Afanti Uyghur - 95 Mains Road, Sunnybank QLD 4109

Having never tried Uyghur cuisine, I was quite eager to try Afanti Uyghur.

A small restaurant with lots of clean black tables.

Based on my very limited knowledge on Uyghur cuisine, Uighurs are big on mutton, chicken, goose, noodles with lots and lots of spices including cumin seeds, red pepper flakes, and pepper.

Seems like I might be right - Afanti Ughur offers a variety of traditional meat dishes including Roasted Lamb ($450), Roasted Lamb Shoulder/Leg ($70-$120), Big Plate Chicken Dish ($35) and more.  


Entree

Traditional Dishes



 
 
 



Beef/Chicken Dishes




Lamb Dishes



What better way to start our meal than with a Traditional Ayran Drink with Yoghurt & Ice ($7)? Apparently it improves digestion and removes excess gases while improving intestinal microflora. Not to mention it's a refreshing drink which cools off your blistering pallet - definitely comes in handy when you're eating spicy Uyghur food!

 

Basically tastes like a Lassi with salt ($7).



Being new to the cuisine, I had absolutely no idea what to order (I can't believe I just admitted that lol). So I just ordered what everyone else around me ordered.

 

Coated with chilli and cumin, the Uyghur Style Lamb Skewers ($15) was excitingly spicy but I would have preferred it to have more smoky charcoal flavours.

 

Uyghur Lamb Skewers ($15) 

 

Next came the Pan Grilled Meat Pies ($14.90). Juicy, flavourful mince sandwiched between deliciously pan-fried spring-onion-like pancakes (but without the spring onion). I found it slightly oily, but the pancakes were still quite crispy.

 

Pan Grilled Meat Pies ($14.9)

 

Everyone - yes seriously everyone - ordered the Tohogoshi Narin (Large $35; Small $25.90), aka the Big Plate Chicken Dish. True to its name, the dish was H-U-G-E (well we ordered a large), and generously filled with tender stir fried chicken, fluffy potatoes with chilli and garlic sauce. I especially loved the fresh hand made flat noodles which soaked up that addictive hot 'n' spicy sauce.

 

Large plate of Big Plate Chicken -
the small big plate just wasn't big enough for me haha :P

 

Verdict

I am not an expert on Uyghur cuisine, but I enjoyed the food.

 

~Hotel Urban (aka Gazebo) First Ever Insta-Eat~

In honour of their brand new menu, Gazebo decided to host their very first Insta-Eat.

To my delight, I was invited. I loved the food here so I knew I would be in for a wonderful night (you can read about my previous experience here).

We kicked off the night with a drink of our choice.

Mine was a passionfruit mocktail.

ENTREES:

1. Grilled chorizo and warm creamy halloumi, dipped with spicy sriracha aioli is definitely a winner at special events.

2. Caramelised Pork Belly with celeriac, nutmeg, Julienne apple, American bacon, cider reduction, micro herbs on a bed of creamy mash. Loved the combination of flavours - delicious!

3. Popcorn chicken with sweet and sour sauce.

MAINS:

1. Vietnamese Braised Beef Short Ribs with fresh crunchy slaw, coriander, fried shallots, and onion rings. Braised for 8 hours and coated with a sweet sticky Vietnamese sauce, these ribs basically melted in your mouth. The onion rings (which you can't see) were also to die for - sweet, sweet onions coated with an addictive light crunchy batter.

 

2. Churmoula Chicken Breast with kipfler potato, chorizo, burnt corn, capsicum, parsley and jus. I especially loved the kipfler potatoes - beautifully roasted with a dreamy fluffy/mashy texture.

3. Moreton Bay Bug & Prawn Fettucini - The flavours were so delightfully complex - I could taste hints of vanilla, lemon, confit garlic, chilli, prawns and fresh Moreton Bay Bug.

DESSERT:

1. Apple & Rhubarb Oat Crumble with grandfather port soaked raisins , fresh passion fruit and warm anglaise custard. Basically everything you want in a dessert - light creamy custard, crunchy oat topping, sweet tangy apples with delicious natural flavours.

2. A platter of decadent treats - dark calypso chocolate tart with white chocolate mousse, macarons, berries and more. Basically vanished right after I took this photo - so I guess that's an indication that it is scrumptious!

Verdict:
Gazebo's perfect for any special event - it's even got function rooms with spectacular views (and super clean toilets). Proof of what I've just said.

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

Gazebo = Magnifico | 345 Wickham Terrace Hotel Urban Brisbane QLD 4000

Gazebo - it's Magnifico!

Furnished with lots of greenery and comfy couches, the outdoor terrace was certainly inviting - I basically sank myself into one of them in no time. Nothing beats a large plushy armchair after a looong looong week - it was sooo relaxing and satisfying!

So much green - feels like I am in the middle of a rainforest!

Open 7 days a week, Gazebo offers an array of culinary delights - traditional breakfast staples, gourmet café-style meals, decadent treats and more.

Our meals took a while to arrive so we waited (im)patiently for our meals. Quality dishes take time to prepare so we didn't really mind. We certainly weren't disappointed - it definitely exceeded our expectations. In fact, exceeds expectations is an understatement - it was absolutely scrumptious.

Doused in a dill vanilla crème with refreshing zesty flavours, the Moreton Bay Bug & Prawn Fettucine ($36) was amazing. The flavours were so delightfully complex - I could taste confit garlic, chilli, prawns and fresh Moreton Bay Bug. To top it off, crispy bits of kale was sprinkled on top - which definitely took it to the next level.

Moreton Bay Bug & Prawn Fettucine ($36)

I was also impressed by the Barramundi ($38) - it was perfectly cooked - the flesh was firm yet super moist, with a crispy golden skin. Add in coconuty laksa broth, lemongrass, coriander, vermicelli, and a juicy kaffir lime and you've got one delicious combination.

Barramundi ($38)

Even the water here tasted pretty amazing - I wonder why.

No wonder -

Sweet and citrusy

Verdict
Although we waited a little while before our mains arrived, it was well worth the wait. Each dish was packed with flavours which complemented the core ingredient very well.

Update: Fortunately, I was invited to try a few of their other dishes - you can read about them here.

Restaurant Two - 2 Edward Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Don't expect to be full after a meal at Restaurant Two. But that's to be expected from a fine dining one-hatted restaurant which prizes quality (over quantity).

Who could possibly resist going in after seeing a sign like that?

A 2 course lunch with Sour Dough Bread & Cultured Butter and a complimentary glass of wine and unlimited sparking water for only $45!

Located in one of the most beautiful heritage-listed building on Edward Street, Restaurant Two offers a stunning view of Brisbane's Picturesque Botanical Gardens. Not to mention a stylish, modern dining space.

We started off with a slice of sour dough accompanied by creamy cultured butter topped with sea salt.

For my first course, I chose the Braised Beef Ribs. Juicy, tender ribs with an oh-so-good meat-off-the-bone texture, paired with a sweet red wine jus and a perfectly cooked stalk of broccolini. The accompanying polenta tasted creamy but felt a little gritty.

 

Braise Beef Rib, polenta, and gremolata

 

My Fellow Food Extinguisher had the Pumpkin Tortellini (normally $40). She really enjoyed it as the pasta tasted really fresh.

Pumpkin Tortellini, onion, walnuts, chevre, burnt butter ($40).

I was really excited when my Mandarin Cheesecake (Normally $19) arrived. A deconstructed cheesecake with sweet, crispy candied bacon, raw pumpkin and sticky mandarin syrup. I loved the different textures on the plate, but would have preferred it more if mascarpone or cream cheese was used rather than triple cream brie. Don't get me wrong - it was certainly a unique experience but I really like traditional cheesecakes made the good old-fashioned way. I also wish there was an actual slice of mandarin, fresh or candied, somewhere on the plate so that the main ingredient of the dish can be showcased.
 

Deconstructed Mandarin Cheesecake ($19)

Now this is how I like my brie - on a cheeseboard with crackers :). A delicious platter of gourmet cheese!

Farm House Cheese + Accompaniments

Verdict
With stunning views, fantastic service and a great inner-city location, what more can you want? If you're planning to host a special event and budget is not an issue, I will definitely recommend Restaurant Two.

Funny Funny Korean Bar & Restaurant - 85 George Street Brisbane QLD 4000

If you want to save money, don't go to Funny Funny. It's slightly more expensive than its Korean competitors, but the portions make up for it.
 

 
With a bar and main dining area, it's got a pretty cool upbeat vibe.
 

 
The menu offers an extensive selection, including traditional Korean choices such as dumplings, Bi Bim Baps (mixed rice), Korean pancakes, Fried Chicken, and Hot Pots.


Drinks/Set Menu


 

Pancakes/Mains

 

Main/Fried Chicken

 

Pan Fried / Hot Pots

 

Noodle

Bi Bim Baps/Soup

 

Right after we ordered, we were offered some Banchan (Korean side dishes to accompany your main). The sides tasted alright - guess it was free after all.

We were blown away by the Tsunami ($10), a booze platter containing 4 shot glasses filled with sake + soju + beer + whiskey. Surprisingly, it combined into an interesting drink with a subtle hint of sweetness which was very easy on the palette.

Tsunami $10

To spice up the evening, we ordered Old Kimchi with Pork Soup ($35). 

The first thing that caught my attention was this sign (and not the soup).

So anyway, I risked my life to try the soup.

Was it worth risking my life for?

 

Kimchi with Pork Soup ($35)

I'm not sure but I enjoyed it - Firm yet addictive glass noodles and pork belly soaked in a rich, kimchi-infused broth. You can definitely taste that the kimchi in the broth was perfectly aged, leaving an aromatic spicy sensation in your mouth. Unfortunately, the hot pot only comes with 2 bowls of rice, and any extras cost $2/bowl. I also found the pork belly a little tough.

Verdict:
So what are my overall thoughts about Funny Funny? I certainly thought the manager was funny - the flickering light in the fridge was blinding my friend and we wanted to move to a different table but he told us all the other tables were reserved whereas a junior staff was happy to accommodate our request :S. Funny that.