AWESOME TEPPANYAKI ON THE GOLD COAST

Had the best night at Benihana's restaurant in the Marriott for a very special friends birthday. We started with  cocktails in the bar area (yum) then we were taken to our little cubical. Our own space, our own chef.  Every one sitting around the hot plate,while your personal chef cooks you up a healthy and delicious storm. 

One of the staff members, a Japanese man entered our cubical to serenade us with a Micheal Jackson pop son. He was a classic, had everyone singing and laughing. Our birthday girl was made to feel very special with her hot pan messages and the rice love heart!

The food was sensational, I will definitely return, its a perfect place to celebrate with a group of people as we did. The decor of the restaurant was lovely, very zen! 

Price wise, the cocktails were not cheap, but I think the food was reasonable for the Marriott.  For seven people dining, and we all chipped in for the birthday girl, it cost $60 per head. We were all so full, and I will say it again, that food was amazing! If you go, you must try the Japanese special rice.

There was fire!

Laughter and good food!

                                                                and more fire!!!

Quest coffee Burleigh heads

Just had a flat white.... Yummmmm

Lovely coffee..they use Organic beans which is a bonus.

Friendly staff, they had a lovely selection of cakes and slices.. I didn't try any as I am heading off for a bite to eat soon.

It's a small cafe, but seemed very popular .. Not huge amounts of seating.. Few seats inside and a put front of cafe.

I would highly recommend this cafe!!!

fraud calls again!

HOW did they get my home number? how did they know I was having computer problems? Are you the the main computer user? please sit down in front of your computer now!!! YEAH right...so you can rip us off!

I just took a big breath and blew into the mouth piece of the phone, she eventually hung up!!

HELP ME find best cafe and coffee on the coast!

I want to find the Gold Coast's best coffee.. best flat white for that matter! 

It needs to be HOT like a sunrise, textured creamy milk, and flavorsome. It needs to be served by a friendly barrister! (waiter). It wont hurt if this coffee house has some yummy cakes either!

Do you have a favorite cafe? why and where is it? I want to go and try out their coffee!

Thanks for your suggestions!

Larb let down but BEST massamam curry ever !

Just had an unforgettable beef massamam curry from beer Thai in palm beach. The duck larb ( is usually great) but tonight I found it to have a very unpleasant texture and the fish sauce smell was rather pungent. The sweet sour pork dish was fresh and tasty. But that massamam was awesome . The lady that served me was very friendly!

Loving Burleigh!

Just had a cheap yummy vego lunch from Govindas in James street Burleigh. Burleigh has morphed into such an awesome cafe / shopping hub. Every time I visit, there is some new funky shop or eatery.

I can't believe the great prices and tasty food that was dished up at Govindas today.. For under $10 you can have feast!

My only concern with Burleigh is the parking officers! Beware they are on the hunt for anyone who has an expired parking ticket!

Leura, Blue Mountains December 2012

Blue Mountains trip December 2012

We packed up the hubby, myself and two kids (boy 15 and girl 10) grabbed grandma and took off to the Blue Mountains.

Christmas shop

We arrived by car to the Waldorf Leura garden resort mid morning. Leura is a lovely little town with gorgeous views, historic homes, quaint cafes, restaurants and shops. The Christmas shop is just packed with goodies from floor to ceiling. I stuffed myself silly with choc coated pineapple lumps at the lolly shop!

So many of the houses have been lovingly restored, with picket fences and big old trees cradling the roads.

I felt Leura was a great central spot to take in what the Blue Mountains has to offer.

Leura lolly shop

We visited the old toy and train museum, a rather grand historic home, with fabulous mountain views. We paid $42 for 2 kids and 2 adults to enter the house, each room of the old house shows off a collection of old toys, from all eras.

Toy and Rail Museum

From tin wind up toys, to an impressive Barbie doll collection. Yes it was mildly interesting, not a lot of information and I did fell a little ripped off. However my 10-year-old daughter really enjoyed this place. Others may enjoy reminiscing their child hood days.

Toy and Rail Museum

After wandering through the house, you exit and can then explore the gardens and train museum. Our family much preferred this. 

Toy and Rail Museum

We proceeded to the Everglades historic house and garden, this is now run by the national trust. We paid $36 for all five of us to enter and really enjoyed leisurely wandering around the gardens. There is a tea house that was closed by the time we got there.

Reading secret garden in the secret garden

Everglades Leura 

Back to the Waldorf Leura garden resort, we were disappointed that their restaurant ‘Jasmine restaurant’ was closed. 

We were all tired and decided to order pizza, and stay in. The local pizza place (recommended to me by the staff) didn’t answer their phone, so had to do the domino's order!

We paid $250 a night for a family room, all beds were comfy and the room was clean. This is not a 5 star palace, but we all seemed comfortable and happy here.

A hot buffet breakfast was included, everyone was more then happy with the food. The resort had a little play area for young ones, a small pool and games rooms with tennis table and pool table.

Everglades Leura

 

Everglades Leura

My next post is about our fabulous day trip to the Jenolan caves!!!

Great dinner, thanks son!

Well tonight my 15 year old son made a fabulous flavorsome spaghetti bolognese from scratch, all by himself! All of the training is starting to pay off!!! The meal was great... I will be sure to return to this restaurant!!

Thanks son xx

ummm who will wash up? Daddy?