I was really interested to read this survey in the Times Online about the world's most expensive (and cheapest) cities.
It's primarily based on the cost of a luxury unfurnished two-bedroom apartment in the city. I'd certainly agree on London being high up the list - was curious to see Singapore beating Sydney though. I guess it's a matter of supply and demand, and there simply not being the space in Singapore as there is in Australia.
Much to catch up on this blog! Stay tuned.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
A beginner's guide to making sushi rolls
Just to prove we made our own rolls, here's the step-by-step evidence.
1) Gather ingredients:
- Nori sheets (dried seaweed)
- sliced avocado
- sliced peppers
- sliced cucumber
- crab sticks
- prepared sushi rice
- black and white sesame seeds
- Japanese mayonnaise
- latex gloves and a sushi rolling mat
2) Lay the seaweed on the mat, spread the rice evenly across most of the seaweed, leaving an empty edge - this is the part that will stick onto itself and close the whole package up shortly. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
3) Place other ingredients down the middle of the rice, squirt some mayonnaise down the centre, and begin to roll, holding the underneath side of the mat, and folder the rice over enough for it meet itself. Move the mat back and keep rolling the package until the seaweed overlaps itself. Seal by lightly dampening the seaweed and sticking it to itself.
4) And voila! Perfect rolls. Slice into 1.5cm wide rolls, arrange and serve with wasabi and soy sauce.
1) Gather ingredients:
- Nori sheets (dried seaweed)
- sliced avocado
- sliced peppers
- sliced cucumber
- crab sticks
- prepared sushi rice
- black and white sesame seeds
- Japanese mayonnaise
- latex gloves and a sushi rolling mat
2) Lay the seaweed on the mat, spread the rice evenly across most of the seaweed, leaving an empty edge - this is the part that will stick onto itself and close the whole package up shortly. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
3) Place other ingredients down the middle of the rice, squirt some mayonnaise down the centre, and begin to roll, holding the underneath side of the mat, and folder the rice over enough for it meet itself. Move the mat back and keep rolling the package until the seaweed overlaps itself. Seal by lightly dampening the seaweed and sticking it to itself.
4) And voila! Perfect rolls. Slice into 1.5cm wide rolls, arrange and serve with wasabi and soy sauce.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
If I have to get older, I'd rather do it like this...
It was one of those birthdays that in some cases, sent me into the next worrying age bracket. For others, it poised me right on the edge.
Ok ok, I turned 35 this year, but Ant ensured I celebrated in style, with a day full of fun and yummy surprises. The instructions required that we be in town - early. Or early for a Saturday morning, anyway.
We arrived at Yoi Sushi headquarters, just behind the London Eye, for a 10am start. About 20 of us lined up around a conveyor belt, for a 3-hour sushi-making workshop.
Our host was a Japanese sushi chef, who had been making sushi for years. He took nearly an hour to explain the importance of perfecting sushi rice - a process that involved much washing of the Japanese short grain rice, and a specific method for cooking it over a pan - or in a rice cooker if you prefer.
He explained that you could substitute italian arborio rice if you could not find the pure (Australian or Californian produced) rice most frequently used in the UK for sushi rice. That said, Japanese sushi rice is available at the Japan Centre in Piccadilly, and many other shops in China Town.
Ok ok, I turned 35 this year, but Ant ensured I celebrated in style, with a day full of fun and yummy surprises. The instructions required that we be in town - early. Or early for a Saturday morning, anyway.
We arrived at Yoi Sushi headquarters, just behind the London Eye, for a 10am start. About 20 of us lined up around a conveyor belt, for a 3-hour sushi-making workshop.
Our host was a Japanese sushi chef, who had been making sushi for years. He took nearly an hour to explain the importance of perfecting sushi rice - a process that involved much washing of the Japanese short grain rice, and a specific method for cooking it over a pan - or in a rice cooker if you prefer.
He explained that you could substitute italian arborio rice if you could not find the pure (Australian or Californian produced) rice most frequently used in the UK for sushi rice. That said, Japanese sushi rice is available at the Japan Centre in Piccadilly, and many other shops in China Town.
He demonstrated how to blend rice wine vinegar into the sushi rice, and how to store and handle it during the sushi-making process.
He then went on to demonstrate how to fillet a whopping big fillet of salmon. I was impressed when he said that his shop alone consumes over a tonne of fresh salmon each year. That's a hell of a lot of filleting.
At this point, I was pondering whether I needed to adorn my kitchen with a dedicated sashimi-fillettng knife, but continued to watch the dude's dexterity in fish-slicing, in the mean time.
He did amazing things with the very fresh orangey fish. We got to sample it straight of the fish's back, so to speak. He showed us to to fillet the pieces to create sashmi or nigiri sushi.
We then progressed to learn how to roll sushi-rolls and california rolls. It's not as hard as you may think, once you gets the tips from a pro. Latex gloves and japanese mayonaise certainly make life easier.
Our host did a finale, where we each got to pick an ingredient for him to include as part of mega sushi roll. It looked fantastic, although I don't know if the combination of teriyaki chicken, avocado, salmon, peppers and god knows what else, would all combine to create the perfect and-rolled sushi. The salmon on the side was fab however.
We were then let loose on our own mini-setup, to practice rolling our own magical creations.
It really wasn't as hard as we'd anticipdated, and with a bit of practice, we were rolling cylinders that actually resembled those that you might buy in shops.
Lunch followed, and we got to take our magical creations home.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
The best lookin' meal ever. Oishikatta desu ne!
Dinner was included in the accommodation cost, and our our hostess had it all lined up on a trolley outside the room.
We were ushered into the main room with the large low table, and asked to sit crosslegged as she laid out in perfect mirror image, two whopping meals.
I love the Japanese obsession with presentation and layout. What I really would have liked at the time was someone who could explain in detail, what each dish was and what it meant. I have read about the Japanese philosophy of fives - that is, five flavours and colours. The meal laid out before us certainly seemed to meet that criteria.
There was the obligatory rice, and a large range of unidentifiable pickled root vegetables, fish, miso soup, sushi and sashimi, candied bits and pieces, jellied stuff, steam boats and carefully styled fruit pieces.
Tea and beer accompanied the meal (beer was our choice!), and we sat wide-mouthed through most of the meal, contemplating the tastes and the meaning of it all.
Everything tasted extremely fresh, and it had obviously been prepared with love and dedication - soppy, but you know what I mean.
Then came the absolute best part of the meal - the phone call to reception to clear up the remnants of dinner.
The clearing was quick and efficient, and within a few minutes our clean-up lady was out of the room, leaving nothing but chocolates.
Another knock followed, and the futon-making man appeared, ready to make our beds for the evening.
Two layers of foam on the floor formed the bed, then the thickest duvet/doona ever was placed over the top. It's somehow comforting being low to the ground when you sleep...something about not having too far to fall out of bed :-).
In any case, it was the most inspiring meal. And breakfast was pretty much the same thing all over.
We were ushered into the main room with the large low table, and asked to sit crosslegged as she laid out in perfect mirror image, two whopping meals.
I love the Japanese obsession with presentation and layout. What I really would have liked at the time was someone who could explain in detail, what each dish was and what it meant. I have read about the Japanese philosophy of fives - that is, five flavours and colours. The meal laid out before us certainly seemed to meet that criteria.
There was the obligatory rice, and a large range of unidentifiable pickled root vegetables, fish, miso soup, sushi and sashimi, candied bits and pieces, jellied stuff, steam boats and carefully styled fruit pieces.
Tea and beer accompanied the meal (beer was our choice!), and we sat wide-mouthed through most of the meal, contemplating the tastes and the meaning of it all.
Everything tasted extremely fresh, and it had obviously been prepared with love and dedication - soppy, but you know what I mean.
Then came the absolute best part of the meal - the phone call to reception to clear up the remnants of dinner.
The clearing was quick and efficient, and within a few minutes our clean-up lady was out of the room, leaving nothing but chocolates.
Another knock followed, and the futon-making man appeared, ready to make our beds for the evening.
Two layers of foam on the floor formed the bed, then the thickest duvet/doona ever was placed over the top. It's somehow comforting being low to the ground when you sleep...something about not having too far to fall out of bed :-).
In any case, it was the most inspiring meal. And breakfast was pretty much the same thing all over.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Inside a traditional Japanese guesthouse
The ryokan was simple but intensely Japanese. Tatami matting lined the floor, and a series of sliding doors sectioned off the two main rooms from the long narrow hallway.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a full bathroom with a deep bath. The loo had a heated toilet seat - a really popular contraption in Japan.
The main room was sparse in terms of furniture and lounges for that matter. The only seats that existed in this ryokan were the two arm chairs in the little indoor balcony that overlooked the temple, and two ground-level chairs that we gathered formed part of the dinner ritual.
We knocked back a few beers and pondered life in Japan, when a knock at the door signalled dinner.
It was indeed a spectacle that deserves a post of its own.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
O'genki desu ka? Two nights in Tokyo
The Oz trip flew, and in what seemed like no time, we were saying another difficult goodbye to my folks, and heading off for a two-night stopover in Tokyo.
I love Tokyo. I'm a huge fan of Japan, having studied Japanese at highschool, and visiting the country a couple of times in the early 90's with Mum.
I wanted to experience as much of Japanese culture as we could in two days, and booked us into a ryokan near Narita.
I found Wakamatsuhonten on Google, and it looked fine. I had the feeling that it would be a bit out of town, which was fine.
When we arrived by cab from the airport, I was pleasantly delighted to find that our ryokan overlooked Narita Temple...it was literally across the road, and in the most fab little street in what I gathered was Narita's "Old Town".
We weren't able to check in until mid-afternoon, so spent the day pottering around the shops from the top of the hill at the Keisei Narita Train Station back down to Narita Temple.
I am SUCH a fan of Japanese crockery - the little tea sets...the matching saki sets with saki warmer and matching cups...the beautiful packaging of everything, the weird gelatinous sweets....
Although I could only understand about 0.0001% of what was being said, my attempts at retrieving highscool Japanese from the depths of my sozzled brain seemed to be appreciated. The Japanese seem to be surprised and curious when Westerners start speaking their language.
Unlike Australia, the weather in Japan in mid-April was chilly, and the rain wasn't helping matters.
At about 2.30pm, we decided to head back to the ryokan, and ask to check in an hour early. Thank god they were ready to let us in!
I love Tokyo. I'm a huge fan of Japan, having studied Japanese at highschool, and visiting the country a couple of times in the early 90's with Mum.
I wanted to experience as much of Japanese culture as we could in two days, and booked us into a ryokan near Narita.
I found Wakamatsuhonten on Google, and it looked fine. I had the feeling that it would be a bit out of town, which was fine.
When we arrived by cab from the airport, I was pleasantly delighted to find that our ryokan overlooked Narita Temple...it was literally across the road, and in the most fab little street in what I gathered was Narita's "Old Town".
We weren't able to check in until mid-afternoon, so spent the day pottering around the shops from the top of the hill at the Keisei Narita Train Station back down to Narita Temple.
I am SUCH a fan of Japanese crockery - the little tea sets...the matching saki sets with saki warmer and matching cups...the beautiful packaging of everything, the weird gelatinous sweets....
Although I could only understand about 0.0001% of what was being said, my attempts at retrieving highscool Japanese from the depths of my sozzled brain seemed to be appreciated. The Japanese seem to be surprised and curious when Westerners start speaking their language.
Unlike Australia, the weather in Japan in mid-April was chilly, and the rain wasn't helping matters.
At about 2.30pm, we decided to head back to the ryokan, and ask to check in an hour early. Thank god they were ready to let us in!
Dad turns 60 - but not without a gear box failure...
I can't believe my luck. Or my bad luck, as the case seems to be.
Everything fell into place timewise for me to be able to be in Queensland for Dad's 60th birthday.
I planned for a Harley Trike to pick Mum adn Dad up, take them on a one hour drive throught the bendy hills of Mt Tambourine, and up to what looked to be a fab restaurant in a rainforest. In the spirit of the Big 60th Surprise Birthday Stuff Up, I wouldn't have thought universal forces would have conspired once again to stuff up a perfectly good surprise!
The big day arrived, and we all sat round the kitchen table, waiting - on my instruction - to leave at 11.30am. This was when a big biker bloke was to come humming through the gates of my parent's complex, install them in the Harley Trike, and whisk them up the mountain. I was planning to take their car and meet them there.
11.20am rolled by....11.30 rolled by...I sms'd the driver to let him know the pass code for the front gate....
Nothing.
11.35...call from driver. "Hi Melanie...bad news".
My heart sank. "Yes...where are you Paul?"
"Er...we just blew the gear box in the trike. We're stuck in the middle of the road and won't be moving till the tow truck picks us up. In three hours."
"I see."
"I'm really, REALLY sorry. But this bike is going nowhere. We can send two motorbikes...they could be there in an hour or so."
"Er...no thanks. I don't think that will work. Not quite the same effect."
"Can we arrange alternate transport? A limousine perhaps?"
"Er, thanks but, we not quite what I had in mind, and we need to be at the restaurant in 45 mins. Can we please postpone the trikes for another time...we need to leave now to make our booking."
ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Unbelievable.
Anyway...Plan B moved into action, and we drove up the long and scenic hill to Songbird's Retreat - a fabulous restaurant and accommodation provider tucked away in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
Everything about Songbird's is perfect - the setting, the staff, the service, the food, and the resident ducks who run around the entrance to the outdoor loos.
It was one of the best meals I've ever had, in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable.
For a starter I had the Tempura Coated Soft Shell Crab, and for the main, I had a MOUTH-WATERING Pan-Seared Sirloin of Wagyu Beef. I wanted to see if it was as good as the square inch I had at 41. It was. Oh GOD it was yummy.
Dad seemed to enjoy himself and the meal too, and the plate of desserts was equally stunning.
It was a lunch to remember! Happy 60th birthday Dad!
Everything fell into place timewise for me to be able to be in Queensland for Dad's 60th birthday.
I planned for a Harley Trike to pick Mum adn Dad up, take them on a one hour drive throught the bendy hills of Mt Tambourine, and up to what looked to be a fab restaurant in a rainforest. In the spirit of the Big 60th Surprise Birthday Stuff Up, I wouldn't have thought universal forces would have conspired once again to stuff up a perfectly good surprise!
The big day arrived, and we all sat round the kitchen table, waiting - on my instruction - to leave at 11.30am. This was when a big biker bloke was to come humming through the gates of my parent's complex, install them in the Harley Trike, and whisk them up the mountain. I was planning to take their car and meet them there.
11.20am rolled by....11.30 rolled by...I sms'd the driver to let him know the pass code for the front gate....
Nothing.
11.35...call from driver. "Hi Melanie...bad news".
My heart sank. "Yes...where are you Paul?"
"Er...we just blew the gear box in the trike. We're stuck in the middle of the road and won't be moving till the tow truck picks us up. In three hours."
"I see."
"I'm really, REALLY sorry. But this bike is going nowhere. We can send two motorbikes...they could be there in an hour or so."
"Er...no thanks. I don't think that will work. Not quite the same effect."
"Can we arrange alternate transport? A limousine perhaps?"
"Er, thanks but, we not quite what I had in mind, and we need to be at the restaurant in 45 mins. Can we please postpone the trikes for another time...we need to leave now to make our booking."
ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Unbelievable.
Anyway...Plan B moved into action, and we drove up the long and scenic hill to Songbird's Retreat - a fabulous restaurant and accommodation provider tucked away in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
Everything about Songbird's is perfect - the setting, the staff, the service, the food, and the resident ducks who run around the entrance to the outdoor loos.
It was one of the best meals I've ever had, in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable.
For a starter I had the Tempura Coated Soft Shell Crab, and for the main, I had a MOUTH-WATERING Pan-Seared Sirloin of Wagyu Beef. I wanted to see if it was as good as the square inch I had at 41. It was. Oh GOD it was yummy.
Dad seemed to enjoy himself and the meal too, and the plate of desserts was equally stunning.
It was a lunch to remember! Happy 60th birthday Dad!
The tallest residential block in the world
It was Ant's first time to Queensland, and Mum and dad suggested we potter round Surfers and go up to Q1.
Q1 is a new residential building - the highest residential block in the world, they claim.
The obsservation decks on Level 77 of 78 of this building provide some astonishing views up and down the Gold Coast.
Q1 is a new residential building - the highest residential block in the world, they claim.
The obsservation decks on Level 77 of 78 of this building provide some astonishing views up and down the Gold Coast.
Chasing the sun - hello Queensland!
Time seemed to start moving quickly, and already three weeks of our Big Fat Aussie Adventure had flown by.
We drove north via Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay, up to sunny Queensland, where it seems to be permamently 5C warmer than on the NSW side of the border.
After two weddings and a long weekend in the Hunter Valley, the stay at Mum and Dad's place was intended to be quiet...
We drove north via Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay, up to sunny Queensland, where it seems to be permamently 5C warmer than on the NSW side of the border.
After two weddings and a long weekend in the Hunter Valley, the stay at Mum and Dad's place was intended to be quiet...
Exploring Australia's wine country!
For a short period during our Big Fat Aussie Adventure, we focussed almost exclusively on wine instead of food.
A long weekend at the Hunter Valley was on the cards, with some of my fab friends from the big outback roadtrip in 2004, reuniting for the Easter long weekend.
Hanging Tree Wines was one of the most scenic vineyards - and had some fab wines too! I just love the dramatic contrasts of the Australian landscape!
One of the funniest moments of this weekend was when a particularly nasally sommelier at Robyn Drayton Wines was showcasing this vineyard's best reserve wine. She was geographically challenged too...suggesting very strongly to us that sangria was Mexican, cos you could get it at any good Mexican restaurant. Ahem....
Anyway, she was raving about how fabulous a particular wine was, and after a few swills, Pete, who was pizzed and in fine form, pointed out that it was oxidised. How he could even recognised it was oxidised, let alone call it, was beyond all of us, but he said it so convincingly that our dear new friend had to sample the wine. Sure enough..it was at less than stellar form, and she had to admit defeat. I think we collectively purchased enough of Robyn Drayton's sparkling shiraz for her not to care...
In any case, it was a fab weekend. Lizzie, Caroline, Al, Ian and Pete - it was great to catch up. When are we gonna do another road trip? :-).
A long weekend at the Hunter Valley was on the cards, with some of my fab friends from the big outback roadtrip in 2004, reuniting for the Easter long weekend.
Hanging Tree Wines was one of the most scenic vineyards - and had some fab wines too! I just love the dramatic contrasts of the Australian landscape!
One of the funniest moments of this weekend was when a particularly nasally sommelier at Robyn Drayton Wines was showcasing this vineyard's best reserve wine. She was geographically challenged too...suggesting very strongly to us that sangria was Mexican, cos you could get it at any good Mexican restaurant. Ahem....
Anyway, she was raving about how fabulous a particular wine was, and after a few swills, Pete, who was pizzed and in fine form, pointed out that it was oxidised. How he could even recognised it was oxidised, let alone call it, was beyond all of us, but he said it so convincingly that our dear new friend had to sample the wine. Sure enough..it was at less than stellar form, and she had to admit defeat. I think we collectively purchased enough of Robyn Drayton's sparkling shiraz for her not to care...
In any case, it was a fab weekend. Lizzie, Caroline, Al, Ian and Pete - it was great to catch up. When are we gonna do another road trip? :-).
Adam and Lauren tie the knot!
It's still hard to believe my little brother is married! But Adam and his beautiful wife Lauren turned a quiet nature reserve into the scene of a fantastic and stylish celebration of their love. Their bridal waltz was brave and sexy, and the speeches were heartfelt.
I cried.
Numerous times throughout the day.
It was beautiful.
I cried.
Numerous times throughout the day.
It was beautiful.
It's hard to beat an Australian beach
Guerilla Bay was to be the setting for Adam and Lauren's wedding. What a beautiful setting it was...
Prawns and oysters on the jetty
Australia's south coast is delightful. Far less commercialised and developed than the north coast, quiet little towns like Bateman's Bay dot the coast line.
Adam and Lauren's wedding was being held on the Saturday afternoon at Guerilla Bay, about 20kms south of Bateman's Bay, and we were all making our way down on the Thursday for an extended wedding weekend.
Following a big night out for the Hen's and Buck's nights in Canberra, we arrived at Bateman's Bay around lunch time, our minds turning to the most important of issues....FOOD!
We sat with our legs dangling off this pier - it was far sunnier than the picture indicates, althought the skies were ominous - scoffing a couple of kilos of prawns and a dozen oysters each. The ideal lunch on the run, I reckon!
Adam and Lauren's wedding was being held on the Saturday afternoon at Guerilla Bay, about 20kms south of Bateman's Bay, and we were all making our way down on the Thursday for an extended wedding weekend.
Following a big night out for the Hen's and Buck's nights in Canberra, we arrived at Bateman's Bay around lunch time, our minds turning to the most important of issues....FOOD!
We sat with our legs dangling off this pier - it was far sunnier than the picture indicates, althought the skies were ominous - scoffing a couple of kilos of prawns and a dozen oysters each. The ideal lunch on the run, I reckon!
Australian marketing at its best
It was a big week! My brother was getting married, and large volumes of relatives were descending on the lovely seaside town of Guerilla Bay to attend the wedding.
We saw this stunning example of integrated marketing (matching web address, number plate and signage!) on the drive down South...
If I'd have been driving, I'd have crashed the car for laughing. This just tickled my fancy.
We saw this stunning example of integrated marketing (matching web address, number plate and signage!) on the drive down South...
If I'd have been driving, I'd have crashed the car for laughing. This just tickled my fancy.
A peaceful garden in the centre of Sydney
It has been so long since I've wandered through the sites of Sydney, and it also made me reflect on how I took them for granted the entire time I lived in Sydney.
The Chinese Garden of Friendship is located right in the centre of Sydney, just near China Town and Tumblong Park, Darling Harbour.
It's hard to believe that somewhere so peacful can co-exist so happily with the hustle and bustle of the city that encompasses it.
Every twist and turn, every plant and statue seems to have a purpose, and to have been put there to create a particular type of energy.
According to the official site, "the Chinese garden also embodies the principles of the Taoist philosophy of yin (calmness) and yang (activity). When opposites work together, they create a balanced whole. Contemplate the harmonious scene created by a cascading waterfall tumbling into a serenely still pond, or the elegant contrast of tall dark bamboo planted alongside rounded, flat stones."
The attention to detail is exquisite...right down to the very cute little water dragons that scamper through the leaves.
The Chinese Garden of Friendship is located right in the centre of Sydney, just near China Town and Tumblong Park, Darling Harbour.
It's hard to believe that somewhere so peacful can co-exist so happily with the hustle and bustle of the city that encompasses it.
Every twist and turn, every plant and statue seems to have a purpose, and to have been put there to create a particular type of energy.
According to the official site, "the Chinese garden also embodies the principles of the Taoist philosophy of yin (calmness) and yang (activity). When opposites work together, they create a balanced whole. Contemplate the harmonious scene created by a cascading waterfall tumbling into a serenely still pond, or the elegant contrast of tall dark bamboo planted alongside rounded, flat stones."
The attention to detail is exquisite...right down to the very cute little water dragons that scamper through the leaves.
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