Dex2Rose Nitrogen Gelato

Dex2Rose Nitrogen Gelato, as its name suggest, is the new kid on the block, specialising in gelato made fresh to order using liquid nitrogen.

Dex2Rose, pronounced as dex-trose, a form of glucose (ie. sugar) with the alphabet 't' replaced with the number '2' (representing liquid nitrogen abbreviation LN₂) is located in the heart of Melbourne CBD, within Racing Club Lane, a small alleyway off Little Bourke Street.

Owner and head chef Jesse who hails from Singapore, developed a liking to gelato upon his first taste of freshly made liquid nitrogen gelato a few years ago.

Jesse loved his fresh gelato so much that he went on to train under Nick Palumbo of Gelato Messina and months later founded Dex2Rose.

Dex2rose is the sort of place where you are warmly welcomed whenever you choose to drop in, be it for a quick sugar fix or even to sit down and hang out for a couple of hours with your friends.

A lovely, laid back and cosy ambience welcomes you as soon as you enter. They have a few small tables to cater for smaller groups and a big communal table to seat a group of up to 12 comfortably.

The menu changes every fortnight, and Jesse shared on how he spends days and nights with very little sleep, to experiment new flavours.

It was interesting to learn that the chef has to keep a clean palette to ensure that the flavours are right when tastings are done.

I have a pretty clean palette, considering I don't smoke, drink or eat a lot of spicy food, so hey Jesse, I'm up for tastings! :P

There are currently 8 flavours available, and Jesse hopes to expand the number of flavours over time. Out of the 8 that week, we were lucky enough to sample 5 different flavours.

My absolute favourite that night was the "Lazy Dinner" - a combination of entree, main and dessert rolled into one.

The subtle hint of sage, combined with burnt butter and finished off with caramel, oh, the result of this combo was just amazing. Drizzled with sticky caramel sauce to boot, what's not to like?

The "Honey Stash" stood out as my second favourite. Made with top quality Italian ingredients, this pistachio and honey gelato surprises you with crunchy, honeyed nut clusters.

Creamy and velvety smooth gelato with a contrasting crunch, yum! I'm not too sure about the crowned raspberry cream though.

I personally thought it'd be better without the cream, but that's because I personally don't like cream.

Next up was "It's a MATCH Ah!" which I really really enjoyed. But let me put it this way, you'll love this if you love your matcha strong. Jesse pointed out that some might find the matcha flavour a little too strong for their liking, but to me, it was perfect.

I could not get enough of the crunchy sugared peanut powder which added on a contrasting texture to the smooth gelato. I hope they bring it back! *big puppy eyes*

As for those who appreciates an alcoholic treat, the "Pink Flamingo" would be a good flavour for you to try. This Peach and Rose moscato sorbet, topped with rosewater coconut cream will not leave you pink in the face but it sure was very refreshing, and went down a treat.

For those who aren't big fans of creamy ice cream or gelato (how could you though?), the sorbets would be your go-to-option. ;)

Last but not least, the "Rockkaido" which really screamed "TRY ME!" when I first perused the menu, however it did not quite taste like how I expected it to.

Whilst the texture was consistently smooth, the flavour was not quite my cup of tea as I found the Hokkaido milk powder to be a tad overpowering.

All in all, I found the five flavours we sampled to be consistent in texture; the gelati creamy and smooth, and the sorbets smooth, not too icy, and certainly light and refreshing.

I also really appreciate that none of the flavours were too rich, nor too sweet. You'd be able to finish a whole cup of gelato by yourself without feeling jelak, or unpleasantly satiated.

For those with dietary requirements, fret not! You'd be able to enjoy a treat too as Jesse ensures that he has a few options which are either vegan, gluten-free (GF) or/and dairy-free (DF) to cater to your needs.

For those just wanting a drink, how about some beer nitrobrew coffee? Yeap,  you read that right. This is the nitrogen-charged-coffee, being dispensed right out of a beer tap yo!

The result? Smooth, full-bodied coffee, infused with apple (granny smith and royal gala), strawberry and Tahitian vanilla bean, complete with a layer of creamy, foamy head. It's also naturally sweetened, so there's no need for sugar.

Oh, it was surprisingly refreshing! I'd have a nitrobrew coffee over beer, anytime. ;)

I'll be honest and say we were not entirely sure of what to expect upon receiving the invitation for a tasting, but at the end of the evening, we were blown away by Jesse's passion for gelato and his take on the innovative and creative flavours that Dex2Rose has to offer.

Pictured sourced from Dex2Rose's Facebook page

They've got a great team there; Jesse and his team are really friendly and always served with a smile. I love that Jesse is very open to suggestions and feedback, which to me, is the best way forward.

Dex2Rose is open everyday, from 12pm daily until late. If you're not sure of where to go after dinner on a Friday night, or if you need a chill out place during the weekend, and craving a little treat, pop in to Dex2rose to have some nitrobrew coffee and gelato.

Just like we did, several weeks after the tasting, when I learnt that Dex2Rose introduced a new menu. A couple of the flavours intrigued me so The Boyfriend and I returned again, this time on our own dollar.

This is the modified version of Peanut Butter Capp as I opted to have mine without freshly whipped cream. It's a cappuccino gelato, with smashed Reese mini peanut butter cups, drizzled with chocolate sauce.

I had hoped for the espresso flavour to stand out a little more, but the peanut butteryness was quite overpowering. Still delicious though!

The Original Mr. Grey sits in the background; Earl Grey tea and Italian hazelnut gelato, with bits and pieces of hazelnut churned through. The Boyfriend really enjoyed it, and I bet you would too, if you like earl grey and hazelnut, as they make a great pair.

Again, we loved how smooth and creamy the gelati were! You will definitely find us at Dex2Rose again, and again. ;)

Disclaimer: The Boyfriend and I were invited for a tasting, but returned again last week on our own dollar.

A Day Trip to Yarra Valley - Innocent Bystander, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, and Yering Station

Can you believe it? I've lived in Melbourne for the past 8.5 years but I've never been to Yarra Valley up until last weekend.

I am embarrassed to admit it considering how close Yarra Valley is to the CBD, but I guess better late than never?

The Boyfriend and I took a short drive down to Yarra Valley and headed straight to Healesville for lunch at the popular Innocent Bystander Restaurant of which I made sure to book a day prior.

We kick started with these beautiful drinks. The Boyfriend had the Moscato & Sipsmith Summer Cocktail ($11) and I, on the other hand, chose the Moscato Granita ($11).

Both the drinks were brilliant! My Moscato Granita was sweet (but not overwhelmingly so) and very refreshing. I also had a sip of The Boyfriend's cocktail and I like how thirst-quenching it was.

To say that I love Innocent Bystander's pink moscato would be an understatement. Even though I've never been to the Yarra Valley, I've had the moscato a few times before and absolutely adore it.

We bought two big bottles home and I can't wait to open them! I may not a big wine drinker, but I do love my moscato and dessert wines. ;)

I've also heard a lot about Innocent Bystander's wood fire pizzas, so The Boyfriend and I decided we'd order one to share.

We opted for the spicy pork sausage, buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomato and chilli on organic sourdough base ($24).

It was divine; the base was thin, and the pizza although full of flavour, wasn't too heavy. If you're a big eater, you could easily finish one whole pizza by yourself.

My only complaint would be the lack of buffalo mozzarella. It would have been perfect with just an extra dollop or two of the cheese.

Three slices of pizza later, I was filled up, but The Boyfriend wanted more so we ordered the truffle and parmesan frites to share.

It was fantastic, yes, but I thought $11 was a lot to pay for a bowl of French fries. Plus, I found the fries a tad too salty for my liking.

The Boyfriend on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed it. I guess if you love your fries, then this is a must-order.

To wrap up, we ordered a canelé ($4) to share. It was my first time trying a canelé and I absolutely LOVED it! I really like how soft and custard-like the inside of the pastry is.

Paired with a thick and dark caramelized crust, I now finally understand why others rave about this little gem. It was also The Boyfriend's first try, and I could tell he was very impressed. ;)

Just as we were walking out the door, I spotted their bread stand and could not resist the organic sourdough loaf.

The Boyfriend and I bought a loaf home for dinner, and he claims it to be one of the best. That's a big claim considering how much he loves his sourdough. One day I will learn to make it for him, so he gets a loaf each week. I should get cracking on my starter soon! ;)

All in all, we both had a great experience at Innocent Bystander. Food and drinks were both great, and the wait staff were also very attentive and friendly. We'll definitely be back to try the other items off their menu. I promise it won't be another 8 years before I visit again. ;)

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Next stop after lunch was a short 15 minutes drive over to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. As its name suggest, there were a HUGE variety of chocolate, desserts and ice cream available to have in-store and to take-away.

It was a lot of fun seeing how chocolate was made, and just to see how much one can do with chocolate.

The Boyfriend and I were like kids (we're after all pretty young at heart) as we stood watching bars of chocolates going through their final chocolate coating as they travel along on a long conveyor belt at 8°C before emerging on the other end, all ready to be packaged.

There were also big, gigantic bowls of dark, white and chocolate chocolates to sample. But as I was immersed in all the chocolate, imagining myself in Willy Wonka's world, I've conveniently forgotten to take any other pictures of the chocolaterie.

The Boyfriend and I were still full from lunch, but thought we should at the very least try the ice cream.

We opted for the praline milk chocolate flavour to share and boy, it was one of the biggest scoop of ice cream we've ever been served, but divine, creamy goodness nonetheless.

A group of old ladies about 70-ish in age, were going all "OHHHH MY LORDDDD!!!" at how massive each scoop was. One of them said it at least 10 times and it was very cute of them - bless their little heart.

Before we left, The Boyfriend also bought me some premium hand-crafted truffles to take home. I love how pretty each individual chocolate looks and the packaging is really beautiful too.

I chose (clockwise from top) the macadamia, strawberry, mango, hazelnut, raspberry sweetheart and apple cider. I've yet to try them yet, but I will dig into them tonight. ;)

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Before we headed home, we made it a point to stop by Yering Station Winery on our way as I remember seeing how beautiful the winery looks in pictures.

I wanted to do a bit of wine tasting, but there were way too many people in queue, so I didn't get a chance. Although I didn't manage to do any wine tasting, I'm glad we stopped by anyway.

Yering Station is beautiful - the view from the restaurant in particular was stunning. I am hoping to return one day to dine here *wink wink at The Boyfriend* hehehe.

We took a slow stroll around the art gallery, digesting that massive ice cream and taking a couple of pictures along the way before we headed back home.

A big thank you to The Boyfriend for taking me on this short day trip - it was loads of fun! We should get out of town a little more often. ;)

As for you, my fellow readers, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. And if you haven't already been to Yarra Valley, I urge that you plan a visit soon. Maybe this weekend? The weather's looking pretty good with a top of 26°C. ;)

If you're keen on visiting the Yarra Valley, check out Wine Compass for private tours that can be tailored to suit you. Mention 'TheBakeanista' when you enquire with Wine Compass and if you book, they will buy you a bottle of wine of your choice (up to $40) on the day of your tour. :)

Fat Friday #3 - Yebisu & Yochi

TGIF! I'm back again with yet another Fat Friday post for you. ;)

Today I am sharing with you one of my absolute new go-to-place for when I've got no leftovers to pack to work for lunch.

*jeng jeng jeng*

I hereby introduce to you, Yebisu, a small Jap eatery on Carlisle Street with only 6 seats cramped together.

I could not wait to share this little Balaclava gem that I found, but I made sure I visited a couple of times to try more items off the menu before I did. Actually that's just an excuse. :P

I just simply love this place. In fact, I was quite ecstatic when Shell and I first discovered Yebisu.

They have a simple menu, but everything that we've tried thus far has been pretty amazing! Having just returned from Japan a few months ago, I am glad to report that Yebisu offers good authentic Jap food.

This was one of the most authentic chicken katsu don I've had in Melbourne in my 8 years I've been here. This donburi was not only hearty and filling, it was also very tasty.

Such a comforting dish with every mouthful a delight. That's how Japanese food is meant to be - leave you walking away satisfied.

Shell has never had katsu don before, so I offered her a bite of mine. I think it blew her mind away, because the next time we returned, she ordered this and finished it all up with a big smile.

I also loved the crumbed prawn sushi - it was so good. The sushi is made fresh to order on the spot, and served with the prawn still warm. Absolutely DIVINE. Shell actually ordered this two times in a row, over two weeks. That's how good it was. ;)

I found myself back again at Yebisu on another occasion, and tried the Kitsune Udon. It was so comforting and was what I really needed that arvo as I wasn't feeling too well. I loved the great umami taste of the broth and the smooth udon noodles which I happily slurped away.

As for the days when I am super duper hungry, I opt for the Bento Box with my usual choice of beef teriyaki.

The beef was tender, and reminds me very much of the amazing beef yakiniku bowl that I had at Yoshinoya in Japan.

The Bento Box also comes served with a handful of edamame, salad, tofu, gyoza, croquette, tamago, a piece of karaage chicken and crumbed fried prawn. Everything was delish and filled me up so well.

What can I say about Yebisu? Reasonably priced tasty and fresh food, paired with friendly service, I cannot recommend Yebisu enough.

Definitely give Yebisu a go if you're around the area and you'll find yourself returning again and again. At least Shell and I will. ;)

And with Yochi just sitting right across to Yebisu, it is really hard to just go by without popping in for a treat! So more often than not, I find myself at Yochi pumping away at those machines.

My favourite combo? A mix of salted peanut butter and salted butterscotch froyo, topped with crumble and caramelised banana. So satisfyingly good! Perfect way to wrap up Friday lunch! ;)

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I hope you're all having a fantastic Friday afternoon. Have a good weekend ahead and I hope you guys have got something fun planned!

As for me, I'm off to see award-winning Once the musical courtesy of Nuffnang - my first time to a musical wheeeee! :D

Millè & B Crêpe Cakes

"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

As many of you already know, I love baking and I dream to one day open my own bakery.

I have time and again contemplated to take up a pastry course either in the UK or Paris, but due to personal commitments, I still find myself here in Melbourne, in the media advertising industry.

But there's a girl out there, living my dream.

This girl goes by the name Bee.

Bee loves baking, and she finds joy in creating beautiful and delicious cakes. It puts a smile on her face to see others enjoy her creations.

Unfortunately though, like many Asian parents, her father told her that she had "to get a stable job" and that's how she ended up with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

It didn't take long for Bee to land herself a job in a bank, but alas, she wasn't proud nor happy; she didn't get that job satisfaction all of us yearn for and she knew deep down inside what the problem was.

So, despite disapproval from her parents, Bee decided to take the leap of faith to chase her dreams, and brazenly founded Millè & B.

To keep her parents happy, Bee now juggles between baking to orders whilst maintaining her job at the bank, with a dream to one day open her cake shop in Melbourne.

This, my readers, is what I call dedication.

For that, I give Bee my utmost respect and as you can see, I'm doing my best to support her by spreading word of mouth about Millè & B.

Millè & B as you would have guessed, is an online cake shop specializing in the classic French cake known as Mille Crêpe Cake.

Each cake is handmade to order using fresh ingredients, and consist 20 even layers of delicate, paper thin crepes with each layer filled with luscious pastry cream of various flavours.

There are 8 delectable flavours available now at Millè & B and I've had to honour to try 4 of them thus far. You may view the menu here.

My absolute favourite was definitely the Oreo Oreo! Chocolate crêpes layered with Oreo whipped cream and generous chunks of Oreo cookies, then topped with an Oreo crumble. Say YUM!!!

I also really enjoyed the Sweet Salted Caramel crepes cake layered with dangerously delicious caramel creme patissiere.

But the best part for me is the crunchy salted caramel popcorn that Millè & B makes in-house. Don't say I didn't warn you, but those popcorns, gosh, they're incredibly addictive!

I also got to try the Balsamic Strawberry which I found was the lightest amongst all four. I know this flavour sounds a little odd to some and truth be told, I was a little skeptical myself, but hey, balsamic vinegar and strawberries do make a great combination!

The use of vinegar not only brings out the beautiful, bright red colour, but also totally enhances the natural sweetness of the strawberries.

Last but not least, the Matcha Adzuki - green tea crepes layered with smooth pastry cream and sweetened red beans. I appreciate that it has just the right amount of green tea, although being a matcha fanatic, I wouldn't mind it a little stronger. :P

Topped with white chocolate and green tea ganache, then finished with a matcha crumble (which I could not get enough of), this cake is made for every matcha lover out there.

I really like that Millè & B cakes aren't too sweet, and they have great, consistent texture throughout.

When eaten fresh, they are soft, smooth and taste absolutely divine. I can't wait to try the Tiramisu and Hazelnutella Banana flavours too!

Whilst some might find the crepe layers a tad too thin for their liking, I actually prefer it the way it is.

Bee mentioned that she experimented with thicker layers prior to starting her business, and she personally preferred the thin layers to achieve the melt-in-your-mouth texture. I'm with you, Bee.

As biased as this might sound, my family and I really did enjoy her cakes. To quote my sweet-tooth SIL, "Best crepe cake in Melbourne! Better than the ones we had at Jinda Thai!"

My Mum who isn't usually a big fan of cakes or anything sweet, went back for a second serving. I was so surprised and gobsmacked when she even requested for a bigger slice!

That's how good Millè & B's crepe cakes are. ;)

You really need to try these crepe cakes for yourselves! And the good news is, I have ONE WHOLE CREPE CAKE to giveaway to one very lucky Melbourne-based reader.

To be in the running to win, you will need to be living in Melbourne, to either have the cake picked up from Mille & B's location at Lygon Street, Carlton or have it delivered to an address within 10km of Melbourne CBD for a flat fee of $10.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway runs for two weeks and will end at 12am on Friday, 19th September 2014. The winner will be drawn and announced here on my blog by Saturday, 20th September 2014. Good Luck!! :)

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UPDATE (19/09/14) - Thank you to all of you who have participated in this giveaway. This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations Sarah, you've won yourself a whole cake from Millè & B!! I hope you enjoy the cake as much as I did. You've made a good pick too. ;)

To those of you who missed out, I am sorry! If you're really keen though, Millè & B will be at the Bend & Snap Market on the 28th September and you'd be able to get yourself slices (instead of the whole cake) to try the variety of flavours. Details as below:

Make sure you get hold of an Oreo Oreo slice - it truly is divine! ;)