Peanut Butter Heaven

From my past blog posts, you'd figure out that I'm a nut butter addict. More specifically, peanut butter. Everyday, without fail, peanut butter would manage its way into one of my meals. If not breakfast, lunch or dinner, it would be snack or supper.

A few days ago, my heart skipped a beat when my package from USA Foods arrived. My precious jars of peanut butter finally arrived!! I've tried PB & Co.'s Dark Chocolate Dreams and White Chocolate Wonderful before and I absolutely adored them. Soon after that, trying all the flavours became my goal.

Today, my meals aren't very inventive but it was certainly easy. Breakfast was peanut butter sandwich. Lunch was peanut butter sandwich. And dinner was peanut butter sandwich. My day couldn't get any better.

Several spoonfuls were already gone by the time this picture was taken.

Left to right: Mighty Maple, Crunch Time, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl & The Heat is On

Mighty Maple
One of my favourite breakfast involves fresh, hot waffles, a whole lot of peanut butter & a generous drizzle of Canadian maple syrup. My major concern with this was the flavour because I love that distinct sweetness you’d get in maple syrup. I worry that it would taste like peanut butter with a whole lot of sugar & a tiny portion of flavouring.

But I was wrong. The maple syrup flavour was easily distinguishable and it wasn’t as sweet as I’d expected it to be. The texture’s a lot creamier than the others, making it’s spreadability 10 out of 10.


Crunch Time
Smooth or crunchy? I'm definitely a crunchy girl. I need texture in my food. So, when it comes to peanut butter, I'd always go for the jar of crunchy pb. All of Peanut Butter & Co.'s peanut butter are natural and no stirring is needed.

When I cracked open the jar, the scent of roasted peanuts made its way to my brain through my nose and sent me on a peanut butter high. The little pearls of peanuts were certainly visible and abundant. I wasted no time and dug my spoon into the jar. It was creamy and smooth but still chunky. There was a hint of saltiness and sweetness but it was barely there. Don't get me wrong! It's a good thing because the flavour of the roasted peanuts really stood out and that's the way I like my peanut butter.

Cinnamon & Raisin Swirls
If I could live on one spice for the rest of my life, it would be cinnamon. Cinnamon rolls, snickerdoodles, cinnamon hot chocolate, churros with cinnamon sugar and the list goes on. So, I was really looking forward to this particular flavour.

It certainly did not disappoint. Every spoonfuls were jam packed with the familiar flavour of cinnamon. Most of the raisins settled towards the bottom of the jar. So, if you want a good ratio of raisins in each serving, do remember to give it a good stir! I adore raisins but the ones in the jar’s slightly dry and chewy. Though, I love that the texture is thicker and not as ‘stir-able’ as the others. For those of you who do not enjoy cinnamon, this is obviously not for you but this one gets my vote for the best ‘sweet’ peanut butter!


The Heat is On
A savoury peanut butter? I’ve definitely got to try this one! I love my chillies and I love them extra hot. Chilli powder? Check. Cayenne peppers? Check. Crushed red peppers? Check. Paprika? Check. Seriously, why haven’t I tried it before?!


I dipped my spoon in and a spoonful went straight into my mouth. WOW! and the burst of heat unleashed itself! The spiciness really shined without masking the peanut butter. I thought that the heat was just right but I’d smear slightly more than a normal serving to get an extra kick. Can’t get enough of this one!


***
As I've mentioned earlier, my adventure with Peanut Butter & Co. started with Dark Chocolate Dreams and White Chocolate Wonderful. No one there understood my shrieking and excitement when I found these in a grocery store during my Hong Kong trip! But looking back now, I realised how silly I was- I can't believe that I only bought a jar each!

Dark Chocolate Dream
Dark chocolate and peanut butter has always been in my breakfast/lunch/snack menu. Sometimes, I wake up craving desserts. So, I’d smear one bread with crunchy peanut butter, top it with blocks of Lindt’s 70% Dark Chocolate, place another bread on top and pop it into my sandwich press till everything’s gooey and melted.

Anyway, back to the Dark Choc Dreams. It’s rich, thick, creamy and smooth. There’s a tiny hint of bitterness from the dark chocolate and definitely not incredibly sweet like Nutella. The well-balanced flavours of the chocolate and roasted peanut tells you that you’re eating a chocolate spread but also reminds you that it’s peanut butter.

White Chocolate Wonderful
This one worried me slightly because white chocolate's usually very sweet. Similar to the dark chocolate one, it's creamy, thick and incredibly smooth. To my surprise, it wasn't as sweet as I expected! Sure, it's sweet but not sickeningly tooth-aching sweet. Before this, I was pretty sure that I'd prefer the Dark Chocolate Dreams but every bite of the white chocolate one slowly changed my mind.

Dark or White? I still can't decide so, why not have both?

I know that this isn't a very green post but I have to admit that I haven't been eating my veggies since these babies arrived! I'll start eating them with carrot and celery sticks!

Have you tried PB & CO.?

Do you have a favourite flavour?

Crunchy or Smooth?

Hardware Societe (Re-visit), CBD

I'm an early riser and I don't loathe it. In fact, I enjoy waking up, knowing that most of the people are still asleep! And I especially enjoy waking up to my favourite meal of the day- breakfast! But once in awhile, my body needs the extra hours and on those day, a good brunch makes its way into my day.

I've been to to the cozy breakfast/lunch spot in Hardware Lane several times before and the food has always been consistently wonderful! The wait staffs are incredibly cheery and nothing beats a lazy afternoon with a good cup of coffee & company!

Latte

Couldn't resist a few sips before taking a picture!

Duck Confit

I’ve ordered the duck confit as many times as I’ve been here and I absolutely adore it! But I was disappointed today. The rice wasn’t a ‘juicy’ and flavourful as I remembered it to be. The duck was tender & succulent but the jam-packed burst of flavours that was looking for in the dish wasn't there.

Alaskan Salmon

The salmon was cooked to my liking- slightly pink in the centre and the portion was just right. Any smaller, I would certainly be unhappy but any bigger, it would be a mouthful too much! The zucchinis were well-flavoured and simple accompanied the fish without taking away its shine.

Empanadas (Tuna, onions, black olives, tomatoes)

Crusty pastry with a hearty filling. My favourite bites involved parts of the crispy corners of the pastry with a huge portion of the warm & salty with a hint of sweetness filling. Empanadas remind me a lot of curry puffs or kaya puffs from Malaysia. Most culture have their own version of a pastry with fillings and I've never tried one that I don't enjoy. And this is no exception.

I'm not sure why but there were no signs of their gorgeous macarons! It would be a sweet way to end the meal but it was definitely a satisfying brunch/lunch.
Check out my previous visit here: Hardware Societe (2011)

120 Hardware St
Melbourne, 3000

(03) 9078 5992

 

Flashback Friday: Egypt

I was browsing through my files when I noticed that they were overflowing with pictures of food I’ve eaten and place I’ve been. And none of them has been shared! So, here’s the very first... Flashback Friday!

***

Before my trip to Egypt, I was never a big fan of dips and pita bread. And I knew why. The only dips that I’ve ever had were ready-made ones from supermarket and the pita breads were thick, doughy and certainly not freshly made! But this trip completely changed my perspective of the humble bread & dip and that’s why, this Flashback Friday is about my first Egyptian meal.

When we were sitted, a variety of dips were immediately placed in front of us. Beetroots, garlic, hummus, beans, eggplant... And of course, a basket of warm pita bread. Whenever I travel to a new place, I try to keep my mind and taste-buds as open as possible. There’s no point visiting an exotic, new country without trying their local cuisine! Right? ;)

And I’m so incredibly thankful that I did! Every dip has its own individual flavour that stood out and I couldn’t keep my hands off the satisfyingly toasted pita breads. If my main wasn’t serve, I wouldn’t even mind.

Plateful of dips later, my main did arrive. I had a beautiful plate of seafood with rice. The first day went amazingly well and I haven’t even seen the Pyramids or the beautiful blue Red sea yet!

Days later: This meal was particularly memorable but I wouldn’t credit the food. In fact, I couldn’t even remember what it taste like or even what it was! Well, you’d probably wouldn’t when you’re in a boat in the middle of the crystal clear, blue ocean with the sun streaming down your face.

Oh! Did I not mention that dolphins were this close to our boat? :)

My Egyptian holiday was definitely memorable (like all holidays!) and throughout the trip, I made sure that my plate's always filled with hummus & pita!



I’d love to hear feedback from you guys about Flashback Friday!
What do you think?
What's your favourite holiday destination?

Thanh Ha 2, Richmond

Hey all! I'm sorry that I haven't been posting as often as I'd like but now that my internet's fixed, I'll hopefully keep the ball rolling!

Anyway, I was first introduced to Vietnamese cuisine a few years ago and instantly fell in love with the freshness of every dish. Mint, basil, bean-sprouts or lettuce are often included in the dishes. And knowing that Jenn's WIAW party is emphasising on vegetables this month, I headed off to my favourite Vietnamese restaurant! Sure enough, there were veggies in every dish!

Prawn Rice Paper Roll

A simple and refreshing dish dipped in a thick sweet peanut sauce. The insides are filled with vermicelli noodles, lettuce and prawns. Most of the Vietnamese rice paper rolls that I’ve had, are often over-stuffed with the vermicelli noodles but this wasn’t. The ratio between the lettuce and vermicelli noodles were well balanced, allowing the prawn to shine.

I couldn't get enough of this sauce! It was thick, sweet and had crunch from the roasted peanuts.

Raw bean sprouts- to be dunked in soup.

Pork and Prawn Rice Noodle Soup

Like a lot of Vietnamese dishes, this came with a plate of raw bean-sprouts for you to dunk into your warm soup. I like my veggies crunchy so, this’ll avoid over-soaked and soggy vegetables! And the broth was bursting with flavour- pure umami! If I caught a cold (touch wood!), forget chicken soup. I’m getting this.

Vietnamese Pancake with Seafood and Pork

This picture did not do justice to the size of the pancake! Even when folded into half, it could easily cover my face!! The thin crispy pancake was generously filled with sauteed onions, bean-sprouts, spring onions, prawns & sliced pork. The pancake by itself is good but the way it should eaten makes it REALLY good!

First, grab a huge lettuce from the pile of fresh greens and any herbs your taste-buds enjoy. For me, it would be mint and basil. Then, place a portion of the crispy pancake and hearty fillings on the lettuce with the fresh herbs. 

Wrap, dunk in a sweet sauce and eat. You get the crunch from the fresh lettuce and the thin crispy pancake. There’s saltiness from the fillings and sweetness from the sauce. It was a huge dish but we certainly didn’t have any trouble finishing it!

Thanh Ha 2 is definitely one of the better Vietnamese restaurants I've been to. It's been consistently good with fresh ingredients! Plus, when you're done, just head over to Ikea and get some shopping done!

120 Victoria St
Richmond, VIC 
03 9421 6219

 As always, head over to Peas and Crayons and check out the veggies!

Laurent Boulangerie Patisserie, CBD

Ages ago, I casually bumped into Laurent and left without trying a single thing. Yup! Silly me. Well, I did leave after a cup of hot chocolate but the bread and delicate pastries were what I was after. So this time, a casual stroll brought us to the doorstep of this boulangerie patisserie and we finally picked our lunch after minutes of ogling upon the savoury breads and sweet pastries.

Cafe Latte

Sitting outside in the drizzle is nothing when you have a good cup of latte.

Roast Lamb

A generous amount of succulent and juicy lamb with loads of fresh lettuce and tomato slices. The bread perfectly crusty and chewy which paired wonderfully with the tender filling. The oiliness of the lamb did bothered my dad towards the end but otherwise, it was a darn good sandwich!

Pan Bagnat
(Tuna, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Olives, Hard-boiled egg)

My experiences with tuna-filled baguettes are only limited to the ones from Delifrance but you don’t need to eat loads of baguettes to know that this is a real good one! If I'm not mistaken, a mustard sauce was used which gave the tuna a wonderful flavour and extra juiciness. The olives added extra saltiness while the lettuce with tomatoes freshened each humongous bite. If you're getting dish, sharing should definitely be involved!

And now, moving on to the sweets after the savouries!

Almond Croissant

Sweet and slightly chewy. They’re nothing like the usual flaky & puffy almond croissant I'd normally get in Malaysia but it was an interesting change. I did find it a little too sweet for my likely but it would pair perfectly with a cup of black coffee.

Peach Petit Danish

There was a bigger version of this danish but we stuck with the small one. Aren't tiny pastries more appealing? Unlike the croissant, the pastry on this one was flaky and puffy! With a hint of sweetness from the fruit, I definitely prefer this to the croissant.

Walnut & Sultana Roll with Strawberry Jam

Crusty and chewy with a occasional crunch from pieces of walnut and burst of sweetness from the sultanas. If you're having guests over for dinner, this would ideal! A wonderful change from the usual white dinner rolls.

Now, that I've tried the pastries and bread after a year from my first casual visit, I'll have to kick myself in the head for not coming sooner! I'd probably give their freshly baked loaves a try the next time!

306 Little Collins St
Melbourne, VIC 3000 

03 9654 1011

http://www.laurent.com.au/

 

Seven Seeds (re-visit), Carlton

My lazy Saturday/Sunday brunch in Melbourne and Malaysia isn’t very different. Both involves bread, most likely toasted, accompanied with a cup of hot coffee. Usually, I like to start the day with something sweet. So back home, it would be toast, generously slathered with kaya (sweet coconut jam) and a slab of butter with a glass of hot Kopi O (black coffee). Here, I would gladly have french toast drizzled with maple syrup and a glass of latte.

So when I woke up late, I decided to head off to Seven Seeds to get a bread-y fix!

Cafe Latte

Hot Chocolate

A hot cup of milk with a bar of chocolate. The best way to start your day.

Breakfast bun, bacon, free-range egg, lettuce, semi-dried tomatoes, hollandaise sauce

Drippy egg yolk, creamy hollandaise sauce, crisp & fresh lettuce with a thick piece of salty bacon in between a fresh bun. How much better can it get? Add pieces of semi-dried tomatoes and it was perfection. When the bun arrived, it looked huge but once we got a taste of it, a bite wasn’t enough.

Grandmother ham, vintage cheddar cheese, oven roasted tomato relish hot pressed seeded sandwich

Warm, toasted sandwich with gooey cheese! And the sweetness from the tomato relish balanced the salty grandmother ham real well. The sandwich bread was filled with seeds while the crust was generously embossed with sesame seeds. Again, we didn't have trouble finishing this!

Tasmanian cold smoked salmon, herb salad, caper & dill cream cheese, hollandaise butter

Like peanut butter and jam, the combination of cream cheese and smoked salmon is widely recognisable and there’s no denying the magic that happens between those two ingredients. So, how is this different from other smoked salmon and cream cheese dish? One word: quality. 

Soft boiled free-range eggs, toast soldiers, Szechuan salt

The eggs were cooked just right- the yolk still runny with the whites being just set. The toast soldiers were generously buttered and toasted till crisp. With a dip of runny eggs and a dash of the Szechuan salt, it was simple but satisfying breakfast.

My bread cravings were fulfilled and I couldn't think of a better place to spend my lazy morning/afternoon!

114 Berkeley St
Carlton, VIC 3053 
03 9347 8664
http://www.sevenseeds.com.au/

Breakfast isn't the best meal to add your veggies but the herb salad and lettuce in the buns made up for it! Just remember to eat up your veggies throughout the day!

Ying Thai 2, Carlton

I finally back in Melbourne after two months of blissful holiday! Not completely recovered from my holiday fever, I was still craving spicy food. So, we headed off to the ever-popular Ying Thai 2 and knowing that the place's always full, we arrived at 6pm sharp.

We were given a seat and politely asked to finish our dinner before 7.30pm. It wasn't a problem as the food arrived shortly after we ordered!

Larb Woon Sen

Warm vermicelli salad with minced chicken, chilli, lemon juice and ground rice

Sour, salty with a hint of sweetness. If I wasn’t hungry before, I was certainly hungry after a bite! The acidity from the lemon juice opened my appetite instantly. The vermicelli and chicken gave a chewy texture while the red onion and chilli added a wonderful crunch to each bite. Every bits of flavour brought back memories from my past Thailand trips.

Pud Grapow

Stir-fry minced pork with chilli and basil leaves

Every bit of minced pork was deeply infused with the aroma and flavour of the basil. The slightly salty nature of this dish definitely required the company of some white rice. This dish allowed several choices: minced pork, minced chicken, minced beef, seafood or vegetables. But trust me on this one and get it with minced pork!

Pla Lard Prig

Deep fried fish topped with hot chilli sauce

If eating spicy food isn't your forte, this is not the dish for you. The chilli sauce (sambal) definitely packed a punch and the crispiness of the batter reminded my numbed tongue that the fish was present. This would be one heck of a sambal for a plate of nasi lemak!

Cha Aom Kai Tod

Omelette with Acacia

 With three spicy dishes, we decided to tone our fourth dish down by ordering this. The omelette had a light and crispy texture but I could hardly taste the acacia. It was probably due to my increasingly numbed tongue! And the corner bits were quickly gone because they were wonderfully crispy!

I've eaten plentiful of Thai food and every time I crave 'em, I head off to Ying Thai 2. However, do remember to make a reservation or be prepared to wait!

110 Lygon Street
Carlton, VIC 3053

Tel: 03 9639 1697

Question of the day: What's your limit when it comes to spiciness?

Rakuzen, Publika

We have been frequent visitors of the Rakuzen branch in Plaza Damas. But knowing that it's a public holiday today, getting a sit without a booking would be quite impossible. Thankfully, Rakuzen recently opened a new branch in the massive Publika and we headed off, hoping that the new branch didn't require an early booking.

As excepted, we were shown to our table upon arrival. Phew!

Refreshing cold towels.

Tamagoyaki with pickled ginger

A light way to start our meal! The omelettes were served slightly chilled and the hint of sweetness complimented the ginger really well. It certainly got our appetites going!

Deep-fried burdock root

I've had boiled burdock root before but I've never had something like this! It was thinly sliced and deep-fried to a crispy perfection. There wasn't a hint of oiliness and once we had a few slices, we were hooked.

Chawanmushi (Steamed Custard Egg)

Warm, smooth & silky. This bowl of melt-in-your-mouth egg custard was generously filled with chicken, prawn, gingko nut and slices of mushrooms. If we hadn't order more dishes, I would most certainly get another bowl or two...

Dragon Maki

(Deep-fried prawn, avocado, mayo & tobiko)

The crispy panko-coated prawn gave the creamy avocado & mayo a wonderful textural contrast and with a dip of soy sauce & wasabi, every part of my taste-buds were tingling. I did wish that the avocado slices were thicker but otherwise, everyone else ate without a single complaint.

Stamina Roll

(Unagi, Avocado, Omelette)

Grilled freshwater eel with a glaze of sweet sauce on a bed of rice roll. Dip the roll in soy sauce and you'll get a wonderful balance of sweet and salty. And the sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds sealed the deal by adding a fragrant nutty flavour.

Niku Udon

Hot soup with udon noodles and beef slices

My brother wasn't feeling very well, so this bowl of warm broth and noodles comforted his grumbling tummy. The beef was thinly sliced and they were really generous with the beef and noodle servings.

Zaru Soba (Chilled Soba)

The soba noodles were chewy, springy and refreshingly chilled. And again, the serving was really generous!

Rakuzen has never disappoint, flavour-wise and quality-wise. Now that there's another branch in the Hartamas area, you'll never worry if there isn't a table available in the Plaza Damas branch!

No.6, Level G2,
Publika Solaris Dutamas,
1 Jalan Dutamas 1,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
(03) 6411 0822
http://www.superdining.com.my/

oh! and a shout out to my lovely & beloved mum! Happy Birthday! :)

As always, do head over to lovely Jenn's blog and check out some eats!