Cold Rock is Winner!

On hot summer days like these, we always need that helping of ice cream to cool us down. After many recommendations by friends we decided to try out Cold Rock ice cream.

This Ice cream parlour is famous for their mix-ins and combinations. Firstly you chose your ice cream and then mix-in (assorted candy).


With over 3000 combinations possible, there’s bound to be something you can create to satisfy that ice cream hunger.


They also specialise in Sorbets and have a nice selection.


Check out those pro mixing skills!


Fererro Roche ice cream top off with mint!


This one was mine, English Toffee and Vanilla. Yummeh!


A classic favourite: Cookies and Cream.

I must conclude that Cold Rock serves much better ice cream than Baskin Robbins, the flavours are not too sweet and so creamy that ice crystals are not present. The preparation and the amount of choice you get makes the process of buying to eating a journey of fun!
There's a reason why this place always has a waiting line when we venture to fulfil our ice cream cravings. I highly recommend trying this unique mix and twist on a very traditional dessert.

Probably the best ice cream I have tasted in Perth. If you know of other places worth trying, feel free to suggest them.
Cold rock is situated within the Hillarys Boat Marina, 480 Hay street Subiaco and along Collie street Fremantle in front of Pink-Rice Sushi Train.

V^3 Food Review: Singapore Chinatown Restaurant

Singapore Chinatown (SCT) Restaurant is located in Northbridge’s little cove of restaurants. The place has recently re-opened after a short closure, so we decided to find out what has changed and to sample their in house specialties.

Contrary to the name, Singapore Chinatown, does not serve Singaporean food and the owners are not Singaporean. Nevertheless, we were game to try any good Asian food.


Salt and Pepper Spare Ribs

This is a favourite at amongst everyone and SCT does this dish very well. The spare rib pieces are juicy and tender whilst the coating is nice and crispy. The oil they use is quite fresh too and does not make the breading soggy. They serve it with fried onions and this gives a nice aroma. 3/5

Roast Pork with Beancurd and Mushroom
This dish was indeed very hearty and given in a massive portion. It contains roast pork, nice juicy mushrooms, Chinese cabbage and a braised bean curd. Mixed with a good helping of gravy this dish is an instant winner in my book. Its taste is like home cooking and is a very simple dish to go with rice. 4/5

Sizzling Japanese Tofu
This is type of tofu is a variation to the braised tofu served. Essentially a classic dish that is available at almost every Chinese restaurant. SCT’s variation does not stand out in any way, Japanese tofu is very soft and a great vegetarian dish. The let down with this particular serve is that they used frozen peas and carrots which infused into the gravy and did not give an authentic and fresh taste. 2.5/5

Honey Pepper Beef

When this dish was served, I was surprised by its stark contrast to what I imagined it to be. Covered in a dark rich honey sauce, it tasted very sweet and the red meat was nice, tender, and juicy. Some may say it is too rich, but mix it with rice and the flavours become quite balanced. If you enjoy sweet meats, this dish is a winner. 3.5/5

Deep Fried Salted Egg Yolk Battered Squid

This actual dish is not on the menu, and you have to request it. Nonetheless, it is done exceptionally well at SCT. The squid is cooked well, while not becoming too chewy. And the egg salted egg yolk batter encapsulates the squid completely giving a great balance of flavour and texture. The egg yolk is very salty and has a starchy texture, which may be mistaken for flour. But be assured, this dish is superb. 4/5

Sago

Quite a simple dessert that was given to us “on the house”. A mixture of fresh coconut milk, sago, watermelons and rockmelons served chilled. Definitely a refresher after that hearty meal. 3.5/5

So nothing has changed after their re-opening, which is good thing as the food they serve is still great and in large portions. This place is good eating if you like to dine with friends without breaking the bank. I assure you that everyone will leave satisfied and full.

Entre $5
Mains $10
Dessert $4
BYO

Expect to pay around $10-15 per head for a great meal.
V^3 Gives Singapore Chinatown Restaurant 3.5/5.

V^3 Drink Review: Canned Coffee

For those of us who have busy lives and need that quick caffeine shot, there are alternatives in the form of canned coffee. I heard about these being quite popular in Asia, so I hunted around to find three examples of canned coffee in order to see what all this hype was about.

Well firstly, energy drinks such as Red Bull (read as: “Red Bullshit” because it does not work) are not as popular in Asian culture as the coffee counterparts. Since Asians enjoy their coffee night and day, I have high expectations for these coffees in a can.

Dydo コーヒーBlend Coffee

This is a cold milk coffee originating from Japan that is rather dilute and sweet. It tasted less milky and more watery. After drinking this coffee, my body filled with stimulant but the pay off was a sickly stomach. While the taste is acceptable, the watery blend with milk is not good on the stomach. I would not recommend this drink over freshly made coffee. 2/5.

Cafécino Espresso & Milk Double Shot

This is a product of Taiwan and tastes far better than that Dydo junk. Less dilute and more sweet it's quite a nice light blend that has a more authentic taste of Asian milk coffee. Cafécino has emulated the taste well but still, nothing beats the original stuff. 3/5.

Cafécino Espresso Double Shot

This is one is by far the better tasting coffee of the latter. Made of coffee beans, water and sugar, I guess you cannot go wrong. The coffee was the non milk variant and tasted very similar to the ice coffee they serve in Vietnam. Albeit, for an espresso it is a little diluted, but I prefer my espressos that way instead of the hardcore shots. 3.5/5.

Needless to say, canned coffee is crap (read as: inferior) compared to the fresh roasted and blended alternative. The Cafécino Espresso Double Shot was a bare pass, but still does not compare to what any of us can make at home. I suggest you stay away from canned coffee unless you intend to review it.

However, If you are so inclined to try these, canned coffe is available at most Asian Groceries.

V^3 Review: Baskin Robbins

Right now, as you may notice, Perth is experiencing a plethora of heat waves and strange weather. I find it hard to walk outside without the scorching heat burning my face off. So how do we forget about the climatic troubles Perth is facing? "How about we forget our troubles a nice bowl of strawberry ice-cream."

So to give you an idea of where nice ice cream is possibly found, we ventured to an internationally recognised Baskin Robbins store. An ice cream parlour franchise at heart, this place gives you minutes on the lips and years on the hips. We find out if this dairy delight really lives up to its hype.


That day we decided to scoop into four different flavours:

Mango Tango

This flavour was as it suggests (quite tangy) it gave you that kick in the mouth of mango power and described as quite sweet. A combination of mango ice cream with swirls of mango syrup. A marriage of mango goodness that melts together in the mouth results in quite a good ice cream. 3.5/5

Very Berry Strawberry

This ice cream was rather good to say the least, a nice and creamy strawberry mixture coupled with chunks of frozen strawberry. The strawberries were frozen and had an icy texture to contrast with the creams. Its a delightful twist to an old favourite. 3.5/5

Rainbow Sherbet

This ice cream was rather experimental for myself, having never tried a sherbet ice cream , I can confirm now that I am more partial to creamy ice creams. This rainbow sherbet has a texture that was more like a sorbet, which was quite icy and thus melted too quickly. It is very sweet and would probably attribute to thirst on a hot day, but nonetheless, that taste is very nice. By itself, it is excellent, I would not recommend having this flavour with a cone. They do not go well together. 2.5/5

Orange Sherbet
No picture was taken for this one, regardless, the orange sherbet was like that of the rainbow sherbet, the same texture but orange. it was quite delightful but did not go well with the cone. 3/5

Baskin Robbins will always be a nice offering of ice cream on those hot days. with 31 flavours, there is bound to be one that you will enjoy. V^3 will travel Perth in search of the best ice cream in future. For now though, V^3 gives Baskin Robbins 3/5.

V^3 Vacation: Kalbarri

After 10 days of hiatus (thanks to the other guys for keeping V^3 alive), I return from my vacation. This was the annual fishing trip that we usually do in January each year, the last trip was to Exmouth. This year, Kalbarri was on the map, with 7 guys packed up and ready to go kill things. Situated around 550km north of Perth, Kalbarri has some of the states best surf spots and fishing. This is Jakes Point, a famous surf spot shared by locals and tourists.

Kalbarri is home to some magnificent scenery, and if you are a budding photographer or like to see such natural wonders as natures window and natural bridge, this place offers such scenery.
However, this trip was not about sight seeing and taking pictures. we had 7 guys who were wanting to go kill things. Our favourite fishing spot was Chainman’s point and we saw a few of the locals land some decent sized tailor. We ended up catching around 45 mulloway over 2 nights.

Snorkelling and spearing fish is another way to kill, however, Kalbarri does not offer such wondrous snorkelling as Coral Bay and Exmouth. We did land a few Cray fish in Jurien Bay towards the end of the trip though.



A trip like this gave us many memories, getting smashed on the rocks, almost being killed by the surf, being stung by countless blue bottle jellyfish. We made it out alive. There was much more to this trip than I can ever write about. The best way for anyone to find out is to experience it themselves. Without trying to sound like a review, I suggest that you should make the trip out of Perth and enjoy what Western Australia has to offer. Kalbarri is a nice start.

V^3 Youtube: Guess This Song #1

Hey this is a test-run of what could turn into a long series of Youtube videos...
The premise is this:
I take a song that should never be played on piano (recommended or of my own choice), and I arrange it for piano so that it sounds completely different.
And then you guys guess what it is... which'll be revealed by the second half of the video.
And let me be a little creative with the arrangement.. otherwise it'll be way too easy to guess.

So without further ado, heres part 1:

V^3 Food Review: Corica - Apple Strudel

To say that Corica's Apple Strudel is fantastic, would be an understatement. The crisp pastry accentuates the contrast between the soft apple and the smooth cream and custard, creating a supple balance not found in other pastries. The Strudel is easily the most popular item at the store, flying right off the counter-tops and fridges into the hands of extremely happy patrons.


This is what the strudel looks like while still in the box, in all it's glory.

And here we have a standard issue serving of the strudel, the cross section demonstrating the ideal balance (it's tilted for effect to show the custard explosion).
For those playing along at home, it goes (from the bottom up):
Pastry
Custard
Baked Apple
Whipped Cream
Pastry
Custard
Pastry
Dusted Sugar

Some might argue that the dusted sugar is too strong and adds too much of a sweetness to the strudel, but I've yet to see a strudel disappear this fast in any dinner party or situation, so they're probably just finding things to criticize.
Ideally, it'd be something you'd bring to a dinner party when invited and it's sure to be a hit.

For around $13-15 per strudel, they're not cheap. But you can't put a price on awesomeness.
Corica Pastry House,
Corner of Aberdeen and Lake Streets,
Northbridge

memories: artpad - soybean

I just got a hold of this from my old email account. I whipped this up while procrastinating before mid-year exams in Year 12. I love it! Click and enjoy :).

Anjelah Johnson - Vietnamese Nail Salon

Are you Vietnamese? Here is how to find out, if none of your relatives speak like this, you are not Vietnamese.

Blessings every day!

Okay I'm inspired to put up a list of small things that God has done in my life, over the last few days. In chronological order. I'm pretty sure every day will have something new, so it'll be interesting to see how many blessings I can count.

Thursday: Bought a PS shirt for Tin Do on Steve's behalf, completely forgot about it and forgot all about the money. Put money in offering during session, and Steve paid me back afterwards with interest! Sowed and reaped 3 hours later with interest!
(now you might argue that I gained nothing because he already owed me money, but the way I see it, it was an unexpected windfall of income... awesome blessing)

Saturday: Buying a music lead at Kosmic, Bam! $5 off straight away, for no reason whatsoever (totally awesome) and then after unloading my music gear at the wedding, INSTANTLY finding a parking spot 10m from where I was, on the same street as the hotel, GOLD.

Sunday: Remembering the ang pow I got from the wedding... and contemplating whether or not I should give a proportion to Church, ended up giving it to God in faith...
Afterwards I was like "crap.... lunch money" but my niece gave me $10 fuel money which I was forced to take (she kept running away when I gave it back) and getting $10 from Thien.

:D God's training me up to be faithful in the small things so I can do bigger and greater things for Him. Woo!

Planetshakers Conference 2007 - Perth

Planetshakers this year was met with warm reception from our Church, with many people opting out of it or having to work during the duration of the conference. I was excited to be at the conference because they're always great, but inside I didn't have the same expectations as the previous times.

The first night went off quite awesomely, with Perth finally not being jipped in terms of lighting and effects (the wall of lights as a background was incredible) and Russell Evans delivering a good message. The songs themselves this year seemed uninspired... and the dance moves for "Praise Him"... are shocking (it's like the monkey!).

But throughout the night, God was trying to tell me something. I should come to this conference with a spirit of Expectation, and realise that it's never about the songs, or the speakers, it's just about God. So I did it. I expected God to do great things at the conference. I expected to feel His presence when praising and worshiping Him with the new songs. And He did all those things for me. I got so much out of this conference you wouldn't believe and I just felt re-energized to go and do His work in every situation and circumstance.

At the end of the day, the conference is about 'empowering a generation to win a generation' and it does this phenomenally through God's power. Nothing could compare to coming up and just feeling burdens fall, chains broken and honestly surrendering to God situations that seemed impossible. Praying for, and receiving breakthrough!

The situation I prayed for was just my relationship with my parents. For those of you who don't really know, we've never been that close. And I just prayed in petition for a change, for greater understanding between us... and slowly but surely, it's there. Coming home I felt an immediate change. I guess respecting my parents wishes and not going on the Kalbarri trip was the right thing to do, it leveled me up +1 in my parents' eyes. And... I actually did think it was impossible for me to ever be on proper talking terms with my parents, due to the massive generational gap and mismatched expectations on life. But slowly and surely, God's working in His own time.

Planetshakers isn't just for High School kids (or 14-year-olds), it's for anyone expecting to see a change, needing God in any circumstances.

V^3 Food Review: Jumbo Mi Goreng

Mi Goreng; the staple diet of many students and the lifeblood of many late night snackers. One of the foods that you probably couldn't improve...

...Until now.

Presenting JUMBO Mi Goreng! This evolution of Mi Goreng has made this bad boy badder than ever. As you can see, the size has increased quite substantially, and it's not just the bag. Inside, you will find that the iconic rectangle of non-cooked noodle goodness which was once seen as a joke in size live up to its "Jumbo" name. My friends, this feller is an actual meal now.



With the increase in noodle volume, you also get larger flavour packets which have (probably) been scientifically measured to achieve maximum happiness. The noodles themselves have slightly changed as they are slightly flatter. Whilst it might not tickle everyone's pickle, I found that it was equally as nice to eat as the original Mi Goreng noodle. I for one, do not enjoy Mi Goreng unless it has been cooked in a pot as I find kettle-cooked Mi Goreng is less satisfying in texture.



I recommend anyone who does not find the normal Mi Goreng filling enough to give this one a try as it will not only taste as good, but it will actually fill your tummy up.

V^3 Food Review: Fried Ice-Cream - City Garden, Northbridge

So once in awhile, we have to face the reality that despite the awesome food that is available around Perth, there is the occasional place that serves second rate foods. One particular restaurant that reflects this is; City Garden chinese restaurant, located on the west lane of Perth's lame attempt to creating a China town. The only dish that was ordered was the deep fried ice-cream. Needless to say, It did not impress us.


The contrast between the two temperatures was not evident and the outer layer was said to be too thick. which only resulted in a thick, mushy and greasy layer of breadding. The ice-cream used was of low quality and we found it hard to finish. at $3.90, the taste did not justify the price.


If you ever find yourself on the brink of starvation and the only place open is City Garden (they open till 4am). It would be better to starve. Unfortunately I would not recommend this place to eat at, there are many other eateries surrounding it and any of those would be above the level of satisfaction (or lack thereof) this place provides.

V^3 gives City Garden 1.5/5.

Super FOB

Ever questioned what a FOB (fresh off the boat) is? This guy is the epitome of FOB-ness.
Enjoy.
(Caution, contains Vietnamese swearing)

V^3 Food Review: Maya Masala 2 Indian Brasserie - Northbridge, Perth

These days, when people eat out, usually the Chinese and Japanese cuisines are quite popular with various circles. In an attempt to break that trend as of late, I decided to step out in discovery of newer more exotic foods in Perth. Feeling quite in need of some good curry, I wanted to venture into Northbridge and try a restaurant I had been keen on reviewing. I present to you, Maya Masala 2.

Although this is an Indian restaurant chain, don't be fooled, the food is authentic and Maya Masala 2 is quite a popular eatery amongst Indian locals.

We ordered an assortment of dishes for variety.

One dish that is quite popular at this establishment is the Thali dish. For $15 you get an assortment of three curries, Dahl, Rhoti, Papadam, Rice, Chutney and sweet rice porridge for dessert.

The Curries included in the Thali (from left to right) Zucchini Curry, Lamb Rogan Josh and Butter Chicken.
I am not fond of zucchinis, however, this curry was done well and actually gave the zucchinis a very soft density that would melt in the mouth. I think it is an excellent vegetarian dish.

Lamb Rogan Josh is a traditional curry that originated from Northern India, the dish is quite popular and I have tried it at other eateries before. Maya Masalas' offerings are definitely above par. The lamb was tender but did not break apart and the curry was not greasy. The dish is quite aromatic and is definitely a recommendation.

Butter Chicken is a definite favourite in Indian culinary. This example was splashed with sour cream to give it an extra smoothness that went especially well with the rice. So nice, it was ordered as a main dish too.

Lamb curry was ordered and this is a combination of lamb and spices marinated in a vinegar. To simply define it, it was "scrumptious", just the right amount of spice.

Chicken Korma is a popular curry that has a very nutty and creamy flavour. This particular one was extra nutty and extra creamy, making it extra delicious!

Rhoti was served with all curries and is a flat bread that is oily, designed to be saturated with the curries when dipped. It was exceptional and enhanced the flavour of curries instead of weakening it like rice did.

All dishes were also enjoyed with pappadams, which were light and crispy and a real contrast to the texture of the curries.

One dish that I have failed to mention until now is the Dhal. This vegetarian dish is made of lentils and has a starchy texture that is quite nice.

Finally, we move onto dessert. This eatery is quite famous for its wide varieties of desserts. We tried the sweet rice porridge. To say the least, it was very delicious. The creamy coconut milk balanced the starchiness of the rice. Served cold, it was a nice neutraliser to the hot curries. I would definitely recommend trying this dessert, as it was a favourite amongst our table.

If you would like a change from the regular Chinese and Japanese food that Perth has to offer on every street, try Maya Masala 2, it's a nice change and safe for me to say, that despite the caution to Indian foods, I did not walk away with a stomach ache. For $15 you could walk away feeling highly satisfied and experience something more exotic.

$6 for entree
$15 for mains
$5 for desserts
BYO

Maya Masala 2 located on the South West corner of Lake and Francis and is a fine place to dine with friends for a change of pace.
V^3 gives Maya Masala 4/5

Cereal, More Than a Breakfast Food?

Cereal. More than just morning food?

There are times, late at night when my nocturnal hunger screams to be satisfied. Sure, I could have some hot food, such as the all mighty Mi Goreng or a healthier alternative, a piece of fruit.

Not only can you add such healthy ingredients into your cereal such as milk and pieces of fruit, there is also a fucking huge variety of cereals itself you can choose from, which make it one of the kings of late night snack foods.

I have argued (usually with myself) whether or not cereal is actually better as a late night snack than a breakfast food. Here is my verdict, it is based on a couple tests I have set:

1. Does it taste better at night than in the morning?
Well, I find that it does taste better at night because my taste buds has not been altered by that freshly brushed teeth feeling, i.e. making pieces of fruit within the cereal taste sour.

2. Does it feel better to eat it at night?
Yes, early in the morning, nothing is worse (well for me) than having cold liquid running down my throat and loud crunching in my ear. Most of you would have to agree that you're pretty grumpy in the morning and that you'd rather have some peace and quiet whilst you're recovering from your sleep...Or a hangover.

3. Healthier to eat it at night?
Probably not, see, the adding of milk to the cereal will make you sleepy after consumption, which is highly likely to lead you to go to bed. And whilst it's not that bad to sleep once in a while straight after a meal, it has been said to be an unhealthy practice if done regularly.

4. Easier to make at night?
No, adding milk to cereal is not easier to make at night. I have timed myself adding milk to the cereal at night and in the morning, and I have found that there is no time difference as it is not easier to pour milk into cereal at night than in the morning.

Conclusion:
So there you have it folks, semi-scientific proof that cereal does in fact, make a better night snack than a breakfast food.

More Money Than Brains

This is old news, but still entertaining. Perth is full of idiots, here is the epitome of such examples.
Take a look at this car, it was parked in South Perth at the pub. So nice... an Italian icon


So naturally the "sik dawg" (read as "moronic") owner of this car thinks he is the bomb (read as "legend") as people admire his car after he leaves the pub. Sitting at the lights, he starts to rev his engine to put on a sound show for the crowd. Light turns green, he floors it as he turns left, thinking his car is so powerful he can do a "drift" while turning... traction control kicks in and BAM! pole 1 - Ferrari 0.


I'm sure "that'll buff right out". Take notice of the pole, it hasn't even tilted and yet, the car has been written off. Ouch...


Due to his prior activities that day, his blood alcohol level was measured at 3 times the legal limit. Sorry sir, no insurance payout for you.

Mug shot.


Said man is escorted to the police station and the day returns to normal... Some people truely have more money than brains.

Thanks to PSB for the news coverage.

Review: Banana (Viet ones)

Yes, I'm reviewing fruit. Actually I just wanted to show off this picture of these bananas grown in my backyard. They're called "chuoi sim" (sp?) and are incredibly awesome.


Bon apetit!

Firstly, the form factor. This model of banana is smaller than the standard range available, but don't be fooled. The compact size allows for ease of transportation and storage, allowing for more than one to be carried at a time. And you'll want more than one, cos these disappear fast.

Also, the being half the size of a normal banana, one would assume that it has half the taste of a normal banana. One would be dead wrong. Half the size = double the taste. The awesomeness of a normal banana has been compressed and compacted into a brilliant package without compromising ANYTHING.

Another advantage associated with these bananas is the thickness of the skin (or rather thinness). Thinner skin = more banana goodness.

So if any of you made it to the end of this article without pausing to stare longingly at the picture of the bananas, you're lying! That's all for today.