033. A hispter cool hangout: Anouk Cafe

During the day, Paddington welcomes visitors to some of the nicest and most chilled out cafes and restaurants. Anouk is one of those places you just need to stop by when in Paddington due to their cool artsy decor, lovely staff and amazing food. It's one of those place where you could just sit for hours sipping on one of their fresh fruit smoothies and none of the staff would hurry you out. 

Now the first time I went to Anouk, they had the menu that is posted on their website. On a recent visit, I was informed that they now have an all day menu so alas the website is out of date. The photo below is from the recent brunch at Anouk; Goats cheese on toasted sourdough with a tomato rocket salad sprinkled with dukkah (and a side of bacon for good measure) with a lemon and lime Anouk iced tea. 

They have an extensive drinks list and it takes every effort not to order more than 1. I do like this new all day menu, however, I do wish the bubble and squeak on the old menu was a feature; that was an out of the world dish. 
Website: http://www.anoukcafe.com/

032. A simple brunch

I've recently discovered Helga's sandwich thins and they are seriously yummy. Essentially they are round mini pizza like pieces of bread which are much thinner than slices of bread so they make for a great size for brunches and light lunches. You can do so much with these! I've seen pics of people using these as toast (I personally like to toast and spread light Philly cheese on them), as mini pizzas or even just breadfor dips. So I thought I would share with you what I made today for brunch; tuna salad sandwich thins.

Don't they look delicious? Mine I would consider half healthy, only because I was bad and mixed a heap of mayo into to the tuna. What I did was I got a can of tuna, mixed in mayo and cracked pepper then spread it on the toasted sandwich thin. Then I got a bunch of mixed leaves, cut slices of capsicum then added in some semi-sundried tomato. Finished with a crack of pepper and voila, a light simple brunch. 

031. Goin' Vego - Sanitarium Kitchen

As an avid carnivore, a vegetarian restaurant wouldn't normally be my first choice to go for a satisfying feed but I had heard so much positive feedback and great reviews from friends about Sanitarium Kitchen that I thought I'd give it a go. 

Sanitarium Kitchen is a fresh, fully vego restaurant in the CBD. Open for breakfast and lunch during the week, it's a popular place for the 'suits' of the city for a creative and delicious vegetarian meal. The service is friendly and the venue is nice and open, nearby the cooling winds of the river. 

I visited the restaurant with a friend for lunch and I had the fried bocconcini with tomato and avocado salad. It was amazing. Admittedly, prior to my visit, I honestly wasn't a huge fan of bocconcini and I chose this dish purely for the fried component! But now I love bocconcini and this salad was fantastic. I think I would go back just for this. It was just so well put together and how fresh and healthy does it look?!

I haven't been to many fully vegetarian restaurants, I think they are quite rare in our little city so if you get the opportunity to go, Sanitarium Kitchen is a very good choice. It would be lovely if they were open on weekends because it would be a lovely place for a casual brunch/lunch. Sanitarium Kitchen is definitely recommended! 

030. Birthday Celebrations: The Survey Co

Editor's Note: So I have been particularly tardy in the last few months with blog updates and subsequently may or may not have photos which accompany the next few updates. I sincerely apologise if the lack of photographs that accompany posts tarnish your food-bebe experience. 

I am absolutely digging the lane way vibe Brisbane is starting to emit throughout every pore of the CBD. We are a small city, yes, but we are starting to get creative with the space we have. We're upping the stakes and putting ourselves on the culinary map of Australia, and perhaps, the world. Working in the heart of the city, I often get the opportunity to eat at establishments other than food courts or the 'lonely cafe on the corner' for my lunchtime breaks. A foodies dream.

Burnett Lane is home to The Survey Co and it has settled in quite well. It is a classy and elegant restaurant in a lane way you would otherwise avoid if you didn't know better. I stumbled across the not-then opened Survey Co when using the lane way as a thoroughfare between meetings in different offices. Naturally, I stalked the website until its opening and have been back a countless number of times.

I love the atmosphere of Survey. Just enough lighting in the dining areas, nice open kitchen and amazing service. The food is just as pleasing. The lunch meals are a perfect portion size; not too light but not too heavy. The dinner meals are a fresh take on modern Australian and their menu changes seasonally. I have recommended this place to a number of friends and colleagues and the reception has been very favourable. I think it's a very lovely spot for more intimate dining events; a date perhaps or small birthday dinner. 

Do try The Survey Co and support our new lane way friends! 

029. Birthday Celebrations: Popolo Italian Kitchen and Bat

Editor's Note: So I have been particularly tardy in the last few months with blog updates and subsequently may or may not have photos which accompany the next few updates. I sincerely apologise if the lack of photographs that accompany posts tarnish your food-bebe experience. 

South Bank recovered in spectacular style post-flooding by introducing Brisbane to many wonderful new food fares. Popolo Italian Kitchen and Bar is one of my most highly recommended newcomers to the Brisbane scene. It is perched in prime position along the river with cute little lawn chairs out the front for everyone to sit and chill and the place itself is cute, warm and inviting. 

I have been to Popolo several times for lunch and dinner and it has never disappointed. The tapas style of eating has exploded in Brisbane and I LOVE it. It's a smart *cough* cheeky way of trying other peoples' meals without them actually being other peoples' meals. Genius! Popolo offer Italian tapas - the word is used interchangeably between cuisines nowadays. I cannot stress how amazing the Lattonzolo e pesche; Kingaroy suckling pig with spiced peach compote, anchovy sauce is. I have ordered it every time I have dined at Popolo. I was never an anchovy fan until I tasted the sauce with the pork. Two ingredients I never thought possible made oh-so-well. 

If you get the chance, a lunch time sitting is a beautiful casual affair whilst a night time sitting will show you a picture perfect view of Brisbane. 

028. Birthday Celebrations: Glamorous Wok

Glamorous Wok - the name catches you doesn't it? I only wanted to go because of the name. I didn't know much about the place but feedback from friends was more than positive. I heard many glowing reviews about 'Glam Wok' being the most authentic Taiwanese in Brisbane. I'm not from Taiwan, nor have I ever been, so I wouldn't know about the authenticity but since my first visit, I have come back time and time again. The service is a bit hit and miss; being a first generation Aussie Asian who cannot speak fluent Cantonese or Mandarin, it can be a little difficult on the communication front but the food makes up for it. My first visit was with family for a birthday lunch so I was saved by my mother who could converse fluently with the staff. But on other occasions when I have visited with non-Chinese speaking friends, it has been a little difficult.  Food wise, the quality is great but not fantastic, definitely above average especially considering the area we are talking about here. I recommend the salt and pepper pork or calamari - I always order this. Their rice dishes, sadly, can be a little bit oily.

Among the plethora of Asian cuisines in the Sunnybank area, there isn't much in the way of Taiwanese fare that compares to Glam Wok. I would definitely recommend a visit just for the salt and pepper dishes with fried rice that has Chinese sausage in it. Yum yum!

 

002. One of my favourite food groups is dumplings: Harajuku Gyoza

[Editors Note: Not sure what's happened here but a very old post has decided to pop up to the top of my blogs list. At time of writing, HG has been opened for quite some time and still a favorite of mine]

One day, whilst walking through the Fortitude Valley with a friend, I nearly went into cardiac arrest when I saw the above sign plastered on a shop window. "Oh my fucking God, Tash, LOOK!" I was in a daze. Like the fat kid from Willy Wonka, I had found my sweet, sweet confectionery. Only that it wasn't open yet (and still isn't). 

Harajuku Gyoza is a restaurant bar opening mid-October. It combines two of the best food groups; dumplings and alcohol. Need I say more? 

I am a huge fan of dumplings. There's something so satisfying about a warm, meat and vegetable filled thin dough smothered in tangy vinegar that make dumplings wonderfully delicious. I am eagerly awaiting the opening of Harajuku Gyoza. Stalk their Facebook and Tumblr pages with me:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harajuku-Gyoza 

Tumblr: http://harajukugyoza.tumblr.com/

Website: http://www.harajukugyoza.com/

Once this baby opens, I will be there with arms, mouth and belt buckle wide open. The oh-so-cute Gyoza dumpling beckons me to try it. Stay tuned for a review.