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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Cheeseburger Zucchini Boats

Winter is here!!!! :) We had snow yesterday and I love it!!! It is mostly melted now but still, snow falling is one of my favorite things!!! It is just so beautiful!!! :) 

Good news -- Yesterday was my first alone day with the kiddos. That is right, no help and I made it without any contractions!!! I even prepared a delicious meal that everyone enjoyed! Yesterday was a good day!!! 

Towards the end of each pregnancy I begin to crave cheeseburgers. I think mainly the burger and cheese! :) Yesterday was a craving day and I came up with this take! 
Don't those good yummy!!! Much better than a bun or even lettuce!!!

The Ingredients:
2 medium sized zucchinis - center scooped out
1 small onion, diced
1 lb ground beef
1 can of tomato sauce (homemade or store bought)
basil, nutmeg, garlic

EXTRAS - black beans, olives, tomatoes, green peppers or even jalapenos.

The Directions:
Scoop out the middle of the zucchini. Cut zucchini inside into smaller pieces and set aside.
Brown meat and diced onion until the meat is completely browned. Drain grease.
Add zucchini pieces and any extras to pan and begin to cook. After 2 minutes add the meat back to the pan and mix together. Add tomato sauce and seasonings.

Scoop meat mixture into zucchini boats and top with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes uncovered or until the zucchini boat is tender.

ENJOY!!!!

Bistro Avoca: Bloggers Dinner, Modern Australian, Randwick (29 Nov 2011)

133 Avoca Street, Randwick NSW 2031
Phone: (02) 9399 9667
http://www.bistroavoca.com.au


Tempting menu to choose from

Thanks to Charlotte Foot Public Relations for inviting me to dine as a guest of Bistro Avoca as part of a bloggers dinner. I've previously enjoyed dining when it first opened a few months ago so I was looking forward to seeing how it was going. Bistro Avoca seems to be one of those frustrating restaurants which has a menu that all sounds so good it's hard to make a choice (for me anyway). Most of the dishes I tried were worthing of recommending but my favourites would have to be the well-flavoured Thai oyster shot ($3.50 each), good flavour combination of the Seared sea scallops ($17) and the tasty and tender Salt & pepper squid ($9). I'm sure the vegetarians will enjoy the Linguine with heirloom tomato, zucchini flowers ($14.50 entree). Overall I think the dishes are quite reasonably priced for the quality. Flavours seem familiar and mostly balanced without being too daring nor overly boring. Definitely leave room for the desserts which are well-presented and seem to hit the spot most of the time for a satisfying sugar hit. My Affogato with Frangelico ($16.50, or $8.50 without liqueur) thankfully came with a decent amount of ice cream and if you really can't decide on a dessert then I'd recommend the simplicity of the Crème brûlée with strawberries marinated in orange syrup ($14).

Other visits to Bistro Avoca:
29 Nov 2011 - Bloggers Dinner
6 July 2011 - Thai Oyster Shot, Scallops, Tempura Prawns, Lamb, Confit Duck, Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding, Creme Brulee

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Nice décor, Good menu variety, Quality ingredients, Well-presented dishes, Friendly service, Reasonably priced wine
CONS: Possibly a bit out of the way for those who don't live in the Eastern Suburbs
WORTH TRYING: Thai oyster shot, Seared sea scallops, Salt & pepper squid, Crème brulee with strawberries, Affogato with Frangelico
NEXT TIME: I must try the Pacific oysters topped with rice wine & eschallot vinaigrette and Atlantic salmon caviar

Freshly baked crusty bread roll with butter ($1.50)

I love taking photos of bloggers taking photos


Thai oyster shot with fresh herbs and ginger, garlic, chilli, lemongrass & lime nam jim ($3.50 each) — robust flavours although may have overpowered the oyster this time
WORTH TRYING :-)

Blinis served warm with sliced smoked salmon, pickled Spanish onion and dill sour cream ($16.50) — flavours work together although a little awkward to eat as a blini in one go. Perhaps with a bit less salmon would make it easier

Seared sea scallops, cauliflower puree, bacon crumble and pesto oil ($17) — a good combination of flavours
WORTH TRYING :-)

Duck & shitake mushroom spring rolls, pickled ginger & rocket salad, sweet chilli dipping sauce ($14.50) — decent size, crispy shell although I found the filling a little dry and wondered if cutting diagonally in half would jazz up the presentation a bit like the lady fingers at Lebanon & Beyond

Salt & pepper squid with spring onions, chilli and lime ($9) — tender, nice flavour, crispy outer, decent size for price to share
WORTH TRYING :-)

Linguine with heirloom tomato, zucchini flowers, extra virgin olive oil and parmesan ($14.50 entree) — nicely cooked, good fresh flavours, flavoursome vegetarian dish

Market fresh fish of the day (bream) in crisp beer batter, chips, salad leaves, tartare sauce & lemon ($25.50) — looked like a generous size

Black angus sirloin steak, Irish colcannon, fresh asparagus, sugar snap peas and red wine jus ($28.50 specials menu) — simply yet nice flavours, sugar snap peas retained their crunch

Black angus sirloin steak ordered and received medium rare

Crisp skin Atlantic salmon, lemon, pea, mint & fetta cous cous, lemon scented labne ($27.50) — nicely cooked, flavour combination worked together well

Pork cutlet, crushed potato, fennel & mustard, french beans, green apple & cranberries with maple ($28.50) — didn't try but looked like a lot of different flavours on the plate, maybe too many?

Noisettes of lamb, caramelised sweet potato, zucchini ribbons, brocollni and onion marmalade ($28.50) — didn't try, looked pretty good and a hearty size

Rocket, pear and parmesan salad ($6.50) — simply flavours, decent size for price, although I much prefer the larger leafed rocket they serve at Fix St James

Affogato with frangelico ($16.50, or $8.50 without liqueur) — decent amount of ice cream served which gets a special tick of approval from me
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

vxdollface going in for the shot of my affogato, Baileys Liqueur coffee ($9.50) above right

Coconut pannacotta, lime jelly and fresh mango, coconut biscotti ($14) — very limey jelly, maybe a little too tart for some

Crème brûlée with strawberries marinated in orange syrup ($14) — simple yet satisfying
WORTH TRYING :-)

Vanilla and raspberry bombe alaska with rhubarb confit and praline ($14) — looked great, nice flavours

Warm soft centred chocolate pudding, kahlua crème anglaise ($14) — rich flavoured chocolate which delivered on the soft centre, a bit awkward to add the crème anglaise though without making a mess I think

Shortbread, vanilla bean ice cream, butterscotch sauce & honeycomb ($14) — looked pretty decadent but perhaps the least sophisticated in presentation

Vanilla pannacotta, sour cherries and pistachio biscotto ($14 specials menu) — strong tasting cherries possibly overpowers the pannacotta but it's all quite nice

Sticky toffee pudding, stuffed dates, butterscotch sauce and ice cream ($14 specials menu) —I tried this dish on my first visit which didn't have the dates before. I found the hard toffee a bit thick making it a little harder to eat without breaking your teeth, nice flavours although pudding perhaps could be more moist

2008 Parker Coonawarra Estate Favourite Son Chardonnay ($7.90), 2011 (2010 on menu) Villa Maria Two Valleys Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ($7.80), 2008 Mount Langi Billi Billi Shiraz Barossa Valley ($6.50) — reasonably priced


Decor and specials board

Main dining room including large mirrors and acoustic panels

Back room dining area

Clean and functional unisex toilets — maybe some fresh flowers would add a nice homely touch

Monday, November 28, 2011

Bondi's Best: Seafood, Fish and Chips, North Bondi (14 Nov 2011)

Shop 1, 39-53 Campbell Parade, North Bondi NSW 2026
http://www.bondisbest.com.au


Potato scallops a crispy winner

I think if you've got the nerve to name your fish and chip shop 'Bondi's Best' then you're setting yourself up for a fall but they must be doing something right with an impressive 97% liked with 38 reviews on Urbanspoon. With local support taking advantage of the few windows seats available it's certainly a place more set up for take away — especially when you can't use the outside tables after 8 pm due to current council restrictions on some nights. I'm pretty picky when it comes to fish and chips and this place seems to be doing it quite well. Firstly the service remained friendly while taking my order during a busy dinner rush. The Potato scallops ($4.40) were thin and crispy, maybe a little too thin if that's possible but I'd definitely have again. The Salt & Pepper gluten free cuttle fish ($12.90) had a fair chilli kick and was tender although the salad went a bit wilted with the heat so I think if separated would have been better. Beer battered fish, prawns, chips and tartare sauce ($12.90) was cooked well and decently sized. It included two prawns of decent size and were thankfully deveined properly. The Steam greens ($5) were a surprising highlight for me of broccoli, snow peas and beans which had retained their crunch factor. It also helped to counteract all the fat. Bondi's Best is certainly a cut above your average fish and chip shop which seems to know how to cook to please. I think I first read about this place on the Damn Fine Food blog which inspired me to check it out.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Service was friendly during busy time (hopefully it's always like that), Interesting menu including sushi, Quality produce, Nice thin batter, Prawns were deveined
CONS: A bit more expensive but it's quality, Very limited seating which seems a bit cramped
MUST TRY: Potato scallops, Inside rolls next time
DAMAGE: $37.20 for two

Beer battered fish, prawns, chips & tartare sauce ($12.90), Potato scallops ($4.40)



Potato scallops ($4.40) — crispy, thin, perhaps a little thicker might be good
WORTH TRYING :-)

Beer battered fish

Prawns

Salt & pepper gluten free cuttle fish with chilli, sundried tomatoes & basil ($12.90) — calamari was tender although salad goes a bit wilted with the heat

Steamed greens ($5) — crispness retained, nice flavour
WORTH TRYING :-)

Water ($2)

Bill $37.20 for two




Menu plus check out their specials board

Fresh fish display


Kitchen and menu board

Opening hours

Toilet pretty clean and available through the side entrance door