Eggs Benedict Challenge! Part 1

I fancy myself a connoisseur of Breakfast. To me, there is no better meal.  The bitter irony is that I often don't eat it because I'm don't get hungry until about 10am regardless of how early I wake up and by that time I'm well into my working day. It gives me great pleasure therefore, to linger over a delicious breakfast on a Saturday or Sunday morning when I don't have to worry about making it to work on time!

My breakfast of choice is Eggs Benedict. Perfectly poached eggs with gooey runny yolks, savoury ham and a toasty English muffin, with lashing of buttery golden hollandaise. I base my opinion of Brunch spots based on the standard of their Eggs Benedict. It's such a simple dish, but it can go so wrong. So far I have tried out 3 places, with varying success.

1. The Green Refectory, Brunswick 6/10

I found the cafe a little too hipster for my taste. There is a difference between rustic and just plain dirty. Our table number was....a computer. I fucking hate hipsters.

 It was crowded and the staff were indifferent. The food quality in general is decent, the serving portion generous and the price unbeatable ($10 from memory?). The muffin, ham and hollandaise were excellent, but the yolks were rock hard. DISAPPOINTING.

 

 

2. Cafe Republic, South Yarra 1/10

 

This was an impulse breakfast on the way to an appointment. I had some time to spare and I liked the look of the barista (ahem). The set out of the restaurant is definitely my style. Lots of dark wood, white walls and huge open windows. The Eggs Benedict however, a DISASTER. Firstly, it was served on brioche, not an English muffin. I don't understand the hype about Brioche. It's sweet, but the texture is kind of spongy without being soft. The eggs and ham were supermarket quality, and the hollandaise actually left me feeling nauseous. NEVER AGAIN.

 

3. Signature, North Melbourne 7/10

 

Best Eggs Benedict so far, but not quite there yet. The English muffin was toasted just right, the ham fresh and the eggs were free range/organic and perfectly poached! It was delicious...but not amazing.

 

 



Alas....the hunt continues.

Wish me Luck

Izakaya Den

Friends from Perth L and A came for the weekend.

We were originally going to have dinner at Chin Chin (Flinders Lane) but having been told there was an hour and a half wait (on a Monday night no less!), we decided to hop over to Izakaya Den.

It's impossible to find, which is half the fun and makes you feel inordinately cool - like you have the key to a special secret! It's a quiet, romantic, unique atmosphere with low lighting and a warm intimate feel despite the industrial chic decor. Definitely a perfect date spot or a place to bring people you want to impress!

It's Izakaya style, which means you can choose from a wide selection of sake and beers and enjoy freshly made before your eyes fusion Japanese tapas style food to go with your beverage of choice.

The speciality of the house is the Sweet Corn Kaki Age. I won't say too much, only that you MUST try it!

The other win for us was the mysterious Japanese Den Trifle. It is made of burnt sugar ice cream, green tea mouse, warm mochi (rice balls) and what we think was roasted rice. It was definitely delicious, but I think a Western palate or at least one that is no accustomed to Japanese flavours might find it a bit strange to taste.


Izakaya is a very special way of dining, and those looking for a cheap meal with large portions should not come here!

Between the three of us we had 7 dishes and 2 drinks, and it came out to just under $40 each. You go away with all of your taste buds utterly satisfied, but not stuffed beyond hope. Which is the way it should be!

Good Luck finding it! www.izakayaden.com.au

Cucina by Candlelight

Firstly apologies for crappy photos. There's only so much a camera phone can do.

Another pleasant dinner with M tonight, this time at Caffe e Cucina on Chapel St. It's an long running establishment that has seen the likes of David Beckham, and serves up Italian fare (obviously) in an intimate setting. Think candlelight, white tablecloths, and 'authentic' Italian waiters.

The first entree was a cheese stuffed zucchini flower battered and deepfried. Moreish and tender - I confess I had no idea that zucchinis had flowers but I'm sure glad they do!

 

Second entree was calamari and rocket salad with creamy house dressing. Drizzled liberally with lemon, it was in a word: amazeballs.

For mains, M went with the Tortiglioni al ragu siciliano which is cherry tomatoes, eggplant ragu and ricotta. I had the lamb loin and potato gratin. The lamb was nicely cooked and the sauce full of herbs but the potato gratin failed to inspire.

Dessert alas was also a slightly unfortunate affair. I all fairness we probably should've stuck to Italian classics like Tiramisu and Pannacotta but I was looking for something a bit different! M and I shared a chocolate mousse with spiced pears, and lemon scented cream filled profiterole drenched in cream.

 

Both were oddly spiced. The mousse was as good as anything one might whip up at home, and the aniseed taste of the pears wasn't for me. The lemon scented cream in the profiterole reminded me of lemon scented household cleaner. Not. Very. Good.

 

The service was polite, but not particularly snappy. There were three staff manning a small upstairs dining room so I would've expected them to be more attentive. They were however, very friendly and I could almost forgive them because of their rather charming accents. Almost.

 

As for prices, well you don't come here unless you're willing to spend about three times as much as a normal nice dinner but it's not exhorbitant. The music doesn't suit the mood of the restaurant (Stevie Wonder anyone?) and it's intimate (read: close proximity to your neighbours) but lacking privacy.

 

I'd rate it a cool 6/10.

 

It was good, but I've certainly enjoyed better for less but I think I would still return, stick to a main serving of the calamari and go around the corner to Ganache Chocolate for dessert.

 

PS. I have to make a shout out to my dining companion M's necklace. Bought in Soho, New York - it's totally badass as far as jewellery is concerned:

 

 

Find them at: 581 Chapel St, South Yarra

http://www.caffeecucina.com.au/menu

Dinner in Prahran with M

I spent the evening with my friend M. M and I met while we were touring around the US and Canada. After a drink at The Wolf and I, we crossed the road to have dinner at Patee Thai.

The upper level of the restaurant is furnished in a faux traditional Thai style (complete with a large portrait of what I think is the Thai sovereign) and dimly bathed in a rosy pink light. You remove your shoes, and sink down onto comfortable floor cushions beside a low wooden table to enjoy you feast. It occurred to both of us, that with the great lightning and the intimimate atmosphere that this would be a great date spot!

 

We ordered the Chicken Satay and Prawn Springrolls for entree, and then a Green Chicken Curry and Beef with Oyster Sauce. The rice was served in cute patterned silver bowls. All the dishes were tasty, with a little kick of chilli in the curry and the satay.

 

But the real champion of the night was the Coconut and Banana waffle served with icecream, syrup and vanilla ice cream. The waffle was soft and sweet, and complimented perfectly by the orange slices. Definitely something to return for!

It's a little more than one might expect to pay for Thai Food, but it was worth it for the atmosphere, the polite efficient service and the delicious moreish food.
                         
Rating: 9/10!
Website: http://www.pateethai.com.au/

Jane Austen is my homegirl

It is a truth universally acknowledged....that I am awesome.

I recently received my marks back for the Jane Austen module I did while attending summer school at King's College London. I got 70% which is a 1st (highest grade) for an essay I did over the course of a day and a half, and for which I did very little research and a lot of my own analysis. Not because I am a genius, but because I was too lazy to do research.

I am inordinately proud of myself for doing well, and the fact that I still have the chops to write a killer English Lit essay. A feat I was famed for throughout my Year 12 high school career.

I had to brag to my friend T who is also a delightful Lit Nerd as well as a genius Bio Scientist and she recommended that now I am an Official Jane Austen Nerd with credentials I should have some sort of badge. Booyah!

Fly Away

As I looked through the aeroplane window, I caught a mauve and pink sunset view of Perth city and the Swan River. It faded as a drizzly storm cloud moved across, cloaking the city.

A few days before, walking around my university and then taking the bus home, filled me with a bit of nostalgia. But you get nostalgic for the past, it doesn't mean you want to revisit it.

Melbourne isn't home yet - it will take a long time for that to happen - but I love that I don't know my way around, and that I can get lost. Melbourne is full of textures, fascinating hidden gems, and people - people people people - that I don't know and who don't know me.

For now that's rather blissful. I'm sure I'll be yearning for company soon enough. I'm not meant to be alone forever. But one step at a time is all I have to think about now. So good bye Perth - Watch Out Melbourne.

Northeastern US and Canada Moustache Trip

My plan had been so blog while I was travelling in North America but technology turned against me and so it was not to be.

Initially, I felt crushed and my creativity hindered. My urge to blog and show off is strong - which is a good thing because it means I was inspired.

This trip took me out of my comfort zone in an entirely mild way - but it helped me to understand that people are different to me. I know that sounds ridiculously basic - liberal thinking 101 - but it's true - I might still not agree, but I can at least begin to understand. This does not apply more aptly to any situation as it does to me and American Culture.

I travelled from New York City, to Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Bar Harbor Maine, Boston. It was a long roadtrip - the sort I love - a group of wonderful people - and innumerable one off experiences that I never would've tried if I had been travelling by myself.

In any case, I thought I would share a few highlights -

Meeting up with my friend Jin who I haven't seen in years, and talking like we saw each other the day before (true friendship)

Seeing the Statue of Liberty (for free on the Staten Island Ferry) - bucket list moment!

Getting drenched at Niagara Falls

Walking out onto the glassfloor of the CN Tower (more than 500ms up in the air) in Toronto - had to close my eyes and throw my heart over. Terrifying, but I'm game to tackle the Eureka Tower now ;)

Meeting a Mountie in Ottowa

Eating in pitch black served by my vision impaired waitor Matthieu with a fantastic sense of humour and cute accent, at O'Noir in Montreal - best experience of my life (and thought-provoking as well)

Quebec's free public Art (Image Mill, Cirque du Soleil under a highway bridge) speaks to a city which values the cultural education of it's residents but the highlight for me in Quebec City was the maple syrup icecream - Hands. Down.

Eating my weight in lobster in Bar Harbor

 

 

And shopping and acting the Harvard student in Boston

 

 

My Cons and I have traversed many many miles - but as always the further I walk, the more I realise I still have to explore...

 

Taken near Mont Royal Montreal

 

last london post

I really hesitated about how I was going to write this last London post. In truth, I did hardly anything of note today. I got off the train at Covent Garden and just...walked around for a couple of hours. No rampant photo-taking because I just wanted to enjoy the sunlight. When I got tired I sat in a cafe and read my book while sipping tea. I thought perhaps I should do something special to round off my first day in London but my plans fell through with a friend and I find myself back at the hotel, watching television.

To be honest, I think my satisfied lethargy comes from the feeling of having done what I came to do. Everything on my list has been ticked off, completed with efficiency and thoroughly enjoyed. I've had the best time - met some wonderful people and gotten quite a lot braver! Really, I don't know why I was so nervous about doing things on my own in the first place?

I'm not exactly looking forward to going home - Perth is still not the place I want to be (sorry), but London and I must part ways...for now.

Update:

So I'm home now. I'm feeling ambivalent. Home is a return to reality - I'm not ready for that! But I'm off to Canada soon, and then Melbourne. So I will enjoy being home with my family while I have the chance. It is basically the last chance I will have to be Ashlee, At Home.

My mother asked me what my favourite thing about London was. I didn't say the shopping or the food. In truth, it was London itself - the city. It is saturated in history - layer upon layer of people, their feelings, their lives. That's what I love the most.

I learnt early on, to always look up in London. You never know what you will see - whether it's some beautiful street art or installation, or whether it's just the way the light plays against the building or the water or it's some beautiful heritage facade above a kebab shop. I went for weeks going past these buildings on the way to college, without realising that if I had turned ten degrees to the right I could see Big Ben through the London Eye - a sudden and fleeting view between two non-descript buildings which made my heart soar.

London always surprises me - in little ways - the ways I love best. I'll be back, don't you worry. But there's a lot more surprises for me to discover out there. So for now, Home - and all the warmth and relaxation that comes with that.

posh totty

So firstly, this is what I was supposed  to do today. I was suppose to get up early, and take the train to visit Miss Ella in Greenwich where I would no doubt have had a wonderful day and taken lots of pretty pictures. Further, I really should've gotten into the Olympic spirit and braved the crowds to watch the Opening Ceremony on one of the many big screens throughout London.

Alas, a bad night's sleep and bone idleness killed that dream before it had time to take its first breath.

I didn't actually remember until after 2 o'clock that I had already booked tickets a couple of weeks ago, to a play that evening. I was kicking myself for my overzealousness because all I wanted to do was curl into a ball under my doona. But no, I would not waste more of my day than I already had so I pulled my socks up and tubed it to Leicester Square to watch 'Posh' at the Duke of York's Theatre.

It's 2 hours and 45 minutes of quite attractive boys with posh accents, in coat tails being very very naughty.

Do I have a type, or do I have a type?

It has received very good reviews, and puts me in mind of 'History Boys' (which I loved!) - except made a little more repulsive for their long speeches on how much they 'hate poor people'. A lot of it was just so shocking that I spent the majority of the play with my mouth open (no rude jokes please).

Throw in some accapella versions of Labrinth, Tinie Tempah, Maroon 5 and LMFAO songs and I'm a really happy girl.

With a title like 'Posh' you know it's going to be a commentary on class in modern British society etc - to be honest I really just went because this guy's in it:


 

To use the local venacular:

PHWOAR.

Tom Mison - you is well fit.



Oh, and this was dinner....tiramisu and a cuppa while I read a Stephen Fry book.

I'm now at the hotel watching a show about tiny animals - at some point I've got to turn over to the Opening Ceremony....

I think I saw the Olympic Torch go by?

Okay, so I'll be honest today was fairly boring. I spent a couple of hours at the British Museum. It's not my favourite - only because I only have a smattering of interest in the Ancient World. I always was more of an 18th C girl. A few ancient roman goddesses and a mummy and that was it for me.

Then, off to Bond Street to do a little bit of expensive gift buying. Not telling who for, but chances are...it wasn't for you haha....

 I realise now it is useless to dissemble in regards to my shopping habits. The fact of the matter is I bought another pair of shoes despite my constant whinging about having no luggage space. I am a drama queen with a very small shopping problem. I probably shouldn't have bought them - they've got velcro straps on them for fuck sake - but they just seemed so badass and spaceboot like I just had to have them. Plus, they were only about $30 AUD, so I can probably look forward to wearing them for a whole two days before they fall apart.

Anyway, I was coming out of the store on Oxford st, when something a little bit exciting (I guess) happened.

I have very little interest in the Olympics in general. I didn't even consider it when I was planning my trip to London and when I realised I would be here for the festivities, it only garnered consideration in relation to how much inconvenience it would cause me.

I stopped on the stairs just short of street level, perplexed as I was by the sudden swarm of people who had appeared. Now Oxford St is crowded at the worst of times - the sheer number of people filled me with utter dread that something terrible had just happened.

Of course when I saw everyone with their phones out, frantically taking pictures, I craned my neck and saw to be sure - the back end of the torch relay. So I had seen the torch go past for a second time entirely by accident.

The first time was the other day, I was going into the Tube  and I only now realise that in fact I did see the torch then as well. There was very little fanfare and I didn't recognise the torchbearer so I thought it was some publicity/advertising jag. Now I think about it, I highly doubt the Olympic er...committee(?) would allow such a thing.

Anyway, I thought nothing of it and tried to get on a train at Marble Arch only to find that the City of London thought it would be hilarious to close off that tube station because of the torch relay, therefore sending everyone to the next station Bond Street - resulting in a bottle neck effect. I mean really, doesn't it make sense to spread everyone the fuck out? Anyway, it only really added about 10 more minutes to an already short journey home.

See, told you today was boring...

fossilise me!

Firstly, I know my titles are getting decidedly less coherent and/or witty but there is an end to my creative genius. Bear with me.

I'm grinning like a fool right now.

I swear I didn't plan that.

Anyway, today I spent the afternoon in a very lonely (although very enjoyable) fashion, wandering around the V&A and the Natural History Museum at South Kensington.

I had way too much fun at the NHM.

I went specifically to see the Inside Out Animal exhibition - by the same guy who did the plasticination of people a few years back. I was both morbidly fascinated, and nauseated by all that...flesh. Especially since there were cross-sections of many of the animals which put me in mind of deli meat. Yeah...I actually feel a little queasy thinking about it right now.

I find taxidermy deeply disturbing, not least because I swear the animals are looking at me sadly and judging. When posed in a way to make them seem like they're mid-thought (yes, thought) it is downright unnerving.

Oh look Noah, it's the whole fucking Ark...

Stop looking at me!!

On the other hand, I've never quite lost my childhood fascination with dinosaurs (The Land Before Time anyone?) so I had an absolute ball of a time in the dinosaur exhibit!

Even the tacky animatronic t-rex was wonderfully entertaining!

Mr Darwin! Evolution is sexy....

Homo Erectus. And look, he's chinese!

Yes, I am puerile. But you're smiling too aren't you?

Big tree (why the hell would you cut this down??) - the rings are marked with the big moments in human history. Utterly, utterly awesome...

Sounds like something out of Harry Potter. Desperately want to know what's being this door!

Bit of lunch:

Bought this brass skeleton hand bangle - isn't is delightfully creepy?

Then onto the V & A. My favourite museum in the world - sure I love the sculptures, paintings and the (stolen) exotic treasures from all over the 'Empire' but really, I'm all about the historical BLING.

Okay, it's not just me right - THIS LOOKS LIKE ALEC BALDWIN!

 
Uncanny!!

The building feels like an endless maze full of wonders so I spent a happy couple of hours picking up pieces for my future home. I've got my eye on this lovely Regency chaise lounge in particular ;)

Bought some cherry earrings - loved them so much had to put them on straight away!

Then to dinner with pretty Miss Jill and gorgeous Mama Kath. Learnt much about America over dinner. Realised I should read more widely because I'm depressingly ignorant in general. I didn't think in London that I'd make friends who I would be willing to engage with outside of facebook but I was very lucky :) Love you guys!

All in all, fun day. As much as you I love you all in Perth, it makes the thought of coming home just that little bit more painful.