Zenobia Lebanese Cuisine North Strathfield

Epic fail on my part.  I forgot to bring my camera so I had to settle with the phone camera (not that the ones taken by the camera were any good anyway).  I always Always leave something behind when I change bags. It's just one of the fail things I do on a daily basis.

Ate at Zenobia in North Strathfield.  Although I have lived a 5 minute drive to this place for the past 10 years, I never knew there was a little hub in North Strathfield and how many restaurants are located here.  I only found out today because my brother's friend invited him to his birthday party at AMF Bowling in North Strathfield.

Lebanese Cuisines focuses on fruits, vegetables and seafood.  Poultry is eaten and sometimes lamb. As our family does not eat chicken, we are only left with the choice of either lamb or seafood.  I tried to order the Seafood Skewers but it was sold out.  Bummer.  I tried to order the Ayran Yoghurt Drink and that was sold out too. WTF?!  I have previously mentioned that I have terrible luck with ordering food as they are always sold out or not avaliable that day.  I think my luck has not yet turned *sigh*.

So with seafood gone, we are only left with lamb and alot of starch...

Dips:

Hummus: Chickpeas, Lemon, Tahini, Garlic and Olive Oil (with Pita Bread) $10

Pita Bread

Entree:

Lamb Sambusic (4): Pastry Filled with Minced Lamb and Pine Nuts $14

Lebanese Salad: Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Shallots, Mint and Olive Oil $11

This is such a refreshing and zesty salad, perfect for a hot Spring day (it's like Summer right now and I can't image how hot it will be when Summer arrives).

Mains:

BBQ Lamb Skewers (3): $18

 

I dont know why all the mains came on this metal plinth kinda thing which I later removed.

BBQ Lamb Skewer with Capsicum and Onion

Lamb Shawarma: Shredded Lamb marinated in special spices with Tahini Sauce $20

I LOVED this dish.  The Tahini taste has went through to the lamb and was very tender.  It tasted better dipped in yoghurt, giving it a light and refreshing feeling.

Lamb Mansaf : Shredded Lamb with Pinenuts, Cashews and Rice $22

This dish tasted really nice, full of nutty flavour and it went really well with the rice. Again, mix it with some Yoghurt with mint and you'll have yourself a nice Summer dish.

Samkeh Harra: Grilled Barramundi Fish Fillets served in a special Tahini Sauce $25

I have to say that I have in love with the Tahini sauce.  It seems like that no dish can fail if it has Tahini in it.

While eating our food, we are entertained by live performances of traditional dancing.

 

The pretty dancer is inviting my mum to join in (I wish I have waist like hers)

Very persistant with the inviting (those are my mums hands)

My mum did end up dancing for less than 10 seconds so I didn't even manage to get a picture. :(

You would think that for 4 people, 1 dip, 1 entree, 1 salad and 4 mains would be just right but we only managed to eat 60% of what is given to us as the servings are quite large (we didn't even have lunch). We ate till everyone is about to throw up so there goes my plan of trying out dessert :'(

Zenobia Lebanese Cuisine - North Strathfield

Location: George Street, North Strathfield NSW 2137 (Leichart: 102 Norton Street, Leichart 2040)

Reservations: 02 9746 8424 (Leichart: 02 9560 4131)

Website: http://www.zenobiarestaurant.com.au/

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I Taiwan - Taiwanese Cuisine

I've always wanted to try this new Taiwanese restaurant but no one is game enough to try new restaurants.  I finally convinced someone to go with me and here is how it went.

It's...

Touch Screen Menu!

I love the idea of touch screen menus because you are not pressured to order everything at once.  It also saves you waving like a mad person while the waiter/ess pretends not to notice you and looks the other way. Sad thing is that the computer lagggged like a bitch while I tried to order a drink as there are too many pages.

Stewed Pigs Ear 卤猪耳朵 $4.90

Stewed Pork Ricecake 卤猪血糕 $4.90

Psh they call it 'Pork Ricecake' because people of different nationality (Ok, I mean white people here but no offense) will be freaked out by the REAL name.  This thing is made from pig's blood, mixed with sticky rice.

Rice Tube Pudding 筒仔米糕 $5.50

This dish looks bigger than the real thing due to the angle. The circle area is actually no bigger than ur palm.  This is similar to a savory glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaves.  Mushrooms and meat are wrapped inside the rice then steamed.

Hakka Stir Fry 客家小炒 $10.50

The Hakka people cooks with whatever ingredient they find and preserve the leftovers so they use up everything as food is scarce.  This leads to alot of preserved meat dishes in which the Hakka people are famous for. 

Hakka cuisine may be described as outwardly simple but tasty. The skill in Hakka cuisine lies in the ability to cook meat thoroughly without hardening it and to naturally bring out the proteinous flavour of meat.

Honeydew Smoothie 香瓜牛奶 $4.90

The dishes at I <3 Taiwan is not very expensive, tastes quite nice and authentic. The servings are quite small but that means you could order alot of different things to try! Right?

I also love their chandelier.

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I burned off the calories of the Honeydew Smoothie by walking to Star City but I gained it back by ordering a...

...Banana Smoothie with extra Honey

I just felt like smoothies that day somehow. I don't know why I buy drinks as I get whatever drink I want free at the Sovereign Room in Star City (VIP Sovereign Room card holders and over 18s only).

Photographs are strictly prohibitied but I risked it!

I have a facination for chandeliers.

Sovereign Room Chandelier

If they ever read this blog or if they ever find out who I am, I'll probably be sued.

I Taiwain - Taiwanese Cuisine

Location: 52 Dixon Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9212 2220

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More cupcakes from Cupcakes on Pitt and Lunch at Ginsen Plus

Yay! More delicious cuppiecakes given to me by my client.  I have already received two batches of half a dozen cupcakes, chocolates, wine, bubbletea and a stack of Christmas Party Invitations.  It's like they KNOW that I have an obession with cupcakes or something because everyone keep sending them to me!

Talking about cupcakes, I had the most bizzare dream a couple of nights ago that involves these little babies.

I was in a hotel where they had a Gondola, similar to the one at the Venetian Las Vegas but the buildings on either side were made entirely out of cupcakes, smothered in colourful icing. At this point 'someone' (you know who you are) told me that was a fat persons dream! That was mean :(

Well the scene suddently went from cupcakes to a spooky ride where they showed people being tortured and chopped into bits. I couldn't escape as I was bound to the ride. It was like a tour of hell.  I won't go into detail as it is quite gory and I don't want to recap it anyway.  I can remember being totally freaked out but the scene flashed back to the ladida Cupcake land that I was in previously.  

Nevermind me. I AM MAD. Oh and speaking mad~ I am invited to the Mad Hatter Party obviously, with an Alice in Wonderland themed New Years Eve Party! Last year was Las Vegas, the previous Star Wars and James Bond in 2007 (007 get it?) I will be expecting alot of people in rabbit suits and the blondes transforming themselves into Alice.  I'll just be...uh...the boring Asian spectator. Go me.

So now that I have completely lost your appetite with the gory dream, we can look at REAL cupcakes now so you won't steal mine :)

Six mini cupcakes stowed away in their box...not for long *evil laugh*

Dark Chocolate: A rich chocolate cupcake with dark chocolate icing and garnished with chocolate sprinkles

Cherry Ripe: A rich chocolate cupcake with cherry butter cream icing with Cherry Ripe Chocolate

Strawberries and Cream: A strawberry cupcake with a hint of strawberry filled with fresh strawberries and strawberry butter cream

Vanilla Sundae: A vanilla cupcake with a vanilla and strawberry icing and garnished with 100,000 sprinkles, marachino cherry and cookie stick

Tiramisu: A rich chocolate cupcake with Belgian milk chocolate icing with a shot of expresso and garnished with a mascaphone and a curl of chocolate

Peanut Butter: A chocolate cupcake with peanut butter and dark chocolate with garnished honey peanut

Cupcakes from Cupcakes on Pitt measures roughly 5cm x 5cm and are $2 each.

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Steve complained...well informed me that I haven't been eating Korean food lately so here it is!

Korean Cold Noodle Soup $8.50

Cupcakes on Pitt

Location: Shop 2, 323-327 Pitt Street, Sydney (also open at York Street, Parramatta and Chatswood)

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 6:30pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12noon to 5pm

Phone: 02 9264 4644

Website: http://www.cupcakesonline.com.au

Ginsen Plus

Location: Shop F1A, Level 1 Sussex Centre, 401-403 Sussex Street Sydney

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Hurricane's Grill and Bar Darling Harbour

I went to eat at Hurricane's on the hottest recorded day in November. I am totally insane but I just really felt like eating it on that day.  My original plan was to eat the Sugar Hit at Azuma however upon calling, they informed me that Sugar Hit November only happened during Monday to Thursday.  What a bummer.

My first encounter with Hurricane's was on Erin's uhhh 21st/22nd birthday? Let's just say 2xth birthday because I have such a bad memory. I remember waiting for sooooooo long because there was soooooo many people invited.  I ended up buying sour coke gummis at the British Lollyshop next door to kill some time.

Hurricane's Grill and Bar Darling Harbour

I love their flame decor at the bar section

Hurricane's is famous for their ribs. We didn't even look at the menu and ordered 2 huge slabs of pork ribs and a Caesar salad to neutralise the oil and grease.

Look at their killer knife!

Ginger Ale $3.85

Everyone ordered ginger ale but I had to be different and ordered Peach Ice Tea.  I'm just cool fob like that.

Peach Ice Tea $5.50

Garlic Roll $4.95

Their garlic roll is so crispy on the outside and soft on the inside! I wish I could have a roll to myself right now.

Caesar Salad with Cos Lettuce, Bacon, Croutons, Anchovies and Shaved Parmigiano $20.90

Be prepared for the beast!

Pork Ribs with Chips $37.40

Pork Ribs with Baked Potato and Sour Cream $37.40

Oh my...tasty tasty ribs with secret recipe sauces originating from South Africa. You'll be mad if your not licking your fingers at the end.

I nearly got jaw locked the first time seeing those babies because they are HUGE! Before they brought us the food I was like psh I'm hungry, I could eat the whole rack but when they brought the dish to our table...I wussed out.

DO NOT BUY THE LAMB RIBS! They are significantly smaller in size, does not taste as nice and cost the same as the pork ribs.

Again, I had to massively photoshop this entry.  Most of the pictures has undergone a huge amount of surgery to actually make it semi presentable for blogging.  For people who dined at Hurricane's before, you would know they have no lighting at all!

I had to struggle between non existent lighting or over exposed flash.

Here is a picture showing the non photoshopped and photoshopped versions of the same picture.

Before and After

PS: Thank you Helen from Grabyourfork and Susan from Chocolatesuze for inviting me to the Food Blogger Christmas Party.  I am very flattered *heart*.  I didn't know I could be invited to such an event with only two months of blogging experience.  I'll try my best to make it to the party as you know many things are going on during the festive seasons.

I could feel my heart skipping a beat...or two when I read that I had to bring a plate because I don't know how to cook to save my life but I'll see what I can do.  By the way, Susan your Rainbow Cake was mad impressive!

PPS: Many comments from the last blog entry relates to how my hand is small and such.  Wiki has told me that the average woman's hand size is 172mm long.  Mine is 169mm.  It is a little on the small side but so what?

To those who said my hand is pretty, thank you<3

Hurricanes Grill and Bar Darling Harbour

Location: Shops 433 - 436, Level 2 Harbourside Shopping Centre Darling Harbour, Sydney
Opening Hours: Open 7 days from 12pm to 3pm and 5:30pm to late

Reservations: 02 9211 2210

Website: http://www.hurricanesgrill.com.au/

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Swirlie's Frozen Yoghurt and Fish at Darling

A new yoghurt place opened up at the Harbourside Shopping Centre.  I walk past it everyday and see it being renovated and finally, it opens! Eager to try it out, I buy a mixed yoghurt of plain and green tea flavour with two toppings of my choice.

So many topping choices!

There are strawberry, blueberry, watermelon, mango, raspberry, kiwi, cranberry, guava, raspberry puree, pineapple, rice bubbles, coca pop, nuts and even fruit loops just to name a few.

The cute girl at the counter is scooping my blueberry topping.

Mixed Yoghurt of Plain and Green Tea with Mango and Blueberry Toppings $5.50

The green colour for the green tea didn't show up in the picture so I had to photoshop it until I nearly died!

The yoghurt came in a massive bowl but the inside was hollow though in my opinion, it is still cheaper than White Apple and Azuma Patisserie because theirs is hollow too!

They also give more topping unlike the others who just give a pathetic scoop.  Price is roughly the same as their competitors so...someone will be visiting here quite often from now on!

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Right next to Swirlie's is Fish at Darling.

Check out their bag!

Paper bag with cut out heart shape<3

I screamed out "OMG THIS IS SO CUTE" while the counter looked at me strangely and slowly backing away...

Fish and Chips $9.95

This is the most massive and bad ass fish fillet I've ever seen! For $9.95, I think that's a bargain!

Longest Fish Fillet EVER

By the tme we arrived at the car, some bits were already missing...

Compare the previous picture with the second.  You could see alot of eaten chips and someone took a bite out of the fish.

Compare the length of the fillet to my hand! I had to measure my hand length when outstretched and found it was 17.5cm which is uh...6.9inches?

No, thats NOT my leg.

Swirlie's Frozen Yoghurt

Location: Shop FF04A, Level 2 Harbourside Shopping Centre, Darling Harbour

Phone: 02 9212 5222

Website: http://www.swirlies.com.au/

Fish at Darling

Location: Shop FF02/2, Level 2 Harbourside Shopping Centre, Darling Harbour

Phone: 02 9282 9182

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