Friday 3rd August 2012

Tonight Ling and Shallen came over and we had seafood laksa for dinner. I've left my camera at work yet again so that explains why some of my photos over the last few posts (and including this one) are so bad. I've had to take them using my phone and it doesn't have a flash so I can't get the shots right, especially in low light.

After dinner we got busy...

I had one pear in the fridge and Ling took on the task of poaching it. We googled a recipe and found what spices I had and it turned out really awesome! I think he used brown sugar, vanilla essence, star anise and cinnamon.

I poached some eggs with asparagus and...black truffle shavings.
We also spent a few hours making some homemade ice cream for our upcoming dinner next weekend.

Thursday 2nd August 2012

Breakfast
Poached Eggs with Bacon and Black Truffle

Wednesday 1st August 2012

LUNCH AT WORK
I made extra pasta sauce last night and tossed some rollini through it for our work lunch today. Minus the black truffle =P

Fresh fruits!

Tuesday 31st July 2012

Lunch
Homemade Char Siew Roll
I love those Vietnamese rolls you can get from the Asian grocers in Northbridge. I haven't had one for years, but I made my own version if I can get my hands on some char siew. I saw some pork fillet on special at the shops the other day so I decided to try making my own. I bought a packet of the marinade from the Asian supermarket. It comes in powder form and you add water to it and marinate the pork overnight. I then roasted it and then sliced it up. Not bad! It tastes exactly like char siew, just without the bright red colour. Mum has the colouring for it at home...she used to make her own char siew.

Afternoon Snack at Work
Thai Green Chicken Curry
Oh my...the curry paste I made for this last night turned out to be the best I've made. Ever. I hope I can recreate it since I don't cook using measurements. I cook to feel and taste, so my concoctions always turn out slightly differently.

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten my truffles...

Dinner
Linguine with Bacon, Asparagus and Mushrooms in a Creamy Sauce with Black Truffle

Monday 30th July 2012

And so it begins...day two with truffle on the menu!
Dinner
Linguine with Asparagus, Prawns and Black Truffle

Sunday 29th July 2012

Woo! I was able to attend the Mundaring Truffle Festival this year and didn't have any trouble getting friends to come with me. In fact, so many of my friends decided to go this year that it was like a reunion, bumping into various people throughout the day. As we were walking to the festival grounds, it was so chilly that I regretted not wearing boots. However, the weather grew warmer and by lunch time it was absolutely gorgeous being in the outdoors, squealing at all the different foods on offer. I was worried I'd break the bank on food today but for some reason I showed some restraint!

I did buy some truffle goodies, which I can't wait to experiment with in the near future. Pictured are the truffles I bought. $2.2 per gram. My two pieces weighed eleven grams. That'll do me...

Chorizo Paella
I was so busy eating and trying to decide what next to devour that I totally didn't take many photos at all!

A much needed afternoon coffee.
I couldn't wait to get home to begin my truffle adventure in the kitchen.
Dinner
Lamb Steak with Asparagus and Mashed Potato
with a drizzle of truffle oil and a shaving of fresh Black Truffle

Saturday 28th July 2012

We celebrated Ling's birthday tonight at a restaurant I've already dined at this week. The food was awesome so I was looking forward to it muchly!

NINE FINE FOOD
227 Bulwer Street, Highgate

I chose the sashimi special for my first course tonight.

Meng ordered the foie gras mousse with black tobiko, which we thought was fancy for him...
until we realised he didn't actually know what he was ordering! hee hee!

We had the four course set menu tonight, so my second course was the beef tataki.

For mains, I had another dish on the specials menu. A selection of seafood.

Dessert was the black bean ice cream with nuts.

We all brought drinks tonight - sake and bottles of red wine - to aid us in drinking and being merry!

Thursday 26th July 2012

THURSDAY LUNCH!
It's that time again! Our theme was going to healthy sandwiches, so we had fresh sliced bread, tomatoes, cucumber, cheese and fruit salad. As well as other dishes that aren't quite so...healthy. But sooo delicious! We are quickly growing out list of favourite foods that each person cooks!

Urszula's Kransky

and her gorgeous Apple Salad.

Dips, Antipasto...

Neelam made this gorgeous curried tuna!

Mini Quiches

Wednesday 25th July 2012

Dinner
Seafood Laksa

Tuesday 24th July 2012

NINE FINE FOOD
227 Bulwer Street, Highgate
Tonight we celebrated Dad's birthday with dinner. I've been here many many years ago and remember enjoying the food so I was hoping tonight I wouldn't be disappointed. Jocelyn has eaten here quite recently and loves it so my hopes are high!

We had the three course set menu for $53 - great value!

Dad really liked the Osumashi Seafood Soup for his entree.

I had the Sashimi.

For my main course I had the Duck Violet. Yummy!

Green Tea Creme Brulee for dessert!

I didn't realise that the restaurant is BYO only, so although the food was fantastic, it just didn't feel right not having a few glasses of wine to go with the food. I'll have to remember to bring some wine when I return on the weekend for Ling's birthday! Yes, I'm coming here for dinner twice in the one week. Just as well that the food is so brilliant - I can try more things on the menu!

Saturday 21st July 2012

We had a lovely night wine tasting at my neighbour's place. We were treated to these gorgeous custard and fruit tarts made by my neighbour's daughter-in-law.

Friday 20th July 2012

Dinner
Sazzy's Bun Bo Hue!

Thursday 19th July 2012

Dinner
Chicken and Vegetable Soup with Pasta Shells

Wednesday 18th July 2012

I spent today catching up with some of my neighbours. We drove to Fremantle and had coffee at Zephyr Cafe in East Fremantle. It's a family friendly place with a large park and playground beside it for the kids. It's also situated right on the edge of the river so you get this gorgeously peaceful vibe.

Mocha and a mini Quiche.

The kids shared a toasted Ham and Cheese Croissant and Baby Cinos.

After a stroll beside the river, we hopped into the cars and drove to the Left Bank for a light lunch. Being a Wednesday, they had a special for their seafood platter so we ordered one to share between all of us.

The oysters were fresh, the prawns were juicy and sweet. The chilli mussels were ok, the fish was mostly batter and the calamari and chips were overcooked and dry. And cold. It's great value for money though - $40!

The burgers looked good!

Tuesday 17th July 2012

I had a few neighbours over for dinner tonight and they brought dessert.

Homemade apple crumble!

Sunday 15th July 2012

MODO MIO CUCINA ITALIANA
Burswood Entertainment Complex
I really enjoyed my first visit to this restaurant back in May and so was looking forward to eating here again tonight!

Beef Carpaccio

Roasted Duck Breast
with sauteed Spinach, Raisins, Pine Nuts,
Mushroom, Foie Gras and an Apple and Cherry Sauce

Crème Brûlée
with a Pear poached in Saffron and Pinot Grigio and Blood Orange Sorbet

Again, the food was absolutely delicious! I ordered a bottle of Italian red wine to wash it all down with. Yep, a whole bottle of wine to myself. What's new!?

Saturday 14th July 2012

THAT LITTLE MEXICAN PLACE
382 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
Tonight a group of friends and I went out for dinner, drinks and bowling. I've been to TLMP in Victoria Park and really enjoyed it, so we were looking forward to trying their restaurant in North Perth. It's just down the road from where we were going bowling afterwards.

The place was small but we arrived just as they were opening. However, they had gotten my reservation wrong. Initially I had booked for ten people but called up several days before to alter the number to six. They had me written down for two. Hmm...

Anyhow, they were able to put us on a table but it was right near the door so everytime someone came in or went out, we got blasted by the chilly draft. After a few drinks it wasn't so bad though!

We ordered a range of dishes to share and the food was once again, very good!

Tacos de Nopal
sauteed cactus paddles with roasted tomato and chipotle salsa
served on house made corn tortillas.

Tacos de Carnitas
pork braised in citrus, shredded and pan fried
served with salsa verde on house made corn tortillas

Jalapenos Rellenos
breaded jalapeno peppers stuffed with a blend of cheeses

Camarones al la Diabla
sizzling prawns cooked with achiote and cayenne

Chayote Relleno a la Veracruzana
choko squash stuffed with tomato, olives, capers and chillies
served with a melted cheese sauce

Barbacoa de Cordero Vastago
smoked lamb shank smoked braised with chipotle and tomato

Friday 13th July 2012

What to do on a day off? COOK!
Preparing the ingredients is my favourite part of cooking.

Chicken Drumstick Stew with Carrots, Leek and Green Peppercorns.

Tonight we gathered at Mr and Mrs Lee's place for dinner and for the premiere showing of the professional wedding photos! Aiyaiyai...I am such a poser...

Curry

... with Roti.

Fried Rice

Pizzas from Crust.