Orexi Cafe and Grill

Orexi Cafe and Grill
7/220 Melbourne St, West End



When you're in the final leg of exams during a uni year, you find yourself grappling at any excuse to have a party. I endured 2 exams last week and never mind the fact that I have another 4 or so to go... the end of 2 exams is cause for celebration.

I grabbed one of my foodie mates and rather than argue over what we wanted or be completely indecisive (as is usual), we were both in the mood for GREEK.

There are plenty of Greek restaurants in West End and so that's where we headed. The idea is that if nothing caught the eye, West End is chockas with other dining options anyway.

I'd heard bout this new place called Cafe Orexi that opened up where Cristos used to be. My friend and I had actually eaten at Cristos before so we thought - may as well give this new lot a go.

Vietnam Corner

Vietnam Corner
Shop 140, Sunnybank Plaza Shopping Centre, Cnr Main Rd and McCullough St, Sunnybank



Last day of clinic down in the Southside... we had a mini party with scones, cakes, chips and lollies (all the good stuff) but decided to go one further and stop off for Asian food on the way back to the city.



Vietnamese food is one of those cuisines where you have the option of going 'lighter' or at least, it tastes kind of light and fresh. So when you want more but barely have the room for it, this is not a bad option.

Malt cookies

Malt cookies
Home Cooking



Surely I don't need to elaborate on my current malt obsession in any greater detail? Well ok, maybe just one more time. I'll be brief:

Malt? I dig it.

Yehhhh...

So malt cookies sounded right on in terms of satisfying my cravings. I had malt powder. I had the other ingredients. Time to get the rolling!

Country comforts: Milk Ice-cream

Milk Ice-cream
Home Cooking



It's kind of strange and interesting that people's taste in food changes over time, both in the short-term and long-term. I've mentioned on here numerous times, the various 'phases' I go through. This moment in time, I can't get enough milk.

Any kind of milk.



Soy milk has always been a regular for me but currently, I'm also quite partial to a glass of cow's milk. This might not mean anything to you but as a kid especially, I wouldn't go near cow's milk unless it was full cream. I just couldn't stand the taste! Not anymore. I'm drinking milk in smoothie form, milk with coffee, milk in milkshakes and milk with malt powder.

Date Scone - a 2 method comparative analysis

Date Scone - a 2 method comparative analysis
Home Cooking



Yes, yes, I really shouldn't harp on about the things I love and am obsessed with but in my defense, this IS my food blog so what better outlet am I going to have?

Judging by the number of scone recipes I've posted on here, you probably have a fair idea of my attitude towards scones; i.e. they rock my world.

I don't even disagree with people who say plain scones are bland. If I had a limited range of adjectives, I'd probably use 'bland' too! But they are bland in such a good way. Add cream and jam and you're set for win.



Now... onto date scones.

Nigella's "Go get 'em" smoothie

Go get 'em Smoothie
Home Cooking



I read about this Nigella Lawson recipe on Vogue Forums and boy, it just sent me in a downward spiral of banana smoothie and malt addictions. I went through a few consecutive days of eating (drinking?) nothing but banana smoothies... and then, subsequently bought a can of Ovaltine and got hooked on the malt rush.

Malt + cold milk, malt + warm milk, malt + soy milk, malt + chocolate milk. And, so on...

till I thought to myself: what I am doing? I need to make THE smoothie that started all this. Perhaps, therein lies the only cure.

Singapore Chili Prawns

Singapore Chili Prawns
Home Cooking



I've mentioned before that this is one of my favorite dishes, like, ever. I got into the whole 'Singapore Chili' thing by means of chili bugs (here and here)... and from there, progressed to the proper mud crab version. Ecstatically good.

When something leaves such a good impression in your head, I almost advise AGAINST attempting to do it yourself because SURELY, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Nonetheless, a few cooking shows and online recipes later, I was encouraged to give it a go.



No way was I going to risk something as dear as a mud crab (which is not just exxy but also trickier to cook at home) so I opted for the prawn version. Safer but I could still imagine it being awesome.

A sort of Okonomiyaki - Japanese Pancake

Okonomiyaki - Japanese Vegetable Pancake
Home Cooking



I've had a hard job sticking up for cabbage in the past. People had doubts about the cabbage pie I made ages ago but it turned out awesome so I'm still of the mindset that those who disregard cabbage dishes do so at their own peril.

Thai Iced Coffee

Thai Iced Coffee
Home Cooking



I love Thai iced coffee from Thai restaurants and could never figure out what made them taste so awesome (or look so orange) so I did a bit of snooping online.

This was one of those moments that just happened coincidentally. I'm tired as anything and have an exam tomorrow i.e. must stay awake and study. Solution? Coffee. But then, it's hot and we have no milk at home. No soy milk, no cow's milk. I did spot a can of coconut-flavored evaporated milk and I do have a tube of condensed milk, SO the solution is Asian iced coffee.

Tri-colored Rice Noodle Stir Fry

Tri-colored Rice Noodle Stir Fry
Home Cooking



My folks had people over for National China Day and while my dad is normally dormant in the kitchen, he always comes out guns blazing to try and impress guests.

My parents don't usually cook with rice noodles but mum tasted something like this at another family friend's house and they decided to whip up something similar.

Speedy Chili Con Carne

Chili Con Carne
Home Cooking



Here's a quick idea for whipping up some Mexican-style chow. Most of the ingredients are the kinds of things you have lying around the pantry. The recipe is quite straight-forward and open to variation. No claims for authenticity but it is very delish!

We made this for a 'Mexican-themed' lunch though at the end, this was the only item present. Laziness is poisonous.


You can make this the 'main event' by supplying a huge batch with rice, bread, tortillas etc OR, nurse a bowl of chili in front of the TV with some corn chips. Savory mince of any kind is versatile so you're only limited by your creativity. The quantities in this recipe are adjustable depending on your own preferences.

Beef Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon
Home Cooking



This was one of those spur-of-the-moment midnight food cravings that actually manifested into a dish. The original recipe is from Food Safari and the video for it is so delectable (especially on an empty stomach at1am) that we planned on cooking it the very next day.

What sold me was the opening shots where the French chef pulls out a massive slab of high grade Wagyu and cuts it into thick, juicy chunks. Is it weird for me to find raw meat appealing? I guess the steak footage unveiled my inner beast and set the scene for the rest of the recipe, which to me, just seemed like the best thing ever.



Beef bourguignon: I can't spell it and I can't pronounce it. This is a classic French dish of beef stewed in red wine. Food Safari taught us that the stew is commonly thickened with flour but in this recipe, pureed carrots are used to thicken and provide sweetness. A small detail, perhaps, but it made the dish sound that bit more awesome.