Friday, March 21, 2014

Spicy Fish restaurant Melbourne

Melbourne - We were hankering for some good Chinese tim sum but since it's dinner - I doubt many restaurants serve this breakfast and lunch meal.   We finally settled on this restaurant at Melbourne Chinatown area - Spicy Fish restaurant located at 209 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia.   It was very crowded with a mix Chinese and local Australians.   The prices are steep but the portions are big.



Scrambled egg white with dice fish and scallops
It was a big bowl with generous portions of scallops.   It was done deliciously and very smooth to the taste.

Pork spare ribs with potato in chili sauce
The pork spare ribs was very tender and nice but there was no taste of chili at all.   At A$22.80 it was a big portion.

Stir fry shredded eel with tea tree mushroom
The eel was shredded too small and not much taste of the Eel but with big portions of the tea tree mushroom.  It should have been named as 'Tea tree mushroom with shredded eel'.


South Melbourne Market

Melbourne - since the exhibition starts at around 12 noon, we ventured to South Melbourne Market took the tram 96 just outside our Hotel and took around 30 mins to reach.

With the myki pass travel within Melbourne is very convenient.  My 2 other trips was via taxi and having to endure traffic, high price and taxi drivers that seems to take you round numerous blocks. The trams are so clean, efficient and on time.

We stopped at station # 127 just outside South Melbourne Market and a short walk to the market.  This market opens only on Wed to Sat.


This is one of the many entrances to this vast market.  The stalls are various from butchers, poultry, fresh vegetables and fruits, deli and cafe.  There are also many boutique selling soaps, bags, clothing and shoes - mostly handmade and from Melbourne.

Boutique coffee
rows of shops
We had lunch at a Spanish restaurant since they are opened for lunch.



The restaurant called 'simply Spanish' serves as the namesake Spanish dishes.  We had the meal of the day 'flathead fish'.

delicious flathead fish
Surprising my first time eating the flathead fish which is found in most parts of Australia.  The meat is tender and sweet, and was nicely cooked.

steaming paella
Wow! the paella is delicious and we finished the plate clean....

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Quanjude Beijing Duck

Melbourne - The famous Beijing duck restaurant opened a branch in Melbourne - Quanjude Beijing Duck.   We walked from our hotel to the restaurant in the cold and windy Melbourne weather.  It's at the junction of La Trobe and Queen Street.  The entrance and reception looked very grand and you have to walk downstairs to the main restaurant.   We ordered half a duck with vegetable.

Dou Miao with scallops and mushrooms
half of Beijing Duck
A plate of nicely sliced Beijing duck, pancake and condiments.   The roasted duck was succulent and juicy.

Fried ice-cream
inside of the fried ice-cream



Walking around Elsternwick

Elsternwick - After visiting the Jewish Holocaust Centre, we walked down the street under fine weather of temperature about 14deg c.   A very nice stroll and a quaint city with rows of shops.   We dropped by a fruit shop to buy some fruits - very expensive as compared to Singapore.

unique fruits - Ox Heart Tomatoes
There was another fruit shop which was much cheaper....we had our lunch at a charcoal chicken restaurant.

charcoal grilled chicken
1 charcoal grilled chicken with medium vegetables and medium fries cost A$23 add the 2 drinks it cost totally A$30.

huge tray of french fries



Jewish Holocaust Centre

Melbourne - I have planned to visit this Jewish Holocaust Centre and found the time to do so today and it was worth the time.  It was 15km out of Melbourne and we took a taxi to this location but decided to take the tram back to the city.

The Jewish Holocaust Centre was locarted at 15, Selwyn Street, Elsternwick and closes at 4pm every day.



The flames that burns for forever in remembrance for the 6 millions Jews that lost their lives during the Nazi occupation between 1933 and 1945.   It was a sad chapter in human existence - we must always treasure peace.

number of Jews murdered

entrance to the museum




Monday, March 17, 2014

The Block Arcade

Melbourne - this very quaint shopping arcade is modeled in the style of the Galleria Vittoria in Milan, built in 1892 and was refurbished in 1988.   There are many fascinating shops and is Australia National Trust Treasure.   Within there is a famous Hopetown Tea rooms - a long queue gathered outside this tea house.

entrance to the Block Arcade


The famous Hopetoun Tea Rooms
Ancient weighting machine
famous Melbourne chocolates
miniaturist shop 
cute miniatures