I started cooking Kimchi Rice a few months ago and thought not to share the recipe because it can easily be searched in Google anyway. However, I’ve been getting requests to share how I do it. So last night I looked for my first Kimchi Rice photo and decided to write down my Kimchi Rice Recipe.

Recipe: Kimchi Rice

What you need to prepare:
1 tbsp Sesame Oil
1 medium-sized Onion, chopped
1 tsp Garlic, chopped
1 tsp Ginger, chopped
3 tbsp of Kimchi 
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 cup of Cooked Rice
1/4 cup of Shallots, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste 
1 fried Egg

Tip: You can lessen or add rice and kimchi, depending on your appetite or whether you are serving a number of people.

Optional: You can add meats like bacon, beef or chicken to this dish.

What you to do:
1. Fry egg in sesame oil and then set aside.
2. Using the same oil, saute onion, garlic and ginger.
3. Add kimchi and stir for a few minutes until transparent.
4. Pour soy sauce.
5. Mix in rice until well-combined with kimchi. Throw in a dash of salt and pepper.
6. Stir for about 4-6 minutes and then add the shallots.
7. Serve with fried egg on top.

Below is a photo of the Kimchi Rice I had for dinner last night, shared on instagram.

Enjoy and happy cooking!

Here’s another wonderful manifesto I found online.  


This an inspiring reminder on how we can cultivate a home of love, compassion, gratitude and positivity.

I’m not a parent yet but reading this manifesto made me realize that there’s a parent in all of us because we are all capable of taking care of one another and have compassion towards each other. In so many ways, I have felt parental love from friends and strangers whom I’ve met by fate. I’m aware too that sometimes when friends come to me, I take the role of a sister or a parent to them. 

Reading this was also an affirmation of how blessed I am to have special people who never ceased to let me feel important to them. A simple greeting via text, email or tweet, a phone call just to say hello and taking the time to have a cup of coffee or a meal are sweet little things that doesn’t cost much but feels extravagantly special to my heart. Having family and friends around is God’s way of taking care of us.

Happy Monday and may we all have a great week ahead!

Plans to dine hot pot style did not push thru during Winter but since we’re still having cool (and rainy) days until now, my dream of a hot pot style meal came true three weeks ago.

Got a tip from Suze (thanks Suze!) about a restaurant that serves mini hot pots and it seemed to be the perfect kind of dining experience for the picky eater. CQL Mini Pot is the latest restaurant in Burwood which offers a hot pot buffet for AUD$29.90. Individual hot pots containing the soup base of your choice and your choice of meats/seafood/veggies are placed on a little induction stove on your table is such a cute and delicious idea.
CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)
CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)

Once seated we were asked to choose our orders from an iPad where we can see the names, photos and prices of their offerings.

CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)

Two from our group chose the hot pot buffet while the others ordered a la carte. The moment we were given a tray, we walked to the buffet table and grabbed our choice of meat, seafood and vegetables for our hot pot. Towards the kitchen area is another buffet table of cooked food and rice to partner with your hot pot. A table laden with a variety of food condiments are available to help create more flavour for your food.

P1CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)220158
CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)
CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)
CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)

I got myself the beef soup for my base. I was tempted to order the chili soup but was told it was really hot. So what I did was mix a few condiments: chili, ginger, garlic and sesame oil and added it to my beef soup as I was going for a Korean stew. Some of the meats I chose included beef, lamb and fish balls.

CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)

Such a comforting dish on a cold day. 

CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)

Not in the mood for hot pot? They also serve plated dishes. On our first visit, we tried their BBQ Spare Ribs and Seafood Noodle Soup. Both were great-tasting and full of flavour.

CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)
CQL Mini Hotpot (Burwood, NSW)

A 2-hour time limit is given for the hot pot buffet and it was enough time to catch up with friends over good food.

CQL Mini Pot
117 Burwood Road
Burwood NSW 2134 
Phone: 02 9745 4039

Had dinner with girlfriends last night but as usual, I arrive early and have my “Me” time at a cafe before meeting up with them for dinner. I was glad that my favourite stationery cafe, My Sweet Memory (MSM), wasn’t busy so I was able to get a table easily. I comfortably parked my things at one of the bar tables they had. 
They’ve changed a few of their interiors and I like the new ones better. They still have the normal tables but on one side they have the bar tables and stools. I love their colourful bar stools as they are the perfect height and they were comfortable to sit on.

I got myself a refreshing Iced Coffee and Red Velvet Cupcake to accompany me while I write. Some “Me” times I’d spent staring into nothing or watch people passing by. But yesterday, I was in the mood to write so I brought my laptop with me.

Their Red Velvet Cupcake was a contradiction of sorts. Their cream cheese icing was thick and a bit runny, the top portion of the cupcake was moist but the bottom was dry. I enjoyed half of it nonetheless because it had the right amount of sweetness.

One of the things we notice when having Iced Coffee in Korean cafes is that their iced coffees usually mean that it would have a scoop of ice cream in it. It’s like double the fun when I order them because I get to have my coffee and ice cream all in just one cup.

I bought a bottle of water from them too as I fancied the shape of their bottled water. It’s such a space saver because it’s thin. I can re-use it for a few times and easily place inside my bag. Not bulky at all! 🙂
MSM is a favourite after-dinner place of my friends and I. Every time we have dinner at Strathfield, we hang out here to have coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Sweet moments with oneself and with loved ones.  That’s how we’re making memories at MSM Cafe.

My Sweet Memory (MSM) Cafe
3 & 4 Symond Arcade
12 Churchill Avenue, Strathfield NSW 2135
Strathfield Branch Facebook Page

When in Sydney, one must have a taste of some of the best macarons in the world. I’ve already got three favourite macaron brands: MakMak, Adriano Zumbo and Laduree. I’ve writtten about Zumbo and Laduree and have mentioned about MakMak macarons but I just had write a separate entry for them. According to Time Out Sydney, MakMak currently hold the Number 1 spot in the best macaron category. 

Note: According to Time Out Sydney, the Top 5 macarons are Makmak, Adriano Zumbo, Laduree, Baroque Patisserie and Creasion. I’ve tasted the Top 3 and in my list I’ve also ranked them the same as Time Out Sydney.

I discovered MakMak macarons when we had coffee at Via Del Corso, a cafe at Level 5 Westfield Sydney which offers good coffee and a range of delicious desserts such as cakes, chocolates, ice cream, gelato and macarons made by MakMak. It was a pleasure to have found them as it’s always nice to know that there’s a place where I can easily get great tasting macarons should I have the craving.

MakMak macarons are made by Carlos Heng and Chia Wei Leong. What only started out as a challenge to make the best macarons became a business venture for them. After two years of business, their macarons are considered one of the best in Australia. Their service is commendable as they efficiently create their macarons at home and deliver them personally to clients.Things I Love: Macarons by MakMak

We’ve tried a few of their flavours: Salted Caramel, Peppermint and Dark Chocolate, Gianduja and Peanut Butter.

Things I Love: Macarons by MakMak

Salted Caramel. Rich, luscious caramel with bursts of Maldon sea salt. The best salted caramel macaron I’ve ever tasted.

Gianduja. Classic combination of hazelnuts & Belgian dark chocolate with a hint of Frangelico. The nuttiest of all the nutty macarons. This easily becomes a favourite of people who love nuts with their chocolate.

Peppermint and Dark Chocolate. Inspired by Arnott’s Mint Slice and made with organic peppermint tea. The mint is not overpowering so even if I’m not very fond of chocolates with mint, this macaron was very much tolerable.

Peanut Butter. My super duper favourite from all of their macarons. Savouring their peanut butter macarons is like eating peanut butter from the jar. 
Things I Love: Macarons by MakMak
MakMak doesn’t have an exclusive store (yet) but you can visit Via Del Corso or you can check out their website for orders and delivery.