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Bruce, what an ace!!! thanks so much...now why did I ever think I wouldn't find real Mex ingreds in the UK? ← insomniac, have you looked at this website? http://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/ I used to get a lot of stuff from them when I lived in London - Also: http://www.coolchile.co.uk/ - huge variety and a good stall at Borough Market and Portobello Road if you ever get into London (plus a new little resto) And a place for Mexican tins/dried foods - El Azteca http://www.elaztecafood.co.uk/productos.php The website is in Spanish, but if you don't understand it, you can call them, they speak English - or pm me... Lots of places to get Mexican type stuff in London, if you can't find what you need in these places, let me know and I'll try and find it for you, I always found almost everything, or at least the ingredients to make it!

Howard, you probably didn't realise it, but it's likely you saw us sailing by while you were having your lunch! How was your dinner at Rockpool? We were there the night of it's re-opening (by chance) and really enjoyed it... ------------ Back on topic roosterchef - which restaurant did you choose for your anniversary dinner?

Oh good, another one to try! We tried Regal last weekend and it was good too, just not as good as Fook Yuen...

NOBU!!! Go to Nobu, in the Crown Complex - it's outstanding If you have been to the ones in NY or London, you will not be dissapointed, if you haven't, you will not be dissapointed!

Thanks for the translation! I had never heard it called that until we came to Australia - in the UK, US, even in Hong Kong I have always know it as dim sum... And yes, you would have a 24 hour flight, but you would have some nice food!

Went to Fook Yuen today, great yum cha! The steamed stuff was very tender and not gloppy, and the fried stuff was crispy and golden, except for the spring rolls, they were a bit too greasy, but i t didn't matter, everything else was spot on... Now, why is Dim Sum called Yum Cha in Australia?

bread knife melon ball scooper pastry bags and basic tips

Shalmanese, I have seen the Lurpak, and I have bought it, it's just that it kills me to pay triple the price for a bar of butter, you know? The Western Star is not too bad, but it has been on the edge of rancid a few times Ihave bought it I just bought Allowrie butter and you can actually bits of water or solids as you shave it off the block... hmph!

thanks Brian, will go on the 1st and stock up!

Ok, well I did one experiment today, I clarified some of the supemarket butter then re-chilled and it tasted much better... I'm thinking maybe too may solids in the supermarket butters here? I have to say I have forgotten everything we learned abot butters at school, Ijust took it for granted for so long... By the way, the reason I'm mentioning supermarket butters is that in the UK all the yummy Euro butters were supermarket butters...

Wow, maybe that's what I will have to do to get good butter?!?!? I wonder if I can make any money churning butter

helenjp, I'm a triple expat! Mexico-New York-London-Melbourne/Sydney! I haven't found the European-style butters here, the ones I have tried are very watery ... also they're sooo salty and unsalted ones are pretty tasteless... and thanks for the NZ butter info, maybe I should start a business bringing in butter!! ChefZ, I really like Irish Kerry Gold, but they don't sell it here... oh.. and I wish that my old kitchen in London had not been so stingy and allowed me to use something like Plugra, I really like it, but unfortunately, also not sold here... Lamington (aka Sherlock Holmes!), we were in Melbourne for a few months before Sydney and yes, the local butters were very good, and here I have bought some a the local markets, but I save them for "special" food, not for scrambling eggs, for example... I'll have to do some more tasting and searching, I suppose... I see lots of buttered toast in my future! Thanks all

I've been here almost a year now, and I haven't been able to find really good butter other than the Danish Lurpak or sometimes a few of the French butters, which is great, but for everyday butter it's a bit OTT In London we used to get Anchor butter form New Zealand, but I can't find it here? What butters does everyone buy?

South Melbourne is walking distance from the CBD... It's just across the street from the markets Alternativelty, try David Jones or Myer... but they won't be "cheap"

Chef's Hat in South Melbourne http://www.chefshat.com.au/new_site/retail...hp?page=company They have what you want, and more...

Ah, I know the Macro well... Thanks

Great isn't it? They also have some other oriental type stuff and lots of bowls/dishes and whatnot - What is the 5-star Gourmet in Crow's Nest? Have I missed something?

Been there, done that, can't wait to do it again - Excellent food, true to the original and maybe even better And the service was even very good Easily one of the best meals Ihave had in Australia so far - The room is a bit dark and on a lower level, whcih considering it's by the river, is a little odd, but it is pleasant nonetheless, nice and dark on what turned out to be a very hot, very sunny day... GO

Well, the service in Nobu London is atrocious as well - Ubon, on the other hand is excellent - Anyway, I'll be at Nobu for lunch on Friday, having rock shrimp tempura and black cod withdrawal symptoms... Hopefully the food lives up to it...

Has anyone been yet?

For another time maybe: Aqua in Kirribilli is open Sunday nights - just by the Olympic pool - great food and views

We were there on Friday 2nd Nov, the first night of the re-opening, quite by coincidence - great results! Mostly fish/seafood menu, had nice big fat lobsters, a crab omelette as a starter, everything was very nicely executed, pleasant decor and good service.

I prefer UBON over Nobu anyday - great view, far better service and the food tastes better...

Wildfire looks like Brazilian rodizio... How was the food?

I don't know, the menu looks quite similar to Mestizo... Someone go try it and report back!!