Corin Forest and Smoke Masters BBQ, ACT

Recently, we found a little winter play spot in Canberra that the kids really enjoyed - Mount Corin.  It's definitely smaller than Perisher, but honestly, if you're mainly looking for a place where the kids can experience snow, have a go at tobogganing, throw snowballs around, or even let beginners practice skiing.  Mount Corin is more than enough for a fun day out.

And before winter completely disappears, I thought I'd better share this in case you're still thinking about squeezing in one more snow day without going through all the hassle, crowds and long drive associated with Perisher.

Mount Corin is located in the Brindabella Ranges, just outside Canberra and it's a popular spot for a quick winter escape when the snow arrives.

The biggest perk for us was that it felt much more manageable with kids.  You don't necessarily need to commit to a full day of skiing or organise a big snow trip.  You can simply head up for a few hours, let the kids play in the snow and head back.  The snow play area has unlimited tobogganing, and there's also plenty of space for kids to play in snow, make snowballs and have a bit of a mess around.  Compared with the bigger ski resorts, it felt much more relaxed and less overwhelming.

We booked our activities online before going.  We booked both the snow play area and the Alpine slide.  Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. 

The day we went was rainy and very wet, so the Alpine Slide was not running.  We were told they needed to wait for the weather to clear before deciding they could reopen.  And as anyone knows, it can be unpredictable.

The tricky part was that we couldn't wait around for too long because there was no guarantee that the activities would actually reopen that day.  Unfortunately, they weren't able to offer us a refund.  Instead, we were given vouchers that we can use for another visit, which means we'll hopefully get another chance to try the Alpine Slide on a better-weather day.

So, if you're planning a visit, definitely check the weather forecast and the operating conditions before you go.

There's also a little shop where you can grab food and coffee if everyone starts getting hungry or cold.  

We actually decided to have lunch somewhere else on the way back to our hotel and stopped at Smoke Masters BBQ.

I'd read a few reviews saying that Smoke Masters BBQ usually sells out before closing time, so we're so glad that we made it there around 12:30pm.  Still, their Saturday special beef ribs already vanished, even though they were supposedly open until 2pm.  So instead, we went for the Carnivore Platter, which came loaded with brisket, pulled pork, chicken wings and kransky, along with slaw, pickled red onion and fries.  We also ordered the smoked pork ribs.

And honestly, we think we got extremely lucky!  As soon as we paid for our order, we looked up at the menu screen and pretty much everything was market sold out.  People kept coming in after us, only to leave disappointed.

The pork ribs were fantastic - super tender and practically falling off the bone.  The sauce had a really nice savoury flavour without being overly sweet, which we really appreciated.  It's definitely different from the sweeter-style sauces you might get at places like Hurricane's or Pancake on the Rocks.

The brisket was another highlight.  It was juicy, tender and nicely smoky, exactly what you want from good BBQ.  The pulled pork and chicken wings were also enjoyable and the sides helped balance out all that rich, smoky meat.

What made the experience even better was the friendly service.  Everyone was welcoming and helpful, which made the whole visit feel really pleasant. 

Corin Forest

1268 Corin Road, Paddys River, ACT

Ph: 1300 128 746

Smoke Masters BBQ

Unit 7a, 19-25 Kembla St, Fyshwick ACT

Ph: 6106 9563

Open: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 10am - 2pm, Friday 8am - 2pm, closed on Sunday - Tuesday

Exploring Song Wat: Bangkok's Hottest Food Street

If you've been planning a food trip in Bangkok, Song Wat Road should definitely be on your list.  Over the past few years, this charming neighborhood has become one of the city's hottest spots.  While iconic areas like Yaowarat have always been famous, Song Wat has quietly built its own reputation and is now drawing huge crowds every day.

This quirky neighborhood is packed with incredible food, colorful street art, and plenty of photo-worthy corners.  Youngsters come here to catch up with friends, snap aesthetic photos and enjoy the lively atmosphere, while serious food hunters arrive with one mission - to eat as much as possible.

Restaurants line the streets one after another, and they're not just trendy newcomers.  Many have been serving their signature dishes for decades, earning loyal customers through consistently delicious food.  Besides the food scene, you'll also find unique little shops selling specialty products, like the Road of Cinnamon, along with street vendors tucked away in the alleys leading toward Chinatown.

We came prepared.  Our plan was simple: arrive with completely empty tummy because we had at least five different food stops on our list.

Gu Long Bao

Our first stop was Gu Long Bao, a Teochew-style bun shop that has been around for over a century.  They serve shumai, sweet and savoury buns, both steamed and pan-fried, along with classic Thai milk tea.  One of their signature ideas is serving the Thai milk tea in a cup that comes with a built-in-shumai holder.  Super convenient for snacking while walking around.

Thai milk tea and 10 pieces of pork shumai 160 Baht (around AUD 7.30)

The shumai was wonderfully meaty and juicy, especially when dipped into their tangy soy-vinegar sauce and topped with crispy bits of garlic.  It was easily one of the best shumai we've had.  The buns were equally impressive - soft, fluffy and pleasantly chewy.  You can instantly tell they're handmade rather than factory-produced.

Black sesame steamed bun 17 Baht (around AUD 0.88)

Roasted buns: BBQ pork bun and pork & salted egg 25 Baht each (around AUD 1.15)

After our warm-up snack, it was time for something more substantial.

Next, we headed to Urai Han Palo, famous for its braised goose.  Getting a table wasn't easy.  We almost gave up because the queue was incredibly long, and it was already peak lunch hour.  We had heard that they often sell out early, so we weren't feeling optimistic.

Luckily, patience paid off.  We managed to get in just before they ran out of food and ordered some of the last dishes available. 

Large stewed goose 840 Baht (around AUD 38.20)

The goose was incredibly tender, rich and beautifully aromatic.  Every bite was packed with flavour, and the portions were surprisingly generous.  We also ordered their meatball and vegetable soup, which had a bold peppery kick.  It turned out to be the perfect companion to balance the richness of the goose and refresh our palates between bites.

Soup 70 Baht (around AUD 3.20)

After all that savoury goodness, it was time to give our taste buds a little reset with something cold and sweet.

Our next stop was Nuury Chestnut for some ice cream.  The ice cream itself was delicious, but what really makes this place stand out is the toppings.  Besides the obvious chestnut, you can add honey.. or even vodka.  Yep, vodka on your ice cream!

It works incredibly well.  It instantly reminded me of my childhood visits to Zangrandi in Indonesia, where they served ice cream with a splash of rum.  If you've ever had ice cream paired with alcohol, you'll know exactly what I mean.  They're simply made for each other.

Chocolate with extra honey and coconut with vodka

Apparently, our sweet tooth still wasn't satisfied.  As wandered down the street, the beautiful cake display at Pink Rabbit practically called us inside.  Everything looked irresistible, so naturally we ordered more desserts.  We picked the lemon dark chocolate meringue, a blueberry Oreo pie and an adorable swan-shaped eclair.

Lemon dark choc 185 Baht (around AUD 8.40), Blueberry Oreo pie 195 baht (around AUD 8.90), swan eclair 70 Baht for 2 (around AUD 3.20)

The cakes were fantastic. The lemon meringue and dark chocolate had a wonderful balance of tangy and rich flavours, while the blueberry Oreo was creamy and indulgent without being overly sweet.

The only slight disappointment was the eclair.  It certainly won points for presentation - the swan shape was absolutely adorable - but unfortunately the pastry shell was too thick and the cream filling was a little too less.  It looked much better than it tasted, almost like it was designed for kids than serious pastry lovers.

Rabbit dirty coffee 125 Baht (around AUD 5.70)

By the end of the day, we were completely stuffed, but there were still so many places we didn't get to try.  If you have extra time, don't just stick to the main street.  Wander through the hidden alleys and explore smaller side streets - you'll discover even more local eateries, cozy cafes, street vendors and charming little shops.  There are also plenty of places to pick up souvenirs, clothes, toys and unique gifts, often at bargain prices.

Song Wat is much more than just another food destination.  It's a neighborhood full of character, history and hidden gems waiting to be discovered.  We barely scratched the surface on this visit, so one thing is certain, we will definitely be back to eat our way through the rest of it.

Gu Long Bao

983 Song Wat Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok

Open: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm (Sunday closed)

Urai Han Palo

935 Song Wat Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok

Open: Daily from 10am - 1pm then reopen 4pm - 7pm

Nuury Chestnut Ice Cream

206 Trok Saphan Yuan, Samphanthawong, Bangkok

Ph: +66 85 364 9785

Open: 8am - 5pm (Sunday close at 3:30pm)

Pink Rabbit

1330, 1332 Song Wat Road, Chakkrawat, Bangkok

Ph: +66 88 088 5033

Open: 9am - 8pm

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu, Bangkok

If you've been to Japan, chances are you've come across gyukatsu - a delicious dish that's been loved there for quite some time.  Unlike the more familiar tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), gyukatsu is made with beef that's lightly coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried just enough to keep the centre beautifully rare.  The fun part?  It's served with a small hot stone grill at your table, so you can cook each slice of beef to your preferred doneness, one piece at a time.

Although gyukatsu has been popular in Japan for years, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu only expanded to Bangkok around a year and half ago and has only recently opened its first Sydney location.  While we were visiting Bangkok, we had to see ourselves what all the hype was about.

It turned out to be such a fun dining experience.  Being able to grill the beef ourselves meant we could enjoy every bite exactly how we liked it, whether lightly seared or cooked through.  Since you cook the meat at your own pace, every piece stays hot and fresh instead of cooling down all at once.

Each set comes with a selection of dipping sauces that let you mix and match flavours, and some meals also include their curry sauce.  We absolutely loved the curry.  It was lighter than the rich Japanese curries we're used to, making it perfect pairing that didn't overpower the beef.  It also comes with a silky onsen egg, which added an extra layer of richness and made every bite even more satisfying. 

If you still have room after your meal, they also offer a selection of in-house desserts to finish things off on a sweet note.  Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience and we can definitely see why Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu has become so popular.

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

At Siam Center Bangkok

Lv. 2, 979 Rama 1 Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok

Ph: +66 98 669 3182

Kanom Jeen Jee Liew, Phuket

Previously:

Nam Yoi Restaurant, Phuket

Kanom Jeen Jee Liew is one restaurant we always make time for whenever we're in Phuket.  No matter how many times we visit, it's a must-eat-spot.  One of their branches is conveniently located about 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport, making it the perfect place to stop either right after we land or just before our flight home.

Their signature dish is kanom jeen - Thai-style fresh rice vermicelli noodles served with a variety of delicious curry sauces.  There is a great variety of curries to choose from.  They have the classic green curry, as well as more unique options such as the delicate and flavourful crab curry.  If you're after something different, you can also try the fish yellow curry or the Southern-style fish innards curry, which has a much bolder, spicier and more pungent flavour. 

Besides the noodles, they offer a selection of tasty appetisers too.  My all-time-favourites are the crispy deep fried pork and kian tod or fried taro/pork roll.  Both are so good and the perfect side dishes.

Another thing I love is the self-serve station filled with fresh vegetables, herbs and pickles. You can help yourself to as much as you like, adding plenty of crunch and freshness to your kanom jeen for the perfect combination of flavours and textures.

Kanom jeen with crab sauce (kaeng poo)

Kanom jeen with Thai green curry (kaeng khiaw wan)

Kanom jeen with fish organ curry (kaeng tai pla)

Kian tod

Moo tod - deep fried pork

Fish cake

Kanom Jeen Jee Liew

355/3 Thep Krasatti Rd, Thep Krasatti, Thalang District, Phuket

(Opposite Thalang Phra Nang Sang School, near the Lotus' Thalang intersection

Ph: +66 81 256 9615

Open: Daily from 7:30am - 3pm

Sapan Hin Branch

66/2 Phuket Rd, Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District

Ph: +66 83 175 5571

Open: Fri - Wed 8:30am - 7pm, Thu 9am - 5pm