Funnel Cake Factory

I've told you about J & J Snack Foods before.  They own Super Pretzel (e.g. the soft pretzels you have from nearly every concession stand/fair/etc) and Tio Pepe's Churros (e.g. the churros you see on the boardwalk).  They also own "The Funnel Cake Factory".

The Funnel Cake Factory makes frozen pre-formed funnel cakes, mixes to fry your own, and, frozen funnel cake fries.

I'll admit I was pretty skeptical about these, since, well, funnel cake is one of those things that is great when you have it absolutely fresh.  I didn't think they would be remotely good when frozen and re-heated in an oven (or fryer).  And ... I was basically right.

Funnel Cake Fries.

"The Funnel Cake Factory funnel fries offers a twist on the traditional french fry and is a great dessert! Shake them up tableside with some powered sugar."

The fries were ... kinda boring, to be honest.  The ones I had were baked and tossed in cinnamon sugar.

They were soft, but weren't really doughy, or oily, in the way a good funnel cake is.  They were just some warm crispy things, with lots of cinnamon and sugar on them.  Exciting in concept, but, not actually very interesting.

Read More...

Waffling Leftovers: Sloppy Joe Filling

Today's waffling leftovers story is a kinda funny one.  Not a success, but, still fun.

(What am I talking about? Go start with my master waffling leftovers post if this concept is new, and then return here).

Leftover Sloppy Joe Filling Transformation.

Will it Waffle: Leftover Sloppy Joe Filling?  Uh, no.

I'm not sure why I thought this would work exactly.  It was salvageable, but certainly not one for the success column.

The Original: Sloppy Joe Filling.

The original was the filling for sloppy joes.

It wasn't as tomato-y or sauce-y as most sloppy joe I've had, but it was still quite tasty.  Ground beef base, chopped green and red bell peppers/onion/garlic, ketchup/brown sugar/cider vinegar, and seasoned with thyme/cumin/paprika.

Very good.  But we had too much leftover.

Leftover Sloppy Joe Filling.

The first day, I reheated some in the toaster oven, and served it traditionally on a bun.  It was fine, no quality degradation.  I had some cold the next day, but that wasn't great.

I was sick of sloppy joes though, so I wanted to have some fun with the remainder.

Into the Waffle Iron ...

So I took a big solid clump, held together by the congealed solid fats, and put it into the waffle iron.  No crusting, no additions.  In my head, I thought it would cook kinda like a burger patty?

Uh ... ooops?

Let's just say, things didn't go as expected.  Partially because I was doing housework while it was cooking, and I left it going far longer than I intended.  I opened the lid to find a bit of a mess.

Because it had no crusting, there was no reason to have any structural integrity, something I kinda forgot about in my glee to waffle anything and everything.  Of course it didn't hold together.  It was also totally dried out.  The best part of the sloppy joes is the sauce and how it soaks into the bun, and this was just a bunch of dry, seasoned ground beef.

Final Product.

Extracting it was impossible.  I started picking at it with chopsticks, eating a few bites directly off the iron.  It didn't taste ... bad exactly.  Yes it was dry, but it was very flavorful still.  The seasoning was still there.  And now it had crispy bits.  Totally not what I was aiming for, but, well, it kinda worked.  I commented to my dining companion that it reminded me a bit of Persian food, and that I thought it would be good over rice with yogurt.  He tried a bite, and admitted that it wasn't bad.  He was about to dig into a plate of indian food (saag paneer and rice), and offered to take it and have it over the rice.  I gladly gave it to him, happy to see it salvaged.

Read More...

Travelin' Tuesday: Sydney (My Favorite City on Earth)

It is no secret that I love Sydney.  If it was not on the other side of the world, I'd move there in a heartbeat.  I love so many things about it.  The weather (summer!).  The atmosphere and culture the mild climate create, with indoor/outdoor living and dining the norm.  The people (so laid back!).  The lifestyle (everyone is active!).  And of course, the food.  In particular, the incredible asian influence, and ingredients, that we just don't get in the US.  Oh, and the cafes.  Sydney takes its cafes, and brekky, very seriously.

I've published nearly 100 reviews of Sydney (yes, really.  I have been there *many* times, several for stints as long as 3 months), so this won't enumerate them all, but, give some highlights and my top suggestions for those visiting (which, um, you should do!)

Brunch @ Cuckoo Callay.

Brunch / Cafes

• The tie-for-1st best brunch in Sydney at Cuckoo Callay - trendy, Instagram worthy, and insanely delicious.  Bacon mac and cheese and fondant pancakes are unrivaled. [ Top Julie Pick for Brunch!]
• Three Williams, for french toast, revolutionized. It is life changing, seriously. And good coffee doesn't hurt! [ Top Julie Pick for Brunch/Dessert! ]
• Bill's, the Sydney classic, which introduced me to the most epically good ricotta hotcakes,  and then broke my heart in subsequent years.
• Trio in Bondi and Bread and Circus Wholefood Canteen, both pretty mediocre, but Trio has nice beachfront locale.
• Creative brunch fare at Devon Cafe.
• Fantastic looking, but kinda meh, souffle pancakes from Edition Coffee Roasters.

Salted Caramel with Popcorn Cruffin.

Bakeries

• Absolutely stunning cakes and a fabulous sticky bun from Saga.  [ Top Julie Pick for Cake!]
• Fujipan with fun Japanese baked goods [ Sadly now closed ].
• Uncle Tetsu Japanese style cheesecake, cheesetarts, and more.  And lines.  Long lines.
• Hybrids like cronuts have hit Sydney too, at Bécasse, and cruffins at Brewtown Newtown.
• The best breads I've ever had from Dough Collective [ Sadly now closed ].
• The famous panna cotta lamington, from Flour & Stone bakery, really great ... for a lamington, but still a lamington.
• Bourke Street Bakery, probably the most famous bakery in Sydney, but I'm obsessed with their chocolate milk. [ Top Julie Pick ... for the chocolate milk.  Seriously. ]
• Epic pies (both sweet and savory), from Pie Tin. 
• Decent cookies from Madhouse Bakehouse.
• Donuts and good coffee from Workshop Espresso.
• Breadtop, not nearly as good as 85* Bakery Cafe.
• Mediocre asian baked goods, from Bengong Black.
• The (rightfully) famous mascarpone cake from Lorraine's Patisserie.
• Auvers Cafe. Home of the most massive, insane, absolutely fabulous taro cream stuffed croissant [ Top Julie Pick! ]

Thai Banquet Feast @ Longrain.

Thai Cuisine

• Impressive group dining feasts (great flavors, amazing desserts, great cocktails) at Longrain. [ Top Julie Pick for Group Dining! But ... closed :( ]
• Sydney institutions: Chat Thai (and spin-offs Boon Cafe and Samosorn Thai) and Home Thai.
• Muum Maam for more Thai family style group dining.
• My favorite Sailor's Thai Canteen and the more formal Restaurant (both sadly closed).
• A nightly ritual, getting dessert from the "Thai Hawker", or, Thanon Khaosan.
• Mango Coco: Home of the best Thai desserts, anywhere. [ Top Julie Pick! ]
• Authentic Thai food at Spice I Am. I wasn't wowed, but, quality was evident. 

Fantastic Fries & Dips @ Snag Stand.

Casual Dining

• Mamak for Malaysian roti, fried chicken, and noodles.  ZOMG, the dessert Roti Bam!
• Incredible fries and dipping sauces from Snag Stand [ Closed ]
• Chinatown Noodle Restaurant for great dumplings, and a lot of, uh, ambiance.
• Not impressed by the worldwide dumpling sensation Din Tai Fung, not for savory, sweet, nor even premium black truffle dumplings. I visited 3 different locations (mall food court, World's Square, and Central Park).
• Martabak Cafe ... for martabak.  Did not like!
• Beachfront dining at Watson's Bay Beach Club ... just don't really go for the food.
• The Fish Butchery: really fascinating place, wonderful to explore seafood variety, but I think I ordered poorly. 
• Ume Burger, for high quality burgers of all kinds, and Bar Ume, for fabulous soft serve. [ Top Julie Pick for casual dining! ]
• Vegan fast food? Yeah, not so good sweet potato fries and onion rings, at Lord of the Fries (but the dips were tasty!)
• Easy takeout, but, I guess Ippudo isn't for me?

Asian Fusion Gone Right: Ms. G's.

Mid-Range

• Ms. G's for incredible creative Vietnamese fusion and drinks (e.g. cheeseburger spring rolls that dreams are made of, and out of this world desserts.  Oh, and alcoholic bubble tea!) [ Top Julie Pick Overall! ]
• Very good modern Chinese, Mr. Wong.
• And not so memorable modern Asian at China Lane.
• Modern Australian, unique ingredients, rustic and comfortable setting, at The Govenor's Table.
• Mediocre dim sum at China Doll and Luya and Yum Yum.
• Gantry for excellent seafood.
• Highly rated Chinese cuisine, with premium seafood offerings from Lotus Barangaroo, but alas, not great.

Fancy Bar Dining at Rockpool Bar & Grill.

High End

• Rockpool Bar & Grill, for the best hotdog ever (yes, really) and incredible dessert. [ Top Julie Pick! ]
• Very overpriced mediocre sushi at Sokyo.
• Lumi for innovative cuisine (think: savory churros).
• Quality fine dining at Bentley.

Margarita Caviar? Gin & Tonic Jellies? Yup, at Rabbit Hole.

Bars / Lounges

• Red Lily for excellent Vietnamese and drinks.
• Memorable crispy mac and cheese balls at Pocket Bar .
• Gantry Bar & Lounge, not really equipped for a group our size
• Molecular gastronomy drinks at a bar? Yup, at Rabbit Hole.

Rose Soft Serve with Popping Candy @ Aqua S.

Ice Cream / Gelato

• Some of the best soft serve I've ever had (and yes, very Instagram worthy) at Aqua S. [ Top Julie Pick for Ice Cream! Sadly ... closed ]
• Anita Gelato ... great gelato, but downright incredible toppings lineup for soft serve frozen yogurt (unlimited toppings!!!) [ Top Julie Pick! ]
• Good Times Artisan Ice Cream for ridiculous soft serve gelato sundae creations that are Instagram worthy, but very difficult to eat. [ Closed ]
• Decent black sesame soft serve from a mall food court, Rice Workshop.
• Old standby Gelato Messina.
• Classic Streets ice cream treats.
• Very good taro bubble tea ice cream sundae at Devon Cafe, North Sydney, and a quite melty creation at Devon Cafe Barangaroo.
• Crazy Asian creations from Chanoma cafe.

The Haloumi Burger (Salad option) from Vejoes Vegetarian Food Truck.

Food Trucks

• Vejoes, for incredible vegetarian food!  Oh the halloumi!
• Not tasty yum cha from Let's Do Yum Cha

Fun Chips!

Snacks

• Packaged flavored Jonny's Popcorn.
• Tasty flavored milks, from OAK and not as tasty, from Nippy.
• Crazy varieties of chips
• Actually tasty bars from Be Natural and breakfast bars from SuniBrite.

Beautiful bubble tea at Bubble Nini Tea.

Bubble Tea / Yogurt Rice / Smoothies

• Standard chain milk tea at Chatime, and, my discovery of the joy of cheese foam.
• A combination flower shop and bubble tea store? With all hand made pearls? And real taro?  Bubble Nini Tea is a lovely experience. [ Top Julie Pick! ]
• Milk tea, that comes with a canvas reusable carrier sling? Great advertising at CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice.
• One of the older, non chain, shops, Original Royaltea, not bad, and interesting add-ins too.
• My first experience of my new obsession: rice yogurt drinks, from Koomi.  I'm in love.
• The one that started it all, Yomie, for yogurt rice, but ... meh, totally not for me.
• Yogurt smoothie drinks?  Not for me, from Bengong Black.
• Mango Coco: Not just a dessert cafe, they also have coconut (and mango) smoothies with fantastic toppings. [ Top Julie Pick! ]
• Meh, just a yogurt smoothie from A Yogurt Cow.

Breakfast on the Balcony @ Sheraton on the Park.

Hotels

• Sheraton on the Park with the absolutely most impressive Executive Lounge I've ever experienced, for breakfast, for afternoon tea, and, swoon, for "evening canapes" that easily double as *good* dinner. [ Top Julie Pick for hotel lounge ... anywhere in the world. ] 
• The Westin, with a fairly standard executive lounge or full service restaurant breakfast buffet

Flights / Airline Lounges

I've been to Sydney many times.  I've flown several airlines, some direct, some through LAX, some through Auckland, several different classes of service, and many aircraft types.  They all offer different trade-offs, but I think Air New Zealand is my top pick for flying experience, but Qantas wins no question on the lounges.

Air New Zealand - Flights

• SFO-AKL
• 2015: NZ7, International Business, great night's sleep and shockingly good burger.
• AKL-SYD
• NZ 101, Works Deluxe, 2015
• NZ101, International Business, 2015.
• NZ101, Business Premier, 2018
• SYD-AKL
• International Business
• Works Deluxe (not nice seats, but, wow, I liked the lunch).
• AKL-SFO 
•  2015, 2017, and multiple times in 2018, always in International Business, the later flights far more successful than the first (halloumi! Panna cotta! Ice cream!  Yes!).

Air New Zealand - Lounges

• Auckland International Lounge (and previous lounge).
• New business lounge in Sydney, with excellent breakfast.

Qantas - Flights

• Lackluster flight, upper deck, LAX-SYD.
• Upper deck of the 747, SYD-LAX, actually some really tasty food.
• Direct route, SYD-SFO, again on the upper deck of a 747.
• Direct, SFO-SYD. Highly mediocre.
• Simple domestic business class, SYD-MEL.
• Dreamliner service, but still Qantas standards, MEL-SFO.

Qantas - Lounges

• Decent, brand new First Class and Business lounges in LAX.
• Flagship lounges in Sydney International, both the good business and the insanely amazing First class lounge.  Seriously, the First class lounge has some of the best food in all of Sydney.  I'm not joking. [ Top Julie Pick  of airline lounge ... anywhere ! ]
• Sydney Domestic Business lounge and Qantas Club
• First Class and Business Class Lounges, Melbourne.  Go for the massage, the buttered popcorn, and the brownies.  Seriously.

American Airlines

• LAX-SYD, better seats, better food that Qantas.

Virgin Australia

• LAX-SYD, nice bed, cool bar space, lackluster food.

Star Alliance

• Star Alliance Lounge, TBIT, LAX: Amazing rooftop terrace, well seasoned food, good cheeses.
• Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, SYD: Why are they still serving breakfast at 12:30pm?
• United Airlines SYD-SFO on 777-300, Polaris.  Great bed, mediocre service, horrible food.

Airport Dining (non-airline lounge)

Sydney

• Remarkable onion rings from Bar Roma, Sydney Domestic Terminal.
• Wok on Air, Sydney Domestic Terminal. Don't go for the sushi, but load up on the prawn and lotus chips!
• Interesting muffins from Mach 2.
• Good coffee, and mediocre muffins, from Peroni Bar.
• Better Burger: no recommended, awful soft serve ice cream.

Melbourne

• Cafe Vue, Melbourne Airport. Not the best, but a couple decent baked goods.
• Bar Pulpo by Movida, Melbourne, not the best destination for muffins.
• Plaza Premium Lounge ... its ... a lounge

Read More...