ON FOOD TRIP: DIMSUM LOVE!

I was craving for Dimsum for a week now.  And while waiting for my nephew to get back a rolling cart passed by. It was being pushed by a lady wearing chinese dress.  What do you know? She offers Dimsum!  

Bean Curd Roll

This Bean Curd Roll is a-must-try.   It was like vegetable mixed wrapped in bean curd skin.  My nephew who is picky about vegetables liked it.  These ones where fried though, i preferred steamed.  Now i am thinking where could these bean curd skins available here.

Another one we tried was the braised chicken feet.  It was ok but not the best.  

Braised Chicken feet

So when you see this cart rolling in food court, try the bean curd roll.  How i wish they also carry other kind like steamed variety of dumplings, pork ribs in black bean, pork buns, taro buns, wantons, tofu in black bean sauce, and spring rolls!!!

ON FOOD TRIP: GRAB YOUR CREPES

Food tripping @ Crazy Crepes.  Nephew Kurt's favorite fruit of all is the ripe mango.  He tried out one of their fruit crepes Mango crumble.  It was mango slices, cream, ice cream and some cake/cookie crumbles and topped with mango syrup.

Mango crumble

And as for me, it was Tuna crepe.  I was able to taste the fruit crepes and they were okay.  They were not that sweet.  Next time i will try other ones there.

Tuna Crepe

I want to give some of the photo credits to Kurt. He took them while getting another one after his mango crumble. LOL!

In the covered glass are some of the replicas and prices of the crepes available on display. They were such nice presentation so customers can see what they will actually get.

We will surely try more from this shop!

ON FOOD TRIP: PARFAIT ON A STORMY DAY

Banana split parfait at Crazy crepes. We ❤ it!

MITCH COOKS: SNACK ATTACK

Here are something i made out of the ingredients on hand.  Freshly baked buns (still hot out from the oven of our neighbor's bakery), burger patties, spinach, and some for "pancit palabok" recipe (rice noodles, boiled egg, toasted garlic, crushed chicharon and some leftover luncheon meat slices). Too bad the prawns i already used for the soup just the other day.  Palabok is better topped with smoked fish flakes for added flavor.  But anyways, this tasted yummy and Kurt liked it too. :)

MITCH COOKS: ASK POPEYE!

I went to the supermarket to get some party utensil for the kids' homework.  I walked towards the cold storage section for some cold cuts for sandwiches and passed by produce section  as well and got some fresh veggies.  I usually get this pack of fresh spinach.  I do love its crunchiness.  

I just blanched and serve with sauteed garlic and oyster sauce.  I searched in the internet about the benefits we can get from Spinach and here are some link for them you can check out: powerful anti-cancer agent, health benefits and properties, in cooking & diet, antioxidants. So if you want to have something healthy try to include Spinach on your market list.

SHAKE THE HEAT OFF!

It has been extremely hot these past few days.  It rained last night and just as the weather expert Kuya Kim tweeted "lalakas pero di tatagal" (will get strong but wont last) it did not last, not even for 30 minutes.  If it only would take for me to do the rain dance i would just to cool it off for a moment! But anyways, these ones below helped a bit.   

Yes, not as guacamole but as avocado shake.  Not everywhere knew that these rich, with leathery skin, yellowish-green flesh, and a large seed fruit can be made into a sweet, creamy, iced shake coolness!

All you need is a blender, avocado (lots of them in the market for they are in season at this time), sweetened condensed milk, crushed ice.  Then after a few minutes you can indulge yourself with a healthy shake.  As optional you can also put some choco syrup on your glass or if you want some really tropical flavor on it, you can add coco milk on the mixture.  

If you do not have any avocado available, all you can do for now is crave for it!

MITCH COOKS: SMOKED FISH

I was craving for these smoked Bangus and fresh dried fish for breakfast.  I love them with some diced tomatoes and onions and a little of fish sauce.   But then i found this vinegar blend and i like it with any fried fish.

They called it "kurat" (a Visayan word of which i do not know the meaning of) Spiced tuba vinegar.  But basically it is made from fermented coconut vinegar (sukang tuba as locally known in the visayas region) and red chillies, salt, onion, ginger, garlic & spices.  A must try for those who want something spicy.  My sister hates it though.  Ever since she was a child she does not like any vinegar dips. She does not like the smell of it she said. Crazy sis!

BLOOM @HUNTER VALLEY

One of the nicest bloom in the lane of pruned roses at Hunter Valley Vineyards. This one was chosen for this shot just for me. He is just soooo sweet!

ON FOOD TRIP: TO HUNTER VALLEY

It has been weeks that Sean and mates planned this tour but the Australian weather has been so unpredictable. Finally, a good Sunday for a trip to Hunter Valley Wine Tasting & Winery tour. It was such a lovely sky.

Taken a bit far but....

yes, those were cows actually, Sean said.

On this red soil, planted were red and black grapes.

It's the winter and the best season actually to have this tour is the summer or end of spring where you can see a lot of grapes. Harvest time is between January to April.

Sean being silly and took this....Happy 20th!!!

Those mountain ridges got vineyards as well.

This was at the Tyrrell's Wines. This winery in Hunter is the best for Chardonnay.

Who were there on tour that day? Tourist came from USA, Canada, Sri Lanka, Asia and some from Europe. And the tour guide got a bloody Scottish accent!

Sir Edward Tyrrell's Hut
and it is empty. Sean peeked inside.

This is where the wines get fermented. Here's a little trivia: red grapes for red wine only get pressed once, but the green ones for white wine can be pressed twice.

He thinks white wines get stored in stainless steel barrels while there red in oak barrels. Oak barrels there came from different countries and that not only use to store the wines but they also add flavor to it. American oak barrel they can only use for Chardonnay.

Here's another cellar they went to that day called the Windsor. They had dessert wine tasting here and bought some bottles to take home.

It was such a great trip. A quick get away from the city. The place is just few hours away from CBD area. If you want to do wine tasting and winery tour, Hunter Valley got day tour from Sydney, Luncheon tour by helicopter, small group tour, and tour with overnight at Hunters Resort. Make this another thing to do in Sydney!