'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

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.

'The Wooden Whisk' Review

Hey Nibblers!

         Not long ago, Kevin and I set on a little adventure for some amazing cafe food. Word is 'The Wooden Whisk' is one cafe that is worth the trip! Of course, for some working/living across the bridge it may be just be a walking distance away but for us, it meant changing trains and an hour and a half travel time. We arrived at around 1030am which was perfect timing! It's just in between their breakky and lunch menu so we were able to order from both of them. SCORE!

The Wooden Whisk
Where: Shop 7 & 8 , 38 - 46 Albany St, St. Leonards, NSW 2065                        Website: http://www.woodenwhisk.com.au/

          From the breakfast menu, we ordered the 'Brioche French Toast,' from lunch, we ordered 'Our Ruben' and the 'Smoked salmon salad with potato.' It didn't stop there because we also ordered an 'Iced coffee' and fresh 'Beet juice'.

The 'Brioche French Toast'
     with fresh banana, strawberries, mascarpone and maple syrup ($13.50)

           This was perfection. We demolished it within minutes. The serving was generous, the fruit, fresh and the brioche was soft, slightly crispy around the edges and just soaked the delicious maple syrup. It wasn't too sweet which is where a lot of cafes get it wrong. No one wants to start their day with a sugar rush! But seriously, this dish was heaven and such a great introduction to the rest of our meal. 

'Our Ruben'

         served with shoestring chips, new york style pastrami, swiss cheese, pickled cabbage, mild mustard on light rye sourdough ($14.50)

              I loved the presentation. The chips were placed in a mini frying basket and I thought it was the cutest thing ever. Portion wise was again very generous. I have never had pastrami before so I don't have a base to compare it to but in terms of sandwiches, this was pretty amazing. The pastrami was juicy, full of flavour and combined with the rich, saltiness of the cheese  and the sour cabbage, flavours balanced each other wonderfully. The chips were crispy, crunchy and the potato insides were soft and creamy. 

'Smoked Salmon Salad with Potato'

          pickled cucumber, rocket, dill and creme fraiche ($15.00)

      

           I'm a sucker for all things with rocket and smoked salmon. If I had to eat only smoked salmon and rocket for lunch/ dinner for the rest of my like I would. I find it quite amusing that I ordered a salad to be 'healthier' but by looking at this bad boy, I'm pretty sure I just added on about 5 kilos extra. I'm not complaining because this was delicious. 'The Wooden Whisk' should be given an award for their generosity with portions. I struggled to gobble down the dish. The saltiness of the smoked salmon mixed with the lemon/mustard acidity to the bitterness of the rocket and soft creaminess of the potatoes was just divine. The flavours just melted to well together and you had both the crunch and softness in textures. I'm just salivating thinking about it. I totally recommend this dish if you have the same obsession as I do. 

'Iced Coffee'

          They didn't have the price on their website but it was approximately ($5.50).

                        

             I'm not much of a coffee drinker. I don't feel it works for me because I end up napping throughout the day even when I have a coffee. But sometimes, when I'm feeling a bit naughty/greedy I do crave the smell and taste of coffee. I love my cold iced drinks so I just to. This iced coffee was very rich in flavour so for those with sweet teeth, this is for you. While this may have been great with toast or a savoury pastry, didn't blend in well with the salad I ordered which was a shame.

The 'Beet Juice'

       Unfortunately, I can't remember the exact name of the juice but it had beetroot, ginger, apple as their main ingredients. Approximately ($5.50)

           Can't really say much about this juice except for if you love juice and the ingredients in it, this is for you. It's fresh and wasn't too sweet or overpowering against the dishes we had. Great start to the day.

           All in all, I loved and fully recommend 'The Wooden Whisk' if you're in around the area or willing to go on an adventure. For cafe style food with big portions, the prices were appropriate and you do get a lot for your buck. I was really impressed with their service and it's such an inviting place to bring friends and have a chat. Tables were clean, simple and the decorations were country chic. We hadn't exactly hit the peak of lunch time while we were there but there was a lot of people coming in and out ordering coffee and food so I expect their lunch hours to be bustling. Can't wait to go again!

The view from outside. Great natural light

Their old- school Specials board

Seating inside 'The Wooden Whisk'

      Hope you're all having an  amazing week!

Nibble Away,

               Jo x.

Travel Nibbles: Montana Restaurant

Hey Nibblers!
     
        This week, we find ourselves in Munich, Germany which surprisingly turned out to be one of my favourite cities on the trip. It was the first city where Kelly and I were able to experience thick layers of snow wherever we went. For some of you guys, snow may be such a normal part of the winter months but for us, we would have to drive a couple of hours in Australia's winter to see snow and even then it's a mountain background not a city one which added more to our excitement. Actually, it was probably more me being excited. I wanted to drop in the middle of every pile of snow and make snow angels.
         

A field of snow!

Glorious snow in Munich.

              For some weird reason, I was craving Turkish cuisine. A plate full of meat and chips was all I wanted even in the land of beer and wursts. We were staying opposite Munich's main train station (Munich Hbf) and luckily after wandering around in the blistering cold, we were able to find 'Montana Restaurant.'

Montana Restaurant
Where: 33 Bayerstrabe, 80335, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.       Website: N/A but, google maps has them!

        This review will be pretty short and sweet. I didn't take an amazing shot of the place or food because I was starving. I ordered the combination meat plate with salad and chips with a garlic, lemon yoghurt sauce. Kelly ordered a chicken schnitzel with chips and salad.
         Man, oh man, I still remember the first bite of the plate. It was amazing in my mouth. Absolute fireworks. The meat was tender, juicy and chips were crispy and adequately seasoned. The salad was not as fresh but when travelling, I grabbed onto any veggies I could get my hands on! The garlic/ lemon yoghurt sauce was tangy which really balanced out the saltiness of the meat. This plate didn't look filling to start with but by the end, I was in labour with a food baby ready for delivery. 
         Kelly on the other hand also enjoyed her schnitzel. It was pretty much the standard crunchy schnitzel however, she said by the end it was too dry and hard to chew.
         All in all, 'Restaurant Montana' is a great place to chill with friends after a long day of exploring. Staff were very friendly and very accommodating. Great when you have those midnight cravings.  

Combination meat plate & Chicken schnitzel plate. Both plates roughly 15 euro each (Approx. $20 AUD)

   

        Sorry this is a tad late. No excuse I know. But, I am currently on clinical placement at the moment. With early morning starts, I've officially turned into an oldie and climb into bed by 9pm. I hope you're all having an amazing week!

Nibble Away,

         Jo x.

How to: Fish Cakes wrapped in lettuce with guacamole.

Hey Nibblers!
       
       Fish and I aren't really friends. Leftover fish and I are definitely enemies. However, I have found a super easy way to jazz these fishes up.
       For those of you that feel like you are missing some omega 3 in your life because fish just isn't you cup of tea, I think it's a nice way to enjoy fish. It makes such an awesome snack, lunch and dinner alternative. Whipped these fish cakes in a salad and you're good to go! Healthy and delicious, how can anyone say no?

What you'll need: (Approx. makes 2 servings)
Fish Cake Component
- 50g cous cous
         Note: Usually made with breadcrumbs for the crispy texture however, cous cous works just as well
- 230g of leftover fish
          Note: I used 115g of my Mum's grilled salmon and a can of John West's 'Chilli' flavoured. Feel free to use any flavour or form of fish you like
- 1 egg

Method:

Fish cakes:

1. Prepare cous cous as directed

2. Add cous cous and egg to fish container

3. Mix cous cous, egg and fish together until well combined, season with a pinch of salt and pepper

Oh mix me!

I'm well combined thanks!

4. Divide fish portion into sections, ready to mould (I wanted 8 cakes)

8 equal portions

5. Using clean hands, mould fish mix into hamburger - like patties

I'm a fish patty!

6. Heat non-stick fry pan to medium / high heat 

             Note: The natural oils from the fish are good enough to oil the pan, however if you feel they're going to stick, add a tablespoon of oil 

7. Place fish patties into pan, cooking one side for approx. 3 minutes before flipping

             Note: Try and be patient, flipping these cakes early will mean they're not crisp and will break down

After 3 minutes on one side

8. Continue cooking the other side for another 3-4 minutes until both sides are crispy and identical. 

             Note: Don't keep flipping these cakes no matter how much you want to otherwise they won't be  as crispy/ uneven cooking

9. Serve as is with your favourite sauce(s) or continue on reading for my take on guacamole that work perfectly with these crispy fish cakes

My favourite sauces to enjoy these with are sweet chille & ranch!

What you'll need:

Lettuce/ Guacamole component

- 3 layers of iceberg lettuce (or however much you prefer)
- 1 medium/ large avocado
- 1 small cucumber (diced)
- 1 medium tomato (diced)
- 1 Tbs. coriander (roughly chopped)
- 1/2 red onion (diced)
- 1 tsp. lemon juice

Method:
1. Mash avocado in a small bowl
             Note: I left mine chunky but mash away if you prefer it more finely minced
2. Combine  cucumber, tomato, red onion, lemon juice and coriander to the avocado and mix well
         Note: I know traditionally, cucumber isn't usually used in guacamole dishes but, I love my cucumber and by adding all these ingredients with the avocado, it's like a salad in a bowl

Yummy guacamole!

3. Add a pinch of salt to taste

4. Assemble those fish cake lettuce wraps: Take layer of lettuce, pop on some guacamole and tear in some fish cake!

           What I love about these is how fast and easy they are to make. They're so crispy and great when you may only have canned fish in your pantry. You can customise them however you like and better yet, fall in love with leftover fish as I have.

            

            Hope you are all are having an amazing week as I have. Cheers to end of exams, finally!

Nibble Away,

              Jo x.