Fusion or Confusion?

The 3rd of January was a very long day, we had Miss Chloe's first birthday and I was clearly not in the mood for cooking.

Uncle Ad's had abandoned us tonight as he clearly had too much birthday cake so we were joined by "Cousin Bec" for dinner. We had plans to try a local Italian place we keep driving past but when we drove past tonight it looked too busy for a walk in.

So we drove and drove and managed to end up in Stone's Corner and stumbled across Inidmex, Bec said her sister Sarah who works near by raves about. So with great trepidation I decided lets give it a try, I love Mexican food and I love Inidan food....What would it be like together...and how does that even work

Luckily for us, no one tried to fuse the drinks, and the Margarita was great.... no tequila's Lasi's to be seen.

The menu had many choices, so it took us a while to decide what to order. Chloe was even having a tough time deciding what to order.

So eventually Clint went with the Beef Enchilada and on Sarah's recommendation Bec and I had the  chicken and lamb Chimichanga's,

So too answer fusion or confusion, defiantly fusion. The flavors worked really well together, with the concept of the food being Mexican but the flavours indian. The meat was also melt in your mouth tender.'

Would we come back, for sure. The only change next time would be what we ordered as the portions were huge and even Clint could not get through his, I think next time we would get an entrée and a main to share.

And as far as food for the little ones, while Chloe was happy to share mine, there is a kids menu with the usual kids menu items for the kids who aren't into Mexican/indian food. Tiana had the fish and chips and polished it off.

 

 

 

How many hours do you need to eat lunch?

To celebrate a success at work our team was awarded a lovely lunch out, and after enjoying their roof top pool bar our team leader suggested lunch at Lennons’s Restaurant and Bar.

 

We had just under 2 hours set aside for lunch so really plenty of time in usual circumstances for a lunch including dessert.

 

So I will start with the positives:

 

1.     The food that came out correctly was delicious – my lamb dish was amazing.

2.     The service by our service was excellent, she was attentive and friendly and sadly I think she copped the brunt of the fall out from our discontent.

3.     The décor and atmosphere – The restaurant itself is beautiful and some very cool bathrooms.

 

No complaints about my lamb and gnocchi

 

 

Now sadly to the important stuff which sadly ruined our lunch.

 

1.     We arrived at 12:15 and our meals arrived well after 1:30pm;

2.     Due to the late arrival of our mains we had to cancel our dessert.

3.     The orders came out all mixed up, and even when we queried whether the order was correct we were assured (by David) that they were correct, this caused people to start eating and then the correct orders came out and plates had to be swapped – lucky our team likes each other a lot !!!

4.     Many of the steaks came out under cooked, in fact the steak that was ordered well done came out the rarest and had to be recooked. (To be transparent in the end we were not charged for this steak).

 

Now the really bad stuff:

 

We were approached David ,who I assumed to be the duty manager, who had overhead our dissatisfaction, he asked that my team leader and I come and speak privately.

 

We addressed our concerns at the table, the excuse for the delay with our food was apparently due to someone ordering a well done steak (yes the one that ended up having to re cooked), and that these steaks take 40 minutes to cook. During this time David leaned over me at the table in a way that I felt invaded my personal space. Its just a pity that it took longer than 40 minutes in any event for our food to come out.

 

David continued to ask to speak to use privately which I did not think was necessary, instead we opted to pay our bill and leave and David continued to try and debate the matter as we were paying.

 

So will we be back, that a big now. We had money to spend and didn’t even get to spend it. As a new restaurant Lennon’s need to change both their service in the kitchen and quicken things up and maybe give their managers some extra customer service training.

 

***Post Note***  We have since been contacted by the General Manager Russell, who has offered our team a complimentary lunch to make amends for our experience, this was before my blog was published. To be fair I will review Lennon's again. Fingers crossed it will be a better experience.


 

 

 

 

New Years Eve Perfection at Aria Without the Kids

Rewind to New Years Eve 2013, I was 9 million months pregnant and we sat at home waiting for "Extraction Day" which was scheduled for the 3rd of January. With nothing better to do then facebook stalk what our friends were doing that night it became clear what I wanted to do next year.

So with literally 12 months in the making we decided that we would have dinner at Aria's for New Years. Well that's half true....it wasn't until we had our anniversary dinner there in October and saw a flyer for their New Years Eve dinner I remembered my great idea....and then  I procrastinated until a .few days before Christmas and finally booked it in.

But its not about why or when with Aria, its all about the food. I often say to my husband that if we won lotto I would eat at Aria for every meal, and New Years dinner did not disappoint. So tonight we had no kids...yes no kids, sorry Chloe but Aria isn't really a kids friendly place, I have enough respect for my fellow diners to not ruin their experience. As well us the usual Uncle Ad's and the Husband we also had my Mother-in-Law with us.

Enough small talk, lets get on the important stuff, so dinner was technically 3 courses, however with all the little extra's it really is more than that and you really do leave feeling satisfied.

We arrived about 20 minutes before our sitting time and went to wait in the bar with a cocktail and some beers, unlike my cocktail earlier in the week, this was everything that a cocktail should be.

 

The cocktails and beer were served were served with a small bowl of olives which was a nice touch.

 

 

Once the cocktails were finished we were taken to our table, given it was a set menu for the evening - 5 options for each course I had already drooled over the menu since we booked and I knew exactly what I wanted. However a nice surprise was a little starter that came out before our entrée and bread.

 

 

It was some sort of "cracker" that was made out of squid ink, the toppings were hummus and something else I can't remember. The main thing t was they were delish and  I was about to forget about  the rest of the meal, I just wanted a few plates of these.

 

 



 

 

 

For entrée we had the following:

 

TUNA - seared and tartare with radish, capers and anchovy mayonnaise

 

PORK BELLY grilled sweet pork belly, crackling with blood peach and currant chutney 

 

 

For our mains

 

DUCK roast breast with witlof, turnips and toasted buckwheat

 

 

 

BEEF roast fillet with glazed shallots, pommes purée, sautéed mushrooms and red wine jus 

 

 

 

My husband always threatens to come to Aria and just order 4 bowls of the mash, tonight was just as good as always.

 

For Dessert

MANGO mango mousse with lime and black sesame ice cream

 

 

 

 

 

 CHOCOLATE Valrohna chocolate pavé with banana and chocolate sorbet, salted caramel peanuts

 

 

 

PINEAPPLE blueberry poached pineapple, coconut sorbet and toasted meringue

 

 

 

 

 

The meal was finished with petite fours and coffee. I can't fault this meal in anyway at all and it was a great way to end 2014. I just can't wait to get back to Aria in 2015.

 

 

 



A Brisbane icon disappoints and for the first time in my life I didn't enjoy a cocktail!!

Whilst many people were lucky enough to be enjoying a break over the festive season I had to work. Now on the upside I got to do something special that I wouldn't normally get to do on an average working week, have lunch with the husband and Chloe.

So I was pretty excited about my visit and we decided to head to Jojo's in the Queen Street Mall.

Miss Chloe took a serious interest in menu:

And in the end I ordered the Pad Thai, which is my JoJo's staple. To husbands disappointment they no longer served his favorite Thai Chicken so he ordered a steak. I then made a sneak to the bar and ordered a drink.

Now this is where is all goes down hill... 10 minutes later and Clint's steak was on the table...but no cocktail and no pad thai.

Now there is a reason why the steak came out so quick. See the receipt which shows the order and a picture of the steak and you can clearly see what the issue is. Luckily he isn't phased by a bit of mooing and enjoyed what was a nice tasting steak.

So another 10 minutes passes and my hour lunch is ticking away, just as I'm about to follow up on the drinks and the food out comes my drink and wow am I oohing and ahhing.

My excitement lasted until my first sip., when I tasted what could only be described a straight red and green vodka, nothing like the description on menu which was "Midori, vanilla Galliano, Belvedere vodka, a splash of cherry juice, sugar syrup and sour mix go into this cocktail bursting in flavor!". It was so bad that it was undrinkable and I ended up getting some lemonade to mix it with it so I could get it down.

Shortly after....and when I mean shortly I mean 25 minutes after I ordered my meal  it came out. Other than the delay there was nothing wrong with my meal and it was delicious. I was only disappointed that I had to scoff it down.

Now i'm sure I will be back, its Jojo's its one of those places that you always end up coming back too, next time I just hope its better.

The Best Peking Duck in Brisbane

The Pine and Bamboo  or "Billy's"  (as we like to call it ) is an unassuming  Chinese restaurant on Wynnum Road, Cannon Hill. My Husband's family has been coming here forever...20 or so years so the story goes for one reason only, Billy's Peking Duck.

Now don't get  me wrong the rest of the food is great but the duck is amazeballs!!!

Rumour has it that Uncle Ads has even gone and eaten a whole duck on his own.

Now I might not be a Peking Duck expert, I've only eaten it at Billy's and Flour Drum in Melbourne but i'm pretty sure it would be impossible to get any better. My favorite part is the sauce which can only be described in my own naughty way "Its so good I could stick my #$%^in it", yes I told you it was naughty.

So between Christmas and New Year, Husband and I, Uncle Ads and Chloe and friends Phil and Haylee joined us for "no special occasion duck".

We basically order the same thing EVERY time.

Wontons (you have to get these) and spring rolls too start.

Then the Peking Duck pancakes

Sweet & Sour Pork, Mongolian lamb and the 2nd course of the duck which was duck noodles.  Phil and Haylee picked the last main so we tried something new which was schezwan beef,

We didn't get too many pics tonight, just pictures of the mongolian lamb, schezwan beef and my  first duck pancake.

Definitely give this place a try, and if you don't like it...well your nuts!

Travel Plans for 2015

2015 will bring some exciting travel plans, most of which have been in the making since around August when we booked our flights. We are pretty excited especially now that we have less than 4 months to go. Travelling will be Clint and I and the 3 youngest kids (Tiana 12, Hannah 10, Chloe 1), Uncle Ads and long time sidekick (but for travel insurance Ad's partner....) Julian.

So check out our plans:

Day 1 - Arrive in LA hire a car and head out to Venice Beach to have brunch and people watch. A bit of a whirl wind tour of Santa Monica Pier and Hollywood via Beverley Hills and Rodeo Drive (mostly for Jules benefit as he has never been to the cess pool that L.A is).  We will do this as long as we can before the Jet lag catches up with us.

Day 2 - What every decent parent needs to do when they visit California, we are off to the Magic Kingdom , Disneyland ( this is also mostly for the benefit of Chloe...and Jules). The day will end with the red eye to Miami.

 

Our last visit in 2011

Day 3 - After arriving in Miami around 6:00 am we a single day to do Miami. Clint and I were here in 2012 as part of our honeymoon and to be honest there is not a lot to do...seriously not really. Our plans for the day include:

• Everglades airboat tour
• Lunch at "Hooters" (yes I am a very bad parent)
• Cruise along Millionaire row to see where all the famous people live
• South Beach food tour.

Day 4 - Time to board our first cruise on the Carnival Glory - bring on cocktails, kids club and room service.

Day 5 - Carnival like to call it "Fun Day at Sea' so basically repeat day 4 add in some time in the spa and working on our tans.

Some pictures from our last cruise, the cocktails really are the best, will be signing up to the cheers package...up to 15 drinks a day for only $49.95

 

 

Day 6 - A day in Cozumel, Mexico. We have a jeep tour booked, stops include:

• Private beach club - with swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing
• Punta Sur Park - more snorkeling plus time to explore the ecological reserve including crocodiles
• The east side of Cozumel, lots of beach and an authentic Mexican meal for lunch
• And to top of the day, a tequila tasting tour - bring on those margarita's.

http://www.cozumelcruiseexcursions.net

 

Day 7 - A visit to Belize City. We are going to go a bit crazy and take everyone cave tubing.

 

http://cavetubing.bz/cavetubing

 

 

Day 8- A visit to Mahogany Bay, which is on the Island of Roatan in Honduras. We have booked a trip to a place called Little French Key. The plan is lots of swimming cocktails, plus the kids want to go horse riding on the beach/water plus apparently you can swim with a Jaguar...yes no typo a Jaguar!!!!

 

 

 

http://www.littlefrenchkey.com/

 

Day 9 - A visit to the Cayman Islands. Clint and I cam here as part of our honeymoon in 2012 and got a Jetski tour to stingray city to swim and play with the stingrays and then a stop a Rum Point. It was so great that Clint is going to take Adam and Jules to do it again. While I'm taking the kids on a Sting Ray City tour on a boat run by the cruise line. Here are some pics from our last trip:

 

 

 

 

Day 10 - Another fun day at sea.

Day 11 - An early arrival back in the Port of Miami and we are straight off to the air port for our flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico where our second cruise departs from.

Day 12-  Our Cruise on the Carnival Liberty does not leave until 10:00pm, so we get to enjoy some of Puerto Rico first. Our plan is a tour of El Yunque which is a rain forest lots of local fauna and flora and some great waterfalls. Adam and Jules pay get a bit more adventurous and go zip
lining and abseil down some waterfalls.

http://www.sunsettourpr.com

Day 13 - A visit to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The plan is a sightseeing and beach tour including Magens Bay Beach which is ranked in the world's top 10, some Banana Daiquiri tasting and exploring St. Thomas's pirate history.

(picture from cruiseshipexcursions.com)




Day 14 - Another "fun day at sea"

Day 15 - A visit to Barbados, we have plans for a day at the beach and a tour to swim with sea turtles.

http://www.theboatyard.com/



Day 16 - A visit to St Lucia in the West Indies. An all day tour including speed boat tour, a visit to a volcano and mud baths and some beach time.

http://spencerambrose.com


Day 17 - A visit to St. Kitts in the West Indies. Clint, Adam and Jules are off quadbiking in the morning and I'm taking the kids on a short sightseeing tour and we will all end up  the beach in time for lunch and more cocktails.

http://www.reggaebeachbar.com


Day 18- A visit to St. Marteen. For those unfamiliar with St. Marteen this is the place where there is a beach at the end of the airport and the planes fly right over your head. We will be visiting here as part of our tour that takes by speed boat around the island for snorkeling and beach time...and much to the guys enjoyment...its a French Island so many of the beaches are topless...

 

http://www.soualigadestinations.com

Day 19 - We arrive back in San Juan and before our evening flight to Mexico we have enough time for a tour of Old San Juan, the forts and a tour of the Barcardi Distillery.

Day 20 - Day 25

We spent part of our honeymoon in  Tulum, Mexico in 2012, its about an hour south of Cancun and one of the most stunning places I've ever been. We are again staying at the Dreams Resort which is all inclusive and is just paradise. While here we have plans to visit Chitzen Itza as well as swimming with Dolphins. Here are a few pics from our last trip:

 

 

 

Day 25 - Day 29 From the tranquility of Tulum to the bight lights of Las Vegas. I like to refer to Las Vegas as Disneyland for grown ups. I just love this place and I can't imagine how the kids are going to react. We have some big plans, including more machine guns, racing some exotic cars some Michelin star dining and hopefully winning a jackpot.

Pics from our last trip:

 

 

P.S Its not too late to join us!!!