Nonna's Italian, Seafood and Steakhouse, Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre, Biggera Waters, Gold Coast

If you go down to Harbour Town and you spot a restaurant by the same name covering most of the dining area, that would be Nonna's. Although, now it isn't as big as how it used to be, their menu is still the same serving a wide range of dishes from Italian to Steak and the list goes on.. Generally, their portion for their dishes is quite big so do bear that in mind when you're wanting to order.

'Original Parmigiana' (AUD$25.95) was a hand crumbed Chicken Schnitzel with Napoli sauce, ham and melted mozarella cheese served with fries and a garnish salad. A classic dish that everyone loves to have but some places just don't do it right and some just do. The garnish salad was simply a garden salad with salad green mix, sprouts, slices of red onion and carrot with cherry tomatoes. The fries was crispy on the outside and placed underneath the Chicken Schnitzel. The napoli sauce tasted more of a chunky tomato paste sauce with the mozarella cheese on top melting over it. Sadly, there was only one slice of ham for the whole schnitzel. The schnitzel was thinly crumbed allowing the chicken breast to be the star of the dish. The plus side was that it was big in portion but it was just okay, it wasn't great but it wasn't bad either, reminded me of Pub Parmys..

Nonna's offers 6 different types of salads in which you can choose from and add any choice of meat for extra or just stick with a plain salad. I really felt like a Caesar so I decided to order their 'Chef's Salad w Salt and Pepper Calamari' (AUD$24.95) which consisted of Mesculin lettuce, avocado, egg, mozarella cheese, tomato, cucumber, spanish onion with a strip of bacon and their Caesar dressing with an addition of Salt and Pepper Calamari in which you get about 6 pieces.

Their salad portion is great and that's no doubting it, served on a crispy tortilla shell is definitely something unique but being able to have something freshly made and healthy but at the same time being able to have something fried like a crispy tortilla which is a great accompaniment and a base to the salad. I wonder if more restaurants should serve their salads this way instead of just the norm..

After seeing the salad arrive on the table, I realised that I had forgotten the portion of it and if I had known earlier, maybe I would have omitted the Salt and Pepper Calamari since in the end, I struggled to finish it even with the help of the Mr.. Fresh lettuce with a combination of various elements which made it a great salad to have especially on a warm sunny day.

Fasta Pasta, Aspley, Brisbane

Lunch deals are a great option to try the different dishes on offer but do note that none of the lunch dishes are available on the main menu. I do assure you that their pizza doughs are more delicious than you may think, not like your ordinary takeaway doughs. Yes, you can even order and get takeaways to bring back home to share with family and friends. Having a wide variety of pasta dishes allows you to choose what you like as well as for those who aren't feeling like pasta, then why not try some of their mains such as Barra or Steak and so on.

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Scuzi Caffe, Westfield Chermside, Brisbane

Having brunch or breakfast in Scuzi may be a good place to go to if you are up for cafe food and somewhere easy and nearby. There are a wide range of options to choose from but then, some may be a better choice and worth than others. We weren't too hungry hence why we ended up just buying a light meal while we chatted away.

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The Deck, The Glen Hotel, Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane

The Glen Hotel is only 15minutes drive from the Brisbane CBD and also having free parking on site is always handy. What you may not know is that this is kind of your typical tavern but then, there's a hotel which is surprisingly 4.5 star accommodation in which I am unsure why there is such a high rated star hotel over in the Southside.. The Glen Hotel has two main dining areas which is one, The Garden Grille Restaurant and Bar which features their newest signature steak and seafood restaurant with an Executive Chef of Cha Cha Char fame and then there is The Deck which features more of your bar, bistro and pub food, basically more of a casual dining and gaming lounge feel. Oh, and if you're only looking to have a drink? Then there is even a bottleshop drive through available on site. You can always see it being crowded every peak hours especially after work, friday nights and on weekends. So don't be surprised if it takes awhile to get a seat or even eat with loud noises around you.

Silly me... I forgot to take a picture of the Specials of the day which I did end up choosing after browsing through their wide variety of food on their menu. This was the 'Double Kangaroo Burger' served with beer battered fries. I, at first did not realise it would be this big as I wasn't sure of what to get at the start. There were just so many delicious options to choose from.

The beer battered fries were fried to perfection, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.

The Kangaroo Burger itself was quite big in a way that it was stacked nicely and presented well on a chopping board. It had double kangaroo patty, double cheese, onion rings, rocket and tomato and also a mayo dressing. The cheese just seemed like your typical cheddar cheese slices you get from your local supermarket. Having the onion rings there gave the burger a crunch as well as having the simple salad. However, the double kangaroo patty was great but they were both just quite thick in size so it can be a bit troublesome when you do want to grab it with two hands and take a big whole bite.

Nicely cut in half showing each of the elements in the Kangaroo burger.

'Chicken Cheese Schnitzel' ($13) was a golden crumbed chicken breast schnitzel topped with melted mozarella cheese served with beer battered fries and salad. If you would like to add a topper then you can do so too. The portion is quite big and the chicken schnitzel was golden crumbed and I have to say that for the price, it was definitely worth it.

The side salad was fresh with a mixture of mixed leaves, red onion, tomato and cucumber with a light salad dressing. The beer battered fries was fried well and fried food is always great with fries/chips. The golden crumb was crumbed well thinly with the right amount of salt as well as the melted mozarella cheese gave the schnitzel the extra punch. It is nice to see that a full chicken breast meat has been used instead of sometimes being more of a thick crumb than the meat itself.

Buzz Bistro, Gasworks, Newstead, Brisbane

Buzz Bistro at Gasworks is known for their wood fired pizzas as well as their breakfast variety. Though I've been here for both lunch and dinner, I am yet to try their breakfast next time. Creating artisan Neopolitan style pizzas allows you to enjoy good ol' Italian pizzas hand made as well as being able to smell it while it's being cooked in the wood fire. Don't forget to order a glass of wine or maybe a nice cold beer to accompany it. Having a view of the Gasometer, allow yourself to indulge in good food while relaxing and watching the different lights shining upon the thick steel lining.

'Buzz's Famous Jerk Chicken with Chorizo Skewers' ($14) with cucumber and mint yoghurt is a great starter to have and to share amongst your friend or your loved ones. A simple but yet delicious dish to have. The jerk chicken was seasoned and marinated well, mixed along with the chorizo created a nice balance and giving it hints of saltiness through the chorizo.

Having the rocket underneath allows the dish to have some greens and make it look not as lonely just by having the skewers by itself. The cucumber and mint yogurt was a refreshing yet smooth dip to have and blended well with the skewers. A nice sub for your typical ketchup or mayo.

'The Rage'N Sage'N' ($19) which is one of their pizza options which consists of sauteed mushrooms, garlic, crisp sage, Fior di latte and pancetta. Mushrooms and pancetta always works well on pizzas, especially when together. It would have been great however if the mushrooms were scattered more reasonably rather than only being closer to the center mostly. There were still a sufficient amount of pancetta pieces as well as mushrooms but again, the mushrooms could have been more around the pizza slices.

Fior di latte is a type of cheese, a semi-soft, fresh cheese made in the style of an Italian mozarella. The Fior di latte has a smooth and a little tangy in flavour also, having an elastic feeling. The thin dough was chewy and crispy but not too thin until it gets soggy easily. Having the burnt bits from the wood fire oven makes the pizza more authentic and have the smoky flavour as well as smell. One of the nicest pizzas offered here so do have a try.

'The Blue Cheese Burger' ($19.5) is one of the seven different burger options on the menu. With all the burger and pizza options, you would have trouble trying to decide which to choose. All burgers are served with 220g wagyu beef served medium rare with a choice of salad or beer battered chips.

By using Gorgonzola piccante, it allows the burger to have a soft and buttery but also quite salty in terms of taste. The mayo allowed a creamier texture as well as having the house made red onion marmalade gave it a nice balance. I really enjoyed the red onion marmalade as I thought it was unique and had an interesting picklish taste. A Gorgonzola Piccante is a veined blue cheese made from unskimmed cow's milk and has a strong and an intense taste when eaten alone but with it being mixed into a burger, created a different yet interesting way to try the cheese as it blends in well with the red onion marmalade and wagyu meat.

Jimmy's on the Mall, Queen Street Mall, Brisbane CBD

Jimmy's has always been one of the go to places whenever you're unsure of where to go to eat or drink in the city, you just somehow end up here. Remember that the lower deck and the upper deck both have their own menus so they may differ in terms of what dishes are on offer. Some of the dishes however are offered on both decks. There are more seatings downstairs than upstairs but if you would like to have a view of the centre of Queen St Mall, then I'd suggest you sit upstairs. There are both normal and high tables available, as well as tables around the bar area. As it was late afternoon when we arrived, we just wanted somewhere to rest our feet and maybe have a drink and a nibble..

'Bowl of Wedges' (AUD$11) included a little bowl of sweet chilli and sour cream. The wedges were deep fried perfectly, crispy on the outside and moist and hot on the inside. A nice snack or nibble while having a chat. They do also have Salt and Pepper Calamari, Arancini balls and Charcuterie plate etc.

'Cappucino' was made well but when the waiter took it over to our table it seemed that s/he had tipped a bit over making the saucer abit messy and sticky.

'Lemon, Lime and Bitters' is always a nice cool drink that isn't so fizzy or feels as if it's a soft drink in my sense.

Pizza Capers' new Rustico Thin Base review

When I heard that Pizza Capers was launching their new Rustico Thin Base, it got me thinking.. Will it be those really thin bases that when you pick your pizza slice up, it will just get soggy down the bottom? Pizza Capers said it will be full of flavour, made in store using quality ingredients and a traditional recipe. Along with their generous toppings, the thin base would be complemented well. Let's have a try shall we?

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Hurricane's Grill, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Hurricane's Grill on Surfers Paradise do win you without having to drive too far off the Surfers precinct plus you do get your beach view if you dine in near the balcony area. However, since my bad experience of hard meat, meat not being off the bone in Sydney's Darling Harbour branch, I still preferred my favourite ribs place to go which yes, does require a further driving to do but is definitely worth it. Of course, we are here to talk about Hurricane's and not that... Located in a perfect location, entrance may get confusing if you're not used to your way around, but signs are there to guide you. Bookings are essential but sometimes if they are quite empty, seatings are available and you won't have to wait for long. It was quite packed when we came in, it was the weekend anyway, but for lunchtime, it shouldn't be as packed as dinner time, so for those wanting to come down during dinner, do book..

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Pizza e Birra, Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

Pizza e Birra is a casual and relaxing dining eatery serving gourmet pizzas and popular classic comfort food. Having both traditional Italian and non Italian, it will allow everyone to have a try at different pizzas and suit your tastebuds.. If you wanna have a few drinks, then go ahead, their beer selection is not too bad so whether it may be your lunch break or meeting up with friends, this place is sure to be a casual but fun dining area for you guys.

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JJ Royal Brasserie, Lotte Shopping Avenue, Jakarta

JJ Royal Brasserie opened in 2013 and I did come in 2014, but had trouble locating my photos after a problem with my HD. However, finally I found it and here it is. Although it's late, I do apologize but I'm pretty sure their menu hasn't really changed as much nor has its locations. So, a little starter about JJ Royal Brasserie.. Located in Lotte Shopping Avenue aka. Ciputra World in Jakarta, managed by the Foodie Habit Group, it has caught people's eye by its elegant but playful interior. I do have a thing about mix matching too much colours and different designs, interior wise and also art wise in one room, though some people may say it is quite daring and may be seen different from the eyes of everyone.

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Domino's Pulled Pork Range Review

Good Ol' Dominos, they've recently released their new Pulled Pork range which consisted of three different varieties of Pulled Pork pizzas. Now, pulled pork is everywhere at the moment, it's basically a hit in restaurants around here. Don't let the name 'pulled pork' hold you back or under estimate it, it's not as easy as you think to cook pulled pork. Pork meat pulled apart? Well, not exactly.. it's pork meat being slow cooked at a low temperature until it becomes tender to pull itself apart without you having to put extra effort by getting your forks and pulling the meat off each other.. Domino's gave me the chance to try their new range and who could say no to pizza and pulled pork? Oh, and also without having to move an inch or get out of the house and drive to pick it up..

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