Birthday Dinner at Melba Restaurant, Southbank

Sheer opulence and grandeur (without being overdone IMO) at the foyer of the Langham Hotel...

Let's just say I'm glad it wasn't a statue of a cupid... Couldn't get any tackier if it were

Fresh flowers... (Yes, I smelt it)

Night began with a stroll around the buffet area. This sashimi station immediately caught my attention and I knew right away that it was going to be a good night ahead... Right, I was

Mmmmmmmmm...

No holding back at the seafood counter

Tiger prawns... 

Peeled with a squeeze of lime and dipped in Thousand Island Sauce... Buffet faveee

Crabs.... Obviously

Just the pincers 

Oysters... No duhh

Salad and bread station... The only section of a buffet restaurant that I walk past very quickly without a second glance lol

Man frying up some Asian noodles...

First thing that caught my eye at the meat section... Beautiful, glistening duck!!

Take your pick

A coupla things here were pretty good, actually... 

Stunning sight

But me not being one with the sweet tooth as usual, did not feel compelled to have a taste

Plate of sashimi to kick off an epic meal... Joy

Cold seafoods at a buffet, one of my fav things to eat...

Roast leg of lamb, oyster kilpatrick, peking duck wraps, roast pork belly, roast beef...

Loved EVERYTHING on this plate!!!

Sorry my photos started to get pretty shit at this point, was honestly too busy stuffing my face

The Naan bread was AWESOME!! I had the cheese, garlic and chilli one... Yum++

Sorry, couldn't help it... The diehard Asian in me wanted to test what a plate of Char Koay Teow at a 5 Star Hotel would taste like... PASS

Not normally a fan of desserts at buffets (feel like it's normally just mousse after mousse after mousse, yawn...) but a coupla ones that I had were actually quite nice

Most probably my highlight of the night: M&M's NAAN!!!!!!!

Our table... =)

Capping off a great night, never too old to be goofin' around, I say... =)

My meal at Melba Restaurant at the Langham Hotel was a long, long anticipated one. I've been wanting to come here for the international buffet ever since my first year of coming to Australia back in 2008. In my mind, it's always been too expensive for my budget (at $80 a pop), but I thought heck, I've worked pretty hard the past coupla years and I think I deserved it...

I thought my meal at Melba was everything that I expected it to be, in a good way. Fair array of international cuisine with above average food. I thought they maintained the standard of food pretty well across the board. Granted there were a few very, very minor missteps that didn't quite tickle my fancy (like the oysters, mussels or noodles) but these are very much forgivable IMO. Buffets aren't easy to do.

We all still enjoyed 90% of the food very, very much. My highlights included the sashimi and seafood (of course), meat selection and of course... That incredibly weird but downright AWESOME M&M's Naan...! Crisp Naan bread with crunchy M&M shells and gooey chocolate in the middle... Blew my mind for some odd reason.

We honestly ate and ate till our heart's content and let's just say, the belt was not my friend that night. To me, it was a buffet with good standard (which is actually quite rare). Best thing about it was that 2 of our friends had the Entertainment Book, which gave us a total of $90 off our total bill... So, we only ended up paying $65/person (instead of $80) for the meal... WIN!!! So come here for a meal if you've got the Entertainment Card because it's really worth it.

Anyhoo, I couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate my birthday that night and am so glad to have these friends to share it with. Although I'll be staying off buffets for a while, I'm really keen now to check out the other buffet contender in Melbourne that also has everyone raving about: China Bar Signature in Burwood...

Recipe for Fig Frangipane Tart with Sour Cream Pastry and Creme Anglaise, Fizzy Passionfruit and Mint Punch for my Birthday Picnic

A deeeeeelicious tart that is actually really simple to make! 

I'm that person that have always been quite shy about my birthdays, believe it or not. 

Even though I always have a celebration every year, it really is more of an excuse for me to gather my friends/family together to share a meal. Just saying that it's for "my birthday" makes me kind of uncomfortable already. Maybe it's because I feel like it puts me under a really awkward spotlight for the day that I don't even know how to react to it. Same when people IRL ask me about my food blog. That said, I care about people coming together for the meals very, very much. Also, I am more than grateful for the great friends and family I have in my life. I appreciate every single one and me throwing a "birthday party" is more a celebration of the people I am blessed with in my life than anything else. 

So this year, I thought I'd invite my friends over to a picnic at the park. Chilling out at the park is one of my favourite things to do. Ever. And with food, friends and kickass weather involved, it really was my ideal "birthday celebration" to have. Although, my real birthday is actually on Monday and I'm looking forward to another get together then.

The menu is actually a reflection of food that I have come to LOVE to eat. The local food, cuisines and fresh produce that I have fallen madly in love with ever since I moved to Australia. Very different from the heavy, Asian and rice-centric (lol) meals I've grown up with in Malaysia. I don't prefer one over the other, but I must say that I do love my salads and Italian cold meats with good quality bread. Maybe it's because I've been having it so much with my colleagues at our weekly Friday lunches =)

To be honest, the past year has actually been the best year of my life. Got my PR. Graduated from Masters. Got a job that I love. Great friends and family. Really does feel like I'm rich in the things that matter. Counting my blessings each day and definitely going to look back on the year that I was 22. I know, I'm much younger than most people think. 

As much fun as it was being 22, I'm sure being 23 is going to be even more AWESOME. 

Here's a recap of what I prepared:

Bought 8 beautiful figs for $3 at Victoria Market

Still very new to figs but absolutely LOVEEE it. Whether it's in a salad, tart or just on its own, I've just loved every experience I had with it. YUM

Love this photo that my friend took!! 

Spread of food before us but whole party standing aorund and waiting for me to finish taking the photos one by one hahaha...

Sun-Dried Tomatoes Hummus using Yasmeen's recipe

It's so pretty and yummy. Thanks for that, Yas! Loved it and went so insanely well with the Turkish pide bread!!

Tuna Pasta Salad...

...Using the filling from my previous Tuna Melts Recipe

Gypsy Ham

Love that there's this awesome Italian deli near my workplace!

Capocollo

Sopressa

Mortadella with Black Pepper

Rustic Ciabatta with Italian Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar

This Ciabatta from Victoria Market was soooo good I couldn't get enough of it!

Also bought some delicious Turkish Pide and Olive Baguette (not pictured) for the day

Smoked Cheese and Gouda

Actually bought some delicious Jarlsberg cheese too, but I left them at home. Argh!!

Super easy and refreshing Fizzy Passionfruit and Mint Punch 

Personally love this so much

My homemade Fig Frangipane Tart with Sour Cream Pastry and Creme Anglaise!

With frangipane filling made with my buddy Elliot's recipe

The frangipane was a huge hit thanks for your recipe dude!

Shameless selfie! Lol

Happy days... 

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Fig Frangipane Tart with Sour Cream Pastry and Creme Anglaise

The reason this was the PERFECT dessert for me was:

1) One of the best pastries I had was the sour cream pastry I had at Maggie Beer's farm in 2010, so I re-created it

2) I love love love any baked goods with almond meal, hence the frangipane

3) Figs, figs, figs!

4) Don't have a sweet tooth but boy do I LOVE my custards...

A) For the pastry

(adapted from this recipe by Maggie Beer)

Ingredients:

200g butter (chilled and cubed)

250g plain flour

pinch of salt

125 ml sour cream

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 180degC. Pulse the butter, flour and salt in a food processor until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Alternatively: press the cubed butter into the flour with a fork until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs

2) Add the sour cream and pulse until dough is incorporated to a ball.

Alternatively: add the sour cream and knead with hands until mixture is incorporated

3) Wrap dough in cling wrap and chill in fridge for 20 minutes.

Note: Butter in the dough melts at room temperature and chilling it makes the dough easier to work with. Otherwise, pastry will be too soft and difficult to use.

4) Remove dough from fridge and roll out until 3mm thick

5) Line dough carefully into springform tart pan and remove excess from the edges. Poke holes all around the base of the tart with a fork (almost to the bottom)

Note: This helps prevent base from puffing up due to the pent up steam during the baking process

6) Line with baking paper and fill with rice or baking weights.

Note: Helps retain its shape

7) Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, before removing paper and rice/weights. Bake for another 10 minutes, remove from oven and set aside to chill at room temperature until needed.

Note: Tart will shrink from the sides a little. It's normal because liquid in the tart is evaporated during the baking process. Removing weights halfway helps the base of tart to dry up

B) For the frangipane tart

(adapted from a recipe given to me by Elliot from Musings of a Young Gourmet)

Ingredients:

125g butter (softened)

1/2 cup caster sugar

1 egg yolk

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup almond meal

1/2 cup plain flour

6 - 8 ripe figs (sliced in half)

Method:

1) Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer until light and fluffy

2) Add the egg yolk, egg and vanilla extract and beat until well combined

3) Add the flour and almond meal and beat until well combined

4) Spoon into par-baked pastry case and press figs into the filling

5) Bake in pre-heated oven at 180degC for 35 minutes or until golden brown

6) Remove from oven and let it chill at room temperature until ready to serve

C) For the creme anglaise

(adapted from this recipe by Food Wishes)

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup sugar

2 large egg yolks

1 vanilla bean

Method:

1) Place the cream, sugar and egg yolks in a small pot. 

2) Use a knife to split the vanilla bean lengthways and scrape the seeds into the pot. Whisk mixture together with a fork until well combined.

3) Heat the mixture at low heat and stir constantly (while scraping the bottom) with a spatula until mixture thickens

Note: You will notice mixture will thicken when the volume starts to increase slightly and the waves you make from stirring move much slower than when you started

4) Strain mixture through fine mesh and chill in the fridge until required

Sounds like a lengthy recipe but if you read it carefully it's actually really quick and simple to do! It's just that I added lots of notes to help you guys along the way =)

Super yummy and delicious dessert... Perfect combo of flavours all round. Really good if I do say so myself!

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Fizzy Passionfruit and Mint Punch

 (an original recipe)

Ingredients:

3 (1.25L) bottles of Schweppes Lemonade

5 passionfruits

2 handfuls of mint leaves

Method:

1) Slice the passionfruit in half and scoop out the flesh. 

2) Mix everything together in a big container/pitcher

3) Chill in fridge until ready to drink and ENJOY!

Thank you also to my friend Grace for being such a nice model for the drink =)

In the end, it was a really fun, relaxed and enjoyable time spent. Looking forward to my dinner tomorrow night too! Take good care, everybody.

Nian Gao Puff Recipe (年糕酥)

A different take on a Chinese classic

"Nian Gao" (年糕) aka "Chinese Sticky Rice Cake" is a very traditional Chinese food that's eaten at many auspicious occasions throughout a Chinese person's life, especially during Chinese New Year. The significance of this is interpreted quite differently by many people but as for my family, the stickiness of the cake symbolises the cohesiveness or unity of a family's bond. This is what I was taught growing up and also what I will tell my kids and their kids in the future.

Bought this "Nian Gao" at my local Asian grocery for $5

Typically, "Nian Gao" is simply sliced up thinly before coating and frying it in egg (as shown below). But then, my cousin told me of this awesome new way that she made "Nian Gao" the other day during our recent Chinese New Year dinner.

Photo taken from my 2012 Chinese New Year post

She said that she got the idea from Nasi Lemak Lover (a blog that I personally absolutely ADORE) to wrapping them in puff pastry before baking it in the oven until they're golden brown and slightly oozy in the middle. OMG. 

I couldn't get it out of my mind and I knew I had to make it right away... So here you go. Chinese New Year isn't over yet so get some "Nian Gao" from your nearest Asian Grocery right away so you can make these for your friends and family! Although, the only thing I will say it that you should probably spread a little butter on the pastry instead of egg wash just to give the pastry more flavour. Otherwise, it's quite yum!

It's a great twist and surprise to a classic that will surely get everyone excited. Super quick and easy. Gong Xi Fa Chai again to you all!

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Nian Gao Puff Recipe (年糕酥)

(adapted slightly from this recipe by Nasi Lemak Lover)

Ingredients:

"Nian Gao" aka Chinese Sticky Rice Cake (cut to strips)

3 to 4 sheets of frozen puff pastry (thawed)

cashew/peanuts (chopped roughly)

1 egg yolk (lightly beaten) *

sesame seeds (black and/or white)

* Alternatively, use melted butter for more flavour

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180degC. Roll out the puff pastry until thin (otherwise it will puff up too much!)

2. Lay and space out the strips of "Nian Gao" on the pastry sheet before cutting it up into rectangles

Tip: Wet your fingers slightly if the "Nian Gao" becomes a bit too sticky and difficult to handle

3. Place nuts on top of the strip of "Nian Gao"

4. Fold the sides and roll the pastry with the filling enclosed into a little parcel

I had to add extra sheet on top because I cut my rectangle too small and couldn't roll properly. Don't make the same mistake as me!

5. Brush egg wash or melted butter on surface and sprinkle sesame seeds on top

6. Bake in oven for 18 minutes or until golden brown. ENJOY! =)

The finished product. Great to share at a potluck or dinner party =)

Hope you're all having a great start to the weekend!

Cafe Saffron, Ivanhoe

Beef Andhra - $17.90

Exotically cooked beef in a mustard seed, curry leaf and coconut cream based sauce

Complimentary Papadams

Aman E Saaq - $15.90

Combination of fresh cottage cheese and spinach puree cooked to perfection with ground spices

Garlic Naan

Roasted bread of plain flour with a fresh garlic flavour

Rada E Gosht - $17.90

A Cafe Saffron signature. Perfect curry of lamb and lamb mince

Keema Naan

Baked bread of flour stuffed with seasonal minced meat

Saffron Pulao - $4.00

Saffron flavoured basmati rice

Seriously delicious.... Bite after bite

Wiped every drop clean! =D

Mango Lassi - $3.50

Indian yoghurt drink with mango flavour

Kesari Kulfi - $5.90

Traditional saffron flavoured homemade Indian ice-cream with an irresistible blend of pistachio

What a lot of people don't realise is that even though I enjoy recommending places to people, I LOVE trying out other people's recommendations even more. As was the case when my mate J took my other friend and I to Cafe Saffron, an Indian restaurant that he and his family loves going to. 

So glad he did because every single dish was spot on and utterly delicious. The flavours were simply beautiful and the consistency of the sauces were nicely thick and slightly creamy, which made it oh so addictive to slather all over our naan or drown our rice in.

But my favourite definitely has to be the one with spinach puree and cottage cheese! It was different and hard to make out. All I can say is that it was tasty (and slightly spicy too) but you couldn't help but keep spooning more of the sauce onto our plate. The cheese tasted more like bocconcini which gave a nice chewy and neutral element to the dish. I know that this is a common dish in other Indian restaurants, but I've never ordered this anywhere else so don't know how it would fair but the one here tasted pretty damn awesome.

Definitely my go to place for Indian now (it's nice to mix it up with the cuisines hey) because it was absolutely flawless. Price was absolutely value for money too as we were insanely full to the brim by the time we left. All that food, 3 people, $25 per person. There's so SO much to choose from on their menu too but if it's your first time there, definitely try the spinach puree dish for a change. I'm sure you'll find it interesting and enjoy it too. 

Thanks again J for taking us here. It was a fantastic meal and we should totally come back sometime soon!