Bites: Ying Thai 2 @ Lygon St. (Melbourne)

Kelvin is not with us at the moment.  He went off with his friends to a national park in Bright before heading off the Alpines for a ski.  Before he left though, we went for something with a higher temperature to keep him warm during his trip hoho! THAI FOOD @ Ying Thai 2.  This little eatery has long been a famous eatery.  And there is no secrecy to its existence considering the queue during dinner and the lack of tables during lunch.  My fellow friends and readers (I hope there are some >.<) know that I’m a sucker for Thai food.  But only good ones though.  But luckily enough I have not had any sucky ones.  From my trip to Bangkok to S & T in Perth and now Ying Thai 2. Wow!  Undeniably, these were really good food.  Cleanliness in Bangkok well, it is something else but it was not detriment to me in anyway.

The interior is simple but felt as if we were in some fancy back lane cafe in Bangkok. Liked the drawings depicting village kids spinning the tops like the classics engaged in a road side battle.

 

We were looking at the menu to decide what would best suit our hungry tummies and looking up and about the papers, we decided to go with the lunch set menu.  I think part of our decision was caused by the pricey cost of the rice.  Its 3 bucks per head =.=!!

 

What we ordered?This is one of the best Thai food available.  Spicy minced meat with holy basil!  Forgot what it is called but oh boy! Its lovely! The only downside with this version at Ying Thai 2 is the spiciness level was nowhere within Kelvin’s region spiciness.  It is our fault really.  We only asked for mild spiciness.

 

Xin Ling’s tom yam soup here is every bit as Thai as it should be.  From the clarity to the tastiness.  Its a blast.  Its typically how my uncle Teow Loon would made it from scratch.  I know they had Kafir lime leaf, dried chillies, tomatoes, fish sauce I guess? And other extras hehe.  Really tasted delicious.  Maybe we will go there one more time and have it with extra chilli as Xin Ling confesses to a certain thrill when she is busy gasping for air to cool her burning tongue :)!

 

This was my Thai red curry with duck meat.  I’ve always avoided curries when I go to Thai restaurants but I knew I was in no position to resist when I saw this curry on the menu.  My first experience of a beautiful duck curry was on a flight to Bangkok on Silk Air.  The roast duck curry I had on the flight was by far the most tantalising meal I have ever had on an flight.  Even beating the juicy steak on the Malaysian Airlines night flight to Australia.  I was only 12 when I had that curry and this curry was close to replicating that experience.  The thick flavoursome curry going nicely with the addition of a rich and aromatic coconut milk.  My god. Its taste was totally smack!  Even after I was done, Kelvin happily spooned the remains into his mouth.  I cannot blame him really.  It is after all a wonderful serve of curry.  The only downside was the serve of duck meat was a little insufficient.  I know I only paid 10 bucks which is far too cheap for a serve of Thai food but I was hoping for a little more meat. ahah

 

By the end of the meal, we were all filled to the brim.  The serve of rice is really large.  But I almost wanted to order one more serve to go together with my curry but luckily I had some self control ahah.  Finalising this post, Ying Thai 2 on Lygon street is a MUST go.  Unless you are from Thailand that is.  The price for the set menu is really cheap and if you are going for dinner, do not be bothered by the price of the rice.  The serve of meat seems pretty damn large.  And if you’re having curry, rice overload is not an option.  Its definitely a must.  I have not tried but I think the green curry would not be any lesser (in taste) than the red one.

 

WenY

Bites: Sushi Burger @ Exhibition St., Melbourne

What are the few amazing concepts that you have tasted in your life?  Mine has been a number smaller than desired but good news, it is increasing :).  My latest bite was during a meet up with a few female doctors that are going to be very successful in their lives.  I met them when my friend introduced me to them as they needed a place to stay for their medical placement in Perth.   The girls Cheryl and Lynn recommended my friends and I the Sushi Burger restaurant!

Sushi Burger restaurant :D!

 

Xin Ling’s Crispy Fish burger @ $6.50

 

My Yakiniku Sushi Burger @ $7.50!

 

Or you can pair it up with a bento set with fried chicken the Tasuta Age for $17 bucks! A few bento sets were ordered as Cheryl got a Croquette sushi burger box and Kelvin had the one with the Gyoza.  But my take on this is that if you’re going to have the sushi burger, I’d recommend you have 2 sushi burgers instead of the bento.  Its a lot more satisfying as the accompanying dishes are only common Japanese food with no perks whatsoever.

 

Oh and apparently you get charged and extra dollar for each burger if you are dining in because you plan to spend more money on their food =X.  Oh god where is the sense.  All they do is put it on a small plastic plate.Lynn, Ash and Cheryl.  Thanks for recommending the place :)!

 

The  dessert I ordered!  A strawberry Daifuku.  The strawberry is also known as Ichigo apparently eheh.

 

WenY

Bites: Lindt Cafe @ Chadstone Shopping Centre (Melbourne)

Spain’s well deserved victory over Germany means I deserve to celebrate too! Hoho!  Yesterday I went to Chadstone using the free shuttle bus for visitors.  The bus departs from the intersection of Flinders St. and Russell St. I think.  There was not a lot of sales going on so I did not buy much :(!  But its ok, I managed to try something I’ve been craving for a long long time!

Lindt Strawberry Fondue.  The assortments that came with it was quite nice :)!  But the chocolate dip was miserable :(!

The hot chocolate there was more of a learn-how-to experience than a hot chocolate experience.  Lindt gives you a small pot of melted chocolate and a mug of hot milk.  The mixing is left for you to do.  Unfortunately, I did not think this was a very good idea because I want to taste what Lindt calls “excellence”.  Nonetheless lil girl managed to make a nice drink with a “Stussy” looking design on the froth ahah.

We also had a cake to accompany our afternoon tea! And that cake was far too sweet.  Such a poison @.@!!  I have to rant here that Lindt cafe is very well above what the general public perceive as affordable.  Its cakes start from $12.50 onwards and its quality is no more than FAIR.  Fortunately a good companion and a few friends made the disappointment a whole lot easier to forgo.

My darling :D To those who still do not know who she is yet.  Especially my good friend and my buddy of 10 years Leow Zhan Sheng :)!

My housemate Kelvin!

A fondue spike mace.

Om nom nom nom nom!

Luckily for me, my Max Brenner experience today was a whole lot better!  More on my trip soon!!  Lets see what magic Germany conjures tonight!

WenY