Heart breaking

Came across this video on a friend's mum's food blog, HungerHunger, a food blog that I follow closely.

My eyes became watery and was moved midway through the video, because I can't help but think I am in no way at all better than any of the people he mentioned in that video.

And though I can't change the way and what I eat 100% immediately, especially if you're a student living overseas who need to feed yourself for at least 3 meals everyday, but I have decided to start small.

And nobody understands the struggles of living with a tight time and money budget on meals as a student more than me.

That is why I am truly inspired right now to work on and share with all you international students, busy working adults, as well as other keen demographics out there, my

Top 10 Quick, Easy and Cheap Recipes for 2010 (especially for Students).

Cause I might not have mentioned it before, but this is one of my main convictions and reasons for starting this Food Blog in the first place. I really want to present cooking in its easiest and simplest form for people who need it most. So doing this would definitely be a dream come true for me.

And I know I'm not the best and most experienced chef in the world, but I can identify with a lot of people and that's good enough. So for the next few weeks (and possibly months), I will do whatever I can to experiment, perfect and explore ways of cooking simple and healthy meals that ANY one can do.

Cause, hey. Before I came to Australia, the only thing I have ever cooked in my Life was instant noodles, and not even fried eggs. So I can completely relate with people who tell themselves, "I have never and CAN'T cook at all, really." But trust me, when it comes to things like these, you can ONLY get better.

So for experienced cooks - please don't expect too much or laugh at the overly simple recipes I'm about to share. This may or may not be what you like to see but it does the job.

Hopefully new cooks - please don't think that you need to be highly skilled to try any of these recipes, cause I believe that you CAN.

And I only hope that if I start to slowly cultivate a good habit, I may be able to discard the bad simultaneously without having to try too hard. Small steps, but I am hopeful.

So if you have a bit of spare time, please check out the video below. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Much Love,

Winston.

J-Pub Shogun, Lonsdale Street

Harrow...

So since I've been back to Melbourne, I can't help but feel pretty bored, almost SICK of the food from almost every meal I eat in the city. Don't get me wrong, it's still really good and all and I'm sure visitors would love it just as much as I did the first time I was there.

It's just that it's my 3rd year here, and every time I eat at the same place again, I just keep thinking, "Meh... I've been here for the Nth time and been seeing the same menu for the Nth time too... ZZZ...".

Which is weird that I feel this way cause most of my friends have been here longer than I have. Anyway, I guess that's why I end up packing up the rest of my food almost every time, just cause my stomach refuses to go on the same thing any further.

I am in dire need of something FRESH and NEW to eat in the city. Somewhere that gets me excited about food the same way it did the first year I was here... Please.

And fortunately enough, I regained that same euphoria once again tonight over dinner with my friends.

So my friend and I were at McDonald's working together last night, and he casually mentioned to me that his Dad owns and runs this sort of new Japanese restaurant (which I've been meaning to try for a while now) in the city. Less than 24 hrs later, I got my friends to go with me to try out this new place.

And all I can say is... YUM. So refreshing to see items on the menu that I've never seen in other Japanese restaurants before that actually turned out REALLY good. To top that off, I really loved the service and ambience they had going on in the restaurant and I can't wait to go back for their famous Yakitori next time.

Also, I guess I've always been a little sceptical about Japanese food cause 3/5 of them severely lack authenticity that's why most of the time I would opt for Korean food. Also the same reason that there are only THREE Japanese restaurants in Melbourne that I am extremely fond of.

And after tonight, I am so glad that I have found another place to add to my extremely short list of good Japanese restaurants in Melbourne =)))

Only thing is, it may be slightly over a student's budget so it's not something you could eat every day, but so are the other restaurants in my list so oh well. Was really worth the money though =D

So anyway, dinner tonight was at:

J-Pub Shogun Japanese Restaurant and Bar

3/233 Lonsdale St
Melbourne VIC 3000
(03) 9663 3996

Funnily enough, my friend is actually Korean and not Japanese lol. But thanks anyway, Jay, for the GREAT recommendation! Your Dad was super funny and cool with all of us and really LOVE the food! Would definitely go back some day =)

Now for the piks, enjoy!

Appetizer #1: Sashimi Tower Salad - An enjoyable way to eat bite sized pieces of tuna and salmon sashimi with salad!

Appetizer #2: Dragon Sushi - Sushi with Ebi (prawn) Tempura, Unagi and Cheese. Like all our favourites put together. Highly recommended to eat it immediately before the cheese begins to harden and while you can still taste the crunchiness of the prawn!

Main #1: Yaki Udon - Stir fried udon with seafood. A really tasty dish which was thankfully not oily

Main #2: Stir-fried egg plant with minced meat, garlic shoots and spicy miso paste - Rather salty but otherwise tasty. Thought the garlic shoots were a fantastic idea. Complimented the dish really well.

Main #3: Tonkatsu - A bit over-cooked but batter was cooked and browned really nicely.

Main #4: Ebi Mayo - Prawn Tempura in special mayonnaise sauce. Extremely big and succulent prawns MMM. And hey, how can you go wrong with fried food served with Jap mayo, even at home. Right again.

Main #5: Rice with shredded salmon in Dashi broth - Served as an "after dinner" dish by the Japanese but can't seem to remember what it's called ARGHH!! Anyway, all of us LOVEDDD this cause it was so simple but DAMN was the Dashi broth delicious!! In perfect harmony with the salmon and rice. MMMM

Erm, we might have ordered a bit more than usual (without regret!) cause we only ate at about 9:45 p.m. and were so so hungry

A genuine smile after experiencing the joy of discovering somewhere nice and new to eat again with my dear friends

Jay's Dad was so cool to us, especially after he found out that I worked with him. He kept coming over to talk and laugh with us while making sure the food was okay. Towards the end, just as we were contemplating dessert, the waiter sent a plate of Black Sesame and Green Tea ice cream our way complimentary of his Dad. THANKSSSSS MR. KIM!!!!

Anyway, 2 appetizers, 5 mains, 2 drinks and a great meal later, bill came up to be AU$105 (excluding ice cream) which was approx AU$25 per person, money well spent if you ask me =)

Hope you guys are doing awesome wherever you are!

Much Love,

Winston.

Malaysia, Truly Asia

Alrightey. AWESOME time eating my heart out with my awesome buddies, as we embarked on an unforgettable journey to experience what makes Malaysia, Malaysia - through Food.

Before this, I really didn't know much about Malaysia at all even though I am a Malaysian myself and that's why it was such a blessing for me to experience ALL these food for the first time while learn as much as I could about this beautiful country.

Cause I believe through talking to the people preparing the food, and tasting the ingredients that make up the food, you get to learn a lot about the Culture and History, I'm not kidding.

In each part of Malaysia we visited, what cuisine served or ingredients used most says a LOT about the Land there. And I was actually surprised by how distinct Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka was individually even though they're all a part of Malaysia.

I mean, Australia's great in their own ways and all, but the food in Sydney, Melboure, Brisbance, etc seems almost exactly the same to me. I guess this is what makes Malaysia so unique aye.

Overall, I'm really really thankful to God for literally bringing us together from various parts of the country for this trip and my parents for their continuous support and encouragement for me to travel as much as I can during my life as a student.

Also, would just like to take this opportunity to say a million Thank You to every one who has shared a meal with me since I've been back. Not just for the time together, but for your patience to allow me to take all that time to take pictures of ALL the food before anyone could eat it (not like you had a choice yeah hehe jk).

No but in all true honesty, I really appreciate it cause I know it's a lot to ask. And I was surprised by how understanding people were to wait for me even when they were really really hungry already or even when there was a big group of people who had to wait for me to finish snapping my piks.

So, once again, thanks, EVERYBODY!!!

Hope you're all doing might fineee wherever you guys are.

Warmest Blessings,

Wince.

___________________________________

THE FOOD

(i) Kota Kinabalu:

Pumpkin Cream Prawns. Don't know the name of the restaurant, it's sort of hard place to find and need a true local to bring you there, but for now I'll just call it and say it's @"Airport Highway Restaurant"

Signature Steam Fish

SUPER YUMMY Honey Plum Pork

Salted Egg Crabs

"Mun Ng Bian" aka "Stewed Fish Fins" @Tong Fung Coffee Shop, Inanam

Bowl of fish maw, fish slices, fish skin and fish fins

"Sayap Ayam & Punggung Ayam Panggang" aka "Barbequed Chicken Wing & Chicken Butt" @"Famous" Kundasang Barbeque Stall

Red Bean Ais Krim Potong

"Bak Jok Ha" aka "Steamed Prawns" @Portview Seafood Restaurant

"Dong Fong Luo". Not sure what the translation is so let's just call it the "Chinese Snails"

Soft shelled crabs

"Qing Zhen She Ban" aka "Lightly Steamed Grouper"

Exotic fruits that we got and can be found @Kundasang Local Market. Includes Wild Rambutans, Kampui, Salak, Mangosteens, Bananas.

Beaufort Mee @Beaufort Restaurant, Lido

Salad Prawns

"Tiu Fu Ng Sang" aka "Tawau Raw Fish". A MUST TRY for all local Sabahans and visitors

"Shang Nyuk Mien" aka "Pork Noodles" @Kedai Kopi Melanian, Lintas

Nasi Lemak @Air Asia In-Flight meal

(ii) Penang

Nasi Kandar @Restoran Mohd Raffe

"Sotong Bakar" aka "Roasted Cuttlefish"

Ais Kacang

Rojak

Pasembor - like deep fried stuff with special spicy sauce

Hot Apple Crepe

Traffic Light Crepe

Loh Mee

Dry Indian Mee

Wet Indian Mee

Penang Hokkien Mee

Penang Char Koay Teow

Famous "Red Hat Lady" Penang Char Koay Teow ;p @Lorong Selamat

Famous Penang Cendol @Penang Road

Penang Assam Laksa

Famous Popiah @Batu Feringgih Hawker Centre

BEST "Huo Jian" aka "Oyster Omelette" I ever had

Satay

Roasted Stingray

Chicken Capati

Murtabak

Barbequed Chikky Wings

Apom

Roti Tissue

Roti Bom

*Forgot what this is called! GAHHHH. Gotta ask my friend

Chinese Lettuce with Meat Floss

Yam Rice - to go with Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh

German Pork(?) Sausage @Northam Beach Cafe. Might've been chicken, I forgot

German Veal(?) Sausage. Actually, I forgot what this is too. TOO much food, see haha

Philippine Pork and Spaghetti

Beef Noodle Soup

Peanut and Corn Crispy Pancake. FORGOT what they called it in Chinese!! Aghhh. If anyone knows, please correct me

Mixed Mua Chee with Peanuts

Penang Cheong Fun

(iii) Melaka

Chicken with Chicken Rice Balls

Chicken Rice Balls

Red Dates and Bean Pork Soup

Assam Fish Head

Satay Celup Celup @Ban Lee Siang Restaurant

More Satay Celup Celup

Satay Celup Celup dinner

Durian Cendol

Nyonya Chicken. Actually, I really forgot what this dish is called, yikes. But just order the signature chicken dish and they'll know what you're talking about. Super YUM!!! @Ole Nyonya Restaurant

Otak-Otak

Lemak Prawns

Assam Fish Head

Hainan Satay, i.e. Pork Satays!!!!!!

(iv) Kuala Lumpur

Lou Sang @Purple Cane Restaurant

Tea Soups

Peking Duck

Pan Mee

Cheong Fun

Yong Tau Fu

Char Siew @Wong Kee Coffeeshop, Pudu

The Famous Siew Yoke there - VERY flavourful and moist. Definitely tasted garlic in there, great idea. Gotta try and figure out how they did it without burning the garlic (cause they burn easily). Garlic juice I suppose

Nasi Bojari @Madam Kwan's

Curry Ox Tail Soup

Cendol with Gula Melaka

Glazed Donuts @J. Co Donuts - WAYYYY better than Krispy Kreme! SO light, gosh

Roti KLCC! Exaggerated version of Roti Tissue

Teochew Fish Skin

"Ou Ni" aka "Teochew Yam Dessert"

Buffet Plate #1: Prawns, oysters, octopus, SASHIMIII @Lemon Garden Cafe, Shangri-La's Hotel

Buffet Plate #2: Roast Ribeye, Cheese and Ham Focaccia, Glazed Potatoes, Miso Tuna, Lamb Chop, Braised Duck with Mushrooms

Buffet Plate #3: Wet Fry Mee - SURPRISINGLY GOOOD *claps* for turning simple dishes exceptional

Buffet Plate #4: Egg noodle soup lol

Buffet Plate #5: Roasted Lamb Rack with Mint Sauce, Mushroom and Ham Pizza, Quiche, Spaghetti al Funghi, Chilli Oil Fettucini

Buffet Plate #6: Roast Duck, Sambal Prawns, Curry Fried Prawns, more Wet Fry Mee

Dessert Plate #1: Brownie, Bread Pudding, Soft Mango Cheesecake/Mousse, Creme Brulee

Mango Mousse with Cake and Choc Chip

Dessert Plate #2: Choc and Raspberry Ganache, Jam Custard Dessert, local fruits, Breadstix-sortofathing dipped in Choc and Strawberry sauce

Inside of the interesting Raspberry ganache