Christchurch Night Noodle Market

Last night I went to the CHCH night noodle market with my momma and later, my sister and brother-in-law joined us. Being CHCH, I also bumped into one, two, three friends. I had fun. In all honestly, the food was average (yeah, yeah food snob) but the ambience was great! I absolutely love CHCH in the summer. The market is on until Sunday, prices range from $5 to $15, and you can find more information HERE.

Speaking of noodles/Asian food, pretty please with a quail egg on top check out my new Savvy Tokyo article, 8 Japanese Films for Foodies HERE.

So I asked for two chicken and one eggplant/tofu BAO but I got given a duck instead. Now tell me, since I’m not a BAO enthusiast, is the bread supposed to taste like cake (it was super sweet)? Looked better than it tasted (oh no she didn’t!). 
These however were real good. Maybe a little dare but I think totally worth it. Not too sweet, very natural tasting and chic, too! Double win.

Yummy but served warm/cold. More on the cold side. But tasty regardless. As you can see, I did my best to abuse the DIY topping station. In all fairness, the dumplings were generously filled to the brim with plump shrimp and prawn. 


Mama says: peace!

The Best Thing To Hold Onto In Life Is Each Other

Today I went to the Lyttleton Farmers’ Market with my mother. And she tried everything. She ate olives and smoked salmon (not together). She tried a piece of a Brussels waffle, a chunk of a cookie and a slice of apricot. At one point, her eyes failing her, she reached INTO a bowl of creamy hummus, which she mistook as the creamy interior of a clay bowl and picked at its garnish! Eventually God saved me (and the testers) for her precious legs began to hurt and her head started craving coffee. After our coffee break which also turned into our lunch break because all the sitting and relaxing made her empty stomach super hungry, I suggested we visit the beach. At the beach, we took a 20minute trail by the water and all I thought about there and then was how badly I wish Soroosh were with me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be ungrateful or anything but this long-distance thing is killing me.

From Hola to Bonjour

Guys, I’m so confused. One day I’m saying gracias to the supermarket clerk, the next day, arigato. Note to self: merci merci merci pardon.

Today I biked to the local market. I said “bonjour” to an elderly passerby. He said: “bonjour mademoiselle,”(just like the movies) and I died.


The French market in Thonon reminded me very much of the Riccarton Bush market back home (NZ). Unlike the markets in Spain where the fresh produce were displayed organically in fresh piles, the food here were set out decoratively in nice cartons, on pretty table cloths and alongside authentic ornaments.

He said: “Hey lady try this olive pesto. It’s very fresh.” Then: “but not as fresh as you!” ???



Delicious oily beignets mmm!



Okay, NOW I’m French.

This picture is for Teck Loh, Andy Banks and my father <3

Herbs for my mama <3



And last but not least, flowers for my sister.

Remnants of a French breakfast :O

Whoever You Are, No Matter How Lonely, The World Offers Itself To Your Imagination.

Dreams come true and imagination is key. I want to introduce you to my new family: Jose, Bea, Hector (6) and Sara (4). I will be staying with them in Redes a port-town in Galicia (Northern Spain) this September, teaching the children English. I am so incredibly lucky because Jose is a seafood chef, he cares much about food quality and organics, their house is literally a palace and their town, absolute paradise – a place I have imagined visiting since I was a little girl. Believe me when I say it’s breathtaking. But don’t worry, you can live vicariously through me (hehe).

And for those interested, I found Jose and family through workaway.info. It’s an organisation with hosts and volunteers from anywhere and everywhere and it’s relatively safe. I Skyped Jose and his family several times before coming here. Also, do you remember my friends Hiromi and Olivier (the yoga instructor/baker)? They are also hosts on Workaway. Actually, why don’t you go and stay with them? They live in a completely different paradise and they have fresh bread!

Sara has kindly lent me her room.

Having fun playing with Japanese magnets. Jose says I am a world citizen because I get to teach him and his family about Iran, Japan and New Zealand.

A typical breakfast: squished cherry tomatoes, salt and olive oil on bread. Jose tells me the best olive oil comes from Spain and that most of the olive oil advertised as coming from Italy is actually from here.

Spot the Japanese (hehe).

On my first day, the children had a birthday party so Jose and I hit up their town and its Friday market.


Just on the street! For free! Same with lemons, apples and oranges. In Japan, a small punnet of these is 800 yen! About 10 New Zealand dollars!

Baguette delivery is a thing and we all need it!

Isn’t Spain just gorgeous?!

Trying my best to photograph the locals.

My first view of the market :O





Spain is food heaven!

Jose made a phone call to order his fish. He said if we go early we will have to wait an hour for the old ladies of the town to finish their business. Sure enough, as we walked by, this was exactly the case! The locals here are priceless – such strong characters. I really hope my pictures can capture their brilliance – I’ll do my best.


Live Octopus.

This  frightening thing is a sea spider! I don’t know about you but I will never swim again.



As I said, their house is a palace.


Jose says the Spanish locals find it funny how people are so into kale as a “superfood” these days because its simply chicken food in Spain! Also, I posted this image on my Instagram and a regular follower commented this, which I found hilarious: “That chicken is peering into my soul and judging my ambitions.”B E A U T I F U L desu ne.

Something Fishy

Tsukiji Fish Market (from Jiro Dreams of Sushi).

This is Atsuyaki-Tamago or in English, layered omelette. 
Fresh wasabi.

Shredded dried squid.

Whole small dried squid.
Lightly seared tuna.

Memoirs Of Wannabe Geishas

My tour-guiding is much like my cooking; repetitive LOL I took my parents to the same Kyoto spots that I took my sister and brother-in-law. Alas, it was a different season and still as beautiful if not, more. Golden Pavilion, Kiyomizu Temple and Nishiki Market.

From top to bottom: a basket of treats for the road: healthy raspberry and oat muffins, raw almonds and tangerine, Golden Pavilion, Kyoto parfait consisting of matcha soft-serve, mini matcha donuts (green), chestnut (yellow), mochi (rice flour dumplings – white), corn flakes and red bean paste (anko), Kiyomizu Temple, soba (buckwheat noodle) lunch, gorgeous Japanese crockery and lastly, Nishiki Market with A 100% natural freshly squeezed (as in right there and then) grapefruit, and my dad eating a mini octopus tehe.

Wild Boar Stew and Deer Antler Earrings

You know I live fookin’ rural when my neighbors specialize in wild boar stew and deer antler earrings. This Sunday, Kaori and Taka asked me to look after their gorgeous baby/toddler, Emma while they participated in an Organic market held in Okayama. I had so much fun and I really wanted to steal Emma but I resisted, somehow.
Here’s the pictorial evidence for ya’ll:

i love japanese night markets

Foodporn and an Announcement

So I have some pretty exciting news… today, I finally created an I Accidently Ate The Whole Thing Facebook page! So, if you ‘like’ it (hint hint hint…HINT) you’ll be able to have even more access to my recipes, reviews and words (not sure if that’s a good thing for you, or not). Nevertheless,  to celebrate, here’s an image of my most favourite FULL FAT guilty pleasure: (from left to right) chilli chocolate, lemon curd custard and boysenberry custard filled DONUTS (is there a better word in the english language?! Perhaps; pancakes) which are available every Saturday from the Riccarton House Farmers Market (GO GET SOME). Oh mama, my mouth is watering just thinking about them. Last time I bit into one of these plump babies my whole front got covered in icing sugar! And the fact that I was wearing a black blouse didn’t help either! As much as I love my healthy eating (jokes, I just don’t want to get fat), I think it’s really important to occasionally treat yourself (emphasis on occasionally). So go on, indulge, your tastebuds will love you for it, your jeans; not so much.

Farmers Market and a Wholesome Couscous Salad

On a sunny Saturday, there is no other place I’d rather be than the Farmers Market at Riccarton House. Every week mum and I arrive around 9am (before the rush hits) to purchase our week’s supply of organic goodness. We love the market because of its incredibly positive atmosphere. The combination of colourful stalls, delicious smells, live music, wild ducks and happy families (being truly honest with you, I envy the couples!) creates such a sweet and sentimental mood. Am I sounding too airy fairy? How can I not be? I spent the morning sitting by the river bank holding my sweet mama’s hand, drinking a delicious soy cappuccino and enjoying a naughty Pain au chocolat. Life truly is all about the little things (which are actually the big things). Sorry, I’m rambling. Here’s the recipe:

1 cup organic wholewheat couscous 
1 cup cooked pumpkin, diced into small pieces
1/2 cup black olives, finely chopped
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled 
1/2 cup raw cashew nuts
2 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced
a few sprigs of fresh coriander, finely sliced

olive oil
juice of half a lemon
sea salt
paprika 

Cook the couscous as per packet instructions.

Fluff up the couscous with a fork then add the pumpkin, olives, feta, cashews, spring onion and coriander.

Add the lemon juice and a generous splash of olive oil, then season with paprika and sea salt.

Gently mix together and VOILA! What you’ve created is a beautiful marriage of flavours.