Coffee Culture @ Timaru - Every good thing does come to an end.

 

 Today is the last day of my whole working holiday journey in New Zealand. It has been 8 months since. 8 months of sweet and sour. I will be departing to Melbourne before flying home.

 The sweet little her thought of buying me a breakfast. So we head to her favourite cafe, Coffee Culture.

 

Her favourite order, Iced chocolate. Dear, it is just not very nice to order yourself an iced drink in the morning though.  Seriously think the barista there has a very poor sense of decoration. Ugly mess ehh. ^^

 My cup of chocolate latte. Double shots of espresso, double shots of chocolate and double shots of steamed milk. That is what it claimed to be.

 The Jelly-tip cheese cake @ NZD6.90. With Yogurt. Cheese cake + Yogurt ?? Unique, I would say. The sour taste of Yogurt does seem to over power the cheese cake. We had to leave the Yogurt to a waste.

 Fresh fruit salad @ NZD7. That is a real burn in the wallet with those tiny little pieces. Hell.

Salamis & Gherkins with seeded topping bagel @ NZD5.90. Well, at least this one is very delightful and reasonably priced.

You have pretty much form a large part of my memories in New Zealand. Sincerely wishing you the very best of health and a blissful future ahead. May we meet again someday, somewhere. Thanks for the treat and more of all, been such a meaningful character. Take care sweetie. ^^

Osaka Restaurant @ Christchurch NZ - Cheap but Cool

  

 If you happen to be in Christchurch, feeling hungry and looking for a budget yet filling mid-day lunch. Or if you are just a poor traveler like me, who is looking to be well-fed in order to skip a meal in between. Then Osaka Restaurant of 129 Gloucester st is the place to be.

 

Yes, NZD8 for a lunch meal may not be the most economic. The catchy deal is that they are offering unlimited salads, Miso soup and hot steamy white rice !!! Considering that most of the Asian meal in NZD will range from NZD 8 onwards anyway, why not feast yourself with unlimited Miso soup and rice ?

 The unlimited salads with Japanese sauce. Gosh !! I just love the word *UNLIMITED.

 This is my lunch meal special, spicy fried chicken curry. Thought I have never been a fan of Japanese curry which is rather to the sweet side. But mind me, this one is actually pretty good. Anything gravy is good to go with white rice anyway. And I really enjoy their Miso soup too. Thumbs up.

Salmon Sashimi with a Kiwi twist

 

 There are a lot of salmon farms right along the highway from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo. High country salmon is one of those farms that has been commercialized to attract large volume of tourists like us who will be using the highway. They advertised free salmon feeding as an attraction.

 These Salmons are claimed to be fed in the glacier water of the Southern Alps. Hence, of finest quality of its kind n New Zealand.

 But what really attracted us is the super duper fresh salmon Sashimi. Priced @ NZD25 a box. Hearty enough to feed 4 pax.

To savour freshly prepare Sashimi in a Kiwi Salmon farm is one hell experience itself than the usual Japanese restaurant.

 Just a mere kilometers away from High Country Farm, there is Mt Cook Salmon. A friend of mine was giving the statement that this salmon is actually melt-in-the-mouth. How can I miss that ???

 There you go. Priced @ 23 for half a KG of pure Salmon Sashimi. Even after the currency conversion, it is still a steal. You hardly get as fresh in Malaysia with this price.

Does the salmon stand along to the Melt-in-the-mouth statement ? These salmons do seems to be fattier. My theory is if High Country Salmon required five chews then Mt Cook Salmon required just 3 chews. These Sashimi may not be of perfect cut as of  Japanese's standard but it is still a pleasant experience to enjoy just the freshness with merely no slight fishy taste at all.

Kiwi's salmon sashimi comes with Kikoman soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger just as the Japanese counterpart. Globalization it is. A land of the rising sun's delicacy with a Kiwi twist.

A "Balless" Glutton in Queenstown

People regards Queenstown as one of the most commercialized tourism spot of New Zealand. Nevertheless, she is in deed one of the prettiest township of its size on earth. Queenstown is well-known as the capital of those adrenaline rush, adventurous sports. It is the home town of the aborigine bungy jump @ Kawarau Bridge. Thus, a heaven for those who willing to push extreme to its limit.

 

 As for a glutton like me who does not have balls to put my life into any form of adventure, Queenstown does have another attraction to me. The street foods, that is. There are a few legendary must-try and Ferg Burger is on top of the list. Ferg Burger started as a back alley stall and it has become a must do to many people who is visiting Queenstown. I reckon they would have the same recognition even if there is franchise elsewhere, but sadly they decided to only stay at where its began.

 The Big AL @ NZD16.50 has a double serving of NZ Beef (1/2lb), lashings of bacon, 2 eggs, melted cheese, salads, and my favourite burger/sandwich complement beetroot and Aioli sauce. Taste wise, trust me this picture does not do Big AL any justice at alllll. A level above Burger Fuel's Wagyu Beef Burger.

 If you feel like you still have spare room for more. Then head to the lakeside fish&chips stall. The catch of the day was Orange Roughy. Equally great as the one I had in Whitianga. Except this one is a little pricey @ NZD12.

They also served decent "Kiwi only" Paua (abalone to the Maori) pattie. @ NZD6.

 As for the dessert, it is none other than the Patagonia Ice Cream. We ordered six flavours to share. These sweeties are priced @ NZD6.50 each two scoops.

 I rated their Hot Chocolate as the best I ever try. Smooth yet creamy with those little touch of chocolaty flake. Sinfully heavenly and very addictive. Will be a crave for some very long time. It goes @ NZD6.50 for a large. 

 
The Patagonia is a chocolate themed cafe. You can expect a lot of choco touch in their dessert. If you are a chocolate lover this is definitely the final destination. 

Both Ferg Burger and the Patagonia have earned their cult figure in Queenstown culinary scene. These are perhaps rather high end street food but worth a try to complete a 100% Qtown experience plus a jump rom the 43m Kawarau Bridge ^^

A part from these, I get the chance to order a half KG NZ steak for NZD15 at a random Qtown bar. Which I think is a steal of the whole trip.

In Search For The Best Fish & Chips...

I have been in search for that perfect Fish & Chips ever since I left England. I failed miserably as the best seems to be only from its country of origin, UK. New Zealand, as a former colonial of  Great English empire and the huge amount of Brits descent immigrants have heaps of takeaways that serve this Brits proud fast food.

My several experiences of Fish & Chips in New Zealand had disappointed me constantly. Up until few days ago, when I was in this little town called Whitianga of Coromandel Peninsula. It was in a takeaway named Snapper Jack that I rediscover my long lost jewel. I ordered a crumbed dory @ NZD3.90, Hoki @ NZD2.90 and portion of chips @ NZD1.50. A total of NZD8.30, which might cost double if it is served in a fine dining eatery.

My version of decent Fish & Chips is just as simple as - fresh fish, thick meat which provide mouthful experience and served with thick cut chips. And Snapper Jack earned all the ticks !!!.

A glimpse at the menu of a Kiwi's takeaway. Lots of takeaways (especially those of a fishing town) are operating as a fresh fish markets as well as a fast food takeaways. Thus, a decent selection of fish ranges to choose from.

 

 A mere 30/40 mins drive from Whitianga bring you to Coromandel town where smoked mussel is a must try. The Coromandel smoking company carry it at its best. The mussels are smoked in several flavours such as the garlic, barbecue and spicy. Priced @ NZD4.40 per 100g, it is certainly not a cheap snack to savour especially for a budget traveler like me.

Satay Kingdom Cafe, Wellington NZ

 Cuba street is one of the hippies street in Wellington, New Zealand. Be it to the tourists or among the locals. The area is prominent for its hippie/bohemian cultures. You will notice heavily graffiti-ed alley, street buskers, the homeless, lots of bars and potential crime convicts predating for their prey.

 

Malaysian cuisine are surprisingly popular in Wellington. Malaysian theme restaurants can be found almost in every corner of streets in windy Wellie. It is in an alley of left bank, Cuba St that stands a rather economic Malaysian restaurant, Satay Kingdom Cafe.

Local newspaper even have this survey on best Malaysian restaurant and Satay Kingdom Cafe was voted the best in 2007. And that was 3 years ago. Hmmmm..

 The alfresco dining of the cafe. Always a favourite among the Caucasians. Not in my favor, at least not in windy Wellington ehh. The restaurant operated in an open style kitchen. In order not to get ourselves stained with the smells of Char Kuey Teow, alfresco dining is the only choice.

 Roti Canai which often mistaken as Roti Chennai by the Caucasians. The Roti is no way near the Mamak standard back home and it is more like a sweetened pan cake. It is served with a bowl of chicken curry which tasted Malaysian but sweetened to reduce the spiciness to feed the taste buds here. @ NZD6.

 

I was hesitating if I should order their Nasi Goreng Kampung but finally opted for Fried Kuey Teow. A dish not to be missed when you are visiting a Malaysian eatery in the foreign land. It turns up rather good with all the necessary ingredient to make a decent Char Kuey Teow. Priced @ NZD8 or 8.50. This is definitely a more economic choice than the one I had in Angie's Kitchen, Auckland.

 Their Laksa noodles was chosen for our Taiwanese friend as an introduction to her virgin experience on Malaysian Cuisine. We suspect the mussel is actually a "specially added ingredient" from one of the chef who is a friend. Let alone the rather westernized taste, this is a rather generous bowl which flooded with ingredients and priced less than NZD10. 

The Nyonya Chicken with rice @ NZD8.50 by Landy. 

Wikitravel stated that they are famous among the Malaysian students. Satay Kingdom is perhaps the cheapest option of its kind and worth a visit to ease the craved.

Burger Fuel @ New Zealand. My virgin experience of the Geisha massaged Wagyu

 

I had this doubt in my mind if I should try out Burger Fuel, a rather high end burger chain here in New Zealand. Since I'm leaving Auckland and I may not coming back to this country any soon either in the future. Considering that this can be my only chance to try out their gourmet burger. Finally, my gluttony convinced me that I should pay this proud Kiwi owned burger chain a visit.

After a glance at their menu, I realized that they are certainly not selling it cheap. Again, I was hesitating if I should just go normal with their NZD8.90 ranges or should I go straight with their most wallet burning "Wagyu with cheese" @ NZD14.90.

And guess what my final call is ?? Yes, the notorious Wagyu burger. You don't certainly get to try Wagyu very often. Especially not in a burger chain. I heard so much about the "infamous" texture of the meat and its legendary status among it owns breed. That it is the inspiration to the fine Angus. Burger Fuel have this very catchy creative advertisement on their Wagyu range, they claimed the good grief to be massaged by Japanese Geisha, listening to classical music and beerfed. LOL ^_^

I did not rise my hope high as I know that burger patty often don't do fine meat any justice. Plus, this is my virgin taste of Wagyu. I did not have comparison or whatsoever. But one thing for sure, this is a damn nice burger, well above average with its very tasty relish and Aioli sauce. The fully sesame-seed bun complement the meat rather well. The size are very decent too slightly bigger than the BK's Whopper. It does actually makes me craving for more.

I know, ones might be doubting the authenticity of this Wagyu as the real deal can be rather expensive. My research shows that Burger Fuel CEO Josef Roberts claimed it was able to sell the "100 per cent wagyu" meat much cheaper because it had a deal with Australian suppliers for a limited time.  I guess this some how ease my doubt and it may be just a lower grade and low cuts of the beef.

Burger Fuel's spud fries @ NZD3.50 and NZD0.50 for the Aioli sauce. Spud fries is just another name for potato chips. A thick cut chips that I much enjoy as compare with the tiny little willy McD's french fries. The chips certainly goes well with the garlic indulgence Aioli sauce. 

I do not care how pure the Wagyu is. It is certainly one of the better burger experience I have. Total of NZD18.90 wasn't actually that expensive considering that a grand burger meal of Carl's Junior will cost pretty much the same in Malaysia after currency convertion.

And finally, the Enviro-Mental fair bid of Burger Fuel by turning their used oil into Bio-Diesel for their delivery vehicle. Cool ehhhh

Mrs Higgins Cookies @ Auckland - Better than Grandma used to bake

Mrs Higgins cookies are equally well known as the Korean pancake among CBD of Auckland. This small cookies stall located on Queens St is definitely one of the crowd puller. We used to buy their frozen cookies dough of supermarket and baked it ourselves but nothing is near the perfect 10 of the one baked fresh in stall.

Mrs Higgins specialty is her warm cookies fresh out from the oven. They have a great varieties of cookies. 20 delicious flavours as claimed on their website. Of those that I have tried are white chocolates, triple chocolates, peanut brownie, white chocolate macadamia.  Well, they do have muffins, shortbread and coffees which I tends to forget they are actually exist.

 

 Now what is so unique about their cookies ?? Your first bite leads you to comment that this is a damn crunchy cookies. And your second bite towards the center is the one that drive you to heaven. Yes, the center is indeed soft and chewy. Chewy as in you are having a piece of a firmer cake. I have never try cookies which are so consistently baked towards crunchy on the side and chewy on the center. Now, I wonder how the hell does Mrs Higgins do that? That must have been her secret recipe.

How I wish that somebody is going to bring their franchise over to Malaysia. If I have the cash, I would have.

This is my entry number101 since day one. Can't believe that I had accumulate 100 posts since.