I saw this on another blog* and semi-stole it because it made me smile. Hope it makes you smile too.
Merry Xmas!
*I had to put the link down here otherwise you'd click on it and leave my blog.
20.12.10
11.12.10
Ayam Goreng 99 & Sushi Choo
Yesterday was a day of eating, shopping, and completing chores - pretty much the three most satisfying activities in my life.
I finally got to visit Ayam Goreng 99 after reading about it on food blogs and having it on Nugen and my 'hit list' of places to go (he's a simple man that loves anything with batter and deep fried).
Ayam is famous for its chicken and so we ordered the three types: grilled, fried, and Javanese style. Under my (correct) advice we ordered the grilled and fried versions in the thigh but Nugen wanted to try something different and ordered the Javanese version in the breast. The breast turned out to be the worst of the three because it was so dry. The deep fried piece was good but no match against the charcoal grilled version. While you'd think that the charred piece would be dry and carcinogenic-tasting, it was in fact very juicy and flavoursome. We ordered some coconut rice to serve with our meat but it must have been a bad time of day for the restaurant because the rice was very dry and chewy rather than moist.
My thirstiness was not helped by the traditional sugary Indo drinks that we ordered - the sweetness of the palm sugar and coconut milk just made me crave the H2O even more. Note to self: stop ordering sweet Asian drinks.
Ah well, for $17 per person one can't really complain. Plus, the place has received great reviews in the past so we probably just caught them on an off day (though I never really think that that's a good enough excuse).
Next up we had a free dinner at Sushi Choo (thanks to the perks of interning at Time Out). We were greeted by an AWESOME (and quite good looking) waiter named James and then given a detailed run-down of the dishes that we would be tasting for the night. The Crowded House Sauvignon Blanc 2009 that I started off with was perfectly refreshing for the humid day that had just passed.
Before the meal started I browsed the sushi train options and was surprised at the miniature size of the sushi. After tasting a few of the nigiri it was clear that the fish wasn't exactly top quality and the sizes are definitely not worth the money (though maybe for $20 all-you-can-eat from 6pm-7pm it's good value). The special tasting menu for the night started off with a tuna and avocado salad with white truffle oil. The salad was the highlight of the night because it had Japanese style crunchy cereal balls that gave texture and the citrus flavour with the oil was a great balance. While I thought it was a tad too salty (I always have this problem it seems), Nugen loved it. Following the salad we had Japanese style seafood pasta and prawn tempura 'harumaki'. The pasta was good before the fishy aftertaste kicked in and the harumaki was just prawn tempura in rice paper rolls and simply highlighted the fact that the dish should be left to the Vietnamese. Luckily the chefs were able to save themselves (from my totally amateur and negative criticism) with the prawns in kataifi - juicy prawns encased in a crisp pastry sprinkled with sea salt and dried seaweed.
So to sum up: go to Ayam Goreng 99 for the charcoal grilled chicken (don't order the breast) and go to Sushi Choo for the tuna and avocado salad and prawn in kataifi.
Ayam Goreng 99
464 Anzac Parade
Kensington 2032
9697 0300
Sushi Choo
320 George St
Sydney 2000
9240 3000
I finally got to visit Ayam Goreng 99 after reading about it on food blogs and having it on Nugen and my 'hit list' of places to go (he's a simple man that loves anything with batter and deep fried).
Ayam is famous for its chicken and so we ordered the three types: grilled, fried, and Javanese style. Under my (correct) advice we ordered the grilled and fried versions in the thigh but Nugen wanted to try something different and ordered the Javanese version in the breast. The breast turned out to be the worst of the three because it was so dry. The deep fried piece was good but no match against the charcoal grilled version. While you'd think that the charred piece would be dry and carcinogenic-tasting, it was in fact very juicy and flavoursome. We ordered some coconut rice to serve with our meat but it must have been a bad time of day for the restaurant because the rice was very dry and chewy rather than moist.
 |
| Chicken |
My thirstiness was not helped by the traditional sugary Indo drinks that we ordered - the sweetness of the palm sugar and coconut milk just made me crave the H2O even more. Note to self: stop ordering sweet Asian drinks.
 |
| Es Teler and Es Cendol |
Ah well, for $17 per person one can't really complain. Plus, the place has received great reviews in the past so we probably just caught them on an off day (though I never really think that that's a good enough excuse).
Next up we had a free dinner at Sushi Choo (thanks to the perks of interning at Time Out). We were greeted by an AWESOME (and quite good looking) waiter named James and then given a detailed run-down of the dishes that we would be tasting for the night. The Crowded House Sauvignon Blanc 2009 that I started off with was perfectly refreshing for the humid day that had just passed.
Before the meal started I browsed the sushi train options and was surprised at the miniature size of the sushi. After tasting a few of the nigiri it was clear that the fish wasn't exactly top quality and the sizes are definitely not worth the money (though maybe for $20 all-you-can-eat from 6pm-7pm it's good value). The special tasting menu for the night started off with a tuna and avocado salad with white truffle oil. The salad was the highlight of the night because it had Japanese style crunchy cereal balls that gave texture and the citrus flavour with the oil was a great balance. While I thought it was a tad too salty (I always have this problem it seems), Nugen loved it. Following the salad we had Japanese style seafood pasta and prawn tempura 'harumaki'. The pasta was good before the fishy aftertaste kicked in and the harumaki was just prawn tempura in rice paper rolls and simply highlighted the fact that the dish should be left to the Vietnamese. Luckily the chefs were able to save themselves (from my totally amateur and negative criticism) with the prawns in kataifi - juicy prawns encased in a crisp pastry sprinkled with sea salt and dried seaweed.
 |
| Shit photo of prawn in kataifi |
So to sum up: go to Ayam Goreng 99 for the charcoal grilled chicken (don't order the breast) and go to Sushi Choo for the tuna and avocado salad and prawn in kataifi.
Ayam Goreng 99
464 Anzac Parade
Kensington 2032
9697 0300
Sushi Choo
320 George St
Sydney 2000
9240 3000
5.12.10
29.11.10
Rick Miller
One of the tasks that I have been assigned for the January issue of Time Out is an interview with Canadian entertainer, Rick Miller. In preparation for this interview I obviously had to do some research on the bloke and in doing so I have grown to greatly appreciate his creativity.
His play, Bigger Than Jesus, is a one-man show that challenges and explores contemporary society's conception of Jesus. While some extremists may view his play as slightly blasphemous, most critics have praised the way that the production encourages inter-faith dialogue. As an agnostic I've always been interested in religion and have great respect for people that have faith but I'm also fascinated by the way that some believers are ridiculously narrow-minded and over-the-top. I'm definitely not against religion of any kind but I am against all forms of extremism because I believe that it pretty much goes hand-in-hand with qualities of intolerance and ignorance. And that's why I'm interested in Miller's play - he aims to comically explore these problematic issues in modern-day religion.
It actually doesn't look that great in this video but it's received great reviews, has been performed in five countries and four languages, and has also received various awards so it must be good, right?
Miller also wrote MacHomer, a mix of The Simpsons and Shakespeare's MacBeth. Yes, it seems as strange as it sounds. But the idea is also amazingly creative. Miller's impersonations of all the different Simpsons characters is meant to be quite precise as well. Once again, this video doesn't really make it look great but the mere fact that it has been playing for a decade now is a testament to its positive audience reception.
I think these plays would be great for people that aren't serious theatre-goers and just want to have an easy laugh. Unfortunately I won't actually be able to see Bigger Than Jesus because I will be in Japan but hopefully I can attend either one of his productions some time in the near future.
25.11.10
Aquarium
Today I had a day off from Time Out and Longchamp. This is noteworthy because, for me, a completely free day happens once in a blue moon. And because it is so rare, I try to make the most of it.
After much deliberation, Nugen and I decided to visit the Sydney Aquarium. We both had very fond memories of the tourist attraction so anticipated it to be a relatively exciting experience (I was excited, at least). Obviously our expectations were too high. The last time we went was when we were both probably around 12 years old and easily amused. We had estimated that we would spend at least three hours admiring the fish but instead it took us a grand total of one hour. And some of the tanks were actually quite depressing because it highlighted the cramped conditions that these fishes had to live in. Also, I had a random family that constantly asked me to take photos of them at different spots in the aquarium because I was unfortunate enough to be at the exact same spot as them each time.
However, despite my whinging, it wasn't all bad - it just wasn't what we had hoped for it to be. And obviously I had a great time with Nugen (awww). Also, luckily we had a buy one get one free voucher otherwise I would've been spewing.
Best of all, I got this awesome - albeit low quality - picture from the outing:
After much deliberation, Nugen and I decided to visit the Sydney Aquarium. We both had very fond memories of the tourist attraction so anticipated it to be a relatively exciting experience (I was excited, at least). Obviously our expectations were too high. The last time we went was when we were both probably around 12 years old and easily amused. We had estimated that we would spend at least three hours admiring the fish but instead it took us a grand total of one hour. And some of the tanks were actually quite depressing because it highlighted the cramped conditions that these fishes had to live in. Also, I had a random family that constantly asked me to take photos of them at different spots in the aquarium because I was unfortunate enough to be at the exact same spot as them each time.
However, despite my whinging, it wasn't all bad - it just wasn't what we had hoped for it to be. And obviously I had a great time with Nugen (awww). Also, luckily we had a buy one get one free voucher otherwise I would've been spewing.
Best of all, I got this awesome - albeit low quality - picture from the outing:
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| Jelly Fish |
19.11.10
The Smart State
9 things I learnt from my two-night stay in Brisvegas:
1. It's hot and humid.
2. The Caxton offers 2-for-1 steak but ask for it well done because 'medium rare' apparently means 'raw' to them. I would know because I accidentally brushed my tongue too far back and gagged and vomited out chunks of raw meat. I learnt that I should not brush my tongue after a boozy-night and, more importantly, that I need to chew my food more.
3. It's the most spaced out city in the world and yet it only takes 20 minutes to get from the city to leafy suburbia.
4. There are lots of bridges in Brisbane and the Story Bridge (the main attraction of the city) is a fifth of the size of Sydney Harbour Bridge.
6. Bars close at 2.30am on Tuesday nights (but the casino continues to serve $4 daiquiris for those still keen).
7. Don't order fish and chips from the Greek restaurant near The Lagoon (Brisbane's fake beach). Unless your idea of fish and chips is oily, deep-fried rubber.
8. Allow more than 30 minutes to drive from the city to airport. Luckily (?) our underestimation of the traffic was saved by the fact that my flight was delayed by 3 hours. I ended up saving $150 that I would have paid for a new ticket but suffered 3 hours twiddling my thumbs at Brisbane Domestic Airport.
9. Sara is a great host. And Harry is a douche who calls me a bitch while I brush my teeth (same night as point 2). The story goes like this: after a long drunken night Harry comes up to me in the bathroom and asks me what I'm doing. I tell him that I'm brushing my teeth. He then calls me a bitch and walks away. No explanation. Nothing.
1. It's hot and humid.
2. The Caxton offers 2-for-1 steak but ask for it well done because 'medium rare' apparently means 'raw' to them. I would know because I accidentally brushed my tongue too far back and gagged and vomited out chunks of raw meat. I learnt that I should not brush my tongue after a boozy-night and, more importantly, that I need to chew my food more.
3. It's the most spaced out city in the world and yet it only takes 20 minutes to get from the city to leafy suburbia.
4. There are lots of bridges in Brisbane and the Story Bridge (the main attraction of the city) is a fifth of the size of Sydney Harbour Bridge.
 |
| Story Bridge |
5. Young-looking boys at The Vick are brave kids. One youngster interrupted me as I was engaged in conversation with a group of people to tell me that I was 'beautiful'. I asked him if he was taking the piss and he walked away dejected. I respect the courage, though.
6. Bars close at 2.30am on Tuesday nights (but the casino continues to serve $4 daiquiris for those still keen).
7. Don't order fish and chips from the Greek restaurant near The Lagoon (Brisbane's fake beach). Unless your idea of fish and chips is oily, deep-fried rubber.
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| The Lagoon |
8. Allow more than 30 minutes to drive from the city to airport. Luckily (?) our underestimation of the traffic was saved by the fact that my flight was delayed by 3 hours. I ended up saving $150 that I would have paid for a new ticket but suffered 3 hours twiddling my thumbs at Brisbane Domestic Airport.
9. Sara is a great host. And Harry is a douche who calls me a bitch while I brush my teeth (same night as point 2). The story goes like this: after a long drunken night Harry comes up to me in the bathroom and asks me what I'm doing. I tell him that I'm brushing my teeth. He then calls me a bitch and walks away. No explanation. Nothing.
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| Gin and Tonic by the pool |
14.11.10
I want to look this good when/if pregnant.
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| Miranda Kerr: babe-ing |
I found it hilarious that some images have her breasts blurred out. Boobs: too much for some people to handle.
I tried to do some quick research to confirm that Annie Leibovitz started this trend of photographing pregnant women. And I think that my assumptions were correct. More reason to love Leibovitz and VF.
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10.11.10
Japanese Exchange Girls
Tomorrow afternoon my family and I will be hosting two 17-year-old Japanese exchange girls for two nights.
Both of the girls specified that they have poor English skills, which should be interesting considering my sister speaks minimal Japanese and my dad (the main Jap speaker) won't really be home most of the time. I imagine we will end up having awkwardly silent conversations or maybe ones where we both just smile and nod stupidly.
One of them stated that she hates fruits and enjoys eating sweets. I expect this girl to turn up with numerous cavities or to be slightly obese. The introduction packages include pictures of the girls but the scanned images turned out black so it's really hard to tell. Either way I'm sure the girls will be lovely.
And even though my sister is the main person who will be looking after them, I still feel an enormous pressure to show them the best time possible. They will have fun.
Both of the girls specified that they have poor English skills, which should be interesting considering my sister speaks minimal Japanese and my dad (the main Jap speaker) won't really be home most of the time. I imagine we will end up having awkwardly silent conversations or maybe ones where we both just smile and nod stupidly.
One of them stated that she hates fruits and enjoys eating sweets. I expect this girl to turn up with numerous cavities or to be slightly obese. The introduction packages include pictures of the girls but the scanned images turned out black so it's really hard to tell. Either way I'm sure the girls will be lovely.
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| I hope the sugar-lover will be a female version of this real-life Russell |
And even though my sister is the main person who will be looking after them, I still feel an enormous pressure to show them the best time possible. They will have fun.
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