Cooking Lab - Bacon and Melted Cheese Bruschetta with Cucumber & Wilted Spinach

Cooking Lab - Pan Seared Salmon Sandwich with Mushroom Pate

This pan-seared salmon sandwich on sourdough is one of my favorites. It tastes smoky, tangy and makes a great quick meal. With a healthy portion of omega 3 salmon which is essential for good health. 

Grilling the salmon makes it moist and tender. Top with a healthy dose of mixed salad and a splash of vegetarian pate, It can't get any better than this. 


(c) GMV - Got My Vote!

Ingredients:

- 200g skinless salmon fillets
- 100g gourmet mixed salad 
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil 
- 4 slices of sourdough bread 
- 1 tablespoon tangy sesame salad dressing 
- 1 tomato 
- 2 tablespoon vegetarian pate 
- Sea salt and black pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat a heavy-bottom pan over medium-high heat.

2. Lightly spray with oil and sear the salmon fillets for about 3 minutes both sides.

    Tip: Cook the salmon until opaque throughout but still moist in the middle.

3. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

4. Cover the salmon fillets with foil and let them rest.

5. Place a salmon fillet on one of the sourdough slices.

6. Spread the mushroom pate onto the other sourdough bread.

7. Top with fresh tomato slices.

8. Season with salt and pepper.

9. Add a handful of gourmet mixed salad on top.

10. Lightly drizzle with sesame salad dressing.

11. Cover with the remaining bread slices on top.

12. Toast the sandwich in the grill until golden and crunchy.

13. Cut the sandwich crosswise in half.

14. Transfer to individual plates.

15. Serve immediately with fresh fruits.

The result is a good combination of flavors and the best thing is these sandwiches take less than 30 minutes to prepare.

Cooking Lab - Open Sandwich w Cured Salmon & Medley Tomatoes

What do you do if you are awake early on  Sunday morning? I start thinking what yummy weekend breakfast we can have.

Weekends are special as opposed to weekdays where we just rush go-go. Weekends mean leisurely mornings, do things at your own pace and just appreciate everything in life. 

This weekend's head-line news are depressing, tragic actually. Disaster strikes unexpectedly and without doubt, sadness and shock spread globally. 

I wish peace to the families.

It sure makes you realize, everyday is precious, you will never know what tomorrow brings. Embrace the day and enjoy what you love best. 

Let go of the pettiness. 

(c) GMV - Got My Vote!

What started out to be a simple house-cured salmon gravlax appetizer, turned into a multi-grain artisan open sandwich. I love these 'accidental' creations :) 

Love a bit of salmon in the morning? 

The mixed medley tomato combination is actually really good. 

This is a special humble sandwich topped with cream cheese, not-too-thin house-cured Pimms salmon gravlax, a handful of fresh and delicate mixed medley tomato and fried capers on top. 

This is a super yummy open sandwich and one of the best things about Spring. 

Ingredients:

- 150g Pimms-cured salmon
- 6 slices of bread 
- 150g mixed medley tomato 
- 50g snow pea shoots 
- 3 tablespoon cream cheese 
- 10g French onion 
- 20g baby capers 
- 1 small Cara Cara navel orange 
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 
- Pink salt & pepper to season

Instructions:

1. Drizzle some olive oil on the breads.

2. Warm up the bread in the oven until toasty.

3. While the breads are in the oven, finely slice the Pimms-cured salmon.

4. Liberally spread cream cheese on one side of the toasty bread.

5. Top that with generous salmon slices.

6. Followed by thinly-sliced French onion and a handful of halved medley tomatoes.

7. Scatter a handful of snow pea shoots on top.

8. Garnish with fried capers.

9. Season with pink salt and black pepper.

10. Top with the other slice of bread or eat it open face.

11. Serve with a salmon twirl and a wedge of Cara Cara navel orange.

It is a generous perfect sandwich on a beautiful weekend. 

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Cooking Lab - Black Truffle Open Sandwich

GMV's take on the ultimate breakfast black truffle Toastie.

Now who says you can't have cafe-style breakfast in the comfort of your home. 

Ever since I tried Devon Cafe's Ultimate Toastie, I thought that tasty breakfast dish was not hard to assemble. I thought the high price tag of $27 was due to the preciousness of black truffle. 

Now I am in possession of an actual black truffle, so why not use it for my breakfast dish and pocket $27 at the same time. 

Anyhow. I am super proud of my creation!

(c) GMV - Got My Vote!

Cooking Lab - Grilled Mediterranean Sandwich (脆烤三明治 - 地中海風味)

準備今天的午餐...

This is a Greek-inspired Mediterranean grilled cheese sandwich. It is loaded with feta cheese, mixed chedder cheese, sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives and a splash of beetroot duck pate :) 

今天的午餐是以煙燻火腿和地中海風味的醬菜為主的三明治
味道十分豐富，還滿開胃的。好啦，今天的午餐解決了！


(c) GMV - Got My Vote!

Ingredients:

- 8 slices of rustic sandwich slices 
- 150g shaved leg ham 
- 50g feta cheese 
- 30g kalamata olives 
- 30g sundried tomato 
- 50g mixed cheese  
- 30g duck pate 
- 150g fresh baby spinach 
- Black pepper to season 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the grill.

2. Lightly spread the duck pate over one slice of sandwich into an even layer; and light sprinkle mixed cheese on the other sandwich.

3.Generously add a layer of shaved leg ham on the sandwich.

4.Top with Greek antipasto - sun-dried tomato, kalamata olives and feta cheese.

5.Scatter more cheese on top.

6. Cover the sandwich.

7. Grill the sandwich until toasty and golden.

現烤美味三明治...

8. Slice diagonally in half.

9. Serve with a handful of baby spinach salad on the side.

It tastes equally nice hot or cold. 
Cut up in quarters and it is perfect for lunch box.

Dining - High Tea @ QVB Tea Room (維多利亞皇后英式下午茶)

Add: Level 3,North End,QVB/455 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

Tel: (02) 9283 7279

www.thetearoom.com.au

Published Review: Classic High Tea Approved by the Queen and so fashionably old class.

Relaxing in this grand tea room with a dear friend and the whole experience just makes us feel just a little bit special about ourselves. 

因為蠻喜歡英式下午茶，所以朋友到處打聽好吃的下午茶店。這間位於雪梨最美的古典QVB 維多利亞女皇購物中心𥚃。這間的英式下午茶非常有名，朋友可是訂了三次才有位。

有夢幻三層英式下午餐點，擺在桌上，精緻有水準。大部分都是甜食。看起來顏色繽紛。

優雅的喝著茶點、吃著美味的蛋糕與小點心，享受與朋友分享的片刻時光。

(c) GMV - Got My Vote!

Queen Victoria Building is arguably the most iconic historical building in Sydney CBD. The elaborate Romanesque sandstone building is filled with glorious stained glass windows and intricate architectural design. The finer details such as the arches, floor tiles and original staircase has all been beautifully restored. Inside, it accommodates six levels of upmarket boutiques that will delight all shoppers. 

To me, QVB is just pure class and elegance and I have spend countless hours in here.

My friend and I decided to indulge a relaxing high tea after a good retail therapy and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping frenzy.

The QVB Tea Room is located on the very top floor and it offers traditional English afternoon tea. It is highly recommended to reserve a table prior, as the Tea Room's High Tea experience is very popular.

Take the original antique cage elevator located on the north end to reach the Tea Room's private entrance. From this point on, you will feel like you are taking a step back in time.

If you have never been to the Tea Room, you will be stunned with the ambiance and interior decorations. The Tea Room is located inside of a grand ballroom and it is tastefully decorated with Baccarat crystal chandeliers to accentuate the beautiful Victorian high ornate ceilings. 

The tables are covered with white linen, the plush armchairs look comfortable and the stunning floral arrangements are strategically placed around the ballroom to beautify the whole High Tea experience. The overall atmosphere is refined with an old era charm. 

We opted for the Traditional Afternoon Tea at $45.00 per person which included a set selection of finger sandwiches, petit fours, sweet and savoury pastries, scones with preserve and clotted cream. Add $5, you can get a glass of sparkling wine. 

Tea Room uses authentic British silverware and classic Royal Albert chinaware and these are fashionably old-class. 

Herbal Infusions - Heaven & Earth

(A delicate blend of tart Sencha, Strawberry and Kiwi Fruit)

The Tea Room offers an array of freshly brewed teas and coffees. I selected the Heaven & Earth Herbal Infusions, which was a delicate blend of tart Sencha, Strawberry and Kiwi Fruit. It was truly heavenly. I sighed with happiness with this cup of tea in my hand.

My friend selected the luxurious Earl Grey. It was complemented with milk and it tasted hearty and aromatic. 

The fresh baked scones came out warm with a nice crusty on top. Even though the scones were accompanied by strawberry jam and whipped cream; the scones were delectable on their own. 

When topped with the sweetened preserve and the airy cream, the scones were not only eye pleasing but screamed to be devoured immediately.

Traditional Afternoon Tea $45.00 per person

(A set selection of finger sandwiches, petit fours, sweet and savoury pastries, scones with preserve and clotted cream, tea or coffee)

A traditional three-tiered Royal Albert stand soon arrived and it was piled with various delicate miniature sweet & savoury finger-food.

The top tier consisted of a selection of sweet pastries. Today we've got luscious opera cakes, custard fruit tarts and vibrant cupcakes. They were all in miniature size and looked so delicate.

The Second Tier had 4 different types of ribbon sandwiches and 2 types of savory tart. 

The Bottom Tier was the petite fours - 2 macarons and 2 mini tiered cakes. 

I wouldn't say that every item of food was great but together with good friends, it was worth it.

We thoroughly enjoyed the high tea experience and happily nibbled away on the miniature delicacies and drank many pots of tea. The service was friendly enough but perhaps it was a busy afternoon, it was slightly difficult to get the staff's attention.

Just relax and unwind in this grand and classy tea room. The whole experience just will make you feel just a little bit special about yourself.