Cheers to the end of 2012

Oh me gosh, I can't believe the year has already came to an end. Soon we will be celebrating our birthdays, Easter, Christmas and New Years Eve all over again. However before we start our rounds of celebrations again I just want to thank all you awesome guys for your love and support for my blog all year round. Thank you for your comments on the blog, your hearts on instagram, your likes on Facebook and of course our chit chats and jokes on twitter.

The night where I ate all of the seafood in Malaysia

Mexico - Food & Liquor, Surry Hills

Zomg it is Christmas Eve!! Weeeeeee!! ANYWAYS I was so sad the day I heard the news about District Dining closing up, especially because I hadn't had the time to try it. SIGH... but that wasn't all the news. It wasn't as bad after all when I found out District Dining was going to be replaced by a Mexican restaurant. So eventually when the day came for its doors to opened, I did not wait another minute and rushed to check Mexico Food and Liquor ASAP. In a way, it was to make up for missing out on District Dining and the only way to make up for it is to eat ALL the tacos. 

Top: Pibil rubbed pork w black beans soft shell taco - $6
Bottom left: Pan fried fish soft shell taco - $6
Bottom Right: Wild mushroom soft shell taco - $6

Eliunt: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Launch

Oh haiz Santa, almost a handful of days left till you sled down my road. With all these festive lunches and dinners and food comas coming up, I sometimes struggle for ideas to bring to the dining table. One of my favourite chefs and recipe writers would definitely have to be Jamie Oliver. Besides his creativity, cooking style and so forth I love how he 'drizzles' a touch of olive oil in almost everything he cooks. When Jamie adds the word 'drizzle' and 'olive oil' in the same sentence we all know he means pour all the olive out of the bottle until your heart is content.

Eliunt Extra Virgin Olive Oil

So speaking of olive oils, I was recently introduced to Eliunt extra virgin oil and that is when I found my secret weapon to bring to future dinner partays. I have always known you can add olive oil to quite a few things but I had no ideas you could even add them to chips!

Ice cream making time - GO Cooking Challenge

Herrro all!! Is everyone counting down to the end of the working year, Xmas, NYE celebrations and of course 2012? I am! =D So recently I took part in the GO Cooking Challenge organised by GraysOutlet where I had to make either ice cream or froyo. So there I was thinking 'sweet as bro, how hard can making ice cream be' and those my friends, were my famous last words. Most of you guys know that I definitely not an expert in the kitchen and making desserts is one of my main weaknesses so this was definitely one interesting experience.  

The final result!

With the bag of goodies and my utensils I present to you raspberry ripple vanilla ice cream stashed on my take on 'fairy bread'.

Out of Africa, Manly

Sydney has always been known for its multiculturalism and this can be confirmed by the vast variety of cuisines that is offered all over Sydney. African has been one of those cuisines which I have been itching for years and finally after all that waiting, I have been able to tick this cuisine off my bucket list. 

I was nervous about trying out African because it felt so foreign and I felt like I was going out of my comfort zone. On the way to the restaurant my brain was filled with so curiosity whilst my heart was filled with excitement.

Mixed Entree's - $19.50
Brochette, briouat, sardine, spicy grilled calamari and king prawn on a bed of mixed salad

New Shanghai's pork and cider dinner

Howdy all! I hope everyone have been well. Apologies for my recent blogging absence as I have been busy flying in and out of Sydney recently. More of that gossip will come very shortly but for today we have on the menu, a date with... *drum rolls* Mr. Piggy and his bad ass cider friends at New Shanghai. I welcome you to the pork and cider dinner.

Course number 3
Left: Apple Thief pink lady cider
Right: Pan fried dumpling set - pan fried pork bun, pan fried dumpling and shallot pancake

@! Restaurant (At Restaurant), Crows Nest

Over the past few months a fellow twitter friend of mine has been constantly visiting @! Restaurant non-stop. His addiction made me wonder what on earth was I missing out on so I had to go to check it out myself. When I stepped into @!, I noticed that the restaurant was predominately filled with a lot of Japanese people. You know the food is good at a Japanese restaurant when a lot of the Japanese themselves visit the place.

@! style sushi set (gourmet) - $38

A story of three and four years

Herro my dear friends! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. Where have all these years gone? I honestly can't believe I have continually updated this blog for 3 years. My beloved baby blog is growing!! This is the first time I have ever celebrated my baby turning of age! Excitement!! This anniversary also coincides with the boy's and my own anniversary, double excitement!! Sadly I don't have a picture of a decent cake but instead I think this picture can make up for it.

Yes day 1
LOL...

 HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY
TO LE
FOOD IS OUR RELIGION

aaaaannnndddddd

HAPPY 4 YEARS ANNIVERSARY
TO LE DC

Mr. Wong, Sydney

Lets Donkey Kong with Mr. Wong! Mr. Wong is the cool new kid on the block and with his gangnam style of cooking it has made him become Mr. Popular. Ok should I stop now? I think I should before my lameness reduces my readers by 110%. So besides the food, what else makes this place so popular? Let me give you three names: Dan Hong, Jowett Yu and Eric Koh. That to me initially didn't mean that much so let me translate that into 'Engrish' for you: Ms G's, El Loco and London's Hakkasan. Now we are talking.

Whole Chinese Roast - $60
(served with pancakes)

Noodles Market 2012, Sydney

YAYYYYY it is finally Ocotber aka Sydney International Food Festival. October is one of my favourite months and it is quite obvious why. I heart noodle markets. I go every year religiously. All these glorious restaurants and a beer garden at almost an arm reach. 

Pork Belly Bun - $9 for two from Taste of Shanghai

Lauduree Macarons, Westfield Sydney

Sydney seems to be a 'fan' of line up these days. Crazes went from Zara, the apple store, Adriano Zumbo Macaron day, Top Shop and of course today's topic, Lauduree Macarons. On the first day it opened, the lines surrounding Lauduree were about  2 to 3 hours long! The obvious million dollar questions that follows are 'was it worth the wait?' 'are they that good?'.

Lauduree Macarons

Milk Bar By Cafe Ish, Redfern

Okay so I am a just an incy wincy bit late with post but that's because I thought I had lost all my photos of my visit. *phew*. When I heard Cafe Ish was closing, my heart died a little as there were only days left of being able to have Cafe Ish's signature crab omelet. Not long later, exciting news had spread quickly across the twitter-verse about a new Milk Bar opening by Josh. 

Left: Chuck Norris Milk Shake - $7
Top Right: Bacon and beef burger - $6
Bottom Right: fries

N2, Chinatown

HELLO EVERYBODY! I'm back! I apologise for being so MIA recently, 24 hours in a day is clearly just not enough. Anywhooo so recently there was a new dessert craze that appeared in Chinatown. Yes that's right its N2. Call me slow or maybe but it took me a little while to work out that it stood for Nitrogen lol. Nitrogen Ice cream/sorbet is IN right now peeps.

Professors at work with their N2 formulating their ice cream

Antonio Sabia's Puntino Trattoria, Woolloomooloo

I think I may have found a a hidden gem within Woolloomooloo! You would think that there is barely anything or in fact nothing at all at the quiet end of Crown Street but ha, think again my friend. There is a small Italian restaurant towards the end of Crown Street but you pretty much feel like you are back at home as soon as you walk in. 

Grilled mushroom platter

Tokonama, Surry Hills

I have always been quite eager to check out Tokonama but never had the $$$ for it until I saw it on Spreets one day. Normally, I am a bit iffy with buying things from those discount voucher companies but hello!! it was Tokonama. Clearly there was no hesitation there as I slapped the transaction onto my credit card.

Scotch Fillet

Flour and Stone, Woolloomooloo

So for those that may have read my numerous jealous tweets would know that I have been dying to try out Flour and Stone for yonks. Like seriously, yonks. I was salivating at every Instagram upload of their lamingtons, tarts, doughnuts, blah blah blah. I am not the biggest fan of lamingtons but I've heard (even from people who usually dislike lamingtons) have said that it is the best they have ever tasted. So what was the verdict?

Pana Cotta Lamington - $6.50

Est, Sydney and some other recent food lovin'

Herrrroooo everyone! Yes, I am back! What's been happening peeps? Being away from facebook, twitter, instagram (@food_religion) and of course blogging, wasn't as weird as I had thought it might of been but coming back onto all these social network sites was slightly bizarre at first. Even the feeling of tweeting was so foreign.

p.s. Just a warning that this is a LONG post!

Anywhoo with all this MIA happening, I only recently found out with thanks to a friend of mine that Est. is currently doing a 2 course special for $65 (lunch or dinner, Monday to Friday). Offers ends next Friday, 10 August. 

Entree: grilled white scallops, pickled pear, winter purslane, foie gras, pedro ximenez - lentil vinaigrette

Chocolate Pretzel and Raspberry Brownies

For those that follow me on twitter (@food_religion) would know that I am a human with constant cravings. Generally it consists of yum cha, peking duck, steak, CHIPS, mash, hot pot, a cup of refreshing watermelon juice, dumprings, hot and sour soup and of course one of my all favourites, tom yum soup. 

Chocolate Pretzel and Raspberry Brownies - before going into the oven

Anyhow one day I woke up and had the biggest cravings for chocolate pretzels and an oozing slice of a choc fudge brownie. I thank my fellow food bloggers and my friends who haven't stopped making them or talking about them for the past few week!

The Rice Den, Chatswood

Yes, they are nem nuong san choy bows - your eyes not playing a trick on you. Nem nuongs aren't something I have often but each time I see it, read it or smell it, I must have it. One of the reasons why I don't have nem nuongs often because of its high fat content but because of the way it served, , it surprisingly tasted refreshing and 'healthy'. Nem Nuong and healthy? That's a juxtaposition right there!

Nem Nuong San Chow Bow - $8

Chefs Gallery, Sydney

A thank you to Yardley Kyling from Chefs Gallery and Thang Ngo from Noodlies for organising and inviting me to the launch of the Chefs Gallery new winter menu. I felt like I had collapsed and went to dumpling heaven and above me were several cute little angel piggies floating around awaiting to be eaten. Thou shall not squeal no more my oh so dear delicious piggies! buahahaha

Signature “Piggy Face” sesame bun and “Totoro" marsh-mallow arranged in an edible garden setting
beautifully presented and served with ice cream.

Eat Art Truck, Sydney

Sydney Food Trucks have one of the foodie hypes recently and I have been so jealous of my friends posting up their food truck dinners on their instagram. So there was really no other option but to get my red hot hands on one of these babies. I heart food street food, street food on wheels makes it so much fun.

Eat Art Truck

CoLunching at Miss Chu, Bondi

A thank you to Ricky Chong from Food Morning and Tracy Wang from CoLunching for inviting me to the CoLunching get together at Miss Chu. CoLunching seems to be quite 'hot' right now because it was even on the the Sydney Morning Herald recently. CoLunching is basically a real life social networking experience through dining so to me, it was like twitter or facebook but in 'real life'.

Left: Lychee, cucumber and mint crushed ice - $8.50
Right: Banana and mint crushed ice - $8.50

CoLunching allows you to meet a bunch of people (some new as well as some familiar faces) while trying out a new restaurant at each time.

Quay, Sydney

At this current moment in time, I don't even know what to say because my eyes are currently glued onto this orgasmic picture of the the famous snow egg created by Peter Gilmore at Quay. You have most likely seen it, watched about it, heard about it and of course been (and probably still) jealous about it! It was time for me to make others jealous =P

The famous Guava snow egg

Subway's Moroccan Menu

A thank you to Jasmine Jabbour from Hill and Knowlton Strategies for inviting me to take part in the launch of Subway's new Moroccan menu including the Moroccan Lamb and Mint Yoghurt dressing sub. Winter is here so it is time to find your snuggle buddy and feed on winter treats aka comfort food.

Belly Dancing at the launch of Subway's new Moroccan menu

Subway's Moroccan Lamb with Mint Yoghurt dressing 'is made with New Zealand lamb marinated in enticing Moroccan spices. It promises to deliver a punch of sultry new flavours to satisfy your cravings'. 

Cafe Sopra - Fratelli Fresh, Waterloo

I can't believe I am saying this and I know I am going to get a lot of 'I told you so' stares but yes peeps, I am taking back my words about CHEESE!! CHEESSSEEE!!! DO YOU HEAR ME? I said CHEESEEEEE!!

Feasting at Sopra

I used to hate cheese with a passion. Blame it on my stereotypical Asian genes or whatever but I would shiver at each moment I read or heard the the damn word 'cheese'. So what happened?

Momofuku Seiobo, The Star

So my work place recently put in place some new silly internet rules where we aren't allowed to go on any personal websites at all. First thing that came to my mind was.. oh crap! my precious booking at Momofuku Seiobo! Nevertheless, with will, there is always a way. I was super-uberly excited, I could not wait to get my paws on the dinner table and mannnnnnn, it was seriously one of the best dining experiences of my life! 

The famous pork belly steamed bun at Momofuku Seiobo

The Must Get Hot Pot List

As some of you may know - I am an ultimate fan of hot pot. If One Direction magically became a boiling pot with a lot of yummy fish balls instead of a band, then I would be one of those screaming girls out there in the crowd. Ok.. bad joke, I think these cold and flu drugs are getting to my head. 

There is no such thing in my dictionary as 'hot pot season' because I hotpot ALL YEAR ROUND. Yes! Call me crazy but I love the sweaty feeling while devouring into my precious little dumplings in the middle of summer (of course, the air con is turned on haha).

Getting the hot pot groove on

MOO Gourmet Burgers - Burger Party, Newtown

No, your eyes are not playing a trick on you. That is a burger with a measuring tape on a plate and on a set of scales, literally. I welcome you to the Burger Party at MOO Gourmet Burgers in Newtown. 

Beef avocado and Bacon Burger - $15.00
Scales and measuring tape by Food Scene

Baffi and Mo Expresso, Redfern

As some of you know I HEART my potato! Potato chips, Spanish potatoes, mash potato, hash browns, baked potatoes - oh em gee, the list goes on! So when I discovered Baffi and Mo, well more of their hash browns, I jumped into a car and rushed to their door steps - COME TO MOMMA!

Potato Stash with their signature hash brown

Kapai Puku, The Seed of Life

A thank you to Suzi Baker from Pokladot PR for delivering me packets of protein seeds from Kapai Puku, the seed of life. Seeds are a natural energy source so I hope these seeds can help give me an energy boosts at work during those long and painful hours in the afternoon at work. Hopefully my productivity may even increase LOL!

Top row (from the left): Original blend and tribal blend of seeds
Bottom right: Taki Bar - ultimate in detox and weight loss
$17.60 for a pack of 5

Kapai Puku 'which is dubbed 'The Seed of Life' is a 100% raw and will help to cleanse and exfoliate your intestinal tract.'

Fish Mongers, Bondi

Does Ocean Foods have a new competitor? Fair enough it isn't in the same or in fact anywhere near Drummoyne but I think Fish Mongers has the potential to give Ocean Foods a run for its money. It doesn't have as much variety as Ocean Foods but its signature trade mark 'kumera' aka sweet potato crisps are quite funky! I could so do with a bucket of them and their corn right now and I will be one happy chappy.

Seared Tuna with hand cut chips and sesame soy - $14

The ultimate foodie's tour guide to Hong Kong

So it was finally time I took a break and fly out of the country for a week or so. I couldn't tell which was more excited, my wardrobe or my stomach. Either way, that debate itself is a another story. Eating and shopping were my top two (and only) priorities so my aim was to fit as much food into my stomach and as much clothes/shoes into my luggage as possible within those 6 days. Thankfully, one naturally grows a second stomach when they are in Asia.

On the way to Hong Kong

Hello Fresh: Online Grocery Store

Some of us may agree that besides money, time is one of the more precious things in life. We can be so busy sometimes that we barely have time for ourselves or even to simply do the basic grocery shopping. It is because of reasons like such, there has been a growing trend in online grocery businesses where you can order your groceries online and have it delivered right to your door. 

Lemon and Garlic Chicken with Grilled Mediterranean Vegetables form Hello Fresh

'Hello Fresh aims to provide simple recipes and beautiful ingredients to allow people to prepare a healthy meal quickly after they get home'.

Chilli Jam Thai Restaurant, Concord

So when I talk about Thai food to others, people often ask me 'have you been to Holy Basil?' Thank goodness I can finally say yes or the other question would be 'have you been to Chilli Jam'. I always hear good things about it so I have been quite curious to check it out myself plus how can I ever say no Thai food?!

Pineapple Fried Rice - $19.90

Vivaz, The Rocks

A Brazilian BBQ restaurant that turns into a Salsa club is a first that I have heard. The restaurant had a very old school feel to it, even the decor and seating was old school - twas quite interesting. The first thing  I notice as soon as I stepped in was this mountain of alcohol all stacked up, maximising the table space and waiting for someone to come and drink it all..

Hello there

MaMa Ka'Z Banana Bread

A thank you to Abbie Thompson from Polkadot PR for delivering me this gigantic hamper filled with lots of baked goodies by MaMa Ka'Z. I am someone who isn't the biggest fan of bananas; I will eat it if I have to and when I visit a juice bar, I will always ask them to take out the bananas. Banana bread however is a completely different story.

Hamper of banana bread and muffins by MaMa Ka'Z

All of MaMa Ka'Z's products based on a secret family recipe are '100% natural with 100% real fruit, no preservatives and are made in Australia'. MaMa Ka'Z are 'constantly driving for delicious and nutritious ways to improve'.

Oreo Truffles - Valentines Day Special

So Valentines Day is coming up and as some of you may know, I am not that big of a fan of the day itself  (#FactNumberOne) BUT I decided to still whip up something special for you girls (or boys) that want to make something special for your man, partner, lover or whoever it may be. 

Oreo Truffles - Valentines Day Special

Holy Basil, Canley Vale

I have finally step foot onto the famous restaurant in Canley Vale, Holy Basil. I was finally here to try their famous fried ice cream. Everyone always raves on about it, people line for over 30 minutes for a table and half the times, their fried ice creams even run out. Is it really all that good and worth the wait?

Fried Ice cream - $13.90

Flavours of Peking, Castlecrag

Ok so I am a bit late in posting about CNY and all the food and festivities associated with it but I guess it is better late than never. Technically speaking, I am not that late because CNY is still on for another week or so. CNY to my friends and I translates to an excuse for us to pig out on a succulent peking duck aka a duck fest. Unfortunately the phone at Grape Garden Peking Restaurant didn't pick up their phone for numerous days (serious question - anyone know why?) but nevertheless, so long there would be duck, I can't complain.

Peking Duck

Tea 101 and Cone Pizza, Parramatta

So thanks to Chocolate Suze, I discovered the concept of having a pizza in a cone available at Tea 101 in Parra. It didn't matter if it tasted good or bad, I had to go myself to try it out myself for the novelty itself! They looked so cute and best of all, a cone was only $4.50, so you pretty much get a snack, a cone and the novelty all for under 5 bucks #WIN. 

Spicy Mexican Sausage Pizza with a lychee green tea bubble drink with pearls
2 cones with 1 drink - $12.00 value package

Suminoya, Sydney

All you can eat Yakiniku from $41 - $49

Dining at Suminoya was pretty much a 'meat fest'. For $41 to 49 for all-you-can-eat Yakiniku, how can it not be. The menu was quite extensive ranging from your typical beef and pork ribs, pork belly, beef loin, beef rib finger and so forth which is why the main thing I did all day was preparing my stomach for the ultimate feast.

Sydney Food Bloggers Picnic 2012

Ok wow.. so where do I even start with this. Thank you to Chococlate Suze and Grab Your Fork for organising the Sydney Food Bloggers Picnic and thank you mother nature for holding up the rain. A picnic with food bloggers translates to one.massive.food.fest for all our stomachs. 

Food fest for the Sydney Food Bloggers Picnic

Pappa Roti, Strathfield

Pappa who? Pappa roti. During my visit to the 2011 Sydney Noodle Markets, I discovered my new addiction for pappa roti's. It is basically a Malaysian crispy and fluffy buttery bun with a coffee coating on top. Approximately a bit over half a year ago, they opened up a new store in Strathfield which had made my weekends so much harder because I can never decide if I should give in or not.

And the challenge doesn't stop there; which flavour to choose?? There are so many to choose from.

Pappa Roti's with ferrero rocher and sesame ice cream

The Pantry, Manly

This was my first official meal of the new year so I was really hoping the food at The Pantry would live up to my expectations. I am not going to lie, it took so much effort to get there; running on only a few hours of sleep after celebrating NYE, the only thing I wanted to do at that point in time was to sleep in. However there was only 2 days of holidays left and the thought of that droolicious roasted spatchcock I saw on my friend's facebook album was enough to force my body to get up that morning. 

Roasted spatchcock - $29

Happy new year as we enter into 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Wow what a year 2011 had been.. I must admit 2011 did seem to drag on longer than previous years but man, December seemed to seriously fly by with a blink of an eye. I finally stepped out of my caveman world and into the true world of technology by getting myself a iphone 4S and FINALLY got convinced to set up a twitter account and a Facebook page. Feel free to follow me on my crazy eats by clicking HERE and HERE.

I know the equation won't make sense but somehow when you add the word iphone + twitter, I somehow found myself becoming a new addict on Instagram which has some what become my new daily SMH.