Travel Nibbles: 'Ha Oanh' Review

Hi Nibblers!

        The travel nibbles are back and this time, I'm posting about Vietnam.
        It's been a while since I've visited Vietnam. A lot has changed in the five years. There's more commercial chain stores around the world popping up in Saigon that, it's difficult to find an authentic food stall. Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty great street food stalls around on the sidewalks to eat. However, due to my poor immune system I've signed a food poisoning sentence that has me limited in my choices.
         I walked into 'Cho Ben Thanh,' Saigon's most famous market with a mission. I knew cooked foods were more unlikely to set me up. I had an extreme craving for Vietnamese clear dumplings with prawns and pork (Banh Bot Loc) drizzled with fish sauce. It is available in Sydney but, difficult to access and can be quite expensive unless you order in bulk / time consuming to make. There were several stores that sold them in the markets but, they sold other different Vietnamese dishes as well which meant that the food may not be as fresh. As Mum and I were circling the food stalls, we found a place called 'Ha Oanh' that served dishes of Banh Bot Loc and Banh Beo (steamed rice flour cakes). There were not only tourists eating but also locals so it was a sign that we had to try this out.

'Ha Oanh'
Where: Cho Ben Thanh, 'Food Court' right near Gate 7 

         If we didn't see people eating at 'Ha Oanh' it would be extremely easy to miss as theres no large sign displaying its name. I can't give direct locations of the stall as Cho Ben Thanh is quite large but if you head over to were theres a 'food court' / food stall type of area, it should be where you can see Gate 7 sign.
         Service was quick and you can either take away or have there. Mum and I had our plates there as there was available seating. The rice flour cakes and clear dumplings were made in front of us so it was nice to see how things were made and their efficient system.

Open Kitchen

       

Small signage of store name 'Ha Oanh' drink prices

         

             Mum and I ate their standard mixed plate that consisted of Banh Bot Loc and Banh Beo together sprinkled with fried breadcrumbs and fish sauce. Each plate was priced at 17,000 VND which is approx. ($0.85 AUD as of July/August 2014) which is a total bargain! Add in fresh coconut juice for 20,000 VND ($1 AUD) and there's lunch done for less than $2 AUD.
            Mum makes Banh Beo at home so if she says these steamed rice cakes were good, it means they're good. They were small in size but had great chewy texture and mixed in with the slightly sweet, salty fish sauce it was an explosion in my mouth. Add the chives oil, a few slices of salty Vietnamese pork loaf (Cha Lua) and breadcrumbs, it had every element you could ask for.

Banh Bot Loc and Banh Beo drenched in fish sauce with Cha Lua and fried breadcrumbs. 17,000 VND

         The Banh Bot Loc was small but the overall portions of the plates was good for Vietnamese usual standards. There wasn't any prawns in the dumplings and the meat inside was more the fat layer of the pork rather than the meat, it was still satisfying. Having a combined plate of Banh Bot Loc and Banh Beo added different dimensions to the plate. While the Banh Beo rice cake was a softer texture, the Banh Bot Loc batter was more dense and the flavour was enhanced by the braised meat inside.
         I loved everything about this place and didn't suffer hours after. It may be difficult to eat if you haven't had anything like this before. The flavours of the fish sauce are intense and slightly spicy so beware if your spice tolerance is low. Give it a try / share a plate with a friend if you're unsure. I can guarantee you'll be wanting more. But if you're wanting authentic Vietnamese Banh Bot Loc and Banh Beo in Saigon, this is the place to go. Definitely found a hidden gem here.
         If you ever find yourself in Vietnam and give this a go, let me know in the comments below! OR what's your hidden gem place?

Nibble Away,
            Jo
P.s. Mum and I went back for seconds #sorrynotsorry

Travel Nibbles: 'MOS Burger' Review

Hey Nibblers!

        A little bit over a week ago, I was enjoying myself in sunny Gold Coast, Queensland. It was my first trip with friends and for Kevin, Conan, Lily, Jacky and Anderson, it was some of their first time in Surfers Paradise. We hired a 2 bedroom apartment at the 'Hilton' at a great rate and saved a lot on food costs for the week as we were able to cook all our meals.
       While Kevin and I were on a night stroll, we stumbled across 'MOS Burger.' This name sounded so familiar to the both of us and when we walked over to look at the menu, it hit us. About four months ago, I watched a video posted by American couple 'Kyde and Eric' on Youtube where they reviewed their 'MOS Burger' dinner experience in Japan where they are currently reside. While their review was mixed, the menu was too interesting to pass. Conan loves Japanese food/ flavours so when we saw 'MOS' Kevin and I decided to eat elsewhere so we could bring the rest of the gang for our last night in Surfers Paradise.
        'MOS Burger' started in 1972 with their objective 'to make people through food.' In terms of interior design, I loved the natural wood colour scheme they had. It just felt calming and the contrast of the green for their 'MOS Burger' sign tied in well. It's a pay before dining service so once all the ordering out of the way, it was smooth sailing from there. Here's what we had:

Interior of MOS

'MOS Burger'

                              Where: SHOP T1.05A, Soul Retail, 4 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217.          

               Website: http://www.mosburger.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

        I ordered the 'Seafood Okonomi Burger' ($5.95 AUD) which was a rice patty with dried seaweed and seafood Kakiage (Tempura/ deep friend Japanese batter).

       The concept of this burger was mouthwatering. However, if you get down to the the nitty gritty of things, the rice patty was soggy and the seafood Kakiage had great crunch but was too salty. I loved how all the burgers came in a wax-y white paper that made handling easier and mess - free (sort of). So, great concept, poor execution. 

        The 'Iced Matcha Latte' ($4.95 AUD) I ordered was amazing though. Not too sweet and a great partner with the meal. I never used to be a green tea fan but Gold Coast has converted me and now, I crave them. So, Win!

         Kevin ordered the 'Shrimp Cutlet Burger.' ($5.45 AUD) This burger had a burger bun, shrimp patty, shredded cabbage and Japanese Tartare sauce. This burger was definitely a winner. It tasted like shimp, it was full of flavour and very generous with the sauce. The slightly salty and tangy tartare sauce worked well together with the sweet buns. Really enjoyed this one.

Burgers in a Basket (Shrimp Cutlet & Wagyu Beef in frontal view)

         He also ordered the 'Fish Burger' ($4.95 AUD) as the Shrimp burger left him wanting to try more. And why not? 'MOS Burger' isn't around in Sydney, so may as well go for it all. This burger had a fish patty with cheese, onions, mustard and tartare sauce. While presentation was good, the burger was unfortunately disappointing. The fish patty was overcooked and therefore the texture was just flaky. Not a winner here unfortunately.

         Conan and Lily both ordered the 'Gourmet Wagyu Burger.' ($6.95 AUD) Filled with Teriyaki sauce, Wagyu patty, onion, a tad of wasabi, lettuce and sauces on a 'MOS' bun it looked pretty delicious. I didn't have a taste of their burgers but both enjoyed their burgers. The patty was moist, well seasoned and had a extra edge over other hamburgers.

          Jacky was feeling poorly so when he order the 'Teriyaki Chicken Burger,' ($6.45 AUD) he wasn't able to taste it. All I can say for this one was it was generous amount of chicken and sauce and he didn't say it was bad. He even finished it while feeling so ill so it may be a sign the burger could have been a major hit!

          Anderson ordered a 'Shrimp Cutlet Burger' which was identical in generosity of the burger fillings and taste to Kevin's. He also order the 'Spicy Chilli Dog.' ($5.45 AUD) He said the burger was quite hot so you have to be able to take chilli to enjoy. The bun was moist and hot dog inside was flavoursome. He said it was definitely something he would order again.

          To accompany their meals, they ordered 'Peach' and 'Lemon' iced teas. ($4.95 AUD each) These teas were made in store and tasted very fresh. They were a tad sweeter than what they would of liked but all enjoyed it as a treat instead.

Peach Iced Tea with my Iced Matcha Latte in the Background

          We decided not to buy any set meals as we didn't find any of 'MOS Burger' sides eye-catching. They offered garden salad and wedges but no one was keen on them. I felt it was a good decision in the end as the burger were deceptively sized. They looked small but by the end of the meal, I was well satisfied and had room for dessert if we did have some. Usually, dinner leaves me stuffed that I can never enjoy dessert.

           In terms of prices, the burgers on their own are a tad pricey. Ranging from $4.50 - $9 for a burger on it's own. While they are more than what you would pay at a fast-food joint, the ingredients used tasted more fresh and didn't leave you feeling sick at the end of the meal.

           All in all, I really enjoyed my experience at 'MOS Burgers.' They offered great burger varieties and the service was quick, clean and it had a really great atmosphere. I loved how our burgers came in a basket instead of a tray which takes away that 'fast-food' type of feel. I would definitely try it again if I ever saw a 'MOS Burger' around. Maybe opening up a Sydney store would be a good idea?

           I hope you enjoyed this review and if you Nibblers have tried 'MOS' anywhere in the world, leave a comment below. I would love to chat about our experiences.

         
           Until next time,

           Nibble Away,

                       Jo.

Here's a few snaps from our trip and our 'MOS Burger' experience.

MOS Burger Menu

MOS Burger Ordering Counter

Breakky with a view from our apartment. (I made poached eggs for the first time)

Our view from our apartment

Anderson, Conan, Kevin, Jacky, Lily and I @ Movie World! We also went to 'Sea World' and 'Wet n' Wild'

Travel Nibbles: 'Laduree' Paris Review

Bonjour Nibblers!

           Kelly and I find ourselves in Paris this week. I have amazing family there and after almost two weeks without any means to a washing machine, we couldn't wait to arrive. It was a horrible 8 hour / overnight train trip from Berlin to Paris but the thought of the amazing pastries, sweets, bread it was well worth the little bit of discomfort. This is my second time in Paris in Winter. But, Kelly and I went at the most perfect time. We didn't have to wear the 6 layers we were wearing in Berlin and were able to cut back to two layers and even were able to wear sunglasses if I had them (I left mine in London.) Anyway, when in Paris, 'Laduree' is one of the main food attractions. Depending on the time you go, the line could go well outside the door so aim for early morning or late lunch hours (3-4PM). We didn't dine here as we we were short on time but did purchase quite a few goodies.

'Laduree' Review
Where: 75 avenue des Champs-Elysées - 75008 Paris                                Website: http://www.laduree.com/douceurs/

Such simple but beautiful packaging

        I don't even know how to start with this review. Let's  just start off with looking at some of the sneaky shots Kelly and I took in Laduree while we were waiting in line.

Macaroon flavours

Inside the magic of Laduree

Gift ideas

Almost at the front of the line!

We couldn't help but buy a gift box for my family. The boxes were so pretty!

         I'll start with service. The lady that served us was amazing. We didn't really understand how the whole system worked but she took her time and was very patient with us. You also don't have to worry about language barriers here because most of the customers inside were tourists so communication was easy. I also loved how everything was laid out and labelled so it was just easy to navigate when ordering.

         Kelly and I decided to grab ourselves a box of 8 macaroons. You can grab just one but if you buy 4 or more they pop it into a Laduree box for free! Since we waited for about 20 minutes, we wanted to go all out and invest in these 8 macaroons. I can't remember the exact pricing but it was roughly €2.60 each (approx. $3.70 AUD).

Our Macaroon purchase

        We each picked 4 flavours each. We ate half of each macaroon over the 4 days we were in Paris just so we could enjoy the flavours together They were:
- Chocolate
      My favourite! I did not expect it to be my favourite as Kelly is the chocoholic of the family. But it was not too sweet and the ganache was just perfect. Melted in my mouth and honestly the best macaroon I've ever had.
- Caramel with Salted Butter
      Kelly's favourite! It was a hit of creamy caramel as soon as you bite into it and then the salty butter hits you after. While I thoroughly enjoyed this half, I thought it was a bit too sweet for me. But eaten as a half was amazing.
- Coffee
      Great coffee flavour, not too sweet and would be so great with a warm cup of tea.
- Green Apple (seasonal flavour, we were there in Feb)
      I love apples but, this was one of my least favourites. The apple flavour was intense which is great but, it didn't hit it with me. Too fruity for winter.
- Rose Petal
       It tastes exactly like a rose petal. I like the rose petal scent but when it comes too flavour, I can't eat a lot of it. It tastes odd to me as it's a flavour I'm not usually accustomed to. But, if you love the rose, go for it.
- Pistachio
       I loved the minty colour of this macaroon. It tasted nutty as it should but compared to the others, would not be a stand out.
- Vanilla
       A very typical vanilla flavour. The Madagascar cream I felt was a bit grainy in texture. It was again a bit too sweet for my liking.
- Coconut
       Too sweet for me but the strong coconut flavour as soon as you bite in was amazing.

       As a whole, the macaroons were amazing. Every macaroon was equal in size and proportion. What I loved was every time I bit into one of those macaroons, the meringue was still so light and crispy and the ganache/cream fillings were full of flavour. They're such a perfect match for each other and even after a few days, it still tasted as if we had first bought them. I've seriously have not had a macaroon better than these Laduree ones. I'm not too sure about the other world-wide branches but I do want to compare them sometime in the future.
        When we were about to check out we also saw an Eclair for sale. There was a Coffee version and chocolate version. We opted for the chocolate. It was about €3.50 (approx. $5 AUD) which is definitely not cheap so we were expecting great things. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to it's name. While it was light and crispy, it didn't have the same 'melt-in-your-mouth' wow factor we were after. Also, I felt we could have paid less for an Eclair else where.
       But, despite the little fall on the Eclair, we did have an amazing time scoffing it down while watching the sunset at the Eiffel Tower and witnessing the first sparkle of the night.

Sunset at the Eiffel Tower - Trocadero

          Hope you're all having an amazing week! I sure know how good it feels to be putting a blogpost up. Last uni assignment are out of the way and only a few exams more to go before celebrations are in order.
Leave a comment down below if you have had an awesome Macaroon experience like mine and what you had! 

Nibble Away,

               Jo x.

Travel Nibbles: 'Thai Inside' Review

Hey Nibblers!

       Kelly and I had many cravings while we were on our European adventure. One of those cravings was Thai food. At home, Thai food is usually something that we indulge in when we want an easy, delicious lunch or dinner and is so accessible in Sydney. It has been really hard to satisfy our cravings for the fact that we don't stay in a city long enough to explore or have the time to find places we want. We basically go to whatever we can walk to that is relatively close to where we're staying so we don't lose our way. You know, girls not being able to read maps or something? No, but seriously, it's dark at 5pm in Europe and when we can hardly see street names or have phone internet data for a GPS, we try and stick close to home. So when we were searching on 'Tripadvisor' for good and found a 4.5/5 rating for 'Thai Inside', we just had to!

'Thai Inside' Review
Where: Dircksenstrasse 37, 10178 Berlin, Mitte                           Website: http://www.thai-inside.de/index_english.html#

Source: http://www.city-rausch.de/bilder-berlin/thai-inside.jpg

         This was our last dinner in Berlin. We were trying to keep ourselves busy all night because we booked ourselves a 12am train to Paris. Yes, a midnight, overnight train so we tried to kill as much time as possible. Upon entering 'Thai Inside,' it was bustling with people. They had clean, authentic Thai pieces and they even had a free coat service which was amazing. Service was friendly and again, there was no problem with communication. Also, the lighting in there was a bit yellow and I only have an old point and shoot so, it's not top notch pictures unfortunately.
        Anyway it was almost 830pm at this stage so we were both pretty hungry. For starters, we ordered the 'Prince' Mixed Platter Entree which consisted of 'Gai Sate' which is grilled marinated chicken with spicy peanut sauce, 'Thai Inside Rolls' which are spring rolls filled with glass noodles, chicken hash and taro potatoes served with a spicy tamarind sauce and 'Giau Thod' which is a deep-fried stuffed pastry with ground prawn/ chicken meat served with a sweet and sour sauce.
        I loved the presentation of their 'Prince' Platter. It was neat and decorated with perfect cucumber flowers. It felt like we were in a tropical place in the middle of winter. Their sauce portions were generous and components were standard. The 'Gai Sate' was perfectly grilled and I liked the dense peanut sauce that went with it. It was sweeter than what I've had but it did have more of a spicy kick that other places lacked which balance it out well. The 'Thai Inside Rolls' were crispy, steaming hot but there was nothing stand out about it. I did love the spicy tamarind sauce that went along with the spring rolls. The 'Giau Thod' was soggy. Didn't have the same crisp that the spring rolls had which was a shame and I felt it lacked in the flavour department as well. However, at €7.20 ($10.20 AUD approx.) it's a not too bad for a party of two.

'Prince' Platter

        For the mains, we both went for out typical / favourite Thai dishes. I opted for 'Phad Thai' which had fried rice noodles with tofu, king prawns, peanuts, scrambled eggs, bean sprouts, lime juice and tamarind sauce. Kelly on the other hand, ordered the 'Pad Si-Iu' which consisted of fried wide rice noodles with chicken, scrambled eggs and leafy vegetables served in a soy sauce.
        Again, the presentation of both dishes were really eye-catching. The 'Phad Thai' had two radish flowers to decorate while the 'Pad Si-Iu' had the cucumber flower which was just as perfect as the one we had on our entree platter. Portions for both looked quite small but once we dug in and mixed everything together, it was the usual generous portions. Let's just say we were both pretty stuffed by the end of the night. In terms of taste for the 'Phad Thai,' it had good texture. The crunchy bean sprouts paired with the saucy noodles and fried bits of tofu was a good combination. However, I found that it was just too sweet. While it was delicious to start off with, it was too sweet towards the end. It would have been nice to have a chilli kick or salt to even it out. Priced at €13.80 ($19.50 AUD approx.) I feel was not worth what it was.

'Phad Thai'

        Kelly's 'Pad Si-Iu' was lathered in sauce which is good. It was a definite change to the sweetness of mine but lacked that smoky flavour that a typical 'Pad Si-Iu' would usually have. Other than that, I think it was a good dish and worth the €8.60 ($12 AUD approx.) price.

Getting my hand shake = blurred picture. 'Pad Si-Iu'

       To accompany our meal, Kelly ordered a 'Mocito' which had white rum, lime juice, brown sugar and fresh mint in its mix. It was served in a ginormous wine glass and had such an amazing rich green colour. Taste was fresh and great, fun presentation. If fit in well with the meal. We ordered these drinks at the start and for some reason, I was craving cold icy drinks. I know it was freezing cold outisde but my taste buds were not having those hot drinks so, I ordered the 'Cocos Dream.' This looked amazing. I could totally picture myself on an island, sipping on my coconut milk, pineapple juice, sweet cream and chocolate syrup drink. It looked amazing but as soon as I sipped it, it was diabetes in a glass. It's great if you love sweets and love coconut but oh man, it was like drinking coconut cream. Mind you, I finished that bad boy but if you were to ask me if I would order it again I would probably go for a fresher drink to balance out the dishes we had.

'Cocos Dream'  €6.00 ($8.40 AUD approx.)

       All in all, I loved the atmosphere of 'Thai Inside.' While I didn't think the dishes we had were all top standard, my cravings were well satisfied. So, I say if you're in the area, love the good ol' sweet Thai food creations and want to feel fancy, I say go to 'Thai Inside.' For those that like the more savoury versions, I say perhaps this isn't the place. It looked like a great place to catch up with friends and we didn't feel rushed to eat while we were there. So thumbs up to that!

Dinner! Kelly's 'Mocito' in the background.

      Pop a comment below if you wanted to ask for any details about Berlin whether it's attractions, food or transport, I would be happy to answer them for you! If you like your blog subscriptions all in one place and don't want to miss on any posts, I suggest signing up to 'Bloglovin' (It's free). It makes it so easy to see what's happening in the blogging world and makes it painless when you want to access new posts. If you do have an account,  just type in 'Nibble Nation' to subscribe if you fancy it.
     Hope you're all 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!

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.

Travel Nibbles: Weisses Brauhaus

Hey Nibblers!

        Kelly and I aren't really beer drinkers but when you're in the land of beer, you have to experience a beer hall. While we were on "free" walking tour by 'Sandeman's New Europe,' our tour guy told us that if we wanted the best pub food in Munich with the third best beer, go to 'Weisses Brahaus.' We're all for the food so off we went. It was only located about 15 minutes from our hostel so, that helped incase I needed to be dragged home. I'm quite the light weight when it comes to drinking! Probably those asian genes I've got going on in my system.
        Anyway, thought the place looked quite scary. We were there in the middle of winter so imagine snow on the cobble stones, darkness at 5pm and dim windows. We didn't even know where the entrance was to go in. There were like three doors so we just picked a random door because my stomach was asking for it and I couldn't wait any longer. Luckily, we chose the right door and once through the doors, it was pretty amazing. It was loud and bustling and you wouldn't imagine it was that manic from outside. All the waitresses were in dirndls which I thought was awesome. Kelly and I were both pretty lost in there. Didn't know if we had to find our own table or if we just waited at the door. After a few minutes of mindless wandering, we asked one of the lovely waitresses who told us to sit wherever and someone would be with us and, that's exactly what happened. Now, shall we get onto the food component?

Weisses Brauhaus
Where: Tal 7, 80331, Munchen                                              Website: http://www.weisses-brauhaus.de/

Munich in summer. Image from http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/munipubs.htm

          In complete Bavarian style, Kelly ordered the famous 'Pork Knuckle' with crisp and crackling crust, Schneider-wheat-beer gravy, served with potato dumpling (Kartoffelknodel) and coleslaw. This was a monster of a dish. For those that have no shame in being a carnivore, this is definitely the dish for you. It's a large portion of all things pork, potatoes and a slaw for the "healthy" side dish. I had a bite of Kelly's dish and the pork was so tender, juicy and soaking with gravy. The potato wasn't soft and melt-in-your-mouth but, it helped with the texture of the dish. It separated the crunch of the slaw, the chew and tenderness of the knuckle and eased the bitterness of the beer. To accompany the meal, Kelly opted for the Schneider Weisses 'Meine Blonde Weisses'. We had no idea what the difference between any of the beers were but picked a random one and hoped it was delicious. It was. Nothing like beer in Australia that is extremely bitter. I only had a few sips of hers by golly was it scrumptious. Light, a tad sweet and completely converted me to the beer side for the night.

Kelly with her 'Pork Knuckle' (11.20 Euros) [$17 AUD] and 'Meine Blonde Weisse' (3.80 Euros for 0.5L) [$5.60AUD]

Presentation of their dishes. Pork knuckle and slaw

         I on the other hand, opted for the sausages. I have something with sausages. I'm pretty sure because they have all that miscellaneous variety of meats and fat squashed into one tube makes it appealing. I know they're bad but I just can't help myself. Hit the bullseye when I ordered the 'Butcher's Platter.' It consisted of five different sausages served on sauerkraut and boiled potatoes. I loved it. Unfortunately, I can't recall what each sausage tasted like exactly but I'm pretty sure it was pork. Each one was a different flavour, seasoned differently and even different in texture. It ranged from mush to chewy bits but, it was just like a surprise with every bite. To balance out the flavours, the sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) cut the grease from the sausages and the perfectly boiled potatoes sucked the juices and gave it a carb kick. I liked what I ate and felt proud to have a beer hall experience. To accompany my meal, I went for the Schneider Weisses 'Unser Aventinus'. No idea how to describe this due to my beer rookie stats but bitter, fermented taste and sweet at the start. All I know was it was tasty and such a great partner to the dish.

'Butcher's Platter' (12.90 Euros) [$20 AUD] 

My 'Unser Aventinus' (4.40 Euros) [$6.50 AUD]

So great, we emptied those bad boys and waddled back to the hostel

         It was pretty dark in here so I couldn't take great pics hence the blur but it was such a great atmosphere and we both enjoyed our time at 'Weisses Brauhaus' immensely. It was a shame were only in Munich for about two days so we couldn't go to the other beer halls but, will definitely be going next time I'm in Europe. Even if you're not much of a beer drinker, there's something there for everyone and it's such an awesome place to catch up with some friends or even grab a nice lunch/ dinner. Oh, I wanted to also add, language isn't a barrier in 'Weisses Brahaus' or even in Munich in general, they have their menu in english, german and I believe in spanish as well so it really caters to everyone. Such a great place!

'German jokes are the wurst.' Can't remember where I read this but I giggle every time. Thought you Nibblers might like a little midnight giggle yourselves!

Hope you're having an amazing week,

Nibble Away,

         Jo x.