The Bun Mobile - Mobile Food Truck

I made a special trip out to The Loading Dock Cafe in West End after seeing a post of one of The Bun Mobile's dessert buns on Eat,Drink+beKerry's facebook page. Now you see The Bun Mobile are a mobile food truck... Any one who follows these guys knows that while the food truck culture is popular in America The Bun Masters want to revolutionise the food truck market in Brisbane. All I can say is that in a matter of a few short weeks of being open they are doing just that. This seriously has to be one of the most exciting food exploits in Brisbane at the moment.

They usually are at Loading Dock Espresso (A beautiful spot for coffee might I add but I'll post about them later) once a week at least. The good thing about it is off street parking is pretty easy there. So not only do you get to enjoy these delicious buns and the food truck experience you can do it in comfort with coffee, tea or even hot chocolate... To me it really doesn't get much better than a hot drink and one of these amazing buns especially coming into winter.

Not only are these really some of the best things I've eaten in a long time the owners are true bun stars! Harry and Christine are about as sweet as their dessert buns. They stopped to take time to talk to all their customers including myself. Harry (Who used to at the infamous Harry's Diner as well as chef at a few other well known places in Brisbane over the years.) told me the idea came about after his son also a chef had come back from overseas... All I can say is I'm glad these guys decided to dream big and put together a business they are passionate and proud of because it not only shows in their attitudes but their food.

The day we went they had two specials on although they do also do 3 staple buns with various flavours as well. We ordered both specials, the confit duck sausage with crunchy pancetta, butter lettuce, red eye mayo and shallot batons on their signature steamed bun just blew my mind. The taste and textures combined just totally wowed my taste buds. The Dessert bun I ordered for Ruby was fresh banana, caramel sauce and salted peanut praline and it was just amazingly the best dessert I'd had in a long time. I would say more about how great these are but my words just couldn't justify how brilliant these buns are you simply must taste to believe it yourself.

Ruby was looking a little worse for wear that day and I just assumed she had a cold so thought I would bring her out for a nice treat. Unbeknownst to me she actually she had tonsillitis and after taking a bite of the dessert bun told me she couldn't eat it... Of course I obliged to finish it. My only mistake was this and I evidently caught tonsillitis in the following days. I was probably the most sick I'd been in years spending almost a whole day in bed... Was it worth it to taste that bun you might ask? Definitely!

Harry and Christine have put so much planning and research into this venture and it shows. When you speak to them not only do they love talking to their customers but they know their stuff particularly about the food truck culture in Australia atm. They also really think about their customers with great offers on foursquare or even their bun star card where your loyalty is respected and rewarded with a free bun!

I'm not going to say much more because I think I've said enough. If you are in Brisbane check out their website to see where these guys are for the day... A visit no matter how far you travel imo would simply not be a waste. I even thought as I saw people walk by off to other places for lunch ... "You guys have no idea what you are missing." Don't let the fact this is a food truck fool you into thinking it's food is understated because it isn't. Honestly one of the best things to come out of Brisbane in a long time.

http://www.thebunmobile.com.au/

Harajuku Gyoza - 394 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley

Since Harajuku Gyoza opened last year it has been quite the buzz restaurant with queues that often go out the door lining the street. My first experience was earlier this year when I went out with my friends for a birthday dinner - sans children. Not only was I really wowed by the beautiful design but also the kookie service and welcome. They do give you quite a greeting and if your not exciting and like nice quiet places this is probably not for you.

Austin and I were supposed to go out to lunch to another Japanese restaurant closer to home today but it was closed for lunch. I had Japanese on my mind so I thought why not see what it's like in the day time. So we drove over and I was surprised to get a close off street park immediately as well as coming in to a rather quiet atmosphere being one of very few in the restaurant at the time which was a stark contrast to the line up I endured on the evening of my birthday.

While the service was more subdued at this time of the day without the loud over excited greeting it was nice to see the interior a little better in the daylight. I know some say that the menu is quite pricey for what it is but it's also apparent a lot of money and research has gone into the aesthetics. No detail has been spared towards the materials, lighting, furnishings and all round ambience. I think rather than just being a food place this is somewhere with a huge focus on experience so I don't think it's fair to judge on the menu alone.

I haven't personally been to Japan myself but my partner Wade who is a tattooer has gone over there and told me they are a rather conservative race. You don't often see things like this a part from in the edges of the cities. From the chants when they bring you the sake down to the interesting dinnerware they have rolled all the quirky bits of Japan into one to bring quite a surreal experience to Brisbane diners.

The waitress was quick to take our orders for drinks. They don't have a lot of non alcoholic beverages but we did end up with an iced green tea for myself and a sprite for Austin. These came out pretty much instantly although it was a quiet time that we chose.

For starters they have a dish called Edamame which I guess you could say is a little like a Japanese version of penuts. The first time I came in I thought you actually ate the whole pod. I stood corrected however when my friend showed me the little beans come out of the pod and that is what you should be consuming, hence the extra bowl for the pods to be discarded.

We started off with a few things to see how we travelled. Miso soup which was really good. Bean sprouts with Pork which was probably a healthier option for me now that I am on a low sugar carb diet due to hypoglycaemia. I also ordered Chicken Karaage for Austin with a side of steamed rice which was pretty nice as well.

What we already had was quite filling but I thought I couldn't really leave without ordering at least one of their signature gyoza dishes. We ordered Grilled duck.

I did also promise Austin dessert so we also got some interesting gyoza that was fried and filled with banana and nutella with a  side of ice cream. I don't think I need to do much more than point out the pictures obviously show he enjoyed this dish the best.

Even though it started to get quite busy by the time we left the service still was great. We both had a good time at lunch and Austin was quite the fanboy demanding I buy him a badge. With that cute little gyoza face on it I found it hard to say no to his cute little face so a badge he got. Would definitely bring my kids back for the more subdued daytime visit too.

 

Guzman Y Gomez - Emporium 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley.

Now I don't normally blog chain fast food restaurants but I think this one is a little different to your KFC or McDonald's. My kids will probably attest to how much I hate McDonald's and would only go if there really was nothing left open in some kind of apocalypse type situation. I hear the local owner of the Brisbane franchise' is often in his stores so it does seem that little more personal. Plus Brisbane doesn't have an authentic mexican style fast food place, lot's of traditional Mexican restaurants but this is the first fast food Mexican here.

Anyway there was a night a few weeks back where I was super stressed and the children had been stir crazy and screaming up a storm all night and day. When Wade got home I said to him "You gotta get me outta here man!"... I didn't care where we went so long as it was quick, easy and I wasn't cooking it. We ended up choosing the Valley Guzman Y Gomez because even though the city is closer the parking here is easier.

First impressions were that it was quite busy particularly for a mid week night. We had to hunt around for a bit and all we could find was a smaller table. 5 mins or so after seating though I saw a few of the bigger tables free up. It's very open as well and coming into these colder months I urge you to rug up out here because most seating is exposed to the cold nights air.

For me being the mother of 3 children who sometimes are at the end of their own tether as well as mine it was good to see the food come out not so long after Wade went to the counter to order. So that saved a few ear drums from being perforated by the screams of hungry children. I don't drink very often because alcohol doesn't agree with me but let me tell you this night I was tempted by those margaritas and sangrias after the day I had. They actually had quite a few non alcoholic drink choices on top of the alcoholic ones (in case you may need to sedate yourself a hard day of the ringing shrills of screaming in your ear.)

The food was pretty good for fast food and I mean it's no gourmet fine dining but a whole lot better than a chicken nugget that tastes like cardboard. The kids shared Cheddar Cheese Quesadillas and a "Little Guy" Burrito and they were rather impressed. I was really impressed myself with the serving size of the burrito and that these were a lot of value for money. Wade had Pork Chipotle Quesadillas while I had Beef Nacho's. The food was particularly fresh tasting and not dripping in fats and oils so I didn't feel like my soul was dying from the inside like I do with most of the regular fast food I encounter. All in all the value astonished me too we fed a family of 5 with drinks including 1 beer for about $40... Not too bad if you ask me.

If you live close by to one of these restaurants and you want any easy cheap meal out where you aren't cooking or cleaning up after yourself in your own home... This is great. It's very kid friendly on top of the fast quick service plus they have high chairs for the littlies. I strongly recommend trying a place like this rather than your McDonald's or KFC. You even get to tailor your dishes with choices of topping so it doesn't feel as generic. I loved it would go back again in another time I need to avert a crisis as the children came home happy and went straight to bed... Perfect ending if you ask me.