Lindt Cafe, Sydney

Before I even arrived in Sydney, I've heard all about Lindt Cafe.

Everyone loves Lindt chocolates right? I mean, who doesn't. They're famous for the sheer fineness in their Chocolate, especially their excellence chocolate bar. ooooo

So Lindt Cafe was one the first places I wanted to visit in Sydney.




woo ya! Look at the extensive array of chocolate-y heaven! It was hard for me not to choose just everything off the bar, seeing that I was on a chocolate crave period back then.




Their famous drinks are the Lindt milkshakes. Go for the milk chocolates, they're pretty decent. I would say amazing as I had better, but decent for the fact that they're carrying Lindt brand and it's not that shabby.




The Chocolate Hazelnut Gateau slice was really nice. Albeit too sweet, but love the pairing with the cream. Can try it when you're not eating with a glass of rich Lindt milkshake though.




I ordered the Hot Cocoa under recommendation. It's fun to drink, but other than that, there's nothing really fancy. In fact, if you're not careful, you might made the drink too sweet for your own liking.




The chocolate syrup can be really powering. Or maybe I was just greedy, but it's easy to overdose your cup of milk.




Oh, and take away is cheaper than dining in here. So grab a glass/cup and sit by the harbour for a cheaper take out.


rating: 3/5



Lindt Cafe
Cockle Bay
104-105 Cockle Bay Wharf
Darling Harbour, Sydney
Tel (02) 9267 8064

Marmalade, Bangsar Village II

After the Ribena event on Saturday, I went to Bangsar Village to pass Ron some cookies from Hong Kong and was recommended to have some light food in Marmalade.




It was a lovely little cafe restaurant, a bit run down but we decided to take a seat.

The place was rather stuffy on a hot day, it was a corner lot with lots of window, which would be a nice place to visit on a rainy day.




I like the menu list. Lots of avocado choices, there aren't many avocado dishes around, especially when avocado doesn't come cheap in this part of the world. We were tempted to order a breakfast set as it seems to be their best list but since it was alright late afternoon, we went for a an Avocado Accents instead.




First few bites were really delightful, but when the taste sunk in the tangy flavor became a bit overpowering. I like the fact that they smothered avocado paste over the other cubes of capsicums, raisins, chicken, lettuce and more avocados. But three bites later, the granny smith apple cubes just killed the taste.




They should have gone easy on the apple and lemon juice.

I couldn't remember the other dish's name but basically it was thin smoke salmon slices topped with cucumber slices, avocado cubes, lettuce, hint of pesto and a light spread of wasabi mayo on focaccia bread.




I like that they used wasabi mayo however was disappointed that the layer of wasabi mayo was too thin, whereas the pesto almost non-existent.

Not a place I would go back again. Unless of course, if I ever do end up in that area in the morning to try out the breakfast menu.



Rating; 3/5


Other review:
A Whiff of Lemon Grass


Marmalade
1F-18, First Floor, Bangsar Village II,
No.1, Jalan Telawi Dua, Bangsar Baru,
59100 KL.

Tel: 03-2282 8301

Best Ice Chocolate in Australia: Kokoblack

Ice chocolate is among my favourite drinks of all time. In fact, it is my favourite drink any time any where.

I can easily name you some of cafes/restaurants that serve my favourite ice chocolate drinks: Starbucks, J Co Donuts, Delicious, Dome, Sha la la Coffee (at the seremban rest-stop next to the highway), ice milo in mamak stalls, Kim Gary's ice milo, and the list goes on.

But there is one particular cafe that serves the best, tops the list of my selection now. And I found it in Melbourne Australia.

Which is why... Kokoblack is my most beloved find in Australia thus far.




Yet another chocolate cafe in Australia (dang those OZs do love their chocolates), Kokoblack serves some wicked chocolate drinks and desserts. Including their retail chocolates on shelves.




It's a brand of its own. I know it sounds like Cocolat in Adelaide.




Personally, I thought Kokoblack was more commercialised, more professional, in a very good way, as compared to the more personalised Cocolat.

Chocolate drinks in Melbourne ranged from AUD5 - AUD7. Which was very reasonable considering we spend equally that amount of money for a cuppa of ice blended in Starbucks anyway.


Focus on the second list.


Yes, hot cocoa was nice in the shop,




and a tempting choice of selection in the dead of winter, but what I really want you to try is the Ice chocolate.




Which was like the most amazing thing you will ever taste, chocolate lover or not.

Rich, thick, big, cold, smooth. Say OMG with me.




It helps that it was gargantuan and by finishing the whole glass equals to eating a serving of fish and chips in Australia.

God no wonder I gained weight down under. wtf.


However, we did try several other desserts too, which were very, extremely delightful.


Ice cream, yes very delightful. Can't remember what flavour.


Especially the chocolate mousse that completely blew my mind away.




Rating: 3.5/5 (could have been four but they didn't let me take photo of the shop inside, which was a turn off :( )



Kokoblack
167, Lygon Street,
Carlton, Victoria,
Australia 3053
(Melway Ref, 2B:F9)

Phone: (03) 93492775 or +613 93492775

Open Hours: (Additional Menu after 6pm)
Mon-Thurs: 12pm - 11pm
Friday: 12pm - 12am
Saturday: 11am - 12am
Sunday: 11am - 11pm

Max Brenner, Australia

I remember the first time I stepped into Max Brenner, it was in Singapore with my ex years ago.


Max Brenner in Melbourne Central


I was overwhelmed by the fact there's actually a cafe that sold and served nothing but chocolates and chocolate related desserts and drinks. Everything about the outlet was chocolate-y,







I was awe strucked by the list of items they have in the menu and took almost forever to decide what drink I wanted to have.


Some chocolate shake


Last year I visited my fair share of Max Brenner in Australia and has tried a considerable selection of items off their menu.


No, I didn't have this. But was tempted to!


Strangely I found my first experience years ago was much better in terms of food quality and selection.

Memory failing me these days, was this what they called the First Love Perfection?


Two of their signature drinks were the Hugmug and Suckao (a type of drink where you can adjust how chocolate rich the drink is by stirring chocolate buttons into hot milk).




The Hugmug is a specially created mug where you hug your hot drink in both hands warming them in cold winter. It's a very cozy drink to have with your love ones.




My recommendation would be the Chocolate with Crunchy Waffle Balls, prized at AUD5.50. Milk chocolate as the favorable choice.

Awesomely nice.


Of course if you do not like chocolate, you can always opt for tea.




But hey, why go to a chocolate cafe then?



Max Brenner
Melbourne - Melbourne Central
Shop OE5, Menzies Alley, Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, 300 La
Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.

Phone Number: +61 3 9662 4442

Opening Hours:
* Mon - Thurs - 8:00am - 10:00pm
* Fri - 8:00am - 12 Midnight
* Sat -10:00am - 12 Midnight
* Sun- 10:00am - 10:00pm

Best Hot Cocoa in Australia @ Brunetti

Brunetti in Melbourne, Australia serves the best Italian Hot Cocoa.




Located in City Square, I stumbled upon this cafe by chance during one rainy weather and needed a hide out till the sun comes out.




Perhaps fated, I fell instantly in love with this wondrous rich concoction that blew my mind away.

Never had I have such intense hot cocoa, ever!




The texture butts in somewhere between hot chocolate mousse/cream and full cream milk.

It was AMAZING. One glass enough to last through a rainy afternoon.





Brunetti City Square

214 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia

Phone: (03) 9663 8085 or +613 9663 8085
Fax: (03) 9662 3360


Hours of Operation (Cafe):

Monday – Thursday (7am – 7pm)
Friday (7am – 12am)
Saturday (8am – 12am)
Sunday (8am – 7pm)

Fish and Chip at Beachcomber, Melbourne

Down at St Kilda beach in Melbourne, lies a pretty little shack (or restaurant cum pub looking expensive little joint) by the beach, where they serve pretty neat Fish and Chips.




Catch of the day is a must eat at Beachcomber, it's always the best. At RM26, it's rather pricey but it's up to you to justify if the food is worth the price. I thought it was pretty good, but maybe a tad bit over-priced.




Henry and I ordered fresh oysters for starter.




Catch of the day comes with a free champagne.




With cute strawberry on top. It wasn't bad. However, having sweet tooth, I ordered a Botrytis Semillon to go with the wait.




One word: lovely.
Remember, it's Sevenhill Botrytis Semillon. Yummy.

Finally, our catch of the day arrived.




It was much smaller than I had anticipated, seeing that it was served in Australia and technically everything served here was big.

I have to note, however, despite all and all, the flesh of the fish, was divine!




It was succulent, soft, juicy and simply delicious!





Rating: 3.5/5


Beachcomber Cafe
10-18 Jacka Boulevard
St Kilda 3182