Day-to-Day Life

Hey guys!

What has everyone been up to with their lives? Mine hasn't been all that exciting to be honest. Just the usual working, uni, eating and sleeping pattern. But I do have some great photos and things to share with you all! I forgot to mention, I did manage to escape the usual everyday routine and met up with friends and spent time with family. I also got to celebrate a few of my friend's birthdays! Which is pretty exciting.

First, it's always a good idea for a KBBQ feast.

If you ever go, you have got to try Yi Dynasty's pork shoulder!

Brooklyn Depot @ The 4217

Here again, mentioned in my previous post - Brooklyn Depot. 

Clockwise: Garbage Fries, Sweet A** Potato Fries & Twice Cooked Onion Rings.

Brooklyn Classic & Chicky Babe @ Brooklyn Depot

Also, my friend Xuxin was visiting from Taiwan so we ended up doing some touristy things! Like... Q1 Observation Deck sightseeing for the first time for me too. The view was so  amazing, you could see the ocean view and the hinterland view as well up on the 78th floor.

I finally got the opportunity to meet up with Yona, for a long due catch up over some delicious Carbonara.

Having some tea and cake at Harmoni-T with Alan and Brendon.

How cute is HERO BABY?!?!

Caught up with Yona again with some amazing vegan sweets and delicious acai bowl at Blendlove.

Left to right: Ferrero Rocher, Caramelised Buckini Acai Bowl and Choc Orange Jaffa.

Okay, so recently I have been extremely addicted to Street Fighter! 

My friend's and I went to Timezone (local arcade) to play street fighter and pretty much ruined my nails completely before getting this ice-cream. But hmmm Baskin Robins will still be my all time fav. The Strawberry Cheesecake is amazing.

I had an afternoon picnic with two of my closest friends and Hero baby! We also made fairy bread together, it was so good - brings back the childhood memories.

Had a date with mummy and sis at the Teas Rediscovered Harmoni-T again. 

Meet Yuyu baby!

My sister's fur babies! Toetoe the Pugalier and Nidu & Hojo the Labradors.

Okay, so hands down the best Chirashi Sushi on the Gold Coast. Such a hidden gem!

A must try at Amimoto in Surfers.

Outfit post of the day with Sis.

Such good weather lately.

Treated myself to the Donut Boyz on the GC.

I also attended the QAHS Formal and watched all the amazing graduates at walk-ins. 

Amazing food once again at Cafe 928. Never going to stop going there. Seriously nice food and amazing service as well!

Alan, Brendon and I went to Amimoto and ate my favourite Chirashi Sushi!!! Seriously so oishii desu. Haha. Anyway, thank you so much for reading. I hope you all have a lovely break and enjoy spending your festivities around the corner with your loved ones!

- Miss Ting Chen

First Sydney Trip, Ever

Hi everyone!

I must say, that the last few months went by way too quickly... What has everyone been up to? My life has been pretty exciting to be honest... I even went to Sydney for the first time in my life! You may all think it's a joke... Been living on the Gold Coast for 18 years and have never travelled to another city which is only like an hour away by plane. 

SO YES, I FINALLY WENT TO SYDNEY.

It was a short, yet relaxing and very exciting trip filled with food, of course. I got to visit my sister and brother-in-law who has recently moved down which was very nice! I also reunited with my childhood friend who has also recently moved to Sydney with his family. Okay, enough of me blabbering on and on. I'm going to share some photos with you guys of pretty much everything I did during my trip to Sydney...

Free OJ and Dotty Byron Bay Cookie! Thanks Jetstar. 

(Even though I think I may have accidentally purchased the $5 voucher with my flight? haha, thanks anyway.)

After I arrived in Sydney, my childhood friend - Alan came and picked me up (otherwise, I would've seriously gotten lost) Haha, thanks Alan! We walked around the harbour and I finally got to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House for the first time (was super excited) and also got to take the ferry back to Alan's house which was really cool. So this is a pic of me cracking up because I was actually acting like the biggest asian tourist ever. HAHA sorry Alan for making you feel embarrassed and walking around wheeling my suitcase around for me.

We then met up with his parents and went out for lunch together at The Boat House @ Balmoral Beach on this super sunny day.

I am seriously so behind the hype with all of these amazing and super famous foods. But what can I say? They're just not made available on the Gold Coast. So yeah, I finally got my N2 Gelato Fix which was so good! Haha Alan and I got the Deconstructed Matcha Lava and the Dirty Milk flavour.

And, of course...

Who can go to Sydney without going to this place?

AQUAAAAA S. 

This place and it's Sea Salt flavoured ice-cream has seriously been the biggest hype all over Instagram for the past few months so of course I had to try it! So the flavours alway stay as Sea Salt and another flavour that changes frequently, (only just found out when I got there that the flavours change all the time). Pretty lucky though because we got the Sea Salt and Peach Creme Brûlée Swirl with Caramel Popcorn and Fairy Floss (you could choose from four different toppings - grilled marshmallow and popping candy as well).

Surprisingly, it actually lived up to my expectations. As people say, just because it looks good it doesn't mean it'll taste good too. But it did. Well at least I liked it haha. Anyway, if you ever swing by the city make sure you pay a visit to Aqua S and get a shot of that extremely typical blue cloud backdrop that every single person who walks in would also take.

The Watermelon Cake @ Black Star Pastry. Haha why is this happening, everything is living up to my expectations. It was actually really good. The watermelon cake was really special and refreshing in a way? With the slice of watermelon within and the rose petals on the top created this really unique taste. Would most definitely go back and have another slice!

Had a super lovely coffee date with Mama Shen and my sis in the Campos Coffee in Newtown!

So, Mama Shen strictly says that: The Campos Coffee in Newtown is the best one, you gotta carefully watch how they make the coffee. So keep in mind guys, make sure you go to the one in Newtown. Gotta agree though, it was probably the best coffee i've ever tried... (and I don't even like coffee that much). It tasted pretty magical. Haha. We ordered a Latte, an Iced coffee and an Affogatto for drinks. Cronut and some sort of orange muffin for the dessert. 

So yeah, moving on... My sis and I also went to The Grounds of Alexandria! I've got to be super honest but i'm not too sure what the hype is all about with this place... Maybe it was just this one time experience that I had that completely did not even meet my expectations at all. But it was sort of disappointing to realise what it was like when we finally got there (no offence to the people who loves The Grounds of Alexandria).

So first of all, this place is hella busy. Like extremely busy. All the times were booked out on the first day we wanted to go (even for a two seater table). So when we tried to book for the second day for a three seater table (brother-in-law wanted to come along) they were all already gone too. So my sis and I finally got a booking for like 1:30pm. Fair enough, if it's fully booked all the time even on weekdays (Tuesday and Wednesday we tried booking), it's gotta be hella good right?

Anyway, I don't want to complain. Like it was good, but just now thaaaaat good. You know? In my opinion the hype for this place is way too overrated. It was a lovely place and everything, like seriously don't get me wrong. But I just don't understand why everyone is so obsessed with it.

I still really enjoyed the food that we got and the strawberry tart that we ate as dessert as well.

But honestly, I ordered the Dirty Chai since I love Chai. But was seriously completely disappointed. I don't think i've ever not finished my drink with my meal. But I couldn't even finish half of it. Hopefully my experience at The Grounds of Alexandria will be better next time *fingers crossed*

Sooooo, I finally met up with Eric in Sydney! Who is a friend of mine from the Gold Coast who moved to Sydney to study haha. Surprisingly Eric and Alan (my childhood friend, who's name is also Alan) actually have mutual friends since they both go to USYD. Which was pretty cool. Such a small World. Anyway, Eric was always telling me how amazing this gelato place in Sydney is and that he has to take me when I go visit him! So he finally took us to Cow & Moon!

We had two rounds of gelato because the first round was just not enough to satisfy our tastebuds haha. The first round we had creamier flavours like cookies & cream and espresso (was it?) and the second round we got more fruity and refreshing flavours like blood orange and lemon sorbet. 

(For those who like a good and sour lemon sorbet, you gotta try this one. It was actually sour.)

Chilling with Alan and Eric at USYD. // It was actually such a HUGE university and so pretty too. But seriously, huge. Took me such a long time to tour the place.

Oh yeah, we also ate lunch at Brewtown a cafe in Newtown. It was really nice. Eric ordered a Freshly Squeezed OJ and I got an Iced Chocolate (because they didn't sell Iced Chai) and I forgot the name of the food we ordered... but it was nice and tasty! The Brewnuts they sold there was pretty amazing though (must try!). We shared the Jam one and all love it. It was so good to see Alan and Eric. But so sad to say good bye again :( See you guys next time, make sure you visit the Gold Coast soon!

To end Sydney on a bright note.

I had dinner with my sister and brother-in-law at Oyster Bar by the Sydney Harbour with this amazing night view of the city. It was absolutely amazing. I loved Sydney so much, and I will definitely be back shortly to visit again. And to eat the foods that I didn't get to eat and the places that I didn't get to go.

Thank you and Until next time, SYDNEY.

- Miss Ting Chen 

A month in a post - July

Hello! It has most definitely been a while... time to update you all about what's been happening in my busy yet not so busy life. Many new changes has happened and to be honest, nothing very exciting has occurred. Even if it has.. I could probably count it with five fingers.

First of all, I did pay a visit to Sushi Train for a special occasion. We ate heaps of sushi and it was great!

SALMON ABURI ahhhh definitely my favourite type of sushi. Anything aburi is amazing!

I love sushi so much. So not long after that, there was the 1 year anniversary for the Southport Sushi Train chain store and we bought so much sushi!

My life honestly evolves around food and eating 24/7. So Eric, Alan's friend came back to the Gold Coast to visit and we had some nice dinner together at Bistro Lamp (I was too busy eating and the lighting was dark for it's atmosphere - so forgive me for not taking photos ;-;) however, after dinner we went to Max Brenner's for dessert. It was amazing as usual.

Eric ordered the Tutti Frutti Waffle for one with chocolate ice-cream. It was so yum, probably my second favourite thing to order at max Brenner's. I always order the Tutti Frutti Waffle for two and with vanilla ice-cream though.

This time, I ordered the Strawberry and Cream Crepes - definitely my number one favourite right now. It is actually so good and what I like about it the most is the fact that it's definitely not too sweet. I like eating sweets but then I don't like them being way too sweet. (if that makes sense...?) Anyway, it's beyond doubt a must try!

Also, like the mature adult Alan thinks he is... he ordered a latte. Meanwhile Eric and I are stuffing out faces with desserts. The latte tasted nice! (stole a BIG sip off Alan haha)

Emiri finally bought a puppy! She has always wanted to buy one and her dream finally came true haha. She bought this super cute fluff ball who is a Cavoodle (cavalier x poodle) named Hero. Such an adorable name, just as adorable as he is. My friends and I went to visit Hero for the first time. He was shy at first but super playful when he got to know us. 

So following my food journey, I have finally came to try the 'famous' Brooklyn Depot at The 4217 in Surfers Paradise - A burger and brew house inspired by Old Brooklyn. It has only been around for a couple of months but has definitely made a statement and it's popularity has already grown like crazy.

Honestly, I was kind of unsure about my first impression of the place. We were put on a list since there was a wait for seats. Thankfully it was only me and another two friends so seats opened up pretty fast (approx. fifteen mins wait) since we didn't think of making a booking and it was a last minute decision. I have personally never been to the Big Apple but I do assume that since it's a big city - it would be packed everywhere. So as a part of the experience the seats were quite compacted - we were sat down right next to the bar and our table was very close to another table of older men who were nearly to the point of intoxication who were also being extremely loud. Ten minutes in, my friends and I got a bit annoyed as we could hardly even hear each other talk. We kindly asked the waitress if we could be seated at another table (since we spotted a few that were empty for three seaters), got to say that was the best decision made for the entire night. The new table was so much better. Not so compacted and got to have proper conversations without needing to yell.

We had a good look at the menu and decided to order a variety of food and share. (we love to share!) After deciding, we picked an item each from Start or Share, Hot 'Dawgs', 'Frips" - Fries & Chips and also from the Depot Salads section. They have an order and pay system, so you note down your table number and go order you food at the counter.

This was the amazing Skinny Fries - you have the option to Brooklynise your Fries. So we chose to get the Garbage Fries which had bacon, onion strings, cheese sauce and frickles (fried pickles) topped on the original skinny fries.

The interior and atmosphere was also very nice at Brooklyn Depot. Great for a long due catch-up with friends or even a long lazy lunch with family.

This was all the food we ordered. From left to right: Garbage Fries, Beef Chilli Bowl, 'Funky Egg' Cobb Salad and The Reuben Hot 'Dawg'. 

Beef Chilli Bowl - Spicy Housemade beef chilli topped w/ sriracha yoghurt served with tortilla chips & guacamole. 'Funky Egg' Cobb Salad - Pulled BBQ Chicken, crispy bacon, soft boiled egg rolled in duke spice, feta cheese, avocado, baby spinach & rocket dressed with ranch dressing. Last but not least The Reuben - Depot Pork Wiener, corned beef, cheese fondue sauce, sauerkraut, Depot special sauce, topped with diced pickles. These all tasted sensational and definitely gave me a good insight of what dining in America could feel like. Definitely a must go, I will most definitely go again as well.

Lastly, what is a date without dessert? One of my friend's that I met up with that night has never tried Chocolateria San Churro before. We were both surprised so we told her that she needed to go! We took her to San Churro - and again we decided to order a few things to share. 

We ordered the Churros for one with the Caramel dip - which came with three churros so we ate one each (not in the photo). We also ordered the Choc Strawberry Sundae and the Berry & Pomegranate Smoothie. We devoured the whole lot in a few seconds (just kidding, we enjoyed it slowly). It was chocolate heaven.

 Location: Max Brenner. 3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
                 Brooklyn Depot. “The 4217” T2, 10 Beach Road Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217
                 San Churro. 3184 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217


Thank you for reading! Hope you all had a lovely July xx

- Miss Ting Chen