Lebanese delights at the Parap Market

Almost every week - at least when I can afford it - after choking down as much Sth East Asian cuisine as I can at the Parap Market, I find myself drifting through the aisles to the Lebanese stall.

I've tried the rice pudding, which is wonderful... but, as you can see in my hand, it is for these sweet, custard filled treats that my greedy stomach drags me here.

Thunderbirds are GO! The lovely lady who makes these has definitely found and is exercising her talent.  Crispy rolls of pastry around a custard inner that resembles semolina, all drenched in a sugar syrup infused with the perfect amount of rose water.  Very sticky, drippy and incredibly moreish!

Thus one just won't do... such a pleasurable experience demands repetition, albeit for later, after I've made some room via a cathartic viewing of the bathroom door.  If only certain parts of my anatomy could, in a manner similar to the touch of Midas, albeit inverted (one must recall the practical uselessness of gold prior to its use in electronics, hence Midas' touch stole the utility from all it transformed), transform my own useless material-expulsions into these golden treats! Truly, they are far superior to any of the similar Lebanese treats I have consumed in Melbourne.  Please, support this Lady's marvellous talent and, next time you are at the Parap Market, buy her food!

Fannie Bay Cool Spot

Passing the Fannie Bay Cool Spot each weekend on our way to the Parap Market, it became increasingly necessary that we wear some shades indoors, slick back our manes and pull up a chair at a table within.

The Cool Spot always seems packed... which means very little in Darwin in regards to taste and quality. Nonetheless, wishing to be cool, we joined the long que caterpillaring towards the counter.

After a 10 minute wait, Sarah and I ordered an Iced Coffee apiece.  Being so crowded, I leapt at the only free air-conditioned table I could see, where I held fort against other neonates and old-schoolers of Fannie Bay Cool, whilst Sarah took some snaps of what a Cool Spot looks like inside.

Very, Very cool, hey yeah!  This is what you get if you cross an old Aus-Italiano cafe with a Darwin, Mitchell St Pub - the latter of which inevitably have a trough quality to them... one expects them to be hosed down each evening like a stable.
Actually, when our Iced Coffees finally arrived they were not that bad.  Not that one couldn't make a better version at home with real cream.  But it was nice to be pleasantly surprised by something that wasn't utterly disappointing. The best part was the ice-cream - it was coffee flavoured.  It was also certainly cooler inside the Cool Spot than the 35 degree humidity outside, so we lingered with the air-cons for a pleasant while, indulging some idle reading.  Fannie Bay Cool spot is worth dropping into for the experience.  Fortunately or unfortunately, I have been unable to convince Sarah to return with me to sample more of their menu items. Be that as it may, Cool!