Foo San @ Christchurch

Said to be one of the locals favourite yum cha (dim sum) restaurant in Christchurch, Foo San Restaurant was owned by a reader-turn-friend of mine.


funny photo of Danny


Great service, friendly and sweet staff (especially Danny's parents) and good food.

Yum Cha (transliterate to 'drinking tea') in New Zealand has never been a cost-wise option, more a luxury dining than you're everyday meal.




But if you're born local, it's actually considered rather affordable.




Almost everything on the menu was above my Kiwi's dim sum expectation, in other words, they were good.




My favourite being the chicken feet, always the first dish I ordered when I 'yum cha'.




Portions were pretty generous in spite of being a foreign food in New Zealand.







But then again, what meal portion was never big in New Zealand. People there ate generously too.

However, their most popular dish was the fried calamari, the one odd dish that's more Western than Chinese.




But the batter was nicely done and not oily at all. First bite guarantee your enlightenment as to why this dish was ever so popular.

First time for everything. Fried calamari dim sum.



rating: (I could be biased so let's just say it's 3.5/5)


Foo San Restaurant
6-8 Rountree St
Upper Riccarton
Christchurch City

Contact: (+64)(03) 348 4921

The Store @ Kekerengu

Whenever you make a drive down from Picton or Marlborough along the coast line toward Kaikoura or Christchurch. Be sure to make a stop at The Store.




Located in Kekerengu, between Blenheim town and Kaikoura.

The Store is a scenic and cozy cafe restaurant facing an ocean that runs quarter a mile a distance at the back.




This is where you get your local cuisine at its best in New Zealand.







I was brought here non-selectively but was glad that my drivers did (I was hitch-hiking down south).




It was foggy and cold that morning and they were stopping by for a coffee break. Germans do like their coffee, other than beers.







Since I wasn't a morning person but woke up to catch the ride down anyway, I decided to have my breakfast, a meal I skipped and has been skipping every morning.

Choosing among the hot chocolates and sandwiches, I decided on a good old Egg Benedict for my brekkie.

Not a bad meal, considering that you can't really go wrong with Egg Benedict. Despite the coldness, we sat outside so the couple could enjoy their puff while I, er... bathe in freezing wetness.




Maybe one day I'd come back for a proper meal in the evening when I visit NZ again.


The Store
State Highway 1, Kekerengu
Marlborough
New Zealand

Contact: +64 (03) 575 8600

Cheese Souffle @ Wairau River

If you're a fan of cheese.

Be sure to make a trip to Wairau River in Marlborough wine country when you're down to New Zealand.




They serve the legendary cheese souffle most tourists to Marlborough would hunt for, for its rarity.







I don't particularly think there's a lot to be fancied about this dish, there are much improvement though I would think it's more of a savory souffle more than a dessert. I had expected a dessert-ish dish.





But it's worth a try. And can be really filling.


Wairau River Cellar Door & Restaurant
Corner State Highway 6 & Rapaura Road

Open everyday from 10am - 5pm (except Good Friday, Xmas day & Boxing Day)
Lunch served 12pm - 3pm.

Contact: +6435729800 (or 03 572 9800 for local)

Jackman & McRoss @ Hobart

Jackman & McRoss Bakery is one of the most popular cafes in Hobart, drawing crowds that on days would line outside the restaurant during meal hours.

Getting a table can prove a challenge but there's always take away options for most.




We managed to squeezed into a small table for two at the side of the window panel on a particular odd brunch hour, and yet the cafe was full to the brim.

I had the Egg Benedict.




While my friend went for a pastry pie (chicken).




The instant I took my first bite, I realized that the expertise of Jackman's lied in their sauces. It was delectable. Pie's and Benedict's.

Albeit the sauce on my egg benedict was a bit too little. And the caramelized onions were a star.




Asking for a second servings on the sauce was free, but take heed that the shorthand of waitresses and waiters there compared to the amount of customers every minute could mean that you won't see another drop of your order till the end of your scrumptious meal.


One of the rather unique order you could go for is the soda float aka ice cream fruit soda.




Pour over the soda served separately for you and observe it fizz over your glass before you can even say "Wowa!"




A nice treat to pair with your brunch/tea. :)



food rating: 4/5
service rating: 3/5 (slow service due to high customer count)


Jackman & McRoss Bakery
57-59 Hampden Rd
Battery Point 7004 TAS
Contact: +61 (03) 6223 3186

Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm
Sat-Sun 7.30am-5pm

Bracegirdle's House of Fine Chocolate

Easily the best chocolate cafe in Adelaide.




Bracegirdle's House of Fine Chocolate lives up to its name.




\


Not exactly cheap (they did say it's FINE chocolates), but reasonable enough for Australians.

They even have a nice chocolate fountain.




But I've grown out of the chocolate craze quite a while ago, so this thing didn't excite me as much as it did years ago.

I like the interior of the cafe, not exactly quiet for the place tend to trap noise within. So if there are customers sitting around inside, you'll hear the noise.




It's hard not to order the first drink on the menu.




It sounded like it's made for me.
(I should make my KISS a copyright one day)




It wasn't bad. But I much preferred Kokoblack's.

Some of the items definitely worth ordering here, like the Chocolate Waffle.




Good supper to go with.

And the Chocolate Fondue with Strawberries.




Key item?




The rich creamy Belgian chocolate sauce that top my chart of best chocolate tasted.


Unique drink to order.

Chili Hot Chocolate (Cocoa).




Funny thing was, I didn't feel the repulse feeling after drinking it which I anticipated at first.

In fact, the drink was more decent than expected. Pretty good I would say.

It did taste like, well, chili and chocolate drink mixed together.


Christmas Tree Marshmallow anyone?


The chocolate cake (brownie) slice was however the winner for the night.




It's been a long time since I've tasted such NICE creamy rich moist yet not too overpowering (well, it's quite rich, but you just won't get sick of it) chocolate cake/brownie.




An A list item.



Rating: 4/5 (Food & drinks mainly)


There are three stores of Bracegirdle's in South Australia, two in Adelaide and one in McLaren Vale.

More details on location and opening times, visit this link.

Oscars @ McLaren Vale

One of the nicest boutique Italian restaurant I've come across in Australia is in the wine country of McLaren Vale, an hour south of Adelaide.




Oscars.

Their appetizers were presentable with a hint of character. Not the typical boring copy-and-redo type of food you'll find in other Italian restaurants.




Try the Chicken Liver Pate with Mango Chutney served with Pita Bread.




Love the pita bread concept.

Their homemade bread with Dukkah dip was not bad too.




Dukkah, an Egyptian mixture of seeds, nuts and Middle Eastern spices.




Usually have it with Egyptian baladi bread dipping into olive oil and then into the spice mixture.

Tangy, spicy, very fragrant. Not my kind of dish. But nice bread.


Their list of pizzas were a hit among the locals and foreigners.




We had the Mediterranean and the Tandoori Chicken flavours: 2 in 1.




What attracted me was the sinful generous dollops of sour cream on top of the Tandoori Chicken Pizza.




Oh heaven.

End it with a cup of good coffee or latter.





Rating: 4.5/5 (Food, Ambiance, Service. Perfect.)

Address:





Oscars
Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week
BYO (Bring Your Own)

Contact: +61 (08) 8323 8707

Chocolate Pizza @ Fellini, Adelaide

Fellini is located up to North Adelaide.




The atmospheric old heritage building Italian restaurant is crowded with locals every night.

Here you can look at chef preparing their pizza straight from ingredients placement to the hot oven, and observe your pizza served straight out of the wood oven to your table.

But it is also here you will find a very unique dessert pizza menu: Chocolate Pizza.




You're given few options from the menu, like Mars Bar, Kinder Egg or Cherry Delights.

I ordered two out of the three popular dessert pizza, was it Cherry Delights? (they were out of their signature Mars Bar then :( )




I love the fact that they baked the chocolate chunks (Mars Bar, Cherry Delights, etc) on the pizza dough before topping it off with more chocolate and homemade ice cream chocolate.

The baked chocolate was chewy warm, a delightful contrast to the cold creamy rich chocolate and vanilla ice creams.




Not to mention very nice presentation.

A real treat.

Just be careful of your waist belt.



Dessert Pizza rating: 4.5/5
Restaurant rating:


Fellini Cafe
102 O'Connell St
North Adelaide 5006 SA
Phone: (08) 8239 2235

Entree: $9.90-$17.90
Mains: $9.90-$32.90
Dessert: $15.90-$16.90

Mon-Fri 7am-10.30pm
Sat-Sun 8am-10.30pm