Avocado Shakes

No.24 of my fav 100 things in Cabra

Avocado shakes are probably my MOST favourite fruit shake flavour. I’m still so surprised that with all the hype about fruit frappes, crushies and gym junkie smoothies that no commercial entity has cottoned on to the most unprocessed, super avocado drink!

I have to admit, one of my cheap thrills is watching newb visitors take their first sip of  avocado shake. hehehe…I could make a montage…..yes I could…

First cautious sip

uh oh…..not what he expected

..??…

Awkward.

Going in for another taste….

what the hell ‘thumbs up’!!

Err…not the reaction I was expecting. Despite my uncooperative, yet brutally honest friend here, remember: Have an avocado shake next time you visit!

I’ll be honest, I’m not normally a fan of avocados (as I veer more towards stronger flavours), however the combination of ingredients just amplifies the natural flavour of the avocado tenfold! Nothing.comes.close.

So what’s in it?

One whole avocado (in a small and 1 1/2 used in a large), ice, fresh whole milk and syrup – strictly no water (you don’t want to dilute that super thick ice blended creaminess!) This is the Laos/Thai version.

I’ve also seen it made with condensed milk instead of fresh milk and syrup. I do admit that the condensed milk version is extra yum. This is the Vietnamese version.

It’s very filling, so have this as a meal or share it with others (yeah right!)

Creamy and thick

How much? $4.50 for regular and $5 for large.

Where? Almost anywhere……

• Fruit shake stores and cafes

– eg Yummi Sweets, By far the most popular fruit shake chain stores in Cabra. So far, there are 4 scattered about in a 400metre radius! (Laos version),

– Most well known fruit shake store Kaysone Sweets (Laos version) Shop 4/59-61 Park Road (Freedom Plaza).

– Giai Khat (Vietnamese version) juice bar, Shop 18/101-103 John St (Hong Kong Shopping Plaza).

• Most restaurants ( though I’d resist having it with a meal as it takes up too much stomach space!).

Can’t miss the hot pink signage

Take Away for Dinner

No. 20 of my fav things in Cabramatta.

The best meal you have from Cabramatta may not be the food that you consume here, but the food you take home.

Unfortunately, most people are so excited by all the choices, they end up filling up their stomachs before they can even sample a fraction of the food. The biggest mistake (don’t worry if you’ve done this, you’re not the only one!) is having a fruit shakes all to yourself. Fruit shakes are a MUST DO but they are BLOODY HUGE (even the SMALL size =400mL). Without pacing yourself (or sharing everything) you’ll quickly find that you’re already full (Epic appetite FAIL!).

Working here til 5:30PM everyday means that I buy take away A LOT. This post is dedicated to dinner take away, I’ve also got a post on Lunch take away. The difference being that dinner meals require rice (too salty to be eaten on its own) and needs to be served hot. This is not a rule, its just how we do it at my household.

Here are my favourites:

 Bao Forever – good ol’ home style cooking. Often the lovely old ladies can be seen rolling spring rolls on the communal dining tables. I come here for freshly made desserts during the day and home cooked take away in the evening.

I love the Vietnamese sour soup. There’s a choice of fish or prawns. The beef salad is great for lunch and the chicken curry is mild (coconut milk) and generous.

You’ll notice a lot of pork belly and fish dishes. Carmelised is the most common form of preparation, almost all Vietnamese households have a pot at any given time. Followed by stir fries.

Where? Bao Forever, Shop 12b/ 53 Park Rd (Bkk, facing out towards the carpark and pagodas) 02 9723 0998

Made fresh on premises by someone’s grandmother

Choose to eat in if you like.

Dipping sauces just waiting for a home

Dessert: black eyed beans and sticky rice

View from outside. Watching her spoon sticky mung bean dessert into a container.

On days I go vegan, I get my take away from An lac Vegetarian Restaurant, who has a bain-marie just by the doorway to make it quick and easy.

Where? 94b John St, 02 9727 5116.

Vegetarian

No. 16 of my 100 fav things in Cabra (if you are not bothered to read everything just go straight to no. (3) “Salt n Pepper Tofu” halfway down the page).

There are 5 good vegetarian restaurants and two good vegan grocery stores in Cabra. I like this one, Loving Hut!

Some will tell you An Lac is the best for soup dishes or Duy Linh is best for yum cha and mock meat dishes (yes people eat pretend meat! Its aimed at the omnivore who is expected to infrequently ‘go veggie’ on special Buddhist occassions eg the day of a full moon). However mine is Loving Hut. PLEASE don’t roll your eyes! Yes i am aware that it is a franchise, stop being hipster for one moment and listen out. The chef here is one of a kind.

I swear the food is amazing. It’s not oily, it’s fresh and it doesn’t leave your mouth feeling like a dessicated mess afterwards (a comforting sign of no MSG abuse). I can’t believe this place serve up 96 different items (on the menu) and absolutely onion and garlic free!

Here are my favourites:

(1) Peking duck – An exciting vegetarian version of an old fav. It’s filled with mock roast duck (tasty bean curd), steamed carrots, coriander, cucumber, hoi sin sauce and steamed radish. No saturated fats and no onion breath afterwards.

$8 for 4, this vegetarian version is a fav of mine

(2) Chinese Vegetables Rice Rolls – This is a veggie version of Bo Bi which is a chinese/vietnamese dish where cooked vegetables are used. No vermicelli or overpowering herbs. Great for those who appreciate the simple flavours of cooked veggies….or have no teeth (this is not a joke, my grandma loves this dish and she is a fine cook). Black fungus and strips of puffed tofu are added for texture.

Soft steamed vegetables. Great for those who don't like the taste of raw veggies.

Vegetarian Bo Bi which is listed as Chinese Rice Rolls on the menu $5

(3) Salt N Pepper Tofu – This dish is SO GOOD. This is dish is worth visiting Loving Hut.

These are mini clouds of moist softness. That is the best description I can think of. I’m sorry that its so lame. It’s so good that I’ll even forgive that it’s not salt n pepper flavoured. Its more like “fried chilli tofu” than salt n pepper. But lets not focus too much on flavour, this dish has the most amazing texture ever. Its completely unlike anything I’ve ever had (and I thought I’ve had every soy product ever made…I’ve even traveled to Japan to eat fresh tofu skin).

The skin is like pastry. The inside is not dry but moist and puffy! Chilli relish is HOT.

Think of your first bite of a kripsy kreme donut. Remember how in that one moment it completely changed how you viewed donuts? Donuts were never so soft and light and non oily. All your previous donuts then seemed dry and doughy in comparison. This is what this dish will do for you. REDEFINE fried TOFU!

If you’ve been wanting to convince someone that tofu is delicious them stick this in their gob.

Salt n Pepper Tofu topped with chilli relish

This pic doesn't do it justice! It is the most unusual consistency. So soft and moist.

Where? 227 Cabramatta Road West  Cabramatta NSW 2166 (02) 9755 4410. Opened 9am-9pm 7 days.

Just try to ignore all the propaganda plastered on the wall, menu and tv.