This is one cute find online: a water bottle with a built-in fruit infuser. It’s a very creative design and I love it.
Shopping Finds
As I was walking along George Street in Sydney, I chanced upon a little store called “MD Ranking” (infront of World Square Building). The place sells numerous products from Japan such as food, cosmetics and toiletries. I was able to snap photos of Royce (they sell only limited stocks), Tokyo Banana (they come in different flavours) and Hello Kitty lollies. They have a lot more brands in the store so check it out if you want to find some goodies from Japan.
I bought us a box of Royce Popcorn Chocolate and a small bag of Calpis Marshmallows to try out.
At $15.00 a box, the Royce Popcorn Chocolate wasn’t as delicious as we hoped it to be. The popcorn didn’t have that crunchy texture and there was no hint of butter taste (maybe that was their aim). The chocolate coating was still good though.
I think this was my first time to try marshmallows made in Japan, or at least these kind of marshmallows that were super soft, silky and fluffy–it’s like eating clouds (not that I’ve eaten clouds before hehe). Quite different from the runny-textured marshmallows that I’m used to (which I love). The Calpis Marshmallows had a citrus filling (we think it’s Orange) that adds a little zing to the sweet taste of the marshmallows. I liked these marmallows and wouldn’t mind snacking on them once in a while.
It’s great that there are more Asian shops opening up in Sydney and ones that have specialties like MD Ranking. It’s a great chance for all of us to try what other countries have to offer without have to travel far.
I’ve caught the busy bug at work. My load at the office has developed into a slow avalanche that it’s been quite a challenge to balance my time between home duties, work, blogging and time for myself. I don’t mind busy times though. I’ve always welcomed challenges that keep me in my toes and problem solving situations that keep my mind active.
Sometimes I don’t mind long days at work too as long as it ends up with dinner out with the Husband. Last Thursday, the Husband took me to dinner at Won Jo, our favourite Korean restaurant in Koreatown (Strathfield). We just had dinner in Koreatown the previous week but our attempt at dining at Won Jo failed then, we craved to go back.
A colouful Banchan. Won Jo serves several Banchan dishes and it’s refillable too.
We ordered our comfort Korean food that night.
We started off with Seafood Pancake. Won Jo’s seafood pancake has lots of seafood and little batter (just enough to hold the seafood in). Korean pancakes are usually eaten as appetizers but this particular Seafood Pancake has generous seafood in it that you can actually eat it with rice. It’s huge as well. We only ate one-fourth of this pancake and took the rest home.
The Husband got himself a huge bowl of Pork Bibimbap. The pork was a bit spicy and flavourful. Perfect for the huge portions of vegetables and rice.
Since it was a cold night, I had a bowl of still boiling Spicy Beef Stew. So comforting to eat with rice with it’s hot soup.
With tummies full, we decided to walk around Koreatown. We found a liquor shop with Soju and Korean wines; a grocery store that sells Korean ice cream and a chemist that sells Korean cosmetics.
These were our loots that night: Makgolli (Korean rice wine), Binggrae Melona Ice Waffle and Binggrae Summer Crush.
I was also fortunate to find a pencil lip colour on sale. It was a MISSHA Soft Crayon Lip Rouge and it even came with a sharpener. Can’t wait to try it.
If we’re going to end long days at work with dinner and a bit of shopping, I wouldn’t mind. But of course, we can’t do this everyday. But I’m glad for nights like this to occur in order to give us a break from our busy work.
Won Jo Korean BBQ Restaurant
33a The Boulevarde, Strathfield NSW
Phone: 9746 7041
Something I found at Officeworks a few months ago.
It’s a school supply set of LEGO pencils, erasers and a pencil sharpener.
The other side of the pencil sharpener shows a grumpy looking LEGO head…but he still looks cute!
The set costs not more than AUD$10.00.
Useful, cute and reminds me of my childhood.
Two new places opened in Blacktown that will add to one’s dining and shopping experience.
Yogurberry, the Korean frozen yogurt shop is currently aggressive in making Sydney the frozen yogurt capital of Australia. They’ve been opening new branches in different suburbs in Sydney Metropolitan. Their newly-opened branch in Blacktown is located near the train station, going towards Westpoint. The well-lit dining area can accommodate about 20-25 people and has a small TV that plays KPop video. I notice a lot of people coming in for take away yogurt.
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| My Watermelon and Taro Yogurt with sprinkles of almonds, kiwi fruits and Maltesers |
DAISO has finally reached Blacktown! A lot of people from Metro West are relieved that they don’t have to go far now for their AUD$2.80 knick knacks from this Japanese store. We liked this store in Blacktown because they’re spacious enough, well-lit and seem to offer more products. We hope it stays that way.
DAISO is located on the 2nd level of Westpoint Blacktown (near JB Hi-Fi).