Top 10 Dishes of 2012

Hello!

A coupla weeks ago, Sharky (of Sharking for Chips and Drinks) e-mailed me about this post where he's approaching a few Melbourne bloggers to put together each of our Top 10 Dishes of 2012. 

I thought it was a fantastic idea. Never really thought of putting together a list like this, so I was kind of curious to know what my Top 10 dishes would turn out to be as well. Besides, it's always fun to collaborate and connect with fellow bloggers in the community =)

Just to clarify, this is list consists of my Top 10 favourite dishes to eat, and not what I think the Top 10 "best" dishes in Melbourne are (based on restaurant standards or whatever). It's more of a personal thing that basically showcases food that I was happily eating over and over again the past year, which I hope you'll appreciate too. Who knows, this Top 10 dishes thing might turn into an annual thing too... Eh? Eh...? 

Anyhoo, do expect a new post in the New Year where I'll be starting to take a slightly different approach to the way I blog on The Hungry Excavator, so stay tuned! I'm currently on holiday in my hometown of Kota Kinabalu but am very active on Instagram. Do add me (@winceeee) so we can stay connected! =)

Thanks again Sharky for thinking of me for this list. Definitely look forward to catching up with you sometime soon! Do check out the full post and see the Top 10 picks by the other awesome Melbourne food bloggers: here

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"My life as a full-time studying/part-time working student the past 5 years has really shaped me to become particularly passionate about searching the Melbourne food scene for food that are affordable, delicious and more importantly, value for money. 

Being a Chinese-Malaysian (and hence my affinity towards Asian cuisines), it is evident to see how my list of Top 10 dishes really does reflect who I am and where I'm from."

- Winston aka "The Hungry Excavator"

In no particular order:

1) Roast duck - Pacific House Richmond

Blog post to come

2) Salmone Pizza - Kaprica

Full post: here

3) Hamachi Sashimi - Pabu Grill & Sake

Full post: here

4) Korean Fried Chicken - Gami Chicken & Beer

Full post: here

5) Chirashi Sushi - Ume Sushi House

Full post: here

6) Claypot Fish Head Curry - Kuala Lumpur Restaurant

Full post: here

7) Deep Fried Lamb Spare Ribs - Chinese Spicy & Barbie

Blog post to come

8) Spicy Deep Fried Quail - Mabrown

Blog post to come

 9) Spicy Cod Roe Butter Pasta - Horoki

Full post: here

10) Agedashi Tofu - Big Mama

Blog post to come

A Time to Pause; Reflect.

First signs of Spring (taken from my Instagram)

Today, I received a comment that really left me speechless.

It was from a young 13yo boy, named Elliot Baker. This remarkable fella dropped me a tweet saying that he had read a letter I wrote for a book competition and it really inspired him. At first, I really wasn't sure which letter he was talking about and asked him if he had mistaken me for someone else. Then, I realised that he was actually referring to the entry I wrote a very long time ago for Leaf's cookbook giveaway.

WOW. I honestly didn't expect what I wrote SO long ago would have any "impact" on anyone, as I felt like I was writing it more for myself (and didn't think anyone would be paying it any attention). But I meant every word. So, I took a trip down memory lane and looked back at what I had written almost a year ago...

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FOOD WRITING ASPIRATIONS:

My passion is to reach out to people everywhere through Food Blogging with my writing and photos. I would like to appeal to the average person, from an average person's point of view. Though I don't have any professional knowledge and experience on Food, I honestly believe this is what makes my point of views more personal and easy-to-relate.

I prefer to adopt a more honest, light-hearted and friendly approach in my form of writing. As far as I'm concerned, Food is always meant to be Fun and never to be taken too seriously.

At the end of the day, I truly I hope I can show people that Food really is more meaningful when it is shared and that they, too, will feel inspired to open up spaces to share Life* with other people over Food, whether at home or at a restaurant. It is for this reason that Food Blogging, to me, is more than just a hobby, but a passion.

WHAT I'M DOING TO ACHIEVE THEM:

I have begun food blogging again about a month ago and I believe that's a start. I have been dedicating time out of my week to share recipes and reviews and can only hope that people find it just as Fun to read as it was for me to write.

At the same time, I feel very strongly about showing the same support and encouragements that I have been so blessed to receive during my short time of blogging to as many people out there, both in and out of the food blogging community. These people have truly made this whole experience so enjoyable for me and has reaffirmed me of the reasons I do the things that I do on my blog.

My plan is to keep blogging for a very, very long time. Why stop now, right? It's been great so far and I'm sure it'll only keep getting better. It is a journey and I hope to find growth in my writing and pictures continuously over time.

(Winston, October 2011)

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In many ways, I think this couldn't have come in better timing. I was just catching up with Yasmeen (of Wandering Spice) the other day for the first time and we were both just sharing about our passions for cooking, reasons for starting a blog and thoughts on our future with Food. It was a great conversation, which I truly appreciated. Thank you, Yas.

I say this because it really made me think about what this blog means to me and what I hope to achieve through it, i.e. to show people the beauty of celebrating Life with one another through Food.

And reading back at that old letter that I wrote, really gave me the further affirmation and reminder that I need. To not get too caught up with the superficial highs and lows that come with blogging but to continue to engage with the people that I come across through this space. On top of that, I'm just really touched from re-reading all the comments I received that day and want to especially thank Leaf, Sarah, Hannah, Ellie, Adrian and Vee for their encouragement.

In the past year alone, I'm so grateful to be able to form great friendships with people that I wouldn't have otherwise gotten a chance to meet if it weren't through blogging. Whether it's a fellow blogger or just someone who I never really got the chance to spend time with, but just wanted to share their love of Food with me. I feel so blessed to be able to share a meal with each of you. And my hope is that people DO see that Food really CAN bring people together, from all walks of Life. Hopefully, people will get inspired to want to share Life with others around them too.

A lot has changed in the past year alone, and I do feel like I've grown as a blogger, photographer and person in general. But, no matter where this blog takes me, I sincerely hope that I never lose sight of why I started The Hungry Excavator in the first place.

Thank you all for following me on this journey. And also to Elliot, for your kind words today. Your real fire and passion for cooking is one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen, and I'm dedicating this post to you. Good luck with realising your dreams because you've got an incredibly bright future ahead of you.

Sincerely,

Winston.

THANK YOU + (seriously awesome) Peanut Butter & Choc Chip Cookies Recipe

Expressing my sincerest gratitude the only way I know how...

Final thoughts...

As you all know, the Live Below the Line Challenge is finally over. The first day was the hardest. I had to wake up for work at 5am, go straight after to a medical checkup before having a full day of class till 7:15pm. I swear that in between I almost passed out and wanted to give up because I didn't have time at all to go back for food! Eating under $2/day is one thing, but not being allowed to buy food when I'm out is another.

I mean, usually I would be able to buy a snack when I'm out if I wanted to. And I realised early on that one of the most fortunate thing we can have is the CHOICE to be able to eat or not. I never realised it was a luxury until then. So even though it was only a few hours into the start of the Challenge, I already felt really empathetic towards the people who were ACTUALLY living in extreme poverty.

We shared the same, painful hunger too but what made me really sad was the fact that most of the time, there was NOTHING they could do about it. Just as I had experienced myself. They simply didn't have the money to eat and had to bear with it. It really was the first time I was honestly put in the shoes of my fellow global citizen who had been suffering like this all this time. I was in pain, but ironically I was thankful that it really helped me see the purpose of why I chose to take up the Challenge in the first place. It was a hard but really, really good start.

That's why when the Challenge finally ended, I couldn't help but still feel quite guilty inside (even though I tried to come across happy that it was over). There I was, celebrating the end of my hunger since Friday midnight by eating a lot of amazing food. The more I ate, the more I thought about them. Then I realised it wasn't that I was guilty about the food I got to eat, but it was that I was sad because my fellow brothers and sisters in poverty did not have the luxury of "moving on" from the challenge like I did. Their hunger was NOT for a known, finite period of time.

Later, I realised I was being too hard on myself. Because if it weren't for my fortunate position of living in a First World Country and having all of you people in my life, WE wouldn't have been able to raise SO much money to help them out and give them a chance for a better Life!! I see now how we all really played a part to make a difference, no matter where we came from. Whether you've donated or even reading this post...

A lot of my worldviews have drastically changed from the Challenge and to say that I am grateful for this experience would be an understatement...

A word of Thanks...

First of all, I really want to take this opportunity again to thank EACH and every one of you who showed your support throughout the Challenge. The response has been really overwhelming! With all your help, I've managed to raise a total of $731 towards the cause. And it is a collective, team effort. Only possible because of YOU. HURRAHHHHH...!!

On top of that, this experience was quite different in a sense that I was getting a number of donations from the blogging community as well! I mean, even though we've known each other for a while, but I'm still SO touched by the fact that a lot of them are from people that I've never even met before! It was so gracious and generous of them to drop in a donation to show their support. Man... I know that I've always felt that this community is so encouraging but this just takes it to a whole new level. You know who you are!!

Also, I really do mean it when I say that every donation, comment and like on my Facebook and Twitter page really spurred me on even further, especially on days when I felt like giving up. THANK YOU.

And finally, to my team awesome teammates: Leaf, Bryan, Jade and Daisy. I've got so much love and respect for each of you and I'm so blessed to have gotten the opportunity to go through this together with you. THANKS.

Now, the Cookies...

To show my immense gratitude, I wanted to bake some cookies (even though I've never made them before!) and write a personalised thank you note to each person that donated.

Personally, I LOVED how they turned out. I baked 8 batches of these in total and could not find any way to improve them. I thought they were absolutely delicious. And I was even more glad to hear that people enjoyed them a lot too! Phew~! The best part was definitely the flavour and the crunch. NOTE: It's not me, but the recipe that's fantastic!

There's so many other people (that are interstate or I haven't got the chance to meet yet) that I didn't get to give cookies to this time around, but know that I do remember and cherish each of you and will definitely return the favour and kindness one day...!

Anyway, hope you give this recipe a go. Couldn't have asked for a better outcome, especially for a first attempt! Goes to show how simple/straightforward this recipe is. Now... GO BAKE!

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Peanut Butter & Choc Chip Cookies Recipe

(adapted from this recipe by Canary Girl, makes 60)

Ingredients:

250g butter (softened)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla essence
2 eggs

1 1/2 cup peanut butter (use chunky!)

2 cups plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

a pinch of salt

2 cups chocolate chips

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 175 deg C. Line cookie sheet/baking tray with baking paper.

2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs (one at a time at low to medium) and vanilla essence and beat until smooth.

4. Add peanut butter and continue to beat until combined.

5. Gradually add the flour, baking powder and salt. Beat at low to medium until combined.

6. Add the chocolate chips and beat until combined.

7. Use a measuring spoon (if possible), drop 1 tablespoon of dough onto the lined tray. Flatten the centre slightly with a spoon.

8. Repeat until you have 12 in one tray (as shown).

9. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes or until just golden. (My 1st, 2nd, 3rd batches were baked at 20, 19 and 18 minutes respectively).

10. Remove from oven and allow to rest in tray for 2 minutes before letting them cool on a wire rack.

NOTE: You can bake them at 180degC for 12 minutes instead if you prefer chewy cookies (but I don't and honestly think these cookies are better crunchy)

SO good with a nice, cold glass of milk...

Yeaaaaahhh~~

Challenge to: LIVE BELOW THE LINE

Hi guys!

How are we all doing? If you follow me on Twitter, you would've heard me say this already, but I've just signed up to Live Below The Line...!!!

For all of you who don't know what it is, it's basically an event organised to raise awareness and funds for people all around the world who are currently living in extreme poverty. That means that there are 1.4 billion people living under the poverty line and have to pay for all their daily expenses (such as food, accommodation, health, transport, education, etc) with only US$1.25 or AU$2.00 per day.

So, the Challenge for participants is to live on $2 a day for food for 5 days, from 7th - 11th of May (i.e. Next Monday to Friday). It doesn't even come close to what they're going through each and every day, but hey, it's a start.

To be honest, I've been contemplating whether or not to participate for more than 3 weeks now, ever since my dear friend Leaf tweeted about the challenge. I can't tell you how conflicted I felt because I really, really wanted to take part! But after much deliberation, I decided that I wasn't going to do it because there's NO WAY I could feed myself for 3 meals a day for under $2, especially cause I eat a lot. But this thought never left my mind.

But just last week, my friend Jade told me that she was taking up the Challenge too and shared that you could get AMAZING deals at Aldi. I immediately went to Aldi that evening straight after class to suss it out for myself. I spent more than 40minutes there just to carefully plan to see if it was possible. And it was, it really, really was! I was so incredibly happy because that trip to Aldi really gave me hope! Thanks, Jade!!!

Anyway, both Leaf and Jade has really inspired me to take up this Challenge to do this for a good cause. Best part about it is that I won't be alone and am doing it with my fellow blogger friend, Bryan aka "Fatboo" (of Let's Get Fat Together), so exciting...! Bryan's created a team, called "Food Lovers Collective" and all of you are more than welcome to join!

So I do hope you will join us on this journey, and support us if you can. I honestly mean it when I say that any amount, big or small, is highly appreciated =).

And to make things more exciting... I will be keeping you guys posted on my progress throughout the challenge on my Facebook Page, so do check that out for photos and updates, it'll be fun!

To send me a donation, you can click on my profile: HERE

And if you're feeling generous, please support my friends Bryan and Jade too, because we're all doing this together! Hope you're all doing well on your end.

Thanks for everything!

Winston =)

My Chinese New Year memories...

Every single year, my family and I would fly back to Mum's tiny hometown of Tawau to spend Chinese New Year with the whole family. So many good memories... Like playing card games and firecracks with all my cousins non-stop since we were kids. Weird story, we also used to love digging up yam straight from the ground at the jungle of a backyard of my cousin's house and then roasting it with fire we had started with twigs from scratch. LEGIT STUFF. This was extremely fun for us. Love our modest childhood from simpler times. Now, THOSE were the days... One year, all the cousins and I also put on a special dance/drama performance prepared on our own as our parents and Late Grandma gathered around to watch in the living room. It really was quite hysterical...

*photos would be so embarrassing right about now*

My favourite memory would also be of my Late Grandma (or "PoPo", as I call her), pulling up a stool next to me, to spoon feed me plain rice in soup in the afternoons. She only did this (without me asking) because she knows that I was the perpetually hungry and peckish one of her grandchildren. It's so simple, yet delicious. But what I loved most is that she would gently blow each mouthful of rice before feeding it to me, till the temperature was just right. Sounds a bit like Goldilocks eh? I felt so loved from every spoonful. Then I would reply gleefully by saying, "Hao Sit, PoPo!" or "Delicious, Nana!". This happens every year I return, without fail.

It's memories like these that really make me miss my Late Grandma so, so dearly till this day....................... It's been 7 years ='/

Though, I must say that ever since my Late PoPo passed, CNY has been drastically different. We don't return to Tawau anymore for a number of reasons (but nothing bad, don't worry). Instead, we now have our own tradition here in Kota Kinabalu with glorious food prepared by my lovely mother.

They're just a treat. It's not the same, but just as special. One thing is for sure, we don't eat out. In fact, most of it are dishes that would only be served this time of year and every meal was SOOO delicious!!!

ANYHOO, here's a snapshot of the CNY dishes we ate this year. To all of you from a "non-Asian background", WELCOME to my humble Chinese family dining table and I hope you enjoy......... And Happy Belated Chinese New Year aka Year of the Dragon to you all!!!

1) Reunion Dinner, aka CNY Eve or "Tuan Yuan Fan"

Deep-Fried Tiger Prawn Fritters

Steamed Chinese Cabbage with Dried Scallops

Mum's signature: Chicken, Abalone and Ham "Sandwich" with superior Abalone Sauce

Note: Only top grade, corn fed (more fragrant skin), free range, bare neck (smoother meat) and aged chicken from a local farmer is used

YUMMY! Delicious mouthful of food from each layer

Braised chicken, chinese mushrooms and sea cucumber

Stewed all day, sauce was really unbelievably good

Shark's Fin Soup

(I'm sorry!!! These were bought many years ago, we've stopped buying them, I swear!)

2) 1st Day CNY Brunch

It is a tradition for our family to eat every single one of these vegetarian dishes for this meal each year. Recipe passed on to Mum from my Late Grandma. I have to make this for my vegetarian friends in Melbourne.

Stewed vegetables (beancurd skin, beancurd puffs, black moss fungus, carrots, mushrooms, dates, bamboo shoots and glass noodles) in fermented red tofu

LOVE THIS!!!

White radish soup with dates, mushrooms and (the only "meat" allowed this meal,..) dried oysters

"Nian Gao" aka "Sticky Cake" (made with glutinous rice flour) Fried with Egg

Mum had her Sister (who barely comes over) and her family from Tawau too, glad to share the meal with them

3) Other meals here and there...

Mum's Twice Fried Duck with Plum Sauce

TO DIE FOR!!! One of my favourite childhood dishes ever!!

Every time I ask Mum how she makes this and my other favourite dishes, she just goes, "Very easy waaan...! Just do this, throw in that, dot dot dot... and DONE!". Not very convincing lol

HK Imported Cured Meats and Pickled Shallots

One of my favourite things to eat!!

HK Kailan Vegetable with Oyster Sauce

Hakka "Kiu Nyuk", a Pork and Yam dish in fermented tofu sauce

My dad's prolly the biggest fan of mum's roast chook lol

Mum's signature Duck in Plum Sauce again... MMM!

Chicken Soup with Sea Cucumber, Mushrooms and Quail Eggs

"Lou Sang"

A traditional dish containing preserved vegetables, rice crisps and raw fish topped with sour plum sauce. Each element representing something symbolic for the Lunar New Year

Tossed with chopsticks by every one at the table. The higher you toss, "the more fortune you will receive"

Anyway, I'm glad to have shared MY family's CNY tradition with you. Tell me, what's CNY like in YOUR household? Any fond childhood memories that tugs your heart strings? Would love to hear about them! =)