Author Archives: weiming

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About weiming

About myself? Just a passer-by, who happened to be born in the year of the dog, and hence the goofy moniker...

吟醸らーめん久保田 Ginjo Ramen Kobuta @Kyoto, Japan

Posted on 29 September 2023 by weiming

After a week (or so) trekking the pilgrimage trail in Wakayama, and half a day of visiting Hikone, we were ready to just relax in Kyoto with no plans. For the first day, wifey had a sleep-in while I enjoyed the grand bath in the hotel, and ended off with a nice cup of coffee from Kurasu which was just opposite our hotel.

We had lunch at this popular ramen stall 吟醸らーめん久保田 Ginjo Ramen Kobuta [Google Maps] which already had a queue when we arrived at 11:15am (they open at 11am).

The queue wasn’t that bad and we entered after 15min. We ordered a 醤油ラーメン Shoyu Ramen with Egg (¥1000) and a 味噌つけ麺 Miso Tsukemen Ramen with Egg (¥1100).

The noodles for shoyu ramen were springy and the soup was full of flavours. The dipping sauce for the tsukemen came with minced meat and accentuated the enjoyment of the noodles. Overall a very satisfied lunch!

Categories: Food, Japan, Kyoto, Lunch, Travel | Tags: , | Leave a comment

​Barista Jam @Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Posted on 13 December 2016 by weiming

2016-12-13 09.07.41After an awesome congee breakfast, we were walking along Jervois Street back to our hotel to check-out, and sighted Barista Jam!

So obviously we must try the coffee here. But besides coffee, Barista Jam’s menu also includes breakfast, pastries, pastas, salads, and sandwiches, and serves them in a cozy, chic place with friendly baristas.

I tried a Skinny Latte (HK$36) and it was pretty good! A pity our stomach capacity was limited or we would try out some of the pastries! 🙂

Contact:

  • Location: Shop D, G/F, 126-128 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan 上環蘇杭街126-128號地下D舖 (Google Maps)
  • Nearest MTR: Island Line Sheung Wan Station 港島綫上環站 (Take Exit A2 and walk 5 mins)
  • Website: www.facebook.com/baristajamhk
  • Hrs: 8am – 6pm (Tue-Fri), 10am – 6pm (Mon, Sat), 11am – 6pm (Sun)
Categories: Coffee/Tea Break, Hong Kong, Travel | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Markets in Sydney @Sydney

Posted on 21 August 2016 by weiming

2016-08-19-10-06-18Most of Sydney’s markets are unlike Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market or South Melbourne Market which are fixed buildings and stalls operate from within the building and around the peripherals of the building.

Instead, most of them are temporary in nature and often make use of school compounds to stage the marketplace during weekends or designated days of the week.

Markets also differ in nature where some are dedicated to just food, like The Rocks Friday Foodie Market, others are more varied which could include fashion, accessories, art pieces of various forms (paintings, carvings, ornaments etc.), furniture, and daily tools and accessories.

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Categories: Australia, Sydney, Travel | Tags: | 1 Comment

Peter’s Fish Market @Sydney Fish Market, Sydney

Posted on 21 August 2016 by weiming

2016-08-19-14-15-22When we decided to visit Ms I in Sydney and began our research, Sydney Fish Market (SFM) popped up on Google Maps and I made a note that we must come and visit because we are so fond of fish markets with its fresh seafood (or markets in general, really… Haha)!

After more research, we realized that this is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and the 3rd largest fish market in the world in terms of variety. It is also a popular place with over 2.7 million visitors coming here annually.

But the most exciting part for us is SFM also includes many seafood eateries within its premises and one can buy fresh seafood to cook at home, or order them and have them cooked on the spot in various styles!

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Categories: Australia, Lunch, Sydney, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

​Workshop Expresso @George Street, Sydney

Posted on 19 August 2016 by weiming

This was a beautiful morning and we were walking along George Street to The Rocks when we suddenly noticed a queue forming outside The Galeries.

We had a close look and there are a few communal tables inside and they sell a limited amount of sandwiches and pastries. A bit of Googling revealed that they also happened to be a popular coffee joint! I of course could not miss this opportunity of another skinny Latte (A$4) to go!

Opened since 2009, Workshop uses top notch single origin beans and has been the favourites of office workers around the CBD area who can be seen queuing up at all times to get a cup in their hands.

The coffee was fragrant and full of body and really pecked us up while we continued our walk to The Rocks for the The Rocks Friday Foodie Market!

Contact:

  • Location: 500 George Street, The Galeries, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia (Google Map)
  • Website: www.facebook.com/Workshop-Espresso-120204888032058
  • Directions: Take the train to Townhall Station and walk along George Street
  • Hrs: 6am – 5pm (Mon-Wed, Fri), 6am – 6pm (Thu), 8am – 4:30pm (Sat), 8am – 4pm (Sun)
Categories: Australia, Coffee/Tea Break, Sydney, Travel | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

​La Renaissance Patisserie & Cafe @The Rocks, Sydney

Posted on 18 August 2016 by weiming

2016-08-18-15-50-02Our main purpose in visiting Melbourne and Sydney this year was to visit our friends in these 2 cities. So we arranged to meet Ms I almost everyday while we were here. Haha…

After the morning walking tour and delicious pizza lunch, we took a slow stroll to meet Ms I at this little cafe at The Rocks.

La Renaissance was founded in 1974 and moved to the current old building in The Rocks in 1992. The counter in the building is very small with a colourful and beautiful display of cakes and French pastries. They do however have tables out front of the cafe on Argyle street and a courtyard cafe inside the premises.

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Categories: Australia, Coffee/Tea Break, Sydney, Travel | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

​Joe Black Cafe @Surry Hills, Sydney

Posted on 18 August 2016 by weiming

2016-08-18-09-25-51Since we only had a Matcha Latte take away (check out the cup on the table) from the small Cafe Cre Asion, we decided to turn at the corner into Commonwealth Street and landed on Joe Black Cafe which had a good rating on Google.

The cafe was very cozy and warm with a very community feel to it. On one of the walls (where we were seated), there was a drawing of a train map that became a very interesting talking point for its customers.

We especially loved the warm hospitality of the servers as they get around to take our orders, fetched and topped up our tap waters. The whole lively vibe of the place just boosted our level of likeness for Sydney on a whole!

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Categories: Australia, Breakfast, Sydney, Travel | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

Queen Victoria Market @Melbourne

Posted on 14 August 2016 by weiming

2016-08-11-06-12-31At every city that I travelled to, I would make it a point to visit their local markets. Be it Taipei, Hong Kong, London, these are the places that fascinate me and get me excited all the time, where you can witness how the locals go about their daily living and mingle yourself in the buzzing vibes of the market.

On every trip I made to Melbourne, Queen Victoria Market or QVM is the must-go place. And during the winter months, QVM also host the Winter Night Market every Wed night for 14 weeks.

We were lucky to detour to the Winter Night Market before our expensive Japanese dinner the other day. There were fireplaces strategically located throughout the shed area and over 30 street vendors and some of Melbourne’s best designer and artisan stalls made up the lively place where people just gathered, had fun and enjoyed great food and company!

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Categories: Australia, Melbourne, Travel | Tags: | 4 Comments

Shortstop Coffee & Donuts @Sutherland Street, Melbourne

Posted on 14 August 2016 by weiming

After a satisfying coffee, we continue to walk along Elizabeth Street in the direction of Queen Victoria Market in search of yummy breakfast on Google. That’s when we stumbled upon this description Artisanal donuts and organic coffee in a snug space with chic, minimalist decor, plus takeaway. How can we not be moved by such a description?

And so we strolled into the small Sutherland Street and found this quaint little cafe with only 2 small tables inside, and many customers standing outside sipping hot coffee and munching on deliciously-looking donuts! Kinda reminded us of Ah Zong Mee Sua (阿宗麵線) in Ximending, Taipei.

Australian Honey & Sea Salt Donut
Australian Honey & Sea Salt Donut
So many many donuts!
So many many donuts!

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Categories: Australia, Coffee/Tea Break, Melbourne, Travel | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

​Brother Baba Budan @Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Posted on 14 August 2016 by weiming

2016-08-14-10-37-25We slept in today because we had a long day at Phillip Island yesterday, and only ventured out after 10am.

We were just walking along Elizabeth Street, trying to find something to munch. And we passed by Brother Baba Budan again!

This time, I didn’t miss the chance to walk in and got myself a skinny Latte (A$4) to go since there weren’t much pastry choices and we were going to Queen Victoria Market later. And boy, this was the best coffee I have had so far in Melbourne!

I was telling wifey that the first sip of the coffee instinctively tells me if I am going to like this coffee or not; it needs to give me that warm, oomph feeling and not just a meh kind of feel. And this cup from Brother Baba Budan definitely did that. It was smooth, aromatic with the right temperature that just flows effortlessly down your throat exciting every cell along the way…

Contact:

  • Location: 359 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia (Google Map)
  • Website: sevenseeds.com.au
  • Directions: Take the (free) tram to Burke Street Mall and walk along Little Burke Street.
  • Hrs: 7am – 5pm (Mon-Sat), 9am – 5pm (Sun)
Categories: Australia, Coffee/Tea Break, Melbourne, Travel | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

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