Posts in Beauty

Served! Aqua S, Regent’s Place Sydney

Review
Two photo collage of Aqua S's soft serve

Two photo collage of Aqua S's soft serve

How much can there be to soft serve? Heaps, apparently. Aqua S debuted to crazy round-the-block queues with a single, unique flavour: sea salt soft serve, tinted a bright robin’s egg blue.

You might say that it was the flavour that launched a thousand queues.

They have two flavours that change every week, with sea salt as the constant, and whimsical toppings like cotton candy, torched marshmallow and popping candy. Because what’s the point of soft serve if it doesn’t delight the kid in you? They seem to do fruit flavours especially well, with a fantastically juicy watermelon that was well balanced with the sea salt. The Apple Blackcurrant tastes like the large bottles of juice that you can get at the supermarket, and was quite refreshing, if not slightly on the cloying side of sweet.

The service is polite and efficient, and quite no-nonsense, which takes away from the whimsy slightly. And the price gets to me too, because $6.30 for a cone with two toppings somehow seems a tad steep to me when round the corner you can get decent soft serve for around the $2 mark. It’ll be interesting to see how long Aqua S can keep churning out new flavours though, because if they can, they’re in the running to be the Messina of Soft Serves in Sydney.

This was independently paid for.
Aqua S
Regent Place
501 George St
Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: 0406 970 070
Website: http://aquas.co/

Aqua S on Urbanspoon

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Ramly Burger in Sydney! Yang’s Malaysian Food Truck

Food Truck Review
Aerial shot of our order from Yang's Malaysian Food Truck!

Aerial shot of our order from Yang's Malaysian Food Truck!

In Singapore, night markets (pasar malam) are big business. They take on a nomadic, gypsy quality, moving from suburb to suburb, with makeshift tents sprouting up overnight like daisies after a spring shower. Loud music begins blaring, hawkers begin hawking, and pans and grill go on the heat and curls of smoke start beckoning, crooking its wispy fingers and luring you into the bright light.

And with food like that, you’d think that you have died and gone to heaven.

The Ramly Burger debuted in Singapore in a pasar malam to great fanfare, causing queues round the block as we are wont to do. Originating in Malaysia, this burger was created by a man named, well, Ramly, and consists of a beef or chicken patty, covered in egg, lettuce, sauce on sauce on sauce, and is the sloppiest burger you’d ever eat. Even now, with all the knockoffs, most of the Ramly burgers in Malaysia are made with patties sourced from the original Ramly makers.

So when I heard that Yang’s Malaysian Food Truck was serving up Ramly burgers on the menu, I was like a kid with an early Christmas, chomping at the bit to get my hands on it. But of course, a food blogger never just orders one thing off the menu. No, we order the whole damned lot.

Roti with ChickenRoti with Curried Chicken

Soft Shell Chill Crab with MantouSoft Shell Chilli Crab with Mantou

Ramli SliderRamly Slider

Chicken Rice BallsChicken Rice balls

Curry PuffsCurry Puffs

The Soft Shell Chilli Crab with Mantou is a fantastic take on the Singapore Chilli Crab, with more fresh chillies used and not quite as sweet as I was expecting. And you know, deep fried milk buns are always a winner with me. The Chicken Rice Balls were quite surprising, since I’ve never had them that way before, but the little morsels grew on me…maybe because I’m a lazy eater and these were convenient mouthfuls. The chicken was a tiny bit on the dry side, but on the whole still a thoroughly enjoyable dish. The Ramly Sliders were great as a slider, but at the risk of sounding like a perv in a red light district, it needs to be dirtier, and greasier. It was almost too clean and sophisticated to really communicate the Ramly experience. The curry puffs had the super flaky pastry spot on – I could feel my arteries clogging, which is always a good sign when you’re eating pastry – but the filling was just a touch…wet. Again, no relation to the red light district.

Inside of a Curry Puff

As a food truck, Yang’s Malaysian Food Truck is off to a great start, serving up quality Asian-inspired food in convenient to-go portions. There’s some maturing that needs to happen, as with any new food business, but I do think that they are a truck to watch. *thumbs up*

This meal was independently paid for.
Yang’s Malaysian Food Truck
79 Edinburgh Rd
Castlecrag, NSW 2068
Phone: 0408 221 213
Website: http://yangsfoodtruck.com

Yang's Malaysian Food Truck on Urbanspoon

Toss That Shrimp on the Barbie: Parson’s Bar and Kitchen

Review 1 Comment
Hickory Board with all the smoked items from Parson's Bar and Kitchen

Hickory Board with all the smoked items from Parson's Bar and Kitchen

Barbecue is the new cronut. And it’s not your average kettle-barbecue-in-the-backyard-with-men-standing-around-it either. This wave of smoked meats has recently swept from America’s deep south all the way to Sydney, and it looks like it’s here to stay. Looks like that shrimp on the barbie is getting some company.

Parson’s Bar and Kitchen is the latest to offer up smokey meaty goodness with Smoke Week: plating up brisket, ribs, wings and sausage in a restaurant that they’ve built themselves.

Owners Joe, Nick and Byron spent years working in the grueling hospitality industry, before deciding that they wanted to build something to call their own. Literally, build it. Located in a vintage house in Potts Point, they’ve installed a bar, a fantastic brick wall, a lovely deck with outdoor seating…all with their own two hands.

Pork Crackling with Bacon SaltPork Crackling with Bacon Salt

The newest addition to the family is a stove top smoker, which impressively churns out brisket, bacon, ribs and an amazing twice smoked (!) chorizo, where the meat gets smoked, then minced and put into sausage casings, cured, then smoked again.

Bacon, as if it wasnt glorious enough on its own, is also fried, dehydrated and ground into a bacon salt, which is used TO SEASON CRACKLING. As you do. Needless to say, this simple cup of crispy salty bacony goodness caused me to turn into that emoji with hearts for eyes. Because that’s how you fall in love, my friends.

Smoked Brisket SlidersSmoked Brisket Sliders

Plum Glazed Beef Short RibsPlum Glazed Beef Short Ribs

There was also some pretty amazing pork and beef ribs, but, as with most other cases for me, the beef ribs with its sticky sweet glaze came out on top. Tender but with just the right amount of pull, these ribs had me licking my fingers the way the good colonel intended.

Smokey Southern Fried ChickenSmokey Southern Fried Chicken

Speaking of the colonel, the team at Parson’s have decided to forgo the plain smoked chicken, and tszuj it up a bit by also frying it. Because everyday can be #fryday too. Served with a ranch sauce, these were crazy juicy, and had just the right amount of salty crispy goodness that it nearly had me reaching for a beer.

And I don’t drink.

Potato Salad and SlawPotato Salad and Slaw

And to help you along with your five-a-day, a lemon juice-based potato salad, and slaw to cut through the richness. Which, impressively, was a line finely toed by the guys at Parson’s. The trap with a smoker is that sometimes it can be “more is more”, and the resulting meat becomes just a conduit for smoke, but with this order, they have hit the meat with just the right amount of smoke to enhance the other flavours. If you can get a hold of them, the Southern Fried Chicken, Twice Smoked Chorizo and Plum Glazed Beef Ribs were absolute standouts to me.

I can’t wait to see what else they are going to come up with that smoker!

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Parson’s Bar and Kitchen.
Parsons
3 Kellett St
Potts Point, NSW 2011
Phone: 02 8540 6320
Website: http://www.parsonsbar.com.au/
Opening Hours: Tues-Sat, 5pm-12mn, Sun-Mon, Closed

Parsons on Urbanspoon

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Blend it out! Tips and tricks for blending your makeup like a pro

Beauty How To 1 Comment
No more fussing with various removers and soap to keep those brushes squeaky clean! This is a simple and cheap 1 step method to cleaning makeup brushes

In the race to primp, preen and accentuate, the beauty industry have come up with such a variety of colours and pigments that can cover any look and skin type you can think of. But the real trick to applying makeup like a pro doesn’t always lie in what products you use, but also how you apply it.

So from years of trial and error (and there have been some pretty dark times. BURN THOSE PICTURES!) I bring you my top 5 ways to achieve that flawless airbrush blend, without forking out for an airbrush.

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Buns of Steel: Belly Bao, Sydney CBD

Review
BBC (fried chicken) from Belly Bao in Good God, Sydney

BBC (fried chicken) from Belly Bao in Good God, Sydney

I never did entirely understand the almost-fanatic appeal of the Gua Bao – soft, sweet milk buns filled with (traditionally) braised pork belly, mustard greens and sauce – to some. Sure it’s tasty and all, and its possibilities in terms of building the perfect bite in this hand-held snack-to-go are certainly promising, but surely it doesn’t require the fad-level attention that its been getting right?

Clearly, I haven’t tried the baos from Belly Bao.

Located in GoodGod Small Club, where The Dip used to reside, Belly Bao has grown from its humble beginnings as a market stall, into a busy eatery with legions of adoring fans. It was the brainchild of Sylvia, who, while on holidays in New York, came across these delicious morsels. Upon returning to Sydney, she realised that there was a clear gap in the market (and her own access to delicious baos), and decided to risk it all and make her own. With her parents to guide her with their years of restaurant experience, Sylvia started her market stall and hasn’t looked back since.

Tofu Bao, Soft Shell Crab Bao and Short Rib Bao at Belly BaoFrom top: Tofu Bao, Soft Shell Crab Bao and Short Rib Bao

Roast Pork Belly Bao, Fried Chicken Bao, and Braised Pork Belly Bao from Belly BaoFrom top: Roast Pork Belly Bao, Fried Chicken Bao, and Braised Pork Belly Bao

Sweet Potato Fries from Belly BaoSweet Potato Fries

BBC (Belly Bao Chicken) from Belly BaoBBC (Belly Bao Chicken)

The result? The best milk buns I’ve ever had in Sydney. It’s ridiculous just how fresh, soft, and fluffy they are, and it’s not surprising to hear from Sylvia that they make their own buns, rather than getting it supplied from someone else. And the fillings don’t disappoint either – the classic Braised Pork Belly Bao is my favourite with its thick dark sauce clinging to the tender slice of pork belly. The Short Rib Bao comes a close second, with its Korean inspired flavours of sweet soy and kim chi.

But don’t fill up on buns, because the Sweet Potato Fries, which are liberally salted and covered in a house made aioli and chilli sauce, are SO satisfying. Hot off the fryer, these fries are delicious in their sogginess – sweet potato fries don’t ever seem to crisp up in the same way that regular fries do – and the sauce over the top has to have some sort of hard drug in it, because I’m so SO addicted to the stuff.

The BBC also came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. Juicy meat, crunchy exterior that shatters into your cleavage, and all that jazz. And anyone who goes through the effort of brining their poultry, is alright in my books.

I’m so relieved when Sylvia divulges that the plan is to make Belly Bao readily available 7 days a week, because I don’t think I can live with such good food being unavailable for half of the week. Now excuse me, while I get my fries on.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Belly Bao.
Belly Bao
GOODGOD Small Club
53-55 Liverpool St
Sydney, NSW 2000
Website: http://bellybao.com/

Belly Bao on Urbanspoon

The 1 Step Method To Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

Beauty How To 4 Comments
The 1 Step Method To Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

Let’s face it: cleaning your makeup brushes can be such a drag, which is probably why many of us across the world have pink and brown stained bristles sitting in disarray on our dresser.

Well no longer! I’ve figured out one single, simple and quick secret to cleaning my brushes, every single time I do my makeup.

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SSSSSSSSmokkim Modern Kitchen, Top Ryde

Review
Deep fried stuffed jalapeño from smokkim

Deep Fried Stuffed Jalapeno

I remember when I first visited Korea with my parents – we had a tour guide explaining the nuances of the culture, and telling us little anecdotes and stories, to illustrate what makes Koreans, well, Korean. Fast forward 17 years (eep!) and I’m still utterly fascinated with the culture, and not only because the boys in Big Bang are so stylish and pretty!

I’ve always been a firm believer that food is a gateway into a culture and history of a country, and for that reason, the food needs to sometimes be varied in order to make it slightly more accessible, because you can’t always expect people to go straight for the fermented funky fish. Smokkim Modern Kitchen seems to be trying to achieve that, with a Korean style influenced menu set amongst casual dining surroundings. Located next to Oliver Brown in Top Ryde City, this cosy restaurant has lovely ambient lighting, and a large balcony area if you prefer al fresco dining.

Marinated Beef BunMarinated Beef Bun – Soy marinated sirloin , ssamjang, kimchi

Soft Shell Crab BunCrispy Soft Shell Crab Bun – cos lettuce, coriander, tobikko mayo

First order of the day – buns. Soft, sweet, milky white buns that are the cornerstone Asian pastries. There was a trio of them on the menu – Marinated Beef, Pork Belly, and Soft Shell Crab. The Marinated Beef – my favourite of the three – was generously filled to the brim with sweet soy cooked wafer thin slices of beef, and just the right amount of kimchi and greens to balance the kick of salt and sugar. Yum. The Pork Belly came a close second, but it really was much better in the Bossam (below), and for that I’d go for more beef buns if I had to order again. Not quite the standard of Pu’er or Belly Bao, but tasty enough to support the menu.

Deep fried stuffed jalapenoDeep Fried Stuffed Jalapeño – Premium pork neck mince, silky tofu, mixed vegies

The Deep Fried Stuffed Jalapeño is great as a bar option, and because, #fryday. Stuffed with pork mince and crumbed in panko, these give off a satisfying crunch followed by requisite juiciness upon the first bite. A very grown up Jalapeño popper, these bites bring a touch of sophistication to the urge to pair fried food with alcohol. Quite lovely, but needs more mayo.

Everything can always do with more mayo.

Bibimbap of the dayBibimbap of the day – Rice dish reinterpreted by Smokkim, with spanner crab, dried seaweed, kohlrabi, egg custard

I was first introduced to bibimbap in its searing hot stone bowl by my dad at age 12, and the mix of rice, vegetable, egg, sauce and the delicious crust down the bottom of the bowl has been an expectation of bibimbap ever since. This however, was a cold version, with crab, seaweed, radish, and what looked like scrambled eggs. Like a chirashi almost. And while I can appreciate the concept of the interpretation, I can’t really say that I enjoyed this one. The sauce that came with it wasn’t quite enough to moisten the bowl, and the spanner crab was a little light on flavour. And it made me a little sad, because then I just wanted a chirashi bowl, but it wasn’t socially acceptable for me to have two lunches in a row. /sadface.

BossamBossam – Traditional Korean dish, slow cooked pork belly, radish and beetroot pickle, soy caramel sauce

But for what the Bibimbap gave in disappointment, the Bossam made up for it. Thick slices of braised, tender pork belly are laid on a plate with kale leaves, pickles and ssamjang – a fermented bean sauce that typically goes with the dish – and you’re meant to make little wraps that are mouthfuls of bliss. I especially enjoyed the structure that the kale gave to this, even though it isn’t a traditional choice of green, and the sticky sweet soy that coated the pork belly just had me licking my fingers. Favourite of the day, and so light on the belly too!

Wagyu Beef BurgerWagyu Beef Burger

And of course, a burger, because Sam must order a burger when he sees it on the menu. It was a really nice burger, but again, not quite in the league of the burger giants in Sydney. The zucchini chips also provided a lovely crunch to me (Sam wasn’t a fan), but somehow it was sorely lacking a type of dipping sauce that usually goes with a side of chips. For me, anyway.

I think Smokkim is a fantastic first date option – you know that you’re getting decent food and attentive service (we were the only people sitting on the balcony and we still didn’t get neglected), with just enough culture to make it interesting, but not enough to potentially leave you smelling like smoke and hotpot while walking out of the restaurant. No, that, you leave for date 3 or 4. I much preferred the small bites to the large, although I can very well see me treating myself to a Bossam plate for a leisurely lunch.

Mmmm. Pork Belly.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Smokkim Modern Kitchen.

Smokkim Modern Kitchen
Shop 4003 Corner Devlin St And Blaxland Rd
Ryde, NSW 2112
Phone: 02 9809 5703
Website: http://www.smokkim.com.au/
Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs, 10am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat, 11am-1am, Sun, 10am-11:30pm

Smokkim Modern Kitchen on Urbanspoon

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Soul O-rising? Seoul Orizin Korean Food, Haymarket

Review
Prawn and Chicken Gangjung, $18

Prawn and Chicken Gangjung, $18

You’d think that living in an area inundated with Korean restaurants means that I wouldn’t be as excited about yet another Korean Fried Chicken joint.

BUT YOU’D BE WRONG.

When Simon from The Heart of Food suggested Seoul Orizin for our lunch catchup, my brain and body instantly went on fried chicken mode: hungry.

Spicy Cold Buckwheat Noodles, $10Spicy Cold Buckwheat Noodles, $10

Spicy Prawn and Chicken Gangjung, $18Spicy Prawn and Chicken Gangjung, $18

Grilled Beef Ribs, $16Grilled Beef Ribs, $16

Egg Hot PotEgg Hot Pot

We ordered a variety of things, including my favourite go to noodle dish: the bibim naeng myeon, a chewy stretchy spicy korean noodle that is served with crunchy pickles. My mouth is watering as I write this. Their noodles aren’t quite as good as The Mandoo for my taste – not as spicy and without that oomph that I love about this dish – but it’s a fantastic option for a CBD lunch.

The Spicy Prawn and Chicken Gangjung was literally, fried chicken and prawn coated in the spicy sticky sweet sauce that sticks to the back of your molar, and was quite nice, but nothingg groundbreaking.

It was one of those “not bad” experiences – nothing to complain about, but nothing that makes me scream from the rooftops unfortunately. Not sure whether if I stand outside those doors I’d go in for lunch, or take a step to the right and walk into Hana Hana instead!

This meal was independently paid for.
Seoul Orizin
203-209 Thomas St
Haymarket, NSW 2000
Phone: 02 8541 7531

Seoul Orizin - the Chicks on Urbanspoon

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The Norfolk, Surry Hills

Review
Deep Fried Banana Taco, $12 for 2

Deep Fried Banana Taco, $12 for 2

The Norfolk used to be “that place under House Of Crabs” to me, where the food was decent, but not the main attraction. But now, there’s a whole new menu, and a few of us were lucky enough to get invited to feast!

Deep fried banana taco anyone?

Fried Chicken in Waffle on a stickFried Chicken in Waffle on a stick

Monterey Cheese Burger, $5Monterey Cheese Burger, with EZ cheese and Jalapeño Salsa, $5

Asado beef tacos, $5.50Asado beef tacos, with coffee, avocado cream, and arbol chilli salsa, $5.50

Jalepeno Popper Taco, $5.50Jalepeno Popper Taco, with pumpkin mole, queso and salsa mojo, $5.50

Pulled Pork Taco, $5.50Pulled Pork Taco, with smoked adobo pork, aji chilli and pineapple salsa, $5.50

Mole Fried Chicken Wings, $14Mole Fried Chicken Wings, with mole spices, crema and chilli vinegar, $14

Deep Fried Pickles, $9 Deep Fried Pickles, with ranch sauce, $9

Mac and Cheeseballs, $14Mac and Cheeseballs, with spiced ketchup, $14

San Jose Sang Choy Bow, $14San Jose Sang Choy Bow, with green papaya, lime, peanuts and salsa mojo, $14

BBQ Corn, $7BBQ Corn, with ancho mayo, bacon and pretzel furikake, $7

K-Town Burrito, $14K-Town Burrito, with short rib, smoked frank and kimchi rice, $14

But before dessert, the bar menu. The corn with ancho mayo, bacon and pretzel furikake should be how all corn should ve had, with smoky crusty salty deliciousness to be had all around. If this is how all veggies are served, I’m sure you wouldn’t have issues making kids eat their veg. The Monterey Sliders were also pretty groovy, bringing all the cheesy comforts in every bite. There was an extra one floating around the table, and it was all I could do (and the belt that I was wearing) that stopped me from going for seconds.

And for tha Mac and Cheese lovers, The Norfolk is turning it up a notch with Mac and Cheese Balls. Finally, the perfect crumb to ooey gooey goodness ratio. This came with a dipping sauce, which was somewhat non-essential, since every ball of mac has the cheese to dress itself.

Deep Fried Banana Taco, $12 for 2Deep Fried Banana Taco, with peanut butter ice cream, ice magic, peanuts, 100s and 1000s, and a fried corn taco, $12 for 2

The Deep Fried Banana Taco was the last dish of the night, and served with a flourish it was. It had all the hot/cold sweet/savoury things going on, but at that point I was so stuffed that I wasnt sure what I was really eating anymore. But I did finish the banana though, because, uh, deep fried fruit is good for you right?

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of The Norfolk and Drink and Dine.
The Norfolk
305 Cleveland St
Redfern, NSW
Phone: 02 9699 3177
Website: http://www.thenorfolk.co/

The Norfolk on Urbanspoon

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Sample of the Week: Appelles Apothecary Wheat Protein Shampoo

Beauty Review
Appelles Apothecary Wheat Protein Shampoo held against a white background

As someone with curly, coarse, combination hair – yes, you read it right: oily on the scalp and dry at the root – I get very particular about my choice of haircare products. It not only has to work on very difficult hair, but also needs to be at the right price point – I’ve to use quite a bit of product for the amount of hair that I have, which means all the money that I could be spending on food might literally get washed down the drain. Literally.

So how does an organic shampoo with wheat protein work on difficult hair? Is it any better than the drugstore brands?
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