'The Pie Tin' Review

Hey Nibblers!

         Oh, the good humble pie. Shared with great company and there's nothing in the world that you could ever ask for. Tucked away behind the bustle of King St, Newtown is one of the best places I've been. Despite being hidden away, it draws quite the crowd so don't be too hopeful for seating if you're thinking of going during peak hours. Great for a small gathering of 2-4 friends if you're lucky enough to grab a table as you can share the different sides and pies with each other
         'The Pie Tin' offers an amazing selection of sweet and savoury pies that are made fresh in store each day. Service is quick and friendly and side portions are so generous. It's a real bang in your buck.

'The Pie Tin'
Where: 1a Brown St, Newtown, Sydney                                  Website: http://www.thepietin.com.au/

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Pie and drink selections/ prices can be found on their website

Inside 'The Pie Tin'

             I ordered the 'Sicilian style chilli lovers sausage with white bean' with a side of 'Kumera' chips (Sweet Potato Chips). My foodies in crime Thao and Jacky ordered the 'Sweet roasted duck with seasonal vegetables' with a side of 'coleslaw' and 'potato salad' and the 'Slow roasted shredded pork with apple and bbq sauce' with a side of 'chips.' We also ordered the 'Whipped lime pie' and 'Snickers Pie' to share. All up it was $55.60 for the five pies and sides so great value for the gourmet quality.

'Sicilian style chilli lovers sausage with white bean' with a side of 'Kumera' chips (Sweet Potato Chips)

          There's self-serve sauces, napkins, cutlery and water which makes it a relaxed home-like atmosphere. My pie came out piping hot. The pie lid was flaky and had absorbed the spicy tomato based sauce filling. There's so much flavour packed in the filling that I don't think you need any extra accompanying sauces. There were visible sausage pieces in my pie so you can really see the ingredients that are going in. I only had a spoonful of Thao & Jacky's pies but, from their feedback, they definitely enjoyed their experience.

'Sweet roasted duck with seasonal vegetables' with a side of 'coleslaw' and 'potato salad

'Slow roasted shredded pork with apple and BBQ sauce' with a side of 'chips'

         In terms of sides, the 'Kumera' chips were crisp and perfectly seasoned. They fried our batch fresh so it really enhanced our experience. The normal potato fries were equally appetising. Great seasoning and really fluffy inside. If you're a fan of 'Potato' and 'Coleslaw' salads, you'll definitely like the ones at 'The Pie Tin.' Both are packed with flavours and taste extremely fresh.
        By this stage, we were all pretty stuffed but, we still had two dessert pie slices to pig through. The 'Whipped Lime Pie' was light and full of zesty flavour. The fruity flavour was great in countering the intense flavours from the savoury pies. Great for sharing and with a spot of tea because after about 5 spoonfuls, I was sugar overloaded.

'Whipped Lime Pie'

       The 'Snickers' Pie was sensational. Again, I would of loved it with some tea but, the peanut-caramel flavour was on point. Creamy and with peanut chunks in the mix, it's definitely one for the sweet tooth lovers. Melt-in-you-mouth goodness.

'Snickers' Pie

       I loved my experience at 'The Pie Tin' and would gladly go again and introduce it to anyone else. Portions are so generous that next time, sharing one side is enough if you want to do the whole sweet and salty taste test. Leave a comment down below with your favourite pie place or what your favourite pie filling is!

Nibble Away,

          Jo

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

'Hot Star' Review

Hey Nibblers!

         I have a confession to make. I am obsessed with fried chicken. So, when I heard of 'Hot Star' a Taiwanese-style fried chicken store taking Melbourne and Sydney by storm, I just had to give it a go. I didn't want to pig out all on my own so luckily for me, I was accompanied by another self-confessed fried chicken lover, my friend, Tree!

HOT STAR 
Where: 96 Liverpool St, Sydney, NSW 2000                Website: http://hotstarchicken.com.au/

     

        We both stood there in front of the 'Hot Star' shop pondering over what we would order. Our stomachs were grumbling, the cashier guy was waiting slightly awkwardly for us to make a move and other customers were fluttering by. In the end we decided on the 'Original' large fried chicken, a 'Spicy' large fried chicken and 'curly fries with spicy mayonnaise sauce'.
         When they said large, I thought they were exaggerating. Turns out those fried chicken pieces were big. Tree and I gave each other a 'oh crap, it's huge' look and chuckled over the fact we may have over ordered. That aside, the chicken was placed in a paper bag that was about half its size and popped into the 'Hot Star' plastic bag we were given after ordering. The chicken pieces were relatively reasonable in price at $7.90 AUD each considering its size. They do also offer meal deals that come with a drink and a choice of one of their sides. One small problem I found with the packaging is that it's not very public transport friendly. The smell was pungent and the heat that came off the bag was pretty intense. We couldn't wait to tuck in though. But before we could, we had to make a short trek to Hyde Park as there are no seating facilities. Those silly Ibises were circulating us but we made it the best makeshift picnic we could.

From left to right: 'Original,' ($7.90 AUD) 'Spicy' ($7.90 AUD) & 'Curly Fries with Spicy Mayo sauce' ($3.90 AUD)

          First up, the 'Original' piece. Evenly coated with their special Chinese five spice-like, tangy seasoning, first bite was pretty amazing. I loved how the chicken was moist, boneless and the crunchy texture was on point. It was a very unique taste and the eating experience was enhanced due to it being freshly fried.

Open kitchen view at Hot Star

         However, the 'Spicy' piece was a different story. It had the same seasoning as the original with a generous amount of a sweet paprika like seasoning. Tree and I have pretty good spice tolerance but, as soon as we bit into this one, I had to reach for my water. The spicy flavour was intense and overshadowed the sweet, tangy taste of the original. While it was still a moist and had a great crunchy texture, it was not a very enjoyable piece of chicken. It left me sweaty and the oil began to build at my throat.
         I've had a few curly fries in my time and Hot Star's didn't cut it for me. Crunchy in texture but was soaked in an oily flavour. The fries didn't taste like they had soft potato insides and lacked their special seasoning. It's only saviour was the spicy mayonnaise that accompanied it.
         As much as I want to rave on about how amazing my first 'Hot Star' experience was, I have to say I'm quite disappointed by the whole experience. Tree and I both tried our hardest to finish our chicken pieces but while the first bites were amazing, the lust soon ended. Unfortunately, we also suffered several hours later with food poisoning. We have since recovered. However, the smell of Hot Star's fried chicken that waffles whenever we walk past no longer leaves tongues wagging.
         Have you tried 'Hot Star' and loved your experience? Leave a comment below, I would love to hear what you think.

Hope you're all having an amazing week,
Nibble Away,
                       Jo.

        P.S. I would love to thank my friend Tree for going on food safaris with me and being such a trooper after this 'Hot Star' experience. If you would like to see more of her adventures, she makes great easy-to-follow recipes on her blog 'The Quiet Kitchen.' Go check it out!

       

'Rahmen Genki' Review

Hey Nibblers!

       A couple of weeks ago, Conan was craving ramen. I wanted to go into the city as I hadn't been in a while since being on uni holidays. Instead, Kevin had the night off work and while he was searching places to eat the best ramen in Sydney, he stumbled upon one in the North of Sydney, 'Rahmen Genki.' We dragged Anderson along as well and off we went on a little trek to the North. By the time we arrived, our bellies were rumbling and we were ready to feast.

'Rahmen Genki'
Where: 6 Wilkes Ave, Artarmon NSW 2064     

Rahmen Genki menu

      We arrived at around 7pm and already tables were filling up. Situated in such close quarters to 'Artamon' station it really adds to the busy atmosphere. It's almost like we were in a little Tokyo. The turnover was quick so we didn't have to wait long to get a table we liked best. It's a pay first before eating service so it took us quite a while to decide which ramen we wanted. There were so many choices or ramen and they had an option to upsize your bowl for only $3. 
        I ordered the normal size 'Nori' Ramen for $11 AUD. An extremely generous serving for the cost. Bargain! When the bowl was brought out, I thought they gave me the wrong bowl. 'I didn't order an extra large bowl' I thought. It came with bamboo shoot, bean sprouts, shallots, corn kernels, seaweed and pork in a soy sauce based soup. It came steaming hot and as soon as I dipped my chopsticks into the noodles, I knew this was going to be amazing. The flavours were strong and marinated beautifully with one another. The pork was cooked perfectly and the added vegetables adds great texture to the ramen. The first tastes were amazing but towards 2/3 of the bowl I found the broth a bit salty.Though, with that little factor aside, I say it beats many other ramen places I've tried where their soy-based broths are salty from the get go. It was a tad saltier but not to the point where I would stop devouring the beauty of it all.

       Conan ordered the 'Kimcuhi' ramen. This consisted of vegetables, Korean Kimchi pickles, roast pork, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and shallots in a pork broth. I had a few spoonfuls of his broth and from what I gathered, it was amazing! The broth was full of pork flavour but also had a hint of sweetness to it from the pickled Kimchi. I feel like I should of gone for this ramen instead because of the abundance of kimchi they put in the bowl. I'm a sucker when it comes to kimchi! He ordered the extra large bowl ($13 + $3) and while he struggled to finish, the food coma he had afterwards was well worth it. 

        Kevin was a bit adventurous and went for the 'Tonkotsu Rahmen' at $12 + $3(extra large). This had the beansprouts, pickled radish and chillies on the side, shallots, roast pork, sesame seeds in a creamy white pork broth. This rahmen had intense pork flavour. I liked how the broth had a creamy texture and taste to it as well. It was like velvet in your mouth. I think they did well with this bowl as I would have imagined the bowl to become a tad sickening with all the creaminess of the broth but at the end, Kevin enjoyed his bowl and would no doubt have ordered another if his stomach let him.

        Ando opted for just the basic 'Rahmen.' This is the classic old style Shoyu (soy sauce) noodle that had half a boiled egg, seaweed, shallots, bamboo shoots, pork and bean sprouts. He was feeling a bit ill that day so I didn't try any of his broth but by the rate he demolished his extra large bowl, I say it was satisfying. At ($11.50 +$3) a bowl, it's really great value! Very competitive prices and quick and friendly service.

        All in all, I wouldn't mind a mini road trip to 'Rahmen Genki' again. From the ramen bowls that we ordered, all were consistent in flavour and servings and great prices. It definitely feels like an authentic ramen place atmosphere and I really enjoyed being able to experience that in Sydney. If you're in the Artarmon area or want to go on a mini food trip, I say you should definitely give 'Rahmen Genki' a try. I'm certainly salivating just thinking about those noodles and broth! If you've been here or have had an amazing ramen experience leave a comment below.

Hope you're having a great week!

Nibble Away,

Jo

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'

'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: '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.