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DISCLAIMER If you have any comments/suggestions/places you think serve great food, do share with us! Email me at qiuyi_ong@hotmail.com or leave a comment in the tag board. Thanks and cheers to future gastronomical adventures! MY TO-GO LIST Au Jardin (Eaten!) Au Petit Salut Buko Nero (Eaten!) Cugini (Eaten!) Forlino (Eaten!) Gunther's Jaan (Eaten!) La Strada Le Bistrot Nicolas Pasta Brava (Eaten!) Sage (Eaten!) Tatsuya Tetsu (Eaten!) I LIKE Cugini Kuriya Le Figue LivinGreens Nanbantei Ootoya Original Sin Pasta Brava Sage Tetsu Valentino PAST ENTRIES May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009
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Saturday, November 15, 2008
Giggles Cafe & Grill Restaurant
124 Picton Street, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand 09 534 1199 Dinner was at this Mexican restaurant which was a good 20 minutes drive from the city. Apparently, Cajun and Creole styled dishes are the restaurant's specialties.  The starter was Fresh Mushrooms (NZD$9) which were fried in a spiced batter. The earthy mushroom was easily the size of my fist! I liked the spices used to marinate the mushroom which gave it a kick. The Grilled Blackened Fish (NZD$20.90) was horrible. It was overcooked and the flesh was so dry and tough. The sweet chilli sauce didn't help matters at all and tasted like the type used by MacDonald's. The dessert menu was rather limited with the usual choices like sundaes and chocolate cakes. Granny's Hot Apple Pie (NZD$8.90) sounded like a safe choice after the disappointing main. Served with vanilla ice cream, the pie was decent enough but nothing outstanding. Although the food leaves more to be desired, the service was impeccable. The friendly waitress was very attentive and cleared our plates as soon as we've finished. But that may be due to the fact that the barely half of the restaurant was occupied by diners.  Labels: New Zealand 7:16 PM ----------
Reslau
39 Elliott Street, Auckland Central, New Zealand 09 309 5039 I've been wanting to try this cafe ever since reading about it in a magazine. Finally, today is the day as Ann and Paul joined me for a quick meetup before I leave for Wellington tomorrow.  Choices were pretty limited as we were there after lunchtime. I had the Smoke Salmon Frittata (NZD$5) which packed quite a punch considering its miniscule size! This is the nicest frittata I've ever tried to date. All the flavours came together very well and the generous chunks of smoked salmon were not too salty. This skinny little cafe only seats 18 diners, on striped poufs and Italian chairs. Food is displayed tantalisingly on a cute little trolley. This is a clear winner and I'm not surprised it won the Best Cafe Award last year. How I wish I can bring this back to Singapore!Labels: New Zealand 1:57 PM ---------- Friday, November 14, 2008
Nol Bu Ne Restaurant
Choice Plaza Level 1 & 2, 10 Wellesley St (East), New Zealand 09 307 0188 / 09 373 5828 Exams are finally over, hooray! I haven't been eating out for the past week as there were so many readings to keep me occupied. What better way to celebrate than to go for a good meal? Korean restaurants are plenty in Auckland as there are so many Korean students here. This one is strategically located near to the University and I walk past it everyday.  Today is the 1st time I'm having Korean food after the trip to Korea so many years ago. I ordered the Egg Rolls with Vegetables (NZD$20) as my main since most of the other dishes comprises of rice and noodles. The rolls were cooked perfectly. Firm to the bite with the contrast of crunchy cabbage and carrots. Flora had the Salmon Bowl (NZD$12) which came with shredded vegetables and pieces of raw salmon topped on rice. I tried the salmon which was fresh enough.  Like almost every other Korean restaurants, there is a free flow of side dishes with every order. Of course, there's the kimchi which must be present at every Korean meal. I didn't really like the taste of it. The seaweed was our favourite! This was a very simple dish that shone with its well balanced seasonings. We liked it so much that we asked for a refill thrice. The cubed radishes were quite spicy and nothing spectacular. There was also cubed potatoes which I thought were rather oily. When we arrived, I was surprised that the place was already quite full. That was a good sign since I rather eat at a crowded restaurant than an empty one. Another good sign was that most of the people sitting around us were Koreans. I assumed that the food must be pretty authentic for their discerning palates. I definitely prefer Japanese to Korean food anytime. But I have to admit that Korean food doesn't taste that bad afterall. So long as I can choose mains without rice, I'm willing to give it another go!Labels: New Zealand 5:30 PM ---------- Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Baci Lounge
Level One, Rialto Centre, 163 Broadway, Newmarket, New Zealand 09 529 4360 This post is dedicated to my best friend ever, Ms Noo! I promised her that I would eat a birthday cake for her since I can't be there to celebrate this special day with her.  I couldn't find any molten chocolate cake which Ms Noo wanted so I had to substitute it with a Chocolate Whiskey Cake (NZD$6.50). It's really decadent and the accompanying sour yoghurt balances the sweetness really well. Happy 20th birthday, best friend! I'll be there to celebrate your 21st and many many more birthdays to come! I love you!Labels: New Zealand 3:13 PM ---------- Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Revive (13th Visit)
33 Lorne/280 Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand (09) 303 0429 The Turkish Moussaka with Aubergine and Yoghurt Sauce (NZD$14.90) was tantalising to the tastebuds. The vegetarian version substitutes minced meat for lentils which suits me just fine since I love lentils! My only gripe with the dish was that the proportion of eggplant to potato was skewed with the latter encompassing the bulk of the moussaka.  Apparently, there are many versions of moussaka which origins from Greece but is closely associated with the Middle East. In the Arab world, moussaka is a cooked salad made up primarily of tomatoes and eggplant, similar to Italian caponata, and is usually served cold as a mezze dish. I would really like to try that for myself!Labels: New Zealand 1:59 PM ---------- Saturday, October 25, 2008
Dorothy's Sister
265 Ponsonby Road, 3 Lamps Ponsonby, New Zealand 09 376 2433 Ponsonby has a somewhat "colourful" reputation due to its association with the gay, lesbian and transgender community in Auckland. This cafe apparently caters to these "colourful" people in mind. Kinky ornaments and flashy colours screamed at you from the very first moment you step into the cafe.  The desserts are officially the worst I've ever eaten! The Chocolate Brownie (NZD$6.50) looks decadent but alas, looks can truly be deceiving. It was so sorely underbaked and I felt like I was eating chocolate dough. Even the brownies I bake are 101% nicer than this! The Lemon Tart (NZD$6.50) is no better. Again, it was like eating dough but with an artificial lemon flavour this time. The only saving grace for the cafe is the interesting theatrical decor that combines sparkly heels, lush swathes of satin and silk, and ironic little touches like chandeliers and a disco mirror ball in a birdcage. I did a little google search after this horrible experience and oh my, Dorothy's sister is an ex bordello madam and there's Drag Shows on Friday nights! Fascinating decor aside, the desserts were really crappy with a capital C. From my google search, I found out that reviews ranked this place a 4 out of 5! Hello? I would rank 0/5 for the desserts alone. To be fair, I didn't try the main courses and cocktails. But crappy desserts totally spoilt my mood for the rest of the night. Yes, that's how serious I take my desserts!Labels: New Zealand 9:32 PM ----------
Renkon
2/175 Ponsonby Road, Auckland, New Zealand 09 376 3090 Not knowing where to eat, Sandra and I ended up at this tiny Japanese shop after cruising around the neighbourhood.  The menu was pretty limited with only either udon or rice bowls to choose from. I don't like either one of them but I dislike rice more so it was udon for me. The Salmon Teriyaki (NZD$11) was surprisingly good! It was juicy and tender. Sandra's Unagi on Rice (NZD$11) looked so delicious! She finished it in record time since she was hungry from not having lunch earlier. The Octopus Balls (NZD$4) were decent enough but I'm not a big fan of octopus as I don't like chewy seafood (squid and abalone make the list). The place was very small and narrow. I reckon that this is more of a takeaway place. The kitchen is helmed by a Japanese chef which is a real relief since many Japanese eateries in Auckland are opened by Koreans.Labels: New Zealand 7:14 PM ---------- Monday, October 20, 2008
Revive (12th Visit)
16 Fort Street, Auckland, New Zealand (09) 307 1586 One reason I don't get bored with Revive is that there's new stuff to try every week. Today's lunch was the Cranberry, Brie and Broccoli Tart with Plum Sauce (NZD$14.90). It's absolutely delicious! I requested for a slice in the middle so that I don't get the pastry at the sides. The tart was "eggy" (is there such a word?) and had a nice balance of ingredients. Luckily for me, the brie was hidden well as I couldn't taste it at all.  This is definitely one of my favourites at Revive so far!Labels: New Zealand 12:14 PM ---------- Friday, October 17, 2008
Revive (11th Visit)
16 Fort Street, Auckland, New Zealand (09) 307 1586 The Spicy Bean Burger with Aioli (NZD$14.90) is the weirdest "burger" I've ever seen. Or rather, eaten. It defies the conventional idea of a burger: a patty sandwiched in a bun. I love this because I hate those soft burger bread. Revive's rendition of the burger is fabulous! Every bite was full of fresh ingredients such as potato, onions and kidney beans. And the degree of spiciness was just right.  A fantastic lunch and the weekend is here! What more can a girl ask for?Labels: New Zealand 12:47 PM ---------- Thursday, October 16, 2008
Mezze Bar
9 Durham Street East, Auckland City, New Zealand 9 307 2029 Zoey and I met up for a late lunch before she flies back to Hong Kong tomorrow morning. For this farewell lunch, I brought her to this Auckland icon established since 1992. It's not very easy to find this place as it's hidden along a narrow lane.  The Grilled Mushrooms and Polenta Triangles (NZD$19.50) came with crumbed feta and a leafy salad. The portion of mushrooms was generous and I like the sweet and tangy dressing. However, the polenta wedges were sorely underseasoned as they were rather bland and tasteless.
I like the relaxed and ambient atmosphere which makes this inner-city space very warm and inviting. The staff were very friendly and even helpfully took a photo of us.  The food was nothing out of the extraordinary but value for money since the serving was huge. This is a good place to stop by for a slice of cake after shopping at nearby Queen Street.Labels: New Zealand 3:29 PM ---------- Monday, October 13, 2008
Revive (10th Visit)
16 Fort Street, Auckland, New Zealand (09) 307 1586 The Asparagus, Tarragon and Feta Tart with Red Peppers (NZD$14.90) is a new item on the menu this week. It was almost as nice as the Italian tart! I knew I couldn't go wrong with the Pacifika Lentil Salad with Spinach and Coconut either.  It's hard to get bored with a cafe such as this when the food is so consistently good all the time!Labels: New Zealand 1:04 PM ---------- Sunday, October 12, 2008
Bambina
268 Ponsonby Road, Auckland, New Zealand 09 360 4000 Sandra drove us to this Italian bistro for a lazy Sunday brunch. Ok, lazy for me but not for her since she went for an early swim before picking me up.  Initially, I wanted the Breakfast salad but being the fickle minded me, I changed my order to Poached Eggs on Grains Toast (NZD$8.50) less than 5 minutes later after spotting a woman eating that. I love the way the runny yolk just flowed out when I broke it and the toast soaked it up like a sponge. Sounds yucky but it's delicious! The Corn Fritter with Bacon and Slow Roasted Tomatoes (NZD$13.50) was good too. It wasn't oily and the generous corn kernels were sweet. This reminded me of my grandma's homemade prawn fritter. The place was packed when we arrived and we sat at the large communal table scattered with magazines and papers. I kept eyeing a cute little boy with chocolate on his face! The bistro is very simple and casual but I suspect it's deliberately designed that way. I like the name "Bambina"! It means "young girl" in Italian. I'm a bambina!Labels: New Zealand 3:37 PM ---------- Monday, October 6, 2008
Revive (9th Visit)
33 Lorne/280 Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand (09) 303 0429 The Regular Salad (NZD$10.90) allowed me to have 3 choices from the very enticing salad bar. With almost no hesitation, I went for the Lentils with Roasted Beetroot, 4 Beans Salad including Chickpeas, and the Sesame, Spinach and Broccoli Salad.  As usual, this was a very satisfying lunch. I've never thought that combining lentils with beetroot would work!Labels: New Zealand 1:25 PM ---------- Thursday, October 2, 2008
Revive (8th Visit)
16 Fort Street, Auckland (09) 307 1586 I would say that it's difficult to find a good lasagna anywhere, especially in a cafe that's not Italian. Ususally, the proportion of pasta to filling is skewed or the lasagna falls apart at the 1st cut. The Wholemeal Lasagna with Organic Lentils and Spinach (NZD$14.90) had the 1st problem: too little filling to my liking. Overall, this is decent but definitely not the best I've eaten.  I was invited to be a secret shopper by Revive this week! It was quite fun to observe the activities going on in the cafe discreetly. I hope more cafes in Singapore would implement this system so that they can get specific and honest feedback on their performance.Labels: New Zealand 1:06 PM ---------- Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Revive (7th Visit)
33 Lorne/280 Queen Street, Auckland (09) 303 0429 The Tuscan Vegetable Bake (NZD$14.90) was a very hearty and filling meal. I like the White Beans and Roasted Kumara with an Orange Dressing Salad especially! Kumara is the Maori word for sweet potato. This sweet tasting root is a nice complement to the creamy beans.  Having eaten here quite a number of times, I think this has made it into the "Top 3" meals at Revive. The ingredients used are so simple yet the end product is healthy and delicious!Labels: New Zealand 1:57 PM ---------- Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Revive (6th Visit)
33 Lorne/280 Queen Street, Auckland (09) 303 0429 It's a good thing that there's a branch of Revive near the university so that I can drop in for a quick lunch anytime. The Italian Tart with Onion Jam, Olives and Mushrooms (NZD$14.90) was incredible! The flavours and texture of the baked tart were awesome. And there was a sprinkle of pine nuts too.  This is a clear winner for me!Labels: New Zealand 1:50 PM ---------- Monday, September 29, 2008
Revive (5th Visit)
16 Fort St, Auckland, New Zealand 09 307 1586 Call me boring but I decided to have the Frittata of the Week (NZD$12.90) for lunch today. It was either this or the Mexican Burrito which sounded interesting but just looked like a huge 'popiah'. I was won over by the Frittata's appearance and its description: "Spanish Frittata with Sundried Tomatoes, Free Range Organic Eggs, Potato and Delicious Apricot Chutney". Doesn't that just sound delicious?  And it was really good except that I wish there's more sundried tomatoes in it. Ok, I promise not to have any more frittatas next week! It does get boring after a while.Labels: New Zealand 12:17 PM ---------- Sunday, September 28, 2008
Alumni Host Family Dinner
Jennie and David Oakley Usually, I would only post on food I've eaten in cafes and restaurants but I have to make an exception today because of the incredibly nice dinner I had. I participated in the university's alumni host family dinner programme for international students and Jue and I were allocated to the Oakley family. The dinner was far more than what I've expected. Obviously, Jennie put much effort in it. Look at the lovely and intimate setting Jennie laid out.  We started with a pumpkin and carrot soup sprinkled with chopped parsley. It's robust with flavours and the consistency was good.
Jennie made a fish pie and served it with steamed broccoli and cauliflower.
We ended dinner on a sweet note with a baked apple stuffed with marshmallow and date, topped with yoghurt.  A dinner made with love is the best meal anyone can ask for!Labels: New Zealand 6:27 PM ---------- Friday, September 26, 2008
Revive (4th Visit)
33 Lorne/280 Queen St, Auckland, New Zealand 09 303 0429 After the lovely frittata I tried last week, I decided to have a go at it again. This week's Frittata (NZD$12.90) is made with mushrooms and thyme, with the usual potato, onions and egg in it as well. Taste wise, it's still delicious but the entire time of the meal was spent thinking that there's something missing. Finally, it hit me: there's apparently no thyme in it!  The Sesame, Spinach and Broccoli Salad with roasted carrots and fresh sprouts was very fresh and a lovely complement to the frittata. I can't wait to see what's the menu for next week!Labels: New Zealand 1:09 PM ---------- Thursday, September 25, 2008
Revive (3rd Visit)
16 Fort St, Auckland, New Zealand 09 307 1586 I had high expectations of the Rainbow Bake (NZD$14.90) and I wasn't disappointed! Not only does it look visually pleasing to the eye, the flavours work together harmoniously well. There's spinach as the base, roasted beetroot in the middle and finally pumpkin on top with scattered seeds.  Two thumbs (and ten toes) up! This makes me want to bake again...Labels: New Zealand 6:02 PM ---------- WELCOME! LOCAL FOODIES' BLOGS Gastronomic Ruminations She Bakes & She Cooks Singapore Daily Makan Photo Small Potatpes Make the Steak Look Bigger The Orthorexic Foodie The Skinny Epicurean Timeless Facade Food Glorious Food FOOD FOR THOUGHT | |
