Hilltop Phoenix in Castlehill NSW

Suburban Yam char!

After a meeting in the CBD hop into the car for 60 min drive down the tolled freeways of Sydney to Castlehill. This restaurant sits on the mezzanine of the shopping mall.

Hot tea and steaming Asian Tapas here. The traditional favourites (clockwise): chili braised phoenix claws, prawn dumplings, sweet roast pork dumplings, meat & prawn dumplings. We did the morning power walk from the hotel to the Sydney Harbour Bridge so we are covered for the caloric load.

Add some blanched garden greens with pork ribs. Drink some tea to wash down the animal fat.

The chlorophyll laden garden veges with oyster sauce. Have to get some of this for the fibre content to balance the protein.

More yamcha. Rice rolls with roast pork. This is great with lots of little bits of shredded meat.

That is alot of food for a working day lunch. Now for the drive back to the airport and flight back home. But some rice prawn rolls before we leave - "ha cheong fan" - Awesome !

We drive back over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Check out the toll here http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/myrta/e-toll/

Dragon Palace Francis Street Oct 2012

Dragon Palace for lunch

Fly in fly out lunch. Quick service and hot tasty food in large Chinese restaurant. Feisty atmosphere with lots of hot steaming trays pushed by busy young waiters and waitresses.

Seated at 1210pm then out at 1255pm. A 45 minute lunch with 4 work colleagues to celebrate Tay going to Singapore for holidays. Jul & Art were there for the fun.

Maitre D was efficient and seated us in minutes.
The wine list but it was a working lunch so no alcohol. We had chinese tea 'pou lei' which was a touch strong. Tasted great with extra hot water.

Art ordered his favourite dish sweet BBQ pork rolls with fluffy pastry.

He also ordered desert at the same time. Some moist and crumble in your mouth egg tarts. Good for ballerinas' who were in between training sessions or their lunch hour.

The taro dumplings were crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. Good carbs for the afternoon nap or 8 storey climb at work. Avoid the lift and just walk the up the stairs.

Chive Dumplings were flavoursome with garlicky flavours.

Light on the stomach tofu steamed with mince meat and black bean sauce. Great protein for a body builder looking to reduce the carbs to improve muscle definition.

The menu with English translation.

More prawn dumplings - steamed to minimise the trans fats you could get from deep frying.

Prawn dumplings with corn to cut down on the cholesterol and kick of sweetness to improve the flavour. We need the cholesterol for brain food so keep going on eating the prawns. They are not too bad as long as you do the treadmill to music this afternoon.

What a great lunch in 45 minutes. We left just in time for me to get back to work. Art, Tay and Jul went to icey ice for desert. That is another story.

NorthBridge Chinese Restaurant 30th Sept 2012

Sunday Morning Brunch in Perth

Looking for something to do after the 7km walk or 15km bicycle ride. Some hot tea to go with savouries or sweets. Tea has some caffeine so beware if you don't want another high ontop of the endorphins already flowing around.

View of busy Sunday morning crowd in front of the restaurant on Roe Street, Northbridge in Perth.

Fried Squid - The green chili added some spice. 1 piece per person to watch the cholesterol.

Ribs in black bean sauce - for meat lovers and if you are doing weights or trying to bulk up.

Shanghai Dumplings - don't pop the skin or you lose the soup inside. Nice after a swim in the ocean by the beach. Warms you up.

Prawn Dumplings - prawn fixation after the aerobics session.

Chicken Feet for those who like smooth & gooey taste with lots of bone to pick on. Low on carbs but energy foot if you are training for a half marathon.

Meat Dumplings wholesome with lots of mince pork. Some places add prawn to jazz it up. Also good for medium intensity weight training. Lots of protein.

Horse Radish Cake a traditional breakfast favourite best served warm after being pan fried lightly. Nice after a 30 minute aerobics or Pilate's session.

Steamed Roast Pork Bun with white fluffy pastry which has a slightly sweet taste. Light on the stomach and suits a yoga session afterwards.

Rice Crepes with prawns and soy sauce. Best eaten steaming hot from the steamer with chili. Avoid the oil dressing and go to the front of the aerobics class.

Silken Tofu with light sugar syrup. This is great if you did not do any physical activity before coming to brunch. High protein with some sucrose to kick start the day.

Steamed rice in lotus leaves. A filling dish with mince pork, yolk of preserved eggs and glutinous rice. Steamed after being wrapped in lotus leaves. Definitely for the ultra long distance bike rider who needs to increase blood sugar levels quickly. High GI (glycemic index) beware if you don't need the carb overload.

The seating is reserved when you turn up at the door. Usually there is a queue on a Sunday morning for brunch. No bicycle parking but runners are allowed. Porridge or rice congee is another alternative if want some carbs but don't want the fat. This is available at the restaurant.

Another view of the same restaurant from a food lover Another Perth Review