Excelsior Jones, Ashfield

Ashfield
I know this place has been open for a while now and showered with a whirlwind of praise ever since its opening at the beginning of 2013. It's risen to fame in little over a year, and has gained Sydney-wide support for its great food and bustling atmosphere, a surprise find in the typically Asian-food-dominated suburb of Ashfield in the Sydney's Inner West. You need to go a little out of the way to find this cafe, situated unpretentiously in a corner block in the residential area of the suburb, and from the outside it may look quiet and unassuming. But behind the large glass windows lies a clean, simplistic but at the same time homey and comfortingly pretty little cafe with beautiful food.

Why I love Asian Bakeries: Part 2, Emperor's Garden Cake & Bakery

Asian
So do you want to know another reason why I love Asian bakeries? I said in my first post here that it's because there is a myriad of weird and wonderful creations that you can find in them, sort of like a bakery museum!

One of the other things I love about Asian (Chinese) Bakeries is their cheep and cheerful fare and how you'll be hard pressed to find a bakery that is exactly the same as another. Each has their own 'feel' to their baked goods - no two Bo Lo Bao taste the same, no two Dan Tarts have the same texture. Each bakery has it's own take on the sweet and savoury classics.

Pear and Raspberry Cake

Baking

My love for cooking began when I started baking in the kitchen. I began by making simple things - chocolate chip cookies, lime and coconut loaf, cupcakes and muffins. Then I started becoming more adventurous with homemade pastry, tarts, pies, biscotti and this cheesecake.

Il Goloso Ristorante Pizzera at Haberfield Post

Haberfield
If you were to ask me what my favourite Italian food was, I wouldn't be able to answer you. I absolutely love Italian food, whether it be pasta, pizza, arancini, pane (bread) or any of the various antipasto delicacies. Actually, that's a lie.... I would probably say Gelato, but that is another type of food that deserves its very own category...

But of all Italian food, it would be extremely hard to me to choose just one that I adore. It's good eating out at Italian restaurants with a big family because you're always guaranteed to order a wide range of meals, which means that I hardly ever miss out on anything that I love. Must orders whenever we eat Italian are always a seafood dish of some sort, whether it be a Spaghetti Marinara or a Frutti di Mare pizza, most of the time accompanied by a lovely parmesan and rucola salad and crunchy, aromatic garlic bread.

Up, up and away..

Hi readers!

I hope you've been enjoying my blog. I'm off to Japan for two weeks so sadly you will notice a lack of new posts, but I promise there will be a plethora of wonderful Japanese culture and food posts when I get back! In the mean time, here are some miscellaneous foodie pictures I thought I'd post to keep you happy while I'm away...

xx


Zucchini Fritters

Have you heard about zucchini noodles, the new on-trend, healthy vegan alternative to carbohydrate-heavy spaghetti? Basically, it's thin strands of long, julienned zucchini, mixed like pasta into a sauce or enjoyed on their own. I've never tried them before, but they seem interesting and would love to give them a try some time soon.


These zucchini fritters are like healthy vegetable 'patties', with the slightly-shorter grated zucchini forming the base of a chunky, wholesome batter that is fried (like pancakes!) until crispy and cooked through. Mum bought home a huge pile of zucchinis the other day and they were beginning to look a bit lonely in the fridge, so we thought we'd give these babies a go. They feature heavily on some brunch menus, are healthy and a great way to boost your vegetable intake. Plus, they're tasty too!

Hot Chocolate Frenzy @ Kakawa Chocolates & Detour Espresso, Darlinghurst

Darlinghurst


I must make a confession. I will never stop loving hot chocolate. Whether it's the powdered mix stirred into a hot mug of freshly heated (ahem..microwaved) milk, or an $8 cup of pure, decadent, real hot chocolate, give me a hot cup flavoured with the milky, dreamy creaminess that is chocolate and I'm a happy girl. Extra kudos for an airy layer of froth on top.




Wikipedia defines a hot chocolate as a heated beverage typically consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar, and essentially, that is exactly what it is. Aficionados claim the inferior version is made from powdered chocolate, better known as drinking chocolate, which is not as sweet nor as rich as pure melted chocolate. Some places serve it with marshmallows on the side, others with a generous slathering of chocolate syrup draped across the sides of the cup, and the drink is hardly restricted to consumption at just one meal. Hot chocolate may be drunk anywhere, anytime.