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:
 |
| 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.
 |
| 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.
 |
| 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.
 |
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.
 |
| 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.
6.11.10
OCD.
My life has always been planned. And always will be. I try to be spontaneous but I like to control the degree of spontaneity. Yes, I'm controlling and I really don't mind at all. I'd prefer to be prepared and happy than 'carefree' and disappointed.
So here is my plan now that I'm done with uni:
1. Go to Brisvegas and visit my exchange bestie, Sara. I met Sara through Rakhee (my other bfffffllll) during the early days of Leeds and we've experienced a lot of great moments together. These include: jumping in a car with potentially dangerous strangers, going on a mini pub crawl in London being girly and chatting about relationships, getting obese in Rome, getting crazy in Whitby (Dracula Museum; best thing ever?), getting crazy in Hamburg, her putting up with my stupidity on my last night in London, and wasting our time in Manchester doing pretty much nothing. I have so many memories with this gal - the only problem is that my memory is very poor so it's hard to give specific examples. I swear she's real though.
 |
| Sara macking a gelato in Vatican City |
2. Japan with mum and sister for 10 days. Osaka specifically. Not sure what we'll be doing exactly but will definitely meet up with Yuki, get drunk in some karaoke bar, overload on high-tech gadgets, and get myself some mercury poisoning.
3. Vietnam for a month with Nugen. It'll take us a full two days and around 5 connecting flights but we'll get there. Nugen's a massive fan of his motherland so I'm very keen for him to show me the best of the Nam. I'm thinking awesome food, cheap tailored clothes, and then more food.
4. Work in Sydney for a few months and then jet off again. I'm talking a whirlwind trip from China > Europe with the beautiful Jacqui (so far we've got Berlin, Prague, and Amsterdam on the list) > USA to see my many American loves.
Owning one of these bad boys would totally make the adventures much more interesting me thinks. It would also make me very broke. But at least I wouldn't be homeless because, well, I'd have this thing to shelter me.
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| The Opera Trailer |
 |
| Ohhhh yes |
5. ?
In the mean time I'm working my butt off trying to save up money to fulfil these dreams. I also plan to write more specifically about each of the destinations before, during, and after I get there so stay tuned folks.
4.11.10
MECO Formal
Holy crap we're (pretty much) all done after spending 4 years together. The good thing about Media at USYD is that there's only around 80 of us so it's a really tight-knit bunch and when we go into the real world and became famous journalists we can call on each other for help.
Only they can understand the long nights in the labs, sitting through seemingly irrelevant lectures, the bore of Law & Ethics, and the pain of the Internship and Critical Practice essays. But more importantly, these kids have become my friends.
Much love goes out to the MECO crew.
To celebrate our freedom we will be getting drunk at my dad's restaurant tonight.
Woooooopppp.
 |
| By the end of the night. Photo courtesy of Jonno's FB |
2.11.10
FREEDOM.
Today marks the day that I submitted my final essay - the last essay that I will ever have to write in my life.
It was a terrible experience.
Although I had the whole semester to complete these final two assignments, I still managed to torture myself by pulling all-nighters. I've had a combined total of 10 hours sleep in the past 3 days while surviving on 5 cups of tea per day so this post will be short and sweet. In fact, I'm still shaking from the caffeine.
Despite the fact that my mind is currently a complete blur, I just had to share my excitement with the world in the form of a blog post.
This video reflects my personal delusion/excitement.
Speaking of excitement...I've had a few more articles published for Time Out. This is so unrelated but whatevs; I had to publish these links somehow.
Here is:
My feature on Xavier Samuel and his role in The Loved Ones.
My feature on Boomburbs exhibition.
An interview with Reportage photo festival director.
Facts about contemporary jazz heroes.
And a summary of November community festivals.
Now that uni is over I can focus on my (non-existent) career and continue to add work to my portfolio. Woop...?
It was a terrible experience.
Although I had the whole semester to complete these final two assignments, I still managed to torture myself by pulling all-nighters. I've had a combined total of 10 hours sleep in the past 3 days while surviving on 5 cups of tea per day so this post will be short and sweet. In fact, I'm still shaking from the caffeine.
Despite the fact that my mind is currently a complete blur, I just had to share my excitement with the world in the form of a blog post.
This video reflects my personal delusion/excitement.
Speaking of excitement...I've had a few more articles published for Time Out. This is so unrelated but whatevs; I had to publish these links somehow.
Here is:
My feature on Xavier Samuel and his role in The Loved Ones.
My feature on Boomburbs exhibition.
An interview with Reportage photo festival director.
Facts about contemporary jazz heroes.
And a summary of November community festivals.
Now that uni is over I can focus on my (non-existent) career and continue to add work to my portfolio. Woop...?
30.10.10
Elaine Cheng
Here is a silly video that I recently recovered from my laptop.
It stars my younger sister.
25.10.10
What's life without dairy?
My doctor told me that my body's inability to metabolise lactose may be the cause of my constant discomfort. So not only do I suffer from Asian Flush because I lack the enzyme that breaks down alcohol; there is also the possibility that I lack the lactase enzyme.
I realise that many people - especially Asians - are lactose intolerant but I pride myself on my ability to eat everything and anything. So naturally, being the 'catastrophic thinker' that I am, I received the news quite dramatically - a bit like Jeff Winger in S02E03 of Community when he finds out that he has high cholesterol. If you haven't seen it, he takes it really badly.
I usually have yoghurt for breakfast, cheese with my lunch, chocolate or ice cream for dessert, and skim milk with my coffee. I need dairy.
Even more devastatingly, my dream of visiting every frozen yoghurt store in Sydney has now been shattered. :( (This warrants a sad face).
My short journey has now ended with the mediocre yoghurt from Noggi at Macquarie Shopping Centre - the servings are very generous but the limited range of toppings is quite sad (from memory I think there are only around 5 to choose from). The toppings selection at Frozen Yoghurt on Glebe Point Road is also very disappointing. Also, although I like my food establishments clean, this place is over-the-top sterile, giving it a creepy vibe. The only good thing about this joint is the fact that you get to self serve and the price of your dessert depends on the weight.
Therefore, in my novice opinion, Wow Cow definitely trumps the both of them. Although WC is slightly more expensive, the servings are big and there are heaps of different toppings to choose from. My favourite combo is the original yoghurt with crumble and berry coulis. And if I'm feeling particularly gluttonous I'll treat myself to the doughnut sticks.
I realise that many people - especially Asians - are lactose intolerant but I pride myself on my ability to eat everything and anything. So naturally, being the 'catastrophic thinker' that I am, I received the news quite dramatically - a bit like Jeff Winger in S02E03 of Community when he finds out that he has high cholesterol. If you haven't seen it, he takes it really badly.
I usually have yoghurt for breakfast, cheese with my lunch, chocolate or ice cream for dessert, and skim milk with my coffee. I need dairy.
 |
| This used to be me |
Even more devastatingly, my dream of visiting every frozen yoghurt store in Sydney has now been shattered. :( (This warrants a sad face).
My short journey has now ended with the mediocre yoghurt from Noggi at Macquarie Shopping Centre - the servings are very generous but the limited range of toppings is quite sad (from memory I think there are only around 5 to choose from). The toppings selection at Frozen Yoghurt on Glebe Point Road is also very disappointing. Also, although I like my food establishments clean, this place is over-the-top sterile, giving it a creepy vibe. The only good thing about this joint is the fact that you get to self serve and the price of your dessert depends on the weight.
Therefore, in my novice opinion, Wow Cow definitely trumps the both of them. Although WC is slightly more expensive, the servings are big and there are heaps of different toppings to choose from. My favourite combo is the original yoghurt with crumble and berry coulis. And if I'm feeling particularly gluttonous I'll treat myself to the doughnut sticks.
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| Noggi: MINI original yoghurt with strawberry, granola, and Oreos. |
Now I will never know if a better yoghurt store exists. Unless I decide to bear the immense pain and bloating.
*In case I get any hate mail from people complaining about my whinging - I know that being lactose intolerant is not the worst thing out there and I do appreciate that I don't have more serious health issues.
24.10.10
Obama: It Gets Better
Why can't all political leaders be this sweet?
Also, I know I've been really slack with updating my blog but I promise I'll have some more substantial entries once I hand in my final essays.
19.10.10
17.10.10
You're starting to get on my nerves.
Dearest iPhone,
I hate you.
I wanted you so badly before but now you are the main source of my frustration.
You're so temperamental. Sometimes you have excellent reception but most of the time you tell me that you're 'Searching...'. I know you're lying because there's definitely reception in the area - I'm standing in the middle of the city, not Hicksville. Have you ever considered that I might be DYING and need to make an emergency call and don't have time to restart you? On that note, why do you take so long to shut down. And then equally as long to switch back on?
I also hate that your screen cracks so easily. Sure, I may have dropped you on the floor but it was only from a height of 30cm. You were my second iPhone (after my first one decided to self-destruct) and it was only the third day of our relationship. Why are you so fragile?
And for some reason you like to freak me out. Sometimes I will make or answer a call and it sounds like an alien from District 9 is on the other side. Why are aliens trying to communicate with me at the most inconvenient times?
I also hate that you lag. You're only a bit over a year old and I don't store much on you. Why is there a one second delay for you to open an app?
Oh, and what's the deal with me having to charge you every night. Over time your battery life has just gone from crap to crappier. I play a few games, check a few emails, listen to a bit of music and you're telling me that you've only got 50% battery left?
This is not good enough. As soon as my contract finishes, I'm ridding myself of your incompetence. I'm moving on. I've always wanted to try Samsung Galaxy S.
Yours Sincerely,
Emily
15.10.10
Shameless Plug: Cheng's on Fitzroy and Cool Mac
As the title suggests, this is a shameless plug.
If you didn't already know, my dad and uncle own a restaurant called Cheng's on Fitzroy. They've had it for just over two years now and it's going slow but steady. I used to help out when they first opened but eventually did everyone a favour by quitting because I was the World's Worst Waitress - spilling beers and breaking glasses over customers, tipping sauces on table cloths, and suffering from a serious phobia of carrying drink trays.
I've learnt a lot from my family's experience in the restaurant business - mainly that it's freaking hard. Opening up in the midst of the GFC didn't really help either. Nonetheless, after much perseverance and patience, I think that my dad and uncle have come a long way. And if they read this, I just want to let them know that I'm very proud of them (awww).
My dad previously worked in the airline business before quitting to take over a cafe in Kirribilli. With no hospitality experience (except being a waiter when he was younger), he tirelessly managed the cafe for ten years before handing it over to my cousin Eugene (who has now transformed it into a really hip place called Cool Mac). Looking for something more challenging, my dad realised that there lacked good, modern Chinese restaurants in the area.
On the other side of the globe, my uncle had been working for an insurance company in Hong Kong for many years. Although he was happy in his job, his real passion has always been cooking. Even everyday homemade dinners were innovative and of restaurant standard. It was pretty much inevitable that he would one day be the head chef of his own establishment.
Combining their talents, they've now established a modern Chinese restaurant. The idea behind it was that they wanted to challenge common misconceptions of Chinese food as greasy, MSG-fuelled and sloppy. The dishes on the menu are traditional Chinese dishes with a modern twist. My favourites include the Capital Pork Ribs, Sweet and Sour Pork with Fresh Strawberries, and the Soft Shell Crab San Choi Bao. And unlike tacky restaurants with poor quality service, my dad ensures that the waitstaff are attentive, polite and personable.
So I'm hoping that after reading this you'll have a sudden craving for Chinese food and give my family's restaurant a go. You know you've always wanted to.
Cheng's on Fitzroy
Shop 3/12 Fitzroy Street
Kirribilli NSW 2061
Ph: 9955 8554
If you didn't already know, my dad and uncle own a restaurant called Cheng's on Fitzroy. They've had it for just over two years now and it's going slow but steady. I used to help out when they first opened but eventually did everyone a favour by quitting because I was the World's Worst Waitress - spilling beers and breaking glasses over customers, tipping sauces on table cloths, and suffering from a serious phobia of carrying drink trays.
I've learnt a lot from my family's experience in the restaurant business - mainly that it's freaking hard. Opening up in the midst of the GFC didn't really help either. Nonetheless, after much perseverance and patience, I think that my dad and uncle have come a long way. And if they read this, I just want to let them know that I'm very proud of them (awww).
My dad previously worked in the airline business before quitting to take over a cafe in Kirribilli. With no hospitality experience (except being a waiter when he was younger), he tirelessly managed the cafe for ten years before handing it over to my cousin Eugene (who has now transformed it into a really hip place called Cool Mac). Looking for something more challenging, my dad realised that there lacked good, modern Chinese restaurants in the area.
On the other side of the globe, my uncle had been working for an insurance company in Hong Kong for many years. Although he was happy in his job, his real passion has always been cooking. Even everyday homemade dinners were innovative and of restaurant standard. It was pretty much inevitable that he would one day be the head chef of his own establishment.
 |
| Uncle Matthew and Dad |
Combining their talents, they've now established a modern Chinese restaurant. The idea behind it was that they wanted to challenge common misconceptions of Chinese food as greasy, MSG-fuelled and sloppy. The dishes on the menu are traditional Chinese dishes with a modern twist. My favourites include the Capital Pork Ribs, Sweet and Sour Pork with Fresh Strawberries, and the Soft Shell Crab San Choi Bao. And unlike tacky restaurants with poor quality service, my dad ensures that the waitstaff are attentive, polite and personable.
 |
| Capital Pork Ribs (mmmm) |
So I'm hoping that after reading this you'll have a sudden craving for Chinese food and give my family's restaurant a go. You know you've always wanted to.
Cheng's on Fitzroy
Shop 3/12 Fitzroy Street
Kirribilli NSW 2061
Ph: 9955 8554
12.10.10
I love you, Vanity Fair.
So you've all freaked me out a bit.
I checked the stats for this blog and saw that linking it to FB increased my views by ten fold, which isn't that surprising considering I previously had a readership of around two people (hi Max and Nugen). Obviously the intention of feeding my blog through to FB and Twitter was to generate traffic but I guess I never really considered the actual consequences of doing so. That is, I never considered that people would actually read my stuff; that you would be wasting five minutes of your life reading my rambling. I'm not saying that you're reading it because it's good - it's highly likely that you're reading it because you have accidentally clicked on my FB link. Nonetheless, I feel exposed. Despite the anxiety that this invokes, it also puts pressure on me to produce some half-decent content (a good thing).
Now, I realise that I've drifted from my initial theme of talking about 'things I've always wanted to' so today is the day that I am going to get back on track. But seeing as my mind is mostly preoccupied with graduation-related nervousness, this post is super short and may be a bore to you.
If you know me at all, you'd know that my career aspirations are to write for an amazing magazine until the age of around 38 and then go into PR until I retire. My ultimate goal is to work for Vanity Fair. It's got everything that I'm interested in; politics, culture, fashion, entertainment and Annie Leibovitz. The magazine can be serious. And then there are sections where they just have a laugh. I love reading the articles but also thoroughly enjoy the slideshows, such as Howard Schatz's In Character series. To me, VF is perfect.
I've always wanted to work for Vanity Fair (blatant and uncreative link to my blog's theme). So maybe my blog will one day reach editor Grayden Carter's computer screen or the screen of any other influential VF journos and they'll love it so much that they contact me for a job opportunity. Or maybe I should just be more proactive about it and complete my Conde Nast job application, book a flight to NYC and force myself upon them.
I checked the stats for this blog and saw that linking it to FB increased my views by ten fold, which isn't that surprising considering I previously had a readership of around two people (hi Max and Nugen). Obviously the intention of feeding my blog through to FB and Twitter was to generate traffic but I guess I never really considered the actual consequences of doing so. That is, I never considered that people would actually read my stuff; that you would be wasting five minutes of your life reading my rambling. I'm not saying that you're reading it because it's good - it's highly likely that you're reading it because you have accidentally clicked on my FB link. Nonetheless, I feel exposed. Despite the anxiety that this invokes, it also puts pressure on me to produce some half-decent content (a good thing).
Now, I realise that I've drifted from my initial theme of talking about 'things I've always wanted to' so today is the day that I am going to get back on track. But seeing as my mind is mostly preoccupied with graduation-related nervousness, this post is super short and may be a bore to you.
If you know me at all, you'd know that my career aspirations are to write for an amazing magazine until the age of around 38 and then go into PR until I retire. My ultimate goal is to work for Vanity Fair. It's got everything that I'm interested in; politics, culture, fashion, entertainment and Annie Leibovitz. The magazine can be serious. And then there are sections where they just have a laugh. I love reading the articles but also thoroughly enjoy the slideshows, such as Howard Schatz's In Character series. To me, VF is perfect.
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| VF Cover by Annie Leibovitz 2006 |
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| VF Cover by Annie Leibovitz 2009 |
I've always wanted to work for Vanity Fair (blatant and uncreative link to my blog's theme). So maybe my blog will one day reach editor Grayden Carter's computer screen or the screen of any other influential VF journos and they'll love it so much that they contact me for a job opportunity. Or maybe I should just be more proactive about it and complete my Conde Nast job application, book a flight to NYC and force myself upon them.
11.10.10
Easily Impressed?
This morning I had to call Urban Outfitters in the US to sort out complications with an online order. Despite having to pay an arm and a leg to call internationally, I'm always quite excited to phone international customer service people because I imagine that they'd be equally surprised and happy to hear a foreign accent as I am to hear their strong American voices on the other line. I'm usually quivering with anticipation as I wait to be served after the typical pre-recorded welcome messages.
Sure, I've only called overseas customer service hotlines a few times but every time I am disappointed. I'm not disappointed in the service or anything; I'm just sad that they're not excited to hear from me. I'M CALLING FROM AUSTRALIA.
This is how I expect the conversation to go:
Them (in a flat voice): Welcome to (insert company name). How can I help you?
Sure, I've only called overseas customer service hotlines a few times but every time I am disappointed. I'm not disappointed in the service or anything; I'm just sad that they're not excited to hear from me. I'M CALLING FROM AUSTRALIA.
This is how I expect the conversation to go:
Them (in a flat voice): Welcome to (insert company name). How can I help you?
Me : Hi! My name's Emily and I'm calling from Australia!
Them (in over-the-top excitement): Wow! From Australia! I can't believe you're calling from Australia! That's so cool. You've totally made my day! Free shipping for you because you called all the way from Australia!
Me: Cool thanks! This is so awesome. Your accent is so cool.
Them: Thanks, so is yours. You sound awesome!
This is how the conversation actually goes:
Them (in a flat voice): Welcome to (insert company name). How can I help you?
Me (in over-the-top excitement): Hi! My name's Emily and I'm calling from Australia!
Them (still in flat voice): Hi Emily, how can I help you?
Me: Well I've just made an online order but there are some complications. It might be because I'm FROM AUSTRALIA.
Them (thoughts of 'fml' reflected in their voice): What's your order number please?
I feel so deflated after these calls.
I've travelled around a fair bit and have met a lot of unique people with interesting accents but I'm still fascinated by the idea of international calls. I think it's amazing, actually. We're in different time zones and different hemispheres, and yet we're able to overcome these differences just by a phone call.
Am I just lame for being easily impressed or are the customer service people specifically told to not show any emotions while working? I'm hoping that it's the latter - that they're also super surprised to hear my Australian accent and are trying their hardest to contain their excitement.
9.10.10
Corndog.
So I know this song is super old and not really that good but I think my awesome headphones (see few posts below) made it sound a lot better than it does on YouTube. Also, I may have just been extra contemplative and bored while listening to it on the bus and therefore easily impressed. I'm making all these disclaimers obviously because I don't want ya'll hating the song and then thinking that I've got shit taste in music.
Nevertheless, here is my obsession of the day. I really like Martha Wainwright's voice in this. I'm a sucker for duets.
7.10.10
Crazy House.
Today was the last ever lecture for Media. Rather than actually paying attention, I spent the time playing sporcle and started researching for my Vietnam trip (is this somewhat ironic seeing as I was bitching about bad students in my previous post?)
Anyway, Nugen and I are spending a month travelling the Nam next January and he's been super keen and organised while I've just been lazy and lame. He's done all the groundwork so far - refreshing the Air Asia website until the wee hours of the morning in search of cheap tickets and drafting an outline of our itinerary.
All that he has asked of me is to find specific places that I want to see. And I have failed at this task. Until now:
It's called Crazy House*. It's a five storey guesthouse with various animal-themed rooms. I want to stay in the 'Kangaroo' room.
Reviews for it are mixed - some say it's like walking into a fairy tale while others complain of the hoards of tourists that surround the building (apparently some come right up to your room?).
However, I don't care what the haters say - I'm going to spend at least one night there. I mean, c'mon, it's a giant treehouse.
*The website is in Vietnamese so I hope your browser has an auto-translator.
Anyway, Nugen and I are spending a month travelling the Nam next January and he's been super keen and organised while I've just been lazy and lame. He's done all the groundwork so far - refreshing the Air Asia website until the wee hours of the morning in search of cheap tickets and drafting an outline of our itinerary.
All that he has asked of me is to find specific places that I want to see. And I have failed at this task. Until now:
It's called Crazy House*. It's a five storey guesthouse with various animal-themed rooms. I want to stay in the 'Kangaroo' room.
Reviews for it are mixed - some say it's like walking into a fairy tale while others complain of the hoards of tourists that surround the building (apparently some come right up to your room?).
However, I don't care what the haters say - I'm going to spend at least one night there. I mean, c'mon, it's a giant treehouse.
*The website is in Vietnamese so I hope your browser has an auto-translator.
6.10.10
Prestigious university?
So I have been trying to study at uni but it has been near impossible because next to me is a group of 20-somethings speaking to each other as if there is nobody else in the study area. At times they will actually yell from across the room, over the soft murmurs of fellow students. I was beginning to get frustrated. And then...
Boy 1: How do you spell 'from'?
Boy 2: Are you f***ing serious? F-O-R-M!
(Silence for 2 minutes while I laugh a little inside)
Boy 2: Oh no, it's actually F-R-O-M. I'm not stupid, I did Standard English.
Sure, it sounds like a silly slip-up but throughout the night they also tried to pull a girl friend's bra off and ran out to the car park to goof around (which was clearly audible from the inside).
I'm concerned about my generation.
Boy 1: How do you spell 'from'?
Boy 2: Are you f***ing serious? F-O-R-M!
(Silence for 2 minutes while I laugh a little inside)
Boy 2: Oh no, it's actually F-R-O-M. I'm not stupid, I did Standard English.
Sure, it sounds like a silly slip-up but throughout the night they also tried to pull a girl friend's bra off and ran out to the car park to goof around (which was clearly audible from the inside).
I'm concerned about my generation.
5.10.10
Uh-may-zing
Best synchronising I've ever seen.
I came across this group of Chinese deaf dancers while watching my grandma's Chinese television channels.
I came across this group of Chinese deaf dancers while watching my grandma's Chinese television channels.
3.10.10
Panic Time
I just looked at my calendar and my last class (forever?) is next-next Thursday.
Nineteen years of schooling (including pre-school) will be over in two weeks.
To say that I am getting anxious about the idea of entering the 'real' world is an understatement. I'm beyond anxious now. I've gotten to that stage where anxiety has taken over and my mind has exploded with visions of my future and now everything is just a blur and I'm trying my best to calmly guide myself through the mess.
I just realised that I referred to my state of mind as "that stage", as if it's a common experience for all. I'm pretty sure it's not.
Nineteen years of schooling (including pre-school) will be over in two weeks.
To say that I am getting anxious about the idea of entering the 'real' world is an understatement. I'm beyond anxious now. I've gotten to that stage where anxiety has taken over and my mind has exploded with visions of my future and now everything is just a blur and I'm trying my best to calmly guide myself through the mess.
I just realised that I referred to my state of mind as "that stage", as if it's a common experience for all. I'm pretty sure it's not.
2.10.10
KOFFIA 2010
Tonight Nugen and I attended the Opening Ceremony for the inaugural Korean Film Festival in Australia.
Although I would have preferred to try some Korean-inspired canapes, the seared salmon and roast beef wraps were good enough and the lack of 'Koreanness' was eased by the distribution of Korean raspberry wine. The wine was quite sweet but definitely worth a try.
OK, let's skip the food and go to the best part of the night - the film, Mother.
Directed by Boon Jong-ho, the film encompasses everything great about Korean cinema - the amalgamation of drama, comedy, and thriller made every minute of the film enjoyably engaging.
Kim Hye-ja plays an obsessively doting mother (Hye-ja) to her mentally challenged son, Do-joon (Won Bin). After Do-joon is accused of murdering a local schoolgirl, Hye-ja takes it upon herself to prove her son's innocence. Hints of insanity seep through the mother's eyes as she refuses to accept a life without her beloved child. Hye-ja's investigation gradually unveils dark secrets among the community; secrets that lead to an unwanted revelation.
On top of the suspenseful story line, the acting in the film makes it easy to understand why it has been award-winning. Not only was it honoured with Un Certain Regard at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, the film was also elected as Korea's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards. And while all the performances were exceptional, Kim Hye-ja's emotional portrayal of a desperate mother won her Best Performance by an Actress at the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
I don't want to go on for too long about the cinematic merits of the film nor reveal too much of the plot so my parting advice is simple: go see it.
Visit www.koffia.com.au for more details about other great Korean films that you can see.
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| They only served raspberry wine. No water, juice or soft drinks. |
Directed by Boon Jong-ho, the film encompasses everything great about Korean cinema - the amalgamation of drama, comedy, and thriller made every minute of the film enjoyably engaging.
Kim Hye-ja plays an obsessively doting mother (Hye-ja) to her mentally challenged son, Do-joon (Won Bin). After Do-joon is accused of murdering a local schoolgirl, Hye-ja takes it upon herself to prove her son's innocence. Hints of insanity seep through the mother's eyes as she refuses to accept a life without her beloved child. Hye-ja's investigation gradually unveils dark secrets among the community; secrets that lead to an unwanted revelation.
On top of the suspenseful story line, the acting in the film makes it easy to understand why it has been award-winning. Not only was it honoured with Un Certain Regard at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, the film was also elected as Korea's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards. And while all the performances were exceptional, Kim Hye-ja's emotional portrayal of a desperate mother won her Best Performance by an Actress at the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
I don't want to go on for too long about the cinematic merits of the film nor reveal too much of the plot so my parting advice is simple: go see it.
Visit www.koffia.com.au for more details about other great Korean films that you can see.
29.9.10
1945
For our two year anniversary Nugen and I went to 1945 - a Dutch East Indies (aka Indonesian) restaurant. Having never tasted Indonesian food before, we were both very excited.
I'm instantly impressed. The restaurant itself is very colonial and it feels like you've stepped into a warm, stylish home. Everything about this place is unique and classic - the food is served in small straw baskets and the chopsticks rest on smooth stones engraved with the restaurant's name (which I'm tempted to steal but don't).
The menu is vast and somewhat overwhelming for first-timers like ourselves but the waitress is very helpful and recommends ordering at least 5 dishes per person. The servings are the size of tapas so the idea is to order a few things to share.
The highlights were the deep fried marinated chicken wing in caramelised cashew sauce; savoury grilled prawn basted with spice-infused coconut milk and sweet soy sauce; and grilled marinated beef ribs drizzled with fried garlic oil and served with shrimp paste chili sauce. However, because the flavours of these faves had a similar sweet soy taste to them, dishes like the traditional Indonesian chicken soup and deep fried eggplant were refreshing for the palette.
Don't order the ox tail - Nugen got weirded out by it after one bite and it's way too fatty for my liking (and I like my fat). However, do order the Es Tjintjao (grassjelly drink with pandan flavoured fresh milk and palm sugar). This drink is AWESOME. It's quite sweet so it's not really one that you have with the meal; it's more like a dessert drink so it's probably best to order it after the meal. It's got a really strong pandan flavour and it tastes like the milk from Nutrigrain cereal (an odd description but also very accurate).
I'll definitely be back to try the other dishes and will probably opt for the set menu to get a taste of the restaurant's recommended selection.
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| (Photo courtesy of 1945 Facebook Page) |
The menu is vast and somewhat overwhelming for first-timers like ourselves but the waitress is very helpful and recommends ordering at least 5 dishes per person. The servings are the size of tapas so the idea is to order a few things to share.
The highlights were the deep fried marinated chicken wing in caramelised cashew sauce; savoury grilled prawn basted with spice-infused coconut milk and sweet soy sauce; and grilled marinated beef ribs drizzled with fried garlic oil and served with shrimp paste chili sauce. However, because the flavours of these faves had a similar sweet soy taste to them, dishes like the traditional Indonesian chicken soup and deep fried eggplant were refreshing for the palette.
Don't order the ox tail - Nugen got weirded out by it after one bite and it's way too fatty for my liking (and I like my fat). However, do order the Es Tjintjao (grassjelly drink with pandan flavoured fresh milk and palm sugar). This drink is AWESOME. It's quite sweet so it's not really one that you have with the meal; it's more like a dessert drink so it's probably best to order it after the meal. It's got a really strong pandan flavour and it tastes like the milk from Nutrigrain cereal (an odd description but also very accurate).
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| (Apologies for poor quality Iphone photo. Also, these were obviously not all the dishes. Clockwise from right: eggplant, corn fritters, chicken wings, chicken soup, beef stew, prawn) |
I'll definitely be back to try the other dishes and will probably opt for the set menu to get a taste of the restaurant's recommended selection.
28.9.10
Roc Nation Aviators
I love my bling headphones.
Got Nugen's sister to buy them in New York for me. They're part of Skullcandy's limited edition. I prefer these because I think the standard Skullcandy headphones can look cheap and tacky.
The headphones themselves are made of polycarbonate, with plush memory foam ear cushions, and the cable is encased in cotton material to prevent any possible breakage. It also comes in a fake leather case. The sound is also awesome.
Win for me.
Got Nugen's sister to buy them in New York for me. They're part of Skullcandy's limited edition. I prefer these because I think the standard Skullcandy headphones can look cheap and tacky.
The headphones themselves are made of polycarbonate, with plush memory foam ear cushions, and the cable is encased in cotton material to prevent any possible breakage. It also comes in a fake leather case. The sound is also awesome.
Win for me.
27.9.10
25.9.10
I like Time Out.
Yes, it has been a while since I've been blogging but I'd like to think that I have a few good excuses. And if my absence does not exemplify my laziness, this post will as it simply consists of me copying and pasting links to my Time Out articles (I hope there are no legal issues involved).
This blog is becoming such a mess but I've always wanted to create a blog that organises my samples of writing. And seeing as the theme of this blog is about things I've wanted to do I guess this post is not completely irrelevant.
I searched for my name on Google to find old links to my Time Out articles (I swear I wasn't just being self-obsessed) and came across this recent review of mine for Trash Humpers by Harmony Korine and found myself on Rotten Tomatoes. Not that it's a major goal of mine to get onto RT but I did find it pretty cool. I'm finally semi-legit. Here is my original. NB. I did not give it three stars.
After going through Google I realised that Time Out has an internal search engine. Doh...
Here is my interview with Anthony Fabian for Skin.
My write-up for the Italian Film Festival
My piece for Latin-American Film Festival.
My review of Wil Anderson's comedy show.
My piece on Young Blood Designer Markets.
That's all I've got. For now.
This blog is becoming such a mess but I've always wanted to create a blog that organises my samples of writing. And seeing as the theme of this blog is about things I've wanted to do I guess this post is not completely irrelevant.
I searched for my name on Google to find old links to my Time Out articles (I swear I wasn't just being self-obsessed) and came across this recent review of mine for Trash Humpers by Harmony Korine and found myself on Rotten Tomatoes. Not that it's a major goal of mine to get onto RT but I did find it pretty cool. I'm finally semi-legit. Here is my original. NB. I did not give it three stars.
After going through Google I realised that Time Out has an internal search engine. Doh...
Here is my interview with Anthony Fabian for Skin.
My write-up for the Italian Film Festival
My piece for Latin-American Film Festival.
My review of Wil Anderson's comedy show.
My piece on Young Blood Designer Markets.
That's all I've got. For now.
23.8.10
Wicked.
Just a quick and simple review while I continue procrastinating. Essays make me anxious.
Yesterday I saw Wicked with my sister for the cheap price of $50. I'm not usually keen on musicals but this one was quite good. Having seen it for the first time, I was surprised by the wit of the script and how cleverly it ties in themes of the original Wizard of Oz. The singing wasn't really that great though. While the acting is decent, the characters' voices were all quite weak.
But I'm not a professional in this genre in any way so my opinion should not be taken seriously.
Yesterday I saw Wicked with my sister for the cheap price of $50. I'm not usually keen on musicals but this one was quite good. Having seen it for the first time, I was surprised by the wit of the script and how cleverly it ties in themes of the original Wizard of Oz. The singing wasn't really that great though. While the acting is decent, the characters' voices were all quite weak.
But I'm not a professional in this genre in any way so my opinion should not be taken seriously.
21.8.10
Yakinuku Kashiwa
I've decided that this blog will be a place for me to review as well.
I'll be writing about restaurants and films because those are the only things that I know well. Be warned that these will in no way be fancy schmancy formal restaurant reviews because I am not a professional - I'm just you're average food lover. Having parents that have always favoured eating out over home cooking (due to pure laziness), I've frequented a lot of restaurants around Sydney so I'd like to think that I'm a somewhat credible food critic. Plus, my dad owns Cheng's on Fitzroy so I know also now know the ins and outs of the restaurant business.
I'll be writing about restaurants and films because those are the only things that I know well. Be warned that these will in no way be fancy schmancy formal restaurant reviews because I am not a professional - I'm just you're average food lover. Having parents that have always favoured eating out over home cooking (due to pure laziness), I've frequented a lot of restaurants around Sydney so I'd like to think that I'm a somewhat credible food critic. Plus, my dad owns Cheng's on Fitzroy so I know also now know the ins and outs of the restaurant business.
The first time I visited Yakinuku Kashiwa was a week ago with my cousins. Everybody raves on about it being an awesome Japanese BBQ restaurant hence I was quite keen to go. The first experience was good but I wanted to experience it with a smaller group so I decided to introduce my mother to it last night.
On both occasions the stand-out dish has been, without a doubt, the Special Wagyu Beef Ribs. The slices are a perfect thickness, the meat is fatty and tender, and the special soy sauce does not overpower the juices of the wagyu.
However, if beef is not your thing, another highlight is the pork. I'm not one to shy away from fat so I really enjoy these fatty pieces as they sizzle in their own oil. Dipping it in the provided sesame oil/soy sauce gives the simple pork slices an extra kick of flavour.
The beef liver sashimi is also worth a try if you're not deterred by the idea of biting in to cubes of raw, slimey beef liver. It lacks a distinctive flavour but it's worth it just to say that you've experienced raw beef liver.
The ox tongue is quite good too. Not everyone appreciates this organ but I have fond childhood memories of ox tongue sandwiches and I have yet to be disappointed by this soft meat. I like the slight chew of the thin Kashiwa slices and, once again, the dipping sauce completes it.
Things that I would not order again are the chicken and the scallops. Both are quite bland and I lack the patience required to wait for the chicken cubes to cook. I'd much rather spend my money and time cooking the beef and pork.
Take advantage of the free BYO with a bottle of nice white and you have yourself an awesome BBQ experience.
Yakinuku Kashiwa
7A Falcon St
Crows Nest NSW 2065
(02) 9906 7393
On both occasions the stand-out dish has been, without a doubt, the Special Wagyu Beef Ribs. The slices are a perfect thickness, the meat is fatty and tender, and the special soy sauce does not overpower the juices of the wagyu.
However, if beef is not your thing, another highlight is the pork. I'm not one to shy away from fat so I really enjoy these fatty pieces as they sizzle in their own oil. Dipping it in the provided sesame oil/soy sauce gives the simple pork slices an extra kick of flavour.
The beef liver sashimi is also worth a try if you're not deterred by the idea of biting in to cubes of raw, slimey beef liver. It lacks a distinctive flavour but it's worth it just to say that you've experienced raw beef liver.
The ox tongue is quite good too. Not everyone appreciates this organ but I have fond childhood memories of ox tongue sandwiches and I have yet to be disappointed by this soft meat. I like the slight chew of the thin Kashiwa slices and, once again, the dipping sauce completes it.
Things that I would not order again are the chicken and the scallops. Both are quite bland and I lack the patience required to wait for the chicken cubes to cook. I'd much rather spend my money and time cooking the beef and pork.
Take advantage of the free BYO with a bottle of nice white and you have yourself an awesome BBQ experience.
Yakinuku Kashiwa
7A Falcon St
Crows Nest NSW 2065
(02) 9906 7393
19.8.10
Deflowered.
My first blog post. Ever.
I've always wanted a blog. I feel like, as a budding journalist, I should be writing as much as possible. Whenever, wherever, whatever.
My hesitation to enter the blogosphere is due to the following:
1) Laziness
2) Fear. Fear that people will actually read this one day and conclude that the quality of my writing is so poor that I should never even consider a career in journalism
3) My life is honestly not exciting enough to write about
Starting this blog is in no way a suggestion that my life has become more interesting - I just feel like the time has come for me to suck up my insecurities and start doing something to showcase my capabilities.
I will use this space to write about everything and anything that I deem worthy to share with the outside world. My pledge to my readers (ie Nugen) is that I will try my best to update this as much as possible and write about things that are at least remotely interesting.
The title of my blog refers to the fact that I often make many plans - ranging from grand life goals to a plan to walk the dogs daily - that I never follow through with. Or that I have no realistic hope of achieving. Or because I procrastinate too much.
Hopefully by the end of this blog life-cycle I will do things that I've always talked about doing and my next blog title will be 'I've Already Done'.
Let's see how long this lasts.
I've always wanted a blog. I feel like, as a budding journalist, I should be writing as much as possible. Whenever, wherever, whatever.
My hesitation to enter the blogosphere is due to the following:
1) Laziness
2) Fear. Fear that people will actually read this one day and conclude that the quality of my writing is so poor that I should never even consider a career in journalism
3) My life is honestly not exciting enough to write about
Starting this blog is in no way a suggestion that my life has become more interesting - I just feel like the time has come for me to suck up my insecurities and start doing something to showcase my capabilities.
I will use this space to write about everything and anything that I deem worthy to share with the outside world. My pledge to my readers (ie Nugen) is that I will try my best to update this as much as possible and write about things that are at least remotely interesting.
The title of my blog refers to the fact that I often make many plans - ranging from grand life goals to a plan to walk the dogs daily - that I never follow through with. Or that I have no realistic hope of achieving. Or because I procrastinate too much.
Hopefully by the end of this blog life-cycle I will do things that I've always talked about doing and my next blog title will be 'I've Already Done'.
Let's see how long this lasts.
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