule does not permit much non-curriculum activities to be done throughout the week (with the exception of school holidays, that is). I can still recall coming home and jumping into the living room's couch for a quick snooze before I start completing my tedious homework/ assignments.

One thing that I will always remember would be my parents bringing home buns from the bakery or convenience stores for munching on whilst we strain our brains over how complicated some equations are or how mind-blowing it was to memorize an entire history book. Indirectly, these little snacks gave my brain cells a much needed boost of energy. If you are wondering, yes I did score an A for both history and add maths. On top of that, I had obtained the second highest score for history in my year back then :)

Fast forward, I may not have the luxury of indulging over these goodies as I no longer have assignments or exams to revise for but I do look forward to a trip to any bakery, in an attempt to bag a few buns/ pastries home for nibbling. Old habits do die hard!

I have heard of Bread Garden before but hardly have time to drop by and after much persuasion with my sister, we headed here on a lazy Sunday afternoon for lunch. The interior was very organized and as you can observe from pictures, every opportunity to tempt customers were utilized! It was difficult trying to select just a few for sampling when everything looks so good!

Did I mention that every 15 minutes or so a tray of freshly baked goodies would come waffling out of the oven and strategically placed for customer's viewing? Talk about eating with your eyes!

Brioche with ham ~ I could not resist this pretty yet seductive looking piece. It reminded of a blossoming flower and the slight appearance of cheese oozing was evil indeed. After taking a bite into this "flower" I immediately felt a nice, warm aroma of baked bread in my mouth followed by an equally irrestible sensation of moist ham which added a touch of meat-y flavour to it. So so good.

Lemon macaron ~ I was a little disappointed with their macarons but nevertheless, the shells were nice. The macaron had a whipped cream filling which I didn't really enjoy, in my own personal opinion, that is.

Croissant ~ definied layers of butter-y pastry ready to tantalize you with each bite. Yummy!

Chocolate croissant ~ would have lived the chocolate filling to have an oozing character but overall, still an enjoyable piece.

The sister could not resist a cup of coffee.

Peanut bun ~ The filling was made of whipped cream infused with peanut essence. In this scenario, I did not find the cream overwhelming but rather, quite suitable as the thicker bread layer was able to tank the creaminess of the whipped cream.

Korean meat bun~

The sister and I found ourselves in the nearby supermarket and could not resist purchasing Lindt's new chocolate flavours! Coles had a special introductory price which we could not say no to!

Overall, I would personally recommending a trip to Bread Garden if you love a good piece of bun/ bread to have over coffee or if you just want a nice, quiet little place to relax. I was surprised to find out that this place opens on most days (Sunday included!) so definitely worth a trip if you are nearby!

Falafel recipe

Being the adventurous foodie that I am, I could not resist attempting to make falafel after my sister brought some home from work. I love the strong spice flavour that I get with each bite from this crumbly, yet soft texture of the falafel patty. Having searched high and low on the internet for a decent recipe, I proceed to make it. Did not turn out as nice as the ones that my sister's colleague made so perhaps you may see round two on this blog?:)

Ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas
3 tbsp parsley
1 small onion
2 cloves garlic
2 red chillies
1 tsp coriander powder
1.5 tsp cumin powder
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp plain flour

Basically just needed to blitz everything in the food processor and shape into patties. Best cooked via deep-frying or if you are on a strict diet, pan fry?

May have to reattempt this recipe using fresh chickpeas that should be soaked overnight to soften them and maybe adding a squirt of lemon juice for an extra zap of acidity? Overall, it was good but not great.

Serve with greek yoghurt!!

Chuck Wagon 175

After blogging about Burgastronomy , Fancy burger , Burger Foundry and the good ol' college favourite Blue and white I think it is only appropriate that I do a follow up on my quest for finger-licking delicious burgers in Adelaide. Whilst Burgastronomy, Fancy Burger and Burger Foundry's food are catered for people who appreciate a well crafted burger, I would associate Blue and White's burger as a swotvac/ post-pub night meal, something to get all of us thru the night.

Having heard much ravings about the newly opened Chuck Wagon up on O'Connell Street, I managed to persuade a couple of peeps to tag along and explore this place with me. As some of you may know, this is probably the only place in Adelaide where diners can participate in a burger eating challenge where the contestant has to finish a humongous burger and a side of fries within a set time. The contestant's picture will then be framed either in their "Wall of Fame" corner or the "Wall of Shame" corner. No pressure, right?:)

Anyways, none of us were braved enough to face the challenge and decided to feast on moderately sized burgers for the time being. The staff here are quite friendly and have to admit that the restaurant is spacious enough to fit about 20 diners. Not too bad at all.

We couldn't decide (nor can I remember) on what to have but after sampling a few different types of burgers, I reckon the patties are made from the same recipe and the only difference between each burger would be the accompanying sauce.

When the burger first came out, my eyes widened upon realizing that the burger is pretty tall and may be tricky to consume without making an embarrassing mess. I pressed the burger down a little, in an attempt to make it fit my mouth better, and it worked! Next mission would be to quickly grab a bite before it turned cold!

Burger patty was juicy and seasoned well. The burger was dribbling a little but I guess that a price one has to pay for not having to consume over-cooked, dry meat. No complains there!

Chilli french fries ~ can't eat a burger without a side serving of fries/ chips. Have always been a fan of potato types of food and this was no exception. The chilli sauce was not spicy at all and had a nice, meat-y texture to it. When topped with the oozing cheese, this can be a simply delightful meal by itself!

Deviled buffalo wings ~ This is one of the most delicious buffalo wings I have had in a long time. After taking a bite, I was immediately whacked with a strong and intense aroma which quickly faded away to reveal a soft, succulent piece of chicken flesh. Dipping the buffalo wings in the mayonnaise may have helped simmer down the intense flavour but being the adventurous foodie that I am, I like to have a taste of the individual ingredients before combining them together. Had the celery after gorging down a couple of buffalo wings, just so that I don't feel guilty!

Scoozi Caffe Bar

You know you are in for a good day when you get to the city early and have plenty of time to slowly browse through each restaurant's breakfast menu without having to worry about it being crowded (well, not until it's close to brunch time!). The sister and I were extremely fortunate and after what felt like minutes, we finally decided to head here for a light lunch to freshen up before we head to Rundle Mall for some midyear sales shopping.

I have been to Scoozi a couple of times for lunch with friends and got to admit that I do not know which is their recommended dishes. Nevertheless, this place can easily seat 30 patrons which makes it a perfect last-minute walk in option.

As usual, the sister could not miss her morning cup of coffee.

The big brekkie ~ having lived in Australia  for close to 6 years now, I have gained an appreciation for hearty  breakfast plates as they have this strange and yet comforting feel to them. Each plate is certainly packed with excessive amounts of calories but a good brekkie treat every now and then is an excellent pick-me-up to end a crappy week. Toast, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, eggs and tomatoes. Your daily dose of protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and fat.

Eggs benedict ~ another favourite at breakfast! I love a good gooey egg, dipped in freshly toasted english muffins with a slight tinge of saltiness from the slices of smoked ham. Bonus points for a well balanced hollandaise sauce that has the right amount of acidity to it:)

Nhu Lan

June seems to be one of the busiest and craziest months for me thus far this year and I am secretly glad it is almost over. After organizing for a birthday dinner (presents included!) and having to constantly reply or ring a few people up, I am feeling quite deflated at the moment. Hence, am binge-ing on leftover potato wedges whilst typing this out...not a common sight as I try to eat healthily at home! In a week's time, I'll be flying to Sydney and fingers crossed I am not forgetting an important errand!

Ok, enough random rambling from me and back to the main point of this blogpost; vietnamese food! I have a soft spot in my tummy for Vietnamese food, especially when I'm on a tight budget. The last time I visited this place would be some time middle of last year and things seemed to have changed since then. The interior had moved around a bit but one thing I was glad of is that their dinner opening hours have extended (if I am not wrong). A bonus for diners like me who prefer a quiet evening with good food and company.

Longan drink ~ pretty standard across most Vietnamese restaurants, I dare say.

Avocado smoothie ~

Combination broken rice ~ the pick-me-up dish if you can't be bothered to choose (I hear you!) but want to sample a bit of everything. Basically contains a decent range of proteins (shredded pork, roast pork and steamed minced pork "cake") , pickled vegetables to freshen up your palate and bowl of beef stock to wash everything down. Yep, fuss-free indeed.

Dry noodles with quail egg, peeled prawns and shredded beef ~ delicious! There was just enough gravy nested under the noodles for mixing and after the physical mixing process, I found it difficult to stop myself from slurping every noodle strain. Do give this a go at your favourite Vietnamese restaurant if you want to venture out of the ordinary pho and broken rice options :)

Kwik Stix North Adelaide

No matter where I am in Adelaide, I tend to lean towards going to the restaurants in North Adelaide as not only do they provide good ambience for diners, but also yummy food at affordable prices. One of my ol' time favourites would be here. I have had some of the happiest moments here and it is a bit upsetting to know that this place would no longer be operating sometime in September..which is approximately 2 months away:(

Back in 2008 - 2010, I have visited this restaurant countless of times, be it for lunch or dinner and after being away for sometime, the menu has evolved with a whole lot of new dishes on the menu. It was tricky trying to decide but alas, we have decided on a couple of favourites.

Salt and pepper soft shell crab ~ outside of Sushi Train, I hardly eat soft shell crabs as I often question their quality. The owner had recommended us to try this out and were we satisfied. Crunchy exterior with soft and juicy crab meat in it. Another plus point about this dish is that it is served with fresh vegetables, just to make sure you do not get constipated after dinner haha.

Black bean beef noodles ~ generous amounts of vegetables piled with the noodles (as per seen in the pictures) and you would be glad to know that they are not overcooked. Noodles and beef meat were well-seasoned. Did I mention that most of their noodle dishes can be made into a vegetarian option upon request? Vegetarian friendly, ticked!

Satay chicken ~ chicken pieces cooked on skewers and literally drowning in satay sauce. Meat was not dry at all and the satay concoction still had a delightful nutty crunch to it. It's not 100% authentic Malaysian but it sure does come pretty close to it:)

Sambal prawn noodles ~ this is my favourite noodle dish and I never fail to order this when I dine here. It is not spicy at all but if you are concerned about it being too spicy, do let the staff know and they will ensure that the chef makes the necessary adjustments. Prawns are fresh and vegetables were not overcooked. Looking at this picture and reflecting about it is making me salivate :/

On a separate note, I have brought my friends here for a birthday celebration and I am very pleased to acknowledge that their main dishes are share-able and very very yummy. Do give it a go if you are stuck on ideas for large functions:)