Hong Kong - Paramount Banquet Hall

You know, I just realised what perfect hangover food yum cha would be.

No, I didn't get drunk the night before (this time), but I know a couple of other friends who did in the group that I was with while I was in Hong Kong for the weekend. The next day, yum cha was organized for us, down an escalator (very high-tech Hong Kong, no stairs like Melbourne here!) and into what could almost be described as Vegas.

The room was a surprise to walk into, firstly it was absolutely gigantic. Like, huge. I'm amazed at how many tables could fit into one area and I'm also amazed that people would actually consider having their weddings in a basement, there were old wedding decorations (white feather boa hearts) scattered around for Mandy and Ben. Or something along those lines.

But yes, I do describe it as Vegas-esque, due to the size, the lack of windows, the bright gaudiness and those...chandeliers. But you know what? It's so typical Asian over the top tacky, that you know the food's gotta be pretty decent.

So what is this 'Yum Cha'? In Cantonese, it literally means 'Drink tea'. And well, you tend to do a lot of that. While eating dim sum dishes, in Hong Kong this is actually generally done as a breakfast activity, or a late breakfast or early lunch. It's supposedly done for afternoon tea as well, but I've never had it that late before.

Traditionally, restaurants doing Yum Cha, have the dim sum dishes piled onto a trolley and wheeled from table to table and the eaters then just point out what they want to eat. Although this tends to be a very dangerous case of eating with your eyes before your stomach! At Paramount though, the tables were left with a bunch of sheets to tick off which dishes you were interested in eating and then they magically materialize on your table! For those who don't speak or read Chinese, everything is listed in English as well!

So I can't really put the names behind everything here, yet again, it was pre-ordered for us, so I will just happily food porn away and point out a few of my favourites that we had. I promise, there was so much food, this is definitely not all the food we had!

Classic dim sum dish, a sheet of rice noodle wrapped around prawn, beef or char siew. In this case it was char siew. I love how soft and almost jelly-like the texture of the rice noodle is and then of course, punctuated with the saltiness of the meat.

Siu Mai, of course (Shrimp and pork dumpling)! Some Har gow was also floating around the tables at some point...

We had a massive array of steamed buns continously float onto the table, whilst I did not indulge in what looked like lovely, white, fluffy buns, I saw different fillings in the centre whilst different people were eating them. There was the typical pork filler and I think there may have been one or two sweet ones, if all reports were accurate!

Eggplant and pork.

Spring rolls (again, of course!), not devoured by me, but they looked really crisp and not too oily.

Calamari and some glass rice noodles, this wasn't such a hit with me, the calamari was a little tough and I think I like my more standard dumpling dishes. Unless it's beef tendon. Mmhmmmmm.

I thought these sized sticky rice dishes were so cute, I'm used to seeing much bigger, my grandma does them about twice the size! These looked like you could pop them down in two bites!

Phew. There be a lot of food y'all. I was actually kind of amazed at how much I ended up eating, but then at the same time, I was amazed at how much food was left! It made me so sad to see so much delicious food left untouched!

So overall? It's a bit crazy, it's noisy, it's a lot of food, it's a lot of people who have no idea what I'm asking for since I'm a fail Asian, but it's a lot of good fun too.

Paramount Banquet Hall

LG, South Seas Centre

75 Mody Road

TsimShaTsui

Hong Kong

Hong Kong - Al Pasha

Hi Hong Kong! I'm so excited to see you! Let's go eat....Middle Eastern?

Yeah, I know strange choice, but I was with a group of 30 young adults from around South East Asia for an amazing event and this place was chosen by a local.

After multiple, rather squishy elevator rides later, we found ourselves cautiously stepping through the dimly lit entryway of Al Pasha, bewildered by the patterns, the lighting, the sounds! Belly dancer coin sashes, wrapped around the hips of the waiters, nosily chiming away. Are men supposed to wear those things...? We were guided to one long table inside, and two large square seating areas outside, decked out with cushions, making me feel like I was in a harem...

The food came out promptly, I apologise for not correctly and fully naming everything, I was going to sneak away a copy of the menu that was on our tables but naturally, forgot to. I know you all forget to do things when you're socializing with 30 other people!

We started with a lovely fresh arugula salad, with cherry tomatoes, which I absolutely adored, so juicy, and some gorgeous candied walnuts on top. I loved the sweetness it added and the crunch, I love a bit of texture in my food.

Following this we had a selection of pastry parcels, one filled with vegetables (I apologise again for the vagueness), one filled with ox tail and something....which was my favourite and another with chicken (I'm pretty sure anyway). The filo pastry used was so thin, light and crusty, not too oily at all. I also recall the ox tail being oddly sweet, odd, but very nice.

Lamb and chicken kebabs with some sort of pepper....but whatever it was, delicious! Although to be honest since they weren't served on sticks they didn't really seem like kebabs to me...I guess they were probably cooked on the sticks. Shame they couldn't do more with the presentation. However! The chicken and lamb were cooked perfectly and the pepper added so much flavour! Terribly, terribly moorish! The pepper did add some spicyness, but not enough to be burning the mouth (which let me continue to stuff my face until the mains came out...)

I don't remember eating this! However, I do remember everyone around me liked it.

Chicken! The flavours of this reminded me of sweet and sour pork honestly, quite sweet, although without the thick batter you tend to find on sweet and sour pork.

Minced duck, this was one of my favourite dishes of the night, the duck was so flavoursome, there were so many onions and pinenuts in it. Again, texture, texture and flavour! I assumed it was supposed to be eaten with the sesame bread thing on the side there, but it was so lacking in flavour and really bland. I suppose it might compliment the duck, but I ended up just taking my spoon and dunking it into the serving plate and eating straight from that!

At some point in the night, at the point where everyone has their food, their drink, is well fed and flushed red with wine or beer or spirits...or whatever your poison may be, the music turns up.....

And the belly dancers come out to bust a move. It's an absolute hoot to watch them sashay their hips about, their hands making delicate, fluid gestures, with great big smiles on their faces. They circle around the room, trying to pull whoever is game, or has had too much to drink, to join them in the middle of the room and try to pick up a hip shake or two.

As I said prior, it's absolutely hilarious. Especially when the boys get up, don the chiming coins and shake what their momma gave em!

So for a fun night out, whilst it may not have been what I was craving upon first arriving in Hong Kong, with a group of fun friends, Al Pasha is so much fun. The food's pretty awesome too.

Al Pasha

Shop 401, Level 4, K11

18 Hanoi Road

Tsimshatsui

Hong Kong

Pho Dzung Tan Dinh

I had a friend from Malaysia quietly let me know on facebook that she was going to be in Melbourne for the weekend and wanted to see if I was free to catch up.

Well of course I was! And when I heard she was staying near Chapel Street, I was all the more excited! What amazing gastronomical adventure shall I take her to?

It's funny though, what a horribly cold and rainy spring day will do to you, that and the fact that she had studied in Melbourne in her high school years and had vague memories of the place and wanted to go back to the places she remembered.

On her little tourist map of Melbourne she pointed to Victoria Street.

She was in the mood for pho.



I'll admit to being a bit of a snob, I can't help but love trendy, new places. I love cafes with their city crowd and chic coffees. I love dining out at Western places to be frank. I of all people, for example, would probably never think of suggesting of going to Chinatown for a cheap eat.

But I will follow family to Victoria Street, I do take friends suggestions if they are in the mood for it, because at the end of the day, I know it's tasty stuff. And I can't fully deny the Asian in me.

Particularly on a day when winter is trying to creep back way too early!



Pho Dzung, is probably one of the better known Pho places along Victoria Street, also having a shop in the city (although I like this one better). At 6:30pm on a (have I mentioned cold?) Sunday night, the place was almost full to the brim with a generous sampling of people, busy clamoring away, slurping at soups and creating a nice lively buzz.





Whilst you can get rice dishes and an assortment of other things, why, oh why would you get anything other than the pho? Beautiful piping hot soup with a very generous serving of thick rice noodles that go down a treat. I know the favourite tends to be the rare or braised slices of beef, but I'm a fiend for tendon. Just quietly, I honestly wish they would do a tripe and tendon combination, mmmmm!

It had been a while since I last ate pho and I was almost surprised at how easily it all went down, the soup was just delicious, especially when one added a hint of chilli, lime and mint.

The sizes here are extremely generous and a small size is more than enough! At $7 (I think) it's an exceptionally reasonable price for a very filling meal! Have you guys ever seen the large? The bowl's probably big enough to go bobbing for apples in, seriously.

Pho Dzung Tan Dinh
208 Victoria St
Richmond, 3121

Jet Setting! Ashley's travelling again!

Hi guys! I've still got one more Melbourne based blog to get up (which will hopefully be sometime within the next week...), but tonight, I'm jetsetting off to Hong Kong for a few days, followed by Malaysia for 10 days or so!

So whilst this will mean exciting new posts of far off exotic lands, oodles of noodles and spicy to the extreme, my posts may or may not be a bit sporadic and/or far and few between. But don't worry, I promise when I do update I will have plenty of food porn for all!

<3

Jones the Grocer

It's a Saturday.

It's grey, it's cold, it's rainy.

It's Melbourne. Although it's still better than London.

The masses endeavored to get out of the boredom of the house, but not get caught in the rain.

So naturally, Chadstone it is!

Brad and I had some specific things to pick up, toy guns from the reject shop and blue hair spray. Yup, halloween party was on the agenda. He was evil Woody from Toy Story and I was zombie Flounder from the Little Mermaid. But that's another story.

We strolled around the mall, occasionally (or a little more than) bumping into the squillions of people that seemed to be there. It gets pretty tiring, so I was very excited to take Brad to one of my favourite spots in Chadstone for a little coffee break.









Jones the Grocer looks like it could have come off the cover of Vogue Entertainment and Travel. You could be in someone's very clean, traditional made modern kitchen with the shelves of gourmet products for sale, looking like a very well stocked pantry. And a cheese room. Did I mention a cheese room?

I'm always really relaxed when I come in here, there's something about how bright the place is, how airy, how clean, even when it's doom and gloom outside, there's always a sunny disposition in here.

There is a fairly extensive selection, other than what is in the pantry obviously! A nice selection of breakfast-y options, lunch options, drinks and a gorgeous display of desserts varying from macarons to rocky road to cakes and tarts. Jones the Grocer is where I lost my baked eggs virginity and gosh, they do them beautifully. The sweetcorn cakes are just lovely as well.

We were just here for a mid-afternoon coffee this time. (Sadly!)











Latte, chai latte and a giant coconut macaron.

I felt like our lattes took a while, considering the place was pretty quiet. Never mind that but also I sadly felt like my chai latte was too weak. It was quite milky, although fortunately since it was a cold day, hot milk is still very soothing.

When I went to investigate the dessert selection, I couldn't help but notice the macarons. They were absolutely giant! I was skeptical, but couldn't resist and indulged in a coconut one. A bit airy, as to be expected, but the texture wasn't too bad otherwise and the cream between was just lovely. Great coconut flavour as well. Even if they weren't the best, I was contendeda and nommed away quite happily.

Whilst my chai fell a little flat, this is one of the places I would come back to as the atmosphere just draws me in.

And after a beautiful afternoon, Brad and I trotted on home (or dashed through the rain to the car) and made ourselves perfectly gruesome for Halloween. We were at a 'Disney Doom' party! Hope you guys all had fun on Halloween too! (Or at least had lots of sweets!)

Jones the Grocer
1341 Dandenong Rd Chadstone Shopping Centre
Melbourne, 3145

Shakahari

Just off a bustling Lygon Street, a street with a rather loud personality, opposite an always full Brunetti's, is an unsuspecting and modest little house (surprising considering it is bright orange). It's easy to miss, like a lot of Melbourne cafes and restaurants, but naturally once in, it's usually not what you expect from the outside! I sort of expected a slightly more Indian-esque interior, but it's really very simple and well, very orange.

Shakahari is one of Melbourne's vegetarian instutitions, having been around for over 18 years. The menu definitely has a slight Asian skew to it, but there is variety, with some fairly experimental and innovative dishes, along with some fairly basic and easy to love dishes (spaghetti etc. etc.). We were here for a friend's birthday, who has been vegetarian for quite some time and could not stop praising the food.

So I was quite excited!





We got a few starters to share, the 'Avacado Magic' captured my imagination. Did I forget to mention they have a great assortment of gluten free menu items as well? Avocado wedges and red capsicums, rolled in thin eggplant slices then 'Tempura' fried in a rice batter, served with a jade green sesame coriander puree. Apparently a signature dish and I can certainly see why. It's almost like a vegetable sushi deep fried....lots of interesting textures, the tempura batter was tasty and just beautifully crunchy. Inside the batter and eggplant, the avocado and capsicum retained their original soft texture and added a nice sweetness. Quite an interesting dish!





Another gluten free starter for sharing, the Chia, Buckwheat, Besan Trio. Crusty flatbread made of chia seed, buckwheat flour and chickpea flour. Served with a tangy, coriander and almond coconut dip. The flatbread wasn't so crusty as I somewhat hoped for, but the dip (more like a spread) was just to die for, I just wanted more!



The birthday boy and David went for the 'Satay Shakahari', deep fried skewers of beancurd, seitan, onion and capsicum with a mild peanut sauce. Served with pickles, blanched greens and tumeric rice. I hadn't even realised these were deep fried when I helped myself to some of David's! It was really light and not particularly oily. And honestly, who doesn't love a good peanut sauce? Mmmmmm.



The birthday boy's brother went with the green, green laksa, with a buckwheat and wheat mixed noodle, lots of vegetables and a coconut broth. Beautiful and warming, the brother was complaining slightly that it wasn't really spicy and it didn't quite have the bite, but for most people I think it would be just enough. Great flavours, although don't have this if you like your super traditional Malaysian laksa!





I opted for the 'Tokyo Awaken', unpolished red rice cooked with riso, diced kombu and vegetables. Served with a spinach and mashed tofu salad, ponzu braised pumpkin, leeks and daikon. Ah, so refreshing, I adore, adore, adore wild rice and it's not something you come across too often. I always fail at trying to describe the texture (what adjectives would you guys use...?) but I love the nuttiness and the flavour, there's so much more complexity to it than just regular rice. The spinach salad wasn't too excited, but I loved the flavours in the braised pumpkin and daikon. A very refreshing, healthy and tasty combination.

Service I felt was a little bit hit and miss, it took a while to get anyone's attention to get drinks, the first girl I managed to get to notice us, promptly told us she'd get the person looking after our table to attend to us. However, once we had our waiter's attention, he was quite courteous and the food came out very promptly. I'd describe the service as a bit casual and unpolished, but it doesn't damper the experience too much.

My friend made the comment that Shakahari is really the only vegetarian 'restaurant' in Melbourne. Yes, there are places that do, do vegetarian pretty well and yes there are lots of cute cafes or smaller places (like Yong Green Food) that do vegetarian well. But they're not quite under the same umbrella as a 'restaurant'. Which is a shame, Shakahari proves it vegetarian can be very innovative (the salad selection on the menu only had two items on it), satisfying and enjoyable.

Shakahari
203 Faraday St
Carlton, 3053