July 2006 Archives

Shinkansen (bullet train) at Shin-Osaka station, Japan

Mum and I on the bullet train to Kyoto

Kyoto has approximately 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. The city exposes the well-preserved Japanese architecture and gardens. This is the Heian Jingu Shrine.

Mum and I at the Heian Jingu Shrine

Heian Jingu Shrine, Kyoto

Kyoto

For more information regarding the Heian Jingu Shrine at Kyoto, visit: http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/index_e.html

A traditional Japanese breakfast consists of rice or congee, fermented vegetables, miso soup and some western foods. I found that the buffet's here were much more efficient in that rather than piling up on one plate and returning multiple times, you are able to carry around a tray, and fit dishes of food, seperating the flavours and hot or cold items.

Buffet breakfast (miso soup, bacon, sausages and scrambled eggs and salads) at Tokyu Inn, Osaka

Buffet breakfast (freshly baked bread rolls, Japanese curry and takoyaki) at Tokyu Inn, Osaka

Universal Studios, Japan

Me with Dorothy and Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz

Mum with Charlie Brown

I'm in Sesame Street! (Outside the 4D cinema)

Sitting on a yellow cab...

The pink cafe at Universal Studios Japan

Pink churritos with ice-cream at the pink cafe - Universal Studios Japan

Osaka Takoyaki Museum

Takoyaki (octopus balls) in the making

Takoyaki

For more information, refer to Universal Studios Japan and Shin-Osaka Esaka Tokyu Inn

Abroad the Cathay Pacific flight to Kansai (Osaka) Airport, I was fascinated to discover that there was a channel to view the camera which was mounted beneath the plane. This shot was taken a couple of minutes after take-off.

Lunch of green tea soba noodle with wasabi and soy, stir-fried beef with sa cha sauce, steamed rice, assorted vegetables and creme caramel.

Everything is so convenient! These little bento boxes are available at any local grocery store.

And yes, it's true... watermelon in Japan aren't round! They're grown into cubes for efficient storage.

Here I am, outside the Hello Kitty store at a shopping strip in Shinsaibashi.

I love the way the interior has been designed... very fairytale-like.

Another thing I love about Japan is the way each restaurant window displays a realistic plastic imitation of the food. This is a true mouth-salivating WYSIWYG.

More plastic food displays in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.

Grand Afternoon Tea, Shinsaibashi.

At night, Shinsaibashi is packed with people and glows with fluorescent neon lights.

For dinner, we were taken (by our Wing On tour guide to Nijyu Maru at Shinsaibashi, Osaka. The PO Box look-alikes behind is actually where shoes are kept after you take them off.

Shabu-Shabu means "swish swish" which describes the way these fresh vegetables (enoki mushrooms, shimeji mushrooms, chinese cabbage & spring chrysanthemum leaves) and thinly sliced beef and pork are cooked.

On July 17th, Mum and I set abroad QANTAS to Hong Kong for an 11 day adventure in Hong Kong (Mong Kok, Kowloon) and Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Mt Fuji and Tokyo).

View of Sydney Harbour shortly after take-off

Peaceful clouds above Darwin

Snack of pretzels and a cup of non-alcoholic Bloody Mary

Lunch of a green leaf salad with Neil Perry's balsamic dressing, Mediterranean style chicken with sliced potatoes and steamed vegetables.

Refreshment of stir-fried Hokkien noodles and Asian greens and pineapple and rockmelon with mango juice

After a hectic night of shopping, at about 11pm, dinner was served at McDonalds. I ordered the Chicken Fun-tastic burger which was a savoury bun of shitake mushroom risotto, with a battered chicken breast fillet, mayonnaise, iceberg lettuce and shredded purple cabbage. This was available as a value meal with either fries, fresh pineapple pieces or a corn cup.

7am the next morning, we headed back to the airport for a flight to Kansai/Osaka, Japan. This photo was taken on a random street in Mong Kok.

The Hong Kong International Airport.

On the night of 14th July, 9 of us B. Des Comp girls headed up to the Central Coast for a little getaway. We stayed at The Lighthouse, Copacabana (special thanks to Jodie for organising this). The house caters for 8 adults, and was so big and scary that we all snuggled on the top floor in two bedrooms. There was lots of food, laughter and confessions. Can't wait for the next girls getaway! Thanks for such a fun time :-D

The Lighthouse at Copacabana

The back of The Lighthouse at Copacabana

View from one of the bedrooms to the Pacific Ocean

Group Photo 1 - Sumali, Alicia, Jenny, me, Jodie, Laurachel, Rennae, Olivia, Sarah

Group Photo 2 - Alicia, Jenny, Jennifer, Sarah, Olivia, Sumali, Jodie, Rennae, Laurachel

Drinks - Midori Pash, Cowboy, Midori Melonball, Nestle Hazelnut Latte

Midori Pash
30ml Midori
15ml Vodka
Top with Cranberry Juice

Cowboy
20ml Butterscotch Schnapps
10ml Bailey's Irish cream

Midori Melonball
30ml Midori
15ml Vodka
Top with Pineapple Juice

Nestle Double Blend Hot Chocolate

Rennae, having previously worked at Disney whipped up a Mickey Mouse Pancake for Breakfast. (The rest of us had ordinary rounded pancakes served with fruit salad and icecream)

M&M's

Copacabana Beach

Passengers in Alicia's Car - Jenny, Alicia, me, Olivia, Sarah

Passengers in Jodie's Car - Sumali, Jodie, Laurachel, Rennae

Me, Jodie, Alicia and Jenny

Rennae and I preparing to eat

If you've been to The Lighthouse at Copacabana, you'll notice that there's a slope in the middle of the pool table. I'd just like to say that I didn't dent it!

A silly group photo [top] Oli, Nae, Jenny and me [bottom] Jodz, Alicia, Sarah, Laura and Smily

For more information, see http://www.centralcoast.stays.com.au/8950.

Shamini, Jordan and me (being try-hards) - before The White Agency's 3rd Birthday Party at Shangri-La Hotel, The Rocks (taken on 30th May 2006).

Complimentary bread and organic extra virgin olive oil

Gamberi e Rucola, $19.50
Pizza - Mozzarella, prawns, cherry tomatoes and rocket

Maccheroni con pomodoro fresco e melanzane croccanti, $17.00
Maccaroni with fresh tomato and basil sauce topped with crispy eggplant

Patate croccanti, $9.00
Crispy potatoes with garlic and rosemary

Prosciutto, rucola e scaglie di parmigano, $16.50
Pizza - Tomato, mozzarella, rocket, thinly sliced prosciutto and parmesan shavings

Casareccia con ragu di pesce, $20.00
Casareccia pasta with a finely chopped calamari, scallop, prawn and tomato ragyu

Pizza - Sopressa, $17.50
Tomato, mozzarella and slices of spicy cured pork sausage

Tiramisu, $10.00
Italian coffee and ricotta trifle

Bonet al cioccolate e caramello, $10.00
Baked chocolate and amaretti custard, with caramel

Pizza dolce con banana canella e salsa di cioccolato, $9.50
Sweet pizza with baked banana, cinnamon sugar and dark Belgium chocolate

Cannolo Napoltano con ricotta dolce e salsa di lamponi, $9.50
Pastry tubes filled with sweetened ricotta and chocolate served with a raspberry sauce

Blue cheese souffle; w/ pickled green pear, rocket salad

Duck confit w/ apple and ginger agrodolce, sauted pear and onion

Wild barramundi fillet, steamed in a bag w/ ginger, mushrooms and lime

Vanilla poached pear with toffee icecream and pancake

Creme brulee w/ jaffa chocolate mousse and raspberries

Sydney Harbour Bridge, at Circular Quay (taken on 13th February 2006, at 9pm)

Interior of Spanish Tapas at Glebe

Patatas bravas (potatoes in spicy tomato sauce)

Tortilla espantildeola (potato and onion omelette)

Gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns)

Pimientos asados (grilled capsicum)

Gambas sevillanas (prawns cooked in tomato sauce)

Almejas al vino blanco (pippis cooked in white wine sauce)

Champiñones rebozados (crumbed mushrooms)

Calamares fritos (deep fried calamari)

BBQ'ed Chorizo

Strathfield Girls (class of 2001) Dianne, Aileen, Jenny, Amy and me

Strathfield Girls (class of 2001) me, Anita and Karen

VEGETARIAN PAELLA (A Spanish dish - Rice and vegetables)

PAELLA VALENCIANA (A unique Spanish dish - Rice, chicken and seafood)

Live Flamenco Show

Interior of Una's at Broadway

Freshly baked pretzels

Pork Knuckle, $17.90

Una's Goulash: Beef, with Spätzle (Austrian Noodle), $14.40

I had the Paprika Chicken Vienesse with creamy Paprikasauce, Veg., Rösti $18.70

Chicken Jaeger Schnitzel With creamy Mushroom Sauce, Rösti & Cabbage Salad $18.30

Cabbage Salad

[top left - right] Chris and girlfriend, Shun, Jonno, Noods, Me and Zen, [bottom left - right] Nick, Bhavani, Will, Alicia, Jodie, Wally, Rennae and Sarah

Kim-Chi

Other condiments included tofu in a chilli marinade, blanched broccoli with chilli sauce, spinach and ofcourse kim-chi

Spicy Sausage and Vegetable Hot Pot

This was taken on a gorgeous sunny day in mid-Winter (Meriton Apartments at Moore Park, 29th June 06). I think it has a peaceful feel to it... some what reminds me of the architecture in Greece.

Bread for Four with Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Whole Roasted Garlic, $10.00

King Prawns on Asparagus and Orange Ravioli with Basil and Choron

Saffron Tagiolini with Green Thai Chicken, Cashews, Beans and Coconut Cream finished with Crispy Leeks, $27.90

Tasmanian Salmon on Seared Scallops and Greek Salad with Cucumber Yoghurt and Grilled Lime, $29.90

Gippsland Black Angus Aged Scotch Fillet on Smashed Butternut, Braised Oxtail and Bearnaise, $32.90

Banoffi Pie: Baby Bananas, Mascarpone and Fresh Vanilla Cream, $12.75

Poached Strawberry Brulee, $12.75

Brulee with Frozen Chocolate Mousse

Affogato of Hazelnut Gelato, Frangellico and Expresso Coffee, $12.75

Interior of Bistro Lilly

Agedashi Tofu

Miso Soup

Octopus Sushi

Soft-Shelled Crab Sushi

Suki-Yaki, served with a raw egg yolk

Tempura Bento Box

Udon

TwentyOneSunday - poster for their gig at The Cat & Fiddle on 24th Jan this year.

In action - take one

In action - take two

TwentyOneSunday
Listen to them @ www.myspace.com/twentyonesunday

Back in the beginning of June, I took Zen here to celebrate him getting the Business Graduate position at RTA. It was recommended by my brother, as his teacher's (for Hospitality Management at TAFE) husband and brother run the restaurant. The first thing I did was hunt down the website, where by I was delighed with an array of pictures as well as the detail of the menu. Not to mention the simple price structure. On arrival, we're served complimentary Pea Soup, which had a lovely hint of Saffron. All entree's are $18 (we tried the Tasting Selection, which was $36), main's are all $29.50 and desserts are all $14.

Complimentary Pea Soup with a hint of Saffron

Complimentary olive oil and fragrant spices for dipping with bread

Twice baked cheddar cheese soufflé w/ waldorf salad and chive oil

Hot smoked Tasmanian salmon w/ green papaya salad and citrus, chilli and mint infusion

Terrine of rustic style pork and chicken liverw/ butter brioche and new season quince and almond chutney

Twice cooked veal shank in prosciutto on mash w/ rich braising jus

Grilled king prawns w/ parsley gnocchi, baby spinach, beurre noisette and Forum cabernet vinegar

Lemon and Lime Cheesecake

Roasted wattle seed creme brulee

The brulee is the best I have ever tasted! This is now definately one of my favourite restaurants. It is great value for money, and I can't wait to try almost everything on the menu. I know I'll be back sometime soon.

Rocket Restaurant
Cnr Help & Railway Streets. Chatswood 2067

Tel: 9411 8233
Email: enquiries@rocketrestaurant.com.au
Website: http://www.rocketrestaurant.com.au

Interior

Hot braised beef sandwich with caramalized onions, jus and cripsy potatoes

Toasted rueben sandwich (corned beef, sauerkraut and tilsit cheese)

Stanwell Park Bridge (taken on 25th Feb 06)

Callala Bay, and a pelican at sunrise (taken on 26th Feb 06, 5.29am)

Sydney International Airport at night (taken on 28th Dec 05)