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

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

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

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

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Le Bon Choix

As you know, today is the Valentine's Day.

And as you might know, generally MEN give WOMEN bouquet of flowers or a special gift or  sweets with lovely card.

Generally!

Of course in Australia it follows the typical way.

But

In Japan and I think in Korea they have an opposite way.

Women prepare some chocolates and presents for men.

Interesting, isn't it?

Well,

How about my Valentine's Day?

Yes, I'm Japanese. But I live in Brisbane, Australia.

Which way should I follow?

^^


SHAZZZZZZZZZAM !!!!

Cute little cakes ^^

I got lovely desserts from my husband as a special Valentine's treat yesterday!

YESTERDAY???

Yeap, I got them one day before !!!

An early gift is OK because it surprises me more ^^

Hahaha^^;

From " Le Bon Choix " 

He got them in the CBD, Brisbane.

I was so happy to get them.

Although I've had almost half of them, hehe

With kids.

Those taste was beautiful, not too sweet, soft, not heavy...

Tasty!

Especially I loved a chocolate eclair, which had a perfect combination in my mouth.

They taste like Japanese ones.

Highly recommend it!!!


http://www.lebonchoixbakery.com.au/


Happy Lovely Romantic Valentine,



A xx 

Resuming golf !!! St Lucia Golf Links and Oxley Golf Complex

When someone asks me about hobbies, I'll reply " Running, Cooking, Coffee and Golf ".

It's time to enjoy playing my previous hobby " Golf ".

While my boys go to school....hehe^^

What I'm gonna do at first,

Practice !!!

So,

I'd love to recommend you a good one in Oxley, Brisbane.

" Oxley Driving Range "

 http://www.oxleygolfcomplex.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=29&Itemid=34

It's called " Oxley Golf Complex " because there are the golf course, driving range, mini-golf ( Pitch 'n' Putt) and cafe.

Just a part of ..

Reception n cafe

Glorious ! isn't it?

Beautiful view !!!

I've been there several times with my family and with my friend as it has comprehensive facilities

Wonderful time(o^^o)

So,

I'm excited with playing 9 holes next week^^

Wish I could get a good score,hehe!

And,

The other one,

" St Lucia Golf Links "

http://www.hillstonestlucia.com.au/


It's GORGEOUS !!! FANTASTIC one!

You can see more beautiful view.

Actually I've never played golf there, but I love having a coffee at restaurant.

Having Flat White w my hubby...^^

BTW,

Last Sunday,

My boys had a golf lesson for the first time.

Yes, they also have a clinic !!!

Just $ 18 / person 1 hour.

Great !!!

Introduction

Putt practice

Shot practive at actual course !

Too early start?

Noooooo~!

The sooner, the better !

Especially sports using a ball, in my view though....haha ^^;

Anyway,

They had a good time.


I'm just hoping to play golf together one day!!!

Even if they would get a girlfriend,hehe ^^




Lovely golf,


A xx

Campos time!!! Bean on Dean Espresso

I got a big change in my life!

Kids have started new school life last week!!!

Means they go to school every day.

like that...^^

How is my feeling as mum?

Happy? Relieved? or Sad?

Well,,,,

I'm pleased to welcome their growth but half sad ...bcs my little one has gone to big school, too. I miss the time being with him last year.....Study with me, Chat with me and coffee at cafe...etc.....

Well, well well,,,

But at same time,

I'm happy to get my own time as a woman.

It's true, toooooo

Almost everyday,

I'm thinking of what I'm gonna do for my future, hehe^^

With excitement,

Of course,

Drinking a tasty coffee at a comfy atmosphere.

Beautiful, isn't it?

" Bean on Dean Espresso "

It's located in Toowong where it takes just 5 mins drive from my place and 7 mins from my boys' school.

They make a great coffee using a famous Campos beans.


Very accurate taste, hehe

And also I like a quaint total design of cafe and the cute little sack seats outside.

Nice and relaxed !!!

The staff are very friendly, that's a most important thing!!!

http://www.camposcoffee.com/queensland/espresso-bars/bean-on-dean-espresso.aspx

Lovely flat white,



A xx