BARILLA DUMPLINGS

Finally got to try Barilla Dumplings.
Topped it off with bubble tea from Hulucat.
Grow food baby, grow.

Across the road from Barilla Dumplings

Dumplings whoa.

Green walls, vinyl tablecloth, plastic trays. Unsure if they are purposefully going for a budget-asian decor. I think it's cute. 

No matter how full you are, there is always space for bubble tea. Always.

ORTOLANA & MILSE

Finally got to go to Ortolana! Then went to Milse for dessert.
The food at both places were so yum.

Today I decided that I should -

• Get married to a chef OR
• Make enough money to be able to employ a private chef

If neither works out, I will just have to learn to cook.

Anticlockwise from the bottom: Beetroot lasagnotte, pumpkin gnochetti, rib eye bistecca

Ortolana review:

Yumminess - ★★★★★ 

5 stars for all the hazelnuts in my dish! Also for all the pretty colours - because colour is yummy.

Niceness - ★★★★★ 

They gave us a whole bottle of some nice artisan-brand Extra Virgin Olive Oil to use however we wanted! It's like they trusted that I would be sensible with it. What if I decided to grab the expensive bottle of olive oil and made a run for it? What if I spilled it all? What if I used this opportunity to massage myself with expensive olive oil? No. They trusted me and they respected me as a civilised, normal human being. And by default, they gave us sparkling water, not plain water! It made me feel so special.

Shiny things and design - ★★★★★ 

Not sure if this should be a category, but there were plenty of shiny things at Ortolana, as in the photos above. Nice furnishing too.

Comfiness - ★★★★★ 

Super comfy seats and nice sized tables. Very relaxing.

Vegetarian-friendliness - ★★★★★ 

Heaps of vegetarian options.

Milse review:

Yumminess - ★★★★★ 

All sweet things are yummy. Especially when they come in small servings.

Niceness - ★★★★★ 

The waitress had a French accent. I thought this was very nice.

Shiny things and design - ★★★★★ 

I was excited to sit on a chair that looked like a Yanagi butterfly stool - but it turned out the legs were a bit different. The interior design was very unique and designy.

Comfiness - ★★★★★ 

Surprisingly cosy and comfy atmosphere.

Vegetarian-friendliness - ★★★★★ 

All desserts are vegetarian friendly!

Ortolana/Milse

The Pavilions at Britomart

31 Tyler Street
Britomart

Auckland CBD

CANTON CAFE MENU

Yes, you're welcome. This is the menu for Canton Cafe, Kingsland, Auckland (New Zealand).

One hungry afternoon I realised that their menu could not be found anywhere on the interwebs. So here it is for all those people who may fall into a similar situation.


Recommended dishes:
-Sizzle Beef with Black Pepper (I don't eat beef, but my meat-eating family always orders this, so it must be nice)
-Sizzle Spice Daijin Chicken (Again, I don't eat chicken, but meat-eaters seem to really like this dish)
-Special Black Chilli King Prawns Shell Off (This is a must. So so yummy)
-Combination Meat & Seafood with Bean Curd (Served hot in a clay pot, this is super yum)
-Stir Fried Seafood with Snow Peas
-Stir Fried Rice Noodles
-I haven't tried any of the Hapuka dishes, but I've heard they're really nice too.


This is the only place I will go to eat Chinese food. They do not use MSG and their dishes are non-greasy. They've won a few awards too. If you've never been to Canton Cafe, don't go expecting something posh though. It is quite the opposite of posh. They've got a "lively" atmosphere.


**UPDATE**

I have photos:

Canton Cafe, from the outside.

Black Chilli King Prawns.

Sizzle Lamb Chops with Black Pepper (I don't eat meat so I didn't eat this, but the others said it was really nice).

Eggplant with Bean Curd (my new favourite dish at Canton Cafe)

Canton Cafe
477 New North Road
Kingsland

Auckland 09 8467888 (It's best to make a reservation)Open 12pm to 11pm everyday

VENICE

I can't believe this place is actually for real. It actually exists and it actually looks like this. And these are actually photos I have taken. I took a gazillion photos today. All of them were spectacular, because Venice is spectacular.

Oh and the food: other-worldly-sort-of-delicious. Seriously. Venice is utopia.

Hello Venice!

Boat parking areas

Gondolas

Sweets and desserts

Ultra mega super duper delicious lunch

Venetian masks