On a Sunday afternoon (28th July) we went to a workshop at 'Urban Garden Cafe' on Swanston (take any Melb Uni tram to stop 4). I was disappointed to find out that Aunty Khoo isn't a person, but the name of the team that runs the cafeteria styled eatery. We have yet to dine here, but I now have it on my urbanspoon wishlist. :)


Demos on how to make sambal (chilli thing, sauce?) and ‘teh c peng special’ (sweet three-layer milk tea). Made of palm sugar, tea, condensed milk and ice (optional). Here's some info on it. Tastes nothing like tea I've read.

There was a Indo Mee Goreng cook-off. I was with Miss Canada (she loves cherry ripes, they have nothing like that there) she says that most (and the Alberta) isn't really into protesting. Comments on spiders, in Canada they're small and there's small brown harmless snakes, but there spiders are like nothing here. In Queensland there's lot and a large variety!


Joy was out head chef, she knows what she's doing, as she's made it at home and well it's like an asian making fried rice or french person making crepe really. They're pro at it. And our 3rd team member, a personal trainer I think, disappeared half the time. He was friendly and has also had the dish before, being Malaysian  Joy loves to cook and said she learnt from her mother, maid and grandmother, which is kinda cool. I learnt to cook from many cooking classes, with a specialty on 'Cake Decorating' and 'Food as Gifts' rather than everyday cooking. I'm not much of a cook, though I'm happy just to be an assistant.  


Four teams. One dish. Pretty sure it all tastes the same if you didn't overcook your noodles. We won! On presentation I think, Joy's idea to do the egg face. We each received a mini cookbook. The noodles were very hot! and I don't mean in temperature. I'd totally make it at home though - with less chili powder.  


Afterwards we had chicken curry with coconut rice, and sabal for those who could handle the heat. Everyone was very nice and a good conversationalist at the table. We had a lovely afternoon. :) Wished jas or le beau came with me though. 

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Sunday 28th July



We were going to go for hot chocolate, miss german and I, and then a cooking workshop. Things don't always work out though. Someone was a no show (I was there for an hour) though it wasn't that bad. The library was open and I met someone new, a friendly german backpacker waiting an hour for his friend, who did turn up in the end. He was sitting on the bench outside our building for ages and so I said hi. Unfortunately I did get his number and potentially make a friend. I have yet to meet my two german buddies.


   
As I haven't had chips this month (a couple from the girls in cards workshop and a very very small box half filled from kfc doesn't count) I went to 'Lord of the Fries'. Craving their amazing sauce, rather than amazing chips (from Grill'd on the same block).





Back to the library to brainstorm more ideas for our 'live performance' project, and I came up with some great ideas. Practical? Not sure. Using the art gallery (which is way more realistic to get than 45 Downstairs) we could have buskers/living statues/quartets and all that jazz. Wouldn't that be classy (living statues + string quartet/jazz)? Much better than a modern three bands at a pub idea. That's too mainstream.


New shop on Swanston. It's called "So Good" and from the tram it looks like they sell bling. Everything's so sparky .. It's almost too much, overwhelming - and this is from what I've seen from a moving tram. Pictures. 



Malaysian home-cooking with Aunty Khoo’s. A workshop. Turns out Aunty Koo isn't a person, but the name of the team that runs the caf (eatery near unilodge, hence caf). It's good for marketing though, same concept at places called "Mama's....".



Met a Canadian girl said that protests aren't really something they're into, for the more conservative states, though they do happen. Did you know they have nothing like Cadbury's Cherry Ripe in Canada? O.O





On our way home we stopped by Max Brenner. Was going to get white hot chocolate, but they had winter specials and so we just had to get the salted caramel :P. I really like it but - you could easily make this yourself. Milk chocolate + full cream milk + Caramelicious's Salted Caramel. 

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My first experience of Mexican food at Mad Mex was earlier this year, with the opening of a branch at Southern Cross Station. Soon other stores popped up around the city, and then finally one within hundreds of meters of the office. It's always a bit scary trying new things, the idea of going in not knowing what to order.



Burritos were what I first picked. Quite difficult to get a picture of, as there's no focal point and it's difficult to take pictures with one hand. Huge wraps, I wasn't sure how to eat them neatly, even though they had instructions printed on serviettes. I ordered burritos a few times, then one day decided to get the naked burrito. Brilliant, as I could eat it with a spoon and not get it everywhere. 

- picture - 

Naked Burrito 11.00
In a bowl (no wrap). Chicken & Mild Salsa.
Black beans, brown rice, cheese, lettuce & sour cream. 



The difference between the two is that one has tortilla chips, the other has rice. I always get Chicken & Mild Salsa. Tried beef before and it wasn't as nice. We enjoyed both dishes, and would recommend them. Though personally I feel as though nachos is a dish to be shared between two, whereas a naked burrito is lunch at the park or office. Also with nachos you have to eat fast, or the nachos under the stuff will go soggy. Note that the base of the cardboard box gets soggy too if you eat as slow as me. 

Whenever I'm eating in I always go to the Flinders Lane branch, which is always busy during lunch. They have interesting light displays there.





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