Chik's Crib: October 2015

31 October 2015

Salted Butter Caramel Recipe

Sweets October 31, 2015 0

I've always wanted to make caramel: I see myself heating sugar until they bubble and turn brown, setting batches in trays and running a hot knife through the bars to make perfect little squares of freshly-made caramel.

Ingredients for a basic caramel recipe are pretty standard: sugar, maybe some cream and butter, and you're set to go. The only caveat is, well, caramel-making requires a candy thermometer. Seeing I don't exactly invest in baking equipment, this was my one sticking point.

Pun intended.

Tuck Shop Takeaway

Western Food October 26, 2015 0

Boy. This burger joint makes going to school worthwhile. Unfortunately - or fortunately for my waist-line? - my campus isn't close enough to hop over every day. Unlike some other lucky souls studying at the hip-and-happening Monash Caulfield campus, my campus is kinda situated in the middle of nowhere.

Growing up, I was a big fan of the Archie comics. I don't know how many of you would get this reference, but the food on this menu is strongly reminiscence of what Pop's over at the Chok'lit Shoppe might be selling to Archie and gang in USA in the 1950s.

Fish Tank

Western Food October 23, 2015 0

The wintry season has finally ended, and so what better time is there to put my life on hold for half a day, slap on some sun-block, and head on down to the beach?

Just next door to Cafe Florentine, and a hop, skip and jump from Brighton Beach, is Fish Tank. I had been hankering to try this ever since I chanced upon it a year back, and finally made plans to do so. Look at that display of fresh seafood. It'll take a joyless person to walk past this store without gawking like I did.

We took full advantage of the balmy weather and found an unoccupied table in the shade out on the sidewalks.

Diamond Kitchen @ Science Park Drive

Seafood October 20, 2015 0

Words by Miss XS

I’m on the lookout of good restaurants in the west and I was elated to chance upon this restaurant which is highly raved by many food bloggers. This place was really secluded and it’s not easily accessible without driving. We were there on a Sunday night and I was surprised that the restaurant was packed despite its ulu- location.

The Sweet Potato Leaves with Salted Fish came in a claypot, which was too salty. (2.5/5)

We also ordered Salted Egg Squid. Each piece was well coated with salted egg and was not greasy at all. I wish the salted egg taste was more distinct though (3.5)

Another dish we tried that night was Bee Hoon with Clams. The broth which was cooked with clams was sweet and light and went really well with bee hoon. This was one of the better dish we had that night but it still lacked the ‘wow’ factor and crustacean unami I was looking for(3.5/5)

Chocolate Pots de Crème Recipe

Recipe October 18, 2015 0

I had the chance to revisit this recipe recently when I looked at my burgeoning chocolate collection, and decided it was time to cull some. Besides, J loaned me her lovely ceramic pot collection, and I've been looking forward to bake with them. I used up one bar for a chocolate fondue a week before, but the chocolate itch hadn't quite gone away yet.

I first made this recipe some years ago, when I was still trying to find my footing in baking. I wasn't nearly half as confident about baking then as I am now: everything I had tried before was unsatisfactory, and they languished away in the fridge for weeks before being invariably thrown away. This was the first recipe that I made which impressed my siblings - and they're notoriously hard to please. Even to this day, it occupies a special place in my heart as a landmark for me on how far I've come.

Joyden Seafood @ West Coast Recreation

Singapore October 14, 2015 0

Words by Miss XS

The food at Joyden Seafood is so good, I'm surprised how it's not more popular. Well, sorta. The restaurant is at West Coast Recreation, and the main entrance is cheekily located in the basement carpark. The first time I went, we wandered around the carpark for a bit looking a way in. Formerly known as The West Coast Seafood, it has since then revamped its menu and restaurant and is now one of the best-kept secrets in my 'hood.

We ordered the Cream Crab (1kg for $60+) that was highly recommended by the waitress. The sauce is a combination of milk and pumpkin puree, and earned nods of approval around the table. Dipping deep fried Mantou into the creamy sauce was pure heaven. The crab meat was also firm and succulent retained its sweetness with a tinge of pumpkin. One of the best crabs I had! (4.5/5).

YOMG Burgers

Western Food October 09, 2015 0

"Are you alright?" One of my friends leaned over. "You look like you're in a lot of pain."

I was 3/4 of my way through YOMG's The Creeper ($18.50 - below): a triple beef patty, triple bacon and quadruple american cheddar burger from their Limited menu. I think my stomach is at full capacity. There's nothing wrong with the burger. Au contraire. The problem exists between the burger and the chair. I was just too full to continue. The meat patties were juicy and fragrant. The Sriracha sauce was unbelievably good. The cheese and bacon made every bite rich and decadent. But there's only so many space in my stomach.

I came in with a decision to have a burger, fries, some wings, and a fro-yo for desserts. But then, I saw their limited edition menu and my plans just fell by the wayside. Who knows how long they'll keep this menu around for? And I wouldn't want to miss out.

Here it is doing an impression of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. What a poser.

White Chocolate Brownies with Lemon Glaze Recipe

Recipe October 05, 2015 0

Up until a few months ago, I walked around Melbourne in a t-shirt and jeans, come summer or winter. Because I'm not the brightest light-bulb in the box, it took me three years in Melbourne to connect the dots: that my poor health in winter correlated with the single layer of clothing I have on in the dead of winter. Just this year alone, I spent most of May and June battling a cough and runny nose. I got much better over the holidays when I flew to Singapore, but as soon as I came back to Melbourne, I succumbed to the same symptoms again within 24hrs of touchdown.

Because everybody keeps telling me to eat some lemon and honey, I bought a huge bag of lemon, which I'm slowly making my way through. But ever since I put two and two together and started dressing more warmly, I haven't been feeling under the weather anymore. To celebrate my new-found wisdom, (and conveniently also to plow through my stash of lemons), I made this white chocolate brownie from David Lebovitz.