( g a s t r o n o m i c a l l y )

The other day I went down to the English Shop and bought some Wilton ready-to-use black icing and a small jar of concentrated orange colour for the icing. (Why is Sweden so boring? Sell black food colouring in supermarkets FFS.) Anyway, I just have to say the ready-to-use icing tastes... ick. I tried some and it left a strange after-taste, like sweet plastic or something. Then again, it might taste better on a cupcake. In any case, I'm considering going back to the store to buy black colouring. Also, a trip to Panduro for some fondant might be in order.

Anyway. I'm planning on making Halloween cupcakes, but I haven't decided how I want them yet. Either I decorate them myself or I let people decorate their own. Also, what flavour should the cupcake be? Because there'll be a lot of decorating going on, I think a tarter batter will compliment the sweetness of all the icing and sugar. Decisions, decisions xD

Photos when I've made them!

Bought a packet of fresh gnocchi at Lidl the other day. Not sure what to do with it, really. It seems like a rather filling "pasta", seen as though how a recipe I found uses 500g for 4 people.

Also, I have the greatest itch to bake right now. Gah.

If there is one thing I love about Gothenburg, it's that it's the #1 café-city in Sweden. There are god-knows how many cafés here, which also means that finding that extra special café becomes a little bit harder. I've looked for a proper Gothenburg café guide, but no luck so far. Hence, I'm going to attempt to try each café in Gothenburg once, and write down reviews. Here's a list of the one's I've been to so far (that I can remember):

- Ethel's (Linnéplatsen)
- Café Java (Vasaplatsen)
- Condeco (Avenyn, Centre)
- Egg & Milk (Linnéplatsen)
- Café Husaren (Haga)
- Tintin (Avenyn)
- Greenwich (Avenyn)
- Kafé Kosmos (Centre)
- Le Pain Francais (Centre)
- Pour Bon (Centre)
- Frank's Coffee (Centre)
- Cassels Café (Centre)
- Café Brogyllen (Centre)
- Andrum (Centre)
- Café Zenit (Majorna)
- Café Puh (Majorna, closed)
- Coffee Dreams (Linnéplatsen)
- Villa Belparc café section (Slottskogen)
- Café Dali (Vasaplatsen)
- Café Mekka (Centre)
- Nöller Espressobar (Haga)
- Café Madeleine (Hisingen)
- Espresso House (NK)
- Café Vasa (Vasaplatsen)
- Café Rosa Pantern (Vasaplatsen)
- G Chocolat (Grönsakstorget)
- And the Bakery (Vasa Viktoria)
- Språkcaféet - The Language Café (Rosenlund)

Recommended places:
- Café Villekulla
- Blue Mountain Café
- Café Kardemuma
- Café Marmelad
- da Matteo
- Sucré-salé
- Biscuit

Updated 06/01-09. More details to follow!

Wow. Last post was in August? =_= Shame on you, Julie.

***

2008 seems to be heading in the right direction for me, or at least in terms of food and cooking. From Chinese-style pierogi to cauliflower-potato mash, I've already learnt how to prepare several dishes this year (which sadly equals up to the amount of dishes that I've learnt in the last two years...) I've discovered the joys of making your own bread, learnt the secret to making my favourite egg dish, and been taught how to handle a side of pork loin fillet, WITHOUT harming myself.

In terms of appreciating foods and drinks, I see that the past year has given me a more 'mature' palate. I'm in love with white wine (bordering on addiction xD), I enjoy eating rice more than ever and I am more willing to try different food options.

Food is life, life is good.

My copy of 500 Cupcakes ordered from Wettergrens AB is arrive in the mail tomorrow! =D *is excited*

Also known as, "Proof That Julie Can't Really Take Close-Ups". xD

Anyway, here's most of the food photos taken in Malaysia. Sit back, ignore the crap quality of some images, and enjoy ^^

( Feast for all! )

That was it! ^^ There were so many other things I had to eat, but unfortunately we had limited cam space, and also... people stared when I took photos, so I usually took them when the restaurants/cafés weren't too croweded. Heh.

... It struck me that I don't know how to prepare any Chinese dishes. Which is ironic, considering how my dad is a chef. Anyhoodles, when I was younger a young Chinese couple used to baby-sit me. I remember that Ah Yi (Ah Yi-Shu Shu, that's what I called them xD Means Auntie-Uncle) used to make mantou buns. She didn't make them like Wiki's pictures show them as - they were "wrapped" together with bits of chopped scallion. Needless to say, there were heavenly and will always be one of my most loved foods.

Ah Yi-Shu Shu moved to the States around 1999, and ever since then I have eaten scallion mantou ONCE, and that was when I had tuition at my ex-Chinese teacher's place. I regret not asking them how to make it, since I took for granted that the food would always be there. So, I must learn to make mantou sometime.

Going back to Malaysia this summer will have to serve a culinary class for me xD; I'll have some time to learn to make my grandma's food, which is one of my long-term goals. When she's gone, so will the meals she made. Unless I learn how to prepare them.



Oh, I started with the banoffe pie right after my previous post xD Current stage: Toffee and Digestive base to be cooled over night... It's too late to make the whole thing, since no-one will eat it =/

Lately I've been going to Greenwich café for all my café-going needs. It's a nice place by Gothenburg's Avenue and - most important of all - the food is good, served in generous amounts for a good price, and somewhat unique.

Anyway, whenever I'm there I make sure I buy a slice of their banana-chocolate pie. ♥ It's LE YUM. And so, I must learn to make it. Another variaty is the banoffe pie, which I might attempt soon-ish (considering how there's a whole stack of condensed milk in the cupboard).

I WANT PIE.

Yesterday I felt like using my peppermint extract that I bought a few days ago. So, I made chocolate filled choco-mint cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles ^^ It turned out... okay. I dunno, I had higher expectations of my little cupcakes, but my family loves 'em, so xD; But I should add more extract next time, and a bit more sugar in the batter.



( More cupcake photos + others )

Wow, this is hilarious xD I had half of my white chocolate sauce left over from the orange cupcake fest, and since I thought it being eaten cold was too slimy and nasty I popped it into the mirco for 2 minutes. When it came out I saw custard-like blobs floating in it. I realised that this could lead to something good, so I popped it back into the mirco for another minute or two, and sure enough, when I took it out again it had turned into something looking like creme brulée! (Minus the burnt crust.) T'was heavenly to eat, and I added crushed Digestive biscuits on top to give it more texture. ♥

The good thing with this mirco-brulée is that the creme and egg didn't curdle, for which I was happy about. Could've been because of the white chocolate binding it together though.

Here's the recipe if anyone wants it, btw:

White Chocolate Micro Brulée

100 g white chocolate
~ 1 ½ dl cream
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
Crushed Digestive biscuits

1. Break chocolate to smaller pieces and place in a bowl.
2. Heat cream up in a pan till at simmering point.
3. Pour cream over the chocolate and stir till melted and well-mixed.
4. Add egg and milk, whisk lightly till egg is properly mixed in.
5. Refrigerate for 1 hour or two. (I do this to let the mixture thicken and cool down)
6. Micro at 750W for 2-ish minutes, always watching and checking the mixture for desired texture.
7. Cover top with Digestive.

After this I refrigerated the brulée for another hour because I wanted to eat it cold, but eating it warm is nice too =3