day out with the girls

On a lazy Saturday, i decided to tag along with M on her house-hunting, so i can learn the ropes. M was quite serious as she'd been house-hunting for some time, but I was quickly distracted by the Street Fighter game board I saw...lol. Inspection over, we pop over to Burke st bakery around the corner. I've never been to the famous bakery in Surry Hills, so I was stoked to visit the Alexandria branch.

Ginger brulee tart at Burke St Bakery in Alexandria, 474 Gardeners Road.

This baby cost $4.80 but it was just so luscious...the pastry was short and buttery, and the custard rich with a toffee topping. M's rhubarb and raspberry cake, and Tammy's carrot cake with a crispy top were also really good. I am looking for any excuse to go back again.

The killjoy park near M's place. You call this a park? you can't bring your guns or play golf, or ride your horse here! Seriously, who's done those things at the tiny park so that the council actually felt the need to ban these things?

We hung out at M's place, then decided to try the Malaysian place she had in mind, Malacca Straits. It's gotten pretty good reviews on eatability, and we were especially amused by one post that waxed lyrical about a young waiter, around 16-17 years old. Amongst other hilarious shit, I quote: "he was able to take order and serve dishes to the customers alone in the late afternoon. This boy deserves appreciation by the restaurant owner. He is one-of-a-kind waiter." Are you for real??? ROFL. Clearly this place deserves a visit.

The otak-otak was awesome. It's a soft fish mousse, and just the right spiciness. The roti we got was actually better than Mamak's because it's more crispy. The accompany curry and sambal were very moreish, so that when the 16-17 y.o. waiter came over and asked if he can take the plates, all 3 of us said NO, and he backed away with his hands up saying: "ok! just asking!" LOL. We got Assam prawns, assam being a sour/spicy soup that I don't really like, so I can't comment. But the general consensus is that everything (apart from the otak-otak) was delicious but could be alot more spicy, and next time we would ask the chef not to hold back. 

The most awesome dish of the night? Ayam Mantega - or butter chicken even though the name doesn't sound particularly interesting. I was craving fried chicken (ayam goreng), so when the owner recommended the mentega, I said, like a desperate and scary person: "but is it crunchy and crispy?" ROFL. Well, what we got may not have been earth-shatteringly crunchy but the chicken was beautifully tender, and the shavings of salted egg and the buttery sauce was to die for. We were so disgustingly full, we could only share a bowl of ABC aka ais kacang for dessert, and only then did I learn from M that kacang means nuts and they are supposed to come with peanuts. I have had ais kacang many times and this is the first time I've had them with peanuts!

Malacca Straits does BYOC - or bring your own crab, and they'll cook it up with Singapore chilli or dry sambal for $20. No effort or mess...sounds like a winner! we saw many tables sporting crabs, and they looked divine. We'll be back!