Tetsuya's Dinner

My friend LL came to Sydney for 2 weeks, and when a pair of gluttons meet up, our outing exercise revolves around dining out here and there. We rang Tetsuya's to book a table and we were lucky to get the last table for the following week (weekday dinner). They have 2 slots for the degustation dinner, 6pm or 8pm. We took the 6pm & we finished around 10pm. The gluttons had 4 hr dinner date.

Staff lead us to 2nd floor, showed us our table - facing the tranquil garden. The room is filled with paintings, sculptures and other artworks. Errr...even the toilet has a few beautiful paintings.

Ladies with mega bucks designer handbag will be relieved as the restaurant provides wooden stool for your handbag. Very thoughtful indeed. For my case, I am happy to slot my laptop bag on the floor hehehe.

Staffs were well trained & really friendly, asked us 'Any special occasion to celebrate today' ? 'Nahhh ... catching up with old friend day today'. We really have nothing extraordinary to celebrate except for catching up after we haven't seen each other for about 1.5 yr. I knew LL about 9 years ago & we always keep in touch regardless where we are. Great to have my eating buddy back for 2 weeks.

Warm breads arrived, served with truffle butter ... yummmm !!

Staff explains each food that is served without a fail ... I mean you can tell that they explained the description of the food wholeheartedly not by memorising the whole blurb about the dish. Plus when you ask them more infos about the food, they are more than happy to share the extra infos.

Photos are not that great as the room is kinda dim & dark...nevertheless enjoy my photos !!

Cucumber soup - light & refreshing

Tasmanian Fresh Oyster with mirin dressing - fresh, creamy oyster & light

King Fish sashimi with dressings

Scampi with avocado puree 

Tetsuya's Signature Smoked Ocean Trout covered in seaweed (I think) & green apple - texture is really smooth, close to salmon's texture

Muli fish (I think) with 3 color onion pickles (red, pink, white)

Braised Ox tail - omgggg it just melts in your mouth

Quail with wild rice salad - very unique salad, crunchy burnt rice

Beef with mustard and wasabi stalks - love the beef !! Really tender & juicy ...

Granita & pudding - we were told by the staff that the duo will clean our palate ...

Sorbet ... ooppss I can't remember the type of sorbet they served LOL, was way too many food ... I only remember I finish the whole stuff which means they were good !!

Chocolate mousse, chocolate stick, chocolate rice pieces & home made ice cream

Jackman and McRoss Hobart

My favourite lunch spot when I visited Hobart a few weeks ago. French style bakery with great selection of pies, pastries & bread.
What more do I need?
Well..I do need a table to start ordering my lunch .... :o)

Jackman and McRoss
57-59 Hampden Rd
Battery Point

Jackman & McRoss at Battery Point
Everything looks yummy & well presented on the display. You just want to buy each of everything they have.Fresh baked breadsRoast Duck Tart & Baked Polenta cakes
Crispy skinned Pork Belly & pea custard Tart with salted Toffee Apple

Pear tart & Opera Cake

Pasta Salad

Seared Wagyu beef parcel with scallop, parsnip & parmesan

A piece of juicy & tender Wagyu inside the parcel
Chicken & Mushroom Pie with home made sauce

Scrambled eggs wrapped with smoked salmon
Deliciousssss...

PERTH - Where to Go ?

Quite lucky to have a chance to visit Perth for the 3rd time. I am surpised with the changes around the city, they have done major works since my last trip back in 2006, it is now a pretty city !!

Perth has relaxing atmosphere, everything seems running at a slow pace (no mad morning rush like Sydney), hardly any traffic jam.

Here's where to go:

• Greenhouse Cafe

I love this place, it is really unique, they really are GREEN wholistically. Everything seems to be made from recycled materials.
100 St Georges Terrace
City

• Phin Vong

Family run Vietnamese restaurant, very affordable, approx $15 per head (appetiser, main, drink), restaurant is really clean which is a relief !!

William street
Northbridge

• CORICA Pastries

Famous for their apple struddle, prebooking is recommended, they sold out like hot cakes
Pity I didn't have time to go there during this trip.

106 Aberdeen Street

Northbridge, WA 6003

p: (08) 9328 8196

• King st cafe

Nice cafe across Louis Vuitton & Tiffany co., they baked their own bread, has great wine selection. The great thing about the cafe is they open till 10pm.

King Street (enter from Hay street)

City

• CIAO Italia

Authentic Italian restaurant, nothing flash about the joint, food & service are great, they accept no booking, about 10 mins from city by car
273 Mill Point Road (Corner Douglas Ave)
South Perth

GREENHOUSE cafe - St Georges Terrace - city

GREENHOUSE cafe
The wall is filled with strawberry pots !!

GREENHOUSE cafe - My fresh Orange juice came in a (recycled) bottle
GREENHOUSE cafe - menu from recycled paper
and I love this bit ..

"Our eggs come from chickens @ margaret river organic free range, the back from pigs@ ...the bread@ greenhouse is made of house milled ...wheat...we make our yoghurt in house with milk from caprino farms..all the goats have names out there...
We will harvest herbs from the roof top when they are at their best"

GREENHOUSE cafe - breakfast - pancake with peach compote & vanilla mascarpone
They use real vanilla !! I can see the black dots !! It is nice & the sweetness level is low.

GREENHOUSE cafe - home made Peach Almond Tart
I love them, not too sweet which is great & it is freshly baked !!

PHINH VONG - Sugar cane prawn vermicelli
Tasty, love their radish/ carrot pickles, generous portion
Sugar cane prawn has good texture, not too doughy/ chewy

PHINH VONG - Fresh prawn spring roll

CIAO Italia - Seafood Pizza (called SARDEGNA)

CIAO Italia - Seafood Pizza (called SARDEGNA)

Generous seafood !! Nice pizza base too

CIAO Italia - Penne Arrabiata (olive, chilli, garlic)

Generous portion, I reckon this can be shared for 4 people, they use fresh tomatoes for sure !!
CIAO ITALIA - Cannoli
A little too sweet for my liking

St Georges Terrace - City of Perth :

London Court (St Georges Terrace - city)

Stirling Garden (St Georges Terrace - city)

St Georges Terrace - city

CANBERRA - Where to Go ?

My 3rd trip to Canberra, discovered new eating places thanks to friends recommendation.

According to my source, Canberra just recently built this shopping centre called Canberra Centre. The centre is kinda the IT place to hangout during the weekend where people are quite dressed up (I was wearing my CROCS ... LOL).

All the nice places to go for dining are all located within the Canberra Centre (Bunda Street).

Few places that that you can go within the city centre:

• Gu's Cafe

Cafe with history dated back in 1960's, quite cute

• Tongue & Groove

Lounge/ Bar - they are famous for their pizookie (pizza cookie)

• CREAM

Nice atmosphere for breakkie, I would say food is average, presentation & service are good

• Sammy's Kitchen

Mad chinese restaurant, booking is a must, really nice, fast & great service

• KOKO Black

Definitely for chocolate lovers, I didn't try their dessert, only went to the shop, the shop is really nice, great for gossip/ coffee session.

Canberra City Centre (Bunda Street) - all the nice places are located within the street

Gu's Cafe (outdoor & indoor seatings)

CREAM cafe
CREAM cafe - big breakfast

CREAM cafe - breakfast menu - Waffles with berries compote
Was OK - the compote was too runny on that day

CREAM cafe - lunch/ dinner menu

SAMMY's kitchen - asparagus with garlic & oyster sauce
The asparagus was so fresh, perfectly cooked & not overcooked !!

SAMMY's kitchen - Belachan (shrimp paster) beans

SAMMY's kitchen - ShangTung chicken (vinegar sauce??)

SAMMY's kitchen - Duck Pancake (duck, pine nut, celery)
The fillings resemble San Choy Bow

SAMMY's kitchen - special menu

SAMMY's kitchen - Prawn & Lobster egg noodle with XO sauce
(Lobster was a bit on the salty side..pity !! otherwise perfecto !!)