Food Archives | Page 33 of 68

Zushi Sushi & Baskin Robbins at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (Broadbeach, Queensland)

10 May 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Blog Life, Deep Thoughts, Food, Restaurants, Travel

If I had one free week, I’d go on a blogging holiday and I’d do nothing but blog. While I’m not pressured to update this blog on a daily basis, I do like writing about my food and travel adventures because more than anything else, I blog for myself. Keeping a blog has become a useful tool for me as sometimes I go back to my previous posts on places, restaurants and recipes when the need arises. I still haven’t figured out how to I will share our Philippines, Gold Coast and Melbourne trips (they all happened last year!!!) as efficiently and concisely as possible but I have an inkling of a plan. In the meantime, let me share with you a restaurant that fascinated us when we visited Gold Coast in December 2011.

On the morning that we arrived at Gold Coast our room wasn’t ready yet (we were early for check-in time) so our first agenda was to attend mass (it was a Sunday) and then find a place to have a meal and hang out for a few hours. Our relatives recommended to visit the biggest mall at Gold Coast, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, located at Broadbeach.

We found St. Monica’s Church not too far away from our hotel so after mass, we took the bus to Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.

Arrived a little after 12noon, we felt famished and a bit tired. We assumed all the getting up early and travelling to Gold Coast had taken a toll on us. For lunch, we wanted something fast but fresh. At one corner of the mall, we found a Japanese Restaurant called Zushi Sushi and immediately cheered when we saw the sushi train.

Sat ourselves on the sushi train and wondered, “Where are all the sushi?”

Then suddenly, we saw a miniature train on the sushi train tracks! Oh how cute!!!

Restaurant: Zushi Sushi (Broadbeach, Queensland)

Behind the miniature train were the plates containing yummy sushi.

We only got two plates of sushi, both freshly-made and delicious.

We ordered a plate of stir-fried spicy beef with rice, soup and salad. It was good enough to share. The beef tender and juicy.

For our first meal in Gold Coast, we enjoyed the food and were greatly amused by the creativity that is the miniature train. This is one sushi train experience we will never forget.

We had a good walk around Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and we instantly felt how laidback it was at the Gold Coast. If Sydney feels laidback, Gold Coast is more of that.

Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (Broadbeach, Queensland)

It was during dessert at Baskin Robbins when I told the Husband, “I want a life like this–simple, more laidback.” The Husband agreed.

Zushi Sushi & Teppanyaki – Pacific Fair
http://www.zushisushi.com.au/
Shop 148 Western Food Court
Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
Broadbeach, QLD 4218
07 5572 7877

Chocolate Discovery: Patchi

27 April 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 4 Comments Category: Food

I’m always grateful for family and friends visiting. Whenever that happens, the Husband and I would request for them to bring something we don’t have here in Sydney.

One of our requests to my Mum was to bring us a couple of Patchi chocolates. We’ve heard about this chocolate for a couple of months now. We have them in Melbourne (Shop 203, Level 2, Melbourne Central, 211 La Trobe Street) but not in Sydney.

I requested my Mum to buy us a few bars, specifically the Milk, Dark and White. One of each was enough for my Husband and I to enjoy and know what this brand is all about. My Mum also bought a small pack small chocolates to the mix.

We tasted the white chocolate bar first (when tasting food, start with the ones with less flavours), Patchi Harmonie: White Chocolate filled with rice crispy and hazelnut. Biased aside (I’m a white chocolate fan), this was the best from all the three bars we’ve tasted. It was creamy, smooth and the sweetness does not overwhelm. The fusion of rice crispy and hazelnut brought substance to this chocolate.

Next was the Patchi Finesse: plain milk chocolate. While I appreciate the smoothness of their chocolate in general there’s nothing spectacular with this bar. I sense a blandness when I ate a few more blocks and at one time realized that it reminded me of Goya chocolate.

Always in search of the best dark chocolate, we tried the Patchi Noblesse: dark chocolate with 70% cocoa. To the Husband’s tastebuds, this fell short of expectations. There’s that smooth consistency once more but we felt it was lacking in cocoa. The Husband being a fan of dark chocolate, wants the strong and bitter chocolate taste. On the other hand, I told him that if there was one dark chocolate I could, this would be it.

The small pack of chocolates turned out to be milk chocolates. However, compared to the Patchi Finesse, these ones tasted better. It was more creamy and sweet. It was small but packed with milk chocolate.

In case we come across a Patchi store, we’ll definitely buy the Patchi Harmonie and the small milk chocolates.

The Patchi chocolates featured in this article were bought in Greenbelt 5, Makati City, Philippines.

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Filipino Bread and Pastries at Starlight Bakery (Doonside, NSW)

23 April 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 7 Comments Category: Food

I have always been asked where I buy freshly-baked Filipino bread and I’m finally making the reveal today. Apologies if it took so long for me to feature this favourite Filipino bakery of mine. It was only recently that I had a chance to take some photos of the store.

Starlight Bakery can be found not too far away from Doonside Train Station. I used to get off this train station during the afternoons and one should only follow the aroma of delicious bread to find the store. It is a small store that gets filled up with customers during mornings and afternoons.

They bake a lot of Filipino favourites such as Pandesal, Spanish Bread, Bicho Bicho, Ensaymada, Pan de Coco, Pan de Ube and Empanada. They also sell Siopao (pork bun).

They make cakes too, such as Brazo de Mercedes, Ube Macapuno Roll, Vanilla and Chocolate Sponge Cakes, Caramel Cake, Buko Pie and Egg Pie.

Our “Fantastic Four”–the ones we buy whenever we visit Starlight Bakery: Bicho Bicho, Spanish Bread, Ensaymada and Pandesal. They’ve got the softest Filipino bread this side of Sydney Metro.

I’m thankful we have a Filipino bakery near our place. Anytime we crave for our good ‘ol Filipino breads, a trip to Starlight Bakery for freshly-baked Pandesal immediately gratifies and make us feel like we’re back home in the Philippines.

Starlight Bakery

15 Hill End Rd

DOONSIDE, NSW, 2767

Phone: (02) 9621 5607

The V8 Cake by Adriano Zumbo

18 April 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Food, Things I Love

I’m a Vanilla person–from ice cream, dessert, food and even perfume–I love the scent and taste of Vanilla. I’ve lusted for Adriano Zumbo‘s V8 Cake since it got featured in Masterchef and wished to the heavens that one day I will get to eat it. However, the whole V8 cake’s price is too steep for me (AUD$125.00!) so I can’t, for the love of my stinginess, spend all that money just for a cake.

Thankfully, Zumbo made small V8 cakes and had it available in his patisserie. A visit to Zumbo’s branch at The Star led me to buying a AUD$10 V8 cake and bringing it home to share with the Husband.

It is called V8 Cake because it consists of 8 layers of Vanilla. EIGHT LAYERS OF VANILLA!!!!

Vanilla crème chantilly

Toasted vanilla brulee

Vanilla water gel

Vanilla ganache

Vanilla macaron

Vanilla dacquoise

Vanilla chiffon cake

Vanilla almond crunch

Sounds good, aye? I cut it open to see the inside of the cake and it reminded me of the Philippines’ Sans Rival cake.

The V8 Cake by Adriano Zumbo

After the inspecting the innards, the Husband and I devoured the small but indulgent cake. I was in Vanilla heaven, baby! Such a beautifully created dessert. A myriad of textures inside your mouth but a harmony of all things vanilla.

It’s very sweet that I felt intoxicated. I’m glad we were only finishing a small cake. As much as I love vanilla-flavoured desserts, my taste buds have a limit as to how much sweetness it can take. The small cake left me satiated and not overwhelmed.

I hope they continue to make small V8 cakes so I can always get them from their patisserie should I crave for it again.

V8 Cakes are available at Adriano Zumbo Patisserie.

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How I Store Loose Leaf Teas

16 April 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 3 Comments Category: Food, Health and Well-being, Tips

I have once shared that I have a bamboo tea organizer for our tea bags at home. However, the Husband and I also like drinking loose leaf teas. Some loose leaf teas are packaged in plastic and must be stored in an air-tight container to maintain its freshness.

Here’s how I store our loose leaf teas:

I buy a couple of 600ml containers.

I cut out the packaging. Then place the name of the tea on the surface of the container and stick it with clear tape. I also include the expiry date of the tea.

I transfer the loose leaf tea unto to the container and seal it properly. These containers are kept inside our pantry.

Other options for storing loose leaf teas: spice jars or spice bottles.

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