Random Eats

So things have been a little quiet around here – and with good reason – as other parts of my life have been hurtling ahead at full speed. I am now an expert in getting quotes for minor home renovations and dealing with tradespeople, most of whom do turn up at agreed times. My mother has moved from our family home into a more manageable smaller place, and said family home is now listed for sale. *sniffle*

Down The Shire there happens to be a Lindt Café where Monsieur Poisson and I manage to catch a much-needed breather over a caffe latte, hot chocolate (melted chocolate plus steamed milk self-mixing fun) and a slice of Opera cake. It’s the husband’s favourite and, though the edges are a little dry being the last slice of the day, the layers themselves are moist with coffee syrup and buttercream.

More sweet options have popped up closer to home in the form of Yogurberry, where customers can help themselves to soft-serve yoghurt – up to 6 flavours daily – and decorate with the selection of toppings on offer. The end product is charged dependent on weight where customisation is the focus of the fun.

Zen Q is the home to Taiwanese desserts and, while there is plenty of novelty about their Honey Toast series with each variety being about the size of a third of a loaf of bread, it’s the “Matcha Snow Ice” with its folds of ice confection which captures my attention. The texture is somewhere between a sorbet and an ice-cream, but lighter than the latter as far as creaminess goes.

(clockwise from top left) Mini Me, Bitty...Bitty, Royale w' Cheese and Ugly Balls from Gelato Messina Laboratorio and Patisserie

We find ourselves at Gelato Messina’s Laboratorio and Patisserie one day following breakfast nearby for a couple of special birthday people. Who said you can’t have gelato for lunch, heheh? The “Mini Me” is too cute not to get with its Mario mushroom appearance and mention of popping candy in the base, but does get a little tricky to eat being top-heavy. No such issues with plain-looking “Bitty...Bitty” apart from a bit of vodka milk escaping when we manage to bust open the domed top – the salted caramel gelato underneath is swoon-worthy! The “Royale w’ Cheese” has us going all Pulp Fiction, of course, and proves the hardest to eat with components melting at different rates as well as slipping about the place. While the “Ugly Balls” is far from ugly with its delicate honey gelato and crunchy outer coating.

And, finally a happy and safe Easter to everyone! I’ll be chomping away at my favourite Red Tulip bunny and, if you’ve yet to stock up on chocolate eggs, Lindt has these cute-as miniature ones in egg cartons.

happy easter!