Jimmy's

After visiting a church called Wesley Mission in the city we had lunch at this place called Jimmy's Reciepe just nearby. This place is famous for its laksa and the food is quick and ready when ordered so you know you can count on good fast food when you eat here! It does get pack really fast though like all other good places so it's best to come at a time that is outside the rush.

Ipoh Hor Fan:


Chicken Laksa:


Pretty cheap at $8.50 and food was good too. Will definately come back again although wished they had teh tarik and the rest like ice kajang heheheh but overall it was nice and simple!

Ikea

Arrived at serviced aparment in the afternoon but wasn't ready so went to Marcus work to collect some stuff & I was thinking of Ikea's meatballs. I don't know why I was wanting to eat them but my friend said something yummy about it and should try it so we went all the way there to eat their meatballs!

Some food was pretty good,their mushroom soup tasted like the ones in the cans but it's the taste that children will like for sure...basically it's quite salty!


The chicken and chips here cost $3.95 and it was quite popular amoung the customers.


Meatballs was alright but both Marcus & I liked the mash potatoes and the gravy...it tasted like KFC mash potatoes to me!


After dinner we walked around IKEA & it was like a maze...there were loads of stuff to look at with their showrooms & cool gadgets! However, as we just arrived and pretty much tired out we had no mood to shop until we found a place to rent lol so all we can do for now is eat & look =)

NZ 114 Food to Sydney

Praise God for upgrading to business class for $60 however, wished that it was a longer flight because honestly business class & economy doesn't feel THAT different...

Anyways, I guess we had a more intimate service by one crew member called Mark, he offered champagne at the start and followed by other "drinks" in which I chose Baileys...so here are the food that was offered on our flight to Sydney:

Baileys and chippies:


Kawakawa salmon with citrus jelly and chive potato salad:


Pan fried snapper with olive, fennel and tomato compote, wilted spinach and linguine pasta:


Black doris plum and creme fraiche ice cream and cookies and cream ice cream with chocolate and almond wafer:


NZ cheese & preserved fruits:


Pretty good food I must say especially with all the drinks that they kept offering I would be totally drank if I was on that plane any longer!!

Tanuki

Tanuki is located along Queen St at #319. There are a few nice japanese restaurants around city but I wanted to eat at Tanuki because of the little appetizers and selections you can choose from instead of a main dish.

Below is a chef selection of appetizers which includes Tuna tataki,prawn & cucumber dressed with mustard vinaigrette miso sauce, Teriyaki flavoured fried chicken, Grilled eel wrapped in egg omelette, Diced salmon fillet in citrus flavoured soy sauce and California rolled sushi


Salmon Avocado Sushi


Deep Fried Egg plant with sweentened miso glaze


Fried Soft Shell Crab


Beef Tataki which is seared thinly sliced fresh rare beef served in a delicious tataki sauce


Website: http://www.sakebars.co.nz/tanuki/index.html
Price: Pricey but nice selection of small side dishes to share with everyone
Service: Friendly but were quite rushed as it was packed so they want you to get out fast
Food: 7/10

Number 5

Last night we had dinner at Number 5 which is said to be one of Auckland's best fine dining restaurants. We thought we would give this place a try before we leave on Friday to Sydney & say that we've been to a fine dining in Auckland if anyone ask =)
When we first entered the restaurant it seemed abit quiet but the service was great! The table that we sat at was by the window and the chairs and lighting made the whole place glamourous and high class! The waitress really knew her wines and she was very good at selling the food as well.

The food was well presented and the portion was nice. Every bite that I took went well together and makes you want to take the next bite again! The meat was very tender and the wine was delicious! I had a Spatlese riesling that the waitress recommended & it was light and definately sweet! Definately would recommend this wine for those sweet wine lovers!

We ordered panfried pork fillet black pudding, pumpkin gnocchi, spinach leaves and port apple coulis, market fist of the day which was pan fried hoki with mash potatoes and beans and we were too full to order any desserts but we couldnt resist not having one so we chose this chocolate fondant with vanilla bean ice cream and orange tuille.

The dessert was quite sweet but hubby enjoyed it so it's all good. The chocolate sauce that came oozing out of the pudding had a very strong orange flavour to it so don't order this if you don't like orange chocolate!


I would definately come back here again if we had the money and splash it on more wines while we are at it!

Food: 10/10
Service: 10/10
Price: Pricey but worth it for a romantic date or just to pamper yourselves ;p
Location: 5 City Road, Auckland, New Zealand
Website: www.number5.co.nz

Orbit

We wanted to use up our points on our action card before heading over to Sydney and thought we will dine at Orbit which revolves around 360 degrees with its great views!


The food wasn't bad, I had the salmon on top of rissoto rice which tasted very curry like. Eating the food made me not feel the spinning of the restaurant even though it was SO slow (takes 1 hour to rotate completely) it gave me a headache! - but it's not that bad honest!

It's a nice place to dine especially if you're a tourist and want to check out Auckland City.

fusion

I am wowed by the differences in desserts and food that one cultural can be from another. I never would have thought that cheese platters would be found under "desserts" in restaurants because they're more like snacks and savory to me. I have come to appreciate the taste & the combination of these cheese/crackers/breads/olives/salami/dips which can give you a rich experience especially with a glass of wine!


Chinese desserts on the other hand are also appealing because of their creativity and their use of different ingredients like coconut milk, red bean, taro, green tea and the list goes on:

Early Saturday morning

It's been awhile since it was just me and Liz hanging out & since we are both early birds (coz I can't see to sleep in!) we decided to have breakfast at Jones (Liz's fav cafe). When I meant early, I really meant early because we were the FIRST customers of the day! After we ordered, it became busy.
We had their mochas which was special because instead of the normal cocoa powder or syrup that they mix with their milk, they put a heap of chocolate buttons at the bottom of the glass and then top it up with the milk which gives it a richer chocolate taste.


Their banana chocolate bread is also very nice toasted but i felt quite sick with overindulgent of chocolate for the morning


After breakie we decided to go for a walk to the markets and we saw some really interesting carrots that were purple and yellow: you can cook it and eat it the same way as normal orange ones =)


There were the usual cheese, veges, fruits, coffee, wines, turkish delights, fritters, olives, bread, but my sweet tooth led me to one of these small macaroons. Somehow, they did not look as BIG & as NICE & definately did not taste as good as the Sydney Lindt ones I had.

I look forward to checking out the markets in Sydney and see what they sell there. It was a great morning spending time reflecting about the year and enjoying each others company. Oh and Liz taught me red bean soup today, don't add the sugar while it's boiling otherwise won't soften! Thanks, I finished the red bean soup she gave me & it tasted like the ones in the restaurants, I was satisfied!

Growing up fast

Time flies so fast for sure after you turn 21! Last year just recently 2 of my cousins are engaged (from the same family)! I am SOOOOO happy for them & it seems like we were all in uni yesterday spending time together jamming & complaining about uni & exams! We were discussing about budgets, invite lists, & the lot...involving family & going through the planning and preperation process reminds me of mine & how great of a feeling it was!

Well it's been 3 years now since my wedding day & it definately still feels like it was not long ago when I was arranging for my music, reception, flowers, food, church etc etc...now I can enjoy and help hehehe


So...Sam & Jo's wedding is in December,Lin Ern & Ben's in January which means more trips back here = more airfares but it's family & I wouldn't miss it for the world unless I have a baby or something and I can't fly but hmmm who knows. This year seems like it will go by so fast and before I know I would have been in Sydney for nearly a year & both cousins MARRIED and SOON not yet but SOON they'll all be having CHILDREN too!!! WOW really starting to feel like we r all going thru life fast!

It's nice to reflect & talk about the good old fun days & wish that we can re-live that time but because the future is so promising and everyone is progresing & moving on in life, it's good to look to the future & enjoy what we have now & who we with because TODAY can NEVER be repeated again...so I have to tell myself to CHILL, & not think so much about stuff that actually doesn't matter & will not add an hour to my day at all!

Zarbo

It's been awhile since I've been to Zarbo in New Market & it's always food galore when I enter because they have nice scones & cabinet food & coffee is not bad too!

Zarbo is similar to NOSH or JONES were they have a cafe as well as a deli with fresh bread, cheese, spreads, chocolates and gift basket to buy!

Before I go to Sydney end of the month I have to catch up with friends and enjoy the cafes here. Had a great brunch time with Yu Hwee & will definately miss our daily catch ups & she's my coffee buddy and God given encourager and sister who has helped kept me close to God. Thank God that I'll be flying back and forth hopefully and there is always skyp =)

I went for a normal Flat white instead of my usual soy mocha:


Sweet French toast:


Mocha:


And I cant not try a scone! I know I have to really stop this scone addiction coz its BAD lol so I thought try bacon n cheese instead of the usual dates! Scone as you can see is more cookie like sigh feeling guilty now from eating it Blah...anyways I wont find much scones in Aussie that's for sure!

Albert cooking LIVE

We were privilegded to see Albert cook LIVE for us at Elizabeth & Marcel's place with the aroma of fried rice and noodles flowing into the house! He had spectators & paparazzis too!


Here are the dishes he prepared:

Bee Hoon:


Char mee:


Hokkien Char:


Fried rice:


Elizabeth also prepared chocolate self saucing puddings topped with cream and raspberry sauce...it was really rich and divine. It was like drinking real hot chocolate from the cup!


It was such a great night with live music and great fellowship just sitting in the presence of God's family and making me feel more like I don't want to leave Auckland. God's family is everywhere, it's just having people like Elizabeth and Marcel to open their homes and share their hearts that others can feel belonged & experience the LOVE of God.