Oliver Brown - Westfield Garden City | Upper Mt Gravatt

You may have heard of Oliver Twist, but have you heard of Oliver Brown? 

If you haven't, maybe it's time to check it out. Oliver Brown - one of Sydney's leading Belgian chocolate cafes - has finally arrived to Brisbane!

Since its opening, I've been dying to try it out. Literally - but I just couldn't find the time in between dying recovering from whooping cough and working. 

Imagine my delight when an invite turned up on my doorstep.

Without further ado, I dragged Mr Cookie along with me to be my chauffeur indulge our senses.

That sure sounds like me!

And what a sinful sight it was. 

With waffles, cakes, churros, sundaes, shakes and fondues made from the very best Belgian chocolate - there's bound to be something to tantalise your taste buds!

Oliver Brown is definitely the ultimate dessert destination for anyone with a sweet tooth. There's an extensive range of drinks available - milk, white, dark, coconut, crunchy balls, mint - just to name a few. You can find out the full range by reading the menu.

What is particularly unique about the Garden City Oliver Brown is that it also offers savoury options, including breakfast, burgers and more. Definitely not something you would expect from a chocolate specialty store.

Feeling particularly generous, I told Mr Cookie he can order "A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G" he wanted from the menu.

...and what does he order?

Yes - that's right - he goes and orders something savoury - a REAL Wagyu Burger. Why on earth would anyone want to get something savoury from a chocolate cafe?!

Real Wagyu Burger ($16)

Well - it was actually pretty good. The wagyu patty, despite lacking the pinkish centre that most patties from a gourmet burger joint would have, was surprisingly juicy and tender. Not to mention it left a sweet lingering onion taste in my mouth. A beef-rich flavourful patty, coupled with a thin slice of refreshing tomato, a piece of crispy lettuce, cheese, purple onion, smothered in a sweet tangy BBQ sauce is no doubt the perfect recipe for a good burger. If only it had more tomato and lettuce...

I, on the other hand, decided to indulge in chocolate treats.

Freshly baked, the churros didn't have a crisp exterior coating and the taste reminded me of a crepe. Served with a sprinkle of cinnamon and icing sugar, the soft pancakey pillars were still quite moreish.

Baked Churros for one ($7.50)

The Fondue for Two was an impressive display of fresh strawberries, creamy banana, marshmallows, banana bread and pretzels with two generous portions of milk and dark Belgian chocolate. I particularly loved the dark chocolate dip - the perfect balance of sweet and rich chocolate flavours, with a tinge of bitterness you expect from good quality dark chocolate, is bound to leave your taste buds tingling for more! The milk chocolate, although thick and smooth, was a tad too sweet for me.

Fondue for Two ($17.50)

Oliver Brown offers cold chocolatey drinks, making it a wonderful destination to go to during our hot summer. A rich delicious concoction, blended with premium Belgian chocolate, topped with flakes/crunchy oreo biscuits for a contrasting texture.

Left: Dark Iced Chocolate ($7.50)
Right: Cookies and Cream ($7.80)

Verdict:
Am I now obsessed with Oliver Brown's premium chocolate creations? With its sinfully rich and decadent treats, I'll definitely be back.

Disclaimer: The Food Extinguisher was an invited guest of Oliver Brown, however this review is honest and unbiased.

Midam - Shop 3 | 21 Farne Street, Sunnybank Hills QLD 4109

Not sure where to take your guests? Why not charm them with Midam? Offers a wide range of a-la-carte Korean dishes and all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet for only $28.50.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt I was walking through a peaceful nature sanctuary - the bamboo and wooden décor creates a very calming soothing ambience. Perfect place to chill after a long long week!

Not to mention it even comes with its very own waterfall!

Fortunately, the bathrooms do not involve any trees or waterfalls and I was extremely relieved to see that it was very modern.

PS - Please don't ask me why I have my camera with me in there.

In fact, I was super impressed with how high tech the toilet was - it comes with a really cool washing function. Umm I should probably focus more on the food and stop talking about the toilets, shouldn't I....

Being one of the biggest gluttons on this planet, how can I resist the buffet after seeing this? Pity it's only offered on Monday - Friday nights :(.

True to its word, Midam uses good quality charcoal which really does make a difference to the taste of the meat - gives it a delicious smoky flavour.

The Banchan arrived promptly and we got a fairly standard selection - kimichi, fishcake marinated with soy sauce and sesame oil, and Nokdumuk (mung bean jelly).

There's a very limited vege selection - there's garlic, chilli, shredded cabbage, sweet potato and onion. So if you're vegetarian, I definitely won't recommend this place. Though would anyone go to an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ buffet just to eat vegetables? I certainly wouldn't, so I didn't really mind.

Yes I know octopus isn't considered a vegetable.

In terms of meats, there's Marinated Pork Ribs, Marinated Pork, Fresh Pork Belly, Marinated Chicken, Beef Tongue, Marinated Thin Beef Skirt, Wagyu Beef, and Marinated Beef. Although not all the items on the menu was available, it was still a good variety.

Given that the meats were from Thomas Meats (famous Korean butcher at Sunnybank), I had high expectations. I was definitely not disappointed - the Wagyu was very well marbled and the pork belly was sliced to the perfect thickness (or thinness) such that it crisped up deliciously after it was grilled. Just a word of warning - the pork belly may be a little too fatty for some.

I also loved the subtle sweet and tangy flavours on the marinated meats - the meats were very fresh so the original flavours really came through and you don't need to drench them in sauces.

What I didn't like, however, was that each table was only given one big plate to hold the meats. Probably to ensure there's no wastage. Not necessarily a bad thing -  I guess - because there's a $20 fine for diners with leftover food.

There's also Coffee and Brown Rice Green Tea available.

Verdict
At only $28.50, it's fairly reasonably priced for an all-you-can-eat buffet and no doubt it's one of the better Korean BBQ buffets in town. What struck me the most, however, was the was the wonderful sense of peace and serenity in the restaurant. And of course, I will never forget the toilets either - they are equally fascinating :D.

 

Peng You - 76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead Brisbane QLD 4006

What's a girl's best friend? Surprisingly, not diamonds, but rather, scrumptious food and good company. And that's exactly what I got at Peng You China Kitchen & Bar.

Together with its romantic oriental ambience and soothing jazz background music, you're definitely in for a good night. As soon as I walked in, I was taken away by the dimly-lit red lanterns, the old Shanghai girl posters and the colourful patchwork cushions on the vintage wooden chairs which gave the place a rather homey feel.

Not to mention that I certainly made a new peng you (aka friend in Chinese) on the night. The restaurant owner, Joyce, was extremely hospitable, and I was fascinated by her strong passion for food. You can even taste that passion in the food. Instead of drenching their dishes in strong Asian sauces, Peng You uses only the freshest ingredients and subtle garnishes to bring out the original flavours in the core ingredient.

The menu features traditional Chinese recipes with a modern twist - including Chinese favourites like the Peking Duck, Gyoza, Sung Choi Bow, just to name a few. You can view the menu here.

The Griddle Cooked Gyoza here is a house specialty, and I can certainly see why. Silky mince and crunchy bits of cabbage housed in thin dumpling pastry, bursting with a subtle yet flavourful pork broth. The Spicy Sichuan Pork was equally enjoyable - the spiciness was just right and the delicate spicy flavours tingled my senses.

I've never really been a fan of vegetables, but Peng You changed my mind. The Baby Bok Choy was sweet and cooked perfectly - giving it an addictively crunchy texture.

The mains were even more impressive than the entrees. Garnished with fresh curry leaves, onions and tender egg plant, the Malaysian style Roast Duck Curry ($35) looked so good that I couldn't wait to dig in! It tasted just as good as it looks - the roast duck was succulent and the spiciness in the curry was perfectly balanced by the creamy flavours in the coconut cream. Super moreish and goes really well with the soft silky eggplant which soaked up the rich curry sauce beautifully.

Unlike any other steamed fish that has been presented to me, our Baby Barramundi ($39.5) showed up tightly wrapped in banana leaves. Inside lay a perfectly steamed barramundi, dressed with bruised lemongrass, sliced red chilli, and Thai basil. The flesh was firm, yet oh-so-delicate, and the subtle flavours in the different garnishes complemented the barramundi very, very well. The best part - the fish is deboned right in front of you as soon as it was ready which means that the barramundi was served steaming hot!


Fish right after the banana leaf is unwrapped



How the fish looks exactly the same after it's deboned remains a mystery to me.


Verdict:
While the prices are a bit upmarket, it's totally worth it as you're in for a wonderful experience - traditional Chinese flavours infused with a modern twist. Not only do you get quality but also quantity as the portions are really quite generous.

 

Zeus Greek Street Food - Shop 13, 14 Little Stanley Street, Southbank QLD 4101

Zoom into Zeus - the Almighty Greek chain for pitas, dips and more.

As we walked in, we were welcomed by numerous signs like "Welcome to our home" and "We're not your new neighbour. We're your new family".

But none of them were as welcoming as this sight - large chunks of meat roasted over a charcoal barbeque. Just the smoky aromas alone was enough to make me drool.

The menu is simple - mainly focusing on pitas filled with meats from the souvla (the spit-roasted meats). Choose from the classic pork, chicken, or lamb - or for the more adventurous - the lightly fried soft shell crab. There's also something for the vego lovers too - the Stavros Stavrou with grilled haloumi and caramelised onion. And you can even pair your pita with greeky sides like Spanakopita (Homemade flaky spinach cheese pie and lemon), Grilled Haloumi, and Feta Oregano Chips.

I loved it how the Grilled Haloumi ($10) was sprinkled with oregano and served with a fresh slice of lemon. Just like traditional haloumi, it was super salty and rubbery - to the point that it squeaked. While haloumi is supposed to have a firm springy texture, I found this one just a little too rubbery for me.

Grilled Haloumi with lemon and oregano ($10)

Wanting to try something different, we opted for the Soft Shell Crab Pita ($13.50). Wrapped in a thick fluffy pita, the combination of crunchy soft shell crab, fresh Aegean slaw, creamy lemon mayo, perfectly caramelised onion and sweet chilli was heavenly!

Soft Shell Crab ($13.50)

While the pita may look a little small at first, it's generously stuffed with fillings. When I say generous - I really mean it. Check it out yourself:

It's jam packed with soft shell crabs!!!

Well - you can't possibly go to Zeus without trying The Zeus, so we had to get one. Tender, succulent chunks of lamb, roasted perfectly with a delicious smoky flavour, paired with fresh Aegean slaw, onion and parsley.

The Zeus ($12.50)

According to the menu, it was supposed to have smoked eggplant in it but it was quite faint (and actually, barely noticeable). It still tasted pretty awesome so who cares - the juicy, smoky lamb really made my day.



Verdict

True to its name, Zeus blasted us away with his amazing pitas and spit-roasted lamb. Even the unconventional choices like the soft shell crab was extremely memorable.