Sunshine

Foodies Usher in The Year of Tiger

2010-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year 2010 auspiciously falls on 14 February on Valentine's Day! A Double celebrations for to usher in the year of Tiger & LOVE! A group of food blog friends got together at the House of Tang, One Bangsar to celebrate both occasions.

left to right: Jess, Lionel, Mei Yee, Bok, Coco, Sunny, Xin and Shirl

This lovely Chinese New Year celebration was organised by Sidney of Bigboysoven.com and hosted by House of Tang, One Bangsar.

House of Tangs, One Bangsar
A fantastic location for the Chinese New Year celebration

For the celebration of Love, Newly weds Lionel & Mei Yee, good friends Jess, Bok, Coco, Sunny & Xin created a lovely Valentine's Day picture.

The Cheongsam "Leng Loi" Mei Yee in Carven Ong's yellow silk cheongsam with matching green handmade floral embroidery and Coco in her own white silk cheongsam with lovely pink floral print.

Especially to usher in the Year of Tiger,

Pastry Chef Sunny Yaw of Bigboysoven.com

surprised everyone with his creative and delicious cupcakes!

Creatively delicious cupcakes..Yummy!

Pastry Chef Sunny Yaw and his lovely Chinese New Year's cupcakes. A must have!

"Yee Sang" an auspicious Chinese New Year dish, symbolise "Lou Hei" -Prosperity a must have on the Chinese New Year menu for both lunch or dinner.
(Yee Sang served by House of Tang)

Fresh Salmon is the most popular fish, main ingredient

in serving the"Yee Sang" dish

Master Chef Koh personally prepared the "Yee Sang" dish for everyone

"Yee Sang" is ready for "Lou Hei"

Let's "Lou Hei"!
Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Wealthy Chinese New Year!

Togetherness, Dining and Wining is an important Chinese New Year culture to celebrate the occasion.

Prawn, symbolise "He Ha Tai Siew" means Happiness for the new year.

Master Chef Koh and his culinary team at House of Tang prepared a lovely Chinese New Year dinner for everyone.

Baked Pork Ribs

Chrysanthemum Rice Cake

Dessert time! These deliciously creative cupcakes

by Pastry Chef Sunny Yaw of BigBoysOven.com

were lovely to complete the Chinese New Year menu.

left to right: Ken - www.foodpoi.com, Alex - www.foto-memoire.com,

Andrew - www.travelfoodies.com and Chai - www.mypixelgallery.com

The creative photographer team who were behind the scene producing these fantastic shots for everyone! Here are more photos of everyone

Coco

Sunny Yaw

Lionel

Bok

Mei Yee

Jess

"Kung Fu Masters" in action

left to right: Bok a.ka. "Fok Lin Kap", Lionel a.ka. "Hong Hei Kun" and Sunny a.k.a "Wong Fei Hung"

One for the Finale! JUMP!

Everyone had a fantastic time at House of Tang, One Bangsar!

A special appreciation and thanks to:

Host: Sidney - www.bigboysoven.com
Food: Master Chef Koh and House of Tang - www.houseoftang.com.my, One Bangsar
Cupcakes: Pastry Chef Sunny Yaw - www.bigboysoven.com
Photographers: Ken - www.foodpoi.com , Alex - www.foto-memoire.com ,
Photographers: Andrew - www.travelfoodies.com & Chai - www.mypixelgallery.com
Models: Jess - www.thejessicat.com, Mei Yee - www.iamthewitch.com,
Models: Coco - www.icoco.me, Xin - www.sloppychick.com, Bok - www.taufulou.com
Models: Lionel - www.lionelong.com & Sunny - www.bigboysoven.com
Mei Yee's Cheongsam: Carven Ong Couture - www.carvenong.com.my

Wishing everyone a Roaring Tiger Year!

Flippin' Pancakes in Mount Dandenong

2010-02-08T01:23:00.000-08:00

Series 5: Food & Travel Melbourne & Victoria, Australia

Flippin Pancake at Mount Dandenong

My visit to Melbourne recently took me back to Mount Dandenong, always love to visit this little hill resort. The weather was just lovely & breezy at 18C here.

A half day trip turned into a full day with me wondering around the forest reserved area admiring all the different species of tress, plants and flowers. That includes me searching for food too! Here's one of my favourite at Flippin' Pancakes.

Flippin' Pancakes

Garden Cottage Restaurant

Main Entrance with alfresco dining area...cool & breezy complete with fantastic green landscaped

Fire place in the restaurant

A romantic window seats

Main dining hall - a lovely cottage style deco

My lovely cup of English Breakfast Tea

Cottage style garlic bread..the herb butter is fantastic!

Fresh Pumpin Soup..just wonderful!

Canadian - that's the name of this yummy dish

(two pancakes served with two fresh farm eggs and crispy bacon)

The ever popular 'Salmon Stacks' -an indeed lovely dish, simple, light & fantastic!

Stacks of smoked salmons in between of two pikelets

wih lettuce, cucumber & a tomato relish

Look at the generous slices of smoked salmons..I fell in love with it in a glance!

Creamy Mushroom - another popular yet simple dish!

One large pancake served with fresh mushroons in a creamy white sauce and sour cream

Flippin' Pancakes is a must visit when you're visiting Mount Dandenong.

Flippin' Pancakes, 327 MT. Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras Victoria 3787

www.flippinpancakes.com.au

Pick Your Own Strawberry at Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm

2010-02-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

Series 4: Food & Travel Melbourne & Victoria, Australia

Fresh Sweet & Juicy Strawberries

A Great Summer Day to do something Delicious! Yes, to do something Delicious! Let's drive South of Melbourne to Mornington Peninsula, the beautiful hinterland of Victoria.

An area renowed for its quality fresh produce, world-class vineyards and award winning restaurants. It's steawberries seasons as well as some other fresh produce such as peaches, raspberries, cherries and all seasonal for vegetables.

I had been longing to do "Upick"- pick your own fresh produce and explore the picturesque farm fields. I just loved the green trees, farm lands, vineyards and the freshness of the air surrounding these picturesque fields.

Whilst on the road, I had quickly done a check on the website via my mobile phone, where Upick were available and Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm was open for Upick Strawberries. That's where we were aheading then for lovely juicy sweet fresh strawberries!

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm

Mornington Peninsula, Australia

Alfresco area to indulge your strawberries

Some Picking Hints at the entrance of the strawberry fields

On the way to the Upick strawberry field....

Here we are! at the strawberry field.

Wow..there were some early visitors picking away at the field

That's the strawberry plant..but where's the strawberries?

Hey, found some..eh! can't pick these..it's still growing...

Let's explore the young strawberries & learn more!

Finally, my sister found some ripe strawberries that she can be picked....

Here's a big juicy ones!... Yum! Yum!

Wowwie!..There's lots more...

Let's remember the picking hints....

only selected those that can be picked and leave the young ones to grow....

Here's more!

Big! Big Strawberries awaits us!

Phew! It was a hot summerday..at 30 degree Celcius..

but the strawberries made it all excited!

Hide & Seek! Found another Big Juicy Strawberry!

Peek A Boo! I saw that one!

There were plenty of strawberry fields surround the Upick field

but No Entry as these fields are newly seeded!

Here's a peep of the new young field that's out of bound!

Well, I have call it a day and heading back to the Lodge!

Here's a good reminder!

Here's our picking (my family & I)..sweet, sweet strawberries!

Here's a closer look! Upick Strawberries are chargable

Here's more!

After a few hours of exicting time at the strawberries field and under the hot summer sun! It was time for good freshment and drinks. Here's what available at the Strawberry Cafe..

A cup of Sunny Ridge Devonshire Tea with fresh homemade Scones

served with homemade strawberries jam & double thick cream! Yummy!

Here's a fresh juicy strawberry!

Next on the menu.. Homemade Baked Vanilla Cheesecake topped with fresh slices of strawberries

Homemade Chocolate Mud Cake served with marinated Raspberries & Double Thick Cream

Here's the Farm Made Ice Cream Bar! The varieties were mouth-watering! Yummy!

Let's stop by the Gourmet Corner and get some of the Sunny Ridge gourmet produce

ranging from jam, syrup, chutney/relish, olive oil, honey, strawberry themed gifts and beauty products.

at The Cellar... Sunny Ridge's luscious boutique wines and liquers are crafted on site and made to traditional Gallace family recipes!

More products!

More and more products to choose

Strawberries for Sale at the Gourmet Corner. Makes a lovely gift

Boxes of fresh strawberries can be purchased at the Gourmet Corner

Boxes of fresh cherries

Fresh raspberries

Fresh garden produce for sale

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm

Cnr Mornington-Flinders and Shands Road

Main Ridge 3928 Victoria Australia

Website: www.sunnyridge.com.au

Dim Sum at Golden Dragon Palace Restaurant (Lower Templestowe)

2010-01-31T23:42:00.000-08:00

Series 3: Food & Travel in Melbourne & Victoria, Australia

Steamed "Char Siew" Pork Pau - ever popular, a must for Yum Cha

Roasted Pork "Piglet" - a popular dish for the Chinese

Summer holiday back in Melbourne had always been a great escape and vacation for me. My food trail here in Melbourne is never ending, always exciting and interesting discovery.

Here's another mouth-watering discovery with Yum Cha in Victoria...Golden Dragon Palace Restaurant in Lower Templestowe. My family and I wonderful Yum Cha time together

Golden Dragon Palace Restaurant

Golden Dragon Palace Restaurant

Golden Dragon Wood Sculpture -a fine piece of art work on display in the restaurant

Bar area

Dining Area with a view

Dining Area

Lean Pork & Century Egg Porridge - a popular Yum Cha dish

Deep Fried Crispy Prawn Wanton

Fried Glutinous Rice "Sang Chow Loh Mai Fan" - well made dish,

glutinous rice cooked to perfection (rice texture cooked just at the right degree & soft)

Braised Beef Briskets - a must to try, with lots of flavours

Steamed Yong Taufu -fish paste is fresh & juice

Steamed Beef Balls - this dish is lovely, just love the tenderness of the beef..Yum!

Steamed Dim Sum Varities: (clockwise); Prawn Dumplings "Har Kow",

Pork Dumplings "Siew Mai", Scallop Dumplings "Tai Chi Kow"

Steamed Dim Sum

Steamed Lotus Leaves Glutinous Rice

Deep Fried Salted Puffs "Ham Sui Kok"

Deep Fried Yam Puffs "Wu Kok" - rich yam puff deep fried to perfection & crispy - Lovely!

Deep Fried Crab Claws

"Char Siew" Pork "Chee Cheong Fun" Rice Roll

Prawn "Chee Cheong Fun" Rice Rolls

Fried Dim Sum Varities: Deep Fried Spring Roll, Fried Yong TauFu, Fried "Kau Chi",

Chinese Donuts (bottom rack)

More varities of Dim Sum: Fried Chicken w Chinese Crackers & "Chan" Pau - savoury pau

Baked Egg Tarts - another must have for Yum Cha, the egg pudding is just yummy!

Homemade Tau-fu-fah (Soya bean curd) - my personal favourite always!

Tau-fu-fah! Always on my mind, why? Because of my love for this dessert since young, my mom took time off from her busy schedule to learn & master Tau-fu-fah, to make a fine bowl for me every year on my birthday! Thanks Mom for your love!

Deep Fried Crispy Sesame Peanut Puffs - the peanut filling melt in the mouth! Yummy!

Baked Sago Pudding

more varities of Dim Sum:(clockwise) pan fried radish cake & pork tarts

There are many more interesting and selections of Dim Sum cooked in various styles for its perfection of flavours; available such as the seafood varities from fish like white bait fish is popular, scallops, osyters, eels, crabs, prawns, squids, octopus, meats selection including lamb, beef, and pork, poultry ie: chicken, duck, goose and pigeon, as well as a good selections of fresh vegetables cooked w garlic "ching chow", osyters sauce and soupy "sheong tong" styles.

Golden Dragon Palace Restaurant

363 Manningham Road (Mel33 B9), Lower Templestowe 3107, Victoria, Australia
Wesbite: http://www.goldendragonpalace.com.au/

Abalone Indulgence at Plume Chinese Restaurant (Doncaster)

2010-01-12T02:13:00.001-08:00

Series 2: Food & Travel in Melbourne & Victoria, Australia

Whole Fresh Abalone (approx size of a dessert plate)

A real indulgence in Australian this summer. Fresh Abalone, one of the dish at the family dinner one night on X'mas week at Plume Chinese Restaurant.

We didn't pre-order this speciality dish when we made reservation for dinner... (advisable to pre-order this special dish). One of the siblings decided to try her "luck" and made an enquiry with the restaurant manager, cheekly she asked; "by the way do you have a BIG, FRESH, WHOLE ABALONE available for me??" Then she turned to the family, still with her cheeky face and said; "Let's see if we have any "hau fook" Cantonese for "indulging luck" tonight!"

Woo! the Manager returned in a minute (after checking) and said;"Miss ____ Yes, the Big, Fresh, Whole Abalone is available. Can I write an order for this dish? One Abalone for you and your family? We all answered said yes, please!

Well, here's family dinner!

Plume Chinese Restaurant

Plume's Menu Introduction

A la minute service by the family dining table!

What's boiling in the pot????

Superior Soup with Chinese Pearl Cabbage & Homemade Taufu

used to cook the fresh Abalone slices ..."poach style"

One piece & two pieces of Abalone slices into the soup ladel!

Fresh Abalone Slices cooked "poach style" in this special

Superior Soup with Chinese Pearl Cabagge & Homemade Taufu

Abalone Slices were served! Yummy!

Cooked Fresh Abolone Slices

Abalone Slices served with Superior Soya Sauce, Chinese Cilantro

Superior Soup served!

"Treasure from the Soup Pot"

Chinese Pearl Cabbage with Homemade Fresh Taufu

Wagyu Beef Teppanyaki Style

Steamed Whole Cod Fish with Superior Soya Sauce

"Tau Miew" with Garlic

Plume Chinese Restaurant

546 Doncaster Road, Doncaster 3108, Victoria, Australia.

Website: http://www.plume.com.au/

A Fine Summer Day Breakfast at Rickett's Point Beachside Cafe (Mentone)

2010-01-04T07:32:00.001-08:00

Series 1: Food & Travel in Melbourne & Victoria, Australia

Eggs & Bacon on Toast

It was a sunny and breezy day for a trip to the beachside. So my family and I decided to take a good trip to Rickett's Point Bay on this fine summer day.

We had a wonderful breakfast at Rickett's Point Beachside Cafe at Rickett Point and a lovely morning walk round the beachside. It was really a lovely day spent with my family.

Rickett's Point, Beaumaris, Victoria

The walk by the beach

The beach

Rickett's Point Beachside Cafe alfresco dining area

Rickett's Point Breakfast
(Eggs, Bacon, Tomato, Mushrooms, Spinach,
Hashbrowns, Sausages & Baked Beans)

Rickett's Point Beachside Cafe is located on Rickett's Point, Beach Road,

Beaumaris, Victoria 3193.

Website: http://www.rickettpointcafe.com.au/

Bread on Cups by Chef Ben Beh

2009-11-07T03:17:00.000-08:00

It was a Sunday well spent with celebrity Chef Ben Beh, who specialized in bread making. Thanks to my good pal, Sid who introduced me to Chef Ben Beh and for having me added to one

of his popular bread making classes.

I, then attended the "Bread on Cups" class and it was a fantastic experience for someone like me who can now "bakes, pack and go!" with my always busy schedules and short of time to eat or take breaks. Now with "Bread on Cups", there's always something in my pocket, work sack/bag or on my office desk!

A full class on a Sunday afternoon, upon arrival, Chef Ben Beh and his partners were on site to welcome everyone. Refreshing cold drinks were served. Chef Ben Beh introduced himself, his partners and some of his loyal baking students. Minutes later the class started, printed recipes were handed out and students wore their aprons.

Chef Ben Beh gave a short definition of "Bread on Cups" and he then, introduced the bread making recipe and the four bread flavours that everyone get to make! I was fasinated when I found out the bread flavours; Tuna & Tomato Bread, Mushroom & Cheese Bread, Onion Bread and Custard Bread with Golden Mexican Topping....Yum! Class beguns!

Ingredients;flour, yeast, eggs, butters,.....weighing, add, mixing, pour, whisking,.....wait.... and....wait.... class break! Chef Ben Beh's partner had prepared some puff pastry and more cold drinks for everyone. The freshly baked puff pastries were delicious.

Back to the baking table...it's rolling...shaping....pop... the small bread doughs into the paper cups....wait....other ingredient and garnish preparation...cut..cut...cut..... mushrooms, onions, bind tuna flakes with mayo, grate cheese,.....done. Well, the last league of the class was to place the respestive ingredients into the four different bread recipes cups, laid neatly on each different baking sheets. Pop onto the oven! tick..tick..tick...tick...

Ten minutes gone,wow! the freshly bake bread aroma cripped out the ovens. Hmmm! love that refreshing bread flavour. Oven rang!!!! Everyone rush to the ovens! Bread were ready! Lovely "Bread on Cups" and some of us started to take pictures.....snap..snap..click..click.Thereafter, we had a ball of time tasting our very own bread. It was yum..yum.

I can't believe I had actually baked some bread and lovely bread on Sunday. I shall now stop but will continue to bake at home.

Thanks Chef Ben Beh, Sid and Chef Ben's partner for the delicious "Bread on Cups" recipes and a great Sunday!

For more information on Chef Ben Beh bread making classes, visit www.bigboysoven.com