Tokyo Banana

A best friend just came back from Japan and got this signature gift of Japan, a box of Tokyo Banana

Tokyo Banana is a kind of sponge cake stuffed with banana flavoured custard, sweet and soft texture. This sweet reminds me of Banana in pyjamas from  Bread Top in Sydney, which has a fresh banana filling instead of banana custard. 

Thanks to my best friend I finally taste this famous 'omiyage' from Tokyo.. 

MAQUI'S Kobe

MAQUI'S Kobe, a Japanese sweet store originated from Kobe, Japan. From chocolate to pudding, cake to mini pie, all their sweets look so tempting. I walked past  one of their stores in Jakarta a while ago but did n't get a chance to buy anything from their shop but lucky me last week got one box of five mine pies brought by a family. The soft texture and melt-on-your-tongue filling will make you go back to their shop and try the rest of the flavours. I got the almond, chocolate and cream cheese which is my favorite one and definitely will go the their shops on my next trip to Jakarta. 

You can find their stall shop at Grand Indoesia,  Plaza Senayan oir Senayan City. 

Matsuri Adelaide

It was the first time visiting this beautiful 'city of churches', not much time though since it's only a one-night-weekend getaway. Taking picture and enjoying Japanese food are two hobbies that can't be separated when I travel, I'd try to find at least one local famous and one best Japanese food in town. 

Matsuri Japanese restaurant is one of the top recommended ones in Adelaide, an authentic Japanese restaurant with excellent service and great food, I am happy did choose the right one!

(Salmon steak served with wasabi mayo) 

(Tuna sushi)

(Matsuri on level 2/167 Gouger street Adelaide)

Here are some shots around the city of Adelaide, a city of churches.

(Macadamia Chocolate from Haigh's Chocolate)

(The Pancake House on Gilbert Place, Adelaide) 

(Russian Blints from The Pancake House, Philadelphia cream cheese and raisins rolled in French crepe served with blueberries and vanilla ice cream)

Deep fried Mars bar

Love chocolate..?

Well.. I do, and if you also are a fan of this addictive sweets, then you may want to try this unique deep fried Mars bar.

(Deep fried Mars bar from Sydney's Bondi Surf Seafood)

The bar is dipped into coconut butter, pre-cooked in a low-temperature oil then deep fried, served with sprinkled powdered sugar and priced at $2 each.

It is said to have been invented in the Haven Chip Bar in Stonehaven, near Aberdeen on Scotland's northeast coast, in 1995. The chocolate bar is typically chilled before battering to prevent it from melting into the frying fat.

In Sydney, you can find this at Bondi Surf Seafood on Bondi Beach's beach-front road.

Edelweiss Chocolate

It's not a Japan or Japanese food-related post, just about an irresistible liquor-filling chocolate I found recently. I was browsing around Melbourne airport to kill the time before boarding my flight back to Sydney and came across this 'World of Chocolate' shop around international departure terminal. I love chocolate! So can't help buying one for myself, the Edelweiss liquor filling chocolate is the most interesting one for me. It's a smooth milky chocolate with crunchy filling and smooth liquor, an Edelweiss liquor. This product of Swiss costs $17 for a small pack of 12 pieces.

Edelweiss liquor chocolate

If you are not familiar with Edelweiss, you can find it in Wikipedia

Otaru Sweets

It's been one month since I left Japan and seemed like I left half of my heart over there too..

Here is another foodie post from my trip around Japan, especially from Otaru, Hokkaido.

Otaru, an old city worth visiting for its beauty and yummy food. Should you walk on the main streets of Otaru, you'd find cafes and shops along the streets with historic yet charming architectures, some look very traditional and some look very unique and creative. Sushi and seafood might be the most popular food for tourist, besides, there are some worth trying sweets in town, chocolate, cheesecake, sweet potato cake, cream puff and the list still goes on..

Chocolat de Otaru

Sweet Potato cakes in Otaru

Otaru Cream Puff

Apple Pie

Choco Cheesecake from LeTao cafe

LeTao Cheesecake

Christmas' sweets

Kitakaro cakes, fresh from the oven!

Kitakaro cake shop in Otaru

Kitakaro cake

85° C

What's so special with 85 degrees Celcius? 85° C is the ideal temperature to drink coffee. Under this temperature you can taste the enchanting flavour and aroma to its fullest. That's the idea from this cafe called 85° C which claims to provide the best coffee, cake and bakery in town. Orginated in Taiwan and now has several stores in Sydney including one on George street across the World Square complex that I pass by quite often.

Love cake? I do! If I had to choose my 3 favorite flavours, I'd say Cheese cake, Tiramisu and Black forest. That's why I usually couldn't stand myself when come across mouth-watering cakes on display. This time I picked Strawberry Tiramisu, US Cheese cake and Hokaido cheese. Being positioned as premium cakes, they are priced around $4-$5 for a small slice while you can get for a bit lower price somewhere else.

This cafe also sells coffee, bakery and mochi as well, if you do love cake, this cafe is worth a shot.

Hokaido cheese

Strawberry tiramisu

US Cheese cake