Monday, 12 September 2011

Brasserie Avion- You're a fine place to be...

Last week, San decided to catch Naruto the movie.. so we head over down to Ario Sapporo to catch the show. I am totally happy with the whole IMAX experience as I do believe their cinemas are way more comfortable than other cinemas. People who knows me would have been surprised that I was there to catch Naruto, an anime that I know nothing of (an obvious anime dummy.. DUH!).. BUT in my defense... I actually enjoyed the show. HAH!

IMAX in Ario Sapporo Shopping Mall
Note that I am the 'I'... LOL.. pun intended

Edited: OKAYYYyyyyyyyy...... for those that commented that they dun quite get the pun above... here's the explaination... *eyes rolling* ..
In the above pic, I was standing in front of the the letter 'I' in 'IMAX'... Soooooooooooooooo... I am now the letter 'I' in the sign... Hence, I am the 'I'.... Aiyorrrrr.... have to explain a pun already took the fun out of making it... am i really that lame ar? Okay!! Stop right there!! Dun answer that question.. TQVM

Evidence that I did indeed watched an anime
And yes... watching movies here can be quite an
expensive affair.. ):
Happy moi with my jumbo size caramel popcorn *yumms*
Movie goers of that nite (:
After the movie, San needed to get back to work so Lex and I hung out a little. I have to admit, I am not one that is able to go out and then head home straight after. I am always in need of a lil 'second round' after the first activity. I know. Sad but true. Sigh.. #firstworldpains

Lex was hungry so she insisted to take me to this place that I wanted to check out earlier but I gave up on that idea because we've walked past it couple of times and it is rarely open. She, however was lucky enough to patronize that place twice and raved to me how awesome it was. So FINE! This time, let moi just get there one more time, and  see if it is blardy still closes on me, THIS IS IT! 

So, as you can see, if I am going to write about this place, it is pretty obvious, I got lucky that day, and managed to try it, FINALLY! (:

Introducing you... Brasserie Avion

Occasion: One Last Attempt... 
When: sometime last week after 10pm
Venue: Brasserie Avion (for website URL please click HERE)
Address: Sapporo-shi, Kita- ku, Kita 13 Nishi 4


Its xmas-y themed signboard

It is located on the upper story of a building
obligatory front door pose



Glass menu board (:

This little garden shack greets you as you climbed up to the entrance

Super loving the dainty decos

Spices rack serve as great ornament




View of the dining hall from my angle

It is a small little establishment that serves dishes from Italy, Spain and France. I love how the place was gorgeously decorated. Reckon that the place can fit about 25 pax at most. I was a bit confused with the Italian flag flying outside with a French name adopted for the place earlier on but upon looking at the menu, I have to say, it is not confined to serving only Italian/ French cuisines. They serve more than these 2. LOL.

Wine bottles everywhere to add ambience to the place

Super hearts the gorgeous lamp chosen

One corner of the restaurant

Romantic dining for two

Main entrance

A classy wall deco

Bar area facing the floor

cat in a box
The Chef also was known to draw his favorite cat and duck characters all over the store. I think it is a rather personal and warm touch added to this place. 

Bar area with an opening to the kitchen

Small private room that probably fits a small party of 10 pax
Loving the selection of lightings
After the whole visual tour of the restaurant, let's get down to the food (:

Campari Orange for me that nite.. simply divine
¥600
 By far, the best Campari Orange tasted in Japan to date. Totally go for it. (: 

Course meal starter
Complimentary from the Chef (:

This starter course was the main reason I ordered a main that fateful night. It was already 10pm when we sat down and I am trying to control my food intake lately for health reasons. So, any meals after 7pm is a BIG no-no to me. Unfortunately or rather fortunately for this case, I was so impressed with the richly flavored appetizer, I decided to try a main from the extensive menu. No regrets there I shall say. *winks*

Some pate I ordered to share
¥700

Pate served was good but not great. Nothing to shout about but still good stuff anyway.

Lex's paella
¥1400
Lex sang high praises for this paella.. she liked the wet moisture of the rice. However, I would have preferred a slightly drier texture. Just a tad less moist, it would have been almost to my liking. 
Moi's salmon mushroom risotto (:
¥1450
 I, on the other side, very much in love with my risotto. It was very rich and flavorful. Not a big fan of fish really and this dish was cooked with salmon. So, please understand how much I am really liking it to say that. (: Anyway, Lex didn't appreciate the risotto as much as I did. FYI. 

Dry martini
¥650
Lex's martini as how a martini should be i guess... no further comment..

I am just going to jump straight to dessert just because.................. *drum rolls*.......................................
the Chef surprised us with it!!!! (: not one but all 3 superbly amazing, mouth watering, eye opening, palette refreshing, over the moon desserts!!

And the dessert was complimentary by the Chef once more. Talk about being spoilt to the max (: *grinning from ear to ear*

We must be doing something right that night, the Chef was amazingly sweet to us. 

3 kinds of dessert on the house (:
Superbly delish!!


From top right in clockwise: Sorbet, fresh-cut watermelon cake and whipped mousse

My favorite amongst the three, the freshly-cutted watermelon cake was my first choice. I like how simple this dessert was made and yet tasted so amazingly good. It comprised of watermelon placed in between soft chiffon cake with a spread of lightly fluffed creamy sweet cream on top and its side. The sorbet and the mousse was very good too as a matter of fact. 

Despite some many hits and a few misses on some of the food, I would still say that I especially enjoyed the whole dining experience. I will definitely come here again and suggest you to try this place out too. (:

With that, I'll end this post of mine and till next week (: Have a great week ahead. Cheers!

I drink to that (:

"Three things are needed for a good life, good friends, good food, and good song." 
~Jason Zebehazy~


Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Summer Weekend Flea Market- Ario Sapporo

Occasion: 'Treasure' hunting
When: One fine summer Sunday morning 10am- 2pm
Venue: Ario Sapporo Shopping Mall, Outdoor Arena
Address: Sapporo- Shi, Higashi-ku, Kita 7 Higashi 9

Sapporo during summer time brings you quite a number of weekend flea markets that are organised at several designated places. I visited one a few weekends ago with Lan. If you are interested to find out where is the next flea market going to be, you can download the "What's on in Sapporo" monthly English newsletter (PDF format) published by the Hokkaido's International Women Association (HIWA) by clicking here.

The one we visited that day was located at Ario Sapporo Shopping Mall (the next flea market is to be held on September 10). We weren't looking for anything in particular and was just browsing around to see what's offered there. It can be really fun when you find something of a 'gem' or 'treasure' in flea markets such as these where the price for the item you fancy costs only a fraction of the original price.

Here was how the flea market we went to that day looked like. 

It was a hot summer day but it didn't deterred the crowd flocking by
to check out the sale items and great bargains

Ario Sapporo is a new shopping mall located at the former site of Sapporo Breweries. Hence, once you are there, you can see gorgeous red brick buildings that used to be the grand brewery hall of the famous Sapporo Beer. 


The background depicts the gorgeous brewery chimney during
it's good old glory days

The 'stores' are all situated on the ground 

People bargaining and treasure hunting 

Some of the pre-loved toys being offered on site

Someone else's rubbish may be another one's treasure (:

Loving the poplar trees at the back (:

Some of the items are new and unused and some are used but
still in good condition. Note the mini portable sewing machine
in pink at the top centre of this pic.. i wanted to get it for myself but
decided against it in the end.. sigh..

Children's clothes on sale.. this what they call 'hand- me-down' clothes?!
Except that, you need to pay a minimal amount for these clothes

House hold appliances are also being sold here

I took a slow stroll along the market and just stopped over at stalls that have items that attracted my eyes. At that moment, I wasn't looking for anything in particular. This makes my experience even more fun when I discovered hidden treasures amidst all the items in the market. (:

Some of the 'gems' that made moi a very happy girl that day were as below:

these zipper bracelet was a brand new item from Claire's
I found it with its' plastic and price tag still intact!! (:
Retail price: ¥800
Got it for: ¥50 *jumping around the room in joy*

Yellow fun mini 'iPod' inspired pouch
Retail price: Unknown
Got it for: ¥10 (are you freaking kidding me?!!)

This pouch is too cute to resist!!
Also got it for ¥10!! ( I KNOW!! I can't believe it either!)

NOW...... this is the ultimate 'treasure' i found that day...
CDs!!!!!! I love music so imagine how happy I was to find these babies!!
Retail price: ¥1500- ¥2000
Got these for: ¥200 for all 3 CDs (can i faint now? hehe)
So yes... please go visit an upcoming flea market in Sapporo and start hunting for hidden 'treasures'. It can be real fun cos I truly believe one man's rubbish can be another's treasure. So do give all these pre loved or new unused item a home where the new owner will show it much love than its previous owner. Everyone needs to be appreciated so this goes the same for toys, accessories, CDs, electrical appliances or even books. (:

It also can be identified as a way of recycling what you do not need and pass it on to others that may find better usage in these items. So, by shopping in a flea market, you are doing your part in making the world a better place through your effort in recycling... LOL.. okay.. I slightly exaggerated on that part but I still think it is a plausible reason (:

So go and have fun and enjoy your lil 'treasure' hunting while at it!!

"What is your best price? It's the treasure hunt that makes it fun." 
~Shelia Strong~