LASAN RESTAURANT: Berlin, Germany

Its been yonks since I dedicate myself to writing in here. But I've been busy working and saving up for Europe.

Right now I am in Berlin and spending my last couple of days here just chillaxing after exhausting myself from constant exploration of this exceptionally historical city.

Today, the husband and me decided to go to Kottbusser Tor station in the area of the infamous PUNK suburb - Kreuzberg SO36. Of course only remnants of the period can be seen here and there together with the amazing diversity of people and culture. Besides, its punk history, it was also one of the biggest settlement for the Turkish people when Germany were looking for masses of people to work in their Industries. When the wall came down, Everyone decided to happily co-exist together.
One of the great characteristic of Kreuzberg is the amazing Graffiti work around the neighbourhood, the constant buzz of people, beautiful ornate and industrial train stations and food!

To me Kreuzberg is a perfect melting pot of everything and that brought me to the magnetic visual of LASAN RESTAURANT. We passed there a few days back while galavanting around the area but were too tired to stop  but I had enough time to scan the pictorial menu and kept in mind about coming back.

So today, as me mossy out of the studio apartment at 2pm, we decided to go to LASAN to eat our super late lunch. LOL.

Address:Adalbert st. 96 ,Kreuzberg U8 U1 Kottbusser Tor Berlin, 10999 Berlin

Telephone: 030 69 81 40 98

Web: http://www.lasan.net

Hours: 10am-12am daily

Lasan is located really close to the Kottbusser Tor train (U1/U8 line) station under these amazing oldskool architectural crescent building I assumed from the 70's or something ( please correct me if I am wrong). Its so retro crazy. lol.

Anyway, when I first saw the menu, I was a bit confused- was it Iranian? Afghani? Its definitely not Turkish. It also have Tandoor which is very much towards the Northern Indina stylings. ( Basically all these area are interconnected due to cultural history)

So after looking at the menu for a longggggg time, we decided to order a Mixed Meat 'Teller' ( normally means like a meal on a plate with several choices) with  with  tandoor bread and Briyani instead of rice (which we had to pay extra for). I especially got OVERTLY excited while waiting to see how it came.

The gorgeous red lipped big eyes waitress later came and served us each a bowl of what it may be pumpkin nut-garlic-potato-tomatoey creamy soup  to start with. I was not sure if it was curry to dip our bread in at first and later after tasting it realised it was soup. The soup was delicious and totally different in herbs character to most soup I've tasted. It was nutty, creamy and very very wholesome.

Our meal came out one after another, First the meat platter, then the bread, lastly the briyani. The table looked Oh so spectacular. My eyes popped out hungrily-After eating frugally for weeks and now a whole splendour of colourful pletora of gorgeous food on your table? I am sold. LOL.

The meat platter came with the basic mediterranean salad of cucumbers, mint, tomatoes. The meat was lamb chunks, a lambchop, chicken chunks and I think a mixed meat mince /kofte-kebab thingy. Meat were all tender and fresh, grilled in their tandoor oven.

The bread was beautifully freshly woodfire tandoor oven baked in the restaurant. ( we can see the guy doing it behind the front windows) The bread looks like a crossbreed of 'Naan'  and "Afghani long 'holey" bread.

As a chilli freak, we asked for chilli, in whihc they gave us 2 versions, A chilli paste thingy and cut green chillies. The chilli/spicy sauce was also very different, I've never had that flavour - sweet, fragrant and spicy, before.. Its not really like Asian or Harissa but with the similar sambal consistency- very beautiful.

When we finished our meal, we were also given tea. in small little glasses- something I adore from the Arab world. heheheh.

Ok, guess where did the food come from?

IRAQ but from the Kurdish culture. It's amazing how similar food are but not really.

UPSIDE
1) Amazing spread of menu
2) Very Friendly staff- venue is children friendly
5) Many seats available. Big area. You can also probably booked the back courtyard for sunctions due to the sheer size of the place.

DOWNSIDE
1)The area is very raw for some who are less adventurous ( i dont really consider this a downside but it is for some?)

Rate:
Price- medium 
Food- 5.5/5
Service- 5/5
Ambiance- Raw/Exotic
Accessibility- 5/5
HALAL

Jimmy Jamz, chilled pizza bar for all

JIMMY JAMZ
175-177 Lygon Street
East Brunswick 
T: 03 93880146
E: eastbrunswick@jimmyjamz.com
W: eastbrunswick.jimmyjamz.com
O.H: From 7:30am for brekkie- 
till late 7 days a week. 




A company of 3, we were there on a Wednesday evening to try what Jimmy  has to offer. This is 1 of the 2 of the JIMMY JAMZ, the other being in Elwood. It was rainy and we were hungry. Parked my car at the back and another friend took the tram up which was convenient from the city.

Right at the corner of Lygon and Glenlyon is where Jimmy resides. Easy not to miss it. In my head, I was already thinking about the Banana bomb dessert all along. But of course a meal first is more appropriate!

So looking through the extensive selection of gourmet pizza, I chose to have the Thai chicken, sweet chilli, fresh herbs, crushed peanuts & mozzarella pizza($9.90)!  Then I saw the rustic beetroot salad which I cannot say no to! wahahaha.

My other 2 companions ordered the Korean BBQ beef, capsicum, caramelised onion, Japanese mayo & mozzarella ($10.90), Sweet potato chips ($4.90) and Linguine with prawns, peas & mint. The food serving is not massive, but 'a just nice for one person' portion- We had altogether about 6 dishes and it was enough for sharing.

Everything looks good when served but the paper pasta don't looked that appetising- look below. Maybe its the appearance of the peas- i dont know. 

Silly enough, I forgot to take pictures of the other 2 pizzas as they were in our stomach before we knew it. 

Chilli Prawn Linguni Paper Pasta- $11.90

Banana Bomb - $7.90

Fluffy pizza dessert w/banana, walnuts, Vanilla Ice cream and maple syrup

Rustic beetroot with rocket feta & walnuts- $9.90

Overall, I had a fantastic time. Staff are friendly and helpful and great place to hang around for 3 hours to catch up with friends. My companion was very much obsessed with the sweet potato chips!:) I highly recommend the Banana bomb, rustic beetroot salad and the 2 pizzas!

UPSIDE
1) Super variety of Pizzas
2) Very Friendly staff- venue is children friendly
5) Many seats available. Big area. You can also probably booked the back courtyard for sunctions due to the sheer size of the place.
4) Bar available.

DOWNSIDE
1) One of the largest toilets I've been in, restaurant wise. But they are unisex ones. So, some dude before you may forget to put the toilet seat down or..... :P

Rate:
Price- medium
Food- 3.8/5
Service- 5/5
Ambiance- Contemporary/Modern/Chic Melbourne
Accessibility- 5/5

OMAH's at Hawthorn***

Omah's Hawthorn

338-342 Burwood Road 
Hawthorn VIC 3122 
Australia 
T: 03 9818 7777 E: hawthorn@omahs.com
W: http://www.omahs.com/hawthorn/about.html 
Opening hours:  from 12pm till late 7 days a week. 



The website explains that OMAH'S mean grandmother in the Malay language in Malaysia and it serves authentic Malay/ Peranakan food. Truth be told, I have never heard of them and this is the first time I dine was last week and how wonderful it was. Some of my friends asked me whey is there not a place where one can fine dine Malay food. Well, I can say this is the closest but it has also a mix of South East Asian Chinese/ Singaporean and Indian food  as well. This place is HALAL too, so it gets even better!


Last Sunday, we went to the Hawthorn Branch of Omah's for Deb's Birthday dinner. This is their second branch that started from Port Melbourne. I say having 2 branches means you are doing well and so they are, as the joint was packed with people in big groups and of course majority are there for their famous Crabs mains. We were there for the same thing. Debs pre-ordered  2 crabs and we decided to cook them in Salted Eggs and Chilli Crab ala Singapore style. Instead of expecting Mantou bread with our crabs, as it is more Malaysian based, we got Roti chanai or better known as prata in Singapore instead. That does not compromise the meal, I say! :) The crabs cost about $40 each and are of medium size. 

The Salted eggs sauce crab was not as salty and extravagant like the ones in Singapore where the egg yolk is turned into slushy gravy and the crab kinda soaked in it. Over here, it is more like the eggs was matted with oatmeal and deep fried. Hence the taste is subtle and quite delightful. 

The Chilli crab on the other had was not so hot and spicy but tasted like Assam Pedas with strong lemon grass flavour.  

We also ordered mixed entree platter ($12.90), gado-gado($14.90), buttered prawns($24.90) and also ginger flower duck ($22.90). 
The platter consisted of a selection of Loh Bak, Chicken Satay, Curry Puff, Spring Roll and Silken Tofu. 

Gado-Gado- Malaysian salad of steamed seasonal vegetables, tofu and egg served with peanut sauce. was more of their own style which is totally different from what I grow up with but still good. 

Buttered Prawns -Australian wild prawns coated in golden egg fluff flavoured with curry leaves and spring onion were amazing with strings of yolk that is skillfully prepared in hot oil- which non of us could master and 

Ginger Flower Duck- Half a deboned duck pan fried to served with a piquant sauce of chilli, bunga kantan (ginger flower) and a dash of lemon juice was the extension of Peranakan style food. The ginger flower paste was like a cross between Sambal Balado  and Chicken Rice Chilli. very interesting flavour. 


Overall service was excellent, ambience was beautifully South East Asian with the walls decorated by asian artists' work on sale for anyone but starts at a whooping $4000!!! AS it was Deb's Borthday, we brought a cake and there was no surcharge! They even put candles and gave us plates and cutleries to eat  it. WOW. I say. :)


UPSIDE
1) Beautiful food
2) Meal sharing concept
3) Beautiful Interior
4) Very Friendly staff- good with kids and toddlers
5) No surcharge for bringing in cakes during Birthdays! 
6) HALAL!***

DOWNSIDE
1) Parking, have to park near the train station during busy times
Rate:
Price- medium- high
Food- 3.8/5
Service- 5/5
Ambiance- Contemporary/Funky/Asian-Chic Melbourne
Accessibility- 5/5

CHIN CHIN, Contemporary Thai with a twist!

CHIN CHIN RESTAURANT 
125 FLINDERS LANE 
TELEPHONE 8663 2000
OPEN 7 DAYS - LUNCH + DINNER
web: chinchinrestaurant.com.au

The name is catchy and the restaurant is definitely fancy. Newly opened since June 11', It has already garnered a steady number of clientale and followers. What strike me immediately when I walked into the restaurant was how it reminded me of COOKIE. At the same time, It also, like Cookie has a bar and serve Thai. It also sort of fused a lot of different Asian influenced into the cooking. As an Asian, I am always particular on how Australian cook Asian. I say in this situation, they did quite well.

3.5 of us went to have late lunch at CHIN CHIN on a weekday. The restaurant at 2pm, was still buzzing with people- corporates mainly, due to its placement. We were greeted by a super funky Asian maitre-D with a Punk Cropped hair and casual Punk attire. With a toddler in tow, she recommended us a big table with a little bit of moving space near the door. :)

When we were seated, we waited for the menu in which was only for drinks. It took us a while to realised that the thick Paper funky placemat has the menu on the other side. AAaaaaaahhh. I wondered why it was not flipped the other way so that we can see it?

After much browsing we decided to have a separate meal each although it is a sharing sort of restaurant. My friend ordered Chin Chin special Fried Rice with pineapple, the other Pad Thai with King Prawns, Banana Blossom and dried shrimps and me the Hobson's River Beef Brisket with Noodles and herbs. For starters we had Kingfish Sashimi with lime, chilli, coconut and basil.

Kingfish Sashimi with lime, chilli, coconut and basil 

The starter was exquisite. Such an odd combination sashimi: Japanese style raw fish drizzled with coconut cream with chilli and basil, all so well harmonised. We could actually taste all the flavours individually but enjoy it as a whole. This starters is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Hobson's River Beef Brisket with Noodles and herbs

 Chin Chin special Fried Rice with pineapple 

Basically, the fried rice is a typical Thai fried Rice, The Pad Thai is a pad thai but with ginormous prawns and the Beef brisket is also known as Sen Lek Neua- Typical Village Thai Beef Noodles but with a special beef from Hobson's river.

It took a while before our meal came, probably about 30 minutes, It was partially busy and perhaps most of the patrons are also busy socialising at the bar before their meal to notice the time. We wondered if there were only 2 chefs in the kitchen. When the food came, the presentation was beautiful. The amount is quite decent, perhaps designed more for tasting menu style. But the fired rice was quite substantial.

Palm Sugar Ice-cream Sunday with salted Honeycombe and Lime Syrup- 

It might not look like it but it is the bomb!

From the time I looked at the menu, I was already caught up with its desserts side. I so badly wanted to try its Palm Sugar Ice-cream Sunday with salted Honeycombe and Lime Syrup. O_M_G it was divine- so so decadent. Choosing Palm Sugar as an Ice cream flavour is so rad but adding salted Honeycombe? I was totally in love- currently it is quite IN for anything sweet with an addition of salt, like those crazy salted caramel. So this was a winner for me.- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

To conclude, I felt that the mains are contemporary version of the Classic Thai mains but its the experimental starter and dessert won me over. Will I come back? Yes, for desserts, coffee and perhaps light nibbling.

UPSIDE
1) Beautiful starters and dessert
2) Meal sharing concept
3) Funky Interior
4) Very Friendly staff- good with kids and toddlers

DOWNSIDE
1) Thai Mains were not adventurous enough for a funky contemporary thai fusion. If you expected proper THAI, go to a proper thai place.
2) Long wait for food to come- 30 mins, If you have hungry kids, not the place to go.

Rate:
Price- medium- high
Food- 3.8/5
Service- 4/5
Ambiance- Contemporary/Funky/Chic Melbourne
Accessibility- 5/5

Cornershop- Simple food made exotic

Cornershop

9 Ballarat Street
Yarraville

(03) 9689 0052

Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

MEATBALLS WITH TURKISH BREAD

 

PORK BELLY

 

AMBIANCE

 

BAR AREA

Thanks to a MIFF venue at the Planetarium, I had to google for a good place to eat on the Western side of Melbourne. I was tossing between Dig a pony and Cornershop and thought, the latter would be better. :) I was not in the mood for tapas and wanted real wholesome meal.

Without any reservation, we braved the Westgate bridge, the rain, new roads and finally walked into this dark , candle-lit restaurant. They looked at us poor souls and decided to squeeze us in. So I say, reserve before coming, we were just happened to be lucky that night. 

I went there with knowledge that it serves Mediterranean but I was not prepared when I read on their menu of Ducks and Pork bellies, which sounds familiarly Asian for me. The menu was comprehensive, more than 10 choices of mains which starts from above $12, if I can recall. I say that is an excellent deal for a beautiful, quality ambiance and food! I think both Nic and me were spoilt for choice to what to have. What we thought would take take a couple of minutes to choose ended up for more than 10, and thats when we asked the friendly waitress to help.

Apparently their popular dish was the DUCK, but neither of us ordered that but instead, Nic ordered the Pork Belly on a heaps of Cabbage and me the Meatballs garnished with parmesan on a bed of Rockets with Turkish bread. We also ordered haloumi but it took too long and they kind of forgot, so we cancelled it.

Our verdict? Very good serving size- not too big or too small. The Pork Belly according to Nic was not so crispy as she thought it would be and the cabbage in Soy, was overwhelming, but beautiful. For me, The combination of meatballs and turkish bread actually works well. And the hint of parmesan was an interesting twist to the meal. The sauce was also very Mediterranean with very Moroccan flavours in it.

Will I come back? I will if I have to go West! :) 

PS: Cornershop is very well known for their breakkie more than anything. 

UPSIDE
1) Wholesome fusion of Mediterranean and everything else.
2) Reasonably priced!
3) Very nice Interior
4) Friendly staff
5) Ample parking near the station at the back

DOWNSIDE
1) Must make reservation
2) Make sure they serve all your order.

Rate:
Price- low-medium
Food- 4/5
Service- 3.5/5
Ambiance- Contemporary Retro
Accessibility- 4/5

Lucini Pasta cafe

Old Macaroni Factory |Est 1859 |
and Lucini's Historic Pasta Cafe
64 Main Road Hepburn Springs
Victoria 3461 AUSTRALIA
http://www.macaronifactory.com.au/lucinis-pasta-cafe.htm

Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday for lunch (12-3pm) and dinner (from 6pm)

Bookings recommended on (03) 5348 4345 Mob 0404 123 153

Zucchini, Anchovies and Mushroom cream Linguini

Relics from the past in their dining area.

From the road

Rosemary Balls in Minestrone

Vesuvio Spaghetti (Vegetarian)

A rustic and true to our stereotype of a quaint Italian Village dwelling. Lucini definitely have all of that. Housed in the oldest Italian building in Australia, it is a perfect place to have a plate of pasta. Its history is also a rich one.

When we were there yesterday we shared a Rosemary ball Minestrone and had a plate of pasta each for mains. The soup was wholesome, fresh and the rosemary balls were fragrant and pretty. Th combination was very beautiful experience with fresh crusty bread on the side. My mains was called Vesuvio Spaghetti (not for the faint-hearted!) after the Vesuvius Volcano in Italy, due to its chilli hot gravy that sends your tummy rumbling in ecstasy! I chose it, as I am a lover of chilli and this really drums to my beat. Chillies and tomatoes being pulp and made into beautiful sauce. Debs had a Zuchinni, Anchovies and Mushroom cream Linguini. As she described, she never thought anchovies would taste this beautiful. It was sweet and also soft at the same time.

To top the beautiful wholesome home-cooked meal by Italian ladies in cute villagey headscarf, they lit up the fireplace so that we can eat in warmth and let us wonder around the idyllic Italian compound. Later, we also learned about the fresco tours they have on Saturdays for $10. I think I might go back to that one of these days.

UPSIDE
1) Beautiful home cooked simple wholesome Italian
2) Featured in Cheap Eats
3) Friendly staff of 6th Generation original Italians of that house
4) Ample parking on roadside
5) Ample dining areas
6) Pretty place

DOWNSIDE
1) 75kms from Melbourne- Its in Hepburn Springs
2) Opened only 3 days a week


Rate:
Price-medium- reasonable pricing
Food- 5/5
Service- 4/5
Ambiance- Italian village
Accessibility- 3/5

Miah's Sambalicious- Authentic Malay Cuisine

The Stall


Fried Kway Teow


Mee Rebus


Prices

Miah's Sambalicious- Authentic Malay Cuisine
Shop1, 662**halal**
Blackburn Rd, Clayton (Actual site, On Normanby Road in the RUSDEN HOUSE Apartments,off Blackburn Road)
Contact: 0423701716
Opening hours:11am-8pm everyday

From the main road, one could easily missed it.I did a couple of times and then realised that the site is actually off the main road and in Normanby in the apartment complex. But once spotted, like flies to the light, we were. It was brightly lid even in the night.The entrance is on the 1st level and you drive straight into the parking space on either the ground or 1st level-this is where the shop is at.

A family owned business, Miah's stall had a queue of 8 people when we arrived and we had to wait for our turn.(there are 2 other food shops there too but it seems that theirs are creating the most buzz) Seems like the people over there are regular customers and also desperate Singaporeans who yearns for Proper Singaporean Malay food. Its menu is the yummy hawker centre spread of Lontong, Mee rebus, Nasi Lemak, Roti Prata, Mee goreng and Fried Kway Teow. Cooked by Cik Miah (who is well known for her cooking in the community) and also her daughter Nabillah. They also sell Lychee, Milo Crushed, Teh Tarek and random traditional kueh(cakes) !

Tonight, I decided to get the Kway Teow and Chris, Mee rebus. Verdict. VERY AUTHENTICALLY WELL DONE. We like! The portion is of good size, Taste is there, spiciness kicked in well and best of all freshly made individually, hence the wait, but of course all worth it! Prices starts at $5-$8 for mains, Drinks from $3-$4.

UPSIDE
1) Home cooked yummy hawker centre malay food at its best! Freshly cook for each dish!
2) Reasonably priced!
3) Good accessibility to venue and Wheelchair Friendly
4) Friendly staff
5) Ample parking
6) Ample seating area
7) Open from 11am-8pm everyday, they are thinking of closing midweek though.


DOWNSIDE
1) Visibility from main road
2) Venue a bit dark, even with all lights switched on
3) Entrance is through the carpark only.


Rate:
Price- low-medium
Food- 5/5
Service- 3.5/5
Ambiance- Foodcourt style seating.
Accessibility- 4/5