Musings and Rumblings

The customer queues on weekends were consistently long on previous occasions when I came across this dessert joint. The operators offered an array of Taiwanese-styled concoctions in Sydney's Chinatown, obviously standing out amongst the variety of food, snacks and dining experiences. I wondered what made people wait patiently for the stuff offered inside. I do enjoy a cuppa of hot smoked tea, but not so much the tapioca filled pearls in bubble tea choices that this place seemed to thrive on.

The cafe had a series of short steps before you arrived at its sales counter and limited sitting area. On a rainy day, I chanced upon these same steps without anyone waiting on them. I walked in and with a relish, ordered a red bean based dessert with piping hot tea. I had expectations. My opinion, on actually being able to taste two representative products from this place, fell short of those built up perceptions - but they were still okay and did keep me warm, whilst watching the version of the London Eye through the cafe's rain-blury windows. I reflected, building up hype in a business may be useful in the short term, but as in any thing in life, it is necessary to follow up strongly in reality and consistent delivery.

An elderly lady, though with a walking stick, was steadily making her way to the entrance of the Bankstown Sports Club, located in Sydney's south-west. She offered me a smile when I opened the manual entrance doors to let her come in first. I noted her enthusiasm as she approached the club with an obvious intent - there was no doubt she was going to spend an enjoyable afternoon there. The thought crossed me, how we spend our precious time is up to us, with family, mates or by ourselves, for we can never get it back.

At a Chatime outlet in a busy suburb just outside Sydney's CBD, I ordered red beans with cold bubble tea, an apparent new choice from this chain. The female staff member at the counter asked me if I wanted sugar and ice with my drink, and I said no to both. It was interesting, when she asked further, if I had taken bubble tea without sugar before. It struck me for a moment that perhaps the Chatime products all had to be taken with additional sugar.
I concluded that perhaps more importantly, this reflected quality staff training in customer engagement. Surprise a client and show that you care as well.

I was struck how relatively quiet the main strip of Caringbah was on this Friday night. I already had felt the vibes of an emerging retail slowdown in Australia for several months now.
Caringbah lies at the heart of Sutherland Shire, to Sydney's south. A group of mates and I had pizza and pasta at Antonio's, which was not as packed with diners as I had hoped. We adjourned to the home of the Cronulla NRL team, the Sharkies. It was even more quiet inside.
The coffee and alcohol drinks were good, the young staff were busy removing furniture and the Dragons had lost to the West Tigers. The world's share markets had taken a significant dive that day. Life goes on, but life, fortune and sports can be in a cycle - and we must be prepared to ride the waves over not so positive times and make opportunity from it all.

I was enjoying my summery dish of black mussels with bread on a rather amazing blue-sky day in the middle of the so-called Wollongong winter. My Sydney guest could not believe what a lifestyle the lunch place was located in. We could hear the roar of the waves, see the deep blue of the ocean and sense the buzz of laid back enjoyment. Not as much money could be made here, and people who made money elsewhere spent them here. Choices are important - make them and we are offered different pathways of experience, preserverance and reward.

Teatime from BreadTop

BreadTop bakery outlets may not be viewed in the same company as some other patisseries, but they do offer a practical range of offerings at practical prices. Personally, I see them as snacks on the run and which can add to a picnic basket when otherwise one would have to bake them yourself. The business has been in Australia for ten years, opening first in Box Hill in the Melbourne area -the first Sydney store was at World Square in the cbd. Its South-east Asian roots are unmistakable in the way they fashion their buns, gateau cakes,ice creams and pies. BreadTop also offers a rather controversially named range of cakes termed bra, poo, ball and more. I prefer their savoury buns and pastries.

This year, the Mooncake Festival falls on Monday 12 September. It celebrates the mid-Autumn Festival in China,but provides an occasion for families and friends to gather for drinking tea and cakes. Moon cakes normally have a savoury and/or sweet pastry filling, and above, my favourite versions of durian fruit flavours. Below, the custard egg tarts which you normally find in yum cha lunches at Chinese restaurants around the world.

Pattison's Patisserie, Sydney

There is always the comforting Sunday afternoon, with French and other Euro styled patisserie
delights and sugar fix. Pattison's bakery has outlets all over the northern suburbs of Sydney, from Hornsby to Cammeray, and was established by Peter and Michelle in 1995. They offer tarts, breads, pies, biscuits, coffee and tea cakes.

Cheesecake (clockwise from top left) is followed by apple crumble, pistachio and cream plus finally, a raspberry flavoured friand.

Asian Food On the Run

A festive occasion, when glutinous rice, meat and /or savoury mushrooms are packed into tightly bound bamboo leaves and then steamed. The result (foreground above) - made only once a year - can be filling to the palate, but also eaten in rememberance and honour acknowledged to a
poet and statesman in feudal China. The latter was banished back to his provincial roots from the national capital when he protested against corruption. In desperation and protest, he threw himself into the raging waters of the river. His supporters jumped into a boat to try to rescue him, but this was in vain.Next they had to distract the fish from feeding on his body by then throwing in cooked rice. Hence, the traditions of the Dragon Boat races and the related steamed dumplings were born.

Simple but tasty - hawker fare on Penang Island (above image), with sauce stir fry egg noodles (left of picture), accompanied by a sambal-based condiment and a bowl of soup with tofu blocks and fish balls. Image credit to Roy Lim.

A light but attractive salad of lettuce and bean sprouts can be found in many Vietnamese inspired cafes and restaurants around the world (above). A traditional soup (below) accompanied by prawns found at Bau Troung in Canley Heights, in Sydney's south-west.

Cantonese-inspired steamedoysters on the shell, garnished by julieanne slicesof ginger and shallot. (below)

Dinner at St Ives, Sydney

A gathering, a birthday and a feast. It was the middle of winter in the Sydney region. The food served was eclectic, inspired by traditions from southern China to Penang to Australia. There was relaxed conversation, it was winding down after a working day. Singapore styled pepper chili crab was appetising, whilst the closer of flourless chocolate cake was topped up by brewed Campos coffee. In between, one went through laughter, thoughtful chatter, change of plates, munching of rather sweet mandarins from an Eastwood outlet, delightful smoked tea and the serving of traditional Straits Chinese braised birthday noodles (lam mee).

The mussels moray stood out as an appetiser (above image) followed by the carving of the Beijing roast duck (below), served on paper thin pancake slices, garnished with hoi sin sauce, shallot strips and cucumber bites.

Captivating red syrup flavoured jelly (below) provided a contrast to the heavier items on the menu. Uncle Jimmy also brought his home made kuay chap, a Chiuchow concoction not easily found in Australia but a hit with many southern Chinese immigrants around the world, especially in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. It essentially is a dark coloured broth that blends flavour with bite, as it contains cooked innards of pig or cattle, but treated as comfort food from the past.