Wednesday Flowers and Reflection

A fresh bouquet of flowers were waiting at my desk this morning when I arrived. They came from one of my trainees who wanted to remain anonymous but (according to my workmate) profusely sent her appreciation for all the work I've done in running the training program that she's attending. 

It's made my heart tender as I start my Wednesday on a sweet note. My trainee's thoughtful and sweet gesture made my day! I wish I could personally say thank you but nevertheless, I'm thinking good thoughts of her and will say a prayer that she'll hopefully feel how grateful I am.

Oftentimes it's not the grand things that make us truly happy and appreciated. I've always been contented and fulfilled just seeing all my trainees present in their workshops, learning new skills and improving their craft. They don't even have to thank me for it. The mere fact that they make an effort to learn is enough for me. Knowing that I'm a part of their successful careers makes it all worthwhile. 

The past few weeks have been quite stressful at the office. Some days, I've lost the equilibrium I have maintained and always enjoyed. But there are two words that helped me soldier on: determination and passion. Determination is what helps me bring order in every tangled a situation there may be. Passion is my fuel, the stamina of my heart, mind and spirit. 

Receiving flowers is the icing on my cake, a bonus that can never be measured. On days when things are getting rough at work, I will go back to moments like these to inspire me to serve more.

Mini Croquembouche by Adriano Zumbo

Another foodie dream of mine came true recently as I finally got a hold of Adriano Zumbo's Croquembouche...oh well, at least the mini and very cute version of it. 

The Croquembouche became famous when it came out on the first season of MasterChef Australia and it also made Adriano Zumbo known as one of Australia's best pastry chefs. He presented his Croquembouche creation at one of the challenges and since then people have been ordering Croquembouche from his patisserie.

I resigned to the fact that I will never get to taste his Croquembouche because I wouldn't really want a tall and big one. However, Adriano created a small version and made it available at The Star branch. 

So finally, my foodie dream finally came true!  I love the Croquembouche because I love eating profiteroles (cream puffs) and it is what the Croquembouche is made up of. 

What I love about Adriano Zumbo's Croquembouche is that the cream filling is silky, smooth and not too sweet while enveloped in toffee coated choux pastry.

The Mini Croquembouche is now available at Adriano Zumbo Patisserie but if you want the big Croquembouche, you can check out the details on how to order here. You can also make them at home with the help of this recipe.

Beauty Stash: The Clarisonic Mia 2

Since I've been married, I never had the discipline to have facials. Other than being turned off by expensive costs of having facials here in Australia, I'd rather spend my time doing other things. However, I'm aware that it is important to take care of one's skin especially as one gets older. Then I discovered a skin cleansing gadget called Clarisonic Mia which cleans the skin more thoroughly by using a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second.  For weeks, I studied the information in their website and read lots of reviews from beauty bloggers around the world. Then I thought of giving myself this as a Christmas present when I saw a good deal online. After two weeks, my Christmas pressie to myself arrived!

There are a few kinds of Clarisonic Mias but I chose the Clarisonic Mia 2 which has 2 speeds, a one-minute pulsing T-Timer and a protective travel case.

It also came with a 30ml Clarisonic Refreshing Gel which works well with my skin as it's gentle, doesn't leave my skin oily and doesn't cause me to break out.

The Clarisonic Mia 2 comes with a sensitive brush head (they have a variety of brush heads you can choose from) to easily introduce one's skin to sonic cleansing. It is advised to change the brush head every three to four months.

Charging the Clarisonic Mia 2 for the first time took 24 hours. I was very happy when the light finally signaled that it was fully-charged. 

The main reason why I opted to buy the Clarisonic Mia 2 (I really could have opted for the cheaper and basic one) was because of the protective travel case. Since this gadget is for personal grooming, I like that my Clarisonic Mia will be kept clean whenever I travel. 

I've used this for almost a week now and I'm loving it. Here are a few reasons why:

• The first time I used it, my skin felt cleaner, softer and tighter. 
• The brushing feels gentle on the skin and yet I feel as if I've had a mini-facial.
• It gets rid of blackheads on a daily basis!
• It seemed to have made my pores smaller, resulting to a less oily skin.
• It gives my skin a natural pinkish glow and even if I've worked all day, my face doesn't look tired. 

I'm very glad with my Clarisonic Mia 2 and I consider this the best present I've ever given to myself. 

If you want to know more about Clarisonic Mia and their products, please check out their website.

Style Musings: Slipper Loafers from Topshop

It's been awhile since Topshop/Topman opened in Sydney and it was only a month ago that I had the time to visit.  Actually, I only remembered to visit because we passed by the Gowings Building. It's funny that I  looked forward to the opening of Topshop here in Sydney and yet I somehow forgot its existence once it's opened. There were a few good pieces but most are a bit too young for my taste. There's a part of me that will always like youthful pieces but their clothes seem a bit too fad-ish for me. I've seen a few classic pieces but found that some prices are ridiculous especially when I compare them to what I've seen and bought from Asian online stores. (So sorry to compare but I'm a consumer who wants reasonably-priced style items). 

I walked out of the store without a piece of clothing but fortunate enough to discover a pretty pair of slipper loafers with black and silver trimmings. It's very comfortable to wear and it doesn't feel as flat because the insole has a bit of cushion. It was priced at AUD$44.00 

I was wearing a black lace dress when I was there as I was to watch Legally Blonde in a few hours. Although I have my foldable shoes with me, the slipper loafers I found matched with my black lace dress so well.

I wore it right after I paid for it. It's great for walking and good enough to wear with something fancy because of it's design.

Topshop/Topman
Gowings Building

55 Market St, Sydney

Nespresso Variations Goes For the Nutty Notes This Year

One of the reasons why I hesitated on buying a Nespresso machine before was because I thought that having one will limit me to enjoying just a number of flavours. I was wrong. Nespresso creates  a Limited Edition Grand Cru which appears twice a year, one in Spring and another in Autumn. When we bought a Nespresso U machine, we were able to catch their previous limited edition, the Crealto. 

Another thing I learned was that Nespresso also comes out with a Grand Cru known as Variations which is available towards Christmas. Last week Nespresso released their nutty notes: Coconut, Hazelnut and Macadamia Nut Variations so we visited the Nespresso Boutique in Sydney to try it out.

The Husband and I tasted the Hazelnut and Macadamia Nut and they were both delicious blends. We especially liked the Hazelnut Variations instantly as it was sweet, smooth and well-balanced. It was like eating a praline. The Macadamia Nut Variations has a subtle nut flavour and reveals a bit of citrus notes which makes it a refreshing drink.

We bought a box of each Variations (10 coffee pods per box at AUD$8.40)  and had the Coconut Variations at home. 

The Coconut Variations was a lovely blend. If you have noticed from past foodie entries, I have a thing for coconut and I'm glad that Nespresso did their Coconut Variations pretty well. The minute I placed its pod inside the machine, the sweet aroma of Coconut filled the room. 

I love the Coconut Variations as it was like I'm enjoying fresh coconut from the shell. It's very reminiscent of my other home, the Philippines. It's perfectly intense and rich. 

Each of the Variations are 100% of natural origin and contain only roast and ground coffees mixed with natural flavourings that free from food allergens. All the Variations Grand Cru are blended with the smoothness of Grand Cru Livanto and has an intensity level of 6 (on a scale of 1-10). They are only available for at least 8 weeks (or until supply lasts) so visit your nearest Nespresso Boutique or order online. 

Koreatown with Friends

Shared our love for Koreatown with friends two weeks ago by meeting up for Friday dinner and coffee at Strathfield.

I arrived early so I can drop by Hanaro Mart (to buy Kimchi and other Korean goodies) and have time for my ritual (coffee first before dinner).  I went to Hello Happy for some coffee and Mocha Roll. Half of the place didn't have lights (parang brownout lang!). There was a thunderstorm earlier that day and according to the staff, it affected the electrical wirings at the back of the cafe. The tables at the back were lit by candles. 

I initially had a cup of long black but it didn't taste right so when the Husband arrived, I asked him to get me an iced coffee. It was kind of a warm day anyway so it was nice to cool down with something more refreshing.

Dinner was with Meds and Charyn at Beauty & the Beast Cafe and Restaurant. It was a night of first times in a way. It was Meds' first time to be at Strathfield and it was nice sharing our love for Koreatown with her. It was our first time to meet and hang out with Charyn and we're glad to meet her.

Our table spread included: Clubhouse Sandwiches and Chips, Beef Bulgogi, Pork Katsu and Bibimbap.

Dropped by Morning Glory to look at cute and colourful knick knacks.

Ended the night by having drinks at My Sweet Memory (MSM).

Meds loved being at MSM because it's a stationery cafe. She loves being surrounded by pretty paper and artsy stuff. I think we all do but since it was Meds' first time to be here, we saw how fascinated she was.

Enjoyed the evening having great conversations and laughter, enjoying food, savouring our coffee, tea and chocolate drinks and taking photos. The Husband and I were grateful for the fun company we had that night.

Discovered Inspirations: Love and Coffee

Ahhh Monday's here again. Starting off the work week is always a challenge so here's a cup of (virtual) coffee from me to you. Wishing you will "get along with Monday" with a smile. :)

(from a photo shared in FB)

The Big Bang Theory Flash Mob

We are such big fans of The Big Bang Theory that I even follow some of the cast on twitter. This morning Kaley Cuoco (Penny) shared TBBT Flash mob that happened in one of their shoots. Enjoy the video below and have a good laugh.

Happy Friday to all! :)

Video Source

Tan Viet Noodle House (Cabramatta, NSW)

Tan Viet Noodle House is another must-eat place in Cabramatta. It is so well-known that one must be prepared to queue up for a few minutes during peak hours. We had lunch with friends on our second visit to Cabramatta and since it was a hot day, we weren't able to try any of the noodle dishes or pho. However, we enjoyed a meat feast by ordering their rice meal offerings.

Tan Viet is famous for their Crispy Skin Chicken and you must certainly try it on your first visit. The chicken's juicy, succulent and the skin perfectly crisp goes well with their tomato rice.

Thit Heo Nuong (Vietnamese Pork Chop) had a subtle flavour of lemongrass. It's not a spectacular dish but the juiciness of the meat and huge serving of rice gave my tummy comfort nonetheless.

Bo Lu Lac (Vietnamese Shaking Beef) was a wonderful discovery. These are lean beef cubes stir-fried in salt, pepper and oyster sauce. I want to do cook this dish at home and luckily, I found Luke Nguyen's recipe online.

Tan Viet is a very busy place but the accommodating staff and well-made dishes are worth a visit.

Tan Viet Noodle House

Shop 3 
100 John St
Cabramatta 2166 NSW
Phone: (02) 9727 6853

Pho Viet (Cabramatta, NSW)

Today feels like Autumn (even if we're in Spring season) where the air is crisp and cool and our world is grey and gloomy. Seems like a day for having some hot and comforting Pho. Funny that this entry of mine (which I have scheduled to publish today) is about our gastronomic experience at Pho Viet, a well-known Vietnamese restaurant in Cabramatta where we've had two wonderful visits in the past months.

We had lunch here the first time that we visited. After exploring the food markets, we sat down and had a glass of Coconut Juice and Iced Lemon Tea to refresh us.

We started off with Goi Cuon, Vietnam's version of Fresh Spring Rolls, which consisted of prawns, vegetables and rice vermicelli. Dipped in peanut sauce to enhance it's flavour.

We ordered two dishes to share so we can try one of their Phos and rice meals. The Com Tam Dac Biet (Special Broken Rice with Fried Pork Chop) was served with a tasty piece of pork chop, noodles, veggies, soul and egg. This dish alone was so filling, it was more than enough for one person. I was smitten with how flavourful they've made their pork chops, I kept coming back to it.

Never leave Pho Viet without having a taste of their Pho. The Pho Dac Biet is their beef rice noodle soul. It's packed with beef, veggies and noodles. The broth comes with strong but comforting flavours. It comes in a big bowl which can probably be shared by three people (such big serving!). Don't be wary of the uncooked beef as the soup is hot enough to cook it in a few minutes. 

Enjoyed our meal immensely and will come back soon.

Pho Viet 

11 John St

Cabramatta NSW 2166

Phone: (02) 9728 6657

Things I Love: Kokomo Coconut Water

Everytime I chance upon a new brand of coconut water in the supermarket, I check right away on where it's made of or where the coconut was outsourced. It always makes me happy when I read if a brand's coconut is from the Philippines because I know it would taste great. 

I found a brand of coconut water I love not too long ago but they are only available in selected grocery stores (which are not easily accessible to me) so I can't drink them all the time. During last weekend's grocery shopping, I found a new brand of coconut water on the shelf and was ecstatic when I saw that it's made with coconut from the Philippines. 

Kokomo Coconut Water comes from the sun soaked palms of the Philippines.

 Coconut Water is the liquid naturally present in the centre of a young coconut, 6-9 months old. It is clear and fat free, unlike the milk from older coconuts.

We pack it in cartons that mimic nature's clever packaging, the coconut shell, limiting light and heat exposure to ensure the healthy, hydrating natural goodness is kept fresh. 

Kokomo:

is 100% natural

is full of natural electrolytes

has more potassium than a banana

is an organic source of energy and packed with nutrients

is healthy with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives

has no artificial sweetners, caffeine or concentrates

I found Kokomo at Woolworths. It's refreshing and tastes like a fresh and not-so-sweet young coconut. 

Source of Kokomo facts were from the Kokomo website.

Instagram Profiles On The Web

Instagram profiles can now be seen on the web! Your family and friends can now easily access to your instagram photos online. 

Two years after it arrived on the iPhone, Instagram launched a web companion for users of its photo-sharing and filtering app Monday.

The most striking thing about the new web profiles, which are being gradually rolled out to users, is its resemblance to Facebook Timeline. An animated, rotating mosaic of Instagram photos occupies about the same amount of space as Facebook Timeline’s Cover photo; a small profile image, short bio and follower stats are situated just beneath. Photo thumbnails are organized in reverse-chronological order further down the page; click on one, and it’ll appear at full size alongside likes and comments. 

source: Mashable.com 

And here's mine: instagram.com/ibyang

I'm glad with this development because it will benefit my parents who doesn't have an instagram account as it's not all the time that I share my instagram photo in my FB page. 

A little trivia: I've been asked if what I was holding in my IG profile pic was wine and the answer is I'm holding a syphoned coffee in a wine glass. 

Musings Over A Cup of Toffee Nut Latte

It's very seldom that I go to Starbucks now. If you follow this blog, you'd know that I've been frequenting other cafes when I go out. But when I had my "Me" time yesterday, I decided to reunite with my favourite seasonal beverage "Toffee Nut Latte". Drinking this helps me feel the Christmas spirit and somehow brings me to happy memories from my other home, Manila.

The Starbucks I used to frequent had a new set of staff. I was kind of sad and missed my old barista but the new one was good as well. He made my Toffee Nut Latte perfectly sweet (no need to add sugar). 

A few musings while I was enjoying my cuppa:
Starbucks coffee is really expensive. My tall latte with whipped cream cost me about $5.30. Most cafes here charge less and taste better. I find more value buying their coffee beans and making coffee the way I like it.

Husband and I unconsciously choose to have coffee at home since we've had the Nespresso. And because of that we are saving money. How? We save on petrol, we save on time going out, we save on money because we are not tempted to buy things we don't need when we're out and most of all, the Nespresso coffee pods are cheap (a coffee pod costs between 68cents-70cents) and yet we get great quality coffee.

Drinking coffee in the Philippines is expensive. Yes while having coffee, I thought of how expensive it is to maintain a "coffee lifestyle" in the Phils. Wala lang, naisip ko lang. Let's not do the converting of dollars to peso because that's not the point. I just have this comparison. The money you pay to buy a tall latte in the Philippines is equivalent to a few  train rides in the MRT; while in Australia, a tall latte is equivalent to one train ride. Also, we can find a good cup of coffee in Australia from AUD$2.70 to $3.50. The Phils has cheaper alternatives but in general it still seems expensive to me. While drinking coffee (in cafes) in Australia is likened to a basic commodity, drinking coffee (in cafes) in the Phils seems like a luxury. 

So there, just a few idle thoughts of mine yesterday. Have a lovely day today!

Spanish Doughnuts at Macquarie Centre (North Ryde, NSW)

I have a thing for churros and I'm so glad that my favourite churros from Melbourne has arrived in Sydney. Spanish Doughnuts opened a store at Macquarie Centre in April this year. It was great timing when I took my Mum there as she had a taste of these super delicious churros that I always rave about.

This branch has a dining area which can accommodate a few group of people or for someone like me who enjoys having her churros with a cup of coffee.

The friendly staff was nice enough to show me how it's all done.

 Here she is about to drop the churros into the deep fryer.

Churros are served with your choice of chocolate dipping (I always get the milk chocolate).

Good news! More stores to opening soon including one in George Street, Sydney. 

Spanish Doughnuts

Level 4, Shop No 407A, Macquarie Centre
Cnr Herring and Waterloo Roads,
North Ryde, Australia

Ph: (02) 9889 3574

Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 9:30pm

Sat-Sun: 8:00am - 9:30pm

Related Posts:
Melbourne Spring Getaway
Churros from Spanish Doughnuts (Melbourne, Australia)
Chocolate Cafe: Chocolateria San Churros