Chin Chin... a nod of the head to Thai food

So I caved and FINALLY made my way down to the ever so trendy and popular Chin Chin in Flinders Lane, Melbourne...

... and let me be honest, this post will be mostly about their cocktails at Go Go Bar... they were mind blowing!!!!

But like all stories, this one must start at the beginning.

Go Go Bar @ Chin Chin

Now I have attempted to enter the ever alluring restaurant a number of times in the past, but have always been greeted with a 2 hour wait... 2 HOURS!!! on a weekday no less!!! I was always too hungry and impatient to cope with the wait. But on this particular Friday night I was prepared for anything. I had a late lunch that day and turned up at 6pm prepared for the lengthy wait. Without fail, I was given a 1.5 hour wait, they took my mobile number and after asking where I could get a drink I was ushered downstairs to Go Go Bar @ Chin Chin.

And here I could have spent the remainder of my night without food just drinking my way through the tremendous list of cocktails. I trawled my way through the gorgeous array of drinks.

I know, I talk a big game... I only had four cocktails.. I am a little weak I will admit.

First though was the "new fashion"... a strawberry and lemon vodka with orange bitters and palm sugar on ice... yum, but very very sweet. First sip was like sucking on a lemon. Don't let that deter you though, Was delicious.

"New Fashion"

Next I moved on to the "lychee and cardamon bellini"... consisting of fresh lychee juice, cardamon sugar and topped up with king valley prosecco.

Lychee and Cardamon Bellini

By now I was feeling adventurous... an hour of waiting can do that to a girl... so onto the "provence" I went... amaretto, lavender, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon and egg white. This was by far my absolute favorite!

"Provence"

My phone went off and upstairs to my table I went. I was seated in the back corner (quite a squeeze.. the tables are so close together!!!) and I ordered another drink. This time it was a pomegranate cocktail that included szechuan infused gin, apple juice, lilley rouge, palm sugar, thai basil and fresh pressed lemon. Very nice.

I sipped my cocktail while I perused the menu.

DIY fresh spring rolls were bundles of entertainment. I love any item of food where you get to assemble it yourself. It makes your meal interactive. These spring rolls were delish.

DIY Spring Rolls

Next up were the spicy corn and coriander fritters served with iceberg lettuce and chilli jam. Another hit. I devoured these.

And for the main was the delightful selection of a dry red curry of soft shell crab served with snakebeans, thai basil and kaffir lime leaf.

Spicy corn and coriander fritters

After all that, and some rice, I was stuffed and ready to continue on my way for the night. I think I'd be back at Chin Chin just for the wait so I can sample the rest of the cocktail menu. Who needs food when you can drink like that???

This Week I....

- Had my birthday on St Patrick's Day (as it has been for the last 25 years) I must just be lucky!

- Pastried it up at a Burch & Purchese cooking demonstration. Fantastic! I also snagged myself an awesome Pablo the Penguin... Pictured below, he is adorable!!!

- was given an amazing book called The Vintage Tea Party Year by Angel Adoree. Can't wait to plan one myself!

- Experienced the Melbourne Grand Prix, right on my doorstep (which also happened to fall on my birthday)

- Had a momentary freak out... Omg! I'm 25!! I know, not old but its all going so fast!!!

Now that the weather has cooled it will soon be time to once again get my bake on....

So have a good week and happy baking to you all.

This week I...

- succumbed to temptation and finally went to Chin Chin Melbourne.. But more on that in a later post

- learnt a bunch of new leadership skills in a management course (I'm all about improving my skills where I can)

- visited Jock's icecream in Middle Park on those nasty hot days for some delish homemade icecreams and sorbets... If you haven't yet, check it out!

And... I've started a new semester at uni so please don't hate me if my posts are less frequent!

Also of note... It's my birthday next week !!!

Happy weekend everybody!

Lamington French Toast

I dont know about you but Lamingtons are a part of my very fond memories of birthday parties, picnics and all things related to growing up in Australia.

For those of you who are thinking Lamingtons.. what the? A lamington is a traditional Australian dessert. It consists of two squares of sponge cake sandwiched together with jam in the middle. The sponge is then coated with a delicious layer of chocolate and rolled in coconut. Voila!! On a special occasion, and when made to eat fresh, the lamington will usually also contain a healthy dollop of cream in the centre much to your taste-buds' delight.

Now that we are all on the same page, let me introduce you to a completely new approach to Australia's favorite cake. I must give credit where it is due; Miss Jackson in St Kilda introduced me to the idea and I could not resist trying to develop my own recipe...

Low and behold.... The Lamington French Toast! Please hold all applause until the end.

This dessert treat is the ultimate mouth watering indulgence. It is so incredibly more-ish. I could not stop eating it. Two layers of delicous brioche french toast, sandwiched together with jam in the centre, coated in chocolate sauce and sprinkled with coconut. Served with a healthy scoop of ice cream.

Lamington French Toast (makes two serves)

4 slices brioche (or thick, sweet-ish bread)
2 eggs
1/2 cup of milk
3 cups icing sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup of boiling water
Strawberry Jam
1 cup desiccated coconut
vanilla or coconut ice-cream

In a bowl whisk together the eggs and milk. Melt a small amount of butter in a fry-pan on medium heat. Soak a slice of brioche in the mixture then place in fry-pan. Fry until golden on each side.
Repeat for each slice.

Spread strawberry jam thickly over two of the slices of french toast then place another slice on top of each to make a sandwich.

In a heatproof bowl sift together the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Add the butter and boiling water and mix until a reasonably thick sauce has formed. If the mixture is very runny, simply add some more icing sugar until you reach the desired consistency.

Spread chocolate sauce over your french toast sandwich until it is fully covered. Cover with desiccated coconut.

Add a scoop of your chosen ice cream on the side and try not to get chocolate all over your clothing as you devour this fantastic Australian dessert!

Making some french toast

Mix together water, chocolate, sugar and butter

Happy Baking!!!!

This Week I ....

- Made some chewy anzac cookies to snack on. Yummy!

- Headed down to Twenty & Six Espresso for a much needed Balinese Sticky Rice and a coffee

- Baked some scones and had a cute homemade Devonshire tea in the lounge room ;)

- Scoffed down a delicious ham bagel from Huff Bagelry in Carnegie! Simply wonderful!!!

and ...

Photo courtesy of www.au.timeout.com

- Visited Bounce Inc for the best single girl Valentine's date a girl could ask for... Not food related I know, but I feel it is my duty to make sure you all know that a trampoline park exists!!!!


Happy Valentine's Day to all!!!

  

Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Cookies

I am on a roll with this cookie business... And this week I stumbled across an idea for choc-chip cookies with sour cream. Sounds interesting... Challenge accepted.

As I'm increasingly finding with all cookies, they were incredibly easy. All the ingredients go in to a bowl, you mix a bit, then u bake and eat. There almost no way you can go wrong... Unless you get distracted and let them burn. Thankfully, this time, I did not let that happen.

The taste was much better than I had expected. The sour cream provided a very slight tang to the ever loved flavour and a chewy-ness that is to be rivaled. I was quite impressed!

Choc-chip Sour Cream Cookies

120 grams butter
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 1/4 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
A pinch of salt
2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees celcius

2. Cream butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy

3. Add sour cream, vanilla and egg, beat until combined.

4. Add flour, baking soda and salt, mix well

5. Add choc chips and mix

6. Refrigerate for 1+ hours

7. Roll approx 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough into a ball and place on baking paper.

8. Cook for 15-20 minutes until edges are slightly browned.

9. Cool on baking tray until tray is touchable with bare hands, then transfer to a wire rack.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy

Add choc-chips

Roll dough into balls

Bake for 15-20 mins

Scrumptious yummy cookies

Until next time....

Happy Baking!!!

This Week I...

Pondering my thoughts on how to blog about my latest "creations" I have stumbled upon the fact that each week I have so many food adventures and experiences that I just don't share. This can be because I forgot, or I don't have enough material or most likely I am visiting somewhere or making something that I have blogged about in the past (like my ever frequent trips to Twenty &Six Espresso).

To solve this issue of not sharing what I think are memorable moments I have taken some inspiration from a fellow blogger who posts a weekly update of her activities on her blog "Waiting OnMartha". I read it regularly and love her little tidbits!

So from now on, be prepared to be amazed... At just how much food I consume... And how often I eat out!

As for this week;

This week I....

Lamington French Toast from Miss Jackson

...Ran down to Miss Jackson in St Kilda to experience their Australia Day menu that they were only featuring for the week. It consisted of two items, making it ever so easy to choose! I ordered the Lamington French Toast. I had been salivating over this all week at work and could not wait to try it!
And oh my! It was delicious. Never before have I tasted a dessert inspired breakfast quite like this! Maybe they will bring it back...

... Made some sprinkled sugar cookies... These did not turn out so well... I may have gotten distracted and burnt them!

... got a Facebook update from Twenty & Six Espresso in North Melbourne... New menu items!!! Guess where I'm heading next week...

and... visited Chez Dre in South Melbourne for some dessert...

Happy Baking!!!
Until next time....

Inside of Caramel Dome