The Travelling Ulcer

Fruit Trees

Thought it due to provide a pictorial update on our fruit trees.

Curry Tree with fruits!! Very excited. Cannot wait to harvest them for replanting.

Red dragon fruit seedlings

Lemon

Piddly looking blueberry

green cheeked conures

Zen with her sour apple

Lunch over the last two weeks

Just because we are at work doesn't mean we have to skimp on a good feed.

As founding members of TAFS (The Aesop Foodies Society), Emma and yours truly, profit from sharing memorable meals. With her proud Italian background, it is definitely not a wonder when she introduces my palate to new and exciting pizza flavour combinations. The most notable being simply kale/andive with anchovies. Simple but perfectly paired.

Despite moans and wingeing from the old ducks, I still consider Qantas snacks in economy worthy of one thumb up. Coconut and vanilla muffin with fruit juice. As this was a late afternoon flight, I knocked back the coffee...on the account of my 'old man syndrome' - no caffeine after midday else stay up all nite.

Every second Thursday, Aesop hosts a lunch for those at Head Office. Almost always geared towards mutually acceptable vegetarian dishes. This week: tomato and basil on mozzarella, parmesan and burnt sage pasta followed with a seasonal berries trifle.

J's Surf and Turf, Brighton VIC

What do you expect from a $28 all you can eat suburban Japanese eatery? To roll out of the milkbar-esque shop with a tummy full of sashimi, gyozas and tempura! Oh yes, don't forget the fresh oysters included in the price! That's right, OYSTERS!

Originally unlimited, at the time of making your booking you are now restricted to a maximum of half a dozen per person. With two sittings on Friday nights, the first at 1830 and us turning up at 2000 for the second. We had to wait five minutes as the bedlam of wait-staff and patrons light footedly danced around a scene of chaos and degustation.

Once seated, we had to wait another fifteen minutes before a waitress noticed our nonchalant expressions. Even though J's Surf and Turf is targeted towards 'all you can eat' as opposed to a la carte, you are still required to order.

Completely aware of the system, I ordered nine dishes in round one. Lesson to the uninitiated, ALWAYS log twice as many dishes in each round as you are able to consume...for sure, you will only receive half.

One word of warning before we begin. Quantity over quality. Even though food flies around in abundance, if you are expecting fine dining with chef's hat quality cuisine, might I suggest another establishment.

Medium Sushi Set. A little rough around the edges, but gets two thumbs up for ample supply of raw salmon.

The beef and asparagus salad had a wonderful subtle flavour as the sesame vinaigrette permeates my mouth and strangely my nostrils. I think I only found two tiny morsels of asparagus.

Now, I gauge the quality of a japanese restaurant on the quality of their tempura. So what can I say about their tempura? A+ for quantity, B- for quality. This is very much a 'fish and chippery' grade tempura. The batter was neither light or flaky, the prawns were nonetheless big and juicy.

Lightly grilled aubergine with the same sesame based dressing as the salad.

Gyozas were a definitive failure. Every visit I order this dish in hope they would perfect a clearly failed wrapping. Alas, I am always left disappointed.

There is always a silver lining and that was found with the deep fried puffs of tofu in a very plain and simply dashi. The highlight of the evening.

Even though the dessert component was not worth a mention, it was still a nice gesture: vanilla or green tea ice cream, fresh fruits and a bowl of snakes.

4 x buffet @ $28ea
1litre carafe of house white (chardonnay) @ $11 (or $6 per glass)
1 asahi @ $5.50

Full tummies and smiles all around.

Australia Day

It is hard to believe that January has come and gone so quickly. Before we know it, Christmas and 2011 will be before us.

Till then, we have plenty o' eating and entertaining to be had. Due to my heavy work load, I have not had the opportunity to over indulge my gluttony. That doesn't mean I have been a complete culinary recluse. I have been out to a few local eateries along with other social 'occassions'.

The most notable - Australia Day BBQ hosted by Kate, Carley, Ross and Heath. Set among the serenity of Bonbeach, the fresh waft of salt in the air really added to the easy, laid back atmosphere.

One cannot have an Australian Day without a BBQ. So that's what we had.

Your stock standard snags, steaks, rissole s, burgers, chops and salad, what more can you ask for?

Bob and Ross did a great job. The only area of fault would be the near raw chicken drumlets. Perfect charred on the outside but completely blood-draining raw just under the skin.

Due to time constraints, sadly our contribution to the day was a pre-packaged chicken selection and beef with cheese rissole from Woolworth: drumlets, sausages, burgers and skewers. The chicken burgers and were finger licking good.