Dukes Coffee @ Chapel Street, Prahran

The quest for good coffee continues.


I am glad to report that I have finally found a coffee place on the way to work that suits the taste buds and it helps when the service is warm and friendly. Will talk about that another time.


Meanwhile, Saturdays are all about finding breakfast spots with good coffee while Sundays are about looking for a place to have a quick coffee and a read of the newspaper.


I am not sure if we are different from other couples but there is only so much you can talk with your other half and by now I think we have exhausted every single childhood story that comes to mind. That being said, we love the company of each other and there's nothing better than sitting next to each other and reading different sections of the Australian Financial Review (quite serious, we know).


It looks like Dukes Coffee can sit either in our Saturday or Sunday category. It has quite a decent menu but they were happy to serve us just coffees and let us sit in a corner of the communal table.


There's nothing more comforting to know that your coffee is made by serious people and by what means do I define serious? When they roast their own beans on site. While the place might be look to be where pretentious people meet, I don't really care unless there's a sign that says "uncool people not allowed".


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This was a pretty good coffee and deserving of their reputation. I can't say its the best and as a matter of fact, I can't seem to differentiate which is the best. However I can! say whi ch I prefer though.

In writing this, I remember hearing on the radio about how a famous barista did a blind tasting of instant coffee and thought it was some indonesian variant because of its acidity. So really, can you tell who serves the best coffee?


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They seem to have used a different blend for their iced coffee, a rather acidic and citrus one based on the lingering taste in the mouth. Rather refreshing I must say since it was pretty damn hot outside.

Chapel Street isn't exactly the most quiet of streets in Melbourne and Dukes Coffee isn't quiet too and is actually rather packed. However if you want give them a go, a lot of the side lanes offer 1 hour parking which is long enough to catch a coffee and read a couple of pages.

Will give them a revisit soon enough.

Address and contact details:

Dukes Coffee on Urbanspoon

Verdict: I think the coffee deserves the 4 out of 5 stars.

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Have you got anything special planned for the day?

Perhaps a rose to say I love you?

But whatever it is, monetary or not, show your love.. (here are some photos of heart-shaped objects you can tag your lovers with if you wish or pin it on Pinterest)

Love me for a reason
Let the reason be love




Heart-shaped cakes from Canele Patisserie, Singapore

Glow stick love

If you're looking for some sweet treats for your sweetheart, here are some suggestions. Or a romantic meal for two.

Click here to view Valentine's Day wish 2011.

Diamond Restaurant @ Luyang, Kota Kinabalu

We arrived at Kota Kinabalu via Air Asia from Tawau late in the night and we were brought to this place for a late dinner.Plain fried beehun just like what the local eat, we shall eat....Deep fried pork ribs that went very well with our beer.A steamed fish.And lastly a green veggie for the evening before we rest ourselves for a morning golf.
Diamond Restaurant
Lot 1 Luyang Phase 3
Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
Tel: 088-258157 / 216281
GPS : 5.964393,116.091419

Las Delicias & Le Trianon

Citta Mall is an improbable locale for a European-inspired brasserie, especially one that's strictly non-halal, but confounding expectations might be Las Delicias' forte.

Las Delicias' food seems pricey for this part of town, but its ingredients are plentiful & praiseworthy. Can't fault the fettuccine, with lots of lip-smacking pork bacon & luscious scallops luxuriating in light tomato cream (RM34++).

Herb-cooked duck confit, flavorful in a fine fellowship with potato gratin & mesclun in mushroom-&-mustard sauce (RM39++). More elaborate & enjoyable than many other versions.

Cheesecakes constitute the cornerstone of Las Delicias' dessert counter; this mysteriously named "Monte Carlo cake," with traces of wine, is moist & well-balanced in sweet-savoriness.

Complimentary cookies. Reminiscent of buttery-nutty Chinese New Year ones.

And of course, there's red & white by the bottle & the glass. We'll drink to Las Delicias' future, though the lack of a weekend lunch crowd here isn't a positive portent.

Another addition to Citta Mall: Le Trianon, a kiosk that's kinda intriguing because it offers only a small selection of chocolate cakes.

Le Trianon's signature layered creation of the same name, rich & full-bodied in cocoa decadence. Costs slightly under RM10 per slice.



Las Delicias & Le Trianon,
Citta Mall, Ara Damansara.

CNY pot luck

Why hello hello!! Ive been bad huh for not putting any new posts for more than a week. Well, I kinda went to Singapore for a short trip and after that, was so busy over the weekend, busy like literally worked through 25 hours, and sold 2 puppies in between. Its not my favourite moment to be honest. How do people do it all the time?

Anyway, this pot luck was with the food bloggers and its becoming an annual thing. Last year, it was at Reeses place. This year, we held it at Sonias. Maybe next year can come to my place? :) We had lesser turned out this year but its my first time meeting Lena and Sharon. Ive met Sonia, Wendy and Veron a couple of times already if youve been here long enough.

So now lets head to the food!

From the top, left to right.

Sonias Sambal prawns, Sharons Apple cabbage slaw

Sonias condiments for Nasi Lemak and Lemongrass fried chicken

Lenas sweet sour crabs and Quay Pos Tuna appetizer

Lenas scallop (was it?) kuih and Sharons Pork stuffed you tiau

(OMG did I not take a picture of the rendang ?? Oppss, but it was yummy, meat so tender, forgot the chicken wings too, the one that represented Reeses presence. lol)

Sweet stuffs ,top to bottom, left to right

Lenas pandan kuih, my plum and frangipane tart

Wendys kumquat almond cake and Goiabinhas

My pistachio and blackberry cake; sicile

Loving pot lucks and dinner parties!! must do more of these ;)

Now that CNY is over, I hope that you and your family have had a wonderful celebration. :)

api

Fried Licorice Root

Ingredient Name: Mizhi Licorice root, Fried Licorice (Liquorice), Sweet root, Chinese Licorice, Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Traditional Chinese Name: (ji gn co)

What is this?

  • This is a variation of the Licorice root, but is prepared with honey and fried
  • The root of the licorice plant which is extracted and dried
  • Common Chinese herbal ingredient and often found in Chinese medicines
  • Mainly grown in China (Eastern & Northern parts)
  • Slightly sweet in flavor
  • The fried version is said to be more effective on the stomach and relieving diarrhea

Howdo Iprepare it?

  • Rinse in warm water prior to use

Where can I buy this?

  • This is available in most Asian supermarkets
  • Also available in Chinese herbals stores

What is the cost

  • 10 g cost around $2-3 HKD
  • Extremely affordable

Any benefits?

  • Used to aid cough, sore throat, asthma and remove phlegm
  • Helps in detoxifying the body
  • Helps relieve diarrhea
  • When it is fried, it is considered warm

Any precautions?

  • People with heart disease or high blood pressure should be cautious about using licorice

References


Home Cooked Lunch and Dinners

Home-Cooked-BBQ-Birthday-1

BBQ pool side birthday dinner party in Hartamas, super yummy and moist pork ribs, the pork sausage is a tad salty though

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mini cupcakes from wondermilk which is too sweet, the chocolate cake and carrot carrot from Celicakes bakery(Hartamas) is far from fabulous. The chocolate cake is too light and without substance, whereas the carrot cake is too dense.

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Yummy salmon spaghetti cooked by bf, with dried chilis, some dried chilli paste (those used for dried pan mee), an odd tomato, white mushroom etc.

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Korean pan Mee and Crab session in bfs sis place

From top left: fried minced pork, chili sauce, shallot oil, and 2 plates of crispy anchovies.

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Big aluminium pot filled with water to cook the pan mee, and a colan! der full of vege

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Crab cooked in own juice and brandy, and perhaps some sea salt is added as well, simple andyummy~

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Dining Table

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Pork marinated in brandy, simple and succulently moist and delicious

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Watermelon blended with ice, refreshing

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Dinner BBQ Party in Damansara, my favourite mushroom with cheese, yum~~

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Christmas pot luck lunch with turkey

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Other goodies includes salad, BBQ ribs, spaghetti in the covered pots and bought yam cakes. Not in picture is Suchan dessicated coconut covered carrot cake which is supernice, light and tasty

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Christmas potluck dinner with 3 baked chickens, looks wonderful

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Bacon and cheese quiche, RM30, you can order it from Pig Out Deliveries, homemade non-halal goodness delivery service

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Other goodies from christmas potluck dinner party includes cream-cheese-mayo filled tortilla, yummy egg plant roll, roast pork belly from Pig Out Deliveries, spaghetti with tomato meatsauce, salad and mash potatoes

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Table-For-Six fine dining cooked by bfs sis

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Appetiser: Very fresh prawn bought live from Unique seafood Restaurant served with spicy refreshing relish (a mix of cilantro, lime juice, onion etc)

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Another amuse-bouche style spaghetti cabonara served with tobiko fish roe, a satisfying small portion without being cloying

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Palate cleaner of pickle papaya

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Lamb shoulder

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served with same relish and refreshing mixed vegetable of pickled papaya, cucumber and lettuce

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Yummylicious lamb shoulder

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Dessert: sticky chocolate cake served with chocolate sauce and two pieces of waffle biscuit filled with nutella sauce in the middle

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