Dinner @ ShopHouse Kitchen 大食家

ShopHouse Kitchen is a newly opened asian eatery in QV, whenever we walk pass this restaurant, their Char Siew/叉烧(honey glazed barbecue pork), Siew Yok/烧肉(roasted pork belly), Siew Ngap/烧鸭(roasted duck) and Siew Gai/烧鸡(roasted chicken) seems to be so tempting. So one day since we're already in the CBD and have no plans for dinner, we thought of this place and decided to give it a shot plus we miss hongkong-ish food.

Le menu

Typical hongkong-ish big menu - lot's of food choices with attractive photos

Soya milk with soya pudding/豆浆水加豆腐花

Ms : This soya milk with soya pudding taste so so only, i miss mum's homemade soyamilk ='(

Few tables of patrons at around 5.30pm on a weekday 

Mr's choice : Asian Roast on Rice - Roasted Duck/明炉烧味 - 烧鸭饭

Ms's choice : Barbecue Pork and Fried Wonton with Dry LaMian Noodle/炸云吞叉烧干捞面

Candid shot

Both our food was okay, wouldn't say that it's really good cause there are better ones but they have varieties of food and a lot of it looks yummy from photos so we don't mind going back to try out some of their other dishes. 

Brunch @ The Hardware Societe

At last, here we are at The Hardware Societe! It has been on our to-try-list for quite some time. Mr had been in Melbourne for more than a year but didn't had the initiative to try it out so we, along with Mr's buddies from KL decided to give it a try, it is after all at the number one ranking for brunch in CBD on Urbanspoon (as at July 2013).

We reach our brunch spot at 10.30am

Look at the queue on a Monday morning!

What other better ways to kill time while waiting? 

Selfie =D

Cooperative stranger doing funny faces with us xD

Le lovely host with a flower on his head was quite attentive 

Our group of 5 were not completed when it's our turn so we have to wait until the rest of the guys arrive then only we are brought to our tables. We were quite anxious as it's already 11+ and the guys are still on their way, we wouldn't want to miss their breakfast menu because the breakfast menu only serve till 11.30am.

Can't wait to be seated inside

Beverage and dessert counter

Raspberry & Coconut Bread and Butter Pudding

Pistachio & Raspberry Teacake *gluten free*

Hazelnut & Cranberry Meringue *gluten free*

Le Breakfast Menu

Seated at the big sharing table, LOL le kid's expression spelled it all out, le mum is invading his food

Fried Eggs - jamon & roast tomato tostada, el trigal manchego ewes milk cheese & rocket

Scrambled Eggs with chorizo, smoked eggplant, el trigal manchego cheese

Saucisse De Morteau - white bean & chorizo broth, poached eggs

Baked Eggs with chorizo sausage, piquillo pimientos sauce, crunchy almonds, queso de cabra goats milk cheese

Le guys

Ms loved her Baked Eggs this much

Their breakfast menu was good as no negative feedback were given by le guys and one thumbs up given by Ms for her choice of Baked eggs. Initially Mr wanted to order one particular dish that he saw someone is having while we are queueing but we can't figure out what that dish is even after going through the menu and asking the waitress. Fried Eggs seems to have the similar ingredient to that dish but sadly it came out presented not the same as what he saw so he is quite disappointed. 

If Mr is to decide a place for brunch he wouldn't choose to go back for their breakfast menu again as nothing in the menu catches his eyes, instead lunch menu would be an interest to him with ingredients like pork belly and salmon fish etc. As for Ms, The Hardware Societe will be one of her choices for Baked Eggs but for her next visit on their breakfast menu she would like to try their Banana Loaf because it is also one of their known-for-dish. 

The place was busy that day but the service we got was quick and attentive. We heard that they change their menu sometimes but the friendly waitress that was serving our table explained to us that the ingredients probably wouldn't change much but the cooking methods will have a slight difference. And don't forget to ask if there's any off the menu dishes as we overheard her introducing to the other table and it sounds yummy!

MINK Fridays!

Photos post! In Melbourne we usually party on a friday night instead of saturday night. Normally we would be at the bar drinking rounds and rounds of shots and champagne till we lost count but last friday since we had so many friends going together so we all booked a vip sofa. We had bottles of henessy, champagne and abc but unfortunately no one went down, won't be so easy on them next time =P

*photos credits to Mink Fridays*

Big Mama's Bento Box

Last week when Mr's buddies just arrived, we brought them to their first meal in Melbourne, Big Mama! It's a lunch/dinner restaurant serving korean and japanese food. Yea yea...should have brought them to australian cuisine instead but they will be here for quite some time so what's the rush =)

Ms: Probably because this place is the first outside meal Mr had when he first came to Melbourne and he liked it a lot so subconsciously he wanted those who are their first time here to had the same thing too? On march when i first came here, he too said that he wanted to bring me to Big Mama for their Bento Box but we never had the chance so this is my first time too.

Mr's outfit of the day

Mr & Ms

Ms's outfit of the day, it's a beautiful day so just a dress and knitted cardigan will do

That's Big Mama in chinese wording

Simple interior design

Complimentary Miso Soup

Spicy Chicken Bento

Teriyaki Chicken Bento

Karaage Chicken

Spicy Pork Bento

Pork & Veggie Dumplings with dipping sauce

Simple and light make up for the day

Mr likes their Bento Box because their portion is big but this time we went he said the portion shrink a little but we still shared one bento and the dumplings cause we're not big eaters. The Spicy Chicken Bento is good and flavourful, Mr can't take too spicy food but the hot-ness is still bearable. Pork & Veggie Dumplings are okay for us, pan fried just nice to the crunch but some might find the skin slightly too thick to their likings.

Minion Feverrrrr!

Yesss! We finally watched Despicable Me 2 today and we were overhelmed by these cute little adorable yellow creatures. These minions are probably one of the CUTEST creation everrrr. Cuteness overdosed! The movie was hilarious and definitely wasn't disappointing at all. Mr is a super big fan of Despicable Me ever since the first movie came out so watching Despicable Me 2 was like giving candies to a kid and he is a super super happy kid now.  

Ms: Shhh...I'll share a little secret with you guys, Mr was like a huge baby boy when it comes to Despicable Me. He keeps telling me how adorable these minions are and that he wants to buy/collect these little minion toys from Mcd's Happy Meal. Haha!

Anywaysss, the movie was great, definitely a must watch movie in the cinema. If you had a rough day and you need something to cheer you up, keep your mind occupy or to relax, this movie is the medicine and cure for you. A movie like this shouldn't be missed and it is highly recommended by us. So start booking your tickets and have a ride of laughter!