tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3201796651089297272024-03-13T21:40:39.075+11:00the F wordMaz at Dimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117817270275429996noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320179665108929727.post-70308874935766027282010-10-21T23:54:00.003+11:002010-10-22T09:05:02.968+11:00The List Challenge: 1 /50 - #2 Mrs Jang's Home style eggs from Billy Kwong<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you like lists? I love lists. To do lists, shopping lists, best of___ lists, pros vs. cons lists.... I love reading and compiling lists. That’s why I was uber-excited by </span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/the-50-things-every-sydney-food-lover-should-try-20101021-16uyb.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 50 Things Every Food Lover Should Try</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> list that was published today. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not that I’m so unadventurous that I need convincing to try something new. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I believe in trying everything at least twice (because first impressions can be oh so wrong) and being an </span><a href="http://mazatdimmi.blogspot.com/2010/10/choos-and-cheese.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">indecisive diner,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I’m often left overwhelmed with choices. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This list is gold because it narrows down the kabillion places I’ve wanted to try and further saves me at least thirty minutes of umm-ing and ahh-ing at menus. While fellow foodie </span><a href="http://tastedbytwo.com/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zina</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> said she could tick 22 off her list, I sadly have conquered only a handful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I, Maz, hereby solemnly <s>treat </s>challenge myself to consuming each and everyone one of these dishes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starting tonight...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When my boyfriend messaged me this afternoon <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>asking if he could take me on a spontaneous hot date <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>somewhere, I shot one back saying, <em>“Google: SMH <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50 food lovers try. Pick something”. </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His selection did not surprise me at all. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He chose <strong>#2 Mrs Jang’s home-style fried eggs from Billy Kwong</strong> for two reasons. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) He has a bizarre affinity with eggs and 2) the fact that Billy Kwong doesn’t take bookings worked in our favour , having decided to eat out at 4.45pm.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" nx="true" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We squeezed into a side-street car space and waltzed straight onto one of the three remaining tables at 6.30pm. Fifteen minutes later, there were several queued parties watching us eat through the glass shop front. They may have been hungry but they were probably more comfortable than us inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tiny tables are squished so close that my elbows frequently hit the back of the diner next to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat awkwardly on low three-legged plastic stools and the waiter tells me that the red rubber mat was recently added because so many people used to slip off the stools sliding against the floors. One huge lantern lights the intimate room that is chocolate-lacquered and decorated simply with plants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two cabinets frame a small open kitchen so we can perve on everyone else’s orders. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/specials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/specials.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We peck on the bowl of complimentary salted peanuts and I ask for a lemon lime & bitters. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’m sorry, we don’t serve LLB. We have organic lemonade though...”.</span></em></div><div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Silly me. Much emphasis is placed here on eco-friendliness, sustainability and ethical eating. The restaurant has been organic since 2005 with the business philosophy stamped on the menu: <em>“<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">'To leave as small and light an environmental footprint as possible, to give back to the community whenever and wherever we can, and to think globally and act locally.'</span></em></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/wontons2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/wontons2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first entree is the The Crispy Prawn Wontons with Sweet Chilli Sauce ($19). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fresh and hot, the wontons are certainly satisfying but we’re unsure whether they’re worth almost $5 per piece. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next plate up is the very reason we are sitting there. Homestyle Fried Biodynamic Eggs with Organic Tamari & Homemade XO ($19).</span></div><div style="background: white;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/egg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="background: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When fried eggs is one of the signature dishes at a celebrity chef’s one-hatted restaurant, you can’t help but think they must be bloody good eggs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure about Dr Suess' green eggs but I certainly do like these! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would eat them here or there and I would eat them anywhere. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eggs are deep-fried... and then shallow-fried too. You’d think that means they come out burnt but the eggs are multi-dimensional; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with three different and delightful textures. The outer edges are crispy, crunchy and golden brown. The egg white is soft and moist. The creamy yolk oozes through and complements the chilli, spring onions and oyster sauce. Kylie Kwong has shared this </span><a href="http://www.kyliekwong.org/bkrecipes.aspx"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">actually very simple recipe</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that was inspired by Mrs. Jang, her Uncle Jimmy’s mother. Well done Mrs Jang, well done indeed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/chicken.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our main is the Crispy-Skin Free-Range Chicken with Organic <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brown Rice Vinegar dressing ($48).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chicken is sliced Chinese style and it’s rather large- you can share this between three and still fill up. It’s tender and juicy but beware of the small bones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pool of dressing is great- rich with a tangy bite. The hint of ginger creates a taste that reminds me of the <a href="http://www.dintaifungaustralia.com.au/australia.html">Xiao long Bao at Din Tai Fung</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are disappointed, however, that the skin is not crispy at all but rather soggy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is one Dessert of the Day available for $15 and I believe it’s some sort of organic fruit platter with chocolate. It's not enough to win me over so we pay the bill and let a patiently waiting couple enter to take our place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, we thought the experience was good enough to warrant a return visit. A unique, modern-Chinese menu that is organic and biodynamic but most importantly, flavoursome. It's a little pricey, noisy and cramped so bear that in mind before you put all your eggs in one basket- no matter how delcious they are here. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Billy Kwong</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.kyliekwong.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.kyliekwong.org</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Telephone: (02) 9332 3300</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Address: Shop 3 / 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hours: Dinner 7 days (no bookings except one table for 6-8ppl)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seats: 50</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bill: Entrees $6- 32 / Mains $15- 48 / Dessert $15</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Maz at Dimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117817270275429996noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320179665108929727.post-4251891443754129072010-10-19T09:16:00.000+11:002010-10-19T09:16:54.202+11:00Your meal ticket: Launching DIMMI REWARDS<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever rung up a bill of $28.46 at the supermarket then quickly added a packet of gum to your purchase so you get a fuel voucher? Do you have a hole-punched card representing your caffeine addiction? Put up with credit charge surcharges because of the points? Frequent Flyers? Fly buys? Cinema membership? Yep, we’re suckers for loyalty programs because we all love to score a freebie now and then. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the year we asked the 500,000 diners who’ve already used the Dimmi reservation service what we could do better. The dining table has spoken and you, foodies and friends, asked to be rewarded for booking online. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, ask and you shall receive...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m proud to present: <strong>Dimmi Rewards</strong> – book online 8 times and receive a free meal!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FtgWphY-nAU/TLx4pDGH7AI/AAAAAAAAABY/qQW1_U2IpIE/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="204" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FtgWphY-nAU/TLx4pDGH7AI/AAAAAAAAABY/qQW1_U2IpIE/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each online booking made via Dimmi earns you 1,000 Dimmi Reward Points and once you earn 8,000 diners will receive a $50 meal voucher to be redeemed at restaurants around Australia such as <a href="http://thearthousehotel.com.au/">Dome at The Art House</a>, <a href="http://www.chintaria.com/">Chinta Ria</a>, <a href="http://mumugrill.com.au/">MuMu Grill</a>, <a href="http://www.gaijinmelbourne.com/Gaijin/Gaijin.html">Gaijin</a>, <a href="http://www.mezzobar.com.au/">Mezzo Bar & Grill</a> & <a href="http://www.thegunshopcafe.com/">Gunshop Cafe</a> to name a few. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A bonus 100 points are also up for grabs each time you ‘share’ your booking on Facebook or Twitter and y</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ou can easily keep track of all your points too. To prevent naughty people from making bogus bookings, points are ‘pending’ until the restaurant has confirmed you actually dined.</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/pointsummary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="140" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/pointsummary.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without (too much) bias, I say hallelujah! Dimmi has seated half a million diners across Australia and 70% of these reservations were made when restaurants were least equipped to handle them – during lunch service, dinner service and after hours. That’s many frustrated phone calls that would've been made otherwise. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So start eating your way to that free meal by signing up <a href="http://dimmi.com.au/FrequentDiners/">here</a> – It’s free and I promise, quick and easy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then next time you’re planning to dine out, check out </span><a href="http://www.dimmi.com.au/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.dimmi.com.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for our Partner Restaurants. You’ll have that voucher in your hands in no time... and it’s a lot more exciting than a 4c discount. </span></span><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/sharing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div></div>Maz at Dimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117817270275429996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320179665108929727.post-2708530757875633112010-10-18T02:38:00.004+11:002010-10-18T09:20:16.100+11:00Just noodles? As SIFF! 2010 Night Noodle Markets<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You would not believe your eyes</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was like ten million fireflies</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lit up the park as I went to eat...</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Annoying song parodies aside, I joined some colleagues at the </span><a href="http://www.cravesydneyfoodfestival.com.au/index.php?="><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crave SIFF</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> annual </span><a href="http://www.cravesydneyfoodfestival.com.au/cmspage.php?intid=387&linkid=425"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Night Noodle Markets</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on Thursday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2766.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Thirteen years ago you would’ve rushed past the few scattered stalls in front of the Museum of Contemporary Arts in fear they were trying to lure passerby’s to join an impressionism appreciation club. Today though, it’s hard to ignore. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hyde Park pathways are lined with glowing red lanterns and adorned with giant stars and moons. There are hundreds of people among the 40 food stalls, 3 bars, 1 beer garden and not a partridge, but fairy lights in a fig tree. There is live entertainment and a</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"> dancing Chinese lion weaves around delighted children, grandparents, couples and dogs whom I suspect will develop inferiority complexes.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="248" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/x.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2754.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2794Uppa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="286" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2794Uppa.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="197" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2795.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived at about 6pm and all the tables were already occupied. We had ladies in skirts and heels among us so we stalked a table of suits that were already onto dessert. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the boys guarded our seats, the girls explored the park to see what we could scavenge. Most stalls are Thai, Malaysian, Chinese and Japanese but whichever you choose, you can’t escape a long queue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.dintaifungaustralia.com.au/australia.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ding Tai Fung</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and Shanghai Express had chefs behind clear plastic screens and mouth-masks, creating production lines of dumplings with bullet-fast hands. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve read lot of feedback from people disappointed in the lack of Asian authenticity with the Westernised influence on foods and flavours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also heard that the name ‘noodle markets’ is misleading because first-timers arrive expecting, well, just noodles. While these are both valid points, I feel they miss <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> point. I’m afraid the only place you’ll find an ‘authentic Asian hawker market’ is actually in Asia. This event that drew 120,000 people last year is about embracing culture and enjoying unique spring alfresco dining. It’s about relaxing with food, friends and family. It might not be perfect food but it is <em>good</em> food... and hopefully good company too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, <em>“Night Noodle, Dim Sim and other Asian-Influenced-Food Markets”</em> is just not as catchy. </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/chat.jpg" width="285" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2781.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2783.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2788.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2778.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2780.jpg" width="247" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/mazatdimmi/IMG_2776.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made the rookie blogger error of not recording how much or where we bought our food from... my apologies, friends and foodies: lesson learnt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I can say though that I found the BBQ pork buns a little too dry but I loved the creamy peanut richness of the satay skewers. The dim sum were great- the pork still fresh and juicy with sweet bursts from the corn. I will endeavour to include more detailed dish information in the future but I hope my post has somewhat captured the lovely ambiance of the night and not just got that Firefly song stuck in your head too. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">H</span>ere are a few other lessons learned along the way:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Night Noodle Market DO’s</span></strong></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span> <br />
<ul><li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring a picnic mat as a table can be hard to find </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soak in the atmosphere. Feel the noodle love! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a walk around the park before ordering to scope out all your options</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arrive early to avoid long<em>-er</em> queues</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have cash on hand (otherwise there's a mobile Citibank ATM on site)</span></span></li>
</ul><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Night Noodle Market DONT’s</span></strong></span></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wear heels unless you don’t mind the sinking sensation through the soggy ground </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be afraid to share a table with strangers- sharing is caring! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be impatient. Everyone starts at the back of the line</span></span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To check our a list of partipating restaurants and stalls with a map of the Night Noodle Markets </span><a href="http://neutrinodata.s3.amazonaws.com/fairfaxevents/userimages/NNM%20CSIIF%20Map.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">click here</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><a href="http://www.cravesydneyfoodfestival.com.au/cmspage.php?intid=387&linkid=425"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2010 SIFF Night Noodle Markets</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are held in Hyde Park, near the Archibald Fountain, until October 22 on weekdays from 5 - 9.30pm rain, hail or shine.</span></span><br />
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<div class="WordSection1"></div></div>Maz at Dimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117817270275429996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320179665108929727.post-66039767746281617562010-10-10T13:11:00.000+11:002010-10-10T13:11:36.474+11:00Master FAIL<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet another cooking reality show has kicked off in the US with pure television viewing glory... and gory. </span><br />
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<em><a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/kick-off-cook-off/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kick Off Cook Off</span></a></em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is the combination of Uncle Sam's favourite past times, football and cooking, where two teams compete for a cash prize. Each contestant is a football foodie fanatic and the 'twist' is that they're actually competing against their favourite football players, who are apparently in it to prove they're just as talented in the kitchen as they are on the field. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the premiere episode, judge </span><a href="http://www.brianmalarkey.com/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brian Malarkey</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> invites one of the contestants to sample their dish at the same time. She squirms, gags then runs off to barf her own food into a bin! FAIL. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love how Malarkey tries to console her with "It's not <em>that </em>bad...".</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully my only kitchen misadventures extend as far as too much bi-card soda. Although I did once trip in a food court, my two-piece feed all over the 3 year-old kid who, I swear, came out of nowhere and made me stumble. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you have any cooking or food disasters you'd like to share (or claim it happened to a friend of a friend)?</span>Maz at Dimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117817270275429996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320179665108929727.post-59916404988642669632010-10-08T18:34:00.001+11:002010-10-08T18:42:52.650+11:00Choos and Cheese<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend S was boasting about her first and quite possibly last degustation experience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“We were strolling around The Rocks and came across this really snazzy looking place. We thought ‘why not?’ and asked for a table. Apparently, we were really lucky because they’d had a few cancellations”.</em> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">S and her husband were then seated at <em>“this place called <a href="http://www.quay.com.au/">Quay</a>”</em> in Sydney. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To put her naivety into perspective, Peter Gilmore’s restaurant, voted 27 on the <a href="http://www.theworlds50best.com/">S. Pellegrino World’s 50 best restaurants list</a>, is booked out on Saturday evenings until April 2011. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“It was absolutely beautiful... but I’m not really sure why we did it. We paid $600 for the two of us [tasting menu $210pp plus $90 pp for accompanying wines]. I didn't understand the menu- I thought it wasn’t English and by the end I was wishing we got hamburgers.”</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As amazing as the experience was, S left feeling a little bewildered and her wallet considerably lighter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Could it be... d</span>iner's remorse? Her mixed review reminded me of her shopping tales. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her wardrobe is full of dresses with tags still attached, each justified with something like <em>“At the time it was a good idea...” </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The irony in her story made me think about my own habits. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will buy the same dress in 3 colours because I’m not sure which one I’ll feel like wearing that night and return the rejects the following day. I will make plans to meet for sushi at 6pm, I’ll ring my partner at 4pm because I’ve changed my mind to Chinese, then we’ll walk past Papa Giuseppe’s Trattoria on the way and I’ll insist I was craving Italian all along. I’ll order the fettucine bosciola and then run after the waitress to change it to the linguine gamberi. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">S is the impulsive and I’m the indecisive. Does our buying behaviour reflect our dining trends?</span></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FtgWphY-nAU/TK7GRESKBJI/AAAAAAAAABU/1kHdifeQBDc/s1600/food+heels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="356" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FtgWphY-nAU/TK7GRESKBJI/AAAAAAAAABU/1kHdifeQBDc/s400/food+heels.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Is food the new fashion?</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mother wears the same outfits, week in and week out. If she’s invited to a wedding though, she’ll search for a fabulous new getup as soon as she receives the save-the-date. Likewise, she’s content with home cooking 9 times out of 10 but for a special occasion, she’ll book a restaurant 4 weeks in advance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The planner. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are the loyal lads who buy the same reliable brands and order the green curry at every single Thai joint. Then there’s High-roller Harry and we all know Budget Bob. The correlation is simple really. Food, like clothing, is a basic human necessity that we indulge in at different levels. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a long time, fashion was the way of self-expression. Your clothes, scent and accessories all lent itself to your projected identity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it seems, you are indeed what you eat. Hello, Madonna clinging on to her youth whilst <a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/investing/madonna-is-crazy-for-coconut-water/19340306/">drinking coconut water</a>. Coincidence? I think not. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s all about where you’re seen and what’s on your plate. Even your coffee cup is a statement (Is it just me or does anyone else get snide remarks when holding Starbucks?). Table conversations about the bargains we scored now revolve around where you get the best tapas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to drink at the ‘it’ bar as much as we want the ‘it’ bag. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Food is certainly becoming the new fashion... but here’s hoping we all don’t take it as literally as Lady Gaga. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think? Are your dining and buying habits the same? Or do you defy my theory by being a high-roller diner but budget buyer? </span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Maz at Dimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117817270275429996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320179665108929727.post-3885168846652377222010-10-06T02:17:00.001+11:002010-10-06T18:06:50.268+11:00Eat, Pay, Blog<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With only one post chalked up on my dashboard, I’m struggling to find my place in this almighty World Wide Web. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a plethora of food-based blogs already out there, why would anyone want to read <em>The F Word</em>? You see, I know my predicament... </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contrary to popular misconception, Dimmi is not the Department of Immigration. Dimmi is an online restaurant booking service. For the first time in Australia, customers can perform a search on </span><a href="http://www.dimmi.com.au/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.dimmi.com.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, browse through a collation of reviews from the country's best food guides and book instantaneously in real-time- with the same convenience that we book hotels, flights and movies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FtgWphY-nAU/TKs9Enl5l6I/AAAAAAAAABQ/_K18yitpx-g/s1600/snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FtgWphY-nAU/TKs9Enl5l6I/AAAAAAAAABQ/_K18yitpx-g/s640/snapshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.dimmi.com.au/">http://www.dimmi.com.au/</a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Perform a search, check out reviews from partners like <a href="http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/">deGroots</a> or <a href="http://yourrestaurants.com.au/">yourRestaurants</a>, then book your seat!</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s exciting stuff, isn’t it? Restaurants, on the other hand, gain an electronic reservation diary to manage their floor and also have access to extensive marketing and promotional services to elevate their business. The service is free for customers (hooray!) and costs the restaurant a small fee per booking. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FtgWphY-nAU/TKs817IC5aI/AAAAAAAAABM/gEu6tm_47-g/s1600/diary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FtgWphY-nAU/TKs817IC5aI/AAAAAAAAABM/gEu6tm_47-g/s640/diary.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RestaurantDiary Express - the electronic reservations diary provided to restaurants</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let’s get it out of the way. Let me say out loud or rather, type out clear, what you’re thinking. Is there not a commercial conflict of interest here that will influence the content of this site? How can I trust this sketchy Maz at Dimmi? The rise of the blogger has also seen the rise of the sceptic and the issue of commercialisation is an ongoing one that has polarised the online community. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I’ve come to the conclusion that my ‘predicament’ is actually my greatest tool. Dimmi celebrated its first birthday last month and we are proud to already have more than 1,500 participating restaurants and to have seated 500,000 diners across Australia. I simply want to share the rest of the journey with you- our successes, our failures, the people we meet, the places we visit, the good meals, the bad... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>booked online or not. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not just about restaurant reviews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not all about cooking experiments either. There’s more to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The F Word</i> than insider interviews, industry goss and giveaways. It’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all </i>of the above. It’s whatever you guys would like it to be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So let me lay it on the dining table, what would you like to read more of? </span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Maz at Dimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117817270275429996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320179665108929727.post-42644214316934571562010-10-04T21:33:00.000+11:002010-10-04T21:57:39.659+11:00C is for Cookies & Cream Cheesecake<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When cookies and cream ice cream was introduced in 1983, it made the biggest debut in ice cream history- climbing and remaining since in the top 5 flavours distributed worldwide. I still remember my first encounter with the flavour. A white-chocolate lover and cookie monster at heart, it was a life-changing trip to Baskin Robbins that I first revelled in that </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">creamy goodness and chunky cookie delight. </span><br />
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<div></div><div></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">When I found this ridiculously simple recipe in <em><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/martha-stewarts-cupcakes">Martha Stewart's Cupcakes</a></em> book, I couldn't resist giving it a whirl... </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The fruits of my labour. A tip from Maz: use white paper cases as they create that funky see-through effect where you can see the Oreo. Proud to say all thirty little single-serving delights were gobbled up watching the NRL finals.</span> </span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes</span> </strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(adapted from <em>Martha Stewart's Cupcakes) </em></span><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><br />
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<div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 42 cream filled-chocolate sandwich cookies such as Oreos (30 left whole and 12 coarsely chopped)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 900gm cream cheese, room temperature</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 1 cup sugar</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 1 cup sour cream</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Pinch of salt</span></div><br />
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<div align="left"><strong>Makes 30</strong> </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Preheat oven to 150°C. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Place 1 whole cookie in the bottom of each cup.</span><br />
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</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Gradually add sugar and beat until combined. Beat in vanilla.</span><br />
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</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Drizzle in eggs, a bit at a time, beating to combine. Beat in sour cream and salt. Stir in chopped cookies by hand.</span><br />
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</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Divide batter evenly among cookie cups, filling each almost to the top. Bake for about 22 minutes or until filling is set, rotating tins halfway through. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely. Refrigerate in tins for at least 4 hours (to overnight). </span><br />
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</div><div align="left"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Maz at Dimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04117817270275429996noreply@blogger.com4