Anyone Game? It’s my Sep 2013 Blog! I'm home; with a TR link in #1189, 10/14

Indian Delights




I do consider myself a citizen of the world; a child of Asia, having 'worked' in Europe and choosing to live in Australia.
And as a child of Asia....Somewhere in my youth and childhood......my memories of food all stem back to the sound of a mortar and pestle at work, grinding down lemon grass, chillies, onions; with the wafty aroma of pungent spices to form the basis of curry paste tickling my nose, daring me to sneeze but not quite. The colours of chilli red, tumeric orange and saffron yellow tease the palette in my mind's eye.



This week, a cousin of mine suggested that we go for dinner on Saturday night. It was to be an early night as both sets of "olds"; his parents and mine decided to join in the familial catch-up.


The place of his recommendation? Somewhere new in the 'burps, purely word of mouth......Indian Delights to tempt us all!
I do not know how my cousin found out about this place as it was nearly the other side of town from where we live. But the food.....well.....it took me right back to the foods - sight, sounds, smell - from my childhood.


The kitchen would have huge woks stir frying constantly; and some of our party chose to try...

Special Fried Rice

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Fried Rice Noodles, covered with various proteins, vegetables and smothered with an eggy sauce.

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The rice and curries were good...

This plate has the mutton curry, with a brinjal pickle and vegetable curry.

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This plate has the dry chicken curry, same condiments. The chicken curry was a little too dry for my liking and consequently, the chicken was overcooked.

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DH and I shared in a plate of Samosas, filled with spicy lentils. The pastry was short and crumbly and the filling was perfectly balanced against it. Not too spicy, not too salty.

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I ordered the Indian Rojak; a salad with the wonderful spicy sauce made from sweet potato. As with some of the Asian dishes, the sauce is a combination of sweet, salt and acidity. I had no complaints with my meal.

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The open kitchen also afforded us a view of the cooks making Indian Roti. Some in our party ordered:

Dosai - a rice flour pancake, usually filled with black lentils served with various curries. They made it right in front of us.....and cooked the batter similar to how crepes are cooked.

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Murtabak - Roti Chanai that is filled with various items in the middle. This one was filled with chicken and various vegetables. The curry sauce on the side was delicious!

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My cousin did order just Roti Chanai with curry - the bread dough is rolled out flat and then folded over and cooked on a broiler. It comes out similar to a soft doughy version of puff pastry. Not for the faint-hearted....lots of oil involved during preparation and cooking!

Sadly, he sat at the opposite side of the table to me, so no picture.



In the heady smells and sounds that emanated from that kitchen, we were all transported back to being in Asia. And judging from the cacophony from the rest of the clientele of the night, we weren't the only ones tripping down memory lane!



All in all - a great familial, convival dinner night to remember.



princess::upsidedow
 
So Bret,
Not hijack PIO's TR, but I only know of one BW near the parks which is the one at West and Katella. Which one is that? Where is the other one? Just curious, I can never picture where you are walking from when you stay at BWAI.
 
Mmm I feel like Indian for dinner lol! I should know never to read one of your posts when I'm hungry :lmao: Now to clean the drool off the keyboard...
 
That Indian Food looks awesome! I love Indian food, but really have no one that I can eat it with. My best bet is to go to a lunch buffet by myself. I'm jealous that you have people that like to eat that kind of food. You got a wide variety. I'm lucky to go to the take out place and get chicken tikka masala with rice. I love the samosas, pakoras, and all sorts of other stuff! Yummy!
 




The Indian food looks very nice PiO.

So Bret,
Not hijack PIO's TR, but I only know of one BW near the parks which is the one at West and Katella. Which one is that? Where is the other one? Just curious, I can never picture where you are walking from when you stay at BWAI.

There are about 6 Best Western's around the DLR within a mile. As you know Best Western Park Place Inn is the one right across the street on Harbor Blvd right by the crosswalk. Best Western Anaheim Inn which is a few buildings down from BWPPI on Katella. BWAI is right next to Denny's restaurant. There is Best Western Stovall's which is on West Street & Katella Ave. BW Stovall's is right next to Coco's Bakery restaurant. I have stayed at BW Stovall's during the D23 Expo last year and I don't plan on staying there again for this upcoming trip. I am still waiting for good prices at Hilton or Marriott right by the Anaheim Convention Center. I think that is the one you are talking about. There is Best Western Pavilion which is about four buildings down on Katella from BW Stovall's. There is Best Western Raffles Inn and Suite which is past the Toy Story parking lot on Harbor Blvd. And the last one I can think of is Best western Courtesy Inn which is on Ball Road. I have stayed at three of the BW right by the DLR (BWPPI, BWAI & BW Stovall's).

BWAI is right next to Denny's restaurant on Harbor Blvd.

Here is some pics from BWAI
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The building on the right hand side of this picutre is Denny's restaurant.
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Here is a pic of BW Stovall's where I stayed in 2011 during the D23 Expo.
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Mmm I feel like Indian for dinner lol! I should know never to read one of your posts when I'm hungry :lmao: Now to clean the drool off the keyboard...

I cleaned the house today. There was a bit of drool on my keyboard too.....
Most of it came from a little Boo Boo. ::yes::


We did end up having Indian for dinner - was yummy too :thumbsup2

Glad you enjoyed it!



That Indian Food looks awesome! I love Indian food, but really have no one that I can eat it with. My best bet is to go to a lunch buffet by myself. I'm jealous that you have people that like to eat that kind of food. You got a wide variety. I'm lucky to go to the take out place and get chicken tikka masala with rice. I love the samosas, pakoras, and all sorts of other stuff! Yummy!

Well....if you know of a good Indian place near you, there is always the option of heading there.





PIO - The Indian food looks very yummy!

It was very yummy. I was telling some friends about it this morning and they are planning on going to the place this weekend. :goodvibes



The Indian food looks very nice PiO.



There are about 6 Best Western's around the DLR within a mile. As you know Best Western Park Place Inn is the one right across the street on Harbor Blvd right by the crosswalk. Best Western Anaheim Inn which is a few buildings down from BWPPI on Katella. BWAI is right next to Denny's restaurant. There is Best Western Stovall's which is on West Street & Katella Ave. BW Stovall's is right next to Coco's Bakery restaurant. I have stayed at BW Stovall's during the D23 Expo last year and I don't plan on staying there again for this upcoming trip. I am still waiting for good prices at Hilton or Marriott right by the Anaheim Convention Center. I think that is the one you are talking about. There is Best Western Pavilion which is about four buildings down on Katella from BW Stovall's. There is Best Western Raffles Inn and Suite which is past the Toy Story parking lot on Harbor Blvd. And the last one I can think of is Best western Courtesy Inn which is on Ball Road. I have stayed at three of the BW right by the DLR (BWPPI, BWAI & BW Stovall's).

BWAI is right next to Denny's restaurant on Harbor Blvd.

I love eating Asian food of any description....especially if there is spice involved.

Thanks for sharing your pictures of BWAI. I'll definitely consider it; but I have to admit that make your own waffles are very hard to give up.



Thanks. Oct 20 to 26, 2013

You're going to be there later than me. :(



I have never tried Indian food, but it does look good!

Never? :faint:

Between you and Alison, we might need to go get Indian if we can!
 
Spring is in the Air – The Wattle Festival



If there is one thing is like that seems definite…it’s that time moves on along this continuum that our lives are on.

So it is in Melbourne….that the calendar is kicking over to Spring!



The start of spring is usually marked by the blossoming of delightful little yellow puffs that also herald in the sneez-a-roonies for me.


The Wattle!

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And somewhere on the fringes of Melbourne City, is the suburb of Hurstbridge. Hurstbridge has held the annual Wattle Festival in its village for as long as I can remember…..it has always been the harbinger of spring to me.

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The Wattle Festival? Lots of entertainment…

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There are also lots of stalls of all descriptions….

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..and things to buy.

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I love the vintage and not so vintage transport that is so much a part of the Wattle Festival.

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We always get a ride on the steam train.

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It always takes me back to a by-gone era.

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(Continued in next post)
 
(Continued from previous post)


I know. I know. You’re really here for the festival food porn.


There were lots of stalls everywhere….

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They even packed them down side-streets!

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My lunch!

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No, I didn’t eat that pan….this serve was more like it.

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Our afternoon tea was scones with jam and a lovely pot of tea. It might be nearly spring; but it’s still cold here.

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And the sweet stuff?

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Enjoy!





princess::upsidedow
 
Please pass the scones and brownies. Everything looks so yummy.

I love these kind of festivals, though I'm sure the Wattle would be making me sneeze too.
 
The Waddle festival looks lovely, just like the kind of places that my Mom and I used to go to a lot. We don't have many down here, but up in Northern Cal they have them all over the place!

Well....if you know of a good Indian place near you, there is always the option of heading there.

Perhaps that is where we can all go for dinner when you come to town! We have quite a nice Indian restaurant just off PCH & 2nd street. I can never get Fran to go there. We could order a mix of perhaps a Chicken Tikka Masala, some Kebabs and then some other dishes that the Pesky Vegetarian would eat! I could drag her along and she would say that she was enjoying it for the sake of the "folks with the foreign taste"! :lmao:

I love the place, but for some reason can't convince her to go there when it's just the two of us!
 
I had no idea there was a wattle festival! Might have to check it out next year!

Those 'teacups' and tiny teddies in cars are so cute!
 

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