Just so you know, this blog gets its sources from personal experience with wonderful sweet stuff and also contribution from readers. I always feel very greatful that some generous people actually contribute their photos in the making of this blog. Thank you very much. If you like your photo(s) to appear in this blog, please let me know by commenting here and I'll provide you the email.
Today we have contribution from
Bear Bear (again!). She had her dessert at Mocca Carnival at Downtown East (Singapore). These are all hers!!!!
They are Blueberry creme, strawberry pudding, tiramisu, and chocolate shortcake.
Bear Bear, you must bring me there when I'm back.
P/S: The Blueberry Creme will look really nice if they put some peppermint on top, no?
Last weekend I had Indian's for lunch. We particularly love Tandoor Palace for Indian food because there is a choice of South Indian and North Indian menu. The people there became our friends, particularly because my boyfriend knows the boss.
Everytime I dine with my girlfriends there, they will give us complimentary of Kesari Bath. Or some called it Sajjige. It's a warm dessert. Personally I don't like it at all. Don't get me wrong. It's nice, but the idea of having warm dessert after flaming hot curry is not that appealing to me. Besides, I don't like the ginger-ish taste in it. My Indian friend told me there's no ginger in the dessert. Perhaps, they have some cardamom in it. Although it's not one of my favorite, I still finish it as much as I could. You just have to be greatful when someone give you food.
And a friend ordered Gulab Jamun with Ice-cream. It is a yoghurt pudding and really easy to make. All you need is milk, butter, flour, self-rise flour and oil to fry. Mix everything, except the flour. Make it into small balls. Then deep fry them. I learnt it when I was working with an Indian restaurant sometime ago. Oh ya, I forgot about the syrup. Pour some syrup water onto it. If you want some extra flavor, add rose water into the syrup. I should have ordered this! It's fantastic.
I had Mango Kulfi. It's an Indian ice-cream. The one I ordered was really hard. I had to use a lot of force to scoop it up. It didn't make my dessert that pleasant, though. The best Mango Kulfi in Tasmania is at Annapurna Restaurant (Salamanca). The branch in North Hobart didn't make it that well too.
I don't have the address for Tandoor Palace, but it's located at Knopwood Lane behind Salamanca. Really hidden place.
I was stucked in Sydney last year while taking my connecting flight to Singapore. The lonely traveller then had to check in to Ibis Hotel and had a dinner there. I had a bad day, so I thought some dessert could cheer me up. Guess what???
The dessert itself was a disaster!!!You can hardly find me criticizing any dessert, but this one just make me shake my head. I haven't written any bad review on any dessert before. I hope this is the first time and also the last time.
Well you can see it from the photo itself. I can't remember what this is called. But it's definitely a cheesecake. The strawberry sauce seems to be ready made, like those you can get in the supermarket. Sometimes you can see it on your fifty cents ice-cream topping.
The raspberry puree was recklessly scooped onto the cake like a pile of rubbish. I can imagine how the preparation is like behind the kitchen. The cook probably scooped it on like a prison food. *Plup...onto the cake.
If you guess the white lumpy thing is vanilla ice-cream? No, it's not. It's whipped cream. Who will ever serve whipped cream with cheesecake?
Now, here's the funny one... When the waitress was serving me, she put the spoon on top of the cake. WTF???? I almost died laughing inside myself. If anyone managed to have a glimpse of my expression, they might think I'm a mad woman...sitting alone at the dining table while controlling so hard not to laugh.
It's either great presentation or no presentation at all. I rather they leave the cake alone. I'll probably enjoy it more.
This cake is a joke!!!!!________________________P/S: The cake taste just alright. Nothing fantastic. You can even get that taste from normal bakery. Anyway, this is not from a cafe. It's from a hotel restaurant!
According to Michelle, the apple crumble lover, the apple crumble at Bayleaf Restaurant is the best she ever tasted. I'm not a fan of apple crumble. In fact, I've never tasted it. Anyway, it looks really great.
Instead I had the Chocolate Almond Cake. It's really great during winter. The warm cake is so comforting. You can almost feel as if you're back in your grandma's house for Christmas. The reason why I say so is because Bayleaf always maintain the classic cooking style. Just like how our grandma used to cook. It's perfect with the vanilla ice cream. Love it!
Bayleaf Restaurant
160 Sandy Bay Road
Sandy Bay 7005
TAS Australia
The last time I went back to Malaysia, I brought himself to KL for some real food hunting. I insisted to go to Jogoya. The restaurant is the most extravagant buffet, with fresh seafood, tempura, sashimi, cook-on-demand fare brought straight up to your table.
You will be amazed with the variety of choices they provide. For dessert, I had both the Western and Eastern selection. Something must have been going on in my head that I forgotten to take a photo of the Eastern dessert. But I had too much of the Western dessert, particularly the cakes. Some are nice, but there are some that's really bad. I can point out which are the bad ones.
On the top photo, the one with the glazed grape and peach....that one is Bad. On the second photo, the one which looks like Swiss roll is bad. I can't really recall others. Too much of sweet things can be really bad too. My taste bud got knocked off that night. As a result, this is a review, but not really a review.
Jogoya is located in Starhill.
Sue Anne sent this photo to me with a title "for your dessert blog". But, one question....do you this this looks like dessert? I'm not sure if she's referring to the one on the white plate or the one in the plastic cup. I tried to IM her but she's not replying. Why not we play some guessing game this time?
The one on the plate looks more like crispy skin pork to me. Probably she's referring to the one in the plastic cup. But I still can't figure out what dessert is that. Any idea anyone?
July 2008 - Christine just landed from her London flight. I just landed from my Sydney flight. Both of us we called each other as soon as we reached KL. Two hours later, we met at Miss Read Deli in 1-Utama. It's been a year since we last saw our old friend, the Classic Chocolate Cake.
We used to drop by all the time for some cakes during our college days. The Classic Chocolate cake is really classic. So far, it's the best chocolate cake I've ever tasted. It tastes better with the ice-cream. The cake is served with warm chocolate melting sauce. And cold ice-cream on top.
If you don't believe how good it is, go try it yourself. Sometimes words aren't enough to describe what I mean, especially when it comes to taste. By the way, DON'T get the Strawberry Pavlova from there. The pavlova was really hard and the strawberries were really sour. I almost can't taste anything else after that.
Aurora contributed some photos of her cupcakes today. This means all of us can take a look at pretty things in this post now.
This is
vanilla, vanilla. It's a double vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream.
I personally love this one because of its colour. She titled this as "
guess what's inside?" So, guess...
I've got distracted by the photo and I couldn't guess it right. It's vanilla cupcake stuffed with lemon curd and topped with vanilla buttercream and raspberry. Oh...la..la...
She made some
birthday cupcakes as well. I love how the buttercream is done. The swirls are really pretty.
If you happen to travel to Thailand, make sure you don't miss out the sticky rice with mango dessert. It's the most delicious thing I've tried in Thailand. But if you're unlucky, you might get a sour mango. To prevent that to happen, I suggest you head to Baskin Robins and try their Mango sorbet with sticky rice. It's almost the same thing. But at least you'll get the proper taste of it. Just so you know, the Mango sorbet with sticky rice is only available in Baskin Robins Thailand, and not anywhere else.
This photo was taken at the end of the trip when I was craving for more stikcy rice with mango. It cost me 200baht for that at the airport. Freaking expensive! It's only 50baht at Chatuchak Market. Not to mention, the cheaper one taste so much better. However, the one at Chatuchak Market didn't come with a cherry on top. Basically, I paid 150baht extra for the cherry. What a bargain.
I've been reading about war law since 9am and finally at 8pm, I decided to take a break. Initially I planned to do some painting, but I was thinking, I should bake instead. Cupcakes lining is overflowing my kitchen and it's becoming a nuisance. For some reason, I always get attracted by beautiful cupcakes lining. At the end of the day, I can't bake as fast as I shop for cupcakes lining.
Anyway, I mixed all the ingredients and finally I realized....I RAN OUT OF MILK! I put on my jacket, take some cash and off I went to the supermarket to get some milk. The walk was approximately 5km. As I was about to pay for the milk, I found out I lost $10! I had no choice but to use my credit card. How embarrassing to pay $2.95 with credit card. The cashier told me that I couldn't use my card for purchase less than $5. So I bought two bottles of milk.
I came home, and continued on. I was kinda suspect I forgotten something. And then, I realized that I forgotten the eggs. Where did my mind gone? I open up my fridge. GUESS WHAT??? Some idiot cooked all my eggs and left the empty box in my fridge. But then again...that idiot could be me. Since I'm staying alone and not many would come to my kitchen to cook, anyway.
So off I went...5km again to the supermarket. Can you imagine....I walked 10km in less than an hour. I seriously need to get a car! It's either I get a car, or I get myself organized.
Here are my cupcakes, ready to be dispatched at my work place.
The chef loves the cupcake. My boss hates the pink color sprinkles. The kitchen hand doesn't like banana, it so happen I baked banana cupcakes.
Markus called me up just after I finish baking. He needed some help with the cooking for his house warming party. Since I have surplus of custard at home, I made for him some custard caramel pudding. They look so ugly in the plastic container. Oh well, he has to bring it over to his house.
I didn't taste the custard pudding because it was a rush. It was his fault that he called me up so late, and I didn't have time to make them properly. I wonder did anyone get diarrhoea after the party?
Hmmm...this is the disaster of baking due to 11 hours overdosed with words on war.
To be honest, I don't know how to pronounce the restaurant's name. Is it Just-Kuewt-ly or Jus-Kue-tily? Whatever. It's in Manuka, by the way. Sorry I can't remember the address.
The one on top is the Warm Fig Pudding. It has honey marscapone,toffee hazelnuts and Moscato syrup. I'm not a fan of fig pudding, but the Moscato syrup is yum yum...
On the right, we have White Chocolate & Peach Nectar Brulee. I did not try it. So no comment.
Lastly, on the left, it's my Vahlrona Chocolate Marquise. It comes with saffron & orange poached pear and crème fraiche. I guess mine was the best choice because I don't like the fig pudding and I didn't try the brulee.
Our life is made out of a great number of small incidents and a small number of great ones. People tend to remember the great incidents, as for me I love to remember the small ones instead. And throughout my life, stupid things happen to me all the time. Because it happens to me all the time, people think that I am stupid. To tell you the truth, I am not. Stupidity comes to me like a bad luck. I am about to tell you a stupid event which remained vivid in my memory.
Flashing back 15 years ago, I was just a little girl in primary school. My grandmother believe, as a growing child, I must have a proper three course meal everyday. So she packed my school lunch for me. Everyday I will get a small portion of sandwich for entree, noodles or rice for the mains, and a different selection of dessert all the time.
One fine day, she prepared berry pancakes for my dessert. It was a big day that I can never forget. That's because it was really unusual. I only get fruits or cakes for dessert. But that day, I had a berry pancake!!!!!!!!
I had a torturing three hours of classes before the break. That is because I couldn't wait to eat that berry pancake in my lunch box. Finally when the bell rang, I rushed to the canteen where other children were seated. Slowly I open up my lunch box and display all my food on the table.
I was contemplating of eating the berry pancake first, but I remember my wise father taught me, "You must save the best for last then the taste will remain longer in your mouth". It became a habit for me to do that. To think about it, no wonder they serve dessert at the end of the meal. Because it is the best part of all. But after you continue reading this story, you might change your perception. I'll give you a good advice, life is uncertain, eat your dessert first.
I chewed my food and I swallowed. Chewed and swallowed. After done that repeatedly, I came to the dessert moment. The berry pancake was staring at me and begging me to eat them.
But before I could pick up my fork, the fire alarm went off. All the children start to get panic and running around like headless chicken. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to ignore the commotion and continue eating my berry dessert but there was an announcement on the speaker that everyone has to leave for the field immediately. My teacher grabbed my arms and dragged me out of my chair. There I was...parting with my berry pancake like two lovers refuse to let go off their hands at the train station.
Eventually, I was standing at the field, but my heart was with the berry pancake. The headmaster announced that there was no fire and it was merely a fire drill. He must be playing a personal prank with me. After half hour listening to his endless speech, we were allowed to dismiss.
I ran to the canteen, only to find that the place was perfectly clean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I asked the cleaner where was my berry dessert, and she told me she threw away everything on the table, so my berry dessert is probably in the rubbish bin. I couldn't believe she threw away the most precious dessert I've ever got in my schooling days! I felt like I was just been sucked into a black hole.
Just so you know, I spent the next five years in school eating fruits and cakes for my dessert. I awaited for the precious berry pancake, but for some reason, my grandmother did not make it anymore.
I'm becoming insane because there is a lack of sugar in my body. Last week, while Alwin was buying lunch, I told him I wanted to take away the Mango Sago Dessert from the Taiwanese shop. They told me it wasn't ready yet and it takes four hours more to wait. I didn't have four hours because my girlfriend bought tickets to watch The Confession of Shopaholic. So I had my lunch without the Mango Sago Dessert.
On weekend, I went there for the same thing. Unfortunately the shop was closed :(
And today...after a long day of hectic work, I thought of having some warm Mango Sago, the boss told me they couldn't find any mango during this season. I feel like cursing!
Am I just bad luck, or what?
I'm going to forget the Mango Sago. I don't think I will get it anyway.
A friend asked me why I don't bake that often now. That's because I've moved house. And my new kitchen sucks!
The space is too small and I feel claustrophobic. But that's not really the main issue. The oven sucks too! And that's the thing that annoys me til now.
I burnt my fairy cupcakes on the first time because I haven't got used to the oven. It's been three months since I moved in, but I still haven't get a hang of it, especially to adjust the temperature.
The only successful bake was the Victorian Sandwich I made for Dixon and Alwin. Tonight I'm going to bake some banana cupcakes. Markus bought some banana for me last night and I don't know what else to do with it.
By the way, Eastlands Cheesecakehouse bakery is really good. I only tried the Baked Cheesecake. It was fabulous.
This
photo is taken by my good friend, Bes. I guess it's from a bakery in Pleasant Hill, California. There are many fruit tarts, I wonder which one did Bes choose?
I don't have much information here, but I'll ask Bes about it and then I'll update this post again.
Referring back to the previous post. Is this dessert plate look any familiar to you? Same plate, same setting!
Last Wednesday himself and I went to Restaurant 373 at North Hobart for dinner. As predictable as I can be, I always look forward for the dessert. And so I ordered the Creme Brulee (again!).
I have to say, the Creme Brulee at Kermadec is so much better than this one. I'm not prasing it because the Kermadec pastry chef is reading my blog. But it is the truth. You can taste the difference immediately. The caramel crust on top was too chewy and thick so it stuck in between my teeth. The one in Kermadec was really crusty and thin.
The three black dots are the chocolate coated honeycomb. The honeycomb is very sweet by itself. It would be much better if they coat it with original bitter dark chocolate.
And lastly the two other dots are lemon tart. I never like tarts or biscuit for dessert. They are fine with tea, but not after a heavy meal. The lemon cream was too sour and the biscuit breaks each time I took a bite. So it was really messy.
Other than that, Restaurant 373 is really good for its food. You should check out their pork entree. They literally melt in your mouth. And I love the crispy skin pork. Yummy!
Their mains are really limited. They will be 4-5 choices but although it is limited, I can never decide what to eat. I just feel like ordering everything. All of their selection is worth trying. Worth every single cent. But mind you, they always change their menu. I do hope they have better dessert next time (or was it my luck that I choose the wrong one?).
Restaurant 373
373, Elizabeth Street
North Hobart
TAS Australia
Before himself and me take off to Auckland, we did a little gourmet research on that place. Eventually, I found out that the award winning restaurant, Kermadec, has the best dessert. When they say it's the best, how can I resist it?
Anyway, I picked the strawberry dessert. Himself isn't a fan of sweet stuff, so he claimed he will just watch me savouring it instead.
Finally when my dessert arrived, it looks like he couldn't resist it too. Our favorite is the creme brulee. The caramel crust on top was superb. We were literally fighting until the last bite.
In the middle we have a oat cookie with strawberry. It was just my luck that day, the strawberry was quite sour, so I must say I don't like the one in the middle.
BUT...the strawberry sorbet was the best dessert I ever had in my entire life. I'm not exaggerating. It is sweet yet a little sour. Just nice as it is. There were a few biscuit crumbs at the bottom. I wish they weren't that stingy to serve us with that bit of biscuit crumbs. They are so delicious with the strawberry sorbet.
*Kermadec also has the best grilled snapper I ever tasted
______________________
Here's the recipe for creme brulee if you want...
Ingredients (serves 6)
300ml thin cream
300ml thickened cream
1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
1 egg, plus 3 egg yolks
75g caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle
100ml Baileys Irish Cream
Chilled raspberries, to serve
Method
Preheat the oven to 160°C.
Place both creams in a pan, add vanilla pod and seeds, then heat over low heat. In a bowl, whisk egg, extra yolks and sugar until light. Add warm cream and Baileys, whisking continuously. Divide among six 1-cup ramekins. Place in roasting pan and add enough boiling water to come halfway up ramekin sides. Bake for 45 minutes or until just set. Remove, cool, then chill for 2-3 hours.
When ready to serve, sprinkle brulees with extra sugar and place under a hot grill for 2-3 minutes, or use a blowtorch until tops are golden and caramelised. Serve immediately with raspberries.
