Charlie & Co. were gifted the product for a review. 


How do you like your cookies? Chewy, crunchy or crispy? We love them crispy so make them thinner to crisp up. 
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We made/baked this quick and easy 'slice and bake' cookie dough by @the.doughco, so good, no mess. And they're so good! Perfect level of sweetness.
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The white chocolate cranberry one are addictive as! It's not crazy sweet but just perfect. We made these as jumbo cookies (80g x 5) and they're huge!  Tip - freeze them before baking if you want less spread.


His favourite was the dark choc orange ones (34g x 12), with chunks of chocolate, a very generous amount that gives it that rustic bakery feel.
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They both smell amazing and vanished within a day, shared with friends, he loves the orange ones and inhaled them while I can't get enough of the white choc cranberry. 


The great thing about baking your own cookies is you choose how they turn out > soft & chewy, crunchy or my favorite > crispy! No mess, and minimal clean up, also a great gift for house warming or whenever you're short on time, or even between meetings. 


You can find @the.doughco on instagram or their website.

Location - Pick Up from West Melbourne // or Delivered

There four flavours to try, priced $12-13 a roll. Each roll makes 5 x 80g ones (look at our white choc cranberry picture), 12 x 34g normal sized cookies (our choc orange picture). Which flavour is your favourite?


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Wednesday 28th April
Charlie & Co. dined as guests.


In a collaboration between Asian Inspirations and the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP)'s we were invited on the Taste of Thailand: Thai SELECT Food Tour promoting the Thai SELECT certificate. Which is a prestigious award awarded by the Department of International Trade Promotion to certify the food, hospitality and atmosphere of the restaurant, where 60%+ of the menu are authentic Thai dishes. 

On the itinerary:
  • Jing Jai Thai - Flinders Lane
  • Bangpop - South Wharf
  • Thai Cooking Masterclass

We've actually dined at these two spots many times, love the pad thai and betel leaf at Bangpop, dinning outdoors in summer under the moonlit sky by the water during our college days. The green curry at Jing Jai Thai is my go to, being just a block away from the office.

Jing Jai Thai

Our first stop was Jing Jai Thai on Flinders lane. We've been here many times though always get the same-ish dish, delighted to have someone take the led and order.

   

Drinks - Butterfly pea pandan juice. We guessed a light coconut water with a hint of sourness, not being familiar with pandan juice (how does one juice a leaf?). Butterfly pea is a flower which gives off a natural blue, that turns purple when you add citrus. 


1. Yum Oysters - fresh oysters topped with a special sauce, chili, lime, garlic and chili jam sauce. So good! Thai sauces often have tamarind which takes it to the next level.


2. Yum pla foo - deep fried crispy flaked fish with green apple (fruity) salad. Fascinating, the boys reckon this is kinda like Catfish fluffed up like taro at yum cha, I have no idea what is it. Crispy and light it was wonderful in a fruit/salad especially with that thai dressing.


3. An chan noodle with grilled chicken - housemade purple noodles with butterfly pea, grilled chicken and relish sauce. Crispy skinned chicken with springy noodles and a not spicy  sweet and sour dressing, so good! This dish has been on our list for years, and we've been missing out.


4. Pineapple (riceberry) fried rice. Colored with curry powder this mixed seafood fried rice also has pineapple for a sweet surprise, served playfully in a pineapple! The rice berry rice is very different from normal rice, chewy and more gluteny. But also medium-lower GI.


5. Zucchini boat noodles, the broth have a unique flavour and sweetness to it. I really like it, just don't look at the ingredient list (sweating emoji)


6. Dessert platter - mini mini rice dumplings in coconut milk, mochi like! It was like eating a kinda boba instead of drinking it XD coconut ice cream and durian cheesecake had us rolling out the door. The durian cheesecake I couldn't smell but could definitely taste, it's not as strong as I like (I love it pure) so safe to introduce to friends.


Bangpop

After one feast of a brunch we trammed over to Bangpop on South Wharf, a waterfront restaurant opposite Crown. 


Cooking Stations


Ingredients

We sipped on chilli lychee vodkas and had a few nibbles before doing a cooking class, led by Head Chef Malcolm each with our own cooking station and a wok! This is our second time using one of those and it is hot!          

 


Thai Fish Cakes


Pad Grapow Moo - Made by Yoyo

We made the classic thai starter, Thai red curry fish cakes with added green beans, and Pad Grapow Moo, a minced pork dish served with riceberry rice. These are definitely dishes we can make again at home. 



But that wasn't all, alas I was already rolling after a second b/lunch so didn't try the Northern thai vegan larb and Saltgrass lamb rib jungle curry. 


Thanks Asian Inspirations and the Thai Department of International Trade for an amazing food tour that had us rolling out the door with takeaway, such a lovely day to spend learning about Thai cuisine and playing in the kitchen.

For more information on Thai SELECT, Thai Trade. check out their website. 


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16th January 2021


Like most I'm better at saving recipes than actually using them, and so when I came across The Honey Thief's Lemon & Wattleseed recipe (after buying a cheesecake of course) we took a pictured and filed it away. Then recently we were sent an experience box by Foodie Trails featuring Australian Native ingredients and it was the perfect time to create these amazing cheesecake. A dense rice creamy NY style with nutty tastes compliments zesty lemon, topped with a praline that I could eat like popcorn!



This is the original recipe, found in Bulla's Spring/Summer 2017 recipe book. It's important to use Bulla sour cream as unlike other we looked at they didn't contain geletine to help it set. 


We made about 1/8th of the original which gave us 6 cupcakes + 1 20cm/8" inch high tart. In hindsight we should have done just all cupcakes.


Let us know if you make this at home, or have been to the bakery. 

Have you had wattleseed before and cooked/baked with it? 


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Mama Chef Thai Cuisine (Hamptons) @ Thursday, December 10, 2020

Charlie dined as a guest.
Tues 24th Nov 2020


About two miles (2.4km) from Hampton station on a strip is Mama Chef, a new authentic family restaurant, opening just a month ago. Mainly takeaway but there's a couple tables under exposed bulbs, which looks lovely in the evening, perfect for coffee/dessert while waiting for your order. 




Vegetarian Curry Puffs  - Combination of potatoes and vegetables wrapped with puff pastry

Thai Milk Tea - When it comes to drink I only order drinks that you can't get anywhere else, so always thai milk tea. This was very sweet, crazy coming from me! L says it's authentic being crazy sweet. 


Scallops on a fun 'basil tomato bocconcini' twist. 


Chicken Satay - Traditional Thai style chicken satay served with our homemade peanut sauce.

We started with light fun curry puffs, dipped in a sweet and tangy sauce. Fresh scallop stack, with an even spicier sauce! And crowd pleasing satay chicken skewers with a peanut sauce, a favourite of ours'.


Som Tum Pla (Barramundi Salad)
Grilled b served with a Thai papaya salad, Thai level hot, fodmap friendly. 


Green Curry - Traditional Thai green curry with coconut milk, herbs and vegetables.




Salmon Sashimi Papaya Salad

Ordering to share, the green curry salad had depth and was just right for Lina, while I found it spicy! Just a little but still, spicy ice is a real thing to me. The crispy fish was nice, fried contrasted with a refreshing salad. I had the same salad with salmon sashimi, alas the papaya salad too spicy for me.

Dessert can't be spicy though, always a better choice. My go to for thai is actually pad thai, but  we couldn't order that as one of my dinning companions tonight makes an excellent pad thai. 


Pandan cendol with jackfruit in coconut. 
So good, my favourite dish tonight (other than satay skewers).


House made coconut ice cream, so smooth using fresh coconut. L's fav.


A lovely family restaurant, perfect for takeaway, order dessert while you wait. Surprisingly vegan friendly. If you like things hot L advises to ask for 'thai hot".

P.S. Delivery via menulog is $2 with no min. 
Open Tues - Sun


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24th November 2020

Charlie & Co dined as guests. 

Said guest took some of the pictures too.

Finding dishes that can't be found anywhere else in Melbourne is one of our favourite things, and when it comes to sandwiches Dari is the king of ultimate multi stacked sandwiches, not just a snack but a meal! A man-which and challenge to finish.

Located at the laneway where brunch first started in Melbourne is Dari, a Korean street and fusion cafe with their humongous sandwiches.  

But first drinks!

Dal-go-na Coffee (left, bottled)
Insta famous Korean coffee with whipped coffee cream.
The most popular drink this year has to be the Dalgona Coffee, hailing from Korean it's all about the whipped coffee foam on top. Alas served bottled it does loose its magic but still tastes great, the perfect afternoon hit.

Pumpkin-Pie Latte (bottom right)
Real pumpkin with cream, gingerbread syrup.
It might be late November but I'm a pumpkin girl all year round, and wished the pumpkin latte was as popular as matcha. Creamy and smooth this is on the light x medium side rather than fully spiced. Perfect for your first pumpkin latte.


Sweet Soy Rice Cake Toast - Original Rice Cake Toast
The most traditional taste - we make our own injeolmi (Korean Sweet Soy Rice Cake) paste to bring out traditional Korean rice cake taste. Honey and condensed milk gives different kind of sweetness and toasted peanut gives perfect mount of nuttiness to rice cake.
>Injeolmi base + honey/condense milk + brown sugar toasted peanuts

Rice cake toast with Injulmi paste + honey and condensed milk + plenty of brown sugar toasted peanut.

 

Adi's pick, a toastie like no other. Injeolmi is something I've only had once before, it's a nutty bean powder that in this case went with the rice cake (see inside pic) chewy, glutenous like mochi but savory. Paired with crunchy toasted crushed peanuts and the adjustable sweetness of both condense milk & honey. *bring wet wipes*



Idol Sandwich
Mexican egg salad (cabbage, apple, red onion, ham, hard boiled egg, mex sauce), potato salad with strawberry jam in between 4 slices of bread.


The Idol Sandwich is why we're really here, wiki says an idol is a Korean singer (k-pop) either in a group like BTS or solo. It's a star and show stopper. When I first saw the picture I thought it was two sandwiches stacked, but no that's actually 1 sandwich, 4 slices stacked!
3 component:

  1. Salad - but unlike any we've had, the crisp apple slices were a great contrast, so much flavours and textures
  2. Potato salad, with two mustards had a real kick to them. I'd totally order this as a side salad
  3. Strawberry jam. There's just something about ham & jam. - If you can manage to grab a nibble of everything in your mouth at the same time that is.
This is a monster of a sandwich and must try! To me this is two meals, with small hands I could barely hold it.

Mama's Toast
Egg, ham, American cheese, cos lettuce, with Mama's special tartar sauce.


In contrast Mama's Toast looks much more manageable and something you could almost eat on the go (but can't Dari needs you to sit down to fully appreciate the beauty of this sandwich). How beautiful is that egg? Crazy thin and stacked with generous amounts of ham and salad with a creamy tangy sauce. 


Dari's is a must visit lunch spot, with sandwiches unlike any other place. Open for lunch except on Fridays. We can't wait to return for the idol again, equipped with lots of wet wipes.



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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.


Always take a picture before leaving the shop, cause I have dropped stuff before. :P

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.

BonBons Bakery Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato


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