Category: Melbourne

Vogue Australia High Tea

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The Spring races are here! And the best way of celebrating this designer fashionista event is to dine in style! hehe The Langham Hotel has collaborated with Vogue Australia to come up with this beautiful designer Vogue High Tea! To me, high tea is a time to get together with your girlfriends to have tea, coffee, champagne and a spread of savouries and sweets! Of course, not forgetting the girly gossipy session to go with! haha Due to all the different work commitments, it’s really hard to arrange a meal, let alone to have High Tea. Fortunately for me, I had a date with the Sweet Queen (Miss D) herself at the Aria Bar & Lounge, The Langham Hotel, for the Vogue High Tea! I was so excited as it’s been a long long time since I had High Tea. Such a treat!

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the warmest and friendliest staff, who brought us to our comfortable sofa seats and served us a flute of Domain Chandon NV Brut! I felt so classy and bubbly for the afternoon! Such a silly billy I am. But it doesn’t take much to make me happy, as you can tell. hehe

Paris tea

Of course, you can’t have a High Tea without having tea, can you? There was an extensive list of tea, but Miss D highly recommended the Paris tea. hehe It’s a blend of black teas with the hints of vanilla, fruit and lemony bergamot. We were told that this was a hot favourite with many customers!

Paris tea

I knew why after my first sip. It was nice and fruity, and and a very subtle taste of vanilla. Not overly tart or sharp. Perfect for the afternoon of treats! How pretty is the colour of the tea?

Hot chocolate

Daisy ordered a hot chocolate to start off, then an earl grey tea after! The hot chocolate was a tad bit too milky, and would be better if it was more chocolatey!

3 tiered displayed

Then the three tiered stand arrived. My eyes inevitably lit up and a wide grin on my face appeared! hehe How pretty is the stand?? I couldn’t wait to dig in!

sandwiches

We started from the bottom of savouries and worked our way to the top. There were 5 types of finger sandwiches : smoked salmon pin wheel, free range chicken, cucumber and cress, egg & mayonnaise, cream cheese & chive! My favourite was the smoked salmon and the chicken! Mmmm (: Thankfully I had a light lunch before, or else I wouldn’t have space for what’s to come! hehe

scones!

The second layer was my favourite of the layers! Freshly baked scones with clotted cream, butter and jam. The scones were absolutely divine! Crumbly outside and fluffy & moist on the inside! Just everything you would love in a scone. I think there is only one thing that goes perfectly well with scones and thats thick and luscious clotted cream! Ooh la la! At this point, there’s this phrase that just keeps ringing in my head “Once it’s on your lips, goes straight to your hips!” haha Well, who cares! It’s scones! Mmmm!

Scones

Now with scones, do you have the jam first or the cream first? To me, it has always been jam first then cream, but just for that day, I decided to try the other way around. To be perfectly honest, either way is still as delicious!!! haha But do you have a preference? hehe

Sweets

The top tier offers a range of beautiful sweets! Definitely was spoilt for choice and we didn’t know where to begin! We decided to start with the chocolate macarons, which were a tad bit too crispy for me. But the chocolate ganache was delish! Then we made our way through the Vogue strawberry eclair, lamington bonbons, lace cookies, very vanilla cupcakes and ended the afternoon with the salted caramel popcorn tarts that were YUMMILICIOUS!

top view of our sweets tier

I apologise for the yellow tinge of my photos! The yellow light was just right above the tier! hehe but this is a top view of our sweets spread. The lace cookie was so pretty! hehe

So dress up, and plan a day with your girlfriends! Head down to the Vogue high tea and enjoy a whole afternoon of indulgence and pampering in style! The high tea is held at the Aria Bar & Lounge in the Langham, from now till the 8th of November, from 10:30am to 4:30pm at $65 per head.

Book soon cause not long to go! (: We all deserve an afternoon like that for sure!

Disclaimer : I was invited by Daisy of Never Too Sweet and Langham to have the Vogue High Tea at the Aria Bar & Lounge, Langham. All thoughts and opinions are based on my experience at the time of the visit. Thanks so much for this opportunity and afternoon treat! 

Little Tommy Tucker

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It’s old news how much I adore having brunch. The one reason why I look forward to weekends and holidays! I get even more excited if we are checking out a new place, and it can only get better if the new place is near home! Little Tommy Tucker fits all criteria!

Interior of LTT

The moment you step through the doors, you are warmly welcomed by everyone, with wide smiles on their faces. Just feel so cosy and at ease, and you just know breakfast/brunch is going to be awesome. And indeed, it was. We went there through the recommendation of The Hums and decided to bring Jacky (our best man), Linda and the Ho Clan there for brunch!

Prana chai

What got me even more excited was that they served my favourite fresh chai! Prana chai! It’s the same type of deliciousness that Merchants Guild serves! YIPPEEE! Always the best way to start my morning. If you haven’t tried Prana Chai, I urge you to! You would love it! The only way to have chai latte is using fresh leaves and spices. In fact I’m gonna say, it should be the ONLY way cafes serve their chai!

hot chocolate

Melissa ordered her usual hot chocolate, and it was thick and chocolatey. I know it sounds funny, but there are some hot chocolates that are a little too milky, but this isn’t one of them. Mmmm!

latte

The Mr also had his usual latte. A good balance of sharpness and acidity! Although they didn’t have a large for dine-in, they suggested for the mr to have it in a take-away cup so he could get more of his caffeine fix!

Flat white

Jacky ordered a flat white and I love how intense the colour contrast is between the shot of coffee and the milk. Always admired baristas who are able to make pretty latte art. hehe

Smoked salmon scramble

Both Melissa and Jacky ordered the smoked salmon scrambled eggs with creme fraiche and chives. How delicious does that look?? The eggs were so so creamy and rich, with the right amount of flavour from the smoked salmon.

green eggs and ham

I couldn’t resist ordering the green eggs and ham, with an additional side of butter thyme mushrooms! I have this thing for green eggs. Whenever it’s on the menu, I have an inclination to order them. haha Not sure if the Dr Seuss book had any influence but eating it reminds me of the book! haha “I do so like  green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am”

pulled pork roll

This caught the eye of the mr while browsing the menu : Pulled Otway pork roll with tomato relish and watercress topped with a sunny side up! How beautifully yellow is that egg yolk? Would love a little bit more sauce for the pulled pork though the pork was very tender and well seasoned!

chicken Schnitzel

This has got to be one of my favourites of the day! Please do note that it’s on the lunch menu, so head there after 12 if you wanna try this! It’s a huge piece of golden brown schnitzel that is so crunchy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. It matched perfectly with the crunchy and refreshing fennel & apple slaw! Such a delicious combination! Definitely a must if you love your schnitzel!

Little Tommy Tucker

There is absolutely no doubt that I will be back again, in fact, I’ve already been back once since this first visit of ours and everything was still as good, or even better! So the next time you’re around the Bentleigh area, remember to drop by and give them a try! Till the next post, xx

Happy Hump Day everyone!

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Famish’d : Salads and More !

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Famish'd

Due to work, it’s almost impossible to have lunch anywhere besides the staff room haha. Thankfully it was the holidays when the newly opened Famish’d celebrated their opening! I couldn’t wait to head down for lunch as I’ve always wanted to try their salads! Their first store was just behind the Mr’s work place, so I used to meet him for coffees and cakes when I get to head down to the city.  So I was super excited when I received the invite!

Famish'd interior

Beautiful interior, neon signs that pop, warm and friendly staffs. Everything that you would love and look forward to for your mid day delight! And although they specialise in salads (a huge range!), they do hearty soups as well as spuds (both potatoes and sweet potato for a healthier option).

famish'd

There is definitely something for everyone! I know many of you would be thinking – how can a bowl of salad be filling? Trust me, their salads are HUGE and you definitely will be filled by the time you finish.

St Ali's coffee beans

Of course, you can’t skip having a cup of St Ali’s coffee as well while you’re there! Beautiful, robust flavours, definitely a pick-me-up when you need one!

latte

And still my favourite part of their coffee – the chocolate chip meringue!

chocolate chip meringue

It’s really quite magical. Every bite feels like you’re eating a teaspoon full of chocolate chips! Comes with every coffee, dining in or taking it away!

Salad bar

So let’s begin our salad adventure shall we? Since Daisy was there too, we decided to divide and conquer : I was going to choose the salad and she was going to choose the sweet potato spud !  You are allowed to choose the base of either a selection of fresh salad leaves, or their famish’d favourite salads that changes everyday! They also have a huge selection of ingredients to mix into your salad and you are allowed to choose up to 5 different ones!

Explaining how to design our own salads

Don’t worry if it’s your first time at Famish’d cause you would be well taken care of! Everyone working at Famish’d is friendly and is more than happy to explain to you how to design your own salads and spuds! Every one in the Famish’d family works together so well, it’s just amazing! They don’t have specific jobs, they just do anything that is presented infront of them! Like one big happy and loving family! Love it!

Making my salad

When it was my turn to design my own salad, I have to admit, I was like a kid in a lolly store. haha So many fresh and vibrant ingredients to choose from, I almost wanted more than 5!

my salad

My colourful salad! After selecting what you want, you can choose from an extensive range of home-made dressing! All the dressing is made by the owner, Georgia, herself! AMAZING!

All tossed and ready to be enjoyed

My salad had pumpkin, chickpeas, corn, artichokes and roasted capsicum! I asked what dressing is recommended and mine has a mix of dijon balsamic and mayo! They do have other dressings for the more adventurous ! I am actually regretting not trying them! Have to head back to try! hehe

My salad and Daisy's sweet potato spud

The portion was huge and I had to take away half of mine home! A slice of bread is also given to mop up any of the delicious dressing left!

Daisy's sweet potato spud

Daisy did equally well with her choices for her sweet potato spud! She had cheese (of course, a must with spuds!), mushrooms, corn, bacon, spring onion and salsa! It was so amazing! I’m definitely gonna have this in my next visit!

Sweet potato spud

Hidden under all the delicious ingredients is a roasted sweet potato spud! So tender and super sweet! Not sure about you, but I prefer sweet potatoes to potatoes anytime! hehe Somehow, it feels healthier! hehe

Sweets by Sweet By Nature

Next to the salad bar sits a beautiful array of cakes and slices! It’s supplied by Sweet By Nature and how good does everything look? After being good and having a healthy lunch, it’s surely okay to have something naughty (and delicious) for dessert right? hehe DEFINITELY! Miss D will agree with me for sure! And of course, we got to try one of each they have!

Sweets

When this board arrived infront of us, wide smiles appeared on our faces almost naturally. haha How good does that look? Don’t you just want to dive into it and just take a bite of everything? We did. haha

Dessert

The orange poppyseed cake is still my favourite! And the rocky road was really rich and decadent! Only needed a small bite to make you feel happy and contented!

By no means am I a healthy eater, but I do enjoy having a healthy meal once in a while. This is definitely a place to come to if you are on a health fix too! You can create your own salads and spuds to your liking and I can vouch that you will love every mouthful of it! So if you’re around the city or you work in the city, head down to Famish’d for lunch and I’m sure you won’t regret it! Have a sweet (or two) while you’re there too! hehe

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Disclaimer : I was invited by Famish’d as guests to have lunch. All thoughts and opinions are based on my experience at the time of the visit. 

Matcha Mania

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Matcha Swiss Roll with Azuki Cream

Good evening dear readers. Sorry for the long pause again. It’s the holidays and I try and take this opportunity to spend a bit more time with the Mr and explore a little more of Melbourne. So watch this space to see what I’ve been up to in the post to come! (:

I’m not sure about you guys, but I do go through flavour phases and one of which is matcha! So much so that we even held a matcha party to celebrate the endless uses of this brilliant ingredient that is so full of antioxidant! What could be better yes? Here is a recap of the spread we had that day! Be warn, you might crave for some dessert after this!

Matchamisu

This was a beautiful bowl of matchamisu by Winston. Layers of matcha sponge with azuki beans, delicious!

Matcha panna cotta

This smooth and velvety panna cotta by Duy and Andrew with matcha shortbread! Hungry yet? hehe

Matcha Chiffon

The talented Thanh made matcha chiffon cake! (: I’ve yet to have the courage to make my first chiffon. Hopefully soon!

Matcha macarons

These my dear readers are the perfect matcha macarons by Eat Play Shop!! Look at how amazing they look? Spot on with the feet, texture and flavours! She’s definitely the macaron master! hehe STUNNING!

lemon lime macarons

I know these are not matcha, but I think it’s too pretty not to put it up! Lemon lime macarons! Mmmmm! A work of art I tell you!

Matcha cream puffs

As if 2 macarons weren’t enough work, she also made some matcha cream puffs which I was addicted to! Couldn’t stop at one!

Matcha kitkat

When I saw these, I had to remain calm and composed haha matcha kitkat by Agnes!! OMG. They were so so good!!! It’s so difficult to get hold of the commercial packed ones, I was lucky enough to try one cause Daisy gave me some and totally addicted to them! I sneaked some home too! hehe

Matcha madeleines

Talking about Daisy, the sweet queen made two matcha cakes! These are matcha madeleines and she also made matcha brownies that were so gooey in the middle and an intense matcha flavour! SO SO YUM!

Matcha brownies

Matcha opera cake

This was a hot favourite of the day, made by the ever so talented Ms Ihua, and you can see why. How pretty is this gateau??? Every layer just went perfectly with each other and the base was my favourite! Matcha-pistachio feuilletine white chocolate base, how can anyone not like that? Gorgeous!

Fruit platter by Zeboy

This is what I call edible art! The artistic Zeboy’s interpretation of a fruit salad is just amazing! Sous vide and bruleed pineapple, watermelon, smoked cream with matcha and sour plum powder! He plated it on the spot and every one just went ooh-and-aah! These two lovebirds are seriously the dynamic duo! Super talented!

Matcha swirl pound cake

Matcha swirl pound cake

I too made two matcha cakes, this is the matcha swirl pound cake which was really buttery! I actually made this as a back-up in case my matcha swiss roll didn’t work out well. hehe But I decided to bring it to the party as well, or else I would be gobbling it all up on my own and that wouldn’t be very good for my waist line! haha Share the calories I say, sharing is caring right? hehe

Matcha swiss roll

And here’s presenting my first ever swiss roll! hehe Matcha swiss roll with azuki beans cream! I have to say, I was super worried with how this would turn out cause you won’t know till you unwrap it the day after and slice it to see the inside! Although the cream wasn’t evenly spread, but I let out a sigh of relieve after I sliced it and it stayed in shape!

swiss roll with azuki bean cream

I have to admit though, I totally wrecked my first try, so I had to make it again and thankfully they turned out alright! (: So don’t ever give up ; always try and try again! It is definitely worth it! hehe

Matcha Swiss Roll with Azuki Cream (adapted from Cooking With Dog)

Ingredients :

4 Egg Whites
40g Sugar
4 Egg Yolks
40g Sugar
40g Cake Flour
1 tbsp Matcha powder
120ml Whipping Cream
120g Azuki Bean Paste with whole beans
Powdered Sugar, for garnish

Steps :

1) Preheat the oven to 170 degrees celcius. Cover a baking tray with baking paper and set aside.

Matcha powder and cake flour

Sifting the flour and matcha powder 3 times

2) Mix the cake flour and matcha powder together and sift it three times. Do not skip this step as this will ensure no air pockets, clumps and keep the cake light.

stiff peaks

3) In a clean and dry bowl, beat the egg whites until bubbles form. Slowly add half of the sugar and beat it. Add the rest of the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Glossy and thick mixture

4) In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick and creamy. Then add the sifted flour into the bowl. Using a balloon whisk, mix until the flour is completely moistened. Add 1/3 of the meringue into the bowl and beat the mixture with the whisk and drop it into the bowl. When combined, add the rest of the meringue in two steps. Mix the mixture carefully, not to break the foam. The batter will get glossy and smooth. Be patient!

Batter in the baking tray

5) Pour the batter into the prepared baking tray and using a spatula, spread the batter evenly throughout the tray and to all four corners. Bake the cake in the oven for 18 -20 mins, turning the cake after the 10 mins mark so that it is baked evenly.

6) Take the cake out of the oven and drop it a few times to reduce the shrinkage. Remove the cake for the baking tray and place it on a flat surface. Cover it with another baking tray to make sure it doesn’t dry out. Allow it to cool completely before filling it with the azuki bean cream.

7) To make the azuki bean cream : Whip the cream till stiff peaks and add the azuki cream paste. Mix it evenly to make azuki bean cream.

8) Release the edges of the baking paper of the cake. Cover the cake with another sheet of baking paper, and flip it over. Slowy and gently remove the baking paper from the bottom of the cake. Place the paper on the bottom again and flip it back, in the upright position. Using a serrated knife, cute of the short edge furthest away from you with a diagonal cut.

Azuki bean cream spread evenly onto cake

All ready to be rolled

9) Place the azuki cream onto the cake and using a spatula spread it out evenly, having a slightly thicker amount on the side closer to you. Fold the edge of the cake, pushing the paper forward, rolling the cake. Once rolled, wrap the cake with the clean sheet of baking paper, making sure it’s tightly wrapped. Cover with a plastic wrap and allow it to cool in the fridge.

Ready to be cut

10) To serve, unwrap the cake and place it on a long plate. Sift some icing sugar on top of the cake and slice it to the thickness of your liking. ENJOY!

sliced and ready to be eaten!

I know it seems a little complicated to roll it, but do click on the link above (next to the title) to watch the video and it would be much clearer after!

Remember to always cook and bake with love!  xx

Silks Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet

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Just a couple of weeks back, I was invited to a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at Silks Crown by Chef Tsang, and it brought back lots of fun memories! Being away from home, I rarely get to celebrate mid-autumn festival anymore. But it was a yearly event in my family when I was much younger. We used to have lots of food, endless mooncakes and after all the feasting is done, we would light up a paper lantern and walk around the neighbourhood! Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face! hehe

8 course dinner banquet

I love love love when I get my own personal place card. hehe I know it’s a small thing, but just makes me feel important haha Just for the night (: The banquet menu included 8 delicious courses and I couldn’t wait for it to begin!

steamed scallop and vermicelli with garlic

The first dish was the perfectly steamed, plump and juicy scallops with vermicelli and garlic. This was so so good and one of my favourites of the night! There’s just something about chinese cooking where it looks simple, but the balance of the sauce is what’s critical to the dish. This was a perfect balance of sauces and was delicate enough to go with the scallops. Amazing!

Double boiled chicken consomme with dried scallops and mushroom

The second dish for most chinese banquets is soup. No ordinary soup, it’s soup that has been simmered for a long period of time to extract every single flavour from the ingredients. Every sip was just so flavoursome and I could just have a huge bowl of this for the night and I would be a happy camper!

Giant coral trout enrobed in minced shrimp

This third dish definitely wowed my sense of smell, sight and taste! I was definitely intrigued and super excited when it was placed in front of me. A crispy prawn head and tail, and in the middle is a piece of coral trout enrobed in minced shrimp! How amazing is that?? I was sitting next to the amazing Zeboy & Ms I-Hua and we were saying how difficult that must be to do!

inside the enrobed coral trout

See how the layers were so distinct? The best part was the crispy skin of the fish! I seriously wanted more and wished the Mr was there with me, so the prawn head didn’t go to waste! Any prawn head lovers out there? This was fried till every bit of it was crispy, but I still couldn’t bring myself to eating the shell! haha

Sauteed lobster with black bean sauce and pine nuts

This brought smiles on many faces! The lobster pieces were all cooked perfectly – still tender and juicy and went so well with the black bean sauce. It’s not usual that pine nuts are used in chinese cooking, usually it’s cashews or peanuts. But pine nuts worked equally as well, and it’s good for u too! hehe There’s always a huge packet (from Costco) in my pantry cause I love to add them in my sautéed vegetables (cauliflower, Jerusalem artichokes) ! hehe

diced beef tenderloin with mixed mushroom in gravy sauce

The fifth dish was melt-in-your-mouth beef tenderloin with mixed mushrooms in a terriyaki sauce. A little sweet for my liking, but I absolutely loved the texture of the beef. Not sure how Chef Tsang did it, but the beef was juicy and really tender!

chicken fried rice with XO sauce

The last savoury dish was chicken fried rice in XO sauce. Every rice was coated with egg and you could see the glorious yellow grains in the bowl! It had a chilli kick to it as well, from the XO sauce. I could never fry rice like this, never turn out to be this delicious. Think I need to invest in a wok! hehe

Sweetened walnut soup with glutinous rice ball

After 6 savoury dishes, I was so stuffed. But there’s always room for dessert, yes? Absolutely! When I saw what we were going to have for dessert, I was a little apprehensive, cause I never had walnut soup before. Plus the only other nut-soup I tried (and didn’t like it much) was almond soup. So I was a little worried about how it would taste. But I was so wrong. This was so smooth and delicate and absolutely divine. For a cold night, it was really comforting as well! Perfect winter warmer! I would head back just for another bowl of walnut soup. hehe

black sesame glutinous rice ball

Within the soup was a hidden treasure – a glutinous rice ball with black sesame. Absolute love! How sexy is the black sesame oozing out from the middle after a bite? hehe Rich but not overly so. Did I say it’s perfect? Cause it was!

Wing Wah white lotus seed mooncakes with double yolk

To end our banquet on a even sweeter note and what is seen as a symbol of mid-autumn festival – Mooncakes! This one is the famous Wing Wah mooncake from Hong Kong! The white lotus seed paste was smooth and not overly sweet and had two salted egg yolk! While I grew up opting for the no-yolk mooncakes, I have to say the combination is starting to grow on me. But I still like mine without yolk hehe

After the amazing banquet, Chef Tsang came out of the kitchen to say hi to us and answer some of our questions. It’s no wonder his food was absolutely delish cause he was from the two Michelin stars, Ming Court in Hong Kong! He’s been in Melbourne and Silks for 6 months now and is still working on a in-house recipe for mooncakes. hehe

So if you’re want to take part in some Mid-Autumn festivities, Crown is holding one from 9th to the 22nd of September, and there is something for everyone! Do check out their website for details of the events as they will be converting the Atrium into something spectacular!

Wing Wah moocake

We were so lucky to receive a box of mooncakes from Wing Wah to bring home! The Mr and Melissa couldn’t be happier when I took it out of the bag! hehe And yes, they finished one whole mooncake that very night! heh

Thank you so much Silks Crown, Chef Tsang and Media Moguls for organising this scrumptious banquet! Great food and was so good to meet and catch up with everyone! So do head to Crown and check it out and try some mooncakes if you haven’t had any yet!

Lianne @ Food Made With Love attended the Mid-Autumn festival banquet as a guest of Silks Crown and Media Moguls. Thank you so much for this yummy opportunity! 

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Brunch Treat : Three Bags Full

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Three Bags Full

Good evening dear readers! I hope you had a good weekend! I sure did and I always wish it would last longer! Weekends are always really precious to me, especially when there are special events to attend. A couple of weeks back, I was lucky enough to win an instagram (follow me on @lianneelow) competition by Three Bags Full (@threebagsfullmelb) and won a free brunch for me and 3 friends! WHOOPEEDOO! I couldn’t quite believe it, in fact I didn’t know it until Ling P (@sixinchheel) texted me and told me I was one of the lucky winners!

Winning brunch at Three Bags FullI called up and booked a table for the approaching weekend and I knew who I would ask along. The Mr, without saying, and the Hum family! (: I had to see my munchkin at least once a week. haha I am obviously obsessed with that girl!

Paige and I

When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by all the staff and Sam, the manager, told us to go crazy! haha The interior was really warm and welcoming and I absolutely loved the decor.

where the coffee / drinks magic happens

We couldn’t stop smiling and just wanted to have everything on the menu, cause everything looked and sounded delicious! While deciding, we ordered our drinks!

chai soy latte

I couldn’t go pass having my chai soy latte, as I was really craving for some warmth and comfort.

The boys, who loves their coffee, were recommended to have the hot aeropress coffee (kenya blend) and while waiting for it to be ready, they made some cold drip coffee (same kenya blend) for us to try!

cold drip coffee

How pretty is the bottle that the cold drip was served in?? I wanted to steal it home! Don’t worry, I was good and I didn’t, my left hand smacked my right. haha

Cold drip

Served on a cube of ice, we could taste notes of rhubarb and blackcurrant. I actually really liked it! I was a little hesitant at first cause I didn’t know if it would be too sharp, tart or bitter for me. But it was actually really fruity on the palette. I wanted more! hehe

aeropress & cold drip coffee

The aeropress was a little more acidic cause it was hot and the fruity notes weren’t as prominent! But it was still good and a great recommendation!

The specials board

The Mr and I decided to order the specials of the day as they sounded absolutely mouth-watering! Plus I also had a sneak peek of how they looked that morning on instagram! haha So my mind was set even before I arrived!

braised white beans with porcini mushrooms

I was sold on the braised white beans with porcini mushrooms, grilled chorizo and poached eggs! Ever since I had braised white beans in Barcelona, I can’t get enough of them! These were mashed with porcini mushrooms and the flavours were just amazing! Everything went so well together, I just couldn’t stop eating and cleaned up the whole plate!

close up shot

The mr chose the other breakfast special : grilled barramundi with quinoa salad, sauce soubise, spinach puree and pickled chilli salsa! The salad was so refreshing and had so much bite to it! I was so inspired by the dish I actually went home to make my own version of it! The barramundi was grilled to golden brown, so fresh!

grilled barramundi and quinoa salad

The mr couldn’t help but order a side of istra bacon. The boy definitely needs his protein! hehe

Big breakfast

Paul & Peggy both ordered the big breakie that was like a breakfast platter of everything delicious! They love their hollandaise sauce so they decided to order a side of it. It was thick and luscious and one of the best hollandaise they’ve tasted! Ooh -la-la!

sweets corner

After the savouries, Sam was so generous to allow us to order some sweets as well! There were so many to choose from, but our eyes were set on the cupcakes : carrot cake and chocolate & salted caramel! How can it go wrong?

Carrot cake

Paul and Peggy are huge fans of carrot cake. This one was to-die-for! The cake was so moist and had just the right amount of spices, and the cream cheese frosting was rich and delish! After every fork-ful, Peggy and I just looked at each other and kept saying “Wow! So good!” haha

Chocolate & salted caramel

This, however, was AMAZEBALLS! Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! And there was a surprise in the middle. Could you guess what?

liquid salted caramel middle

A liquidy salted caramel middle!! The moment you slide your fork through, you have liquid gold flowing out! So rich, so darn good! Definitely made me think of Miss D! The desserts were so good that we both bought each cupcake home to have again for dinner that night!

Thank you Three Bags Full!

Thank you Three Bags Full for the generous prize and the awesome hospitality! The food was delicious and we will definitely be back again for more!

Paige enjoying the food

Even little Paige enjoyed the food and had a great time! (:

Have a good rest of the week everyone! Can’t quite believe it’s September already, but so glad it’s Spring! Till the next post, remember to always bake and cook with love! xx

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Fritters & French Toast Heaven : Fitzrovia

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FItzrovia


Dear readers, have you ever met a friend who you haven’t seen for a long time? I have recently, and the last time I met Gazel, we were 12. So when she was in Melbourne for a holiday, we decided to meet up. Our first meet up was at Top Paddock, and we decided to meet before she heads back to Singapore as well. And thankfully she loves brunch too, so we decided to head to Fitzrovia (thanks for the recommendation Daisy!) !

Salted caramel from Cacao

It was a perfect location as Gazel wanted to get some salted caramel and Cacao was just across the road! hehe so we were set on Fitzrovia and when we stepped into the cafe, it was really busy but we got our table in less than 15 minutes! Which was perfect, cause seeing and smelling all the food being served around us made our tummies rumble!

Latte

I decided to order a latte instead of my usual chai latte, cause the house blend was from St Ali. I am no expert on coffee, but this was my second cup of the day as Gazel bought me my first cup of coffee from her favourite cafe : Brother Baba Budan! So I decided to have decaf, and I really enjoyed this cuppa, smooth and creamy!

Flat white

Gazel loves her coffee. She is currently having withdrawal symptoms as she can’t get the same quality of coffee back in Singapore. It’s just not the same! She was prepared to have at least 3 cups of coffee everyday before she left. haha This was her second cup of the day too, so she also ordered decaf!

sweet potato and caramelised onion fritters

While waiting for our table, we had a quite browse of the menu and we kinda knew what we wanted there and then! My choice was the sweet potato and caramelised fritters, which is of no surprise, cause I absolutely love fritters of all kinds! haha But this had everything I truly love on a plate! Was perfect for me, and shouting my name! Sweet potato and caramelised onion fritters

The moment it was served, the first smell that hits you is the truffle in the salsa verde! That instantly puts a smile on my face. I couldn’t wait to taste everything on the plate! The fritters were really fluffy and the grilled saganaki. HOLLY MOLLY! It’s similar to haloumi but the crust is crunchy! Amazing!

creme brulee french toast

Gazel ordered, what I think, is the breakfast of champions. Creme brulee french toast, with Istra bacon, bananas, whipped mascarpone and toasted pecan. The french toast… actually has that crunchy layer of burnt sugar and after biting (cracking)  that layer, the toast melts in your mouth!

Creme brulee french toast

And there’s something magical about the sweet and salty combination isn’t there? Especially when the salty component is BACON! Noms! You really can’t go wrong in this dish! WIth fresh bananas and a creamy whipped mascarpone. I definitely want to head back to have this!

So if you love your fritters, and you also love french toast, I urge you to head to Fitzrovia pronto! hehe You will definitely not regret it! We definitely didn’t and left with happy bellies! hehe

photo booth

After all the delicious food, we went on our hunt to find a photo booth! We went to the main street of St Kilda but we couldn’t find any! So we decided to try Luna Park and found one at the games arcade! Thank you so much for meeting up with me! Will catch up with you again soon! (:

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Yarra Valley Chocolaterie : Hot Chocolate Festival

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Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

I have a love-hate relationship with chocolate. More love than hate of course. But after scoffing down too much chocolate, that’s when the hate sets in. But it doesn’t last for long. My love for it is overpowering. haha So you can imagine my face when I walked through the glass doors of the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie! Yeap! You guessed it right! Wide grins, round eyes and I marched straight to the huge bowls of chocolate that are for free tasting. How generous! But just so I don’t look greedy, I just took a (heap) tablespoon full of the dark chocolate buttons and stepped away.

Hot Chocolate Festival

It wasn’t my first time at the chocolaterie, but this time I was really lucky to be asked to the Hot Chocolate Festival by Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Q Strategies to try 8 out of the 31 limited edition flavours they’ve come up with for the month of August! I went with the blogging gang (Shellie, Daisy, Thanh, Agnes & I-Hua) and we were allowed to bring our partners (and Melissa!) along, so it was like a fun road trip with a whole huge foodie gang!

8 flavours that we tried

These were the 7 + 1 flavours we tried that morning. Yes, we had hot chocolates for breakfast! hehe What could be better yes?

Josh - Head barista

We were introduced to Josh, the head barista at the chocolaterie. He’s the one who comes up with all the different flavours! Amazing! From the moment we gathered infront of him, pots and pots of hot chocolate arrived and were served! We were definitely in hot chocolate heaven!

toppings

Each cup (thank goodness they were mini ones!) had a different topping to match the flavours!

Pouring the hot chocolate

So without further ado, here comes the hot chocolates! I’m introducing them in the order that we were having them! Of course, I have my top three choices of the morning and you’ll see them next to their flavours! hehe So, first up….

Gingerbread

Gingerbread (2nd place)! This was made using their milk couverture chocolate and had quite a strong cinnamon and ginger taste to it, which I love! It was served with some gingerbread crumbs which gave a slight crunch to the drink.

Mint madness

Next up was mint madness! This was also made with their smooth milk chocolate and served with a fresh mint! I actually quite enjoyed this, as it reminded me of an After Eight chocolate! hehe and I absolutely love those thin pieces of chocolate! hehe

Cookies & Cream

Cookies & cream was somehow known as the King Kong of all flavours made with smooth milk chocolate and topped with crushed oreo cookies! This was delicious but it kinda of tasted like normal hot chocolate, and nothing too special. Though the crunch of the cookies added a good texture!

pina colada

I’ve been into coconut everything these days, so I was quite excited when I saw Pina Colada (3rd place) on the tasting menu! It had a strong coconutty flavour made with white chocolate and topped with toasted coconut! DELISH! hehe It was quite a favourite among us that day to be honest!

Indian Chai

When the next flavour was indian chai, Shellie and I were smiling at each other, as we both love our chai! Unfortunately, the dark chocolate was a little overwhelming and I couldn’t really taste the chai spices. Sad face! I really thought this would make number 1 on my list!

Snickers

This, ladies and gentlemen, is SNICKERS! The champion of the day! It was so delicious, and it really felt like you were having a snickers bar. It was nutty and chocolatey. Everything a hot cup of hot chocolate needs! Topped with roasted slithers of almond – A perfect cup! I secretly wanted another cup! haha But had to safe some space for the two more to come!

Lemon myrtle

If you’re a fan of lemony and citrusy drinks, this would be the one for you! I never thought that lemon would go well with chocolate. But after drinking this, your mouth is left with a subtle taste of lemon, kinda refreshing! Each cup is topped with a candied slice of lemon.

Jaffa

Our last cup for the morning was Jaffa. It was a special addition to the tasting menu we had! Before we could taste it, Josh grated some orange zest and the aroma of oranges just filled the air!

Handmade marshmallows

After all the hot chocolates, we were also introduced to some handmade marshmallows! There were 4 flavours (from top) : tropical, vanilla, strawberry & chocolate ! They were all so FLUFFY (imagine me saying this in Agnes’ voice, from Despicable Me! haha) !!! Loved it and they weren’t overly sweet! I had to stop at one though, cause I definitely reached my sugar quota for the day! hehe

Chocolate freckles

After the private tasting session, we walked around the chocolaterie and it was like being in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Every where you walked to, you would see chocolate of all kinds!

Rocky road

So do go and visit the chocolaterie before the end of August and taste all the different flavours of hot chocolate they have to offer and hit a sugar high! (: You’ll definitely enjoy it as much as we did!

chocolate cups stacked

So what flavour of hot chocolate would you love to try? I really want to try the popcorn flavour that’s coming up next week! hehe What are you waiting for? Head over there asap!

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery on Urbanspoon

Lianne @ Food Made With Love attended the hot chocolate festival as a guest of the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Q Strategies. Thank you so much for this yummy opportunity! 

Bayte : A Lebanese Feast !

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Brunch at Bayte

I know I’ve said numerous (countless) times, how much I love brunch. But I need to say it again. I LOVE brunch! Especially since there are so many different varieties of brunch we can get here in Melbourne. The first time I went to Bayte, I went with 3 beautiful ladies (Ashley, Lee & Sofia) and as it was my first time meeting them, I was a bit too nervous and didn’t get to snap photos with my camera! haha So it was due to head back and have brunch, this time with some of my favourite and closest friends.

Beautiful Paige

Yes. This my dear readers is my favourite girl who steals my heart every time I see her, Paige. hehe Isn’t she just gorgeous? hehe She was all smiles that afternoon and couldn’t stop playing with us and have short burst of laughters! Just absolutely adorable! hehe Such great company we had for brunch that day!

Story behind Bayte

The menu is a true reflection of what lebanese food is and should be. Full of robust flavours and worth celebrating about! Chef Julie Touma came up with the menu which was inspired by her grandmother’s recipes! Just reminds me of how much I miss both my mum’s and grandmother’s home cooking and how I am constantly inspired by them too! (Can you tell I’m a little home sick?) Bayte means home in Arabic, and you definitely feel welcomed the moment you step in. I couldn’t wait to have the food again and definitely couldn’t wait to have their freshly brewed chai!

Chai soy latte

Their freshly brewed chai was with Bonsoy (my favourite) and had flavours of cardamom and cinnamon. Definitely hit the right spots! hehe If you would like an extra kick and you’re a coffee lover, ask them for a shot of espresso in yours. The combination is DA BOMB! I recommended it to Peggy as she loves both chai and coffee, and she really enjoyed it! She even said it was nicer than the chai itself! But I do love my chai pure. hehe

baked eggs

I really wanted the baked eggs as it had everything I was craving for. Perfectly cooked eggs (which were still molten and gooey), with an okra and tomato spiced stew and shanklish cheese! OH-EM-GEE! It was love at first bite! The cheese was the right amount of richness and hit of salt and had a crumbly and soft texture. The okra was so soft and the stew had the right amount of spice to leave a warm and fuzzy feeling in your mouth and tummy after! A perfect winter warmer! I couldn’t be happier and more contented with my choice! (:

Poached eggs

Peggy had the zaatar spiced poached eggs with a pumpkin and pinenut kibbeh and hummus, with some freshly made flat bread. The zaatar had a nutty flavour to it and the eggs were perfectly poached! The bread was so delicious that even our youngest foodie enjoyed it!

Paige enjoying the flat bread

breakfast mezza for one

If you’re hungry and you would want to try a bit of everything from the menu, then the breakfast mezza for one (there is for two as well) is for you! That’s exactly what the boys went for! I mean, why wouldn’t they? It’s like the best of what the kitchen has to offer all on a plate. I have to say, the lamb skewer was delicious! Even for a person who doesn’t eat lamb! hehe

breakfast mezza for one

It even came with a spiced fried egg! A celebration of lebanese food, a party in their mouths!

sumac spiced eggs with kafta skewers and baba ganoush

Melissa decided to have the sumac spiced fried eggs with kafta lamb skewers and baba ghanoush. I could have ordered a whole plate of baba ghanoush to myself! Smooth and creamy mashed eggplant and went perfectly with the spiced lamb! Nomtastic!

So the next time you’re thinking of having something different for brunch, do head down to Bayte! You will definitely not regret it! Amazing food with friendly staff and great company! There’s no better way to spend the weekend, really! I do hope you all had a brilliant weekend too!

Have a great week ahead, and remember to always cook and bake with love! xx

Bayte on Urbanspoon

Tall Timber

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Tall Timber

I’m back, I’m back, I’m back! I’m finally back from my travels around Europe! Hope all of you have been well and hooray it’s the weekend!! Can’t believe three weeks have zoomed past that quickly, but it’s really good to be back! The one thing I really miss is having my weekend brunches and my chai soy lattes! I don’t think I’ve had as much coffee in a year as when I was in Europe! and of course, I’m so gald to be back blogging and sharing with all of you again! hehe

One thing I really love about being in Melbourne is the new cafes popping up almost every other week! hehe One that opened just over a month now is Tall Timber. I read about them on Broadsheet and saw instagram pictures of their noms and decided that I needed to make a trip down, pronto!

Tall Timber

Add : 60 Commercial Road, Prahan Vic 3181

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Tall Timber

I went there when it was 2 weeks young, and already there was a long queue and the small cosy cafe was packed and buzzing! Not surprising though, as they were the same talented gentlemen behind the establish Coin Laundry & Station Street Trading. Seeing the crowd made me very excited and just can’t wait to see what they had on the menu.

Latte and Chai Soy Latte

The Mr and I had our usual cuppas – large latte for him; chai soy latte for me. Warm and definitely comforting! There’s just something about chai lattes for me. I can’t get enough of it! hehe The coffee beans are roasted on site and are from Niccolo. The Mr liked the blend, smooth and not overly rich. It’s so robust that you can even smell the aroma even before you walk through their doors!

My Mr

My brunch date (: Every weekend.

Tall Timber

Now for the food! I was really drawn in to the breakfast board but sadly, they ran out of it that afternoon. But something else caught my attention.

Portobello mushrooms

The portobello mushrooms with goats curd, sprinkled with almonds and drizzled with balsamic was mouth-wateringly good! How beautiful does it look on the plate? The colours just pop! hehe I’m not one who like goats cheese, but this goats curd wasn’t too strong, in fact it was creamy and smooth. If you know me, you know I love textures in my food, and this one has them all! Soft, crunchy, chewy! With sweet, tangy, salty and peppery all in one bite! Mmmm! (: Definitely a dish I highly recommend!

Bean cassoulet with pulled pork and chorizo

While I had the vego option, the mr needed his protein and meat! hehe So he decided on the bean cassoulet with pulled pork, chorizo, goats cheese and a perfectly poached egg! Perfect amount of spice from the chorizo, the pork was tender and the dish on a whole packed a punch! hehe

Our breakfast

Tall Timber is definitely a place we will return soon! Gotta get that breakfast board! (: Friendly staff, great food. And if you’re around the area and you like your coffee, this is definitely a place to visit, even for one on the go!

Latte

So thinking of where to go this weekend? Go visit them and let me know what you think! I’m sure you’ll be on the same page as I am. heh Have a great weekend everyone! (:

Remember to always bake and cook with love!

Tall Timber on Urbanspoon