This is a very easy dish to prepare, as you only need to mix the sauce (hoi sin sauce, soy sauce, olive oil and chilli sauce). The rest of the ingredients are store-bought (noodle, chinese barbecued pork, choy sum).

Had a nice light dinner at Arintji one Friday evening. This is my third visit in the last two years. During the first visit I had a delightful soft shell crab dish and an Indonesian-style fried chicken. I was so impressed that I suggested a dinner with a few work colleagues, but unfortunately the menu had changed then. We had some pork belly which was OK but not memorable. Fearing another disappointment I had not venture there for a long long time....that is until now.

On arrival we were greeted by a friendly waitress and presented with two different menus. The items on the menu were more or less the same, but the size and pricing were different. The waitress explained that the meals were "tapas-style". We decided to try the small entree size meals.

Salt cod fritters, saffron aioli ($7.50)
Eat at your own risk!  Very very salty! The texture reminds me of salted fish, dry and salty.  Don't think I would ever order this anymore.

Another excuse to get together and have a scrumptious meal: a belated celebration for Paul's birthday last week. We went to Hu Tong Dumpling, definitely our favourite dumpling restaurant in Melbourne.  This time I made sure I took pictures of each dish we had.

I have been to this restaurant countless times.  Each time with varying degrees of customer service.  This time the service was courteous and friendly.  Although they didn't miss our order (we had to wait an extra 15 minutes for a misplaced order last time we were here) a dish that we didn't order was brought to our table, which we promptly rejected.

Shanghai Fried Noodles ($8.00)
Tasty with lots of vegetable and mushrooms.

Shredded Turnip Pastry (3pcs - $5.80)
Very nice. I have had this many times in the past, but never this good. The pastry was flaky, thin and crispy.

My favourite dish.  The sauce is heavily flavoured with Sichuan peppercorns.

For menu, click here.

Update 7 March 2010: Went back for a quick lunch. We were lucky to get in before the crowd on a Sunday afternoon.  Seated on the ground floor just in front of the kitchen, we could watch the chefs in action.  However, I was really disappointed by the rude and impersonal service. Having had the Shao Long Bao many many times before, with everyone of us get our own little saucer of ginger (ie.4 people, 1 basket of baos, 4 saucers of ginger), I was disappointed to have the Shao Long Bao and one little saucer being plonked rudely on the table with no words of acknowledgement whatsoever.  Waving the waiter back, I asked for more ginger and was given the line "This is for two people!"  Oh yeah????  Told him I would pay for it, he replied with "We are running out of ginger."......Nice service Hu Tong, not!

One of my favourite curry places at the moment. Located in a food court, this Sri Lankan curry outlet has quickly become the most popular food stand in the food court.  The serving size is generous, could be shared by two if you are a small eater. One popular option, curry & rice ($9.90) consists of either white or yellow rice, one meat dish, two vegetable dishes, one roti and one pappadum.

Bought this sushi package for its look. Dainty and pretty huh? Taste wise, probably not the best the outlet could offer. Give me the ordinary looking California roll anytime.