Welcome to 2013! I hope everybody had a great (and safe) time ringing in the new year. I think it’s only right of me that my first post of 2013 entails my first proper eat for the year. It’s new years day and with it being a public holiday, we weren’t too sure of what was going to be opened so we resort to Cabramatta, which we know is opened all year round except during Chinese New Year.
Note: please excuse the poor quality of photos as they were taken from my phone.
We opt to go to Albee’s Kitchen on Park Road. We only noticed its location a week or so earlier and the Boy was excited to give it a try considering we had already eaten at the Campsie location.
Teh Tarek Ais $4.50
Believe it or not this was the first time I’ve had this milk tea. Where have I been all this time? I found it so refreshing with the perfect hit of tea on such a warm new years day evening (temps had reached 38 degrees during the day out west). It wasn’t too sweet either which I was thankful for.
Hainanese Chicken Rice $10
I know this is a long shot for me to say this, but this has been one of the best hainanese chicken rice that I’ve had so far. I haven’t had many but this just blew me away. The rice was fragrant and flavoured well. The chicken was tender and juicy, with the sauce having the right balance of saltiness and tang. We were so impressed.
Pandan Chicken $14
We missed out on ordering this last time as there was too much to choose from but not this time. Little medallions of chicken are wrapped with a pandan leaf and fried. The chicken was everything you want it to be, crispy on the outside with tender meat on the inside. I have to admit though, the pandan flavour was very, very subtle. If only there was a stronger pandan hit. Nonetheless, the fried chicken was a winner in our eyes.
Claypot Mi Tai Ma $11.80
A friend had recommended I try ”rice drops”. I couldn’t find it on the menu (but can clearly see it on the online menu) and could only explain to the waiter that I wanted “rice drops”. Thankfully she knew what I was talking about, phew!
Charred Rice Drops
The rice drops I can only assume are charred and wok fried with egg before going into this thick soup. We found a soft cooked egg in there with the yolk oozing everywhere, yay. The Boy noted that this dish really reminded him of his favourite vietnamese meal - hu tieu xao do bien (I couldn’t find a link to what it was but here’s a picture instead). It’s a stir fry of thick flat rice noodles with seafood. After a few more spoonfuls I felt that way also. I absolutely loved the charred rice drops as it gave it a nice caramelised flavour.
We had such a good feed, and we honestly felt like we had a much more satisfying experience than our first visit at the Campsie location. The food felt more fresh and even looked more vibrant. We’ve been told by our friends that they wouldn’t make a return, but with the feed we just had, the Boy and I would return in a heart beat.
After such a pleasant dinner, we walk it off and roam up and down John Street. There’s quite a bit going on at Cabramatta these days with a Moochi opening, Sub Zero (another frozen yoghurt venture) and even Meet Fresh. Desserts galore!
I’m not the biggest fan of frozen yoghurt (though will still eat it) so choose to go to Meet Fresh.
I’ve been serveral times before but there’s only one thing I seem to order everytime I make a visit - the Signature Herbal Jelly.
Signature Herbal Jelly $5.50
Fresh herbal jelly is served on top of a bed of shaved ice with taro mango balls.
Milk is added in (optional) to add that hint of creaminess and helps the ice to melt that little bit.
This is a such refreshing dessert that I could eat all day long! The jelly reminds me of the grass jelly drink that you can get at nearly every asian grocery, which is probably why I love this dish so much. For $5.50 you get quite a generous portion and I’m happy to eat it all on my own.
2013 has just started and I’ve already begun my eating adventures. I am looking forward to more delicious eats for the rest of the year, and yours too!
Albee’s Kitchen
2/44 Park Road
Cabramatta NSW 2166
Tel: +612 9728 6556
Meet Fresh
84 John Street
Cabramatta NSW 2166
Tel: +612 8339 1031
The rice drops are so interesting, I would really love to try! are they chewy? anyway, I’m so thankful I’m not in Sydney with the 38 degree heat hehe
I too would like to know what the rice drops are like!
They’re glutinous so have a bit of a chew :)
The rice drops are gluttonous so they are a bit chewy? If you know what Vietnamese food is its very similar to “banh canh” :)
Froyo places seem to be dominating Sydney as of late! Glad you went for Meet Fresh – I am so in love with the chewiness of those taro and sweet potato balls and have been craving it for a while… Maybe I should hit up my local Meet Fresh ;) Ah that grass jelly drink reminds me of my childhood… Delicious!
Agreed, froyo is just dominating everywhere. I wonder if its just a fad? I can’t believe how many froyo shops I see now! And yes, oh yes to the grass jelly drink. I still love it til this day! Which is why I probably love meet fresh.
Oh those rice drops look SOO good :D
They really took me by suprise :)
Rice drop and pandan chicken look delish! I find that the pandan flavour is quite subtle even when I’ve tried making this at home.
I suppose the leaf needs to be extracted for the full effect of the pandan flavour right? Nonetheless it was delicious!
WHAT!!?! FiRST TIME YOU’VE HAD Teh Tarek ?!?! haha I discovered it late in life too. It’s amazeballs!
It sure is. I’m determined to want to make my own at home. I just love the flavour!!
i want to the try the chicken now!
You need to, stat ;)
You can really see the juiciness in that Hainanese chicken. Looks awesome! I really need to make more of an effort to get out to Cabra. So many little gems out there!
You know who to call when you do make the trip ;) make sure you don’t eat for a couple of days..
We really enjoyed our meal at Albee’s! We had quite different dishes to you so it’s good to see what the other ones are like!
I feel the same way which is why I read several blogs across the board :)
looks like you had a very delicious day :) those rice drops looks interesting, they kind of look like the korean tteokbokki!
hope you had a good christmas and new years x
I don’t think I’ve ever had that Korean dish? Hmm. Interesting. If there is such a thing I think I’ll be right on it hehe
Hope you had a lovely Xmas and New Years also babe x
Everything looks so yummy. Perfect food to start out the new year.
It sure was a great start! Looking forward to seeing what the rest of the year brings :)
I love Albee’s, always a satisfying feed though I haven’t been to the one in Cabramatta. It’s amazing that Cabramatta is branching out so much, but it makes me a bit sad too – I hope it doesn’t ever lose its distinctly Vietnamese flavour!!
Yeah it’s definitely multicultural now but also wishing it will stick to its roots and not lose sight of the Vietnamese culture!
lovely way to start the new year! i havent been to the cabra one but it does look very nice! a lot neater than the campsie one! tea tarik is a fav of mine! must order! and dessert places are opening up everywhere! moochi, and meet fresh esp!
I have to say its brighter and newer than campsie. Feels a bit cleaner and fresher too? It could just be because its “newer”. Yeah I’ve no idea where I’ve been hiding but I am in love with teh tarik!!!
YAY first post in 2013 hehe I love Teh terik :) It’s super yummy and I always order it when its available ~ I’m glad that you enjoyed your meal at Albee’s, its happened to me before too when my friends haven’t liked a place for dinner but then I really enjoy it :D
Meet Fresh is also super refreshing hehe and I love the grass jelly with the milk ~
That meal looks mouthwatering! Those rice drops look delish – and very unusual looking, I’ve never seen anything like them before! I absolutely love Hainese Chicken – need to try this out asap! :)
Albees really surprised me. And what a great suprise It was :)
I love Meet Fresh’s signature herbal jelly dessert 4eva!! Gotta try Albee’s!
Oh it is the absolute bombbbb diggity for sure!