CNY in Melbourne is not the same like back home in Malaysia with a lot of exchange of mandarin oranges, cookies and red packets (angpows). It’s a little more subdued here, although with the large population of Chinese (probably more than in Malaysia) – Melbourne almost feels like Asia at times, especially in the city. My friends and I still managed a little get together reunion to usher the dragon new year. We went to Eddy’s for dinner. I think this meal really beats all the meals I’ve had in my entire CNY reunion dinners – with the right spread of dishes, and prover “fengshui-like” names related to CNY. Apparently it had to be more than a certain number of dishes like 7 or something. There were too much food though, but all in the name of abundance, to usher the new year in abundance of wealth, health and prosperity! Woohoo!

Yup, the cheongsam-fan on the right had to get her top from ebay at USD$12.

Lo sang!

Josiah’s first angpow out for the year. Nice.

A little something to be in the mood of CNY. Hope you had a great one yourself.

I had a good start of 2012 with a fulfilling holiday back in Malaysia visiting family and friends. I ate a lot of unhealthy food! My trip back to Kuala Lumpur confirmed that my life has evolved since I’ve been in Melbourne for two and a half years now. In other words, I have grown in many ways. I realised that I do not adapt so easily anymore when it comes to the change of timezone and hours. 3 hours difference of Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur affect my eating and sleeping habits quite drastically. Apart from that, the lifestyle in KL when it comes to food certainly is not that healthy compared to the food here in Melbourne.

A friend of mine had just recently stepped foot into Sydney and mentioned that food in Australia’s rather bland. Indeed, Australia’s food lack flavour like in Malaysia where oil’s reused over and over again, fried in woks that have not been cleaned forever, preservatives and so on. There is no real Aussie food besides “Hungry Jacks”, but I’d say typical Aussie food is takeaway $2.50 sushi, foccacias, wraps, salad and so on – considered bland food!

My main excuse is that I was on a holiday so I decided to indulge. I do feel pretty guilty with all the food I’ve had. See for yourself below.

Above: At some yum cha cafe I forgot.

Above: Kin Kin pan mee’s other branch or something?

Above: O&S laksa, not that great but decent or “will do”.

Above: Chicken rice. Total bill for 3 pax was around $20.00 (approx AUD$6.50)

Above: Steamboat.

Above: Fish with lots of sauce. What sauce is this anyway?

Above: Pork, I didn’t touch.

Above: Bak Kut The. That’s a whole lot of garlic. Yum…

Above: Chicken Hor Fun noodles. Yummy. I think this place is called Ipoh Chang Jiang coffee shop.

Above: Fish Head at Paramount.

Above: Chatterbox’s Bittergourd with Beef.

Above: Fried noodles at Chatterbox.

Above: Wat Tan Hor at Char Chan Teng.

Above: Steam Room, Sunway Giza. Total bill was around RM150.00 (AUD$50.00) for four pax.

Above: My favourite tofu.

Above: Chicken!

Above: Fried brinjal.

Above: My favourite chicken feet! I know you may find it gross, but it’s really yummy!

Above: Fried rice.

Above: Chicago Rib House at One Utama. Total bill was around RM180.00 (AUD$60.00)

Above: Murni’s double cheese naan.

WHAT YOU CAN EAT AT AUD$1.00

At AUD$1.00, you can have Economy Rice – a fish (not two) and two vegetable dishes on rice.

WHAT YOU CAN EAT AT AUD$0.60

You can have a full meal – a plate of noodles and a cup of hot coffee at RM1.80.

It is generally cheaper in Malaysia to eat out than to cook in, depending on what you cook as well. In Malaysia, people spend more time travelling between work and home or to places and working hours are late, so it is more convenient to eat out. Food is generally more greasy but is addictive.

When I reached Melbourne, I fell ill immediately and had to go on a full detox. I was inhaling too much smoke, not eating and sleeping well. I wanted to do everything given the short period of time I had in Malaysia. It felt as if I needed to recover from a holiday.

Malaysia’s a place I call “home”, to visit once a year. Some changes I noticed this time around:

- Many new pubs and bars have emerged
- New shopping centres like Dutamas and Sunway Giza are becoming popular
- Clubs in KL apparently now have the license to open till 5am (or was it 6am)?
- Brands like Zara and MNG have pretty bad clothes in KL, they look really cheap this time around.
- Local Malaysian designers have their designs represented in local boutiques in Bangsar and Kota Damansara and quality’s pretty awesome!

Detox time! How many times I have to justify my gluttony?

There is a new bakery store on Swanston Street and it has just what we need for a quick take-away snack or full meal ranging from savoury to sweet pastries and bread.

Bread & Butter Bakery
Location: 240 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD (cnr Little Bourke St)
Opening Hours:  Daily 8am-8pm (Fridays & Saturdays till 9pm)

At work, I am in charge of organising special treats / team gatherings to celebrate my colleagues’ birthdays. This time around it was Mandy’s birthday so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for my colleagues to indulge in strudels instead of *yawns* cake, over and over again.

It is actually more than just bread and butter.

Swanston Street on a rainy day.

As the store is new, paint work is still in progress, but I thought there was something special about the rustic look and feel.

Yes, I love the rustic look and feel.

To come to think of it, their trading hours are pretty full-on.

I was spoilt for choice!

Alright, I knew what I needed for lunch.

Raisin bread, anyone?

More pastries?

Anything with cheese is absolutely yummy!

Pretty reasonable compared to a normal cafe.

Cute little chocolate buns!

Just a disclaimer for those with allergies.

Mini chocolate croissant!

BREAD & BUTTER STRUDEL OFFER

You can now purchase a large strudel at $4.00 only. Original price is $8.80. To get your voucher code:

1. Go to http://strudel.eventbrite.com
2. Register to obtain a code you would receive in your e-mail (provide only name and email address).
3. Save the code voucher number. The code should read (eg. Receipt for Order# 1545615979-35242731)
4. When you purchase your strudel, present your code voucher number at the register.

Terms & Conditions

1. Not to be used with other coupons.
2. Promotion is valid till 31 July 2011.
3. Management reserves all rights.

Above: You will receive this code in your e-mail. Present the numbers or your name at the counter.

I prepared 7 small pieces of strawberry and apple strudels with a candle for  the birthday girl. It was just right! Cute and pretty, out of the ordinary.

When you bite into the pastry, it breaks in your mouth and every bite has the main highlight; apple or strawberry in it. The great part is that it isn’t too sweet and tastes just right, dusted with icing sugar on top.

My colleagues digging into the tray of strudels.

Obtain your voucher now for free!

Click on this banner advertisement below.

I have just launched my first series of Ladies Only (L.O.Part 1), a night out for us ladies leaving our men at home. I gathered all my close girlfriends for a night of fun. Makan-makan, and drinks afterwards while sharing our thoughts on life and of course, men.

We decided to go to good ol’ simple Oldtown Kopitiam here in Chinatown, Melbourne. It felt like home again. It felt like us hanging out back in Malaysia. Of course there is a difference in the other Oldtown Kopitiam Mamak in QV Shopping Centre I wrote about earlier here. The chef is very meticulous about food, especially from where he comes from – Penang, famous for food. His cooking is as authentic as you can get.

Here’s the address to the restaurant at 195 Little Bourke Street in Chinatown.

Oldtown Kopitiam in Chinatown is a cozy and intimate restaurant.

As you enter the restaurant.

Opening hours of the restaurant.

These are some of the chef’s recommendations.

Most of the staff are from Malaysia (Malaysian-Chinese) which is great as they can relate well to the food and meet customers’ requirements about food.

There is a mix of crowd; Caucasians and Asians, but mostly Asians.

My girlfriends looking through the menu to order and catching up.

Some of Malaysia’s popular products.

I just realised then that I matched the walls with my blouse from Dude & The Duchess.

Old Town Cham (coffee and tea mix) at $3.50.

Just at the entrance of the restaurant. They also cater for take-aways.

Fishballs on sticks.

Lobak $8.00.

Hainanese Chicken Rice. This is my third time having the Hainanese Chicken Rice. I must admit that the thigh part is the best compared to breast meat which is rougher in texture.

Assam Laksa is awesome, definitely a change from two-years ago, since the new chef came on board more than a year ago.

Full of fish, ingredients and tastes awesome! Priced at $9.90.

Chicken Curry Laksa at $9.90. Alot of ingredients too, the curry is thick enough.

Well-prepared Nasi Lemak, a traditional Malaysian dish; rice soaked in coconut cream, cucumbers, hard-boiled egg, sambal (hot spicy sauce), small dried anchovies, roasted peanuts and rendang (beef stewed in coconut milk and spices).

Char Koay Teow above at $9.90, this is possible the best dish out of the entire set (besides the Wat Tan Hor below). The one thing I really like about it is the pad-thai-like texture of noodles, the hor-fun was rather thin.

Wat Tan Hor at $9.90, was so yummy and the hor fun was “browned” to perfection.

I was enjoying my meal. Oh my goodness – my outfit and the walls!

Mmmm…yummy!

I forget sometimes how fun it is to have dinner with only girls.

Amelia laughs out loud.

And the girls are “reserved” – teehee.

My lovely bunch of girls: Amber, myself, Liz, Amelia, Rachel, Jessica, Kerri and Xie Wenn. Then, we adjourned somewhere else off Chinatown to digest our Oldtown Kopitiam, Chinatown meal.

Ahhh, it was a fun night out! Overall experience at Oldtown Kopitiam in Chinatown was lovely or maybe I’m just biased because I’m Malaysian and it felt like home.