Friday, 28 May 2010
Hanaichi
Hanaichi Take Away is a bit of a best loved secret amongst students in Brisbane, to the point where it might not even really be a secret anymore...hmmm...anyways, whether or not it's hush hush, I'm going to yell about it here:
HANAICHI IS AWESOME!!
Seriously. They have a 'Hanaichi East' and 'Hanaichi West' in Garden City Lower Food Court, which is where I was first introduced to their Japanese Curry. Best. Japanese. Curry. Ever. And not only because it was my first. But my favourite dish of all is hands down, on the ground, Chicken Hanaichi, or Chicken Nan Ban, depending which store you are at. It's tangy. It's light. It actually tastes healthy. It's sweet, and sour, and the fried chicken is perfection - just a thin layer of fresh batter gently coating, nay - caressing, big, proper pieces of chicken. And there's lettuce and red onion and tomato too, all on a bed of fluffly white rice. I get hungry just thinking about it. Yum.
Please. Try it. I am sick of great things (mainly beauty products in my experience) going under because they don't get the support they deserve. This meal is the bomb.
HANAICHI IS AWESOME!!
Seriously. They have a 'Hanaichi East' and 'Hanaichi West' in Garden City Lower Food Court, which is where I was first introduced to their Japanese Curry. Best. Japanese. Curry. Ever. And not only because it was my first. But my favourite dish of all is hands down, on the ground, Chicken Hanaichi, or Chicken Nan Ban, depending which store you are at. It's tangy. It's light. It actually tastes healthy. It's sweet, and sour, and the fried chicken is perfection - just a thin layer of fresh batter gently coating, nay - caressing, big, proper pieces of chicken. And there's lettuce and red onion and tomato too, all on a bed of fluffly white rice. I get hungry just thinking about it. Yum.
Please. Try it. I am sick of great things (mainly beauty products in my experience) going under because they don't get the support they deserve. This meal is the bomb.
Saturday, 10 April 2010
A Hollow Victory
I hit up the Victory Tavern the other night with a group of friends. The main reason we were there is because this place does AMAZING cocktails for only $8.50 on Thursday nights. That includes very potent Long Island Iced Teas for those of you really trying to ring as much alcohol as possible from your dollars. I also recommend Bliss, Strawberries and Cream, and the Weis Bar cocktails. All are pretty and fruity and the Bliss looks like a rainbow in a high ball glass.
Japanese Slipper, Strawberries and Cream, Bliss
However, despite having had a number of enjoyable visits to the Vic, I found it rather lack lustre going there whilst not being at college. I had a good time, but the dance floors were near empty, and a lot of the cocktails I ordered were unavailable due to the bars being out of ingredients, which lead to me ordering far too many long island iced teas, which lead to some very bad kareoke. Unfortunately, we did not earn much R-E-S-P-E-CT with our rendition of Aretha Franklin. Sorry Babe...
However, I'm going to give this place another go, it has it's upsides. Because it was quiet we could actually have conversations, there were pool tables free, and the bar tender had time to make me a delicious custom cocktail with raspberries, contrieau and malibu. Plus they have live music, and a dj upstairs, (and kareoke) so there is something for everyone.
However, despite having had a number of enjoyable visits to the Vic, I found it rather lack lustre going there whilst not being at college. I had a good time, but the dance floors were near empty, and a lot of the cocktails I ordered were unavailable due to the bars being out of ingredients, which lead to me ordering far too many long island iced teas, which lead to some very bad kareoke. Unfortunately, we did not earn much R-E-S-P-E-CT with our rendition of Aretha Franklin. Sorry Babe...
However, I'm going to give this place another go, it has it's upsides. Because it was quiet we could actually have conversations, there were pool tables free, and the bar tender had time to make me a delicious custom cocktail with raspberries, contrieau and malibu. Plus they have live music, and a dj upstairs, (and kareoke) so there is something for everyone.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Take it away, Chop Chop!
I just had to share with you my favourite little down-the-road takeaway place, Chop Chop Takeaway.
This place has mixed reviews online, but I am guessing this is because those customers opted for home delivery, and ordered things like battered and chips (from a Chinese place, what were you expecting?). However, as it's walking distance for me, I stroll myself down and ALWAYS get a 'snack pack'. They are $6-7 and are huge! They would probably feed a girl with a smaller appetite than me for two meals. The chicken and vegetable with fried rice is lip smackingingly satisfying, and takes 5 minutes for them to cook, and they are always super friendly.
This isn't super gourmet cuisine, but it's yummy, cheap and fast and great for students, especially post big-night-out.
This place has mixed reviews online, but I am guessing this is because those customers opted for home delivery, and ordered things like battered and chips (from a Chinese place, what were you expecting?). However, as it's walking distance for me, I stroll myself down and ALWAYS get a 'snack pack'. They are $6-7 and are huge! They would probably feed a girl with a smaller appetite than me for two meals. The chicken and vegetable with fried rice is lip smackingingly satisfying, and takes 5 minutes for them to cook, and they are always super friendly.
This isn't super gourmet cuisine, but it's yummy, cheap and fast and great for students, especially post big-night-out.
Three Monkeys: Taste No Evil
The other night I visited the Three Monkeys at 58 Mollison Street, West End, with a couple of friends for a gossip. This place is an institution amonst Brisbane locals. The famous cafe has bohemian inspired nooks and crannies and an undercover outdoor area out the back, complete with a selection of board games to play. The Chai Lattes are huge, the cake selection is delicious, and the meals are reasonably affordable compared to the surrounding area, especially considering you can spend hours here and never feel pressured to leave.
That Three Monkey's reputation has spread via only word of mouth is a testament to how much young Brisbanites love to talk. And there's few better places to have a gossip or catch up than this quaint coffee house.
Perhaps one of the biggest drawcards is the generous opening hours. The Three monkeys is open til late 7 days, with the kitchen open til 11pm. Nice, hey? What's even nicer is that it is reasonably busy until late, so you really don't feel like you are being a burden by giggling with your friends over a chessboard come coffee table til your mouths are slack from talking.
That Three Monkey's reputation has spread via only word of mouth is a testament to how much young Brisbanites love to talk. And there's few better places to have a gossip or catch up than this quaint coffee house.
Perhaps one of the biggest drawcards is the generous opening hours. The Three monkeys is open til late 7 days, with the kitchen open til 11pm. Nice, hey? What's even nicer is that it is reasonably busy until late, so you really don't feel like you are being a burden by giggling with your friends over a chessboard come coffee table til your mouths are slack from talking.
Monday, 29 March 2010
Tivoli, I Choo Choo Choose You!
I was a lucky ducky last week when my friend scored us tickets to Bacardi Express at the Tivoli. I'd never been to Tivoli before and I gotta say, I'm rather shirked at all my friends for not telling me what I was missing!!
Maybe it was La Roux being cute and fierce at the same time (didn't know that was possible either), maybe it was Yves Klein Blue singer Michael Tomlinson hanging by the bar hugging his fans, maybe it was dancing to Dj Sampology's Super Visual Smackdown - go see this kid if you can, he is simply fantastic at what he does, and I'm yet to see anything else quite like it. Anyways, the point I am trying to make is that I can't put my finger on one particular thing that made me love this as a venue, and maybe my opinion is somewhat biased because I saw bands I absolutely love put on a terrific show, but this place is fantastic. And I am going to go there again as soon as I can.
I love that it's not too big. I love that you can go upstairs for a better vantage point or stay downstairs and dance amongst the throng. I love that it's got history. This is where the people have been playing for years, folks.
I love the art deco feel and that the music WORKS in the space. Which is so important. I despise nothing more than going to see a band and the sound being terrible, which so often leads to those in charge overcompensating for the lack of sound quality with volume. This really is a great place for bands to play.
Miami Horror Crowd
Bacardi Mojitos
Yves Klein Blue
Maybe it was La Roux being cute and fierce at the same time (didn't know that was possible either), maybe it was Yves Klein Blue singer Michael Tomlinson hanging by the bar hugging his fans, maybe it was dancing to Dj Sampology's Super Visual Smackdown - go see this kid if you can, he is simply fantastic at what he does, and I'm yet to see anything else quite like it. Anyways, the point I am trying to make is that I can't put my finger on one particular thing that made me love this as a venue, and maybe my opinion is somewhat biased because I saw bands I absolutely love put on a terrific show, but this place is fantastic. And I am going to go there again as soon as I can.
I love that it's not too big. I love that you can go upstairs for a better vantage point or stay downstairs and dance amongst the throng. I love that it's got history. This is where the people have been playing for years, folks.
I love the art deco feel and that the music WORKS in the space. Which is so important. I despise nothing more than going to see a band and the sound being terrible, which so often leads to those in charge overcompensating for the lack of sound quality with volume. This really is a great place for bands to play.
Floating on a Cloud
I know I am behind the times with this. I know I should have gone months and months ago and everyone else has been there and so this post is less than informative. But still,
Cloudland. Oh. My. God.
It's not the cheapest place, so maybe it doesn't belong in my recommendations for students, although when I asked the bartender to dilute the horrible house champagne I had ordered with raspberry cordial (desperate times, desperate measures, girls...) he threw in a shot of vodka to boot. Granted, it was probably a bit of a deadly combination for me...as later podium dancing at Birdee's would suggest...but a generous gesture by any standards, nonetheless. And besides, entry is free, and really, walking inside the huge doors is the most important part of the whole experience.
The outside should be enough to entice anyone in. To me, who has been away from Brisbane long enough that I hadn't seen the place, it was like a beacon. A free pretty light show on a huge building that looks like it belongs in a book on Gaudi's architecture. Finally, something beautiful, not grungy, in the Valley! A venue that says 'Here I am, Look at Me!' rather than 'Find Me If You Can!' like so many others do (and from the same owners nonetheless...) And then there's the inside...
To begin with, it's big. But you know that. You can see that from the street. But once you go inside, you realise it's actually HUGE. A cavernous space filled with decor reminiscent of a 19th century English Exhibition in London, with exotic foliage, organic twisted shapes, a bar made of over a thousand glass balls, swinging chairs that look like something from Alice in Wonderland, and butterflies caught in the balcony staircase. Upstairs is nestled a cluster of circular lounge areas, and the bathrooms have throne like chairs in the waiting rooms. There's a stage, that I assume frequented by bands, and I've heard a rather decent one plays there every second Sunday evening, although one my Thursday evening visit it was unused. When I was there, it wasn't a place to go dancing, but rather, a place to mingle and chat with friends. Whilst feeling rich and extravagant, of course.
If you haven't been in, go. It may not be your favourite place. It may not be your scene. I'm not even saying get a drink. But anyone can appreciate the work that has gone into the interior design. And it's smack bang in the middle of the Valley so you'll be walking past anyway. You can't miss it.
Cloudland. Oh. My. God.
It's not the cheapest place, so maybe it doesn't belong in my recommendations for students, although when I asked the bartender to dilute the horrible house champagne I had ordered with raspberry cordial (desperate times, desperate measures, girls...) he threw in a shot of vodka to boot. Granted, it was probably a bit of a deadly combination for me...as later podium dancing at Birdee's would suggest...but a generous gesture by any standards, nonetheless. And besides, entry is free, and really, walking inside the huge doors is the most important part of the whole experience.
The outside should be enough to entice anyone in. To me, who has been away from Brisbane long enough that I hadn't seen the place, it was like a beacon. A free pretty light show on a huge building that looks like it belongs in a book on Gaudi's architecture. Finally, something beautiful, not grungy, in the Valley! A venue that says 'Here I am, Look at Me!' rather than 'Find Me If You Can!' like so many others do (and from the same owners nonetheless...) And then there's the inside...
To begin with, it's big. But you know that. You can see that from the street. But once you go inside, you realise it's actually HUGE. A cavernous space filled with decor reminiscent of a 19th century English Exhibition in London, with exotic foliage, organic twisted shapes, a bar made of over a thousand glass balls, swinging chairs that look like something from Alice in Wonderland, and butterflies caught in the balcony staircase. Upstairs is nestled a cluster of circular lounge areas, and the bathrooms have throne like chairs in the waiting rooms. There's a stage, that I assume frequented by bands, and I've heard a rather decent one plays there every second Sunday evening, although one my Thursday evening visit it was unused. When I was there, it wasn't a place to go dancing, but rather, a place to mingle and chat with friends. Whilst feeling rich and extravagant, of course.
If you haven't been in, go. It may not be your favourite place. It may not be your scene. I'm not even saying get a drink. But anyone can appreciate the work that has gone into the interior design. And it's smack bang in the middle of the Valley so you'll be walking past anyway. You can't miss it.
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About Me
- Mia Potter
- Tour Guide, Environmental Scientist, Ice Cream Lover, Life Enthusiast and Constant Work in Progress. I like learning about the world and sharing what I learn with those around me.