A tale of two cities - suburban eating in Brisbane and Melbourne

We had two impromptu meals out.

 The first was at the Sultan's Kitchen, on Sandgate rd, Clayfield, in Quuensland, a suburban Indian restaurant, where we stopped for a  bite to eat after attending an art exhibition.  Service was friendly, and welcoming, and for little ones, the cooks working with the tandoori oven could be viewed behind a glass window.  The decor is slightly kitsch, the location on a main road a bit hard for parking, but better than nearby Albion, where we first tried to stop.  We ordered the mixed entrees - which in hindsight would have been enough.  I found the chicken a little underdone, and the fried foods a bit mushy, but the dips were nice if a bit small, the sausage was good, and it was all tasty.

Next, we ordered the mild prawn masala, vegetable  biryani, garlic naan and , by mistake, saffron rice.

The cooking was very rich, very saucy, quite tasty and, according to Bob, not mild.  The sauce was again very good.  We couldn't finish it all, there was so much.  We  were glad we hadn't ordered the tempting lassi or the desserts. A nice meal.

In Melbourne, Victoria, we were taken to Box Hill Centre shopping centre, to an old favourite which is improving steadily, RaRamen.  This is not a fancy place.  You just come here for the food, not for fancy service or decor. Plain tables stacked in the restaurant and extending into the shopping aisle.  Near the market, between the cake shop and the coffee/ chocolate shop, and opposite the Greek delicatessen and the take-away offal shop.  The waitress comes to take your order, writes it in Chinese, and you go off to the counter to pay in cash.  On the way back, you help yourself to free slushies, water,tea and or red bean soup.   There is vinegar, soy and chilli sauce on the table. The dishes arrived.

The seaweed salad was brilliant!

The pork and chicken steamed dumplings were equally good, and equal favourites with the salad.

The fried pork dumplings were delicious though

And the salty fish and chicken fried rice were nice, even though I am not usually turned on by fried rice, which I feel is home cooking.

 The steamed Shanghai steamed dumplings were probably my least favourite although the others obviously enjoyed them.

Lastly, I was pleasantly surprised by liking the Spring Onion pancake.

  You should guess by now that this place focuses on dumplings and is one of my favourite eateries.  Highly recommended.

Eating at home.

Surprise, surprise!  We didn't eat out this week!  Instead, it was all home cooking.

Every weekday morning, Bob makes me muesli, yoghurt and fruit, or porridge with maple syrup, and a cup of tea.  However, on weekends I get specials like these poached eggs with spinach.

For dinner this past week, I made him seasoned and pan fried whiting, Tuscan cabbage and cherry tomatoes, and yam puree,

Louisiana chicken wings, cauliflower and cheese, carrots and baked potatoes:

Chicken, asparagus and mushroom pie with broccolini,

Vegetable curry and brown rice,

and pork hock seasoned with caraway seed, sea salt, garlic and beer, with red cabbage, apple and onion, and baked potato.

We didn't miss cafes and restaurants at all!

This week's recipe hasn't got a photo, sorry, because it would look the same as the one above, but is delicious.  It is one that my daughter taught me years ago and always goes down well.  I am not sure where she originally got it, but try it!

French Chicken and Mustard Pie

Ingredients:
2 onions, 3 tablespoons olive oil
4 diced chicken breasts (I often use thigh fillets because I like dark meat)
4 tablespoons whole grained mustard
1/4 cup cream
sea salt
 black pepper
400g puff pastry
1 egg yolk

Method:

Sweat the onions in oil until soft.
Add chicken and stir fry until lightly browned.
Stir in mustard, cream and seasonings, then cool.
Grease and line pie tins with pastry.
Cover with pastry lids and glaze with egg yolk.
Cook at 180 degrees for 45 minutes