3 Must-Visit Melbourne Cafes Within Half A Day: Lune Croissanterie, Hammer & Tong, and Top Paddock

Having a quick stopover at Melbourne, but afraid that you have not enough time to enjoy their famous brunch spots? Don’t worry as this Bunny has got a game plan for you busy travellers!

This guide will take you to the crux of the cafe hopping scene in half a day, so you aren’t missing out on anything. Good thing is that they aren’t too far away from each other.

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HALF-DAY MELBOURNE CAFE GUIDE

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#1 LUNE CROISSANTERIE 

Set your alarm clocks on to 7.30am because you have to get out of bed for this one. Trust me on this one, because it’s going to be all worth it. The lines just speak for themselves. I was here at 8.30am and at least 30 people were already in the queue.

Looks like Singaporeans are not the only “kiasu” ones.

Why are their croissants famous?

Well for one, they have been dubbed by the New York Times as “possibly the world’s best croissant” and the founder had apprenticed at the renowed Paris boulangerie Du Pain et des Idees.

And as the menu suggests, they offer a wide range of croissants from the Traditional [$5.50] to novel ones like Coconut Pandan [$9.50] and Carrot Cake [$12.50].

All baked fresh within an immaculately sterile glasshouse, I managed to snag the Twice-baked Almond [$8.50] and Traditional Croissant [$5.50] in 30 minutes.

Taste: 4.5/5

The texture was everything that I expected; feathery, honeycomb thin layers which flaked on every bite. For the Twice-baked Almond ones (pictured below), you’d find a pleasant surprise inside too, as the interior was filled with an ooey gooey syrup, making it even more irresistible.

This is by far, the best croissant I’ve had to date!

The bad part about the cafe is the limited number of seats that were tiny and claustrophobic. It wasn’t the best place to chill – unless you’re here alone. It was on first come first serve with no table service.

I had no time to waste and headed down to my next stop nearby after savouring my croissant. I kept the other one for a mid-day snack, as the best must be saved for the last.

Lune Croissanterie
+61 3 9419 2320
119 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Opening Hours:
7am – 3pm (Mon)
7.30am-3pm (Thurs, Fri)
8am – 3pm (Sat, Sun)

 lunecroissanterie.com

Stop #2 HAMMER & TONG

Take a 5-minute stroll from Lune Croissanterie and you’d find yourself at your next destination – Hammer & Tong. It is located along the main street of the unpretentiously hipster suburb of Fitzroy.

While its popularity may not match up to the previous cafe, I had been admiring their eclectic modern Australian brunch spread on Instagram for awhile. I wanted to to order everything on it!

I managed to boil down to one dish that is stunning in every way.

Coconut yogurt with strawberry, jasmine and lemon balm [$16]. 

Taste: 4/5

 

Hammer & Tong
412 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
+61 3 9041 6033
Opening Hours:
7am – 4pm (Sun, Mon)
7am – 10pm (Tues to Sat)

Stop #3 TOP PADDOCK

• 10-minute drive from Melbourne CBD. Parking can cost up to AUD10 per hour. I parked for 2 hours.

If you have not heard of Top Paddock, you’re missing out on the what could be the world’s most popular hotcakes.

Many cafes overseas, including Singapore have duped it, but I wasn’t impressed with them. Those I had here were cakey, cloying and very much like a dessert instead of a wholesome breakfast.

I hoped that the real ones weren’t like that.

To demystify this, I insisted on visiting Top Paddock no matter how packed my schedule in Melbourne is. Lucky for me too, the cafe is a short 10 to 15 minutes drive from the CBD.

Coffee aroma was already in the air, as I approached the vicinity. I loved how diners seated by the windows could pop their heads out to take a breath of fresh air.

Once I was in, I felt like I have entered the busiest cafe in the entire history of my cafe hopping experience.

Brisbane’s cafes were usually small, serene and cosy. But this was the total opposite: loud chatters, a long queue for takeaway coffee, shrill clings of cutleries and waiters manoeuvring around with a tough balancing act on their arms.

Welcome to Melbourne.

We were led to the extended alfresco area and had my order of a Mocha Latte. It was a decent cuppa with a distinct shot of espresso and cocoa.

For the savouries, we had a Hanger steak sandwich [$21.50] with red onion jam, wasabi butter, horseradish, tempura beetroot leaves in a brioche roll to share.

Taste: 4.5/5

One of the better steak sandwich I’ve had! Beef was tender and not chewy at all.

In particular, I was amazed by the chef’s attempt to blend the East and West. The wasabi butter definitely helped to add a kick to the protein, and the beetroot leaves were deepfried to perfection with a crisp edge.

I had never imagine them to be treated in this way, as tempura vegetables to Asians are usually long beans, okra or squash.

Another dish I couldn’t resist not getting was the Fresh Queensland soft-shell mud crab [$24] with fennel, dill salad & lime mayonnaise in a brioche bun.

Taste: 3.5/5 

While the Soft Shell Crab burger looked so enticing, I was left utterly disappointed! The crab was unpalatable with the heavy hand on the salt. The lime and dill mayo didn’t add much value to it.

Felt like there could be a better condiments to match the perfectly fried and plump crab that was oh juicy. Sorry Queensland fishermen, the chefs didn’t do justice to your crab. I would totally toss it into my Thai Curry!

Blueberry and Ricotta Hotcakes [$21] with maple syrup, seeds & cream.

Taste: 5/5

This, thankfully did not go wrong.

It wowed me not just in its aesthetics, but also its texture! Nestled inside the batter were small chunks of ricotta, as well as blueberries that were oozing out their juices.

You can be assured that it is not cakey, and the occasional sweetness from the maple syrup was not overpowering. Still, it was a tad too large for one to finish. I would recommend sharing this between 2-3 people. I enjoyed crunching on all the nut toppings and made me feel lots healthier.

While it was about an inch thick, the hot cake was incredibly fluffy, light – and nothing like dupes that I’ve tried. The original one is indeed the best. However, I would like the Marscapone cream to be replaced with an ice cream scoop like Bailey’s onto the warm hotcake for a temperature contrast!

The rest of my day was spent dog-watching, and wishing that I could have this alluring piece of Matcha, Black Sesame & Mandarin Slice [$6]. Perhaps next time!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Hangar Steak Sandwich, Blueberry & Ricotta Hotcake

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RATING

Overall Taste:  4/5 Mostly hits! The Ricotta Hotcakes matched up to our expectations and Hangar Steak Sandwich was executed really well. Such a pity about the Soft Shell Crab Burger, but I hope they would tweak its salt content soon.

Ambience: 4/5 The cafe was unexpectedly huge with a modern and relaxing decor! Plants surround the cafe, and flowers are spotted at each corner. I was a bit worried that we wouldn’t have a seat at 1pm, but it was unfounded for. It could easily fit at least a hundred people. There is an indoor and alfresco area, which was so lovely. Dog owners even brought their pets here while they have their lunch!

Service: 5/5 Staff were genuine and unpretentious. I was impressed by how well they are trained – despite being such a busy cafe! Sometimes staff from highly reputable cafes can get aloof, but this one is as good as it gets. They memorised my orders and was alert in refilling our water.

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Top Paddock
658 Church St, Richmond
VIC 3121, Australia
03 9429 4332
Opening Hours:
7am – 4pm (Mon to Fri)
8am – 4pm (Sat, Sun)
Website
info@thetoppaddock.com

Bookings for groups of 4 or more Monday to Friday. No bookings on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

 

Directions: 

• 10-minute drive from Melbourne CBD. Parking can cost up to AUD10 per hour. I parked for 2 hours.

Hopping out…

ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
STAY CONNECTED WITH MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

Hong Kong Food Review: Social Place 唐宮小聚 – Fusion Dimsum that Actually Looks AND Tastes Good!

Everyone knows that any trip to Hong Kong is incomplete without having dim sum.

As a seasoned traveller to Hong Kong, I personally feel that the variety of dim sum here are quite similar across eateries and their quality varies. If it’s your first time having dim sum in Hong Kong, do not expect the random eatery to be mind blowing!

The offerings here differ from Singapore. For example, Hong Kong occasionally has Salted Egg Yolk Buns on the menu, but rather Custard Buns 奶黄包 that unfortunately do not ooze for that Instagrammable #foodporn photo. While this is so, Hong Kong has other delectable dim sum that Singapore does not have – which is exactly what got me excited.

You may be familiar with staples like Har Gow (shrimp dumpling), Siu Mai (pork dumpling), Char Siew Pork buns and so on, but have you tried buns shaped in a rose, mandarin orange, or even a pig?  If you are raising your eyebrows right now, you’d be in for a treat at Social Place, a fusion dim sum restaurant situated in Sheung Wan, one of the busiest districts in Hong Kong.

Reservations were made for four at 12pm, but it was already half-filled when we arrived!

It is apparent that diners not only come for their food, but also their fantastic ambience; the attention paid to its Parisian and Oriental decor is remarkable.

The eclectic mix is portrayed from the shelves and kitchen with Chinese herbs and condiments lined up neatly, whereas western element shone through once you see the open-air concept kitchen. I was able to catch the chefs in action, preparing ingredients and blasting their hot woks skillfully.

Unlike other yum cha restaurants, their menu is not limited to just dim sum; a wide selection of appetisers, soups, vegetables, rice & noodle dishes and desserts are available and it was quite hard to decide because I wanted everything!

*Full menu was nowhere to be found online (boo), but you can preview some of their dishes here.

I ended up ordering dishes that I saw on Instagram and had no regrets.

I squealed with delight when the food came! I MEAN, HOW CUTE ARE THEY?! Full marks for presentation, hands down.

It was a difficult choice, but the first to tackle was the Grapefruit-shaped Har Gow x3  [HKD49, SGD8.60] because it seemed like the least “cruel” thing to do out of all the dim sum that we ordered.

Taste: 4/5

I appreciate the chefs’ effort gone into making these grapefruits – the little doumiao inserted into each har gow must have been tough!

I had no expectation for them, but was pleasantly surprised when they were actually palatable. They had a distinct grapefruit aroma and flavour infused into the skin.

I’m usually put off by har gows that have a thick and doughy skin. Thankfully, this was the exact opposite. Prawn was also quite fresh, but on the limp side.

It can be juicier.

The next one in line to enter the slaughterhouse were the Pig-shaped Taro Buns [HKD29, SGD5]. 

Taste: 4.5/5

Again, I had absolutely no expectations for them – as long as they are photogenic.

I was so impressed, as I broke one into half. Look at those fillings!

The pigs were stuffed with taro to the brim and brought me to taro heaven. For those watching their sugar intake, these buns would be great because they are not overly sweet, and fluffy too.

The most adorable and tastiest taro bun I’ve had. Taro lovers, you HAVE to order this.

While their Steamed Rose Floret bun [HKD29, SGD5.05] was another popular dish displayed repeatedly on Instagram, it was a severe letdown.

Taste: 2.5/5

The red bean merely occupied the middle portion of the bun – exactly where you see it in the picture, and the flour was too dry. It was drier than the taro bun!

I like the conception of having red beans with the dried rose petals, but techniques gone into making this dish should be improved.

The final picture-worthy dim sum dish was the Truffle Shiitake Buns [HKD49, SGD8.55]! 

They come in a cute set of three, and my company was so hungry that she stole one first. Sniffs.

But they really looks like mushrooms, don’t they?

Taste: 5/5

Despite looking like the real thing with its spotty mushroom cap and a stalk (yes they made a stalk), the shroom buns were unbelievably soft and fluffy.

My mouth was also injected with crunchy mushroom bits, which burst with that irresistible flavour of truffle that everyone adores. It was not overpowering but sufficient to make us go “ahhhh”.

This became a massive hit and we finished it instantly. I was yearning for more after!

Apart from dim sum, we had their recommended Roast Pigeon.

And for those who are afraid of getting your hands dirty, the staff has prepared plastic glove to make sure that we consume the pigeon spanking clean!

Taste: 5/5

If you haven’t had Roast Pigeon, you need to try it.

Their meat is usually a lot tender than their bigger counterparts like chicken and duck. I personally used to eat it as a kid during my trips to Hong Kong. Things changed, however, when I went to Australia, where pigeons are seen walking around at beaches – instead of serving at restaurant, oops.

However, Social Place rekindled my love for it because the dish blew my tastebuds away.

The meat was so juicy and tender, and skin was ultra thin and crispy. It was not overly salty or loaded with MSG.

This dish ticked all the right boxes on how a Roast Pigeon should taste. We were all very satisfied.

We also wanted to have some greens to go along with our dim sum, so we had Smoked duck veg rolls [HKD48, SGD8.40], which boasts the vibrant colours that nature has to offer.

Taste: 4/5

First thing that struck us was how the spring rolls were served cold, instead of warm that we are used to. While this is so, they were a refreshing change from the deep fried ones that usual eateries would offer and not taxing on our bodies.

It’s healthy like the Vietnamese ones!

Moreover, the cabbage used to wrap the ingredients was not too tough and the vegetables encased in it (carrots, zucchini etcetera) were crisp. The “smoked duck”, however, was not what I imagined it to be because it seemed like a piece of ham that was overly salty.

Whenever I visit a Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong, one dish I absolutely cannot leave without is Hong Kong Kai Lan or Chinese Broccoli because they are usually fresher than Singapore’s – especially during the winter season when it is in season!

Most restaurants here stir-fry it with garlic or oyster sauce, but Social Place stands out by having the Dragon Beard Kale cooked with bisque/ginger [HKD79, SGD13.70].

Taste: 5/5

My company chose the ginger version and it was one of the best Kai Lan dishes I’ve had to date!

The Kai Lan sourced was extremely crunchy due to the “young parts” provided; it did not have stringy or tough stems that I detest. I was also able to taste traces of wine added and the extra ginger shreds provided the dish a fun kick.

I’ve had over 30 Kai Lan dishes in my life (I love veggies too much) and this turns out to be my top 3. Simply wholesome and wonderful.

Finally, my company who is obsessed with Rice Rolls savoured their Wok Fried Shrimp & Rice Rolls [HKD69, SGD12] and tucked into them before I could take a proper shot, unfortunately.

Taste: 4/5

I’m not too keen on rice rolls, but this had an interesting twist to those steamed ones you’d normally have in Singapore.

These had a wok hei flavour – fried with sticky sauce, and then topped with chives and white sesame seeds. Quite tasty I would say. As much as I would like to rate it higher, I have to admit that the dish was on the saltier side.

While we were leaving, the elevator corridor was packed like sardines as working adults were. I’d advise everyone to book ahead or come before 12.30pm to avoid the lunch crowd!

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BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

YES, I WOULD HOP BACK FOR LUNCH AGAIN!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Truffle Shiitake Buns, Pig-shaped Taro Buns, Dragon Beard Kale, Roast Goose

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RATING

Overall Taste:  4.5/5  Prices may be on the higher side in comparison to other dimsum eateries, but you get what you pay for. I could tell that the ingredients used are of high quality, freshly sourced . Presentation of the food is also stellar! I will be back for more.

Ambience: 5/5We felt like we were having our meal in fine dining restaurant. The food was greatly enhanced by the chic Tiffany blue and silver theme chosen, which reminds me of Tung Lok in Singapore, but even better.

Service: 3/5 Mediocre. It took long to be served whenever we needed to pass them our orders and tea refills. I think they are understaffed during peak hours. This is how Hong Kong functions, nevertheless.

 

Social Place 唐宮小聚

Address: 2/F, The L. Place
139 Queen’s Road Central, Central 
中環皇后大道中139號 The L. Place 2樓
Phone: +852 3568 9666 (Reservations recommended)

Opening Hours:

11:30am -3pm (dim sum)
6pm – 10pm (Last Order 9.30pm) 

Directions: 4-minute walk from Exit E1/2 of Sheung Wan station where you would turn right when you see Gilman’s Bazaar Road. Continue walking until you see the building below and take the lift up to Level 2.

Hopping out…

ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
STAY CONNECTED WITH MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

Asanoya Bakery @ 15 Queen Street Review: Best Matcha Breads & Most Innovative Salted Egg Croissant to Date!

THE #CROISSANT WAR CONTINUES.

With more bakeries like BreadTalk, Antoinette and Da Paolo pulling up their socks to stay relevant in the Salted Egg Croissant food fad by launching their own variations and other interesting ones like Matcha, Chili Crab, Charcoal Kaya  Croissants and counting, we foodies are in for a treat!

The question now is… Are you on TEAM MATCHA OR TEAM SALTED EGG?

If you asked me, I would reply:

I’M ON THE FENCE BECAUSE I LOVE BOTH

Amongst all the flavours, I’m most inclined towards Asanoya’s MATCHA SALTED EGG CROISSANT, which had raided Instagram for a few months now. I was a bit unsure at first – especially when they don’t seem to be the best flavour combination. However, I am pretty surprised by the rather favourable reviews so I have been DYING to try it. I’ve already had THE ORIGINAL  Salted Egg Croissant from Urban Bakery, Hong Kong last year  – so  breads filled with Salted Egg are a passé for me now. I guess they are not so hipster anymore, sorry!

For those who are not familiar of Asanoya, let me give you some background. It is an 83-year-old bakery that originally catered to foreign embassies and diplomats of various countries. It then became so popular that the aristocrats would frequent the store.

Asanoya is  also the first bakery in Japan to install a Spanish-made stone oven, and to cope with the rising demand for European hard breads, the chefs have successfully mastered the skills and meshed Japanese and Western breads to create novel flavours that no one would dare to dream of and Matcha Salted Egg Croissant would be an exemplification of that.

For Singapore’s clientele, Asanoya has been consistently wonderful on review websites, and  all my attempts to visit have failed on the weekends because few of my friends either dislikes matcha or croissant (how can such people exist?!) and Asanoya is so out of the way.

Thankfully, I have a friend who likes Matcha (but not Salted Egg), but she is adventurous enough to tag along on a weekday afternoon, which I reckon would not be so crowded.

The exterior of Asanoya is quite plain and any passers-by would assume that it is just an office space!

Unlike the usual purchasing procedure of bakeries in Singapore, you have to order the breads and beverages from the staff over the counter at Asanoya, and they will pass them to you on a tray. Water and serviettes are self-service, where they are located on two counters at the middle of the bakery.

Not only does Asanoya offer pastries and bread, but also takeaway lunch pack, Swiss rolls and cakes – but you’d be dumb to fill yourself up on those though!

We transformed into kids when we were peering at the bread display… All of them looked so enticing! They were oven-baked till golden brown, and the smell of bread = HEAVEN.

I called up an hour before arriving to check if there were any Matcha Salted Egg Croissants left (because they had limited stocks daily), and they said they had four. We were quite surprised because it was only 2.30pm and most of them were sold out!

However, when I was there, it seemed like they have restocked them.

Yay to freshly baked bread!

I was quite tempted to get their Matcha Cube after spotting it on Instagram. I showed it to my friend before we arrived, but she didn’t seem interested.

However, when we realised that it was the last piece left in the bakery, my friend said, “let’s get it” without revealing any signs of hesitation. We also grabbed two more breads each for our family members, since they looked so good, and we weren’t sure when we would ever return!

A wide selection of drinks and sandwiches can also be found at Asanoya. I’m quite surprised with the beer section. Beer and bread do not seem like a good pair at all!

Time for the long-waited Taste Test!

First, we had the Matcha Salted Egg Croissant [$4.80].

Taste: 4/5

When the croissant was sliced open, the Matcha Salted Egg filling did not flow out really fast like what we expected it to. Not sure if the bread was not warm enough to melt the fillings – even though the lady had already heated it up for us.

Besides that, the filling had a thick and grainy consistency, which indicated how it is truly made from  LEGIT Salted Egg. On first bite, all we could taste was the Salted Egg, and we were wondering where the Matcha went to! Thankfully, it became more obvious as we continued eating, and Matcha and Salted Egg Yolk strangely complement each other really well! Asanoya has definitely managed to achieve a perfect balance between the saltiness from the Salted egg, and mild bitterness from the Matcha.

I was also pleased about the generous amount of fillings that we were able to dip the ends of the croissant with. I’ve read that Antoinette is stingy with theirs.

Just one downside would the croissant.

As you can see from the picture above, the quality of the croissant is not very good. It is more towards the doughy side – neither crispy nor flaky. A tad disappointing for me, as I have had better croissants elsewhere at Lola’s Cafe and Rise & Grind Co. (upcoming).

The pastry that we had high hopes on – Matcha Cube [$4.50] was filled with rich white chocolate & green tea cream. They currently sell this in Salted Egg, which is also really popular as well.

Taste: 3/5

While it is extremely “hot” under the #sgfoodporn department, looks can be deceptive.

Pictures on Instagram made it look as if the white chocolate filling was oozing out by itself, but it did not happen in real life! We were actually struggling to let it flow out while prying the cube open. #KenaCheated

And when I asked my friend who tried it first whether she could taste the White Chocolate, she replied, “no, it tastes more like custard”.

True to her words, I could barely taste any chocolate in there! The edges of the cube were not crispy as well; we expected it to possess a crust akin to a Shibuya toast.

Overall, everything about the cube was bad, except for the rather obvious hint of matcha flavour.

Since I hardly come to Asanoya, I decided to takeaway two more breads for my mother and grandma, and one of them is their Danish Coffee [$3.20] – just because my mother is a die-hard coffeeholic.

Taste: 4/5 

I was happy to say that it is very flaky, crispy and the coffee taste is strong! I also daresay that the pastry is even better than their Matcha Salted Egg Croissant *gasps*.

Pardon my shaky  photography, but this was eaten in the car while my mum was hungry on the expressway. I just wanted to illustrate how the interior layers had a thick notable spread of coffee fillings, which contributed to its pronounced flavour.

My mum was a bit taken aback by the icing on top though, which can be daunting for those who do not have a  sweet-tooth.

One more word of caution: do order a drink to accompany this, as I got choked by the dry and flaky bits of the danish that peeled off.

Not a good feeling against the throat.

For girly girls like me, I’m sure you won’t be able to look past their Bonjour Sakura [$2.80] – simply because IT’S PINK!!! I’ve never had pink bread in my life!

Taste: 2/5 

It was described as a fluffy sour cream-sakura dough filled with Hokkaido red bean paste and bits of Sakura leaves. It sounds like the chefs have generated a more atas or higher-class version of an Anpan.

When  I tore it into half, there was large piece of Sakura leaf embedded within, which I’m not sure that it was meant to be eaten – but I did. It reminded me of the Pandan leaf from Ang Ku Kueh, which has a bitter aftertaste; it was bearable when ingested together with the sweet red bean paste.

While the amount of fillings were just nice, the sweetness of the smooth red bean paste further became extremely prominent once the Sakura leaf was gone; I’ve never tasted such red bean fillings before and suspect that they have added too much sugar. I felt like I would get diabetes from the paste alone – that’s how sweet it was!

I also wished that the red bean paste contained whole red Azuki beans, which would add more texture to the bread. I was extremely disappointed with this one.

Another bread that looked super delicious is their Karuizawa Green Tea Loaf. We sampled it (last piece left) and it had a heavy taste of Matcha.

My friend was amazed and even goes on to say how other bakeries would sell green-coloured bread, but taste nothing like Matcha. For me, I don’t usually buy Matcha-flavoured bread, but this was not only good, but AWESOME. I can imagine smearing some Black sesame spread, or pair it with Chrysanthemum or Yuzu tea. Yummy!

I can foresee coming to Asanoya for more Matcha-flavoured breads and Matcha Salted Egg Croissants!

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BUNNY’S VERDICT:

YES I’LL COME BACK BECAUSE I AM #TEAM MATCHA & #TEAMASANOYA!

HOW ABOUT YOU? WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

#TEAMMATCHA OR #TEAMSALTED EGG? 

Which bakery do you think has the best version of the Salted Egg Croissant?

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Anything with Matcha, Coffee Danish

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RATING

Overall Taste:  3.2/5  A couple of hit and misses, but we were definitely impressed by the matcha-flavoured bread and Asanoya’s attempt to fuse Japanese Matcha with the local food fad.

If you are on #TEAMMATCHA, you would definitely appreciate this place a lot! However, for French pastries like the croissant, it was too chewy and was not the best I’ve had. The bakery can make more improvements in perfecting their croissants and fillings for their Matcha Cube and Bonjour Sakura.

#TEAMSALTEDEGG, don’t worry as will not be left out with their Salted Egg Cube and Salted Egg Croissant! The latter is also the cheapest amongst the other competing bakeries; it is going for $6.50++ (dine in)/$6.50+ (takeaway) at Antoinette and $7.50 at Flavour Flings.

There is no GST or Service Charge for this cafe, which is a plus against other bakeries and cafes.

Ambience: 3.5/5 Very minimalistic and sanitised; not the best for food photography. I felt like I was in the bread factory, and everyone had to be screened before entering. Space was huge and plenty of tables for large groups of people. It is best to visit during weekdays during their non-peak hours to grab those popular breads.

Service: 3/5 I was glad that they were lenient enough to reserve the Matcha Salted Egg Croissant prior to my visit even though one of the staff said they were not allowed to.  You can try your luck!

I didn’t really like the system of not being able to take the bread ourselves like a normal bakery would do as the staff was not very attentive at times; some were chatting amongst themselves even though we were ready to order. Although the level of cleanliness is quite high, some tables had cup and water traces left by previous customers that we had to wipe ourselves.

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Asanoya Bakery
Address: 15 Queen Street #01-03
Singapore 188537
Phone:6703 8703
Opening Hours:
9am – 8pm Daily
www.asanoya.asia/

Directions: 

• Alight at Bras Basah (Circle Line) or Bugis (DT, EW Line) station. It will be a 5-minute walk from the former (250 steps), and 10-minute for the latter.

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
STAY CONNECTED WITH MY MUNCHING JOURNEY ON INSTAGRAM ❤

 

Hong Kong Food Review: Peninsula Hotel Afternoon Tea – A Must In Hong Kong

My mum and I are quite the #foodie when overseas, and do not mind splurging a bit on something fancy for a memorable and relaxing getaway. One of them is having afternoon teas together .

Two years ago, we had our first one at Le Salon De Thé de Joël Robuchon located at the Elements mall in Tsim Sha Tsui; it was such a flop and my mum told that she’d bring me to Peninsula’s “one day”. I was sceptical about it because she usually does not keep her word (shh!)… But after two years, that day came! It was essentially a spontaneous decision made the previous night.

While most high teas require reservations in Hong Kong, Peninsula is an exception. It is strictly on a first come first serve basis, which is definitely advantageous to those who want to make an impromptu trip down here – meaning us! It was my first time here, and second for my mum, and the white-washed facade of the hotel already spells “stunning”. It immediately reminded me of the architecture of buidlings the along Upper East Side in Manhattan, New York.

Stepping into the Lobby, the cafe serving the afternoon tea, is like entering a palace – soaring gilded columns with chandeliers suspending from the ceiling. Filled with soft chatters and clinging of teacups, your actions would also gradually be attuned to its “high-class” atmosphere.

When we navigated to the cafe by 1pm, we immediately noticed a line of people lined along the shopping arcade – despite tea starting at 2pm. The warnings stated on reviews were indeed true; you’d risk waiting for a really long time if you reach at 2pm or later! The queue was about 20m long then.

We were finally seated at 2.15pm and the menu was promptly given to us.

If you are not a fan of afternoon tea, an à la carte menu showcasing authentic Continental and Southeast Asian delights is served throughout the day.

Each of us had a choice of tea or coffee. Impressed by the interesting range of teas, I opted for the Rooibos Tangerine. I’ve had Rooibos, but not with Tangerine!

When it was served, I was smitten with the shiny Sheffield silverware gleaming under the sunlight. The tea also came with an extra pot of hot water for me to top up with.

How thoughtful is that?

The treats came 15 minutes later, and undoubtedly, we were spoilt for choice! The first tier contained the sweet, second – savoury, and baked goods for the third.

After much deliberation, I had the Truffle Wild Mushroom Tartlet first.

Taste: 4.5/5 

The tartlet shell was buttery and split apart beautifully with a slice of my knife. The rich flavour of finely-chopped wild mushrooms were attached with a subtle hint of truffle aroma, which was just right.

Their Cucumber Sandwich was also a winner.

Taste: 4/5

Since I was curious how the sandwich was assembled, I opened it up – revealing thin slices of cucumbers against the dill and cream cheese spread. Very intricately put together.

Another favourite of mine is their Smoked Salmon Sandwich. Why? It was on rye, which gives that earthy and rustic flavour!

Tuna Pepper Bao was a cute fluffy bun with a piece of lettuce sandwiched in between. I like how the tuna has a strong peppery flavour! Loved the heat.

From the second tier, we then moved onto the third.

I’ve had this pastry before when I was young, but I wasn’t a big fan of the bitterness caramel-y taste of the exterior.

Taste: 3/5

I usually stay away from ordering scones, due to several disappointments from TWG and Coffee Club in Singapore. They were either too dry or undercooked, which cause me to dislike scones. I wasn’t sure if they were supposed to taste that way.

However, the scones from The Lobby blew me away. They took the cake for being the BEST I’ve had! I don’t know what magic they did, but these from the Lobby were irresistible. I even squealed on my first bite, and almost shed a tear. Not kidding! Had a major #FoodieMoment.

The next picture would explain why.

The pastry was smooth and crispy on the outside, but soft, buttery and fluffy on the inside. Both of us let out an “ahhh” once it was popped into our mouths. Dipped it with their strawberry and clotted cream, and we were transported to heaven.

I now know how scones SHOULD taste like!

However, as we approached the last tier, it started to pale in comparison to the ones before.

Their Macaron seemed to be an attempt to emulate Pierre Hermes – dual coloured and flavoured. The green shell tasted like pistachio, while the orange was orange. The filling was chocolate, which was a tad mismatched with the tang of both shells. There was just too much going on.

Taste: 3.5/5 

The Daisy pastry (not sure what’s its exact name) was too pretty to be eaten! Sweet custard flowed out after one bite. However, since I am not a big fan of cream, it had the least impact on me.

Taste: 3/5 

Sadly, the meal had to come to an end to accommodate our shopping thereafter. Walking around the hotel was a pleasure itself.

#ButFirstLemmeTakeASelfie

BUNNY’S VERDICT: 

YES, I WOULD HOP BACK FOR THEIR TEA SET AGAIN!

The queues may look daunting on weekends, but as long as you come before 1pm – you are generally safe. Their scones are TO DIE FOR! I would definitely recommend anyone travelling Hong Kong to come here at least once in your life for both their food and opulent ambience.

Although it is priced at HKD628, SGD115 for two pax, the food served are at high quality standards. How often do you encounter an afternoon tea serving food, where 90% of them are actually delectable? They also accounted half of our meals for the day. We had a light breakfast and dinner after.

I’m pretty sure that none of the Singapore high teas can match up to Peninsula’s.  And lucky for me, I’ve met someone quite well-known in the entertainment industry whom I’ve always admired! She was seated just next to us.

Who knows, there may be a high chance of you bumping into a celebrity at the Peninsula!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Scones, Smoked Salmon Sandwich and Tuna Pao are her top three picks!

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RATING

Overall Taste:  4.5/5

Ambience: 5/5 A place where Queen Elizabeth would sip her tea. Generally, if you want to feel like a royalty for an afternoon, do choose to come here! The Lobby Strings also play live throughout the day if you are into classical music.

Service: 4/5 Eye for detail and eager to refill our drinks. Plates were also changed halfway through our meal. Wait for the tea set was rather long though.

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The Lobby

Address: Peninsula Hotel
Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
+852 2696 6772

Opening Hours: 7:00 am – 12:00 am (Sunday to Thursday)
7:00 am – 1:00 am (Fridays and Saturdays)

• Meal Service Timings: Breakfast
  7:00 am – 11:00 am
  Lunch
  11:30 am – 2:30 pm
  Tea
  2:00 pm – 6:00 pm (First-come, first-served basis)
  Dinner
  6:30 pm – 10:30 pm (Sundays to Thursdays)
  6:30 pm – 11:30 pm (Fridays and Saturdays)
  Drinks
  11:00 pm – 12:00 am (Sundays to Thursdays)
  11:00 pm – 1:00 am (Fridays and Saturdays)
  Weekend Brunch
  9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Saturdays and Sundays)

• Dress code: Smart Casual 
  No flip-flops, beach sandals and plastic footwear. Additionally for gentlemen, no sleeveless shirts and after 7:00 pm full-length trousers only.

Directions: The Peninsula Hotel is a short 5-minute walk from Tsim Sha Tsui station from either Exit L3 or 4.

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

Australia: 10 Best Cafes in Brisbane & Gold Coast in 2015!

I’ve been wanting to do this post for awhile, especially since I’ve visited over forty cafes in Brisbane and Gold Coast within five months before graduating in 2015. Cafehopping only became a full-time hobby when I was left with such a short span of time in Brisbane; I thought it would be a wonderful way to explore the nooks and crannies of the deceivingly small city before leaving the place that I have lived for the past four years.

Thanks to my trusty car, I was able to travel alone to the outskirts of downtown and the process of finding the cafe further became a challenge and adventure. It also made me become even more independent, unafraid of spending quality time alone outside (I previously did not dare to eat alone in the uni canteen!), and improve on my food photography skills!

After visiting so many places, I thought that it would be productive to shortlist those that have left a deep impression on me when I’ve finally found time to pen all my experiences down in prose. I hope this guide would be useful for anyone travelling or studying in Queensland.

Additionally, I want to prove people wrong that Brisbane IS NOT AS BORING AS IT SEEMS.

Watch out Melbournians!

Brisbane’s coffee/cafe culture has started to flourish and I’m extremely proud of that! I remembered that when I first arrived Brisbane in 2011, it was a tad… dull, to be honest. I would either stay at home to cook or eat out the same places. There weren’t many cafes to hang out at besides Pancake Manor and a few other establishments.

Conversely, Brisbane has become such a dynamic and vibrant city that I do not mind residing in. And also, a cuppa of freshly brewed Chai latte every morning would be a dream come true!

So without much further ado, I bring you… Brisbane’s and GC’s Top 10 Cafes in 2015!

#1 Shouk Cafe

If I would to ever visit Brisbane again, the first cafe I would head to in a heartbeat would be Shouk!

Shouk is nestled in the depths of the Paddington – a hipster suburb full of cafes! It’s a great place to do some window shopping after your meal, especially along Latrobe Terrace, where there is an Antique Centre full of vintage goodies.

It is generally the most ideal situation to drive here, or else it’d be an arduous journey from the nearest train station, Milton; Paddington is well-known for its topsy turvy steep roller coaster hills that I, sometimes, have difficulty driving during my first few trips.

Best seats are by the back of the cafe. It has a great view of Paddington’s lush greenery. I hadn’t got the chance to sit by the window because they were always taken!

As you can see, they are outstanding for their fun Middle Eastern flavours and never fail to to pull me back several times to discover their new offerings when transitioning into the next season.

The first dish that blew me away was their Challah French Toast [$17]. It was undoubtedly the most exotic and sophisticated French Toast I’ve ever seen and tasted!

Challah is a type of Jewish bread, and they have interestingly soaked it in a spiced egg mixture to form the French toast, and topped it with candied walnuts, balsamic macerated berries and vanilla bean semifreddo, which is a sliceable semi-frozen ice cream.

This dish alone produced the first spark for my intrigue with Middle Eastern cuisine.

Little did I know, the second dish that I ordered, Honey Panna Cotta with Smashed Baklava, Spiced Syrup & Pistachio Floss [$15] was even better; it became an all-time favourite dish of mine from Shouk. What was so unique about it would be the smashed baklava coated with freshly grounded pistachios. They complemented the Jewish pastry really well due to the added crunch sprinkled on top of the finely ground ones embedded within.

I loved it so much that I had this dish all to myself during a repeated visit. #Fatdieme.

Determined to try the rest of their menu, I have visited Shouk at least five times, and tried almost every dish. The waiters have also begun to recognise me!

Their Challah French Toast was then updated with a twist; it was accompanied by Pistachio Halva, Ricotta ice cream, Turkish Apricots poached in vanilla syrup, and Almond & Pistachio Praline Crumble [$19].

Another popular dish – Belgian waffles with Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream and Chocolate Halva [$18].

If these sweet treats aren’t your jam for breakkie, Shouk’s classic Latke Stack – a permanent item on the menu – is always a crowd-pleaser! Similar to rosti, Latkes are potato pancakes that Ashkenazi Jews have prepared as part of the Hanukkah festival. It’s a dish that the boys would adore; their eggs are always perfectly poached!

Dining at Shouk has always been an educational and enjoyable affair; my knowledge of food has expanded thus far, and that is what eating is about. I am also very proud of them to be crowned as with the Best Breakfast in Brisbane for the Golden Fork Awards in 2015! Likeminded foodies like me have voted for them because they truly deserve it.

Delicious food comes at a price; everyone whom I have brought here had to Shouk-it-off after such a sinful meal. Perhaps a walk back home from the steep hills of Paddington would do?

Shouk Cafe

Address: 14 Collingwood St, Paddington QLD 4064, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3172 1655

Opening Hours: 7.30am–3pm daily

http://www.shoukcafe.com.au/

#2 Grocer and Grind

Gold Coasters, I’m so envious of you guys. This cafe is the epitome of the beach lifestyle; it’s a place where I would totally hang out at after a great tanning and surfing sesh!

Grocer and Grind provides all-day breakfast food that is hearty, wholesome and beautifully executed. Thankfully, the cafe is located only 10 minutes from Surfers Paradise – the touristy belt, which is accessible to both travellers and locals alike.

The layout of tables reminds me of Artistry Cafe in Singapore.

The baristas in action.

I’m always spoilt for choice whenever I’m here. They offer an extremely broad menu – from All-day-breakfast, salads, to savoury hot lunch sandwiches.

Breakfast for champions! Their Protein Pancakes with Coconut yogurt [$14] is a definite must-try.

I also ordered an Acai Bowl with Quinoa Cookie Crumble [$15] that was too pretty to be eaten! Fruits were so fresh that they tasted like they’ve been picked from the orchards seconds ago. This is the best acai bowl I’ve had in terms of flavour and presentation. Trust me, I’ve had quite a few and even attempted to make my own, but it wasn’t as spectacular.

Enjoying my usual cuppa Chai latte :’)

This is another occasion, where I ordered the French Tower [$17], which was again fantastic! Despite trying many variations of French toasts in Australia and Singapore, this was my first try with banana bread being adopted. I liked how it’s topped with walnuts (a compulsory addition to banana bread), coconut yogurt, goji berries and small figs.

Pictured in the background are the Lamb & Beetroot Burger [$18] and Truffle Scrambled Eggs [$17]. Besides the scrambled eggs being a bit bland, we finished our plates spanking clean! I would definitely be back to try their Veggie Stack, which has gained quite the reputation on Instagram.

Grocer and Grind

Address: 1/1 Sunshine Blvd, Gold Coast QLD 4218, Australia

Phone:+61 7 5527 6223

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6am–4pm

www.grocerandgrind.com.au

#3 John Mills Himself

If you have some time to spare in the Brisbane city during the morning or early afternoon for a cuppa, I would encourage you to visit JMH. Not only do they serve the best coffee and hot chocolate in the CBD, the process of searching the cafe is an exciting one as well.

There are two ways to access the cafe; first being from Charlotte Street (just before the Pancake Manor), and another from Elizabeth Street. The easier option would be from the former, where you have to go past an antique book store sign, and a Wildlife store.

John sure hides himself well!

 

Tada! Here he is!!! I was instantly amazed how the cafe was filled by working adults when I was here for the first time – despite its seemingly secluded location. Had a *Proud hipster moment*.

The prices for their drinks are considered really reasonable – since the cafe is situated within the CBD. Although they do coffees, I would recommend their flavoured Hot Chocolate for something novel.

Be sure to ask for the Hot Chocolate menu that lists all the different flavours that they have. They include Ginger, Rose, Lavender, Sea Salt, Chili, Rosemary, Lemongrass etcetera. Very extensive.

 

BEST PART of JMH: You get to customise your Hot chocolate with Dark Chocolate, Dairy Milk or White Chocolate.

How cool is that?!

I’ve never come across anything like this!

As I wanted to be adventurous and play it safe to avoid disappointment on my first try, I selected a floral flavour – Lavender with White Chocolate [$4].

And thank goodness… My virgin White Chocolate Experience was the best decision ever made!

There were small bits of white chocolate floating on top too!

Where I sat.

Red brick – CHECK, Marble – CHECK, Pretty and tasty drink – CHECK!
Their decor is fullproof for any Instagram newbies – I never fail to take rustic-looking shots with their wonderful ambience.

 

John Mills Himself

Address: Access via 55 Elizabeth Street, 40 Charlotte St, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia

Phone:+61 434 064 349

Cafe Opening Hours: 6.30am–3.30pm (Mon to Fri)

http://www.johnmillshimself.com.au/

#4 Sourced Grocer

Sourced Grocer has got to be those one of the cafes that Australian farmers would boast about. It literally has a grocer within the cafe, and employ the freshest local produce for their dishes – meaning pesticide-free, and perky fruits and veggies.

So health food freaks, this is the place for ya! *Guilty as charged* hehehe..

When I arrived, my eyes were directed straight towards the lovely potted plants hanging on the wall!

Perfect excuse to window shop.

 

 

 

Creativity juices flowing with crates acting as makeshift tables!

Cabbage Pancakes with Goats Cheese Dressing, Crispy Brussel Sprout Leaves and Chives [$16] looking all photogenic under the natural light.

Although the exterior seemed dry, the pancakes were incredibly moist! And sous vide eggs burst out at the light pierce of my fork.

Another stunner was The Bircher: House rolled Organic Oats, Barambah yogurt, Seasonal Fruit, Lemon Myrtle and Fresh Honeycomb [$13].

Hundred points to Gryffindor! This is the first time I’ve seen bircher muesli plated extremely well! I usually see it being poorly served as a sloppy mess, or filled in jars to conceal its unappealing appearance.

The matcha powder sprinkled on top of the yogurt added another dimension to the otherwise already sweet dish, predominantly from the natural sweeteners derived from the fresh fruits. There were also passion fruit, sultanas and seeds hidden within the creamy oats, so I was very pleasantly surprised! I did not mind a second helping of this dish.

If you are intending on coming here for a meal, I would recommend their breakfast food; lunch menu portions were rather meagre.

Sourced Grocer

Address: 11 Florence Street, Newstead QLD 4006, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3852 6734

Opening Hours:
7am–8pm (Monday to Thursday)
7am–7pm (Friday)
7am–5pm (Saturday)
8am–4pm (Sunday)

www.sourcedgrocer.com.au

#5 Little Loco

Just a 3-minute drive away from Sourced Grocer is Little Loco that is a nondescript house converted into a cafe. I actually visited the cafe when it first opened – before their signboard even was up.

 

 

 

Like their minimalist clean decor, the food that Little Loco serves are chic and Instagram-friendly.

I came specially for their Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes [$16.90], which was trending on within Brisbane foodie scene in April 2015! The dish had finally arrived after suffering so much food envy from the Melbourne cafes that first invented them. They truly warrant all the social media attention.

 

 

While the pancakes had been taken off the menu in mid-2015, Little Loco is always reinventing their seasonal menu and producing quality health food dishes that customers would adore. I had their Quinoa Salad [$18.90] that contained a wonderful amalgamation of seasonings and textures – comprising of organic quinoa tabouli, pumpkin puree, roasted and pickled beetroot, goats cheese, tzatziki, and dukkah.

Oh, and did I mention that their presentation is always on point?

Little Loco
Address: 121 Merthyr Rd, New Farm QLD 4005, Australia
Opening Hours:
6.30am–3pm (Monday to Friday),
7am–2.30pm (Saturday and Sunday)
www.littleloco.com

 

#6 I Heart Brownies

I’m not a sucker for anything too chocolatey, as I have a sensitive throat. I get a sore throat if I take a bite of anything fried and full of rich, dark chocolate. While this is so, I daresay that I Heart Brownies has THE BEST brownies hands down. It’s almost impossible to believe that they are GLUTEN FREE.

This also means that they are healthy. Right… right?

According to their website, every brownie is 100% gluten free, and contains: Belgian black cocoa, couverture chocolate, free-range eggs, QLD cane sugar, Australian butter and gluten-free flour.

Stole a chance for a picture because the store is always filled with customers!

I Heart Brownies serves a wide range of brownie flavours, such as the Original [$4], Double Chocolate [$4], Turkish Delight [$4.50], Salted Caramel [$4.50], Raspberry [$4.50], Peanut Butter & Jelly [$4.50], and many many more!

I’m really jealous right now because I think Salted Caramel wasn’t invented until recently!

Don’t go breaking my heart~

Well, I’m glad I did. Because this was the most delicious thing I’ve ever had!

I’ve tried the Turkish Delight [$4] and Peanut Butter & Jelly [$4.50], as seen above, and I felt that the latter triumphed the former.

This is due to the dense ooey-gooey PB&J fillings against the moist and firm chocolatey interior! It was even better when paired with coffee – because bittersweet works. Thus, I suggest you to head to a nearby coffee shop to enjoy these babies like Campos Coffee or Bellissimo Coffee in Fortitude Valley.

I do have to warn though, as popular flavours like this run out fast. Be sure to drop by before noon because early birds grab dem brownies!

I Heart Brownies

Address: 7/694 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4005, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3252 8473

Opening Hours: 7am–6pm (Monday to Friday), 8am–5pm (Saturday), 8am–4pm (Sunday)

www.iheartbrownies.com.au

#7 Dip Cafe

One of the mandatory things to do when you come to Queensland is to visit Byron Bay. Although it’s not situated IN Queensland, it’s merely a 1.5 hour and 45-minute drive from Brisbane and Gold Coast respectively to see the golden fire ball rise over the faraway ocean horizon at 6am!

And there is nothing better than a hot scrumptious breakfast with your friends and family after all that sea breeze that has frozen you over, particularly during winter.

While there are plenty of cafes around the Byron Bay town, my go-to is Dip that opens early at 7am – just nice after you’ve taken hundreds of photos of the sunrise.

Dip exudes a relaxing and cosy ambience, and it is a cafe that the locals residing at Byron Bay would frequent.

Full menu can be found here.

I was really fond of their Mushroom Stack [$18], where the poached eggs beautifully rested on a bed of spinach, goats cheese and crispy fried potatoes. Now trying to recall back… I’m pretty sure it was because of those juicy mushrooms marinated with truffle oil that made the dish so tasty.

This was popular in the reviews – Bacon and Egg Roll [$10.90]. If you like bae, this could be your thing. My company felt that their chili that was incorporated with the garlic mayo masked the natural taste of the proteins in the panini.

The most memorable dish out of all was their Pecan Ricotta Honey on Sourdough Toast [$8.90]. I never knew that sweet cheese would match the bread so well! Loved it so much that I started making my own as soon as I returned to Brisbane.

For a taste of an Aussie mum’s cooking, Dip would be the perfect choice.

If you have some time to spare after breakfast, do consider spending the rest of your morning taking a stroll around the coastal town of Byron Bay. It is filled with craft, souvenir, surfing and book stores, which would take less than two hours to cover.

Dip Cafe

Address: Shop 1/21-25 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia

Phone:+61 2 6685 5141

Opening Hours: 7am–3pm daily

#8 Samson and Sophie

Not many tourists would know about Samson and Sophie, since it is a cafe situated within an apartment building at the Newstead suburb. It’d be a place where you would have to drive to as its location could be a bit far off from the centre of Fortitude Valley.

Opened in 2014, the cafe focuses on fine, fresh, local food done well. I’ve heard that their coffees are amazing too. Interior is humble and rustic-looking that reminds me of a garden and old provision store.

While scrolling through Instagram, I was immediately drawn to their Gluten free Apple & Coconut Hot cakes with Whipped Ricotta and Sour Cherry Reduction [$16.90]! You may perceive “gluten free” as something dry, less appealing and tasty, but I was proven so very wrong.

The first spoon was absolute pure heaven! It contained apple, shredded coconut, and spammed with a lot of cinnamon – all of my favourite foods. I have even found six large slices of apples on the hot cakes. So awesome that I went back again for this exact plate of messy goodness.

Not a fan of coconut or cinnamon? Other popular dishes like their customisable Avocado and Co [$12.90] with add-ons of your choice (Poached eggs, Smoked Salmon, Haloumi), as well as Roast Pumpkin Fritters with Honey Carrot, Wilted Spinach & Pepitas [$16.90] would be sure to tantalise your tastebuds.

Samson and Sophie

Address: 2 Macquarie Street, QLD 4005, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3172 1194

Opening Hours:

6am–3pm (Monday to Friday),

6am–2pm (Saturday and Sunday)

#9 Goodness Gracious Cafe

Goodness gracious… The name of this cafe is already interesting, and it’s a 10-minute drive from my University – so why not try it?! This is my first time encountering a cafe with its own carpark in Brisbane. Hurray! If the carpark is full, don’t worry because the road opposite is usually clear.

What I adore about this cafe is the sunlight peering into the cafe in the morning. There are also outdoor seating if you do not mind the heat.

While glancing at the menu, I was instantly attracted to the Pistachio Granola, Cornmeal Waffles, Spiced Chickpeas and Dukkah Spiced Eggs. Gosh, if only I had four stomachs… As I couldn’t make up my mind and my stomach was rumbling, I heeded the waitress for some advice, and told her that I was in the mood for something refreshing in the summer.

She then promptly recommended the Dukkah Spiced Eggs [$19] with Marinated Mushrooms, Sun dried Tomatoes, Labna, Asparagus, Chutney, Boiled Eggs and Buckwheat Lavosa. With foreign ingredients like Labna and Lavosa, I was keen on trying something new!

When the dish was brought out, my jaw dropped.

Check out this wonderful piece of architecture made with purely food! #BalancingSkillsOnPoint

While eating them halfway, I further squealed in delight upon discovering that the boiled eggs hidden underneath the structure were PINK and HALF BOILED! It was not stated in their menu.

I felt that Goodness Gracious could be the next Shouk cafe. I would rate this dish full marks in terms of its execution and flavour combinations. All were spot-on.

Just wished that I had more time in Brisbane to try the rest of their dishes for an in-depth review of the cafe. Nonetheless, if you are feeling adventurous on trying some creative fusion food and live in the West of Brisbane, Goodness Gracious would be your answer to the next brunch date.

Additionally, the drive to the cafe would be scenic, as you would cross the Brisbane river along the Walter Taylor suspension bridge!

Goodness Gracious Me

Address: 250 Oxley Rd, Graceville QLD 4075, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3162 9092

Opening Hours:

6am–4pm (Monday to Friday),

7am–4pm (Saturday and Sunday)

#10 Passion Tree

Passion Tree is one of those cafes that I frequent so often that I felt that it may be pointless to introduce – because it is very popular amongst students. However, I felt compelled to add it in here because the Asian in me is still very attached to the ambience, service and food that they offer.

They do not serve your usual Australian breakfast fare like avocados on toast, but rather sweet Korean desserts like thick toasts and bingsu – a shaved ice dessert topped with fruits and sauces, as well as an array of iced coffees and blended drinks.

Since Brisbane’s CBD is so small, Passion tree tends to be the one-stop hub for all the sweet-toothed to satisfy their late night dessert cravings after dinner. It opens till 12 midnight on weekends, and is only a 5-minute walk from the Brisbane Central station, and 2-minute from Queen Street Mall.

Their waffles on display.

Whenever I visit the city for dinner or some shopping , I would make a point to stop by here for their Green tea bingsu [$14.90], which remains the best green tea bingsu I’ve tried.

I’ve had several versions, but I still dream about Passion tree’s. They provide the most generous servings of red bean, almonds, macadamias, and not forgetting the most important ingredient… Fresh and crispy CORN FLAKES. Very few green tea bingsus in Singapore include cornflakes! Even if there are, they were stale and not as crispy as Passion tree’s.

I like how the corn flakes turn semi-crispy and soggy when incorporated into the chunky icy mountain. Their green tea ice cream also does not taste artificial and leans towards the sweeter side.

Another bingsu that had me at first bite, and respect the owners of Passion Tree even more was this beauty!

I’ve seen honeydew/melon bingsus… But PINEAPPLE? HELL NO!

I have been so curious on how they managed to scoop out the pineapple flesh into perfectly round spheress! Sadly, it is only served for a period of time in summer and by the time I went back for a second try – they have pulled it out of the menu. My friend and I were devastated. That hefty pricetag of $20 was well worth the one-of-a-lifetime dining experience.

Unsurprisingly, the place I chose bid farewell with my friends before leaving Brisbane for good was here. With great food, free Wifi and comfy cushioned seats, I have called Passion Tree my second home in Brisbane. My friends would also agree on that one with me.

Passion Tree

Address: 103 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia

Phone:+61 7 3012 8865

Opening Hours:
10am–11pm (Monday to Thursday, Sunday),
10am–12am (Friday and Saturday)

www.passiontree.com.au

Final Words

I have filtered down those that have left a lasting impression on me – in terms of all my aspects like taste, presentation, ambience and service. If these cafes have changed their menus and dishes in 2016 (which I expect them to do), I’m so sorry about that! However, I would still recommend them to anyone out there because I have full confidence in their potential on generating even more palatable dishes!

On a side note, the forty over cafes that I’ve been to have at least 75% ratings on Urbanspoon and located within half an hour from my place. For the case of Gold Coast, I refuse to post the overrated ones like Black Coffee Lyrics and Elk Espresso because their food and service were so bad that I do not want to add on to their unwarranted hype.

While cafehopping has burnt a large hole in my pocket, my journey in Queensland had an outcome that’s priceless – the exposure to so many cultures and cuisines have further fueled my passion for this hobby and interest in cooking. I have attempted to recreate some of the dishes I’ve eaten, like Dukkah with poached eggs and Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes, and even cooked them for my friends! I also pair my homemade pistachio Dukkah with bread and sweet potatoes on a daily basis.

Hopefully, Singapore like Brisbane, would soon be open to more diverse sensations and create more fusion dishes with our well-known local foods to make a name in Australia as well.

For those who are tight on their budget, cafehopping in Australia can be quite an affordable affair like Bangkok – with added advantages:

Cheaper coffees, most dishes being below $18 at nett prices without additional GST or service charge, and warm welcoming waiters with genuine smiles on their faces. Lastly, no language barrier!

Again, I hope that this guide would come in handy for those travelling or studying at Queensland. LUCKY YOU!

For more pictures of my cafehopping and food adventures, follow me on @bunnymunchies on Instagram here.

 

Hopping out…

ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY