Hello Weekend - Sushi Sushi (Chermside)

I have always been a huge, huge fan of sushi and it is definitely a struggle for me to not have easy access to reasonable priced nigiri sushi here in Brisbane.

Until I found Sushi Sushi.

A nation wide chain, Sushi Sushi is one of the few food court stalls that in my opinion do better nigiri sushi than their sushi rolls. Their business at Westfield Chermside is always brisk, with a good crowd during meal times. You can choose to pick the sushi rolls and nigiri sushis you want, or opt to buy a pre-made box set of sushi.

Their fresh salmon nigiri sushi is a delight to have, as the slices of fish are firm and sweet. We also chose some of their aburi sushi from the ala-carte range and were pleased to have tasty unagi and salmon sushi. It would be perfect if the sushi were torched just before serving, to give the warm exterior, but I shall not complain.

The sets are great to have when you want variety and do not mind a little treat. With a few slices of sashimi, some maki rolls and nigiri sushi pieces, you are guaranteed a delicious meal. You can also get some sides such as seaweed or squid included, if you are willing to pay a little more and choose the bigger bento set.

It may not have the class of Sono but Sushi Sushi definitely delivers for a food court stall. The food is always fresh and good though may be pricey if you want to have a good and filling meal there. Did I tell you that they also allow you to order online? I think it is brilliant as you can now order big platters of sushi and/or sashimi for the next party you host!

For the convenience and quality, Sushi Sushi is now one of my go to places for a quick fix of sushi. I cannot wait to try ordering some platters online!

Sushi Sushi (Chermside)
Shop 387
Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre
Cnr Gympie and Hamilton Roads
Chermside, QLD

Phone: +61 (07) 3359 3331

Sydney Quickie - Reuben Hills

Mister T and I decided to make a quick visit to Reuben Hills, a popular cafe close to the Sydney CBD. We arrived a little past 9am on a Friday morning and were surprised to find it packed! We perused the menu as we waited patiently in line for a table.

Perhaps we were still full from our late night dinner at Golden Century, so we decided against The Not Reuben Sandwich and opted for two milkshakes and the really f**king great Fried Chicken.

Service was prompt and polite, and our meal was served really quickly. Our two milkshakes - Salted Caramel and Espresso & White Choc were a little runny but the flavour of the latter made up for that. The Salted Caramel was not what I expected, with it being more on the caramel side, and the tiniest, tiniest hint of salt making its presence felt.

The Fried Chicken too was not as "f**king great" as we had hoped for either. Awesome that it came in bite size pieces, we wished for a crunchier and tastier batter. The pickled chillies were surprisingly addictive, with its briny, vinegar taste cutting through the grease of the chicken.

Reuben Hills is a place to be seen at, and definitely worth hanging out with friends. While the walls may be bare concrete and the interior mostly in grey and brown, there is a certain level of warmth and comfort that is perfect for having a nice cuppa. Would love to come back the next time and try their famous sandwich!

Reuben Hills
61 Albion Street
Surry Hills, NSW

Phone: +61 (02) 9211 5556

Hello Weekend - South Side Diner

I was really excited when I read about the opening of South Side Diner. A diner style themed restaurant serving up milkshakes and burgers, Mister T and I thought this was what Brisbane needed, adding something more to busy rows of eateries in South Bank.

Mister T and I decided to drop by prior to our evening at the Ben and Jerry's Open Air Cinema, which turned out to be a really big mistake. First up, service.

We arrived a little past half past four in the afternoon on Saturday and were greeted by a staff who told us that the kitchen is currently only serving snack food items like fries and wings as it is between lunch and dinner hours. Fine by us. She then asks us if we would like to sit at the counter or table, outdoor or indoor, and then promptly tells us she would have to check if any of the tables are still available for us. We thought this was a little confusing as you have just asked us where we would like to seat and then tell us you need to check if there is even a seat available in the entire restaurant, that was still 70% empty.

After consulting a fellow staff, we were directed to an outdoor table and instructed that "The table has been reserved for 6:30pm". We were not asked if that would be good for us, we were just brought to a table and then told it was booked for an evening appointment. We understand the need to honour reservations but it would have be appreciated if we were talked to nicely and asked properly.

We tried to brush it all aside as it is after all the first few weeks of operations and staff can still be flustered. Service got a little bit better with Andy, our server for the afternoon. He was prompt and frequently checked in on us, which we appreciated plenty.

We ordered a side of Big Fries with Chicken Salt, and while a little pricey, it definitely hit the spot. The fries were huge and chunky, and we could not stop devouring them with their hot, fluffy potato insides.

As big fans of chicken wings, we were utterly disappointed by the Buffalo Wings. While we applaud South Side Diner for using really huge chicken wings, we think there is plenty to work on with regards to the sauce and batter.

Firstly, the batter was very thick, making it very unpleasant to eat. The chicken was also seemed to not be seasoned at all, so the flavour of the dish relied entirely on the sauce. This failed as well since the wings were not entirely smothered in sauce which also brings us to the other problem - the sauce.

We were expecting something tangy with heat, but all we got was a really thick sticky sauce that was sickly sweet like ketchup with a teeny weeny bit of spice. Overall, we did not enjoy the wings and would have preferred another portion of fries if we could turn back time.

The menu at South Side Diner definitely looks promising, and based on the crowds it is evident that we are not the only people keen to feast on some good old American diner grub. I still have my eye on some dishes like their Fried Duck and Beer Battered Onion Rings. But if our dining experience is any indication of how the food is across the board, I doubt that Mister T and I will be coming back any time soon. Here's hoping that it is all just kinks that need to be worked on and a better meal at South Side Diner!

South Side Diner
Shop B8/B9
Grey Street
South Bank, Brisbane

Phone: +61 (07) 3844 3040

Back in SIN - Chin Mee Chin Confectionery

It is astonishing to realise that I have never been to Chin Mee Chin all my life! I would like to say that it is because it was on the other side of Singapore but that is not an excuse is it? A bigger surprise is that my family too, have never patronised this well-known establishment as well!

This popular bakery has been around for a long time, and well loved by many, especially the locals living around the area. I love the old school coffee shop interior, with the marble table tops and wooden chairs.

The nostalgia continues with the open kitchen, where one can have a peek back into the past, where the kaya (coconut jam) is still made in house.

We ordered the Kaya Toasts and Kopi and boy was it delicious! The buns were toasted perfectly, as the bun still retains its soft, chewy texture underneath its crisp, toasty goodness. The kaya is lovely, creamy and not overly sweet. All of this is combined with a nice cold slice of salty butter to give you the ultimate shiokness and umami in a bite!

The pastries here are also really good. The cream puff and tart are not something you would see in the popular cafes and bakeries everywhere, but they are old school classics that will bring a smile to many peoples' faces, including mine.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is an institution that has stood the test of time with its traditions and scrumptious goods. As much as I love my Egg Benedict and Lattes, I cannot go past a good Kaya Toast and Kopi in an old coffee shop setting. I am just salivating thinking about the wonderful toast and pastries, and hope that this old time favourite will continue to satisfy the hunger of its fans, and attract more with its delicious goods and nostalgic charm.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery
204 East Coast Road

Phone: +65 6345 0419

The Opening of Sushi Izu

It's finally opened! Sushi Izu finally opened at our neighbourhood Woolworths!

Sushi Izu has had an agreement with Woolworths nationwide to open up sushi shops within the premise of Woolworths outlets. And I was very excited to see that the plans made its way to Queensland and to Nundah!

A small standalone shop in the supermarket, Sushi Izu sells a variety of sushi to cater to everyone. From sushi rolls to sashimi, and even portions of the edamame and vegetable gyoza! The staff work in a space right behind the display shelf and you can see them quietly, slicing huge fillets of salmon to making the rolls on the spot.

To me, a test of how good a sushi shop or restaurant is, is how good their Salmon Nigiri is. Without any cooking or fancy sauces and garnishes, it allows one to know how well the rice was cooked, and how fresh the salmon is. The ones made by Sushi Izu was nice and fresh, and the price seemed more reasonable compared to the other rolls and sushi available in my opinion.

I could not go pass a perennial favourite, the Tempura Prawn Roll with Avocado. One thing about eating tempura sushi from take away sushi places is that you do not get the crunch and crispness of freshly cooked tempura, and this was no different. The tempura batter was a little soggy but you could still taste the freshness of the prawn and it tasted good with the rice and avocado.

With so much going on in the box, I had to give the Crunchy Tempura Prawn Roll with Brown Rice a shot. The crunchy bits on top looked and tasted more like crisp rice puffs of sorts, which was disappointing as I was expecting bits of tempura batter. Like the Tempura Prawn Roll, the batter and crispy bits were a bit soggy. I also found the brown rice overcooked, resulting in a soft sticky mush.

The range available was good for a shop that just opened. The staff are very friendly and greet shoppers when they can. I think that they need a better way of displaying what is available as some types of sushi are hidden right at the back of the display shelf. I am thrilled to now have the option of salmon sushi a little closer to home when I need my fix.

Mid-week Breather - The Coffee Club

Took a breather from the kitchen on Wednesday and had our dinner at The Coffee Club. I've always like the look of the F&B outlets along Eagle Street, as most of them allow you to dine with a view of the Story Bridge. 

Dinner with a view is always welcomed.

Mister T and I were looking forward to dinner, as we would be using a coupon purchased on OurDeal.com. The coupon we purchased pretty much allowed us to order any two main courses and two drinks (wines and beers included) totaling up to no more than $56. At $19, this made dining out in the city so much more affordable! 

I usually order Eggs Benedict everytime I see them on the menu, but I decided otherwise this time and ordered the Chicken & Bacon Club Sandwich. 

A quick peek into the sandwich and I regretted my choice. There wasn't alot of chicken and bacon in the sandwiches, and the plate was piled mostly with bread, salad (both on the side and in the sandwich), and a handful of chips. The chicken was rather dry as well, but was thankfully saved by the caesar salad dressing. A filling meal thanks to the bread and chips, but I somehow wished I followed my gut or at least ordered what Mister T did. 

I'm getting hungry just looking at it. 

The Coffee Club Big Breakfast was a plate chock full of bacon, steak, hash brown, fried eggs, mushrooms and toast. It was a tasty plate of grease, with the eggs fried nicely, mushrooms bursting with juice and flavour and the bacon crisp. Nothing outstanding but definitely satisfying with a nice cold beer. 

The Coffee Club is not the first place that comes to mind when we think of dining out, especially when we have so many other favourties and many more places to try out. I don't think that we would have eaten there if not for the fact that we had a coupon. Would we come here again? Not at full price, but it would be possible with a coupon again, maybe. 

On a side note, the weekend is here and it'll be a long weekend for us here in Australia! Hoping to make it to Sunnybank this weekend, so here's hoping that it does not rain! 

Hello Weekend - Heading to the (New) Farm

Was excited to wake up to blue skies at the start of the weekend. So we decided to head out to New Farm for a yummy brunch at Chouquette.

Pretty blooms welcome us.  

Many families were out for brunch so we were lucky to get a table indoors, away from the cold winds. Business at the bakery was brisk, with orders for sandwiches and coffees being taken and many people getting loaves and pastries to go. 

A hearty meal of (mostly) sweet and savoury.

We didn't order much but boy was it filling! The baguette sandwich filled with slow-cooked pork was delicious, though I personally think it would have been better served hot.

The highlight for me was definitely the pastries and I couldn't resist ordering the Pain au Chocolat and Tarte au Chocolat. The Pain au Chocolat had a decent amount of chocolate tucked beneath layers of flaky dough. While it satisified my craving for flaky pastries, it was no match for the chocolate tart. Rich, smooth dark chocolate ganache filled the crumbly all-butter crust, making it the perfect dessert to finish off a the meal with a cup of coffee.

It was a pity that it started to rain not long after our brunch but nevertheless, a good start to the weekend!