The ultimate present

One of the highlights of Jim's party... was no doubt a certain gift given to him by 2/4 of the V^3 bloggers. Yes, Sean and I (Pete) got Jim a Family Guy Tee contained in a huge red packet (Sean's idea all the way).

Wahliao, so huge lah!

OMGAWD MONIEZ

Oh a shirt.

Yes, by the way we do know that the Chinese character is off... and probably not a real character. It was the result of looking up random Chinese characters in Google and finding "Jin" Dynasty. But come on, give us a break, we're VIETS!
If you're wondering where to get one of these huge novelty sized packets, you're gonna have to make it.

:) Jim-bruz, Morley brothers for life.

Comparison shot with a normal red packet

The finished product...

And our packaging for the packet...

Jim's Party

Saturday the 24th was an uneventful day for most. UNLESS YOU WERE INVITED TO JIM'S 19TH BIRTHDAY PARTY. ON THE ROCKS.
Actually it was on the grass at Brighton Beach, which we all thought was just an extension of Scarborough Beach. Actually, the party was scheduled to be held at Scarborough but due to unforeseen circumstances (a certain A. Callea) the location was moved to this ideal location.
Also, the party was scheduled to start at 1pm... but everyone was following the strict formula pertaining to Asian Time:

Time of Arrival = Scheduled time + 0.5x (where x is the number of people in the group arriving)

Anyway, the day was a massive success with new friends being made and Jim getting owned. Several times. Intensely.

The Jim Himself.

MSHS pride (but still not the whole MSHS crew.. i mean krew y'all, cos we so ghetto indahood)

Check out the rest of the pics here (thanks to Sean for the upload and Megan for being trigger-happy with the camera)

Perth's Best Kebabs

If you ever find yourself feeling hung-over, drunk or just in need of a good kebab, try Ararat kebabs located in the Broadway shopping complex adjacent to UWA.


They serve some awesome authentic kebabs made with Turkish bread and a good helping of meat and vegetables. If you fancy, you can customise your order to get the most pimp'd out kebab on the street. So you might be asking, what makes this place so much better than the rest? Well, I asked the same questions until I graced my palate with a nice hot bite of kebab goodness. The fillings are no doubt the freshest and the bread is nice and hot not too greasy and never soggy.


You can have your choice of doner (red meat, usually lamb), chicken or falafel (fava beans and chick peas for the vegans).
Kebabs are certainly a healthy alternative to KFC and with the ability to personalise your kebab to your liking, there's a flavour for everyone.

Therefore, I declare Ararat as Perth's best kebabs. If you have a suggestion for a comparable place, feel free to leave your comments.

I would also like to note that Ararat also serve pizza and burgers, and some friends have informed me of their awesomeness. So if you find yourself in need of a good Turkish meal. You know where the best is.

Ararat Kebabs
Shop 6/88 Broadway
Nedlands
9389 1063

V^3 Declares Ararat as Perth's Best kebabs.

V^3 Snack Guide

Sometimes when you're hard at work or writing, snacking is an awesome way to relieve the munchies and prepare you for the meal to come. Kind of like an appetiser. So I’m going to give you all an insight into some of my favourite snacks which I munch on while I’m intensely exercising my thoughts. With uni starting this week you may find yourself needing some snacks while going hard with the partying and study.

Pocky Sticks


These are some special pocky sticks that I picked up from the Asian grocer, They’re covered in an orange chocolate layer that tastes quite sweet. These little bread sticks are quite addictive and come in a variety of flavours. They’re made by Glico, which is a Japanese snack company so the quality of these is quite high. Pocky also come in more expensive varieties such as Men’s pocky, which is a rich dark chocolate. These are a good alternative to eating giant Snicker bars as they’ll tend to give you a sugar high and then leave you sick.


Pizza Pocky “Pretz” flavour for anyone interested (yuck) these don’t taste that nice and I would avoid them. They’re filled with MSG goodness.

Yoshiki Nuts



These nuts are filled with vitamin-E goodness and coated in a crunchy shell. I call them Yoshi nuts because they look like Yoshi eggs. Nevertheless, these are great snacking and highly addictive. Word of caution though, do not consume these whilst drinking fizzy beverages or stomach pain awaits. Yoshi eggs make a great share food too, so don’t forget to invite your friends.


These ones are available at Innaloo Fresh (V^3 recommended fresh foods supplier) and cost $13.99 per kilo.

Fruits



Last but not least, do not forget to snack on healthy foods such as fruit. My favourite would be watermelon. On hot days like these, nothing beats some nice cool crisp watermelon slices from the fridge.

Remember to also drink a lot of water whilst snacking and (if you buy bottled water) stay clear of Cool-Ridge bottled water, that stuff tastes crap. Any other brand will do.

So as you start crunching down on the study and work, snacks and water will keep your brain active and prevent fatigue.

Happy snacking.

-Mike

true love is the only just and holy war...

This morning I came across a blog belonging to the lead vocalist of Anberlin, and this article just seemed totally applicable to my circumstances, and is generally an awesome read. It's a post about love, but not in the utterly hopeless romantic view. He's real about it and the part of the article that affected me most is this (on starting off solo):

solo- i believe that there needs to be a point to finding oneself, a journey in solitude, away from ones family and friends where a boy becomes a man, a girl into a women. i think too many times girls never become women because they never leave the shelter of their father and instantly assimilate into the shelter of a husband, meanwhile never learning what it is like to live on their own under the shadows of responsibility, financial decisions, and most importantly their own individual passions. how is anyone going to make someone else happy until they themselves know what makes them happy? why do we pursue a lifetime commitment without knowing what they themselves want to accomplish in this lifetime? the Bible says "seek and you will find." in light of that there needs to be a time of seeking before one can inevitably find someone to spend the rest of their days with; and by seeking i do NOT mean seeking out someone to be in a relationship with, but seeking life on your own. in lamens terms (& like i have said before) do not look for mr. right until you have completelty devoloped mrs. right. in the same fashion do not pursue mrs. right until you have developed mr. right.

(don't mind the lack of capital letters... just read it for what it's worth)

Check out the rest of the post by clicking here, or the title of this post... and check out some of his other posts, they're really insightful.

Oh, and don't forget to check out Anberlin's music :D. (website or myspace)
"A Day Late" is an awesome song, acoustic version or normal... and "Paperthin Hymn" is a good introduction to their feel and sound. Also check out "(a symphony of) blasé" for a slower song...

V^3 Anime: Yakitate! Japan

There's English bread, German bread, and French bread, but Japan's bread, Japan, does not exist.
In that case, there's no choice but to create it.
This story is a serious, biographical ballad of a boy who possesses Solar Hands, Azuma Kazuma, who will create a Japanese bread made by and for the Japanese people, which can be presented to the world proudly.
- [ Opening Text for the Anime ]

Yakitate! Japan is the best anime I have seen. From the opening text, you can tell that this is an adventure of epic proportions. It's an anime about the creation of a bread to represent the nation of Japan, a Ja-pan (Pan being the Japanese word for bread). The show is filled with puns like this... and most of the time they get carried away to the point of absurdity.

One of the selling points of the anime is in fact it's absurdity. Y!J takes a simple concept like bread, and wraps it in all the cliches normally found in other anime, including power-ups, vast explanations of techniques and contains most of the archetypes found in other anime... such as the naive protagonist, the loser sidekick who'll never surpass the main character, the mysterious/serious guy, the random girl, and afro-wearing mentor-figure. Okay, maybe not the afro-wearing mentor figure.

The show itself has equal parts storyline and randomness, appealing to the two extremes of the anime-viewing public.

The storyline follows Azuma Kazuma in his quest to make a bread worthy of representing the Japanese nation, and his trials and growth as a baker through the various competitions in the show. Besides the fantastic baking segments, there is a back-story for every character, and an internal struggle within Pantasia (the main bakery featured in the show) for control and inheritance of the company, along with the mysterious pasts of several characters in the show...

With regards to randomness, most of it comes into play when the judging of the bread commences. The bread is usually so fantastic that it causes the person eating the bread to experience a reaction. The reaction itself usually references some pun on the bread's name, or alludes to Japanese / Western culture in some way, and just describing it like this doesn't do it justice. You should get out there and just watch it yourself.

Yakitate! Japan has often been called Iron Chef + Initial D in the fantastical nature of the baking combined with the in-depth analysis of the ingredients and baking procedures... but would definately appeal to fans of more random anime because of it's light-hearted nature and randomness. The only negative I can list is probably the rather weak conclusion of the anime that felt rushed and didn't do justice to the awesomeness of the rest of the show... I mean come on, it ended on episode 69. What kind of a number is that to end on?

Recommended for fans of: Iron Chef, Anime that take something normal and add fantastic elements (i.e. Prince of Tennis), Any Anime at all!

P.S. Be sure to have some Regent Cakes pastries with you while watching the show, because everyone I know who has seen it instantly felt an urge to go and eat some quality baking.

Best Chips Ever!

Yes. The best.

V^3 Food Review: Musashi - Joondalup

So I was in Joondalup recently and decided to try a place that had been mentioned in some conversation over good Japanese food. The target was Musashi, who claim to serve some fine take-away.


It seems that there is a current surge of Japanese food joints popping up everywhere. Needless to say, there are the poor excuses for food and some rather unauthentic horrid combinations of Chinese/Japanese cuisine. However. Musashi is not and example of such poor excuses for fare.


The dishes are simple, I ordered a teriyaki chicken which is a common dish among all Japanese eateries. This place executes it rather well and reflects their authenticity. The taste is smooth and like that of Jaws teriyaki chicken. A blend of sweet sauces with rice makes a hearty serve. It comes with a side of cabbage salad and something that I found rather strange, a potato ball filled with vegetables. Probably not the best salad I've had but its a good filler. At $6.50 per box it's not a bad deal at all.


Musashi Fine Japanese Food
Unit 7/ 113 Grand Blv, Joondalup
Japanese Take-away
Telephone: 9301-0226.

V^3 gives Musashi. 3/5

Out Do Yourself Next Year

Well with Valentines Day just passing, I know all you studs out there were out pleasing the ladies much like I was...-_-. And if you're anything like me - you'll be planning on how to out do youselves next year. Well guys, heres your answer.

Warning: Not Safe for Work

Sly at The Llama Bar - Subiaco

So what does one do on Thursday nights?


Normally we would be at home kicking back and chilling. However, this time, we decided to check out the popular jazz-band Sly at the Llama Bar. A night of good eating, good people and great music was awaiting.



As you step into the warm atmosphere of the Llama bar, the dimmed lighting, earthy tones and crowd make this place quite inviting. I found a nice couch to sit down and lay back (some of the décor could use an update though, but I guess that adds to the vintage feel). As I watch and listened to the quartet serve out some smooth tunes I thought to myself, it couldn't get any better than this, a comfortable couch right up front, a nice drink to pass the time and some good company. Sly made the experience all that better.


Formed by 3 of the original members of Jazz group Void, each player was awarded scholarships to the James Morrison school of music. In every note and beat they serve their skills and talents to bring even the most accomplished artists into awe.


Andrew Fizendon pumps out some awesome beats and gives the occasional crazy solo.


Dane Alderson plays an awesome 6 string bass like an extension of his body, so pro!

While the Llama Bar does have some seedy and snobbish undertones, you can go to better looking bars in Perth, but one thing they miss is some of Perth’s best music and that makes for a better experience.

The smooth jazzy tunes from Sly are greatly appreciated by all music lovers and "musos". If you're rather interested in jazz music and waiting for a good night out, Sly have made the Llama bar their home on Thursday nights. It's definitely a hot spot in Perth to chill and socialise.

Llama Bar

Sly on Thursday nights

1/464 Hay St Subiaco
Perth,
Telephone: 08 9388 0222

How To Make Sushi

Fellow v-logger Moshihino brings you her quick and easy guide to making sushi.

Don't we all love sushi... Enjoy!

V^3 Food Review: Mario's Pizza

Perth city is filled with pizza parlours from north to south... These include a franchise style pizza, which offers some very filling party food but nonetheless, do not satisfy the palate and certainly brings no justice to the classic dish that is the pizza.

I received tip-off on Perth’s best pizza north of the river. The destination was Mario’s. It had an Italian name, so that was a good sign.


Having dined at other certain popular establishments such as Marco’s pizza, I decided to compare Mario’s to my past experiences at Marco’s. Since both claim they serve the best pizza north of the river, both Mario’s and Marco’s have their reputations on the line. The winner will taste the sweet victory of my twenty bucks, while the loser will taste the bitter shame of defeat.

So let us begin.


Upon entering this establishment, don’t let its humble scenery fool you. This place is 100% authentic. So authentic that this family business has great Italian pride and don’t even speak English. This is proof that you are getting authentic pizza made the Italian way. (Yes, you even have to speak Italian to order at Mario’s)


Their menu is rather extensive and they provide a plentiful selection of toppings for all your pizza needs. Our party decided to order 3 different pizzas to sample their range of flavours including red meat, chicken and seafood. At this point we were quite hungry and mouths watering.


First on the menu was Mario’s Special, a creation recommended by Lady Dianabol. Consisting of such fantastical ingredients of onion, pepperoni, bacon, tomato, pineapple, olives and anchovies. A rather unique combination, we found this dish to be a nice balance of sweet and salty. The salty anchovies presented a nice contrast with the juicy pineapple. Olives and tomatoes are a classic Italian ingredient and really bring out the authenticity of this dish. The olives used were plump and not dry like those canned pre-sliced varieties. A diffusion of authentic flavours made Mario’s Special an experience worth savouring and exclusive to this pizza store.



I decided to try the chicken pizza at Mario’s due to my utmost fondness of Marco’s chicken pizza. Needless to say, I have found a new throning champion in the chicken pizza world. Mario’s offering provides a traditional and modern blend of onion, mushroom, tomato, pineapple, and the key ingredient, chicken. To add a sweet twist to the otherwise conservative ingredients, Mario’s recommend the barbeque sauce. The hot chicken and barbeque sweetness go hand in hand to deliver quite possibly the best chicken pizza I have ever graced upon my palate.


The Marina is a simple seafood pizza that consists of prawns, crab and mussels, all seasoned by herbs to give an aromatic pizza. I am usually cautious when it comes to eating seafood, as the scent can be quite pungent. However, this pizza had a fresh baked mouth watering aroma that filled the air. The shrimps were nicely plump and plentiful, giving eat bite a generous burst of flavours. I think the decision not to add anchovies to this pizza was a wise move. This was due to the saltiness of the cheese, which gave balance to the flavours. I personally think a carbonara sauce instead of tomato would have perfected this pizza. Nevertheless the Marina is an awesome choice for all seafood lovers.


So after having the Mario’s experience, I can state that Marco’s offer a great pizza, however, Mario’s have that authentic Italian touch and atmosphere that gives the pizzas a better flavour and experience. I would also like to note that unlike Marco’s, the pizzas at Mario’s are less greasy and more flavoursome. Unless you like your food greased up good, I declare Mario’s as Perth’s best pizza north of the river.

One thing that I have forgotten to mention is that Mario’s serve chilli mussels and a great selection of pastas. At $10 a serve I’ve been told they are comparable (if not, better) to that of classy Italian restaurants.

If you feel like some Italian, you can’t go wrong with Mario’s. It certainly beats Dominoes in my books.

Pizzas: $10
Pastas: $10

Mario’s Pizza
Shop 55c Walter Road, Dianella
9271 3322

V^3 Gives Mario's Pizza. 4.5/5

Weather Girls

"Clear blue skies with a top of thirty degrees today, beautiful day for a picnic"

These are the only words looping through my head when I watch Channel 9 or 7's weather coverage. If most of you don't know, two professional and clearly talented women- Natalia Cooper and Rebecca Twigley host these segments. So the question is, the Coop or the Twig? I’ll help you decide.

Through hard work (dedication to you loyal readers), I have created a comparative scale with a score, I have tried to be as fair as possible, but please understand, to each his own.

Weather Announcing:
Natalia Cooper: Having this job longer has given her more experience. This is evident in her comfortable presentation of the weather. She announces the weather clearly and confidently without any hesitation.
Score: 10/10

Rebecca Twigley: Being somewhat newer to this position, Rebecca Twigley handles herself in a very professional manner. Her weather announcement is also clear and on par with that of Natalia’s.
Score: 10/10

Okay, this is where it really counts...we’re all shallow.

Weather Presentation Fashion:
Natalia Cooper: Her choice of clothing is casual, but not informal. She looks comfortable and not over-flashy, definitely easy on the eyes. Her hair is usually worn down which once again, makes her look more casual and laid back. Perhaps changing her hair would be a nice addition to her already terrific face.
Score: 10/10

Rebecca Twigley: Her clothes seem more corporate, which some may think, suits the news station better as it is more of a corporate environment. Her hair is also worn down, but is styled in a more professional manner. I would easily give her 11/10 if she wore that red Brownlow dress every night. Alas, we can’t win’em all.
Score: 10/10



The famous red Brownlow dress worn by Rebecca Twigley

Face:
These two lovely ladies have faces that other women would kill for. I do however; prefer Natalia Cooper, her faces oozes modesty, whilst Twigley clearly flaunts her model looks.


The Gorgeous Natalia Cooper...the only image I could find.

Conclusion:
The two fine women who grace the weather presenting stage on Channel 9 and 7 both have their qualities. They are both talented weather presenters who have looks to die for. However, there can only be one winner, and that winner is…none. The only true weather presenter is Channel 10’s Michael Schultz…that sexy monotone beast.

Just kidding folks, I can’t choose between the two, so why don’t you choose for me!

Who is the most attractive weathergirl?
	Rebecca Twigley
	Natalia Cooper
Free polls from Pollhost.com

V^3 Is Back!

That is right... V^3 is now back and alive and kicking! After many long weeks of my computer being dead, I revived it from the ashes and now we are back in action! V^3 have also prepared many articles to share as we continue to bring you the insight into Perth, food and culture.

I am in the process of writing my latest review.


Here's a sneak preview of what's to come.

Regards.

Mikey

Where the hell are these guys?

Howdy dedicated readers. As you may or may not have been aware, there hasn't been an update in quite a while.
Myself, I've been dealing with some situations and brainstorming up a couple of concepts, budgeting constraints and other adventures. Do not be afraid! There is NEW content coming. I've got a YouTube 101 post coming up and there are sure to be more reviews on the way. Sean's got one on a very controversial DVD and Mike has a new Pizza Parlour to evaluate. Jimbaland's also got some news on his latest bullet wounds.

Feel free to comment... and let us know you still care :'( cos we're emo. Actually only Sean is. No, wait, he's Korean. ZING!

Anyway, updates are coming soon. KEEP REFRESHING. (well maybe not today)

V^3 Update: R.I.P. PowerBook G4

So you may be wondering why I have an absence as of late? Well, due to unfortunate circumstances, my Apple PowerBook was out on a mission and suffered some internal damage.



(Picture for illustrative puposes only)

So my posts here will be few in the upcoming weeks. For now, we have the rest of the V^3 crew whipping up new articles for you as I write this.(I will still endeavour to find a computer to bring you the latest updates on Perth)

R.I.P PowerBook 2004-2007

- Commander Mike

V^3 Food Review: Cicerello's

After a nice day at Cottesloe beach, swimming, baking in the sun and the usual things, we had empty stomachs which were waiting to be filled. To keep in theme of all things marine, we decided to dine at Cicerello's.

This establishment on the fisherman’s wharf in Fremantle claims to serve Perth's best fish and chips. I have dined here before and coming back was not a problem. Suffice it to say, this place does indeed serve the best fish and chips.

Upon entering the eatery, you are greeted with a grandiose fish tank that surrounds the dining area. It's a beautiful marine tank and really gives the atmosphere a boost and some eye candy.


Garlic Prawns

The prawns looked so tempting, I could not resist. I had even forgotten that I was allergic to prawns! However, I was willing to fight the pain for a good meal! In the end, it was well worth it. The prawns were puffed in soda and cooked in a creamy garlic sauce that tasted ever so nice as I swallowed them down my itching and swelling throat. Awesome. The dish comes with a side of chips and salad. The chips were very fresh and tasted equally good with the garlic sauce. The salad is good as always and gave the dish some colour. At $19.50 for this meal, it was large serving that even I could not finish. 3.5/5

Seafood Tray

If it's your first time to Cicerello’s and you are here for the best, I recommend the seafood tray. For $13.75 you get a massive helping of deep fried awesomeness that will guaruntee to give you coronary heart disease after 1 serving. But fried taste great. So bring it on! You get, prawns, crab, fish, pineapple, calamari, chips and a nice coleslaw and tartare to add colour and flavour. Great value and a great feed. 4/5

Best sauce ever!

It's tartare, what’s more to say?

Traditional Fish and Chips

At $10.50 for a simple serve of fish and chips, you can't go wrong. This is what makes Cicerello's famous. The oil used to cook the fish and chips is always fresh and you get a nice large serve for your money. 4/5


Ever since its rebuild in 1997, Cicerello's still serves the freshest seafood in Fremantle. The atmosphere can get crowded at times, but that's a good sign of quality food.

44 Mews Road Fremantle
Mains $15-25
Kid Friendly

V^3 gives Cicerello's 4/5