Jones the Grocer, Westfield Sydney

My first experience of Jones the Grocer was in Singapore, can you believe that? Dining at a well-known Aussie establishment all the way in Singapore. Great job, Chrys... not. And so, to make up for it, I took the chance of a weekend out in the city with D to finally walk into their place inside Westfield, conveniently situated right at where the direct-link Pitt Street Mall to Food Court escalators are.

Honestly, my photos do not do the food justice. I mean, just look at this parmesan panko crumbed chicken schnitzel with hot mustard coleslaw and fresh lemon ($19.00). Looks very normal, doesn't it? According to D, it did not taste just 'normal'. It was crispy on the outside, warm and tender on the inside. The hot mustard coleslaw helped to add a little excitement to the tastebuds, too.

I ordered a burger off their specials board, a burger which I would think is very similar to their 100% Aussie wagyu burger that is pork belly instead. Served on a board with truffle mayonnaise and fat steaming hot Jones chips, the house-baked bun of the burger was glazed to perfection (look at how shiny it is in that photo!)

Inside, there was pork belly, bacon, gruyère, pickles, mustards and caramelised onions. Mm... I also liked how the portion was just right for my appetite - too heavy a lunch maketh a sleepy Chrys.

Both of us had a cup of hot drink each and left feeling very satisfied with the food, the service and the ambience of the place. No idea what it would be like during peak lunch hours on weekdays though...

Jones the Grocer, Westfield Sydney
Shop 5018 Level 5, Westfield Shopping Centre, Corner Market & Castlereigh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 8072 7755; E-mail: westfieldsydney@jonesthegrocer.com; Group booking e-mail: events.sydney@jonesthegrocer.com
Monday to Saturday 8:00am to late
Sunday 8:00am to 7:00pm

Happy Chinese New Year 2015

Perhaps it is the long distance.

Perhaps it is the long periods of absence.

Perhaps it is the gradual increase in age.

Perhaps it is because life has made me realise that the people and things that matter most are those that seem insignificant on the surface.

Have you called your loved ones yet? 

Have you sent that e-card or greeting card yet?

Have you travelled home yet?

Wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New Year, one full of happiness and good health.

Sweet Infinity

It was on a rare weekend out in the city with D that presented the opportunity to try the sweet looking things on display in a window I always walk past in The Strand Arcade. That window belongs to a tiny cafe called Sweet Infinity.

I was intrigued by their fuchsia pink feature wall, as I thought it was cleverly decorated with baking trays of different sizes. The space though tiny, was functional.

As we just had lunch, we ordered one dessert to share over a cup of tea, each. D had a cup of chai latte ($3.50) while I had a hot cup of peppermint tea ($3.50).

The dessert we shared was a caramel slice ($6.00), which we enjoyed.

Nice place to just stop for a cuppa when tired from shopping but beware of tourists on weekends.

Sweet Infinity
18 The Strand Arcade, 412-414 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9235 2902
Monday to Wednesday & Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm
Thursday 9:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday 9:00am to 4:00pm
Sunday 11:00am to 4:00pm

Croissant Delicatessen

I am so proud to introduce to you this new cafe, Croissant Delicatessen, which is owned by my childhood friend of 25 years and her partner. Woohoo!!!

For those familiar with Hartamas Shopping Centre, the cafe is located in between Subway and Pastryville.

As with all narrow spaces, the use of a mirror on one wall helped create the illusion that the place is more spacious than it really is. I like the shade of yellow used on the feature brick wall right up the back of the cafe. Gave the place a slight rustic feel. Photos of their feline pets lent a hand in making the place feel more close to home (and heart).

It would be a pity not to try their coffee since they source their coffee beans from the reputable WA Cafe. As I perched over the (very tall) counter top, I could hear the beans calling out to me...

My first cuppa was a hot mocha (RM11.00). Would have loved a wee bit more coffee - it was not bad - but that's just because I like my mocha with a higher coffee to chocolate ratio. Not everyone is like me.

I very rarely order a latte (RM10.00) so I would refrain from commenting on the taste. I should have really just stuck to my regular choices of either a mocha or cappuccino. However, one of my friends did take note of how he found it a tad small, as he thought that most lattes are served in a bigger glass/cup.

The croissant, eaten on its own with no fillings, especially when just out of the oven, was delicious! I am a pumpkin-lover so I had myself a pumpkin croissant (a la carte, RM5.00). Very slowly, I savoured each fluffy mouthful...

In addition to pumpkin, the croissant also comes in three other flavours - classic (plain), garlic and wasabi. Alicia tried a garlic croissant with turkey ham, broccoli and cheese filling (RM14.80) and had to figure out how to eat it. In the end, she took it apart and had it using her cutlery like a civilised person, unlike me.

I devoured my pumpkin croissant with supreme egg mayo and additional smoked salmon filling using my hands. LOL! I really liked the combination of flavours and it was not too large a serving.

Cath had a classic croissant with garlic and basil chicken filling (RM15.80) and felt that she would have enjoyed it more if there were more chicken and less of the basil pesto. Or they could maintain the current chicken portion but cut down on the pesto so that the taste of basil does not overpower everything else. But again, she really liked the texture of the croissant.

For those who are hungry, the grilled German bratwurst (RM15.80) is apparently their most filling er, filling. We all had a bite of the bratwurst and I do not know about the rest but I found it very tasty. Okay, fine, they found it tasty, too. 

I may be wrong but I have a feeling that they are the first croissant sandwich cafe in KL. Just based on that alone, they are worth a try, don't you think?

 

Croissant Delicatessen

Lot P-3M(2), Plaza Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre, 60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +60 3 6206 4410; E-mail: croissantdelicatessen@hotmail.com

Daily 10:00am to 10:00pm

*Cash only

The Grounds of Alexandria

The Grounds have been around for ages and it has taken me a few years to pay them a visit! Why....... well, anyways, I managed to find my way there early one morning before one of my flights. 

Located in what used to be a pie factory, the cafe blends the old with the new, preserving most of the building.

Even from the car park, I could smell the coffee as I inhaled. And ah, you know they are serious about coffee when the C in OCD stands for Coffee instead of Compulsive...

When at a place with a barista who was once the youngest world champion, you must try their coffee. I went for a mocha (small $3.50, large $4.00), as it was a tad too early for me to try a long black. Very fragrant, I have to say. Really enjoyed this cuppa.

XW and I shared The Grounds Breakfast Board ($19.00), which consisted of double smoked ham, avocado, fresh heirloom tomatoes, Persian feta, two poached eggs, house-made pesto and toasted sourdough. Nothing too fancy and was pretty normal, we thought. It wasn't bad, just normal.

As we queued to pay the bill, I was intrigued by the many types of bread they baked...

You could test the bread first before purchasing, too.

Ah, and it was a feast for my eyes as I went on a photo-snapping frenzy of these colourful delectables...

For a moment, I thought I was in pastry heaven. And in that moment, I was so tempted to buy a piece of each to take on the plane.

The Grounds of Alexandria

Building 7A, 2 Huntley Street, Alexandria, NSW 2015, Australia

Tel: +61 2 9699 2225, Fax: +61 2 8076  3225

Weekdays 7:00am to 4:00pm, Weekends 7:30am to 4:00pm

Menya Noodle Bar, CBD

I love how Sydney has a wide variety of food in its most authentic form. At Menya, their soups are made from scratch over many hours from fresh chicken and pork. The soups we could choose from include miso, shoyu (soy sauce), shio (seafood and chicken combination), and tonkotsu (pork bones).

Steph was game for something really spicy and since it was her first time here, she gave their dynamite hot Karami Tonkotsu Ramen ($11.90) a go. Verdict: it was really spicy judging from how much water she needed to take.

In addition to noodles, they also serve rice. One of my favourites is the Spicy Karaage Don ($9.90), a hearty bowlful of spicy deep fried chicken, onion, carrot, fresh chilli, shallot and sesame seed on rice. The last mouthful always leaves an 'ah, that was nice' feeling.

Friendly service, cosy environment and to guarantee a spot, be there early. And for such generous portions, no complaints about pricing.



Menya Noodle Bar, CBD
Shop 2, 1 Market Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9267 4649
Monday to Saturday 12:00pm to 3:00pm, 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Fully licensed

3 Mama Chef's

If not for XW's recommendation, I would not have thought of bringing Pris to this place, as I have never dined here before. And frankly, I am a little ticked off by the random apostrophe in its name. Why is there an apostrophe? Anyways...

XW highly recommended the Spicy Combination Pork Entrails Soup ($13.90) and although I really enjoyed it, I found it very spicy.

The Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken ($9.00) was tasty on its own.

The Stir-fried Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork ($12.90) was nothing to shout decent. Would have been better to cut down on the salt (or MSG).

The dish I enjoyed most was the Century Egg with Pork Mince Chilli Basil ($13.90).

The balance of different flavours combined with century egg, oh so yummy! Maybe I have not had century egg for too long.

Their late opening hours would augur well with the backpackers in the area - that part of Pitt Street is backpackers' central. Short stroll from Central Station, too.



3 Mama Chef's
410 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9212 3933
Daily 11:00am to midnight

Snag Stand Macquarie Shopping Centre

The gradual revamping of Macquarie Shopping Centre has seen more eateries being opened. One of those places is a fancier version of the American hotdog stand - Snag Stand, a haute dog stand. Or at least, that was my impression of it.

Apparently, the meat they use is gluten-free with no artificial flavours nor colours and is supplied by some of Australia's best artisan butchers, such as Rodriguez Bros, AC Butchery and Blackforest Smokehouse.

Obviously, they serve hot dogs. Of multiple nationalities, really. Spanish, American, German, Aussie. Take your pick.

I tried a Chick Next Door ($9.90), a burger of grilled chicken breast with fresh avocado, cos lettuce, tomato, Spanish onion, and fresh aioli. I could have added bacon for an extra dollar but decided not to this time.

I really enjoyed it, surprisingly, which means there would be a second visit to try other burgers. And then there was the Chilling ($8.90).

Was not as spicy as I was hoping for it to be but this all natural Frankfurter with chilli beef sauce, onions, cheddar cheese and roasted chilli peppers on a toasted brioche roll was not too bad.

I was really looking forward to tasting the chilli cheese fries ($7.90), a bowlful of chilli beef sauce served on chips, topped with cheese, chipotle aioli and paprika. Just looking at it was making me salivate and perhaps, I should have consumed it right away because by the time we finished our dog and burger, the chips were soggy from all the oil absorbed from the bottom of the bowl. 

Next round would see me try their onion rings and milkshakes.

Snag Stand Macquarie Shopping Centre
Level 4, Corner Herring and Waterloo Road, North Ryde, NSW 2112, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9887 2837

The Great Lion Kun Seng Keng

I finally bought a copy of this movie! Yippee!!!

Everyone knows I am a sucker for locally produced movies and this was no exception. I was in Sydney when I saw the trailer being shared on my Facebook news feed and from then on, I was crossing my fingers that I would still be able to purchase it when I get back to KL or someone would be kind enough to buy a copy and post it over. But fate had it that I would buy one myself, muahahahaha!

The Great Lion Kun Seng Keng (大舞狮关圣宫) is well, about the famous dragon and lion dance association, Kun Seng Keng from Muar, Johor. Formed in 1988, they are not only national champions but also 56-time world champions. A quick Google search and details about their association and movie reviews are aplenty, so I am going to only share the parts I really enjoyed in the movie.

Firstly, the people involved. I thought it was commendable effort by Director Matt Lai (赖健雄), despite a so-so script. Although at first I found casting Taiwanese Alan Ko (柯有伦) as one of the lead actors, I thought he pulled it off quite well, Malaysian accent and all (perhaps studying in Singapore has helped with that).

I also thought that teaming younger actors with veteran ones was really smart, as both the younger and older generations would be able to relate to members of the cast. For example, the younger generation (as in high school, college, young working adults) would be able to recognise Alan, Thomas Kok (郭晓东, one half of local Mando-pop duo, TJ 东于哲), Henley Hii (许亮宇, champion of Season 2, Project Superstar Malaysia), Jo (周周, newcomer in the entertainment industry, originally a songwriter) and Jenny's cousin, William Yap (叶子诚, child artiste and lead actor of another locally produced movie, Gemeilia).

The older generation, meaning our parents' (and maybe grandparents') generation would find the faces of Hong Kong-based actor, Chan Koon Tai (陈观泰) and Angela Chan (陈美娥, one of the star actresses in the now non-existent HVD) familiar. The names Michael Chin (陈逸豪) and Katrina Ho (何簣町) are new to me but after a quick search, they seem to have a local following, too.

Secondly, the acting and cinematography. I would like to specially mention how I was impressed by William's acting. I thought he delivered his role very well, with the non-exagerated outpouring of emotions. My favourite scene would be the scene he and his partner kowtowed thrice at his brother's funeral with the lion dance gear on. I definitely felt the anger, frustration, disappointment and 'I will succeed and make you proud of me' feelings - surprisingly, I had tears welled up in my eyes and had to quietly wipe them away in case my father noticed.

Another scene I really liked was the challenge in the rain. Although the music selection for this scene was a little erm, unsuitable, the way this scene was shot was breathtaking with the combination of colour usage, the rain and slow-mo action. When I watched videos of the making of the scene, I did not expect it to be UPM (again). UPM must earn heaps from local entertainment companies for the usage of their field and that one-tree-hill of theirs. That tree and the white fence are dead giveaways now when watching a music video, commercial or movie - oh, hey, that's UPM! Haha...

Since CNY is around the corner, I probably would watch it again with family. The younger nephews and nieces should watch it, as it does not just announce to the world how we have a world-class lion dance association but the spirit and pride involved in upholding our culture and tradition.

Piccolo Me @ Australian Hearing Hub

When the new Australian Hearing Hub building opened, we were wondering if it would also house some new places for food. And to hide from supervisors. Before I could find out, I went on my summer holiday. And when I returned, Kel asked, "Hey SJ, have you been to Piccolo Me? That's where we go for our coffee now."

Ah, so, the famous Piccolo Me from the city has opened a branch in the north. And how lucky am I to have them in my own backyard, literally a 5 minute stroll from the office - not sure if it is a good or bad thing, really.

I have tried some of the pastry, sweet and savoury ones:

Needless to say, every visit there is to have some form of coffee or chai (for me on most days):

And to have this, the Nutellagato:

Exclusively served at Piccolo Me (like duh, they created it) the Nutellagato is basically Nutella and vanilla ice-cream, double ristretto (in a syringe!) with chocolate flakes and crushed hazelnuts. Now this is a shot I do not mind taking any time!

Piccolo Me @ Australian Hearing Hub
16 University Avenue, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9889 2964