Rock Lobster

I love that song. I even danced to it with my church youth group years ago. So many years ago. In fact a life time ago. When we were young and beautiful hahaha. I do not dance now. :-)

There's a different lobster. A much better one. Succulent and delicious. I dream about it all the time and even started a savings fund for next order. :-)

We are spoilt for choice here in Melbourne. So many food places to go. You need not leave the city to get to different cuisines. My favourites are Asian of course, Vietnamese and Chinese. Filipino food I just cook at home. ;-)

Rich and I personally love going to Melba at The Langham. Our friend Aimy highly recommend this place. We used to just go to The Conservatory at Crown. We tried Melba and now we always go there for special occasions. We have been a few times this year. Thanks My!

Okay back to the details - last Tuesday was our 17th year wedding anniversary. We are so busy with so many pressing matters that we have forgotten to book anywhere special. Normally weeks before we already have a confirmed booking. We laughed and just said well there is always Nando's. Yummy as it is - it is kind of an everyday thing so I silently hoped it is not going to be there. Any other time will do, just not on our anniversary. :-)

So in between panicking (pressing matters, remember? Will blog another time) and making things in order - I checked a few of our special favourites. Can't do lunch on weekdays and our next few weekends will be hectic.

We need to find a place for dinner. But good luck with last minute booking!

We like a few places in Crown so maybe, Crown it is. I want something else though and I think there's no better time to be spoiled than now. I was tossing between Long Chim, Silks and Mesh. Parking at Crown Complex is easier than most places so it is always there that we spend more special occasions.

I looked at different sites then went back to our faves. That's when I saw Melba's Tuesday night LOBSTER.

Lobster. Are you kidding me? Lobster! I love seafood. I grew up next to a wet market where fresh seafood are still breathing and blinking. I need it. I need this.

As a good wife ;-)  I rang Rich before I booked. We both know it is expensive. I gave him options. When I mentioned it is lobster's night at Langham's, he said his usual: "okay sure, why not." :-)

I was so quick ringing the number, you'd think I dialled triple 0.  :-)

There was a place for us. Yay! I guess not a lot of Melbournians want to go out on a freezing Tuesday night even for lobsters. :-) We also have a 25% voucher from my Entertainment Book for Langham so another yay!

We parked with no problem. It is always good to dress up from time to time. I do not get to do that since casual is my middle name. :-) Tonight we also made sure we dressed warm.

It was windy too as we walked towards the Hotel. I was so glad I had a warm coat on.

As I slowly walked to the foyer I said a quick prayer of gratitude.

17 years. Wow. Congratulations us! We have ups and downs and it is not always an easy ride. But we have more ups. More important is that we love & enjoy each other's company. We try not to let external problems affect that. We are best friends and we look forward to 17 x 17 more years together.

And with lobsters from time to time - ain't life sweet.

Thank you, Rich. Love you to the moon and back.

We had the freshest seafood while growing up and I can tell you a thing or two about them - but these lobsters made me speechless...yum.
Steamed then grilled to order. I am proud to say that I upheld my family reputation of eating well and hard. 3 servings. Oh la la. :-)

Succulent. The garlic butter sauce was just so mild it did not destroy the whole lobster experience :-)

This is my seconds served with Bokchoyy and mushroom stirfry. The made to order stir fry is just next to the lobster grill so I asked if I can get it on the same plate. It was one of the happiest dinners I have in Australia! :-)

Melba's fresh seafood is very delicious. They also have a wide selection of Sushi.

Food Safari Part 2

We watched a documentary early this year by the BBC UK. It was very interesting and I found out I belong to Constant Cravers. That - I am always hungry (but I do not eat much and I am very picky no lamb, no sweets), just having lots of food thoughts all the time. I guess that is good, better than other thoughts like negativity towards others, lol.

So that explains why some people just like me, posts more food in their social media accounts, as opposed to others who put same old, same old selfies. I want variety. I was told I should just become a food blogger, but food is not my main thing though. I just post it more because my love ones value their privacy and I have a shy hubby who rather take photos of me than me of him. Though I have a life aside from just eating and sometimes I rather keep those moments to myself, one day I might just do a food blog. :-)

So food it is...

Fried lemongrass pork chop not fatty nor oily but all so delish with rice, lettuce and clear broth. Dumplings Plus

Honey chicken and rice Dumpling Plus

I just love Tabouleh and I know when the fresh delivery is at my local Coles Deli :-)
(I tried to make this at home but for some reason I always end up making my parsley taste a bit like diesel when mixed with the other ingredients hahaha)

Grilled Pork neck, super easy just marinate in soy sauce, sesame oil, crushed garlic, lemon juice, brown sugar. Then grill to perfection! This one is served with saffron rice. When making normal steam rice, just add bit of chili flakes, saffron powder, dried parsley and butter.

My first food court food in Australia was these yummy sweet n sour pork. From time to time I reminisce :-) The deep fried squid was discovered later on. Still in food courts near you :-)

Grilled pork ribs. Filipino style :-)

Sushi Sushi ebi tempura is love. These prawns really died for me, this is real love :-) LOL

Rich and I love to make things much yummier to suit our palate, I love how he mix different nutty cereals to create much higher level of deliciousness. This mix alone comes from 4 different boxes. Plus Soy Milk. Gotta be Soy Milk.

My go to when down and out. Or just plain down. Or senti. Or ...nah...anytime this is my comfort food. I love you Pancit Canton re Mee Goreng re 2 minute noodles.

Rich's homemade sausage rolls is different from the rest because of carefully chosen mince and  sausage meats and spices but also the caramelised onions. A patient cook's version. This is not easy to make but the love can be tasted on first bite. Oh lala.

I've only just discovered Sicilian Olives! OMG so good. I think I am addicted.

trust my Ceasar Salad to be upside down! With croutons, ham, bacon and parmesan - this Cos is the boss.

We eat in front of TV. Please judge me. Our TV is the whole wall so how can we escape that? We live to enjoy and be happy. People may frown at this but hey who cares...

We are each other's fan club. Rich though does not have any social media to show this off lol :-) but I do. When he makes his home made chicken soup, he uses the whole chook and takes the chicken skin off. He then fries them crisp for me. He knows I love crispy chicken skins. He only started doing this after the crows stopped visiting our yard and throwing the skin is wasting. lol :-) Not all the time though, only sometimes. Judge me. :-)
 

Recent Food Trips

I always say that when I count my blessings, there is always a photo of it. :-)




For some reason, this won't move the way I want it too. Fried chicken with garlic rice and
some clear broth.





Sushi !!!




It took me almost all afternoon to make this crunchy crispy crackling
roast pork, but it was oh so worth the wait. The homemade apple
sauce also made the difference. Photo with healthy fruits in the
background :-)




This is actually fried rice :-)




Oh Zumbo!




Northern Vietnamese style spring rolls. Delicious!




Whole snapper crispy fried. Oh lala




Sago and banana in coconut milk. I tried to make this and
it was a success. Scroll done and see :-)




I am weird because I refuse to eat lamb, do not like indian food and
not a fan of chocolates. But I eat offals and squid tentacles. Oy ve!





Deep fried lean pork chop. It is lean, but it is fried. Oh dear, but
so delicious!
 




I made this! Yay me!




buchi buchi ola la




Honey chicken, spring onion pan cake, soup and that buchi
Yum!




I always ask for clear broth on my Asian meals. Habit since young.
Sabaw. Bow.




Another serve of that duck that Rich loves. Quack.




Sticky black rice is hiding somewhere :-)




This is a salad with crispy roast pork. Delish!




I made this! Yay!




Checking out Roti Road menu




Still in the look out for the best char kwai teow. It has been a while so I
tried making my own and it is the best!




roti




fried chicken ribs and pickles




my fave beef meatballs soup with coriander and broth

Glad that I am able to get this gorgeous
wooden tray from Villa and Hut before they
close shop. Also here are some fruits - I eat healthy too!

Dumplings Plus

After our Japanese and Korean food try outs, Rich and I went back to our favourite and go-to cuisine. Chinese food.

Even when we were travelling around Europe and the US, Rich and I would seek
Chinese food after a couple of days. I needed the rice for my energy and he loves all food that is very delicious, comforting and familiar. Chinese is so close to Filipino cuisine, I even consider Chinese as my home cuisine.

Dumplings Plus is a big franchise here in Australia. It has become more visible than ever with branches everywhere here in Melbourne. We love this place!

It has a menu so good you want to have it day in day out. Please visit the nearest one to you, you will not regret it.




Handmade dumplings, very delicious.

 

 

Whenever I eat at Chinese restaurants I always ask for plain broth. This one is very refreshing.



Rich has developed a taste for homemade dimsim. I am kind of over it but not him :-) Fried and steamed. Lately he just prefer it steamed.



I did not really like this because it came swimming in chili oil. :-( I bet it was yum

 



Siu mai!!! In every part of the world, in every form - I love you Siu Mai.



As I waited for my crispy roast pork, I made this sauce from all the other condiments in the counter. It was
the best sauce I have ever tasted. It has sweet chili sauce, brown vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, and that sauce they bring to you with the roast pork order, I think plum sauce. So delicious.



Wonton soup in a cold Spring day is always welcome. This is prawn wonton.



Crispy Roast pork and bbq pork with rice and broccoli. I only ate the meaty part and left the fat . This is very delicious.



Rich found a new favourite: Duck noodle soup. Glad he found one he likes to go back to all the time - I am sure it is very tasty but I do not eat duck, lamb or kangaroo. Just sayin'.  :-)



We normally have our own Boost juice but today we shared Peach Tea. Then my dessert is
this sesame ball we call buchi at home. Love it.

Thanks Dumpling Plus.