09 June, 2013

Love it ;))) Bardon community market

Ooooops!!!

It was almost 2 months ago that I posted last time...><

Nothing in Apr, May???

Where were you, Akko???

Not good!

Sorry, I'm alive, haha

I got so many interests which I really want to put in " My Brilliant Basket ".

Well well,

Anyway,

To be fresh,,,,

Let's get started !

-----------------------------------------

As you know, I love a market!

Shopping, drinking a nice coffee, having a fresh food, watching people and feeling a great atmosphere which the market makes.

Whenever I go there, I can get so much spiritual energy from the market.

In this time,

I went to " Bardon Community Market " which my husband investigated through Google.

We had a breakfast there.

http://www.bardoncommunitymarket.com

On Sunday!

It was amazing!!! That market wasn't so big but it was more cozy, stylish and lovely!

With African music
Especially I was very impressed with a shop " L'essence".

She's selling all natural soaps, candles and bath salts.

http://www.lessence.com.au

Here we go!
https://www.facebook.com/lessenceaustralia

And amazingly cheap! Candle which I bought was just $15 !
Soap was also just $5 ... as it's true that it's very hard to get those at same price and same quality.

So,

I'm happy to find its shop there !!! hehe


At my place
Lovely well-being,


Akko xx

25 March, 2013

Easy weekend!!! Recipe from Neil Perry

I love cooking for family, guests and my improvement, hehe;)))

I believe a healthy, happy life can exist through good food!!!

I'd love to introduce a recipe book.

I love the cover design, too^^

This is my favorite recipe book by Neil Perry who is an Australian executive chef of " Rockpool " restaurant in Sydney.

He has published more than 6 books ever.

Among them, I love the title " Easy Weekend "!!!

Because it has a wonderful theme, a fresh dimension what I've neened !!!

Interesting ^^


Family easy dinner on Friday,

Happy Fri^^
For examples,

" Seared Hiramasa kingfish salad " "Jewfish, mussel and saffron stew " "Rigatoni with artichokes, anchovies and smoked bacon "

Sounds yummmmmm!!! doesn't it?

And then,

Saturday!!!
Welcome^^

Party party on Saturday,

" Buffalo mozzarella lasagne " " Roast blue-eye trevalla with fennel and olives " " Chocolate and cognac cake "

Cheers !!!^^

And Aussie brekky n relaxed on Sunday!

" Relaxed ^^



" Pancake stack " "Zucchini frittata "" Roast chook with kumara and ginger puree "

Beautifulllllllll





Every dish makes me happy whenever I flip through those pages.




Lovely delight,


A xx

08 March, 2013

Desirable suburb !!! Paddington in Queensland

Five months... have passed!!

Since I moved to Brisbane;-)from Sydney...

Brisbane is smaller than Sydney, but there are a lot of places "DESIRABLE"

So,

I'd love to put the nice suburb " Paddington " in my basket ^^


Quiant street w blue sky
The quote from Wikipedia is as follows,

Paddington is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 2 km west of the Brisbane CBD. As is common with other suburbs in the area, Paddington is located on a number of steep ridges and hills. It was originally settled in the 1860s. Many original and distinctive Queenslander homes can be found in the suburb. Houses are frequently built on stumps, owing to the steep nature of their blocks. In recent years, Paddington has become a very desirable residential location.


And also it's famous for antiques things, nice cafes and small shops.

The entrance of Antique Centre
Treasure hunt !!!!

I enjoyed having lunch, shopping a cloth at a tiny shop and having a couple of coffee and cake, having a look at beautiful kitchen wares shop.

Lovely homeware shop "
" du Monde "
Love it !!! Especially I could smell beautiful basil & verbena from the " Positano "candle.

http://dumonde10.blogspot.com.au/search?updated-min=2013-01-01T00:00:00%2B10:00&updated-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00%2B10:00&max-results=5


And FW coffe at " Ruby "cafe

Actually that cafe was in the Brisbane Food Culture free paper " GRAM ".

http://brisbane.gram.net.au/page/ruby-cafe/

Nice colour choice

Using Vittolia beans
From inside

Next one is also a nice cafe in the main street " Given Terrace ".

" Anouk Cafe "

http://www.anoukcafe.com/

Lovely design !!!
The cafe had many Asian infusion dishes, so I orderd Vietnamese dish as a lunch.

I could eat all as the park was too sweet....shame><

Looks yummm! but...
From the street
Anyway,

I enjoyed them!!!

This one is from " Le Bon Choix " which I mentioned before as the Valentine's Day.

http://akko-mybrilliantbasket.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/happy-valentines-day-le-bon-choix.html

They do have it in Paddington, too


Lovely stroll,


A xx






26 February, 2013

Awarded in 2008!!! Alen's Espresso in CBD, Brisbane

I love to try a cup of coffee at an unknown cafe.

Whenever someone recommends me about a good cafe or a great coffee,

My curiosity can't wait !!! hehe

I'd love to go there^^

Actually,

last Saturday,

I heard from my new friend about a cafe which have got an award of the best cafe in 2008.

" Alen's Espresso "

in the city ( 420 George St, Brisbane )

http://www.alensespresso.com.au/

Of course, I was tempted to drink its coffee.

So, I went there  yesterday^^

It's not just another coffee !!!

Take away wagon !
How about inside of cafe?

It had upstairs and there was a calm counter toward an artistic wall.

A lot of customers waiting

So I sat on the counter, hehe^^


NIce and relaxed !!!

As you knew, I ordered Flat white ^^

Good latte art, rich n creamy at first, but only one thing ... a bitter flavour was a little bit strong...

Here we go !!!
It wasn't my perfect type....

But if you like a bitter finish, you can meet a great yummy coffee^^

Anyway,

I really appreciate for my friends' referral as I enjoyed my own time w coffee !!!



Lovely information,


A xx

22 February, 2013

Weekend wine!!! Curry with Brokenwood

A taste of wine makes difference by a dish.

I love drinking wine with a beautiful cuisine^^

Especially I enjoy having fresh " Sashimi " with white wine " Sauvignon Blanc "  which has a dry, fresh and greenly fruity flavour.

Also,

 I do enjoy a combination with grilled "Lamb chops " or " Scotch Fillet Beef " with " Shiraz " which has a dark- skinned colour, deeper, rich aroma and fine tannins.

Yuuuummm!
And,
Perfect combination with a spicy curry !!!
 
As I wrote a title " Weekend wine !!! ", I had a home party last Sat.

Kindly my boys' school friend invited us as a curry dinner,hehe^^

All dishes were beautiful and tasty.

Especially,

I was impressed that her husband was a great cook!

Thank you so much !!!


We brought the 2009 Brokenwood Shiraz Hunter Valley.
 
http://www.brokenwood.com.au/

Chicken Green curry with Brokenwood

It amazingly worked !!!

I enjoyed it and I was pleased for friends to love it^^

White wine w good old music

Lovely Hunter Valley,


This photo is my yesterday's lunch though,,hehe^^



A xx

19 February, 2013

Lovely !!! Recent Flat Whites

Finally,

I got stocks of favorites cafes around my place.

Of course, sometimes I miss my favorite cafe " The Espresso Room "which I used to go often in Mosman though...

Well,

Let's get started!!!

The first Flat White ( FW ) is at " Bean on Dean Espresso " which I introduced before.

http://akko-mybrilliantbasket.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/campos-time-bean-on-dean-espresso.html

You can enjoy filling with a rich aroma flavour of Campos there!

Campos Bean
Second FW is from the new cafe " El Divo Espresso ".

It's located in Swann Rd in Taringa.

It suits a Saturday coffee ^^

Because it's very near Saturday Japanese Language School where my son goes.

Watching cars and people from the deck^^
http://www.facebook.com/eldivocafe


Relaxed weekend !
Next one is from " Crema Espresso ", where you can get a nice and creamy FW in a shopping mall^^

" Carindale Shopping Centre "

It's a franchising cafe.

The taste was soft and creamy, not too bad^^ !!!

Corporate colour " Red and Black "
http://cremaespresso.com.au/blend/

Like that !

And then,

Lovely FW at a restaurant in the St Lucia Golf Links.

I posted this photo with my golf diary before^^

Happy FW ♪♪♪ surrounded by lovely designed tables and chairs. 

And viewing golf^^

BTW,



Don't forget a sweet FW which I make at home ^^


Brewed by # Black Sheep Beans "

hehe^^

Actually I'm having that FW now while I'm writing this blog, too^^



And,

This cafe is nice local business " Whistle Stop Cafe " in Indooroopilly. 

In fact, you can see a friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere,,,but I'm not confident about the taste of coffee....

I've been there 3 times so far as only once I got a yummy FW....

http://www.beanhunter.com/cafes/review/Whistle-Stop-Cafe

Outside
Inside  

Lastly,


" Bellissimo "in Fortitude Valley which suburb is famous for very competitive places of cafes.

Near the counter

You can have an award winning coffee there^^

To be honest, that taste is not my type...means it's not enough rich and strong, a bit sour finish and weak.....shame.....

Nice atmosphere, isn't it?
Cute art^^
http://www.bellissimocoffee.com.au/


Anyway,

I'd love to explore good cafes more and more----!!!



Lovely adventure,


A xx




18 February, 2013

Vietnamese town !!! Yummy Pho in Inala

I had an interesting day this week.

Vietnamese town !!!
In a beautiful day !!!

Yeap, it's located in Inala where is just 20 mins drive to get there, of course still in Brisbane.

But,,,,,

It's likev being in a foreign coutry.

Grocery store
I've been to Hanoi, Vietnam 15 years ago for vacation.

So I reminded those days a lillte bit, hehe^^

Crowded!
Green green !


 Fresh veggitables! And Cheap!

There were few kinds of unknown veggies....haha


People playing Vietnamese chess w smile^^


Actually I spoken to them in English, but nobody couldn't reply anything !!!

Hahaha^^;;;;;

Surprised !
Also have a music store

Fish store
Plenty of fish
Instant noodle!!!

BTW,

Just $3.5

This is my morning tea " Mango Ice Tea w Pearl "

Yes, Plearl Tapioca !

It was nice...but to be honest....I tried it in 15 years....last time I had it in Hong Kong....

( I'm not good at having a tapioca, Shhhhhhh^^; )

Anyway,

It was a good experience ^^

And " Pho lunch ! "

I ordered a special Pho( it meant there were all ingredients )


Just $ 9 Cheap !!!
Spring roll, $ 7


Cheers to Vietnamese dishes !!!

I was full full and I couldn't eat dinner on that day, haha


http://www.urbanspoon.com/u/map/1478170


 Lovely different world,


A xx