December 2015 - Chik's Crib

27 December 2015

W39 Bistro and Bakery (West Coast)

December 27, 2015 0
W39 Bistro and Bakery (West Coast)
W39 Bistro was something Miss XS mentioned to me a few years ago, but other than one ill-fated attempt to visit at 11pm, was something that slipped from our collective minds. 
I'm not sure what was going through my mind when we set off that night; I had a vague notion that I wanted a slice of cake, and it sounded like the sort of place that'll open till the late hours, so off we went. 

Luckily, a few birthdays later, I became much wiser, and paid them a visit with a couple of friends at a more reasonable time. I've heard some mixed reviews about their handmade Wagyu Burger ($22), but I took a chance on it. It paid off, with crispy fries that all of us just couldn't keep away from, and a succulent juicy patty cooked to medium with melted cheese. The mustard sauce on the burger was a good thought, but it was a little plain and didn't add much to the taste. Maybe try a different brand? I did wish that the fries are a little hotter; they were a little cold, but still crispy though.

While waiting for my burger to arrive, I had the Passionfruit Soda ($5.50). It was raved about online. I love its tiered appearance, and it was cold and intensely refreshing, helped in part by the infusion of mint leaves. It was pleasantly sweet. I was expecting a little more tartness from the passionfruit, which would nicely balance the sweetness. 
One of my lunch companions ordered the Homemade Soup of the day ($6.50), which was pumpkin soup. I took a spoonful, and it was rich and flavourful. I never liked pumpkin soup much, and this was the first that I enjoyed. 
Picture by R
R had the Confit of Duck Leg ($24), which she raved as being very tender and tasty. It was served with homemade mashed potato. 
Pretty decent brunch/lunch location. And has a friendly but elusive cat that allows you to pet it - if you can coax it from under its umbrella. Worth another visit. 

W39 Bistro and Bakery
Address: 39 Jalan Mas Puteh, 128637
Website: W39 Bistro and Bakery

23 December 2015

Baba Sus

December 23, 2015 1
Baba Sus
One recommendation by a trusted friend is worth ten positive reviews online. Sorry, Zomato; you and I go a long way back, and I love you deep deep, but it's true. 

"Baba Sus is my favorite brunch place in Melbourne!" my friend declared exuberantly about this Asian-Brunch fusion restaurant. We have similar taste, but she works with a larger dining budget. (This is the same friend who had sampled some of the best food Shira Nui offers - which comes with a hefty three-digit price tag.) So when she says there's a place she likes, I pay extra attention. 

And boy, I'm glad I did. 

19 December 2015

Cornmeal Cookies (Zaletti)

December 19, 2015 0
Cornmeal Cookies (Zaletti)
A few months ago, I bought a large bag of cornmeal to make a deconstructed mango cheesecake. Afterwards, I promptly lost the bag in the overflowing labyrinths of my cupboard. 

I knew it was somewhere amid my collection of jars and the bits and ends of leftover ingredients from other baking projects, but I couldn't get more specific than that. A few days ago, I was digging through my cupboard looking for a bag of azuki beans when I unearthed my lost bag of cornmeal.  



17 December 2015

Shira Nui

December 17, 2015 0
Shira Nui
Shira Nui is the kind of place that is just a little out of the usual university student's awareness. I hear about ShyunJyu-jyu, and Waya frequently, but no one ever seems to mention Shira Nui. It's a little away from the hotspot in Glen Waverley, and it doesn't have the most appealing appearance from the outside looking in, but when I went with a few friends last year after Miss XS's recommendation, I learnt that you can't judge a restaurant by its cover either. I had the opportunity to go back to Shira Nui a few months ago with several other friends after a series of grueling Wednesday lectures (from 8am till noon), and their standard remains as good as ever. 

13 December 2015

Gaijin

December 13, 2015 0
Gaijin
Okay, so Gaijin isn't the most convenient restaurant to get to from my place. And looking for nearby parking may be a problem. But if you don't mind these slight inconveniences, you'll find yourself at one of the best, and affordable, Japanese restaurants of Melbourne.  


I've been here a couple of years ago for dinner with Miss XS. The dim yellow lighting wasn't conducive for photo-taking, so we kept our camera away and gave the food our undivided attention. It was a really remarkable meal, and I promised myself I would be back. I couldn't shut up about it ever since, but with a name like 'Gaijin' (Japanese for foreigner), it was a little hard to convince my Japanese-saavy friends to come with me. Still, I persevered for the better of the next two years, but it still took a birthday (mine!) to finally convince them to give Gaijin a chance. The food was as good as I remembered. Every dish was perfect, and I would order any of them again in a heartbeat.  

We had a selection of sashimi (8 pcs for $10), which was as fresh as they come. (See above, picture)


09 December 2015

Volume Cafe

December 09, 2015 0
Volume Cafe
When a couple of surgeons opened Volume Cafe across the main street from Dandenong Hospital, it caused a bit of a stir. I hear (don't sue!) that up along the food chain, the people in management were concerned whether opening Volume would divert traffic away from Zouki's, the in-hospital cafe chain. 

But still, no one was as ecstatic about Volume as the staff and students were, and everybody that I've talked to had nothing but good things to say about the opening. Even though the in-hospital cafe is more convenient to grab a cup of coffee from, there seems to be a lot of people walking around clutching a takeaway cup from Volume these days...

07 December 2015

Alice Medrich's Chocolate Fondue Recipe

December 07, 2015 0
Alice Medrich's Chocolate Fondue Recipe
The first time I made this fondue, I had an accident. I took my eyes off the water bath for just a minute, and water managed to get into the chocolate and seized the chocolate into an unappetizing glob. Don't be like me. Because my mind seems to wander off more often than a goldfish with ADHD, I took no chance with my second batch a few days later and chucked the chocolate-milk mixture into the microwave, as Alice Medrich recommended. 

If someone tries to make you feel bad about using microwaves, show 'em this webpage on what Jonas Mikka Luster has to say about microwaves. (A German Master Chef. The real ones. Not the tv show.) 
Which goes to show that making a chocolate fondue for dessert is as hard - or easy - as you make it to be. Combine milk and chopped chocolate, and heat until they combine. Serve with cut fruits and voila! Desserts doesn't get simpler than this. The best part about this versatile recipe? Feel free to tinker with the proportion of the ingredients according to your preferred taste. 


I served this with strawberries, bananas, mandarin oranges and apples, and liked the crunchy apples most with the thick chocolate fondue. Alice M commented "I have never seen anyone dip anything (even a finger) in chocolate without a smile. Although this festive, simple party dessert is a year-round opportunity to use the season’s best and ripest fruit, I am partial to the time between darkest winter and early spring, when citrus fruit and bananas and dried fruits cry out for chocolate.” But like the recipe itself, feel free to use any fruits - or cakes or biscuits - that you want to try. This is after all, your show. When done right, (and really, it isn't that hard!), it makes a wonderful accompaniment to winter fruits, and as a chocolate sauce, dress up a bowl of ice cream or slices of cakes

03 December 2015

Brooklyn Crumb Cake Recipe

December 03, 2015 0
Brooklyn Crumb Cake Recipe
My first childhood memories of cakes came from prying a slice of Sara Lee's pound cake from the aluminium container. These cakes can be found in the refrigerated section of any supermarket back in those days, and it was a treat to come home to find a box in the fridge. We were probably meant to heat the cake up in the oven, but for some reason, I just never got around to it and often eat it cold from of the fridge. 

01 December 2015

Jyu-Jyu

December 01, 2015 0
Jyu-Jyu
Jyu-Jyu is a no-frills Japanese place for a quick informal meal, where good Japanese food comes at an affordable price. There is plenty to choose from on the menu, but the only thing I've ordered was the Katsu-Don ($9.80 - above), which comes in my Goldilocks portion- not too big, not too small. It's satisfying for a lunch, and doesn't leave me in a food coma. Which makes it a terrific place for me to pop into for lunch before heading back to school. 

Not having enough sauce is my not-so-secret pet peeve for Katsu-Don. Here, Jyu-Jyu does it well when I ate in-store, and I was happy as I can become. The last time though, I had the Katsu-Don to go (we were rushing for a movie), and the rice was distinctively dry. Seriously, folks. Just drench the rice. But two happy visits out of three ain't bad, and I'll just make sure to eat in-store the next time I go. 

Jyu-Jyu Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato