Casa Latina : This Gem Is A Keeper

Basically I do not feel good about writing too much on this new Mexican restaurant because we did not order the right stuff.  Nevertheless, the fresh ingredients, the intensity of chipotle sauce, the seasoning they used, the generous serving, the excellent service and the artsy location adds up to a winning formula.  The only thing this place seems to be lacking is GST and SERVICE CHARGE! Casa Latina screams potential.

Xian Ding Wei 鲜定味: Travelling Without A Passport

Not that long ago, people living on this sunny island have to fight their way through the Causeway to satisfy some cravings.  Now that Nando's and Wendy's have made their way to our sunny shores.  More passports can rest at home over long weekends. When A told me that there is something in IMM that will thrill me, I never thought that it will be Xian Ding Wei.  Afterall, this Taiwanese chain did not launch in the lion city with as loud a bang as the two western fast food chains. Happy to say, I felt transported to Sunway Lagoon at XDW, a feeling that Nando's and Wendy's fail to exude.  The food and decor at XDW were exact replicates of what we experienced in Malaysia. 

 

San Bei Ji (三杯鸡) Set Meal, $7.90 + $1 (for braised pork rice instead of plain rice)

Maranui Cafe : Tales of Wellington V

I was lucky enought to visit Maranui in June, barely 2 weeks after the cafe reopened.  Maranui is a cafe housed in the Maranui Surf Club.  People in Welly love its ambience, food and friendly staff.  Many found the place totally close to their hearts.  Thus, when Maranui was burnt down in a fire last August, much support was given to the restoration process of this cafe which is known to serve the best coffee in the city.  After 10 months of restoration, Maranui finally opened its grounds on 1st June 2010.  I was there just about time to experience the popularity of this busy and noisy cafe. 

I was trying to capture how busy the cafe was but failed miserably.  Believe me, the place was much more crowded than what my camera could protray.  Business was so brisk that we were told to wait for 45mins. Yup, people in Welly do miss their beloved Maranui.  

Cafe Epicurious : Sweet Salty Spicy

I titled this post Sweet Salty Spicy simply because I went to Cafe Epicurious for S3's Thai food :) The 2 eateries are interlink so we can sit anywhere and order anything from 2 menus.  Anyway, both places dish out very affordable ten buck lunch on weekdays - probably one of the worst kept secret in the foodies' world.  I am happy with the pricing and ecstatic that I get to eat both western and thai together! 

Fresh Rice Roll, $2.50 (extra order)

As a fried food lover I somehow love fresh rice rolls rather than their fried counterparts. It's probably because the taste of mint and coriander can be more distinct in fresh rolls.  We like the refreshing feel of the rolls filled with crunchy bean sprouts. However, rice roll at S3 is midget rice roll and I can pop 2 or 3 together into my mouth all at once. 

Cuckoo and Gladstone Vineyard Cafe : Tales of Wellington IV

The fourth instalment of tales of Wellington is ironically an almost pictorial.  Cuckoo is in such whimsical pink that I shall not ruin the lovely cafe with too many words.  Ok, this is an excuse. I know I haven't been writing much.  Just too lazy and busy with work.  Forgive me.  Don't abandon this blog, keep reading, I will write soon.

Cuckoo is a pink cafe in Greytown.  I am so not surprise as pink and grey = great match.

Coq Au Vin: The Easy (Chinese) Way

After a coq au vin disaster sometime ago, I decided to try it out again using my knowledge of chinese cooking than to stick to the recipe given in a certain French cookbook!

Omy's Sgblogawards Ceremony

I went to the sgblogawards and survived!  At first, I was rather apprehensive about going to the ceremony as I am a very private person.  But hey I will never get into any kind of blog finals ever and so I went. Anyway, Camemberu won the food blog category! Congratulations!

Coney Wines : Tales of Wellington III

After countless trips to Australia, I have never been to any vineyards before.  Well, I am the type of girl who turns red upon a single sip of wine and so vanity prevented me from drinking.  Cannot believe I actually went to one in NZ instead.  

Sapporo Ramen Sanomaru : When Ramen Meets Gyoza

Ramen wins! Hands down.  At least this is the case at Sanomaru, one of the newest ramen entry in our ramen saturated island.  On Saturday evening, we decided to head down for a piping hot bowl of ramen.  It was raining throughout the day so something hot and soupy seemed totally alluring.  

Miso Ramen ($13.90), Shoyu Ramen (not in photo, $12.90)

Chocolate Fish Cafe : Tales of Wellington II

Sounds so wrong but yet the food is so right. Chocolate Fish Cafe serves all-day-breakfast and it sells very decadent breakfast indeed.  To quote Fangie, the food at the cafe can be summed up as "delicacy on a humble piece of bread".  From what I gathered from Fangie and Internet, the synopsis of the cafe goes like this.

Once a hidden find in Sorching Bay, Chocolate Fish quickly rose to an iconic position in Wellington when patronised by Peter Jackson as well as the Lord of the Ring's cast and crew.  Business soared and the landlord took an opportunity to jack up the rent to $2000 per week.  The cafe subsequently moved to the current location at Shelly Bay sans kitchen.  I guess constraint breeds creativity, the cafe now operate on a bbq pit and aptly dishes out yummy kiwi cuisine everyday.