In a little corner of Millpoint road sits my FAVOURITE Italian restaurant in Perth. Ciao Italia was opened in by chef Spartaco Rotella, who is more often now front of house rather than in the kitchen. I have not tasted ANY spaghetti cabonara or marinara as good as the one from here and I challenge ANYONE to recommend me a better cabonara!

I used to live on Millpoint, so it wasn’t too far of a journey for me. Ciao Italia doesn’t take reservations and is packed everyday from the minute doors open. Every time I go there, it’s at least a 15min wait. What you could do is open your bottle of wine and have a drink outside while you wait. When you do finally do get your name called, you will have to meander through a labyrinth of chairs to get to your seat.

Even though they are so busy, service is never compromised. Staff are quick to take your orders and even with a full restaurant, food is served fairly quickly. In all Italian style, restaurant is bursting with energy, vibe is lively and loud but cozy at the same time. Birthdays are a daily occurrence. At least twice in a night you will find the whole restaurant and staff piping to the happy birthday tune played on the sound system.

Mains are around $18.50-$27.50 and desserts from $5.50-$8.50. Portions are HUGE so I’d recommend sharing or doggie-bagging the left overs. If you have an impatient stomach, take away option is available and still highly recommended. The reheated pastas taste different, but just as amazing!

It’s been at least a year since my last visit, and it’s nice to know Spartaco still remembers his loyal customers.

My Recommendations (All prices include GST)

• Spaghetti Marinara (Combination of marinated seafood in a fresh tomato sauce) A$19.50
• Spaghetti Carbonara (Bacon, egg and cream cheese sauce) – A$18.50
• Ravioli Carbonara (Ricotta and spinach pillows of pasta) – A$18.50 – This one is a special request. I always get weird looks from the waiter when I ask for this combination
• Homemade garlic bread – A$4.50
• Tiramisu (A homemade Italian delight consisting of layers of sponge finger biscuits soaked in coffee, liqueur and mascarpone cheese topped with fresh double cream) – A$7.50
• Wood fired Pizza Siciliana (Whole peeled tomato sauce, Mozzarella cheese, mild italian sausage, bacon, black olives, Ricotta cheese and mushrooms) – A$21

Ciao Italia
Website: http://www.ciaoitalia.com.au/
Address: 273 Mill Point Rd, South Perth 6151
Phone: +61 (08) 9368 5500
Licensed: Yes
Operating hours: Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa and EFTPOS
BYO $3 corkage per bottle
Parking: Limited lots available at the back of the restaurant. Alternative parking lots across the street at the jewellery & bookstore.

Geek & Gadgets Australia, Cabonara, Ciao Italia, Food, Italian, Perth

Race Date: This Sunday, 24 January 2010

Safra AVventura is an adventure race consisting of multiple disciplines ranging from trail biking, running, kayaking, rope ascend, abseiling, navigation and mystery tests all rolled into one exhilarating race to fully challenge those with a passion for adventure.

My last adventure race was the Penang Eco-Challenge a couple of years back. We did some training prior, but this time round, a BIG FAT ZERO. Read the post HERE to read how it all goes down in an adventure race.

EgaD! This Sunday!!! Wish me luck! Hope I’m still standing for The Killers later that evening!

Geek & Gadgets adventure race, mountain biking, MTB, Safra AVventura

Click here if you don’t know what an AT-AT is. Too funny! ROFL Thanks Aresha for the link.

Geek & Gadgets, Snaps & Clips Costume, Funny, youtube

I am in love with the idea of being in love. And I also have a ridiculous expectation on my marriage proposal. It’s not how much money you spend on a ring, or how elaborate the proposal. For me it has to be unique, creative, romantic and personal.

All together now…. Awwwwwwww…..

I actually found the above proposal romantic! My inner geek is showing!

Geek & Gadgets, Random Geek, Love

I’ve still been taking my en route photos, and I think I’ve accumulated quite a lot on my Flickr group. Only 7 members, but that’s ok.

Geek & Gadgets En Route, Feet

The Sloane Elizabeth Robertson lookbook is now live on their website.

Click on the photo above or click HERE

My Favourites photos: 4, 7, 18, 19, 21, 22.

Photos taken at Krish The Restaurant.

Geek & Gadgets Fashion, Photography, Photos, SER, Sloane Elizabeth Robertson

I blogged about the song a couple of weeks ago, and now the music video is out. I like it!!! I love the photos, and the treatment to the video, especially the vintage effects. And that cruiser bike! I want! Saw a shop down the road from the office selling those bikes at S$400-$800! That’s not too bad?!

I hope to make a video one day like this. Enjoy!

Geek & Gadgets Jason Castro, MTV, Music Video

One of my favourite-est restaurants in Singapore is Oso Ristorante.

First time eating there was during an ICON lunch about 2 years ago when they were still located along the shophouses along Tanjong Pagar road. Their little Italian set up literally a hidden treasure, tucked away between Play disco and some cultural arts centre. They have now moved to Bukit Pasoh to a much larger venue opposite the Majestic Hotel.

Went there recently for the third time for a farewell dinner, and this time I remembered to take my camera along.

Dinner started off with warm breads with Balsamic vinaigrette and extra virgin olive oil. We shared a starter, each had a main and shared a dessert. Here is our fantastic dinner menu for the night.

Affettati “Cold Cuts”
Thinly sliced 200 days grain feed beef tenderloin “carpaccio” with black truffle puree

Carne “meat”
8 hours oven baked lamb rack “agnello” with black onions and green beans
Slowly braised veal shank “Ossocubo” with lemon gremolata and potato puree

Dolci Caldi “Hot Dessert”
70% hot dark chocolate tart “crostata” with milk and ice cream

Carpaccio was not bad, although I would have expected more aroma from the black truffle.

I absolutely love their Ossobuco. The veal shank was soft, tender and fell off the bone easily. The Lamb rack was alright, but not as flavourful as my dish, first choice is still the Ossobuco.

Dark chocolate tart was the highlight of the evening! I absolutely love (and I say love with passion and tears in my eyes) molten dark chocolate puddings and tarts; without a doubt one of my favourite desserts. The warm tart was baked to perfection; hard golden brown crust encasing a semi-firm hot chocolate tart with a wobbly centre. The minute you break the tart, warm chocolate lava just flows out slowwllyyyyy…hmmmmmm.

I’ve always had a pleasant dining experience at Oso, so I’d definitely go back again. The semi-fine dining concept is great for dates, girly catch-ups or business dinners.

Oso Ristorante
46 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089858
Tel: (65) 6327 8378
Fax: (65) 6224 9610
Email: reservations@oso.sg

Opening Hours
Lunch : 12pm – 2:30pm (Mon – Fri)
Dinner : 6:30pm – till (Mon – Sat)

Geek & Gadgets Italian, Oso Ristorante, What's on YOUR table?, WOYT

I say sort of, because really, there isn’t much work to be done.

Go to the supermarket, buy the Taco sauce, Taco shells, Taco seasoning (optional), Lettuce, Tomatoes, mince beef/chicken, Avocado, Cheese.

The only cooking you have to do is frying the mince beef/chicken, and heating up the Taco shells. The rest just needs to be chopped up and put aside.

Without cheese

The works

Geek & Gadgets Cooking, Hong Kong, Tacos

While stumbling through a geek website one afternoon, I chanced upon a RSS pillow for sale. Instead of just taking 10 mins and 30 bucks to buy it online, I don’t know what posses me to actually make it from scratch!

Since I was feeling poorly over the weekend, I made use of my ‘home’ time and dusted off the singer. Surprised myself. Still remembered how to use the sewing machine!

I was initially going to sew JUST the RSS pillow, but I ended up making a twitter one as well. I sourced the images online, printed it and got to work.

Here’s the material list:
- Fabric of your choice (I used felt because I couldn’t find the right colours in jersey)
- Matching coloured thread
- Hobby fill
- Pins
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine if you have one

It’s actually pretty simple to make:
1. Cut out 2 pieces of fabric to the chosen size including the seam allowance
2. Cut out your logo, sew it on the front side of pillow
3. Place the 2 pieces of fabric with right sides together. Pin and stitch around the 4 corners and 3 sides, leaving an opening in the centre of the remaining side big enough to fill with hobby fill
4. Turn the cover right side out, Stuff it firmly and then hand stitch the opening closed

Although it took me ages to do, I must admit, it was extremely gratifying to see the final product.

Shall bring it to work tomorrow for my chair

*edit
Just realised i should have rotated the RSS pillow the right way round before taking the photo.

Geek & Gadgets craft, Geek, Pillow

More walking till our feet gave way.

And more lomo-ing till we run out of battery.

We were planning to go out clubbing that night, and for our first night out in Hong Kong, we thought we’d give ourselves the tai-tai treatment. So we went around looking for a hair salon for a wash & blow-dry.

Danli took it a step further and decided to chop her hair off down to a bob! It’s been awhile since I last saw her with a bob, and I like it a lot! Danz and Evan, we both know how important that bob was…magic bob!

Geek & Gadgets Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries

After dinner, our palates were craving for some sweetness to round off dinner, Danli said a must try was a roadside dessert stall not too far away. Most of the items on the menu were made with mango. We all ended up having the mango sago drink, which was sweet, fibrous and thick. Sago is tasteless but it makes the drink more fun.

Plenty more of walking around Mong Kok until we called it a night.

Good Night HK!

Geek & Gadgets Dessert, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries

Bear with me, am editing 10 days worth of photos to upload from 3 cameras

Geek & Gadgets Holiday, Hong Kong

Awhile back, Janice and Andrew invited Ran, Mel, Jo, Chris and myself over for a Raclette & Ravin Rabbids night at the West Wing.

I’ve seen raclette cheese at the supermarket, but I never knew there was a method to eat it! Raclette is a type of cheese from Switzerland that is prepared with vegetables on a special raclette grill. The word raclette is derived from the French word racler which means to scrape.

So for those who aren’t sure what it is, here’s a short gourmet lesson on raclette.

History
This warm cheese dish originated in the Valais canton of Switzerland where farmers and herdsman would make a meal of cheese melted by camp-fire or hearth, potatoes and pickles. Historians conjecture that at some point the cheese got too close to the fire and the melted cheese dish was born. The cheese and the dish have been documented back as far as the year 1291 and at that time was called Bratchäs.

Today besides the requisite potatoes and pickles any number of foods are eaten with the cheese including fish, poultry, vegetables and sometimes even wild game.

The Cheese
Raclette cheeses are typically round weighing 13 to 17 lbs and are about 11″ in diameter and 3″ thick. The cheeses are all cow’s milk have in common a creamy consistency which easily melts but does not get too runny. The semi-firm cheese is normally aged about 3 or 4 months.

The different cheeses are named after the villages from which they are produced. The three premier villages are Gomser, Conches, Bagnes, and Orsieres on Raclette.

Selecting Cheese
The cheese should have a dark beige rind with no cracks or reddening. The texture should be creamy and dry or granular.

The Swiss Tradition
In the Swiss tradition raclette cheese is melted over an open fire and melted slowly. As the cheese melts it is scraped off the wheel and served with boiled potatoes, bread, cornishons (pickles) and other pickled vegetables.

The Raclette Grill
The raclette grill has overtaken popularity of the traditional raclette equipment. The new grills allow you to melt cheese in individual serving trays while grilling meats, fish, poultry and vegetables on the upper grill level. Some units feature reversible grills with a smooth side with a raised grill on the reverse side. Stone grill tops may be available as well.

Courtesy of Gourmet Sleuth

After filling our tummy’s with loads of diary, we attempted to burn it off with ravin rabbids on the Wii. Another first for me, I thought it was one of the best console games I’ve ever played! Now I’m thinking if it’s a worthwhile investment to buy one for the household, it makes a great party game for young and old. Would be great to see my parents getting into the action.

Thanks Jan and Andrew for hosting the pre-Vday get together!

Food & Travel, Friends & Family, Geek & Gadgets Cheese, Food, Friends, Raclette, Ravin Rabbids

Clearing my drafts, here’s one I wrote awhile back on ways to keep your coffee hot.

There’s nothing worse than having a luke-warm or cold coffee on your pallet. It makes no difference that we enjoy the warmer climate, my office still feels like a fridge from 9-6 everyday.

So what can we do to keep our coffee warm?

I tried using the insulated mug from coffeebean, but it doesn’t seem to be doing the trick. My hot drinks takes less than an hour to go lukewarm.

It would be a hassle, but maybe using a thermal mug will keep the coffee warm longest. When I’m ready to drink some, pour it out in portions.

After I tweeted my frustration, a reader sent me this link to a USB coffee warmer.

The unit plugs into any USB port of the computer or powered laptop and runs off the standard 5VDC feed of the port and uses only 2.5watts of power.

Features:
* Hotplate heating temperature of 80 to 110 Degrees
* Quick Heatup Cycle of 5 to 8 minutes
* Includes an on/off switch and an indicator light to show its working.
* Full 2 year warranty and guarantee
* NEW – Includes Stainless Steel Cup and Cap

Ideal for warming ceramic cups, metal cups and properly rated glass cups.

Anyone have one of these? And do they really work? Does it “burn” your coffee after awhile?

Geek & Gadgets

I know I’m a bit late to blog about this, but the “Chuck Norris Facts” twitter page has been my source of comedy and laughter for the past few weeks.

On a side note, don’t you think Twitter has caught on again after a lull, and is now experiencing a second breath of life? I certainly feel it has. The micro-blogging platform has become such an internet phenomenon I’m surprised that companies are not utilising this social networking tool to their advantage as much as I liked.

Who’d guess that an abbreviated thought could be so powerful!

I feel that facebook status updates has actually helped spur that interest. And the integration of platforms by using tools like facebook applications has definitely help make it alot more user friendly for twits like me. I’m currently using TwitterFox on my Firefox, and the Twitter application on my Facebook. Ok enough geek talk.

Am loving the “twits” I’m following, if you want to follow my mundane tweets , the link to my twitter page is on the top right corner of this blog.

Anyway, back to Chuck.

In late 2005, Norris became the object of an internet phenomenon known as “Chuck Norris Facts“, which document fictional, often absurdly heroic feats and characteristics about Norris himself. -from wikipedia

Here’s a few of my fav CN Facts that has helped me get through those long days:

• Chuck Norris only needs one hand to clap it
• If you have five dollars and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you
• There is no ‘ctrl’ button on Chuck Norris’s computer. Chuck Norris is always in control
• Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink
• Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost
• Chuck Norris can speak braille
• Chuck Norris is the only person that can punch a cyclops between the eye
• It takes Chuck Norris 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes
• Apple pays Chuck Norris 99 cents every time he listens to a song
• Chuck Norris is not Politically Correct. He is just Correct. Always
• Chuck Norris knows the last digit of pi

Here’s something I found on someone’s blog:

Go to google.com and type “Find Chuck Norris” in the search box. Do not click the ‘Google Search’ button or press ‘Enter’ on your keyboard.

Now take a deep breath and wipe that sweat from your brow, then slowly move the mouse pointer until it’s directly over the “I’m feeling lucky” button, and press it.

If you are still alive to tell the tale, please leave a comment.

Geek & Gadgets, Random Geek, Twitter

Hey everyone, I know I’ve been on a hiatus, but I want to let you know I’ll be back blogging soon. Am just going through a rough period at the moment, but will be sure to get back into the groove soon.

In the meantime, I leave you with a picture of my nephew Julian.

Geek & Gadgets

Song is on my radio.blog as well.

Geek & Gadgets

It’s not an exciting one, but I’m doing it just because it was in my drafts.

You are grocery shopping for 6 items.
1. Produce: Cherry tomatoes
2. Bakery: Fresh oven baked croissants
3. Meat: Chicken breast
4. Frozen: Tang Yuen
5. Dry goods: Cranberries
6. Dairy: Sour cream

You are on weekend getaway with only 3 articles of clothing allowed.
1. Bikini
2. T-shirt
3. Shorts

You are being eavesdropped on through the day for 5 key phrases or words you use.
1. Are you serious?
2. Ummmm
3. So freakin irritating!
4. …and uh….
5. Okie

What 3 things must you do every day?
1. Cup of coffee
2. Surf (the internet)
3. Eat

You have a whole afternoon all to yourself. What 5 activities might you be doing?
1. Mountain Biking
2. Massage
3. See question above
4. See question above
5. See question above

You’re on a quick visit to the Zoo and can only catch 3 exhibits.
1. Primates
2. Otters
3. Giraffe

You scored tickets to 4 live TV show recordings of your choice.
1. Jamie Oliver
2. Tonight show with David Letterman
3. Martha Stewart
4. Who’s line is it anyway

You can choose 3 scoops of ice-cream.
1. Belgium Chocolate
2. Lychee
3. Chocolate Chip cookie dough

You need to name 5 things in your lost wallet to reclaim it.
Stupid questions, there are at least 3 cards in my wallet with my face on it.
1. Boat License
2. Car License
3. Identification card (Blue)
4. Old Singapore notes (I collect them)
5. Plaster x1

You are at a job fair choosing 4 dream jobs.
1. Wedding Planner
2. Artist
3. Restaurant/Hotel owner
4. Restaurant/Food reviewer

You’ve got a chance to tell your old high school self 4 bits of advice.
1. Take care of your skin, sunblock, wash, toner, moisturise
2. Trust your instinct and go to the UK or US for university
3. Don’t eat those french fries from the canteen, you’ll regret 5kgs later
4. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and voice your opinions

Geek & Gadgets Meme

Doing a favour for a friend: For those in Singapore, anybody know of a kick ass Bossanova or Jazz Band for hire? No Cheesy mediocre bands who just make it doing the wedding circuits. I want quality!

credit: deviantart

Send me links and names or pubs/bars to visit.

Thanks!

Geek & Gadgets