Sushi Hotaru Visits 1 and 2

Sushi Hotaru is a new sushi train in Melbourne. They are from Sydney and they seemed to be really popular with the locals there.
Here they had $3 sushi plates here. Everything except for the sashimi was $3. The sashimi was $7.90 and the drinks were individually priced.
You can order everything on the touchscreen, but except that it is so slow. 

In the first visit I had the tamago sushi (it fell apart, but still good), the agedashi tofu, the salmon nigiri and an iced peach tea.

The raw salmon nigiri was a little bit irky, probably from being out there for too long.

The agedashi tofu was nicely done; it was light and you can order for it to be made on the spot.

The iced tea was good too. When it came to the table it looked like a fizzy drink

The second time around I forgot my camera, so borrowed most of the pictures from Urbanspoon. This time I went at 12 noon and everything there was really fresh.

I also had a chance to try the scampi sushi which is the prawn head and the prawn nigiri.  To my surprise there was in fact ginger. Last time I didn't find any ginger.

The unagi and tamago sushi fell apart.

image courtesy of Urbanspoon

Image courtesy of Urbanspoon

Image courtesy of Urbanspoon

Image courtesy of Urbanspoon

Image courtesy of Urbanspoon

Image courtesy of Urbanspoon

Image courtesy of Urbanspoon

Image courtesy of Urbanspoon

But I loved the salmon sushi with onions and wasabi mayonnaise this time.

I also didn't find any inari last time and this time there was some and it just ok.

I had ordered their specialty of renkon chips and tofu with soft shell crab. Loved both of them. They are not as oily as some other places. Renkon chips is a Japanese type of chip with lotus instead of potato and it is deep fried.
The soft shell crab was nice but a little too soft.

For dessert I had the green tea brulee. What a heavenly way to finish a meal.

Also there was octopus nigiri and I really loved the freshness of the octopus but the rice fell apart.
Altogether I spent about $46 for the two visits.

I would love to visit again and also encourage other bloggers to visit. Now I know why it was such a hit in Sydney with the locals.

International student lunch

And no it is not on every week. It is only in wk 3,5,7 and I think week 9.

This event was very successful last year- This year it is not so. This year due to budget constraints it will only be on in certain weeks, not every week.


Today it was Chinese food with so much MSG and they forgot to order vegetarian. Oh well. Can't complain.

PWC's free ice cream

As part of our career series

PWC (Price Water house Coopers) is an accounting firm and they are seeking to recruit workers. There are part time and graduate positions available.

To advertise their recruitment there was free ice cream in bowen st for everyone. Who can complain? I loved my gelato today.

To apply click here

Ray's cafe by Katherine

I went to Rays a few years ago with one of my friends from Realfoods.
 Back then it was really good and healthy. I wonder if it is the same now.

I was in Brunswick for an International student training session hence I decided to visit Ray's. Ray's is right near Brunswick station and it is about a five minute walk from RMIT Brunswick campus. I was going to visit Lux Foundry but couldn't find it.

Ray's is a very small but cozy cafe. Like some of Melbourne's cute cafes. But I think that the people there (with the exception of one lady) were a bit too hip and loud for me. The workers I mean. The customers were fine for me.

The music was just a tad too loud for my liking.

But the food and the iced coffee made up for it. I had the poached eggs on Turkish bread with baked beans, feta and red onion jam ($15). The poached eggs were nicely done. Even better was the Habenaro sauce (complimentary- had to help myself to it). The red onion jam had that really nice homely feel to it. But I think the beans, although homemade were just a tad bit overcooked. In fact the feta melted and I could hardly taste it.

I also had a friand ($1). This was really really lovely. In fact this was the highlight as it was homemade and freshly baked.


My cold drip coffee tasted a little bit weird with the coconut ($6). It was just a tad too sweet. In fact the coconut distilled some of the strong bitter flavour to it.

I wouldn't come back for the coffees, but maybe just for the yummy and healthy lunch and breakfasts.

Industry event at Coopers Inn

As part of our careers series
Industry associations are important for everyone to join. Not only do they provide networking opportunities but information as well on the newest and latest things

My industry association invited me to a seminar held in Coopers Inn. It was in the Heritage room. Coopers Inn is a nice old fashioned pub which I love. I think it is an English pub.

Each day there are specials and there is happy hour from 4pm-6pm weekdays where all alcoholic drinks are $5. A jug of beer is $10.

My lemon lime and bitters was $3.90 for one glass.

The food there was lovely except for the quiche which a bit too soft for my liking.  The aracini is very cheesy which I love but it was small.  Loved the spring rolls. It would be nice if it was on the menu.

The triangles were nice and flaky, but I couldn't taste much of the filling in there. Some chips would be nice. The prawns were nicely done.

I would love to come back during the winter to try their hearty pub meals. Many thanks to my industry association for this event.