March 2020



First time visit to BonBon Bakery at the 24hr Kmart in Burwood, we're familiar with them as we like to stop by the Box Hill franchise whenever we pass by. Their swiss rolls are amazing. There was one in the city on Flinders long ago too.



We were super busy last year so didn't have time till now (with all my events cancelled) to get a cake. Delighted to get this durian one, it's lighter in colour than in the catalog. So fluffy and light! Loving this sponge and the perfect layers of cream. It's like those typical Asian birthday cakes.


While I can smell the durian it's actually very light on the durian. There was more durian chunks, but being chunky it was all in one area... needs to be blended into the cream and spread evenly.

I'd prefer the fruit sponge from Bonbon. This is your starter durian cake. If you love durian I'd get a different cake. This with a coffee cream would be awesome too. Would definitely get another sponge cake based cake from Bonbon, but I found the durian too light as someone would loves it. For my durian cake needs we go to HS Cakes, he waits outside XD

Cost $40, sorry I don't recall what size it was. Service was friendly and required two days notice.



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Tuesday 17th March



It's been 5 days since events were cancelled and soon after all the theatres, museums and libraries closed. But here it's Day 3 at PappaRich upstairs in the new outdoor dinning area at The Glen, after just opening three days ago. 


Papparich used to be on the main street, packed with tables very close just like at QV. But here it's large and airy, I love that the four groups and literally spread out across the restaurant and not in one section for easy service (it was the start of rona at the time). As it's new it's super clean! Modern and not QV hawker style crowded (from what we've seen on tv) at all.



Celebrating 8yrs they're doing $8 offers daily and today it's nasi lemak, they out of coconut rice so we got chicken rice with the curry chicken. Tender chicken with lots of flavour, hold the chili, it was perfect. Definitely going to return for other offers.

When we got there at 6.30pm there were only four other tables though by 8pm it was a third full. I do feel like you have to know it's here to find it, as it's not really advertised much, sadly not a good time to have an opening party. .

A waitress took my order, as it was quiet, but they have ipads at each time, and a door bell and pad. The layout is completely different from the QV food court feel and Nunawading one, you could actually take a date here. 



Back on a Saturday night for the $8 offer of the day, kaya and butter toast dipped in soft boiled egg was a new experience. Counter guy says it's a personal experience where some like to add salt, pepper and soy sauce to the egg. Andy suggested dipping the toast in condense milk but then I think the flavours of the kaya would be lost as it's so sweet?

I really like the toast, though don't think I'm going to drink soft boiled egg again as much as I do love egg and soldiers (when le beau makes it). It was a weird combo...

9pm last orders on a Saturday night with staff to diner ratio was close to 1:1. 
Service was very friendly.

Update - The Glen location is closed till further notice, like all the other places in the new outdoor dinning area.



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March 2020


Lately there's been a $5 Friday offer, a choice from three savory offers. The cheese and potato pancake is my favourite, it's much bigger than you think. I know sometimes they do an entree and meal sized option, but this one is definitely meal sized, we could barely finish it. Rich and comforting contrasted with a fresh and crispy salad, the perfect meal. It's normally $24 which is pretty crazy, brunch price.


Shove Tuesday - Pancake Parlour were giving away single stacks, though is it called a stack if it's just one? The perfect serving size really.

Service is always friendly, and they're often open late for a post-movie snack.



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Weekend in March





Dinner at Vinh Ky, I suspect this place is fusion. He chose it without looking up reviews. A bit after 10pm on a Saturday night not much is open other than bars on Victoria St. I had the prawn spring rolls with vermicelli, it was good though this dish is standard so it's kinda the same everywhere. The Jackfruit smoothie was nice (got takeaway so no picture).

Service was good. Not too keen on returning as it was average, and there are better places on this strip, just not open later on a Fri/Saturday oddly.



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March



Spanish Donut is one of those quick grab and go places at Flinders, that exist because people are running late and don't have time for anything else, or it's late and everything else has closed. Because the entire area of very meh, save for the ice cream shop. So we had this in mind, but do like churros sometimes especially with a great deal via groupon, it was something like $5 for a coffee and 3 churros dip.






The original churros with choc dips, sadly the dip was filled right to the top so there's no way I could have opened it without spilling it, so that went straight into the bin. The freshly fried churros were perfect with a dusting of powdered sugar. Cinnamon sugar would have been perfect.

Service was meh, I got what I wanted though, there was an incident but I used my magical powers of assertiveness and we brushed it off. Not keen on returning unless in the mood for churros, which is never. But deep fried and covered in chocolate, this is the place to find that.

 

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At the Ghibli x MSO Bowl event there were a bunch of food trucks, and among them an ice cream truck, with event specials! As it was Ghibli concert for an extra $6 you can get a half tennis ball chocolate dome. There were other offerings too, with the most popular sellers being salted caramel and redskin. I'm excited about getting redskin another time.


Fomo has us in a 20mins line, we got the first seconds one (free topper), which I'm totally fine with. 





Behind the scene - what you don't know is that it was running down my arm and I was trying to balance and get the shot while standing at the very edge of the safety of the picnic rug (because hook worm). We got the salted caramel w honey cereal bits and Persian cotton candy $9. It was perfect. No regrets. I heard the week after they were doing a Pikachu special for Supernova. 

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July 2018 



Dinner at Paradai, a pun on paradise? Recommend sitting past the counter as you'll feel it when the door opens (this first visit was during winter). On a Monday night 6.20pm I'm the only one dining in, a revolving door of uber eats and takeaway people are going in and out. It's warmer inside especially with the red walls, warm inviting with basket like lampshades.



We order the chicken pad thai, which was huge! It was very good, not as smokey as the one we made the other day. Fresh with crunchy bean sprouts, peanuts, slightly sweet noodles with egg, chicken and tofu. A dish that ticks all the boxes of soft, crunchy and chewy (but not like gummy bears). The spring onion were like inch pipes, I'd perfect it chopped into smaller pieces.

Very satisfying, would definitely get again. Glossy noodles, though not oily.


Deep fried banana and cream (ice cream makes me cough in winter) wasn't as sweet as I'd preferred. In this case leave the mint, it's decorative unless there's also strawberry.
Think this dish is cheaper takeaway

The total came to $21.40.
Service was friendly.


Saturday in March 2020

On a Saturday night Sweet Tamarind (Modern Thai) was fully booked so we went to Paradai Thai (More Traditional) their sister restaurant next door instead. 



We've been here a few times and order the Pad Thai each time, it's absolutely delicious! Serves 1.5 too. 



He had the duck curry which he really liked, while I found it spicy. Rice is ordered separately, I'm never a fan of that, as a lover of one plate meals for one.

Service is friendly as always. Tip - Takeaway is cheaper than eat in. 
Delivery from this place is very popular with that constant pinging.

Note - Wouldn't recommend hanging around on this strip btw, I don't feel safe here during the day on my own, as there's a bottle shop nearby and it attracts youths lingering around who've unfortunately we've encountered more than once.



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