'CHUR Burger' Review

Hey Nibblers!

     Catching up with friends over good food is one of my favourite things in the world. Faye and I make it our mission to try new things every time we hang out. I must confess, we haven't exactly been accomplishing our missions as of late. Instead of being adventurous, we've been staying put with the comfort of sushi. On our last two occassions, it's been sushi so when it came to our third meeting we decided to branch out. While I was weighing our options, I stumbled across 'Chur Burger.' At first, I was quite skeptical as after my last burger outing it left me unsatisfied. But as soon as I saw they offered a 'Salted Caramel' milkshake, I just had to give this place a go!

'CHUR Burger'
 Where: 48 Albion St, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010           Website: http://www.churburger.com.au/#menu

        It was busy when we walked in. I loved the tin barrels that were used as chairs that were surprisingly comfy to sit on and the quirky decor of the place. Tables were set up simply and had quick turnovers. When it was time to order, we had a lovely order taker that was very helpful in helping us pick the best items from the menu. It wasn't a difficult task as the menu was so concise and offered great options at reasonable prices.

Grilled beef, cheese, tomato jam, mustard mayo, pickle & burger ($10)

        Faye ordered a 'Salted Caramel' Milkshake ($8), a 'Pulled pork, Chur BBQ sauce, red slaw and fennel mayo' ($10) while I opted for a simple 'Grilled beef, cheese, tomato jam, mustard mayo & pickle burger ($10) & 'Milo' Milkshake ($8). We of course ordered a side of 'Sweet potato fries with garlic and lime.' ($5).
        Service was fast and everything came pretty much at the same time. The first thing that struck me were the polka-dot napkins! Love at first sight. Things were looking good so far. 
         The 'Salted Caramel' Milkshake was perfect. Not too sweet and just the right between salty and sweet. It was really a great partnership with Faye's pulled pork burger. The burger was moist, flavoursome and the pork was so succulent. Mix that in with the red slaw and fennel mayo it's a real winner. It's definitely a MUST. 

'Pulled pork, Chur BBQ sauce, red slaw and fennel mayo' ($10)

         My 'Beef burger' was delicious. They're very generous with their sauce which I love. Another great thing was the buns weren't soggy even mid-way through the meal. While the beef was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, juicy and full of flavour I'm a bit disappointed I couldn't try other burger selections. I feel that any burger place that can do a beef burger well, the chances their other burgers are better run highly. My 'Milo' milkshake was not too sweet so it didn't overpower the burger. While I enjoyed it, I feel I can make something similar at home so would definitely try other flavours next time. 
          I've never had proper sweet potato fries before. While they weren't all equally crunchy, they all had pocketfuls of flavour. The potato inside was creamy and melted with the lime and salty outside. Definitely a go for these fries. They made a very good first impression.

The entrance and 'CHUR' atmosphere inside/ decor

          The burgers are deceptively small. Being the food demolishers that we are, we both struggled to finish the shared sweet potato fries, milkshakes and burgers. So be careful when ordering. I suggest ordering one side between two.
           All in all, I'm glad we branched out. I have still yet to revisit 'CHUR Burger' but it's definitely on my list of things to do in 2014. On another note, I found out that 'Chur' actually means 'awesome' so the name is so fitting. If you're around the area, I definitely should check it out. Leave a comment below if you have and tell me about your experience there.

Nibble Away,
          Jo

How To: Hot Dogs with Sauerkraut

Hey Nibblers!

        With Oktoberfest well in their swing of things / party time slowly dying down, I thought I pop out a Bavarian inspired recipe. I'm not going to lie, I made and documented this a couple of weeks ago but didn't have the time to pop it on here. I must also add I was inspired by 'Brother Green Eats' to make these quick, delicious hot dog with cheater's edition sauerkraut. If you haven't checked them out on Youtube, they're two brothers Josh and Mike who make finger-licking food. Whether it is whatever they have on hand or re-creating some of their favourites, it always makes me hungry. I love how their love of cooking and experimenting show in their food and they don't need fancy tools to achieve it.

What you'll need: (for 6 servings)

- 6 hot dog buns (OR whatever buns you like)
- 6 thin Frankfurters (Pick your favourite or experiment)
- 1/2 cup of red wine vinegar (Any sweet vinegar will do)
- Tomato sauce and Mustard (OR your fav hot dog sauces)
         Note: While Dijonnaise is pictured, I thought it woud have went well. However, the creamy whole mustard seeds overpowered the sauerkraut so I suggest using just mustard if you're making it for yourself to be able to get the whole experience
- 6 cups of washed, roughly sliced cabbage strips (OR a half-filled microwave-safe 8 inch bowl)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- Tap water

How To:
1. Slice your cabbage strips into rough 1cm wide x 2-3cm long. (They'll shrink after they cook so don't worry if they're a tad too big.)
2. Pop your sliced cabbage in a microwave-safe bowl along with your salt and vinegar
3. Add some tap water until it rises and engulfs the cabbage pieces
4. Taste your vinegar, salty cabbage marinade water. It should taste sour but sweet so a fermented taste
      (Note: If it's too sour, add a bit more salt.
                  Too sweet? add some more vinegar)

5. Microwave your cabbage bowl for 10 minutes (Depending on the power of your microwave, you may need to leave it in longer or less. After the initial microwave session, you want your cabbage to be almost cooked.)
6. Cut your hot buns right through the in the middle or across ways (Whichever enhances your hot dog senses)

6. Add your frankfurters to the cabbage bowl and pop it back into the microwave for 3 minutes (By the end of this stage, your frankfurters will be nicely steamed/ infused with the vinegar and cabbage and your cabbage cooked to perfection)

7. Assemble hot dog!

Add Frankfurter

Add cheater's sauerkraut

Add your favourite sauces

        And you're done! Quick and easy! You should definitely give this one a try. It'll be great as party food or even just making the sauerkraut for a side to the rest of your dinner.

     Leave a comment below if you do try it or for any other suggestions. Hope you enjoyed this post and are having an amazing week!

Nibble Away,

             Jo x.

Travel Nibbles: 'Rosenburger' Review

Hi Nibblers!

         It's not Tuesday! I should really stop being so delayed. But, better late than never right? No, not really. I blame uni. With just three weeks to go before semester ends and exams start, I'm engaging in assessment after assessment. The good thing about having to studying is being able to procrastibake. So, I've been testing out a couple of recipes out for you all and they should be up on 'Nibble Nation'  as soon as I get to perfecting and re-taking the pictures. Anyway, enough of my life story let's get into this travel review.

'Rosenburger' Review
Where: Brunnenstrasse 196, Mitte 10119     Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosenburger/543848369010597 

Image taken by Billy Rosendale: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/8881283953_fff08d66e8_z.jpg

             Kelly and I were starving by this point (Still in Berlin) so when we spotted 'Rosenburger,' we were pretty pumped to grab some burgers. The menus were very traveller friendly and offered english translations. 'Rosenburger' is basically a self-serve fast food place that offers a range of burgers which include organic and vegetarian options, hot dogs, burritos accompanied by either a salad, chips or onion rings etc. Unfortunately, I relied too much on technology and didn't write exactly what we ordered down. They don't have a menu anywhere on the interwebs so all I have is a picture of it all. So I'm sorry I can;t delve into more details on each burger butcan only give you an overall idea of how I felt about 'Rosenburger.'

Generous servings

          First off, service was amazing. The guy that took our order was very accompanying and brought our food to the table because they work on a number system and we didn't react when they said the number '4' in German.
          I ordered a normal beef cheeseburger while Kelly opted for a chicken burger with a side of chips and a portion of onion rings to share. Presentation was nothing fancy but, we weren't expecting much so no disappointment there. The chips were delicious. They were steaming hot, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The perfect accompaniment. The onion rings were equally crispy. They used actual onion slices instead of mushy onion pieces that you find else where. I definitely recommend grabbing both sides if you just want to go all out on the sides.
         As for their burgers, they offer great vegetarian options and organic versions if that's your type of thing. From what I remember, food came out pretty quickly and you can basically see the kitchen and chef(s) making your burger to order. The burger tasted fresh, patties were juicy and lathered in their sauces. You could also see all the components of the burger so you can see everything you're eating. Expect a burger that is better than your typical fast food joint but thinner portions than a gourmet burger. They were generous in their sauce content and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The only downside were the burger buns. They weren't steaming hot and weren't soft and fluffy. It was sort of like buying just any ordinary burger buns from your local supermarket.
          All in all, I would definitely go here again. I didn't feel bloated like I usually do when I eat fast-food and found prices relative to what you get at say McDonalds, KFC etc. So, for a meal, I believe for their average meal option, it was about 7 euros which is an equivalent of $10AUD. Hope you enjoyed this quickie of a review. Comment below if you've tried 'Rosenburger' or have any recommendations for places you love in Berlin. I would love to try them the next time I'm there (crossing my fingers for next year.)

Have a lovely week and until next time,

Nibble Away,

Jo x.

P.S. how cute are these Berlin bears? They're everywhere around the city!

'Sushi Hotaru' Review (The Galeries Victoria)

Hey Nibblers!

        If you read my last post, you would have seen that I have a slight obsession with sushi. I have no shame when I say that I've had days where for breakfast, lunch and dinner I've eaten sushi. I never used to feel this way about sushi but ever since coming back from travelling, I've formed an attraction. It is weird though because in those five weeks, we only ate sushi twice and it wasn't even great.  I do love my sashimi  and I remember ever only allowed to eat it on special occasions. So, when I was first introduced to 'Sushi Hotaru' and saw I could have my own little serving of sashimi to myself, I knew I had found love. Since our first date, I've been here about eight times. Yes, you read correct. Eight. This is how much I love sushi and 'Sushi Hotaru.' So what has me coming back for more you ask? Let's get into the nitty gritty details then shall we?

'Sushi Hotaru'
Where: The Galeries Victoria RP1, 500 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000       Website: http://yesfood.com.au/hotaru.html

           First off, I love the set-up of this place. While narrow, it manages to fit a capacity of 80 people. The turnover is fast and everything is efficient. Staff are very friendly but, the 'Sushi Hotaru' can get really busy during peak hours and you do have to wait. The thing was when I took Kelly and my other cousin Kimberley we arrived at peak hour and didn't have to wait for more than 15 minutes which I say is pretty good. We could have been lucky but, I think it's more the way it all works. You come in to eat sushi with some friends for lunch or dinner and then you're out. It's loud and a tad crowded at times to have a nice catch up. This is definitely not large party friendly as there are not enough tables so I say travel in two, three or fours at maximum.

Sushi belt

        What I also love is the use of their electronic machines. They have their whole menu stored on an iPad which is located at ever bench top or table depending on where you are sitting. For certain menu items such as their amazing handrolls, they don't run on the sushi belt so you have to order them on the iPad and a member of staff comes to your table to deliver your roll. Or if you can't see what you're after on the belt, you can order it on the iPad and it comes freshly made for you.

           In terms of pricing, everything is $3 unless otherwise stated. If you're unsure, check on the iPad. For those that don't have a price tag next to their name I can assure you it's $3. It's a bit hard for me to explain it all as there is so much variety but on my past eight visits, I did take a couple of photos of some of the dishes I ate and review them for you. So here goes, I'll split them into sections to make it a tad easier:

Hand Rolls (All $3 each)

Spicy Tuna roll $3

Eel, Spicy Tuna Mentalko and Soft Shell Crab handrolls. Shark Fin Salad Gunkan (in the background) $3 AUD each

Up close and personal with the Soft Shell Crab hand roll

       As far I have tried, all the hand rolls I've had are absolute perfect. The spicy tuna/ salmon are awesome if you love the sashimi types and the seaweed is so crisp, it meets ever food texture you need. I'm not a fan of eel but if you are, it's as decadent. These are made fresh so everything is hot, generous in the sauce department and consistent it the rice to filling ratio. The soft shell is amazing! Crispy, perfectly seasoned and a great serving of Jap mayo and this is a winner.

       'Wagyu beef' / 'Wagyu omlette' is so juicy and flavoursome if you're into beef.

       I didn't like the 'Oyster Omlette' hand roll though. It tasted too much like the sea to me.

       'Seared Salmon' is good but, if you want perfection in your mouth choose the seared 'Nigiri Sushi' selection instead.

Gunkan Sushi (All $3 each)

From memory, I've only tried:

       The 'Flying Fish Roe' has a fun crunchy texture as normal but I found it to be too salty for my liking. They are generous with their roe servings though

       'Shark Fin' Salad is delicious. A bit sour and sweet and crunchy, it is definitely one of my favourites.

       'Lobster Salad' was again generous but nothing special.

       'Octopus Salad' was a tad salty for me and had wasabi infused in the mixture. My brother did like this though and would opt for it again.

       'Salmon Roe' are larger eggs but they lack the crunch that the 'Flying Fish Roe' had. Without that texture, it was not more than salty mush.

Roll Sushi (All $3 each)

        'Tempura Prawn' was a let down. I felt it was cold and the fried prawn tasted too much of oil

Tempura Roll

        'Soft Shell Crab' this place has it down packed for the soft shell crab department. It tastes amazing, always fresh and no taste of the greasy flavour. I love all variation sushi from them.

Soft Shell Crab Roll

        'Chicken Katsu' is like a standard sushi roll in the shops. While it was nice, it would not be a must here.

Chicken Katsu Roll 

        The first few times I've been to 'Sushi Hotaru' I did have a few dishes from the 'Roll Sushi' category but, recently while they look amazing I feel the 'Hand Rolls,' 'Gunkan' and 'Nigiri' outweigh the 'Roll Sushi.'

Side Dishes

       'Takoyaki' 4 pieces for $3. We ordered using the iPad and they always come out steaming hot and super crisp on the outside. 

Takoyaki! nom nom

       'Okonomiyaki' which was like a giant 'Takoyaki' except it lacked the crisp outside. The filling was just as flavoursome and steaming hot

Okonomiyaki $3

        'Spicy Chicken Wings' The first time I had these, they weren't salty. However, after that time, I've always thought they were too salty. While they are crisp, it's a bet to order these.

Spicy Chicken Wings $3

   'Crumbed Octopus' Generous serving for $3 but again was soaked in too much of the oil that it lacked the delicious octopus flavour. It was steaming hot when served though.

Crumbed Octopus

         'Crumbed Calamari' similar to the fried octopus above. Generous but, lacked flavour due to overpowering grease taste.

Crumbed Calamari

         'Gyoza.' I've also have had this twice but, while it's a good serving size, taste-wise there is nothing unique that wants you begging for more.

Gyoza $3. Served with a side of sweet soy sauce

      Sashimi $7.90 (All Gold dishes are 7.90.) Fresh, nicely cut and my favourite. Can't say more but that I freaking love this stuff. They have different variations. I went for the tuna, salmon and kingfish option. My favourite would be the salmon out of the three as it has the the least chewy texture. I do have to say for 6 pieces at $7.90 it is a tad expensive than places I've seen. But, does look/taste more fresh. Haven't had any food poisoning so it's a good sign.

Sashimi $7.90 AUD

          

Nigiri Sushi

      When I say try ALL things seared, I mean it. Seared scallops, seared salmon, anything you see on the menu, eat it. This is what I live for at 'Sushi Hotaru.' The smoky flavour just melts in your mouth and the juices that run through your mouth is such an amazing sensation. Every time I pop any of these bad boys into my mouth, I just want to moan at how amazing they are. It is a MUST here.

Seared Scallop $3

     I do also enjoy all the sashimi, spicy types but, I think that all falls down to personal preference.

Drinks

      If you love sesame you MUST order this drink. the 'Black Sesame Latte' is the most amazing drink ever. I don't know how to describe it but it's basically a milky sesame flavoured glass of awesome. It comes with a scoop of their black sesame ice cream. While the texture of the ice cream isn't at all creamy and nor dense, it saves on getting a dessert at the end. 

Black Sesame Latte $5.50 AUD

      I also tried the 'Green Tea Latte with Red Bean Ice Cream.' I've never been a fan of green tea flavoured things and this is no exception. The 'Red Bean Ice Cream' was quite flavourful though. It was much denser than the 'Black Sesame' scoop but nothing I would say is a definite order. Kimberley who loves green tea flavoured things, enjoyed hers so, I say if you do love the green, go for it!       All in all, I love 'Sushi Hotaru.' I'm certain I've tried more on their menu but, I'm usually so hungry and scoff through the plates that I forget to document what I had. I say look at the iPad menu and pick whatever tickles your fancy and experiment from there. I totally recommend this and every time I've taken a new friend to this place, they fall in love as well so, I think I've really hit a gem right here. In terms of pricing, if I stuff myself silly with a friend with similar eating capabilities as I have and include drinks, I say it'll be about $20 - $30 per person. Maximum $40. When I ate with my parents and Richard, we ate about $28 per person, with Kelly & Kim it was $28. It may sound like a lot now but once you're in there, it's well worth it!

Standard demolishing of sushi

Hope you're enjoying a good dose of blogging! Feel free to leave a comment if you have the same love affair or think I should try one your own hidden gems. 

Nibble Away,

          Jo x.

Travel Nibbles: Hashi Izakaya Japanese Kitchen

Hey Nibblers!

        I know it's not Tuesday. But, it's been too long and we need to catch up. I need to tell you that I have an addiction. One that sometimes I really think I should seek help for. I can't stop thinking about it. Sometimes I even dream about it. I salivate and drool all over my pillow. Okay, I don't actually paint my pillow with saliva. Maybe a drop or two but, that's besides the point. The point is, I have an addiction to sushi. This week alone I've eaten at my favourite sushi place at the moment, 'Sushi Hotaru' in Sydney's 'The Galeries Victoria' (Click for Review) twice. I would even be willing to go again if time allowed me to. Anyway, I'm telling you this confession because when Kelly and I were half way through our European adventures, we were dying for some sushi and the good ol' Takoyaki.
        We were exploring the streets around our Berlin hostel (The Circus Hostel) when we passed 'Hashi Izakaya Japanese Kitchen.' It was closed but there was a menu placed out. As soon as we spotted Takoyaki, we had a date with Japanese food.

Hashi Izakaya Japanese Kitchen
Where: Rosenthaler Straße 63, Berlin-Mitte Germany, 10119.                           Website: http://www.hashi-kitchen.de/index.html

Image from http://www.architravel.com

        So, what did we order?
'Beef Yaki Udon' (Stir-fried Udon with tender beef, mushrooms & green onions, topped with nori strips) - 6.90 euros (Approx. $10 AUD)
'Veggie Udon Soup' (Udon in fish broth with fresh vegetables, tempura crunch ) - 6.90 euros (Approx. $10AUD)
'Takoyaki' (Deep-fried octopus balls topped with sweet tonkatsu sauce, Bonito flakes & Jap, mayo) - 4.90 euros (Approx. $7.10 AUD) 
'Californian Roll' (Avocado, Surimi, Tobbiko fish roe, Japanese cucumber, Jap. mayonaise) - 5.90 euros (Approx. $8.50 AUD)
'Nagoya Chicken Wings' (Deep fried chicken wings with sweet Nagoya sauce, garlic, sesame) - 4.90 euros (Approx. $7.10 AUD)  
'Sesame Ice Cream' - 2.90 euros (Approx. $4.20 AUD) 

Kelly with all our amazing food

The Verdict?
       Service was great. Food came out quickly and there was no rushing as we ate. Staff were really friendly and I loved the dimly lit rooms and simple candlelight table setting. Their menu had greman, japanaese and english translation which made ordering very travel-friendly. Food presentation on all their dishes were clean, simple and consistent which I liked. The tables were also well spaced and the perfect size for dining. It would be a great place for a good catch-up with friends and even as a date. Did I mention that Kelly and I happened to be there on Valentine's Day? We had an array of couples surrounding us while we ate. We were all sharing the love.
       In terms of food, portions for the udon dishes were generous. Both the 'Beef Yaki Udon' and 'Veggie Udon Soup' were flavoursome and served at a steaming hot temperature. They were not at all salty as I find many soups to be and I did thoroughly enjoy these dishes. I think they're relatively well priced in comparison to Aussie prices so happy days there.
        The 'Takoyaki' was amazingly crisp on the outside and steaming hot on the insides. The filling was not soggy however, I felt it lacked in the sauce compartment though this is my own personal preference. Kelly doesn't love sauce so, I would say it's a thumbs up for her. It's a tad more expensive than most 'Takoyaki' dishes but we had a craving to satisfy and in terms of taste, it was well worth it.
        Then comes the sushi. The 'Californian Roll' was unfortunately a let down. At almost $9 AUD, it was a small portion for what it was worth with little filling. I could hardly taste the fish roe or even the fake crab meat (surimi). While presentation was clean, I wouldn't be ordering this again for lack of flavour.

        The 'Nagoya Chicken Wings' had an amazing crispy outside and the sweet soy sauce  immediately bursts inside your mouth as you bite into the meat. At approximately $7.90AUD, it's more expensive than most places and while it was served fresh, only order this if you usually love the soy soaked chicken wings. I do have to say that most places don't get the balance in sweet and salty balance right but I think, 'Hashi' nails it here.
        To accompany our meal, we both had a freshly made cocktail each. I can't remember the exact names of our cocktails but, they did have really fun names like 'Hello Kitty' & 'Green Ninja.' I remember Kelly picked out a watermelon based vodka infused cocktail for me with mint and it was really refreshing. I can't recall Kelly's but, from memory hers was minty and just as good.
        You must be thinking that we're such hippos for wanting to stuff down some more food but, we couldn't say no to 'Sesame Ice Cream.' This was definitely one of the best sesame ice creams I've ever had in my life. For two scoops, it's well priced. It was pungent with sesame flavour and it is a definite must for 'Hashi.' It was also served with a dollop of cream which I found odd but, scoffed it down anyway because it was just delicious.

         Come to think about it, it is quite funny how much we ate. While we were waiting for our food to digest all we saw around us was couples holding hands, nibbling gracefully on their food with no more than three dishes on their tables. Switch back to Kelly and I, and we had a table full of food with hardly any room for arm space. But, what can you do when you have such an addiction and craving?

Happy travellers! A failed selfie in front of Brandenburg Gate

           Hope you Nibblers enjoyed this review. Comment below if you've have a sushi addiction and where you like to ease your withdrawal symptoms. Sorry it's been so long, uni has me tied down but, I'm so glad to finally be typing something other than an essay for once. Hope you're all having a lovely week.

Nibble Away,

             Jo x.

Travel Nibbles: 'Mistral Cafe' Review

Hey Nibblers!

    Made it to the amazingly snowy Prague where our tour guide once again declared that they were in fact the beer capital. While it was debatable at first considering Munich hosts the biggest beer festival 'Oktoberfest' each year when I looked at Prague's drinks menu, I was quite baffled. The cost of beer was cheaper than asking for table water. Yes, like tap water. In Australia, it usually doesn't cost a thing but in when in Prague, it's almost always 1.5 times more expensive than a glass of their famous 'Pilsner Urquell.' Kelly and I walked past 'Mistral Cafe' while we were exploring or also known as getting lost. It had a 4.5/5 circle rating on Tripadvisor so, we noted the nearby landmarks to ensure we didn't miss the opportunity.

'Mistral Cafe' Review
Where: Valentinska 11, Prague 110 00                                                                            Website: http://www.mistralcafe.cz/

'Mistral Cafe' interior. Image taken from Tripadvisor

     When we arrived, it was already bustling with people. We had just finished a four hour walking tour so were pretty knackered for some food. The table were set nicely with simple presentation and extremely clean. I would imagine the large windows they have to absorb quite a bit of lighting during the day which would make for a very open yet cosy setting. By night, they had dim lights throughout the cafe giving it a very romantic feel.
     I was all for the dumplings so I ordered the 'Sirloin with cream roll, homemade jerky dumplings and cranberries.' I loved the presentation of this dish. My camera doesn't do it justice but the generous amounts of sauce, beef and cranberries was just to drool for. My love for the presentation didn't stop just there because taste wise, this was an absolute winner. The creamy gravy like sauce was superb. Full of flavour, hints of pepper and sweet with the dashes of cranberries. The dumplings, soft as freshly made bread insides absorbed so much of that sauce, it was like I was licking my plate clean. The beef cooked slowly and to perfectly just pulled apart and was juicy as ever. I can't recommend another dish highly enough. It was just right. Served quite quickly and steaming hot.

'Sirloin with cream roll, homemade jerky dumplings and cranberries' 174 CZK (approx. $10 AUD)

          I had to give the good old 'Pilsner Urquell' a try as well. To much of a surprise, the beer came in a fancy cup. It didn't feel right but 'Mistral Cafe' gives off a pretty fancy vibe itself so no complaints there. Again, I can't really comment much on taste of beer as I'm haven't experienced enough but, all I know was it's nicer than the overly bitter Aussie beer but not as crisp and sweet as Munich beer. This is all according to my lack of beer taste buds anyway. But, if you're a lover of beer, I say give it a try. Apparently, its one of their best brands!

'Pilsner Urquell' 0.3L, 29 CZK (approx. $1.60 AUD)

        Kelly on the other hand ordered the 'Grilled chicken breast risotto with wild mushrooms and cheese grana padano.' I had a few spoonfuls and from the little taste I was able to experience it was delicious. I don't usually have risotto a lot but, I felt it wasn't too liquidy and didn't just taste like rice in a lump of butter. It had much more hearty flavours with a touch of creaminess. It looks quite small in the picture but turned out to be filling. I think she thoroughly enjoyed it and her plate was pretty much wiped clean. The picture is terrible but, presented well in reality. 

'Grilled chicken breast risotto with wild mushrooms and cheese grana padano' 163 CZ K (approx. $9.50 AUD)

            As we looked at the dessert menu and saw 'Chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream,' we just had to. And lucky we did. This was one of the best cakes I've had. It was moist, liquified in the centre and the perfect richness. A bit too much granulated sugar sprinkled in terms of presentation but, it was delicious I really couldn't care less. The ice cream that accompanied the cake was nothing  special on its own but really helped cut some of the richness when we hit the melted centre. Simply delicious!

'Chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream,' 96 CZK (approx. $5.50 AUD)

Candle lit dinner

Snowy Prague! So beautiful!

        Overall, I really loved the atmosphere and food at 'Mistral Cafe.' If I'm ever in Prague again I would definitely be coming back. Staff were very sweet and welcoming. If you have ever been to 'Mistral Cafe,' be sure to leave a comment talking about your experiences.

       Until next time, hope you're all having an amazing week.

Nibble Away,

      

                   Jo x.

How to: Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Hey Nibblers!
 
          I'm super excited today to be sharing one of my favourite dishes of all time! It's really easy to make and great for when you have a small group of friends over for a chilling session. It also gets everyone involved and you can personalise them to any way you like. It may seem like a whole lot of ingredients and too much work but, this dish is mostly prep and the cooking is in your guests hands so no hard work there. So let's get cracking shall we?

What you'll need: [Approx. 4 servings]
The peanut sauce component:

- 1 jar of Hoi Sin sauce
          I used to 'Tung Chun' 14 oz. jar
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup of crunchy peanut butter
- 1 tsp. of sliced garlic
- 1 1/2 Tbs. of tomato sauce
- 1 tsp. of chilli sauce (optional)
- 1 Tbs. of corn flour
- 1 Tbs. of water
- 1/4 cup of crushed toasted peanuts
- 1 Tbs. of olive oil

The rice paper roll component:

- 1 pack of rice paper rolls
- 4 squares of small Vermicelli rice sticks

I used this 'Peacock Brand'

Meat/ Seafood:
- 1.5kg of boiled pork
             I used pork loin & shoulder but you can used your favourite cut
- 1kg of cooked medium tiger prawns
             De-veined and halved
Vegetables:
- 1 shrub of lettuce
            I used boston lettuce (at least I think that was it, I had to google it and still can't tell the difference. Learnt there are a tonne of lettuce types though!)
- 1 bunch of mint
- 1 bunch of Thai basil
- 1 bunch of Asian chives
        Note:  Feel free to add any other herbs you love such a perilla, coriander etc. (I couldn't find any at my local store nor love the taste of them in my rolls. My Mum and Dad love all the different herbs but, I find having the above three herbs with lettuce my favourite combo.)

How to:
The Peanut Sauce
The peanut component is completely optional. But if you don't have allergies or are feeling adventurous, I definitely think you should add this in. It gives it a creamy, sweet kick that blends well with the saltiness of the hoi sin.
1. Saute garlic and olive oil in a small pot under medium  heat until garlic is slightly brown

2. Add the jar of hoi sin sauce getting as much out of the jar as you can
3. Fill the hoi sin sauce jar half-full with water and screw back on the lid
4. Shake the hoi sin jar vertically, vigorously for approx. 10 seconds to grab all the excess sauce and then add it into the pot  (we don't want to waste a drop!)
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 except adding a jar full of water instead of half
6. Stir hoi sin/ garlic contents in the pot until combines for about 1 minute
7. Add peanut butter into the pot (start of with 1/4 cup)
           It may look a tad funny and make not look like it'll dissolve but don't worry, it mostly will!

This looks funny, don't worry!

8. Add tomato and chilli sauce (optional) into the pot and stir continuously for 2 minutes
9. Taste your sauce
          Note: If this is your first time trying it should taste like a diluted hoi sin sauce with a peanut buttery aftertaste. If you feel it is too salty, add more water.
           Want it a tad sweeter? Add tomato sauce
           Hotter? Add the chilli!
          If you love peanut butter, add more, it definitely won't ruin the sauce.
10. Stir the Tbs. of water and corn flour in a small bowl until dissolved and then add to the hoi sin mixture pot
11. Allow the sauce to boil on a medium to low heat and check the consistency of the sauce
         Note: It should be about the thickness of yoghurt in a tub. Not too runny and not too thick like greek yoghurt. Just enough that it can coat your rice paper roll well but not drip so much that it's messy. 
            If you find it's too thick: add water (it's all trial an error)
           Too thin? add some more corn flour/water mixture
           Every time is different but the taste will always be the same so the tasting step is important
12. Switch off the heat when you're happy and quickly re-heat before serving

The Rice Paper Roll Component
1. Pluck your lettuce leaves and herbs and give them a good wash and leave to drip dry
2. Boil your pork and slice thinly in about 3x5cm rectangles
                My pork took about 30 minutes to cook with the lid on, simmering
                All depends on your meat, cut it any way you like
3. Prep your prawns while the pork is cooking (de-vein and slice them in half vertically)
               This may take a while if you're on your own so put on some music / movie while you're peeling away OR pre-prep prawns
4. Prep your vermicelli
              It's really easy to make these soggy so my trick is;
                   Pop them in the pot when the water is at a hard boil
                   Turn off the heat and leave the noodles in for 5 minutes / stirring occasionally
                   Pop them out into a colander and give a quick rinse (they should be still kind of raw looking/ slightly in tack but will be perfect after)
5. Heat some water to dunk the rice paper rolls sheets in and roll away!

Here's how I roll them:

1. Start with adding two prawns in the bottom third of the paper, in the centre, faced down. It'll make the finished roll prettier

2. Add your meat

3. Add your noodles

4. Add your herbs and lettuce

5. Fold left/ right side like so

6. Left/ Right sides should be folded in but it was hard to take a picture of it

7. Holding the left/right sides in place, start firmly rolling from the bottom

8. Keep rolling until the end! Look at those pretty prawns showing themselves

       And voila! Re-heat that sauce and pop on those crushed peanuts. Amazing rice papers rolls anyone can enjoy! If you want a vegetarian option: shred some cabbage, carrots and sliced mushrooms. Saute them with some mushroom/ vegetable stock and use that instead of pork/prawn mix. It goes so well with the the peanut sauce!

       Hope you liked this recipe and give it a go!
       My little uni break is over and it's back to the books but I'm glad I was able to put this out there.
       Hope you're all have an amazing week.

Nibble Away,
               Jo x.