Tao's

Tao's

201 Bulleen Rd, Bulleen

(Ph) 9852 0777

E was having her engagement dinner! =) at a restaurant called Tao's - I was expecting a Chinese restaurant but it's actually a fusion restaurant serving a set banquet menu! I had actually been here a few years ago with my parents and remembered it to be a very good experience - however this time the food seems to have dropped a little in standard =(

The restaurant looks like a Chinese restaurant on the outside, with some Chinese decor inside, but the tables are all rectangular like Western restaurants. E had booked out a room out the back which was actually right next to the kitchen so we could see the waiters coming in and out =/

You pick your own entree, soup, main and dessert, and there are a few set small dishes between them.

Starter - Chef's Assorted Seasonal Platter

Looks pretty fancy but the 3 dishes don't really go together - my favourite was the slices of marinated squid. The oyster was quite tasty - I thought the pink fluff underneath the oyster was Japanese sugar - how wrong I was it was pure salt! The last one is a slice of tomato in balsamic vinegar with a mint leaf - odd combination with the seafood but anyway.

For entree I got Tempura Tiger Prawn w Spicy Coconut Sauce

This was very tasty - the spicy coconut sauce was not too spicy and quite creamy, a nice alternative to the normal tempura sauce.

M got the Spicy Tasmania Salmon Tartare

Salmon hidden underneath spinach leaves? The marinade was quite tasty but was actually very spicy!

Next came the Special of the Day

How cute 2 dumplings in a mini bamboo basket! I'm pretty sure they don't steam them in these tiny things =P Nothing too special about the dumplings though.

Next was the soup - I got the Seafood Dobinmushi

Drinking soup out of a teapot with the tiny teacup? You're meant to squeeze some of the lemon into the soup which was quite a flavoursome broth with some seafood marinara mix inside.

M got the Cream of Mushroom

So creamy and delicious, rich in mushroom flavour - I'm glad I didn't order it though it was so filling! By this stage we were starting to get full and there was still main and dessert to come!

Mains came next - I got the Marinated Cumin Spiced Rack of Lamb

I was expecting a rack of lamb? This was really a Western dish - nothing Asian about it. The lamb was quite juicy, but would have been nicer if they were more generous with the vegetables instead of just 2 mushroom buttons and 2 half cherry tomatoes?!

M got the Beef Short Ribs w Chilli Tomato Sauce

Sorry the picture is a bit dark - meat is dark and so is the plate =P This was very delicious - the ribs fell of the bone, so tender and soft, and the sauce was sweet yet chilli, this was more like a fusion flavour =)

We all got served Tao's Rice

How cute being served in a little bowl - the spoon was a bit small and silly though =P The rice was quite dry - like a Western fried rice, nothing too special here.

Finally it was dessert time! I got the Tao's Style Tiramisu

Delicious tiramisu in a double glass cup! I like how the layers are all very separate and you kinda combine it in your mouth. My favourite course of the night <3 Next to it is the engagement cake that J's mum made =)

M got the Cream Brulee

They mean creme brulee right? =P I'm glad they didn't try to fusion the desserts coz this was quite good the way it was.

Food~

7/10 - quite aesthetically pleasing dishes, though I don't think they've really mastered the fusion concept. Dishes are from around the world but each dish is pretty much one cuisine.

Service~

3/5 - food came very promptly, maybe a bit too quick for a fine dining experience actually, they were taking plates away from the other table when we were still eating that course

Atmosphere~

2/5 - didn't like how our function room was right next to the kitchen and waiters walking in and out constantly (one even accidentally dropped some dishes and made a scene =/) 

Not too bad for a fine dining experience, but I don't think they can call themselves a fusion restaurant - will be back though given the decent price!

C.

xo

One Thai

One Thai

346 Belmore Rd, East Balwyn

(Ph) 9857 9186

Catch up with E! We both felt like Thai food so I searched my Entertainment Book for something - this place seems to have good ratings on Urbanspoon so decided to check it out =)

We got here at 6pm - restaurant was empty but there were lots of "Reserved" signs on the table, and soon enough, the restaurant was packed - mainly with Caucasian people though =P

Of course we had to go for Pad Thai - stir fried rice stick noodles with eggs, ground peanuts, bean shoots and spring onion - chicken $14.50

<3 pad thai. The rice noodles were quite thin so absorbed alot of flavour. I like how the chicken bits are small and aren't chicken breast so not tough at all. Would have liked if they gave us more peanut bits though. What's with the random salad on the side? Our greens for the night lol =P

We also got a Masmun Curry - a milder red Thai curry paste cooked with potatoes, onions, coconut cream, topped with roasted cashew nuts - beef $18.50

This was quite tasty, coconutty and not too spicy - just how I like my curries =) I like the cashews on top which gave the curry some texture. Would have preferred if they gave us other vegetables instead of potatoes though but can't complain here it says so in the menu name.

E and I can't help our sweet tooth even though we were pretty full! Decided to share a dessert - can't remember what this was called exactly... something like Taro Balls in Coconut Cream

Fully wasn't expecting this! It was more like taro flavoured glutinous balls in a coconut cream soup which was hot - so why did they give us a scoop of icecream?! Was not too bad though =P

Food~
6/10 - not too bad overall, decent Thai food at reasonable price

Service~
3/5 - very quick and good service

Atmosphere~
2/5 - got quite busy and loud as the night went on

C.
xo

Food Republik

Food Republik

1 Main St, Boxhill

(Ph) 9898 6669

Food Republik had been open at Boxhill for a while now but everytime I come on the weekend it's packed so hadn't had a chance to try it out. For once we came on a weekday for lunch and there was no line at all =)

It's a Taiwanese style food court in a food court! How ingenious =) There are a few hawker style stores - Crystal Jade Xiao Long Bao, Shihlin Cafe Taiwan Street Snacks, Old Tong Beef Noodles, Taiwan Cafe, Yong He Soya King, Shin Yeh Restaurant, and Toast Box. Plus Dessert Story which is on a separate menu. Food Republik is owned by the same person who manages Taiwan Cafe and Dessert Story at the various other Melbourne locations.

Check out the chefs making dumplings by the window!

You get seated in the middle of the food court and get given the 2 menus, and you write your own orders on a piece of paper on the pad - saves waiter time and saves them taking down the wrong orders. It's got quite a traditional atmosphere with a hawker cart there too (obviously not in use)!

There is also an upstairs area too but it wasn't too busy on this weekday to need to go upstairs.

I wanted to get my usual Xiao Long Bao but it was $10.8 for 8 pieces which I thought was a bit expensive for this type of casual restaurant, and since I wasn't feeling too well, I let P order the food (for once=P). But as we ate we saw lots of other tables had ordered it - ah well I guess next time I will try it!

Since I wasn't feeling too well I got a hot Yong He Soya Milk $2.8

Ahh soothed my tummy, not too sweet =)

P for some reason loves Taiwanese fried chicken so he got the Chicken Drum - fried chicken drumlettes with pepper seasoning, lightly coated in bread crumbs, Our Specialty! (4pcs) $6.0

Exactly like the Taiwan Cafe ones - lots of flavour and crunch, though not as meaty as the The Booth ones.

P never craves dumplings but he did on this day - Pan-fried pork dumplings (12pcs) 

This wasn't as good as I remembered the ones at Taiwan Cafe to be - I liked the crunchy bits around the dumplings but it was like it had been fried for a while so the skin was a bit soft. And they had a lot of chives in the meat which I didn't like =(

P wanted something substantial so wanted the Taiwanese savoury glutinous rice but then realised it's only available before 11am. So he settled for the Beef Wrap - spring onion wrap with soya marinated beef slices garnished with spring onion and plum sauce $9.0

Asian kebab, just like the one at Taiwan Cafe. The wrap pancake was cooked a bit too much so was really crunchy (which I liked!) but the beef bits and cucumber fell out really easily. Surprisingly ridiculously filling!

Food~
5/10 - not too bad, typical Taiwanese food. Will definitely come back for the xiao long bao next time!

Atmosphere~
2/5 - I like how it feels like Asian hawker food, like we're really on the streets!

Service~
1/5 - most of the waiters were quite prompt but there was one who seemed like she felt she was too good to be there =/ and the food took a while for Asian restaurant standards.

C.
xo

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So merely a week later I find myself here again! This time I knew I had to order the Xiao Long Bao =)

Met my high expectations! Thin dumpling skin, lots of delicious broth inside and juicy meat <3

Also got some Fried Pork Buns - was a recommended dish.

But this was a bit disappointing - thick bun and small meat, and it wasn't fried enough so didn't have a crunchy base at all =(

P got the Popcorn Chicken Bento Box - the popcorn chicken was so crunchy! Better than KFC popcorn chicken and more flavoursome =) I like how they give you mince meat on top of the rice - Taiwanese style. The "greens" was a bit lousy though - wombok and frozen peas and corn?!

P also got a HK Style Milk Tea - not too bad but wasn't as strong as I'd like it to be.

Cupcake Central

Cupcake Central

Shop 7, 672 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn

(Ph) 9077 4542

I had an Entertainment voucher for Cupcake Central so had been meaning to try it out for ages! <3 Cupcakes!

They have standard cupcakaes at $4 each, or babycakes at $2.20 each. Or gift boxes - starting at 4 for $15 =)

They have a Cupcake flavour calender, rotating more than 20 flavours everyday - some popular flavours are baked everyday, while there are other daily specials. And they rotate the calender every season or so =) They're apparently the only cupcake bakery that bakes all their cupcakes daily from scratch each morning (but i'm not sure about that =/)

They only had one Salted Caramel left which is one of their daily flavours, and given we came at midday on Sunday, I fail to believe it was baked fresh that morning. So it was a little disappointing it was a little dry =( the cupcake was just a chocolate cupcake, the icing was mainly vanilla with some salted caramel on top - would have liked it better if the salted caramel was more within the cupcake too!

Cookies and Cream <3 I like how they put half an oreo on there - we ate this one the day after so the oreo was a bit soft =( But the cupcake was still very moist - vanilla and chocolate flavours - the beauty of cookies and cream =)

Vanilla Vanilla - vanilla vanilla and more vanilla! Nothing more to say but it was, like the others, super moist cupcake with a creamy icing.

So far all of them have been everyday baked flavours but Banoffee Pie was one of the flavours of the day - banana cupcake with toffee inside, caramel flavoured icing and crumb bits on top <3 this was my favourite - super moist cupcake with a light creamy icing =)

Food~
6/10 - not sure if I would pay full price for their cupcakes but I gotta say they're one of the best in Melbourne - compared to Cupcake Bakery's cupcakes which were sometimes dry these were much tastier!

Service~
3/5 - very friendly smiling waiter =)

Atmosphere~
2/5 - small cafe where you can sit and enjoy your cupcakes too, but we took ours away to enjoy at home

C.
xo

Cafe de Taite

Cafe de Taite

639 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn

(Ph) 9819 5671

We found a Honky style cafe in Hawthorn - what a pleasant surprise! Thought we should check it out since P was craving some pork chop bun =P

Small cafe with booths! Quite an authentic atmosphere with pictures of Hong Kong on the walls =)

They have some set menus - from $12.90 for a dish, a soup, garlic bread and a drink! Quite a good deal but I wanted to try the Cheese Pork Chop Rice $11.80 from the Specials Menu. P went for a Grilled Pork Chop Bun $6.80 and a Seafood Chowder $6.00

The Seafood Chowder was quite thick and flavoursome - bits of fish and crab sticks as per usual. Quite interesting how it was served with garlic bread instead of a bread roll. 

The Grilled Pork Chop Bun was more like a Western burger instead of the tasty sweet buns like you get in Hong Kong but wasn't too bad. <3 pork chop!

My Cheese Pork Chop Rice was the highlight of the meal! It was like an inside out Parma as S said! Cheesy goodness leaking out from the inside, deep fried with panko crumbs =) The cheese was quite a mature flavour, nearly like a blue which I enjoyed very much. You'd think it'd be a bit weird with tomato rice and mayonnaise but it all went went together - perfect Honky fusion <3

We found a little gem so close to home! I'd say it's on par to my other favourite Honky cafes Pacific House in the city and New Age Cafe in Boxhill =)

Food~
7.5/10 - would love to come back for their baked rice dishes or their set menus next time

Atmosphere~
3/5 - wasn't too busy on this Sunday night but that didn't deter us from going in at all

Service~
3/5 - food came quite promptly and they kept filling our hot teas up =)

Will definitely be back!

C.
xo

Lindt Chocolat Cafe

Lindt Chocolat Cafe

Chadstone Shopping Centre, Dandenong Rd, Chadstone

(Ph) 9563 3355

I had bought a voucher - $19 for Lindt Favourites Sharing Platter for two with chocolate brownies, macarons, waffles & more PLUS two hot chocolates

When I bought the voucher I had to choose which store to redeem it at so I thought we'd go to Chadstone. I had been to the city store before but never been to the Chadstone store. We already decided to go the week after Mother's day, thinking that would be a very busy weekend but wow it was still super packed! When we got there at 2pm it was packed and there were many groups of people waiting for tables and most of the people there were having the sharing platter, probably with the voucher too! Finally we were seated, but it took ages for them to come and clean our table =/

Lindt Favourites Sharing Platter (value $25.50) - Fresh chocolate brownies, A selection of salted caramel and hazelnut macarons "delice", Two pieces of warm waffle served with Lindt's signature ice cream, Two freshly dipped connoisseur chocolates and luscious strawberries served with Chantilly cream, A pot of Lindt chocolate.

Massive platter of goodness! The only downside was the icecream (think it was vanilla bean) was melting very quickly =/ maybe they had scooped it out in preparation already?! The waffles were deliciously crunchy - too bad they're not Belgium waffles =P The brownie was super crazily chocolatey with some nuts inside - if we didn't have such a big platter to eat I think we would have enjoyed it more - or if they gave us another scoop of icecream to go with it! The coupon said we would get a salted caramel and a Hazelnut delice but we got passionfruit and cookies and cream (I think?) instead which were still very good but I would have preferred salted caramel instead - they shouldn't promise us flavours if they weren't gonna give them to us! Lindt macarons are definitely one of the best around - crunchy outsides with the soft airy meringue inside and the delicious ganache between <3 By this stage we were fully chocolated out so couldn't enjoy the connoisseur chocolates as much - one had caramel insides and the other one was all chocolate haha =/

Swirls of Lindt’s finest flowing milk or dark chocolate are combined with freshly frothed milk and topped with a chocolate shard for the ultimate Lindt hot chocolate experience (value $14)

What a cool hot chocolate experience! First I poured in the frothed milk

Then went some chocolate - super smooth and silky

Tryout out my chocolate art? What a fail haha =P

Tada! =) This was one of the best hot chocolates I've had - I like how you get to make it yourself =) We took the Lindor's home 'cause we were seriously chocolated out - didn't think that was possible for me haha

Food~
6/10 - If not for the voucher I'd recommend sharing this platter between 3 people, 'cause we felt quite sick of chocolate by the end of it! Or just come for the hot chocolate and the delice <3

Service~
1/5 - took ages to get our tables cleared and cleaned, but I guess they can't help being so busy!

Atmosphere~
2/5 - very loud and and busy on this Sunday afternoon

C.
xo