Raining Chaos

Category: Food

  • Wins hands down and tied behind back

    I was looking at Single Origin’s menu last night among other things, and discovered that their menu contained this home made creamed corn, avocado, tomato salsa and bacon toast thing. I haven’t had creamed corn in a long while, and the thought of it was just so tasty – as I love corn and food in general (but that’s obvious). I got so excited seeing their menu and giggling at the term “macerated” and how the only two times I’ve seen it have been about describing strawberries. It just sounds so messy and violent!

    Anyway, I’m always trying (and mostly failing) to save money, so I considered not ever trying this wonderfully nice sounding breakfast dish ($15)… but in the end I couldn’t resist. I rocked up and ordered it, since they do AMAZING takeaway – they make it just as pretty as if it were on a plate :), so in a way, not only do I get it for the taste, it’s just absolutely fantastic to look at as well. So I took it back to work with some awesome coffee, and proceeded to munch/hack away at my food. Wooooow creamed corn tastes SO GOOD! I really need to learn how to make some smashing creamed corn. The bacon was a little more cooked than what I was hoping for, i.e. it wasn’t crunchy but it wasn’t chewy either. While I generally prefer chewy, I figured that the contrast between the creaminess of the corn and avocado and the almost crunchiness of the bacon did well. However, I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that toast crusts are so annoying to cut with cutlery.

    Food and coffee made me very happy! When it comes to good coffee, they have a fair few rivals, but breakfast so far is unmatched by any other shop 🙂

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  • I am ultimate coffee nub

    So there’s this new coffee place that opened up pretty much right on Wynyard Station, called Double Barrel Coffee Merchants. They’re so new, there are hardly any reviews that I usually rely on before visiting. Plus, I’m the kind of person who has no idea what they are talking about, and almost everything I say is second hand.

    Anyway, so I decided to visit today and see if they were any good (and by any good I just mean shiny). They look just like any other small coffee outlet, though I think (? reinforcing here that I am nub) I saw a Clover. Anyways, I ordered a macchiato for some reason as a way to test out their coffee. Why I did this, I have no idea, considering I don’t know the first thing about them. What did impress me, even though I’m easily impressed, was that he poured it and then asked me, “is that short enough?” It was funny because I actually expected it to be shorter, as it looked like a significant amount of milk; he had made that simple heart-shaped coffee art with it. And when I had it, it was like BAM omg espresso, along with the milk. For some reason I’m just not used to drinking macs, I find they are oddly strong for a drink with tiny dash of foamy milk. But then again I’m terrified of ordering a ristretto since then the baristas would think I’m some kind coffee expert, which I’m not.

    That means I have to go get a flat white, since that’s what I’m used to getting and know how it’s supposed to be.

    The guy also offered me a coffee card, so now I have an even bigger wallet full of coffee cards XD

    One day I’m going to learn how to make coffee and buy myself a Giotto.

    COFFEE MONSTAAR

  • Sandwich in a box

    Hooray, I am now stocked full of Aesop and Lush! They smell very nice 😀

    I feel clean and good.

    Also, Two Black Sheep gave me a sandwich in a box! Cool!

    I also think I need a page where I can just spam photos 😀

  • Encasa Deli (and tower defense)

    So there’s this relatively new place that opened up in the city called Encasa Deli. I reckon it’s the little baby of the Encasa restaurant, which I’ve been to a few times. At first I didn’t actually go in as I wasn’t sure if they served food, and lunch breaks at work are too short (plus I eat super slow) for me to have investigated. However, I decided I had to go as I was getting more and more curious about the place. I love delis. It has a relatively small display cabinet full of stuff, but wow, olives, hams, sausages, cheese and fish! I really need to buy some stuff there. I’ve now bought their “Pa amb tomaquet” twice, which is basically a load of jamon slices on a tomato smeared baguette. That was sooooo delicious! I had to try it twice to make sure it wasn’t a once-off the first time.

    In fact, I think I converted a work colleague as he went there and loved their Pepito, which was an eye fillet with egg and some other stuff. He said it was really good and also impressed that they served paella after 12pm. I should one day try some of that too! And maybe buy 2 slices of one of their jamons which sells for $346 per kilo or something. Oh, and also to see their mini-grocery place in the back.

    In other news, I love tower defense games. They break my brain, and I bought Robo Defense for my phone too. Wheeeeeeeeee!

  • Welcome to the gingerbread family

    I would almost make an ice cream sandwich pun, but that would have been very bad.

    Went to Swallow this morning in the hopes of interesting nibbles. Alas, there was no fruit mince pie, but there was a gingerbread family to be had! It wasn’t until I got home and opened it that I realised that it was an entire family for real.

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  • QUAY

    Last night my brother, his friends and I went to Quay. Finally been to Quay! This post will probably contain some incoherent excitement, but whatever. Apart from needing to visit Rockpool, my eating life is complete…  almost.

    I had been called in on short notice because a friend of my brother’s had pulled out, and no one else could fill the spot. So what if I was secretly hoping I could go! Muahahaha. It was definitely an awesome experience, what made it even more interesting and eye opening was the differences between Quay and Tetsuya’s, and even Rockpool Bar & Grill since they’re the only really super fancy places I’ve been to. So this might even have a little bit of comparing between the restaurants, just because.

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  • Swallow + Skyrim bday goodness

    Swallow is an amazing little cafe. It has awesome kicking coffee, possibly as good or better than some of the cafes in the city! So strong and tasty, with good food too.

    And then my super crazy lovely boyfriend gave me Skyrim without warning, so now I have to play it too 🙂

    Also today in the city while I was trying to buy juice, some old man asked me if I had $4. I said no, so then he asked me if I had $3. I said no again, and went to buy my drink. Then, from the other side, some old lady approached and from what I heard, it sounded like she was asking the old man if he had $3. It was such a LOL moment! And also why I hate the city sometimes. The look when you refuse to give people money obviously shows they don’t need it in the first place.

    FIREBALL

  • I am so lucky….

    That lamb cutlets are tender 😀 I was freaking out, worried that I had overcooked them. It also didn’t help that I had three cutlets, and all were different thicknesses.  But they are suuuuper delicious and nice.

    I still can’t get over the fact that handmade butter tastes weird.

    I had some pepper and red wine beef sausages yesterday which were awesome. I was worried about undercooking them, but I think they ended up being just right.

    I’ve been getting up earlier than usual to feed the cat, open windows/blinds and cook some breakfast. I had bacon and egg this morning. ON A WEEKDAY. That was amazing. This whole looking after myself thing is difficult in terms of what to eat every night, but I also realised just how expensive I am haha – lamb cutlets, gourmet sausages, colourful tomatoes, handmade butter,  nice leafy greens, etc. It would be… difficult staying healthy on a budget. It’s interesting that when having to feed myself, I really focus on what nutrients I am getting. Vegetables actually taste nice, but I’m getting sick of making the same salad three days in a row. At least my meat is varied. Carbs are also difficult as I’ve been stuck with a giant loaf of olive bread that I can’t finish by myself.

    I’m thinking noodles tomorrow. Cold soba (or lukewarm) with soy sauce mushroom dip. Maybe.

    The cat is funny. I give it food, it nibbles at it, then meows at me. Well, it’s always meowing at me. Always wanting nicer food or something. Apparently he’s very fussy. Next time I’ll just toss him a leaf.

     

  • Hilarious Bombay Bollywood Bum Burner

    So today went out with work friends to dinner, since I pretty much never went to any outing except the half yearly ones. I had chosen an Indian restaurant that I’d see while on the train, which sold both savoury and sweet things. There was a lot of samosa, butter chicken and spicies! I also tried a spiced lemon drink which tasted like preserved prunes.

    I had only half-planned the whole thing since I wasn’t sure of numbers, people don’t read their emails, etc. Very impromptu but we ended up with quite a few people and everyone enjoyed it  🙂

    The highlight of the dinner was certainly the bum burner that makes you smile!

    http://www.jaipursweets.com.au/

  • Smoked trout bagel

    Also, this whole blog thing is only half done!

    However I went to Single Origin Roasters (because I could), spent way too much on a smoked trout bagel. I asked for a smoked trout bagel, and thought I was going to get a smoked trout bagel in a brown paper bag. Instead, THIS IS WHAT THEY GAVE ME:

    An amazing smoked trout on really awesome bagel with side salad IN A BOX IN A BROWN PAPER BAG.

    Made me super happy.

    <3 Single Origin lol