Mondays can be a drag at the best of times, but just one week out from Christmas, it can take super human strength to stay on track and stay motivated. So I’ve created something especially seasonal to give you a bit of a boost in your breeches.

SKM’s Christmas Coffee Heart Starter!

You will need:

A French Press / aka Coffee Plunger

A jug of boiled water

Fresh ground coffee

Ground Cinnamon

Spiced Rum

A Candy Cane

Whipped cream if you’re so inclined

Sweetened condensed milk

To Make:

* Boil your water and let it sit for one minute.Add the required amount of coffee grinds to the french press for as many cups as you intend to make.  For 3 measures of coffee, add a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Add these dry to the French press.

* Fill the French press with the (just off) boiling water, stir the coffee grinds and cinnamon into the water and allow to brew for 5 minutes.

* Measure 30ml of spiced rum per mug and add to mug.

* Plunge and pour coffee into the mug.

* Instead of milk we use sweetened condensed milk to whiten and flavour; add now to desired colour.

* Stir with Candy Cane and allow hook of the candy cane to adorn the edge of the mug.

* If your calorie content is not yet met (hey you might be trying to rival Santa), top with whipped cream and a very light sprinkle of extra cinnamon.

* Delight!

Enjoy your Monday!

December is proving to be far more busy and fun than I thought it would be this year. It’s always a busy time, what with the shopping, the school plays, the extra juggle of children on holidays and what not. But this December, although it has only just started, is shaping up to be the most fun and fancy time I’ve had in a while.

This month I’m helping Matchbox and Kitchen Aid with a really cool new contest they are running, in which you can win allkinds of cool prize including your favourite retro coloured Kitchen Aids! All you have to do is dress up in your retro best and take a photo with a Kitchen Aid to enter. I’m having real trouble picking my favourite with the glossy cherry red and hot pink vying for the lead.

Knowing that not everyone is as vintage obsessed with me, they’ve enlisted my help to teach the secrets to getting a vintage look and help you with your entries.  I spent last Sunday down at Chadstone to launch the contest, and will be appearing again in store at Westfield Doncaster between 11-2pm to do another demonstration and answer your questions.  If you have a free afternoon or would like to come down and play Kitchen Aid pretty up with me, make sure to head on down early as it gets very busy! You can find out more about the Kitchen Aid contest details here. (If you happen to be in Queensland, Mistress Chrissy of The Lindy Charm School for Girls will be at Westfield Chermside from 11-2pm this Sunday for you too!)

Listening closely!

The lovely Charlotte from Matchbox in KitchenAid pink!

With everyone’s thoughts suddenly turning to what to buy for Christmas, Some Fancy Ladies™ have been flat out doing store appearances for our 2012 pinup art calendar.  It’s proving to be a hit with young and old, both men and women.  Some of the delightful old dears we’ve run into have told us all kinds of stories from their youth, their wardrobes and even some secret saucy moments. I’m always honoured when we get to meet people and write personal messages on their calendars for them. We’ve had messages of birthday love, Sweet 16′s, Christmas stocking surprises and even something to give grandpa an extra “get well”! Friday night Bonnie Rose and I were in at Flowers of Canterbury on Mailing Road in amongst some of the most gorgeous flowers to meet and greet. Aren’t they just stunning?!

I can be a bit of a ham..

Our swanky calendars and cards

I just adore the colours in here!

If you haven’t ordered your copy of the calendar yet and want to see it in the flesh, you’ll find it locally now in store at Flowers of Canterbury, and Anton’s Clothing in Melbourne Central! Now, time for a bit of a sit down I think!

It just wouldn’t be the proper introduction to a weekend without a Friday night cocktail hour here. Even if you’re someone (like me) who works on the weekend, there is something very important about mixing it up and giving your days some punctuation.

The whole idea of coming home and mindlessly cracking open whatever happens to be lurking in the fridge is totally unacceptable to my mind; I mean, where is the glamour in that! No, instead I like to take a moment to weigh up my mood with what delights happen to be in my bar that evening and set about creating a cocktail menu for the evening.

Now you could get quite organized about the whole process, plan out your menu and go on a spending spree to stock up the cabinet; but most of us have a standard selection of our favorite liquors and those that have been hiding out for a while.  Once I have all of these lining the bench top I like to do a bit of a Cocktail Creation moment.

Like being the kind of chef that stands in the kitchen and begins with one key ingredient, adding each new one as you imagine the flavor combinations; that’s how I create my cocktails. And while I’m not much chop when it comes to creating the next big thing for the plate, I may possibly be a cocktail savant.

 With the warmer days here, my afternoons are always tinged with that wish to be somewhere tropical, and with that thought in mind this is the cocktail I created especially to cater for your holiday state of mind. (Yes, this is a Candice DeVille original cocktail, created at 3am as most great inventions are)

I’ve named this drink for my favorite designer of classic 1950’s Hawaiian poolside chic.

“The Shaheen Dream”

Blender 1/3 filed with ice (approx. 3 cups of ice cubes)

250 ml of Pearl Royal Coconut water (without a doubt the best and most pure tasting coconut water in my opinion).

Half a fresh mango

4 jiggers of Peach Schnapps

4 jiggers Cointreau

½ cup Caster sugar

Half a lemon slice

Lychees and maraschino cherries for garnish

1.         Using your lemon slice, rub around the rim of the glass until it is coated in juice, the place rim down into the caster sugar to give it a nice even coating.

2.         Place ice, coconut water, mango, peach schnapps and Cointreau in the blender. Blend on high until all ingredients are just combined and the ice has become slushy. Don’t over blend.

3.         Pour into each sugar rimmed glass, garnish the rim with a split lychee and maraschino cherry on toothpick.

4.         Drink with friends while wearing your best Hawaiian print sarong dress.

* A jigger measure is 1 ½ ounces*

While you’re in this laid back and tropical mood, it always pays to have another delight on offer to surprise you senses and keep your guests smiling at your exceptional hostess skills.

The perfect compliment to my “Shaheen Dream” is this sizzling, sun-drenched taste.

“Hot as Haiti”

Two seeded 1-inch lime wedges

Two seeded 1-tangerine or orange wedges

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 cups of crushed ice

1 ounce of killer dark rum – I personally prefer Sailor Jerry Rum

3-4 ounces of Schweppes ginger ale

1. Place the lime, tangerine and sugar in the bottom of a heavy bottomed 8 ounce glass.
2. Muddle the mixture until the juice is extracted and the sugar dissolved.
3. Add enough ice to fill the glass, add the rum and top up with the Schweppes ginger ale.

Fancy that drink now? I’ll bet you do!  To help you find your muse, Schweppes has created the ‘Cocktail Revolution’. Because enjoying a drink is a sensory experience. It is a moment that should entice your eyes, set your taste buds alive and put a smile on your face.

I know not everyone has my gift for finding a fabulous flavor (you’re probably that amazing  chef I envy so much), Schweppes has created a virtual cocktail mixing experience where you can come and mix it up. Located at Southern Cross Station from now until November 4^th, from 7am-7pm each day, you can come and create your own cocktail sensation.

In a virtual reality experience, you get to pick a Schweppes product and a selection of fruit, that the very clever virtual bartender will then mix up your own personalized recipe for you to take away and impress your friends with. But that’s not all..

While you’re getting your mix on, the Schweppes virtual cocktail bar will take your photo that can be uploaded to Facebook and tagged, giving you the chance to win all kinds of great Schweppes cocktail prizes – including the major prize of hosting your own Schweppes mixing party!!

So come on down to Southern Cross Station and join the Cocktail Revolution, where you can take home a goodie bag of your own Schweppes mixers and recipes.  I’ll be there on Thursday 20^th October in my vintage cocktail finery to mix it up with you. Who knows – you might even inspire my next cocktail creation!

I knew I wasn’t going to find these specialties at your local Malaysian restaurant, so instead I took myself on a lunch date to Old Town Kopitiam in the QV centre in Melbourne’s CBD. Straight from the get go I knew I’d found the place to indulge in my rose milk drink passion. Right behind the bar was a wall wide display of cans containing all the key ingredients for a good Malaysian cafe drink. Milo, Horlicks, evaporated milk.. and loads of grass jelly.

My rule for ordering drinks in any Asian eating establishment is to try the version with as many things in the description that I’ve never heard of and can’t pronounce. It’s like playing roulette with your palette. It doesn’t always work out but when it does… oh boy! And that’s how I met the Rose Milk drink with Grass Jelly and the simple and yummy, Kaya Toast.  These are two perfect snack partners, and with Old Town being located right above all the QV shopping boutiques, it is the perfect mid afternoon solution for me.

Given that I can’t live on bread alone, I also ordered a couple of main dishes for lunch to perk me up. A chicken with “red sauce” and fried chicken with jasmine rice and a papadum on the side. Notice the Indian influence? I sure did when I tasted the red sauce! The serving size was quite generous for the $9.00 price tag, but like all food that is served within one minute of you ordering it, isn’t really the freshest. The chicken with red sauce was quite delicious, a nice mango and chilli tang on whole pieces of chicken on the bone. I’ll admit I’m not sure I really got the full experience of that dish as eating chicken off the bone with chopsticks is a little beyond my skill level and eating with my hands is a total no with my nails!

The fried chicken, I’m sorry to say, was a sad disappointment. I hadn’t realised at the time of ordering that these dishes were pre-cooked, and hence quite dried out and unappetising. Compared to the Ayam Kapitam fried chicken I’d had during a previous dining experience, this just didn’t make the grade and I left most of it untouched.

Even though my main meal was somewhat disappointing, those two treats that had drawn me to Old Town, the Kaya Toast and Rose Milk drink, were exactly what I needed.  Combined with the decor, certainly the best I’ve encountered on my Malaysian Kitchen experience, I could see myself heading back to try out the rest of the drinks menu.  I’d like to try their cook to order menu and compare that to the quality of the ready serve, but I’m only going to do that if I happen to be at QV on foot. Why? Because the parking at QV is $20 for an hour! So if you’re looking for a yummy way to round off an afternoon’s shopping, I’d suggest grabbing a bite of Kaya toast and playing drinks roulette at Old Town Kopitiam.

Restaurant – Old Town Kopitiam Mamak, Level 2, Shop 11, QV Square

Ambience – Great, modern decoration with authentic touches including the wall display of milo and horlicks tins! Clientele of shoppers and students on breaks.

Average price for mains – $11.00

Value for money – Okay. Given that the quality of the ready serve was on the not so flash side of things, that may balance out with the cook to order. For entree, drink and main serving for one it came to $17.00. More than I’d like to pay for a simple work day lunch, but that does include a $4.00 serving of Kaya Toast.

Pros – Fantastic drinks menu and great classic snack and breakfast foods like half boiled eggs and toast.  Really nicely decorated, spacious and good service.

Cons- Remember some of the menu selections are ready cooked, so if you are eating later in the day between main meal times as I did, it may not be the best.  Parking at QV is $20 per hour, so this is one place best visited on foot.

(Thanks to Miss 7 for her photo skills in this portrait.)

The one overriding thing about this particular restaurant was the level of service – exceptional!  The staff were so friendly and attentive, paying attention to everything and anticipating your needs. It is a slightly odd, but good combination of one step above a cafe vibe, but not full on restaurant; yet the wait staff’s level of service would have been quite suited to a good restaurant. Certainly better than I have encountered in some of the more expensive Melbourne restaurants for sure.

The choices and selections of food were ample, with a more true Malay and also Indian influence rather than the often seen Chinese. But the measure of a good Malaysian restaurant is it’s laksa.

Mmmmm… good! Really fresh ingredients, nothing watery or frozen; moderately spicy and with a perfect combination of seafood that wasn’t all filler.  The only thing I felt was missing was the ginger flower I’d been spoilt with at Laksa Me at the beginning of this taste journey.  This Laksa was rich and full bodied, but was missing that vibrant lift that the ginger flower gives.  But at the end of the day, each dish ordered was tasty, well presented and quick to arrive. Combine that with the affordable price point, $60 for four people, the great service; and I think I may have found a new local favourite!

It was the little things about Malaysian Kitchen that really impressed me. The waiter that brought new chopsticks before they’d even hit the ground, the tea was refilled before any indication was given, the staff smiled and were genuinely happy; and then to top it off.. they were playing music by Bobby Darin!

Restaurant – Malaysian Kitchen, 920 Doncaster rd, Doncaster

Ambience – Warm, friendly, relaxed; like a great street cafe you’d find on holidays in Malaysia. Excellent staff!

Average price for mains – $17

Value for money – Tops! A really great dinner for four for only $60. Fast, friendly service and even good music. It has a bar and serves good coffee. One of those great places to go with friends after a movie and hang out till all hours.

 Cocobella is the latest thing to hit the supermarkets around here, and hearing of my current obsession, they sent me their range to try as part of the Nuffnang Product Talk experience. After a hard afternoon photographing up vintage for my upcoming Garage Sale, my glamorous assistant and I decided the break them open and go about the scientific process of giving them a verdict.

I was a bit suspicious about the offering of four varieties. There is coconut straight up, then also blends with mango, pineapple and pink guava.  Given that I was already fast becoming addicted to coconut water, (it makes you feel like you’re on a tropical holiday without going anywhere), I was prepared to risk adding more choices to my selection. However, I needn’t have worried.

Blending coconut juice like this is a bad idea. There is something about the sweetness of the fruit juice and the natural salts in the coconut juice that when combined, kind of tastes like fruity sweat. Sorry for that mental image.  The saving grace for these fruit juice blends comes out of this conversation.

“So when would you mix coconut juice with fruit juices?”

“When you’re making a cocktail I rekon.”

“So how about we top this about with a good measure of Cointreau then?”

“I think you’re onto something there!”

Now that is a do-able flavour!

Interestingly, all the images of celebrities drinking Cocobella, (that did nothing to encourage me, in fact quiet the opposite as I hate being on a trend wagon) when I paid close attention, each of them were drinking the coconut ‘straight up’ version and not the juice blends. Now I know why they approved.  The Cocobella ‘straight up’ was the only one that passed muster for me.  It tastes like it actually might come out of a coconut for a start, and the more you mess around with something, the more likely you are to get it wrong.

I was expecting it to have a really recognisable flavour, something that took me right back to the beach front, but it doesn’t. It is a milder, somewhat sweet sort of taste, that if it didn’t have a picture of a coconut on it, you’d be wracking your brain trying to figure out what you were drinking.

Pros -

• Long life tetra pack with easy open top
• Attractive packaging.
• Good single serving size
• Great health benefits and low calories.
• Perfect pre-mixed juice to make single cocktails with.

Cons - 

• Taste isn’t pleasant (not awful, but not something I’d go out of my way for).
• Tetra pack opening too large to drink from a straw so must be poured into a glass or inelegantly consumed.
• Significantly more expensive than comparable coconut waters available.

So in a nutshell (ha ha!), I’m afraid to say I wont be going out of my way to buy any Cocobella.  If I’m going to spend money on coconut water, I want it to taste heavenly and this was far from it. But it could be that old problem of things that are good for you don’t always taste that way.  Since I’ve been drinking coconut water everyday my skin is even more smooth, illuminated and soft. I’ve even lost a few kilos – but that may just be that it makes me feel summery so I eat better.  My tests are far from scientific.

If you want to try coconut water for yourself, I’d suggest doing your own taste test, because of course we all enjoy different things.  There are several varieties available from Asian supermarkets, and not all waters are created equal. My suggestion with this is not to buy into all the hype. Do you research, conduct your own taste tests and make your own decisions, and for those of you coming into Autumn, turn up the heat, pop on a lei and find a coconut water you love – it’s a great mood enhancer!

*This review was conduct for Nuffnang’s Product Talk *

*Super Kawaii Mama dined as a guest of The Malaysian Kitchen program. All reviews are conducted on a fully transparent, non-paid, no obligation basis. *

When I first began this Malaysian Kitchen Ambassador program, I remember saying something about being all inspired to cook more. That hasn’t changed, but then again, neither has my punishing schedule which is why there is still no food in the house.  After a huge weekend away in Sydney for the Fifties Fair, I came home and hit the ground running without a moment to stop for breath let alone a loaf of bread. When Monday night rolled around and the girls looked at me with hungry eyes, I knew it was time to hit up a Malaysian Kitchen to save me from their appetites.

The last adventure at Penang Inn was moderately successful in terms of getting them to eat dinner. But I did recall that when we’d taken them to Singapore earlier in the year, they’d eaten so much of a certain style of fried chicken I thought they’d burst. I had no idea what it was called, but the hunt was on to find it again.

Heading out for dinner on a Monday night isn’t always advisable, as it turns out that there are a lot of places closed. My lack of preparation was entirely apparent as we drove around, list in hand awaiting an open sign. While the children nawed on the head rests, we pulled up to Rasa Malaya, a simple strip-shop front with only one other customer in sight.

During the drive around I had called ahead to book us a table, and now upon entering, saw why this was funny. This is not the kind of joint you book for, more of a friendly drop in for locals who like me, never stock the pantry.  We were quickly shown to a table and given polite, perfunctory service – no frills.  But all of about 2 minutes later, the food appeared! Considering we were nearly falling off our chairs with hunger, this was an impressive feat.

Wanting to create one of the simple Singapore dining experiences we’d recently had on our family holiday, we chose Chicken Rice, Chicken satay (honestly – these kids and their ‘chicken on a stick’!) Ayam Kapitan (that amazing kind of KFC like fried chicken), a lamb curry with naan bread, and for desert a coconut based creation called Chendol.  Of course we all laughed about eating a “Ken Doll” for dessert, ’cause that’s what you do when you’re 4.

But honestly, the food was great. Fast, fresh, delicious, inexpensive and a typical no-frills hawker style experience.  It is the kind of place I’d go back to over and over for a fast and satisfying meal that will keep me out of the dog house.

Restaurant – Rasa Malaya 272 Blackburn Road, Doncaster East

Ambience – Dark, rudimentary hawker style type of set up. Authentic and traditional Malaysian dress worn by the serving staff. If you’re bringing children and plan on enjoying a leisurely dinner, make sure you have your phone stocked with kids games. They’ll eat and finish so fast you have to keep them entertained while the adults linger.

Average Price for Mains-  $13.00

Value for Money – Very good. The value was great, as was the taste. The super fast service is the perfect solution to when you think you need fast food, but want something with far more substance and loads more flavour.

My tummy says – Thumbs up! Don’t eat alone though as this is food made to be shared.

My first born just about came out of the womb eating spicy food. Which is no surprise really given that I ADORE it. We used to think to ourselves (quite self-righteously), “What’s all this talk about children being fussy eaters? Ours is so easy!”  But you know what they say about pride coming before a fall – yep, you saw it coming didn’t you. These days Miss 7 now on occasions even complains that her tomato sauce is too spicy; and that’s just the regular supermarket variety. So last week I decided to take my Malaysian Kitchen Ambassador challenge to the frontiers where so many parents fear to tread.  The children in a restaurant scenario.

Given that it was Mr SKM’s birthday (Happy Birthday MR!), we decided to head out for dinner together so no one had to cook… or clean up.  I called up Pennang Inn to make a reservation for the evening, especially asking if the place was child friendly. I smiled at the wait staff’s hesitation as they said, “friendly for how many children?” Yep, good question!  After we got the green light, we headed in for dinner at 6pm, the perfect hour to take children out; that is to say before restaurants get filled with other patrons who might be a little cranky with their antics.

From the street front, Pennang Inn was very unasuming. The kind of unassuming that I’ve driven past possibly 100 times before and never noticed. Neon signage, fairly unadorned interior, a well spaced selection of tables with the stock standard white cloth and cafe style padded chair.  I have to admit, it all screamed “sweet & sour pork!” when I looked through the door. But knowing that I’d been asked to put it to the test, my family ventured up the stairs, BYO case in hand.

First thing we notice is the totally lack of other patrons (but hey, it is 6pm on a week night), but then (and big child win points for this) we are seated at a round table right next to the huge fish tank filled with fan tailed gold fish.  Who needs to bring an iPad to dinner when you can chase those around all night. Second win – realising that children will likely take your arm off at dinner time, each child is presented with a large basket of prawn crackers that they promptly thrust their faces into. Good; quiet menu reading time.

After deciding on a mix of dishes that were marked both spicy and non spicy, we decided to put on our critic hats and see if the “fantastic Chicken” actually was.  We chose a selection of entrees we thought would appeal to the girls; their favourite food in the world being, “chicken on a stick.” So we went with the satays and the BBQ Pork dish. The BBQ Pork was an unexpected selection as so many Malaysian restaurants don’t serve pork (Malaysia being a Muslim country), but I’m told that some restaurants include this to provide a full range of options to their clientele. The “chicken on a stick” lasted all of about two heart beats… okay, so not too spicy for their under developed palettes then.  The entrees didn’t look the most appetising things in the world, but they were defiantly tasty.

When it came to choosing main dishes we wanted to get a selection that reflected true Malaysian choices and gave us both those listed as spicy and those not. So it was Beef Rendang Curry, Fantastic Chicken, Steamed duck with vegetables, Lime and Chilli Calamari and Coconut Rice.  I’d anticipated that the curry and the calamari would be pretty spicy given the little chilli icons on the menu, but no. In fact I’d have to say that the curry was so far beyond mild that it was hard to even pick chilli as one of the ingredients. So bad if you’re a spicy food lover but a winner if you’re trying to feed fussy, hungry children.

The duck, (never my first choice as it is usually very fatty) was exceptional. Flavoursome, lean (this is probably not the gourmet way to eat it but my hips approved) and perfectly complimented with the mushroom selection.  The lime and chilli calamari was by far my favourite and when combined with the coconut rice I knew I’d hit my archillies heel for this restaurant. That coconut rice was so morish! Comforting, delicious and made you feel all warm and tropical; which in a Melbourne winter is a feeling you want to hold on to. The only thing that wasn’t fantastic was the “fantastic chicken”, but I’d suspected that given it’s name we were about to experience dining irony. It was at more of an “Okay chicken”, but I’m sure that doesn’t do much for you in marketing terms.

Restaurant – Penang Inn 1031a Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill

Ambience – Rather stark, suburban cafe restaurant feel. Nothing fancy, just serviceable, clean and friendly.

Average Price for Mains-  $13.00

Value for Money – Very good. With main dishes starting from 10.80 it was an inexpensive dinner out for 4 adults and two children coming it at $104 with three entrees, four large mains, rice and corkage.  It also has to be noted the entertainment factor the staff provided the children, being very chatty and patient with them as they wanted to talk to them the whole night!

My tummy says – Good for a fast and delicious feed. Not for impressing people with a fancy factor, but for a satisfying meal in a very relaxed atmosphere and fast, friendly service.

P.S: Obviously Malaysian food isn’t too spicy for Malaysian children ’cause that would just be silly; but for these soft, fussy Australian girls? It was still a winner.

You know all those gorgeous advertising images of the perfect 50′s housewife? She’s all smiles standing in the kitchen presenting a perfectly trussed roast to her smiling family, all whilst standing in her gleaming kitchen of perfect pastel hues.  You probably think that’s me right? Honestly; it couldn’t be farther from the truth. I really wish sometimes that I was that woman (although I’d much prefer the cook she has hidden in the background), but I know that my passion for cooking has reached a diabolical low this year.

When I was in high school, I loved eating so much that my girlfriend and I would skip classes. Not to sneak out and smoke behind the bike shed like all the rest of the’ naughty’ kids, but to drive down the road to our favourite Thai restaurant and gorge ourselves on Pad Thai and Green Curry Chicken. In fact, I was so enamoured by Asian food that I learnt to cook my Thai food from scratch. No pre-made pastes, but everything ground by hand, spices lovingly simmered to release their flavour. These days the only thing I seem to be simmering is that old standard spaghetti bolognese; and for someone who adores great food this is a sad indictment indeed.

The upshot of this lacklustre attitude has been that we are eating nasty take out more than ever before and I’m struggling to keep my waistline under control. But there is a light at the end of my uninspired tunnel.

Malaysian Kitchen Australia! I can’t even begin to describe how excited I am about this (but I’ll give it a red hot go). In a nutshell, I’ve been given the enviable opportunity to take myself and the Mr out on date nights to all kinds of Malaysian restaurants around Australia and experience the taste sensations! (Gaaah!!) This is perfect for my asian cuisine loving palate because Malaysian cuisine draws strong element from Chinese, Thai and Indian cooking – all in one.

Last Monday we set sail on our culinary adventure with a trip to Laska Me in Liverpool street, Melbourne; (This is actually a little laneway of Bourke street if you’re wondering) and it was a total revelation. Together with Miscellaneous Mum, Cest Christine, Hey Bambini, Carly Findley, Kylie Clark and Writing Loud, I shared the most extraordinary meal. Now, I’m no fabulous food blogger with a wonderfully descriptive gastronomic vocabulary; (I was once known to describe a wine to the winemaker as “sunshiney”), but I’ll do my best.

The entrees were a total surprise, and one dish in particular knocked my socks off! Presented in a shot glass was a single raw oyster immersed in the most incredible herbaceous sauce. Now this may seem a little greedy of me, but I would bring back every oyster loving person I know, and buy the restaurant out of these babies. They were transcendent!  When your poor mouth has sadly gotten used to well below par offerings from your own kitchen, this was like a fireworks display for your senses.

As each dish was presented, the aroma of lemongrass, star anise, coconut and galangal was a heady perfume. It seemed wrong to just eat and talk, and I found myself solemnly choosing each bite with a conscious effort to capture the magic potion that had created it. I can’t really understand why food and I have made strangers of each other this past year, but that evening in Allan Woo’s restaurant, I realised that it was like my palate had been in mourning.

At the close of the meal over tea and sago pudding (why hello!), Allan shared his story with us, and brought to life the tale of Malaysian cuisine and its origins. I sat glued to his every word as he told the history of the country; tales of lust, drama and intrigue. Tales of a country born from many, born from camaraderie and fraternal interests. He told the tale of a young many from a Malaysian village who had come to study in Australia in 1988 and fallen in love with creating the magnificent.

Laska Me is no ordinary, serve it up, push them through, take the cash, kind of joint. It is a hidden gem in the heart of Melbourne, where the chef is a magician and the kitchen team, his apprentices. I didn’t just discover a dish or two I loved, but I rediscovered a passion from which my family will now benefit.

Restaurant – Laksa Me, Shop 1, 16 Liverpool street Melbourne.

Ambience – Simple, cafe style.

Average price for mains – $20.

Value for money – Excellent. Quality ingredients, beautifully presented (not what you’d expect from first look at the simple decor), diverse and delicious menu selection to keep everyone happy, not just standard fare.

My tummy says –

*Super Kawaii Mama dined as a guest of The Malaysian Kitchen program. All reviews are conducted on a fully transparent, non-paid, no obligation basis. *

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You know how sometimes you look through the glass window into the cake section, fighting with yourself over “should I, shouldn’t I?”, then when you finally give in an eat those first few forks fulls, it isn’t at all the sensation you expected?  Not so with Sugadeaux. In fact, if you tried to dream up just how wonderful cake could be, it’s likely you still wouldn’t come close to how endorphin inducing these creations are.

Thanks to a chance meeting on Twitter some time ago, I discovered the delicious world of Sugadeaux, cupcake maestro.  So when I was invited to come and taste the latest range of flavours, I whipped out my cake themed skirt and raced there as fast as I could. And oh boy, were we all in for a treat with five brand new flavours about to spark our senses.

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Being a food writers event, most everyone came armed with cameras, notebooks, and their tasting faces on. Me, I had my camera, fancy skirt and stupidly happy grin on.

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Blueberry pie cupcakes, topped with an icing creation that tasted like something from The Magic Faraway Tree!

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PB&J were the overwhelming hit of the evening with their salty sweetness, decadent smooshyness and all around groan of pleasure inducing, ways. (Yes, I’m not much on the technical jargon for food blogging, but I know what tastes amazing!)

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The cupcake maestro herself, Jess from Sugadeaux; and me before I went into raptures of delight over my Blueberry Pie.

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Can you tell we’re all on a brilliant sugar high?

I know seeing all this can be pure torture if you’re reading this before you’ve had lunch; but the good news is that Sugadeaux delivers!  You can actually get online to their website and place your order to be delivered to your door (with a bit of lead time).  In fact, you can even try out these exact flavours come April 21st, when they’ll be available in tasting packs.

Midweek cake fest? Yep, life is tough.